Guarded Heart

When Y/N woke up next she heard whispering and looked towards the door. "Winnie? George? I didn't expect to see you."

Winnie kissed her on the cheek "Of course dear, you're still family even if my son is an idiot."

George piped in "Plus you did save his life. The family owes you."

Y/N looked at him warily "Then we need to have a family meeting very soon. Dreykov and Yelena are still out there and he's behind it all." She turned to Winnie "It's very nice of you to come. This place is boring and the food, ugh. I'm afraid all I do is sleep and argue with the staff. I'm not an easy patient but it keeps the depression at bay" she shrugged with a smirk.

"I'm told Tony stark is already working on a prosthesis for you." George commented.

She grinned "He promised it will be better than James. I'm his favorite." Her smile fell "I don't know how it will work with my riding but there's not much I can do about it now."

Winnie took her hand "be strong Y/N, you'll get through this. I just know we'll see you back with your horses before long.

The boys are in the waiting room, the nurse didn't want a crowd in here. We'll go to the waiting room so they can say hi."

Y/N heard 'the boys' and her heart sped up but she was disappointed when only Steve and Sam entered. Then she was mad at herself for caring and mad at him for being a dumbass.

"Steve, Sam. Thanks for visiting. And the flowers"

Sam set a huge bouquet of flowers, yellow roses, daisies and sunflowers, on a table that had been brought in because of all the flowers and gifts that had come in.

Y/N looked at them disappointed "Barnes couldn't scrounge up the balls to come? Why am I not surprised? Can't deal with the consequences of his actions." She shook her head gently "Enough of him. How are you guys?"

Steve looked at her guilty "He's in bad shape. Hasn't stopped drinking since he came home. He's staying at our parents, they insisted so he's not alone. He feels awful and-"

She glared at him "NO! You don't get to come in here and try to guilt me. Not after what happened. I don't know if you noticed but I lost my fucking arm because he refused to even consider the proof I found of her duplicity.

Fuck that. I'm not gonna feel bad for him, he made his own damn bed."

She sat back and tried to regulate her breathing "I'm getting tired so you should go. Talk to George about a meeting tomorrow. Dreykov is still alive and he needs to not be."

They both nodded then kissed her on the cheek to say goodbye.

When they made it to the waiting room they saw George "Winnie went down to get some coffee."

Steve looked at him "Y/N said you're working on a meeting tomorrow. I'm assuming it will be here"

George nodded "Y/N insists on running her family even if it's from the hospital. I'll make it for-" his mouth dropped open and his eyes grew wide forcing Steve to turn around. There was Bucky with his mom on one arm and a huge bouquet with a stuffed bear clutched in the other.

Steve's jaw dropped as well "Buck. Didn't expect to see you. I woulda waited for you if you told me"

Bucky shook his head and grimaced "I've spent the last 20 minutes fighting with myself, driving around the hospital. I don't know if I can face her but I feel like I need to."

George nodded at his son "Good luck kid."

"Yeah luck" Bucky shook his head, straightened his shoulders and headed for her room, stopping in the doorway. He cleared his throat then flinched when she glared at him.

"I'm surprised you bothered to visit. Aren't you still mourning your beloved Natasha?" She spat at him

Bucky set down the gifts and sighed "I know I deserve all of your ire. I've been a complete tool and should have at least taken your concerns seriously." He let out a breath and seemed to shrink a little "I won't visit again if you don't want me to but I had to come and apologize in person. I acted like some kind of lovestruck fool and you're paying the price. I would do anything to go back and be better."

Y/N rolled her eyes "If only time travel were a thing I'd have known not to get involved with you. You treat me more like a girlfriend than an arranged wife but drop me like a bad habit over her. I have whiplash from you playing with my heart and I don't know if I can take a chance on you.

We'll stick with being business associates since your father has agreed to help get Dreykov."

Bucky's stomach fell "Business associates, right."

"You should be thankful for that. I could refuse to deal with you at all and do all my business with only your father or Steve. It has crossed my mind"

Bucky nodded, she wasn't wrong. "I understand. I'll talk to my dad and see you at the meeting tomorrow"

"Good idea"

"Bye doll" he said sadly. She was tempted to correct him but she was too tired and rolled over facing away from him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day after lunchtime Y/N changed into a blouse with a blazer over it and a nice blanket to cover her legs. Wanda pushed her wheelchair into the crowded conference room where all the families but Dreykov and Pierce were represented. George, Bucky, Steve, Sam. Y/N, Pietro, Scott. Loki, Heimdal and Syf.

Everyone in the room quieted down.

Y/N sat up straight and started speaking "First I want to thank all of you for coming on such short notice and meeting here since I can't go home for a few more days.

Regarding my own family I have selected Pietro Maximoff to be my right hand. I expect he will receive the respect due him."

She stopped to take a drink of her tea and a deep breath. "If anyone wasn't aware, Dreykov was behind the recent kidnapping of James Barnes. Natasha Romanoff was his daughter and she seduced Clint, my former right hand.

It seems unlikely to me that Dreykov and Pierce will just back down so we need to increase security and find a way in."

"We have an in" Steve declared "Yelena turned on her father weeks ago but he doesn't know it yet."

Y/N furrowed her brow "I just killed one sister who was a plant and now I'm supposed to trust the other one? I don't know if I can do that"

Steve looked at her sadly "I know. You have taken the brunt of this war already. Unfortunately she's all we have on the inside and I trust her."

