Just like the last time we shopped, robots greet us in front of the garage and take all our bags up to my room. I hope they don't frighten Steve and Bucky. I'd been trying the whole car ride what to tell Tony, but can't think of the right words. He parks the car in the garage and hops out, I follow. Instinctively I return to his side and he throws an arm around me, but doesn't start walking. I break out of my thoughts and look up at him. His dark eyes consider me, then he releases me and leans against the back of the car.

"Did Cap tell you?" He asks me with a sigh. My brows furrow as I face him. I shake my head.

"Tell me what?" I ask. He looks down and crosses his arms like a petulant child.

"You've been quieter than usual and I can tell you're thinking about something. Look, I know you care about him. About both of us, but some things I can't forgive. At least not instantly." He tells me honestly. I put my hands on his shoulders so he'll look at me.

"Hey, Tony. Tell me what happened." I plead, wanting to understand. He looks up at me, eyes full of regret and sadness. I place a hand on his cheek and he takes that hand in his, kissing it.

"Cap came back to the living room after walking you to bed. He asked if we could have some time alone and the guys left." He hesitates, struggling with sharing. "To get to the point, he told me my parents...they didn't die in a car crash. They were killed. The accident was staged by Hydra." Tony's voice breaks on the word killed and my hearts breaks with it.

"Tony...god, I'm so sorry." I desperately try to empathize with him as he stares up at me with teary eyes. I press my lips to his cheek, trying to comfort him even though there is no comfort from this. When I feel one of his tears fall from his eye and roll onto my cheek, I wrap my arms around him, holding him to me as tightly as I can without breaking him. "But listen, it'll be okay. We'll figure this all out, I mean, that's what family does. Everything will be fine. You hearing me, Tony? Everything will be fine." My voice is shakier than it should be, but Tony just nods. I put a hand on the back of his head and brush his curly black hair with it, trying to ignore the fact that it's shaking. I know everything about Bucky. There were reports about the Winter Soldier and the various kills he had made over the years...it's possible that I have befriended the killer of Tony's parents. I shake my head imperceptibly and close my eyes. Even if it was, it wasn't him. He wasn't in control of himself. Bucky is Bucky and the Winter Soldier is the Winter Soldier. They're different. Tony pushes me away by my waist and I let him. He sniffs and stands, shaking himself rid of the emotions.

"You're right. We'll work it out, we always do. Come on, let's go talk it out." He grabs my hand and heads towards the elevator. I can't help but hope Steve has kept Bucky in my room. For the love of all that is good let him still be hidden.

* * * * * *

The minute the elevator stops on my floor I tell Tony I'll get Steve and meet him in his room. He nods and walks away, although it makes me sad to see him walk away by himself, it's necessary. Once he rounds the corner I fling my bedroom door open and slam it shut behind me. I look around my room and thankfully, see Steve and Bucky sitting on the floor outside on the balcony. I sigh in relief and they both look up at me. Steve's face falls easily into a sweet smile and Bucky smiles charmingly at me. I can't help but smile back at the idiots. I lock the door and head over to my grinning boys.

"Hey, Ria." Steve greets me as I sit beside the two of them. I sigh and put my head in my hands, my fingers diving into my hair.

"What's wrong?" Bucky asks. I lift my head back up and look at Steve.

"Were you planning on telling me what you told Tony last night?" I ask him harshly. His smile melts and is replaced by a look of regret, just like Tony's. Bucky stays silent, looking between Steve and I with unease.

"Look, Victoria, everything you said last night...you were right and I wanted to fix it. I went back to talk to Tony and told him what I hadn't been telling him. Understandably, he didn't take it that well." He rubs his jaw and I finally realize where his split lip came from.

"I wish I could say that I was sorry he hit you, but I agree with him. You should have told him beforehand." Steve's face is downcast and for a moment I regret my words.

"Hold on, what's happening?" Bucky speaks up and both of us look at him. I glance at Steve, then explain.

"Steve decided that last night was the perfect time to tell Tony that his parents were killed by Hydra agents." I explain. "Why would you keep something like that from him in the first place?" I ask, frustrated.

"I was trying to protect him!" Steve says indignantly. I cross my arms and shake my head.

"Really?" I question him and he looks down, rethinking it. I stand and gesture for Steve to stand. He does and I gently splay my hands over his shoulders. "I understand your intentions were good and I'm happy to have inspired you, but Steve, you had to know that telling him right then wasn't the right thing to do." He shakes his head at me.

"The right choice is right all the time, regardless of the situation." He replies and I frown.

"Not everything is black and white, Captain America." I tell him and he sighs, nodding.

"Sometimes I think it would be better if it was." He admits and I smile softly. I reach up and kiss his cheek.

"Look, Tony is ready to talk about this. He's open to it, so I think now is the best time to bring out Bucky." I postulate and Steve presses his lips together in thought. "I mean, he's already kind of ticked, so we might as well hash out everything today." Steve nods slowly, agreeing with me.

"There might be a small problem." Bucky speaks up quietly. Steve and I both turn towards him as he looks at the two of us. "You mentioned agents killed Anthony Stark's parents? Well, I think it was just an agent." He pulls the sleeve of his sweatshirt down absentmindedly, trying to hide his metallic hand. "I think it was me." He reveals, his voice sad, but resigned. I shake my head, while Steve looks at Bucky in surprise. The thought hadn't even occurred to him.

