Chapter Text
Bucky knew something extraordinary had just happened when Bruce Banner's time travel machine revealed two figures. Steve is back, and he is not alone. Bucky and Sam exchanged glances as Natasha Romanov stepped off the platform, wearing the same quantum suit as Steve. The short blonde hair Bucky remembered from the last time she saw her had been replaced by long, braided red hair with a hint of gold near the ends.
"Hey guys, did you just see a ghost? You both looks pale." Nat asked casually.
“Nat! But… how?” Sam asked.
“I returned the Soul Stone, as assigned. Then Natasha was there.” Steve glance at Nat.
“Oh!” Bucky and Sam nodded in unison.
“So, welcome back, Nat!” Sam opened his arms, and Nat immediately accepted his embrace.
“Thanks, Sam, but I think you two deserve those words. Steve and I technically lost you guys for five years.” Nat chuckled.
“Welcome back to reality, then.” Bucky hugged Nat.
“What’s next?” Sam asked, “New Avengers? Retirement?”
“Hm… we haven’t really thought about that, to be honest,” Steve mumbled, which immediately made Bucky frown. Steve Rogers always had a plan.
“I was thinking about visiting some friends and family. I guess we can decide what to do then,” Nat replied.
“We? As… you and Steve?” Sam looked at Steve and Nat in turn, “Did I miss something here?”
Steve looked at Nat with a tenderness Bucky had never seen before, but Nat quickly replied, “No, you guys didn’t miss anything.”
“Okay, I guess we’ll see each other again soon?” Bucky asked.
“Definitely, pal! Definitely!” Steve put his arm around Bucky and patted him on the shoulder.
* * *
Bucky didn't know Nat had a family until Steve told him last week and invited him to dinner. According to Steve, they weren't related by blood, but what started as an espionage mission has since grown into a found family. At least, it was the closest thing as family Nat has outside the Avengers. Nat's spy family were all blipped. Then, after returning back, her mother and sister worked on helping former Widows who wants to reintegrate into society, while her father opened a business in Washington. When Steve mentioned about the dinner invitation, Bucky imagine a flight to Russia. In fact, he was standing outside the front porch of a very American house in Ohio.
It's not really surprised Bucky to know that Steve and Nat have a such close relationship. But this unusual extended the dinner invitation giving Bucky impression that they wanted to treat him like part of this family. Steve didn't explain why he invited Bucky to dinner. He simply said that he needed support from his close friend. That was such an alarming statement. Is the whole dinner invitation this was just a trap from Russian super soldier and the three former Widows? Guest Bucky has to find out himself.
Bucky cleared his throat and knocked. The wooden door swung open, and Steve appeared before him in a casual gray polo shirt and jeans.
“Hey, Buck! Come on in! Nat’s making dinner,” Steve said casually, as if Bucky were visiting his own home.
Bucky followed Steve through the living room, which felt normal. There were cluttered things around the room, bookshelves, empty bottles of liquor, and old photograps on the wall. It didn't look like a safe house. More like living space for real person, or a family. Like a home. A stark contrast to his cold, empty apartment in New York.
Steve led Bucky to the dining table where a bulky, bearded man and a petite young woman with long, curly blonde hair sat playing cards.
“Alexei, Yelena, this is Bucky Barnes,” Steve introduced Bucky.
Alexei, Nat’s adoptive father, immediately rose from his seat and shook Bucky’s hand. “The Winter Soldier! I’m Alexei Shostakov, The Red Guardian.”
Bucky jumped in surprise as Alexei hugged him.
“You’re choking him.” Yelena, Nat’s younger sister, commented.
“No! No! No!” Alexei slapped Bucky on the shoulder and stared at him with sparkling eyes like a teenager who’d just met his idol. “You’re a legend! Well, you both are legends.” He glanced at Steve.
“Ew! You’re drooling!” Yelena threw a napkin at her father.
Ignoring his youngest daughter, Alexei handed him a business card. "If you need transportation, I'll take you anywhere with my limo."
Bucky took the card and muttered, "I live in Brooklyn."
"That's in New York," Yelena explained.
"I can drive you back and forth between DC and New York nonstop." Alexei insisted, "I'm super soldier in his prime. I don't need rest."
"He doesn't need rest either! You're not the only super soldier here." Yelena glared.
“Dinner’s ready!” Nat’s adoptive mother, came out from the kitchen carrying a serving platter of roast turkey. Nat followed behind her, with basket full of bread and a salad bowl.
“Did someone make mac and cheese?!” Yelena asked.
“You already have mac and cheese for lunch,” Nat reminded her.
