[oom] tell the ones that need to know

[nerves_of_ice]

The mesh mask - a 'photostatic veil,' he gathers it's called, officially, but whatever - works. Over the last few days after the first trial, Sharon's become more comfortable with small trips, which means it's time for him to suggest the idea he's been mulling over for some time now.

It's not something he wants to spring on her, though, which is why he takes the time this morning to make sure that breakfast is a little nicer than usual. Pancakes, at least, he can make.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes, ma'am," he tells Amanda, "I am. Peggy was a wonderful woman and a good friend, and I'm glad to have known her."

Harrison's question is a lot more complicated, and he's silently grateful when Sharon's mother pushes it to the side.

"She's in a safe location a couple of hours from here," he says. "We'll have to be careful. I don't think you're being watched - I've checked - but we'll need to keep a low profile so no one gets suspicious."

[marvel_npc]

Amanda nods and stands to clear her coffee mug and Harrison's as her husband watches, bemused.

"But – " he starts, and she shakes her head at him.

"We are going, Harrison Carter," she says, sharp. "If there's even the smallest chance what he's saying is true, we have to go."

"I – yes, of course," he says, and stands, looking uncertain of what to do with himself. He looks at James, still more than a little numb with shock. "We can take my car," he says. "It has tinted windows."

[nerves_of_ice]

He stands when they do, picking up his own mug, and nods to Harrison.

"That's a good idea."

It is, for someone who's not had to live a life of subterfuge.

[marvel_npc]

Amanda bustles back in, relieving him of the coffee he hasn't had a chance to drink.

"Does she need anything?" she asks. "Food? Medicine? Clothing?"

She's absolutely giddy; it's impossible to stop moving. "I can pack a bag – "

[nerves_of_ice]

He surrenders it without even the slightest protest. "She's okay, I promise," he reassures her. "She's been staying somewhere comfortable."

More or less, anyway, and much more so now. "Pack whatever you'd throw together for an overnight at your house in the mountains."

He smiles, just a little, glad that he'd activated the signal jammer on his arm as he came through the door, just in case. It means he can safely tell them, "She's waiting for you there."

[marvel_npc]

"At the house? Oh, Harrison – "

She exchanges a look with her husband, thrilled to finally see a spark of excitement in his eyes.

She'd loved that house. They hadn't been there much, since... since. "Good," he tells Bucky. "It won't be strange at all for us to go there. I'll get the car ready."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Need any help?" Harrison's still moving like he's been shell-shocked, and Bucky's a little worried about him.

[marvel_npc]

Amanda bustles away to pack, leaving him in the living room with James Buchanan Barnes. "Oh... no," he says, a little blankly. "I'm fine, son. Just fine."

Except the absurdity of calling someone the same age as his parents son hits him all at once, and he shakes his head. "Just a hell of a shock."

He looks at a photo of Sharon on the wall; one of his favorites. Her senior photo, showing her posed and leaning against a tree, all golden hair and her sweet smile. "It's been so long," he murmurs. "So long."

[nerves_of_ice]

He follows Harrison's gaze to the picture he's looking at - a younger Sharon, maybe high school or college, he's not sure, standing by a tree and smiling bright. Her hair's much, much longer in this picture; he shakes his head, and turns back to her father.

"She's missed you," he says, quietly. "She'll be so happy to see you."

[marvel_npc]

He casts a sidelong look at James – Bucky – and reaches out to pat the other man's shoulder as Amanda's steps come hurrying back down the stairs. She's still shoving clothes into a weekender as she comes into the room, slightly breathless.

"I'm ready," she says, thrumming with excitement. "What are you two hanging around here for? Let's go!"

[nerves_of_ice]

He follows them through the house to the garage, where he climbs into the back seat of the car. Bucky makes sure to slide down a bit and ducks his head behind the tinted windows as Harrison backs out, hoping to avoid notice by any nosy neighbors.

That quickly, they're on their way.

[from_the_outside]

It's hours between when Bucky leaves and when he'll logically be able to be back again, and Sharon spends it all prowling the house, looking through old photos, and trying not to worry about what will happen when he shows up with her parents.

If he shows up with her parents.

She can't relax inside, and she can't relax outside, either; goes in and out like a cat that can't make up her mind. She's upstairs when she finally hears tires crunching on the stone driveway, has to take a moment to breathe when she hears car doors opening and slamming shut again.

Sharon comes down the stairs and opens the door out to the front porch, watching as they get out of the car: Bucky, and –

"Mom," she says, and her voice cracks, making her sound suddenly fifteen years younger. "Daddy?"

[marvel_npc]

They stare at each other across the driveway, and then Sharon says "Mom?" in that quavery, questioning tone, and – "Daddy?"

And Amanda Carter drops the weekender on the gravel of the driveway, running to the porch to take her daughter in her arms. "Sharon," she says, over and over, hugging her hard, pulling away to look at her face, hugging her again. It's only a second before Harrison's there, too, his arms around them both, and they're all laughing and crying at the same time.

"My sweet girl," Amanda murmurs, kissing her daughter's hair, her face, hugging her tight. "Oh, Sharon."

