Emily awoke to the soft sounds of someone talking in her living room. After a moment, she realized it was Marley who often came by to check in on her and Steve who was normally gone early when he came by the apartment after missions to sleep with her in her bed.

Slowly sitting up, baby kicking away, she remembered the night before.

Oh.

Emily had been so blissed out by everything Steve had done to her that she'd passed right out, happy in his arms.

But it wasn't that easy, was it?

Her face flamed hot as she remembered. She'd practically thrown herself at Steve, overcome by weeks of pining and hormones. Knowing she didn't have long left at the compound had made her desperate. When she'd kissed him, he'd kissed her back and then some. When she pushed things farther…

Oh wow.

Emily didn't know if she should be embarrassed to face him today or climb him like a tree – as much as a very pregnant girl could. Should she apologize? Beg for more? Where did that leave things?

She'd been surprised. Emily knew Steve got teased quite a bit by his team for being pure and virtuous and if that were true, what woman alive wouldn't want to debauch him? By the time she'd been straddling those impressive thighs last night, she knew it was likely he'd turn her down. She had even guessed correctly why.

He was a good man. He'd turned down what she'd offered afraid he'd hurt the child she carried, afraid he'd hurt her. She'd respected that even as she was about burst into tears from having nothing but solo orgasms for months.

Somehow, he'd known. Then he'd taken over and just… Damn.

She's spent so much time worrying that he only wanted to help her for Bucky and Marley's sakes. Even if she thought he might be interested in her, she didn't expect things to go quite like that. Not that she was complaining.

As she sat up, pulled on her robe, she heard Bucky walk in, ribbing Steve about missing their run and some shot that at least he didn't walk into his bedroom to find Steve. The sound of Steve's laughter at what she was sure was an inside joke made her happy. She left them all chatting as she went to the bathroom.

Just as she was about to go out and join them, someone knocked on the door.

Logan? Shit.

It wasn't that Emily didn't like Logan. She did. He was handsome, friendly, and very charming. He worked very hard to try and charm her. He brought her flowers, gifts, meals. The first time she'd let him in with a meal he'd brought was only a couple of weeks ago and she realized she'd only let him in because she was so lonely, and Marley was otherwise occupied. Maybe she'd been wrong to do that, to let him think there was some chance that he and she…

But how could she when she'd already given her heart to someone else?

And that made her feel terrible because the one she'd given her heart to was Captain America. From a certain point of view, it made her seem shallow. She'd actually given her heart to the man beyond the hero everyone thought they knew.

The truth was, she didn't care that Steve was Captain America. Well, she did. He was in a lot more danger on a regular basis than most guys she could choose. But he wasn't just Captain America. He was a lot more than that.

Logan would never understand and that made her heart sink because he'd become a friend and she'd never had many of those.

Emily shook her head at the whole crazy situation. Things like this didn't normally happen to her. Now she was big as a house and had not one but two gorgeous men trying to win her over? Just wow. What alternate universe was this?

Emily pulled open her bedroom door just a bit to listen as Logan, she could tell by his tone that he had not expected Steve to be there in his pajamas answering her door, asked to speak to her. Steve casually told him she was still asleep, but he'd tell her that Logan came by. Then he'd pretty much shut the door in his face.

"You know, I don't like him," Bucky said. "There's just something…"

"I know what you mean," Marley told him. "I feel the same way, but I can't put my finger on why."

"You've looked in his head?" Bucky offered.

"I have. There's nothing unusual," Marley replied.

"How often does he come by?" Steve asked, seeming genuinely irked.

"A lot," Marley told him. "While you were gone, I'd be over here when I wasn't training. I can't tell you how many times he'd be here when I arrived, or he'd show up while I was here."

"He just invited himself or…?" Bucky asked.

"Oh yeah," Marley told them. "I never once got the impression he was here on Emily's invitation. He's pretty tenacious."

Emily cut off whatever else she was about to say by walking into her living room to three smiling faces.

Marley rose from the couch to hug her. "How are you this morning?"

Emily caught Steve's gaze from the chair, smiling up at her. "I'm great. I slept very well."

Steve rose now. "We made you breakfast."

When Marley shot him a glare, Steve laughed. "Marley made you breakfast. I helped."

