Tess (A Dark!SteveRogers AU)

Chapter 26

The sound of the river calmed Tess as she was settled beside it.

She'd been awake earlier than usual and had slipped out at dawn, needing the walk more than anything. The dull aches in her stomach had been on and off, gradually increasing with intensity.

She exhaled out the air she'd inhaled into her lungs deeply, with a small groan. The pain she could handle at the moment as it was coming in waves, but as they were growing she knew that it would probably be unbearable within time.

"Alrighty Tess...this is it, today's the day". She told herself with some encouragement. "You've got this..." a sharp pain seared across her abdomen and she groaned out, clutching at the grass until it passed. "Nope...don't think I've got this..." she squeaked and got on her hands and knees, crawling to a nearby tree and pulling herself up using its trunk.

She had to get home.

Tess began to walk, having to stop every so often and lean over as another contraction came and passed. The walk itself was starting to feel longer than usual.

Sucking in some air she exhaled it deeply, muttering "motherfucker" as she did. If she could cope now then how was she to even do so when it came to pushing the thing out?

Home.

Carrying on, her pace was beginning to slow until she heard the sound of hooves. "Tess! Tessie!" Steve yelled and dismounted, running over to her as she collapsed against him. "What is it? Are you alright?"

She looked up at him as she clung to him. "It's started..."

"Shit..."

Without hesitation, he scooped his wife up and set her upon his horse, mounting and sitting behind her before spurning the horse back to town.

Tess leant forward against the horse's mane, trying to focus through another pain. Even though they were riding, home still felt like a million miles away.

Finally, the house came into sight and Steve rode in, helping Tess from the horse and carrying her in.

"Ma! It's time!" He yelled as Sarah came hurrying out of her room.

Immediately, she sprang into action, barking orders at him. "Get her on the bed, Tess, we need to change you into your night gown, Steve, go get Natasha and then make yourself scarce". She looked at him as he seemed reluctant to leave his wife. "She'll be ok, it's gonna be a while yet - now go!"

He nodded and headed off to town to tell Nat, then making for the saloon to spend the hours of waiting with Bucky and Sam.

Sarah rubbed Tess' back once she'd changed and was bra I against the side of the bed. "You're doing great..."

"Really?" Tess groaned, "coz it sure as hell don't feel like it!"

Nat smiled over from where she was pouring some water into a basin, having brought some fresh linens and blankets with her. "Think Steve's gonna be more impatient than you are, looked as white as a sheet earlier".

"I need him here..." Tess breathed.

"This ain't a place for a man". Sarah insisted. "Trust me, you're in safe hands".

Tess leant back up and paced the room, trying to take her mind from the pain. "How longs this gonna take?"

"Baby comes when baby wants to". Sarah said, "we're gonna be a while".

Tess' hand slammed against the wall as she clutched her stomach. "I swear to god this baby wants to tear me apart!"

Nat took her hands. "Breathe, in...and out..." she told her, Tess now following her guidance until the pain has subsided somewhat.

"Now. You can have this baby in other positions if you don't feel comfortable lying down. Could be standing, sitting, squatting, hands and knees..." Sarah gave her some options.

"So basically all the positions that got me into this in the first place". Tess threw back dryly. "I need to lie down..." she now felt her legs give way slightly as Nat and Sarah caught her.

"I think that's a sign for you to start taking it easy now". Sarah smiled. "Can I take a look?"

"You wouldn't be the first person to ask me that, but sure" Tess breathed as a stronger pain seared through her.

Sarah lifted Tess' nightgown up and looked. "Nothing yet..." she said, getting back up. "We'll soon know though, for now we just need to play the waiting game. Keep you comfortable and before you know it, we'll have that baby in your arms.

Hours passed and the pain was becoming unbearable. Tess was completely drenched in sweat as she cried through another contraction that washed over her. "Oh my god! I can feel it!"

Sarah hurried over, pushing the night gown up to Tess' waist and looking to Nat. "I can see a head, alright Tess, you're gonna show us how strong you are ok? Next pain, I want you to push hard for me".

Tess screamed out in agony as she bared down hard, hands gripping the bedsheets.

"That's it! Good girl! Keep going!" Sarah encouraged.

"I want Steve!"

She couldn't do this. Not without him, it was too painful.

"C'mon! Harder!" Sarah instructed, "you've got this ok!"

Pain rippled between her legs as she pushed once more, screaming out.

"Tess! Look down for me sweetie". Sarah told her. She did, now seeing the baby's head between her legs. "One more big push and it's here ok, you're almost there".

She pushed again, wincing slightly at the ever growing pain between her legs. "Fuck!"

"Nat, I need you..." Sarah now beckoned her to her side. "Shoulder's a little stuck, help me".

"What!" Tess panicked.

"It's alright". Sarah reassured her, "push again for me, and baby will be here".

With the last ounce of strength she had left within her, Tess gave a final push, the room then filled with a little squeal as Sarah quickly placed the bloodied baby onto her chest. "Oh my god..." she said in shock whilst the baby cried away on her. "Oh god..."

"Nat, go and tell Steve his son is ready to meet him". Sarah smiled, placing a blanket over the baby and looking elated. "Well done Tess, he's the finest boy in all of Coalstone".

Tess looked down at the baby who had calmed at the feel of her and stroked his hair. "Hi you..." she half laughed, half cried.

"Let's get him wrapped up. No doubt Steve will be here in a minute". Sarah finished what she needed to, taking away the bloodied linens and taking the baby, cleaning him up before wrapping him in the blanket.

Passing him to Tess, she helped her to sit up a little more before Steve came rushing in, stopping suddenly as he saw his wife and what she was holding.

"Well I'll be damned..." he muttered as he now came over and perched on the side of the bed next to his wife, pushed back some sweat drenched hair and kissing her forehead.

"Your boy wants to say hello to his daddy". She grinned.

"Well done Tessie". He told her, admiring his son. "He's gonna be breaking some hearts for sure".

They stared down at their son, in awe and shock.

He was finally here...

Something they finally had to show that wasn't part of a deal, and already they knew that they would let nothing happen to him. No matter what.

"Much like his daddy then". Tess now smirked.

Steve turned her head to him, and kissed her deeply again. "Love of my life..."

She rested her forehead against his. "Heart of my soul".