The Choice (Steve Rodgers x Reader)

Forty Four

Sorry my lovelies. But ask and you shall receive.

At some point during the night, you had fallen asleep. The non-stop crying had mad your eyes burn, even after you had slept. You rub them as you realise you had passed out in your clothes, on the couch, with Steve still in the bedroom.
Reaching for your phone, you stretch and then check the time, sighing as you realise you'll have to pick the kids up soon. It was just past 10, and you'd told Tony you'd be there at half past.
You get up slowly and grow anxious as you near the bedroom, hand clenching around your phone. You go to open it but hesitate. What if he's still mad?
You knock and wait for his reply, but it doesn't come. He's normally awake by now. You knock again and there's still nothing. Giving up, you open the door and immediately find the room empty.
Your heart sinks at the realisation that Steve had left without telling you. His exercise was always early, and he'd be done by now. So it was clear that he was avoiding you.
You get ready quickly and make a quick breakfast, leaving some for Steve along with a note.
Gone to get the kids- Y/N xxx

Tony's quick to let you in and Dot runs up to you in excitement. You lift her up and squeeze her tightly against you. You've been needing one of her hugs. "I missed you mommy." She says quietly and you swallow thickly.
"I missed you too, my lovely." You pull slightly away so you can look at her. "Where you good for your aunts and uncles?" She nods heavily and you force a smile. "Good."
Wanda walks in, Joey in her arms and her face lights up at the sight of you. "Hey, you."
The forced smile goes on even longer. "Hey."
She leans over and kisses your cheek. "I know I only saw you lot last week, but it feels longer." She says cheerily, and you wish you felt the same way.
"I know. I miss when we used to hang out everyday." And it's not a lie, you really do miss your best friend.
"Well, move back in and we can." She muses and Dots face morphs into excitement.
"Can we mommy? Please!" She wriggles in your arms and you laugh.
"When you're older." You brush off, as you always did. It was hard to tell her no when she got so excited. You clear your throat and look at Tony packing the bag. "Have any of you seen Steve?" You chance, and he looks up.
Wanda shakes her head and Tony stand up straight. "No. Is everything okay?" He asks and you worry the inside of your cheek between your teeth.
You could tell them. Tell Dot to go and get something that didn't actually matter, and explain what had happened. But what would they think of you? You couldn't bare for your family to look down on you for something like this. "Yes. Everything's fine. I think his phones died, or something." You can tell he doesn't buy it, but he nods anyway and hands you the bag. "Thanks for this." You motion at the children.
He wraps an arm around you and kisses your head, as he always did. "Anytime. They were treasures."

Steve's shoes were kicked off by the door, but he didn't show when you walked into the apartment. Dot looked around in confusion knowing that her dad almost always greeted her when she got home. She runs ahead into the apartment and searches for him.
Your heart pounds when you hear him greet her from the office. Placing Joeys carrier on the coffee table, you lift him out and onto your chest, stroking his back and feeling slightly calmer at his small grunts and squeaks.
Slowly, you walk towards the office and quietly push the door open to see Steve cuddling Dot. He turns to look at you, only to turn back towards his computer. "Hi." He says deeply and his tone is off.
"Hi." You respond, and your voice is so weak and crumbled. For a second, you think he's going to turn back around, but he doesn't and continues to do his work, Dot watching what he does from his lap.
Swallowing thickly, you leave with your baby and go into the kitchen.
You gave him space that day, knowing he'd still be mad. You made him lunch and got Dot to give it to him, you got Dot to watch a movie so he could work, and you cleaned while the kids napped.
But when dinner came around, you hoped he'd at least have a civil conversation with you at the table. But he didn't even look at you. Every answer was short and off and he left the table as soon as he had finished.
You cleaned up as fast as you could and encouraged Dot to play with her toys as you walked towards the office with purpose.
You didn't knock, walking in and immediately beginning to talk. "I think we need to talk."
"Really? What made you think that?" His voice is laced with sarcasm and it's so unlike him to talk to you like this.
You frown and he finally turns around to look at you. "I get that you're mad. You have every right to be. But we're adults, and we need to sort this out like adults." You demand, but your voice shakes.
He shakes his head and stands up. "We don't need to do anything. You messed up and you hurt me."
You sigh and pinch the bridge of your nose. "Oh my god!" Your voice grows harsh, between a whisper and a yell, or a mix of the two. "It was a stupid kiss! It meant nothing!"
"Bullshit." He hisses. "I'm not going to stand here and let you lie to me so you can keep the memory of your farewell romantic movie kiss clean." You're taken back and don't know how to respond. He steps closer to you. He shakes his head and blinks to stop the tears. "I can't even look at you without thinking about how you kissed the one person that could come between us." You look up at him as your lip trembled.
You turn on your heel and walk out quickly, not being able to stand the argument anymore. You rejoin your children in the living room and smile the best you can at them. You slump down on the couch and try to focus on what's playing on the tv, but you can't help but fixate on the man you love in the other room, hurting from one small mistake you made.