#what if the red guardian stopped the winter soldier

[thingsasbarcodes]

What If...? 3x03 - What If... The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?

[classicanalyzer]

What If Season 3 - What If... the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier? Thoughts

"Now, think. Think back. What's the first thing you see?" Alexei Shostakov

"I see... I see... I see Coney Island." The Winter Soldier

"See! You are somebody. You are the Great Coney Island hero. And the Red Guardian is proud to fight next to you." Alexei Shostakov

Episode 3 was so peak. Alexei is so fun! I really wish we got a movie, a show, or something with him because he's such a fun character. His dynamic with Bucky is also pretty fun. We got so much lore about the assassination of Howard and Maria Stark. This is the last episode written by A.C. Bradley, and man I'm going to miss her writing and work in What If. Also, this episode was supposed to be in S2 (footage of it can be seen in S2's title sequences and the S2 finale fanfare) but was swapped out for the Corpsman Nebula episode which was supposed to be in S3.

Alexei's character in this episode is really great. He may be really enthusiastic about his belief in Communism and the Soviet Union, but it's clear he genuinely wants to do good. I really like how he isn't as dumb as he looks and how he sees the good and best in people. Someone also pointed out how since this is 1991, the USSR is on the verge of collapse, and Alexei thinks they will overthrow the US which shows how he was kept in the dark by his bosses about the USSR's deteriorating situation. Even Alexei realizes after he knows Dreykov and the Red Room are working with Capitalists that those at the top never truly cared about the ideals of the USSR as he did. I also find it funny that the What If situation possibly came that, What If Alexei stole the file of the Winter Soldier's assignment lmao. David Harbour was amazing casting for Alexei in the Black Widow movie and this episode continues to prove why it was perfect casting.

I really love how Dreykov and the Red Room knew about and was connected to HYDRA and the Winter Soldier. It makes me wonder if the Red Room's Sky Fortress was a HYDRA collaboration and the Red Room simply cut their ties with HYDRA after the Winter Soldier movie. While this doesn't fix my feelings about the Red Room's Sky Fortress, someone pointed out how HYDRA most likely covered up the Sky Fortress from SHIELD. This makes so much more sense than if the Sky Fortress was simply able to hide for so long because it was simply good at "hiding" lmao. I also liked how it pays off a fact from S2 Episode 2, Bucky as the Winter Soldier was used by the USSR. That's some great multiversal continuity there haha. I love the Red Room presence in this episode with Dreykov and the Red Room Task Force soldiers. Also, Antonia Dreykov being in the picture is pretty sad and dark given what happened to her and how Dreykov never truly cared about his own daughter.

I love to see Bill Foster in this episode and I love his suit from S2 Episode 2. It's just really nice to see Bill Foster as the hero Goliath since we never saw him in action before in the movies. Ranger Morales was also a fun new side-character for this episode.

The montage of Alexei and Bucky heading to the United States was perfect and funny with the major differences in their purpose and tone. When that Winter Soldier theme kicks in, I got the chills. I like that Alexei does have his morals, even if he says it's to spread Communism and the revolution, it shows how he doesn't tolerate the work HYDRA is doing. It's really funny seeing Alexei quip during his fight with Bucky that Bucky just resorts to biting him.

I laughed when Bucky and Alexei both agreed to go off the cliff, even Uatu was surprised. These two super soldier idiots really make for a funny team once Bucky loosens up a bit. The Russian music in this episode is both epic and funny given how it's used. I also love the comedic gag of Alexei trying his best to get Bucky to stop resorting to killing as the first solution to every problem.

Bucky legit has a mental crisis when he realizes he failed for the first time. I love the arc where Bucky even if for this mission broke out of the programming and realizes HYDRA never cared for them. The scene with him remembering Coney Island is so heartwarming given how he and Steve hung out at Coney Island. Likewise seeing him reject Dreykov’s kill order on Alexei was heartwarming to see. I also love how he listened to Alexei's advice of using his metal arm to block the bullets when Stane tried to kill them. Their friendship (they’re basically siblings in this episode) truly is one of the most heartwarming things to see how Alexei managed to bring the good out of the Winter Soldier and both of them considering themselves friends. Sebastian Stan's voice performance went a long way from him phoning it in back in Episode 1. Also “Technique!” haha.

"He's right, though. About the Red Room, Dreykov..." Alexei Shostakov

"Dreykov's a pig. All of them are. But not you. You are a good man." The Winter Soldier/Coney Island Hero

The Rook being Obadiah Stane was a surprise to me. It didn't register that was him until near his death and the end credits confirmed my suspicions. I was really surprised but yet also not surprised that Obadiah told the Russians (and therefore by extension HYDRA) about Howard's recreation of the super soldier serum. God, seeing Obadiah talk about how "amazing" Capitalism makes me sick, and glad to see him fall out of the window after Bucky threw Alexei's shield at him. Hopefully, with Howard and Maria Stark alive along with Stane's death, Tony's life will be a lot less messed up and has less daddy issues.

I really hope Vasily Karpov dies in Las Vegas that's one less HYDRA personal in this universe. Also, I hope when Bucky was being brainwashed that this time, it was less successful than the previous moments, thanks to Alexei's influence. Plus, thanks to Alexei disavowing the Red Room and his nation, the Siberian Winter Soldiers will never occur!

Also hell yes, Alexei gets to be a part of the Avengers and Captain America knows him!

Episode 3 is truly a peak episode and showcases a dynamic ripe with story and character exploration. It'll be very interesting to see how Thunderbolts will show the two interact. This episode uses its characters amazingly well.

