Captain's Hart and Soul

Chapter 28 Sanctuary

April 27, 2016

"Hey, babe."

Steve raised a brow, turning to see Arianna leaning casually against the wall.

"I thought I asked you to rest." He said severely, although he couldn't stop the smile that was spreading across his face. Arianna shrugged.

"And since when did I listen?" She teased as she walked up to him, her eyes darting over his face and noting with satisfaction that most of the wounds had healed nicely. It was one of the times she really thanked the stars for the super-soldier serum.

Steve slung an arm around her waist gently, bringing her closer to him as his hand rested on the baby bump that was starting to really show. He murmured: "I was hoping you'd start now. Although I suppose since even being in charge of our son's life in addition to yours didn't stop you, nothing ever will."

She smiled at him, her eyes softening as she heard the words fall from his lips. 'Our son'. They'd had a scan done immediately upon arrival at the facility to check her condition while Steve went into medical care- after he'd begged her to, that is.

Arianna had wanted to wait until he was taken care of but Steve threatened to refuse treatment until she went to her checkup, so she had gone in rather reluctantly. Although, as Bucky pointed out, it was probably his argument to think of the baby that actually won Arianna over.

Regardless of the reasons, she'd found out during the tests that it appeared she would indeed be having a boy. The doctors weren't quite sure yet, but they were about 82% sure, which was good enough for her and Steve.

Neither really cared about the gender, as long as their baby was healthy. Though after everything they'd been through, Arianna seriously doubted if he would be anything but. If he could live through a battle between Earth's mightiest, he could live through anything.

Telling Steve had been both wonderful and hard, because they'd also had a sit-down to discuss Tony's parents. Steve had told her everything with utmost seriousness, and she'd listened without comment until he was finished. Then, she simply reached over to hug him, and he'd returned the embrace, knowing she'd forgiven him. It wasn't easy, but she understood why he'd done what he had done. And despite the heartache at losing Tony, she knew she would always ultimately take Steve's side.

The couple walked into the medical room, just in time to see a nurse walking away after checking Bucky's vitals. He sat on the cot before the examination table, an IV attached to his human arm while a cap covered the carefully sealed remains of his metal arm, which ended as a stub right at the end of his shoulder.

"You sure about this?" Steve asked as he brought them to a stop before his best friend.

Bucky glanced up, his eyes sliding briefly to Arianna before turning back to Steve as he mused: "I can't trust my own mind. So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head I think going back under is the best thing... for everybody."

Steve nodded, knowing there was no questioning the logic behind Bucky's decision. Arianna just watched silently as the doctor called Bucky forward. She noted that it was the same doctor who'd checked her while the obstetrician checked her baby, and she smiled in greeting when the man nodded at her before turning her attention back to Bucky as a nurse removed his IV drip.

Bucky nodded at the couple as he rose, clasping his hand on Steve's shoulder and squeezing once before going to lean back on the examination table, placing his head gingerly in the placeholder while the doctor strapped him in.

"I still don't like you." Arianna said suddenly, making Steve sigh but Bucky chuckled.

"And I still don't really like you- I'm not used to sharing my best friend." Bucky replied, grinning at Steve.