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Act II: Echoes

“Annie"

Neither Steve nor Bucky agree to surrender their relationship with you, and the anxiety begins to affect your health and risk complications with your second pregnancy. While on bedrest, you catch Bucky up on lost time, and it makes you begin to realize that perhaps a choice can't be made at all...

CONTENT WARNINGS: pregnancy complications, fighting

WORD COUNT: 5.8k

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STORY MASTERLIST

Alice still saw Bucky as a stranger; Steve thought it would be better if he stayed in the house himself in case she woke up and needed something, so that she could have a familiar face nearby. This meant Bucky was taking you to the emergency room as your sudden pain continued, steady and unyielding. Your skin was hot, trembling with fear for what was going on.

“Please call me as soon as you hear something,” he implored both you and Bucky as an Uber ride pulled up in front of the house. “Buck…take care of my baby and I’ll take care of yours, okay?”

He nodded, his worry for your health overruling any anger he felt toward his friend. In some odd way, it was as if the five years hadn’t come between you, and looking at his face was almost enough to transport you back to Wakanda, the day of your nuptials. He hadn’t gained so much as a wrinkle on his face.

Meanwhile, your body had certainly changed. You never lost all of the baby-weight from before, and this new little arrival wasn’t helping things. You were surprised Bucky was even willing to try and take you back, considering how different and world-weary you looked compared to back when you were his blushing young bride. Nightingale was hardly the Avenger she used to be.

The hospital in Woodstock was bigger than the rural facility in New England you gave birth in before, but not by much. The ER consisted of a waiting area the size of your den, a triage of only one person on duty, and a larger room with beds separated by curtains. The triage receptionist took you and Bucky right back so you could lie down while waiting to be examined.

Bucky wouldn’t let go of your hand, even as you kept the other over the bump that was there in the first place because of someone else. “How are you feeling?”

You moaned, lying back against the pillow with a grunt. “Something feels wrong this time.”

“What was it like before?” he asked. “With Alice in there?”

Taking a moment to recollect, the distraction helped alleviate the pain ever so slightly. “Better than this,” you admitted. “The whole ‘mourning you’ thing didn’t help matters, but there was something that felt good about having your baby. It was just something that I had to see through, even through the cravings, late nights, and mood swings.”

“What about the labor part?” he asked. “Did you want me there?”

“Oh hon, of COURSE I did! Unnghhhh,” you groaned slowly, another pain striking you in the lower back. “Fuck, what’s happening?”

“I can help,” said the doctor, coming in at the perfect time to answer you.

You underwent a vital screening, an ultrasound that was so clear you could almost make out your second born’s hair color, and a brief pelvic exam (that you made Bucky close the curtain for…even he didn’t need to see that). While the doctor assured you that the baby was as alive and active as ever, he expressed concern for your health. “The placenta is just starting to detach a little,” he observed from the 3D ultrasound. “Just a little, it’s good you caught it early.”

You breathed out a sigh of relief, and Bucky’s shoulders dropped.

The doctor went on, “However, I’m unfortunately going to have to prescribe—”

“—oh, don’t say it—” You quickly rolled your eyes.

“—bed rest,” the doctor finished. “To prevent anything further from detaching or complicating the end of the pregnancy. Your blood pressure is elevated as well, but that doesn’t appear to be from preeclampsia.”

“I’m under a small bit of stress right now,” you muttered bitterly, looking resentfully at your husband. “And you’re telling me to sleep it off?!”

The doctor looked at you with pity. “If things get worse, it could lead to some serious complications for both of you. Please keep that in mind. There are ways you can keep your muscles active in bed, and while I wouldn’t try too many stairs at once, as long as you’re careful, you might be able to get away with walking around slowly for a few minutes ever so often.”

It wasn’t much to assure you, but what choice did you have?

“This is going to complicate things a bit,” you groaned. “My job is part-time, but it still helps with the bills. I was planning on going there for another month.”

“What does Steve do?” asked Bucky.

“He never told you?” you asked. Bucky shook his head. “He runs a support group for veterans down at the VA, sometimes helps get donations by making local appearances once in a while.”

“Ah.”

Much of the rest of the appointment went by in awkward silence, aside from the good doctor giving instructions for bed rest. You’d need to resign from work, nest up in the big bedroom as soon as possible, and spend the next eight weeks like a clam in its shell. Waiting. Waiting. Sitting. Waiting.

The hardest part, though, was going to be handling the boys from bed. Your headache returned from the thought of keeping your two suitors from jumping down each others’ throats while incapacitated yourself.

How the hell were you going to be able to do that?

You wanted there to be another way, but once Bucky told Steve about the doctor’s prescription, he immediately got to work making a nest out of your shared bed, putting extra sitting pillows and comforters that would’ve made the ones at The Plaza look and feel like dishrags. Steve moved light lightning, shifting bookcases into the room that weren’t there before so you have plenty of reading material at hand and plugging in a large flatscreen against the opposite wall. That had impressed you particularly: Steve didn’t see the point of having television in the bedroom when you could snuggle on the sofa to watch Bob Newhart reruns or a film on cable.

Bucky helped, and it gave you some comfort to see the pair of them working together without sniping at one another. He had Alice show him which of her toys she wanted moved into her new temporary bedroom. It was a good way of starting to get to know his daughter.

Once you were resting comfortably (as you could be, at least), and Alice had made a little bed for herself underneath the window on a fainting couch that you usually used as a place to toss laundry, the four of you sat on the bed in a circle and spent some time together as a quartet. It felt like Steve and Bucky’s way of assuring you that they didn’t want to get fiery around you and force more complications onto your already miserable body.

Alice sat in between Steve and Bucky, showing off one of her favorite books to the latter and how well she could read on her own for being not yet five.

“She’s smart as all heck, I’ll give you that,” Bucky remarked, putting an arm around his daughter. Alice smiled up at him. “But are there any effects from my…from the…?”

You shook your head with a reassuring smile. “We’ve had Bruce and Tony and our doctor look into it. Her intelligence is unusually high for age, and they think that might be due to the serum you had.”

Steve shrugged. “She’s never shown any signs of aggression or reaction to any of…err…the words. It’s possible Y/N’s healing powers protected her from adverse effects in the womb. She did sing a lot. Gives me hope for this one--” he went to caress your bump, but drew his hand back, looking at Bucky with caution.

He twisted his lips. “I know. You don’t have to. I’d be doing the same thing, man.”

You felt a genuine sense of relief at his concession. Steve ran a firm, slow hand over the mound keeping you bedridden for the summer. “I was thinking of names, by the way. Are there any new ones on your mind?”

You sighed, biting your lip and laying back against the headboard. “Not really. I can’t exactly name her after the Mad Hatter.”

