"Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward." – Denis Waitley

PART V: Energies

It'd been a month since Steve found out he was pregnant and he was finding that he was more comfortable with his situation than he thought he would be when he first found out. Jean and Storm had given him a clean bill of health and started him on prenatal vitamins, they had concluded that the serum was what was behind his being pregnant after all. He couldn't have her natural seeing as how he didn't have a birth canal and he wouldn't be able to breast feed because he didn't show any signs of lactation but he'd have a C-section and they had alternatives to breast feeding nowadays. Jean had already suggested some good formulas that she used for her son Nathan when he wasn't old enough for solid foods yet. They already set a date for the surgery and Darlene had already started sending things for them. Steve still thought of the son he lost and still felt guilt, especially when he was happy or smiling or planning the future he could have with Sam and their daughter. Darlene helped a lot then. Their shared experience with miscarriages served to strengthen their relationship. Living in the school could be hectic at times but it was a lot more tranquil than when he was at the tower worrying over the next Senate meeting or wondering what the next mission would be and regretting those he couldn't save. Everything seemed okay. Even Bucky was relaxed. The only thing that worried him now besides the aftermath of having their baby (which he was willing to not think too much about) was Sam.

He was keeping something from him and he knew it. Perhaps it was hypocritical of Steve to be put off about it seeing as how he kept a pretty big secret from Sam for months and Sam wasn't upset about it but he would blame it on hormones if he had to. Sam would go out sometimes for hours and come back with no excuse, he'd seen him having a lot of private conversations with Scott and he seemed almost nervous whenever Steve brought up his new friendship with the man. Sam wasn't the sort to deflect often but when Steve tried to bring up Sam's strange behavior he'd steer the conversation over to names for the baby which they were still struggling over. Steve would be swept up and only later on realize that Sam weaseled his way out of the conversation again. He'd let it go for the sake of staying calm but he wouldn't forget. It was one such instance where Sam was gone with no explanation that Steve found himself wandering down to the gardens so he wouldn't stress about what Sam could be doing. He didn't expect to see Jean there with Nathan. The woman's red hair blazed in the sun among the tulips and Nathan looked like he was taking quite the fascination in his mother's mane. Jean turned before Steve even decided to join them and greeted him with a smile.

"Steve! Come join us, a nice calming walk in the garden could be good for you." He didn't question Jean's knowledge of his new anxiety any more than he would if Natasha had pointed it out. He walked towards the redhead and fell into a leisure walk with her.

"So, how's pregnancy treating you?"

"Surprisingly, not that bad. Besides the excessive peeing, the hormones and the crazy cravings, I'm not doing too badly."

"Gotta say I'm kind of jealous. When I was six months pregnant I couldn't even see my toes, I had already gained 38 pounds, my breasts were perpetually sore, I had Scott running out to get me some disgusting combination of food about every 30 minutes and this little one had a field day playing soccer in my stomach. You are the envy of women everywhere." Steve chuckled a little but conceded that besides the miscarriage his pregnancy had been pretty easy. He'd only gained 15 pounds so far. His stomach was firm and there was a small but noticeable bump which Jean still wasn't worried over and had already determined he wouldn't have the telltale large protruding abdomen of pregnancy. Steve couldn't say he was particularly upset about it, it made his life easier. She didn't kick much which scared him sometimes but she made her presence known in cravings. His feet did get sore sometimes but Sam gave him a massage almost every night which Steve would hope every night would lead to more because this pregnancy was not kind to his libido at all (not that he'd admit it) but Sam never took it that far. He was probably afraid of hurting him or the baby.

"Don't worry about it so much." Steve looked over at Jean with confusion.

"Mind-reader, remember?" Steve could feel himself starting to blush all over causing Jean to chuckle.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of. Pregnancy increases sex-drive. You'd think Scott would want to take advantage of that but no. He treated me like I was fine china. It was ridiculously frustrating. One flawlessly executed seduction later and he started seeing things my way. Just tell him how you feel, or even better show him." Jean smiled widely at him and he had to smile back at her. She had been a huge help through this, it was nice having someone who had first hand knowledge of pregnancy. He felt like he could trust her so he decided to press further.

