“The baby is kicking” you cheered, catching the attention of all your ladies, who turned their sights away from their reading and into you. Wanda with a huge smile, took foot and ran to your side

“Can I?” she asked, and you nodded, grabbing her hand and placing it over your belly. “Oh I can feel it!” she shrieked. Lady Jane as well as Sarah and Nat came to you as well, also asking to feel the prince or princess inside you

“It’s so exciting” muttered Lady Sarah, and then you remembered that she had 2 kids

“Did it hurt?” you couldn't help to ask, “When you gave birth?” she looked at you apologetically

“Well, it did your majesty, I cannot lie to you” she murmured, “My first, it did hurt, it was a long birth, but the second popped right out” she said slowly, “It can be different”

“Well I hope for the latter then” you smiled nervously, you know very well that they were women who died in childbirth, it was common, so you really just hoped for the best, you know they had excellent physicians and even men and women who dedicated his life for the knowledge of the gods and knew about different kinds of medicine, like the wise ones from Kamartaj

Perhaps you could ask for the assistance of the monks when the birth came, the thought soothed you, but then it didn’t when you think about what Bucky may say, you needed to ask him

Bucky

You missed him, the longing must have been reflected in your face, as you felt Nat’s hand on your shoulder, you found her eyes and smiled at her 

“I bet the King would like to feel his child” she said softly, and you just smiled

Oh you bet he would

At the other side of the castle, Bucky was grumbling so hard his teeth were going to splinter 

The air was tense, Bucky could feel it, as he looked at Sharon over the dining room table, she was savoring different sweets and treats, according to her cravings

“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to have dinner tomorrow” he tried softly

“Why is that?” she drop the cutlery into the silver plate with a frown to look at him

“I’m going hunting,” he said trying to gain footing in the conversation

“Do you think I’m an idiot?” she snapped, but when she looked at his face, she knew she had messed up, “But darling, I’m sure you can stay and spend the day in bed, I know the council is taking a break”

“I want to go, the hunting season is coming to an end soon”

“Can I come with you?” she asked then

“You know that riding isn't a good idea if you are expecting” he murmured

“Who are you going with? Duke Stark is in his state, Lord Wilson as well, and Steve you said he was out of the capitol chasing something” 

“Well, I was thinking of going by myself”

“With the Queen?” she barked

“No, she is pregnant too”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?” He just sighed

“I want to see her” he grumbled, she just smiled

“Perhaps we can go and see her together” she snapped, taking another bite of the cake she was eating. He just sighed

“Sharon, it’s been a month”

“Isn’t it dreamy?” she asked, caressing her belly

“No,'' he said firmly, “You know what? He stood up from the table, “I don’t care, I’m going to tell her myself I don’t care anymore, I need to see her, I can’t keep avoiding her”

“I wouldn't do that if I were you” she said to his back as he turned around

“Why not?” he grumbled, turning around to face her

“Well, it’s been so long nobody had made an attempt against her” Bucky froze on his spot, “Maybe they’ll try again” 

“Have you been trying to poison my wife and my child in her belly?” he asked carefully. And her face told him everything he needed to know, “How could you?”

“I wanted you back to me,” she said, “And… I didn’t want to do this, but if you don’t comply with me… I’ll do anything in my power, which is great, until I succeed”

“I should have you disemboweled” he grumbled

“Are you going to kill your pregnant mistress?” she asked, a wicked smile in her face, “I don’t think so”

“Just wait until my baby is out of there”

“Until then, you will do as I say, or I will fulfill my threats, I will poison her, and the child inside her”

“You are signing your death sentence” he murmured, enraged

“Perhaps” she said, “But I have nothing else to lose”

Bucky left his room with a deep frown, rubbing his face with his hands. He had a deep prickling sensation in his nose that wouldn't leave him alone, was he about to cry? He certainly wanted to, he wanted to see you. He wanted to see his unborn baby, caress your belly, I bet you were feeling so tired by now. He walked towards his council chambers, where he used to wait for his friend to come to meet him.

