The Glory Days

Days seemed to blur together for Bridget. She would cry herself to sleep at night, cry a bit when she woke up, but throughout the day, she did her best to keep herself composed while in the presence of her little sister. She knew always thinking of Steve would only add to the pitiful state she was already in, and that the emotional stress could hurt the baby's growth, but she found it was out of her control, no matter how hard she tried. The baby who would be without a father was always on her mind, and she wished more than anything that he would return to her alive and well, though she knew better than to let her hopes and out-of-reach fantasies get the best of her.

Her parents frequented her home more often than before when they heard the news of Steven's death from Gracie. They knew they were going to have to be extra careful with her now, not only to make sure their darling daughter was fine, but for the sake of their unborn grandchild as well. They always brought over Bridget's favorite meals, did their best to keep the talk away from Steve, and played around with her continuously growing belly, cooing lovingly to it as well as feeling the growing baby kick on occasion.

Even though they thought their support wasn't reaching Bridget, it was, and it meant the world and more to her. To have such amazing parents and sibling in her time of need was a blessing, and she knew that she would be able to pull through this tough time with her family, even if it may, at times, seem impossible.

“Bridget, we're running low on groceries. I'm going to go on and head out to buy some more.” Gracie said, walking into the living room as she fastened her coat's belt. “Are you having any cravings?”

“No, not today, thanks though. Make sure you stay warm, it's getting a bit nippy and you could get a cold.” The brunette replied with a small smile, looking out the front window to see the multicolored leaves falling with the breeze that came and went as it pleased.

“I will, no need to worry.” Gracie smiled. “Would you like for me to ask Mrs. Grayson to come and keep you company?”

Bridget knew Gracie hated leaving her alone, especially now since she was almost ready to give birth at 32 and a half weeks. Still, knowing that it would make her feel better to have someone watching over her, she shook her head in disagreement. “No, it's fine, Gracie. I'll be fine on my own.”

Seeing Bridget flash her a reassuring smile, Grace sighed and nodded her head, going along with her older sister's wishes. “Alright, I'll be quick about it then. Call mom and dad if anything's wrong – anything at all.”

Laughing, Bridget nodded. “Yes, yes, I know, Gracie. I'll make sure to call if something happens. Now get going before it gets any later.”

Gracie laughed at herself for how overprotective she was acting and nodded her head. “Okay, I'll be back in a bit.”

“Be careful.”

Hearing the front door close and Gracie lock it soon after, Bridget sighed and relaxed into her chair. She was glad to be able to enjoy her own company for once. Gracie hardly ever left her alone, and though she loved her sister deeply, Bridget wished that Gracie would leave her be on occasion just to have time to herself.

Her arm reached out to the radio that sat upon the coffee table, her fingers soon twisting the dial into the on position. Soft melodies then escaped the contraption, soothing Bridget's mind and allowing her to forget her smaller troubles. Picking up her knitting needles, she then resumed where she had left off on her small project.

Bridget had decided to pick up knitting to pass the few months that had whizzed by her in the blink of an eye. Not only did it do just that, but it also allowed her to make a few beanies and accessories for the baby. It wasn't much, but she couldn't wait to adorn him or her with them.

A familiar song began to play, and she realized it was the one that had been playing while Steve proposed to her. It was also the song they had shared their first dance to. Hearing the soft harmonies tugged upon her heartstrings, and though she knew it would be the end of her composure, she couldn't help but sing along.

“Stars shining bright above you, night breezes seem to whisper, 'I love you,' birds singing in the sycamore tree, 'dream a little dream of me.' Say 'nighty-night' and kiss me. Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me. While I'm alone and blue as can be, dream a little dream of me.”

Tears began to spill over, her shoulders gently quaking from her soft sobs, though she continued on singing quietly to herself. “Stars fading, but I linger on, dear, still craving your kiss. I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear, just saying this: sweet dreams till sunbeams find you. Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you. But in your dreams, whatever they be, dream a little dream of me.”

The song continued on without her as she attempted to regain control over her wild emotions. Once she had, she breathed in deeply to keep calm, and then a knock upon the door graced her ears. It couldn't have been Grace, she had only left moments prior and there was no way she would be able to return so fast. Then a thought occurred to her, it could be her parents dropping by again. Shaking her head with a small smile, she got up and slowly sauntered towards the door with care, her large belly obscuring part of her view of the ground.

