Steve steps into his old house. His mother is gone. She passed away a few months after he went to college. He wasn't even there for her when she died. She died alone. And she never told Steve how she was struggling. She was an amazing and beautiful woman. And Steve wasn't there when she died…
But now Steve is back in his hometown. He’s thirty one. And he’s nursing an injury to his knee. He doesn't know if he’ll be playing football again. But right now, he needs to take time off. So he came home to Doveshire. The sweet, little neighborhood he grew up in. He doubts his old friend still lives here. He’s probably graduating from college right now.
It hurt Steve dearly to leave Bucky. But he had to. He couldn't stay around the twelve year old Omega. He had strong feelings developing for him as he developed into a soft, and feminine, young Omega. He started to get curves and his hair grew out. His cheeks, once chubby and adorable, were sinking away to that of an adult Omega. He couldn't bear being around him. He was slowly falling in love with Bucky Barnes. So he left. Bucky cried when he left. And that hurt Steve even more. But he couldn't stay around him. Not when Steve was an adult and Bucky was just a kid. He loved that kid more than anything.
And because he loved him, he left him. He didn't want to ruin the pup’s life. The pup was slowly but surely turning into an adult. He would be looking at suitors soon. He would be going to college. Figuring out what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Whether that be a stay at home mother, or a businessman.
Steve couldn't take away Bucky’s chance at a career or a life because he loved him. They were six years apart. He was a child. Steve was an adult. Steve kept reminding himself of that as he drove away for college. Leaving Bucky at home with his mother and father and older sister.
Now, Steve looks around his old house. Nothing’s changed at all. Of course it didn't. His mother wouldn't change anything. She had hoped he’d come home to her after college. She wanted everything to stay the same. Sarah Rogers was an incredible woman. A woman Steve looked up to. Everyone looked up to her.
He walks into his old bedroom and turns on the light. It flickers for a few moments before turning on. He picks up a picture of him and Sarah. Bucky and Winnifred are there too. Steve was ten. He was holding three year old Bucky while Winnifred and Sarah grin at each other and hold hands. A tear rolls down Steve’s cheek as he says, “I’m home, Ma.”
Bucky is bouncing his two year old, Sophie, on his hip while running a hand through his four year old, Rosie’s, hair gently. They're both grumpy and sleepy because of the thunderstorm last night. It’s days like these that he wishes he still had his parents and his sister. His mother died from Tuberculosis. And his father died before he was born. And then not long after his mother died, his sister passed away in an accident.
“Mamma, ‘m sleepy…” Rosie mumbles, rubbing her cheek into the soft fabric of Bucky’s leggings. “But I can't sleep anymore. I don't know why.”
“I know, Rosie. I’ll make some breakfast, okay?” Bucky says, petting his daughter’s head gently. “But you've gotta let me go, okay? The thunderstorm is over now. We’re safe inside.”
“Mhm…” Rosie mumbles, still holding on tight to her Mamma. Bucky gives her a warm smile and strokes his thumb over her cheek, making her smile as well. “Okay, Mamma.”
“Take your sister, kay?” Bucky says, setting Sophie down beside her. “I have Paw Patrol turned on in the living room. I’ll make breakfast while you watch some cartoons.”
Rosie holds her little sister’s hand and then runs off into the living room. Bucky sighs and starts to make some breakfast. He takes out oats, peanut butter, soy milk, and blueberries. As he takes out a few bowls, his front door bursts open. Wanda, he immediately thinks. She’s the only one who would do that. Or Agnes. She does it too.
Immediately, all of his friends are in his kitchen. Clint, Pietro, Wanda, Natalia, and Agnes. Agnes is Wanda’s friend from college. She’s super sweet but can't have kids. So she really enjoys babysitting for Bucky. And eventually Wanda and Nat when they have kids.
“Any reason you all burst into my kitchen like your asses are on fire?” Bucky asks, rolling his eyes. “There’s a pot of coffee. And I’m about to make oatmeal. But I can make pancakes if you want to stay for breakfast.”
“Someone is moving into the Rogers’ home.” Natalia says and Bucky gasps. Sure, he knew Steve wouldn't be coming back. Neither would Sarah. But he grew up in that house as much as Steve did. “We don't know who it is yet. But we saw a man moving stuff in there this morning. We wanted to tell you.”
“Oh…” Bucky says quietly. “Well, maybe they’ll be a nice neighbor.”
Clint nods and smiles sadly, knowing how Bucky felt about that house. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Agnes!!!” Rosie squeals, running over to Agnes. Agnes is just short for her actual name, Agatha Harkness. It made her sound like ‘an old witch’ so she likes going by Agnes. Rosie and Sophie love her.
“Hey there, hon!” Agnes laughs, picking Rosie up. Bucky chuckles and rolls his eyes at his toddler. “You look more and more like your Mamma every day I see you.” She’s not wrong. She has long, curly brown hair. And then, as if split in half, she has one brown eye and one green eye. Like her Pappa and her Mamma.
Rosie giggles and wraps her arms around Agnes’ neck. “Thank you, Miss Agnes.” She says before laying her head on the older betta’s shoulder.
Sophie lays her head on Bucky’s shoulder and breathes in his scent. Something about Omega's scent is calming to everyone. Especially their mate or their pups. Usually their scent will calm an Alpha, and put their pups to sleep. Pups need their Mamma’s scent to lull them to sleep and keep them calm when they're afraid.
“You fallin’ asleep on me, Soph?” Bucky asks, pressing a tender kiss to the pup’s temple. “Well, you do need some more sleep after last night.”
After breakfast, which was bagels, courtesy of Clint and Pietro, Bucky lays the girls down to go to sleep. It’s only nine in the morning, so they’ll be able to sleep tonight if they take a nap now. There was a thunderstorm the night before that kept the girls, and in turn Bucky, awake all night.
Bucky walks back into his living room and sits on the couch with his friends. Clint speaks first, saying, “how are you doing? Knowing someone is moving into the Rogers’ family’s old home?”
“It’s good.” Bucky says quietly. “Steve isn't coming back. Neither is Sarah.” He says with a sad smile. “I kept the house clean for a long time. But it’s time that someone actually got some use out of it.”
“Maybe we can go over and ask if we can take a look inside? You and I both hung out in that house when we were young. Maybe we can collect some things from Steve and Sarah.” Natalia says and Bucky smiles and nods. “The house will probably be cleaned out. I don't think Steve even showed up to Sarah’s funeral.”
“Yeah, we should definitely go inside and get some old pictures and toys.” Bucky says. “Before the house gets changed and renovated.”
Nat nods. “Yeah, definitely.”