"No, it wasn't. Even if it was your body, it wasn't you. It's not your fault and we will make Tony understand that." I place a gentle hand on his shoulder as he looks at me like a sad puppy. "Come on, everyone will be waiting." I take Bucky's metal hand in mine and Steve's in my other hand. I tug them both along and eventually they start walking on their own. Steve opens the door and we all go out, hand in hand. I can tell Bucky is watching Steve and Steve is watching me, but I don't look at either of them. I go in first and smile at Tony. He's standing in the middle of the room, I'm guessing too nervous to sit down. "Wait here." I whisper to the two boys and go to Tony. I take a deep breath as Tony stares at the silhouette of two men outside his door.

"What's going on, Queen?" He asks me. I rub my hands together, but meet his eyes confidently.

"Tony, I want to tell you something and I want you to trust me." I start, wringing my hands. He nods slowly. I exhale, then turn to the door. "Okay, come in." I say loudly and Steve walks in with Bucky. Quickly, I turn back to Tony to see his reaction. His eyes are on Steve first, but go to Bucky second. Tony shrugs, not understanding.

"What, you're having a threesome?" He jokes and I hear a snort behind me that had to be Bucky.

"No, no. Uh, this is James Buchanan Barnes. I met him when I didn't have any memories and he showed up last night and I offered him a place to stay." I explain quickly and vaguely. Tony looks behind me and focuses on Bucky. He scans him, examines him, as if he was under a microscope. "There's another thing Tony." I call Tony's attention back to me and receive it. I step slightly in front of Bucky, to protect him. "He was the Winter Soldier. Brainwashed by Hydra, he did whatever he was told. Like me, remember? And like Clint with Loki." I pull up examples so he may understand better. He nods along with my words, slowly. "Tony, Hydra killed your parents and used Bucky to do it. There's no nice way to say it so there it is. I'm sorry. I am so sorry." I watch his face go through emotions. Sadness, anger, confusion, sympathy, and finally betrayal.

"So, you want me to just forgive him? No, it's more than that isn't it? You want me to keep him in my house?" Tony scoffs.

"It wasn't him, Tony." I remind him quietly, but he just looks more hurt.

"How long did you know?" He asks me just as quietly, but his isn't calm, it's stewing.

"Since today. And I'm telling you now, because I know that you'll see that this is the right thing to do. He's just as damaged and war worn as the rest of us, if not more. He belongs here." I plead with him.

"What, so I'm just supposed to let in the attack dog just because he's been kicked?" Tony asks and I press my lips together to release some tension. I move towards him and place a hand on his shoulder, but he jerks away. I frown.

"No. You're supposed to let him in because it wasn't his fault. He's a victim just like me. Do you not remember me stabbing Steve?" I remind him and Steve grunts behind me.

"You didn't kill him!" Tony's voice rises, but I keep mine intentionally low and calm.

"Because that wasn't the mission I was sent on! If it was he would be dead! No offense, Steve." I glance back at Steve's conflicted face for a moment before turning back to Tony. Just in time too, because he's marching towards Bucky. I step completely in front of Bucky and grab his metal hand in mine, holding it behind me. "No, Tony, no!" I scold him and he stops and looks up at the ceiling. He takes another step towards me and I place my palm on his chest. "You aren't going to hurt Bucky." I tell him very matter of fact.

"No, I'll just forgive the man who killed my mom!" Tony yells at me, making my heart race. Yet still, my hand remains in Bucky's and on Tony's chest.

"Tony! You're the genius here, act like it!" I yell back at him, quieting him for a moment. "I understand that you're hurt and that your world has been flipped upside down, but so was his. Over and over again. Please, Tony. Look at him and see him for who he is. Put away the rage. It wasn't him, just like it wasn't me." My voice gets quieter as I speak, hopefully calming Tony. Tony's eyes stare at Bucky and, slowly, the anger in them dies. I release Bucky's hand and put my hands on Tony's face. This time he doesn't pull away, but his eyes fill with tears. "Hey, I love you. You aren't alone in this. I'm here, Steve's here, although I know you're mad at him. He is truly sorry, by the way. The whole team is here for you. Just trust me and let me help. Okay?" I ask, daring to hope. He puts his hands on my wrists and pulls my hands away from his face. He looks at Bucky and swallows his tears, but I can hear them in his voice.

"Do you even remember them?" He asks Bucky, voice rough. Bucky spares a glance at Steve before answering.

"I remember all of them." He answers, resigned and melancholy. Tony takes a deep breath and nods once.

"Good." He says, then turns back to me. "If the rest of the team says he can stay, fine. But he has to be with someone 24-7." Tony relents, then releases my wrists. He walks away and I wave at the boys to leave. They hurry out, leaving Tony and I alone.

"I'm sorry, Tony." I apologize. I never wanted to cause him any pain. He turns towards me, saddened. He shrugs.

"Am I happy about this? No. I am happy you came to me quickly, though. But what I need is time. I need some space, some time, and something to tinker with." He says to me or himself, it's hard to tell. I nod, understanding.

"Listen, I really do love you and I'm here for whenever you need me." I make sure he knows I'm always available for him. A slight smile graces his lips and he walks over to me, tugging me into a tight embrace.

"Kid, you may drive me up a wall at times, but there's one thing I know. You're loyal. I know you're here for me, Queen. And I love you too. I'm just...I need..." He's unable to finish but I get it.

"I get it, T. Don't worry." I assure him and he kisses my head. I reach up and kiss his cheek before he walks out. I follow and watch him enter his lab. Sighing in relief and exhaustion, I head to the living room. That's where the other Avengers will be and where we have to fight for Bucky to stay. Again.

A/N

The feels, the feels, the FEELS.