The House in the Field

Ava came out of the bathroom about ten minutes later, she’d never showered so quick, but, she wanted to get back to her baby. She entered the room to find no Maria or the baby, quickly looking around until she saw the figure moving on the balcony as she walked over to the door to notice Maria stood there gently rocking the baby, Ava’s beating heart slowing for a moment. “She doesn’t like rocking.” She whispered walking out onto the balcony taking the baby from Maria before jumping her softly, the baby instantly settling down. Maria watched the exchange between the mother and daughter and smiled slightly.
“Fury rang.” She whispered as Ava’s eyes snapped up quickly. “The mission was a success. No casualties, Colonel captured. He’s in interrogation.” She whispered once she’d noticed Ida had fallen asleep.
“He should be a casualty.” She whispered looking back down at her daughter, relief flooding her.
“I did a little digging. He kept you didn’t he?” She asked as Ava’s eyes once again snapped up to stare at her.
“I looked into Howard Stark’s old files. He said he got a tip off that a very bad person was coming. The message referred to him as the Colonel that’s how he got his name. It was you who sent the message isn’t it? You learnt your computer skills from him didn’t you, then you hacked SHIELD and uploaded the encryption message to warn them.” It was like Maria was looking straight into her memory and it unnerved her. “What happened?” She asked, and it was the first time Ava had ever been given the chance to talk.
“I was his pet. Did everything he needed, if I didn’t he’d hurt me knowing I’d heal. You heal but it still hurts.” She whispered. “I sent the encryption message with the map coordinates as the sender and SHILED came, in the confusion of the fight I managed to escape and went rouge.” She whispered, “Bucky doesn’t know, Colonel knows my fears and Bucky is one of them. Bucky finding out is another.” She looked down sadly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Just like him you were a prisoner of war.” Maria tried to reassure her.
“I did bad things Maria. People who do bad things, get bad things happen to them.” She told her. “What else do you know?” She asked trying to forget about the Colonel.
“That’s it. Is there something else I should know?” She asked. Ava hesitated not knowing whether to tell the agent or not before sighing.
“I ran away because my strength, both physical and mental, isn’t what it was. Since I gave birth it’s like my powers have drained.” She whispered as it was Maria’s turn to look shocked. “Please don’t tell the others.” She spoke quickly as Maria nodded.
“You should come back to the towers.” She whispered. “It’ll be safe for you there Ava.” Maria placed her hand on the scared mother. “For both of you. Bucky is going out of his mind about you both.” She whispered.
“But he’s there.” Ava whispered back the fear evident in her eyes.
“But so are we.” She smiled back.

“Mr Barnes, Mrs Barnes and Miss Barnes are pulling up in the garage.” FRIDAY’s voice filled the room, but, Bucky was too far gone to hear it, rushing towards the underground garage; Steve quickly behind him. Maria was holding the door open allowing Ava holding Ida tightly to her to get out her eyes instantly meeting Bucky’s and the tears filling them just as quickly.
“You’re back.” He whispered over as she nodded, he stood there for a few seconds longer not sure if his mind was being cruel again. She stood there looking so scared and so nervous that he didn’t care if she disappeared at his touch he needed to comfort her, he took long quick strides to her grabbing her hips gently pulling her forward and encasing her and Ida in his arms, forehead on her shoulder to hide the emotions that were spilling out. Ava sobbed openly her one free hand scrunching his t-shirt holding on so tightly because she thought she would never get the chance to do again.
“I’m so sorry James.” Her broken voice came out in sob filled whispers as he shushed her softly pulling away and taking her face in his hands and kissing her softly and affectionately.
“I love you.” He whispered causing her to cry some more.
“I love you too. We need to talk. I need to be honest with you.” She whispered as he nodded.
“Steve will you look after Ida.” Bucky turned to his best friend who was already making his way over to the three of them, carefully and gently taking the little Barnes off Ava. They followed them indoors parting once they got through the door, taking a left so they could go to their room.

“I can’t believe you’re back.” He whispered holding her close to him like he was making up for lost time.
“Bucky we need to talk.” She smiled sadly as he took a deep breath nodding and pulling her over to the bed where they sat down slowly. She looked down at their clasped hands trying to build the courage to finally tell him her secrets. The next hour was spent her telling him how she was controlled by the Colonel, how she escaped, and how her powers were near dead. He gripped her hands tighter when a fresh wave of tears came through from remembering the pain and torture she felt.
“So you can’t stop me if I flip into Winter Soldier mode?” He asked as she shook her head slowly, she was exhausted from the emotional strain of her past. “He can make me flip into that can’t he?” He asked as she nodded her head in confirmation.
“That’s why I wanted him dead. He’s a parasite feeding off what’s good in the world, but, now I get why that can’t happen.” She whispered biting her lip. “Maria made the point that even with me not close by he could still send people to hurt us and I’d have no way of protecting her, here I have you guys.” She whispered.

“Nothing or no one is going to hurt either of you. That includes me.” He whispered, his voice changing into a rough forced sound as her eyes flicked up to him. She noticed the change quickly and knew he wasn’t the James she was talking to minutes ago.
“James, Bucky talk to me.” She whispered, fear creeping its way up in her throat as his grip on her hand dropped and he stood up robotic like, he moved his head side to side cracking his neck violently as he set off for the door in quick silent strides. “James what are you doing.” Ava was quick to put herself between him and the door, hand on the door knob as he looked down at her cold and calculated.
“Something I should have done when we caught him.” His monotonous voice came out. “Move Ava.” He warned.
“Bucky you can’t do this.” She shook her head. “You’ll be playing into his hands I realise that now. Please Bucky don’t do this.” She whispered trying to reach for his cheeks but him swatting her hands away.
“Move.” He warned again as she bit her lip moving to the side.
“FRIDAY get the rest of them. Quick!” She shouted as she run down the corridor after him. “Bucky please. Please don’t do this. I need you. Ida needs you.” She put her hands on his chest trying to push him back but instead getting moved along with him. He made it to the corridor and to Ava’s dismay no one was there to help she tried to plead with him, but, her cries were on deaf ears. She tried her hardest to will her power to work even if it was for one last time. He’d just got to the locked door when Steve and Sam made it to the corridor.
“Buck if you do this, there’s no going back. It’s you doing this.” Steve told him as he paused for a moment.
“Then arrest me when I get out.” He turned to look at Steve with venom in his eyes, Ava jumping to grab him, but, she was too late the door slamming in her face with the heavy lock being turned. She let out a final sob.
“There you are. Is my little pet outside? Tell her I’ve missed her, we have so much to catch up on.” She heard the voice that haunted her, quickly followed by punch on punch and groaning. About twenty minutes had passed when the door opened and emerged Bucky covered in blood that wasn’t his, cuts that were the result of severer cuts on somebody else. He threw the still body that was a mass of blood and bruises down on to the floor at the trio’s feet. Ava hardly recognised the face it belonged to, she flicked her gaze up to her husband who was looking at Steve with a challenging look. “So arrest me.” His voice had returned to the soft Bucky voice that Ava loved.

Notes