“As soon as Steve comes trough, you send him to me” he said firmly to Peter, who nodded 

It wasn’t log before he came in, entering the library where his friend stood 

“We haven't found him” Steve said firmly, accommodating himself in a chair across from his friend. Bucky’s frown seemed to deepen

“Steve, what about the Carter’s sympathizers inside the castle?”

“I don’t know anything about that yet” he murmured 

“I need to get rid of Sharon, she just admitted to me that she was the one behind the poison and the corset” 

“What?” snapped Steve 

“She told me that if I didn’t play at his bidding she will fulfill her threat and she will manage to poison the Queen and our baby”

“You don’t believe that!”

“She tried twice and almost succeeded” he said, “I’m not playing with the life of my wife and child”

“But you are hurting her” he said strongly, “By not seeing her” 

“Until I can figure out a way to destroy Sharon and her family’s influence, which is big, I can’t risk it”

“I’m going to find that bastard Rumlow” Steve sentenced, “And that will draw us closer to find the traitors”

“Good” he just whispered, “In the meantime, I need to get her to safety”

Natasha walked with determination and with a smile when she met her undercover boss

“I need you somewhere else” he sentenced, looking at her with his one eye

“What do you mean?” her smiled got wiped out of her face 

“I found out that a squire for the Carter family has disappeared,” Nat looked at his mentor, boss and friend carefully, “it was said he was a favorite of Lady Sharon, I need you to find him, and figure out what happened”

“I can’t go far without raising suspicion”

“I’ll get you a replacement for your post at the side of the Queen, but if this leads to something big, it’s our way our to get rid of Sharon”

“Ok, tell her I got the plague or something”

“Which is something we need to take in mind” he grumbled under his breath, “I’ll tell Maria to fill in for you, she is one of us, one of Shield”

“Yes, I approve”

“Good, go now, and figure out where Rumlow is. I like the Kingsguard, and I like the Duke, but they are as inconspicuous as an Elephant in an antique shop,” Nat giggled but nodded

“I’ll do what I can without my cover being compromised”

“Go, now” 

Fury saw Natasha walk away as swiftly as she came and took a long breath. Not only the assassinations attempt agaist you had his mind riling but, the plague was threatening the country’s borders…

And suddenly, he had a plan in line to keep you safe.

He walked towards the privy council’s chambers, he swore with a long breath he was going to live forever, keeping walking from one place to another in this huge castle. 

The King saw him right away. These days he was looking gloom, sad even, to enthrall in his work, and that was out of character to him. He had always been a good and responsable king, but he always was seen energetic, with plans to go hunting or hosting parties, ut know, he was in a prison of his own making

“My King” he greeted

“Sir Fury” he responded, passing his hand through his hair 

“We have no knew of Rumlow’s whereabouts” he concreted

“Yes The duke already told me”

I have to make a suggestion, on behalf of the Queen’s safety” Bucky then looked at him with surprise on his face

“There had been some reports of Plague in the city already, and I think is best if we send her majesty away for a while”

“To where?” he mumbled, his eyes shiny with worry

“To her home”

You read the letter with teary eyes, the letter in which your own husband, pleaded you, no, COMMANDED you to leave the castle and go stay in your old home, I mean, the castle in the Barton’s county, where you lived for 5 years

“Why would he do this to me?” you murmured, looking at Wanda

“He is saving you” she said, “A great part of the nobility is leaving the capitol, Lady Natasha is with the plague, soon it will spread all over the city and in the castle, is the safest thing to do” she convinced you

“Why hasn’t he seen me?” you asked then, “Did I do something wrong?”