"It isn't just that." Steve ventured. Jean rose an eyebrow.

"You mean the secrecy and deflection?"

"You heard that too, huh?"

"That and we've all witnessed it firsthand. All I'm going to say about it is it's a surprise, a good one. Give him time, you'll know when he finally tells you what he's been hiding." Jean patted his shoulder comfortingly and he actually did feel more at ease about it. Suddenly, Nathan began reaching his hands out to Steve to take him and he instinctively stepped back. Jean started laughing again, this time at his reaction.

"He's not a lion, he's a baby and in case you forgot you're going to be having one of those soon."

"I don't want to hurt him."

"Babies aren't as fragile as you think."

"Nathan's one year old, she'll be a lot smaller."

"I know you've faced worse than a one year old. I'm trusting you with my kid here, I'm telling you you won't break him. Besides you need practice holding babies." Steve finally acquiesced and let Jean position his hands correctly so he could hold Nathan. The little boy instantly cuddled into Steve's warmer body, yawned and shut his eyes. Steve looked to Jean to see if he'd done something wrong.

"He's due for a nap. I came out here hoping the garden would keep him calm enough. You're doing good." Steve smiled at the compliment. He'd never been good with babies but maybe it was just different when you were about to have one, maybe some dormant instinct just kicked in. Maybe all you really could do was your best.

"Now you're getting it, Captain."

Steve was sleeping, dreaming, and he knew he was because he was in Brooklyn circa 1930s but he still had the serum body (the body he still couldn't fully comfortably claim as his own). He looked around him wondering why he was there and froze when he saw a familiar figure standing on his old porch.

"I always thought you'd be special Stevie. Guess I underestimated how much, huh?"

"M-Mom?" He stuttered out. She looked right in a way he was never able to capture in his sketches, he always would mess up on one feature or other but here she was in perfect clarity. Same blonde hair as his just showing a touch of gray, eyes a shade lighter than his and holding her arms out to him. He didn't hesitate to run to her and hug her tightly, picking her up in the process.

"Whoa there, Stevie. You're a bit stronger than you used to be and taller than I anticipated, yeesh." Steve laughed a little and put his mother down.

"How...? Is this real?"

"As real as it can be. You didn't think I wasn't going to come see you, I'm finally about to have a grandchild. Granted I didn't expect you to be pregnant but then I never figured you'd be any taller than 5 feet either." Steve looked down a little bashfully.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, especially not about her and don't worry about your son. He's just fine." Steve looked at his mother wide eyed.

"He's with you?"

"Of course he is. He's with Winona right now, she sends her love by the way to you and Jimmy." Steve smiled even though he felt tears welling up. He was happy to know his mother and Bucky's were together and his son was with them.

"Speaking of Jimmy you give him a couple messages from his Mama, will you? She'll kill me if I don't tell ya. Tell him she's happy he reconnected with Becca, she likes that Natasha a lot better than the girls he used to bring home. Ah… ooh tell him, and this one is from me, I know he probably won't but he needs a haircut or at least a trim. Lastly, and this one's important, she's so proud of him and so am I. We never doubted that he could break HYDRA's hold for a second and we love him so much. Never once did we stop." Steve smiled. He didn't know how Bucky would take the messages but he'd pass them along.

"As for you, I couldn't be happier for you darling. Sam is certainly easy on the eyes." Steve blushed.

"Mom!"

"He is. She's going to be one good looking baby. Don't fret so much, she'll be fine and Sam isn't going anywhere so don't stress yourself out. Just be happy, that's all I ever wanted for you. I love you with all my heart, Stevie." She stroked his cheek gently like she used to before pulling him into another hug and it was bittersweet because he was more than likely never going to feel this feeling again and he missed it more than he usually allowed himself to think about anymore.

"Mom, I love you too." He hugged her as tight as he could without hurting her. He didn't want to let this go, he didn't want to let her go but he could feel his dream world slipping from him as consciousness bled in more and more. He reluctantly snapped his eyes opened and took in his and Sam's bedroom which was unexpectedly lightly illuminated by the lamp on Sam's side of the bed. He rolled his head to the side where he could see Sam standing in front of the closet trying to stuff something into the clothes that were folded on the top shelf installed on the wall.

