Nosy ah neighbor. Guys how was Bucky getting money those years bro, was he laundering money?

I would launder money too

THE SUN WAS SHINING BRIGHTLY as Bucky and Seven stepped out of their tiny apartment in the small village in Romania. They were on their way to the market again, hoping to replace the groceries they had left behind during Seven's panic attack the previous day. Today felt different, though—calmer, as if the world had granted them a momentary reprieve from their troubles.

As they walked down the cobblestone path, their elderly neighbor, Mrs. Petrescu, approached them. She was a kindly old woman, always full of questions and gossip, her curiosity sometimes making Bucky a bit uneasy.

"Good morning, dear," Mrs. Petrescu greeted Seven with a warm smile before turning her inquisitive eyes to Bucky. "And good morning to you too, young man. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you properly yet."

"Good morning, Mrs. Petrescu," Seven replied politely, while Bucky gave a nod and a smile, trying to keep his nerves in check.

"Morning, ma'am," Bucky said, his mind racing to come up with answers that would maintain their low profile.

"Sorry! But I never got your names." She said.

Bucky couldn't tell her that his child's name was a number, that would be really weird and suspicious. So he lied about her name. "I'm James, and this is my daughter, Rebecca."

Bucky didn't know where he conjured up the name Rebecca, but it felt so familiar.

Mrs. Petrescu's eyes twinkled with interest. "Rebecca, what a lovely name! You both must be new to our little village. What brings you here?"

"We've been here a few months." Bucky cleared his throat, feeling a bit more on edge. "We're just looking for a quiet place to live. Needed a change of scenery, you know?"

Mrs. Petrescu nodded, though her curiosity was far from satisfied. "I see. And what do you do, James?"

Bucky hesitated for a split second before answering. "I'm... a writer. I work from home, mostly."

"A writer! How wonderful," she exclaimed, clearly pleased with his answer. "And what about you, Rebecca? Do you go to school here?"

Seven glanced at Bucky, who gave her a subtle nod. "No, ma'am. I'm homeschooled, papa teaches me everything I know."

"That's lovely to hear," Mrs. Petrescu said, smiling warmly at Seven. "You must be quite the bright young lady. What do you like to study?"

"Science," Seven replied, her nerves easing a bit as she slipped into the role Bucky had set for her. "I'm really interested in renewable energy."

"How impressive," Mrs. Petrescu said, clearly delighted. "You must be very proud, James."

"Very proud," Bucky replied, his smile genuine despite the underlying tension. "She's a smart kid."

Mrs. Petrescu's questions kept coming, her curiosity seemingly endless. "And where did you live before you came here?"

Lie, Bucky.

Lie.

Lie.

Lie.

Bucky's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plausible answer. "We lived in... Austria. But we've moved around a lot. Just trying to find the right place to settle down."

Mrs. Petrescu nodded, though it was clear she had more questions. "I see. Well, I hope you find our village to your liking. It's a peaceful place."

"We do," Bucky said, hoping to steer the conversation towards a close. "It's been wonderful so far. Everyone's very welcoming."

"That's good to hear," Mrs. Petrescu replied, giving them both a warm smile. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I live just over there." She pointed to a quaint little house at the end of the street.

"Thank you, ma'am," Bucky said, feeling a wave of relief as the conversation began to wind down.

As they said their goodbyes and continued on their way, Seven glanced up at Bucky with a hint of a smile. "Rebecca?"

Bucky chuckled, shaking his head. "It was the first thing that came to mind. Sorry about that."

"It's okay, papa," Seven replied, her smile widening. "You did pretty good with the whole writer thing."

"Yeah, well, let's hope she doesn't ask to read any of my 'work'," Bucky said with a grin.

They reached the market and resumed their shopping, the tension from the encounter with Mrs. Petrescu slowly melting away. Bucky kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, but he felt a bit more at ease knowing they had managed to maintain their cover.

As they picked out fresh produce and other essentials, Seven couldn't help but giggle at the memory of Bucky's quick thinking. "So, papa, what's our next move as James and Rebecca?"

Bucky smiled, feeling a sense of pride in their ability to adapt and stay safe. "Our next move is to make sure we have everything we need for a quiet weekend at home. And maybe we'll work on some writing, just in case Mrs. Petrescu stops by."

Seven laughed, the sound light and full of hope. "Sounds like a plan."

