and offer you can't refuse
After a few weeks of fussing and searching Gina and Bea both insisted they wanted the house restored and they would be going back. Tony made some calls but even the best contractors would have months of work ahead of them. Gina's accounting work made it easy for her to pick up and move anywhere as she worked from home and Sam happily opened his home to them. Bea had other ideas.
"Captain Rogers offered for us to stay in New York." Gina rolled her eyes. "I don't think he thought you would take him up on it. Besides Sam is closer to the house in case we need to check in on things." Sam chuckled "if ma wants to make Steve eat his words let her. Bucky will be happy to see her." She smiled "fine ma you can go stay with your boyfriend for a while. I'm going to stay here with Sam."
Steve left to pick Sam up from the airport just like he did once a month. He didn't expect to see an older woman walking with him. "Sam, good to see you. This must be Beatrice. Pleasure to meet you ma'am." She giggled as she held out a hand. "He is too cute Sammy. Please call me ma." Steve smiled "if you say so ma" He said with a wink but Sam still saw the blush in his cheeks. "Oh I like him he catches on quickly." Sam shook his head "You rolled over too easy for her man." Steve smiled "I can be easy for the right person."
"No, don't you start too. It's bad enough when Barnes does it-"
"That's because he means it. I'm only teasing Sam. " Bea chuckled as they settled into the car. "Learn to play the game baby and you'll have fun too." Sam rolled his eyes as he smiled wondering what kind of monster he created.
Bucky had no clue Bea was coming. Sam figured it would be a nice surprise. Friday let him know Steve was back and he waited on the common floor for them. When Bea stepped out he nearly tripped over himself as he went over wrapping her in a hug and spinning her around. "Mama bear" he growled as he sat her down. She patted his cheek "Daddy bear. I told you I'd be back." He kissed the top of her head. "I'm so sorry for what I brought to your doorstep."
"Honey I don't blame you one bit. Besides, Mr. Stark was kind enough to cover the restoration. I finally get my wrap around porch and the attic is gonna be another guest room so Sammy doesn't have to make an excuse as to why both you and Steve can't come visit with him." He chuckled "Well I'm gonna hold Sam to that. Gonna have to have a big house warmin' party for ya when it's done." Steve came back from dropping off Bea's bags and clapped his hands together. "Ma I would love to treat you and Sam to dinner this evening. I know you like to cook but tonight is your night off. How does Thai food sound?"
Sam couldn't help but smile "That's Steve's go to food but the place he orders from is great. You'll love it. Anyone else joining us?" Steve checked his phone "looks like Nat's at Barton's Thor is of course still in New Mexico, Bruce is on a conference call with Helen and Looks like Tony and his are not back from Morgan's tap class. So just us for now." He nodded and they settled at the table. Bea was digging around the cabinets.
"Mama bear this is your night off captain said so." She turned and placed a hand on her hip. "No meal is complete without dessert." Steve walked over and laid a hand on her shoulder "I have it handled. Relax." As he walked back to the table she swatted him with the spoon in her hand causing him to let out a yelp. "Careful there Steve doesn't have enough padding to handle a playful smack." Sam and Bucky snickered as Bea joined them at the table. "So Bucky tells me your father worked with Gabe." She smiled warmly "He did. Served in Korea with him and they kept in touch afterwards. He was a nice man.”
When dinner arrived Bruce had just wandered into the kitchen. “Bruce, care to join us? We have plenty. I even ordered pastries from that place you like.” He smiled and sat down with them “Hey Sam, Beatrice. How are you guys? I was sorry to hear about the house.” She smiled “All things considered we are good. Thankfully we could save the items in the basement and the first floor. Second and the attic were a loss as was the furniture but we walked away with our life so that more than I could hope for. Mr. Stark has been more than generous with the restoration.” They chatted about the house and plans for new furniture. Tony appeared in the doorway with Pepper. “Friday told us we had company. I see someone took Steve up on his offer.”
Bea held out her hand and Tony quickly gave it a kiss. “This must be mama Wilson. Pleasure to meet you finally.” She giggled “I like this one too.” She looked over at Pepper and smiled “Is he always this charming or is this a show?” Pepper shrugged “He has his moments. Nice to meet you Beatrice, I’m Pepper.” Steve pointed to the open chairs at the table “We were about to have dessert want to join us? Is Morgan in bed?” Pepper took a seat and Tony followed her. “Yea we just put her in bed and then came here. We figured it would be hard to get her down if she was distracted by visitors. Are you staying until the house is finished or just for a little while?”