Bucky chuckled. “Is that where you got Ally’s?” You smiled to affirm his suspicion. “Not that it’s not the perfect name!”

“What were you thinking, Steve?”

He looked off into the middle-distance for a second, recalling what he’d written down on the post-it on his desk several days ago, before he left for Stark’s mission to bring everyone back (was it only earlier in the week that happened?). “Well, I think my favorites are Diane, Lucy, Annie, and Mary.”

You rolled your eyes. “Were Esther, Ethel, and Betsy too ‘hip’ for you?”

“I thought about Betsy, actually.” Steve’s cheeks went red.

Bucky laughed out loud, almost startling Ally.

“I like Annie,” she said proudly, making her look even more adorable. “I watched that movie at Seb’s house.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “At least I have one vote.”

At 9:30, you had Alice settle down in her makeshift bed. She was up too late anyway, but you weren’t going to fault her for being a bit too energetic under the circumstances. You also turned off your light to get some sleep. You bade goodnight to Steve and Bucky, but refrained from embracing or kissing either, even though you wanted to do both…to both of them.

Once Steve shut the door, granting you peace, he gave Bucky a significant look. “Thank you,” he said, “For keeping it together for them.”

Bucky looked sad. “I got scared back there. Was afraid something was going to happen to her…both of them. I’m not going to yell at you anymore, Steve. I am still very angry…but yelling and fighting is only going to hurt all of us.”

“You want some coffee?”

Bucky scrunched his face. Steve threw up a defensive hand. “I make it every day now, I’m good at it, I mean it! And I only make it for myself these days ‘cause pregnant women shouldn’t have too much caffeine.”

Indeed, Bucky showed pleasant surprise when the liquid Steve put in front of him turned out to be rich, dark, and satisfying. “Five years and all you learn is how to fuck a woman and brew a good coffee.”

Steve, amazingly, didn’t flinch or fire back. Instead, he found himself chuckling in spite of the insult. “Easy there, Buck, we have two months to wrestle this out. Maybe it’ll help all of us if we pretend everything is going to be alright, even when the girls aren’t around. Sometimes pretending something is true makes it true later on. It’s a psychological effect.”

Bucky looked skeptical. “When did you become a therapist?”

“I’m not,” he answered, taking a long sip of coffee, “but my job at the VA teaches me a lot about psychology. In fact…” he cut himself off, putting the mug aside so he could focus on his best friend.

“...what?”

“I was thinking, Buck, maybe you’d like to go with me.”

He immediately shook his head. “I’m angry. I’m not crazy.”

Sighing deeply, Steve leaned over the island and spoke in a lower voice. “It’s really not like that anymore, Buck. It’s for anyone who’s just a little lost. Don’t you think we’re all feeling that way?”

“Don’t ‘shrink’ me,” Bucky warned, looking away awkwardly. “Wakanda beat you to it.”

“I care about you, and I know she does too. Please come to work with me tomorrow. It’s also possible we could find work for you too. Without Y/N’s paycheck, money might get a little tight. The two super soldiers looked at each other in silence, two alphas both fighting one another and making up for lost time.

Bucky’s eyes fell on a large doodle hanging from the refrigerator. Steve looked over his shoulder, following the gaze and realizing what he was interested in. He took it down and handed it to Bucky. “Alice drew that in her group a few weeks ago. There’s one for children whose parents were snapped away before or soon after they were born, so they’re all close to her age. She loves going every week.”

The doodle consisted of scribbles that vaguely resembled a family under a roof. There were four figures, three in color and one in black, off to the side, crying in big, exaggerated blue tears. He had a halo over his head as if he were part angel. The work itself was the standard quality any preschooler would produce, but the message was clear.

“She thought about me? While I was gone? How did she even know about me?”

“We told you!” Steve raised his voice a moment before reeling himself back. “We’ve spent every second of the last five years living for your sake! You saw your picture on the wall! We told her everything we felt she needed to know about you. And it was a lot. Not about your past and Hydra, but how you met, and how Y/N’s song won your heart, and how if you were here now you’d love her more than anything.”

Bucky looked down at the drawing, touched that he was included in the picture at all. “I do love her. I just couldn’t tell her.”

Steve went on: “Now you can, and I think checking out a therapy group with me tomorrow is a good way of showing it.”

“You really think so?” Bucky perked up.

As much as he hated to admit it, Steve had to: “I know a lot about Y/N by now…she’s not ready to give you up. I…I’m not sure how much of a chance I have.”

The brown-haired super soldier didn’t know whether to comfort Steve, or agree that he had no chance with you now that your husband was back on the scene.

“I’ll go, then. For them.”

At least doing that much would win some brownie points with you.

“And how was it?” you asked, happily shoveling another forkful of beef lo mein in your mouth.

One benefit to having Bucky feel the need to win you back was that he acquiesced to your will in a way Steve normally wouldn’t. While pregnant this time around, your cravings had been worse than before, and they were almost exclusively for junk foods. The Good Captain always tried to fill the refrigerator with snacking vegetables and milk, but sometimes you just wanted buffalo wings, soda, and crappy, sodium-laced takeout. Steve was still at the VA after his group got out to help management with some things, leaving the little family unit of you, Bucky, and Alice to fend for yourselves.

“It’s a little strange, but I come from another time,” he admitted. “Sweetpea, there’s a little bit on your face,” he added, indicating his lip and holding out a paper napkin. Alice smiled mischievously and licked it away. Cheeky girl, he thought. She gets it from me.

You chased the lo mein with a long drag of grape soda. More delicious sugar and sodium! You missed being so careless. Sometimes Steve took life too seriously.

“It’s not like guys didn’t feel things in the 40s…what did you do back then? Did you really just…keep it in?”

He shrugged and looked at you pensively. “Mostly. I think that’s why a lot of us wanted to get married young, though.”

“Why would being married be therapeutic?”

Bucky’s eyes widened, and he looked sad. “The only time any man ever felt like letting it out was around his girl. She could take care of him and listen to him. Women…they’re stronger. They know what to do to fix themselves, while guys just fall apart.”

“Babe, I never knew you to be the one to generalize that way,” you said. “ We all know how to take care of ourselves if we know what kind of help to look for. Gender has nothing to do with mental health. We are all allowed to ask for help. It’s different now.”

“I know it is,” He went on, looking at Alice again, who was slurping a noodle and giggling at every sound she made, “and thank God it is.”

You looked at one another in silence, smiling tenderly and admiring the physical features that had attracted you to one another in the first place. Bucky’s square jaw, the way his hair was longer than most guys, his smile that could mean fifty different things at once. It was all here, in the material plane for you again.

