Bucky laid next to Tony for two hours past their alarm clock. He was spooning his husband from the back, rubbing Tony's large pregnant stomach, and peppering kisses to Tony's neck while the man sobbed.
Tony was seven months pregnant and the super soldier baby growing inside him was wreaking havoc on his body. This was the fourth time this week Tony woke up unable to move from the pain of the larger and stronger than normal baby inside him and Bucky felt incredibly helpless.
Tony's body trembled and Bucky pressed him closer to his chest. "I'm so sorry baby, i'm so sorry," he whispered. Tony pressed his face into the pillow to muffle his sobs and squeezed Bucky's arm that was around his stomach. "You want to try a warm bath, maybe?" Tony didn't answer but Bucky knew he should try to get Tony moving. "Jarvis?"
"Already on it, sir," Jarvis answered. Immediately the sound of the bath running was heard. Bucky nodded at the ceiling in thanks. He then sighed at the task at hand.
"Tony, baby?" Bucky ran his fingers through Tony's hair but the genius didn't answer. Just before the supersoldier was considering giving up on his plan to get his husband up, the door opened and Natasha walked in.
She ignored Bucky and immediately kneeled in front of Tony. "Bednyy kotenok," she pouted. Bucky saw Tony's head turn towards the assassin and his sobs quieted.
"Hurts, Nat," he whimpered, his voice raspy.
"I know, I know," she said, dabbing his eyes with a cloth. She pressed a kiss to his cheek when she finished. "Let's get you a warm bath and you'll feel better, okay?"
Tony let out a sound that was a mix between a humm and a groan, but it wasn't a protest exactly. Bucky sat up when he saw Natasha stand.
The supersoldier and assassin both helped pull Tony up slowly while the genius shouted in pain. When they finally got him sitting on the edge of the bed, Tony braced his hands on his knees, eyes squeezed shut. Bucky rubbed his shoulders and Natasha rubbed his arm, both trying to give him strength.
While they waited for Tony to get his bearings, they could see bulges in his belly while the baby kicked and punched. They would have thought it was cute if not for the whimpers of pain Tony let out every time.
After several rounds of breathing, Tony nodded and inched forward to place his feet on the ground. He groaned as pressure was put on his red, swollen appendages. He couldn't even see them with his belly so big.
Bucky moved off the bed and kneeled in front of Tony. "Do you want me to carry you, baby?"
Tony hiccuped, wiping a few tears from his eyes. "No, i-i can do i-it," he said. Bucky frowned but nodded.
Natasha stood at Tony's side while Bucky stood in front of his husband. On the count of three, they pulled Tony up so he was standing. Tony practically screamed as his whole body protested and as soon as he stood he leaned against Bucky to catch his breath. Natasha moved behind him to hold onto his waist when she noticed him swaying slightly.
Every step across the room to the bathroom was torture. Tony couldn't lift his feet so it was slow-going to watch him shuffle his swollen legs across the floor. He was hunched over from his back and hip pain and rested his head on Bucky's shoulder from the migraine that was developing.
Bucky forced his husband's head up when the man suddenly froze. Tony's head drooped, as if he couldn't hold it up and his eyes rolled around in his head. Bucky could only give Natasha a half-second warning before Tony's legs gave out and he melted towards the floor.
Bucky grabbed him tightly and lifted Tony's limp body into his arms. Natasha rubbed his husband's cheek, trying to wake him up.
This was not the first time Tony had fainted throughout his pregnancy. The stress the supersoldier baby was putting on the genius' body had it frequently giving out, especially so close to his due date. They had just banned Tony from stairs after he had a fainting episode and almost fell down them headfirst.
When Tony didn't wake up after a minute, Bucky carried him into the bathroom and got him ready for the bath while Natasha added Epsom salt to the water. Tony woke up as the pair were lowering him into the warm water and he groaned in pleasure as his limbs started to relax. Bucky slid into the bath behind him and fitted Tony between his legs. Natasha kneeled on the side of the tub with a washcloth.
Tony had his head back against Bucky's chest and his eyes closed. Natasha hummed as she gently washed Tony's swollen legs. Bucky spent most of his time rubbing the soft cloth around Tony's large belly, feeling the baby inside kicking against his hand. Bucky smiled as Tony snuggled his face into his neck.
They sat there long after the water grew cold and Natasha left to bother Clint. Bucky pressed soft kisses onto Tony's skin while rubbing a light hand over his husband's swollen belly, enjoying his time with the two most important people in his life.
Tone was the one who got them out of the bath after complaining about his pruney fingers. It was a struggle getting him to stand from such a low point, but they eventually got Tony back into the bedroom in one piece.
After getting dressed, his pain that had been temporarily dulled by the bath came crashing back. Tony's hips throbbed and his lower back screamed with pain, not to mention the horrible cramps he was experiencing.
