Miss Rebecca Stark

Emma blushed intensely at the kiss. That certainly did help her warm up. She rubbed her arms and tried to look away from him so it wouldn’t be as obvious that that had taken her off guard. But she was smiling almost dreamily.

Bucky Barnes Kisses.  Warming up skirts since 1932.  God, he should go get them patented.  Save loads of lives.  Steve recognized the smile on Bucky’s face and shook his head.  Smitten.

“I think... Emma might need a little time to be away from you, Steve. But- hey- this isn’t goodbye. We have to hang around until that crazy lady we told you about shows her ugly face,” Rebecca tried to explain in the gentlest way that Starks were capable.

When her eyes refocused, she looked around with a little bit of confusion. Because for that moment, she was not Emma. She was not. And Rebecca gasped despite herself because she knew those eyes, and in that second Rebecca knew exactly where Emma had been and exactly what Emma had seen. But she stayed quiet.

Steve stared at Emma as her eyes focused back on what was around her.  Shivered.  She looked like…  He shook his head, as if negating it was going to make it any easier.

Emma blushed intensely at the kiss. That certainly did help her warm up. She rubbed her arms and tried to look away from him so it wouldn’t be as obvious that that had taken her off guard. But she was smiling almost dreamily.

Rebecca blushed. She felt guilty, so she stayed quiet. She’d probably just make things way worse anyway. … Emma had told her to leave Steve alone. She should have just listened. Then none of this would have happened…

Steve sat next to Rebecca, conflicted.  Deciding if he should forgive her.  He’d talk to Rebecca in private.  Hear what she said.  For now, he flipped the heater on, utility bill be damned.  It was the middle of winter and breath shouldn’t be visible.  The abused piece of machinery breathed a slight bit of warmer air into the room.

When her eyes refocused, she looked around with a little bit of confusion. Because for that moment, she was not Emma. She was not. And Rebecca gasped despite herself because she knew those eyes, and in that second Rebecca knew exactly where Emma had been and exactly what Emma had seen. But she stayed quiet.

What helped him?  Bucky paced a little, sticking an unlit cigarette in between his lips.  Without further ado, he went into the bedroom, dragged the quilt Mrs. Rogers made for Steve before she passed, and wrapped Emma in it.  It was nice.  Lots of green and gold.  She joked they didn’t have a lot of trees in the city and Steve was allergic to all of nature.  So she brought some spring in.

Rebecca blushed. She felt guilty, so she stayed quiet. She’d probably just make things way worse anyway. ... Emma had told her to leave Steve alone. She should have just listened. Then none of this would have happened...

The Stark girl didn’t back down, though. She stared, up as tall as she could be, back at Emma. A far less imposing sight than Iron Man and Captain America squaring off, but in her own way it was almost as intimidating. Emma’s glare darkened, but Rebecca shot one of her own, “In fact, I’m fairly certain that Bucky’s actually interested in Jason. Not you. That must kill you inside. Not as good as Daddy. Not as good as your little brother.”

Bucky stood up between the two girls.  “Scuse fucking you.  Don’t you fucking dare tell me who I’m interested in.  Or anything for that matter, you nasty piece of–”  He stopped when he saw the rage in Steve’s eyes.  Turned to see Emma’s stare.

In that wonderland of snow, Emma was once again atop the cliff. Alone in the storm. She was freezing, holding her arms. Crying for help, but her voice made no noise. The distant rumblings of a train. Always in the distance, and she could never understand why. Why a train? Why?

Bucky opened his mouth to say they didn’t need any peanut gallery comments but Steve beat him to it.

The Stark girl didn’t back down, though. She stared, up as tall as she could be, back at Emma. A far less imposing sight than Iron Man and Captain America squaring off, but in her own way it was almost as intimidating. Emma’s glare darkened, but Rebecca shot one of her own, “In fact, I’m fairly certain that Bucky’s actually interested in Jason. Not you. That must kill you inside. Not as good as Daddy. Not as good as your little brother.”

“Well darling, that’s the thing about History. It’s in the past! Besides, I’ve been with… quite a few men and you never hold it against me,” Rebecca smirked. She felt his embarrassment and stopped the rubbing. Besides, she could also feel Emma’s eyes on her and it was just not worth the fight later.

“Oh.  That’s right.”  Steve nodded determinedly.  “And that’s none of my business.  I’m happy you’re with me.”  A part of him was afraid she wouldn’t stay with him.  It wasn’t jealousy.  Just resignation.  He relaxed a little when the rubbing stopped.

Rebecca, as rude as ever, actually spoke up to Bucky at this point, “Of course you don’t spend much time with her. You’re not actually dating, after all. In fact, you don’t even know she likes you.”

