The Multiverse
Getting The Story Right

Summary: Steve and Bucky remember.
Warning(s): AU; family fluff.

###

"As you can see... even the most aloof and mature of us need our family." Erik shrugged faintly, not embarrassed to have had his story told.

Dane nodded, but his attention was divided. While the story was being told, Peter had continued to shift until Yondu was able to completely handle him, not phased in the least that others would watch, trusting Yondu to protect his modesty.

Yondu showed no shame or embarrassment at handling his son, always alert to Peter's needs and when his kid needed to act 'younger'.

Ikaris noticed that his son's attention was divided and leaned forward to catch Dane's eye. "Why don't you come and sit with me, son?" he invited; not suggesting that Dane be handled in the same way, but offering affection in much the way that other family members were providing their children.

Dane blinked, his gaze slipping off of Peter and Yondu. He glanced around, noting a lot more family had joined. Kara was now sitting on Fury's lap, cuddling and acting as young as Peter. Coulson was on a couch with several of his children, one of them... Bobbi, he thought her name was... pressed as close as possible without actually being on his lap. Biting his lip, he swallowed, then carefully moved next to Ikaris, leaning into him.

Ikaris wrapped his arm around Dane, gently pulling his son close and tight against his side.

Sprite's grin was a little bit sad as she watched him. "I always said you'd be a good dad."

Ikaris raised his eyebrows. "You told people I flew too close to the sun."

Sprite's grin turned unrepentent. "It was a good story. And it even had a moral to it."

Dane's eyes widened and he snorted in amusement. "My ancestors had a few really strange stories told about them... you weren't behind those, were you?" he asked Sprite with a smile.

The look on Sprite's face was innocent. "I wasn't responsible for all of the strange myths and legends out there...."

"No. Just most of them," Ikaris commented.

Steve cleared his throat and couldn't help but smile. "I guess that explains why you were so good at coming up with excuses when you spent time with me and Bucky."

Bucky laughed. "You remember what she told Ms. Harrington that day the three of us skipped to go swimming at the pond?"

Steve laughed outright at that...then, noticing the curious looks from various family members, he proceeded to explain.

***

Sprite had tried to fit in. Honestly, she truly did. Yes, it was hard to bite her tongue and not correct the teachers when they were teaching the wrong things. Yes, it was hard to act like a normal school kid when she could create illusions that looked real to everyone and could easily battle a Deviant with her knives...but she still desperately wanted to be normal.

But she still got bored. Everyone else around her changed. They all grew up, while she was stuck at fourteen forever. Soon, eventually, she'd have to move on again. Leave the friends behind she'd made, with only the memories to sustain her during the long centuries she lived for.

Today, she was feeling that eventual loss keenly. So much so that she didn't want to go into school. Didn't want to pretend to be a normal human child. So she was hanging around outside the building, waiting for Steve and Bucky. She was fairly sure she could convince Bucky to skip class with her...Steve might take a little bit more convincing.

Bucky saw her one second before Steve did and immediately knew she had something up her sleeve. "What are we doing?" he asked, with a hint of excitement, already 'in' before even knowing what the idea was.

Sprite's grin was innocent...to those who didn't know her well. Those who did knew exactly what that look on her face meant.

Steve was one of those who knew her well. "How much trouble are we going to be in?" he asked, a bit warily.

Sprite widened her eyes, a mock offended look coming over her face. "Have I ever got you into a situation I can't talk you out of?" she retorted. "It's a lovely day. Who wants to be stuck inside doing schoolwork when we could be swimming?"

Bucky grinned, gently slugging Steve on the arm. "Not me! C'mon, Stevie! It's a perfect day for the pond..." he said fervently, although quietly enough that no adults would hear.

Steve hesitated, but when Sprite came to the other side of him and grasped his arm, adding her own pleading look to Bucky's...yeah, he couldn't stand against two of them. Still, he did grumble, "If we get into trouble for this, I'm blaming both of you."

"I'll take full blame if it comes to it!" Bucky promised fervently.

"But we won't get into trouble," Sprite promised. Casting a glance over her shoulder, she created an illusion of the three of them walking into the school building...making sure both Steve and Bucky were turned away and didn't see anything.

"So... the pond?" Bucky began heading that way, taking Steve and Sprite by the arm to lead them there.

Sprite nodded eagerly and followed along with the two of them. She didn't really feel guilty for skipping out on class, or for persuading Steve and Bucky to go along with her. She was staying with Kingo for the time being, but he wasn't responsible enough to make her go to school, even if he had thought she should go...and really, he didn't see the point or the need. And he was already showing interest in acting and becoming famous.

Steve tended to be responsible the majority of the time, but his cough was actually doing better today. When it was bad, he had to avoid the pond. The times it wasn't, he didn't want to miss out. Even if there was the fleeting thought that their father wouldn't be happy about this, Steve uncharacteristically pushed down that faint stab of guilt in favour of doing something he often had to miss out on.

Bucky glanced at his best friend. "You doin' okay today?" he asked, just in case. Having fun was all well and good, but he'd never forgive himself if Stevie got hurt because he felt pressured into doing something he wasn't feeling good enough for.

Steve nodded quickly. "Cough's doing pretty good right now," he answered honestly.

"If it gets bad, we don't have to swim," Sprite said. "We could just go for a walk. Get some ice cream." She smiled at the thought of ice cream. She'd developed a real sweet tooth in the last century or so.

Bucky quickly agreed. "That'd be real good too!" He nodded.

