Viscount (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

23

Jocelyn was already up and dressed, somewhere in the house when Steve woke the next morning. He needed to seek her out and tried the usual haunts, then choosing to look last in the gazebo where she would sometimes paint.

She was there, concentrating on the canvas in front of her, her brush making delicate strokes across it. She had painted the sunrise, or at least was in the process of doing so, even though it had passed.

"Beautiful". He commented as he leant down and kissed her cheek. "I thought you'd have spent a little more time in bed this morning? It was late when we got upstairs last night".

In all honesty, everyone had been eager to stay a little longer but had needed to get home. Bucky had stayed along with Sarah and Sam. Natasha and Yelena had also taken guest rooms, but still it was early so no one would really be awake yet.

"I couldn't really sleep, so I thought I'd paint as I haven't had chance to in ages". She replied as he sat next to her to admire her as painted more.

He took the brush from her hand and turned her head to face him. "What did Peggy say to upset you".

"Nothing".

"Joss..."

She knew she wouldn't be able to keep it from him. "It's nothing worse than what she usually says. She was just gloating about her pregnancy, that's all".

Damn. He knew his wife was yearning for a child as of late, so he could see why she would be upset. It was simply another dig at her that Peggy could do better than she ever could.

"You're disappointed that nothing's happened yet".

"You should be too".

"It's not always about that". He took her hand and squeezed it. "And if you think I'm disappointed then I'm not. It will happen when it does".

"And if it doesn't?"

He sighed. "Then we will cross that bridge if we ever come to it".

A tear rolled down her cheek. "Imagine what they will all say then. That I am not fit enough to be Viscountess as they had said, that I am barren and have failed you..."

"You've never once failed me, and never will". He wiped the tear away. "C'mon, don't be upset, the stress won't be any good for you either".

"For once, all I want is to feel accomplished in one area that my cousin is not, yet she always triumphs and I fail. It's like I am cursed".

He smirked. "Then we can only hope she has a girl".

She laughed through her tears. "Oh Steve, that's awful!"

"What? Just think, she has a girl and then we have a son, then who's the accomplished one". He chuckled and kissed her. "Come and eat something, then if you really want, I'll spend all day between your legs making you forget everything around us".

Jocelyn nodded at this. "I'd like that very much".

**

Bucky was the last to rise, coming into the drawing room around noon, Sarah shooting him a disapproving look. "Really James? You'll never take a wife if you wake up most mornings smelling like a gentleman's club".

"Or a brothel". Nat muttered into her tea cup as Jocelyn choked on a biscuit.

"I heard that Romanoff. And don't yell at me, it just goes to show that I had a great time at the party"

Sarah tutted. "I am so glad that Steve didn't turn out to be as much of a rake".

"Ouch". Bucky rolled his eyes and settled himself onto the sofa next to Yelena.

She looked at him unimpressed. "You smell like a whiskey bottle, James Buchanan", and shuffled up a little more towards Nat.

Steve had been in the corner reading the paper, but now lowered it. "Have a biscuit and some tea Buck, then you'll be fine".

"Your mom just called me a rake, are you gonna stick up for me?"

"Nope". Steve smirked to his friend. "My mom's word is final, I've learnt not to argue with her".

Jocelyn got to her feet and now poured Bucky a cup of tea. "Here, and the ginger biscuits will help, I knew you would probably be this way so I had cook make a batch just in case".

"Finally! Someone who cares". Bucky grinned and took a biscuit from tray. Joss handed him the cup and he nodded his thanks.

"You're too good to him, we've all learnt to just ignore him by now". Steve looked at his wife in amusement.

"You love me". Bucky said through a mouthful of biscuit. 

Steve lifted his paper back up again, "we love you more when you're either sober or comatose". By now Sam was trying to hide his laughter from where he sat. 

Jocelyn watched Nat with interest. She knew that her friend held Bucky in a higher regard than other men, and after secretly catching her leaving his room that morning, it only confirmed her suspicions more. Whether Steve knew was unknown, but she wasn't about to gossip about it to him. 

"Well thank you Jocelyn for being the only person to consider my feelings in all this". Bucky swallowed a mouthful of tea and then hesitated. "I'm ok...but I might not be in a half hour or so". 

Ringing the servants bell, one appeared at the door. "Could you ensure that there is a bowl in Mr Barnes room, he's feeling rather unwell, hold off on smelling salts, they'll only worsen his condition" Jocelyn told her and then turned to Bucky. "Back to your room until it wears off". 

"I'm fine, honestly". 

"You look green, now get upstairs before I reconsider the smelling salts". 

Bucky was on his feet and throwing his hands in the air. "Ok, I'm going, I'm going - geez Steve, is she this insistent with you?" 

"I really don't think you wanna hear my answer to that". Came Steve's voice from behind his paper. 

"And on that note, I'll help him upstairs". Nat rolled her eyes and went to escort Bucky out. 

Yelena announced she was going for a walk while Sam decided to head to the library. Jocelyn watched them leave and then glanced across to her husband. "I'm going to join Yelena, will I see you at dinner?" 

He nodded and kissed her hand. "Don't worry about what Peggy said". He told her quietly so as his mother didn't hear. 

"I'll try".  She replied and then went to catch up with Yelena. 

She would worry, even he knew that - and he wished that he could do more, but there was barely anything more that he could say or do to put her mind at ease. It was simply just a case of waiting and hoping.