“Y’know,” he added, “When you just called me babe…it made it feel like nothing ever happened, that we’re still in Wakanda.”

“Mommy…”

Alice was holding out the small box of lo mein she was eating, which was empty except for a small handful of bean sprouts that she’d eaten around. You sighed sadly. “Al, honey, please try to eat a few veggies!”

“I ate a broccoli!” she protested.

Bucky leaned over and looked in the takeout box with a chuckle. “You don't like sprouts, do you, kid?” Alice shook her head, her face set into a stern frown. Bucky winked. “Neither do I.”

“They’re too crunchy!” she said, sticking out her tongue, an act which Bucky playfully mirrored. Ally giggled.

“Babe, not as much of you went away as you think,” you commented. “I saw you every day when she smiled.”

Bucky blushed. “Well, she has your eyes.”

Alice yawned, insistently pressing the nearly-empty takeout box into your hands. “Can I go watch TV?”

“What’s on?” you asked protectively. It was 8:30. Usually, Alice was having her bath or reading in bed by now.

“Muppets.”

You sighed, taking the box and putting it on the bedside table. “I’m turning the lights off and closing the door in half an hour. If you aren’t back by nine, I’m locking it and you’re sleeping on the floor.”

Ally giggled. She knew you were only kidding, but she got the point anyway. Hopping down, she shuffled out without excusing herself.

“She’s a good kid,” you heard Bucky say as you watched her gently shut the door. He began moving closer to you on the mattress, un-crossing his legs and straightening out next to you on the headboard. He wasn’t wearing his metal arm, naturally, so he could get himself physically closer to you. “You and Steve did a good job with her so far.”

“You’ll do a good job,” you said sweetly, leaning over to finally kiss his warm, plump lips. You could still taste the orange sauce on his breath a little bit. “There’s still thirteen years to go until she’s of age.”

Once you drew away from him, you reached over to take his hand, moving it under the covers and pressing it against your stomach. You laid your head on his shoulder. You could hear the lightest sigh escape from his mouth.

“Aren’t you supposed to feel it move?” he asked nervously.

“She’s usually a bit peppier later at night. It’s still early. I promise you when she does wake up, you’ll feel it from the next room.”

“Was it difficult before?” Bucky asked, slowly tracing circles around your navel with two of his fingers. “Being pregnant?”

“Yes and no,” you explained, “Physically, it was a breeze compared to this. I exercised and ate well and slept semi-regularly. But without you beside me to experience it, it was just this side of hell.”

Bucky nuzzled your cheek with his affectionately, a move he knew you loved. The gentle touch of his hot skin against your face made you quiver everywhere. There weren’t many other spots on your body that could turn you on as quickly. Even Steve didn’t know about your affinity for tactile foreplay. There was something so raw and intimate when you and Bucky were cheek-to-cheek that drove you crazy.

“But…one thing that hasn’t changed…” you added. Bucky’s breaths were growing heavier and closer together.

“Yeah? Doll?”

“My hormones are haywire,” you said quietly, almost pleadingly. “And Steve would never indulge me. There were times I needed to be filled so bad, Buck!” you moaned sadly. “You have no idea…”

“I think I do,” he responded, slowly dragging his nose up the side of your neck until it found the space behind your ear. He nipped your earlobe, taking it between his teeth and giving the little piece of flesh a nibble that sent a shudder down your back.

“You remembered that spot!” you moaned. “Oh babe…”

“How could I not? It’s only been a few days for me,” he whispered into your ear, reluctantly letting go of your earlobe. “In my mind, we should still be on our honeymoon right now. Nightingale, we’re still newlyweds!”

That hadn’t occurred to you. Not only was Bucky confronted with the idea of his best friend taking his family out from under his nose, but from his perspective, Steve was moving in after just a few days of marriage. No wonder Bucky was having a hard time looking Steve in the eye, and vice versa.

Bucky went back to gently sucking on the tender skin below your neck, running his hands in big circles under the blankets over your bump. You couldn;t help but close your eyes, your mind taking you back to that first night in Wakanda after Princess Shuri had decreed he was ready to be awoken.

After tireless research and experimentation, Shuri had begun using the sound waves from your song magic to try and stop the harmful connections in Bucky’s brain, the ones corrupted by Hydra’s brainwashing. You brought him out of sleep, and made sure you were the first face he saw upon opening his eyes (that was your idea). If Shuri hadn’t advised you both to keep your hands to yourself, you absolutely would’ve jumped his bones. Instead, you sat under the full moon, listening to the ambience of the city below the palace, and absorbing one another’s stories. In the following weeks, as he recovered, you finally grew physically intimate.

It was when the King had informed Bucky of impending war on Wakandan soil that Bucky proposed that you get married, literally that evening, before the whole country. “Let’s give them something to party about if tomorrow’s going to be rough,” he’d said. You had squealed with excitement when you agreed.

Steve had been surprised the next morning when you showed up beside Bucky, hand-in-hand, as husband and wife. He’d embraced you both, one in each arm, and for a moment, you felt safe in spite of the storm clouds gathering.

Now, even with the tempest of Thanos in the past, the latest forecast wasn’t exactly calling for clear skies. Just as you began moaning Bucky’s name, the door opened.

Steve had come home. You’d been caught, but Steve’s reaction surprised you. After taking a moment to swallow, he gave a weak, half-hearted smile. “Good,” he mumbled, “You should be making up for lost time.”

“Steve--” Bucky began, but he threw up a casual hand and shook his head.

“I’ll make sure Al brushes her teeth,” he said indifferently, refusing to hear more before shutting the door behind him again, leaving you and Bucky in awkward silence.

As summer climbed, being stuck inside drove you to the brink of insanity. Between the humiliating, awkward tension between the three adults and the fact that you had to spend your entire summer in a hermetically-sealed, air-conditioned bubble while it was sunny and bright outdoors, it was becoming the worst season of your life.

A few bright spots happened throughout July here and there. Steve had started an annual 4th of July block party tradition on the street, and he didn’t let this year be an exception (especially with twice as many people around to celebrate with). He appeared in his Captain America uniform to take pictures and get some donations for the VA Hospital. The kids would hang off of him like ornaments off a Christmas tree by the end of the evening.

You could only watch the party from your porch swing, but the fresh air was rare enough for you anyway. It was worth it just to watch Alice run around with Bucky, who was quickly learning all of her games and interests. Perhaps he was a natural father after all. The day passed quickly as you sipped at peach lemonade from the porch swing, watching Bucky play with Alice as Steve ran the show. All four of you watched the fireworks together from your front lawn as the local army band played patriotic tunes. It was a scene right out of a 1940’s family magazine.

