Alright, so I know that some people have read the beginning of this series before, but I thought that it needed a re-write, with new chapters and storylines ?

So please read, review and enjoy.

…

"Stark's up to something."

Steve resisted the urge to roll his eyes as his best friend and lover grumbled beside him. "You always say that, even when he's just sitting down and having something to eat."

Bucky scowled as Howard Stark raced past them and the rest of the Howling Commandos, straight into his personal laboratory. "This time I mean it Stevie! You gotta admit, he's been acting weird… more than usual, I mean."

Shaking his head, Steve grinned. "Leave Howard alone Bucky, and come and help us review the plan." He then turned his attention back to the maps of Southern Germany.

It took some time, but eventually, Bucky stopped glaring at Howards' lab and paid attention to what Steve was saying.

Whatever Howard was up to, it could wait… Or so he thought.

Two months later, Bucky's original statement was proved to be right.

…..

The day had started off as normal.

Bucky had woken up in Steve's arms, the pair entwined together in their shared tent. After getting dressed and eating breakfast, they began their morning training with the rest of the Howling Commandos.

During the push-up sets, Dum Dum Dugan glanced over at Bucky and gestured his head in the direction of Colonel Phillips and Agent Carter, who were speaking in hushed tones by the command tent.

"So…" began the larger man, "… What d'ya think they're gossiping about?"

Bucky finished his set and shook his head, "Probably another mission for us… maybe we'll go somewhere a little less rainy this time around. I swear my boots are still wet from the last mission!"

Their conversation had attracted the attention of the rest of the commandos, including Steve. Following the direction of Bucky and Dugan's gaze, Falsworth nodded in agreement, "Yes… they do seem to be rather distressed about something, and I do not believe it's mission related."

Gabe frowned at this, "What makes you say that Falsworth? I mean, I really hope you don't have super-hearing because otherwise last night was- "

"- Awkward. Yes." Falsworth glared at the now-laughing Gabe, "No Jones, and to be quite frank, the less I know about your night-time activities the better! No, I don't think it's mission related because of the look on Agent Carter's face."

They all frowned at this and Falsworth grinned. "She only has that particular expression when she's talking about Mister Stark and his…. Antics."

"What, annoyance?"

"Not exactly. It's a mix between anger and exasperation, with a tiny hint of disappointment."

There was a brief pause, before Dugan slapped the Brit on the back, propelling him forwards ever so slightly. "It's a wonder you're not getting laid more often Falsy! This understanding woman lark should get you far in life…. Any chance you could teach it?"

As Falsworth shook his head at Dugan's antics, Bucky scoffed. "Well, it's no surprise Stark's being a pain, but Philip's usually lets Stark do what he likes…. Right now, it's amazing he doesn't have steam coming out of the top of his head."

"Which mean that Howard may have crossed the line this time…" Steve sighed, "… I'm going to see what the matter is. Stay here alright? Look busy."

His team nodded reluctantly as Steve marched over to the pair, a curious smile on his face.

"Colonel. Agent Carter. Is everything alright? This seems like an… intense conversation."

Colonel Phillips sighed and gestured towards Howard Stark's lab, "Soldiers have reported strange sounds coming from his lab… stranger than usual I mean. Agent Carter wants to investigate, and I'm inclined to agree with her. Stark's been acting suspiciously for a little under a year not and quite frankly I'm getting sick of it."

Peggy nodded, "Colonel Phillips wants to force his way inside Howard's lab, but there is always the possibility that whatever Howard is doing, is perfectly innocent! Storming in there, guns blazing may do nothing but push Howard away. You know what he's like! If he thinks that we don't trust him, he's going to pack up his stuff and leave!"

She sighed wearily, "Say what you want about Howard, his inventions have helped us win a fair number of battles. We can't do this without him."

"What sort of sounds did the soldiers hear?" Steve asked.

"A few loud bangs, and somethings that sounds like a kitten…. Small squeaking, you know? Stark has also been swearing a lot apparently."

"Well, what's so suspicious about that? No offense to him, but Howard swears almost all the time, especially when he's working. Bangs aren't suspicious in his lab and maybe the soldiers misheard the cat sound? The wind possibly?"

Colonel Phillips reluctantly nodded, before glaring at the lab that Howard was working in. "Hmph…. Maybe…. But I don't like it. My gut's telling me that something's wrong and I'll be damned if I let Howard to anything Frankenstein-y in my camp!"

Suppressing a smile, Steve saluted. "Me and the commandos will keep an eye on him if you want?"

