Chapter 18
Well, Adelaide’s friends’ expressions were funny to say the least. In fact, she had bite her cheek to keep herself from laughing. Rachel and Lilly were caught between ecstatic and shocked. They were both secretly huge fangirls of the Avengers. Addie could feel a headache already forming from the freak-out she was going to have to deal with later. Vincent’s face was carefully subdued, but Adelaide knew him well enough to see the fear that was hidden in his eyes. He knew what he was getting himself into now. Yeah, she’d be lucky if he ever talked to her after this. Killian’s response was the funniest by far. He looked terrified, shocked, and excited all in one look. In fact, Adelaide was partly expecting him to bolt for the door any second. “Okay then,” she said, clapping her hands together. “Although I’m sure you know who they are, I’m going to introduce my family to you. This is Tony, Steve, Clint, Sam, Scott, Thor, Wanda, Natasha, Pietro, Vision, Bruce, and T’Challa. They are my uncles, aunts, and guardians. And this,” she said, grabbing Bucky’s hand, “is my dad, James Barnes. Everyone,” she said to the Avengers, “these are my friends Rachel, Lilly, Killian, and Vincent. Please don’t scare them off, as they are the only friends I have.” Adelaide fought back a grin at the looks on her friends’ faces and turned to Tony, who stepped up.
“Well, it’s nice to meet your little crew, Bit,” he said. “Now, because Capsicle is old, we have snacks.”
“Hey, my ma raised me right and taught me to have food when guests come over!” Steve defended himself.
“You made snacks?” Adelaide asked in surprise.
“Cookies, actually. Your favorite, too.”
“Yay!” she said happily, bouncing on her feet a bit. “You love me!”
“You know I do, bug.” Some of the others wandered over to the kitchen, following their noses to the cookies sitting out on the island. Others stayed where they were, or others went to greet Adelaide’s friends. Sam and Natasha were with Vincent at the island; Thor, Clint, and Scott were with Lilly at the table. Bruce had gone back to his lab because he didn’t do crowds very well, so he’d said his hellos and was gone. T’Challa, Pietro, and Wanda were sitting on the couches, talking about something about differences in foods around the world (Adelaide thought it was a very strange conversation to have, but she didn’t dwell too hard on it). Rachel was talking happily with Tony about some ideas she had had for robotics that would make it easier for amputees to get around, similar to what Bucky had now, but with even better sensors to make it even more like an actual body part. Pepper walked in around that time and started listening as well, and the three of them went up to Tony’s lab, probably to talk to Bruce as well. Adelaide smiled and shook her head. Rachel would probably have a job with her uncle by the end of the visit. Killian was actually sticking pretty close to Adelaide, even though she was standing next to her father at the time.
“You might wanna go grab some cookies before they eat them all, Piet,” Adelaide said to the speedster.
“Already have, myshka,” he said with a grin, holding up three in his hand. She shook her head.
“You should probably go get some too, Killian,” she said. “Thor and Uncle Clint will eat them all before you’ve had any.” Killian nodded and walked off, getting some before going over to where Lilly was standing. An hour later, she was sitting on one of the arms of a chair that Steve was sitting in, smiling at a story Killian was telling. She felt a presence behind her and looked up to see Bucky standing over her. “What do you think?” she asked quietly, looking up at him.
“The girls seem nice,” he said. “Killian seems like he’s trouble, but a gentleman underneath.”
“And Vincent?”
“Haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.”
“Daddy, please don’t kill him. He’s a really good guy, and I’ve checked him out, Auntie Nat has too. I promise, you can trust him.”
“I don’t care about his history. You’re my baby girl. It’s my job.” She sighed and rolled her eyes.
“Just don’t scare him off before Friday,” she said. “I’d like to get the first date out of the way, since it’s a good movie. Even if it doesn’t work out, I get to go see a movie for free.” Bucky laughed a bit and smiled down at her.
“Taught you well, didn’t I?” he said proudly.
“Sure did.”
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Adelaide fidgeted. She knew her dad had talked to Vincent as he was leaving two days ago, but she wasn’t nervous about that. It was the standard first-date jitters that was getting to her. What if something went wrong? What if someone attacked while they were on their date and her dad never let her outside again? What if Vincent thought she didn’t look nice? “Addie, stop thinking so loudly. You’re giving me a headache,” Wanda scolded with a smile.
“Sorry, Wanda,” Adeladie apologized. “I’m just so nervous!”
