Glow
The sound of his phone ringing brought Bucky from his sex-crazed, induced slumber. Squinting at the alarm clock, he could see it had only been an hour since they fell asleep.
He reached over and picked up the phone, careful not to disturb the sleeping woman beside him. Squinting at the unknown number, he groaned softly and let it go to voice mail.
Rolling over he gathered Jane in his arms and placed a kiss to the top of her head. Her being pregnant spoke volumes of her mood lately. She'd been more emotional for sure, he'd noticed. She'd been even more contemplative than usual. And her guard was down, just a little. Deep down he knew that Jane loved him. To have her reciprocate it though, even with a simple, "I do too," was enough to make him want her all over again.
She needs sleep, he reminded himself. He was content to hold her for the rest of the afternoon, but he knew she would never forgive herself if she didn't present herself at Darcy's. Ten more minutes, he thought. Ten minutes and he'd wake his sleeping beauty, and they'd both head to her familie's apartment.
A lump rose in his throat. Steve was really the only family he knew when waking up in this strange, modern world. And Jane was slowly becoming his everything, but until she let her guard down completely, and he could make things official, she wasn't completely his, yet.
Darcy and her kids had been so welcoming last night, it was like they'd known him for years. Jane said her family was like that. She'd constantly told him stories of how her mother would constantly take food to the local shelter or invite people into their home, even if they'd never see them again. It was the way they were.
Jane herself volunteered at the Woman's Shelter downtown, and was constantly donating money to one organization or another.
But until Darcy came, he never could get a picture of that hospitality himself. And then she made some of the best food he had ever tasted in his life, and a lot of it.
And now he was having a baby of his own. He'd be lying if he said Darcy's kids didn't touch his ice cold heart in some way or form.
Isabella was a total sweetheart, and she was smart. She'd asked him questions that even his therapist had failed to come up with. When Jane and Darcy would go off on a Spanish tangent, she'd lean over and translate for him, because while he was fluent in Russian, Romainian, and German, Spanish was a completely different topic. Especially when they spoke it so fast.
Mason was an athlete. He'd already promised to help the boy with his batting stance. He may not be proficient at baseball, but it was still his favorite sport, and he could at least help the boy. He had shown him his stack of comic books as well.
And then there was Sofia, the one who looked so much like his Jane, it was uncanny. The little girl had him wrapped around his finger the minute she said 'hello', and everyone knew it. He even let everyone know it several times last night. She'd sat in his lap and watched the movie after supper last night, slowly twirling her hair and trying and failing to not suck her thumb. She was entirely too endearing for her own good.
It was too soon to even wonder about his own child. Six weeks out of nine months was not that long of a time, and they literally just found out this afternoon. But wonder he did. He of course wanted a girl, just like his Jane. Smart, and beautiful, and kind. She'd definitely be bilingual. And she'd always stick up for the little guys, or even the bigger ones.
Or maybe their baby would be a boy, Jane wanted a boy, she made that clear after their last session. "A boy," she said dreamily, "with your eyes and kind heart, James." Would their boy be an athlete like Mason, or would he be an academic, like Isabella. Or a soft spoken soul like Sofia.
Jane said they could find out the sex via a blood test in a few weeks that Bruce would run. She wasn't sure she wanted to find out, but she would do what he wanted. She'd made her point clear.
'This was as much his pregnancy as it was hers.' She'd told him she wanted him at every appointment, at every sonogram, at every milestone, and that's what she expected. She 'Wasn't doing this alone.'
Of course he would never dream of her doing it alone, but apparently Darcy's ex-husband hadn't been very 'present', for Darcy when she was pregnant with Sofia. And she knew deep down that he was never going to be Nick, but he understood. Darcy and Jane were so close, close enough to be sisters, and Jane had literally lived through the last years of pain with Darcy. He couldn't blame her, because he would have been traumatized too.
And Jane stuck by him as his friend for years before their relationship turned physical. Holding his hand when he had a nightmare. Calling out hypocrisy when it came after him. So of course he understood her own PTSD, because he had it too.
She shifted and he looked down. Brown eyes slowly blinked open and a sleepy smile graced her delicate features as she snuggled in closer and moaned softly. "James" she smiled and kissed his cheek softly.
"I love it when you call me that," he whispered back.
"I know that, now." She gave him a severe look and then broke into a smile. "We need to get up."
"We do. How about you hop in the shower, and I'll order some food to be delivered to Darcy's. "
Her eyes widened. "You'd do that," she asked. "For me?"
"I'd do anything for you," he kissed her head one more time. "And I'll spend as long as it takes to get you to realize that." He rolled over and slid out if bed, quickly finding his boxers before the look she was giving him turned into something more. He picked his phone off the nightstand and clicked on his voicemail. Holding thebphine to his ear he walked out of the room as he heard her getting out of bed.