“‘P’ was… I told you about her. My mother,” she looked away. It was sort of wrong to call her that. But she didn’t have any other females that she could look at in any sort of motherly fashion. Peggy was the right partner.

Steve nodded, shifting slightly at the chest rubbing, liking the treatment but.  Very, very public.  To him.  Even if Bucky was way more into the personal displays of affection than him.  Um.  Skin revealing.  "So… You’re ok with my history then?“  Some dames got jealous and Steve didn’t want Rebecca to feel bad or nothing.

“Well darling, that’s the thing about History. It’s in the past! Besides, I’ve been with... quite a few men and you never hold it against me,” Rebecca smirked. She felt his embarrassment and stopped the rubbing. Besides, she could also feel Emma’s eyes on her and it was just not worth the fight later.

Steve sighed in relief, crossing himself.  ”As long as you all are happy.  That’s what matters.  I promise.”  Inside, he was practically bouncing up and down.  One day, he was going to be a father to healthy children!  He wrapped an arm around Rebecca hesitantly.  

"'P' was... I told you about her. My mother," she looked away. It was sort of wrong to call her that. But she didn't have any other females that she could look at in any sort of motherly fashion. Peggy was the right partner.

Steve’s eyes were glittering with so many emotions.  ”Gee.  So I have three children?  That’s….I must have gotten the jackpot with a da…lady.  For her to like,” hand motions at his skinny frame.  ”Oh, that’s wonderful.  We need,” glanced at Bucky, “More people like that in the world.”

The girls exchanged a few glances at a few things. For certain reasons. After a while Emma simply nodded with a pulled back smile, "We're healthy. And happy... Stevie has a few health concerns but he is strong and he is happy. That's what's important."

Steve practically bit and swallowed his tongue at the same time.  Never thought he would have…Someone would have children with him.  Multiple children!  More than his strong daughter!  His eyes got all glittery– despite the pain his mouth was in. Passing his name down!

The girls exchanged a quick 'of course you told him already' look between each other.

"Well don’t get too comfy with the company, because we really shouldn’t be-"

Paling, Steve’s hands shook, taking the cigarette out, “Ma’am–”  Hands out, tip up, he tried to get in a word in but Rebecca was steamrolling him.  ”Miss–”

Rebecca rubbed Steve’s back a little. A small smile on her face. No. He was not going to die. He had a long, painful, but happy and fulfilling life ahead of him. He was not going to die… not today~

Steve’s breathing settled, eyes closed, leaning into Rebecca’s touch.  There.  Everything was fine.  Bucky handed him a lit asthma cigarette, which he stuck in his mouth, inhaling.  ”Thanks…”

"Well don't get too comfy with the company, because we really shouldn't be-"

Steve nodded, smiling.  ”I have stubbornness in spades.  Don’t worry about that part.”

Rebecca rubbed Steve's back a little. A small smile on her face. No. He was not going to die. He had a long, painful, but happy and fulfilling life ahead of him. He was not going to die... not today~

Of course, Emma was completely unaware that Rebecca had made any mentions of who the Captain was… and Rebecca had no idea of the opposite. So Emma just smiled, “It’s not much really. Years and years of training.”

Steve innocently shrugged, laying back down on the couch.  He could keep his mouth shut.  Loose lips sink ships.  ”Must be heck of a lot of training then.  Wish I could do that.”  Pursed his lips as Rebecca sat back down.  ”Any sort of suggestions to make me less of a twig?”

Becca couldn't help but giggle again, "Oh, easy, just keep working on your goals. Focus and be true to yourself~ Goofy stuff like that. Isn't Cappy all over that stuff, Emma?"

Becca was grinning back at Steve as Emma wandered into the room. Banter between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes was never an uncommon thing in her lifetime- but it always did have this odd level of adorable underneath it. They were soul mates. Maybe not of the lover variety- but who knows? Maybe that’s what he kept Emma around for. Speaking of…

They weren’t that type of soul mate.  Steve was not into that (but hung with that crowd, which that and his size made…people mad. Damn his art student-ness) and Bucky would rather mess around with men and women who weren’t his brother-figure.

Of course, Emma was completely unaware that Rebecca had made any mentions of who the Captain was... and Rebecca had no idea of the opposite. So Emma just smiled, "It's not much really. Years and years of training."

Rebecca kissed Steve’s head and stood up. Made her way over to the front door and opened it up, one hand on her hip, “Are you two going to stand out here all night being love-y or come in here and feed the damn cat?”

Steve laughed behind Rebecca’s back.  ”Ah, Bucky Barnes.  You and your romantic ideals.”

Becca was grinning back at Steve as Emma wandered into the room. Banter between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes was never an uncommon thing in her lifetime- but it always did have this odd level of adorable underneath it. They were soul mates. Maybe not of the lover variety- but who knows? Maybe that's what he kept Emma around for. Speaking of...