**A/N: I've received a few worried reviews/PMs regarding the inconsistency of my updates lately. One of my two betas has been a busy, busy bee lately which is why it's been sporadic. Thanks for the concern though! Both my grandmothers are pretty ill right now, but other than that, my life is going well :)
Chapter 53- Just a Marionette, Pull the String
"'Look this way, just a little smile,' is what they say. 'You look better on the photograph if you laugh, that's okay'. I'm a marionette, just a marionette, pull the string. I'm a marionette, everybody's pet, just as long as I sing… 'You're so free,' that's what everybody's telling me yet I feel like I'm an outward-bound, pushed around, refugee."
~I'm a Marionette, ABBA
Bethany had spent the week getting the girls ready for their time away. They decided to go to Nashville, to listen to some music, drink and maybe get a little drunk. Kiley had gone when she was a little girl falling in love with country music and Jen had always wanted to go. The other ladies didn't care where they went, as long as Bethany was footing the bill. Bethany had invited Jane, but she had plans already for a science convention in Geneva, but Darcy invited herself and had arrived the night before, already drunk and ready to go.
But now that they had their plans and their bags were packed in two convertible cars, Bethany didn't really want to leave. The girls were all excited. Bethany had promised Steve that she'd let Wanda drink two drinks tops a night and keep an eye on all of their friends and she wasn't having second thoughts about all that responsibility. It took a lot of alcohol to even have a glimmer of effect on her so she knew that she'd be ready to be the party-mom the entire time. She didn't want to leave because while she was standing on the stairs to her house, looking at one of the convertibles parked out front, she turned around and saw Jamie and Steve in the doorframe of their house. She had wanted a small vacation, a break from being the mom and wife—and even though she'd be watching over the girls, there were two very different job descriptions when it came to mothering full grown women or a baby. Bethany was confident the women would be easier, no matter how much they drank and partied.
"I don't want to," Bethany moaned to Steve, wrapping her arms around his waist and looking up to him. Jamie's little hand reached out to touch Bethany's lips, his mother placing a soft kiss on his palm.
"It's too late now," Steve chuckled. "You'll have lots of fun. You deserve a little break. It's only two nights. You can call or FaceTime whenever you want and you know what they say; absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"Oh, I know firsthand how much that's true," Bethany teased before sighing. "Okay. Okay, I'll go. But send me lots of pictures, okay? I don't want to miss this adorable little face of his."
"Yes, yes, I will send you lots of things and keep you updated, now will you go and have fun? Please?" Steve begged, kissing the top of her head.
"You better not throw any messy parties while I'm gone," she warned. "Or if you do, clean it up."
"Bethany," Steve said strictly. "I'm a grown-man. Everything will be fine. Now go."
Bethany tilted her head back, waiting for Steve to kiss her. He didn't keep her waiting long, handing her Jamie for a moment so she could hug him tight and give him a soft kiss before grabbing her duffel bag and heading for the car. The boys stayed on the stairs until Bethany got into the car, waving at her as she drove away, up to the compound. The girls were waiting there, clearly ready to get the show on the road.
"These cars are amazing," Darcy called out, jumping into the passenger seat of Bethany's car. Wanda took the back seat while Jen was driving the second car with Natasha by her side and Kiley in the backseat. Bethany had asked Tony for a loan from the Tower's garage, which meant their licence plates read 03STARK and 06STARK, but they were too nice to pass up. Bethany had worked their sound system together so that they could listen to the same music, an epic playlist Bethany had spent the majority of the week working on. She wanted all the songs to be empowering and only sang by women to encourage their female power and strength. Naturally, Shania Twain's Man, I Feel Like a Woman was the first song to be played as they pulled out of the Avengers' Facility.
Driving down the highways, their music loud and proud, each girl singing along with smiles on their faces made Bethany feel like she really was twenty-three. Some days she felt younger than others, but lately she had been feeling like her actual age. It wasn't a very comforting feeling, while having a hot husband and a baby. This relaxation was exactly what she needed.
