I'm Not Alone? (Cross posted on AO3)

chapter 4

"You alright Buck? You seem a bit off." Steve said, noticing the expression on Bucky's tired face.

Bucky pondered for a moment, thinking about whether to tell his best friend about his newfound discovery. Eventually, he caves in. It's easier when you share a secret, right?

"Bruce called me down to the med bay. They ran a background check on my new student and it showed that there's a 98% chance she's my daughter. I don't even know how or what caused her existence because I can't remember a lot of things from my time as the Winter Soldier. Bruce also told me that there's a chance she was made by Hydra hijacking my genetic material. You know what I mean, right?"

Steve looks at Bucky like a deer caught up in the light of the headlights. "You're a dad? And she's in the compound, with us?"

Bucky nods, his expression still unchanged.

"It just feels somehow surreal. But I can't deny, I feel like I knew her at some point in my life. I've had a few dreams in which I held a tiny baby girl in my arms, but I just assigned that to something randomly appearing in my dreams. But now, I think I'm going to have a big trouble with making out what's a dream and if a dream could actually be a memory Hydra tried to erase."

Steve listened carefully, being almost as flabbergasted as Bucky was. His best pal has been through a lot in the past 70 years and now he's trying to figure out how this kid thing could have happened. That poor man will never stop being life's favorite punch bag.

"You know I'm there for you if you need anything? Till the end of the line." Steve said, placing an arm around Bucky's shoulder. The two started walking towards Steve's room, as he was heading in the same direction Bucky was going originally. "I know Steve. But I'm also aware that this one will be pretty hard to navigate around. I'm not going to tell her anything yet. I don't know if I'm ready to accept this reality."

Steve nodded before speaking up again.

"What's her name?"

Bucky cleared his throat, and without noticing the tone in his voice, said your name.

"Her name is (y/n). She's a mutant who can manipulate holograms and turn them into physical things. And above everything, sassy as hell."

Steve laughed at the short description of the girl who turned out to be his pal's daughter.

"I haven't met her yet, but she already sounds a little bit like you. By the way, you should have heard the way that came out of your mouth. You sound like a proud dad already!"

Bucky raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Do I?"

Steve nodded again. "I get that you're afraid of everything and are threading through the unknown, but you're going to be a natural in this role. We just need to figure out how she came to be."

The duo stopped in front of Steve's apartment.

"This is my stop. Thanks for keeping me company Buck, have a good night. And don't worry too much, stress won't help you get your memories back any faster."

"Alright Cap, see you tomorrow then. Good night."

Steve heads into the apartment, leaving Bucky alone with his thoughts once again. He takes a deep breath and runs a hand through his hair, mentally preparing himself for the days ahead. With a heavy sigh, he starts walking back to his room, knowing that tomorrow is going to be a long day.

As Bucky approaches his room, he notices the door is slightly ajar. He frowns, wondering if he had forgotten to close it properly. He quietly pushes it open and steps inside, his senses immediately on high alert.