SEV WAS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE absorbed in her drawings, while Bucky was in the living room, organizing some supplies they had bought at the market earlier. He glanced at the clock, realizing he needed to quickly grab his jacket he left outside before it was stolen.

"Sev, I'm just stepping out for a bit. I'll be back in a few minutes," Bucky called over his shoulder as he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. But his voice was quiet, and Seven, lost in her thoughts, didn't hear him.

After about ten minutes, Seven looked up from her books and noticed the silence. "Papa?" she called, looking around the house. There was no response. Panic started to claw at her chest as she stood up, her eyes darting around the room. She checked the living room, the bedroom, the bathroom—nothing. He was nowhere to be found.

Her mind raced, the old fears and memories of HYDRA flooding back. What if they had found him? What if they had taken him away? The familiar, suffocating feeling of a panic attack started to rise within her.

"Papa! Papa, where are you?" Seven's voice trembled as she rushed to the door, opening it and looking outside, hoping to see him coming back down the street. But there was no sign of him. She clutched at her chest, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

"Papa...!" She shouted, well she tired to shout. It can out as a raspy breath instead.

Just as she was about to break down completely, Bucky appeared around the corner. He saw the panic on her face and immediately quickened his pace, worry etched across his features.

"Sev, I'm here! I'm right here!" Bucky called out, dropping the jacket and rushing to her side.

Seven's eyes filled with tears as she saw him, relief mingling with the residual fear. She ran to him, throwing her arms around him and clinging to him tightly. "Papa, I thought... I thought HYDRA took you!"

Bucky wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and rubbing her back soothingly. "I'm so sorry, Sev. I should have been louder when I told you I was stepping out. I didn't mean to scare you."

Seven buried her face in his chest, her body trembling as she fought to calm down. "I was so scared, Papa. I thought I'd lost you."

Bucky's heart broke at her words, and he held her even tighter. "You'll never lose me, Sev. I'm right here. I promise, I won't leave without telling you again."

They stood there for a few moments, Bucky's presence slowly grounding Seven and helping her steady her breathing. He gently guided her back inside, leading her to the couch and sitting down with her still wrapped in his arms.

"Shh, it's okay. You're safe, and I'm safe," Bucky whispered, his voice soothing. "I'm so sorry I scared you."

Seven took deep breaths, her tears subsiding as she clung to him. "It's just... it reminded me of when HYDRA took people away and they never came back."

Bucky nodded, understanding the depth of her fear. "I know, Sev. But we're not with HYDRA anymore. We're safe here. I'm not going anywhere without you knowing. I promise."

Seven nodded, slowly calming down as she rested her head against his shoulder. "Okay, m' sorry papa."

Bucky kissed the top of her head, his voice filled with love and reassurance. "You don't have to be sorry Sev. I get it, it's okay."

They stayed like that for a while, Bucky's arms wrapped around her, providing a shield against the world and the memories that still haunted her. Seven's breathing evened out, and she relaxed in his embrace, feeling the safety and love he offered.

THE SUN WAS SHINING BRIGHTLY on a warm summer day as Bucky and Seven made their way through the lush forest surrounding their small Romanian village. They had packed a picnic and some towels, planning to spend the afternoon at a nearby pond that Bucky had discovered on one of his early morning runs.

Bucky took her places. He wanted to show hee places she's never seen at HYDRA. Places that he hardly remembers. He couldn't take her to the exact places, but he could take her to one's like it.

"Are we almost there, Papa?" Seven asked, excitement and a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Just a little further, Sev," Bucky replied with a smile, leading the way through the trees. "You're going to love it. It's a perfect spot for swimming."

Seven had never learned how to swim, and while she was excited about the idea, she was also a bit apprehensive. Bucky had promised to teach her, and she trusted him completely, but the thought of getting into the water was still a little intimidating.

They emerged from the forest into a clearing, and the pond came into view. It was a serene, picturesque spot, the water clear and inviting. The surrounding trees cast dappled shadows on the surface, and the gentle sound of birds singing filled the air.

"Wow," Seven breathed, taking in the beauty of the place. "It's amazing."

Bucky grinned, setting down their picnic basket and towels on a flat rock by the water's edge. "Told you you'd like it. Ready to learn how to swim?"

As they reached the pond, Seven stared at the shimmering water, her nerves evident in the way she clutched Bucky's hand. "Papa, what if I can't do it? What if I sink?"

Bucky crouched down to her level, giving her a reassuring smile. "Sev, I won't let anything happen to you. I'll be right there with you the whole time. You trust me, right?"

