Winter's Daughter

Chapter Seven

You hold Killian's hand as you cross the street. In your other hand, you held a box of freshly baked homemade apple pie. Despite having an untouched apple pie you had just made this morning leftover in the shop, Killian had insisted on you making it fresh, claiming that it tasted better that way. You couldn't argue with that. The Barnes' home wasn't too far from where you lived in the upstairs apartment so you had decided to walk there.

"I can't wait to see Rebecca!" Killian exclaims.

Killian's mind is on Operation Peacock. He and Rebecca agree that they should get their parents together so they could be siblings. Killian had to talk to Rebecca about their plan. He also hoped that this dinner would be good for their operation.

Maybe if Sergeant Barnes got attached to me and mommy got attached to Rebecca, it would get them together, Killian thinks. The young blond can't stop the mischievous smile that creeps onto his face from that thought. He knew just how to make sure Bucky got attached to him. Killian mentally prepares himself as you two turn the corner and stop a few steps away in front of a rather nice row house. You hand Killian the pie so you could open the gate into the small front garden. There are small pots of flowers scattered about the garden, but the flowers were all wilted and long since dead. Out of unconscious nervousness, your powers go wild and grow new flowers. Killian hands you back the pie as he turns to look at you.

"Don't be nervous, Mommy," Killian smiles as he stands up on his tippy toes on the steps. He readjusts the big Middlemist red flower he suggested you put in your hair before coming over.

You smile at your son and gently push some hair out of his face. The door opens behind him and you both look up at it. Standing in the doorway is Bucky. Killian smiles and runs to the man. Bucky is desperately unprepared when the boy basically launches himself at the man for a hug but manages to catch Killian quickly. Killian giggles and hugs the man while Bucky just looks confused as hell.

"Hey, kid," Bucky says slowly and unsurely.

"Hi," Killian giggles. "Where's Becca?"

"She's in her room. I'll..."

"Killian!" Rebecca shouts from somewhere inside the house.

Killian takes that as his signal to run to find her on his own. You smile and shake your head as you head up the steps. When you're close to the top, Bucky offers his hand to help you up the last few steps. You take it gratefully. Bucky can't help but stare at you. He couldn't stop thinking about how pretty you were in your distressed blue jeans and (F/C) flowy top. You had a brown foe-leather jacket thrown over the top and a pair of matching short foe-leather boots. The flower in your hair was a nice touch. It only added to your beauty, in Bucky's opinion.

"Wow," Bucky mutters. "You look gorgeous, (Y/N). Not that you don't always."

"Thanks, Bucky. You look good too," you smile. "I brought dessert as I promised Rebecca."

"You really didn't have to do that," Bucky smiles back as he takes the box.

"I did. I can't afford to break any more promises," you shrug. "It's apple pie. I hope that's okay."

"It's perfect." Bucky so wanted to add 'and so are you,' but he suppressed the urge. "Come in. Make yourself at home. The others should be here shortly."

You nod as you take off your shoes and set them by the door. Bucky helps you take off your jacket and hangs it on the coat rack. You follow Bucky into the kitchen where he puts your pie on the counter. The air is filled with something that smells delicious. You take in a deep breath of it and smile as you finally recognize it. The smell reminds you of home, but not home in your apartment above your bakery, home before all the guilt and death you've built up over the years.