Steve smiled. "If it gets bad, we can stop swimming and get ice cream," he suggested.

"And even if it doesn't, we can still get ice cream afterwards anyway," Sprite added.

"Right! So, let's get going!" Bucky grinned.

***

They'd ended up spending several hours at the pond, swimming and lazing around in the sun, talking to each other. Then, they'd gone for ice cream. They hadn't got caught by anyone until they were heading home; and ran into Ms. Harrington.

Sprite's illusion had held long enough for them to sneak away. She couldn't keep it up all day. Still, she hadn't been worried...and wasn't worried even when they ran into the teacher. Because one of the things she was really good at was making up stories. And she made one up on the spot. About a man who'd been trying to steal a lost cat and none of them wanted to let him get away with the animal, who was a highly expensive breed. So they tailed him along the street and ended up calling the police...who arrested the would-be thief and contacted the cat's owner, who was so grateful, she ended up buying them all ice cream.

By the time Sprite finished, Steve was wide-eyed and a little guiltily impressed. She almost had him convinced that's what they'd spent the day doing.

Bucky just nodded along solemnly, wide eyed and earnest. He might not be as quick at coming up with stories as Sprite, but he wasn't slow; and he was very good at convincing adults when he wanted. He could support Sprite's story without even saying a word, just with his facial expressions.

Steve wasn't nearly as good at lying as either of his friends, but Sprite and Bucky were convincing enough that all he needed to do was nod along...and the woman was convinced. With a stern admonishment to the three of them to leave it to the authorities to handle things next time, Ms. Harrington left them.

Sprite turned to the two of them. "I'd better get back, or Kingo will be wondering where I am. But today was fun! I'll see you both tomorrow?" she asked.

"Yep!" Bucky grinned and waved as she left, then took Steve's arm and tugged him toward home. They didn't run into anyone else until they walked into the apartment and Logan was standing there, arms folded, a stern look on his face. "Dad! You're home early!" Bucky blurted.

"Yeah. And I ran into Ms. Harrington on my way," Logan said. "Care to explain why you weren't in class?"

Steve winced and sighed, glancing apologetically at Bucky before admitting to their father, "We skipped. I know we shouldn't have, but my cough's been better and...I really wanted to go swimming."

"That so?" Logan just looked between the two boys sternly.

Bucky sighed softly but nodded. "Yessir. It was so nice out and Stevie doesn't often get to swim...."

"My cough was better," Steve said quietly. "I keep missing out on doing everything cause of it...I just wanted to feel normal for a change," he admitted, hanging his head.

"Yeah, kid. I know. But one of your boys' responsibilities is to go to school. Just taking off isn't being responsible. Next time you have an urge to swim, just let me know. I'll take both of you. Can even get the ice-cream after." Logan smiled gently. "And it won't require your friend to make up stories to keep you out of trouble with your teacher."

"Okay," Steve said quietly...agreeably...not wanting to get into further trouble with their dad.

"Are we in trouble?" Bucky asked hesitantly.

Logan slanted his head, observing the two for a moment. "Not happy you skipped out on your responsibility and lied to your teacher, but no one was hurt and you were careful. Figure I can let you by with a warning and a few extra chores. And you will need to make up any schoolwork you missed before you can do anything else."

Bucky sighed, but was obviously relieved. "Okay, dad..." He smiled crookedly.

"We will, Dad," Steve promised. "Maybe after, we can do something together?" he suggested; a little bit hesitantly, but wanting to spend time with their father when they weren't being scolded.

"As soon as you finish your homework and we have dinner, we can play cards until both of your parents get home from work. They told me tonight their shifts would end early and they didn't need to work over night." Logan smiled.

Steve smiled at that and looked at Bucky. "So the whole family can be together," he said, clearly excited.

Bucky nodded. "Yeah! Will you be staying after they get home?" he asked Logan.

"Maybe for a little bit. I know your families want to spend time with you, though, so only a little while," Logan replied.

Steve looked a little disappointed that Logan wouldn't be staying long, but he nodded anyway, happy for any time they could spend with their father.

Logan ruffled Steve's hair. "No disappointed face. Your ma doesn't get to spend much time with you and I don't want to push my way into what time she does have..." he said gently.

"But I like spending time with all my family," Steve said. "We don't get to do that nearly enough."

"We do as much as possible. And I didn't say I was leaving immediately when your ma and Bucky's ma and pa got home, but if I stay too late, busybodies will talk and that isn't fair to your mother." Logan's voice was gentle, but firm.

"Yeah, Stevie... They like to talk. I heard stuff already..." Bucky bit his lip worriedly. There were a lot of people questioning Logan's intentions toward Steve's mother, but there were also some saying she was being inappropriate. Stevie didn't tend to hear those things because people didn't want 'the poor fatherless boy' to feel bad.

Steve looked a little downcast, but he nodded slowly anyway. "Okay," he whispered. It wasn't like he needed to ask what people would say or think. He just wished it didn't have to be like that.

"And... I will come by tomorrow morning, since it is the weekend and maybe, if your Ma is up to it and your parents are agreeable, we can go to the zoo," Logan said. "My treat."

"That would be good," Steve agreed, beginning to smile, even though he was still clearly a bit disappointed.

"I think it's great! It will give us some time to be together and it will be in a place no one could say anything!" Bucky interjected. "Plus... the zoo!"

Logan nodded. "We can ask tonight when everyone gets home. Until then... let's find those cards."

Steve nodded, quickly heading to look in the last place he remembered the cards being.