Chapter 3
Steve didn't know how long he was stood there, just gawking, but an elderly couple spotted him in the dim of the street lamp and they walked over, offering him sweet but very concerned smiles, darting down the the unconscious woman in his arms. Steve took a cautious step away, moving as if to shield her from the elderly couple and their expressions softened, as if they had seen this before. "It's alright son, no one is going to hurt your lady friend." The elderly man told him, stepping in front of his wife, his hands were held in surrender as he took a few steps closer. "My name is Josef, and this is my wife, Mila. You've got quite the gash on your forehead. Why dont we all go somewhere quiet and take care of it, yeah? And you're friend too."
"Uhm." Steve muttered, suddenly feeling the affects or his concussion. "What year is it?" He hesitantly asked them, earning another worried look from the couple.
"1948." Said Mila, stepping forwards. She spoke softly, like a mother trying to calm her baby. "We won the war. We're safe."
1948. It was 1948... IT WAS 1948?!
His eyes widened in horrified realisation and whispered to himself. "Time stone..."
"Pardon me?" The couple were confused, and getting a little weirded out by Steve. "Son, you don't look okay. You should get to a hospital -- if not for you, then for her, as soon as possible." Josef told him.
Steve turned to him. "Where are we?"
"Brooklyn Heights?" Josef informed him, only getting more confused. Steve let out a sigh of relief, Steve grew up here before the war; before Captain America. He knew exactly where to go; where they would be safe, until Toni was conscious again. "We have a car just over here, I could take you wherever you need too. Please, son, you look like you're about to black out." Josef practically begged, his eyes darted down to Toni, who hadn't even twitched.
"It's alright, I'm-I'm okay... Thank you." He smiled weakly. Steve gestured north and said. "Our family only live a block away."
"Son, we can't just--"
"--really, we are fine. My ma's a nurse." He interrupted, harsher than what he meant. Steve couldn't accept their offer, he didn't know these people and with the Reactor in Toni's chest, it's just way too risky. The war ended two years ago -- Steve's face was on every poster, his voice was on all radio channels, and he was in countless movies... what would happen if the elderly couple suddenly recognised him?! Again, it was simply too risky. If he was alone, it would be another story but he's with Toni -- an unconscious, vulnerable Toni -- so he could not take any chances. They tried to protest again, so Steve had no choice but to just run off. Of course, the yelled after him but he was fast. So, they disappeared before the couple could scream for help.
Steve stuck with the shadows after that, making sure to avoid direct light and very populated areas. Steve treated it like he's on a SHIELD mission. It made it easier.
It took Steve nearly an hour to get where he needed too. So, not just a block away. It was cold; his muscles ached; he smelt like the trash they'd landed in, and Toni's Reactor started emitting a green light. He knew that it was not normal -- her reactor should be a blue light. It's Toni's favourite colour, and the specific shade she chose doesn't cause as many distractions as so many colours did. Especially green! Steve was growing more concerned for Toni as she hadn't even moved an inch or made a sound since her lab exploded. He felt her pulse but it was too weak, she's a ghostly shade of white and she smelt, very bad.
They arrived at the end of the street that he grew up on, he could actually see his childhood apartment right at the bottom. He lived there with his mother, Sara. But, Sara Rogers died when he was eighteen years old of TB, something she got while at work. He wasn't here for that mother -- he'd come here for Winifred Barnes, who was actually Bucky Barnes' mother. They were in each other's lives so much that it felt like Winifred was his mom, and Sara Rogers was Bucky's. Steve couldn't go to a hospital, and he had no idea where any of the Commandos' lived; Peggy went to London after the war and Howard was in California. So, the Barnes' were really his only choice here. They will help him.
Still, Steve almost didn't knock on. Steve was terrified. He hadn't really seen them since 1943. He threw himself into the ice before he could visit them and tell them how sorry he was for Bucky... The weight across his arms was the only reason why he didn't walk away. Steve knocked on.
Steve heard a voice yelling at him before the door even opened. "Whatever you are sellin', we ain't buying!" And then, with an ungodly amount of aggression, the doors swung open which revealed a very angry teenage girl. Rebecca Barnes. Becca. She was about the same height as Toni, very slim and pretty, she'd the same pale blue eyes and dark brown hair as Bucky. They stared at each other in disbelief, Rebecca looked down at the unconscious woman and then back up at Steve, who was now teary eyed and stammering, trying to say something to her. Rebecca narrowed her eyes, trying to place where she knew this scruffy looking breaded man, then Becca gasped and she stammered. "Stevie?"
Steve smiled weakly. "Hi, Becca."
"Rebecca, darling, who's at the door?!" The voice of Winifred Barnes called out from another room and when Becca didn't give her a response, she stepped out, tutting. Silently, Rebecca opened the door further so that Winifred could see whom was at their door. And Winifred dropped the dish cloth in her hands, her jaw fell. "Steven?"
"Ma." He muttered through an exhausted breath. Steve suddenly began to lose his balance and the two women ran over.
"Oh shit!" Becca cursed when two bodies were suddenly collapsing on top of her.
And Winifred screamed. "GEORGE!?!"
George was her husband, he raced out of the living room when he heard Winifred's scream. Like the women, he'd froze when he saw Steve Rogers -- Stevie, whom was supposed to have died three years ago -- at the front door, with a woman!? George looked up at his wife, who was crying. "Is this--... is that really our Stevie?" Winifred nodded emotionally and George let out a laugh of disbelief. This was a miracle.
Becca looked between her parents and she huffed. "HELLO!? I'm being crushed! Please get them off of me! NOW!"
