Ties (sequel to The Stark Family)

10

"Let me go!" Bucky repeated for the millionth time.

"Bucky, you need to relax," Pepper said. Her voice was soothing to Peter, but it put Bucky on edge.

"No! I want to get out of here!"

"Baby, we're taking you home,"

"Please, I just want my mom!"

"Honey, that's me! I'm your mom," Bucky pulled against the restraints keeping him on the stretcher. His eyes were full of tears ready to fall. He looked absolutely broken and conflicted.

"Can I touch you?" Peter asked gently. Bucky watched him carefully for a moment.

"Yes," Bucky said, hesitantly. Peter took Bucky's hand in his own.

"Do you remember anything?" Peter asked "at all?"

"I remember Maria. And I know I have some brothers. And I think you're one of them. UGH! It was all so clear to me but then someone took it from me and I don't who or why!"

"Yep. That's your mom, Bucky. She loves you so much. We all do. You're just going to have to trust us. And if you dont trust everyone, at least trust me. And you know Carol, right? You can trust her! And the twins, and Steve, and Maria."

Bucky relaxed and smiled for the first time in a while.

"Everything hurts. Can I sleep?" Bucky asked.

"Of course," Peter said, brushing some dirt out of Bucky's hair. Bucky quickly fell asleep and Peter kept his hand locled with Bucky's.

"Thank you for handling that, Peter," Pepper said, calmly.

"What happened?" Maria asked. Pepper filled her in on the details of what Bucky had done. "Im sorry guys, I had no idea,"

"I know. We're gonna fix him. We'll make this okay,"

-------

"For the last time, Rhodey. I'm a neurosurgeon, not a therapist!" Stephen said.

"I know, but could you help Bucky remember? Anything?" Rhodey pleaded. Tony put his hand on his best friend's shoulder to calm him down.

"Rho," Tony whispered.

"Okay, Tones," Rhodey said, sitting back.

"Is he okay?" Pepper asked.

"Physically? Yeah. He could go home soon if this was a normal case, limited just to his physical state. Of course, he still needs help and care," Stephen said "But I have a potential solution. I have a magic thing. No medical thing can help him now, so I'm resorting to magic things. I need your permission to do this. I think I can crack the brainwashing,"

-------

THE DAY OF THE PROCEDURE

FIVE MINUTES AFTER

"Bucky?"

"Bucky?"

"Bucky?"

"I heard you the first time, Steve," Bucky opened his eyes and rubbed them.

"Bucky! Are you okay?"

"Everything hurts, but other than that,"

"And you know who I am?"

"Of course, Stevie,"

"Ooh, I cant wait to tell Mom!"

"Is she here? Can I see her?"

"Well, uh, yeah! Bucky, I'm so happy to have you back!"

------

Scott missed this feeling. He was simply sinking into the couch behind him. He sitting between Clint and Carol. He squished as close in as possible. Bucky was on his dad's lap, being held tight. Peter was next to Pietro and Loki, just not wanting this feeling to leave. Steve was between Loki and Thor. He kept leaning forward and checking to make sure Bucky was smiling and happy.

Wanda was between Tony and Carol, surveying the row of Starks, making sure everything was going to be okay. Rhodey was on the end, fully invested in the movie, Star Wars: A New Hope.

Tony and Pepper were next to each other with kids on either side of them. Tony kept Pepper's hand locked tight in his. He had one arm around Bucky. Bucky was only 12 and had been away from him far too long. Bucky was slowly slipping into the tiny space between Tony and Wanda.

One by one, people began to fall asleep. It started with Peter and Bucky, both exhausted. Clint and Carol closely followed. Then Scott, Thor, Wanda, Pepper, Steve, Loki, until Rhodey and Pietro, on the ends of the line, were only ones left.

"G'night, Piet," Rhodey whispered over the blaring credits music as he fell asleep.

"G'night," Pietro repeated back. He slowly got up and gently moved Peter's head from his shoulder to Lokis after he could hear Rhodey's faint snores.

He took his phone out of his pocket and took a picture of all of the Starks. He went and sat back down and fell asleep.

-----

Rhodey woke up first. At 7:28, he hopped up and went to the kitchen to watch vine compilations and check his phone.

Sure enough, he had a message from one of his best friends.

morning rhodes

hey o. how r u

great, thx. u still watching tonys kids?

no, hes home

thats nice. could I maybe visit?

i guess, y?

i havent met the kids

rly?

yeah. i should have prioritized it

yeah, ur missing out

i know. listen, could u help me surprise tony?

ye sure

ok ill let u know when i get done cleaning the classroom. school ended yesterday. i hate my job

i thought u were a teacher and liked it

well ya im a teacher but i hate it

dont u like the teenagers?

no. this one kid didnt know who jfk was

oof. EdUcAtE yOuRsElF

lol gtg. miss kelly just walked in to talk. i hate u rachael

lol okay. see ya happy

mr. hogan signing off lol