“No my Queen” she said softly, caressing your arms, “he has to stay here, you know is custom to have the Kings in different places at a time like this, so if one catches the plague the other won’t and the monarchy can be saved” 

“It feels like he is getting rid of me” 

“He only does this because he loves you, Vision had told me so” she said with her energetic smile, “He says he had never seen the King so happy since he met you, and you know the Vision always tells the truth”

“Is he coming with us?” you asked, and she just smiled dreamly

“Actually he is” 

At least Wanda could be happy, he relationship with the Vision was evolving beautifully, and you knew it wasn’t long before he would ask for her hand in marriage 

In your state, your ladies and maids make sure you never had to do anything and it was getting very annoying, they wouldn’t even let you pick up what you wanted, you just had to sit on the bed and they would show you whatever they found and you gave your approval and they would pack it up for you.

Lady Maria was a beautiful woman, she was older than you, just like Sarah and just as nice and calm. Fury had presented her to you, giving you his blessing and although you didn’t want to replace Nat, he assured you this position was temporary. That lady Natasha was going to be ok

Even if the threat of a plague was something very real, you still think it was an excuse to send you away. You wish you could speak with Bucky, you missed him, and you tried to find him with no luck, he was always in meetings, or out of the palace

So when you saw him walking towards you when you were waiting your guards were done loading the carriages

“Bucky?” you called, wanting to cry when he encased your face with his big hands, it had been a month

“I'm sorry my love” he whispered against you lips, “I'm so sorry”

“Where were you?” you asked, whimpered ready, grabbing his wrists to make sure he wouldn’t just walk away from you. “What is going on?” youa sekd

“I'm sending you away for your own safety” he reassured you, kissing your forehead, “Can you believe that?” you nodded, “Please, please believe me” he begged, “I will explain everything but first I need you to get you safe, ok?” you nodded, looking into his beautiful blue eyes

“I believe you,” you were also dying to know what was going on, and being patient wasn’t really one of your attributes. He then kissed you deeply, his tongue found yours and they rubbed together, he seemed to be yearning for you just like you did him

“I will bring you back as soon as I can” he said when he separated himself from you, his hand then ended in your belly, “I'm taking care of both of you” he said firmly, “I miss you both”

“The baby started kicking you know?” you mentioned, and his eyes turned teary and worried

“Really?” you nodded

“They are strong kicks” 

“Do you think is a boy?” he asked and you just smiled

“I don’t know” you responded sincerely

“I will bring you back as soon as I can, and then everything is going to be alright ok?” you nodded gain, and then he leaned in and kissed you, engulfing you in his arms. 

“Everything is going to be ok” 

And with that he helped you get into the cushioned seat inside the carriage, and walked away as the caravan started. Taking you to your former home. 

It's been a week in which Nat had been looking for that squire, finally finding him in a small village, on Carter’s state. where she found out he just bought the biggest farm in it, and was moving in with his family. Hinting he had a big payout. Nat could only guess what the payout was about…

She trailed him until the young man went alone to conduct some business and buy some animals for his new home. She followed him patiently, waiting for the second to strike. She wished she had backup, in case the man would fight back, but he looked so skinny and weak, it calmed her. It was funny, he did look like the King, he had the same color of eyes and hair. 

He took a detour, passing through a passageway, and that's the moment she knew she had to strike. 

She came in behind him with a burlap lap which she put over his head. Before he could start screaming she choked him with her arms around his throat, he struggled, tried to fight but he lost the fight against the redhead, falling limp to the stone floor. 

When he woke up, he found himself tied up inside an old barn, h tried to scream for help, but he shut himself up when he saw her, Nat standing right in front of him

“You…?” of course he remembered her from the royal Castle, Nat wasn’t an easy woman to forget. “What do you want?”

“You are going to tell me a little story” she demanded

“no, I can’t…”

“You know what I'm talking about” she tried 

“No!” he cried, but it was already too late, Nat showed him a knife she was hiding under her skirts, and showed it to him

“Why did you flee from his majesty's service?” she asked

“That’s what you are doing here?” he cried, “followed me because you want to know why I got tired of cleaning horse shit?” She slapped him so hard his head turned to the side

“Tell me” she demanded, threatening his neck with her knife

“You are going to get me killed!” he whined, “The carters are more dangerous than you know”

“Tell me” she demanded, “now!” he pressed only a little the knife, drawing blood from her neck 

“She… Lady Sharon, made me…”

“What did you do?” she demanded, “She told me to… have sex with her” he cried, “She ordered me, or she was going to hurt my family and really, we all did want to… I mean, she is a fine lady…”

“And you did”?

