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sjsmith56 · 1 month ago

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A Better Man, Part 5 - Warmth

Summary: Bucky inspects Andrea’s brownstone finding a host of problems that could derail the renovation. His mother, Winnifred Barnes comes to dinner, to meet Andrea and Lily.

Length: 5.8 K

Characters: Steve, Bucky, Andrea, Winnifred Barnes.

Warnings: Bucky’s anxiety, Winnifred remembering the real trauma that Bucky suffered as a child.

Author notes: More twists. My knowledge of house inspections comes from watching Mike Holmes, Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baeumler home renovation shows. If you’re Canadian, you know who I mean.

<<Part 4

Part 5

Since Mrs. Parker, Sam and Steve had everything under control at the office, Bucky took his tool belt and everything he needed to check the house with him, when he took the money to pay off Officer Rollins. He tried to temper his growing irritation at the man as he drove to where Rollins had pulled over their truck. It was a dick move on the officer's part but also somewhat unprecedented. He wondered if Hydra Contracting was behind it, as he knew Rollins was friendly with Rumlow. Peter Quill had reported that Rollins had been seen at several of Hydra's nightclubs over the past month, sometimes in uniform, sometimes not, although the latter appearances tended to be at their strip clubs. No doubt if he were connected to Hydra, he would be advising them on Barnes Contracting moving all their inventory sooner.

Pulling up behind the police car, Bucky could see Rollins sitting in the front seat. Taking the envelope of cash with him, he got out of his car and stood beside the open car window.

"Barnes," said Rollins, lazily. "About time you got here."

"You got paid off last week," replied Bucky. "This request took us by surprise, and it took us time to gather enough bills together, plus we're busy."

"I figured that," said the police officer. "What's the deal with the sudden activity?" He gestured to the truck. "Your idiot driver wouldn't tell me anything."

"Just have some renovation work coming up that I need my crew for, that's all. Do you want this or not?"

A car passed them, and they both watched until it was out of sight before Rollins put his hand out. Bucky looked around to make sure no one was watching or taking pictures then blocked the view of him handing Rollins the envelope. The man opened it, quickly going through the bills.

"It better all be here, or I'll be stopping another one of your trucks," he warned. He looked out the window at Bucky, smirking. "Have a nice day."

Starting his vehicle up, Rollins pulled out of his spot, making Bucky move aside to let the car go. He walked to the cab of the truck where Scott was sitting. Pulling himself up on the step he leaned inside the open window.

"What happened?"

"Came to a complete stop at a stop sign then took the turn. Next thing I know I hear the siren and pull over. He wanted to know what we were moving. Told him it was a sealed shipment, and I didn't know, then he said he noticed a lot of our trucks out today. What was going on? Told him I only did as I was ordered and didn't ask why. He said I didn't come to a complete stop and if I didn't want the truck seized, he wanted $500. Has he always been a dick?"

Bucky huffed. "Pretty much. Keep an eye out for any of Hydra's men. I know Rollins is buddies with Rumlow. If they find out we're moving a lot of inventory in a short time they might think something is up."

"Something is up, isn't it?" asked Scott. "I was surprised when Sam pulled us off of moving the furniture today. Did she change her mind about the renovation?"

"The less you know, the better," said Bucky. "She didn't change her mind. Just get these deliveries done and you'll get the furniture moved when you can. I'm going there now to assess the actual repairs that need to be done. The way this day is going I wouldn't be surprised if I find asbestos."

"That wouldn't be good."

He started the truck and Bucky hopped off then returned to his car, watching as it drove away. He sat there for a time, thinking, then started his car up, determined to get to the house and do something there today. There was no parking spot close by when he arrived so he parked where he could and put his tool belt on, then grabbed his pen and notebook. Entering the house, he locked the door behind him then breathed out.

It had been a while since he last did an inspection of a house to give someone an estimate. At that time, the owner, a higher-ranking member of a certain crime family, offered him half the estimate to do the job, claiming a professional discount. When Bucky told him that was the price quoted the man had laughed in his face, then told him to fuck off. He went with Sitwell Renovations, who used stolen building materials, and stiffed a few of their subcontractors, then used substandard ones to finish the jobs. The original subcontractors weren't able to get their money, because they couldn't put a lien on the homeowner or else he would come after them. It was wrong on so many levels, including the knowledge that Sitwell likely bribed some of the inspectors to approve the finished product.

