summary: you are engaged to steve rogers- and you recently found out that you're pregnant. you're scared to tell him, because you overheard him telling tony how he wasn't sure he wanted a family.

word count: 1320

trigger warnings: nah.

"I don't know. Family, stability; guy who wanted all that went in the ice seventy-five years ago. I think someone else came out."

You couldn't help but overhear Steve's conversation with Tony. It was an accident, really. You hadn't mean to eavesdrop, and now you were wishing that you'd waited just a few more minutes to come outside.

Because every word that Steve had spoken was the truth, like always. And up until recently- three months, to be exact- you'd felt the same way. But now... All of that had changed.

"(Y/N)! Wait up."

You wiped your eyes quickly, wanting to avoid raising any suspicion with Steve. He came to a pause beside you and threw an arm around your shoulder. If he noticed your blotchy face and red eyes, he didn't say anything.

"Yeah, Steve? What's up?"

You plastered a false smile onto your face. Steve accepted it without batting an eye.

"Tony's leaving. He wanted me to tell you goodbye for him. He would have stuck around, but Pepper was waiting on him back at headquarters."

Steve took your hand, squeezing it slightly. This gesture, rather than reassure you, only made your chest feel tight.

"Um, would you excuse me for a little it? There's something I, um, have to talk to Nat about."

Without waiting for an answer, you gingerly pried your hand out of Steve's grip and took off in a jog towards the building. Thankfully Steve didn't follow you, having enough sense to realize that you wanted to be alone.

It took you quite a while to find Natasha, as you still got turned around in the new Avenger's Headquarters. You finally found her in one of the many training facilities, practicing with a giant dummy. She stopped what she was doing the second she caught a glimpse of the expression on your face.

"(Y/N)? What the hell happened?" Natasha rushed forward and grabbed your wrists.

"I'm fine, Nat. At least, physically. But I overheard Steve talking to Tony before he left earlier, and he was saying all of these things that I used to agree with. But recently, you know, circumstances have changed, and I-"

"For God's sake, (Y/N), spit it out!"

Natasha looked extremely worried now. It wasn't like you to be so outward with your emotions; you were often calm, cool, and collected, and rarely let people see your true emotions. In the few years that Natasha had known you, she'd never once seen you so hysterical.

"Natasha... I'm pregnant. And I'm terrified that Steve won't want it- or me- once he finds out."

You bit your lip, trying to hold back a fresh wave of tears. You'd known about your pregnancy for about three weeks now, and you hadn't once voiced your fears aloud- or told anyone at all, for that matter- in that entire time.

"(Y/N), you listen very carefully to what I'm about to say, alright? If you believe for one second that Steve Rogers would abandon you, especially now, then you're the biggest fool that I've ever known. And secondly, some of us aren't fortunate enough to be able to have children. Be grateful that you can."

Natasha dropped your wrists, staring at you so harshly that you felt like you were shrinking under her gaze.

"God, Nat. I'm so sorry; that's now what I was meaning at all. It's not that I'm not excited, it's just that I'm terrified of raising a child in this lifestyle... In this world." You sighed heavily and massaged your temples.

Natasha nodded and pursed her lips. "We'll just have to be even more careful, won't we? We've saved the world how many times now? I think, if you put all of us together, we can handle it."

"And, of course, you'll be the godmother."

Finally, Natasha smiled, pulling you into a short but tight hug.

"Watch it!" You teased, laying a hand on your slightly bulging belly.

"Oh, sorry," Natasha grinned and pulled away from you. "Now, you'd better go and find Steve and tell him before I do."

You opened your mouth to respond when a voice sounded from the door.

"Tell Steve what?" Your boyfriend of two and a half years sauntered in, eyebrows creased with worry. "What's going on, (Y/N)? Is everything alright?"

Natasha shot you an encouraging but threatening smile before skipping past Steve and out the door, leaving you alone with him. You kept your eyes trained on the door until the silence became unbearable, and you just had to say something.

This was it, the moment of truth. You had to be brave.

"Steve," you paused. "I have to tell you something."

"I gathered that much," Steve moved towards you and wrapped his arms around your shoulders, pulling you to his chest. "Sweetheart, I've been worried about you. You've been acting so off lately-"

"Please," you held up a hand. "I have to say this before I pass out. Steve... I'm pregnant. Three months now."

Steve's entire face went completely blank. For a second, you worried that he'd gone into shock or something as equally horrific. But then, his face lit up in a bright smile.

"We're having a baby?" Steve said quietly, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Yeah, we're having a bay." You grinned at him, feeling tears of happiness and relief well in your eyes.

Steve picked you up and spun you around, but then seemed to remember the baby and hurriedly sat you down. Tears were glistening in Steve's eyes as he placed both of his hands against your stomach.

"Hey, little baby. I'm your daddy, you know that? I'm going to love and protect you forever, baby. I won't let anyone ever hurt you or your mommy." Steve cooed. He then kissed your stomach over the fabric of your t-shirt.

"I love you so much."

You kissed Steve, now letting your tears fall freely. He said nothing, as he was unable to speak without crying.

All of the things Steve had said, they now meant nothing. He was going to be a father to a beautiful little boy or girl, and that was all that mattered.

SIX MONTHS LATER

"Are you ready to meet your uncles and aunties, darling?"

Steve was holding your baby, cooing to her as you entered the Avenger's headquarters. You hadn't seen your friends in the week since you had your baby, as they'd all been out on a mission at the time (Pepper had stayed with you at Headquarters until Steve was able to return), so they hadn't met your precious baby yet. Natasha had, of course, being the child's godmother and all, but the others had been pestering you since the moment they got back to see her. Steve was beside himself with excitement, ready to show off his daughter for the first time.

The second you entered the room, everyone practically pounced on your baby girl. They were comments on how beautiful she was, and how she was the spitting image of Steve, and then Clint managed to push his way to the front of the throng.

"Come to Uncle Clint!"

Clint had already begun easing the little pink bundle out of Steve's arms when you stopped him.

"Not so fast, Barton!" you teased him. "She hasn't been properly introduced yet, has she? Audrey Buchanan Rogers, meet your family."

You smiled down at your baby girl- with her blonde hair and blue eyes, so much like her father's- and smiled. Naming her had come naturally to you both. Audrey was a lovely, classic name, with sentimental ties to your mother, who's name had also been Audrey. Buchanan, of course, honored Steve's long-lost (and now found) friend.

For the first time in your life, you were content. With a beautiful baby girl in your arms, a caring fiance at your side, and friends bickering over who was the next to hold your daughter, you were completely and utterly happy.