Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Indigo's POV ~~
3 Months Later
She was freaking out.
Indigo paced the aisle of the convenience store, her heart hammering against her ribcage. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a cold, sterile glow on the linoleum tiles. She tried to steady her breathing, but every inhale felt too shallow, too rushed. Her fingers trembled as she ran them through her tangled hair, her eyes frantically scanning the shelves. Pregnancy tests. Where were they?
Her stomach churned with nausea that had nothing to do with morning sickness. It had only dawned on her that morning—two weeks late. She had dismissed it at first, blaming stress, travel, even her inconsistent eating habits. But as the days slipped by, the sinking feeling in her gut had only grown stronger. Now, standing in the middle of this dimly lit store, it was undeniable.
She couldn't be pregnant. Not now. Not when everything felt so uncertain.
Bucky wasn't ready for this. Hell, she wasn't ready for this. They had talked about the future, about what "someday" might look like. But that someday had always been distant, hazy—an abstract idea wrapped in the safety of time. This? This was real. This was now.
Bucky was barely holding himself together as it was. Every night, she woke up to the sound of his nightmares—his body thrashing, drenched in sweat, his breath ragged as he fought ghosts she couldn't see. Sometimes, he gripped her arm so tightly in his sleep that his fingers left bruises. She never told him. The guilt in his eyes was bad enough without adding more weight to it. Instead, she'd pry his fingers away, whisper to him, stroke his hair, ground him back in the present. Back to her.
Each morning, he would wake up with an apology on his lips, his hands hesitant when they reached for her, as if afraid of what he might have done. And each morning, she would reassure him, tell him it wasn't his fault, that he was safe. That she was safe.
But the truth was, she wasn't sure she was ready to add a baby into the mix.
A sharp, impatient sigh from a customer behind her snapped Indigo out of her spiral. She forced herself to focus, scanning the shelves once more. Then, finally—there.
On the last aisle, nearly hidden behind an array of feminine hygiene products, she spotted the small boxes. Without thinking, she grabbed three different brands, stuffing them into her basket before making her way to the counter.
The cashier barely glanced at her, his eyes heavy with exhaustion as he rang up her purchase. It was nearing midnight—she had slipped out while Bucky was asleep, leaving only a note in case he woke up. She couldn't bear to tell him yet. Not until she knew.
She tossed a few crumpled bills onto the counter, not waiting for change, and hurried toward the restroom at the back of the store.
Inside, she locked the door behind her, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts. The bathroom smelled faintly of bleach and cheap air freshener, but she barely noticed. Her hands shook as she opened the first box, fumbling with the plastic wrapper.
Deep breath. Read the instructions. Follow the steps. Simple.
Except it wasn't simple. Not at all.
She did all three tests, placing them carefully on a paper towel on the sink. Then, she set a timer on her phone.
Three minutes.
Pacing the tiny bathroom, she chewed on her lip, her mind racing. She tried to calculate odds, probabilities—anything to make herself feel like she had some control. Maybe the tests would be negative. Maybe she was just paranoid. Maybe—
Her phone buzzed.
Indigo jumped, staring at the screen as if it held the answers to her entire future. Swallowing hard, she stepped forward and picked up the first test.
Negative.
Her heart stuttered, a wave of relief washing over her. She grabbed the second test.
Negative.
By the time she confirmed the third was also negative, she exhaled a shaky breath, her hands gripping the edge of the sink for support. She wasn't pregnant.
She wasn't pregnant.
Indigo closed her eyes, letting that realization sink in. Relief flooded her, but beneath it was something else—something she couldn't quite name. She shook her head, dismissing the thought before it could take root.
Tossing the tests in the trash, she straightened her hoodie and pulled up her hood before stepping back into the store. She moved quickly, her feet carrying her out into the cool night air. The streets were mostly empty, the distant hum of city life providing a quiet backdrop as she made her way home.
When she reached their apartment, she hesitated for just a moment before turning the handle and stepping inside.
Bucky was awake.
He sat on the kitchen counter, arms crossed over his chest, his expression tense. His eyes, sharp even in the dim light, locked onto hers the second she walked through the door.
"Indigo, what the fuck?" His voice was hoarse, edged with worry. He hopped down from the counter and closed the distance between them in two strides, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Please tell me you're okay."
Indigo melted into his warmth, guilt pressing against her ribs. "I had to go to the store," she admitted softly.
Bucky pulled back just enough to study her face, his brows drawn together. "Why?"
She hesitated, biting the inside of her cheek. Then, with a deep breath, she met his gaze. "I needed to get a pregnancy test."
Bucky's entire body tensed. "Wh—what?"
"I was late," she said, voice steady despite the storm inside her. "I needed to be sure."
His hands tightened on her arms, his pulse thudding against her skin. "And?"
"I'm not pregnant."
The breath he let out was almost violent in its intensity. His shoulders sagged, and he ran a hand down his face. "Oh, thank god. I mean—shit, I didn't mean—"
Indigo chuckled softly, placing a hand on his chest. "I know, James. I felt the same way."
He exhaled again, wrapping his arms around her. "I do want kids. Someday. But right now... I just want you."
She pressed a kiss to his collarbone, her lips curving into a smile. "One day."
Bucky rested his chin atop her head, his arms holding her close. "You'll be an amazing mom one day, Indy."
Her eyes stung, but she blinked back the emotion, nodding against him. "And you'll be an incredible dad."
For now, they had each other. And that was enough.
~~~~~
Hello beautiful people! I could really use a hug but like, the dramatic kind, where someone spins me around and my life changes forever. Sebastion Stan, can I get a hug? Love you all, Jane---