"What are you doing?" Steve asked, causing Sam to jump and drop whatever he was fiddling with. He scrambled on his hands and knees to try to grab it but it went under the bed before he could. Steve sat up and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He looked up at him sheepishly.

"Hey, I was trying not to wake you."

"Clearly." He replied dryly.

"Any chance you're going to just forget you saw anything and go back to sleep?"

"Are pigs flying?"

"Well, Tony does love to point out..." Steve gave him a withering look that clearly got across that he was not in the mood.

"What has been going on Sam? You've been acting strange the last month and don't bother denying it because everyone's noticed." Sam looked like he was struggling to find an answer and not in the way he was when Steve woke up after the miscarriage, he looked like he was trying to find a way not to lie but not tell the truth either. Steve heaved a sigh.

"Look, I know you said you wanted to do this with me. I know you said you were happy but if you don't want this I need you to tell me now, Sam."

"Stevie, that is so far from the truth."

"Really? Because whenever I ask you about what's going on you deflect and evade which isn't like you. You go out with little to no explanation as to where you've been which I wouldn't normally mind but seeing as how we came here for protection it only makes me worry. You haven't touched me beyond kissing in months, Sam. So if you don't want this, if you don't want me just say it and get it over with." Steve felt more than heard his voice crack and he could feel tears welling up in his eyes.

Damn hormones, he thought angrily while forcing the tears not to fall. It was Sam's turn to sigh.

"Honestly Steve, you got it all wrong and maybe- no, it's definitely my fault. I really didn't want to do this now but c'est la vie." Steve's stomach twisted in pained anticipation at Sam's next words. That anticipation turned to confusion as he watched Sam wordlessly start digging under the bed for whatever slipped under it. Finally he came up with a look of satisfaction on his face that sent liquid heat to Steve's groin.

Honestly, hormones? Priorities please.

"I had a whole plan, you know? Scott, Natasha and I had it all worked out, I even got Bucky and Peggy's approval but someonejust had to be impatient."

"Sam, what are you tal..." Steve trailed off as Sam revealed a small velvet box in his hand. He flipped it open showing off a simple yet pristine gold ring with a gold diamond-shaped pattern going around it. Steve stared at the ring before looking up at Sam who wore a big smile on his face.

"Before you say anything I'm not just doing this for the baby even though she is what's finally kicked my ass into gear. I'm doing this because I love you so much Steve, you have no idea. I'm doing this because I want to be with you forever and I want everyone else to know that too, I'm not ashamed of it." Steve could feel the tears that he pushed down welling up full force and he couldn't blame the hormones this time.

"You don't want to leave?" He asked with more vulnerability than he was usually comfortable showing but it was Sam so he didn't hide it.

"Would I be on one knee in front of you if I did?"

"But- I mean I wouldn't blame you. I'm-"

"My best friend? The love of my life? My wingman? So many things to me I can barely think of all of them?" Sam replied. Steve gave him a watery smile as a tear slid free of the confines of his eye.

"So what do you say, partner? Wanna be my partner?" Steve chuckled while wiping away some of the other stray tears that fell down his cheeks.

"Will you marry me?" Sam asked in a softer voice. Steve looked down at him and into his eyes and they were so damn sincere. There was really only one answer he was going to give.

"Yes." He barely got out before Sam surged up and kissed him. The kiss was salty from the tears still falling from his eyes but Sam didn't seem to mind. He briefly broke the kiss to take the ring out of the box and pushed it on to Steve's left ring finger.

"Now I'm on your left." Steve smiled widely at him before pulling him into another kiss. He could feel Sam's hands grip on to his hair and tug a bit and suddenly his hormones decided they had enough crying and would much rather they get more horizontal. Steve tilted his head to the side to deepen the kiss and Sam reciprocated in kind. Steve pulled Sam down half on top of him as he laid back on the bed. He made sure he wasn't on his stomach but they were still chest to chest. Steve sucked Sam's bottom lip lightly and he could feel Sam grip onto his bicep while Steve moved his efforts downward and started nipping at his throat.

