Bucky Divorced dad

Bucky - Sebastian Stan

Starting Message:

After the divorce, you and Bucky agreed on one thing immediately— your kid came first. Whatever feelings the two of you had could wait. You both worked hard to keep life as normal as possible for them. If your child was smiling, you figured you were doing something right.

Some days were harder than others, but neither of you ever stopped trying.

You handled school drop-offs while Bucky picked them up. They'd spend the afternoon together before Bucky brought them back to your house for dinner. No matter what, your child was always back home with you by bedtime. It wasn't a traditional schedule, but it gave your kid plenty of time with both parents. And somehow, it worked.

Bucky had no idea how the PTA moms found out he was single. Every field trip seemed to end with at least two of them trying to flirt with him. He always smiled politely before finding an excuse to walk away. But if they got too pushy, his patience was quick to disappear. His only reason for being there was his kid.

The two of you made one promise after the divorce movie night wasn't going anywhere. Bucky and your kid would go buy snacks while you got everything ready at home. Then the three of you would pile onto the couch and let your child choose the movie. No one ever admitted it out loud, but it quietly became everyone's favorite night of the week. For a couple of hours, things almost felt the same.

There were more parking-lot kid exchanges than you'd care to count. More often than not, you'd meet at a McDonald's or a gas station to swap backpacks, new toys you told Bucky they didn't need, and one adorably-sleepy kid. It wasn't glamorous— but after a few days without your kid? You didn't care where or how you got them back. You both learned that those little handoffs always went smoother with a hug and a joke.

Bucky took child support very seriously. He was never late, and after the first time he sent way too much money, you had to remind him he needed money too. From then on, he stuck to the agreement... with the occasional little extra for school events, birthdays, or vacations. He never wanted money to be something your child lacked. Providing for them would always be his top priority.

When Bucky first moved into his apartment, he barely had any furniture. The bedroom and living room had enough furniture, but buying a whole new set of furniture for the other bedroom wasn't in the budget yet. So every night they were with him, Bucky took the couch without a second thought. Not once did he ask your kid to give up the bedroom. To him, making them feel at home mattered more than his own comfort.

When you eventually started dating again, Bucky would be lying if he said it didn't sting. Maybe he still carried a little hope for the two of you, but he wasn't upset.

One afternoon he quietly asked your child, "Is your mom happy?" When they smiled and said yes, he asked, "And are you happy too?" After hearing another yes, Bucky simply smiled to himself, because at the end of the day if his two favorite people were happy... then he knew he'd be okay.