With Bethany gone, Steve was using every single possible moment to find ways to stress the word 'Daddy' onto Jamie. Without Bethany or Sam around to laugh at him, it made the entire ordeal easier. He had been spending a lot of time with his son and was realizing how important that really was. Not just in terms of getting Jamie to finally say 'Daddy' but because with every single day, Jamie was growing. In a blink of an eye, he could miss so much. And despite the fact that Jamie was very intelligent, way beyond the average intelligence of a fourteen-month year old, Steve knew that he didn't understand when Steve left. When he was older, he'd understand the concept that Steve was out making the world a safer place for him and everyone else in the world. But now, when Steve left, Bethany reported that Jamie was sad for an hour until she could properly distract him, but that he would walk over to the front window every once in a while and try to see if he was coming.
"What are you drawing there?" Steve asked Jamie. He had set them up with pads of paper and crayons. Jamie could grip the coloured sticks and scribble on the paper, but he was incapable of drawing more than just muddled colours. Steve was using a black crayon to draw Jamie's face, currently trying to capture the innocent expression in his eyes.
Jamie looked up at his dad, holding his red crayon out and babbling softly. "Oh, is that for Daddy?" Steve asked, accepting the crayon, watching as Jamie gave him a toothless and bright smile before picking up a purple crayon and going to town with it. Steve let out a deep breath, just watching his beautiful son live. As much as he wanted to retire from the Captain America mantle to spend every waking moment admiring how amazing he was, he knew that going out there and making the world a safe place for Jamie to grow up happily was more important. If he missed a few milestones along the way, it was a sacrifice for the assurance that Jamie could have a long and happy life.
Bethany settled the girls into a booth before excusing herself to talk to the bartender. She hadn't used her charm and flirtatious ways to get what she wanted from a bartender in decades, but Bethany knew that if the bartender knew straight up the bat that she would tip well, he'd go the extra mile to make the night worth it for them. She and the girls had spent two hours getting ready for their night at the club. Bethany chose a dress that covered everything, but the black fabric clung to her body like a second skin. She paired it with red pumps and red heels, and she felt like she was back at the Stork Club during the war. Eyes had always been on her the entire time, men wanting her and women wanting to be her. That was the kind of attention she craved. Not to be on a magazine or being the spotlight of country's gossip, but in a smaller location. A smaller type of attention.
"Bartender," Bethany called out as she leaned against the bar, smiling at the young boy flirtatiously.
"What can I get for you ma'am?" He asked, leaning across the bar so they could be closer.
"A good time," Bethany replied raising a brow seductively before looking over at the booth the girls were sitting at. "See my friends? Can you make sure that we're kept happy until we leave? They are dying for a good time. I have this," she trailed off, reaching into the small slit serving as a pocket in her dress and pulling out her Gold Card. "And it's in need of some exercise."
"Well, of course," he responded with a smirk. "And what drink does your fancy?"
"Gin and tonic, for starters," Bethany ordered. "Keep them coming. I can handle my liquor better than everyone in this room combined. See the brunette in the black dress?" Bethany asked, gesturing to Wanda. "She has a limit. Only give her half shot drinks, but I'll pay for full."
She finished everyone's order, fighting the urge to wink at him when she was finished. It was an old habit, but the last thing she needed was someone to report it to the tabloids. They used every opportunity they could to make it look like Steve and Bethany were having issues. Kiley suggested they participate in a tabloid spread, showing their happy family life, but neither of them cared enough really. Still, in this case, it was bound to look bad for her.
"Here," Natasha said when she made her way back to the table. "The ball and chain has been trying to FaceTime you for the last five minutes."
"Oh," Bethany replied, taking the phone with a smile. "Thanks, I'll just be a minute."
Bethany quickly texted Steve telling him she was just looking for a quiet place to talk to him. It took her ten minutes to find a good place, but she smiled when his face lit up his screen. "You look gorgeous," Steve immediately told her.
"Oh, why thank you," Bethany flirted lightly. "Jamie asleep? He should be."
"Sound asleep," Steve confirmed. "Had to read him eight stories before he'd lie down, but he's asleep now. How's your night going?"
"We just got to the club," Bethany informed him.
"Oh, sorry," Steve apologized.
"Nonsense," Bethany assured with a smile. "I know it's a girls' weekend, but I do wish you were here with me. Just like old times. Remember how much fun we used to have?"
"I remember watching you flirt and dance with every man in the building and Howard and I trying to keep the men from taking advantage of you," Steve replied, a fond smile on his face despite the words. He wouldn't admit how much he enjoyed jumping to Bethany's rescue whenever the moment arisen. She always told him she could take care of herself, and he knew that she could. But taking care of her… it just felt right.
