Doll: A Bucky Barnes FanFiction

Hope

"Lizzie! Jessica isn't being fair!" A high-pitched voice wailed from a courtyard.

Elizabeth walked out of the giant kitchen where dinner was currently being made for the 265 residents at the now two-year-old children's home in New York.  It had been nearly a year in the making. After Tony Stark had signed the rather large check, the orphanages gained attention and funding from the government.

With the new money, Elizabeth helped to build a new building for the Upstate New York Children's Home, and they were able to hire more full-time staff to help with transitions. The compound was built on fifty acres of land, with enough room for all of the children to run and play. There were a number of living areas for the children, with a courtyard in the middle with a playground and a dining area that was attached to the buildings in the middle.

Elizabeth made her way out to the courtyard where a handful of children were playing hide-and-go-seek. One of them appeared on the verge of tears, as he was upset with one of his playmates.

"Now, now, my dolls, what happened?" Elizabeth asked gently, squatting down so she could look the children in the eyes. A little boy named Derrick glared over at one of the girls, Jessica. 

"Jessica was telling everyone where my hiding spot was!" He exclaimed.

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

"W-" Jessica cut off when she caught Elizabeth raising her eyebrow. "I was," she whispered guiltily. "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't very nice, but I forgive you," Derrick replied.

"I'm glad you two could sort things out. Are you both alright now?" Elizabeth asked.

The two children nodded.

"Why don't you all go wash your hands? Dinner is almost ready," she said. They all smiled at her and ran off before she could say another word. As she turned she saw one of the youngest children watching her from behind the doorway. She had come in recently after her mom died in a car crash. She had no living relatives, and even if the snap hadn't happened, she would have wound up in an orphanage or foster care. She had curly brown hair and bright blue eyes. In a way, she reminded Elizabeth of the child she never got to have.

"Hi Gracie," Elizabeth said quietly, waving at the girl. Gracie toddled down the steps, her blanket trailing behind her before stumbling into Elizabeth's arms. She babbled for a moment before getting her hand stuck in Elizabeth's hair, causing her to laugh.

"Oh my goodness, there she is!" One of the staff members said breathlessly, calling from the doorway. "Thank goodness you found her. I turned my back for one second," she shook her head.

"It's alright! I'll hold onto her for dinner. You already look busy enough," Elizabeth said.

As Elizabeth looked at the little girl, she began to think of her own child. She wondered if this would have been what it was like. The little girl seemed to always gravitate towards Elizabeth when she was around. She seemed to know. For just a little toddler, she seemed to understand. On cue, as if sensing Elizabeth's attention drifting into her mind, the girl's blue eyes sparkled with mischief and she made a grab at Elizabeth's face.

"Whoa there, doll, let's not go for Lizzie's face, okay? Why don't we go get you some food, instead? That would be nice, wouldn't it?" She said, taking Gracie's hand in her own and turning away from the courtyard when she heard a car roll up behind her.

She turned to see who it was only to watch as her brother stepped out of the car.

"Steve?" She asked quietly. Even though they lived nearby and spoke almost daily, they had only seen each other a handful of times. Behind him stepped out a few familiar faces, Scott Lang, Sam Wilson, and Natasha Romanoff.