Steven Grant Rogers paced the length of the small apartment he shared with his secret lover James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. His small arms were wrapped around his stomach, cradling the the most precious secret, a baby. The smell of meat permeated the house, he was cooking Bucky's favorite. Of course he was due home an hour ago, but the Great Depression had Bucky working four jobs and Steve selling his art on the street to make ends meet. He walked into the bedroom and fiddled through half finished drawings, trying to kill any time

"Babe, you home?"

Steve took a deep breath, smoothed out his blonde hair and walked to join Bucky in the front room. "Hey Buck," He hugged his lover tightly. His chest wracked with sudden coughs and wheezes. His asthma always kicked in at the worse times.

Bucky picked up his lover and sat on the couch with him on his lap. He stroked up and down Steve's back, trying to help his love's breathing become normal. "Shh, babe it's alright. Deep breathes Stevie."

When Steve was able to breath again he whispered, "I went to the doctor today."

Bucky looked at him worriedly. "Is your asthma worse? Are the heart tremors back? A fever?..." He touched Steve's forehead to check for one.

Smiling softly Steve silenced his love with a finger to his lips. "It's good news. James...I'm pregnant."

Bucky blinks once...twice...three times then he broke out into the happiest smile Steve had ever seen. "Oh, Babe that's wonderful, wait can you give birth safely?"

"Yes," Steve said grinning. "I bumped into a carrier expert at the enlistment office, he wants to see me every week or so because of my health issues."

Bucky suddenly sniffs. "Beef stew?"His mouth salivated from the mere thought.

"Yep...uh...surprise?" Steve says.

Bucky laughs and stands up to twirl Steve around.

14 year old Steve was crying by his front door, his lip swollen and bloody, his right arm twisted and broken, The old neighborhood bullies were at it again.

"Steve?"

He looked up and saw 15 year old Bucky crouched next to him taking in his beating, a worried look on his face. "Names and addresses," he growled.

"N..no Buck it's not worth it." Steve said, the asthma and crying working together to make his voice shake. And he was quite startled as Bucky picked him up like a dame.

"You're staying with me, Ma can fix ya up." The tone in Bucky's voice left no room for Steve to argue.

Later when Steve was balmed,stitched, splinted, and wrapped up he and Bucky laid on the couch cushions under every spare blanket the Barnes' owned, they were gazing into each others eyes,hazel on blue, until Bucky spoke up.

"I love you Steve."

"Love you too buddy."

"No Steve I'm in love with you. In a few years you'll find out if you're a carrier or not. I wanna marry you, have kids with you, grow old with you, not some dame." He kissed Steve, and Steve moaned, Bucky tasted so sweet he wanted more.

"Oh, Buck, I love you too, but if I'm not a carrier we..."

"We'll find a way." Bucky finished. He didn't seem to care that it was illigal for two men,where neither were carriers, to be together "now go to sleep babe."

Moving in closer, Steve laid his head on Bucky's chest. "Night Buck."

"'Night babe."