Hello everyone. I guess I should explain where I've been. Unless you're just wanting to read and you totally ignore these a/n things. I've been going through a dark time in my life, and while I had this written months ago, I've been trying to stay off the computer and get outside more. I won't give you a sob story with the details, but let's just say someone from my disowned side of the family did something horrible. Justice will finally be served to them for me and countless others they hurt.
Anyways, enjoy. I am sorry if it wasn't what you were expecting.
Chapter Twenty One
"Ice chips!" Darcy said as she ran from my room. The whole gang was downstairs, according to Steve, but I wasn't in the mood right now.
"What are the chances he would be born the same day your album released?" Tony said from my side.
"I can't think about probabilities right now Tony." I said, right before another contraction hit.
"Well I think-YOUCH!" Tony said, as I nearly crushed his hand.
"Tony, shut up before I MAKE you shut up." I said lowly, as I was very irritated.
"Hey Doll," Steve said from the doorway.
"Steve, switch with Tony." I sighed, smiling at him. Tony, then said, "I'll be downstairs."
"I think it's time to push," I said to the midwife who was waiting in the corner.
"Alright dear, let's give it a check first." She said, checking to see how dilated I was.
"You are right dear," She said, smiling at us.
"Wait, I need…" I said, thinking.
"What Doll?" Steve asked, pushing my hair out of my face.
"I wanted the girls up here, but I think this moment should just be between you and I." I said, as I felt another contraction.
"Okay." He said, kissing my forehead as I waited out the contraction.
"Let's meet our son," I cried. Were they tears of joy or pain? I didn't know, but I was crying nonetheless.
"Effie, you are going to need to push soon," The midwife said.
"Steve, get behind me," I said, to which he carefully sat behind me and held my shoulder, massaging them.
"Okay, on the next contraction, I need you to push, hard." The midwife said, as I felt another coming.
"Here we go," I said to Steve before bearing down, and pushing. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours. The pain was nearly unbearable, but I was so close to seeing my son, I couldn't give up.
"One more and he's out!" The midwife said, as Steve cheered me on.
"Okay," I said before grunting and yelling in pain. I felt him leave my body, and I collapsed against Steve, blinded momentarily by the pain.
"He's perfect," Steve whispered in my ear. I sobbed, so happy the pain was over. Not two seconds later, I heard a cry, and it was like music to my ears.
"He is perfect," She said, smiling as I opened my eyes to see my son. She quickly cleaned him up, and went to place him in my arms.
"Hello Little One," I said, gazing at my beautiful baby, "We are so happy to meet you."
A small yawn came from our son, which made my heart melt. Steve carefully took one of his hands between his thumb and index finger, and was marveling at how tiny he was.
"I think the second choice suits him." Steve said, as he lovingly kissed my temple.
"Josiah Steven Rogers," I whispered, before placing a soft kiss on Josiah's forehead.
"How are you feeling sweetheart?" Steve asked, mopping my brow with a damp facecloth.
"Tired, sore, but very happy," I said, not taking my eyes off of our son.
"Where did the midwife go?" I asked, when I looked up.
"She let us have a moment to ourselves." He said, carefully running the back of his finger across our son's cheek.
"What do you think? Shall we let them come up and see him?" He asked softly.
"Can I wash first? I feel disgusting." I joked.
"Of course, but I think you look beautiful," Steve said, moving from behind me to sit by my side.
"You're going to have to hold him." I said, looking amused at Steve's look of panic.
"Just support his head, and hold him close. Babies this small love to be in small spaces. I'll put a diaper on him, and some clothes when I've finished washing." I said, reluctantly handing Josiah off to Steve.
"I'll be right back," I said, feeling heartbroken to leave my little boy, even for a moment.
"Okay, you can go get everyone," I said to Steve as I settled down in the fresh sheets. He had placed Josiah in the bassinet while I showered, and stripped down the bed.
"Okay, here you go." He said, carefully placing Josiah in my arms. Walking out the door, he turned back to smile at me.