Phillips was about to agree, but Peggy interjected before he could say anything.

"Sorry Cap…" she apologised, "… but we need you to take a reconnaissance mission out into the south woods. There have been reports if Hydra agents roaming about around there…. I'd like for you to check it out, see if there's any truth in that and then report back. Do not engage until unless absolutely necessary, understood?"

"Understood Peg- I mean, Agent Carter."

Steve quickly made his way back over to his team, gesturing for them to pack up their stuff and get ready to move out. As he entered his tent to grab his shield and uniform, he felt a familiar presence behind him, causing him to smile. Turning around, the smile turned to a smirk when he noticed how Bucky's eyes were focused a little lower than what was strictly proper.

"My eyes are up here Bucks."

"But I've got such a pleasant view from here!"

Steve felt his face flush a little, "Just grab your gun and uniform Sergeant."

"Yes Sir!"

As he holstered his rifle, Bucky couldn't help but stare at his best friend. It seemed like only yesterday he was helping the punk get home after yet another fight with some street bullies…. And now look at them.

War heroes of America.

"Sooooo…" began Bucky, "…. What did Phillips and Carter have to say?"

Steve shook his head. "Some soldiers heard suspicious noises, but it's probably nothing. Colonel Phillips is keeping an eye on the situation though."

"Good… so what's the mission?"

Steve flung an arm around his lover's shoulder, "Simple reconnaissance. Also known as you giving me a heart attack by scurrying up trees without any regard to his safety!"

"Says you! I swear you've spent half of your life trying to give me grey hairs! Besides, how else am I supposed to get a good vantage point in the woods?! The trees are the highest things out there!"

"Well, you could at least not leap off the branches when we're done. You're going to hurt yourself one of these days!"

Bucky shook his head and sighed, "Oh, how the tables have turned punk!"

"Jerk."

…

The mission went off without a hitch… sort of.

The Howling Commandos managed to gather intel on the movements of a large number of Hydra agents. The only problem was, that a few members of this large group wandered a bit too close to the team… they didn't last long, but thankfully, they weren't quick enough to inform the rest of their group.

The real problem occurred when they arrived back at the camp.

Upon arrival, the group instantly spotted a large crowd gathering around Howard's personal lab. Steve marched over, a frown etched onto his face. "What's going on? Where's Colonel Phillips?"

The man in question pushed his way through the crowd and silently urged the surrounding soldiers to move away from the door as he took a hold of Steve's elbow, leading him (and therefore the rest of the commandos) away from the lab. "Stark's definitely up to something…" the older man began, "… A little over an hour ago, one of the soldiers walked past Stark's lab and thought he heard a baby cry."

"Is he sure?"

"Oh yes. Apparently, before he shipped out, his wife gave birth to a little boy…. The sound if very distinctive."

Bucky, who had moved to stand next to his lover, shook his head. "So…. Stark's hiding a baby in that lab?"

Before anyone could answer, Bucky continued, "You know what, I'm not even surprised…. Howard's reputation for seducing dames is legendary. One of them probably decided not to take any of his crap and dumped the baby on his doorstep."

Steve sighed wearily, "We would have heard something earlier then…. I mean, babies aren't quiet. And where has he been getting supplies from then, you know, food and clothes… diapers? Howard's been acting weird for a little under a year now…. And there have been no signs of a baby until now!"

"Maybe the woman stayed with him for nine months…. To help keep the baby a secret, you know?"

Dugan slapped Bucky on his back and laughed, "And no-one saw her? Come on Barnes, we would have noticed either a woman out of uniform walking around, or Howard carrying a bunch of skirts to his lab!"

Phillips nodded in agreement, "He's right Barnes. There's been no sign of any other women, except Agent Carter in this camp… aside from the odd friend here and there that the soldiers pick up at the local villages and towns.

"Maybe the soldier heard a recording or something?" Steve queried, frowning in thought.

At the moment, Agent Carter joined the group, therefore over-hearing the last sentence. "We don't think so…" she interrupted, "… Before you arrived, both Colonel Phillips and I heard the crying…. It definitely didn't sound like a recording, which is probably why there were so many soldiers gathered around the lab. It only really stopped a few minutes ago."

Steve was silent for a few moments, before nodding. "Well, let's find out what Howard's hiding then…" He marched over to the lab, closely followed by the commandos as he knocked on the door. "Howard? Howard, what's going on? Howard?"

There was the sound of things being knocked over inside the lab, before something began to make a wailing noise. Steve raised his fist to knock again, but before he could, something banged against the door on the other side.

