Chapter Seventeen
Soroya

"Well this makes things a bit harder." I mumble. We are standing outside Emma Becker's old hideout in Margate, England. Unlike the last time we were here, the house isn't empty.

The house on the outside looks the same, but in the driveway there is a minivan parked. In the yard there are toys scattered everywhere, and through the curtains in the window, I see movement inside the house.

"It'll be fine," Bucky assures me. "We'll just say we're thinking about buying a house on this street and wanted to meet the neighbors. During our conversation, say you need to use the bathroom, and then go into the basement and get the serum."

I nod, linking my arm with his. "It will be easier to put up a facade this time around, liebschen. We're no longer pretending to be together anymore."

Bucky smirks, leaning forward and kissing my cheek. "Want to be married or engaged?"

We begin walking towards the front door and I whisper to him; "Married. It will make us seem more relatable to these people."

He chuckles. "Yes, what these people need is to be able to relate to us."

A realization hits me then. I turn to Bucky in panic. "What if they recognize me?"

Bucky doesn't look alarmed. "Margate is pretty away from cities, so these people don't get out much. If they do, who are they to say no to an Avenger?"

Bucky knocks on the door, sticking his metal hand inside his jacket pocket. The door swings open, and we're met with a smiling woman maybe ten years older than me.

"Hello there, what can I do for you?" She asks, not a speck of hostility in her face.

I grip Bucky's arm tighter, smiling at the woman as well. "My husband and I are thinking about buying a house on this street, so we just wanted to meet some of our potential neighbors."

The woman nods her head. "How exciting. Buying a house is always a hassle and let me tell you, the houses in this neighborhood are cheap. You've definitely come to the right place."

She has no idea. The woman shouts back into the house for her husband. Moments later, an equally friendly man appears by her side, sticking his hand out to shake out hands. Bucky shakes him with his one good hand, trying to keep his metal hand as hidden as possible.

"Why don't you two come in? I just made some tea and we can talk about the neighborhood." The woman asks.

Bucky and I share a glance before I nod my head. "That would be wonderful, thank you."

As we walk into the house, I feel relieved that the couple doesn't seem to notice who I am. They bring us into their living room, where the walls have been painted a nice tan color to match the oak wood floors. These floors are covered in toys and drawings, as are the brown leather couches.

"Please forgive the mess, my daughters really like to play." The woman says, clearing some of the toys away.

I shake my head. "No need to apologize. It's your home. Children should be allowed to play."

The woman smiles at me, gesturing for us to sit down. She walks out of the room towards where I assume the kitchen is, while the husband sits in the matching leather couch across from us.

"What part of Germany are you from? I recognize the accent."

I smile at him. "I was born in Hamburg."

He shakes his head, a sorrowful look on his face. "It must be hard for you lately, given all the attacks that have happened. I hope you don't still have family in Hamburg."

I shake my head, gripping Bucky's hand. "No, my husband and I live in America. Along with my brother."

"I didn't get your names?"

I smile at the man. "I'm Lena Houseman. This is my husband James."

The man smiles again, glancing at his wife who returns into the room with a tray of tea. "My name is Rupert Baxter and this is my wife Diana," He says, laughing as two screaming children run into the room, dolls in both their hands. "These are our twin girls; Delilah and Rosey."

Both girls wave at us, with one of them coming up to me and showing off her doll.

I smile at the doll, gently touching it's hair. "What's her name?"

The little girl grins proudly. "Rosey, after me. She's a princess trying to escape from her evil twin." She says, glaring at her sister who is playing quietly on the floor.

I let out a chuckle, accepting a cup of tea from her mother. "Why is her twin trying to get her?"

Rosey shrugs. "Because I have a mountain full of rubies." She says nonchalantly.

I lower my voice, smirking at the girl. "Maybe the princess should become a knight. She could protect her rubies from any enemies."

The girl's face lights up, running towards her sister, declaring that her doll is no longer a princess, but a fearless knight. This makes the girls chase each other again and her parents bust out laughing. I'm shocked to find Bucky laughing as well.

