~Minor spoilers for the future books~

Wakanda
2023

Mary sat on the porch of her home. Not The Tower, not DC, and not Brooklyn. But her new home, the one she and Bucky had made together, where their neighbors were goats and panther gods looked after them. Their home of Wakanda. The sun was rising across the lake from where she sat, rocking her son in her arms as he had woken up from a nightmare few hours before. Bucky was out on a mission with Sam and Becca so it was just Mary and Jamie alone in the house.

A small yawn brings Mary back to reality, her smile warm as the sun hits her face when she looks down at her son, her James Buchanan Barnes Jr, her Jamie. "Morning sleepy head." She whispers, lifting his head slightly in her arms to kiss his forehead, "No more monsters?" She asks.

Another yawn comes from the five year old as he shakes his no, "No, Bast was keeping me safe." He mumbles, "Cause he gave me you, Ma."

Mary's heart swells as her son speaks, "Pa and Sissy should be home today, should we get the house ready for them and Uncle Sam?" She asks, the child nods, though still sleepy from just having woken up, "We should see if i'm needed at the palace first, hm?"

"Mhmm." Jamie mumbles as he snuggles deeper into his mother's arms, the very same arms that had protected him since he was born. Mary kept him safe from all harm. From all threats. And filled his heart with love for his Ma, "I wanna see Umalume T'Challa and U-anti Shuri!" (Uncle and Aunt) Jamie says, he was raised with the cultures around him meshing into one so he had grown up hearing Xhosa from the Wakandans, Russian from his Pa and Sissy, and English from his Ma and remaining family. Little Jamie Barnes was a melting pot of different cultures and he thrived in it.

"Then we'll go see them. Make sure you show U-anti Okoye your knife that Pa brought you back from his last mission in Tokyo." She says, smiling as her son nods excitedly, jumping down from her lap and racing into the home that Bucky and Mary had put so much love into.

T'Challa had offered multiple times to house the Wolves of Wakanda in his palace, or in the city. But Bucky and Mary wanted their own land to call their own. The husband had taken up farming and caring for some goats that came into his possession via Shuri. Mary had a small hut not to far from the home that she called her Medical Home. Shuri had offered her own lab for Mary to use, and the mother does use the labs when she needs too, but she likes having her own space to work on her patients.

Wolves of Wakanda were what the natives had started calling the Barnes family, Wakanda's secondary line of defense. Bucky being their White Wolf, the Alpha, the protector. Mary was their Gray Wolf, the Luna, the healer. Becca was their Red Wolf, the spitfire and princess. Jamie was their Golden Wolf, joyful and the heir to the White Wolf legacy.

Mary hoped that Bucky and her would add to their family, they had talked about it before. She wanted to start trying for their fourth child. Winnie being their second and Jamie their third. Both parties felt that Jamie was old enough that they could start trying for another child. Everything was seemingly falling into place after decades of challenges befalling them. With Thanos gone, the looming threat was less. Bucky and Sam had taken Becca under their guidance like Steve wanted them too. She was gifted with her Uncle's shield even before she trained with it. Bucky and Sam both knew that one day, Becca Barnes would be the one to pick up the mantel when they couldn't any longer.

Mary walked into the throne room with Jamie by her side, she was greeted with warm smiles from all the people in the room. Jamie quickly rushes to Shuri, showing his auntie his knife. T'Challa stands to greet Mary, smiling kindly at his advisor. When Ultron and Klaw had taken the Vibranium, Mary made it her own personal mission to apologize to the small kingdom of Wakanda. King T'Chaka knew that they could use someone of the outside world to give them insight, and that someone was Mary. The mother soon became a prominent figure in council meetings and other important issues in the country, giving insight from the outside world, advising on how to offer aide best after Wakanda's own civil war with Killmonger. Bucky was pissed when he had found out that Killmonger nearly ended his wife's life and he wasn't able to stop him.

"T'Challa." Mary greets her friend and family, bowing her head slightly as a formality.

T'Challa scoffs playfully and wraps his arms around his friend, "It is good to see you and our Golden Wolf." He says.

Mary nods, walking Jamie practice with his knife with Shuri and Okoye, "He's excited for his Pa and Becca to be home. We wanted to get the home ready for them, but i wanted to check in with you first before. To see if you needed me on any matters concerning the kingdom."

The king shakes his head, thinking, "Not that i know of. All has been quiet for some time now. I'm sure you are aware of that." He says. The advisor nods, "Go, prepare your home for your loved ones. I know they have been away for a long while. If i do need you, i will just call you on your beads."

Mary smiles, kissing his cheek before calling her son as she walks to the door, "Jamie, come on! Let's go get some shopping done and then we can go get the house ready for Pa and Sissy."

Jamie grins, rushing towards his Ma, he turns around and waves at her family, "Bye bye!" He exclaims as he runs ahead of his Mother to the stairs. Mary laughing as she follows her son, smiling as she watches him be without a care in the world.