"Well, I'll be good," Bethany promised him, raising her hand to show him that she was still wearing her wedding bands.
"I trust you," Steve replied honestly. "There's not a doubt in my mind about trusting you to stay faithful."
"Good," Bethany said softly, no smile on her face right then, too busy thinking about all their other issues with trust. Keeping secrets, lying. All of that had been issues with them, but she had never cheated on Steve and he had never cheated on her. After Steve, other men seemed worthless, and Steve only had eyes for her. Yes, they got jealous when others looked at their spouse with longing, but at the end of the day, they'd be going home together. "Any plans for the night?"
"I have some paperwork to catch up on," Steve replied. "So I'll do that and then head to bed."
"Oh, and here I thought you'd invite the boys over," Bethany answered truthfully. "Have some beers, say vulgar things…"
"I thought about it, but after my day with Jamie, I realized I didn't really want to anymore."
Bethany smiled at him, very much wanting to kiss him right then. "I love you, babe. But if I don't hang up right now, I might very well just come home tonight."
Steve laughed but nodded. "Okay. Can you call me when you get back to the hotel?"
"It'll be late," Bethany replied. "Especially where you are."
"I don't care. I just want to know you're safe and sound,"
Bethany chuckled, nodding. "Alright. Until then."
She hung up before leaning back against the brick wall of the building. Things were different now than they were then. For her to think she could just step back into the shoes of the old club-goer that she used to be was foolish. But all the same, she knew that she needed a night to herself, away from the boys she loved more than anything else in this world. Taking in a deep breath, she made her way back into the club where the girls were laughing and enjoying their drinks.
"And what's so funny?" Bethany asked as she slid into the booth and took a hold of her drink, tossing it back with one quick movement. The women looked in awe at what she had just accomplished but Natasha went on to tell Bethany how a group of men had come over and tried to impress them with their muscles.
Bethany looked at the dance floor, trying to pinpoint the men. She saw a bunch of meatheads and immediately knew it was them. "It could be fun to play with their egos."
"Ah, and here I thought you were the one who was married," Jen teased.
"Oh, I've decided my flirting with the bartender is enough for tonight," Bethany declared. "But I would love to dance with you girls, and take enjoyment out of you lot teasing those meatheads."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Darcy beamed, taking a hold of Bethany's arm from across the table and dragging her to the dance floor.
The group had to leave after a man got a little too handsy with Natasha and she flipped him over a table. The manager had politely asked them to leave or else they'd have to get the police involved. The entire group was angry since the men should have been the ones asked to leave, but Bethany wasn't interested in getting into even more trouble, so she convinced the girls that it would be fun to take the party back to the hotel room. Lucky enough for her, the girls were close to passing out by the time they got back to the hotel. She made sure each woman was tucked in their bed, a waste bin by their side and some water, crackers and Advil waiting for them in the morning.
Kiley was the only one who wasn't drunk, but it was clear that she was exhausted from all the partying. She switched rooms with Natasha so that she could keep a close watch on Darcy, who had way more than the bartender should have allowed. Bethany was sharing a room with Wanda, since she knew that no matter how little the girl had to drink, someone had to keep a close eye on her, specifically someone who wouldn't get hurt if Wanda randomly started using her powers.
People seemed to have a small fear of Wanda because of her powers. Even Bethany feared her in a way, since Wanda made Bethany live through her worst fear. But she knew the girl would never do that to her again. Everyone made mistakes, Bethany included, and she wasn't going to let Wanda's mistakes get in the way of the girl feeling like she was welcomed in their rag-tag family. The only person who had no fear of Wanda at all seemed to be Vision and Jamie.
"You feeling okay?" Bethany asked the girl as she made sure she was tucked in right.
"Just a little dizzy," Wanda admitted.
"Well, you didn't drink that much," Bethany allowed. "You should be fine in the morning. But you should drink this entire glass of water before you sleep."
Wanda nodded, sitting up a little so she could drink from the glass. Bethany excused herself and left the hotel room, sliding down the door and leaning against it before dialing Steve's number. She had to wait a few rings until his tired voice picked up. "You did tell me to call," Bethany replied before he could talk about how she woke him.
