All Previous Disclaimers Apply.
A/N: So, this is the last chapter. I may return to this verse at another time. Sorry if the ending seems rushed. This is what it was always meant to be. I hope you enjoy it.
Steve looked around the room at the reporters who were already shouting out questions, motioning toward the babies, one in Thor's arms, one in Pepper's arms and one in Pietro's arms. He couldn't help the small, secret smile that he gave to all of them, nor could he help the eyebrow that went up of its own accord. He turned back for a moment to look at his mate. Thor grinned up at him as he pressed a kiss to their daughter's head. His mate looked exhausted and radiant and he was sure that he looked exactly the same, as it was the same expression that he'd seen on all new parents' faces. And he and Thor'd had so much more help than some new parents. First on Asgard with the Aesir side of their family and then back on Earth when they returned to the pack they'd made for themselves. They'd been staying at Avenger's Tower while they adjusted to life with their newborns and a suite for their nurse was prepared in their brownstone.
At first, Steve had been a little wary of having a nursemaid along with them, it had almost felt like the Asgardians were trying to say that he and his mate wouldn't be able to handle raising their children alone. But, Hilde had been a godsend. With only the two of them it would have been so much more difficult when all three were crying for food or needed a little extra attention. Hilde loved their girls fiercely, but never tried to overstep. She was, at once, a protector and a caretaker, a shield maiden of Asgard herself, and they knew that, if it ever came to it, she would die defending their girls. Even now she stood in the shadows of the stage that had been set up for the conference, her Asgardian leathers dark enough to blend into the shadows as she surveyed the assembled reporters, constantly on the lookout for anything that could threaten her charges.
Steve gave her a little nod, waited for her to return it, and then turned back to the crowd of press that still hadn't had the good sense to just quiet down. He let his gaze turn a little hard, forced his mouth to set in a disappointed scowl and waited. Just as he'd expected it took less than a minute for the crowd to settle back into their chairs, looking at him expectedly, trembling as if the slightest word would have them springing from their seats again. He knew he wouldn't hear the end of it from Tony later back at the Tower. Using his "Disappointed Face of Doom™" to get the reporters to quiet down, but if it worked it worked.
"I'd like to thank you all for coming out today. I know it's been some time since The Avengers held a press conference and, as you can see, a lot of things have changed for us since then. I will read a brief statement and then there may be time for questions," When one of the reporters almost jumped out of his seat again Steve couldn't help but add, "If I feel like it."
It was more Tony's style to snark at reporters, but he was tired, he was hungry, and he knew that his little ones were going to wake up for changes and food themselves soon. He knew that if the reporters annoyed him enough he wouldn't be taking questions. He'd read his statement, take one of his girls in his arms and take them all to the elevator and up to the private living quarters without another thought. If he wasn't so keen on not keeping his status and his mating under wraps any longer he might have done just that despite all of the gathered people. But, he turned and looked back at his mate one last time. Thor would have happily let him continue the lie, but it wasn't fair to his mate, or himself not to acknowledge their connection. And, as far as the world had come in regards to Omega rights since he went into the ice, there was still so far to go. If him claiming his true status in any way help to forward Omega rights than he could hardly do anything but. He let the corner of his mouth quirk up at Thor, who threw him a subtle wink, then turned back to the microphone.
"When I came out of the ice a lot of things had changed. Most of them were hard to adjust to. Some of them were incredible advances I never could have imagined. One of the best, though, was the fact that when I awoke the doctor who treated me was an Omega. I could smell her sweetness in the air and that alone made me pause. In my day Omegas were thought of as weaker, in need of protection. A good Omega was expected to marry young, give his or her Alpha strong, healthy babies and stay home to raise them. And anyone who questioned that was labeled a rebel, a troublemaker, sick in the head. They were institutionalized, jailed, worse…" He took a deep breath and looked straight at the Alpha reporter who was smirking ever so slightly.
"I was never a good Omega. I was one of those rebels, a troublemaker. I was labeled sick in the head by more than one person." The crowd of reporters had gone completely still and silent, more than one with their jaws hanging open, "Luckily enough, my Alpha, Bucky Barnes, didn't care a whit about what was proper. And neither did Dr. Erskine when he chose me to test his serum. It was decided that my secondary gender would never be mentioned as no one would take an Omega Captain America seriously. But, I refuse to not mention it any longer. I am Captain America and I am an Omega. I am Steve Rogers and I am happily mated to Thor Odinsson. And we are the happy parents of Sídhe, Róisín, and Avon, our beautiful girls. Sometime in the future we may have a photo spread done, but until then…respect our privacy or we'll make you respect it. We'll take questions now."
