It's Been A Long, Long Time // Steve Rogers

Chapter 36

"Good morning." I mumbled, rolling over into Steve...only to find the bed empty. I frowned when his spot was cold, suggesting he had been out of bed for a while. I glanced over at the clock and it was only 9am. I guess he could have gone out on his run with Scout...but I thought he would have stayed in bed with me this morning.

I pulled myself out of bed and decided to get dressed for the day. I pulled on something simple and walked out of Steve and I's room and out into the common area of the compound that we were still living in for the time being. Steve and I had spoken about moving out but we just hadn't quite found a place yet.

"Hello?" I called out as I entered the area. It was dark except for the light filtering in through the windows. "Steve??"

No answer.

"Bucky??"

No answer.

"Scout??"

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I guess they could have gone out together but I was really expecting at least one of them to be home. I sighed and walked back into our bedroom.

"Happy birthday to me." I said softly, picking up the photo of Lois, Riley, Maddy, John, Howard, Steve, and I from my going away party. This would be my first birthday away from my friends and not even Steve or Bucky remembered apparently. I'd let Bucky off the hook, he had his mind messed with and in his defense hadn't seen me for 70 years. But Steve? He had no excuse. I couldn't even cuddle with my dog because he was gone too.

I laid back down on the bed and picked up the phone that Steve had gotten me. I still don't really know how to use it but I was figuring it out. It didn't help that Steve and Bucky were both no good with technology either. Bucky was at least a little better but Steve was hopeless. Sam had been a big help though, so I at least knew how to text and call.

I pulled up my text thread to Steve and sent him a quick text asking where he was. Now all I could do was wait and hope that my boyfriend and brother remembered my birthday.

Steve's POV

Becca
Hey, where did you guys go?

"Buck, I feel bad lying to her." I said, staring at the text message Becca had just sent me. "She'll be fine, Steve." He said, waving his hand at me. "But it's her birthday. She probably thinks I forgot..."

"That's the point of a surprise, Steve." He said and walked forward through the store where we were picking up her birthday cake. "Now should we use 27 or 100 candles." He joked and raised his eyebrows." I glared at him and he smirked. "I'm kidding!"

"She would murder you in your sleep. She doesn't feel 100 like us pal, 1950 wasn't that long ago from her." I reminded him. "I know, I know. Let's just get her cake and then go home." I sighed and replied to Becca quickly.

Steve
Out on a run with Buck & Scout, be back soon

I felt terrible lying to her but Bucky was adamant we make this birthday special since we took her away from all her friends. I tried to tell him that it would be just as special to her as long as he was there but he wanted to surprise her. We stepped up to the counter and looked at the cakes in the display case. "Think we should get her this one?" He said, poking me with his elbow and pointing to a red, white, and blue Captain America themed cake.

"Buck." I said. "What! She loves you, she'd love the cake!"

"Can you write on these cakes?" I asked the woman behind the counter, ignoring Bucky. "Of course! Which one would you like?"

I glanced down at the cake case again and pointed at a white iced cake, "what flavor is this?" "Half chocolate and half vanilla." She replied. "This one, please." The woman nodded and carefully pulled the cake out of the case. "What would you like me to write on it?"

"Can you write, 'Happy Birthday Becca!' on it?" I asked. "Oh come on, that's it??" Bucky said and I shrugged. "She's not gonna care about what's written on the cake, Buck...she'll be more interested in eating the cake."

"You're literally no fun." Bucky said. The woman took the cake to the back and came out about 10 minutes later with the cake for us. I paid for it and we made our way back outside to the car where Scout was waiting. I passed off the cake to Bucky and got into the driver's seat. I made the drive back to the compound and we exited the car, walking in quietly so that Becca might not see the cake until a little later.

"Bex?" I called out as I let go of Scout's leash, letting him run through the compound to find her. He barked when he found her and soon she was making her way out of our bedroom. "Hey sweetheart." I gave her a kiss on the lips and she sighed. She thinks I forgot her birthday. "How was your morning?" I asked her. "Good. Kind of lonely waking up without either you or Scout today." She said.

"I know, I'm sorry, sweetheart. You know I try to be back before you but Bucky and I got a late start this morning." I said, explaining our absence. "Do you know what day it is?" She asked. Yes, it's your birthday. "Thursday?" I can't believe I'm lying to her. She nodded and I held her hand in my face, "hey, what's wrong?"

I didn't need to ask to know what was wrong. I knew already. I was deliberately forgetting her birthday and she was upset.

"Nothing, just tired." She gave me a fake smile that made my chest tighten. "What do you say we go take a shower? Maybe that will wake you up?" I suggested. She nodded, sadly, and I took her hand, "I'll meet you there. I just have to go tell Bucky something." I gave her a quick kiss and she walked back into the bedroom with Scout.

I quickly found Bucky. "How long do you need? She looks like she's on the verge of tears and if she cries...I'm going to cave." I asked. "Can you keep her busy and her mind off of it for an hour? Sam is on his way now to help set up some decorations." I certainly could keep her busy for an hour...probably even more. I raised my eyebrows at him and he recoiled. "Okay, hey! No, ew! That's my sister Rogers!"

I laughed and patted his back with a laugh, "You asked, Buck."