"Eh James Barrrrrrnes," the voice was a woman's, heavily accented, and sounded slightly like Jane's when she went off on her soliloquy. "This is Luci Fosterrrr. Will you tell my wayward daughterr to call her mami. It is not an option.. or I will fly up to Nueva Yorrrk to e-speak to her. Also....I expect you here for the reunion in two months. That is all."
Bucky pulled back and shook his head and went back into the room and into the bathroom. "Um Sweetheart," he opened the shower door slightly. "Your mom called me."
She turned and looked at him, her eyes widened with fear and a little surprise. "My mom called you? How'd she get your number?!"
"I don't know. She said to call her. And I'd do it soon. She said she was flying up here."
He grinned as she stopped her shower immediately and grabbed for her towel. "Shit!" She raced to their room and searched for her phone. She found it underneath a pile of clothes, discarded from last night.
"We should clean," he smiled as she glared at him and dialed her mom.
"¿Mami, que quieres?"
She walked to the dresser and pulled out one of his shirts that he kept there and a pair of jeans and shoved her legs in. "No, mami.. Sí mami, Darcy llegó aquí con seguridad. Lo siento. He estado ocupado. No mami. No, no hay buenas excusas. Lo siento. Aye Mami no!," she raced into the bathroom.
James finished pulling on his clothes and ordered the food for delivery. He had no intention of leaving the tower. Jane had told him stories about her mother and while Jane adored her, she definitely was a little terrified of her as well.
He watched as she finished towel drying her hair and added a little mascara to her eye lashes. God she was gorgeous.
"Mami, deja de ser dramática," Jane was saying as she rolled her eyes at him with a smile. "¿Cómo conseguiste el número de James? Dime."
"We should get going," he mouth quietly and motioned his head to the door, and she nodded grabbing his arm gently.
"Hey," she whispered holding the phone away. "You know how I feel about you. So what I'm about to say has nothing to do with me being embarrassed or anything like that."
He nodded slightly, confused.
"I don't want to tell anyone about the baby yet. It's still early. And I kind of like just keeping it between you and me."
He smiled and gave her a gentle kiss. "I know. And I love you too."
She smiled and resumed talking to her mom. "Por supuesto que estoy teniendo sexo. No mami, no estoy hablando con Father Cruz. I'm 34, I'm not dead. Mami por favor deja de hablar loca. Dios eres tan dramático."
Bucky could tell this was going to be a long phone call. He took his key and locked her apartment, and led her down the hall to Darcy's, enjoying Jane's agitated banter with her mom.
It almost felt like his own mom was on the line.
Steve was enjoying the afternoon. He took a nap with Sofi. Played games with Mason. They even conviced Isabella to join them in Yahtzee, which Darcy was unbelievably good at.
Now he was having a tea party with Sofi and ten of her stuffed bears. Darcy had asked if he minded watching Sofia while she talked to Bella and Mason about something in her room. And Sofia was such a delight after her nap that he couldn't say no.
So there he was, sipping pretend tea, with his hair in some very unfashionable pig tails, and some kids make up, with some beaded necklaces that were far to small for his neck.
He was having a great time.
Steve was forever being set up by his friends, mostly Sam, with single women. They were fine for a night put but what about where it counted. He was forever telling Bucky that he deserved the world, and was frankly a little disturbed that his friend was ok with being in a relationship that was maybe a little one-sided. Of course he didn't know the particulars, and Jane seemed like a nice girl, if a little jaded. And they did spend a large amount of time together.
And honestly Bucky was so tight-lipped about his relationship that Steve wouldn't be surprised if something else was going on.
Steve himself, he never wanted to settle, which is why a relationship with any of the girls would have never worked out.
He met Darcy less than six hours ago, and already he felt more connected to her than any of those women, and they hadn't even had a conversation that hadn't involved the kids yet!
And the kids, the precious kids were incredible human beings. He knew that already.
He heard a gentle knock on the door before it opened, and Bucky and Jane entered.
He let out a sound that sounded more like wheeze and braced for impact. Bucky wasn't going to let him hear the end of this, no matter how good his intentions were in keeping the little girl occupied.
Jane noticed him first and her eyes widened. "Mami, I have to go," her voice was thick and accented which surprised him a little. "Te llamaré más tarde. Te amo."
Bucky looked at him with crooked grin that turned into a smirk. "First the spangly outfit, and now this. You'll wear just about anything, won't you punk."
Steve watched as Sofia jumped into Bucky's arms and kissed his cheek. "Doesn't he look pretty like a princess, Uncle Bucky?"
"Yes sweetheart, he looks absolutely adorable," Bucky kissed her cheek back and set her down so she could greet Jane and then continued to grin at him. "You know Steve. Jane has a dress that I think would look great on you. It's blue and everything."
Steve shot him a glare that could melt steel, and Jane slapped him in the back of the head. "Be nice. Steve, how are you?"