Note: Someone pointed out that so far, each episode has a tiny person interact with someone or something much taller (Sam with Gamma Apex Bruce, Kingo with Celestial Agatha, and now Alexei and Bucky with Goliath). I wonder what Episode 4 will do to continue this streak haha.

"Fighting for survival. For acceptance. Fighting to be somebody. But in the end, the fight is never the point. It's your friendships that change the course of history. Even when they end." Uatu

[torisprlng]

WHAT IF...THE RED GUARDIAN STOPPED THE WINTER SOLDIER?

[avengerscompound]

What If…. The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?

[dailymarvelstudios]

What If... The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?

[mrs-stans]

@IMDb: What if… the Red Guardian stopped the Winter Soldier? 👀 Here's an EXCLUSIVE look at #WhatIf S3E3, streaming Dec. 24 on Disney+.

[normalties]

Since the red guardian joined the avengers after that what if...? episode where the red guardian stopped the winter soldier, then imagine how DIFFERENT captain america civil war would end up being

[pedro-reed]

Alexei Shostakov | What If… The Red Guardian Stopped The Winter Soldier?

[tahelms85]

Why was What If season 3 episode 3 "What If The Red Guardian Stopped The Winter Soldier?" so...gay?

Like was I the only one that expected them to kiss at some point?

[tllgrrl]

Checking In… by @tllgrrl aka Nefertiri Jones

Relationship: Bucky Barnes/Sarah Wilson | Rated: SFW | -500 Words

Characters: Bucky Barnes-Winter Soldier/White Wolf . Alexi Shostakovich-Red Guardian . Yelena Belova-Black Widow . John Walker-US Agent . Ava Starr-Ghost . Sara Wilson (mentioned)

* * * * * * * * *. *

“Hey, Sarah. Yeah…I’m okay. Nah, I’m fine. I—what? No, you’re fine. Fine as…never mind. Don’t get me started. I’m not exactly alone right now.“

Alexi tilts forward and whispers, “Yasha has a girlfriend!?”

Yelena raises an eyebrow, tilts in, “He and Captain America’s sister Sarah Wilson are Doing It.”

“What?” Walker all but yells. “Really?! Sam’s sister? Wow! Say, did you know my wife is—“

“Yes,” the others say simultaneously, in various tones of utter exasperation. “We all know.”

“Hey!” Bucky throws daggers at them with his eyes. “Pipe down.” He wishes he could throw actual daggers. He has more than enough knives on his person for each one of them, but he maintains a cool demeanor on the phone.

“So,” he continues, lowering his voice and turning his back for more privacy, “about Christmas. I…I might be kinda late getting back. No. Just some idiots I gotta take care of here. I’ll call you later tonight if I can. Hug the boys for me, okay? Ndiyakuthanda.”

“Aww!” Ava practically squeaks. “I don’t speak Xhosa, but I know what that means.”

“I’ve seen pictures of Sarah Wilson,” Alexi smiles and nods approvingly. “Good choice, Yasha. Beautiful woman. Nice frame. Almost as nice as your mother’s, Yelena. A good, sturdy woman, your mother. Ahhhh, the way she fills out her blue jeans is—“

Yelena’s chin drops to her chest. “Oh my god, Dad! Stop!!” If her hands had been untied, she would have buried her face in them…after using them to choke him out.

“What!?! Am I wrong?”

“Hey, Bucky,” Walker says brightly, “We do have something in common. We both have—“

“No.” He pockets his phone and feels the hilt of the knife in his shoulder holster.

“Okay, pal,” Walker grins. “I mean, we—“

“We’re not the same,” Bucky growls and stalks away. “If Val doesn’t call back soon, I swear ta God…”

* * * * *

@fleurdelouvemonth 2024: SarahBucky Bingo - “Free Space”.

The photo is from Entertainment Weekly’s preview of THUNDERBOLTS* and shows Alexi, Yelena, Walker and Ava tied up, and Bucky is on his cellphone while watching them.

Thank you @khululekile for inspiring me to finish this little drabble as we laughed about Walker trying to bond with Bucky over their wives, and Bucky wanting no part of that conversation, especially with the likes of him.

* * * * * * * * * *

Fleurdelouve Month 2024 | SarahBucky Bingo

[violenciorp]

What if...? The Super Soldier Serum doesn't work and Steve doesn't become Captain America?

There is a 'What if…?' inspired (?) game ("""immersive story""") on the apple vision now. I have not played it (who the hell would buy an apple vision lmao) but I watched some lets plays (on youtube) and while I don't think the full experience is…. all that great, it does look very nice, seems congruent (canon-compliant?) with everything else from the What if...? show, AND there is a Steve plotline featuring Bucky, Hydra, Red Guardian and kinda Red Skull that has some interesting plot points that I feel are interesting both as character studies or as AU starting points, so I'll summarise and provide some badly screenshoted pictures as evidence 🥲 I'll put this under the read more just in case soemoen here does have 3.5k for useless equipment and wants to experience the 'game' themselves.

Basic set up of the little interactive experience/game; You get recruited by the Watcher to collect all infinity stones for… reasons, and to do that, you get zapped around different multiverses. To collect the power stone (purple), you get put into Siberia, where you learn the following: During the second World War, the allied forces tried to create a supersoldier to put a stop to the Nazis/Hydra -- just as they did in our universe

Unforunately, though, shit goes wrong, the serum doesn't work, and the machines explode, so that Steve doesn't become the hunk of a man we know and love but… well, red skull.

Don't get me wrong, he's still a good guy, but, in his own words: 'The allied forces had an ideal vision of a super soldier -- and that wasn't me.'

