Love On The Frontlines

(12) Mama Bear

After spending five days in the Hamptons. Winnie watched from a far as her youngest son was full of life again. Whenever he was around Brooklyn he was all smiles and it wasn't his fake smile.

It was the morning of the last full day of them all being in the Hamptons. Winnie knocked on the boys front door.

Brandon answered the door. "Hey mom.." he said as he let her in.

She went into the kitchen Bucky seen her as he fed Zara. When she walked over to him he looked up at her. "Where is Brooklyn?" She said

"She's still sleeping. Why?" He said as he fed Zara a bite.

"I want to talk to her." She said

"Okay.." he said as he gave the baby food jar to Lula.

"As long as you are going to be nice to her. You do remember how to do that right?" Bucky said as he walked away.

"James honey.." Winnie said

Bucky went into the bedroom he gently shook her. "Hey baby..mom is here. She wants to talk to you so get dressed and come down." He said

She rolled into him. "Why does she want to talk to me?" She said

"I don't know she didn't say" he said

She got herself up and went into the bathroom. He went downstairs to be met by Winnie. "She'll be down in a minute." He said as he went back to the kitchen.

Brooklyn came down dressed and yawning. "Morning Mrs Barnes.." she said

"Let's go grab a coffee and breakfast so we can talk." Winnie said

"Okay.." she said when Bucky nodded to her behind Winnie that it was okay.

He kissed her cheek as she left. "Call me if you need me darlin okay.. I love you." He said

"Love you.." she said as she went out the front door.

Winnie pulled them into a bistro close to the beach. They put in their orders and went to sit down.

"I believe that me and you started out on the wrong foot. And for that I would like to apologize Brooklyn. He's my youngest baby and I'm a mama bear especially when it comes to my boys." She said

Brooklyn looked down. "Three years ago I almost lost my baby twice. Once when it was him Bradley Luke and Dylan were part of the group that was captured and again when he was discharged and James found him with a gun to his head." Winnie added.

"I don't understand what that has to do with me being your son now." She said

"Because three years ago he walked away from his wife and daughter. And granted yes it was so he could focus on getting better mentally but I didn't raise him to just give up cause times were hard. And when he told us that Nikki was pregnant with Zara I thought that they were working on their marriage. He never told me that they were just sleeping together..it was Bradley that told me that but I didn't want to believe that." She said as the waiter come over with their coffee and muffins.

Winnie looked down. "What I'm trying to say is..I thought that you were the reason why he decided throw away all the progress they had made. In my mind they were still together.." Winnie said

"You thought I was the other woman. Believe Mrs Barnes you got me all wrong. When he told me that he was still sleeping with his ex wife I pushed him away. But he continued to pursue me..we got close we started sleeping together. I wasn't trying to steal him from anybody..he pursued me not the other way around." Brooklyn said

"I understand that now. And I'm sorry for how I acted towards you. This whole trip I have watched my son be himself again. Be full of life again and it has made my heart swell with happiness. I have you to thank for that Brooklyn. And I want you to know that the other reason why I was the way I was. When he said he was helping you with your PTSD I was scared that you were going to send him back down his dark hole..but I can see now that it hasn't he is stronger now." Winnie said

Brooklyn smiled at her. "I'm truly sorry Brooklyn. I hope you can forgive me for my actions and coldness." Winnie said

"I can. Thank you for this talk and breakfast." Brooklyn said

They finished their breakfast and headed back to the Barnes cove of houses. Bucky was holding Zara as he watched them get out of the car and share a hug.

"Oh thank god." He whispered

Winnie followed her in. "Let me take her so you two can talk." Brooklyn said as she took Zara.

Once Brooklyn left the room. "James honey I'm sorry..you are my baby." She said

"Mom I am not 5 years old I'm 32. I don't need you to be protective.." he said

"James Buchanan I almost lost you! I almost lost you and Bradley! So don't sit here and act like just because you are a grown ass man that my days of being mama bear are over!" She said

"Oh my god mom! What did you think she was going to do kill me in my sleep?" He said

"I thought. I thought you were having an affair with her. I didn't want to believe that you would walk away from Nikki that easily three years ago. And when I found out about Zara I thought that I had gotten through to you about working on your marriage with Nikki." She said

"Unbelievable! Mom what I had with Nikki is over! It's been over for three years! She and I are no longer married we signed divorced papers. Yes we were sleeping together but that was it I was always going back to my apartment after we were done. There was no fixing our marriage..I pursued Brooklyn. So don't sit here and act like she is some devil woman." Bucky said

Winnie wiped a few tears. "Mom he's telling the truth. Little James made it very clear to everyone that yes they were sleeping together but their marriage was over." Bradley said when he heard them yelling.

"Why James? Why did you walk away so easily? You needed her there..for you she was your wife and you walked away from her when you needed her the most." Winnie said

"Because mom she couldn't handle it. She slept in Vanessa's room. She was scared to death of me..I did what I had to do and that was to walk away she deserved better." He said

"And the sleeping together?" Winnie said

"That came after I started to get help. We got drunk one night and had sex. It continued cause at least I wasn't going out to bars to find what I needed. Until I started seeing Brooklyn with her it felt like I was coming up for air. I had finally met someone that wasn't going to be afraid to sleep next to me cause she understood it. She makes me happy what started out as simple no strings turned into more mom and she saved me. And I'm saving her.." he said

Winnie hugged him. "As long as you are happy baby." She said

"I am mom." He said as he hugged her.

"Good. Now I'm gonna go find my grand babies." She said as she went to the playroom.

Bradley looked at Bucky. "I can't believe mom thought you and Nikki were still married." He said

"That's the part that isn't sitting right Bradley. Mom was there in the court room with me. Dad was sitting right beside her." He said

"You think mom is losing her memory." Bradley said

"I don't know." Bucky said as they walked together to the back porch to play frisbee with his brothers.