Mine (Bucky Barnes)

Forty-Five

I'm tired. It's a bit of a filler, but I had fun writing it! <3 Artie

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Bucky and the other men had sat back in a private lounge room. T'challa provided them with Whiskey, Scotch, and an African cocktail called Dawa. The king had also invited his best friend, W'Kabi, who had been doing business abroad for T'challa during the time they had been in Wakanda. W'Kabi and Sam were soon sloshed and left early in the night after trying – and failing – to keep up with the other three. They swayed as they walked to their rooms, arms wrapped around each other's shoulders.

T'challa, at least, was smart enough to steady his intake instead of going glass-for-glass with the two super soldiers. W'Kabi did his best to not be out-matched, and Sam wanted to test if they actually couldn't get drunk.

When they left the room singing Hakuna Matata and leaning on each other for support, Steve shouted, "I'll collect that $20 from you tomorrow!"

"Aye, aye *hic* Cap!" Sam slurred over his shoulder.

"If he remembers I'll be impressed," Bucky grumbled.

"If either of them wake up within 24 hours I will be impressed," T'challa chuckled.

Little Azuri hung out with them, having been deemed "one of the guys." That led to Alpine being scooped up by Wanda to join the girls. Azuri had started off playing with each of the men, until he couldn't keep his wide brown eyes open any longer. T'challa tucked him in on the couch beside him, his curly-haired head resting on his dad's lap. The nanny had stopped by and offered to put Azuri to bed, but the king preferred to do it himself.

The night had started off jovial, but as the night wore on the conversation turned much more serious. Steve and T'challa listened intently to Bucky's fears of becoming a father.

"I hope I don't hurt her. I know we got rid of the trigger words, but what if I have a flashback? I occasionally get nightmares. What if Jana has the baby in bed with us, and I accidentally roll on top of her mid-nightmare?" Bucky fell back against the couch and ran his hands down his face.

"You won't. I'm sure it's different when you're a dad. That's something all dad worry about. T'challa probably had similar fears. Right?" Steve looked to the young(er) father for assurance.

T'challa shook his head. "No. that is something all good fathers worry about." Bucky's shoulders relaxed slightly. "It is a natural thing to worry about your children. It will take some time to get used to having a child. I fear nothing will ease your worries until you hold her in your arms."

Bucky puffed a long hair out of his face. "I hope Jana... hold on. It's been a while since they left. What time is it?"

"Looks to be... quarter to one," T'challa answered.

"Christ!" Bucky jumped up. "If Jana isn't in bed already, I've got to make sure she is! She gets heartburn if she isn't elevated properly while she sleeps."

Steve chuckled beside him. "Calm down, Buck. I'm sure she's already made her way to bed."

T'challa gently lifted his son in his arms before following the other two down the hall. They passed the theater room on their way to their bedrooms and noticed the light was still on.

"What is this?" T'challa mumbled to himself. He poked his head in the room and laughed. Steve and Bucky followed suit, surprised at the sight before also bursting into laughter.

Wanda and Shuri – the only two still awake – were enthralled with the vampire movie that played on the screen. A tub of popcorn stood between them while they alternated shoving handfuls into their mouths. The responsible ones (Ramonda, Okoye and Nareema) were missing and must have gone to bed earlier.