Written for Leigh's 25th Birthday Writing Challenge by flashfanfics

Prompt: "Please, you couldn't handle me even if I came with instructions"

This was such a pleasure to write! Thank you to thinkwritexpress-official for helping me a bit with the plot and then another thank you to bettercallsabs for helping with edits! Y'all rock!

One minute, it felt like the future was so far away and unattainable and the next, it was staring you right in the face. The sudden change was overwhelming and Erin wasn't sure how to feel. One minute she was incredibly excited and the next she was a nervous mess, stressing about anything and everything.

Bucky and Erin were away from the Avengers compound for the week, visiting Erin's sister who had just gotten engaged to her long-time girlfriend. Both Bucky and Erin were happy for the vacation.

Three years of marriage later, they rarely got time off from work to just be alone together, let alone have time to visit friends or family. After the Snap and the un-Snap, the Avengers were busier than ever trying to fix the world that was in chaos. Still, despite his busy "schedule", he made sure to take off two weeks a year to go honeymoon with Erin, just the two of them, no out-world distractions. After two years of consistently being gone on missions, things were finally calming down in the world and Bucky was able to take a step back from missions. Everyone agreed that he had done more than enough to serve his country/world and it was time for him to focus on himself and his family. Not only would he come home less physically injured, but he would have less mental injuries. He was able to focus on making himself better. It finally felt like things were finally going in the right direction for the Winter Soldier. The next thing that he wanted to do was work on building their family. For the last two years, Bucky and Erin have been trying to get pregnant and had nothing to show for it. Erin was miserable over it, thinking that there was something wrong with her and that she was incapable of having children. She was too scared to go to the doctors, fearful that they would only confirm that her nightmare was her reality. On the other side, Bucky felt that it was his fault they couldn't get pregnant. From everything Hydra had done to him, he was positive that he was the reason why they couldn't conceive.

A solution to building their family was getting a dog. It was a conversation that Erin and he had had previously. They both agreed that it could be beneficial for Bucky if they got an emotional support dog for him and then could keep Erin company if he was away on a mission. However, no decisions had been made on that yet.

Erin had suggested that afternoon that they catch an early dinner at the local diner before going to her sister's engagement party. Never one to say no to food, Bucky agreed and they were soon chowing down on delicious burgers and fresh cut fries.

Bucky noticed that his wife seemed to be lost in her thought, her eyes occasionally shifting to eye the bright yellow gift bag that sat next to her in the worn booth. He simply assumed that she was worried about their gift to the newly engaged couple and in support, he reached across the table and gently grabbed her hand, stroking his thumb over her knuckles in a comforting way.

"Hey babe, I was thinking," he started, his steely blue eyes watching her carefully as she pulled her attention away from the gift bag and directed it towards him.

She smirked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh no, anytime you think, we get into trouble."

He snorted, shaking his head at her. "You're so mean to me," he whined playfully, eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled genuinely. Erin shrugged in response as if to say, What can you do? "I was thinking that maybe it was time that we…uh…send in our application to get a service dog."

Erin heart rate spiked and she pulled her hand out of his grasp, looking at anything but him. "Buck, you can't handle a dog." It came out way harsher than she had intended and the regret was instant.

Before she could backtrack, Bucky responded with a laugh, thinking she was joking, "Babe, if I can handle you, I think I can handle a dog."

Her eyes widened and she felt heat course through her veins as she stood up harshly from the red faux leather booth, snatching her purse and the gift bag, holding the latter tight to her chest in a protective manner. "Oh please, you couldn't handle me even if I came with instructions," Erin snarked, glaring harshly at her husband.

The fire that ran through her veins fueled her anger, her breathing turning rapid and shallow as she fought back the feeling of betrayal. Frustrated more with herself than with Bucky, she stormed through the restaurant, fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill over. Her heart was pounding away in her chest and she clutched at it with her free hand, taking deep breaths to try to calm herself. She was livid over the fact that her husband insisted that she was more difficult to handle than a dog! Yet, there was the rational part of her that knew he was just teasing and that's not what he meant at all.

"UGH!" She let out a sharp cry, wanting to pull at her hair.

Finally, her body recognized the cool air from outside the restaurant and she could feel the anger leaving her body with every breath.

The cool air washed over her body and she released all of the emotions that were taking over her body. Suddenly, guilt caught up to her and she felt terrible for speaking to her husband in that manner. It was a conversation that they have had and they both agreed that it would be beneficial for them to have a fur baby in the house. But these damn-

"Babe?"