You're getting upset again. Stop fixating about Sitwell Renovations.

Heading up to the top floor, Bucky found the attic access and opened it, pulling down the ladder. Heading up, he pulled his flashlight out and shone it on the underside of the roof. There were several water stains, some of them with mold on them, which concerned him. It meant they would have to treat the mold as well as replace the roof. Directing the flashlight onto the floor he saw more water stains. One of the boards was broken and he used his hammer to pry it up, swearing when he saw the old insulation.

Shit, it's likely asbestos.

He knew a guy who could test it to be sure, but he wasn't touching it, if it was. He would have to get an abatement team in to deal with it before his guys did any work. If it was up here, it could also be in the lower floor walls. He did another walk around the space, looking at the wiring, noting it was old copper. Since they would have to pull it anyway, they might be able to take the old stuff in for recycling. That could help offset the cost. He made some notes in his book, then headed back down the ladder and slid it back into place.

Even though Andrea only showed him the ceiling water stains on this level he still did a thorough inspection. Taking out a screwdriver he unscrewed a wall vent and shone his flashlight on the metal venting, looking for any rough edges that would give him an idea if the insulation here was asbestos as well, but he didn't see anything of note and replaced it. Noticing the original light fixtures, he made a note to ask if Andrea wanted to keep them or update them. There was always a demand for the older ones as certain places tried to keep their original look. Personally, he tried to keep the fixtures original but update everything around them, in a similar style. He would have to ask her if the fixtures all worked, since he didn't want to use the electricity to check for himself, knowing the mess the electrical panel was in. If they didn't all work, they should be replaced, otherwise he would have to take them to a specialty place to be restored.

From there he checked out the bathroom on this floor. The floor, done in a mosaic tile was mostly intact but there were a few broken individual tiles. They could be replaced but it might be hard to replicate the faded colour. Still, it was a nice pattern, almost art deco looking. The bathroom fixtures, other than the clawfoot tub were all in need of replacing. The tub could be refinished and spruced up. Turning the taps he listened for a water hammer noise but there was none. That was good as it meant the plumbing was in good shape, but he should check the pipes to make sure they were copper and not lead.

On the second floor, he checked all the windows but only the one bedroom had the water damage around them. Gently prying off the interior casing on them, he saw the caulking on the outside trim had dried out and crumbled, opening the gap to the elements. Opening the window, he leaned out as far as he could to check the brick façade, but it seemed intact, so the water damage was likely from the caulking. Still, he would need to bring a ladder over and go up to check it to be sure. When the guys came to move the furniture, he would ask Clint to bring a ladder and leave it in the house. He might as well check as much of the façade as he could. Once again, he tried to check for asbestos through the vents but who ever did the HVAC did a great job of sealing it from the insulation. It was a testament to the skill of those tradesmen.

Checking the bathroom on this level, he noticed water damage on the mosaic floor tiles, as the grout had crumbled and chipped away. Like the upper-level bathroom, the fixtures needed replacing. He checked the taps, looking under the sink for leaks but there were none there. Getting on his knees he shone his flashlight under the clawfoot tub then ran the water and watched as drips formed underneath, a leak from the tub itself. Once he got up on the ladder he would confirm if there was additional leakage in the outside façade. It could be a combination of the two that was showing up on the floor below. He added it to the lengthening list of repairs.

With a sigh, he headed down to the main floor, confirming the water stains again. The dining room was in good shape, so he headed to the kitchen. Casting a critical eye on it, he checked the floor to make sure it was level, then checked the plumbing, hearing the soft plunk of dripping water. Underneath the sink cabinet he found a leak dripping from where the plumbing came out of the wall. As he looked at it, he had a sinking feeling and ran downstairs, lighting the way with his flashlight. Ignoring the electrical panel, he went past it to underneath where the kitchen sink was. He didn't even look at this area the other night because the light went out and Andrea kicked him out before he got this far into the lower level. When he saw the exterior wall, he groaned.

There was efflorescence on it and the concrete was still wet in an area near a crack which had shifted the plumbing so that it was no longer aligned, causing not just the leak in the kitchen. This was a major repair that could cause structural damage if it wasn't taken care of. Never mind everything else that needed work, this crack, the water damage, the electrical panel, the roof, the possible asbestos insulation, and external water leaks would all have to be fixed before anything else inside could be tackled. No wonder Andrea couldn't get a loan for renovations. His gaze landed on the furnace and hot water tank, which he hadn't even looked at yet. He knew in his gut that this place was going to be a money pit. How was he going to tell her?