[nerves_of_ice]

He picks up the overnight bag Amanda'd let fall, slinging the strap over his shoulder and settling it against his back. Bucky stays where he is, hanging back by the car, giving them time and space.

It's safe enough. They'd checked the area when they arrived, before he left, looking for any signs of surveillance or remote monitoring. There's always the chance of a satellite lookdown, but the jammer should cover that as well. He doesn't need to hurry them inside.

[from_the_outside]

Finally, Sharon pulls back, wiping her hand across her eyes and laughing. "I missed you, too," she tells them. "So much. And there's a lot to tell you. Let's go in."

When she looks over at Bucky, her gaze is bright and purely, simply happy in a way it hasn't been since that first morning they woke up together in Brooklyn. "You did good, Barnes," she tells him, fondly.

"You did great."

[nerves_of_ice]

His answering smile is warm. "I'm just glad it all worked out." Bucky looks at Amanda.

"I'll take your bag up for you," he says. "Give you all a few minutes to settle in."

[from_the_outside]

"Thank you, baby," Sharon says, unthinking, and doesn't notice the sharp glance Amanda gives first her and then Bucky. "I'll make a fresh pot of coffee, okay?"

"Coffee sounds wonderful," Amanda tells her, and puts an arm around her daughter's waist as they head into the house. "I get the feeling we all might need a lot of it."

"There's still Scotch in the cabinet," Harrison says, following them in. "We might need some of that, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

Harrison's probably right, he thinks, because based on Amanda's laser-sharp glance there's not only no way she missed the endearment, but she's also putting a few things together.

"Sounds good," he says, and makes his way to the other wing, where the Carters' bedroom is. He'd gotten the full tour when they were checking the place over for surveillance tech, and a hell of a tour it'd been. Another house, Sharon had said before. He hadn't realized that the vacation home would be a mansion on a mountain estate.

Bucky takes his time getting there and back, trying to give them at least a few minutes for their reunion without someone else present, but finally makes his way back to the kitchen.

[from_the_outside]

"Some of what happened I still can't tell you," Sharon says, heading back into the kitchen and filling the coffee pot with water. "But I'll do the best I can with everything else."

"Where have you been?" Amanda wants to know. She takes a seat at the kitchen island, her eyes following Sharon's every move as if worried her daughter will disappear again if she so much as blinks. "Since Berlin."

"I was in Wakanda for some of it," Sharon tells her, measuring out grounds.

"Wakanda?" her father says, surprised. "What were you doing there?"

"I had a contact there," Sharon fudges, slightly. "From my old SHIELD days. They were allied with Cap at the time and they gave me sanctuary. After that..."

She shakes her head as she sets the coffee to brew, leans against the counter to look at her parents. "I can't tell you the details. I'm sorry. But Bucky and Sam found me a few weeks ago."

[marvel_npc]

"Sam Wilson?" Amanda says, astonished. "I didn't realize you were friends."

"We're not, really," Sharon admits. "Or... we are, but I hadn't seen him in a long time. He got snapped. Bucky, too. Everyone who had any idea of where I was did."

Amanda narrows her eyes. "And how well, exactly, do you know Sergeant Barnes?" she asks, and watches closely as her daughter's glance turns a little shifty.

"He was in Wakanda too," Sharon says. "He helped me get home."

"And he's been checking up on us," Amanda realizes, as footsteps sound in the hall. "For you. Hasn't he?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Yes, ma'am," he says, easily, as he walks into the kitchen. "I wanted to make sure everything was okay, see if you needed any help. I know you both went through a rough time."

Bucky finds a clear spot against the counter on the other side of the island and leans comfortably against it, then looks at Harrison.

"I'm sorry if it seemed like I was lying. I just didn't want to worry you."

[marvel_npc]

Harrison shakes his head. "It's fine, James," he says, then amends. "Sergeant. I'm just glad you were able to help us find Sharon again."

"And that you were able to find her at all," Amanda adds. She's watching Bucky with undisguised interest; for his part, Harrison goes to his daughter and hugs her again, pressing a kiss into her hair.

"We missed you so much, kitten," he tells her. "I can't tell you how happy I am to see you."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Bucky," he tells Harrison, firmly, then looks over at Amanda again as Sharon's father goes to hug his daughter.

"I am, too."

[from_the_outside]

"I missed you too," she tells her father, hugging him back, breathing in his scent. "I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to see you again. Either of you."

The coffee pot beeps and she detaches from her father, rubbing the heel of her hand over her eyes as she goes to the cabinet and takes down four mugs: black coffee for Bucky, just cream for her parents. She makes her own mug last, and brings it to the kitchen island to take a seat. "I know you both probably have a million questions," she says, after a sip.

"I'll answer what I can."

[marvel_npc]

Amanda and Harrison exchange a glance, and she shakes her head. "We learned a long time ago not to ask too many questions about where you were and what you were doing," she tells her daughter.

"But you're safe now? You haven't been staying here, have you?"

She could – of course she could, and welcome – but Amanda watches as her daughter glances at Bucky. "No," Sharon hedges, "I haven't been staying here."