YALL I LIKE DANIEL, HE GETS THE STRUGGLE LMAO

ELLIE SAT IN A FAMILIAR, overly bright therapy room, her gaze fixed on the clock ticking on the wall. She shifted in her seat, crossing and uncrossing her legs, wishing she could be anywhere but here. Dr. Evans, her therapist, sat across from her, her expression calm and patient.

"Ellie, I think it's time we talked about making amends," Dr. Evans said gently.

Ellie sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Doc, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I'm kinda over this whole therapy thing. Can we just fast forward to the part where you tell me I'm cured and I can leave?"

Dr. Evans chuckled softly. "It doesn't work that way, I'm afraid. Healing takes time, and part of that process is addressing the past."

"Ugh, the past," Ellie groaned, leaning back in her chair. "Can't we just leave it there?"

"Unfortunately, it doesn't stay there unless we deal with it," Dr. Evans said. She pulled out a small notepad and scribbled something down. "I have a suggestion for you."

Ellie raised an eyebrow. "Oh, great. Another suggestion. Hit me."

Dr. Evans tore the page from her notepad and handed it to her. "I want you to make amends with someone you hurt while you were with HYDRA. His name is Daniel Fitz."

Ellie glanced at the paper, her expression turning from sarcastic to serious. "Daniel Fitz?"

Ellie remembered. First mission done and failed. Daniel Fitz was her first victim.

"Yes," Dr. Evans nodded. "You were forced to hurt him when you were just nine years old. I believe facing him and trying to make amends could help you find some peace."

Ellie looked at the address written on the paper, her heart heavy. She remembered Daniel Fitz—one of the many ghosts from her past. She hadn't thought about him in years, and now she was being asked to confront that memory head-on.

"Do I have to?" she asked, her voice quieter than before.

"I think it would be good for you," Dr. Evans said. "But ultimately, it's your choice. Just think about it."

Ellie folded the paper and tucked it into her pocket, standing up. "Yeah, I'll think about it."

As she walked out of the therapy room, she felt a mixture of dread and determination. She found Bucky waiting for her in the lobby, looking up with a smile as she approached.

"Hey, kiddo. How was it?" he asked.

Ellie shrugged. "Same old, same old. Except now I have homework."

Bucky raised an eyebrow. "Homework?"

"Yeah," Ellie said, pulling out the folded paper and handing it to him. "I need to go to this place. Dr. Evans thinks I should make amends with this guy, Daniel Fitz."

Bucky unfolded the paper, reading the name and address. He knew this wouldn't be easy for Ellie. He could see the weight of the request in her eyes, the reluctance mixed with a sense of obligation.

"Do you want to do this?" Bucky asked gently.

Ellie sighed. "I don't know. But I feel like I have to, you know? For closure or whatever."

Bucky nodded, putting an arm around her shoulders. "We'll do it together, then."

Ellie leaned into her dad, feeling a bit of the weight lift off her shoulders. "Thanks, Dad. I just feel so bad. That guy, Fitz...he was terrified."

"Ellie," Bucky said firmly. "You were a kid, you still are. We're just gonna tell him how sorry you are, speak from your heart or whatever."

Ellie looked up at him, managing a small smile. "Alright. Let's go face the past, then."

ELLIE SAT IN THE BUSY COFFEE SHOP coffee shop, her fingers tapping nervously on the table. She scanned the room, looking for a familiar face. She called Fitz and he had agreed to meet her at this quaint café, and now she just had to find Daniel Fitz. She sighed, fiddling with her coffee cup as she waited, the steam rising and mixing with her anxiety.

Bucky sat beside her, offering silent support. He reached out and squeezed her hand, giving her a reassuring nod. Ellie appreciated the gesture but couldn't shake the nerves twisting in her stomach.

"Is it too late to bail?" she muttered, glancing at her dad.

Bucky chuckled softly. "You're already here. Might as well see it through."

Just then, the door chimed, and Ellie looked up to see a man in his late thirties, wearing a casual jacket and jeans. He had a kind face, but there was a haunted look in his eyes. Daniel Fitz spotted Ellie and made his way over, a cautious smile on his lips.

"Ellie Barnes?" he asked, stopping at the table.

Ellie nodded, standing up awkwardly. "Yeah, that's me. You must be Mr. Fitz."

"That's me," he said, shaking her hand. Ellie saw him narrow his eyes at her then a flicker of recognition hit him. "Hey, you're the kid. Long time no see." He said with an odd smile.