They basically didnt use them as propaganda because he's uggo now, lmao. Without touring as a motivational piece doing little shows, though, he also never really becomes Captain America.

And without a force to put their bundled hopes in, the allied forces fall apart, and Hydra wins (!) without a super soldier to stop them.

The timeline gets more fuzzy now, it is not clear to me if some/most/all of the events are meant to be happening at around WW2 time, or much later. 'Siberia 1988' was thrown around, but I'm honestly not sure if it's meant to be the date, or just some reference. However, one character shows up significantly aged at the end of the show, so it actually might be 1988, implying that Hydra did rule most of Europe (?) for 30-40 years. Either way, Hydra does start creating Super Soldiers using the purple Infinity Stone, the Power Stone. Steve, either on a solo-mission or sent by Shield (unclear), goes to Siberia to retrieve the stone, that is guarded by Red Guardian. Red Guardian refuses to give the stone to Steve, as 'the powers of the stone make monsters out of men', using it is "nothing to be proud of" and 'you don't look like scientist. you don't sound like scientist… well, uh… no, you have skull for face' (literal quote, lmao, love it), so they fight.

Steve looses the fight, BUT --- sees Bucky in one of the tanks, before he has to flee the scene, as he is just about to get his ass whooped.

Wanting to save his friend, Steve now helps you to collect all the stones, yadda yadda, intergalactic multiverse bullshit happens, blabla, i dont care. Once you do collect all the other infinity stones with some other marvel characters, there is a bit of a twist, a big showdown, and then you have two choices: Either, you give each hero the stone that they were after, or you "do the right thing" and destroy the stones.

If you go for the good ending and destroy the stone, Steve goes back to his universe. Without the stone being there to create all these Super Soldiers for Hydra Steve and Red Guardian team up to free Winter Soldier Bucky.

and together they form a 'nation-less alliance of superheros' to fight some bad guys which the red guardian calls the… musketeers.

[[It is unclear to me where Steve got a shield, considering that he absolutely didn't have one up to this point. I also wonder if 'nation-less' means that Steve rejects being an American here? Red Guardian not being American makes sense, Bucky not easily being allowed to return also makes sense with all the war crimes he committed, but I do like the idea of Steve doing the right thing here leads him to be a lot less patriotic than in our canon.]]

However: If you do give Steve the infinity stone, he brings it to SHIELD ---- which seems to be represented by the aged What if? model of Howard Stark from the second season of the show, making me believe that it might in fact be playing in 1988 --- which does lead the US to win the war against HYDRA, but also "unleashes the super soldier threat back home" with there being hundreds of supersoldier chambers being shown.

I'm assuming the implication is that shield = hydra or maybe just super soldiers = bad no matter where they are? Interestingly, there is no more mention of Bucky in this ending, so I guess Steve was too busy acquiring world domination or something to still care about him. Considering that Howard is his old-model here, this does imply that Steve only retrieves the power stone by the late 80's. Not sure what he has been up to for the 40 years until then -- was he also somewhere frozen? Do red-skull-supersoldiers just not age? --- but it does imply that Hydra was (openly!) in control of at least most of Central Europe for this entire time period, before the US finally had a chance to beat them.

They are definitly using the same models/assets as in the TV show, so I do wonder if we will see some of these elements in the next season, too, considering they already announced an episode featuring Bucky and Red Guardian. Overall, while I feel like it doesn't really fulfill the criteria of a good interactive game/experience, I found this plot line quite interesting, and having the serum fail Steve, and he therefore nor being the Golden Boy and rejected by the allied forces, plus the potential 40-year long rule of Hydra are super intriguing to me. Bucky and Red Guardian also not being created by the serum, but by the powers of the infinity stone also seem like an interesting starting point for some musings, AUs and fics. I also wonder what Hydra had been doing with Bucky for those 40 years for Steve not having known/heard about him in the mean time. Ie. if someone writes fanfic based on this, please send it to me haha. Or TL; DR: It's basically a "What if Steve was ugly?" (in the words of @tinaxpow )

[agent-42]

What if red guardian stopped winter soldier was a fun buddy road trip adventure.

My one issue is if howard stark is alive and stane is dead how is iron man an avenger? That seems like a major butterfly effect. Unless that's Rhodes, happy or Jarvis in that suit.

[avengerscompound]

What If…. The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?

[sebbypowell]

WinterWidow's Family Part 4

Summary: A HYDRA agent breaks into the house as the family was asleep. Something different was up with Damien when Natasha and Bucky find him in Katie's room.

Words: 4.9k

Warnings: pregnancy, injury, swearing, someone getting shot, another near death

Part 5

Bucky and Natasha woke up the next morning, the sunlight streaming through the curtains in their bedroom. Bucky was the first to wake up, his eyes blinking open slowly. He turned his head to look at Natasha, taking a moment to appreciate her beauty. His eyes then shifted to her stomach.

He gently placed his hand over Natasha's bump. "Morning, pumpkin." Bucky leaned down and pecked Nat's stomach.

Natasha stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. "Morning." she mumbled sleepily, stretching her arms above her head. Her eyes softened as she saw Bucky's hand on her stomach.

"Nat, I meant the little girl." Bucky said while looking up at Natasha.

Natasha chuckled, gently swatting his hand away. "Very funny."

Bucky grinned, rolling onto his side to face her. "Hey, it was worth a shot."

There was a yell from Katie. "MOM!! DAD!! HELPP!!"

Bucky and Natasha both sat up abruptly, alarm etched on their faces.

"What's wrong??" Bucky called out, already throwing the covers off and getting out of bed.

Natasha followed suit, her heart racing as she quickly grabbed her dressing gown and wrapped it around herself.