"Mmmm," Steve mumbled. "How was your night?"
"Ran into some trouble," Bethany replied with a chuckle. "Natasha didn't like some man touching her ass and threw him into a table. That got us kicked out of the club, but I think it was for the best. All the girls are sleeping or about to."
"All but you?"
"I'm not tired yet," Bethany answered. "I was planning on playing Sudoku until I fell asleep."
"Or you can stay up to speak with me," Steve suggested, a yawn slipping through his lips.
Bethany held back her chuckle, smiling to herself. "That sounds great, but you sure you aren't too tired?"
"You're not sleeping in my arms tonight, Doll Face," Steve whispered. "So yes, I'd love to stay up and talk to you until the sun rises, if need be."
"Have I told you that I love you today?" Bethany teased.
"Since it's after midnight, no."
Bethany laughed out loud this time, a goofy smile upon her face. "Oh, well, I love you Captain Rogers."
"And I love you too, you little tease," Steve replied. She could picture the lazy smile on his face, his hair a mess from his sleep.
"Oh, a 'tease'? What did I do now?" She asked, feeling giddy. That boy had a way of turning her to goo.
"I'm just picturing you in a really tight dress," Steve explained. "Maybe your legs crossed tightly together, one foot brushing seductively over the other."
"Hmmm," Bethany hummed quietly, crossing her legs tightly and brushing one foot against the other just as Steve had said. "What else am I doing to tease you Captain?"
"Oooh Bethany, I honestly don't think I can say the words out loud," he replied, his voice husky.
"It's just you and me," Bethany reminded him seductively. "No one else. Just us. Come on, don't be shy."
Personally, Bethany was excited. She could already feel her loins starting to burn with lust already. There were no cameras down this hall, something she had looked for when they checked in. It was something she did automatically when she went somewhere new, all due to her SHIELD training. All the surrounding rooms were under her name and they were the farthest down the hall. If she was quiet enough, she could get off in the hallway, her husband guiding her through the phone and edging her on. That is, if she could convince him to do so. All she could picture right now was the shy and timid boy she first shared her bed with, not the experienced lover he was now.
"I-I don't know," Steve whispered.
"Okay, how about I tell you what I'm picturing then?" Bethany purred. She could hear him gulp and she knew she had him. "What are you wearing?"
"J-Just my boxers," He replied.
"And is your hand down your boxers, Captain?" Bethany continued. He hesitated, just like she thought he would.
"No…"
"And why not?" Bethany teased. She heard some shuffling around on the other side of the line, smiling to herself as she could picture him following her orders.
"Because my boxers are off now," Steve finally replied.
"Ooooh, even better," Bethany said before biting her lip for a moment. "Should I do the same?"
"Aren't you sharing a room with Wanda?" Steve asked suddenly.
"I'm alone," She assured. "Should I also take off my underwear, Captain?"
"Yes," he said, his voice strong now. Pressing her ear to her shoulder, her phone wedge between the two, struggling to get her thong out from under her tight dress. She bundled them up and tossed them beside her.
"My dress is very tight," Bethany informed him. "It's not easy to do anything. Especially parting my legs."
"You are a little tease," Steve said after he took in a deep breath. "Shimmy it up over your hips."
"Done," Bethany replied after she did that. "Now what?"
"Spread your legs, let the cool air touch you," he instructed. Bethany smiled, following his words.
"And then what?" Bethany asked.
"You tell me," Steve replied.
"Well, I'd very much like to touch myself," Bethany purred. "So why don't you take a hold of yourself lightly and let me do the same?"
"No," Steve said just as she was about to reach down. "Only touch your thighs. Not that beautiful pussy of yours."
Bethany's breath caught in her throat at his words. Her muscles involuntarily clenched together tightly and her heartbeat picked up its pace. "O-okay."
"Just stroke your thighs softly, don't linger farther," he continued. "And I'll stroke myself like I wish I was stroking you."
Bethany's head moved back against the wall, taking in a deep breath of air. He had her overwhelmed at just his words. His voice was husky and filled with longing. He didn't usually talk this way. It was like he knew that the only way that he could bring any affect to her right now was through his voice and his choice of words, and if there was one thing Bethany knew about Steve, it was that he did everything he could to make Bethany enjoy their sex life.