“Straight to business, I see why you wear the pants Pepper. As long as you will have me I would like to stay but I can always go back to Washington with Sam if you get sick of me and don’t be afraid to tell me.” She smiled “I don’t think I will get tired of you. I’ve put up with Tony for over 10 years and I married him so if I still have him I can handle anyone.” Tony scoffed “Are you trying to say I’m difficult?” She patted his arm “Well I wouldn’t say difficult more like-”
“Annoying?” He squawked at Bruce who winked at Pepper. “We love you Tony.” He waved Bruce off “Yea yea you only say that cuz I buy all the food and you don’t pay rent.”
Bucky got up and fixed himself some more coffee and a cup for Bea. She wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned her head against him “Thank you Daddy bear.” Tony began to choke on his drink. “What did she just call you??” Bucky laughed “She’s my mama bear so I’m her daddy bear. What are you jealous Stark?” He shook his head “I’m not sure jealous is the feeling I have in mind.” Bea grinned “aw I bet you were one of those that refused to believe your parents had sex for fun too aren’t you.” They could see the blush on tony’s neck and cheeks. Bucky laughed “I could tell you things about Howard that would make you turn as red as your armor.” Tony stiffened and rolled his eyes. “Dad was too straight laced for that.”
Steve nearly choked and Bucky was near hysterical. “Ooooooh man. Your dad had just as much of a playboy reputation as you have.” Bruce looked between Tony and Bucky and finally spoke. “Well now ya gotta tell him.” Tony stared “What? What does he have to tell me? I don’t need any more secrets about my dad coming from Barnes.” At this Steve was laughing so hard he was turning colors. Bucky cleared his throat. “Your old man was willing to try anything once when it came to the sack. I don;t know what he was like with your mom but when we knew him, let's just say I have hands-on experience.” Tony gasped “NO. you gotta be lying.” Steve let out one last wheezing laugh “He’s not. I walked in on it. They were in MY room at the barracks. Need I remind you I have an eidetic memory so I still have that image seared into my brain.”
“I think I was better off not knowing anything about my dad prior to 1970.” Pepper smiled. “Tony I’ve seen the pictures from the old stark expos you didn’t think anything of the fact that he was always wrapped around a beautiful woman in EVERY one?”Steve chuckled. “This is better than the day he found out I wasn’t some prudish virgin.” Tony responded by getting up from the table and leaving. “He’ll be back, you know he has to go pout.”
They continued to laugh and talk until Pepper looked at the clock. “It’s after midnight I think I should be going to bed.” Bruce nodded “same good night everyone.” Steve and Sam got up from the couch and looked over at Bea. Bucky was asleep next to her as she ran her hands through his hair. “Ma we should wake him up. “ She nodded and gave him a gentle nudge. “Let’s go to bed, it’s late.” As she stood up Bucky wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap. “I need a good night kiss first.” Steve rolled his eyes. “Now you know what they were like for a whole two weeks.” They all headed for the elevator. “Buck has always been a real charmer.” Sam nodded “So i’m seeing. Sometimes I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it but he KNOWS he’s doing it when my mom is involved.” He shot a look over at the two of them wrapped around each other. “Leave room for Jesus.”
“I’m an atheist pal.” Steve snorted out a laugh and got off at his floor. “Good night try not to kill each other before breakfast ok? Sam I’ll call you at 7 for a run?” He nodded “Yea sure thing night Steve.”
“Night Stevie”
“Night sugar bear.” Bucky looked over at Bea “Oh he gets to be sugar bear?” She smiled “yes he does. Now get to bed.” She swatted at his rear and gave Sam a hug. “Night Sammy.”
Sure enough the next morning Bucky heard Sam get up at the crack of dawn and make his way out with Steve to go for a run. Bucky snuggled down into his blankets until he heard music in his living room a while later. Bea was up and making a pot of coffee as she bounced around the kitchen. He pried himself from the bed and quietly stepped out. For the first time he saw Bea in her pajamas. Her hair was tied back and her gown hung off her shoulders a bit. He couldn't help the whistle he let out. She turned to him and smiled. “I wasn’t sure you would be up so early.” He sat down at the couch and was surprised when she sat right in his lap. “I’m a light sleeper, especially when I know people are up and about.” She wrapped around him “How long till they get back?” She purred at him.
“He looked at his watch. They normally show back up around 10. Why? you got idea’s?” She snuggled closer to him and he adjusted so he was lying back a bit. “No hard plans at the moment.” As she said this he felt her hand move closer to the inside of his thigh. She began to chuckle. “I’m only teasing. I just like having some quiet time with you.” He nodded “I like that too. Maybe we can check out the zoo today since we couldn’t go last time. Shouldn't be too crowded now that the kids are back in school.” She hummed as she listened to him talk about seeing things around the city. “Sound’s good to me.” After a while she patted his leg. “Lets start breakfast for the boys.”