Bucky laid with him on the bed for about an hour until it was time for his mandatory therapy session. He didn't want to leave Tony alone so he pleaded with Tony to move to the common room. He got the man to agree, if only because the memory foam mattress was hurting his back from the softness.
Bucky helped Tony put on his hip support brace the doctor had given him in hopes the pain would abate slightly and his favorite fuzzy socks. He then helped Tony on the slow walk to the common room couch.
Steve was the only one present when they arrived, everyone bustling around the tower doing their own things. When Bucky told him of the situation, he was more than happy to help his best friend.
Steve helped Tony get settled on the couch with a pillow between his legs and a heat pack pressed to his back. He put on a movie for he and Tony to watch just as Bucky kissed his husband and said his goodbyes.
Steve settled on the end of the couch, putting Tony's legs onto his lap. He started massaging the billionaire's aching feet, prompting moans of pleasure from the man. It wasn't until halfway through the movie Tony's whimpers started growing in volume as the cramps became more painful.
Steve panicked seeing the tears in Tony's eyes. "What's happening, Tony? How can I help?" He asked frantically.
"H-h-hurts," Tony sobbed, grabbing Steve's arm in a tight grip.
"Can I get you some medicine?"
"C-can't. Might h-hur-r-t b-baby," Tony hiccuped, squeezing his eyes tightly.
"May I suggest having sir change positions?" Jarvis spoke up.
Steve nodded and his free hand hovered over Tony, unsure where to touch. He was saved by Tony slowly sitting up, groaning the whole way. "Let's see if standing helps?" Steve suggested. After receiving Tony's nod, he helped the man to his feet.
Tony swayed but Steve held him steady. "Hnghh," Tony groaned, relaxing all his body weight onto Steve. The pain in his back eased up a bit despite the cramps growing more painful by the minute.
"Does this feel better?" Steve asked, wrapping his arms around the smaller man.
Tony hummed trying to slow his breaths. Seconds later, the pair jumped as the bottom of their legs and socks grew wet. "Did you just pee on me?" Steve asked.
"No."
"Then what-"
"I have contacted Mr. Barnes-Stark and Ms. Romanoff. Mr. Rogers, please help sir downstairs into the awaiting vehicle. Mr. Barnes-Stark will meet you at the hospital," Jarvis said.
"But what-"
"Sir's water has broken. He is in labor."
Steve shouted as Tony passed out, his body growing heavier. Steve wasted no time in scooping Tony up and running towards the elevator.
When they got into the car, Natasha was waiting for them with a packed bag, and Happy was sitting in the driver's seat. He waited no time for them to strap in before he was zooming off towards the hospital.
Tony felt himself being lowered onto something soft as people shouted in both his ears. He felt wheels rumble under whatever he was on and the shaking made him want to throw up. When he was able to clear the fog from his senses, he realized he was in an operating room. "Bucky?" He rasped, his eyes wandering around.
"Calm down, sir. Your husband will be here shortly," a doctor said from behind a blanket that cut off his view of his stomach. He couldn't see what was happening, but he felt a bit of pressure on his belly despite the numbness.
"No, I need Bucky. Don't touch me! Where's my husband?" Tony shouted freaking out. He started wiggling as much as he could with his lower extremities numbed, and he could tell from the doctor's anger he was disrupting something.
"You need to stay still! Stop moving or we will sedate you!" The doctor said.
Tony continued wiggling, tears in his eyes. "No I-I need Bucky. I can't do this without him. I c-can't!" Suddenly, a soft hand was placed on his cheek. He turned to see Natasha in scrubs standing next to him.
"Calm down, kotenok. You're gonna be fine, okay? Bucky is on his way," she said softly.
Tony hiccuped, tears still falling, but nodded and took comfort in her words. Natasha gave him a rare smile and rubbed his cheek.
The doctors sighed gratefully when Tony's body stilled and subtly increased the sedative that paralyzed him.
Bucky burst into the operating room a few minutes later. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm here now," Bucky said when he reached Tony's side.
"S'okay," Tony said, pulling Bucky close to kiss him. They pulled apart quickly as a baby's cries lit up the room. "Is the baby okay? What's happening?"
Bucky looked around the curtain that was in front of Tony's head and smiled wide. "He's okay."
Tony's eyes watered. "He?" He said, barely audible.
Bucky nodded, a tear coming to his eye. "I'm so proud of you baby."
"What are you going to name him?" Natasha asked.
Bucky and Tony looked at each other. "We picked a name that represents both of us, strength and intelligence," Tony said.
They were interrupted when the doctor came over with the baby, placing him on Tony's chest. Bucky gathered close, letting the baby grab his finger with his tiny hand. "Welcome to the world baby Ethan."