"Sure, you did," Marley told him. She got everything out and warmed it, settling Emily on the couch with her and Bucky so she could eat.

Steve and Bucky filled Marley in on the mission they'd been on over the last several weeks and she'd laughed along with her at some of the stories they had to tell. Steve kept cutting her glances all the while and she'd have given anything to know what he was thinking as Marley could.

When she excused herself to shower and dress for seeing Helen, she expected everyone to be gone when she came back to the living room, but Steve remained, having gone to his place to shower and dress.

"Mind if I tag along?" he asked, rising from the couch as she approached.

Emily shook her head, smiling at him.

"Logan stopped by," he told her, moving closer. "I told him I'd let you know."

"Thank you," she told him.

"I didn't screw anything up there did I?" Steve surprised her with that question, concern edging around the features of his face.

"No!" Emily shook her head. "No, not at all. He's a friend. That's all."

"What are we?" Steve asked gently.

Emily sank down onto the couch, buried her face in her hands. "Steve, I'm so sorry about last night. I pretty much just threw myself at you. Thank you for… thank you for taking care of me."

Taking a knee in front of her, Steve got closer, sounding confused. "I'm glad to help. I've wanted to… wanted you… for a while now, Emily. But I'm really not good at the whole… dating thing. All of this."

"You've wanted me? So, you want…"

"Not just sex," his voice deepened. "I'm pretty interested in all of you, Emily. I'd like to try this."

Carefully he peeled her hands back, peering down into her eyes. "You didn't answer my question."

"What do you want?" she asked directly. "What can I be? I mean you're…"

Steve was already shaking his head. "What are we?"

He had to be able to hear how hard her heart was pounding out. Emily knew what she wanted but...

"I don't deserve someone like you, Steve." Emily whispered. "I don't really feel like any mortal woman does but certainly… not me."

"Is that a nice way of letting me down?" His expression hardened like he was waiting for her to turn him away.

She didn't understand any of it. How she came to be here, how she ended up right there in this moment with him. How he was gazing her with such intensity, looking like he expected her to reject him.

Emily knew she'd regret it the rest of her life if she didn't take the chance. But, Jesus, she was scared.

"Steve." She took a deep breath. "Can I have you? I guess that's the part I –"

He was on her before she could get another word out. She'd learned last night that he was an amazing kisser and he unleashed that skill on her now, taking her breath away as he pressed her carefully into the couch. Emily kissed him back, willing to give him anything he wanted. Her hands slid over the wide expanse of his shoulders, the muscled wall of his back.

The sharp knock at her door had him groaning into her mouth.

"You guys ready?" Bucky called.

"Yeah," Steve called back, smiling. "To be continued."

Wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her up from the couch, smoothing her hair with a gentle hand. When he was satisfied with how she looked, he led her to the door and out to greet Marley and Bucky for her appointment with Helen.

Marley hugged her. "Ready?"

Emily nodded, and they headed for the elevator. Steve selected the floor while Bucky smirked at him.

"That lipstick's not really your shade, pal," Bucky pointed out while Marley gasped, punching his human arm.

Emily felt her face go up in flames.

Steve grinned at his friend as he herded her into the elevator. "It works for me."

"I'm sure it does." Like a mother, Bucky scrubbed at the corner of Steve's mouth with a thumb. "About fucking time, too."

"I'm so sorry," Marley told her, embarrassed at her boyfriend's behavior.

Bucky winked at Emily, looking pleased. "So, it's official now?"

Steve's gaze flew to her. Emily just smiled.

"It's official," she confirmed, surprised at the relief she read on Steve's face.

They chatted on the elevator ride. Steve took Emily's hand in his for the short walk to Helen's office.

Helen didn't seem to have an office filled with people and Emily loved it, having everyone there to see the baby with her. Bucky had been once with Marley, but it was the first time Steve had come along.

Steve held her hand the entire time and Bucky watched with shiny eyes and Marley by his side.

"He's beautiful," Bucky whispered. "So beautiful."

"Wow," Steve looked fascinated. "The details are amazing. He's grown a lot since that picture you sent me."

The little one was on the move on the screen, the same movement obvious under the blouse Emily wore.

Bucky moved to stand in front of her. "Can I?"

"Of course," she told him, taking his hand and placing it for him.

