Rules of Friendship | 18+

𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦 ♡

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵♡➵➵➵➵➵➵➵

𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳

"Daddy's home!"

I smiled watching my daughter wobble down the stairs, tripping over herself to get to the front door as it opened. "Daddy!" Mia giggled, throwing herself into Steve's arms as soon as he dropped his bag, scooping up his daughter and giving her a plethora of kisses across her face. Mia squirmed, her loud giggle echoing down the short hallway before my two favorite people emerged into our living room, Steve's eyes bright and full of love when he focused on me.

"Hi, Stevie."

"Hi baby," Steve leaned down to kiss my forehead, setting Mia down much to her dismay. She was such a daddy's girl, she loved everything Steve was. Not that I could blame her, I loved everything Steve was too, which is why I'm now his wife, and as his hand slid to my stomach, round with our second child, I smiled wider, looking up at the man I'd called mine for years. "How's momma doing? How's my baby boy?"

Six months pregnant, with our son. Life was perfect.

"I'm tired," I spoke softly, looking at Mia who while pouting was sitting on the couch waiting for her daddy to give her attention, "Your baby boy is being rambunctious, I'm surprised I can still breathe after the way he's been playing kickball with my ribs."

Steve's thumb brushed my stomach and just like when Mia was in my womb, our son settled. Steve was always so good with kids, with me. He had morphed from a boy who was lost in the world, to being a man hellbent on keeping his family safe and secure. And I've relished in the years he's let me stay home with my daughter, because of how hard he works, he's now the head architect at a global company. And for our third wedding anniversary, he bought the duplex we moved into our senior year of college. The home we brought Mia to, the home that was still big enough to have our families grow.

And while Bucky and Sam no longer share the one connected to us, only Bucky occupies it now as Sam joined the military, it's still the same home we made all those years ago.

"Go take a bath mamma," Steve brushed his mouth against mine, and I cupped his cheek, my diamond ring sparkling in the light, "I'll make dinner for Mia and get her settled for the night."

"Mommy!" Mia cried and I looked to where my daughter was on the verge of tears, "I wanna watch princess!"

Steve furrowed his brow and I smiled, stroking his cheek gently, leaning up to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth, "She wants to watch Moana," Steve smiled at me, turning his head slightly to capture my lips in a kiss, slow, soft, and sweet, before he pulled back to stroke my stomach once more, only to turn towards his daughter, her bottom lip wobbling.

"Let's watch Princess, Sunshine," Steve chuckled, heading over to the couch, smiling when Mia crawled into his lap, laying her head on his chest as he turned on the TV for the movie.

Steve was so nervous to be a father, I remember the fear we both felt as we entered our last year in college. We had no idea what the future held for us, and we were barely into a relationship, years of a complicated friendship. We had yet to determine if we would survive. But Steve was loyal, he was everything I ever needed him to be, he was my strength when I was weak, my lighthouse in stormy seas. He was my beginning and end. We rose together, and we'd fall together.

And how he was with Mia was heartwarming. Steve had always said I would be the center of his world, and I still was, but now, standing beside me were our children. He did everything for us, and on the days when his grief washed over him in waves that he couldn't fight, Mia and I were there to comfort him. Though Steve loved his daughter, he needed my comfort, and Mia understood that sometimes daddy needed mommy just like she needed mommy. But sometimes, the only person who could brighten his spirit was the sweet child he now held on his lap, watching Moana for the sixth time today.

It's okay, he could withstand the songs while I relaxed.

I'm not entirely sure how long I sat in the bath, I just know that by the time I got out, my skin was pruned, but my limbs were loose after a day of taking care of a toddler. So I quickly dressed, ready to spend time with my family, only to groan when our son kicked my ribs again. "Bug," I breathed out, placing my hand on where his head was, feeling him calm, "I'm taking you to Daddy, just don't kick me down the stairs."

I slowly made my way down the stairs, and tears entered my vision when I saw what laid before me.

Steve was laying on the couch, one arm behind his head with his eyes closed, he was exhausted, but he still let me relax. But what made me tear up was Mia, sprawled on his chest like she did when she was a baby, and his hand was on her back, just like he held her in the mornings before class. Her thumb was in her mouth, and drool was seeping onto Steve's dress shirt but their breaths were in tune with each other, two of the most beautiful humans on the planets lay before me, and I was lucky to call them mine.

I carefully lifted Mia from her father's chest, her eyes fluttering open for a moment before she laid her head on my shoulder and held onto me sleepily with one hand, the other still having her thumb in her mouth. She was already in her pajamas for the night, so I sat her on the counter in the bathroom connected to her room, her sleepy blue eyes catching mine. I leaned forward to kiss her forehead and Mia whined tiredly. So I went through her night routine quickly, brushing her teeth, and putting on her pull-up before she was being laid in the princess bed her father designed just for her.

"I love you sunshine," I whispered, brushing her hair out of her face and kissing her forehead once more.

When I came back downstairs, Steve was tiredly blinking at me, but he said nothing, just held his arm open for me. I crossed the room quickly, laying down on his chest, and one of his arms wrapped around me, the other came down to stroke my belly, his son kicking in response. "Buddy," Steve's voice sent chills down my spine, sleep laced in every word, "I love you too little man, but cut your mamma some slack."

"He's just as obnoxious as you were as a teenager."

"Lord," Steve muttered playfully, looking down at me with a sleepy smile, "How do I prepare?"

"You don't," I whispered, nuzzling his neck when he hummed, "You hold on and hope for the best."

"Then I'm glad you're by my side baby."

"Me too Stevie, me too."

And I was. I was thankful for Steve, and Mia and our son and the life he provided when I felt lost. I'm thankful for all he is and all he's stood for, but I'm most thankful that we broke the rules of friendship to get here.

Together we grew, and together we would stay. Two bodies, one soul, fused together when everything was against us.

And I'd trade nothing in the world for this. For us. For our family. This was my dream.

And I finally get to live it.

With Steve by my side. Forever.

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵♡➵➵➵➵➵➵➵