Until the End: a Steve Rogers Story

• SIXTEEN •

I stared at myself in the mirror. I was seven months in.

I felt huge. And quite...ugly.

Steve looked at me from the bed as I stared at myself in the mirror.

"Everly."

"What?"

"Stop."

"I'm not doing anything." I said as I held back tears.

Steve got up and came over. He grabbed the mirror and flipped it so that I couldn't see myself.

"Don't." He said.

"I look fat." I whispered.

"Love you know that's part of the pregnancy is gaining weight. You look beautiful." He said.

"You're terrible at this."

"I know I'm sorry."

I laughed through the tears. He pulled me into a hug, kissing my cheek as he did.

"Do you want anything from the chefs?" He asked.

"No I'm alright. I'll be okay." I said.

He pulled away and stared at me. His hands were still on my waist.

"You look beautiful. The pregnancy process is truly a beautiful thing and you look breathtaking. I promise."

"You're just saying that because you have to."

"Have I ever lied to you?"

I stared at him. He hadn't.

"No."

"Then when I tell you that you look perfect, I mean it." He said. He kissed my lips softly.

I hadn't been seen by the court in a month. I absolutely hated it. But I couldn't be exposed to any illnesses.

But steve would bring me out at night, when everyone was asleep we would go out to the gardens and look at the stars.

"Can we go outside tonight?"

"It's chilly."

"I'll wear my cloak. Please?"

He sighed and kissed my head. "Let's go."

•-•-•-•

Steve laid on the ground with me. My head was on his stomach as we looked at the stars.

A little blanket was beneath us.

"What should our child be named?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. I've been thinking about it a lot." He said.

"Me too."

"I like Charles, William, and Alexander." I said.

"Alexander Steven." Steve said. I smiled.

"What if it's a girl though?"

"Hmm. I don't know. Maybe Everly jr." He joked.

"No Steve. What if it is a girl?" I asked.

He stared at me. "If it's a girl, we try for another."

I nodded softly.

"And I'm sorry if it has to be that way. I know how hard it is to go through this process."

I smiled. "It's not too bad."

"Well you also have a great attitude about everything."

"Perhaps I have a normal attitude and you've just seen my sister." I said.

"Ohhhh."

I giggled. "I love you Steve."

"I love you too sweetheart."

•-•-•-•

I stayed awake as Steve slept soundly beside me. He looked so peaceful as the moonlight cascaded over his body. His muscles still toned, even in his relaxed state. His hair a mess. He was an angel.

But what if I did have a girl? It took me months on end to get pregnant before. Now?

What happens now?

I didn't know if the child inside of me was a boy or girl. I just had to wait. But part of me wondered if my husband was going to be disappointed if it was a girl.

I turned my body. It was uncomfortable to sleep with the baby bump now.

I felt Steve's arms wrap around me, pulling my back against his front.

"You need sleep darling." Steve whispered.

"I'm getting there."

"Everly rose if you don't sleep..."

"Okay." I giggled. "Alright."

"Ev?"

"Hmm."

"Are you scared if we have a girl?"

I tensed and looked down at my stomach.

"I thought you would be."

"So we're both thinking of it."

"And I feel like it is." I said.

"Me too."

"Steve it took so incredibly long for us to get pregnant. What happens now?"

"We will wait and see, and then take it day by day."

I sighed and nodded.

"I'm overthinking all of this anyways."

"It's fine. We'll be alright."

"Okay."

He kissed the back of my head. "I love you but you need rest."

"Alright. I suppose."

He chuckled. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."