The two of them rushed down the hallway towards Katie's room, their footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor.

As they reached Katie's bedroom door, which was slightly ajar, they could hear a commotion coming from inside. Bucky nudged the door open with his foot, revealing a chaotic sight. Katie was under her TV while a HYDRA agent was standing over her.

Bucky and Natasha froze for a split second, shock and anger coursing through their veins. But then they reacted.

Bucky pulled out his gun from his robe that he keeps in there just in case. Natasha grabbed her gun from under Katie's bed.

The HYDRA agent sneered when he saw them. "Well if it isn't the legendary Black Widow and the Winter Soldier."

Bucky's grip on his gun tightened. "Get away from our daughter." he growled.

The HYDRA agent smirked, his gaze shifting between Bucky and Natasha. "Or what? You'll shoot me?"

Natasha's eyes narrowed. "Don't tempt me."

"You shouldn't be with a gun, Natalia." The HYDRA agent said as he glanced down at Natasha's stomach.

Bucky's gaze darkened at the HYDRA agent's words. He took a protective step forward, shielding Natasha and their unborn child from the agent's view. "You lay one more finger on her and I'll end you."

Natasha's jaw clenched as she readied herself to attack. "You're not going anywhere near our child."

The HYDRA agent chuckled coldly. "I already had sex with her." The HYDRA agent unmashed and it was Damien.

"Damien!?" Katie exclaimed. "But I-"

Bucky's expression hardened even further, his grip on his gun trembling. "You lying son of a bitch!"

Natasha was visibly shaking with anger, her eyes practically icy cold as she glared at Damien.

"Surprised, huh?" Damien smirked, clearly enjoying the shock on Bucky and Natasha's faces. "I infiltrated your family, got close to your daughter, and you didn't even suspect a thing."

Alexei came into the room in his Red Guardian suit.

Alexei froze at the tense scene before him. His eyes quickly scanned the room, taking in the situation. When he saw Bucky and Natasha facing off against Damien, his expression darkened.

"What's going on here?" Alexei demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Damien turned to face Alexei, a sneer on his face. "Ah, the mighty Red Guardian. You really think you can stop me?"

Alexei lifted his fists, the protective rage evident in his stance. "You messed with the wrong family, pal."

Damien chuckled darkly. "Oh, I think I messed with the perfect family. The Thunderbolts are known to be soft on things like this."

Natasha scoffed, her gun still pointed at Damien. "You have no idea what we're capable of."

Bucky took a step closer to Damien, his gun unwavering. "You've made a huge mistake coming after us."

Damien smirked. "Oh, I don't think I have. In fact, I think I've just made a brilliant move. Think of the leverage I have." He grabbed Katie's arm and breaks it.

Katie cried out in pain, her eyes welling with tears.

Natasha's heart wrenched at the sight of her daughter in pain, but her resolve only hardened. "Let her go. Now."

"And if I don't?" Damien challenged, tightening his grip on Katie's arm.

Bucky's jaw clenched, his eyes flicking from Katie to Damien. "You really want to find out?"

Alexei stepped forward, his large frame towering over Damien. "Let go of the girl, or I'll make you."

Damien chuckled again. "You think you can take me, grandpa?"

Alexei's face darkened, a dangerous look in his eyes. "Try me, kid."

Bucky was practically radiating anger, his hands itching to tear Damien apart. "You've got three seconds to let her go."

Damien rolled his eyes, clearly not taking Bucky's threat seriously. "And what are you gonna do if I don't, huh? Shoot me? I'd like to see you try."

Natasha's eyes narrowed, her voice cold as ice. "If you don't let her go, you won't leave this room alive."

Damien chuckled, his grip on Katie's arm tightening even more. "Big talk, Widow. But can you really pull the trigger?"

Katie realizes something. "Damien's being controlled!"

Bucky and Natasha froze, their expressions incredulous. Alexei looked skeptical too.

"What do you mean, honey?" Bucky asked, his voice tense.

"He's been acting weird lately," Katie explained, her voice shaking slightly. "He's been saying things he's never said before, doing things out of character."

Natasha's eyes widened as a realization hit her. "You think he's being mind-controlled?"

Katie nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Yes! It's like he's not even himself anymore."

Bucky's expression softened, a flicker of sympathy replacing his anger.

Katie pulled the TV off herself and got up slowly. "Damien, snap out of it. It's not you."

Damien's eyes flicked to Katie, his expression unemotional. "You think I'm being controlled. That's cute," he sneered.

However, a slight twitch in his eye betrayed his true feelings. It was as if he were struggling against an invisible force.

Katie's eyes widened, recognizing the tiny crack in Damien's facade. She took a step forward, pleading with him. "Please, Damien, fight it. You're stronger than whatever is controlling you."

Damien stiffened, his grip on Katie's arm loosening slightly. He seemed to be fighting an internal battle, his expression torn between his own will and the controlling force.

"Damien, look at me." Katie said.

Damien looked at her.

"I love you." she said, cupping his face.

"But I don't love you." Damien growled.

Those words stung like a thousand needles through Katie's heart. She visibly flinched, tears filling her eyes.

Bucky and Natasha's expressions hardened, their protective instincts kicking into overdrive, ready to attack if necessary.

Alexei clenched his fists, his own expression hardening at Damien's harsh words. But he held back, awaiting Bucky and Natasha's cue.

Katie took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "I know that's not you talking. I know the real you, the one who's kind, gentle, and loving. That's the Damien I fell in love with."

"I. Don't. Love. YOU!" Damien snapped, pushed Katie and she went flying into the wall.

"KATIE!" Bucky and Natasha yelled in unison.

