All Grown Up: Green Series 12 (Pre-Serum Omega!Steve x Alpha!Bucky Domestic AU)

Ten

"How was work?" Steve asked as the girls entered the house after having their first day at the shop.

"Fine," the trio declared in unison, quickly heading for their floor of the house.

"Okay," Steve said, mainly to himself with furrowed brows. Putting the baked ziti into the oven, "I'll call you up when dinner's ready."

"Okay!" The trio called back.

It wasn't necessarily unusual for the triplets to be so tightly knit, but Steve still watched, confused, for a moment. Feeling as though something was off. As though something had happened.

"Well," Bucky announced himself, toeing off his work boots. "I figured out why the girls wanted to work down at the shop so bad."

"Oh?" Steve quirked a brow and leaned against the kitchen counter.

Bucky nodded, "Yup."

"And why's that?"

"They wanted to drool over the new alpha that dad hired since he retired," Bucky rolled his eyes. "They kept wanting him to show them how to do things. And wanted him to explain the parts of a vehicle. None of them actually cared about what they were supposed to be paying attention to. Hell, half the damn time, they were ogling him instead of looking at what was under the hood."

"Aww, babe," Steve pulled him in for a hug. Teasing, "It sounds like you're jealous."

"I'm not jealous," Bucky insisted, even though his lower lip was pursed in a pout.

Steve mimicked by exaggerating a pout of his own. Stroking the soft, gray hair at the back of Bucky's head, he reminded, "They're getting older. This is what they do."

"We should've never let them grow up," Bucky grumbled.

Playfully, Steve rolled his eyes, "That's what I've been saying all along."

"Maybe we should listen to you more often," Bucky smirked, leaning down for a kiss.

As Steve pulled away so he could get the garlic bread in the oven, Bucky settled on hugging him from behind. Scenting him, Bucky kept his nose buried in his neck. Not that Steve really minded. Especially considering how upset the alpha seemed to be.

Steve patted the hand resting on his stomach, "Just because they wanted to be around some new alpha doesn't mean that they don't still love you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Bucky playfully dismissed, kissing the mating scar. "I just didn't expect to be pushed aside, ya know? It's not something I'm used to."

Considering Bucky was their kids' favorite parent – and how could Steve blame them for loving their alpha father so much? – Steve knew that the alpha wasn't used to being cast to the side. He was always the first one they ran to – a fact that Steve adored and encouraged.

So, he gave his husband's strong, calloused hand a comforting squeeze, "I'm sure their crush will wear off soon. After all, they have their peers to drool over."

Bucky groaned in his annoyance, "Can't we just pretend they're still little and aren't interested in anyone?"

"Please," Steve good-humoredly scoffed, "If you believe that they haven't had crushes before now, you're even more gullible than I thought."

Scoffing, himself, Bucky bent down to nip at Steve's shoulder. Correcting, "I know this isn't their first crush. For fuck's sake, this isn't our first rodeo."

"I know," Steve chuckled, turning to face Bucky. Looking up at him, he scrunched his face in mock disgust, "Maybe shower before dinner? So you can, you know, taste the delicious dinner I slaved over."