The reporter who had been smirking was the first to jump up.
"Tony," he pointedly addressed the Alpha seen as Captain America's second in command, "How will this change the Avengers now that Captain America will not be leading?"
"Is he going somewhere?" Tony asked, bored and rolling his eyes, "Captain America leads the Avengers. It's always been that way…always will be. There is no one more capable of it than he is. We'd fall apart without him."
"But, with his Omega sensibilities…his emotional reactions…" The reporter pressed.
"Do you dare disparage my beloved's capabilities?" Thor asked in a low, growling voice, aware enough of his young daughter in his arms not to wake her, "He who has led us to victory and saved this realm times beyond count? He who has bested the greatest warriors Asgard can offer? We follow him, and gladly. I have never been labeled a learned man, but I am intelligent enough to know that in battle you let those lead who have the greatest chance of bringing a victory. My Steven is that leader. His tactical mind far outstrips all of ours and anyone other in this realm or any other. To say that a general would allow himself to be distracted because of his secondary gender…" Thor scoffed.
"Your sexism is showing," Bruce finished the sentiment quietly, "And seriously…do you really think, statistically, that Cap is the only Omega on the team? Not that it should matter but…"
That seemed to give the other reporters pause and the hands went down as Bruce stood without another word. Pietro, who had spent most of the press conference looking down, sighed heavily and handed Avon off to his sister before standing as well. He was chewing on his lip nervously, but he kept his head up proudly and the smile on Clint's face shown like the sun, so proud of his boy who had spent so long ashamed of his secondary gender. The smile changed to a look of concern when Pietro began to tremble at the scrutiny. He'd been punished so often before he came to Clint and Laura for his secondary gender it was hard to stand tall and admit it.
"We're done here," Steve said quietly, seeing how close to breaking Pietro was, how uncomfortable Bruce was, how angry the Alphas on the team were becoming. Natasha was flipping a knife in one hand and Steve knew that if Bruce gave her any indication that he wouldn't mind it, the knife would be in the rude reporter's flesh in an instant. Pepper was growling low in her throat, Tony surprised at her reaction. When Sídhe began to whine uncomfortably in her sleep Tony took her and nuzzled her protectively to calm her. Clint and Wanda were strung so tight with the need to comfort Pietro that Sam took Róisín and stood, motioning to Tony and Thor. So much anger and negative energy from their pack wasn't good for the babies.
They all marched off the stage proudly, no one dared to touch Pietro, Steve, or Bruce for fear of undoing what they'd all just said and done. They ignored the questions being shouted at them and rode the elevator back to the common floor. Pietro was a blur as he ran into Laura's open arms, sobbing. She went to her knees with him in her arms, rocking him gently and whispering how proud she was of him. Clint and Wanda ran after him and wrapped themselves around the two. Natasha was wrapped around Bruce, nuzzling his mating mark and stroking his hair. Tony, Thor and Sam moved to the large bassinet in the room and laid the babies down, followed by Pepper, who stalked around them protectively, making a figure eight around the bassinet and the plan pen where the twins and Darcy and Sam's little one were playing. She growled under her breath murmuring challenges to the reporter that she'd been too professional to say aloud when they were in the press room.
Thor came back to Steve's side and nuzzled his mating mark a little.
"You know that the vile reporter…"
"I know, Thor." Steve smiled at his mate gently and took his face in his hands to kiss him gently, "Never doubt that I know how much you love me and our girls. Never doubt I know how much you respect me. You honor me with that love and respect every day. Now, why don't we take the girls to our floor? They're going to need feeding soon and I'm feeling the need for some family snuggles."
"As you wish it, my love." Thor kissed him once and moved toward the babies. Steve looked around at his family, all of them in various stages of recovery. It wasn't perfect. A perfect life was an uninteresting life, but it was his. And it was so much better than he had ever imagined after waking up to find his whole world gone. He could scent his babies as Pepper gave in and let Tony comfort her and Thor handed him Avon with her fresh river scent, taking Sídhe and Róisín in his own arms.
No, it wasn't perfect. But it was perfect for him.
Sídhe - Old Irish for wind - Later used to describe the Fair Folk.
Róisín - Old Irish for Rose
Avon - Old Irish for River