You couldn’t sleep at all that night. Against the doctor’s orders, you didn’t stay in bed. You walked back out to the porch swing and sat under the night sky, looking up and enjoying the rare silence.

The storm door cracked open. “I heard you get up.”

Steve was in a wife beater that was plastered close to his chest, which in turn was beaded with sweat from the humid air of midsummer. His loose Bermuda shorts were navy blue. He’d cut his hair since the mission that brought everyone back, but the blonde strands were still unruly, stuck to the sides of his face.

You thought he was going to scold you for being up so late, but instead he sat next to you on the swing. “Today went well,” you said, taking his hand.

“Until we ran out of sausages,” Steve replied. “I thought there was going to be a riot.”

You laughed and felt a broad hand slip over yours. “How are you feeling?” you asked.

He twisted his lip into a skeptical frown, unsure of how to respond. “I knew Tony had something crazy in mind when he called. I didn’t think it was going to bring everyone back, I just thought…well…if I had known…”

“That’s not what I asked,” you said, “And don’t you dare say you regret it.”

“I don’t,” he insisted quickly. “It’s just getting a bit uncomfortable for me. I feel like Alice and I are the middlemen in this whole thing. She’s taking it like the champ she always has been, but me…I don’t have answers, and I don’t like that.”

You took a slow breath in, smelling the combination of Steve’s leftover cologne from the day as it mixed with the summer staple of freshly-mown grass.

“I wish I had something to say,” you finally mumbled. “I just want you to know that I can’t see myself picking between either of you. Steve, I love you, and you know that’s not changed.”

“You love me less now that Bucky’s back,” he accused.

“He’s my husband!”

“So am I, or I was going to be!”

You felt yourself suddenly begin to cry, and Steve immediately stood down. “Oh no, I can’t…that was wrong of me to raise my voice, I’m so sorry!”

You leaned into his shoulder when he put his left arm around you: something Bucky couldn’t exactly do. “It’s ok, this is going to be a hard summer for all of us.”

“There’s got to be a way.” Steve sounded unsure, but hopeful yet.

For a moment, the pair of you absorbed the silence. The night air’s delicate ambience made the street feel bigger than it was, every little shifting stone and footstep echoed down the lane. Then, something broke the tranquility: you could vaguely hear Bucky’s deep snores coming from the bedroom window. It took a lot for either of you not to laugh.

“Who would win in a fight: the Winter Soldier or sleep apnea?” Steve whispered. You had to slap your hand over your mouth to keep from squeaking.

You went back to your quiet moment, but then another idea crossed your mind. “Alice said she likes Annie for a name, right?”

“Yeah, but you didn’t.”

“I think I’m changing my mind,” you confessed with a soft smile. “I don't know. Now that I’ve been saying it to myself out loud, it’s starting to fit. Annie…Annie Lynn.”

Steve kissed your forehead. “I think it’s perfect.”

It took Steve about three weeks, but after Bucky began attending his group sessions, he was able to get a job doing the same work Steve was doing, but in a part-time capacity. Bucky was always more of an evening person, and Steve rose with the sun, so eventually everyone in the house developed a rhythm so that you were never alone.

Besides the added household income, the time the men had together was worth its weight in gold for one big reason: it gave them time apart from you to work on ironing out the ill will both held for one another deep down. As August approached, both Bucky and Steve had gotten out the worst of their mutual resentment, thanks in no small part to the therapy sessions on-demand.

On the last night of July, they’d reached a milestone and gone out for a late dinner with one another after work. Woodstock only had a few options that were within a couple of miles from home, but the local pub was the best place for two famous faces to have a basket of fries and a few pints of beer without being noticed (even if they couldn’t get a buzz from the alcohol).

Between bites of double-cheeseburger (for Bucky) and steak (for Steve), they remarked about how it almost felt like old times. Old, old times.

“You know, back in Brooklyn, you couldn’t finish half of one of those,” Bucky remarked, indicating the nearly-finished t-bone in front of his best friend. “Hell, most of them were bigger than you were.”

“Well, from what I can remember, you didn’t exactly get many dates from winning that hot dog-eating contest at Chubby’s on 48th street. Remember that?” Steve smiled.

A crumb nearly fell graceless out of Bucky’s mouth when he laughed. “Oh do I ever! What’s in those? I couldn’t shit for a week after that!”

Steve almost choked on a piece of steak. Bucky laughed for him, the rare moment of Captain America being normal and flawed adding more humor to the scene. “Now, don’t go telling me to watch my language.”

“It’s okay,” Steve said casually once he was able to recompose himself. “Over the past few years, I’ve come to terms with cuss words. You may not believe this, but…” he leaned in, beckoning Bucky to do the same, as if some great secret was about to be revealed, “...I occasionally drop the a-word myself these days.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “A-word? You mean…ass?”

Steve nodded, leaning back against his chair, looking cool and proud of himself. “Yeah. Who’d have thought!”

“You’re a wild one, Steve.”

Another awkward moment of silence fell between them. Bucky observed how different Steve was, even from just a few years ago. In spite of the super serum in his blood, he looked older than five years’ progression would normally seem. He had the beginnings of crow’s feet around the corners of his eyes. His hair, normally a yellow blonde, was a little duller in color. His posture gave the silhouette of a man who worked too hard for everyone but himself.

“Hey Steve…do you think…if neither of us wants to give her up…we could all just stay this way?” Bucky asked, a hint of shyness in his voice.

“Don’t you think whoever she doesn’t stay with will feel like a third wheel?” asked Steve, clearly skeptical of the idea.

“Maybe we don’t make her pick, is what I’m saying?” Bucky suggested, an uncharacteristic modesty turning his face pink at the thought. “If we both love her, and she and her girls both love us, why should we fight it? Times are different, no one around here would care.”

“James--”

“--and if I have to share Nightingale with anyone, it can’t be anyone but you, I guess,” Bucky went on, the idea snowballing in his head as he planned it out orally, “I don’t think I’d be jealous of you and her, Steve. The more I think about it, the more I just want her back in any way I can have her. I hope you feel the same way.”

Steve looked horrified. “Bucky, that’s too much to ask.”

“Of who, Steve? You?” Bucky’s face fell, but the defensiveness within him that whole governments feared began to grow his eyes. “Because that’s who this has been about this whole time, right? The one whose fault this all is in the first place!”

“Don’t you DARE twist my words! You know who I am!”

Bucky knew this would be coming the moment he suggested becoming a throuple, but he’d hoped he was wrong. “You would rather make her tear her heart in half than try something unconventional?”

“I’d rather raise my daughter in the best possible environment when she gets here,” Steve responded, unwavering.

