the strongest avenger (2)

thirty eight

"Shit, shit, shit." I walk through the lobby and go up the elevator, ignoring all the strange glances I'm getting.

The doors open and I walk out, grateful that no one is around. I start walking, hoping that no one is in the kitchen.

"What the fuck is that?" I let out a groan as I turn to see James, Peter, and Nat at the island in the kitchen. What an odd combo.

"Um." A blush creeps on my face as I look between the three of them.

"Is that a goat?" Peter asks, his eyes slightly wide.

I sigh and look down at the black and white baby goat that I bought from a farm. I set him down and smile as he bleats, disturbing the silence.

"I um...I uh—might have bought a goat or...two." I scratch the back of my neck, avoiding their eyes.

"There's two?" Nat asks me.

"Yeah...the other's in the car. I have to go get him. They're uh both boys, brothers...and I saw them at the farm. I went down to Jersey, to the farms and um I just wanted some fresh tomatoes for sauce. I wanted to make a really nice chicken parm but I didn't want store tomatoes, I wanted to go and pick out fresh tomatoes from a farm. So I went and then they were selling these two, and I was gonna get one. I was. I had this one, but then the other was calling this one and I knew that I couldn't separate them. They're family and so I bought them, and now they're here."

The trio just stare at me with wide eyes.

"Did you get the tomatoes?" James asks.

"Shit...um no. I kinda, might have impulsively gotten the goats and then just forgot about why I was there. And then I started to second guess myself on the drive back, cause they're like kids. And children make me so nervous and I don't know if I'm ready for that responsibility. Like kids? No thanks, not ready and these are my kids right now. Did you know baby goats are called kids? Like I literally have kids right now." I start to fan myself as I get warm, I think I made a mistake. "I need to return them, I shouldn't have gotten them. I can't take care of kids, I can't even take care of myself. Oh god, I think I'm gonna be sick. Oh no...they were expensive too." I gulp as I feel tears at the back of my eyes. "See now I'm gonna cry, oh my god, Nat what's wrong with me? Why am I so emotional, what's going on? What's happening to me? Can someone get the brother, I think I'm gonna pass out."

Nat stands up and hesitantly walks over to me, I see Peter and James exchange a look.

"Nat what's wrong with me? Oh my god what if I'm pregnant? Nat! I can barely handle Morgan! I can't have a kid, I'm gonna be sick. Oh my god oh my god." Bucky and Peter's eyes are bugging out of their head and the goat starts bleating.

"When was your last period?" Nat mutters under her breath to me.

I blink, trying to remember. "Uh..." my eyes widen as I try to think back. "Right before Thanos? I think."

"Have you had sex since Thanos happened?"

"Yeah..."

She jerks back slightly. "With who?"

"This guy at the bar downtown." I mumble.

"Did you use a condom?"

"Yes. Always. I'm not ready for kids."

"Yes, so you've said." She pauses a minute. "I don't think you're pregnant."

"Well that's a relief."

"But we should get a test to make sure."

"See, now I'm stressed again. Now I'm gonna gain weight cause I'm stressed. See what this is doing to me. I need a long vacation in the Bahamas. Or maybe Italy. Team vacation?"

Nat stares at me for another couple of seconds and then walks over to the goat and lifts him. She carries him an arms length away from her body and puts him in my arms.

"Let's go sit down," she pulls me by my shoulders and I try to calm my heart. "and relax. Play with the goat, think of a name. Peter? Go get the other one."

"But—"

"No buts, go. Bucky, get over here and watch over her while I go get a damn test for her."

I hear Bucky groan, but he comes over and sits down next to me. Nat leaves and I clutch onto the goat like my life depends on it.

"Have you been taking your medicine? You're shaking."

"Um..." I look down at my hands. "No."

"Why not?"

"They make me feel weird." I look away from him.

"But you have to take them, Snow. Otherwise you're gonna feel like this all the time." James explains.

I ignore the fact that he called me Snow, these nicknames are getting out of hand.

"Okay, I'll take them."

"I'll grab them, where are they?"

"My nightstand."

James pushes off the couch and walks away, leaving me alone with the goat. I start to think of names as James comes back with a glass of water and my pills.

He takes the goat, as I take my medicine.

"I'm gonna feel sick, cause I haven't taken them in so long."

Bucky just shakes his head. "It's a boy?"

"Uh, yes. I think so. I don't know what to name him. I almost bought chickens, but they're too loud."

"What about Alpine?"

"Like the mountains?"

"Yeah..."

"But that's more of a feminine name, isn't it?"

"I think it could be unisex."

"Okay...that one can be Alpine." I watch as Bucky lifts the goat and looks underneath, starting to chuckle.

"This is a girl."

"Oh...well she's still Alpine."

I turn as the elevator doors open and reveal Peter carrying the all black goat, the brother.

He walks over and sets him down on my lap and then sits on the opposite armchair.

"Uh, so what's that ones name?"

"Alpine." I look down at the darker goat, trying not to look at Pete. We haven't talked since I stormed his room and made out with him in front of Tony.

I'm not sure if we should talk.

"I think I should name this one Karl."

"Karl?" Peter asks, a little disbelief in his voice.

"Yeah, why not? It's kinda funny."

"So...your goats are named Karl and Alpine?"

"Yes. And Alpine is actually a female, not a boy like I thought."

Peter just slowly nods his head across from me.

Our heads jerk around as we hear some...stomping.

"WHY THE FUCK DID FRIDAY TELL ME THERE ARE ANIMALS IN HERE?"