Bucky dropped his gun and rushed to Katie's side, checking her over for any major injuries.

Natasha's anger boiled over, her eyes filled with a cold rage. "You bastard!"

Alexei stepped up beside Natasha, his stance ready for battle.

"You better hope you didn't do any permanent damage, kid," he growled, his knuckles cracking.

Damien sneered at Alexei. "And what are you gonna do about it? Old man like you isn't capable of much these days."

Alexei chuckled darkly. "Old man? I may be old, but I can still pack a punch. And when it comes to protecting my family, I've got reserves you can't even imagi-"

Damien was out the window before Alexei could finish.

Bucky rushed to the broken window, his eyes scanning the area outside. "Damnit!" he growled.

Natasha knelt beside Katie, holding her in her arms. "Sweetie, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Katie winced as Natasha touched her, her body aching from the impact. "I need to go to the hospital." she muttered, her voice shaking.

Bucky turned back from the window, his expression dark. "He got away."

"For now," Natasha said firmly. "But we'll find him. We always do."

Bucky knelt beside Natasha and Katie, his hand on Katie's shoulder. "We'll get you to the hospital. You're safe now."

Katie nodded slowly, her eyes drooping. She leaned against Natasha, exhaustion finally setting in. "I just want to sleep…"

Natasha tightened her hold on Katie, her heart aching for her daughter. "You can sleep, honey. We'll keep you safe."

Bucky gently picked Katie up in his arms. "Let's get out of here."

"I'll call an ambulance," Alexei said, already pulling out his phone.

Bucky gave a quick nod of thanks before they hurried out of the room.

As Bucky carried Katie through the living room, Melina and Yelena jumped up from the couch, their eyes widening in horror when they saw the state Katie was in.

"What happened?!" Yelena exclaimed, her voice filled with concern.

Melina's eyes darted to Katie's limp form in Bucky's arms. "Is she alright?"

Bucky's jaw clenched as he nodded gruffly. "She took a pretty hard fall. We're taking her to the hospital."

Melina's face paled, a flash of anger and worry crossing her features. "Who did this to my grand baby? Let me guess, it's her boyfriend, isn't it?"

Bucky's nod was silent but affirming.

Yelena's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing with anger. "That good-for-nothing brat. When I get my hands on him—"

Melina held up a hand to stop Yelena. "Not now, Yelena. First we make sure Katie is okay. Then we can deal with Damien."

Yelena let out a frustrated sigh but nodded in agreement.

Alexei joined them in the living room, pocketing his phone. "The ambulance is on its way." he said, his expression grave.

"Good," Bucky said, his grip on Katie tightening.

Melina placed a comforting hand on Katie's cheek, her eyes filled with worry. "Hang on, sweetie. Help is coming."

Katie's eyes flickered open slightly, a soft groan escaping her lips. "Hurts.." she muttered.

Natasha gently stroked Katie's hair, her voice soothing. "I know it hurts, sweetie. But the ambulance is on the way. Just stay with us, okay?"

Katie nodded weakly, her eyes falling closed again.

Yelena paced the room, her hands clenched into fists. "Who does that bastard think he is, hurting our family like this? I'll rip him limb from limb when we find him."

"You'll do no such thing." Alexei snapped, his voice firm. "We need to handle this rationally, not let our anger control us."

Yelena let out a huff of frustration but didn't argue further.

Melina spoke up, her voice steady despite the hint of anger that lingered beneath it. "We'll deal with Damien appropriately when the time comes. But for now, our priority is Katie."

"Agreed." Bucky said, his expression hard. "Katie's safety comes first."

Just then, the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance, growing louder as they approached.

"The ambulance is here." Alexei noted.

Bucky readjusted Katie in his arms as the paramedics rushed into the room.

The paramedics quickly assessed Katie's condition and placed her on a stretcher.

"What happened?" One of them asked urgently.

Bucky filled them in on the situation, the words sharp and tense.

The paramedics nodded, their faces set in professional lines. "We'll get her to the hospital and check her out thoroughly. Whose her parents?"

"We are." Bucky and Natasha answered simultaneously.

The paramedic raised an eyebrow but didn't question further. "You two will ride in the back with her."

Bucky and Natasha nodded, their expressions stoic. Alexei, Melina, and Yelena watched as the paramedics loaded Katie into the ambulance.

"We'll follow behind you in the car." Alexei said, his voice low.

"We'll keep you updated." The paramedic replied.

Bucky and Natasha climbed into the back of the ambulance, settling on either side of the stretcher containing Katie. The doors closed, and the ambulance sped off.

Natasha nodded, her eyes filled with worry. "I know. But seeing her hurt like this…" Her voice trailed off, her eyes drifting to the unconscious figure of their daughter. "…I'm worried that she's not gonna make it and not meet her little sister."

Bucky looked at her, his expression softened. "Hey, don't think like that." he said quietly. "Katie's strong. She'll pull through."

Natasha took a shaky breath, her eyes still on Katie. "I hope you're right. I just can't bear the thought of losing her. We've had her since she was 4."

Bucky squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We won't lose her. She's a Romanoff-Barnes. We don't give up."

Natasha managed a small smile, her heart calming at Bucky's confidence. "You're right. We don't give up."

As they continued their journey to the nearest hospital, Bucky's hand still held onto Katie's.

The journey felt like an eternity, but they finally arrived at the hospital. The ambulance doors opened, and paramedics quickly unloaded Katie and rushed her in. Bucky and Natasha followed closely behind, desperate to see their daughter.

The ER was bustling, doctors and nurses swarmed around. One nurse, noticing Bucky and Natasha's distressed states, quickly approached them.

