Chapter 3
The first school week was now coming to a close and Steve was just about ready for the weekend, and though she wouldn’t admit it, so was Sarah. This wasn’t something she was used to doing, so naturally she was tired and ready for a fun weekend.
Their day went off like usual. Steve made breakfast, Sarah's lunch, did her hair, and got her out the door. Then once he was home, he sat down and planned the picture book he wanted to publish.
Writing and illustrating a picture book was never something Steve thought of doing. But after all the years of reading books to Sarah, she asked him if he would ever write one. He had sketched out simple pictures for her to colour in to help make their own story in the past and he thought it was a cute idea. Then, as all things happen with, Tony had stopped by Steves’ by his request to check on the final few details in the Stark Industries painting. He saw the little book on the side and questioned about it. Steve tried to brush it off but Tony had insisted and soon he told him all about the book. Like everyone, Tony also had a soft spot for Sarah and said if he ever wanted to publish a picture book he could do it through Stark Industries, because apparently they know published books too? And then like a fool, he took him up on it.
He and Sarah were both working on a story about a ballerina elephant. She has been told she can’t be a ballerina because she is too loud, but she doesn’t let that stop her and becomes the best ballerina there is. Steve illustrates and writes, and then Sarah helps colour in and give her opinion all the time. Steve loves it though. It’s a way for them to create something together and share it with people, even if it is a few, he doesn’t care, he just cares about the time he spends with his daughter.
With the outline of the story, he had made a planning sheet of when he wanted things to be done by. He tried to keep it as flexible as possible because Sarah didn’t know the book they were making was going to be published. He wanted to be able to surprise her when it was all done and binded the way a book was supposed to be.
So he began writing. It was only a short story with the plot all planned that he was able to write a good half in a few hours, deciding to stop for lunch and add more later.
The weather was good today that he decided to take a walk to one of the cafes near his house. For a moment he wondered if he should look up Beccas’ bakery, wondering what she may have called it, but he knew that he shouldn’t go without Sarah and seeing Becca again after so many years, he didn’t know.
It wasn’t like Steve had actively avoided the Barnes’ once he went to college, he didn’t move away after all. He saw them a few times during the first year, especially when Bucky was back from basic training for a few days before shipping off. Steve didn’t have any classes those few days and the two decided to spend every minute together. Steve stayed those days, and Sarah came for dinner the night before Bucky shipped out, and emotions were a little higher. The emotions were especially high among the two men. They were each others everything. Two boys that found the other on their first day of school and stuck together for the next 12 years were now being separated by oceans, not knowing when they would see each other again. So, Steve went for a dinner a month with the Barnes’, constantly wrote to Bucky, and when he could call he would. And then, nothing. He was worried he had died but Becca hadn’t said anything and he knew she would. But Sam reminded him that sometimes the Army takes a toll on a person, he had seen it happen to his own father. The letters stopped for a while and then soon returned. Then time turned longer, Sam went to join the pararescue and Steve worried it would happen again. Thankfully it didn’t.
So, he didn’t check out Beccas’ bakery, instead he walked past the road he thought it would be down and went to the cafe the twins worked at on the weekends. Their school went back the following week, and he knew they would be getting any amount of extra cash on them so walked into Asgards Bakery and was welcomed by the owner, Thor.
“Steven!” He bellowed, catching the attention of the few customers. “How are you my dear friend?” Thor asked while Steve walked up to the counter looking at the display of food looking at him.
“Oh you know, I’m alright. Taking a break for lunch so I thought I would come down and see my favourite people.” Steve answered. They definitely were some of his favourite people because they supplied him with food, and they were nice too.
Getting his usual muffin and coffee, he takes a seat at his table and Thor joins him with a coffee for each of them. The pair catch up for a while before the lunch rush comes in and Thor is forced to do his job.
Even their lunch rush isn't that busy. It's a decent sized cafe. Not too small, but not too big either. Able to hold 6 booths against both sides of the wall as well as two-seater tables scattered in between, Steve had only seen it full to capacity over the six years he had been coming here regularly.
After weeks of Sarah not sleeping, Steve called in the reinforcement of his Ma for help. She stayed for a week helping Steve with the baby and letting him get himself back again. After taking a walk to her suggestion, he came across ‘Asgards Cafe’ and walked in for a coffee. Thors parents owned the cafe, but he was the one that took care of most responsibilities that came about. Upon seeing Steve that day in his sleep deprived state, he told him to sit down and he would bring him the food and drink he would love. And he did, because that was still his order to this day. He made a tradition with himself to go at least once a month when Sarah was younger, but now she could come with him or now she was at school Steve could go weekly, or daily. Maybe not daily, but he could go more than he could before.