“We know, Addie, but you’re going to give yourself a panic attack if you don’t calm down,” Natasha said as she fixed her hair one last time. “There, perfect. Stand up so we can see you.” Adelaide stood up and faced the two women, who instantly smiled and clapped happily.
“Oh, you look so cute!” Wanda said in excitement.
“Poor boy won’t know what hit him,” Natasha said proudly. Adelaide looked at herself in the mirror and smiled a bit.
“You sure it’s not too much? I mean, it’s just dinner and a movie.”
“It’s perfect, Addie,” Wanda assured her. “Now, come on. He’ll be here soon!” The two women dragged her from her room and down the hallway to where everyone was waiting for her. When she entered the room, all was silent, and Adelaide felt a blush seeping into her cheeks.
“You look beautiful, Addie,” Steve finally said.
“What a beautiful young maiden you have bloomed into, Lady Barnes,” Thor said with a smile. She looked up at them shyly. She wasn’t used to all this attention.
“That’s it. You’re not going,” Bucky said firmly. Adelaide’s head snapped up.
“What? Why?” she asked, eyes wide.
“Nobody gets to see you all dolled up like that,” he said. “I don’t like it.”
“Barnes, you need to calm down,” Clint said. “It’s a date. She’s supposed to look like that.”
“Well, when your daughter’s going out with a boy looking like that, you see how well you like it!” Bucky shot back.
“Daddy, you promised!” Adelaide protested.
“Well, I changed my mind. You’re not going.”
“Buck, so help me, I will forcefully hold you down while she walks out of here if I have to,” Steve warned. “She’s going on this date.”
“None of us like the idea of her growing up, Sergeant Barnes,” T’Challa said, “but all children grow up at some point. You must let her experience this for herself.”
“I promise, I’ll be home by midnight,” Adelaide said. “Vincent has a curfew too. Please, Daddy.” Bucky sighed and looked at all of the determined faces in front of him. They weren’t going to let him keep this from her.
“Fine. Alright! You can go! But if you’re home one minute past midnight—”
“I’m never leaving the Tower again, I know,” she said, smiling at him and kissing his cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“Sir, Mr. Vincent is here to get Adelaide.” Bucky took her arm and walked her to the elevator. She kissed everyone’s cheek as she left and waved before entering with her father and watching the doors close.
“Please be nice,” she begged once they were alone.
“I promise.” The elevator doors opened, and she saw Vincent standing in the lobby, a bouquet of daisies and lilies in his hand. Bucky escorted her over to him, and all of them exchanged smiles.
“Vincent, these are lovely!” she exclaimed, taking the flowers from him and smelling them. “How on earth did you know?”
“I asked Rachel and Lilly,” he admitted sheepishly. She smiled and squeezed his arm.
“Good use of your resources, Vince,” she answered, nodding at him reassuringly.
“Daddy, would you put these in water while we’re gone? I don’t want them to wilt,” she asked, holding them out for her father.
“Sure, kotenok. Vincent, I want her home by midnight. Not a minute later.”
“Yes, sir,” Vincent said with a nod. “I’ll have her back on time, Mr. Barnes.” Bucky gave him a nod and a handshake, looking him dead in the eyes.
“Have fun, printsessa,” Bucky said, kissing her cheek. “I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Okay, Daddy. Please try not to tear the Tower apart while I’m gone.”
“I’ll do my best, myshka.” Saying goodbye one last time, the two left the lobby, getting into a cab and heading towards an Italian restaurant down the street from the theater they were going to.
“In case you were worried,” Addie said once they were seated in the cab, “you handled yourself wonderfully. My dad was trying to intimidate you there at the end, and you didn’t flinch.” Vincent gave a weak smile.
“I was flinching on the inside,” he admitted. She smiled and patted his arm reassuringly.
“Everyone flinches on the inside,” she answered. “Even Uncle Tony, but don’t tell him I said that.” They reached their destination, and Vincent helped her out before paying the cabbie. They entered the restaurant and sat down, Vincent also helping her with her coat and scooting her seat back for her. She checked off things mentally in her head, as much as she didn’t want to, on her family’s list of “things he must do before he’s allowed to see our baby girl again” (Clint’s words, not hers). He ordered for them (after finding out what she wanted), and the two of them chatted happily the entire time, even after their food arrived (which was amazing. Ten points to Lizzano’s). After finishing, they had enough time before the movie that they could actually walk there instead of getting another cab. Vincent paid (thank goodness he did that, because although her father might not have come after him for that, Uncle Steve would have chased him down and hit him over the head with his Book of Manners) and took her arm as they walked into the chilly night air. It was about an eight minute walk from the restaurant, and the two talked amiably the whole way there. They were going to see a mystery movie in an old theater (it hadn’t been around since Steve and Bucky were around. Yes, she’d asked. It was built in the ‘50s.), and they got drinks, but neither of them were even slightly hungry after dinner (seriously, five out of five to Lizzano’s. Adelaide was going to take Wanda and Auntie Nat there on their next day out.). They had gotten there early enough to get some good seats, and they talked quietly while other people filled in the other seats.
