Pomegranate Kin

Bucky Barnes flounders for a moment, as everyone seems to be moving in slow motion around him. Steve is standing, moving to join Clint, who is crowded close to Christina and her son— their son. James Buchanan Barnes has a son— apologizing for startling the boy. Tony Stark marches in after them, still in his Iron Man suit, absent the face-plate. Apparently the suit and it's mask had frightened the two year old, and only reuniting with his mother had quelled his little outburst.

Brazen and audacious as always the billionaire doesn't miss a beat in eyeing the pretty blonde and moving to introduce himself, but Christina has her arms full, holding her little boy, who's declaration of "Daddy!" instantaneously grapples everyone's attention. All of the adults go quiet, turning to watch Christina's two year old, arms outstretched toward Bucky with grabby hands, chubby little fingers opening and closing as he reaches for his father.

Captain Rogers exchanges astonished looks with Clint and Tony, before turning toward the former assassin with a strained brow. Bucky'd moved, finally, coming to stand before his lover and the little mirror image of him without a word. James Barnes reaches out a hesitant hand, to the little boy, who eagerly clasps at his fingers. Steve can see that his best friend is confused, rattled by the sudden introduction of his would-be son, stupefied by the prospect of this suddenly emerging family that'd revealed themselves.

The Avenger can tell by the ex-Winter Soldier's expression that he'd had no idea about the boy or his existence. He'd never met his son, hadn't known he even had one. "Let's give them the room, guys." Steve says, voice taking that same authoritative Captain tone and soon the three men are filing out the door, leaving Bucky with the single mother and their son.

Christina is quiet as her lover takes them in, observing her and the little boy in her arms with the fondest and simultaneously most heartbreaking expression. Eyebrows pinched and expression hesitant, he glances up at the blonde when the two year old reaches out for him again, nervous and unsure. "Daddy!" Hoots the little boy, wriggling in his mother's arms. The petite woman manages a laugh, a doting expression on her face as she glances back and forth between her two boys. "Yeah, sweetie," she coos, "It's your daddy."

~Pomegranate Kin~

"Can...can I hold him?" the Super Soldier asks timidly, looking at the pair as if they're a mirage, a dream he's sure to wake up from. His lover is here. She wants him, all his evils aside. They have a son, a little carbon copy of him, and the boy shows no fear or hesitation. He happily extends his little arms and gestures insistently at his father. All of this feels too good to be true, like in an instant he'll wake longing, wishing after this. But, Christina merely nods and passes the eager child into Bucky's trembling arms.

A lot of explaining and hair tugging later, Bucky cradles the two year old to him like he's a delicate, fragile thing. Gingerly handling and avoiding using his metal arm as much as possible as he holds the squirmy bundle as best he can. "You were gone by the time I found out," Christina explains quietly, standing hip to hip with the ex assassin, fingers combing through her little boy's hair as she continues. "I decided to name him James after I saw the exhibit," Her cerulean eyes meet his steel blue and it feels like coming home. "I wanted him to have a part of you."

Bucky nods, both touched and heartbroken. He tears his gaze from Christina to his son, his spitting image. He still can't believe it. "I saw it too," replies the ex-Winter Soldier, "The Smithsonian exhibit." He shifts the little boy in his arms as Christina nudges them in the direction of the interrogation table and into a seat. She sits across from him, watching Bucky place their son on his lap with the most cautious touch.

"The week after everything at the Triskelion I came out of hiding because I had to know... who I was." For an instant the haunted, far away look clouds his eyes, but little Jamie manages to distract him, gripping at his father's metal hand, tracing the plates, bending his fingers and giggling in glee. He shows no inkling of fear and that brings Bucky back from the dark places. "After that I looked for you."

Christina frowns, feeling the ache of regret nestle down in her chest. If she'd only waited a week, they could have been together sooner. "I went back to your apartment, but you'd moved by then. Some middle aged couple lives there now." He tells her and he sounds strained, it makes the blonde reach out for his hand. "The night after the attack, I went to the cafe across the street from my old place and I waited for you." Her hand covers his, clasping Jamie's little hand between both of theirs. "I hoped you would come for us, but when you didn't I knew we had to leave. I couldn't wait for Hydra to reorganize and for to remember us. I didn't know if we'd be leverage or if they'd want us gotten rid off, but I couldn't risk either."

Bucky understands. He'd wanted her, after D.C., as his mind was going through the wringer. He'd remembered her and longed for the comfort of her embrace, the easy way they'd always fit together so effortless. But, he understands now. Their son, their Jamie, comes first. He swells with pride and overwhelming emotion once again, aching with the reality of the little family that'd been waiting for him.

"He knows me," says the older man, it's phrased like a statement, but Christina can hear the question in there. "I kept your picture out once we moved to Baltimore," she explains plainly, leaning to peck the crown of the little boy's head. "No one knew us there and everyone that would have considered it a red flag was either dead or gone." Their son giggles, reaches out to play with the ends of his mother's blonde locks. "There was no point in keeping you from him anymore, Jamie deserves to have you in his life."

Bucky finds that short admission to ache far more than he could have imagined. A good, welcome, sort of ache, he thinks. Looking at his lover and their little bundle of sticky hands and tugging fingers, he feels that ache burn warm, buried deep down in his gut, blooming over his chest and making a home in his cold, old bones. It feels like home here.