"Doll? You home?" Bucky calls out as he enters his beloved home with his daughter trailing him. He sets his duffle bag and Becca's beside the door to the laundry room. Both still in their tact suits, Bucky's vibranium arm on full display, though he'd rather it be covered. Becca's tact suit is much like her father's old Winter suit. She liked how it fit her and moved when she was fighting. She set her Uncle's Shield down on it's place holding above the fireplace.

"Mama? Jamie?" Becca calls out after her Papa didn't receive a reply. She slowly pulls out her handgun, her father doing the same. Having just come home from a long mission had made them tired, but they were still ready to fight if someone had invaded their home. Their safe place.

Footsteps could be heard in the kitchen, not light enough to be Jamie's and not as heavy as Mary's light walking would cause. To the two super soldiers, that told them that an unknown hostile was in their sanctuary.

Becca rounded the doorframe to the kitchen and conjoining dining room, Bucky on the other side of her, walks into the room with his gun raised high. Becca hears her father swear and quickly enters the room, gasping when she seeing her Uncle Steve cooking dinner, "Uncle Steve?" She questions, uncocking her gun and putting it back into her waist band.

"I swear, Stevie, you need to announce that you're here." Bucky states, "We both called for Mary and Jamie, you didn't think to answer?" He asks his brother, Steve was old and frail now that he had gone back and stayed with Peggy creating his own life. He lived in the palace under careful watch of Shuri and Mary since he was close to 105 years old. Most men that age wouldn't be able to move well. But Steve wasn't like most men even at his old age. The serum was still in his body like it had been before. He was just older. Slower.

Steve chuckles dryly, "Sorry Buck, i got caught up in the song." He answers, motioning to the record player sitting on the counter, playing a song from the forties, "I heard the door but it never registered to me to answer." He adds as he stirs the pasta in the pot he had been working on, he looks over at Becca as she leans against the counter, watching her uncle, "You kick their asses with our shield?" He asks, smirking slyly as his niece. Earning a smirk back at her uncle.

"You know i do." Becca responds, "Papa and Uncle Sam say i'm getting better each time with the shield." She says proudly.

Bucky smiles at his daughter, nodding in agreement, "She really is. Almost as good as you, Stevie. Next few missions she'll be ready."

Steve smiles in approval, "Lizzie and Jamie went out to feed the goats before coming in." He informs his niece and brother. Both parties nodding in realization.

"How've they been?" Bucky asks.

"Good. Mary has been keeping herself busy with her work as both physician and advisor. Jamie always by her side, keeping a watch over her, much like you do." Steve answers, looking at Bucky, "He's a lot like you that boy."

Bucky chuckles, nodding slowly, "I know. Which means it'll only get worse from here on out. You and Mary both know how much of a punk i was."

"But you were my punk." Mary says from the doorway of the kitchen, drawing all eyes to her, Bucky grinning as he takes in his beautiful wife. He had missed her more than life itself while he and Becca were gone. He walks over to her, wrapping her in his arms like his life depends on her(most of the time it does). Mary returns the gesture deeply. Their lips touch for the first time in two months of being apart and both of them know that Becca and Jamie will be spending the night with their Uncles. When they break apart Bucky notices how her hazel eyes scan the kitchen, looking for someone, "No Sam?" She asks curiously.

"He's coming by later. He wanted to drop his stuff off and clean up first before coming over for dinner." Bucky states, his wife nodding in understanding. He tightens his arms around her from behind slightly, his head resting on her shoulder when he hears a faint noise coming from somewhere in the room. He looks around but all he sees is his family.

"James?" Mary asks, "What is it?"

Bucky shakes his head, not wanting to worry his wife and family, "Nothing, it's nothing. I must be just tired from the mission." He says, "Where's my boy?" He asks Mary.

"Out on the porch watching the sunset." She answers, "You know he likes watching the stars come out when the sun sets."

"Like some other people i know." Steve quips.

Mary scoffs but laughs at her brother, kissing Bucky's bearded cheek, "I'm going to set the table." She says, trying to pull away from her husband, "You need to let me go, James." She teases.

"No i don't, you can set the table with my arms wrapped around you." Bucky quips, chuckling slightly, "I just got you in my arms again, ain't no way i'm giving you up for a damn table." He says.

The wife laughs, smiling, hearing the front screen door open and close. The tiny footsteps of her son are heard by the family. A audible gasp is heard from behind Mary and Bucky. They both turn around and see Jamie staring up at his father in awe. The boy rarely gets to see his father in his tact gear. Bucky is normally able to change before Jamie sees him.

"Hey bud." Bucky says, grinning as he lets go of his wife, bending down as scooping Jamie up into his arms, lifting him high into the air. The squeals of the five year old boy indicate that he enjoys the attention from his Pa that he missed.

"Pa! Pa!" Jamie exclaims, squealing as Bucky tosses him into the air and catches him, "How was da mission!" He asks.