“Okay! I’ll make it again later.” Yelena muttered determinedly.
Alexei grabbed a knife and prepared to slice the turkey when Melina clapped her hands. “Where are your manners darling? We have guests tonight.”
“Sorry, ma’am.” Alexei obediently handed the knife to Melina. It was clear who was in charge in this family.
“Go ahead, Steve.” Melina smiled and handed the knife to Steve.
“Thank you, Melina.” Steve nodded, and sliced the turkey, then filled his plate with bread and salad.
Bucky frowned. Clearly there was something Bucky missed when Steve and Nat’s adoptive mother call each other by their first name.
“Please Mr. Barnes, may I call you Bucky?” Melina glanced at Bucky, and Steve handed him the knife.
“Yes, ma’am,” Bucky replied stiffly.
Melina smiled, “Yelena made the mushroom sauce for the roast turkey.”
Bucky nodded.
“Don’t expect too much from the sauce.” Yelena tossed her long blonde hair.
“I hope Alexei isn’t bothering you. He’s always noisy when excited,” Melina said to Bucky.
Yelena cracked a laugh, “He’s noisy all the time.”
“Well, he challenged me to wrestle when we first met,” Steve added.
“And I beat Captain America!” Alexei proudly patted his chess.
“Liar!” Nat and Yelena exclaimed in unison.
“Not everything has to be about you, Alexei.” Melina smiled, but shot Alexei a sharp look.
Bucky tried to process everything. This whole dinner was too normal, but he bet there were hidden armory somewhere in this small house. But before Bucky could think about escape route, Melina continue, “I think Steve and Natasha have something they want to share with us.”
Bucky could see Nat reach for Steve’s hand. They stared at each other, before Nat declared, “We’re getting married.”
Bucky’s shock was interrupted by Alexei’s booming voice. “Wow! I thought you guys wanted to recruit me to join the Avengers!”
“Dad!” Nat and Yelena shout.
“Congratulations to both of you.” Melina took Nat’s hand and squeezed it gently.
Nat smiled and nodded.
Alexei rose from his seat and extended his hand. Steve looked confused, but took it and shook it.
“Mr. Rogers, I entrust you with my daughter. Take good care of her as we have taken care of her,” Alexei said firmly.
“Oh no! That’s terrible!” Yelena muttered, “Please don’t treat her like Alexei tread us.”
Steve smiled, “I’ll definitely take good care of your daughter, Sir.”
“Clearly, Steve treat me better than you ever did Alexei.” Nat murmured, taking Steve’s hand. She then turned her gaze to Bucky. “Bucky, will you be Steve’s best man?”
Bucky swallowed, eyes landed on Steve, “Yeah?”
“It would be an honor to have you in our wedding, Buck. And so, Yelena will be Natasha’s maid of honor,” Steve added.
“Yup!” Yelena trow two thumbs up.
“So, do you have any visions for the wedding yet?” Melina asked.
Nat and Steve nodded.
“We’re planning on having an intimate wedding celebration at the Barton's farm in seven months,” Nat said casually.
“What? Not in Russia?” Alexei sounded disappointed.
Nat took a deep breath. “It will be difficult to fly everyone to Russia.”
Bucky breathed a sigh of relief, and he could feel Yelena stealing a glance at him.
“Seven months would be enough to prepare a small party,” Melina muttered as if to herself.
“Ours took only 3 weeks. BHAAM! Me, and Melina became men and wife.” Alexei laugh.
“We plan to retire and focus on starting a family after we get married,” Steve explained, “That’s why we need time to prepare everything. Especially for our team.”
“So, we’ll be working together for the next seven months?” Bucky blinked, realizing Yelena had directed the question to him.
“Well… yeah, I guess so,” said Bucky.
* * *
Nearly a month had passed until they reunited at Steve's favorite dinner. This time, Yelena greeted Bucky as he approach the table. She wore a yellow flannel shirt over a gray top, long blonde hair fall flawlessly in her shoulder.
"They're late," Yelena muttered as she enjoyed a waffle with scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with slice fruits.
Bucky took a seat across from her, "Steve and Nat?"
Yelena nodded, "Natasha told me something about having huge problem in New Jersey."
So Steve was serious when he said there were many things to shorted before retirement.
"Steve said you're helping ex Widows going back to society." Bucky tried to strike up a conversation, "Like giving some kind of therapy?"
Waitress came and poured Bucky a cup of black coffee.
"I'm not a therapist," Yelena scoffed.
"Oh!" Bucky muttered, suddenly feeling guilty.
