The Fall - Book 2

227. ...I didn't clock Caroline, though.

JULY 4, 2020 — TONY & PEPPER'S CABIN — RÉA

"I still can't believe I let you talk me into this swimsuit, Nat," I say as she, Wanda, and I exit the car, towels in hand.

"You look hot!" Wanda chirps.

"She's right, you do. Plus, you should show off the bump!" Nat gives me a smirk. "Plus, Bucky's going to love it."

I shake my head, grinning at the antics of my best friends. "You fully took advantage of the fact that he came up here early with Sam, Thor, Vision, and Bruce to set up to get me into this...for lack of a better word, outfit."

"Sure did!" Nat's tone holds no shame. "You can thank me later for the amazing sex you're going to get when you two are finally alone!"

With a cackle at my stunned expression, she sashays away, heading toward Bruce.

"I mean...she's not wrong," Wanda remarks. "Although taking off your coverup might help."

"Just go find Vision," I reply, my face crimson.

All of us—along with Caroline and Adam—are at Tony and Pepper's cabin for Steve's birthday celebration. My husband has been here since yesterday evening; he, Sam, Thor, Vision, and Bruce came early to get everything set up. There's a stockpile of firewood, split and stacked on the porch; what Tony refers to as 'glamping' tents are set up on the lawn; the fire pit has extra Adirondack chairs, loveseats, and ottomans arranged around it; balloons are tied to the porch railing and to several of the trees, as well as the poles of the tents; several picnic tables are arranged in a loose circle.

I look around for Bucky, quickly finding him and Sam sitting on the dock inflating inner tubes and floats. As if he feels my eyes on him, he lifts his head, a brilliant smile lighting up his face as his gaze meets mine. He quickly stands and strides toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist and holding me close. He nuzzles his face into my hair and I hear him inhale deeply; he lets out a contented sigh.

"Hi, gorgeous," he murmurs, leaning back to look at me. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," I reply.

He gives me a brief, chaste kiss, then takes my hand and leads me down to the dock, helping me sit on the end and hang my feet in the water.

"I'm going to help Sam finish blowing up the rest of the stuff, then I'll come sit with you." He leans down and gives me one more quick kiss before returning to his earlier spot beside Sam.

The others—except for Rhodey, Happy, Strange and Loki, who are seated in Adirondack chairs by the fire pit, and Caroline, Steve, and Adam, who are already in the water—enter the lake, Thor, Clint, Agent Harris, and Scott deciding that the best way in is via cannonball. I watch everyone frolicking in the water; Steve and Adam are in what I hear the latter refer to as a 'splash war' with Agent Mitchell and Tony; Caroline is stretched out on a float, sunbathing; Nat and Bruce are floating in inner tubes, holding hands as they lounge in the water, and Wanda and Vision are doing the same; Pepper even has Morgan in a special baby float, and she wades over to me.

"She's just like her big sister...loves the water. I tried to take her out for a break, and she cried until I put her back in," Pepper laughs. "Little water bug," she murmurs affectionately.

"Is Mom right? Are you a little water bug?" I coo at my baby sister; she grins up at me and blows a raspberry. "I'll take that as a 'yes'," I laugh.

"Are you going to get in?" Pepper asks.

"In a little while." I pause, my gaze roving over the area. "I remember the first time I ever sat on this dock...the first time I ever felt water than didn't come from a tap." I smile faintly, turning to Pepper. "Thank you, Mom, for taking a chance on me that day...and for convincing Dad to do that same. Because I'm sure that, when you two left me alone out here to read Celyse's letter, that's exactly what you did. Because of your willingness to trust me—to accept me—I have this," I gesture to the others. "I have a wonderful, incredible husband, and we're having a baby," I swallow thickly as my eyes mist. "I have a mom, and a dad, and a sister; I have uncles; I have the best family I could ever ask for...but above all, because of you, I have a home."