After saying goodbye to Bucky that morning, Andrea cleaned up the breakfast dishes, started some laundry and unpacked more of her boxes, sorting her clothes in the walk-in closet. She also looked at what food was in the freezer and pantry, wanting to make something good for Bucky as a thank you for his help. Taking some pork chops out, she checked the pantry, remembering she had brought some potatoes. She checked the fridge, satisfied that there were enough fresh vegetables to make a complete meal, although she did have to go out and get a few things from the grocery store. Lily was fed, then went down for a nap leaving Andrea some free time. Taking advantage of the home gym, she worked out a little bit then showered, dressed, and explored the selection of books in Bucky's bookcase. Just as she settled in a chair a phone rang in the apartment. With her cell phone beside her, Andrea wondered if Bucky left his cell phone behind but instead, the sound led her to a landline that she answered with a hesitant "hello." A woman's voice greeted her.

"Hello. You must be Andrea."

"Yes."

"I'm Winnifred Barnes, Bucky's mother. He told me that he offered you a place to live while he renovated your home. I just wanted to make sure you got settled in."

That was nice. "Yes, my daughter Lily and I are getting used to being here. He's been very kind to us."

"I'm glad to hear it. Would you object to me visiting you this afternoon? I had some things to drop off for Bucky, but I would like to meet you and your daughter."

"Why don't you come for supper, as well?" asked Andrea. "I was going to make a nice dinner for him and there should be more than enough for three."

"You're sure it won't be too much trouble?"

"I'm sure. Please, I would like you to come."

She could almost hear the older woman smile through the telephone call. When Mrs. Barnes accepted the invitation, her voice was kind and warm. It reminded Andrea very much of her grandmother. As soon as Lily woke up, she would get her ready for a walk and get to the store for the few things she needed. In the meantime, she made herself something for an early lunch and turned on some music while she ate and read a book. She transferred the laundry from the washing machine to the dryer, just before Lily awakened.

A short time later, she was back in the apartment after the walk to the grocery store, and began prepping the food so she could slip everything into the oven. The pork chop and potato casserole was easy to prepare and with the addition of some mushrooms and sliced onions plus some extra seasoning Andrea was sure it would be appreciated. Just as she got it into the oven to bake for an hour, the elevator door opened, and Bucky walked in.

"Hi," she said cheerfully, as he entered the kitchen. "How was your day?"

"A little stressful," he admitted. "How was yours?"

"Great," she smiled. "We went for a walk to the grocery store, and I picked up a few extra things for dinner. We're having a guest."

"Who?" he asked.

"Your mother. She called to say that she had to drop some things off, so I invited her to dinner." She noticed his face. "That's alright, isn't it?"

Bucky realized he was frowning and shook it off. "Yeah, it's good. I'm just surprised, that's all. She usually drops things off at the office, but I was at the house most of the day so maybe she wanted to talk to me in person." He noticed her face. "Don't worry about my mother. She's great and she'll love you and Lily. Before she comes, I need to talk to you about the house."

At that moment, the landline rang, and Bucky answered it to the announcement that his mother was there. He gave the okay to let her up. The news about the house was going to have to wait. Soon, the elevator door opened and Winnifred Barnes strode in, carrying a bakery box. Bucky took it from her, receiving a kiss on the cheek. They both entered the kitchen.

"Ma, this is Andrea Hart and her daughter Lily. Andrea, this is my mother, Winnifred Barnes."

"It's a pleasure Mrs. Barnes," said the younger woman, extending her hand. "You brought dessert? You didn't have to."

"It was the least I could do after practically inviting myself for dinner. You must call me Winnie." Andrea began to protest but Winnifred waved her objections away, then looked at Lily. "This little angel is beautiful. Bucky, help me get my coat off so I can hold her. She's okay with strangers?"

"Mostly," said Andrea. "She likes Mrs. Parker and Sam, and Bucky held her for a time."

His mother grinned at him, delighting in the fact that he was blushing about holding a baby. He took her things, hanging her coat up and placing her purse in the living room. When he returned to the kitchen, he watched his mother cooing over Lily, who lapped up the attention from the older woman.

"She is adorable," smiled Winnifred. "You must be a wonderful mother to have such a happy baby."