He also enjoyed the atmosphere it provided. Plants hung from all corners, art work on the walls (including a few by Steve), the array of colours making you feel welcome, and even the aprons they wore were personalised to match them. It made him feel at peace. A place he felt all his worries and questions leave his mind.
Steve stayed for a while longer, sitting with the twins while they were able to have their lunch break and caught up with everything they were doing. They were entering their last year of high school and were looking forward to leaving it behind and the future ahead of them. Unfortunately their parents had died in a car crash only a few years before Steve moved in next door to them with their Aunt. An Aunt they didn’t like very much. She didn’t know how to take care of kids and generally left them to fend for themselves. When they were old enough to be left home alone she started going out for a day, then a few weekends, and sometimes left them for a week.
It was one of those weekends when Wanda walked to Steves’ asking if she could help them fix Pietro's door that had gotten stuck with him inside that he learnt the truth. He picked up Sarah, and went over to help them. They told him that them being home alone wasn’t rare, but it was only since the twins turned 14 that she had started going overnight. There was not enough evidence for Steve to take this to the law, and even then he knew it would split the twins apart. So he told them that when she did that they were welcome to stay with him during the day, and he gave them his number in case they needed him throughout the night. Both taking him up on the offer, the two returned the next day and helped look after Sarah while doing their homework and feeling safe in the house.
Steve had become a steady figure in their lives quickly, even being the one to recommend them the job. He knew Thor was looking for more help and when he told him he knew two students that wanted to earn their own money, he was more than happy to meet with them and give them a chance. Even when their Aunt was home they would come to Steves and get his help for a ray of things. Pietro asked him once for advice about a girl he liked and he told him he wasn’t the best at that thing, but knew more about men than women. Hearing that, Wanda would then come to him for advice on the guys she liked, and once a girl she liked. He would help them with their homework, while the other helped with Sarah and then sometimes would switch. Steve wouldn’t say he became a father figure in their life, but more of an older brother to them and Sarah a younger sister too. He knew he would miss them when they left for college at the end of the school year.
Staying at the cafe for a while after the twins' lunch break, Steve decided he had better head back home before he needed to pick up Sarah. While he was adjusting, he was still finding it strange to have an empty house for most of the day, and couldn’t wait until the weekend as both him and his Ma had planned a fun day with her before Sarah Sr had to return back to work.
Unlocking, and walking in the front door, it hit Steve just how quiet it was. The clock ticking in the corner, small droplets of water dripped rhythmically from the sink, and his own breathing proved to be the loudest sound he heard. Setting down the keys, he sat down on the couch with a loud sigh before turning on the TV to provide an escape.
With a Ma who had to work more than the average parent in order to provide for both her and Steve, he wasn’t exactly not used to the quietness of a house. But, he always had someone he could call and hang out with, and now he didn’t. Sure, Sam was free today, as was his Ma, but they weren’t the person he wanted right now.
Steve knew it was pathetic to still be thinking about Bucky Barnes all these years later, but he saw him grow up and was the first friend he ever made. So thinking about him he got out the paper and pen he was going to write to his parents and began writing again.
Dear Mr and Mrs Barnes,
It’s Steve Rogers.
I first want to apologise for not remaining in contact after the first few years of college, but I definitely had a lot of flips in life that caused some things to come to a halt in the back of my mind. Ma is okay and doing better than ever, just in case that was what you were thinking. It is happy news that has happened.
I’m a Dad!
My college girlfriend, Peggy, and I had a little girl called Sarah Margaret Rogers (named after Peg and Ma) on June 13th 2010, and she is the most beautiful little girl there is. I’m not married however, Peggy and I agreed that we stayed better as friends so I am still in Brooklyn raising Sarah while Peggy works between here and London and is still very present in our lives.
With the child support, and extra money she sends us, I am able to work from home doing painting commissions for a wide group of people, including Stark Industries. I met Tony Stark in college and every 6 months he gets a new painting to display in any one of his branches. I just previously finished one for his main office in Manhattan.
Ma, Sarah, and I are all very happy with our lives right now and for once, everything is going great for us. I wanted to reach out to you to apologise for my lack of communication over the years and to let you know how I am as you both played a huge role in my life growing up and that is something I will never be able to thank you for enough.
I hope this letter finds you and we can catch up and you can meet Sarah if you like.
Yours sincerely,
Steve Rogers.
Letting the ink dry, Steve went and found a spare envelope he had while he wrote on the last address he remembered the Barnes’ living in and really hoped they were still there. Placing in the letter and adding a stamp, he picked up the car keys hoping in the car to go pick up Sarah and then post the letter, where hopefully a response would be seen.
Getting out of the car, Steve walked to the tree he waited beneath for Sarah and looked around at the other parents waiting. Still in their cliques, looking as if they had been friends for years, connecting families together through siblings, while Steve stood there alone feeling awkward and out of place, but that feeling didn’t last long when the bell rang and Sarah ran out the doors with a girl beside her.
