Her White Wolf

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Cleo slept like a rock while she was pregnant; that was something she hoped persisted after Grant was born but she didn't have high hopes for that. She'd wake up every time he moved; she was sure of it. But why not take advantage of that now? She was curled into a little ball on her side, hair pulled over one shoulder and it was a few hours before she began to rouse. As her eyes blinked open, she caught a glimpse of Steve lying beside her.

"Were you watching me sleep?" she asked with a drowsy smile.

Steve smiled at her softly before reaching out to run his thumb across her cheek. "I might have been," he murmured softly. "Is that okay?"

Her smile grew gently. "It's okay," she agreed with a gentle nod. She reached out in kind and ran her fingers through his blonde hair. "Did you talk to your friend?" she asked as she rubbed her eyes.

He nodded, letting out a soft sigh. "I have to leave in the morning, baby. They need my help. There're other super soldiers causing problems and Sam isn't enhanced."

She couldn't help the initial frown that passed over her features. His reasoning made sense, but that didn't mean she wanted him to leave. "I understand," she said quietly. She reached out to take his hand and place it on her belly. "We'll just miss you."

"I'll miss you too," he murmured. "I'll miss all three of you like absolute crazy. But... Buck did have an idea."

She raised her brows and rolled a bit more onto her side. "What kind of idea?"

"If you're up for it, we could have a session tonight after dinner and we're settled," he replied. "If you're not feeling up to it, Buck and I will be okay with it. Or you could start out watching. It's your call."

Her smile started warming in a different way as she watched him. "I'd love to send you off that way, soldier," she replied, a thickness in her voice as she spoke.

Steve smiled at her. "As long as you're up for it, honey. I don't want to force you into anything."

Cleo actually laughed softly. "You're not forcing me to do anything, I promise, Stevie," she told him lightly. "I'm too stubborn for that."

He laughed softly before pulling her against him so he could kiss her properly. "Just letting you know, sweetheart. That's all."

She leaned into the kiss, wishing she would be able to stay this close to him but knowing that time was ticking away. He'll be back. Remember that. "I think that sounds like a great plan. Do you know what James is making for dinner?"

"I'm not sure. We can go down and see?"

"Okay," she agreed, yawning once more before she slowly sat up. "I swear, every time I wake up, I swear he is bigger."

Steve sat up and reached to run his hand over her stomach. "I'm sure he feels that way once he settles. He'll sink back down again."

"He's sleeping right now. At least he isn't kicking me," she said with an easy smile before she scooted to the edge of the bed to carefully get out of it. "Last night his foot was right in my lung."

"Ouch," Steve winced. "I can't imagine being able to feel something moving inside of me."

Cleo laughed brightly. "It feels like having an alien moving around in there," she explained as best she could. She waited for him at the edge of the bed before she took his hand to stand.

Steve kissed her softly as he wrapped one arm around her. "I imagine so." He caressed the side of her stomach softly. "I love you, Cleo."

She leaned into him, in no hurry to slow or end the kiss. Knowing there was an ending coming, she wanted to hang onto him as long as she could. "I love you, Steve," she whispered in quiet reply. "I wish I had something to give you to keep with you while you're gone..."