Month 4

The next week was a bit awkward, if not quiet. Rhodey had been avoiding them, Natasha was sneaking glances at Steve and Tony's stomach, which had developed small but noticeable bumps, and Clint wasn't trying to hide his excitement at all.

When they noticed the bump for the first time, while they were taking off their shirts, reality hit them hard. These babies were here. This was really happening.

Their hands frequently went to their stomachs whenever they were sleeping, watching TV, or talking to someone. It was a semiconscious action, like when Bucky and T'Challa would turn over in his sleep and caress their bellies. It made their hearts and stomachs flutter.

The only problem was. . .

"We gained three pounds, T'Challa," Tony pouted as he sat down at the kitchen table. Steve did the same. He watched T'Challa help Bucky with the pancakes.

"That's completely normal, you two," Bucky replied and poured batter into a pan.

"It's not normal when we're still throwing up every morning," Steve grumbled to himself, eyes trained on the pancakes that Bucky was flipping.

"Ah, Tony and Steve, I found my mother's old recipes for anti-nausea shakes," T'Challa said. "I'll make one with your breakfast this morning."

Steve absentmindedly muttered a "Thanks," his stomach growling as he watched Bucky lift a few pancakes onto a plate.

He chuckled. "I heard that."

"I can't help it. I'm starving. Can you put chocolate syrup on mine?"

T'Challa turned and gave him a perplexed look.

"And strawberries. And whipped cream." Steve and Tony's mouths were practically watering.

T'Challa and Bucky shared looks. Finally, T'Challa sighed. "Though I don't appreciate the. . .sugary requests. . ." he began, "This was bound to happen sooner or later. Bucky, would you mind getting the Cool Whip and the Hershey syrup from the refrigerator?"

oOoOoOo

T'Challa and Bucky waved goodbye to a friend as they walked out of a SHEILD base. Bucky was reaching for his keys to his car when his phone vibrated.

Tony: sent at 3:48 p.m.: The Oreo Mint Chip milkshake from Steak n' Shake.

Bucky raised an eyebrow at his phone screen."What an odd request. . ." he thought amusedly. He showed it to T'Challa.

He quickly tapped a response.

Bucky: sent at 3:49 p.m.: I thought you hated mint. With a passion.

It was true. Tony hated peppermint, spearmint, you name it. If it was mint, he didn't eat it. Bucky found it odd that Tony chose to use mint Listerine to wash his mouth.

But nowadays, Tony was eating a lot of things he wouldn't normally eat. Candy, weird concoctions of chocolate, ice cream, and strawberry syrup, cake, a bacon and caramel donut at one point (don't ask). His preferred pregnancy food was milkshakes, most often the Cookie Dough flavor.

His phone buzzed.Tony: sent at 3:51 p.m.: I don't recall.

Bucky just smiled. Bucky: sent at 3:52 p.m.: I'll stop by the Steak n' Shake and I'll be home in thirty minutes.

Tony: sent at 3:53 p.m.: Okay. ;)

Bucky knew that that emoticon meant.

It meant if Tony got his milkshake, then he and T'Challa would be rewarded. In depth.

They hurriedly hopped into his car.

oOoOoOo

"Have they started kicking yet?" asked Natasha, her hands delicately wrapped around a coffee mug. Wanda was with her too.

She, Wanda, Steve, and Tony sat in the living room. Natasha along with the entire team, were the only people, that knew about Steve and Tony's maternal leave. Fury, Coulson, and others were still in the dark.

"Yes, but not often," Tony said, taking a sip of his water. "Maybe once a day if I'm lucky." "What he said." Steve said next to him.

Wanda got that curious look on her face, and Tony already knew the question she was going to ask, and he gave the tiniest smile.

"Go ahead, but you're not going to feel anything."

Wanda beamed and set down her coffee, and placed her hands gently over Tony's rounded stomach. Natasha did the same to Steve.

They waited.

Steve snorted. "See? I told you that you wouldn't feel any--whoo!"He jumped and winced.

Wanda looked up at him with wide eyes, filled with both awe and concern. "Well, I felt that."

"It hurt." He frowned.

Natasha gave him a sly grin. "I guess that's all a part of carrying half-super soilder children."

There was another kick to his ribcage and Tony hissed. Wanda gave him an "Are you okay?" look, which Tony dismissed with a smile. "They must really like you. This is the most active they've been all week."

Wanda's eyes shone. "Does that make us the honorary Godmother's?"

Steve chuckled. "Yes, I think it does."

A kick to their kidneys and they knew their kids couldn't agree more.

oOoOoOo

"Rhodey, you'resulking."

"For the last time," Rhodey groaned, not even bothering to turn around and face Natasha, "I amnotsulking. I'm just. . ."

"Pouting? Brooding? Moping?" She rattled off.

Rhodey did turn this time, but only to give Natasha a deadly glare.

Her face was smug. Rhodey wanted to punch her. He needed to punch something and today Natasha looked suddenly punchable.

"You've ignored and avoided Tony and Steve for the past two weeks, Rhodey. Why are you so upset?" Natasha's voice was calm, but had a hint of worry.

That was a good question. Whywashe upset? Something about this didn't sit well with him, but what could it be?

"Are you afraid?"

That had to be it. But what could he possibly be afraid of? He wasn't the one carrying children.He wasn't the one who would have to be careful of everything he ate, or how he went down the stairs, or what physical activities he was able to do without harming his children.

Natasha was sitting on the bed with him now.

"Rhodey."

"What."

"You never answered me."

"Maybe I am afraid, okay?" He blurted out, suddenly frustrated. "Maybe I'm suddenly recalling all that shit we've had to deal with. For fuck's sake, Nat, I almost died. What if something happens to their kids, huh? What if then? And then they're blaming themselves and nothing is the same after that.

"I mean, why now? Why not, I don't know, think about what could happen? After all those times, after all the bullshit. . ." Rhodey shook his head. "Maybe I'm afraid of more death. Maybe I'm afraid of what could happen to them. Hell if I know what I'm feeling right now. I just don't like this. I'm worried, okay?"

Rhodey was shocked into silence at this point.

Rhodey sighed, rubbed both hands over his face. "Not to mention I want to punch those idiots T'Challa and Bucky into the stratosphere."

Natasha finally spoke up. "Maybe you just care too much."

Rhodey gave her a bewildered look.

"Maybe you should just see how things play out, Rhodey. Worry too much and you might ruin it for yourself. I don't even think that they're all that worked up about it anymore. You've got to relax."

Rhodey soaked in her words. His mind swirled with questions, with "What if's", with "but's". He had no meritable response.

Natasha stood up to leave.She was at the door when, after a moment's hesitation, Rhodey called out, "Hey, Widowmaker."

Natasha rolled her eyes at the nickname (that she'd unfortunately become accustomed to) but nonetheless turned around.

Rhodey nodded once. "Thanks."

Natasha nodded back and left, closing the door behind him with a softclick.