Turtledove

Bucky POV

Bucky and Steve were running late to the briefing. Apparently, Nat was bringing back a friend she had met that had skills that would be of use to the Avengers. Just when he thought he was used to HQ they were bringing in someone new, he would probably have to do the whole explaining his past and how he isn't that person anymore.

"So Nat is bringing her back. She has an interesting nickname according to Nat. Turtledove or Dove for short. Apparently she got it from her true love" said Tony with a slight smile on his face.

"That's cute! They mate for life don't they?" replied Sam.

Bucky froze in the doorway. Dove, he hadn't heard that nickname in forever. Must be a coincidence. He looked at the date on the screen behind Tony, he hadn't realised that it was his and y/n anniversary today or it would have been if she had been here.

"What do we know about her?" Asked Steve looking at Bucky knowing the meaning of the nickname to him. He also knew it also happened to be their anniversary today... well, it would have been if she were here and alive.

"Only what Nat has told us. She seems to be a very good fighter. And Nat seems to think she may have been experimented on at some point. Nat also thinks she might be older than she looks. Like as if she has been frozen in time or just appeared in our time from hers. She uses phrases that we don't. Apparently some of her favourites are 'Eager Beaver', 'Goof' and 'in my book'. And she seems to be from New York, mostly likely Brooklyn" Tony continued.

Bucky's head began to spin. He sat down and grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down. Steve sat next to him and patted him on the back trying to calm him down. There were too many similarities ... but it couldn't be y/n? Could it?

"Hey man, you ok? You don't look too great" Sam asked. Sam the war veteran and who volunteered at the VA to help veterans by running support groups. As a trauma counsellor, Bucky guessed that Sam couldn't stop himself from making sure that everyone was ok and lend a helping hand or listening ear. To be fair Sam had been a big part of Bucky being able to begin to forgive himself after everything he had done as The Winter Solider.

Tony's POV

"Yeah man, you look like you've seen a ghost." Tony looked concerned. He had begun to forgive Barnes since he learned what Hydra had done to him. He was still upset by his parents' murder but he knew it wasn't his fault or choice to kill his parents. The more Tony and the rest of the team had learned about Hydra and what they did to people the more he felt sorry for Barnes, he wondered if his father knew what had happened to Barnes or was surprised or recognised him after the crash.

"Just as good as. It's just this person Nat's bringing sounds a lot like... my... um... girl from before. It also happens to be our anniversary today so it's all a bit much" Bucky replied grabbing the water jug and pouring himself another glass of water. He began to sip it slowly trying to calm his nerves.

"Oh... did you and Steve want to meet the jet when it gets here? Or I could ask Nat to send a picture of her? If you tell me her name I could get FRIDAY to look her up?" Tony replied. He saw the shock and pain on Barnes's face. He knew that Steve was sort of seeing Peggy then but he always thought that Barnes was a ladies man or was just single then. But this ... he wanted to help him get answers.

"Thanks Tony, Buck and I will go and meet the jet. We will go from there" Steve replied he stood up and taped Bucky on the shoulder and motioned to the door.

"Uh yeah, thanks Tony" Bucky replied and followed Steve out the door.

The two men walked out the door heading over to meet the jet. Tony watched as they walked away, Steve patting Barnes on the back and trying to talk to him to see how he handling all of this. Tony didn't know what would be better for Barnes. The woman that Nat is bringing not being his girlfriend from them, meaning he could move on and decide if he wants to know what happened to her. Or the woman is her, but that would bring on a whole range of questions from both sides. Would they be able to get back to what they were? Tony made a promise to himself that no matter what he would help Barnes in whatever way he could. That's what his mum would want him to do.