“Several times” he confessed

“When?”

“When she arrived” 

“She, who?” 

“The Queen” he cried, “Sharon was jealous, she wanted a baby, that could pass as the King’s” 

“Of course she did” she grunted and released him, “If you tell everyone I paid you a visit I will know and I will tell the King of your involvement in this” she threatened. The man just nodde, Nat pushed him again to knock him out, and released his bindings, leaving him alone in the barn while she walked away

Now that she had this piece of information, she needed to communicate it to Fury, but she was a day away, and she was closest to where Rumlow was rumored to be… in the south… near the border… it would be a waste of time to come back to the capitol only to try to leave to come back to this area. 

She put on a cape, hiding her identity, and got on top of her horse who was waiting for her. She needed to get to the next town before nightfall. She knew Rumlow was hiding there, waiting for a ship to take him to the other continent; she used all of her net of contacts and snitches. She was getting close, she could feel it. And unknown to her, The duke was also closing in, they were in the same mission, but in different paths

It was night when Natasha reached the little inn she was staying at, but what she wasn’t counting on, is how close the Duke actually was, so when she got into the inn and took off her hood, it was too late, she came face to face with the blonde man, who, as well as she, was hiding in common clothes

“Lady Natasha?” Nat stood there in shock, and turn around to meet the Duke Steve Rogers, “What the fuck?” he cursed

“Language Captain” she teased, He grabbed her by the arm and took her outside the Inn, so they could speak more privately 

“What are you doing here?” he was so shocked he didn’t even know what to say, what to ask, “what is going on?”

“I’ve been sent to find Rumlow” she explained simply, it was admitting the truth or being  accused of treason, and Nat was many things, but not a traitor 

“But why?” he mumbled, “Why you?”  and then his eyes light up with cleverness, “Are you a spy?”

“Something like that” she said

“Tell me” he demanded, his body hovering over her until her back was against a tree, “Tell me or I swear…”

“What?” she teased again, with a maneater smile

“I’ll tell everyone you are a spy,” she took a long sigh, and decided to confess

“I'm here to help you apprehend Rumlow” she admitted, “My boss sent me”

“Who is your boss?”

“The leader of a secret organization called SHIELD” she said bluntly

“SHIELD?”

“We are an international and secret society, whose work is to protect the integrity of this and many other realms

“Are you messing with me?” he asked, she only shook her head

“I’m the one who found the folly guards who still worked with Rumlow” she confess then, and Steve stood still

“Who more like you are in the castle?”

“Not enough, sadly” she muttered, “I will help you get Rumlow as a token of my fealty, but I cannot tell you anything else” she said softly, and Steve seemed to think about her offer and then nodded

“Help me find Rumlow, and I will keep your secret,” because his father along with Tony´s father were members of SHIELD, so he believed her. Even though he always believed it wasn’t real. And it was a silly name they put on themselves 

After 10 minutes, they were sharing a hot meal and a horn of ale in the Inn

“So Sharon fucked her squire… so the baby she is expecting isn’t the King´s” he muttered

“Yep” she mumbled against her ale

“what a sick woman”

“She got addicted to power and wouldn’t let go” she whispered

“And he was comically similar to the King, in looks” Steve opened his mouth widely in shock

“We need to go back and warn the King” he said firmly, “That crazy woman could actually poison the Queen”

“We cannot go back before we find Rumlow” Nat said, “all of this would be for nothing”

“He is leaving the continent, perhaps is not such a bad idea” he grumbled

“But if he doesn’t admit that he was working with Sharon, we will never be able to dismantle her network of sypathizers” Nat explained, and Steve felt almost dumb on comparison to her