She glanced over her shoulder to see her Soldier standing there with his hands in his pockets, a concerned look on his face, but he was keeping his distance until he could properly assess the situation and see what it was she needed.

Without a second thought, Erin walked to Bucky and crashed into his chest, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzled his neck, taking in his comforting scent. In return, Buck squeezed her tightly to him, kissing the top of her head.

"I'm so sorry," she mumbled into his neck, too ashamed to look him in the eye. She truly felt terrible for how she spoke to him. "It's just these damn hormones that are taking over my body. I have zero control."

As soon as the word 'hormones' fell from her lips, Bucky stiffened before gently pulling her away and held her at arm's length. His eyes were searching hers for any indication if his assumptions were correct. "Hormones?" he questioned in an anxious tone, not wanting to get his hopes up, but failed to do so.

Erin stopped breathing for a second and her heart skipped a beat. Quickly recovering, she offered him a shy smile. "Here," she said, handing him the gift bag that she had been so protective over. "I meant to give this to you after dinner."

Bucky looked at the bag as if his whole life was dependent on what was inside. Once again, Erin shook the bag at him, teasing him. "It won't bite."

Gently taking the bag in his hand, he glanced at his wife one last time before reaching into it and pulled out a dark grey shirt that had a fancy black script on it. As soon as he read what was on the shirt, he started crying.

"Daddy est. 2018"

Pure unadulterated joy washed over the Winter Soldier. In his moment of pure happiness, he pulled her to his chest and spun them around, laughing gleefully. Erin joined in, admiring Bucky's smile that was so radiant and large, it was threatening to split his face. She couldn't think of a time when he smiled so vivacious, not even when they said their I Do's.

Bucky gently set his wife back on the ground and another emotion registered to him. Relief. They were actually able to have a baby! He wasn't broken. They could finally have the family they've always wanted and truly deserved.

Erin was surprised when Bucky sunk down to his knees on the sidewalk in front of the diner and was even more surprised when his raised up her shirt to expose her belly. He then leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss just above her belly button and mumbled a short prayer of thanks to god. Bucky looked up from his position on the ground and met the watery eyes of his wife. He reached up to gently caress her cheek, drying her tears, before bringing his hands, both metal and flesh, to her stomach. The touch was so gentle that Erin barely felt it physically, but emotionally, she could feel the awe and love coming off of him in waves. She couldn't help but let more tears escape as she ran her fingers through his hair as he rested his cheek against her, hugging the unborn child.

"We're having a baby," he muttered, turning his cheek to kiss her stomach once again and looked up at her, the relief and joy radiating from him. Saying aloud somehow made it more real for him and he could feel the thought settling into his very soul. He was going to be a father.

Erin bit her lip as she nodded her head, trying to keep from sobbing in happiness, wanting to keep control of her emotions (hormones be damned!). "We're having a baby."

Six Months Later

Bucky clumped up the few steps that lead to his house, thrilled that he was home before dinner time. Tonight, he had planned to spoil his 8 ½ month pregnant wife with homemade chicken marsala and his attempt at a funfetti cake with cream cheese frosting, wanting to indulge her in her less crazy cravings.

Unlocking the door, he gestured for Lilly, his service dog, to enter first then stepped into the entryway himself and carefully toed off his shoes while simultaneously shrugging out of his leather jacket to hang on the coat rack.

"Babe, is that you?"

He perked a bit more at Erin's call while unleashing Lilly who once free, ran into the living room. "You didn't give me a chance to do the whole 'Honey, I'm home' bit!" Bucky pouted as he turned the corner to the room. The sight that greeted him made him want to laugh, but for fear of being banned from the bedroom again, he held himself back.

Erin was on the couch, a glass of water on the coffee table in front of her next to the remote for the tv. The funny bit was that she had a look of frustration on her face that made her look as mad as a bunny rabbit as she huffed at herself. Poor Lilly kept looking back and forth between Bucky and Erin, unsure of how she could help.

"Are you stuck again?" he asked carefully, holding his hands up as a sign he wasn't a threat, still trying to hold back his amusement.

She huffed at him, her face red as she tried to rock back and forth to gain momentum to get off the couch. "Yes, Dear. I'm stuck. And I can't reach my water or the remote! And I need to pee," she whined, giving him a look of desperation, holding her hands out towards him as a sign that she wanted his assistance.

The smallest of laughs escaped through Bucky's lips as he moved towards her to help her up.

Yes, this was the life that they deserved.