“Are you sure your dad isn’t going to come after me for taking you out?” Vincent asked for the fifth time that night. Adelaide smiled and shook her head.
“Contrary to popular belief, my dad does not kill everyone I come into contact with. And he was quite the ladies’ man himself back in the day, so he better not come after you, because he’s got that reputation hanging over his head.”
“He doesn’t seem like one now,” Vincent said. Adelaide’s smile dropped off of her face. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry,” Vincent apologized. “That was really insensitive of me.” She shook her head.
“No, it’s alright. I know. He’s changed. He’s not the man he was in the forties, and I know that. I wish I had met that man, but he’s my dad. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody.” She was quiet for a few minutes, but she could tell that Vincent was beating himself up for that comment. “Seriously, Vince, it’s alright. You didn’t hurt my feelings at all. Honestly, I’m grateful he’s not anymore. That might have messed up my childhood a bit more than it already was.” She mentally smacked herself in the face. Her friends didn’t know that she had been in Hydra too. This was not something she wanted to be public knowledge.
“Yeah, I guess it would be tough, having the Winter Soldier for a dad, especially when he’s on the run like he was.” Addie held in a sigh of relief. Bless this adorable human being who just inadvertently covered for her.
“Yeah, it was hard, but if it gets us to where we are now, I’d gladly do it all over again. We have friends and family, a stable home life, Hydra is out of his head for good—it’s great. Life is really good now. I’m glad that we are where we are.” She smiled at him, genuinely happy again.
“I’m glad you’re happy, Addie. You deserve to be. You’re a wonderful person with a great heart. You deserve to have a good life.” She smiled and hugged him.
“Thanks, Vince. You’re not so bad yourself. You’re literally the nicest person I’ve ever met outside of my family.”
“Even more than Lilly?”
“Let’s face it. No one is nicer than Lilly.”
“True. I can deal with her being nicer than me.” They laughed quietly, not wanting to disturb the people around them. The movie started five minutes later, and Addie rested her head on Vincent’s shoulder about half-way through the movie. He didn’t shove her off. In fact, he went for the cliché “wrapping an arm around her shoulders” move. Adelaide smiled and continued to watch the movie in silence. The movie ended at 11:30, so they didn’t rush to leave, but they did head out and start looking for a cab.
“I had fun, Vincent,” she said quietly. “Thank you for asking me.”
“Thank you for accepting. I was really nervous, to be honest. I’ve never done this sort of thing before.”
“I haven’t either, obviously, and you can thank Auntie Nat for my accepting. She’s the one that told me to say yes.”
“I’ll do that.” They got into the cab, and Addie yawned as they pulled up in front of the Tower. Vincent asked the cab to wait and walked her to the front of the Tower. “Wanna bet they’re all waiting up for you?” he asked with a smile. She laughed a bit.
“Not all of them. Most of them? Yes. But not all of them. Not all of them are super over-protective of me. Actually, you’d be surprised how many of them wanted me to go out with you tonight. They’re very supportive, so you might have a few allies in the future.” Vincent laughed quietly, looking down at his feet. “It’s almost midnight, so I’d better get inside,” she said after a minute. Gathering up her courage, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek lightly. “Goodnight, Vincent.” She turned and walked inside, looking back over her shoulder as she entered the elevator. Vincent was still standing where she’d left him, and he waved a bit before watching the elevator doors closed. Adelaide giggled to herself before looking up at the ceiling.
“Good evening, Addie,” FRIDAY greeted her.
“Hello, FRIDAY.”
“Was your date successful?”
“Yes, it was. I had a wonderful time.”
“Glad to hear it,” the AI said cheerfully. “What floor?”
“Where is everyone waiting for me?” she responded.
“The 24th floor.”
“Take me there then, please.”
“Of course.” Adelaide smiled one last time before her face became covered in a thunderstorm that rivaled one summoned by Thor. She had words to exchange with her “family.”