"Are you the parents of the girl that just came in?" she asked.

Bucky and Natasha nodded, their hearts pounding.

"Yes, we are." Bucky said, his voice steady despite his internal turmoil.

The nurse led them to the waiting area, her voice calm. "Please sit down. We're doing everything we can for her. Fill this out please." The nurse handed Natasha the clipboard.

Natasha took the clipboard, her hands shaking slightly. She began filling out the form as best she could, her mind still preoccupied with worry.

Bucky sat down beside her, his knee bouncing impatiently. He wanted to be in there with Katie, to see how she was doing with his own eyes.

After what felt like hours of anxious waiting, a doctor finally approached them. Bucky and Natasha jumped up, hoping for good news.

The doctor's expression was grave. "Your daughter sustained some serious injuries. We've done a CT scan, and it shows she has a concussion and a fractured rib. She's stable for now, but we'll need to keep her overnight for observation."

Bucky ran a hand through his hair, his body tense. "Can we see her?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes, you can. Although she's still unconscious. We'll have to wait until she regains consciousness to assess the full extent of her injuries."

"Take us to her." Natasha said, her voice firm.

The doctor nodded and lead them down the corridor to Katie's room.

The room was sterile and cold, the only sound was the steady beep of the heart monitor. Katie was lying in the bed, machines surrounding her. Her face was pale and bruised.

Bucky's heart ached at the sight of his daughter hooked up to so many machines. He sat down beside her bed, his hand gently grasping hers.

Natasha stood on the other side, her eyes filled with worry. "Poor baby." she whispered, her voice trembling.

. . .

Hours passed in silence. Bucky and Natasha took turns sitting by Katie's bedside, just waiting for any sign of consciousness.  Alexei, Melina, and Yelena came to visit but left due to the hospital's rules.

Finally, in the early hours of the morning, Katie began to stir. Bucky and Natasha, both dozing in their chairs, jumped to alert.

Katie's eyes fluttered open, wincing against the harsh light.

"Katie, honey?" Bucky's voice was soft. "Can you hear me?"

Katie's eyes focused on Bucky, her expression groggy. "Dad…?"

Bucky let out a breath, relief flooding through him. "Yeah, baby, it's me. I'm here, and so is mom."

Natasha leaned over, her eyes filled with worry and relief.

"Mom…" Katie's voice was hoarse, her throat dry.

Natasha gently brushed some hair away from Katie's forehead. "Shh, sweetie. Don't try to talk. You're safe now. Damien's not here."

Bucky could see the fear flicker in Katie's eyes when she heard Damien's name.

"Don't worry about him," he reassured her. "He's gone. We're gonna make sure he never hurts you again."

Katie's eyes drifted shut again, her body exhausted.

Natasha leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Just rest, sweetie. We're gonna stay right here."

Bucky leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Katie's face. He was grateful for the moment of peace, knowing that she was going to be okay. But he couldn't ignore the anger that was building inside him. Anger that someone had hurt his daughter so badly, and that he hadn't been there to stop it.

Natasha broke the silence. "I'm craving something."

Bucky looked over at her. "What do you want to eat?"

Natasha thought for a moment, before a small smile played on her lips. "Pizza. From that 24-hour diner we always go to."

Bucky chuckled. "You're craving pizza at a time like this?"

Natasha shrugged. "It's been a stressful day, I deserve it and you can't say no to your unborn daughter."

Bucky shook his head, a smile on his face despite the day's events. "I'll never understand your cravings," he said, standing up. "I'll go pick up the pizza, you stay with Katie."

Natasha nodded, her eyes already drifting back to her resting daughter.

Bucky walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.

He strolled down the street, the night cold and empty. The quiet moment allowed his thoughts to wander, his mind going back to the events of the day. His hands balled into fists as he remembered the sight of bruise on Katie's face.

Someone came up from behind Bucky and shot Bucky with a gun.

Bucky was caught off guard, the force of the shot making him stagger. He clutched his side, blood seeping through his clothes. He looked up and saw Damien.

Damien smirked, a gun in his hand. "That was easy." Damien laughed and left.

Bucky gritted his teeth, the pain searing through him, but it was nothing compared to the rage boiling inside of him. He would make Damien pay. But first, he had to get back to Katie and Natasha. 

He steadied himself, fighting the pain of his wound as he forced himself to start walking. Each step was an agony, but the thought of Katie and Natasha motivated him to keep going.

Natasha saw doctors running while she was in Katie's hospital room.

Concerned, she stood up from the chair, her eyes flickering to Katie. "Katie, sweetheart, I'm gonna check on something, okay?"

Katie gave a weak nod, her eyes fluttering shut again.

Natasha stepped into the hall, her heart pounding in her chest. She saw doctors rushing towards a room a few doors down.

"What's happening?" she asked one of the nurses who was passing by.

The nurse gave her a grim look. "Someone was just brought in with a gunshot wound," the nurse explained.

Dread pooled in Natasha's stomach. "Who was it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before the nurse could answer, the doctors emerged from the room, pushing a gurney. Natasha caught a glimpse of the metal arm of the person on the gurney, and her breath hitched in her throat.

It was Bucky.

She rushed over to the gurney, her heart hammering in her chest. The doctors tried to block her way, but she pushed through them.

"Bucky?!" she called out, her voice wavering.

Bucky's eyes fluttered open, his gaze falling on Natasha. "Nat…" his voice was weak, barely above a whisper.

The gurney was pushed away and Natasha was just standing there.

"Bucky…" Natasha's voice was thick with unshed tears. She moved to follow the doctors, but a nurse stopped her.

"You can't go in the emergency room. You have to wait here, ma'am. Be with your daughter."