“I thought Alice was ‘your daughter’?” Bucky said, his voice questioning and mocking at once. “If you can stop loving her so quickly, maybe you should--”

Steve angrily got to his feet, grabbing the collar of Bucky’s black polo and yanking him to his feet, his eyes full of fire. “If you ever suggest that I don’t love every single girl in that house, then I’ll--”

Suddenly, Steve’s phone began vibrating madly on the table. He glimpsed down, seeing it was your number. He took a deep breath and let go of Bucky before either of them could get violent. “Yeah babe?” he greeted.

It wasn’t you on the other end.

“Uncle Steve?” asked Alice, her voice unsteady.

“Sweetie! Ally, what’s wrong?” Bucky’s ears perked up as a look of pure worry replaced the one of defensive anger.

“Mommy’s hurting a lot.”

“Oh, Ally, what’s she doing right now?” asked Steve. While Alice answered, he silently motioned for Bucky to go grab a waiter. Bucky refused to move.

“She’s trying to be strong but I think there’s blood…” Alice’s voice certainly indicated she was on the verge of tears herself.

Steve bit his lip. “Alice, don't be scared, be strong for Mommy because she needs our help, okay? Now, do you remember how to call 9-1-1 and give them our address?”

“I did it first. They’re coming.” He could already begin to hear sirens in the background of the receiver. Alice was smart as a whip.

“That’s my girl! Can you do Uncle Steve and Daddy a favor?”

“Yes.”

“Stay with Mommy, make her feel as safe as you can, do anything she says, and tell the ambulance to take her to the hospital. Daddy and I will meet you both there.”

“Yes.”

“Mommy’s going to be alright, sweetie.”

“Okay.”

“I love you,” Steve said softly, his face going hot with fear.

“I love you too Da--Uncle Steve,” Alice said, hanging up immediately after.

“What is it? Nightingale!” Bucky said, his plump lower lip trembling.

“Something’s really wrong,” Steve said. “We have to go, right now!”

Taglist: @foxherder @meowmeow-motherfucker @cakesandtom @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @litaloni @loz-3 @simplyholl @lokisgoodgirl @lokirogersgirl @crokitheloki @lifeonawhim @lokischambermaid

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ijuststareatstuffhereok89 · 22 hours

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It's no coincidence that the Age of Regression is reaching it's zenith right now. The hoards of Millennials born to that first generation of post-70s Falwellian/Reaganist conservatives are now of voting age, and they are the rows of happy, brainless soldiers they were bred to be. This is 150% what theywere made for. Add the social media boom to the mix, giving them the loudest bullhorn to screech out of and maximizing their influence, and now you have us teetering on the edge of Gilead.

Here's an old-school Disney short that, while made as Anti-Nazi propaganda from the 40s, still presents a lot of terrifying parallels as to how the US far-right sees children and decides what to do with them. The only difference is there isn't a list of banned names on the wall. Everything else, from the manipulative story books and shaming illness, to classroom conformity and school-sanctioned bullying into submission, is virtually the same.

youtube

I studied it in a seminar about propaganda, and at the time I thought that we were better than that.

I cant believe this tweet is how I find out

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ijuststareatstuffhereok89 · 23 hours

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Here's the thing:

America is currently ass-deep in far-right evangelist culture, which has been the trend creeping in since the late 70s when hardline conservatives began galvanizing their base in order to culturally reject the Sexual Revolution that came before. As a result, children are tally marks (or arrows, according to many) in the eyes of these hyper-conservatives who are now all but running the country. The whole purpose of having as many live babies as possible, whether through breeding cults like the Quiverfulls or through banning abortion and increasing birth rates overall, is to literally build numbers so that when "the day" comes to take over the entire world, they can do so and claim it's what the majority wanted the whole time.

Not only is it their sole mission that they breed these baby far-right soldiers, they throw them into the pool in order to 'weed out' who they perceive as weak, so that 'their side' can be looked upon as the perpetual winners because God ordained it so, attracting even more people to their side. Because the far-right espouse the classic fascist principals, this equates to uniformity and staying in line until called up. This is why these groups don't see children as people or humans. They are pawns in wait to be trained in childhood, fortified in youth, and sent out to sacrifice everything in adulthood.

This is why an embryo in Alabama is considered more of a child than a living transgender one. An embyro still has the potential to be a good little Jesus Soldier. In their eyes, a living transgender child has already failed to live up to the instantaneous expectations of a "perfect, cis-hetero white society", and therefore, is to be snuffed out.

This is why American culture by and large fetishizes birth but hates children. Back to colonialist roots, back to racist roots, back to misogynist roots. Nothing new to see here.

/rant

I cant believe this tweet is how I find out

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ijuststareatstuffhereok89 · 1 day

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Act II: Echoes

“Annie"

CONTENT WARNINGS: pregnancy complications, fighting

WORD COUNT: 5.8k

PREVIOUS CHAPTER - NEXT CHAPTER

STORY MASTERLIST

Bucky wouldn’t let go of your hand, even as you kept the other over the bump that was there in the first place because of someone else. “How are you feeling?”

You moaned, lying back against the pillow with a grunt. “Something feels wrong this time.”

“What was it like before?” he asked. “With Alice in there?”

“What about the labor part?” he asked. “Did you want me there?”

“Oh hon, of COURSE I did! Unnghhhh,” you groaned slowly, another pain striking you in the lower back. “Fuck, what’s happening?”

“I can help,” said the doctor, coming in at the perfect time to answer you.

You breathed out a sigh of relief, and Bucky’s shoulders dropped.

The doctor went on, “However, I’m unfortunately going to have to prescribe—”

“—oh, don’t say it—” You quickly rolled your eyes.

“I’m under a small bit of stress right now,” you muttered bitterly, looking resentfully at your husband. “And you’re telling me to sleep it off?!”

It wasn’t much to assure you, but what choice did you have?

“This is going to complicate things a bit,” you groaned. “My job is part-time, but it still helps with the bills. I was planning on going there for another month.”

“What does Steve do?” asked Bucky.

“He never told you?” you asked. Bucky shook his head. “He runs a support group for veterans down at the VA, sometimes helps get donations by making local appearances once in a while.”

“Ah.”

How the hell were you going to be able to do that?

Alice sat in between Steve and Bucky, showing off one of her favorite books to the latter and how well she could read on her own for being not yet five.

“She’s smart as all heck, I’ll give you that,” Bucky remarked, putting an arm around his daughter. Alice smiled up at him. “But are there any effects from my…from the…?”

He twisted his lips. “I know. You don’t have to. I’d be doing the same thing, man.”

You sighed, biting your lip and laying back against the headboard. “Not really. I can’t exactly name her after the Mad Hatter.”

Bucky chuckled. “Is that where you got Ally’s?” You smiled to affirm his suspicion. “Not that it’s not the perfect name!”