"Thank you but it's all her," said Andrea. "She's been content from the start."

"Ma, come sit in the living room." Bucky led them all there, waiting until the women sat down before he did. "What was it you brought for me to see?"

"Oh, that can wait," said Winnifred. "It was nothing too important. So, have you done the inspection of Andrea's house for the renovation?"

Both women looked at him, expectantly, and he suddenly felt as if he were in a hot seat.

"Yes, I spent much of the day there," he replied, hesitantly. "I was just going to tell Andrea about it when you arrived." They still looked like they wanted to hear more. "It's not good news. There's mold in the attic from the leaking roof. I suspect you have asbestos insulation, but I'll need to get someone in to confirm that and they would have to do an abatement if it is asbestos." He sighed, then looked away, his face pained. "Those windows will have to be replaced as the caulking has dried up and crumbled away which is letting in rain. You already know about the electrical panel. There's a crack in the foundation that's letting in water, and it's messed up the plumbing in the kitchen. All of that has to be fixed before we can even think about fixing the water leak damage inside. Your bathroom fixtures need updating although we can salvage the tubs and get them refinished. Although your furnace and hot water tank are functional, they're pretty old and should be replaced." He ran his hand through his hair. "Your kitchen needs a total update as well. I'm sorry but it's going to cost a lot of money to do it. I suspect the bank looked at your old list of things to fix and didn't think it was worth it. With this new list, it's going to be a lot for me to cover. I would like to do it, but I want you to know what you're getting yourself into. My estimate of three months is easily doubled and right now I think it's going to cost around $150,000 to just do the basics. I'm sorry. I wish I had better news."

Andrea took it better than he was expecting. She was disappointed, something that he felt in his gut as she looked at Lily before examining her hands. Then she smiled wanly at him.

"It's alright," she said quietly. "The bank pretty much said the same thing, even though the list I gave them was smaller. They said it had been their experience that these older places had a lot of issues that had to be addressed even before tackling the cosmetic fixes." She sighed and stood up. "Thank you for being honest with me. Excuse me for a moment."

She left Lily with Winnifred and headed towards her room, as Bucky followed her with his eyes, feeling utterly helpless that he had to disappoint her. His mother watched him.

"You should go to her," she said. "I can stay with Lily."

"Ma ...."

"Go to her," she smiled. "She's worth it."

It was the first time his mother had ever said that about any woman he brought home for her to meet. Gently, he knocked on the door. He could hear crying inside.

"Andrea, may I come in?"

There was the sound of her blowing her nose, then she opened the door and began to cry again. Stepping inside, he hugged her, as she wept. He wished he knew what to say but something told him that what he was doing was probably what she needed most. Eventually, she calmed herself and pulled away, grabbing some more tissues. To see her with swollen red eyes and puffy cheeks was almost more than Bucky could bear.

"We'll find a way to do it," he said. "Somehow, I'll fix it for you."

"I can't ask you to do that," she uttered, her voice almost broken. "You have a business to run and that's a lot of money to cover."

"You're not asking. I'm offering." For a moment, he looked down, trying to say something meaningful. "Please, let me help you."

"Why are you doing this? I mean, what's the real reason?"

He envisioned a repeat of what happened in her basement a few days ago but even with what he did for his living, he had always been as truthful as he could be. He wasn't ready to tell her about his usual job, but he could tell her about his feelings. Gesturing to her to sit on the bed, he sat beside her.

"I've always been the quiet type," he said. "That trauma I referred to this morning messed with my head a little and it made me very introverted. In high school, I didn't date much but I had a few girlfriends, nothing serious. They weren't really interested in the real me. They just saw me as a good-looking guy who liked to please them. When my thing about blood became known they didn't even see me as that. I was weird Bucky." She placed her hand on his, smiling kindly at him. God, she's beautiful. "I had one serious relationship with Dot; I told you about her. After her, I didn't date at all. It was just easier. Then you walked into my life. The guys told me about this beautiful woman with a baby who just made their day with her presence and that's when I came outside that first time with Sam and Steve. They were right, you did make my day, and the more I saw you, the more I wanted to know you."

"Bucky, what are you saying?" Andrea was focused on him, her face serious. "Are you in love with me?"