Very few people had likely ever seen Bucky Barnes in tears. He kept his hand on her side while his son stretched and moved within her.

"Thank you," Bucky whispered, pulling Emily into a tight embrace. "Thank you for giving us this."

Marley got in on the hug, her eyes suspiciously wet too. Steve never let go of her hand.

"Everything looks great," Helen told them once Bucky got a hold of himself. "Not long to go now. Emily, how are you? Anything out of the ordinary since last night?"

"No," Emily told her. "Everything's fine. I slept well."

Helen's gaze fell on her hand held by Steve's and she winked at Emily.

"Hey, guys!" Tony Stark breezed in, seeming to fill the room. "So, Helen and I had a chat about what may be going on with the burn episodes when Emily's ex grabbed her arm, then Bruce and I had an idea for a little experiment. You guys game?"

"What kind of experiment?" Steve's eyes narrowed.

Nat's arrival behind Tony announced her agreement on whatever this was. And she knew Steve trusted Nat.

"Let's all go to Marley's playroom, shall we?" Tony motioned them to follow him.

"Playroom?" Emily asked Marley.

"I wish," Bucky's grin was wicked as he pressed a kiss to Marley's cheek.

Steve still seemed reluctant, but he came along.

They entered a room filled with huge metal shields at least twenty feet high. The only break from the shields was the door.

"This is where I can train using my powers," Marley explained. "The shields mostly keep me from burning down the compound."

"Mostly," Tony grinned at Marley. Then he turned his attention to Emily. "Do you trust me?"

A glance at Steve told her he was suspicious of his friend's intentions.

"Why?" she asked.

Tony looked as if he were going to reach for her hand and then noticed one of them was already being held by Steve.

"What's this?" Tony clapped Steve on the shoulder. "Steve talked to a girl. Are you guys going steady?"

Steve didn't let go of her hand, just smirked at Tony as if daring him to go on.

"Yes," Emily told Tony. "We are. Back to this. What are we doing?"

Just like that, Tony let it go, his serious face back on.

"An experiment."

"You said that. What does it involve exactly?" Emily pressed. "Why do I need to trust you?"

"I can't explain that without ruining the surprise, okay?" Tony looked from Steve who looked less angry and back to her. "It has to do with what happened in the food court a few weeks back. You game?"

"Emily, no harm will come to the baby or you," Nat said calmly. "I'm going to stay right here with you."

"We'll be here too, right?" Marley asked.

Nat shook her head. "Just me. Emily, what do you say?"

Her curiosity was up now. Glancing at Steve, she placed her palm on one impressive bicep. "I'll do it. If it's okay with you guys."

Marley and Bucky didn't look a lot more enthusiastic than Steve did.

"Your call, doll," Bucky told her.

"If anything goes wrong…" Steve focused on Tony.

"Hey, I wouldn't do anything to risk either of them," Tony said to Steve in a rare moment of seriousness. "Just a quick experiment. You all will be watching with me on the monitor. Nat will be here with her. Okay?"

Steve shifted his gaze back to Emily, cocking a brow at her.

When she nodded, Tony stepped forward. "Sensor pads," he explained. "Just sticky."

He placed one on her chest, one on her back. He asked her to place the third on her tummy for the baby.

The lot of them left the room with Tony. All except Nat.

"Why are you staying with me?" Emily asked the gorgeous spy.

"Because I can remain a neutral party," Nat told her with a smile.

"Ah."

Nat took several steps back while Emily stood in the dead center of the room, waiting.

Several moments passed before the door opened. Emily waited to see who would walk in.

It was Billy.

Her heart jumped in her chest as he marched in her direction. "Fucking bitch! There you are."

Emily, started backing up, looking for Nat. Nat eased up behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Breathe."

"What do you have to say, huh?" Billy was on her, yelling in her face. He grabbed her wrist in his hand for a single beat, then jerked back at the sizzling sound that seared his flesh as smoke rose.

"Huh," Billy said, completely backed off now and looking at what was left of an electronic glove he'd been wearing, made to look like a hand. It was black, curling, and ruined. Revealing a completely healthy hand underneath.

"That was powerful indeed," he said in a completely different voice. An elegant voice. "A mere shadow of Marley's abilities but surprisingly potent."