"And what no-" She stopped as she heard Wanda from the bedroom, throwing up heavily. "Uhh, babe? I have to go."
"What, right now?"
"Yeah, sorry," Bethany apologized. "I'll make it up to you when I get home. I'll call you tomorrow?"
"Oh-okay, I love you Doll," Steve sighed, clearly upset but accepting her farewell.
"Love you too. Night love." As she hung up, she quickly pulled her dress back on before scanning the card to the room and looking in the bathroom where Wanda was lying over the toilet. Bethany couldn't help but chuckle. "So I should have cut you off earlier then?"
"Obviously," Wanda moaned. "Why is it red?"
"Bloody Mary's," Bethany explained. "You think you need to stay in here longer?"
"Yes," Wanda moaned. Bethany picked up the glass beside the sink and filled it before sitting beside the girl and handing her the water.
"I had my fair share of hangovers, but do you know what? Being pregnant and having morning sickness is actually worse. You don't get the benefit of knowing you had a good time the night before. Well, you had a good time but… never mind," Bethany finished, not wanting to finish her sentence. "Does your head hurt yet?"
"No, but I'm dizzy," Wanda replied. "I can't stand straight."
Bethany chuckled lightly. "You're still drunk, that's why. It's okay. When you wake up, I'll order a nice big tray of bacon and orange juice and you'll be good as new. If you were pregnant, you'd have to do this every single day for months."
"And yet you want another baby," Wanda replied softly, leaning her head against Bethany's shoulder in exhaustion.
Bethany sighed, pulling Wanda into her arms to comfort her. "Well, with hangovers, the best part is what comes before. With a baby, it's what happens after."
"My head hurts now," Wanda mumbled after a few moments of silence.
"I set up a garbage pail by your bed, remember?" Bethany offered.
"No, I don't actually," Wanda replied.
"Let's get you back into bed," the blonde suggested, helping Wanda up and steadying her. Wanda's sipped at her water as they moved over to her bed, placing it on the bedside table after she crawled into the bed. Bethany crawled into the same bed as her after turning off all the lights, rubbing her back softly, in a soothing motion that her mother had only done for her once. It was when she and Howard were really sick before her parents died. Mrs. Stark had rubbed comforting circles on Bethany's back as she struggled to breath through all her coughing, trying to soothe her.
"Girls' night doesn't always need to be like this," Bethany assured Wanda. "Next time, we'll watch a movie and eat more junk food than we should."
"Sounds nice," Wanda whispered. "Like a sleepover?"
"Like a sleepover," Bethany confirmed. "You do know that you are welcome at the house whenever you want, right? It's a place for Steve and I to get away from the job and raise Jamie, but you're part of our family now. You can come over whenever you like. Stay the night if you want to. That's why we built it so big."
Wanda turned around so she could face Bethany. It wasn't clear whether or not Wanda would remember this conversation in the morning, but Bethany would gladly repeat it. Wanda was just a kid. She needed to be told this, just like Natasha had to be assured of her role in their family. "Thank you, Bethany."
"Get some rest," the older woman prompted, touching the girl's long hair for a moment before closing her eyes and drifting to sleep.
**A/N: Cause yeah, of course Natasha would flip a guy over a table if he touched her ass.
IrelandLover: Well, that was my original idea, but I did change it.
lenabui98: I especially love how its the same every morning for them.
ThalicoRules5678: Spidey will be a little bit more involved with the plot, but not by much. He'll interact out of the suit with a few of the characters, that's for sure. And soon! I've already written it :)
anonymouscsifan: Jamie is a smart little bugger. That can heavily be attributed to the serum. I've basically just have been wanting to sleep whenever I can lately, so writing has been a challenge, but there isn't an hour that goes by where I don't think about Bethany and Steve's story! And getting reviews like yours just makes the creative juices flow, so I love each and every one of them :)
wurlwinds: Well, sometimes, the journey is better than the finish line :)
Jo: There will be lots of bonding between the boys! I feel like it's important to show the bonding since Bethany is with Jamie every second of the day basically, it's important to stress that Steve is being an active father, despite everything else.
pulchritudo in omnia: So, I believe we're in August 2015 right about now. One year from Ultron would bring them to May 2016. I love when people tell me that they re-read the stories :D I like to go back and re-read old chapters in order to see how certain characters have grown or still need to evolve.
