Astral Lovers

CHAPTER 21



WARNING

This chapter contains violence, weapons, blood and death.
If you are not comfortable with these topics please don't read.

Enjoy ❤️

Steve POV

"How's Lily doing?" Natasha asks me while we're waiting outside Fury's office.
We are here to deliver some reports on the dismantling of a Hydra base.
"She's fine.The baby is fine.Or so she told me” I mutter wearily.
I've gotten too anxious when it comes to her now.
Bucky calls me paranoic.
"Why do you say that?Do you think she is lying to you?" my friend asks sceptically.
“No, that's not but…she's already 18 weeks pregnant and she's never had a check-up.An ultrasound.She says they are fine but I think she should be checked anyway"
"She has not told her father yet, right?"
"Exactly.She is afraid and she is finding a thousand excuses.She has to tell him so at least I can take her to a doctor and we can check the real health of the baby” I reply feeling helpless in all of this.
Damn!
“Don't worry Steve.Lily would never endanger the baby, if she says it's okay you have to believe her”
I sigh.
"I think you're right"
"So are you going to tell the others tonight?" Nat asks me with enthusiasm.
I look at her smiling.
She seems even more excited than me for this baby.
“Yes Nat, I'll do it tonight for dinner.It is for this reason that I asked everyone to be present"
"Are you nervous?"
“A little bit.I would have liked to do it with Lily but apparently Strange is incorruptible.He doesn't want her to see me.He doesn't want her to leave the Sanctuary.He said after four weeks we could see each other again”
Natasha laughs.
"In the end she failed to corrupt him as she believed"
I laugh too.
"Yeah...but I'm sure if she told him about the pregnancy she would soften him up a bit” I reflect aloud.
“Or he'd come and kick your ass Rogers!Lily is his little girl, he has just begun to tolerate you and you got her pregnant.I don't think he'll be very enthusiastic at first"
Natasha is visibly refraining from laughing at me.
“And you think I don't know?I'm pretty sure Strange will kill me"
I laugh but inside of me I have a bit of fear.
Strange is a powerful sorcerer, I don't feel like underestimating him so lightly.
Finally the door to Fury's office opens and Maria Hill looks out to signal us to enter.
"C'mon Romanoff!The sooner we finish, the sooner we could go home”
Natasha smiles at me as she passes me.
I take a deep breath trying to put all my fears and worries aside.
Now I have to work.
Now I can't be a boyfriend and a worried father.
Now I just have to be Captain Rogers.