Ellie swallowed thickly. "Oh—yeah..."

"Mind if I sit?" He asked.

"Of course, please," Ellie said, motioning to the chair across from her.

Daniel sat down, glancing at Bucky. "This your dad?"

"Yeah, this is my dad, Bucky," Ellie introduced, feeling a bit more at ease with Bucky's steady presence.

Bucky gave a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Fitz."

"Oh, call me Daniel," Daniel said, then turned his attention back to Ellie. "So, what's this about?"

Ellie fidgeted with her sleeve again, trying to find the right words. "So, um, thanks for meeting with me. I, uh, wanted to apologize. For what happened when I was a kid. I know I hurt you, and I'm really sorry for all the pain I caused."

Daniel looked at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. Ellie's eyes widened in surprise, and she glanced at Bucky, who looked just as confused.

"Sorry, sorry," Daniel said, wiping a tear from his eye. "It's just... you were like, what, nine? Ten? And you're apologizing to me?"

Ellie blinked. "Uh, yeah. I mean, I was under HYDRA's control, but I still did those things."

Daniel shook his head, still chuckling. "Kid, you don't need to apologize to me. If anything, I should be apologizing to you. You were just a child, and those bastards used you. It wasn't your fault."

Ellie felt a mix of relief and confusion. "Wait, really? You don't hold anything against me?"

"Not a thing," Daniel said firmly. "I knew you were just a kid being forced to do terrible things. It's those HYDRA assholes who are to blame, not you. You're a good kid, Ellie. I distinctly remember you being terribly upset with what you had to do, and that...other kid, had to knock some sense into you. I'm glad you got out of that mess."

"Jamie..." Ellie muttered. She remembered.

Fitz laughed. "Jamie was the other kid's name? The kid who gave you a firm WHACK on the back of the head?"

Ellie chuckled slightly. "Yeah...that was Jamie."

"Well, I hope he's doing good, not whacking ya' anymore," Fitz joked. "Given you both are out of HYDRA now."

Ellie didn't have the heart to say that Jamie was dead, so she just chuckled.

Ellie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Wow, I... I didn't expect that. Thanks, Mr. Fitz—"

"Daniel, kid," he corrected her.

"Thanks, Daniel," she said, smiling genuinely.

Daniel stood up, giving her a warm smile. "Take care, Ellie. And remember, you've got nothing to be sorry for. Keep being the strong kid you are."

Ellie nodded, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. "I will. Thanks again."

Bucky stood as well, shaking Daniel's hand. "Thanks for this. It means a lot."

"No problem," Daniel said. "You two take care." With a final wave, he left the coffee shop, leaving Ellie and Bucky standing there.

As they walked back to the car, Bucky glanced at Ellie. "Who's Jamie?"

Ellie sighed, looking down at her feet. "Jamie was my best friend in HYDRA. Basically my brother. They killed him in front of me."

Bucky's heart ached for his daughter. He wanted to say something to comfort her, to take away some of her pain, but he knew that words wouldn't be enough. "Ellie, I'm so—"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore," Ellie cut him off, her voice firm but not unkind.

Bucky nodded, respecting her wishes. "Okay. Whenever you're ready, I'm here."

Ellie gave him a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Dad."

They continued their walk in silence, but it was a comfortable silence. Bucky felt a deep sense of pride in his daughter, knowing how strong she was to face her past. And Ellie, despite the sadness that lingered, felt a little bit lighter knowing she didn't have to carry the burden of guilt alone anymore.

WHEN BUCKY AND ELLIE got home, they immediately set to work on her room. It had been a bright pink since she was a little girl, but now, at fourteen, Ellie had decided it was time for a change. She wanted blue—deep, ocean blue.

Bucky set up the drop cloths and opened the can of paint, handing Ellie a roller. "You sure about this, kiddo? You loved this pink when you were little."

Ellie smiled, dipping her roller in the paint. "Yeah, Dad. I think it's time for something new. Plus, blue is calming."

As they started painting, Bucky couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. The pink walls held so many memories. He remembered Ellie as a tiny girl, running around the room in her princess dresses, her giggles filling the house. Each brushstroke of blue seemed to erase a little piece of those memories.

"Remember when you insisted on that pink bedspread with the unicorns?" Bucky said, a smile tugging at his lips.

