GUYS 2 FLASHBACKS AND I REWROTE AND ADDED SOME THINGS

BRINGING HOME ELLIE WAS A BITTER-
sweet culmination of emotions for Bucky, each step laden with the weight of unspoken fears and tentative hopes. As they navigated the labyrinth of hospital corridors, Bucky kept a respectful distance, mindful of the fragile equilibrium that hung between them like a delicate thread. He understood the necessity of space, the silent plea for autonomy that echoed his own journey of healing.

At the hospital, their reunion was tinged with the sterile scent of antiseptic, a stark reminder of the trials they had endured in their shared quest for redemption. Despite Ellie's outward calm, Bucky could sense the turmoil that simmered beneath the surface, a tempest of emotions held in check by sheer force of will.

With a silent prayer of gratitude, Bucky received the doctor's assurance of Ellie's physical well-being, a small victory amidst the wreckage of their shattered past. Yet, as they embarked on the journey homeward, Bucky couldn't shake the gnawing sense of uncertainty that lingered in the air like a specter of doubt.

Ellie's silence during the journey home spoke volumes, her gaze fixed upon the passing landscape outside the window, a silent witness to the tumultuous journey that lay ahead. Bucky longed to reach out, to bridge the chasm of silence that stretched between them, yet he knew that such gestures would only serve to deepen the wounds that still festered beneath the surface.

Arriving at their apartment, Bucky's heart constricted with a mixture of longing and apprehension as he led Ellie to her room, a relic of a childhood lost amidst the shadows of uncertainty. "Here's your room, it's the same as it was when you were eight so it's a bit...pink," he offered, his attempt at levity falling flat in the face of Ellie's impassive stare.

11 years ago

"Are you ready to paint your room, sweetheart?" Bucky asked, smiling down at her.

Ellie nodded vigorously, her curls bouncing around her face. "Yes, Daddy! I want it to be so pink!"

Bucky chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Alright then, let's get started."

He carefully opened one of the paint cans and poured some of the bright pink paint into a tray. He handed Ellie a small roller, perfect for her tiny hands, and dipped his own roller into the paint. Together, they approached the first wall.

"Okay, Ellie, just like this," Bucky said, demonstrating how to roll the paint onto the wall even though he knew no matter what she showed her, she wouldn't do it right. Ellie watched intently, her eyes wide with concentration.

"Like this, Daddy?" she asked, mimicking his movements with her own roller.

"Exactly like that! You're a natural, Ellie," Bucky replied, his heart swelling with pride.

Ellie giggled, clearly pleased with herself. She began to roll the paint onto the wall, her strokes a bit uneven but filled with enthusiasm. Bucky worked beside her, their rollers moving in sync as they covered the wall in a vibrant shade of pink.

As they painted, Bucky couldn't help but steal glances at his daughter. Her face was a picture of pure joy, her cheeks flushed with excitement. She hummed a little tune as she worked, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

"Daddy, look! I'm painting so much!" Ellie exclaimed, stepping back to admire her work.

Bucky smiled, his heart melting at the sight of her. "You're doing an amazing job, Ellie. This room is going to be the prettiest pink ever."

Ellie beamed, her pride evident. "Thank you, Daddy!"

They continued painting, working their way around the room. At one point, Ellie decided to take a break and ran over to the corner where her stuffed animals were piled up. She grabbed her favorite teddy bear, Steve (named after her uncle Steve) , and brought him back to the wall.

"Mr. Steve wants to help too!" she announced, holding the bear up to the wall.

Bucky laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, Steve can help. But let's make sure he doesn't get too much paint on him, okay?"

Ellie nodded solemnly, as if given a very important task. She gently dipped Steve's paw in the paint and made a small print on the wall. "Look, Daddy! Steve painted too!"

"That's perfect, Ellie. Steve did a great job," Bucky said, grinning.

As they continued to paint, the room slowly transformed into a pink paradise. Ellie's excitement never waned, and Bucky found himself getting lost in the simple joy of the moment. It was a welcome escape from the complexities and challenges of his life.

After a while, Bucky noticed that Ellie was starting to get paint on herself as much as the wall. Her hands were covered in pink, and there were even smudges on her cheeks and clothes. He couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"Looks like someone is turning pink too," he said, pointing to her paint-covered hands.

Ellie giggled, holding up her hands. "I'm turning into a pink monster!"

"Oh no! A pink monster!" Bucky exclaimed, playing along. "What should I do?"

Ellie's eyes twinkled mischievously. "You have to catch me, Daddy!"

With that, she took off running around the room, her giggles filling the air. Bucky chased after her, his own laughter mingling with hers. He finally scooped her up, spinning her around as she squealed with delight.

"Gotcha, pink monster!" Bucky said, holding her close.

Ellie wrapped her arms around his neck, her giggles subsiding into happy sighs. "I love you, Daddy," she said softly, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too, Ellie," Bucky replied, his voice filled with emotion. He held her close, savoring the feeling of her small, warm body in his arms.