We are all seated together around the large kitchen table.  The chair next to me, Lily's seat, is empty.
I feel a little sad about her absence but in the end I am with all my friends.
Together with the people who over the years have become a full-fledged family.
Sam and Bucky are sitting across from me, having a very animated discussion about cars.
Bucky continues to argue that the best cars are the ones produced after the 1960s while Sam goes against him by telling him that the technology of the last decade has taken cars to another level.
“I'm just telling you this my friend.Shelby Mustang GT 500 Super Snake ’67” exclaims Bucky confidently.
"Pfff!Don't make me laugh!I only answer you with Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+"
"What?That thing doesn't even have the shape of a real car” Bucky replies almost disgusted.
"You are two idiots" Natasha scolds them, rolling her eyes.
Bruce and I look at each other smiling.
"What do you want to understand about cars, Romanoff" teases Sam.
"Watch your mouth Wilson" warns Bucky pointing his fork at him.
Tony, who once would have thrown headlong into an argument about cars, now has only eyes for his fiancée.
Right now he is making sure that Pepper's plate is full enough, that she is eating enough and even that the water is at the right temperature.
Pepper watches him softly.
She knows very well that he is exaggerating but I think she enjoys receiving so much attention from her man.
Would I also behave like this if Lily were here?
Maybe.
Or maybe even worse.
I watch Pepper closely.
She looks radiant, her belly is now really noticeable and she caresses it all the time.
And so does Tony.
I envy them so much.
I too would have liked to follow Lily's pregnancy step by step and instead I found myself catapulted into this situation without having had time to assimilate what happened.
I have no idea how to raise a child.
What does a child need?
Will I have to find an apartment all to ourselves?
Would my old apartment be a safe place for the baby?
Pepper notices that I am watching her.
She smiles at me softly and I return her smile.
I turn completely to her, feeling compelled to ask her how she is.
After all, she just caught me staring at her like an idiot, she'll surely think I got a screw loose.
“How are you Pepper?And the little Morgan?"
She strokes her belly again, she does it almost without realizing it.
Who knows if Lily does it too.
“We're fine” she replies with a beautiful smile.
I go back to look at her belly.
"Do you want to caress it?"
I gasp at her question as I lift my gaze from her body to place it in her eyes.
"What?Oh no, no.Sorry if I was staring at you” I stammer embarrassed.
Pepper laughs heartily and grabs my hand and with a disarming delicacy she places it on her belly.
I feel something hard under my hand.
“This is her little head” she explains to me.
At her words I immediately withdraw my hand.
"Oh sorry...I don't...do you think I hurt her?" I ask scared.
Pepper bursts out laughing attracting everyone's attention.
Then she grabs my hand again and brings it back to the same spot as before.
“Don't be silly Steve.You could never hurt her” she answers me softly.
“How about this Rogers?Absurd, true?" Tony asks me, certainly amused by my terrified expression.
Meanwhile, Stark's girlfriend moves my hand a little higher and suddenly I feel a kick.
Strong and decisive.
I widen my eyes overwhelmed by wonder.
Tony looks at me smiling.
"What did I tell you...absurd, huh?"
Tony turns his attention to Bruce to answer a question from him.
I look up at the table and notice that no one is paying attention to me so I decide to ask Pepper a few questions.
"Does she hurt you?" I ask her.
"Sometimes" she admits with a chuckle.
"Is pregnancy hard?"
Pepper looks at me with her huge blue eyes, she looks like she's studying me intently.
"You will be a great father Steve" she tells me simply leaves me thrilled.
She knows?
"It is normal to be scared but I assure you that Lily is fine, the pregnancy is hard but it is a sublime experience" she adds gently placing her hand on mine which is still on her belly.
Another kick hits the palm of my hand.
I chuckle.
"How long have you known ?" I ask curiously, amazed that Tony hasn't reserved any digs or stupid jokes for me.
"We?Oh no no, no us.Only I know.I figured it out on my own and Lily only confirmed my suspicions" she explains to me.
"How did you do?" I ask amused.
I am her boyfriend, the man who should know her, I should have understood and instead I have not noticed anything.
Pepper taps the side of her nose with a finger exclaiming "Pregnant woman's nose"
We laugh together.
I keep smiling at her and removing my hand from her belly I turn to grab my glass and I clear my throat.
"Excuse me, can I have your attention?" I ask with my face on fire.
I even feel my ears burning with embarrassment.
Bucky and Nat have huge smiles on their faces, their eyes sparkling with joy.
I turn my gaze back to Pepper and she gives me an encouraging smile.
I swallow empty and after taking a deep breath I speak.
"I just wanted to tell you that if I asked you all to be present tonight it is because I have something to tell"
I feel my heart beating furiously in my chest, I feel euphoric and excited to share my joy with the people I now consider my family.
"Lily and I are going to have a baby" I announcement full of pride.
“Steve it's amazing!" Sam exclaims rising from his seat and coming to hug me.
"Nice shot Captain" laughs Tony, joining me for an hug.
Everyone in turn congratulates me, even Natasha gets up to hug me.
I laugh at her enthusiasm.