As she opened the door and saw who it was, a small gasp of surprise escaped her lips. “Peggy? What brings you here?”

The familiar brunette smiled at Bridget. “Hello again, Mrs. Rogers.”

Chuckling lightly, Bridget looked at her expectantly. “Peggy, I thought I asked you to call me Bridget last time?” She reminded.

“That you did,” she gave a small nod of the head. “I'm sorry, Bridget, but there's an important subject that I have to discuss with you.”

“Oh, well, come in,” she moved to the side and Peggy thanked her softly.

The two headed into the living room and sat together on the sofa. “I'm sorry, I'd offer you something to drink, but I'm afraid I'm out of tea.”

“No, it's fine.” She reassured.

“So what is it you needed to speak to me about? Does it... concern him?”

“Yes, it does. How much do you know about Steve, Bridget?”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you know why he had to return to fight a second time?”

“He just told me that he had to go,” she murmured.

“So you don't know then.” Peggy whispered, looking down at her hands in her lap before gazing directly into Bridget's eyes. “Bridget, Steve never told you the truth about something.”

“What did he not tell me?”

“You do know that Steven wasn't admitted into the army before, yes?”

“Yes, he told me it was his asthma.”

Smiling to herself, Peggy continued. “There was more to it than that, but he would have been out on his asthma alone. Steve wasn't soldier material to say the least.”

“What do you mean? He looked like he was in better shape than most of the other recruits.”

“Bridget, what I'm about to tell you next may seem a bit unrealistic, but please keep an open mind. Steve was brought into the army as a possible candidate for a top secret project called Project: Rebirth, that was made to create a perfect soldier and was chosen to be injected with the serum that was created. It worked, and his mental and physical abilities were enhanced. The inventor of the serum was murdered, his work unrecorded, and if there were to be a key to unlocking the formula, it would be in his DNA.”

“I'm sorry, but this is all very unbelievable to me.”

Sighing, Peggy nodded her head. “Yes, I'm sure it must be,”

“How did he come to selling defense bonds then? Wouldn't he have been off to war immediately since the serum worked?”

“Phillips wouldn't allow it. Selling defense bonds was his way into the war, though.” Peggy answered simply, partly because she wasn't too aware of the specifics either. “Listen, Bridget, as I said earlier, if there was any key to recreating the serum, it would be in his DNA. This baby that you're carrying could be the answer. We also don't know how this could effect labor – there may be a possibility that it could put both of your lives in danger.”

Instinctively, Bridget's hands began to rest upon her stomach, gently massaging the bump as if to soothe the baby inside her. “Peggy, thank you for coming over here and telling me this information. I appreciate it. However, I'm sorry, I'm not going to allow my unborn child to be a specimen of interest. I can't and I won't.”

“Bridget, I don't want that either. Steve was a good man, and I know he wouldn't want this for his child, too. There's still the possibility of something going wrong with labor, though. I'd rather be on the safe side.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small piece of paper. “This is my number. If you ring me, I'll be able to set up a room for you with the best doctors and equipment available. I'll make sure that both you and the baby are in good hands.”

Carter took one of Bridget's hands and placed it into her palm, clasping her fingers over it and gently giving it a squeeze. “Just think about it, and I promise you that I'll make sure nothing happens to the baby.” Rising from the couch, she fixed her attire and nodded to her. “I'll see myself out. Goodbye, Bridget. Take care.”

The mother-to-be sat in silence, staring at her stomach and her hand that held Peggy's information as she heard the young woman leave her home. Just when she thought things couldn't get more complex, the world seemed to prove her wrong.

She felt devastated. Why hadn't Steve told her about something so important before? She thought they could talk about anything, but she guessed she was wrong. Part of her reasoned that there was the possibility that he couldn't because it was top secret, but the other half of her was still inconsolable, only caring about the fact that he didn't tell her about something so vital.

Now she had to worry about complications during labor.

Burying her face into her hands, she did her best to keep herself together, only allowing a few tears to leak from her eyes before she decided to resume her knitting and do her best to forget about what had just happened.