Steve blinked. Jane was never one to greet him if he didn't greet her first. "I'm great, thank you." He stood and stretched. The crown fell off of his head. "How are you."
She shared a grin with Bucky and nodded. "Good. Really good thanks. Where's Darcy? And the kids?"
Steve watched his friend and Jane for a few seconds. He was trained to read people and something was definitely different between the two of them. "Oh she's in her room. She had to talk to the big kids about something. So it's just Sofia and I at the moment."
He grinned down at Sofia who was just as cute in her princess dressed as she was in her pajamas earlier. "Steve rock me and take a nap with me," she nodded with all the seriousness a four year old could possibly muster. "And I think he like my mommy, cause he look at her a lot.
Steve choked on the sip of water he just took and his face turned a deep red. Jane crouched down to be at Sofia's level. "Is that right," she asked and laughed affectionately after the toddler nodded the affirmative.
Bucky slid into the chair across from his place at the table. "So, Steve. Is this going to be a full time gig? I can see it now. America's favorite son touring all 50 states in his princess outfit."
Steve fought the urge to flip him off in front of the child but shot him another glare. Secretly he was glad that Bucky was able to make jokes because for so long he spent so much time wanting to please others. He'd never like it being at his own expense though. But he would never ever tell Bucky to give up that part of who he was.
Bucky grew up charming, and snarky, and had more women then Steve could even dream of. Now though it seemed he only wanted one.
Steve kneeled down. "Sofia, how about you we stop the tea party since Jane and Bucky are here. I'm sure we can convince them to play a game with us."
"Monopoly," she exclaimed. "We play teams! And you on my team, ok?"
He nodded and high-fived her. "Deal."
Bucky watched the toddler run off shaking his head his face had an amused look. "You stole my girl out from under me, Punk. Didn't even blink."
Steve grinned in Jane's direction and she smiled back. "Technically, Sofia is my girl. You guys are just a novelty right now."
"I'm hurt, sweetheart," Bucky clutched his chest and she rolled her eyes.
"James. Stop," she grinned and kissed his cheek affectionately?
Steve cleared his throat. "So. What have you two been up to? Darcy said you got caught up in something."
"Yeah. Jane had a machine malfunction. Wasn't pretty, but we fixed it."
Jane stood from Bucky's lap and cleared her throat. "I'm going to let Darcy know we're here." Bucky nodded and kissed her hand before she left.
"So," Steve began. "That's new."
Bucky grinned and his eyes lit up. "Not really. But you're never around. So what's up with Darcy."
Steve blushed again. He really had hoped Bucky had forgotten Sofia's comments by now. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"C'mon punk. You've been here all day it seems like. You weren't there in this way when Clint and Laura moved in."
Steve blushed....Again.
Darcy was talking to her kids after a conversation with Nick that morning. She had finally decided to call him back. He of course, wasn't happy, but he was never happy to talk to her, especially lately it seemed.
"Nice of you to call me back," he snapped.
"Nick," she sighed. "We've been busy."
"Oh I'm sure. Making friends with The Winter Soldier. Last night was the most Mason texted me in months and it was all about him. You thinking of fucking him now?"
"Nick stop," she snapped. "Bucky is seeing Jane. And even if I was, it's none of your business."
"The hell it's not. You're the mother of my children. I have the right to-,"
"Nothing," she interjected. "You have the absolute right to absolutely nothing. Who I see, and what I do. You don't get to call me and act like an ass because things didn't go your way. You acted like a dick. You thought with your dick. You played with your dick. You reap what you sew."
"Oh I'm sure you're acting all tough now, because Jane's there with you."
"You're lucky she is here. If she were there, I'm sure she'd send Bucky after you. And I'm sure you've heard all about his history by now. Nick I'm not telling Isabella or Mason to text you or call you. As their father you need to be the one making the connection. And if you want to talk to Sofia, all you need to do is call and ask for her. But you never do."
"Cause I'm not sure she's mine," he responded.
"Fuck you. Out of the two of us, you are the cheater."
"Where is Sofi now," he asked.
"She's taking a nap in the living room. She didn't sleep well."
"Figures. I'll call you later. I have to take Leah to her appointment. "
"Of course," she responded sarcastically. "Always something better to do." She had hung up the phone and would've have if Sofia wasn't asleep.
And the Isabella had come in waving her phone. "Dad just told me to stop being an ungrateful brat and to call him back." She wasn't crying, or even angry. She was confused. Darcy had wrapped her in a hug and rocked her back in forth. Bella wasn't a baby anymore and the older she got, the more Darcy would cherish these moments with her oldest.
"He's just upset because he's not getting his way, mijita. It's not about you."
In a million years, Darcy would never had guessed that she would need to have a conversation about this with her children, but here she was.
