Little Star // a Steve Rogers, Captain America, Avengers story

Of Course You Know

Waking from a memory-filled doze, Ellie rose from her favorite seat in the conservatory and brought her mind back to the present. She knew the baby was coming soon and she had some things to take care of before he arrived. Going up the stairs more easily than her bulk should have allowed, she walked to her bedroom and opened the safe, taking out the square velvet box that had been tempting her for months.

She had kept her promise not to open it, no matter what happened, until September thirtieth, her thirtieth birthday. She had kept her promise and would continue to do so. She only had forty-eight hours to wait .

She knew something was brewing. She didn't know why they even tried, considering the progress she had been making with her gifts. Still hesitant to use the glimpses of telepathy she had felt recently, her empathetic powers were increasing notably. Everyone in the house, even Luke, was feeling sparkling excitement and the low, shielded hum of benign subterfuge. Surprise party. She wondered who would be there. She wondered if she would be there.

Ellie tucked the black box in her hospital go bag. JB was frustrated, not being able to stretch and kick and roll. He wanted to be closer to the voices he had been hearing for months. Her son was ready; he had told her. He was the only person on whom she had tried her telepathic gift.

The baby couldn't yet project words or clear images, of course, but he did have emotions tied to unformed thoughts that she could read. She soothed him as much as possible, sending him love and comfort and happiness, but he couldn't process them like a child, much less an adult. It helped, but he was still confused and unhappy. It was time for him to join the team.

Back downstairs Luke was setting the table, and dinner was nearly ready. "I'll go get Bucky," she said, walking to the back door.

"Ellie, you've been on your feet most of the day. Why don't you sit down and I'll go get him?" Kate, back for the final days before the baby arrived, was astounded by Ellie's level of activity and energy; the only thing that slowed her down was her size. She was all belly, and what a belly it was. The rest of her was as trim and fit as ever, and she even seemed to be standing up straighter than usual. The woman was uncanny.

"Nope, if I'm moving I'm not thinking. Well, not thinking as much. I'll get Bucky."

Kate knew that by thinking, her friend meant feeling the heartbreak that Steve wouldn't be there for JB's birth. They didn't talk about it, but Kate didn't need her best friend's powers to understand. She hoped that the party day after tomorrow would raise her spirits. She was terrified of having so many Avengers in the house at once, but having met most of them here and there over the past year, she thought she could manage without freaking out too much.

As Ellie approached the guest house she heard Bucky singing along to one of his collection of vintage vinyl from the nineteen thirties and forties. It was a cheerful tune and he sounded happy. What a difference two months had made. The first time she had seen him truly smile was on the lawn with Luke, who missed Steve terribly and still didn't understand where he was. The former merciless killer now ran and played and read stories with the four-year-old, filling the void.

She knocked on the door and heard him lift the needle from the record. He appeared at the door in his usual garb, modern jeans and a vintage shirt. "Dinner?"

"Dinner. Anna made it. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it'll taste good."

"She's a good kid. She and Charlie seem to be getting along. Do you think they're helping each other?"

"I do. Teenagers are really complicated though, and I won't... interfere. I really think they need to figure it out themselves, but I'm confident they will."

She stopped for a moment.

Bucky looked concerned. "Is it time?"

She laughed. "No, he just tried to roll over and he couldn't. It makes him angry. His version of angry. He tells me."

"Can you really hear his thoughts?"

"Not exactly, but I know what he feels, and I know when he wants things. It's very vague."

"Sometimes you make me uncomfortable."

"I know, it's ok."

"Of course you know."

Ellie spent the day before her birthday pretending she didn't know about the party and hadn't noticed the jets coming and going on the tennis courts. They had four birds now. It was amazing how much they had accomplished in two months, but they were still looking for a location for the new compound. She was glad so many of the team would be here tomorrow; she had an idea, and she could put it before everyone.

The guests must be staying in the bunker tonight. That would be tough for Thor and Bruce, if they were coming. She'd be a little mad if they weren't, unless they were off-world. She'd give them a pass for that. Maybe Peter could hang out with Charlie and Anna. Both boys had just started school again and were trying to sort through that as well. She couldn't help but wish she were back at work, her old work, to help with the returned just as she'd helped those left behind. That, however, was not in the cards.