Chapter 23
I travelled from Sam Diego, California, to Tucson, Arizona. From there, I travelled to Austin, Texas. I purchased a house in each location, paying cash for the legal fees and other closing costs. For an additional fee, I was able to have the paperwork fast-tracked. I only had a few more days before I had to return home. Colorado Springs, Colorado, was a beautiful place. The home I purchased was quaint and large enough to raise a family. It made me want to push up my timeline for a child with Steve. I fell in love with the Colorado home. My final destination before returning home was Ames, Iowa. The farm home I purchased is perfect for raise horses. I took a flight to Chicago before catching a plane home.
A few minutes after my flight landed, I called Ranger for a ride. I was too exhausted to rely on a cab to bring me home. "Babe," Ranger said as he approached me.
"Hey, Carlos," I greeted, passing him my very light suitcase. I was wearing a waist-long black wig, a skin-tight red dress with a black belt. My shoes were four-inch stilettos. Thank goodness I didn't have to run for my last flight. Ranger opened the back door for me. He knew I had to change my clothes on the way home.
Ranger tried hard to avoid looking at me in the rearview mirror, but he couldn't resist the temptation. I smiled whenever I caught him watching. "Are you enjoying the view?" I asked.
"Babe, you're killing me here," Ranger groaned.
"You shouldn't be looking," I said as I winked. Ranger knew I was devoted to Steve. He's my best friend, and I need him in my life. "Am I the last to return?"
"Yes. Valerie and Darcy returned a few hours ago," he replied.
"I need to see Val. Can you send her to my room?" I asked.
"Babe," he answered. Okay, yes, he will give her the message, but he thinks I should have done it myself. I've got it.
Ranger called Ram when we parked in the garage. Valerie was waiting inside my living room when I arrived. "When are you going to make the announcement?" I asked.
"What announcement?" she asked.
"Val, I know you're pregnant. Does Ram know?" I asked.
"Not yet. I wanted to wait a little longer," Val confessed.
"Sweetie, I love you, but you're an idiot. JARVIS would notice the change in your biometrics. You need to find Ram immediately before someone tells him first," I insisted. She wasn't convinced, so I decided to handle the news delivery myself. Ram arrived within a few minutes.
"Welcome home, Steph. Your husband is anxious to see you," he said as he hugged me.
"I'm anxious to see him too, but Valerie has an announcement. If she doesn't tell you within the next few minutes, I'll tell you," I stated.
He looked at his wife and noticed her nose was slightly wider. "Sweetheart, are you pregnant?" he asked. A tear dripped from Ram's eye when she nodded. "How far along are we?"
"Eleven weeks. I was going to tell you next week. Steph said you needed to know now, before someone else tells you," Valerie replied.
A few seconds later, Tony entered the room and shouted, "Congratulations, Valerie and Ram. When are we due?" I left them to discuss the due date as I grabbed my husband's hand.
"Everyone leave!" Steve demanded. When the last person left our room, we had JARVIS block anyone from entering. The only way they can enter our suite is through an Avengers assemble. We made up for the lost time. Being away from Steve for a week wasn't much fun.
I knew my birth control was already wearing off, but I wanted to have a baby with Steve. "I'm ready," I whispered.
"Are you sure?" Steve asked. I nodded. We spent the night without interruption from our friends.
At 5 am, we lifted the privacy protocol. Within a few minutes, Angie and Mary Alice entered our room. "What happened to your cast?" I asked Mary Alice.
"Oh, Uncle Lester's girlfriend used a special machine to fix my arm. It was so cool, Aunt Stephie," she excitedly said. I listened as she updated me on everything that happened over the last week.
Peter Parker, his aunt and uncle, were joining us for Christmas dinner. Steve purchased all the gifts we discussed for the children. I was loving how much our family is growing.
Tony surprised us with a trip to Disney. He managed to rent the entire park for three days. We used contract workers at all of our Rangeman offices. The men, their wives and children had fun during the three-day excursion. Tony made arrangements to return every five years for the same time frame. His Christmas gift was over the top, but we had so much fun. Valerie couldn't go on the rides, but she was never fond of them anyway.
I was introduced as a new Avenger. It didn't take long for my abilities to become known. The initial response after blowing up Batroc wasn't ideal, but they quickly learned I was able to use my skills for something non-destructive.
We went on six Avenger missions before I couldn't travel with the team. Steve and I agreed that I would stop fighting when the risks to my baby outweigh the risks to the public.
Valerie and Ram had a little boy. They named him Jackson Conner. He looks identical to Ram. Mary Alice and Angie love their little brother. I got pregnant with my little man when Valerie was six months pregnant.
Bobby and Bruce were worried my little guy was going to be too big. "Hey, I have super serum running through my muscles. I wouldn't be surprised if my little man's super too," I explained.
"You're still not going into the field," Natasha stated. "It's not a risk you should take."
"Fine!" I said as I returned to my room. Steve was patient with me. He knew I could handle more than the typical pregnant woman, but he still wanted me to remain safe.
Steve wasn't the only protective person in my life. All of my platonic soulmates were on the same page as Steve. With all of them voicing their concerns, I acquiesced. If it made them relax, then I'll listen to their advice.
A few months later, I gave birth to my boy. He weighed close to eleven pounds. As we suspected, he was already showing signs of being a super. Andrew Steven Rogers looked identical to his father, except he has my curly hair and blue eyes. He's a very handsome boy.
More of my Rangeman family found their romantic soulmates. Even Ranger found a new romantic mate. She's a gorgeous Latino woman. When Andy turned two, Anya and Ranger had a daughter together.
Julie moved to Manhattan to live with her father. We discovered she was Liam Gazarra's romantic soulmate and Angie's platonic mate. Our family was becoming more connected than any of us expected.
Could life get any better? I have all of my friends and family in an unusual home. We live, laugh and love.
Ten years later.
Steve and I had two more children. Natalie is six, Austin is five. Austin and Sabrina, Lester's daughter are romantic mates. Natalie and Hal's son Tucker are romantic soulmates. These children are growing up together and are established in their relationships. I'm proud of my children and our family.
Peter Parker lost his uncle a few years ago. He was on a school field trip when he encountered a radioactive spider. Mary Alice was happy her fiancé is Spider-Man. Tony, Steve and Bucky were training him to be an integral member of the team.
If more of our children become super or train enough, maybe some of our older team members can retire so the younger ones can take over.
My children were forced into the family business sooner than I expected. Someone attacked the school, forcing Natalie and Austin to protect their classmates. We were hoping they could hide their abilities for a few more years, but nothing ever goes according to plan.
Clint, Natalie and Bucky used the opportunity to train them. In ten more years, the next Avenger generation will protect the world.
When I first met Steve, I never expected my life to change as dramatically as it did. If I had to do it all again, I would do everything exactly the same way.