Natasha's gaze flickered to Katie's room, then back at Bucky being taken away. She was torn between staying by her daughter's side and being with Bucky.

The nurse touched her arm gently. "I'll make sure the doctors take good care of him, I promise. We'll also have him transferred into Katie's room so it'll be easier."

Natasha closed her eyes, trying to steady herself. She had to stay strong for Katie.

Nodding to the nurse, she turned and slowly walked back to Katie's room. Her heart was heavy, but her mind was made up.

Katie was her priority right now.

When Natasha reentered the room, her eyes immediately fell on Katie. The sight of her hurt and bruised daughter brought a fresh wave of worry.

She took a seat next to Katie's bed, her hand reaching out to gently brush Katie's hair away from her face.

"It's okay, sweetie," Natasha whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Dad's going to be okay."

She tried to keep her voice steady, not wanting Katie to worry more than she already was.

Natasha sat there, her mind racing, as the minutes ticked by. She glanced at the clock on the wall, her heart pounding in her chest with every passing second.

After what felt like an eternity, Bucky was wheeled into the room. His skin was ashen, his eyes half-lidded. The doctors and nurses bustled around him, attaching IV lines and setting up monitors.

Natasha stood up, her eyes immediately on Bucky. His eyes flickered open and met hers. A weak smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Now you gotta take care of both of us," he managed to whisper, his voice hoarse.

Natasha huffed out a laugh, though it was more like a sob. "You should focus on getting better, you idiot."

She perched on the edge of his bed, gently taking his hand.

"You know we both can't resist a challenge." Bucky muttered, his grip on her hand weak.

The doctors finished setting up all the necessary equipment and left the room, leaving Natasha and Bucky alone with Katie.

Natasha sat beside Bucky, rubbing soothing circles on his hand. Her eyes kept flickering over to Katie's sleeping form on the other bed.

She couldn't shake off the feeling of worry as she looked at the two most important people in her life, both injured and in pain.

After a long moment of silence, Bucky spoke up, his voice slightly stronger.

"How's Katie?"

"She's doing okay," Natasha replied, still looking at Katie. "She's sleeping right now."

She took a deep breath, turning her gaze back to Bucky. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got shot." Bucky tried for a joking tone, but it came out more strained than he planned.

Natasha chuckled softly despite herself, shaking her head. "Idiot."

"Hey, it was an easy shot. I should've seen it coming."

Bucky winced slightly, shifting his position slightly. Even the slightest movement hurt like hell.

"Don't move too much," Natasha chastised him gently. "You need to rest."

She leaned over and adjusted his pillows, ensuring he was as comfortable as possible with his injury. "Was it Damien?"

Bucky nodded, his jaw tight with anger. "Yeah, it was him. He caught me off guard. I was going to get pizza for us, and he just shot me."

Natasha's grip on his hand tightened, her jaw clenching with anger. "I swear if I see that man again…"

She trailed off, her thoughts on the things she would like to do to Damien. But she reminded herself that she can't take him down because she was 13 weeks pregnant.

Bucky noticed the look in Natasha's eye and placed a hand on her knee.

"You're not going after him, Nat," he said firmly. "You're pregnant. You've got two other people to worry about."

Natasha let out a frustrated sigh, but she knew he was right. Her priority was their unborn child.

"I know, I know," she admitted, her voice a bit begrudging. "But I hate feeling useless."

Bucky shook his head, his eyes on hers. "You're not useless, Nat. You're carrying our child, that's the most important job right now."

He gave her knee a gentle squeeze, his touch a reminder of his support and love for her.

Natasha's expression softened slightly at his words, some of her frustration melting away.

She placed her hand over his, gently intertwining their fingers. "I just hate feeling helpless. I want to protect you and Katie, but right now I can't. I'm limited."

"I get it," Bucky murmured, understanding the weight of her emotions. It wasn't easy for anyone, but especially not for Natasha, who was used to being in control.

"But we'll get through this," he continued. "Together. You might not be able to fight physically, but you're not helpless. You're still a force to be reckoned with in many other ways."

Natasha smiled wryly, a hint of her usual spark returning. "Are you trying to flatter me, James? Because it's working."

Bucky chuckled, the action straining his injured side. "Of course not," he said, trying to sound casual. "I would never do something so desperate."

He gave her a sly smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Natasha rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her amusement. "You're such a terrible liar. But it works for you."

She leaned back in the chair, the tension in her shoulders slowly beginning to ease.

"You know you love me," Bucky teased, his eyes still on hers.

A comfortable silence settled in for a moment, only broken by the steady beeping of the heart monitor and the soft breathing from Katie's bed.

"Unfortunately, I do," Natasha joked back.

She sighed softly, the reality of the situation seeping back in. She looked over at Katie, her heart clenching at the sight of her injured daughter.

Bucky followed her gaze, his gaze landing on Katie as well. "She's a tough kid," he said softly.

"She inherited that from you."

Natasha nodded, a shadow of a smile crossing her face. "She's got some of your stubbornness, too. She got that when we adopted her."

They sat in silence again, both lost in their thoughts.

"I hate that we couldn't protect her," Bucky gritted out, his voice heavy with guilt. "We're supposed to keep her safe, and we failed."

"We can't predict the future, Bucky," Natasha reminded him gently. "What happened is not our fault."

She looked down at their intertwined hands, her thumb rubbing across his knuckles.

"I know, I know," Bucky said, his eyes still fixed on Katie. "But I can't help but feel like I should've been there sooner. Maybe if I moved faster…"

Natasha reached over and placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her.

