"I'm not telling you the whole story," Bucky says.
Rebecca immediately protests.
"Yes, you are. You owe me this!" She yells.
"No, I don't owe you anything. I did what I had to do to protect my family and I won't apologize for it," he says.
Rebecca automatically deflates at Bucky's statement.
"I'm your family," Rebecca says sadly.
Bucky sighs because that's not what he meant.
"We are family but if I have to choose between lying to you or protecting them, I have to choose them. You were safe and happy without me so I felt there was no need to interrupt that," he says.
"I don't understand why my knowing you are alive would endanger your family," she says.
"That's what I'm going to explain. I'm going to show you why it's so dangerous that you know but I won't tell you everything. If this information gets out, not only my family but yours will be in danger as well," he says.
Rebecca knows whatever he's about to say is going to be bad but she has to know.
"Fine, tell me what you can," she huffs.
Bucky knows that Steve doesn't know how much to actually tell of the story. Bucky leans over, covering his mouth with his hands so Rebecca can't see his mouth and whispers in Steve's ear.
"You came out of the ice in 1949 and you saved me from Hydra. Be vague so you aren't lying," Bucky says.
Steve looks at Bucky in hesitation but then he nods. This is his sister so he gets to call the shots.
Bucky turns to Rebecca and starts the story.
"In 1945 I was taken by the scientific sector of the nazi party known as Hydra. When I fell from the train, I miraculously survived and Hydra captured me," Bucky says.
Bucky rolls up his left sleeve and shows Rebecca his arm. She gasps at the sight of a metal limb in place of his arm.
"I lost my arm in the fall so Hydra replaced it with this. They experimented on me and used electricity to erase my memories. They brainwashed me and used me as an assassin. I was their biggest success," Bucky says.
Bucky looks over at Steve to start his part.
"Obviously you know that I went through quite the physical change when I entered the war. That was because of a serum that a doctor injected in me. It gave me rapid healing and super speed and strength. When my plane crashed, the ice froze me in place but the serum protected me so I survived. Years later, I was found in the ice and unfrozen. Soon after that, I found Bucky and helped him escape Hydra. It took awhile to get rid of his brainwashing but when we did, we were able to come back to Peggy and Lizzie," he says.
Every bit of the story they just told was true but they just edited the timeline a bit. The more she knew, the more dangerous it would be for all of them.
Rebecca sits in silence and digests everything she was just told. Her brother was tortured for four years and no one knew.
"I need you to understand why this has to be a secret. If Hydra finds out I'm alive, they will do whatever it takes to get me back. They have no qualms about hurting children so if this gets out, both of our familiar are at risk. You can't tell Jack or your children anything. James Buchanan Barnes is dead and that's how it has to remain. Do you understand?" Bucky says.
This is a secret that Rebecca will have to keep for the rest of her life. She will have to hide if from everyone because she understands how dangerous the alternative will be. She briefly wonders if it would have been better if she didn't know but she immediately dismisses the thought.
The knowledge that Bucky is alive and happy is everything to her. She's sad he's suffered so much but she is so glad he ended up with the life he always wanted with Lizzie.
"I understand, I'll carry it to my grave. Now there's something I have to do," she says.
She stands up and launches herself in her big brothers arms.
"I missed you so much," she whispers in his ear.
He freezes for a moment before hugging her back. As much as he was against telling her the truth, or at least some of it, he's happy she knows. He didn't think he missed her as much as he did until this moment.
"I missed you too, Bec," he says back.
She releases him and wipes a tear away from her eye.
"You got the life you always wanted. A life with Lizzie and a family of your own. I know you have suffered a lot and I'm so glad you got your happy ending," Rebecca says.
He looks over to see Lizzie has reentered the room with Sarah. She is crouched over and talking to Sarah with a huge smile on her beautiful face.
"Yeah, I did," Bucky says fondly as he stares at his wife.
Lizzie looks over and sees Bucky looking at her with a soft expression and she gives him a smile.
Rebecca loves her husband so much and she's happy with the life she has, but looking at how her brother and sister-in-law look at each other, is beyond comprehension. When they look at each other, you know you are witnessing something extraordinary.
"What's it like?" Rebecca asks.
He looks over at her in confusion.
"What?" He asks.
"What's it like to love someone like you love her?" She asks.
He's confused at where this question is coming from.
"Are you and Jack having problems?" Bucky asks.
"No, my marriage is everything I always expected it to be. I stay at home and take care of my kids while Jack provides for us financially. I cook dinner and he brings me flowers home. He tells me he loves me and I say it back. It's a typical marriage and I'm content with that, happy even. You guys have never been traditional and neither has your love. You have... passion, that's the best word to describe it. You challenge each other and make each other better for it. I just want to know what that's like," she says.
He pauses and really thinks about what she's asking. His marriage isn't perfect, both he and Lizzie have made plenty of mistakes when it's come to their relationship but it's perfect for them.
"She is everything I could have asked for in a partner. She's brave and smart and so kind. From a young age, I saw how special she was and I never wanted the world to crush that specialness. I think she saw the same thing in me. We wanted to preserve those things that society says we shouldn't be. I love her, every inch of her and I'm glad I have been able to support her in being who she is. She's my soulmate, I've known that for most of my life. I'm so blessed that I get to love and be loved by her and for some strange reason, she feels the same," he says.
Lizzie walks over to Bucky and Rebecca. He leans down and places a kiss on her forehead. He rests his hand on her stomach instinctually.
It's so small that he almost doesn't feel it but he definitely feels a distinct push against his palm.
Lizzie looks up at him and sees his look of wonder.
"You felt her?" Lizzie asks.
He reaches down and places both hands on her midsection. He feels a second kick to his palm and he starts laughing in joy.
"I can feel her," Bucky confirms.
He wraps Lizzie in an embrace and places a hard kiss to her lips, not caring about the people surrounding them.
"Thank you for giving me her. Thank you for all our children. Besides you, they are the best thing that's ever happened to me," Bucky says.
They are so caught up in their moment they don't even realize Rebecca walks away.
"Three years ago I was drifting with no direction. I was empty and struggling to find joy in life but then you came back. You gave me a home and a family. You let me laugh again. You gave me our kids too and I love you so much for it," she says.
He reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. He leans in to kiss her but is interrupted by the twins' cries.
"We're being summoned," Lizzie says.
He kisses her on the top of her head and grabs her hand. They walk upstairs to get their kids.
Though Bucky was still nervous about it, they were both glad that Rebecca was able to be in their lives. Now their whole family is together and everything is perfect.
For Bucky and Lizzie, life couldn't get any better than this.