"I don't know if it's love," he admitted. "I thought I knew what love was when I was with Dot, but it was all one-sided. I know that I like being with you and Lily. I don't feel alone or weird when I'm with you and when you cried just now, all I wanted to do was hold you and be there for you." He realized he was stroking her hand and stopped then looked at her. "If you don't feel the same for me, that's alright; we can be friends because I just don't want to be without you in my life and if you have to sell the house and move away then I might never see you again, and I don't think I can bear that."

She smiled at him as he kept talking then placed her hand on his cheek, making him stop.

"I wish I had met you instead of Brock," she murmured. "You are the sweetest man I have ever met. Dot was stupid to do what she did to you. Although there might be the beginnings of something between us, I'm not ready to take that next step right now. But I'm willing to take it slow with you and see where this leads us. Is that enough for now?"

His smile was almost beatific in its brilliance and Andrea felt her own insides warm up a little. She had to admit to herself that when he held her, she felt safe in his arms. The emotional warmth that emanated from him and even his mother, was something she really missed since her grandmother died. As for the house, she could sell it, but it would be at a significant discount as she would have to disclose the issues with it. In this market, that money wouldn't go far in buying a similar sized place. Even though the logical thing would be to sell it, a part of her pictured her and Lily there, baking cookies in the kitchen, or doing homework together at the table. From the moment she moved in there when she was pregnant it felt like home, her real home. Then a vision of Bucky coming in the front door as if he lived there with them suddenly entered her head, almost making her gasp audibly. Maybe she was meant to meet him, then to live with him as a roommate. Maybe, eventually they were meant to be more. Regardless, he was willing to help her, and she really liked the idea of him working on that place, knowing that he wanted to please her. Taking a deep breath, she stood up, making him stand up with her.

"Alright, somehow we'll figure out how to finance this," she said. "Friends?"

"Friends," he smiled. For now.

Returning to the living room, they found his mother still entranced with Lily, as she told her a story. It was a side of his mother Bucky hadn't seen before, realizing that she was acting like a grandmother. His younger sister was also unmarried and had no kids, so that meant Lily was the closest thing she had to a grandchild. She looked up at them.

"Are you alright, Andrea?"

"Yes, Mrs. Barnes, I'm good. Bucky helped settle me down."

"Winnie, I insist." The older woman looked down at the little girl in her arms before looking up at the pair. "Well, I'm glad. Whenever you two wish to go out, for any reason, you call me, and I'll come over in a flash to be with this little doll."

Lily kicked her feet a little and waved her hands towards Winnifred, making her laugh. The timer on the oven went off and Andrea went to see to it, while Bucky set the table. His mother, watching from the living room area, knew there was definitely something good about those two and she would do her part to make sure it bloomed into something better. This little girl needed a father and a grandmother. If Andrea's parents were too proud to make amends with their daughter, then she was more than willing to take their place.

Dinner was pleasant for all of them, with compliments from Bucky and his mother about the meal. The dessert brought by Winnifred, a cheesecake, was also appreciated. As Bucky cleaned up, Andrea took Lily to the bedroom to nurse her and get her ready for bed. She brought her out to say goodnight to Winnifred and Bucky, with both holding the baby in turn, and kissing her goodnight. It reinforced every hope that Bucky had for a relationship with Andrea, although he tried to temper the strong emotions he was feeling for her. After she had tucked her daughter in, Andrea returned to the living room where Bucky and his mother sat, having some tea.

"Well, I have enjoyed myself immensely," said Winnifred. "I do have to go but I meant what I said about looking after Lily anytime you need someone. She is a sweet child."

"I'll keep that in mind, Winnie," said Andrea. "It was very nice to meet you."

"Bucky, would you see me out to my car?" asked his mother.

"Sure, Ma," he replied, figuring she wanted a private word with him.

On the way down in the elevator, she made her thoughts known.

"She is lovely. What did you two decide when you went to her?"

"I told her I had feelings but that I don't know if it's love. She's not ready for another relationship yet but if it's meant to be then she wants to take it slow. I'm going to do the renovations. I'll find the money somehow."

"I'll give it to you," said Winnifred. She looked up at her son. "You don't have to tell her it's coming from me."

"Ma, you don't have to," he protested. "I'm sure that we'll get the business we need from the renovation side of the company. I can put a sign in the window of her place that we're working there. Maybe that will drum up business to make up for having to cut back on the other side of things."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, looking up at him again. "What's happened to your usual revenue stream?"