"Steve!" Howard yelled through the door, "Hey buddy! Sorry, but I'm…. a tiny bit busy at the moment! Maybe we can talk later?!"

"Busy with what? The baby?"

"… B-baby? I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Steve ducked his head for a moment, as though praying for patience before taking a step back. "Howard… move away from the door."

"… Why?"

"Because I'm going to kick the door down, and I'm sure you don't want a broken nose."

"No! Steve, wai- "

It was too late.

Using only part of his strength, Steve kicked the door down, making sure that it only fell to the floor, instead of flying across the room. He and Bucky were the first two into the room and what they saw, stopped them in their tracks.

Bucky sighed and shook his head, "Jesus, I hoped that it wasn't true…. Howard Stark has pro-created!"

Glaring at the young man, desperately rocking the crying baby in his arms, Howard tried to think of an excuse. "It's not mine I swear! I-I'm babysitting!"

Steve took a step closer, "You sure about that Howard?"

Agent Carter and Colonel Phillips pushed their way into the lab, the latter's face flushing an angry red when he saw what Howard had in his arms. "STARK! What the hell is going on?! This isn't a goddamn nursery!"

Howard frantically tried to use the same excuse, but Colonel Phillips wasn't having any of it. "No! I don't want to hear it! Where did that baby come from Stark? And don't give me any of that same bullshit as before! The truth… NOW!"

For a few minutes, the only thing that could be heard was the sound of the baby crying, until Howard sighed and gently placed the baby in a startled Steve's arms.

"It's his…" Howard explained, gesturing to Steve, "… it's his baby."

Steve was shocked into silence, but Bucky couldn't help but scoff. "I swear, I think Steve breaks out into a rash whenever he gets close to a pretty girl…. There's no way this kid is his."

"Then how the hell did the Star-Spangled man with a plan father a child when he's as queer as a three-dollar bill?!"

Howard rubbed his hands together nervously before answering, "I may have played God just a little… he's a clone. You see, I was curious as to whether or not any child of Steve's would also show evidence of having the serum in them. Sadly, it looks like this one might be… defective. I-I mean, from what I can tell- "

"- whoa, whoa, whoa!" Bucky interrupted, "Did you just say he was defective?!"

"W-Well y-yes! You see, the serum affects every part of the human body, so there was no reason why the offspring of Steve wouldn't have the same characteristics… but I really should have expected this."

Peggy frowned, "And why is that?"

"Well… it's not purely Steve's child. It's Bucky's as well."

"What?!"

"You see, I combined both of their blood samples in order to get two donors that have been injected with the serum…. Well, a version of it anyway. I won't bore you to death with all the science, but nine months later, he was ready!"

At the mention of having the serum in his own bloodstream, Bucky flinched, "Great… thanks for that. So, he's mine as well?"

Noticing a pre-made bottle of milk on one of the counters, Bucky grabbed it and removed the still-crying baby from Steve's arms, then proceeding to feed the infant.

Silence…. From everyone.

"Ummmm Barnes?" Howard frowned, "What are you doing?"

"I'm holding him, what the hell do you think I'm doing?! Jesus, have you even fed him?"

"I was about to! It's not my fault the Captain then decided to kick the bloody door down!"

"God forbid the day you breed…" Bucky growled as the bottle was quickly consumed. Gently, he rearranged the baby so he could burp, cooing in an attempt to sooth the infant.

The baby's head lolled back and forth as Bucky rearranged him again and Bucky couldn't help grin. This kid was definitely Steve's; the blonde hair and blue eyes supported this… although the eye colour could change. If Bucky looked closely enough, brown flecks were present in those big blue eyes.

As Colonel Phillips was giving Howards the dressing down of his life, Bucky was joined by Steve and Peggy, who smiled as the baby stared up at them all.

"I'm sure we can find a nice home for him in the nearby village. There are a lot of couples who are willing to adopt."

Both the men turned to her in shock.

"Give him up?" Steve exclaimed, "Peggy, he's our kid!"

Peggy shook her head sympathetically, "You two are lucky enough to have found love and still be allowed to continue. I mean, if Colonel Phillip's kid wasn't… you know, you may not have been so lucky. But if you start raising a kid, then people outside of this group may raise the alarm. Then you'll all be separated from each other!"

"Let them try it…" Bucky growled, "… look, if we're careful and keep him out of the public eye as much as possible, then we'll be alright. We're never in the same place long enough for anyone to notice anything except the fact we'd saved them!"

"Precisely! What kind of a life is that?! He needs a stable home… a safe home, he can't grow up surrounded by war! Steve, you must understand where I'm coming from here!"