"You know, most of us have no skills other than killing people." Yelena continued casually, "Blended into society requires practical skills."
“Like… ahem…” Bucky thought for a moment, “Cooking?”
Yelena glared at him, pointing her dinner knife on Bucky's face and said, “Like ballet. Or becoming professional translator. Some normal jobs.”
Bucky could tell that Yelena despise him. How could she hates him when they’d never even met before?
“What about you? How can a war criminal like you fitting back into society?” Yelena asked.
“Mandatory therapy,” Bucky muttered.
“Did it work?” Yelena asked again.
“A little,” Bucky replied.
Yelena's green eyes stare intensely, he swear she tried to unravel every nerves in his brain.
Bucky took a deep breath, "Have we met before?"
"Hmm... interesting question." Yelena crossed her arms over, "You really don't remember?"
Once in a while, The Winter Soldier crossed path with Black Widow. When that happen, mostly it ended badly for both side. Natasha was an exceptionally miraculous case as she survived. Other than her, Bucky have no recollection of sparing other Red Room's Widow.
"Am I that easy to forget?" Yelena took a bite of her waffle.
"Well... I guest some memories takes longer to come back," Bucky not even sure with his words.
“You broke my ribs and left me bleeding on the streets of Havana.” Yelena waved her fork, “I was only 18.”
Her words struck him. Does she tell him the truth? Did she really survived the Winter Soldier at that young age? How bad did he hurt her? How could he forget that? Did Hydra put him under severe conditioning so he need more effort to retrace that memory?
A million apologies stuck on the tip of his tongue.
“I forgive you.” Yelena nodded as if reading his mind. “Or, at least I can offer a truce for as long as we work together to organize Nat and Steve Rogers’ wedding. My goal is to gift the best wedding my sister deserve. So don’t try to ruin it, Barnes. I won’t hesitate to kill you.”
Bucky could see the determination in Yelena’s green eyes. “Yes, ma’am!” Bucky replied quickly.
“Sorry we’re late!” Nat and Steve walked over to the table.
“No problem, Mr. Barnes here has found an interesting conversation to entertain me.” Yelena gave Nat a sweet smile.
“Lovely!” Nat beamed at her sister, “Anyway, Clint is going to start renovating his barn for the wedding.”
“Will you be able to lend a hand, Buck?” Steve asked.
“Sure, wouldn't missed that.” Bucky nodded.
“We have Nathaniel as the ring bearer, and Morgan as flower girl,” Nat said enthusiastically. “Now we can start looking for something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”
“What’s that?” Yelena frowned. “Some kind of stupid American tradition?”
“It’s a tradition. Period.” Nat tapped on Yelena's nose.
“Yeah, whatever, technically you already have something old by the way.” Yelena shrugged.
“And what is that?” Steve asked.
Yelena pointed her fork at Steve, “You.”
Bucky, who was just about to take a sip of his coffee, stopped. Steve looked shocked.
“You two…” Yelena waved at Steve and Bucky, “You guys came from different eras. It is not a mistake if I said that you’re both are something old,” Yelena said innocently.
“Okay! Okay!” Steve chuckled, “We got something old, and for something new, I want you to have this.”
Steve pulled out a purple velvet box from his jacket. Nat's eyes lit up as Steve carefully opened it. Inside, Bucky could see a silver ring with the shape of an eight-petal flower and orange carnelian stone in the center.
"Pretty." Nat stared at the ring that is now rest on her left ring finger.
"Do you like it?" Steve asked.
"Yeah! I really do. Thanks Cap!" Nat slid her fingers behind Steve's hair and pulled him for a kiss.
"Something new checked, now something borrowed," Yelena murmured.
Nat looked away from Steve, "I can borrow Mom's wedding dress."
"Mom kept her wedding dress?" Yelena gaped.
"Yeah. She said it’s because the dress was simple, too casual for a wedding dress. But I bet the truth is it holds sentimental value for her." Nat smirked.
Yelena snored, “Don’t forget that she named her favorite pig after dad.”
Nat chuckled and add, "Oh and I could borrow Laura's veil."
"Good! Very practical." Yelena nodded in satisfaction, "Now all that's left is something blue."
"Hmm…" Nat and Steve thought for a moment.
"Hydrangeas! We could use hydrangeas as decoration! Let's have a blue-themed fall barn wedding!" Yelena exclaimed gleefully.
Steve and Nat looked at each other, mesmerized at Yelena's jubilant request. With her dazzling green eyes, Bucky sure that no one on earth could said no.
"Perfect! lets do this!" Nat grinned ear to ear.