Steel Hearts

- 46 -

"You... Really?"

Steve was entirely surprised by my announcement, the grin on his face looked as if it were going to split him in half. I chuckle and nod.

"According to the pregnancy test I took yesterday, yeah."

Suddenly, his face falls and he sighs as he asks, "We're you going to tell me?"

My eyes fall closed as my chin falls and I sigh deeply as I recollect my words to choose them carefully. The painful emotions that previously riddled our conversation bubbled up once more and threatened to boil over.

"I told you it was okay for you to leave and I didn't want to guilt-trip you into staying if you didn't want to. So... no, I wasn't going to tell you if you wanted to leave. Because I didn't want you to feel obligated to stay just because we were having another kid. It wouldn't have been fair to you because I know you would've stayed and I know you would've been miserable."

He nodded, agreeing with my decision on keeping my pregnancy from him until I knew for sure that he was staying.

Without warning, he plucked me off of the ground as if I weighed nothing and spun in a circle, earning laughter from the both of us. The previous seriousness and sadness that lay over our conversation like a wet blanket was gone.

"I guess we do have to renovate now," he looks at the house thoughtfully. Once we got Sam, Wanda, and Bucky situated in their own places the girls would go back to having their separate rooms and we would need another.

"We could always fix up the playroom at the end of the hall. They've got their baskets of toys in the living room anyway," I suggest with a shrug, "Or we could turn the shed into a playroom."

Shaking his head, Steve didn't even attempt to hide his giddy smile as he dipped down and pressed his lips against mine. Even after all this time he still managed to give me butterflies.

✪ ✪ ✪

Opening the back door, I run into Bucky. Wordlessly he squeezes my arm before moving past me to rejoin Steve outside. I had decided that I needed sleep, only to find Sam sitting in the living room waiting on me.

"Yes?" I question, tentatively stepping into the room.

He waves me over to the couch, so I sit and lean into his arm. Sam had heard Steve and me yelling. He heard everything.

"You okay?"

With a small shrug, I answer, "I am now, but about twenty minutes ago I wanted to go run away and live out my days in a cottage in the woods."

"Not with those two hellions upstairs," he points in their general direction.

"Oh no, you and Bucky I have to stay and babysit, the twins would be fine."

His face screws up in grievance, looking at me as if I were nuts. In retrospect, I probably am for simply choosing to be in this life, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Are you both retiring?" Sam questions.

"Steve is, but I'll still be around if you need me," I smile and poke his side.

"The shield..."

"Will be in good hands."

"You're not gonna tell me who he's giving it to, are you?"

"If I do that would ruin the sentiment."

He rolls his eyes at me.

"Oh! There's something Steve and I talked about, but couldn't ask you until we got you back," I turn myself to face him so one leg is hanging off the couch while the other is curled underneath me.