The House in the Field

“We’re having a baby?” He asked once he fussed to sit her down. Wanda was quick to grab her a glass of water which she was circling the rim of with her finger.
“We’ll leave you guys to it.” Natasha spoke opening the door.
“You can stay.” Ava spoke out biting her lip as all eyes went to Bucky who shrugged looking at the empty seats. Bucky’s hand rested on Ava’s knee as he offered reassuring squeezes from time to time as she carried on staring at the glass.
“How far are you?” Steve asked, he knew Bucky had frozen in thought from the glazed look in his eyes.
“I’ve had some blood tests and I’m about five months. Turns out the night of our date.” She smiled over at Bucky.
“You’ve been on missions and god you followed the HYDRA agent last week.” Bucky turned to face her pure panic in his voice.
“I know. When one of Helen’s team came in the other day to give everyone a check-up they scanned me and that’s when they confirmed the dates.” She bit her lip. “I didn’t know. I found out four days before the gala. I’d been trying to get you alone to tell you but you had missions and stuff.” She shrugged holding his hand tighter. “Then at the gala I tried to tell you when we were dancing but the agent was there and well yeah.” She shrugged biting her lip. “Thanks to the healing factor in me I don’t get morning sickness or illnesses as such. My heart felt irregular and different so that’s why I ran the blood tests I thought it was to do with the serum, turns out I was feeling the baby’s heartbeat.” She looked over at her husband who was staring at her with tears in his eyes.
“How does she sound?” He asked her softly moving closer to her by shuffling forward on his chair.
“Perfect.” She whispered and it was that moment when she realised she didn’t care about his or her own past, she cared about her family. “But I think she is definitely a he.” She laughed a little.
“No I always said our first child would be a girl. They can’t defy me before they are even born.” He smiled leaning over to kiss her head softly.
“So you’re ok?” Steve asked once Bucky had moved back slightly.
“Yeah I think so. I spoke to Bruce before who said he can monitor my levels to make sure it’s normal.” Ava turned to face the rest of the team.
“Is that why you were in the lab when I got back?” Tony asked as Ava blushed.
“I knew you’d seen me crying so I had to get out. Sorry.” She bit her lip with a soft smile.
“So there’s another baby Avenger on the way?” Natasha asked with a small smile looking over at the couple. “We’re slowly going to have enough to replace us all.” She added as everyone laughed.

“We’ll do the dishes.” Ava spoke for Bucky and herself looking over at him with a warning look, saving himself from groaning out loud and offering her a smile.
“No you don’t need to, we can do it.” Steve interjected as Ava gave him the same look she gave his best friend seconds before.
“I’m carrying a baby, not a deadly disease.” She told him, “Don’t wrap me up.” She extended the warning to everyone else. Once she’d got everyone to finally leave them to do the dishes like a bunch of teenagers. “Talk to me Buck.” She mumbled cleaning the sauce of the plate. “Tell me what you’re thinking.” She glanced over at him.
“I’m scared.” He whispered as he dried the plate she handed him. “The baby, she’s going to be so tiny and so precious and I’m not that. I have this” he paused holding his metal arm up slightly, “and them words. What if I hurt her? It terrifies me every day that I could flip on you, but, I know you can hold your own. The amount of times you took me down I know you can stop me, but, she won’t be able to.”
“For starters you’ve not had an episode in over six months. That’s half a year James. Secondly, you’re going to do nothing but love and protect them, and that arm will make you the most terrifying dad in the school yard. If we do have a girl, imagine the fear when she brings home her first date.” She looked up at him with a smirk. “Finally, if it did ever get to that you think I won’t stop you?” She whispered dropping the pan in the soapy water and moving closer to him. “You’re not alone here James. I’m scared too. I’m not a good person either, but, I know I need to be now. They’re not going to care what we’ve done or how old we are or what we’ve seen, they’re going to care that we love them and feed them and keep them safe and you know turn up at show and tell with the Avengers.” She shrugged smiling. “What else is scaring you?” She whispered once she’d kissed him softly.
“Leaving them.” He whispered. “I’ve always been a fighter. Growing up I had to fight to prove myself. Then I enlisted and even as the Winter Soldier I was still fighting. What if I need the fight? What if that’s what stops him coming out?” He looked over at her and she could see the worry and the fear.
“Look maybe when I said about leaving the Avengers I was wrong. I need to leave them, at least front line, but, maybe you don’t?” She looked over at him. “As long as you come home every night and take leave when it’s my due date and when they are here then you don’t have to leave. Just promise me you’ll stay safe and come back to us.” She whispered, his hands instantly going to her belly as he bowed his head down to kiss her.
“I promise.” He whispered on her lips as she smiled up at him.
“You’re doing dirty nappies and night feeds.” She whispered up at him.
“I take your point and I’ll trade you for the cuddles and nursery rhymes.” He smiled as she shook her head at him laughing. “Do you think they’ll find it cool?” He asked watching her hand rub up and down his arm gently.
“Definitely.” She responded smiling up to him.

Notes