"Go, go. I'll be fine for a few hours." Kayla shooed her caregivers away as the alarm to assemble blared. "I'm Big. It'll be fine. Go. Save people."
"Hurry up, Stevie. She'll be fine." Bucky dragged Steve out, heading to the Quinjet.
She waited a few minutes and then went to take a bath, soaking in the hot water and groaning happily. She was never left alone except to sleep in the nursery so she was determined to make the most of it, making herself spaghetti O's and ignoring the pureed foods that Steve had been planning on feeding her before the alarm had gone off. The brunette made herself comfortable on the couch and put on the Conjuring.
"Little Miss, I do not believe Captain Rogers and Sargent Barnes would approve of you watching a horror movie." JARVIS' voice sounded almost judging.
"Shh. It'll be fine. I watched things like this all the time before I met them." Kayla spoke reproachfully to JARVIS, choosing to not mention that she would get scared and cry sometimes. "I'm Big right now anyways. It probably won't even register with Little Me."
"Fine." JARVIS' tone was now blatantly judging.
"Okay, JARVIS." She hummed, watching the movie and finishing it shortly before Steve and Bucky arrived. They both looked worse for wear and like they were ready to drop but very happy to see her.
"Hey there, Baby." Steve came over and kissed her head. "We're gonna shower and then it's time for bed, Half-Pint."
"Okay, Daddy." Kayla nodded, wrapped completely in the comforter off their bed.
"What's the matter, Baby?" Steve frowned, taking in her burritoed state and the cartoons on the TV.
"Nothing, Daddy." She tried for a smile, tilting her head adorably to try and portray that there wasn't anything wrong.
"Uh huh." Steve went into the bathroom by Bucky who looked done with life.
"I wish we could just stay home and not have to fight. I hate fighting." Bucky grumbled, undressing and getting in the running shower where Steve joined him. They washed off and did some brief stress relief before getting out, dressing each other. "I don't even want to give her a bath."
"Little Miss took a bath while you were gone." JARVIS announced.
"Oh good. Makes life easier." Bucky went off to the living room and picked up their burritoed Little, taking her to the nursery and tossing the blanket at Steve before diapering her. "Are you wanting to nurse? Or did you eat while we were gone?"
"I ate right after you left." She preferred sleeping in just the diaper, squirming slightly because she wanted off the changing table before Steve could attempt to get pajamas on her once he saw Bucky hadn't.
"You want to nurse then?" Bucky lifted her up after putting his own shirt on her, looking at her softly.
"Yes, Mama." Kayla hugged him around the neck, cuddling into her Mama. Sometimes she called them Steve and Bucky when Big but mostly she stuck with Daddy and Mama.
"Alright, Doll." Bucky sat down, turning her in his lap and helping her into a comfortable position. He tilted his head back, humming softly while she fed from him and thinking about the next day's plans. "You have a good time while we were gone?"
"Mm." She hummed noncommittally around his nipple, curling more in his lap and then turning herself to the other side. Her fingers played with the edges of his hair, tangling in it and rubbing her thumb across the silky strands.
"Tired?" Bucky cupped her cheek with his metal hand, holding her up with his flesh arm.
"Sleep with you and Daddy?" Kayla asked, done with her milk and looking at him.
"You know Daddy doesn't like when we break routine, Baby." Bucky sighed. "I'd let you but you know how Stevie is."
"Okay, Mama." She looked disappointed and also a bit afraid.
"Love you, Baby Doll. Do you want to drop back into Little-space?" Bucky rocked her gently.
"Yes." She nodded, burying her face in Bucky's chest after he pressed a pacifier into her mouth. Bucky swaddled her carefully, knowing it would almost certainly drop her into Little-space and he was correct.
"Goodnight, Sweetheart." Bucky kissed her forehead and laid her in the crib, turning on the mobile before leaving the nursery. He curled up with Steve, nuzzling his husband. "Love you, Stevie."
"Love you too, Buck." Steve wrapped his arms around his love, holding the brunet close.
~Two hours later~
Steve woke up to a screaming Little calling for him, sounding very distressed. He stumbled to his feet, making his way into the nursery to get her. "Shh, shh. Daddy's coming. Hey, it's okay."
Steve scooped her up after unswaddling the Little, changing her diaper before taking her to the master bedroom. He murmured reassurances in her ear, sitting on the bed as Bucky sat up.
"Whassa matter?" Bucky yawned, rubbing his face as he peered at them.
"I don't know." Steve rocked the Little in his arms, feeling the twinge in his shoulder in his caregiver mark. "Hey, hey. It's okay, Baby. Shh. Mama and Daddy are right here."
After ten minutes of rocking and quiet murmurs, she calmed down and looked at them with big eyes. Her cheeks and eyes were red and her nose dripped with snot, looking pitiful.
"Oh, Half-Pint." Steve pressed her head to his chest, keeping her close. "Can you hand me a tissue?"
"Sure." Bucky gave him a tissue and watched the blond mop up Kayla's tears and snot from her face. "Knew I should have let her sleep with us."
"What do you mean?" Steve looked up from his Little.
"She asked to sleep with us. I knew something was off but didn't look into it." Bucky pressed his hand to his face.
"Little Miss had a nightmare, most likely due to her watching the Conjuring while you were gone." JARVIS announced quietly, letting them in on her movie choice.
"The Conjuring? Really..." Bucky sighed as Steve groaned.
"We'll deal with that when she's big but for now, let's go to bed." Steve leaned back, helping her into position and pulling the blanket up as her small hand kneaded his other pec.