“Ok, but how do we know? I mean, he was the captain of the King’s guard, he is the toughest of the toughest, he will never admit to be working with Sharon”

“You might be right, but we don’t have any other choice” 

"You and me?" he mocked, "We will never catch him" he grumbled, "And specially not witht he entire group of guards behind me"

"That's why we're coming alone, the both of us..." she muttered, with a wicked smile

"Is not that I don't trust you..." Steve said, "But he was the Captain of the King's guard, and we both are..." Nat only smiled

Even though not being around Sharon was a blessing for Bucky, actually not knowing where she was… was unnerving. It suited him ill, like she was a poisonous snake ready to strike. 

He never felt like this… so powerless, he was the fucking King! and yet now he felt like a simple man, being manipulated and pulled around like he was some sort of puppet. It was kind of ironic how he didn’t want to get married in the first place, thinking that that is what was going to tie him up… but in the end, it turned out to be the exact opposite

By your side he felt like the strongest man alive… and not being with you made him powerless, a puppet.

But his train of thoughts was cut short when he found Sharon… in the throne room, in the place that he created… for you. She was sitting comfortably in your throne

“Sharon, get the fuck away from there” he grunted, his jaw so tense it could cut glass

“Bucky, c´mon” she teased, caressing her big belly, “This is what was always supposed to be” 

The scene before his eyes made him sick to his stomach 

“Sharon I fucking mean it” he demanded, “Get the fuck away from that throne or I swear you’ll come to terms on your pregnancy in the tower!”

“I was supposed to be Queen!” she yelled, making Bucky stop from grabbing her and throw her off of your throne

“You know that is not true!” he yelled, pointing at her with his finger, “since the day she was born she was promised to me, since I was ten yeards old!”

“But you chose me!” she counteraced, “You fucked me, you sleep with me!” 

“And I never regretted something more” he said bitterly, “You pushed your luck, Sharon… he looked away from her, “Guards!” Peter came rushing alongside other guards, ready and at his disposition, “Take Lady Sharon to the Tower, make sure she has anything she needs” 

She didn’t even fighted as she rose from the throne and let the guards grab her softly by the arms 

“It would be a shame if something happens to her Bucky” she mocked

“You can’t touch her now” he said, as he watched Sharon being taken away. And he prayed for his advisors and his trusted men to be right, that now you were in your home, and there, nobody could touch you, everyone adored you. 

Should he come to you? Would Sharon know where you were? Can she reach you? so many questions ran through Bucky’s head. So many questions and any answers, he relied on his friend, on Steve, and he was across the country 

“Lady Sharon is in the tower” Peter said shakely, “What should we do about her?” 

“We need to wait for Duke Rogers. He will have answers for us, ok?” the young man nodded, 

He was a mess without you, he didn’t even know what his friends, and court would say if they found out that since you left, he had been sleeping in your bed, in the Queen’s chambers. the bed smelled like you and he needed you next to him right now. After two months of Sharon´s torture you were so close he could almost feel you, being with you again

So he sneaked out of your room in the morning, ready to start the day. He needed to get ready to face the Carter House, it wouldn’t take long before they found out he locked up their daughter. So he needed to be prepared. 

But what he didn’t expect was watching Peter run towards him… the kid looked scared, and windy, but before he could get any words in. The double doors of the entrance to the place opened wide, and Steve walked through them. he was also catching his breath

“What is going on?” he demanded, looking at his friend

“We got him!” he yelled, “We got Rumlow, he confessed” this was the best news he could hear, “It's over for Sharon” Steve said to Bucky, “I got Rumlow, more than happy to testify for all of his accomplices and hers” the look on the King’s face was priceless. Bucky hugged Steve tightly

“I owe you” he whispered in his ear. 

“I know” he whispered back

“Mmmm” both men separated to see the flustered guard… “My King?”