“What were you thinking, Steve?”

You rolled your eyes. “Were Esther, Ethel, and Betsy too ‘hip’ for you?”

“I thought about Betsy, actually.” Steve’s cheeks went red.

Bucky laughed out loud, almost startling Ally.

“I like Annie,” she said proudly, making her look even more adorable. “I watched that movie at Seb’s house.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “At least I have one vote.”

Once Steve shut the door, granting you peace, he gave Bucky a significant look. “Thank you,” he said, “For keeping it together for them.”

“You want some coffee?”

Bucky looked skeptical. “When did you become a therapist?”

“...what?”

“I was thinking, Buck, maybe you’d like to go with me.”

He immediately shook his head. “I’m angry. I’m not crazy.”

“Don’t ‘shrink’ me,” Bucky warned, looking away awkwardly. “Wakanda beat you to it.”

“She thought about me? While I was gone? How did she even know about me?”

Bucky looked down at the drawing, touched that he was included in the picture at all. “I do love her. I just couldn’t tell her.”

Steve went on: “Now you can, and I think checking out a therapy group with me tomorrow is a good way of showing it.”

“You really think so?” Bucky perked up.

As much as he hated to admit it, Steve had to: “I know a lot about Y/N by now…she’s not ready to give you up. I…I’m not sure how much of a chance I have.”

The brown-haired super soldier didn’t know whether to comfort Steve, or agree that he had no chance with you now that your husband was back on the scene.

“I’ll go, then. For them.”

At least doing that much would win some brownie points with you.

“And how was it?” you asked, happily shoveling another forkful of beef lo mein in your mouth.

You chased the lo mein with a long drag of grape soda. More delicious sugar and sodium! You missed being so careless. Sometimes Steve took life too seriously.

“It’s not like guys didn’t feel things in the 40s…what did you do back then? Did you really just…keep it in?”

He shrugged and looked at you pensively. “Mostly. I think that’s why a lot of us wanted to get married young, though.”

“Why would being married be therapeutic?”

“I know it is,” He went on, looking at Alice again, who was slurping a noodle and giggling at every sound she made, “and thank God it is.”

“Y’know,” he added, “When you just called me babe…it made it feel like nothing ever happened, that we’re still in Wakanda.”

“Mommy…”

“I ate a broccoli!” she protested.

Bucky leaned over and looked in the takeout box with a chuckle. “You don't like sprouts, do you, kid?” Alice shook her head, her face set into a stern frown. Bucky winked. “Neither do I.”

“They’re too crunchy!” she said, sticking out her tongue, an act which Bucky playfully mirrored. Ally giggled.

“Babe, not as much of you went away as you think,” you commented. “I saw you every day when she smiled.”

Bucky blushed. “Well, she has your eyes.”

Alice yawned, insistently pressing the nearly-empty takeout box into your hands. “Can I go watch TV?”

“What’s on?” you asked protectively. It was 8:30. Usually, Alice was having her bath or reading in bed by now.

“Muppets.”

Ally giggled. She knew you were only kidding, but she got the point anyway. Hopping down, she shuffled out without excusing herself.

“Aren’t you supposed to feel it move?” he asked nervously.

“She’s usually a bit peppier later at night. It’s still early. I promise you when she does wake up, you’ll feel it from the next room.”

“Was it difficult before?” Bucky asked, slowly tracing circles around your navel with two of his fingers. “Being pregnant?”

“But…one thing that hasn’t changed…” you added. Bucky’s breaths were growing heavier and closer together.

“Yeah? Doll?”

“You remembered that spot!” you moaned. “Oh babe…”

Now, even with the tempest of Thanos in the past, the latest forecast wasn’t exactly calling for clear skies. Just as you began moaning Bucky’s name, the door opened.

“Steve--” Bucky began, but he threw up a casual hand and shook his head.

“I’ll make sure Al brushes her teeth,” he said indifferently, refusing to hear more before shutting the door behind him again, leaving you and Bucky in awkward silence.

The storm door cracked open. “I heard you get up.”

You thought he was going to scold you for being up so late, but instead he sat next to you on the swing. “Today went well,” you said, taking his hand.

“Until we ran out of sausages,” Steve replied. “I thought there was going to be a riot.”

You laughed and felt a broad hand slip over yours. “How are you feeling?” you asked.

“That’s not what I asked,” you said, “And don’t you dare say you regret it.”

You took a slow breath in, smelling the combination of Steve’s leftover cologne from the day as it mixed with the summer staple of freshly-mown grass.

“I wish I had something to say,” you finally mumbled. “I just want you to know that I can’t see myself picking between either of you. Steve, I love you, and you know that’s not changed.”

“You love me less now that Bucky’s back,” he accused.

“He’s my husband!”

“So am I, or I was going to be!”

You felt yourself suddenly begin to cry, and Steve immediately stood down. “Oh no, I can’t…that was wrong of me to raise my voice, I’m so sorry!”

You leaned into his shoulder when he put his left arm around you: something Bucky couldn’t exactly do. “It’s ok, this is going to be a hard summer for all of us.”

“There’s got to be a way.” Steve sounded unsure, but hopeful yet.

“Who would win in a fight: the Winter Soldier or sleep apnea?” Steve whispered. You had to slap your hand over your mouth to keep from squeaking.

You went back to your quiet moment, but then another idea crossed your mind. “Alice said she likes Annie for a name, right?”

“Yeah, but you didn’t.”

“I think I’m changing my mind,” you confessed with a soft smile. “I don't know. Now that I’ve been saying it to myself out loud, it’s starting to fit. Annie…Annie Lynn.”

Steve kissed your forehead. “I think it’s perfect.”

Between bites of double-cheeseburger (for Bucky) and steak (for Steve), they remarked about how it almost felt like old times. Old, old times.

“Well, from what I can remember, you didn’t exactly get many dates from winning that hot dog-eating contest at Chubby’s on 48th street. Remember that?” Steve smiled.

A crumb nearly fell graceless out of Bucky’s mouth when he laughed. “Oh do I ever! What’s in those? I couldn’t shit for a week after that!”

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “A-word? You mean…ass?”

Steve nodded, leaning back against his chair, looking cool and proud of himself. “Yeah. Who’d have thought!”

“You’re a wild one, Steve.”

“Hey Steve…do you think…if neither of us wants to give her up…we could all just stay this way?” Bucky asked, a hint of shyness in his voice.

“Don’t you think whoever she doesn’t stay with will feel like a third wheel?” asked Steve, clearly skeptical of the idea.

“James--”

Steve looked horrified. “Bucky, that’s too much to ask.”

“Don’t you DARE twist my words! You know who I am!”

