Only 70 Years

Baby Steps

Baby Steps

In her crib, Grace began to cry. Bucky groaned as he pulled the blankets back. He sat up preparing to go calm her when a call came from outside the tent.

"I got her!" Steve ran in, "I got her." He cradled her next to him.

"When did you get here?"

"Oh, I heard her and decided to get her. Instead of you." Bucky laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Please tell me you haven't been up all night waiting for my daughter to wake up."

"I can't help it!" Bucky smiled and walked over to him. "You did good." Steve looks up at him.

Adeline stirred, "Shhh!" Bucky whispered to Steve as he went back over and placed the blankets back over her.

"Bucky?" She said still in a half sleep mode.

"Sorry. Go back to sleep." She rolled over and fell back asleep.

* * *

"Bucky! Get up!" Adeline whisper shouted, "You were supposed to be up half an hour ago! You are lucky Steve can cover for your butt!"

"Why are you up?"

"Because I have work too!" She scoops Grace into her arms, "I'm taking Grace to the infirmary with me. The nurses there will love to meet her."

"She's only a week old."

"She's strong. She was born in a soldier camp." She walked over to Bucky kissed his cheek and walked out holding Grace.

"Mrs. Barnes! Is that the little one?" Paige O'Malley called, "Oh she is so sweet! She looks just like you!" Paige was the typical gossip girl and Adeline had no intention of talking about her daughter with her.

"Yeah, this is Grace."

"Precious!"

"...I really must be going. Goodbye."
Paige frowned, "Alright Addy!" Adeline rolled her eyes as she turned away, "No one calls me Addy." She looked down at Grace, "I don't talk to Paige. Don't you do it either!"
She continued to walk down the dirt path until she reached the infirmary. She stepped inside and the whole room lit up with, "Adeline! Is this Grace? She beautiful!"

Adeline smiled at everyone coming at her. She set Grace in one of their arms. "My, my, she really is beautiful." She smiled down at Grace before tying her apron around her waist and walking up to a soldier lying in a cot. She provided him medicine and redressed his wounds. When the women suddenly moaned and whined. She quickly opened the curtain.

"What's going on?!" She shouted noticing Peggy stood in the doorway.

"I'm taking Grace with me on my runs. She'll be fine." She scooped her up.

"She's fine here Peg."

"First off don't call me that, and second these women are going to squeeze her cheeks off." And with that smiled at Adeline and walked out.