The Choice (Steve Rodgers x Reader)

Thirty Seven

You leaned away as you giggled, squealing quietly as Steve grabbed at your hips. He hummed as he made kissy faces at you, trying to peck your cheeks.
"Get her daddy!" Dot cheered as you protested. Finally Steve landed a kiss on your cheek and you sighed. "You're it." He chimes happily, rushing towards Dot to pick her up and run away.
You groaned as you slowly walked after them. "I told you I wasn't playing! Me and the baby are tired." You called after them. Steve placed his free hand over his ear and began to sing loudly.
You came to a halt as you watched him. "Childish." You grumbled, wiping your brow of the sweat the sun had made. A walk in the park had seemed like exactly the stress free activity you needed. However this was proven wrong as your top clung to you, overheated and exhausted.
Finally Steve gave up and jogged back over to you, Dot bouncing on his back as he did. "Do you want to head back?" He asked with concern.
You shook your head. "You guys are having too much fun. I just need some shade. And a bottle of water."

Steve fell to the ground, clutching his chest as Dorothy screamed in triumph. "I win! I win!" She chanted as Steve groaned and reached towards her.
"Dot. Protect your mother for me." He said in a small voice as he lay in the grass.
"Okay!" She cheered, racing towards you. You laughed at your family and stroked your belly. "Mommy! I have to protect you!"
"Really? I'm very lucky to have such a great protector." You smiled and you removed the hair from her face, stroking it back. "Be careful though. Steve might come back from the dead again." You pointed behind her and she turned to see Steve getting up.
"No!" She yelled, speeding towards him.
You laughed again, shaking you head. "Oh buddy. You're coming into one strange family." You spoke to your belly.

You played with your lip as you stood with your ear against the door. It was silent.
"I understand it can't be easy." Steve finally said, his muffled voice bringing relief.
"How can you understand, Steve?" Bucky answered, his tone softer than any other time he's spoken to Steve.
You were apprehensive when Steve suggested he spoke to Bucky. But after the incident at the door, it was more of a demand.
"You can't understand how hard it is to watch your best friend live the life you wanted with the girl you love." He explained. You could picture him, leaning over in his chair and shaking his head.
"I do, Buck." It went silent again.
Just before you thought they had given up, Bucky spoke up again.
"Back then?" A pause. "You've loved her all this time." Another pause. "So you've just been waiting for this to happen?" He didn't sound angry. He sounded hurt. Betrayed.
"No. Not at all. I wanted you to be happy, so I told you that you needed to go for it. When we thought you died I tried to stay away. I tried to respect your memory. We both tried. We just couldn't stay away." Steve relayed.
You tugged your lip a little harder.
A nervous habit of yours you never shook.
"I guess she just missed me too much." Bucky bit back.
That's where you began to panic. He had hit that tiny area of insecurity in Steve. You knew of his worry that based around the idea you'd run back to Bucky. You tried to tell him it would never happen but you knew it can't be helped unless he decides to believe you.
And just as you think he's about to panic himself, you hear something unexpected.
"What you said to her the other night was unacceptable. You made her uncomfortable and you made her upset. I know you're my best friend, Buck. But if you ever do anything to upset her again, or try to come in between me and this family, I'll make sure you won't come back." Bucky didn't respond. "Y/N doesn't deserve this, Dorothy doesn't deserve this, and that baby definitely doesn't deserve to be born into trouble."
You had never wanted Steve more.

I'm sorry it's not the best chapter, but i hardly have time to update.
Thank you all so much for all the love and the high demand for this book! It makes me feel so happy and grateful that this book is so loved. I will try to update more with better content but please be patient with me.
Thank you!
- R x