"Does everyone want to come up and meet him?" I heard Steve ask. I looked down at my son, and sighed happily. He was cleaned up, in a diaper, and swaddled up in a pale blue blanket.
"Where's my nephew?" Tony asked, coming through the door with a rattle.
"Shhh," Pepper said, smacking the back of his head.
"He is so small," Thor said, smiling down
"Can't wait till I can show him how to shoot," Clint said, making Natasha flick his head.
"Малыш , тетя Наташа любит вас." Natasha whispered, kissing Josiah's head.
"И он любит свою тетю Наташу," I said, making everyone look at me.
"Natasha taught me Russian," I said, wondering why that was so weird to them.
"Natasha doesn't teach anyone, anything." Clint said, stunned at his wife's willingness to teach.
"She isn't just anyone. Она моя сестра." She said, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Cестра," I said, putting my hand overtop of hers. A quite yawn escaped Josiah's mouth, earning a giggle from everyone.
"What is his name?" Jane asked, as Darcy snuggled into Bucky's side.
"Josiah Steven Rogers." I said, looking down on my son with love. Words weren't needed as we passed him around. Josiah looked so tiny in Thor's hands, and Bruce showed up in time to uncomfortably hold him. He was unsure of himself around my son, and I appreciated his unease. If I didn't trust him, I wouldn't have given him the chance to.
"Okay, looks like out little soldier needs some nourishment," I joked as he started fussing.
"We'll go make some dinner." Pepper said to the girls.
"You guys don't have to stay at a Hotel tonight, we have more than enough room." I said, looking at Steve.
"You are more than welcome to stay. We insist." He said, looking grateful to everyone.
"Bucky and I have our own place, so we'll go home." Darcy said, looping her arm through her husband's.
"Just three couples and myself then," Bruce said with a laugh.
"I hear Betty Ross is coming to give a talk next week," I said to Jane, who clued into my plan.
"I know! I am so excited to see her! It's been so long," She said, as Josiah started fussing more.
"And that's our cue to leave," Bruce said, hightailing it out.
"We need to get Betty here," I said to Jane as the men left the room.
"I agree. He's been alone for so long." Jane said, before following Thor. The women went downstairs as well, giving Steve and I some privacy. I freed one breast and tried to get Josiah to feed. After a few failed attempts, he understood what I was giving him, and greedily sucked. Steve watched, enraptured by our son. He carefully brushed the soft brown tuft of hair atop Josiah's head and kissed my temple.
"Thank you," He whispered.
"I didn't do it by myself," I said with a small laugh.
"But I couldn't have him without you either." Steve said, gazing into my eyes lovingly.
"I love you Effie, and I am forever grateful for our son." He said, pressing his forehead against mine.
"You won't be thinking that in three weeks, when we are both sleep deprived." I giggled.
"Oh, but I will," He said, smiling.
"Even with that shower, I still feel nasty." I said, brushing back the hair on Josiah's head.
"You look even more beautiful than you were carrying our child."
"He's going to be amazing. And we are going to have to protect him. Hydra is still out there, Steve. Uncle Phil's been keeping me updated and it's not pretty. We don't know if the Super Soldier Serum can be passed down like this. And they may want to take him if they ever found out," I whispered, working myself into hysterics. Steve put both hand on my shoulders and said, "Breathe Effie."
"We are going to protect him. And yes they may want him, or any other children we have that have the serum, but they won't get any of our children. I promise, I will finish off Hydra, once and for all." He said, before kissing Josiah's head softly.
Translations:
Малыш , тетя Наташа любит вас - Baby, Aunt Natasha loves you
И он любит свою тетю Наташу - And he loves his Aunt Natasha
A/N: And after this, we get into Age of Ultron territory and I just don't have the inspiration to write that. I will say I've been writing another story for awhile now. Actually three separate stories, and I'll start publishing soon. So, for now, this is the happy ending for Effie and Steve. I want to thank everyone who stuck by me as I continually failed to update on time. Love you all.