Steve was torn.

On the one hand, he could understand why Peggy was reluctant… but when he looked over at Bucky (who was holding his child for God's sake), he couldn't do it. Bucky looked so lost, so upset by the prospect of having to give up the child he had only known for a few minutes.

He sighed and gently removed the baby from Bucky's arms, his heart clenching as Bucky briefly resisted before biting his lip and relinquishing the child.

"What do you want to call him?" he asked gently, smirking as Bucky practically sighed in relief, a big beaming grin appearing on his face.

"I kinda wanna call him… Oliver. Don't ask me why, I just do!"

Steve nodded and glanced at the commandos, who had been watching the scene from the lab doorway. "See if you guys can find a crib and other baby stuff from the village… we've got work to do."

In his arms, the baby stared up at him, before breaking out in a toothless smile that Steve couldn't help but reciprocate.

How hard could this be?

…..

"I don't like this Rogers…" stated Colonel Phillips as they strode through the camp, ignoring the staring and shocked whispering of the other soldiers.

Seeing Captain America holding a baby must have been a surprise after all.

Steve nodded, but before he could say anything, the Colonel continued, "- but I know you're too damn stubborn in order for me to change your mind, so listen to me!" The Colonel thrusted a finger in Steve's face, "If anyone even gets the slightest hint that the kid is yours and Barnes, created by a nutso scientist, and that you and Barnes are shacking it up in your little tent… I will not be able to help you, understand?"

"I understand Sir… what's going to happen to Howard?"

Colonel Phillips sighed and glanced back at the lab. "He's going to be under supervision from now on. I don't need him playing God every time he get's a little bored, not when I have to focus on fighting a war! I don't care what he thinks about this latest development, I don't need any more kids running around."

Before Steve could say anything else, their attention was grabbed by Morita and Dernier rushing past with a crib in their arms. This also caught the Colonel's attention as he stared after them for a few seconds, before shaking his head.

"I don't want to know."

He marched away towards the command tent, dodging Dugan who was carrying a large box in the same direction as the other two.

Steve couldn't' help but smile as Falsworth followed on close behind with another, much smaller, box in his arms. Glancing down at Oliver, Steve grinned… he couldn't believe that he was doing this, not after falling into a relationship with Bucky.

Steve never imagined a life without him, even when they were simply friends, and when they did take that big steps, their dreams for the future never included a child…. No matter how much they may have wanted one.

"Hey Punk!" yelled a voice from behind him.

Steve span around and beamed at Bucky, who was striding closer.

"Dugan and the other managed to get some pretty sweet deals from a little old lady whose children are all grown up…." Bucky beamed, "… She seemed grateful that we were protecting her village those 'Nazi fucks', to use her exact wording. We got her whole life story… apparently, she lived in in Berlin all her life, but when Hitler started transporting all of the Jewish people to the camps, she quickly moved away, along with all her belongings. She's a smart, old cookie."

As Gabe pushed past with yet another box, Steve frowned, "How much did she give them?"

"Everything…" Bucky held out his arms for Steve to transfer the baby over, "… clothes, toys, a crib, bottles, blankets… everything that she still had from when her youngest was still a tot. Good thing too, otherwise this would have cost us a fortune. We're stocked up until the kid turns at least eight judging by how much was in those boxes. All we really have to buy is food…"

They began to walk over to where the commandos were depositing the boxes, just as Oliver began to wail again.

Steve frowned in concern, "He's not hungry again is he? Because I don't think Howard is in the best of moods for us to be borrowing his hot water supply."

Shaking his head in confusion, Bucky sighed. "He shouldn't be… it was only an hour ago that I feed him the last time." He lifted Oliver up and sniffed cautiously before gasping for a breath of fresh air, "I think I found a job for Captain America."

He handed Oliver back over to Steve and ducked back into their shared tent. Steve sniffed and instantly regretted it… then panic set in.

He had no idea how to change a diaper.

"Steve?"

With Oliver's wails growing even louder, it was no surprise that it had attracted the attention of Agent Carter.

"Dare I ask what the matter is?"

Steve glanced at Oliver and then back at Peggy, "B-Bucky said that Oli needed a changing?"

"And left you to it… clever man." Chuckled Peggy, but noticing the panicked look on her friend's face, she smiled sympathetically, "Come on, I'll show you what to do…. And then when Oliver needs another change, then you can show Sergeant Barnes how to do it."

Steve smirked, "Is it wrong to say that I'm looking forward to that conversation?"

"No… think of it as revenge."