Y/N scoffed "Her father wants me and the Barnes family dead. How do you know she's not working for him, trying to get information on your family and defenses?"

Steve sighed "She's given me good Intel on shipments and people. I've given her a sympathetic ear and nothing else. She hates her father for sterilizing her and her sister but refusing to let them take over when he's gone. Says women aren't suited for leadership."

She nodded "That's what he said when he came to try to court me. He forced her to stand behind his chair the whole time he was there.

I believe that she hates his attitude about women but she could just kill him and take over.

And why didn't she tell you about Natasha? Imagine the pain it could have prevented if you had know sooner."

Steve coughed "Actually she did and I told Bucky. He confronted Natasha and she convinced him that Yelena was just jealous. Insisted she never met her or Dreykov." He shook his head "Bucky believed Nat.

Dreykov didn't tell Yelena about Clint or the accident they planned to kill you. He kept her in the dark about a lot of things."

Bucky looked down at the table, embarassed. He mumbled "I'm sorry"

Y/N bristled "So I wasn't the first to tell you and even with evidence and your brother warning you, you just-" she took a deep breath "Sorry, that's a personal issue."

She turned back to Steve "I don't trust her but will give her a chance since you do.

What's the play?"

Steve gave her a small smile "Dreykov has a big meeting in a couple of days. Pierce and Rumlow will be there as well as Zemo. Dreykov has been trying to get Zemo to marry Yelena so he can run the business after Dreykov dies. Neither of them want it, Yelena thinks Zemo is a pig and Zemo doesn't want a wife that can't give him kids."

Y/N nodded "Zemo is a pig. I ended our engagement when I caught him fucking some poor girl in the basement. She was crying and begging him to stop. He said he was just testing the merchandise, like it was no big deal. Even tried to talk me into joining them. When I refused and tried to leave he had his men keep me there to watch and threatened to sell me off if I didn't keep my mouth shut, then he took me in front of his men. To teach me my place or something. That's when I learned he was involved in human trafficking and ended it.

I snuck out early the next morning. I know everyone here has committed plenty of crimes and hurt plenty of people but I won't have anything to do with trafficking.

Besides that he didn't love me, I was just another possession."

Bucky's eyes grew wide listening to her story. The rumour mill claimed that the split was because of her obsession with horses and she didn't take care of Zemo like a woman should. No wonder she kept people at a distance.

She shook her head to clear away the thoughts of Zemo. She had been young and believed the baron would be like a Disney Prince, he was so charming at first.

A small laugh escaped "I was an idiot" she murmured.

"So we crashing the meeting?" She asked bluntly.

Steve smirked "Something like that but you're staying here. I'm sorry, I know it's personal for you but with your injuries it would be too dangerous. For all of us.

Yelena has told her father that one of my people is ready to turn and has a ton of info to sell. Your godfather has come up with a wire that's impossible to detect, all blue tooth or whatever. Peter will be at the meeting and we will be close by listening. Once they start getting tipsy we will move in."

She nodded "So just rush in and start a melee. Sounds dangerous."

Bucky scoffed "It's organized crime, doll. Its always dangerous."

She glared at him until he backed down, looking at his hands.

Steve smirked and shook his head at the two of them. Dumbasses. "We won't be just rushing in, it's a little more nuanced than that but yeah. And we need everyone we can send in. Sam will be here with you in case Dreykov wants to try something."

Y/N started to protest "I know I'm not up for a big fight but I think I've proven my skills. I can handle an assassin or two."

George Barnes shook his head "I'm sorry dear, I know your independence is important to you but we need you protected, we don't want to lose you."

She sighed "Fine but I want regular updates. I'll see if Tony can link me in to your wire." She took a drink of water and looked around "I'm sorry but I get tired quickly now and it's about my nap time" she grinned and a few people chuckled. "I'll leave you kids to strategize. Steve, keep me updated."

Bucky smiled at her "I'll make sure you are kept in the loop."

She just grimaced and nodded. Wanda helped her back to her room and into bed.

After she left, Steve and Loki started arguing about the plans and the group went on for 4 more hours of arguing and ironing out details.

After the meeting it was almost dinner time and Bucky went to try to talk to Y/N again. She was awake and reading when he walked in.

She set her book down and threw her best resting bitch face at him "What do you want, Barnes?"

He saw that look on her face and knew it wouldn't be easy for him. He had started tearing her walls down but now they were higher than ever.

"I just" he stuttered "I just want you to know how sorry I am. For everything. I never meant to play with your emotions, I just got comfortable with you and it scared me. I wanted you, that was real. Still do if I'm being honest. Your attitude can be a pain But I love your strength and honesty.

But right now I'm still kinda fucked up over the Nat thing. We were together for a long time. I thought she was it for me. Then I met you and everything just clicked so easily. For the first time since my dad demanded it, I was looking forward to getting married. And New Years Eve, I was holding back but I had to touch you. I'm going to work and prove myself to you." He gave her a charming smile.

She shook her head "But Barnes" he flinched at the repeated use of his last name and wished she would call him Jamie again. "She's the woman you love and I could never compete. Why would I even try? You should go, I'm tired and dinner will be here soon."

Bucky left with a heavy heart, plotting ways to woo her. After Dreykov was taken down of course