After a few moments, Ellie lifted her head and looked at the wall. "We still have to finish painting, Daddy."

"You're right, we do," Bucky said, setting her down gently. "Let's get back to work."

They returned to their rollers, their movements a bit slower now as they neared the end of their task. As they finished the final wall, Bucky stepped back and looked around the room. It was a sea of pink, bright and cheerful, just like Ellie had wanted.

"We did it, Ellie. Your room is all pink," Bucky said, his heart swelling with pride.

Bucky still remembers That teddy bear, it stayed in his room. Steve got it for her when she was born and when she was old enough she named it Steve, and she never let go of it.

6 years ago

The house was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that wrapped around Bucky's heart like a vice, squeezing tighter with every passing second. Ellie had been missing for three days, and the dread and helplessness gnawed at his very soul. He moved through the house like a ghost, his body going through the motions while his mind was consumed with worry and fear.

He found himself in Ellie's room, the bright pink walls now a stark contrast to the darkness he felt inside. The room was neat, as if she had just stepped out and would be back any moment. But Bucky knew better. He knew she was out there somewhere, scared and alone, and he was powerless to reach her.

His eyes fell on her teddy, Ellie's beloved teddy bear, sitting innocently on her bed. Without thinking, he reached for it, clutching the stuffed animal tightly to his chest. The soft, familiar texture of the bear brought a wave of memories crashing over him-Ellie's laughter, her hugs, her endless chatter about her day. The memories were like a double-edged sword, comforting yet excruciatingly painful.

Unable to stand anymore, Bucky sank to the floor, his back against Ellie's bed. He held her teddy close, burying his face in the bear's soft fur. It still smelled just like her. The dam that had been holding back his tears finally broke, and he sobbed, his body shaking with the force of his grief.

"Ellie," he whispered through his tears, his voice cracking. "Please come back. Please."

He rocked back and forth, the room spinning around him as he was overwhelmed by the crushing weight of his emotions. Every sob that escaped his lips felt like it was tearing him apart from the inside. The fear, the guilt, the despair-it all came flooding out, mixing with the love he had for his daughter.

Bucky's thoughts spiraled. What if she was hurt? What if she was crying for him, wondering why he wasn't there to protect her? The thought was unbearable, and it felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest. He held onto her teddy tighter, as if the bear could somehow bring Ellie back to him.

"I'm so sorry, baby," he choked out. "I should have protected you. I should have been there."

The room seemed to close in on him, the walls pressing down as his sobs grew louder. He couldn't stop thinking about Ellie, her bright smile, her infectious laughter. The way she would run to him, arms outstretched, whenever he came home. The thought of never seeing her again, never holding her in his arms, was too much to bear.

Bucky didn't know how long he lay there, clutching Mr. Fluffles and sobbing. Time lost all meaning. He was trapped in a vortex of grief and despair, unable to escape. All he could do was hold onto the bear and pray that Ellie would come back to him.

As the hours dragged on, exhaustion began to overtake him. His sobs quieted to soft whimpers, his tears finally drying up. He remained on the floor, holding Mr. Fluffles, his body drained but his mind still racing.

"Please, Ellie," he whispered one last time before sleep took him, his dreams haunted by visions of his missing daughter. "Please come back to me."

"I'm gonna go cook food, make yourself at home 'cause this is your home, you're not scared, or anything?" Bucky ventured, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he sought to breach the wall of silence that stood between them. Ellie's response was a subtle shake of her head, yet Bucky couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease that lingered in the air like a palpable fog.

With a forced smile, Bucky retreated to the sanctity of the other room, his heart heavy with the weight of unspoken fears and unfulfilled promises. "Please don't go anywhere, I don't think I could take you going missing again," he implored, he said in a jokingly but not so jokingly way that belied his stoic facade. And as he met Ellie's gaze, he saw a glimmer of understanding flicker in her eyes, a silent vow to remain steadfast amidst the tempest of uncertainty that raged within them both.

As Bucky stood in the kitchen, the aroma of simmering spaghetti sauce filling the air, he couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease that gnawed at his insides like a relentless beast. With practiced precision, he tended to the boiling pot of noodles, each stir a testament to the tenuous balance between hope and fear that hung in the air like a heavy fog.

She's okay, right? He thought to himself, the words a feeble attempt to quell the rising tide of uncertainty that threatened to consume him. Yet, even as he sought reassurance, doubt lingered like a shadow at the edge of his consciousness, whispering of unseen dangers lurking just beyond his grasp.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind-perhaps he should check on Ellie, ensure that she was settling into her new surroundings without incident. Yet, even as the thought took root, Bucky recoiled, a wave of worry washing over him like a tidal wave. He didn't want to smother her, to suffocate her with his well-meaning concern, yet the fear of her slipping away lingered like a specter in the recesses of his mind.

With a resigned sigh, Bucky continued to stir the noodles, his thoughts a whirlwind of conflicting emotions as he grappled with the uncertainty of their newfound reality. What if she wasn't okay? What if HYDRA's insidious influence still lingered, a poison seeping into the very fabric of their fragile existence?

