Ch 7 – Cuddle Puddles
"Where are they?" Pepper asked as she walked urgently toward Steve. "Nat said Tony had a panic attack."
Steve smiled to himself, "They're asleep on the couch in the common room. Now that he has her back, I don't think he's going to ever let her go." Steve smiled as he looked at the relief sweep over Pepper's face. "I don't think you will either."
She smiled up at him, tears brimming, "Never." She reached her hand out and gently touched his arm, "Are you okay?"
"Physically or emotionally?" He snorted with a broken laugh. "Physically, I was barely touched. Emotionally?" Steve shook his head and closed his eyes for a moment before taking a deep breath and looking back at Pepper, "I saw a lot of things-did a lot of things during the war that I have nightmares about." He took an unsteady breath and looked up at Pepper, "I knew that Nat had been through a lot in her life. A whole lot more than anyone ever deserved to go through, but to have to watch and listen to what those bastards were doing to her… I hope that never happens again."
Pepper gave him a small sad smile and wrapped her arms around him. "Now, think about how she works."
"It's crazy." His voice broke in the middle of the words. Pepper felt Steve's tear hit her face. She felt him start trembling, unable to hold it in any longer. She squeezed tighter as they went to the floor.
Steve's body shook as he finally got the words out he'd been trying to say to her and Tony for a week, "I couldn't protect her. I'm sorry, Pepper. I'm so, so sorry."
Pepper ran her hand over his back and into his hair, scratching his head like she does Tony's when he's upset, "Steve, it's okay. You're both safe and back with us. That's all that matters. You're both going to be fine. You can join our cuddle puddle whenever you need to, okay?"
"Cuddle puddle?" he asked quizzically.
Pepper drew back from Steve and smiled kindly at him, "It's what Tony calls it. Basically, it's when one or more of us is feeling vulnerable or in his case needy," she smiled teasingly. "But it's when you just need someone to hold onto or vice versa. Nat is surprisingly good at knowing when Tony needs it, even when he doesn't, but then again there aren't too many things she isn't good at. Clint and Nat have been doing it for years. Somehow, she and Tony have Bruce in with us, too. That's worked out favorably with the lullaby. You see," she took her thumb and wiped away his tears, "you can join one or all of us anytime. We'll drop everything as soon as we can and just snuggle. Just ask for a cuddle."
"Clint kinda told me about it, but I— I didn't want to get in the way. Thanks, Pepper," he said quietly.
"Want to join us and we'll start our first cuddle puddle?" she asked with trust and sincerity.
"I'd like that," Steve said smiling. "I'd like that a lot."