* * *


It was the middle of the night two weeks later and Bridget was unable to sleep. Her abdomen was contracting painfully, but she was sure that it was nothing to fret over. Or at least that was what she kept telling herself. Over the course of the day, she had been experiencing contractions, but she hid the discomfort well from Gracie thinking they could merely be Braxton Hicks contractions. Though soon the pain was unimaginable, too much for her to just keep in any longer, and so she yelled for her sister who scrambled into the room seconds later from down the hall.

“Bridget, is it happening? Are you going into labor?” The few questions flew out of her mouth, but Bridget seemed to catch them anyways.

“Yes, I think so.” She grimaced. Her eyes glanced over to her night stand where the number Peggy had given her resided, and she pointed at it. She wasn't sure if she was making the right choice, but she was scared, terrified out of her mind, concerned that something actually would go wrong and endanger her baby's life. “Call that number, Gracie. Hurry, and tell her that I'm going into labor.”

Grace wasted no time in taking the phone, soon being greeted by a groggy voice on the other end. Once she explained the situation, Peggy gave an address and told them to head there immediately. After calling their parents and letting them know what was going on, Gracie and Bridget were readying themselves to leave, and soon the entire Spencer family was driving down the deserted roads before the car came to a halt after arriving in the city.

“Gracie, you must have the wrong address!” Bill yelled at his youngest daughter, taking a good look around to notice nothing but shops. “That's it, we're going to the nearest hospital!”

“Bridget!” Peggy Carter then rushed out from one of the shops called Brooklyn Antiques.

Billy looked at his daughter and then let his attention go to the young woman who began to open her door. “What's going on, Bridget?!”

“Please, dad, stop yelling,” she pleaded, letting Peggy help her out of the car.

The rest of the family immediately disembarked the vehicle, following right after them into the shop in confusion. The five of them headed into the back of the store, a bookshelf opening up and allowing them to walk down a long hallway till they reached two double doors. After pushing them open, they saw a bed in the center of the large room, numerous doctors and nurses getting their bearings as they prepared to deliver Bridget's child on a lower level.

“What's all this, Peggy?” Bridget mumbled as they walked down the stairs.

“I told you I'd take care of things,” was all she said in reply.

Bridget was placed onto the bed and her mother and father were asked to wait back outside in the hallway, Gracie being asked by Bridget to stay by her side. As Bridget endured more contractions, the doctors began to huddle around her.

“Ma'am, we're going to induce labor by breaking the amniotic sac. You won't experience pain, but there may be a slight discomfort.” One of the doctors explained. “After we break it, you'll still need to wait for the cervix to dilate to ten centimeters. Just try to relax till then.”

Bridget nodded her head furiously as another contraction came over her, allowing her to feel nothing but the pain while they induced labor. As the contraction left, she breathed out shakily and breathed in deeply, trying to relax as the doctor had ordered.

“Peggy, what is all this?” Bridget questioned, staring at the brunette who hadn't left her side.

“This is where Steve was given the serum.”

“Serum? What serum?” Gracie questioned, looking at the both of them in confusion.

“It's a long story, Gracie. Don't mind it.” Bridget told her. “Why am I here, though? Why not at a normal hospital?”

“We have better doctors and better technology here. Since we don't know if complications will arise during labor, I thought it would be best.”

Nodding her head, Bridget squeezed her hand gently. “Thank you,”

The contractions began to become more frequent and stronger as time went by, some even beginning to overlap, causing Bridget to cry from the immense discomfort. Peggy and Grace told her things would be alright, that her and the baby were going to be fine and this would all be over soon, but she found their words, even though they were laced with sincerity, didn't carry much weight to them. If there was anyone who would be able to soothe and reassure her, it would be Steve – his touch, his words, his presence would do just that.

But he wasn't here, and Bridget knew that she was going to have to rely on her own strength to make it through this.

As soon as she thought that, Bridget had the urgent need to get the baby out of her. “I need to push now! I can't keep the baby in any longer!”

One doctor examined her and then nodded. “You're at ten centimeters now. You're ready to deliver.” The rest of the nurses gathered, ready to receive the bundle of joy that was waiting to be born into the world. “Okay, Mrs. Rogers, push as hard as you can.”