We sit down again and the evening is filled with chatter and laughter.
Obviously the main topic is me.
"You know I'm amazed Rogers" Stark says after sipping some wine.
"I thought you were an old-fashioned man.I was sure you would marry her first"
"Yeah...theoretically those were my intentions but..."
"But he doesn't know how a condom works so...here we are" Bucky interrupts me raising his glass in my direction.
Everyone burst out laughing.
I throw my napkin in his face as Nat slaps him on the back of his neck.
"Ouch baby!" Bucky whines.
"Thanks Nat"
"You're welcome" winks my friend in my direction.
"I would have liked to announce it with her but unfortunately she cannot leave the Sanctuary because of the training"
"Her father doesn't know, right?" Tony asks me, narrowing his eyes.
"What makes you believe that?" I smile briefly.
The billionaire stares at me with a raised eyebrow.
“Erm... because hasn't he yet crashed into the tower, breaking in like a mad murderer?Rogers you got his sweet and pure baby girl pregnant, do you think he'll let you live?" Tony chuckles as Pepper scolds him.
“Oh c'mon!Do you want to stop scaring him?You're idiots”
I wave my hand to Pepper as if to tell her not to worry.
“That's okay Pepper.Basically it is the truth.Sooner or later I'll have to face Strange's wrath" I giggle nervously.
“I'm sure everything will be fine.A child is always a joy.He will love his nephew without hesitation” adds the blonde woman.
“Oh but I have no doubts about that.He will love the baby.I'll be the one he hates” I reply.
"Have you already thought of a name?" asks Sam.
"Not yet" I reply.
It's actually something I haven't thought about in the slightest.
"Pfff!Yhere is no decision to make.Obviously he will be called James” my best friend says confidently.
“Or Natasha if she's going to be a girl” adds Nat.
I laugh heartily.
"I think Lily and I will decide later”
Nat and Bucky look at me sideways.
I roll my eyes.
“It will be awesome!In a few months there will be two children at the tower” chirps Pepper as Natasha nods with a dreamy look.
"When should be born?" Bruce asks, breaking into the conversation for the first time.
"October.He should be born by mid-October but we still don't have any certainty” I say.
Bruce's gaze is perplexed.
"She hasn't paid any visits to date?" he asks me.
"Unfortunately not" I admit feeling almost guilty for not having insisted more on this topic with Lily.
Dr. Banner looks worried.
“Do you think there is some problem with her pregnancy?Or with the baby? Because of the Stone?" I ask fearfully.
Bruce looks at the others then returns his gaze to me.
“No, no problem but I think you know this baby is going to be special.I know you've thought about it” he replies, looking me straight in the eye.
I know what he is talking about.
"Hello?I am here!My little girl will be special too!" Tony replies crossing his arms over his chest.
Bruce laughs.
“Of course Tony, your little girl will be special too, especially for me.You are my greatest friend but what I am referring to is more complicated”
Bruce sighs then calmly explains what he wants to say.
I listen to him with the utmost attention.
“You and Pepper are two normal people, all your children will always be just human beings.But Steve...the super soldier serum flows in his veins while in Lily's body there is one of the most destructive forces in the entire universe.This child could have both powers or be a normal child"
"Do you think they could be in any danger?" Bucky asks.
His worried eyes are the mirror of mine.
“I should take some samples from the mother and the baby but I feel I can exclude that it is dangerous or that one of them is in any danger.We know that the Stone protects its Guardian so the child is safer than he will ever be in his life”
Bruce looks me in the eye smiling, he seems sincere...even if after a moment his gaze darkens.
"But?You have the face of a but Doc” asks Sam looking at him with a puzzled look.
Bruce moves uncomfortably in his chair, his eyes immediately search for me.
I know he doesn't want to worry me but there is certainly something else he wants to tell me.
“You will always have to be very careful.A baby with certain powers or abilities will always attract unwelcome attention.Evil people might be interested"
I clench my fists hard, my jaw clenches so much that my teeth could break at any moment.
“Let them try!They will taste my fury” Nat murmurs between her teeth.
"And my knives" adds Bucky.
I relax slightly.
Knowing that the people around this table would be willing to die to protect Lily and the baby warms my heart.
“I think about it from the first moment but I didn't want to tell her anything so as not to burden her with further stress.After he is born we will see what to do" I say more to reassure myself.
Pepper strokes my back.
"It'll be okay" she murmurs in my direction.
I smile at her weakly.
"Will you ask her to marry you?" Tony asks quickly, easing the tension.
I laugh amused.
"I have not thought about that yet.But I don't want to do it now.Maybe I'll wait for the baby to be born.I don't want her to think I want to marry her just out of a sense of duty...just because she's pregnant”
“Oh Rogers don't be silly!Lily knows perfectly well that you love her more than anything in the world” Tony retorts.
"I hope so.I have always tried my best to prove it to her" I reply laughing.
"You try it a little too much” exclaims Sam pointing to the crotch of my pants.
"Oh my God!" the two women exclaim in unison.
"You're disgusting Sam!" adds Natasha, throwing a fiery look at poor Sam who is now shrugging with enviable indifference.
We all laugh together.