Bucky chuckles, "Kicked the bad guys butts. Just like you told me to." He answers his son. Mary knows that her husband, ever since they reunited after the Civil War, he had thought he wasn't worthy of the love a child could give. But he was wrong, he was the most deserving. Mary knew that in technical terms. Her husband was the longest Prisoner of War in history. Let alone the last remaining Howling Commando aside from him wife that was still operating. Steve had long since retired and the others had been gone from this world a long time ago.

Bucky was still plagued with nightmares but with Shuri's help, he was recovering with much progress. Soon those nightmares would fade and all he'd be left with was the memories. Which would hurt, but not plague him of his time as Winter.

Since Ultron, Mary had rejoined the front lines of fighting as a field doctor. Though with Jamie now, she had to stop going with Bucky, Sam and Becca on missions. She missed the action but she enjoyed her time with her son that she knew she wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

Jamie giggles as Bucky sets him down onto the ground, "Now why don't you help your Ma set the table while Sissy and I get cleaned up." He suggests to his son. "Maybe Uncle Sam will arrive before we come back down."

"Uncle Sam?!" Jamie gasps, dancing in place excitedly. He loved his Uncle Sam, the fun Uncle as Sam put it bluntly one time.

"Mhmm, bud, Uncle Sam should be here soon." Bucky says, "So make sure to set six plates down." He adds, holding up six of his fingers to show his son, "This many."

"Six! Okay, Pa!" Jamie states as he salutes his father, holding up the same amount of fingers like his father and rushes into the kitchen.

Half an hour went by while Bucky and Becca were getting comfortable when the front door opened again. Sam walking into the home that he had helped build for his family.

"Where's my favorite nephew at?" Sam calls out excitedly, putting his jacket on the coat rack beside the front door as he hears tiny footsteps race towards him, he squats just in time to catch Jamie in his hands, falling on the floor.

"I'm your only nephew!" Jamie points out to his uncle, "And i got you! I got you Uncle Sammy!" He exclaims proudly, smooshing his uncle's face with his hand briefly.

Sam laughs loudly as he flips his nephew, resulting in Sam hovering over his five year old nephew now, "Really? You got me? I think it's you who has been got." He teases before standing up, lifting Jamie into his arms. Seeing Mary watching the whole thing, "Hey doc."

"Hi wings." Mary greets her longtime friend, "Need any upgrades?" She teases.

Sam chuckles, "Possibly. Know anyone?"

"I know a few." Teased the doctor.

Bucky sighs contentedly as Mary traces his bicep as they rest in their bed together, both tired from the activity they had just been doing. "I missed you, moya lyubov'." (My love) Bucky whispers to Mary quietly, their skylight above their bed letting the moonlight sweep the room and the stars litter the sky like crystals.

"I missed you more, my wolf." Mary says in reply quietly, the sound of her husbands heartbeat lulling her to sleep almost. The arm around Mary pulls her closer to Bucky.

Since he had been alone with his wife, he had heard a faint thrumming sound coming from inside their home. It had been driving him crazy not knowing where the thrumming was coming from since he heard it the first time. He pulls Mary closer to him, the thrumming getting loudly slightly, more concentrated into one place.

Bucky scooted down so that Mary was now holding him as hovered his ear over his wife in different spots on her body, "James? What's going on?"

"I've been hearing this faint thrumming since i arrived home and i just now figured out that it was coming from you."

"Me? How."

"I don't know. But it's concentrated in your abdomen."

Mary's eyes widen when she realizes what Bucky is describing, "James, i know what you listening to." She says softly, playing with the ends of his hair. He had cut it, much to her dismay, for the missions he was going on with Becca and Sam. But it was also because he wanted to rid himself of his past as Winter. His long hair reminded him of his life back in Hydra. He remembered that when his hair was shorter, his life was better. So he had Mary help cut his hair.

The husband looks up at his wife with curious crystal blue eyes, "What? What is it?"

"A heartbeat." Mary replies, smiling brightly.

Bucky's face becomes one of confusion, "I don't understand, your heartbeat doesn't sound like whatever this thrumming is. It's too faint."

Mary laughs, shaking her head, "It's not my heartbeat." She says, tears filling her eyes.

"Mary? Moya lyubov'? What is it? Why are you crying?" He asks as he sits back up, lifting her into his lap, wiping the tears that fall from her hazel eyes with his thumbs, "If it's not your heartbeat, and it's not mine. Then whose is it? The kids are with Steve and Sam."

"Think, my wolf." She instructs him.

Bucky sighs, thinking more closely before it hits him. His blue eyes widening as he looks up at his wife, their eyes locking, "No.. You're saying i can hear our unborn child's heartbeat? That we're having a baby?" He asks in disbelief.

Mary nods, "I knew your hearing was able to pick up things a normal human isn't able too, but i had no idea it was able to pick up a unborn baby's heartbeat."

Bucky's eyes fill with tears as he grins, holding his wife close as the night breeze hits both of them, "How can i ever repay you for the life you've given me when i haven't deserved any of it, moya lyubov."

Mary smiles, her lips connecting with her husbands, resting her forehead against his, "By being apart of it."

Introducing

The Believer
Jacob Tremblay as James Steven "Jamie" Barnes