“What is it kid?”

“Lady Sharon… she is missing”

“WHAT?” 

“Nobody could find her. She left the castle”

“She was detained!” he yelled

“She still has friends in the castle” murmured Steve, “I have the list but it will take time before we can do a cleanse” the three man shared looks

“What do we do now?” he asked

“I’ll send men to look for her” he said firmly, “and I… with mine and Wilson´s trusted men will clean the Castle of the Carter´s sympathizers”

“Thank you” he breathed out

“Now… you need to see her” Steve said with a big smile

He rode his horse with such speed his guards had trouble keeping up with him, and he arrived so hastily the castle didn’t even have time to announce him, he just opened the front doors of the palace at nightfall like a force of nature, and he ran to the second floor where he knew you would be. 

You were reading in your room, your ladies around you, trapped in their own reading, but you were interrupted by your guard opening the door. 

“His Majesty, The King” the page announced, as Bucky entered hastily, Wanda was fast to help you on your feet

“My love” he greeted you, taking your hand between his

“My King” you muttered, God why did you have to love him so much? You were a Queen, you were above those mundane things, he understood that, you were his duty, and you should be thankful he made all of this agreeable, pleasant even, but you needed to understand that he wasn't yours

“Leave us, please” he asked looking at all the ladies, you nodded and all of them did as he commanded

“Did you come here to see me?” you asked softly, smiling shyly

“I told you I would get you as soon as I could” he muttered, was he faking the adoration that loomed in his eyes? “I missed you” you let yourself believe him, as you returned his smile, and let your eyes communicate to him the same adoration 

“I miss you too” because you did. He place a hand in your big stomach

“How are you feeling?”

“A bit tired, but that's all” he cradled your face in his hands and he kissed you, tenderly. Oh, you loved him so much, you leaned in as he hugged you tightly, only your bump in between you, he giggled in your ear, he separated from you shortly, you took both his hands and placed them in your belly, the baby was kicking, thrilled of hearing it´s father´s voice, you were certain. 

“Hello little one” he muttered, his eyes glassy and his smile wide, he leaned in and kissed your belly, “Let's take to bed” he whispered

“But Bucky, we can’t”

“We don´t need to have sex to share the bed” he took your hand and lead you to your bedchambers.

Once you were there, he slowly turned to you, kissing you softly, he helped you undress, caressing you as he did, leaving you in your nightgown, he took off his clothes as well.

And you both laid in your bed, he hugged you tightly against him, kissing your head, and whispering soft words in your ear, as his hands roamed your arms and back softly. And for you all of it was forgiven

“I love you” he said

“You do?” you asked, not believing him

“I do” he said “I really do”

“I love you too” but his betrayal weighed heavily in your chest, “Why did you leave me?” you asked, looking into his eyes for answers, “I thought you had forsaken me” you muttered, enjoying his embrace

“Never, my love” he responded kissing your temple

“What happened?” you asked, “Tell me the truth”

“Sharon was threatening your life” he said firmly, “She is pregnant, and she threatened me that if I didn’t resume our relationship with her, she not only tell you, but she was going to poison you” all the air left your lungs as the truth unraveled in front of you

“What did you do?”

“With the help of Fury we dismantled her network of people that were helping her, but that took time” you didn't know what to say, all this time, he was protecting you

“Why didn’t you tell me?” you murmured 

“I wanted to protect you” he responded quietly, “You and the baby”

“Promise me you’ll ever leave me in the dark again, I’m your Queen, it’s my job to be by your side” you demanded, grabbing his hands in yours

“Sometimes I forget how strong you are” he whispered, “I promise” he said against your temple as he kissed you good night 

Notes: I had trouble writing this and there are a thousand versions of it…. but I think I tied everything up, all the loose ends, this is some sort of final chapter in this story, and right now… we are like, defeated one villain and the next one is prepping up! hahaha each ten chapters is some sort of season! and the next one is coming right up don’t worry we are nowhere near the end! haha