"You can talk to your dad or not talk to your dad. It's up to you. I will not force you to do anything against your will. If you decide not to, and he starts sending you this junk, you bring it to me, got it?"
Both kids understood and they spent time lying on her bed, just being with each other as a family with Sofia content to play with Steve in the next room.
"Steve's nice," Bella said after a few moments of quiet. "I really like him. He's like Bucky, but not as broody."
Darcy guffawed. "You think Bucky is broody?"
"Well yeah," she giggled. "That's what all the message boards say too. That's his M.O. He doesn't have a social media account, he doesn't do interviews. He did that one Instagram live workout with Steve and nearly broke the internet. Like that's him."
Mason nodded. "He's going to help me with baseball. Steve too."
Darcy ruffled her sons hair and kissed the top of his head. "I'm glad, honey." Nick had always been too busy.
"Momma," he looked up at her, his dark brown eyes reminding her so much of her own father's. "Will you start dating again? I think you should."
Isabella nodded in agreement. "Yeah. You and Steve should date. He's single. You're single."
"Mija," Darcy laughed. "I don't think I'm ready to date yet."
"Why not," she tossed her hair. "Dad is."
Why wasn't she? She'd spent months mourning the loss of her marriage, and for what? To be verbally abused at every turn by the man that she pledged to live and stand by forever.
She would never talk bad about Nick in front of his children. But her and Jane had chains of texts doing just that.
Even so. Her divorce broke her heart. And even if Steve could ever be remotely interested in a girl like her, she still wouldn't put him through it. She had way to much baggage. Though he seemed to get along with her children great.
At this point, who even knew what the future held. She'd never say never. Just not right now.
They heard a slight knock on the door and ig opened partially. Jane stuck her head in. "Everything ok?"
"Aunt Jane," Mason gasped. "You're here! Can we do the tour now?!" Her little boy was a blubbering, excited mess.
Jane stepped fully into the room and nodded. "Actually James ordered us some food, and I figured we can eat and then do the tour."
Mason slipped off the bed and raced to the door. "Bucky's here?!" And he was gone.
Isabella rolled her eyes then got up. "I'm going to say hi to Uncle Bucky."
"Uncle Bucky," Jane mouthed at her in question.
Darcy laughed. "They've all decided that you're going to get married."
"Oh," Jane paused and took a drink from her water bottle.
"So..." Darcy paused. "When were you going to tell me that you're pregnant?"
"WHAT," Jane squeaked.
Jane wiped at her chest after she spit out her water. "Darcy! I'm not pregnant!"
"And you're a terrible liar, too."
"Darcy," she sputtered.
"Jane," Darcy smiled and took her hand and led her to her bed. "I've been at this exact moment three times in my life. I know the signs. Your boobs are bigger, you're absolutely glowing, and last night you ate more in one setting then I've seen you eat in your life."
Jane looked at her and she knew her eyes were wide and scared.
"Jane, this isn't a bad thing. Remember Bucky with Sofi last night? He'll be great!" Darcy rubbed her back.
"We wanted to keep it between us for a while," she whispered. "We just found out."
"This morning," Darcy asked.
"Yeah."
"How do you feel about it," Darcy asked.
"I" Jane began. "We don't know yet."
"A baby is a blessing. And yours will be absolutely beautiful."
Jane. Nodded. "I'm scared that I've fallen for him so quickly. He's the only man I've ever even thought of having children with and now I am" Jane's hands started to shake so Darcy took them in her own. "I love him," she whispered and tears filled her eyes. "I love him, and I can't even let him know."
"Why," Darcy asked. "He's so obviously head over heels for you."
"I know that," Jane sniffed. "But so was Donald, so was Thor. So was Nick with you."
"Okay," Darcy rubbed the back of her head and breathed. "Number one. Don't ever compare Bucky Barnes to Donald or Nick. Bucky sacrificed his life for the good of the country. Donald and Nick would sacrifice theirs for a lay." Jane laughed quietly and rubbed at her eyes. "And number two. Thor just had his priorities backwards. Neither Thor nor Donald would have ever made the impression on my kids the way Bucky has in a single day. And Nick can't keep it in his pants long enough to remember he has kids."
Jane giggled. "He is a flawed individual. "
"I know. But seriously. You know Bucky isn't like that. Hell he pulled out your seat yesterday for dinner."
"Yeah," Jane laughed again. "He's pretty sweet like that. Opens my door, pulls out my chair, won't let me lift heavy items."
"Could be worse," Darcy shrugged and smirked. "He could be bad in bed, but I'm going to guess he's not."
Jane blushed to the roots of her hair and Darcy laughed. "Fuck you, Darcy," Jane grinned and pushed her away playfully.
"Hey. I have to live vicariously through you now! You gotta give me something."
"Oh yeah, " Jane grinned. "I heard Steve's been here all day long."
This time, it was Darcy's turn to blush.