Chapter Text
Dream:
Day by day it felt like someone was gonna rip his heart out. The pain was nearly unbearable, losing his best friend, the love of his life, was the worst feeling ever, but experiencing it again was even worse. Bucky was in a bar, after the war was over and all alone. All of his friends hated him, or at least didn’t want to talk to him, or even know if he is still alive, but who could blame them, since all of them was on different sides. Natasha is in coma, and Steve is dead. Bruce is missing, Tony became crazy, Clint is stuck with Nat 24/7. He is alone, well actually, he has a daughter, he and Steve adopted her two months ago, and she is still so small… but he can’t even look at her right now, too much memory, too much emotions, and what if’s. He knows this is not Sarah’s fault, but he can’t deal with it anymore, he can’t survive alone, again... Bonnie helped him though, but he was sure that only because of Steve. The girl hated him, well maybe not hated, just simply didn’t like him. He sighed, payed then left the bar. It was pretty late, or early, who the fuck cares, when his life just fell apart. He went outside, a cold November wind greeted him, as he went to his…, actually Steve’s bike, and headed home. He saw someone, probably Bonnie, walking back and forth in his apartment. He went inside, and went to the lift. He should send her home, he is the one who has to deal with it, and Sarah is his responsibility. He sighed, and stopped before the door. He was reaching for the knob but he heard more people talking, so Bonnie wasn’t all alone. Bucky grabbed his keys and went inside, and saw that Clint, and Tony sat on the couch, while Bonnie packed up some of Sarah’s things.
- What are you doing? - Bucky asked, his voice was husky, and he looked like he could kill someone right now.
- What am I doing? What are YOU doing? You were missing for three days straight, Bucky. For god's sake, you have a daughter, who needs you, and not me. You are her father, you should raise her, not me. I know what happened is tragic, I miss him too, he was my best friend too, we all loved him, and miss him, but grow up James, you can’t do this, you have responsibilities. Steve doesn't want you to do this, so I’m taking Sarah with me, until you can get yourself together. - she shouted, and the tears started to fall from her face, as she gave a bag to Clint and Tony, who quietly watched as she spoke.
- You do WHAT? You can’t take my daughter away from me, she is the only one I’ve got, and how could you know what he wants? You barely knew him, I was the one who grew up with Steve, you were nowhere when we fought together, we lived through so much terror, and now you want to take my only hope away. - he growled.
- I know I am a nobody to you, and I don’t want to compare my relationship with him to yours, but if you can’t raise and protect her, then I don’t think you are the right man for Sarah. - she took up the little girl, and headed towards the door, with the two men, but Bucky still stood in the way.
- No way you will take her from me. - he grunted.
- But you are not yourself, you can’t do it.
- Then help me! - he cried.
This is how it all started, she moved in and helped him raise his beautiful daughter. They had nothing between each other, they were just there for Sarah, who was four years old now. Two years just simply flew away. Bucky still worked for shield, like Tony, and Clint. Bonnie used to work with them, since she was a witch, but she was busy with little Sarah. Natasha on the other hand was still in coma, although she showed some sign to wake up, but she never actually did, and Clint didn't have the strength to let her go….
- James, do you remember, that this is your turn to pick her up from kindergarten, then buy her a dress for halloween.
- I know. Don’t worry doll. - he said, and gulped from his coffee - Anyway, what she wants to be this time?
- Well… actually when I asked last time, she said she wants to be like Steve. - she smiled sadly. - She said that she wants to be like him, since he sounds so awesome, as we talked about him.
- Oh...well who can blame her, he was pretty awesome. - he said, but didn’t look up.
- You know, I can talk to her, if it is uncomfortable to you.
- No, we knew this moment would come, and as I hate to admit it, he is gone and will never come back. Also I’m proud that she has such a good taste. - he smiled at her.
- Anyway, is there any news about Nat? Or Bruce? - asked Bonnie.
- No, at least I didn’t hear anything. Nat is still in the hospital, and Clint refuses to acknowledge that she is gone. Bruce on the other hand is still in a village, as Tony said last week.
- Oh. I see. - she sighed.
- You know, you should come to the tower sometimes, they are missing you. - he leaned against a wall, and watched as she washed the dishes.
- No… I don’t know. I don’t really have time, you know…, but I’ll try my best.
- Come on Bonnie, you work hard, you deserve to rest. I’ll be with Sarah tomorrow, or we can bring her with us. I know I work a lot, but it helps to...forget.
- You don’t have to apologise. I know it’s hard for you, it is for me too, and I know he was not the love of my life, like he was for you. Do everything that makes you happy. We support you.
