Chapter 18

Our days were spent training and running missions with the Avenger team. I was impressed with the strategic plans organized by Dad, Ranger and Steve. This trio of men have the greatest tactical minds in the business. Our team received better intel and the missions were planned using various strategies. We had several back up plans covering every possible contingency.

After a particularly exhausting mission, I slept for over 16 hours. I have been feeling more exhausted for the last few weeks. Regardless how many hours I would sleep, I would still be exhausted.

My dreams also became weirder as the weeks progressed. In one particular dream, a little boy with curly blond hair and bright blue eyes reached for my hand. I held his hand as he pulled me towards Steve and grabbed his hand. Not once did he speak. The boy had no need to speak aloud since I could clearly hear his thoughts.

"Who are you?" I silently asked.

"You will know soon," he answered.

"Where are you from?"

"Neither here nor there. I simply exist," he cryptically stated.

I woke up before I could ask him another question. Something about the little boy seemed familiar, like I've seen him before. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out where.

The following week, I had an appointment with Dr Colton for my yearly examination. I changed into the soft gown, removing my bra and panties after putting on the gown. She ran through her usual checks, deciding to take a blood sample to analyze once I mentioned my exhaustion. "I'll contact you if I find anything unusual with your lab results."

"Thank you doctor." I hoped off the examination table and quickly redressed.

Later that afternoon, JARVIS said, "Dr Colton wishes to visit you in your suite. Do you grant her temporary access?"

"Yes," I quickly agreed. My curiosity was piqued. I wondered what was so urgent she needed to visit me immediately instead of scheduling an appointment.

"Mrs Rogers, Dr Colton has arrived," JARVIS announced. I met her in the living room.

"Mara, I received the results of your blood work. Congratulations, you are pregnant. Based on the level of hormones in your system, you are around 9 weeks pregnant."

I was shocked. After the surgery to remove my Fallopian tube, I was told it would be difficult to get pregnant. Steve and I weren't actively attempting to have a child. "How?" I asked. "I was on birth control. The last patch was inserted just last year."

"We don't know the full effects of the Super Soldier serum. It's possible a combination of Steve's sperm and your magical ability counteracted the effectiveness of the birth control. There's no way for us to know for sure. I've scheduled an appointment in 2 weeks for an ultrasound." She sent me the appointment time and left me to digest my news.

I touched my stomach and asked, "Is this the little boy in my dream?"

Steve entered our suite and asked, "Is what the little boy in your dream?" He sat beside me and pulled me into his lap. "Mara, sweetheart, why was Dr Colton here?"

"To tell me I'm pregnant," I answered without thinking.

"We're having a baby?" he asked for confirmation.

"Yes. We are having a baby. I'm around 9 weeks. In 2 weeks, we'll be able to see our baby on the ultrasound." His smile was radiant. He was excited about having a baby. As we cuddled, he kept rubbing my stomach.

We waited until we received an ultrasound image of our baby. I invited all our friends, old and new, to announce the addition to our family.

I waited until Thor arrived before sharing our news. Silently, I gave him the pleasure of notifying everyone. "Mara and I have some exciting news to share. In just over 6 months, there will be a new member in the Avengers family."

We watched as everyone realized the impact of his words. "Now JARVIS," I said. The ultrasound appeared on the wall, showing everyone the small fetus grown in my womb. Ranger's face displayed the hurt he felt about the baby I'm having with Steve.

I sent him a silent message. "Our baby was never meant to be. I had no intention of having a child, but now that I'm pregnant, I am excited. Please be happy for us. You will be a part of my child's life."

He nodded and thought, "I'll try. It may take some time to get used to the idea."

Dr Bruce Banner pulled me aside to talk. "I've been running various tests off the blood samples I collected over the past few years. You appear to metabolize alcohol, drugs and food almost 5 times faster than the average human. I was waiting for the current sample to confirm the results. It seems you became pregnant before I had the opportunity to warn you. Congratulations on your pregnancy. We'll discuss nourishment requirements later today."

I had a feeling my food intake was about to double. Steve and I already discussed my role with the Avengers. Being pregnant, I wouldn't be able to attend any missions. I could, however, use a comm unit to relay pertinent information to the team.

At 21 weeks, the baby cooperated enough to determine we were indeed having a boy. I knew exactly how he would look. He's been starring in my dreams on a weekly basis.

The media has no clue I'm expecting and we purposely never informed them either. Pepper planned to have a press conference to announce the arrival of our little one. She wanted us to know which powers our son would display prior to the media announcement. I understood her logic, but the rumours circulating regarding my lack of public appearance was becoming rather annoying.

It was a few days before my due date when the team was called to an emergency. They flew to Russia to neutralize a human trafficking ring. Young girls between the age of 6 and 13 we kidnapped then sold as sex slaves to wealthy men. The leader was captured and his 'business' was dismantled.

After looking over some maps, I relayed a message regarding the location of the young girls. They were hidden in a barn at a farm located north of Moscow. As the team resumed the girls, my water broke.

I quickly contacted Maria, Pepper and Darcy. They promptly arrived to assist me to the medical suite.

The team returned as my son, Jonathan Stephen Rogers was born.

If I ask myself the question Who Am I? I can answer... I am Samara Rogers, wife of Steve Rogers, daughter of Frigga and Odin, sister of Thor and mother of this wonderful little boy in my arms. Finally, I know exactly who I am.