"Stop it," she said firmly. "You're not going down that road, Bucky. We cannot change what happened. All we can do now is focus on making sure Katie gets better and that our baby is born healthy."

Bucky closed his eyes, letting her words sink in. She was right, of course. Dwelling on the past wouldn't change anything.

"Okay," he finally said, opening his eyes to meet hers. "You're right. We focus on the future. On Katie and our baby."

Three weeks later

Katie navigated her way into the kitchen, carefully maneuvering with her crutches. She was still a bit wobbly, but she was slowly regaining her strength.

Natasha was seated at the table, sipping a cup of coffee. She looked up as Katie entered and smiled.

"Morning, sweetie," Natasha greeted, setting her coffee mug down. "How are you feeling today?"

Katie leaned on her crutches, shifting her weight. "I'm okay. Still sore, but I'm getting stronger."

"That's good," Natasha said, watching as Katie made her way to a chair and carefully sat down. "Are you hungry? I can make you breakfast."

"A little," Katie admitted, trying to find a comfortable position that didn't put too much pressure on her healing leg. "Where's dad?"

"He's outside, working on his motorcycle," Natasha explained, getting up from her seat. "He insisted on doing it himself, despite being told to rest."

Katie chuckled softly, a ghost of her usual grin on her face. "Sounds like dad. He's probably been going crazy not being able to move around like he usually does."

"You can say that again," Natasha muttered, shaking her head. "He's been grouchy as hell."

She opened the fridge and started pulling out ingredients for pancakes. "How do pancakes sound?"

"Pancakes sound amazing," Katie said.

She watched as Natasha moved around the kitchen, grabbing bowls and spoons. It was reassuring to see everything almost back to normal. Almost.

They could hear the woodcutter and drill going off from the garage.

Natasha cast a glance towards the garage's direction, shaking her head.

"Sounds like he's really going at it," she said, a hint of wry amusement in her voice.

The whirring of the tools continued, punctuated by occasional grunts and curses.

Katie tried to peer through the window to see her dad, her face a mixture of curiosity and concern. Then she saw a crib being made.

"Mom, look what he's doing."

Natasha paused in her pancake preparations, glancing over where Katie was looking. Indeed, Bucky was working intently on putting a crib together.

She chuckled, "Looks like he's wasting no time getting ready for the baby."

Part 3

[cinder-starlight]

I realized I never really delved deep into Winter Wonderland (mainly because my other platforms aren’t made for this style) but also bc I don’t think I’ve had the chance

So ig tumblr will be the first to get to know everyone more personally :D

Summery: Clara’s Christmas takes a sour turn as she discovers she is to be married in the spring when she turns 18, running away with her nutcracker she discovers Winter Wonderland. She believes it to be a paradise with a tyrannical Rat King—but all her beliefs are shattered once she meets his son, The Mouse Prince. With him she has one week to stop an arising threat within the land, followed with her trying to balance her home life and solve her own problems along the way. Making unexpected alliances, fighting beasts, solving mysteries and discovering what might’ve happened to her missing Mother. in the hopes she can stay in this pleasant world a little longer.

Anyways Disclaimer: this is all concept art; nothing is finalized unless stated otherwise and this may contain spoilers for anyone who’s interested in the story and wants to go into it blind.

I mainly wanna start with the main Silberhaus cast, Clara, Uncle Drosselmeyer and Uncle Scrooge (yes I made a Christmas character from another story fit into my Nutcracker adaptation—I think it’s neat >:3)

I certainly think that in terms of being a family, Clara is definitely closest to Drosselmeyer, mostly because he’s just about as outlandish as someone for their era could get (this takes place roughly between 1880-1889)

Meanwhile Scrooge is the Scar of the family trying not to lose his marbles with the drama that happens left and right.

Drosselmeyer and Clara’s bond is nice to me because a take of mine is that Clara’s father isn’t necessarily on her side, I took the time into account and aspects of different iterations of the characters and especially the books to conjure all this up—I’d like to think where her father’s priorities lie in his image and son Fritz, Drosselmeyer is like “yo- my niece is kinda sick, she’s smart” and idk something about that warms my evil little heart

Sugar Plum and Nikolaus, real quick, Nikolaus is NOT santa, Nikolaus is just the appointed guardian of the Isle of Toys, for the Isle—a Guardian is selected, through time they end up looking more and more like the Ancient Being of the Present, dressing in red and aging to look like the Santa we may know and love.

Nikolaus was a toy soldier originally who had ties to the Muridens (rats/mice), but after some freak incident the two cut ties and never spoke to nor saw each other face to face again.

Sugar Plum on the other hand is a bit more complex and hard to describe without bringing up any major spoilers. She’s the king of gal who must keep a party going because if SOME SINGULAR SOUL dares be unhappy or a sourpuss in her domain then god KNOWS what they could do if they make others feel miserable. She’s the kind of lady who’s sweet exterior really doesn’t do her sour center justice

I don’t have a lot to say on Mother Ginger but she is certainly a personal favorite of mine, she is the definition of peacekeeper but also has that motherly attitude we all need when things get way too out of hand. Her kids (which are called Crumbs) are possibly my favorites above her—they don’t talk and you never know how many there are until you’re swarmed by them—despite her fabulous appearance she actually has a soft spot for being a bit creative, there’s nothing this mama ginger wont style up—the reason she has so many Crumbs is because she- lemme speak—likes to make them; by making their cores and essentially baking them into existence, it’s a whole process I’ll get into another time but she truly knows no bounds with her unlimited love.

Perhaps I’ll discuss the more unusual characters another day 👁️👁️

Such as the Rat King

Mouse Queen

Mouse Prince

And even a few dubious fellows