(B)

(this chapter combines ideas from two types of chapters, so it'll be long. Introducing you to close friends and the love interest)

"Steve, Bucky's not a kid. He can more than take care of himself."

"I know that! But this isn't the 60's anymore. The neighborhood's not gonna find him and bring him back."

"Steve-" Nat protested.

Bucky slowly walked into the room, as if his parents had been arguing worried sick that he'd run away from home.

Nat and Steve both looked at him at the same time.

"Buck, buddy! Where'd you go?" Steve hugged his best friend, not seeing the precious cargo he'd brought home.

"Barnes, what's that?" Nat asked the important question. Steve finally caught sight of the car seat.

Bucky stood silent, his hands clasped in front of him.

"Buck?" Steve asked in his inquisitive tone, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Oh this is Y/n. I found her in an abandoned house."

Natasha sighed.

"James-"

"I'm pretty sure a burned down house with police tape around it is abandoned." he answered Nat and turned to Steve

"Steve, you wanna do good by me. And I haven't done much good, lately. But I promise you, you let me keep her, and I'll do good by y/n!"

Steve looked at his friend like a proud papa, and Nat knelt down in front of y/n, who was starting to stir, her face wrinkling as she mutely cried.

"Hey daddy Barnes, something's up with your girl."

Y/n let out a broken wail, confirming Nat's observation.

"She- doesn't come with a manual." Bucky announced.

Nat pursed her lips and raised her brows. She then picked up Y/n out of her seat and swayed the baby in her arms. It was easy to figure out what was causing y/n discomfort.

"Ooh, someone needs a diaper change."

"Uhun..." Bucky numbly said, scratching his head, hoping Nat would continue.

Nat rolled her eyes and continued.

"Do you know how old she is?"

"Her birthday is y/b/d, makes her around a month old."

"Okay, that helps. Steve, drive to the Walmart. Get a box of swaddlers, they have ranges of age written on them, and a couple packets of baby wipes. Ask the working lady there, she'll help you. Go!" Nat shouted orders and Steve ran out the door, coming back for his wallet.

"Barnes, get the bath going."

Bucky went to the bathroom, and Nat followed behind, bringing his baby.

"We're ready to be changed, aren't we, Y/n" Nat said in a playful tone. She stood at the sink with the baby, then cursed upon a late realization as she undid the buttons on the onesie.

"James, call Steve from my cellphone."

Bucky got out of the tub, and as he walked out of the bathroom, he stopped, realizing her phone was in her back pocket.

"Today, Buck." Nat begged over her shoulder.

"It-it's in your back pocket," he reminded her, a red creeping over his face.

"It's alright, you can take the phone out," Nat laughed. "Daddy's a gentleman, isn't he y/n!"

Bucky cautiously moved behind Nat so he could take out the phone. He hesitated twice before he put a hand on the small of her back, tugging the phone out of the small pocket.

"Steve's name is in favorites, tap the name on the screen." Nat directed him, after a few bells, Steve answered.

"Steve! Stay at the Walmart!" she yelled as if he wasn't.

"I'm still here, Nat."

"Great. Tell me Stark got you a smart phone?" Nat whined.

"Yup,"

"'Kay. Put me on speaker,"

"You're on speaker." Steve confirmed.

"Go to the notes app and type this down: Buy a baby towel; baby washing soap, it'll be a gel; and get the people to find you onesies for a month old girl."

"Month old girl. Got it, anything else?"

"You got wine at home, Captain?"

"I'll buy a bottle now!" Steve joked as he signed off.

"You're gonna wait for the wipes?" Bucky asked, hoping onto the edge of the sink.

"No, I'll just wipe her with wet paper towels."

"You're good at this stuff," Bucky smiled at her.

"I've watched a friend raise his kids," Nat said discretely.

Bucky watched Nat's face, her expressions as she played with the now awake y/n.

"You ever want children, Nat?" Bucky asked and immediately regretted it after seeing the look on Nat's face.

"You know that feeling, when someone tells you you can't have something, and you crave it even more? I can't have children of my own, James. That's what I had to give up when I joined the Red Room."

"I'm sorry, Nat." He sadly whispered as he looked at his baby's face. Even just a couple hours in, Bucky couldn't imagine a life without y/n.

Bucky had felt something for Natasha since day one. She was his equal, in skill, in thought, in history. He'd imagined a life with her before, but now, he saw a more valid reason, one he was sure Nat wouldn't reject.

"Natalia, I have a baby I don't know how to raise..." Bucky said as he jumped down the sink edge.

Nat looked at him with surprise, knowing where he was going with this.

"And you know.."

"You sure you want this, James? It could complicate things in y/n's life, with us not being together..."

"What if by the time she came to age, maybe you and I....might be....together?" He stepped closer to Nat, and she had to tilt her head back to look him in the eye.

Nat smiled, "You askin' me out, Bucky Barnes?" she teased.

"Natalia Romanov, will you raise a child with me?" He leaned his head in, stroking her shoulder.

"It would be my pleasure," Nat smiled and reached up on her toes, grabbing his lips in a kiss. Bucky wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. Nat slid a hand up his chest, her fingers in the dip in his neck. She held the baby in her other arm, and Y/n cooed, smiling, approving of her dad's new girlfriend.