"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Oliver! Happy Birthday to you!"

Looking around in confusion, Oliver wriggled in his Papa's arms, trying to see everyone present at the party…. Which was the majority of the camp to be honest.

"C'mon kiddo, time to blow out the candle!" Bucky cheered, holding up the cake as Steve held Oliver up, keeping a firm hold of him as the one-year-old reached out for the pretty, flickering light. Before his little, vulnerable fingers could touch the open flame, Steve blew the candle out.

Everyone cheered as though Oliver had been the one to blow it out, making the baby giggle in delight, arms now reaching out for Bucky.

Taking the child into his arms and bouncing him up and down, Bucky beamed at Oliver's soft giggling, watching as Steve glanced around in amazement.

"I can't believe how this all turned out…" Steve chuckled, "… fresh cake, new toys and no Hydra. I think we've outdone ourselves."

Bucky nodded, wincing slightly as Oliver tugged on his hair, "No birthday should be spent without presents… not that he'll remember this mind you."

"Well, it's the thought that counts."

"Damn straight it does!" Dugan agreed, taking Oliver out of Bucky's arms, "And I know he'll never remember it, but this cake is dry as hell. What kind of birthday party has dry cake?!" Glancing around, making sure that no one but the Commandos were listening, Dugan held Oliver up and pointed at Bucky, "Hey kiddo, can you say Momma for me?"

Bucky rolled his eyes, "Knock it off Dugan, I ain't the kid's mom. Get him to call me Papa instead, that makes way more se- "

"- Momma!"

All eyes turned to Oliver, who was holding out his arms for Bucky, "Momma!"

Ignoring Dugan's hysterical laughter, Bucky lifted Oliver out of Dugan's arms and looked him in the eyes, a serious expression on his face, "Pa-Pa… say it with me… Pa-Pa."

Oliver stared at him in confusion, before giggling and patting Bucky on the nose, "Momma!"

As Steve burst out into laughter, Bucky sighed wearily. "You call him Daddy…" he found himself whining, "… can't I be Daddy as well?"

"Momma! Momma! Mo- "

BANG.

At the gunshot, everyone immediately leapt into action, shoving Oliver into Howard's arms before jumping into action and grabbing their weapons, just as enemy soldiers started to break through the trees.

…

Needless to say, the enemy force was small, and clearly not prepared for Captain America, as the fight was over in less than half an hour.

"Oliver!" Bucky called out, rushing over to where Howard had set up, hearing the screaming of a child… his child, "Oliver!"

"In here!"

With Steve rushing behind him, the pair burst into the sheltered area, to see Howard attempting to keep Oliver still… the child's clothing turning red just under his left shoulder.

"Howard, what the hell- "

"- a rogue bullet came through the tent and grazed him!" Howard cried out desperately, quickly interrupting Steve before he could launch into a full lecture, "I'm trying to have a look at it, but he won't stop screaming and he keeps wriggling!"

It was clear that Howard was distressed, his face flushed and his usually neat hair falling out of place.

Needless to say, it was uncharacteristic behaviour, and that (along with Oliver's continued screaming) spurred the pair into action, with Steve taking his son out of Howard's arms and rocking him back and forth to calm him down, wincing as blood started to stain his uniform, before they all started to run towards the medic tent.

"Emergency! It's an emergency!"

…..

Eight thick stitches, and a small dose of painkillers later, and Oliver was fast asleep. Bandages were wrapped around his shoulder and arm, and every so often he would moan in pain.

Steve and Bucky sat there, watching him in silence.

"Bucky…" Steve finally broke the silence, "… do you think we did the right thing by keeping him here? With us?"

"… I don't know."

"Maybe- "Steve took a deep breath, "- Maybe we should think about finding him a family at the next village."

"Just until the war's finished?"

"Just until the war's finished."

…..

"Momma! Momma! Daddy!"

Bucky groaned and rolled over, his eyes slowly opening as he turned to check on Oliver…. Who was standing up in his cot, looking like nothing had happened, like yesterday had been a horrible nightmare.

"Hey…" Bucky whispered, slowly getting out of bed and making his way over to the cot, Steve barely stirring behind him, "… Hey Oli, how ya feelin'?"

"Momma!" Oliver was bouncing up and down eagerly, "Momma!"

The painkillers should have worn off by now, but Oliver was showing no signs of being in pain.

"Alright, let's have a look at it." Bucky whispered, lifting Oliver out of the cot and placing him on the ground, trying to keep him still as he slowly unwound the bandage, desperately hoping that the wound wasn't going to show any signs of infection.

But nothing was there.

Nothing except a faint white line to indicate that there was once a wound there.

"Steve!" He called out, twisting around to face the bed, "Steve, come and have a look at this!"

The panicked tone in Bucky's voice, caught Steve's attention, and the larger man was out of bed like a shot, kneeling next to his partner.

"I think we need to see Howard." He muttered, examining the thin scar.

….

"Okay…" Howard took a step back and brushed his hands through his hair, "… so apparently, the super soldier serum in your DNA does work. Accelerated healing on display, right now."

"So… he's healed?" Bucky frowned, "Completely? No problems whatsoever?"

"I doubt he even remembers actually getting shot." Howard's eyes narrowed in thought, "Cap… can I have your shield?"

Slowly, Steve un-hooked it and handed it over to Howard, who rested it against the table, before putting Oliver on the floor. Almost instantly, Oliver's attention was grabbed by the colourful shield, cooing in delight and making his way over to the shield, grabbing it and lifting it over his head.

"And there's the super strength." Howard announced, "The serum must have been lying low until the body went through some sort of trauma… incredible!"

As Howard continued to crow and chatter, clearly happy that his little experiment worked after all, Steve and Bucky turned to Peggy and Chester Phillips.

"So… what does this mean?"

Peggy frowned, "What do you mean?"

Steve and Bucky glanced at each other, before Steve nervously cleared his throat. "Well, after what happened yesterday, me and Bucky thought that- well, maybe we should consider putting him up for adoption? I mean… he did get shot."

"Sorry Rogers, but no can do." Phillips sighed, "Now that he's showing signs of having the serum, we can't risk sending him away. What if someone tracks him down and decides to use his blood to create even more HYDRA super soldiers?"

"But- "

"Look." Phillips held up his hand for Steve to stop, "I get what you're saying Cap, I really do… but it's either here with us… or it's in a secure military base, that none of us will have access to. Especially not you two. Make your choice gentlemen."

Steve and Bucky glanced at each other once again, coming to a decision fairly quickly.

"I guess… we'll just have to take better precaution when HYDRA next attacks."

"Good decision Cap."

"A little shield of his own!"

Everyone turned to Howard, who had Oliver in his arms and was practically jumping up and down in excitement.

"If I can get a little more vibranium, then I'm sure I can make him a little shield of his own!"

Needless to say, the "no's" were resounding.