Bucky knew this would be coming the moment he suggested becoming a throuple, but he’d hoped he was wrong. “You would rather make her tear her heart in half than try something unconventional?”

“I’d rather raise my daughter in the best possible environment when she gets here,” Steve responded, unwavering.

“I thought Alice was ‘your daughter’?” Bucky said, his voice questioning and mocking at once. “If you can stop loving her so quickly, maybe you should--”

It wasn’t you on the other end.

“Uncle Steve?” asked Alice, her voice unsteady.

“Sweetie! Ally, what’s wrong?” Bucky’s ears perked up as a look of pure worry replaced the one of defensive anger.

“Mommy’s hurting a lot.”

“Oh, Ally, what’s she doing right now?” asked Steve. While Alice answered, he silently motioned for Bucky to go grab a waiter. Bucky refused to move.

“She’s trying to be strong but I think there’s blood…” Alice’s voice certainly indicated she was on the verge of tears herself.

Steve bit his lip. “Alice, don't be scared, be strong for Mommy because she needs our help, okay? Now, do you remember how to call 9-1-1 and give them our address?”

“I did it first. They’re coming.” He could already begin to hear sirens in the background of the receiver. Alice was smart as a whip.

“That’s my girl! Can you do Uncle Steve and Daddy a favor?”

“Yes.”

“Stay with Mommy, make her feel as safe as you can, do anything she says, and tell the ambulance to take her to the hospital. Daddy and I will meet you both there.”

“Yes.”

“Mommy’s going to be alright, sweetie.”

“Okay.”

“I love you,” Steve said softly, his face going hot with fear.

“I love you too Da--Uncle Steve,” Alice said, hanging up immediately after.

“What is it? Nightingale!” Bucky said, his plump lower lip trembling.

“Something’s really wrong,” Steve said. “We have to go, right now!”

Taglist: @foxherder @meowmeow-motherfucker @cakesandtom @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @litaloni @loz-3 @simplyholl @lokisgoodgirl @lokirogersgirl @crokitheloki @lifeonawhim @lokischambermaid

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ijuststareatstuffhereok89 · 1 day

Text

What this dickwad doesn’t realise is I spent a decade in North America and like to combine American direct communication with British brutality 🤣🍺🤜

I believe pro fighters call that move the "Colonizer One-Two" It's how you murder their bodies AND their souls until nothing is left but a heap of Thanos dust.

Because hey: if it ain't violent, it ain't American.

Archery bell-end instructor update:

“You’re not shooting straight because your breasts are in the way.”

Rest assured I verbally murdered him.

Dick head.

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ijuststareatstuffhereok89 · 1 day

Text

Act II: Echoes

“Annie"

CONTENT WARNINGS: pregnancy complications, fighting

WORD COUNT: 5.8k

PREVIOUS CHAPTER - NEXT CHAPTER

STORY MASTERLIST

Bucky wouldn’t let go of your hand, even as you kept the other over the bump that was there in the first place because of someone else. “How are you feeling?”

You moaned, lying back against the pillow with a grunt. “Something feels wrong this time.”

“What was it like before?” he asked. “With Alice in there?”

“What about the labor part?” he asked. “Did you want me there?”

“Oh hon, of COURSE I did! Unnghhhh,” you groaned slowly, another pain striking you in the lower back. “Fuck, what’s happening?”

“I can help,” said the doctor, coming in at the perfect time to answer you.

You breathed out a sigh of relief, and Bucky’s shoulders dropped.

The doctor went on, “However, I’m unfortunately going to have to prescribe—”

“—oh, don’t say it��” You quickly rolled your eyes.

“I’m under a small bit of stress right now,” you muttered bitterly, looking resentfully at your husband. “And you’re telling me to sleep it off?!”

It wasn’t much to assure you, but what choice did you have?

“This is going to complicate things a bit,” you groaned. “My job is part-time, but it still helps with the bills. I was planning on going there for another month.”

“What does Steve do?” asked Bucky.

“He never told you?” you asked. Bucky shook his head. “He runs a support group for veterans down at the VA, sometimes helps get donations by making local appearances once in a while.”

“Ah.”

How the hell were you going to be able to do that?

Alice sat in between Steve and Bucky, showing off one of her favorite books to the latter and how well she could read on her own for being not yet five.

“She’s smart as all heck, I’ll give you that,” Bucky remarked, putting an arm around his daughter. Alice smiled up at him. “But are there any effects from my…from the…?”

He twisted his lips. “I know. You don’t have to. I’d be doing the same thing, man.”

You sighed, biting your lip and laying back against the headboard. “Not really. I can’t exactly name her after the Mad Hatter.”

Bucky chuckled. “Is that where you got Ally’s?” You smiled to affirm his suspicion. “Not that it’s not the perfect name!”

“What were you thinking, Steve?”

You rolled your eyes. “Were Esther, Ethel, and Betsy too ‘hip’ for you?”

“I thought about Betsy, actually.” Steve’s cheeks went red.

Bucky laughed out loud, almost startling Ally.

“I like Annie,” she said proudly, making her look even more adorable. “I watched that movie at Seb’s house.”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “At least I have one vote.”

Once Steve shut the door, granting you peace, he gave Bucky a significant look. “Thank you,” he said, “For keeping it together for them.”

“You want some coffee?”

Bucky looked skeptical. “When did you become a therapist?”

“...what?”

“I was thinking, Buck, maybe you’d like to go with me.”

He immediately shook his head. “I’m angry. I’m not crazy.”

“Don’t ‘shrink’ me,” Bucky warned, looking away awkwardly. “Wakanda beat you to it.”

“She thought about me? While I was gone? How did she even know about me?”

Bucky looked down at the drawing, touched that he was included in the picture at all. “I do love her. I just couldn’t tell her.”

Steve went on: “Now you can, and I think checking out a therapy group with me tomorrow is a good way of showing it.”

“You really think so?” Bucky perked up.

As much as he hated to admit it, Steve had to: “I know a lot about Y/N by now…she’s not ready to give you up. I…I’m not sure how much of a chance I have.”

The brown-haired super soldier didn’t know whether to comfort Steve, or agree that he had no chance with you now that your husband was back on the scene.

“I’ll go, then. For them.”

At least doing that much would win some brownie points with you.

“And how was it?” you asked, happily shoveling another forkful of beef lo mein in your mouth.

You chased the lo mein with a long drag of grape soda. More delicious sugar and sodium! You missed being so careless. Sometimes Steve took life too seriously.

“It’s not like guys didn’t feel things in the 40s…what did you do back then? Did you really just…keep it in?”

He shrugged and looked at you pensively. “Mostly. I think that’s why a lot of us wanted to get married young, though.”

“Why would being married be therapeutic?”

