Cecily (Prince!SteveRogers AU)

10

I am roused the next morning by some low voices, turning over and blearily opening my eyes to find Sarah and Steve talking with one another. They are sat by the fireplace together.
The Queen's colour has returned to her face, the light into her eyes. She is back in full colour, just like the world is for her. She looks over and spots me waking up, smiling tenderly. "Cecily, I'm sorry, we didn't mean to wake you".

"It's ok" I yawn, "What time is it?"

"I had the servants let you both sleep. Steve needed his rest. It's just after noon".

"Noon!" I sit bolt upright and quickly hide my naked form under the sheets.

He smirks. "I think we both needed all the rest that we could get".

My cheeks flush as he says this, but the Queen remains unfazed. I wonder whether she has walked in on her son and other women before. There were others before me, I know that much. The gossips made sure that I did.

"I've told the servants to leave you be for today, however tonight is the celebrations for your homecoming. They will return to you then besides bringing you food. It's time you both need and deserve".

She also means it's time we both can have to make an heir without interruption.

Rising from her chair she smooths her skirts down and gives her son a kiss on his head. "Enjoy your day, perhaps walk the gardens and get some air". She suggests.

"We'll be sure to". He sees her out and tells her that we'll see her tonight. Then closing the door and turning to me. "Are you hungry?" He asks and I nod, slipping on my nightgown and coming to sit at the table with him. The servants have brought bread, fruit and some ale.

"Did you sleep well?" I ask, hoping that for the first time in years, he was able to rest easy.

He nods. "Thankfully yes. I didn't think that I would though, not with some of the things on my mind".

I look at him. "You must have seen some things..."

Another nod. "Too horrific to even talk about".

"Then don't, but I always will listen if you need me to. I can sense your mother is worried for you".

"She always has been, even more so now. She's asked our physician to bring me some sleeping drafts, and I'm not going to say no if it will at least give me some respite from the images that've been on my mind of a night". There's a pause before he then admits the next part to me. "I thought about you a lot..."

I pour him some ale, and a cup for myself. "You also thought to find me married..."

"I wouldn't have blamed you for wanting to move on".

"I lost my father, I was orphaned and widowed at the same time. Your parents were kind enough to keep me here, plus your mother needed me. I didn't want to leave her side".

He smiles now. "And I'm glad you didn't. I'm sorry about your father. I didn't know who we'd lost until I was told".

"How did you get by?" I ask.

"I had Sam and Bucky, a few others who they'd captured. We just had to wait until the opportunity for escape came".

"I was told you killed King Johann".

He finishes chewing on some bread before he replies. "I did, but his men took us, led by a man named Zola. He was the one who kept us in captivity".

"How did you escape?"

"A man also captured for different reasons. He was called Erskine...man risked his life helping us out of there". He looks a little deflated by the memory.

I say nothing for a moment, "well thanks to him, his sacrifice was not in vain, you came back to us".

"Yeah, although I feel bad I got to live and he didn't".

"And it's natural to feel that way. Erskine died so you could live. King Johann is gone, you and the other men are home safe at last. Would he have wanted you to feel guilt?"

He shakes his head. "No, I guess not".

I stand up and go to pick out a dress for the day. "Why don't we do what your mother suggested and take a walk? Perhaps it may clear your mind somewhat before tonight. You are bound to have questions, most of them repetitive".

He makes a face. "Part of me wonders whether to avoid it and say that I'm tired".

"And you'd have me make excuses to everyone for you?"

"You're my wife. I'd like to think that you would". He smirks.

I smile. "I suppose even though I barely know you, I would if I knew how tedious the night would be".

"Oh it will be. The last thing I want is people welcoming me home and asking how I made it out over and over..."

"I had to experience the same thing, people giving me their condolences after you'd died, telling me how awful it must be to 'lose one's husband' so soon after marriage". I tell him and then turn serious. "I felt such guilt when I bled, it was like I'd dashed every last hope that the King and Queen had for securing the kingdom with your family's bloodline".

I do not tell him that I wept because of it. My one duty and I could not even do that.

He takes in everything I've said. "Then it's just as well we have a chance to do so. I meant what I said yesterday Cecily, I want to know you if we're to have any chance of surviving a lifetime together".

"And I should like you to think that your father made a good choice in choosing me for you". I take my dress and look at him as I make for the screen to get changed behind.

His next words are serious.

"If he hadn't, then we wouldn't be stood here now"