Bridget didn't need to be told twice and she pushed as hard as she could, straining to deliver her baby that she wanted to hold in her arms. Once she thought of holding him or her in her arms, she thought she could feel Steve's familiar presence in the room as she felt a new energy give her the strength to continue pushing. Her hands squeezed her sister's hand tightly while Peggy wiped away her sweat with a small handkerchief.

“The baby's beginning to crown!” A nurse told them.

“You're almost there, Bridget,” Peggy relayed.

She then experienced a heat flash and she stopped pushing, Bridget losing herself for a moment, keeping her eyes shut tight. “Bridget, keep pushing!” Gracie urged, though her words were slurred together and incoherent to her older sister.

Bridget's sense of touch was starting to go, but she could feel a pair of hands take her wrist and begin to check for a pulse. “Doctor, we're losing her. Her pulse is decreasing.”

“What?” He snapped. There was a clamor in the room as they all tried to figure out what was going on while still delivering the baby. “Mrs. Rogers, keep pushing!”

Gracie squeezed her hand and that caused Bridget to remember where she was right now, what she had to do. She had to keep pushing, had to deliver her baby into the world. She just had to.

While she kept pushing, the nurse continued to keep track of her heart rate. “It's still dropping, Doctor! It's dropping fast!”

“Damnit!”

“We have to give it to her!” Peggy shouted. “Both of them won't make it otherwise!”

Bridget paid them no mind as she continued pushing. It was the only thing she needed to focus on, and to be honest, the only thing she cared about. As long as her baby made it out alive, that was all that mattered to her.

Minutes passed, and she felt a prick followed by a cold chill spill into her through her forearm. It was calming and she could feel her tight muscles slowly relax as she pushed, and the room was once again calm as the nurse announced her heart rate was coming up once again.

Soon the shrill cry of a baby could be heard, and Bridget's eyes that were shut tightly opened instantly, tears streaking down her cheeks. “It's a girl!” The doctor declared, allowing Gracie to cut the umbilical cord, the nurses then taking the child away to check the its health.

Gracie turned to her sister with her own fresh tears running down her face. “Oh, Bridge, she's beautiful,” she sobbed happily, gently hugging her sister who was worn out from the delivery. “Thank you for making me an aunt.”

Peggy smiled and wiped the tired brunette's forehead gently one last time. “Congratulations, Bridget.”

“Thank you, Peggy. I don't know if this would have been possible without you.” Bridget smiled gratefully, more tears falling down from her eyes.

A nurse then walked over with a bundle wrapped in pink, smiling as she gently handed her over to the new mother. “Here she is. What will you be naming her?”

Over the past months, that had been the biggest question Bridget had faced, but after contemplating it, she wanted to remember Steve in some way, for Steve to be part of his daughter's life in any way possible. “Stephanie. Her name's Stephanie Rogers.” Bridget had thought this name was the closest to Steve's, and once she said it aloud for the first time, she knew she had made the right choice.

Bridget stared down at her daughter, taking in everything about her, wanting to remember every detail possible about this moment. Stephanie had her and Steve's blue eyes, and after ticking her dimple chin, she found that she also had her father's smile. The part of the newborn that was absolutely from her mother was her few, dark brown locks of hair. Laughing through her tears of joy, Bridget greeted her daughter softly.

“Hello, baby Stephanie, I love you so much, and I know your father does, too.”

Notes

...I thought I had finished this story since it has been finished on Mibba for a while. I'm sorry about the delay! ...If there's anyone even reading this thing anymore.

Look at me being all dramatic and crap. I hate writing delivery scenes because I suck at them, haha. And who realized that I made the delivery take place in the room where Steve became Captain America? *No one raises their hands* I'm sorry. I just thought it was kind of fitting, you know?

So, I personally think that the name Stephanie is somewhat close the name Steven. My reasoning is this. Stephanie is the girl version of the name Stephen (or so I hear), and Stephen, to me, sounds pretty close to Steven. That's pretty much it. I couldn't think of anything else and I like the name so it's that! This is also going to sound really dumb, but I totally cried at the end of the chapter while I was writing it. I don't know why, I just got really into it and was so happy Bridget got her baby. Why am I so weird?