Emily, still reeling from what she thought was another confrontation with her ex watched as the man's appearance shifted. In seconds, he no longer looked like Billy. He was taller, fair, with long black hair. He looked familiar.

Nat's arms wrapped around her from behind. "That's it. You did well."

"That's it?" Emily was still struggling to breathe.

"Mmm-hmm," Nat told her. "You're just fine. Helen's going to take another look at you before you can go so Tony doesn't end up in a fight with the senior citizens."

"I do apologize," the raven-haired man said smiling.

"Loki," Emily came up with it. "Oh, wow. That was amazing."

The demigod preened at her praise as Steve and Marley, Bucky behind them, came back in the room making a beeline for her.

"Are you okay?" Marley asked, looking worried. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," Emily told her. "I'm fine. I see why they did it. Maybe we'll learn something here about the baby."

Steve palmed her cheek, turning her to look at him. "You're sure?"

Emily nodded. "I'm better now."

They herded her and Nat back into Helen's room. Nat was right, Helen removed the pads and did another check over, just to make everyone feel better.

"Did you feel anything, Emily?" Helen asked. "When he was burned? Did you feel a change in body temperature? A surge of adrenaline? Anything?"

Emily shook her head. "I don't think it's me. And I don't think it's adrenaline. I jumped a foot off the floor last week because of that spider on my bed. Remember?"

Marley laughed. "I heard her in our bathroom with the door closed. That's how loud she screamed."

"Hey kids," Tony came back into the room with Bruce. "So, we took a look at everything. This little guy," Tony patted her tummy, "is the one doing this."

"It was fascinating," Bruce told them. "The readings correspond with what Loki described. It's a muted form of pyrokinesis, not as strong as Marley's but impressive. He's a fetus."

"How would Loki know about Marley's powers then…"

"Loki's been on the receiving end of Firestarter here," Tony explained. "Combined with his ability to be anyone, he was the perfect candidate for this little experiment."

"So, it's not hurting our baby when this happens, is it?" Marley's face showed worry.

"Nah," Tony told her. "He's completely unphased."

"What's the trigger?" Helen asked him. "If Emily doesn't think it's her adrenaline…"

"She's right," Bruce explained. "Adrenaline makes a pretty common appearance in our lives. If he were reacting any time adrenaline was released in her body, we would have seen something before now. No, this is something else. If he can read minds like his mother… maybe he's watching Emily's thoughts. If she's afraid or feeling threatened, just maybe he's trying to protect her and in doing that, protecting himself."

Marley seemed to consider this. "I won't complain about that but…"

"But what, doll?" Bucky took her hand in his.

"What if it went wrong somehow?" Marley glanced at each of them in the room. "He's just a baby. What if he perceives a threat where there isn't one. Emily could be hurt or someone else…"

"Something to consider," Bruce told them.

"We'll be monitoring," Tony told her. "Under the circumstances, Emily, I, ah…"

"I know," she said, determined she wasn't going to cry and make them feel bad for her. "I agree. As much as I'd like to keep my job, I don't want… to hurt anybody."

Steve's warmth seeped into her as he pulled her against him.

"Hey," Tony told her. "I'm sure there's some other job we can come up with. Something technical you can be trained to do. We can set up a computer station in your apartment, have someone train you."

"Really?" Emily didn't care how much hope bled into her voice.

"Absolutely," he said warmly. "Steve can take you to wind down your pizza shop job. I'll explain to Roger, so you won't have to worry about that. And then I'll set up everything for your new job within the next two days. Considering what I just put you through, it's the least I can do."

Emily snorted. "You already take care of me, Tony. You owe me nothing. But if I can have something to do, I'd be so grateful."

"So, would I," Steve said, smiling at Tony. "Thank you."

Tony returned his smile. "It's for my nephew. Tony, Jr."

Bucky scoffed behind them.

"Okay, getting too mushy in here. Be gone. I've got work to do." Tony swept out of the room taking Bruce and Nat with him.

"You sure you're okay?" Steve said next to her ear.

She was excited. "I'm getting a new job."

"Happy for you," Bucky told her. "That was decent of Stark."

"Let's go get lunch," Marley told them.

Steve pressed a kiss to her lips, apparently at ease with doing so in front of their friends and helped her off the exam table.