Time Unchanging

Chapter 182

After a while, Bucky and Loki felt it was a good time to leave. Eva told them that she had to talk to Steve. She knew her brothers would listen to her worries, but this was something she really should discuss with her husband. They understood and told Steve that Eva was ready to talk to him, even explaining how she was waiting to explain what was going on until she spoke with him first.

He walked into their room and saw her holding their son and backed out, saying, "Oh! Sorry!"

All week, she had refused to let him hold her and Grant while feeding, and he respected that wish, even though it hurt. So, it surprised him when she laughed.

"Steve," she called out, "I'm just holding him! Come in, you goof!"

He entered again, a hesitant smile on his lips. It was the first real bonding moment Eva was having with their son outside of feeding and changing him.

"Okay," he said. "Are you okay?"

She moved to the bed to be next to Steve, Grant lying peacefully in her arms. "I'm better now, thanks."

Steve went up and sat next to her. "So, you wanted to talk?"

"Yeah." Tears welled up. "Look, I was scared. Our other children," she took a breath, "I got attached and they were taken from us. I couldn't go through that again with Grant. It would have killed me if it happened again." Steve sat and listened, knowing Eva needed to get it off her chest. "In my mind, if I kept my distance, it would keep him safe and I'd explain it later."

She now knew that had been a terrible plan. Not only would it have put a strain on her relationship with her son, but there would have been the real possibility he would have hated her for not loving him as much as Fiona. And that couldn't be further from the truth. She hugged her son again, guilt filling her and Steve wrapped his arm around his wife and son.

"I'm glad you finally told me," he said. "I could have reassured you sooner, but I'm glad you're doing better."

"I know," she replied, noticing Grant nuzzling her chest for his lunch and began to get ready to feed him, "but I was protecting him. I'm doing much better now."

"Good."

He pulled her in close and kissed her deeply. All that pain and time was worth it, knowing she trusted him enough to tell him what she was feeling. Knowing she wanted him to be the first to know was even better because she understood that this was an issue with their little family among the Avengers. She chose to work through it with him over her brothers because it involved his son. This step forward had been a long time coming.

However, their kiss was cut short as Grant didn't like being squished between them while eating and kicked Steve in the chest. Husband and wife broke apart, laughing. When Steve went to leave, Eva took hold of his arm, preventing him from getting up.

"Will you hold us?" she asked. "I want you to be a part of this."

Now, it was Steve's turn to hold back tears as he replied, "Yeah, yes. I would love that."

He moved to sit behind Eva, holding her and watching his son. He would never tire of these moments.