~Pomegranate Kin~

Outside Captain Rogers stands next to confused Clint Barton and amused Anthony Stark, fiercely resists the urge to pace back and forth, keeping their distance from the two way mirror next to the interrogation room door. Steve had known Christina had a son, had seen the little boy on multiple occasions and even met him. Never once had he imagined the Winter Soldier could be the boy's father. It'd been two years to the day of the incident in D.C. and even with his suspicions of Christina's connection to Bucky, he'd never have guessed him to be Jamie's father. It'd never even crossed his mind.

"That was quite the plot twist, ay Cap?" Questions Tony, gripping the face plate of his Iron Man suit in hand. Steve levels him with an exasperated look, giving him the trademark Eyebrows of Disappointment. The billionaire merely grins, sparing a glance to the trio in the interrogation room, "I guess the question now is what are we gonna do about Baby Mama and Winter Junior in there?" Steve can only shrug uselessly, what indeed.

All is resolved after their little interruption, Steve relays their debriefing to Agent Hill and gives Bucky and the team an opportunity to meet the single mother and little boy. In the living area's common room Christina is seated on a sleek modern sofa beside her lover, who still holds their two year old unsurely tucked into his right arm. Around them are Agent Barton, Tony Stark, and Dr. Bruce Banner, who she's hastily introduced to by the billionaire. Colonel James Rhodes joins them a short while later, returning from a military liaison.

They sit in the spacious living room, the television serving as background noise as the group exchanging introductions with Christina and plays with little Jamie. Tony dips out momentarily to speak to Steve, who is tidying up his reports, while Hill and the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents are busy at work in another part of the compound, but Stark is quick to return along with the shyest and strangest member of the team by far, an artificial man animated by an Infinity Stone, named Vision.. Jamie is a little shy of all the attention he's receiving, after all Christina hadn't allowed many people to be around him, but he's insistent on remaining close to his father.

Jamie sticks to the ex-assassin like glue, always looking up at him periodically with those big blue eyes that look just like his father's. It's a sweet scene, Bucky and his little mirror image, the two year old babbling on thoughtlessly, watching as the adults exchange words, occasionally adding nonsense input of his own. It tugs on Bucky's heart strings as the little guy keeps them entertained with his unrelated interjections and his bubbly laughter.

Eventually the Black Widow and one of the team's newest addition, the Scarlet Witch, enter the common area, bound for the kitchen which is connected to the living room via the compound's open concept. The two women are fresh out of the gym, wet from the showers and sore from training as they bound toward the refrigerator. Wanda is the first to great Christina, mostly because of the adorable little child of hers that the Romani girl immediately becomes fond of. Christina has never met an enhanced before, to her knowledge, aside from Bucky and Steve, but Wanda is warm and kind, and brings a calm, welcoming air to the little gathering. It makes her wonder if perhaps the Sokovian woman is an empath to any degree.

Agent Natasha Romanoff joins Clint and Tony on their couch only after she finishes her water bottle and doesn't greet them until Wanda has finished talking, but when she does the ex-soviet spy politely inserts herself to welcome Christina and her son. The blonde knows about the Black Widow, prized warrior of the Red Room turned Alpha level S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent. She's heard tales since the woman's files had been released on the web after D.C., she's someone to be reckoned with, but Christina finds her pleasant if not mysterious.

~Pomegranate Kin~

It isn't long before everyone is talking amongst themselves, Stark has selected something on the television that he, Rhodes, and Banner begin watching. Clint and Natasha are on about a recent mission, occasionally including Vision and Wanda, who sits cross-legged on the carpet in front of little Jamie, who is propped up on his father's knee. The little boy's parents watching on wordlessly as the so-called Witch plays with the two year old. Jamie seems glad to have made a new friend as Steve finally enters the common room to join them.

"Mummy," squeals the boy, excitement plastered red on his little cheeks as he points dramatically, "It's Captain Steve!" His reaction has the team chuckling, quickly putting together that Christina had not only taught the boy who his father is— despite the danger and the separation— but also who Steve Rogers is in correlation to Captain America. It has that blooming ache flaring in Bucky's ribs once again. "Hey, Buddy." Greets the super soldier to the little boy, a tall brunette soldier in tow behind him, who introduces himself as Sam Wilson. Christina feels a little over whelmed with all the names and faces, while Jamie on the other hand, seems excited to have a whole slew of new pals. It's rather heart warming.

"Well Christina," Captain Rogers address, pulling the attention of the entire group to him. "Hill read the review of your debriefing and has deemed you and Jamie a clearance. Stark and I have come to the conclusion that your best plan of action at the moment is to move in here at the compound. If not to ensure that Hydra and their enemies aren't gunning for you, then at least to be close to Bucky."

Christina can be content with that, she thinks, turning her gaze to the former Winter Soldier as he cradles their son. Jamie's little smile, his chubby cheeks and big grin, his wide observant eyes as he takes in what's going to be their new home, at least for the time being. Bucky watches over them silently, his eyes meeting hers in question, a wordless, "You'll stay?"  and suddenly there's nowhere else in the world Christina wants to be. It's almost like they're home here.