Tess (A Dark!SteveRogers AU)

Chapter 25

"What the hell are you doing!" Steve almost had a heart attack on seeing his wife rolling some barrels into the workshop. "You're s'posed to be resting!"

"Resting my ass!" She bit back with a roll of her eyes, "I'm not a fucking invalid Steve, I'm just carrying a baby".

Over the months that had passed, her stomach had grew to the point where now she wondered whether a baby could fit in there any longer. Banner had predicted she only had weeks left to deliver and had advised bed rest, however Tess had defied orders and was doing everything to give her husband a heart attack in his opinion.
Just the other day he'd scolded her for going riding, the week before that she was out shooting bottles off a fence for target practice.

There was no stopping her.

"Banner told you to rest!"

"I've spent more time on my back with you than I have in my whole life. I'm perfectly capable of doing chores".

"Chores ain't rolling barrels Tessie! Go and sit down, I was gonna bring these in later"

She huffed and stomped out. Still she didn't like being told what to do, especially by her husband. Their relationship could still be fiery at times, the disagreements sometimes to a point where she'd pull her gun on him.

But she'd never shoot.

Both were still as stubborn as one another, however Steve had found that lately he'd had to back down so as not to stress her or the baby.

He found her on the rocking chair on the porch, gently rocking back and forth while patting her stomach and muttering to the baby as to how much of an ass its father could be at times.

"Tess...I'm only worried you'll overdo it".

"I'm the only one who knows when I do. It's not for you to decide".

She'd become snappier lately, and impatient. Steve had noticed most nights she'd be in discomfort, not being able to find a suitable position to sleep in.

"I am so over child bearing" she huffed. "Just get it outta me".

"Not long now".

"That's what everyone keeps saying, but they're not the ones who can't sleep or anything like they used to". She grumbled as Sarah brought her out a cup of water. "I just want this to end".

Sarah smiled lightly. "Could be anytime from now, that's what Banner said. Best thing you can do is go for walks, sometimes that can get things started, another is some kind of remedy that Wanda mentioned..."

"No". Steve said firmly. "No remedies, look Wanda may be a friend but we don't know what's in that stuff".

Tess gave him a dry look. "You're not the one who has to push a human outta her hoo ha, you get no say in how I try and get this baby out".

"And on that threat, I am going back to work - Tessie, be a good girl and stay there. No lifting, riding, nothing".

"Whatever". She huffed again and crossed her arms in defiance, turning her head away from him".

"That mean I'm getting the silent treatment? You're seriously resorting to that?" She said nothing, still adamantly ignoring him. "Alright then...guess I'll go back to work".

Sarah looked at her daughter in law once he was gone. "He only says it coz he cares".

"I know, and I feel bad for snapping, but I can't help it".

"You're just experiencing what every woman does, you think I didn't go off at Joe when I was having. Steve? I wanted him out of me before the morning sickness had even stopped". She smirked, "by the time he came along? I couldn't wait to go back to doing what I used to".

Tess stared at her stomach, by now the baby was kicking against her. "So I shouldn't feel bad about wanting to do things I shouldn't?"

"Didn't stop you before so why should it now? How about you go for a short walk. May do you some good, I can ever come with you if like?"

Tess nodded. "I'd like that".

As the two women went to leave, they saw two men on horses trotting through town.

The new sheriff and his deputy.

Since Walker had been killed, it had taken some time to find someone new to come and take over. Crime had been a little higher during that time, the undertaker thriving in business, however once Sheriff Nicholas Fury and Deputy Phillip Coulson had arrived, peace was restored...just.

The women men stopped, dismounting and walking towards them. "Afternoon ladies..." Fury said as he stopped at the steps of the porch.

"Sheriff, what can we do for you?" Tess asked, one arm resting over her stomach

"Little bird told me that me that your husband looted a travelling salesman last night. Left quite a mess behind too".

Tess smirked. "Then you were told right, go on in, he's got your cut".

Fury nodded.

Not a lot of people would think a man like Nick Fury was in league with bandits, especially being the sheriff, however he'd known Joe Rogers back in the day before he'd left Coalstone. Now back as the sheriff, his job would be to protect the town, but keep it flourishing, even if money was to be made in the ways that it shouldn't be. Like Steve, Nick and Phil had a respectable image to keep up with, and so any dealings were usually done after dark.

Once a bandit, always a bandit.

"How long?" Phil asked, noting Tess' stomach.

"Few more weeks, can't come sooner". She said impatiently.

"It'll go quickly". He smiled as Fury emerged from the workshop. "Better get back to work. Have a nice day ladies".

The two women watched as they rode off before smiling to themselves knowing and then heading off for their walk.