Bucky waited until Steve was sleeping, sneaking from bed and went into the nursery with a big blanket and laid in the the rocking recliner chair. He felt better being closer to her in case she needed him, laying on his side facing the crib where she laid. The dark haired caregiver drifted off after watching for twenty minutes, content that she was sleeping fine.
The Little rolled in her sleep about an hour later, curled around a stuffed Scooby Doo and the blanket tucked up under her cheek. Her thumb had made its way into her mouth, sucking lightly to soothe her troubled dreams. The dreams were bright and very disjointed, fractures of memories and horror her subconscious came up with.
Soft whimpers and little cries escaped her mouth, waking Bucky from his light sleep and summoning him to her crib. Her diaper made a squishing sound as she moved, legs kicking feebly and her eyes snapped open. Her mouth opened in a wail, tears dripping down her face and skin blotchy.
"Hey, hey. Shh. Shh. Don't cry." Bucky picked her up, ignoring her slightly struggling and taking her to the chair he'd been sleeping in after a quick diaper change. He wrapped them in the blanket, pressing her mostly undressed body to his bare skin and rocking her carefully. He had remembered from the "How To Care For Your Little" book that skin to skin contact worked much like it did with actual children. "Hush now. Mama is here. Nothing can hurt you." He promised.
She still didn't really remember him but she was so tired and frightened and he was so warm and comforting. Her face turned into his chest, finding a nipple and after a few seconds she latched on instinctively as her Little brain took over fully. It was like her Big self went to sleep in a dark part of her brain, letting her Little self be in total control and seek comfort the way she knew best. It seemed like the best course of action, soothing herself on as she nursed from Bucky and going limp.
"There's a good girl." Bucky murmured, Steve watching in the doorway. "Mama had you, Baby Doll. No more tears, okay?" He dried her cheek with a corner of the blanket, watching her face wrinkle before settling back to normal.
"I heard her over the monitor." Steve sat on a little stool, looking at Bucky softly. "I think she had a nightmare."
"My heart just about stopped honestly." Bucky whispered, never taking his eyes off her as she nursed. "I hate not being able to help her. You know? I can fight off an attacker but I can't fight a bad dream."
"Bucky... Everything will be okay. No one will lay their hands on her. It was just a dream. You are doing the best thing for her right now. You are giving her comfort." Steve hissed fiercely, cupping Bucky's cheek. "Keep being the best Mama for her."
"You're right. Sorry. I keep overthinking things." Bucky resumed his steady rocking, watching how her eyes fluttered sleepily. "Sleep, Baby. Daddy and Mama are here."
"Everything's just fine, Half-Pint." Steve added, stroking her cheek while she nursed from Bucky. "Come sleep in the big bed when you're done? And bring her with."
"Sounds like a plan." Bucky nodded, watching Steve leave the nursery. "I missed you so much, Pumpkin. We were so very worried." He watched her fall asleep and brought her to the master bedroom.
He laid her next to Steve and laid on her other side, basically creating a barrier so she wouldn't roll off the bed on either side between him and Steve. She curled up, sniffling in her sleep and buried her face in Steve's chest. Her little body pressed into the blond's warmth, soaking it up like she always does when in their bed.
"Night, Bucky." Steve smiled gently at the other man who kissed him.
"Night, Stevie." Bucky was happy, holding Steve's hand while their baby slept between them.
~Next morning~
Steve woke up to a mouth on his chest, small hands curled against his ribs. He could hear Bucky snoring quietly on the other side of the small body curled against him.
"Mm. Hungry, Half-Pint?" He kept his tone light, shifting the still mostly asleep Little to where she could get his nipple. This too was normal for when she slept in their bed, he did the first nursing session of the day and the first diaper change after. "Doing so well for Daddy this morning."
He got no response as she was still suckling, mouth occupied and her hands tucked against him. It was quiet and peaceful, Bucky's snores and the soft snuffles of Kayla breathing were the perfect way for his day to begin.
"Ouch. Careful." He carefully pulled her off of his nipple which was red now. She whimpered softly and he sat up, patting her back to release trapped air and switched her to the other side. "Still dry, hm." He'd checked her diaper.
Her hazel eyes locked onto his sea blue ones, one hand reaching toward his face and he pressed his hand to hers. Steve never broke their eye contact, gauging how young she was at the moment and filing it away to tell Bucky.
"Can you say Dada for me, Half-Pint?" Steve urged after she had ceased her suckling. "Da-da."
She just stared at him, not saying anything and just making little noises with her mouth. Clearly not old enough to really verbalize past crying and little noises.
"Ah ha. Tiny little Half-Pint today then." Steve kept up a steady stream of talking to her, smiling the entire time.