- Thank you.
Bucky just stared outside. This situation was strange, so strange, like something is missing. When you are playing with a puzzle, and some of the pieces are gone, and you can’t see the whole picture. The feeling flew across the room, and slowly Bonnie started to feel that again. This is the sentiment, which came back day by day and slowly drifted them into craziness. Bucky cleared his throat, and turned to the woman. - I should go. See you soon. -he said and rushed out of the house.
**
- Mommy!- shouted a little blonde girl, as she and her father entered the house.
- Hi cupcake. How was your day? - asked Bonnie.
- Good. Mrs. Symons brought cookies to the class and gave them to us. -
Really? That’s very nice of her. - she smiled, and turned to Bucky
- Did you buy the costume? - Bucky nodded and showed it to her.
- Do you want to see it, mom? - giggled the girl.
- Yes. Go and put it on. - she said, placed Sarah on the ground, and she ran to change her clothes.
Bucky went to the kitchen to grab some water, then sat next to the woman on the couch. They barely talked nowadays, something changed and both of them knew that. They just sat next to each other, ignoring eye contact. Bucky sighed, and wanted to say something when Sarah entered the room in her little Captain America costume.
- Oh sweety, you look so lovely. It is perfect. - hugged her Bonnie.
- You are really cute doll. I love it. - the man stroked her hair.
- Do you think papa Steve would like it too? - Definitely. - both of them nodded.
- Then okay. - she said and ran back to her room.
- Sarah, after you change, go and eat something honey. - said Bonnie and went to the kitchen, with Bucky.
The winter soldier sat on the table and grabbed a sandwich, while Bonnie poured orange juice to Sarah.
- Mom, dad. Can I ask you something? - she asked when she entered the room.
- Yes doll. - asked the man, and helped her to sit on a chair next to him.
- Do you and mom like each other? I mean like, love like. - she asked and stared at the both of them.
Reality:
Steve took a deep breath, grabbed his throat and sat up. He sighed heavily, and his vision was still blurry. His memory swirled, and he can’t remember what happened. The only thing he knew, that there was a big explosion and then everything went black. He heard as somebody called his name, and felt as if someone grabbed his shoulder. He looked left, and saw Wanda, as her red eyes searched his.
- Steve? Do you hear me? I’m Wanda. - she said, but she seemed so far away. - STEVE! - she cried out, and he felt his senses come back.
- Wa...Wanda?
- Yes, It’s me. How are you? - she asked.
- I don’t...what happened?
- I don’t know. There was some kind of attack in the tower, which knocked out everybody, except me, Pietro, Sam and Vision because we weren’t here at the moment.
- But what, who attacked? - I have no idea, but you were stuck in an alternate world, well you are all dreaming, but you can’t wake up. - she said, and looked around. All of the avengers laid on medical beds and seemingly slept.
- I could only wake you up, and Natasha, but half of her is still in the dream. - she said and turned towards the Black Widow, who sat on the corner, with her arms crossed before her knees, and mumbled something.
- What is she saying? -asked Steve when he stood up.
- The same thing for about a week now. ‘Stay awake’ - sighed Wanda. - I tried to help her, but this thing is strong, and tries to pull her back.
- What kind of world they are dreaming? - he looked at her.
- Well it’s not so different from this, they are still heros, working for shield. There was a big war, and you had a child. I think this is the strangest thing.
- A child??
- Yeah. A daughter, Sarah, but now her father is Bucky, and Bonnie helps him raise her, because, you “died” for them.
-How do you know it? - he asked.
- Vision helped me to project it on a computer. Follow me. - she said, and helped him there, since he wasn’t completely in his senses. They went to one of the conference rooms, where Pietro and Vision sat on a chair, and stared at the screen, which showed five different views.
- Hey Steve. - greeted him the white haired boy.
- Steve. - nodded Vision.
- On your left. - smiled Sam as he hugged him.
- Hello everybody. What is this? - he asked.
- Well this is the place where they are stuck. Wanda is connected to our enemy, and saw the dream, but can’t make contact with them nor the anonymous. This is Bruce’s point of view, this is Tony’s, Bucky’s Bonnie’s, but most of the time they share one, since they live together. Then this is Clint’s who is always with Natasha. Their life is rather boring. - shrugged Pietro.
- Since when are they in there?
- Well, about a month now.
- A MONTH? - he shouted, and sat down. - How?? What can we do?
- Mostly, nothing. Just watch as they live their life. Wanda is the only one who can do anything, but it took her a month since she could take you out of there. - shrugged Sam.