Ellie laughed. "Oh my God, I was obsessed with unicorns. I thought they were real and everything."

"Yeah, you were pretty devastated when you found out they weren't," Bucky chuckled. "You didn't talk to me for a whole day."

"That was my way of protesting the truth," Ellie joked, her smile fading slightly as she painted over another section of the pink wall. "But it's good to let go of the past sometimes, right?"

Bucky sighed, pausing his painting to look at her. "Yeah, it is. But it's also okay to remember it fondly. This pink... it reminds me of when you were little, when things were simpler."

Ellie stopped painting, turning to face him. "Dad, do you ever wish things could go back to the way they were? Before everything happened with HYDRA, I mean."

Bucky put down his roller, wiping his hands on a rag. "Ellie, I think about that a lot. But the past is the past. We can't change it. What we can do is keep moving forward and make the best of what we have now."

Ellie nodded, her eyes serious. "I know. It's just... sometimes it's hard, you know? I mean I missed so much of what should've been a normal life and so did you, it sucks y'know?"

"I do know," Bucky said softly. "But look at you now. You're strong, brave, and you're not letting anything hold you back. I'm so proud of you for that."

Ellie smiled, her eyes shining. "Thanks, Dad. I'm proud of you too, for being able to deal with me even though I'm not normal."

Bucky felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to say so much, to tell her how much she meant to him, but instead, he picked up his roller and started painting again. "Let's get this done, huh? This room's gonna look great."

As they continued painting, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. They talked about school, friends, and all the little things that made up Ellie's world. Bucky found himself laughing more than he had in a while, and despite the sadness of seeing the pink walls go, he felt a sense of peace.

When they finally finished, the room looked completely different. The deep blue was serene, transforming the space into a haven for Ellie. She stepped back, admiring their work. "It looks amazing, Dad."

"It does," Bucky agreed, though he couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia for the pink walls that had seen so much of Ellie's childhood.

The pink walls of the room he used to just sit in and cry because Bucky Barnes missed his kid so much.

7 years ago

AT SEVEN YEARS OLD Ellie had always believed in the magic of unicorns. She had unicorn posters on her walls, a bedspread adorned with unicorns, and a collection of stuffed unicorns that she cherished dearly. One sunny afternoon, she came bouncing into the living room, clutching her second favorite stuffed unicorn, Sparkles, with a wide grin on her face.

"Dad! Dad! I learned in school today that unicorns are real!" she announced with excitement.

Bucky looked up from his newspaper, a small smile playing on his lips. "Oh yeah? What did you learn about them?"

Ellie sat down next to him, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Miss Thompson said that in some stories, they say unicorns have magic horns that can heal people. I think that's true!"

Bucky hesitated, not wanting to burst her bubble but knowing he had to set the record straight. "Well, sweetie, unicorns are magical in stories and fairy tales, but they're not real animals. They're just make-believe."

Ellie's smile faltered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What do you mean, they're not real?"

Bucky set his newspaper aside and gently patted her on the head. "I mean that they're just part of myths and legends. Like dragons and fairies."

Ellie's face crumpled as the realization sank in. "So... there's no real Sparkles out there?"

Bucky shook his head, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'm afraid not, kiddo."

Ellie stood up abruptly, clutching Sparkles to her chest. "I don't want to talk to you right now, Dad," she declared, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sadness.

Bucky watched as she stomped out of the room, feeling a bit like the bad guy in her fairy tale. He sighed, knowing he'd have to give her some space.

For the rest of the day, Ellie was determined to give her dad the silent treatment. She refused to sit next to him at dinner, instead choosing the farthest seat possible. She didn't laugh at his jokes or respond when he asked her about her day. Even when he tried to read her a bedtime story, she crossed her arms and turned away.

The next morning, Bucky found her in the living room, still clutching Sparkles, her face set in a stubborn pout. He knelt down in front of her, trying to hide his amusement at how serious she was about her protest.

"Ellie, I'm really sorry if I upset you," he said gently. "I just wanted you to know the truth. But I promise, even if unicorns aren't real, you can always believe in their magic. And Sparkles will always be real to you."

That was awkward. He though. He never really thought he'd be explaining this to a person, EVER.

Ellie looked at him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Okay, Dad. But you have to promise to never tell me anything sad like that again."

Bucky chuckled and held out his pinky. "I promise. Pinky swear."

Ellie linked her pinky with his, a small smile finally breaking through her pout. "Pinky swear."