Wait for the Signal: A Royalty Steve Rogers Story

Twenty-nine

Steve

Once my mother was finally asleep, I went back to my room. I quietly opened the door, trying my best to let my wife sleep.

But when I walked in, the bed was empty. I looked around, going into the washroom, the balcony, closets, everywhere.

I knew where she was. She was with Laura.

I went to our daughters room, finding her sitting in a chair, sleeping Laura in her arms.

"Hi." I whispered. She looked up at me.

"I could not be alone in there at night." She said. I kissed her temple.

"That's fine. You want her in ours?"

"I already dismissed the nurse for the night."

"Alright." 

She looked up at me. Her eyes were scared.

"I.."

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." She said.

"Come on. You got her or you want me?"

"You." She said. I took our sleeping baby. I loved how warm she always was. I kissed her little head. She was so beautiful. Just as her mother.

We went to my room. I set our girl in her bassinet, making sure she was warm. Elenor got into bed. I followed her.

"What's the matter?"

"I don't know." She said. "Is your mother alright?"

"Yes. Are you?"

"Fine."

"Ella. Darling..."

"I just felt panicky waking up and realizing you weren't there."

"I'm sorry."

"I don't blame you. I just needed to be honest."

"Understood."

"But I did like...the other things."

"I'm glad. I've missed you. A lot."

"I've missed you too." She said. She leaned into me. I kissed her head before she moved to be buried in my warmth.

"Sleep in tomorrow. Please get real sleep."

"I do not need sleep."

"Yes. You do."

"I need....I need to feel normal again. I almost died, that is that. Your father is dead. Eye for an eye. We are set for this throne steven. I do not know the first thing about being a royal. That is what I will spend my time on. My time is now. I am a wife, a mother, and a princess in a very short amount of time. These three things I did not expect to become. So now, we need to focus on what is next."

She was mature. And gracious. And everything I could ask for. So gentle at times, but so willing in others.

"Alright. Yes.."

"Good. Now tomorrow morning we will get up, and start planning the ceremony. I know there are things to prepare. I will be looking at how to act as if I was never a maid, because obviously I'm a bit rusted.."

"Am I allowed to still dream of living in the woods with you and Laura forever?"

"As long as it stays a dream darling."

"Our lives are moving aren't they?"

"All too fast."

~~~

I woke up the next morning to Laura's soft cries. Ella was asleep beside me. I got up, going to get my daughter.

She relaxed as I held her. Part of me wondered if she too had trauma at this age.

She calmed as I held her. I think she liked the feeling of skin on skin, as my tunic was thrown off.

I got back into bed. El stirred beside me, glancing at the baby in my arms. I gave her a little smile. She set her arm over me, closing her eyes again.

Laura whimpered in my arms. I sighed as Elenor sat up, moving her in. I knew she wanted to be fed.

"Relax." She whispered as she got her situated. I sat up against the head board with her. She was half asleep.

"How in the hell can royals not raise their children? I mean how does a woman not feed their child?"

"They have someone else do it." I said.

"That's so odd."

"You know what is odd? How a woman can feed her child through a breast."

"Cows do it." She mumbled. I smiled.

"Well according to little Laura it's perhaps the best thing."

"Food is the best thing to you too."

"No. You are. That's something Laura and I can agree on."

She smiled. "Right."

"It is."

She glanced at me. I gave her a smile again. "Love you."

"Mmm."

"Say it back wife."

"Alright. I love you too."

"Such a darling."

But all jokes aside, she truly was.