Welcome To New York (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

32

I wake early on Saturday morning and realise that Steve isn't next to me. It's 6am, however he'll usually stay in bed with me until I wake up. Lately all I've wanted to do is just lay down and nap, or sleep for an entire week. Already these babies are draining my energy and I hope that it'll pass soon enough. Same goes for the nausea.

He's not in his office, not in the kitchen. I check a few other rooms for any sign but he's not there. The only other place is the rooftop terrace, and now I climb the stairs up and head outside, hearing the sounds of early morning traffic below, and then seeing Steve just sitting on one of the rattan outdoor chairs, coffee on the table in front of him that's been untouched.

Walking up behind him, I gently massage his shoulders and lean down to plant a kiss on his cheek. "How lo by you been out here? Are you ok?"

He nods silently for a moment before opening up. "Not long, Just thinking about dad..."

I round the chair to sit opposite him but he pulls me onto his lap. "Have you spoke to him since we saw him the other day?"

"Yeah, but...now I gotta get my head around this too". His hand places itself on my stomach. "Just thankful I have you and these three to keep me on my toes".

"How did you wanna do things? Get married before the babies make an appearance or after?"

Would he want another wedding so soon after a divorce? Maybe it would be wise to just wait until the triplets decide to turn everything upside down and then get married.

"Before. I wanna do it before all hell breaks loose". He grins and kisses me gently. "Would you wanna do it that way?"

I nod. "I just didn't know whether you wanted to get married again after your divorce has only just been finalised really".

"It's no issue to me. I think we do need to do it sooner rather than later though".

"Yeah, I don't fancy rolling down the aisle". I admit. I'm gonna look like a whale at this rate. "Come back to bed". I utter against his lips. "Your babies demand it".

He chuckles softly and nods. "Well who am I to deny the kids eh?". They're gonna have him wrapped around their little fingers for sure. Sophie is hoping they're all girls, just to spite him. I have no clue on what they will be though, I'm just wanting to get through the nausea and tiredness that this trimester has hit me with. 

I slip off his lap and wait for him to follow me, both of us making for the bedroom.

"What do you think they are?" I ask once we're back cozy  under the covers again. His hand gently trails across my tummy that currently looks slightly bloated, but isn't much of a giveaway. Well, give it another couple of weeks...

"Girls". He says, "somehow I just can't picture any boys, but I'm not a psychic - besides, I just want them here healthy. That's the main concern. You need to rest up as much as you can Cop".

I nod, placing my hand on top of his. "I can't believe there's still three". My head hasn't stopped spinning from this since Banner pointed it out.

"Clearly I know how to do a job and do it well". He grins and places a kiss into my hair. "Also...I have somewhere to show you later".

I frown. "What are you planning, Rogers?"

The grin still doesn't leave his face. "Just the rest of our lives, Cop".

**

After breakfast (which I promptly throw back up again), Steve leads me down to the car and we drive out of the city, soon enough arriving at a private gated neighbourhood. Steve scans his card and says hello to the security guard, the gates opening and allowing us to drive through tree covered parkland. The odd home rises up from left to right behind gates, and eventually turns down one, the gates opening as he presses a code into the pad next to it. 

I can only compare this place to millionaires row. It's far from prying eyes, quiet, but at the same time it's something you'd see in films. Then I remember that my fiance owns Patriots and money has been in his family for years. 

The house itself is beautiful, big as you'd expect a mansion to be, but not too big to be considered over the top. Can you call something like this 'modest'? Somehow I can. "Is this place yours?" I frown as we get out, feet crunching across the gravel driveaway. 

"Ours". He corrects me. "Brought it last year, but with things as they were - never got to move in. I don't wanna raise our kids in a penthouse. If we had just one then I would've suggested we stay there, but with three and with the danger of the rooftop? I don't wanna chance it. This place is big enough for them to do what they want - after a big of baby proofing obviously". He smiles to himself. "An actual family home".

He's thinking of us, the babies. He brought this probably thinking that maybe one day it would happen for him and Peggy, but instead everything went to the other way. Now it's stood here just waiting to be filled with love. 

He unlocks the door and we walk inside to the entrance hall, wood flooring seeping into living spaces and entertaining rooms beyond the elliptical staircase. Hand-cut stone walls, custom fireplaces with stone mantels and hearths, coffered ceilings and mahogany-paneled walls are present in the rooms we walk through. It's light and airy in contrast to Joe's penthouse - but the same kind of aesthetic that Steve has in his. Light after darkness. 

There's more than enough space here. 

"I love it..." I breathe as we walk out on to the promenade from the master bedroom. It's perfect...

"I'm glad, part of me thought I'd have to sell - but now it seems I won't have a reason to, unless you think otherwise. 

I shake my head and he leans down to kiss me. It's ours, somewhere we can now actually make a life. 

It's home.