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

Chapter 37

I watched as Becca sat at the vanity and slowly dried her hair off with a towel. She was still upset but hiding it well. "Becca?"

"Hmm?" She didn't even look back at me. "I thought we could grab dinner tonight?" I suggested. I already had the dinner planned but she doesn't know that. "Sure." She mumbled. I sighed and walked over to her, putting my hands on her shoulders. Her eyes met mine through the mirror. 

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer...I still needed to seem like I didn't know why she was upset.

She sighed and set the towel down on her lap. "You forgot what day it is today."

Okay Steve...you can do it. Just lie.

"Thursday, June 18th, 2024?" I said, trying to avoid her gaze. She huffed and stood up from the vanity and stomped into the closet. I guess I deserved that. "Come on, don't be like that Becca. We didn't have anything planned for today did we?" I asked as she angrily got dressed. "No Steve, we had nothing planned. Just a regular Thursday." She snapped. "Where are you going?" I asked her as she pulled on some shoes. "For a walk, away from you."

She quickly stomped away from me and I followed her slowly, sending Bucky a quick text that Becca was on her way...angrily...into the common area.

"Becca wait!" I caught up with her easily and she whipped around, hair flying around her, and glared at me. "What?" "You know how much I love you right?"

"I don't know Steve, do you? Because you seem to have forgotten that today is my..."

"SURPRISE!!!" Bucky, Sam, Pepper, and Morgan yelled as they jumped out with Scout. Her eyes widened and she spun back around. "Surprise sweetheart, Happy Birthday." I wrapped my arms around her as she smiled. "What is all of this??" She asked. I let her pull away from me and pressed a kiss to my lips, her anger and annoyance with me now forgotten, before she approached Bucky and pulled him into a hug. "I wanted to throw you a little party!" He threw his arm around her in a side hug.

"Thank you guys..." She said, her voice shaking slightly as she looked around. "I know it's not much but-" "But it's perfect, Bucky. Thank you." She gave him another squeeze before going to greet Pepper and Morgan who had found a best friend in Scout. "I thought you guys all forgot my birthday..." She said, tears slowly falling down her face. "Well I'm gonna be honest, Steve had to remind me but-" "I know, Buck. It's okay." She gave him another hug before walking over to me.

"You didn't think I would really forget your birthday did you, Becca..." I pulled her into my arms and kissed her head. "I still didn't like waking up alone." She mumbled. "I know, I'm sorry. Blame Bucky."

"Hey!" He shouted. She giggled slightly and pulled back so she could stand on her toes and give me a kiss. Soon Bucky and Sam were bringing out her birthday cake with only 27 candles on it. Pepper, Morgan, Bucky, Sam, and I started singing her happy birthday which brought more tears to her eyes. You could tell she really didn't have many birthdays like this, which is probably why this was in fact pretty special.

"Make a wish, sweetheart." I said, kissing her temple, before watching her lean forwards and blow out the candles.

"What flavor is it?" She asked. "Half vanilla, half chocolate." I said and Bucky handed her a knife to cut the cake. She wiggled around in excitement as she cut the cake down the middle.

"Becca can I have chocolate and vanilla?" Morgan asked, standing right by her side. "Of course you can!" Becca carefully handed her a piece of chocolate and vanilla cake on a plate and Morgan squealed with happiness "YAY! Cake for lunch!!" "Morgan, you have to sit at the table." Pepper said to her daughter who was making her way towards the living room. She huffed but then sat at the table anyway. Becca handed out the rest of the cake pieces before giving herself a large slice of chocolate cake.