- What about Natasha?
- She woke up three weeks ago, but she doesn't know where she is. She is still connected there. - informed him Vision.
- How did you take me out? - Steve turned to Wanda.
- I could sense your thoughts, and connected to it, and I heard you stronger than Nat. So I lead you back. - she stated, and closed her eyes. Vision placed his hand on her shoulder, and massaged it a little.
- Can’t you do it for the others too?
- I tried, but I can’t hear them, as if someone is blocking me…- she sighed.
- Anyway, where is Fury, or Maria? - Steve looked around.
- Everybody is in that dream, but we only see their view. - said Sam.
Steve nodded and stared at the screen, where Bruce drank tea in a cosy little cottage, while reading a book. Tony ate a pizza, Clint sat next to Nat’s bed, with his dog. Bucky and Bonnie sat awkwardly on a couch. He saw as Bucky glanced at the girl, and wanted to say something, but a little blonde girl ran to the room in a Captain America costume.
- She is your daughter. - turned to him Sam.
- Oh sweety, you look so lovely. It is perfect. - he heard as Bonnie said it, then hugged Sarah.
- You are really cute doll. I love it. - agreed Bucky.
- Do you think papa Steve would like it too? - ‘Papa Steve?’ really? He thought.
- Definitely.
- Then okay. - said Sarah and left the room.
- Sarah, after you change, go and eat something, honey. - said Bonnie and went to the kitchen, with Bucky.
The winter soldier sat on the table and grabbed a sandwich, while Bonnie poured orange juice to Sarah.
- Mom, dad. Can I ask you something? - asked Sarah.
- Yes doll.
- Do you and mom like each other? I mean like, love like. - she asked and stared at the both of them.
Well this is interesting. He leaned closer to hear it better, and saw as his companies did the same. His heart started to beat faster, it is so strange, Bucky is his boyfriend, and although he loves Bonnie, she is his best friend, but he doesn't want them to be together.
- Honey, why do you think I don’t like your father? - Bonnie asked.
- Well because you never kiss him, and you sleep separately.
- Well that is true doll, but we love each other, but maybe our relationship is a little bit complicated.
- Why? - Bonnie turned to Bucky, who was as puzzled as she.
- You know Sarah, your dad, and Steve, your father were together, when they adopted you, but I wasn’t with them at that moment, and after your father died, Bucky asked me to help him raise you, since he wants the best for you, so officially we are not a couple, but still we love each other.
- Exactly Sarah.
- Oh. So you will leave us when I grow up? - she asked Bonnie.
- Of course no. Why did you think about that? I won’t I promise, I love you princess.
- Okay. - she said and started eating.
Bucky looked at the woman, who still stared at the little girl.
- Well, that was strange. - said Pietro. - That girl freaks me out sometimes.
- Yeah….something in her eyes is definitely creepy. - agreed Sam.
- Do you have any idea of who caused this? - asked Steve, ignoring what had just happened.
- No, not really. He or she did not give any signs, so we cannot make any contact with them. - said Wanda.
- Did you think about the girl? - he asked and pointed at the girl, who now is eating some candy with Bucky.
- Yeah, but we will have to be sure, and I don’t know what kind of mutant she is, or she is really doing this, or someone is guiding her. - pointed Vision.
Dream:
- Well that girl can ask weird questions. - said Bucky.
- What do you mean? - asked the woman, after Sarah went to the living room to watch some cartoons.
-About us, and what's the plan for later.
- Well, we will figure this out. I think. - she said and turned back to the dishes.
- You are sacrificing your life for a kid, that is not yours. You left your job to raise her. I don't want you to feel stuck.- he said, and her hand stopped.
- If I want to be honest, then yes sometimes it's hard but I am not sacrificing my life. This is my life now and I'm happy with it right now. I will not leave her or you.
- You are always doing so much Bonnie. I feel bad that you play as a mom, when you are so young. You should go out, enjoy life, get someone.
- I have you…guys. - she said
- That's not the same and you know it. - she smiled.
Bonnie was trying to say something but her phone began to ring.
- Hi Clint. - she said - What? How? When? Oh god, keep calm I’m coming. Everything will be fine. - she said, and hung up.
She looked at Bucky, who stood before her, and looked at her blankly.
- Natasha died. - she cried. - Oh god Bucky, she was my best friend. - she said, and Bucky hugged her close. Bonnie's whole body shook, she and Nat really got along well, they were best friends for almost five years now, yeah it was not so long, but she was there for her all the time, and now she was gone. Yeah she was in come for a really long time now, but there always was hope, something worth fighting for, and now….