Of course she was fine, he chided himself, a flicker of self-doubt dancing in the recesses of his mind. She was with him now, safe from harm's reach, yet the fear persisted like a stubborn thorn in his side. I'm gonna go check on her, he resolved, his determination overriding the lingering specter of doubt.

With hurried steps, Bucky made his way to Ellie's room, the knot in his stomach tightening with each passing moment. His knuckles rapped against the already cracked door, a silent plea for reassurance amidst the swirling chaos of his thoughts. When no response came, he pushed the door open, his heart pounding in his chest like a drumbeat of dread.

But Ellie wasn't there.

"Ellie!" he called out, his voice tinged with panic as he frantically scanned the empty room. "Ell-"

The sound of a door opening behind him cut through the suffocating silence, and Bucky turned to see Ellie emerging from the bathroom, a startled look etched upon her features. Relief flooded through him like a tidal wave as he met her gaze, his breath escaping in a ragged sigh of gratitude. "Was I not supposed to go in there?" She asked timidly.

"No, no, it's fine, I was just worried, that's all," he reassured her, his voice tinged with a mixture of relief and lingering apprehension. Yet, even as he sought to reassure her, a pang of guilt gnawed at his conscience, a silent reminder of the scars that still lingered beneath the surface.

As Bucky moved his hand he saw Ellie flinch at his movement, a wave of nausea washed over him like a torrential downpour. Did she think he would hurt her? The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine, a sickening reminder of the trauma that she had.

He looked her in the eyes, his face serious but soft. "I would never hurt you, ever, I need you to understand that," he insisted, his voice tinged with a note of desperation as he sought to bridge the gap between them.

"Ellie, do you understand?"

She just stared at him.

"Ellie."

Then she nodded.

"Your not with them, and you won't be, ever again. It's all over now," he told her.

BUCKY STOOD IN FRONT OF ELLIE,
a folded blanket and pillow in hand, his heart heavy with the weight of unspoken fears and tentative hopes. She stood there awkwardly, clad in his oversized t-shirt and a pair of borrowed shorts that hung loosely on her slender frame, a makeshift ensemble that spoke volumes of the tumultuous journey that had led them to this moment of fragile reunion.

"Your bed is pretty small, but again you were
eight-" Bucky began, his voice tinged with a note of awkwardness as he sought to navigate the delicate balance between nostalgia and the harsh reality of their present circumstances.

"It's fine," Ellie interjected, her words devoid of emotion as she met his gaze with an inscrutable expression.

Bucky nodded in understanding, kind of aware of the gaping chasm that stretched between them like a silent void, each word a tentative step along the treacherous path of reconciliation.

With a small pat on her shoulder and a fleeting smile, Bucky sought to convey the depth of his gratitude amidst the swirling chaos of uncertainty that threatened to engulf them both.

"I am really glad to have you home," he confessed, his voice tinged with a note of vulnerability as he dared to hope for a future reclaimed from the ashes of their shared past.

For Ellie, the words hung in the air like a fragile promise, a silent testament to the bonds that bound them together amidst the wreckage of their shattered memories.

Yet, even as she stood there, a blank canvas that was her face upon which the narrative of their shared history would be rewritten, she couldn't shake the gnawing sense of emptiness that lingered within her, a void that whispered of the fractured fragments of her forgotten past.

A nod of acknowledgment was all she could muster in response, her voice lost amidst the tumult of conflicting emotions that raged within her battered soul.

"Good night kiddo, I'll be in the other room, okay?" Bucky's voice, a steady anchor amidst the storm of uncertainty that threatened to engulf them both, offered a semblance of solace amidst the darkness that loomed ahead.

"Okay," Ellie echoed, her voice tinged with a note of resignation as she watched him retreat from the room, the sound of the door closing behind him a solemn reminder of the solitude that awaited her in the depths of the night.

As Bucky settled himself on the couch, the weight of exhaustion bearing down upon him like a leaden blanket, he couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease that lingered in the air like a silent specter of doubt. Would she be safe alone in her room? The thought gnawed at his conscience, a relentless reminder of the dangers that lurked just beyond the threshold of their fragile sanctuary.

Yet, even as he wrestled with his fears, a steely resolve took root within him, a vow to stand guard over Ellie's slumber like a silent sentinel in the night. For in that moment, amidst the shadows of uncertainty that cloaked their shared existence, Bucky knew that he would do whatever it took to ensure her safety, to protect her from the demons that threatened to drag her back into the abyss from which she had escaped.

(OLD A/N)
A/N: IK GUYS ITS BEEN A BIT BUT IM BUILDING UP MOTIVATION TO WRITE THIS FOR U GUYS.

Next chapter will definitely be longer, like then this one, because I don't really like doing short chapters when I don't need too.

I can't wait for Bucky and Ellie's development.

If you watch my Tik tok, expect a edit about them really soon :)