Thankfully, Steve wasn't unconscious for long. George only had to put an arm over his shoulder to help Steve inside. Becca and Winifred were able to carry Toni into the house, carefully placing her onto the sofa. Steve was sitting in George's chair, his fingers pressed against the bridge of his nose while George ran to grab some water. Steve groaned, the adrenaline was wearing off and he was starting to feel it all; the pain and aching of the explosion, and travelling back seventy years. Serum or not, it was agonising. Erskine's did not account for time travel when he created his serum. He downed the glass of water like he had been stuck in the desert for a few too many years, awkwardly thanking George. The Barnes' were all staring.
George was first one to question Steve. "H-how is this--... Stevie, you were dead! They said you drowned in the Arctic."
He nodded. "I did."
"Clearly." Becca deadpanned.
Steve gave Becca an amused smile while Winifred whacked her for her sass. "It's a long, unbelievable story." He explained.
"And the, uhm, the unconscious lady with the--" Winifred awkwardly gestured to her own chest, referring to Toni's arc reactor. Winifred had seen the reactor's glow and she almost dropped Toni. It shocked her. Winifred had no idea what it was; what it did or the unconscious girl was. She was with Steve and, normally, that'd be enough for her, but it felt very different this time.
"She one of them extraterrestrial's we're always hearing about?" Becca asked, she actually sounded rather excited about it.
"Sometimes it feels that way." Steve said with a laugh. "Her name is Toni and she's human. I-- I didn't know where else to go." He sheepishly admitted, Winifred moved over to him, bringing Steve into a hug. He was more than happy to reciprocate it.
"We have all missed you so much."
"Missed you too." Steve replied. They had no idea just how much he's missed them. George wasn't usually a very affectionate man, but wrapped his arms around Steve and he squeezed him; practically cradling Steve. George even kissed Steve's cheek. Then Becca hugged him, though it was a much shorter hug, and when she'd pulled away, she playfully punched his shoulder and grinned, with quiet a; 'I'm glad you are not actually dead'. Steve laughed again.
Once the reunion and fluff was out of the way, Winifred defaulted to Nurse. "You're already healing nicely. But -- Toni, did you say her name was? She's probably going to need to have some stitches. I'm, uhm, I'm not too sure what else she will need... with that -- object... sitting on her chest?"
"It's an Arc reactor." Steve explained. "It's best you do not touch that... Toni is very strict about that. It helps her heart beat."
Winifred eyes widened. "That's in her?!"
"And you're sure she ain't an alien?"
Steve grinned at Becca and he promised her. "I am very sure Toni is not an alien."
Becca hummed, nodding then she asked. "And, any particular reason as to why she smells like she hasn't bathed in a week?" Steve pursed his lips, she probably hasn't.
"Uh... she's a scientist?"
Winifred gave him an unimpressed look. "Go, to get cleaned up, Rebecca and I will care for your-- .... friend?" She asked in a way which made Steve blush, barely even ten minutes and they were interrogating him, already, about his love life. Rebecca grinned, wiggling her eyebrows at Steve's flushed cheeks and he rolled his eyes, he lightly shoved Rebecca as he stood up. It was like he's never felt. It was really nice.
Steve picked Toni back up and he carried her into their guest room, he didnt need a reminder where that was. He placed Toni onto the bed. George followed him out of the living room, hoping to find clothes for Steve to wear that wasn't burned up; torn and smelling like garbage, and Steve felt his heart shattering when he spotted his pseudo-dad walking to Bucky's bedroom. He looked away from George as Rebecca and Winifred were walking into the guest room with clean towels, bowls of water, fresh clothes and medical supplies. They offered him loving smiles before shoving him out their guest bedroom so that they could properly attend to Toni.
George came back with a razor kit. The Captain frowned a little and asked him, touching his chin. "You don't like it?"
"You look homeless." George told him.
Steve grinned and replied. "I like it."
George took his hand and he placed the razor kit into Steve's palm. "Please?" He'd think about it. But, Steve really did like it.
In the guest room, Winifred and Rebecca were wiping all the grime and blood from Toni's skin, trying to be delicate. Rebecca couldn't help but grimace at what they're doing, she really couldnt understand how her mother did this job for a living. Becca didn't like having to get up, close and very personal with somebody that she doesn't know. Hell, she probably wouldn't do this for family! She'd much rather what Peggy does -- Rebecca Barnes, SSR Agent!? That sounded perfect. Saving lives and kicking Nazi butt! It was bloody brilliant.
"You're making a face." Winifred noted.
"I just--" Becca tutted, trying to not speak and it be offensive. "How does a woman as beautiful as Toni, end up with old food in her hair and smellin' like that? Ooh, Ma! Did you see the way Steve looked at her? He was all goo-goo eyed and blushing!"
"Less talking, more cleaning." Winifred told her daughter, making Rebecca pout. But, not that she would ever admit it to Becca, Winifred wanted to know about it too. Was this Toni his girl?
AN - I picture Nina Dobrev as Rebecca. I think she & Sebastian could play siblings in a movie or tv show 100%. Not sure on who I want to be George and Winifred just yet 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️ ANYWAY, here you all you <33 another little chapter. I looove the Barnes family so much. With Bucky being one of the main MCU characters, I feel like they definitely missed with leaving out all his family 😭❤️ like imagine how sweet but angsty it would'vebeen to meet an elderly woman version of Becca?! There is a lot of fanart. You should all check it out.
Q. I'm kinda debating whether or not I want this to be a poly pairing?! I can 100% see a young Thor flirting with both Toni and Steve. In my head, Steve is bisexual while Toni is pansexual. What are your thoughts?! Am I crazy or do you see it?!
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- Sarah xoxo