"They usually don't like strangers," Rupert comments. "Do you have any children of your own?"

I shake my head, saying before I can really process the question; "No, but hopefully someday we will."

My answer shocks me. It shouldn't, because we were playing a part right now, but I felt truth in this statement. I sneak a glance over at Bucky, seeing him tense up.

Forcing a smile at the couple, I ask; "Can I use your bathroom?"

Diana nods. "Of course, it's past the kitchen and to the left. It's right next to the basement door."

Excellent. I nod my head to them, making my way there. I grip my backpack tightly around my shoulders, trying to be extremely quite as I make my way down the basement stairs. Thankfully the girls aren't down here, but it's like walking through a field of land mines trying not to step on their toys.

I make it over to the wall under the stairs, which is partially blocked by a doll house. I push the house aside, being careful not to bump into anything, before pressing on the wall and revealing the door.

I am even more thankful that this family isn't aware of this secret compartment. The room looks exactly as it did nine years ago. I ignore the chairs in the corner of the room, where my parents were experimented on. I grab onto the notebooks and papers Becker scribbled on, before bringing out the plastic bag and placing the jar of serum inside. I close it tightly, stuffing all of it in my bag.

I close the door tightly as I make my way back into the basement, hoping the little girls don't open it by accident. I quietly make my way back up the stairs, finding Bucky talking about house mortgages with the couple.

I lean against the wall, smiling at him. "Liebschen, I think we should get going. We have another appointment with our realtor soon."

Bucky nods, smiling warmly at the couple. "Thank you for having us in your home. You have a beautiful family."

Diana and Rupert share a grin with each other, leading us towards the front door. The two little girls come to the door as well to wave goodbye at us. Both of us wave back.

We parked our ship a few blocks away, and it's only once we have climbed aboard and have taken off into the skies, does Bucky speak.

"Did you mean what you said? Do you want kids one day?"

I let out a sigh, trying to weigh that question in my mind. I had been thinking about this ever since he came back; about my future. So much of what I wanted I had to give up when he died, but now that he's back...I want to be honest with him, so after a few moments, I am; "I want it all, Buck. I want a house, I want a husband, I want children. I've wanted all of that since I could remember. But after HYDRA...after you died...I thought I didn't have that option anymore. I'm still not entirely sure I do."

He creases his brow. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know if my powers will let me have children. Even if they did, I don't want to force you do anything you don't want to do. You've been forced to do things your whole life and I want you to have options."

He lets out a sigh, looking like he's almost in pain. "And I want the same for you. I want you to have everything life has to offer. If I'm being honest, I've always wanted those things, too. The thought of living in a house like that with you, being able to call you my wife, having children with you...it's intoxicating to think about."

I feel like my heart is about to soar. I can't wipe the smile that spreads over my face. "Really?"

He turns his face towards me, giving me a genuine smile. "Yes, and I promise you, one day we'll have all of those things. But right now...I worry that you'll wake up and realize you deserve better. I worry that you'll regret choosing me. I don't feel like I deserve any of the happiness I feel, and now that I actually have it, I just feel like I'm gonna loose it."

I lean over towards him and place my hand over his, trying to convey in each syllable I say that this is true; "If I were given the choice to go through all the pain I've endured in my life, knowing I would be with you at the end of it, I would choose to go through it all again. HYDRA, Killmonger, Thanos, Analiese...you're worth all of it."

I see him let out a shaky breath, gripping my hand tightly. After a couple moments, I see him wipe his eyes with the back of his metal hand. Clearing his throat, he says softly; "Thank you, sweetheart."

I bring his hand up and kiss the back of it, not letting go of my grip. "I think you'll make an amazing father."

He smiles lightly, shaking his head. "Not compared to the wonderful mother you'll be one day."

The rest of the ride back to Wakanda, I feel like I'm flying through the air. I keep imaging the two of us in a house of our own, a ring on both our fingers, and children of our own running around with their toys. I want that so badly, and I will fight with everything I have to get it. No one, not Analiese, not HYDRA, nor any other threat will rob us of that future. As I squeeze his hand again, I make this silent promise to him, to the both of us.