"It's fine," Steve told her. "I'll watch over you both. Nothing will happen. Go ahead and rest."

"No you don't." Colbie looked at him steadily. "You're not the Asset anymore. You don't have to be fine."

Maya was about to protest again, but nodded instead.

"Alright," she murmured. She paused for a moment, and then looked at him. "Take her. I can't risk her getting hurt if she sleeps here with me."

"I do have to be fine," Bucky retorted. "I can't have Steve worrying about me, okay? So I have to be fine."

Steve blinked but he took the little one, very carefully, and settled down in his chair again.

Colbie sighed. "What Steve doesn't know won't kill him, in this case," she murmured. "What do you need to do?" She watched him, meeting his gaze easily.

Maya almost hesitated in handing the baby over, but she did eventually allow Steve to take her. She watched carefully, making sure he was holding the little one securely, and then settled back onto the bed with a groan. She really was aching and exhausted.

"I don't know!" Bucky snapped, putting his coffee down before he broke the mug. "Look, we all know I'm messed up, okay?"

Steve just settled in there with the little one to watch over them both while they slept.

"That's not the point," Colbie said, looking at him. "The point is finding out what you need to do to make yourself feel better. Not me, not Steve, yourself."

"I don't know what I need," Bucky retorted. "Hell, for all I know I don't deserve to feel better, after everything I've done."

Colbie sighed. She was all too familiar with that reasoning.

"Well, then, why don't we try something."

"Try what?" Bucky asked. He deliberately held his metal arm still at his side.

Colbie was quiet for a moment as she looked at him before she got up and pulled him after her.

"According to Maya, there are some very good movies for forgetting the real world," she said in explanation. "I have yet to test that theory myself."

That made Bucky pause before cautiously nodding.

"There are," he said. "I've seen many of them."

"Good. Sit." Colbie set up the TV and picked a movie that looked possibly cute before she settled in next to him.

Bucky settled in as well, leaving space for Colbie to get comfortable any way she felt like. He could sit through a movie. He'd done so before. Maybe he'd even feel a bit calmer by the end of it.

Colbie didn't just sit next to him, though. She curled up next to him, actually resting against his side.

That made Bucky pause for a moment, and then he cautiously put his arm around her. He gave her plenty of time to protest, though.

Colbie didn't object, instead settling in there. Hey, Maya said it worked for her, so Colbie was willing to try.

She was surprised to find how much she enjoyed the contact, though.

Bucky was surprised at how much he enjoyed it, as well. It felt good to have her curled up, tucked against him. He held her gently, cuddling just a little and waiting for her reaction.

Colbie actually relaxed further into him, making a quiet, not quite conscious but pleased sound. She approved, clearly.

Bucky relaxed a little more, shifting a little more so they were both comfortable. He was even relaxed enough to doze a little with her there next to him.

Colbie didn't doze off, but she was glad that Bucky did. He needed it, after all. And she found she didn't really want to move.

It took a little over a week for Maya to heal up, even considering her improved healing speed. She spent that time coddling and fawning over her newborn, keeping the baby with her almost every waking hour. Once she was healed enough, she moved the little one into the nursery and took up the adjacent room for herself.

Bucky spent most of that time with Colbie. He was slowly warming to the idea that there was a baby in the tower that shared his genes, but he still hadn't really taken the time to go and see the newborn at all.

Steve, meanwhile, had pretty much taken on the role of father, helping Maya with whatever she needed to do, and making sure that there was always someone around.

Colbie helped out Maya some, but Maya and the baby didn't need much help with Steve around. So she spent more time with Bucky, trying to figure out what to do when she wasn't needed.

Maya appreciated having Steve around, especially once she decided it was time to introduce the little one to some of the others in the tower. She dressed the newborn in the little gray onesie with the pink bow and padded quietly out into the common area of the tower, cuddling the little one close.

Bucky stayed with Colbie, just being there for her. He knew how it felt to suddenly feel helpless and useless. He started taking her down to the gym to blow off some steam, just beating up some punching bags.

Tony was the first one to meet the little girl. He hadn't really been prepared to have a kid, not way back when Maya was born, but now he kind of appreciated having a kid around.

"That her?" he asked, looking at the little bundle Maya was holding. But he stayed sprawled out in a chair.

Colbie was not in the common room when Maya ventured forth. She was down in the gym beating the shit out of things because Maya didn't need her there.

Maya smiled a bit and nodded. She walked over to him, perching on the arm of the chair so he could see the baby.

"Her name is Hope," she said softly.

Bucky was down with Colbie, just watching her take out her frustration on the punching bags. He knew how that felt.

"Hope. Cute." Tony was grinning, though, and he didn't reach to take her from Maya, but he did touch her cheek carefully. "She's tiny."

Steve grinned, just keeping watch for now.

"Colbie, Sergeant," Jarvis said, breaking the silence. "Sir has declared a mandatory group dinner tonight, to celebrate, so you are aware."

"Great. Thanks." Colbie stopped and grabbed a towel, still frustrated. But punching bags weren't helping.