Seven nodded, though her grip on his hand tightened. "I trust you, Papa. But the water looks so deep..."

Bucky chuckled softly, ruffling her hair. "It's not as deep as it looks. And remember, everyone has to start somewhere. You'll get the hang of it, I promise."

He led her to the edge of the pond, dipping his toes into the cool water. "See? It's not so bad. Just take it one step at a time."

Seven hesitated, then tentatively dipped her own toes in. She gasped at the initial chill but quickly adjusted. "Okay, that's not too bad."

Bucky smiled, standing up and taking her hands. "Let's go a little deeper. I'll hold onto you."

Step by step, they waded further into the pond, the water rising up to Seven's knees, then her waist. She clung to Bucky, her eyes wide but filled with determination.

They waded in until the water was waist-deep, and Bucky turned to face her, still holding her hand. "Alright, Sev. The first thing we'll do is practice floating on your back. I'll hold you up, and you can just relax. Ready?"

Seven took a deep breath and nodded. "Ready."

Bucky gently guided her onto her back, supporting her with his hands. Seven tensed at first, but Bucky's calm voice and steady hold helped her relax. "There you go, Sev. Just let the water support you."

Seven's eyes widened as she realized she was floating. "I'm doing it, Papa! I'm really floating!"

Bucky laughed, his heart swelling with pride. "You're doing great, Sev. Just keep breathing and relax."

They practiced floating for a while, Seven's confidence growing with each attempt. Bucky then taught her how to kick her legs and move her arms, demonstrating the basic strokes. They laughed and splashed, the water sparkling in the sunlight.

At one point, Bucky lifted Seven into the air and playfully tossed her back into the water, her delighted squeals echoing around the pond. "Papa!" she giggled, resurfacing and splashing him.

Bucky laughed, splashing her back. "You're getting the hang of it, Sev. Pretty soon, you'll be swimming like a fish."

"Do you think so?"

"I do."

They continued their lessons, Bucky's patient guidance helping Seven overcome her initial fears. She practiced paddling and kicking, Bucky always nearby to offer support and encouragement. The more she practiced, the more confident she became.

"Look, Papa! I'm swimming!" Seven called out, managing to paddle a short distance on her own.

Bucky's face lit up with pride. "That's amazing, Sev! I knew you could do it."

After a while, Bucky gently guided her to stand up again. They both stood in the water, Seven's confidence visibly growing. "Want to try swimming now?" Bucky asked.

Seven bit her lip, then nodded. "Okay, but you have to stay close."

"I promise," Bucky said, holding out his hands. "Just keep your head above water and move your arms and legs like this." He demonstrated the swimming motion, and Seven mimicked him.

At first, her movements were awkward, but Bucky was right there, supporting her and offering tips. "That's it, Sev! You're doing it!"

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the pond, Bucky and Seven sat on the water's edge, wrapped in towels and enjoying the peaceful moment. Bucky glanced at Seven, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Hey, Sev, come over here for a second," Bucky called, trying to keep his voice casual.

Seven turned to look at him, curiosity piqued. "What is it, Papa?"

"I have something to show you," Bucky said, patting the spot next to him.

Intrigued, Seven stood up and walked over to where Bucky was sitting. She leaned in, expecting to see something interesting or hear a secret.

Bucky's grin widened. "Closer, Sev. You need to see this up close."

Seven complied, moving even closer until she was right next to him. "What is it?"

In one swift motion, Bucky reached out and gently pushed Seven into the pond. She let out a yelp of surprise as she tumbled into the water with a splash.

"Papa!" Seven sputtered, surfacing and shaking water out of her eyes. "This is such crazy!"

Bucky burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking with mirth. "Such crazy?"

"Yes! Such crazy!" Seven pouted for a moment, but then a grin spread across her face. "Just you wait, Papa. I'm going to get you back for that!"

She swam back to the edge of the pond, and Bucky extended a hand to help her out. Just as she grabbed his hand, she yanked hard, trying to pull him into the water with her.

But Bucky was ready for her counterattack. He braced himself and managed to keep his balance, laughing even harder. "Nice try, kiddo, but it's going to take more than that to get me!"

Seven finally climbed out of the pond, dripping wet and giggling. "You wait and see, Papa. I'll get you when you least expect it."

Bucky chuckled, ruffling her wet hair. "I'll be on my guard, then."