“I know it is,” He went on, looking at Alice again, who was slurping a noodle and giggling at every sound she made, “and thank God it is.”

“Y’know,” he added, “When you just called me babe…it made it feel like nothing ever happened, that we’re still in Wakanda.”

“Mommy…”

“I ate a broccoli!” she protested.

Bucky leaned over and looked in the takeout box with a chuckle. “You don't like sprouts, do you, kid?” Alice shook her head, her face set into a stern frown. Bucky winked. “Neither do I.”

“They’re too crunchy!” she said, sticking out her tongue, an act which Bucky playfully mirrored. Ally giggled.

“Babe, not as much of you went away as you think,” you commented. “I saw you every day when she smiled.”

Bucky blushed. “Well, she has your eyes.”

Alice yawned, insistently pressing the nearly-empty takeout box into your hands. “Can I go watch TV?”

“What’s on?” you asked protectively. It was 8:30. Usually, Alice was having her bath or reading in bed by now.

“Muppets.”

Ally giggled. She knew you were only kidding, but she got the point anyway. Hopping down, she shuffled out without excusing herself.

“Aren’t you supposed to feel it move?” he asked nervously.

“She’s usually a bit peppier later at night. It’s still early. I promise you when she does wake up, you’ll feel it from the next room.”

“Was it difficult before?” Bucky asked, slowly tracing circles around your navel with two of his fingers. “Being pregnant?”

“But…one thing that hasn’t changed…” you added. Bucky’s breaths were growing heavier and closer together.

“Yeah? Doll?”

“You remembered that spot!” you moaned. “Oh babe…”

Now, even with the tempest of Thanos in the past, the latest forecast wasn’t exactly calling for clear skies. Just as you began moaning Bucky’s name, the door opened.

“Steve--” Bucky began, but he threw up a casual hand and shook his head.

“I’ll make sure Al brushes her teeth,” he said indifferently, refusing to hear more before shutting the door behind him again, leaving you and Bucky in awkward silence.

The storm door cracked open. “I heard you get up.”

You thought he was going to scold you for being up so late, but instead he sat next to you on the swing. “Today went well,” you said, taking his hand.

“Until we ran out of sausages,” Steve replied. “I thought there was going to be a riot.”

You laughed and felt a broad hand slip over yours. “How are you feeling?” you asked.

“That’s not what I asked,” you said, “And don’t you dare say you regret it.”

You took a slow breath in, smelling the combination of Steve’s leftover cologne from the day as it mixed with the summer staple of freshly-mown grass.

“I wish I had something to say,” you finally mumbled. “I just want you to know that I can’t see myself picking between either of you. Steve, I love you, and you know that’s not changed.”

“You love me less now that Bucky’s back,” he accused.

“He’s my husband!”

“So am I, or I was going to be!”

You felt yourself suddenly begin to cry, and Steve immediately stood down. “Oh no, I can’t…that was wrong of me to raise my voice, I’m so sorry!”

You leaned into his shoulder when he put his left arm around you: something Bucky couldn’t exactly do. “It’s ok, this is going to be a hard summer for all of us.”

“There’s got to be a way.” Steve sounded unsure, but hopeful yet.

“Who would win in a fight: the Winter Soldier or sleep apnea?” Steve whispered. You had to slap your hand over your mouth to keep from squeaking.

You went back to your quiet moment, but then another idea crossed your mind. “Alice said she likes Annie for a name, right?”

“Yeah, but you didn’t.”

“I think I’m changing my mind,” you confessed with a soft smile. “I don't know. Now that I’ve been saying it to myself out loud, it’s starting to fit. Annie…Annie Lynn.”

Steve kissed your forehead. “I think it’s perfect.”

Between bites of double-cheeseburger (for Bucky) and steak (for Steve), they remarked about how it almost felt like old times. Old, old times.

“Well, from what I can remember, you didn’t exactly get many dates from winning that hot dog-eating contest at Chubby’s on 48th street. Remember that?” Steve smiled.

A crumb nearly fell graceless out of Bucky’s mouth when he laughed. “Oh do I ever! What’s in those? I couldn’t shit for a week after that!”

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “A-word? You mean…ass?”

Steve nodded, leaning back against his chair, looking cool and proud of himself. “Yeah. Who’d have thought!”

“You’re a wild one, Steve.”

“Hey Steve…do you think…if neither of us wants to give her up…we could all just stay this way?” Bucky asked, a hint of shyness in his voice.

“Don’t you think whoever she doesn’t stay with will feel like a third wheel?” asked Steve, clearly skeptical of the idea.

“James--”

Steve looked horrified. “Bucky, that’s too much to ask.”

“Don’t you DARE twist my words! You know who I am!”

Bucky knew this would be coming the moment he suggested becoming a throuple, but he’d hoped he was wrong. “You would rather make her tear her heart in half than try something unconventional?”

“I’d rather raise my daughter in the best possible environment when she gets here,” Steve responded, unwavering.

“I thought Alice was ‘your daughter’?” Bucky said, his voice questioning and mocking at once. “If you can stop loving her so quickly, maybe you should--”

It wasn’t you on the other end.

“Uncle Steve?” asked Alice, her voice unsteady.

“Sweetie! Ally, what’s wrong?” Bucky’s ears perked up as a look of pure worry replaced the one of defensive anger.

“Mommy’s hurting a lot.”

“Oh, Ally, what’s she doing right now?” asked Steve. While Alice answered, he silently motioned for Bucky to go grab a waiter. Bucky refused to move.

“She’s trying to be strong but I think there’s blood…” Alice’s voice certainly indicated she was on the verge of tears herself.

Steve bit his lip. “Alice, don't be scared, be strong for Mommy because she needs our help, okay? Now, do you remember how to call 9-1-1 and give them our address?”

“I did it first. They’re coming.” He could already begin to hear sirens in the background of the receiver. Alice was smart as a whip.

“That’s my girl! Can you do Uncle Steve and Daddy a favor?”

“Yes.”

“Stay with Mommy, make her feel as safe as you can, do anything she says, and tell the ambulance to take her to the hospital. Daddy and I will meet you both there.”

“Yes.”

“Mommy’s going to be alright, sweetie.”

“Okay.”

“I love you,” Steve said softly, his face going hot with fear.

“I love you too Da--Uncle Steve,” Alice said, hanging up immediately after.

“What is it? Nightingale!” Bucky said, his plump lower lip trembling.

“Something’s really wrong,” Steve said. “We have to go, right now!”

Taglist: @foxherder @meowmeow-motherfucker @cakesandtom @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @litaloni @loz-3 @simplyholl @lokisgoodgirl @lokirogersgirl @crokitheloki @lifeonawhim @lokischambermaid

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