- Shh, it will be okay. Go and see Clint, I will be with Sarah. Call me if you need something. - he said and kissed her forehead.
- Thank you. - Bonnie whispered and ran out of the house.
- Dad, where did mom go? - asked Sarah from the doorway. She was surprised, and a little afraid.
- Is she okay?
- Yes, she is okay, but she had to go to Clint’s house.
- What happened?
- You know aunt Natasha is in the hospital for so long, because she is ill, and she got worse, honey. - he said sadly.
- Oh. I like Aunt Natasha, I hope she will get back. - she said.
- Yeah, we all like her. - he said, and hugged her.
**
Bonnie rushed to Clint as fast as she could, but the traffic was terrible. She felt awful, and she couldn’t imagine how he felt. When she arrived at his house, she found him sitting on the stairs with his dog, and just stared at the sky. - I have no idea what to do now. - he said, when Bonnie walked towards him.
- She was my life, my everything, and she is gone. - he said and looked at her with red, puffy eyes.
- I know Clint, this is terrifying. What happened?
- They called me an hour ago, that her signals became weaker, and I went to the hospital immediately, but….but when..when I arrived…
- Oh, Clint. - she felt as the tears drained down in her face, and she hugged him. Clint said nothing, and neither did she. There was nothing to say right now, they knew what she meant for each other, but they will survive this.
- Let’s get inside. I will make you some tea. - she said, Clint nodded and followed the woman.
Reality:
Natasha was still mumbling, she had to stay awake, but that thing was so strong, and she didn’t know how far she could handle this. All of her body hurt, she had no idea what was reality, and what was the dream. She heard as Wanda talked to her, and felt the pain in her head. She tried to scream, but there was no sound, or maybe she just didn’t hear it, but she heard as somebody shouted for a doctor, and after that, there was nothing, just the blackness. She felt relieved. There were no longer sounds, and as she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Wanda clearly, who smiled at her, but she was tired, her face was pale, and it looked like that she could collapse at any time. - Wanda? - Nat asked, and the girl nodded.
- What? What happened?
- There was an attack, and all of you stuck on a dream except me, and some of the boys. I brought you back, and Steve too. - she said and helped Nat up. Natasha was a little bit weak, but she followed the girl into one of the conference rooms, where the others sat and stared at the screen.
- Nat hey, are you okay? - asked Steve as he saw the girl.
- Yeah, I guess. What is this? - she asked them.
- This is the dream where everybody is. Kinda creepy. - said Pietro who stood in front of the windows. Nat nodded, and sat down next to Sam and Steve, and stared at the screen.
- When did it happen, and who attacked? - she looked around.
- I have no idea who did this, but it was after your mission in England, when everybody came home, me, Pietro and Vision were out getting coffee, Sam was doing some voluntary work so this is why we are not there. - she pointed at the screen
-So yeah we are kind of puzzled right now. - she shrugged.
- The thing is that in that dream we are still heroes, me and you are dead to them, and I had a daughter. - said Steve - So kind of this is the strangest thing in it.
- As much as it is scary, I'm living for the reality show.- said Pietro as he watched Bucky and Bonnie talk in the kitchen. Steve was watching them, with a weird feeling. This is not reality, he should know that somebody is manipulating them, but still Bucky was looking at her so weirdly.
- Natasha died. - the girl cried, then rushed out of the house. They saw as Bucks talked with Sarah, and how Clint and Bonnie cried outside. Tony talked with Pepper about Natasha, and Bruce sat on a bench, his head in his hands.
- I have no idea what to do Bonnie. - whispered Clint, as he drank some tea.
- I know it’s hard, but you have to live your life, she doesn’t want you to suffer.
- I know.
- And what can we do? - asked Nat.
- I have no idea. It took me a month to bring you and Steve back. If we would know who is doing this, it would be easier, but now ... .I don’t know.
- Can’t we connect to them? - she asked.
- No, at least not right now. I can’t sense them, and it takes a lot of energy from me, just to see them in the dream. I think this other mutant has similar powers as me, I mean that she can create another reality, but it is way more stronger than me.
- What if we send somebody back in there and we stay connected to them. - asked Sam.
- I don’t know if we could do that, maybe the mutant will sense it, and take the control over again. - shrugged Vision.
- And who would be the guinea pig? We can’t send Sam, Vision, or me in, cause we weren’t there, also Nat and Steve died. - stated Pietro.
- I’m not happy to say that, but I think Loki could help us. - sighed Steve, and the others nodded.