As they got closer, there was something familiar about the young girl next to this daughter, but he shook the thought away at his overthinking mind and smiled and waved Sarah over to him.
Running over she leapt into his arms like every afternoon this week, but now with a friend standing waiting for her to let go.
“Daidí, this is my friend Charlotte.” Sarah said excitedly, jumping up and down pointing to the girl next to her. So, this was the infamous Charlotte he thought to himself. Kneeling down to introduce himself, she stuck her hand out to shake and introduced herself.
“Hi Mr Rogers, I’m Charlotte, Sarahs’ bestest friend, but you can call me Lottie because everybody does.” Lottie introduced herself. She was a very polite child for her age, especially knowing how to introduce herself and talk to adults.
“Well, it is lovely to finally meet you Lottie. Sarah has told me all about you.” He answered with a soft smile on his face before standing up because while he may only be 28, his knees were turning 80 next week.
“Sarah, my Daddy is over there, we can ask if you can come to my home this weekend!” Lottie suggested, grabbing Sarahs’ hand as Steve followed in tow behind the two excited girls.
It was wonderful to see Sarah making friends with kids her age as Steve was worried that due to her just starting school, and being his daughter, that it may have been something she would struggle with. But, no, instead it was the end of the first week of school and she was asking to have a playdate with someone, and Steve was meeting the parents around the school.
Being five steps ahead of him, Lottie jumped in her own fathers arm with his face burying into her shoulder, as Sarah ran and grabbed Steves’ hand. Reaching out his hand to shake the other mans, Steve began to speak.
“Hi, I’m Sarahs’ Dad…” The man looked up from his daughter and Steve froze.
“Stevie?” He asked with a slight hesitation in his voice. And while his appearance may have changed those eyes never did. Still the same stormy eyes he dreamed about every night.
“Bucky?” Steve asked back with the same quizzical look on his face.
10 years without seeing him and now he was meeting him again through his daughter? He looked different, but beneath the shoulder length hair, and soft stubble, Steve knew that he was still the Bucky that left for the army all those years ago. Bucky put down Lottie as the two girls stood to the side, confused about what was happening in front of them, and he walked closer.
“Yeah, Stevie, it’s me.” A huge smile spread across his face, as Steves’ lit up at the old nickname that only his Ma and Bucky would call him.
Bucky outstretched his arms as Steve fell in them while they embraced a person they never thought they would see again. Steve couldn’t believe it. He had a letter to his parents in his car and now he was standing here, again, with a daughter? Was he married? In the short second that he wasn’t looking in his eyes he didn’t see a wedding ring. Girlfriend maybe? Or fiance?
Slowly letting go, the two stared at each other in shocked silence before they both spoke at the same time.
“You’re a Dad?” They asked the other before laughing at the coordination they still shared after all that time away.
“Yeah.” Bucky answered first. “I am. Kinda surprised you are, pal.” His wit and charm the same way that Steve remembers only making him believe he was dreaming.
“Well, guess this day is just full of surprises cause, I do know for a fact Sarah is my daughter.” He laughed back.
“After your Ma.” Bucky said in a soft voice. The last Bucky had seen of her she was in the worst of her cancer treatment and, being practical people, Sarah always wanted Steve to be prepared. Thankfully, she obviously made a full recovery but he still wished for his daughter to wear his Mas’ name.
“Yeah. She’s doing great now, by the way. Able to work less and have more time for her and us.” Steve informed him, as he knew Bucky was asking if she was still with them.
A relieved look fell over his face as he returned back to the charismatic man from before.
“Well, Steve, I think these two little munchkins had a question for us before this surprising, but great reunion.” Steve agreed as they both turned to their daughters looking at them confused. Now they knew how their parents felt over the years when they would see someone they knew.
“Daddy, can Sarah come over this weekend, please.” Lottie asked, forgetting as if the last five minutes were never a thing. Pouting out her bottom lip and using the same face Bucky would use to ask his Mom for extra cookies, Steve had to stifle a laugh behind his hand.
“That sounds good to me. Does that sound good to you Steve?” Bucky answered his daughter before turning back to his old friend with the same twinkle in his eye. God, how much Steve had missed those eyes.
“Sounds good to me, Buck. I’ll give you my number and we can find a time for the girls to get together.” He answered as Bucky passed him his phone to add in his number. Sending a text to himself to get Buckys’. They shared one more hug before heading off their separate ways.
Getting in the car and driving off back home, Sarah spoke up from the backseat.
“How did you know Lotties’ Daddy, Daidí?” She asked.
“Bucky and I went to school together sweetie. We were bestest friends.” He answered as he smiled the rest of the way home, unable to get Buckys’ face out of his head, and for the first time he now had a way to contact him.