Uh oh. "I thought you knew. I assumed Steve mentioned it but maybe he was afraid you would be angry with him. Andrea's best friend hit it off with Steve and they went out together. She figured out that Barnes Construction isn't entirely legitimate." The elevator doors opened, and he stopped talking as they walked through the lobby, resuming when they were outside. "Turns out she's a cop and she's not turning us in, but she suggested we get rid of our shipments sooner rather than later. We're supposed to be on some task force's radar. If they show up and we don't have the evidence lying around, then they can't do much to us."

His mother was quiet until they got to her car. She stood in front of it apparently processing what her son told her.

"Well, maybe it was meant to happen then," she finally said. "You did say you would go legit for her. Maybe this is the way you go about it. Just be careful who else knows about that end of the business as it can open you up to blackmail. By the way, who is Lily's father? You told me before that he's with one of your competitors."

"Brock Rumlow."

He didn't notice how his mother seemed bothered for a moment, as he was distracted by a couple of joggers going by on the sidewalk. She placed her hand on his cheek, receiving a kiss on hers in return, then Bucky opened her car door and made sure she was buckled in before he closed it. As she pulled away, she watched her son cross the road, realizing she never gave him the documents she brought him. As soon as she was out of sight, she pulled into the first opening she saw and took her cell phone out. For a moment she hesitated then she dialled a number. It rang several times before it was answered.

"I have a problem," she said. "My son is in love with a very nice single mother. I just found out the father of her child is Brock Rumlow. You know what Pierce will do if he finds out about the baby." She listened for a moment then interrupted. "I don't care. I need protection on the woman and her child. They are important to me and to my son. If anything happens to them .... Thank you, Fury. I appreciate it. One other thing. Is Barnes Construction in the crosshairs of one of the gang task forces?" Whatever was said obviously satisfied her because she smiled. "I heard it from several sources but thank you for running interference for us. I appreciate that. My son is turning the company into a legitimate business, but any raids would make that difficult. I trust you'll advise me if anything is in the works? As long as it doesn't interfere with the other business, I'll take you at your word."

She hung up then and thought back to that horrible night so many years ago when Nick Fury, now the District Attorney, but then a hotshot lawyer in the District Attorney's office came to her with a pouch of diamonds and asked her to hold them for him. No questions were asked as to their origin or their destination. It was a quid pro quo situation; a favour to be paid back later. Except two nights later a corrupt cop, Henry Rumlow, showed up with a thug provided by his brother-in-law, Alexander Pierce, a general contractor willing to get his hands dirty. Rumlow demanded the diamonds. George, her husband, refused to say anything, as did she. The thug began beating George up, hitting him over and over again. That's when Bucky came out of the bedroom hallway holding his father's gun and pointing it at Rumlow.

"Leave my dad alone," he said, in his terrified six-year-old voice.

Rumlow started laughing.

"Your kid didn't even turn off the safety," he crowed, then reached for his own gun and pointed it at Bucky.

In a scream of rage, George head butted the thug, stunning him, then tackled Rumlow, fighting for his son's life. In the struggle, Rumlow's gun went off and he laid there bleeding out from a stomach wound. Carefully, George took the gun from Bucky, as Winnifred bundled him up and took him back to the bedroom. Then George did something he never thought he would do again after Grenada. He killed a man, using Rumlow's gun to shoot the thug when he roused and attacked George again. He called his right-hand man, Tim Dugan, to help. The big man, loyal to the core, helped carry the bodies out of the house, loading them into Rumlow's car trunk, that they lined with a tarp. While Dugan drove Rumlow's car, George took a company truck, driving out to an isolated spot. They staged the fight there, making it look like the two men fought each other before both received a fatal wound with Rumlow's service pistol. They left Rumlow's car there and George drove Dugan home. By the time he returned to their house, Winnie had cleaned up all the blood. He burned the tarp and his bloody clothes in a metal garbage can.

Other than Fury, who promised to make sure the deaths were not traced to them, no one else knew what really happened, although Pierce must have worked it out since he sent his man with Rumlow to steal the diamonds. Winnifred, who had whispered to Bucky never to speak of it, worried about him over the years, wondering if he was scarred for life. Other than being a quiet introverted person, with an aversion to blood, she was sure he had forgotten everything else that happened 27 years ago. Bucky's safety and happiness were everything to her. If Andrea and Lily made him happy then she would do all she could to keep them safe.

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