"Steve..." He broke off in a breathy moan as Steve sucked a hickie into his skin.

"Steve, we have to stop."

"No we don't." Steve answered, his attention still on Sam's throat.

"The baby. I don't want to hurt her."

"Jean said it was fine." Sam tried to pull away from him fully but Steve grabbed his face so they were nose-to-nose.

"This is not going to break me. If I thought it would hurt her do you think I would want to do it?"

"... no." Sam answered with a sigh.

"I'm supposed to avoid stress. Sex is definitely not stressful. In fact I'd say it's quite the reliever." Sam chuckled a little at Steve's choice of words.

"I just want you to be okay."

"Are you gonna go through our whole marriage withholding sex from the both of us?" Sam didn't look like the idea appealed to him much.

"Sam, touch me." Steve said softly putting command in his voice as well as letting his true desperation and desire show. Sam shook his head before his hands framed Steve's face and he pulled him into another kiss. Steve felt Sam swipe his tongue on his bottom lip and he opened his mouth so their tongues could meet. He slipped his hands down Sam's stomach towards his hips and pulled him closer so their groins were pressed together. Steve sighed at the contact, having sorely missed it. Sam didn't pull away, instead he grinded his hips down so their penises rubbed against each other beneath their clothing. With that one move Steve knew he'd finally get what he wanted from him.

Sam pulled away from his lips and began blazing his trail down Steve's throat nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin there. Hickies wouldn't take on him like the ones he left on Sam but he still appreciated the effort and showed his appreciation by rutting their hips together more firmly, though he was ever mindful of the baby and apparently so was Sam because he never put any weight on his stomach even as he grinded himself against Steve as well. Steve pulled away from Sam a bit and pulled off his shirt with Sam following suit. He reattached his lips to Steve's neck while his fingers began playing with one of Steve's nipples, pinching it and pulling it and rolling it between his fingertips. Steve moaned at his movements and reached his hand up to trail over Sam's ribs teasingly before he reached down and cupped Sam through his pants. Sam felt hard through the fabric, Steve was sure he was as well and that much was confirmed when Steve felt Sam begin palming his bulge through his pajama pants. His hand tightened on Sam's bicep as he squeezed Steve's dick and he reciprocated by running his fingers along his length. He was fairly certain a whine left his mouth as Sam let him go and pulled away from him.

"How should we do this?" Sam asked. Steve thought for a second.

"Take off your pants, I have an idea." Steve took off his own pants as well and turned himself in the opposite direction instructing Sam to lie on his side in the direction he was already in. Steve laid on his side as well so they both facing each other mouth-to-penis. Steve was the one who moved forward first, licking Sam's hard length with long heavy drags of his tongue. He sucked lightly on the head of his penis before going back to his licks. Sam groaned and grumbled something before he began licking at the underside of Steve's dick. He placed some openmouthed kisses along the length of him before abruptly sinking his mouth on him and then slowly and very deliberately pulling off.

"So that's how it is?" Steve asked breathlessly.

"That's how it is."

"Two can play that." That's how it turned into a competition. Steve moaned around Sam's penis making the vibrations give him shivers. In retaliation Sam began kneading Steve's balls. He bobbed his head sucking hard just like how he knew Sam like it and Sam started rubbing one spit moistened finger over Steve's perineum, knowing that drove him absolutely crazy. In the end he and his hormones couldn't withstand Sam's assault but once he had come down enough he moved and shimmed until he and Sam were facing the same direction but Steve's face was still acquainted with his groin area. He pushed Sam onto his back and hitched one leg over his shoulder. He sucked one of his fingers wet before slowly pushing it into Sam. He was so tight, damn it'd been a while. Sam moaned exceptionally loud at Steve's finger wiggling and caressing his insides. He found his prostate easy enough and began stroking it which made Sam begin letting off a litany of curses that tapered off into an agonized moan as Steve took his length back into his mouth. He didn't ease into it, he started fast and sucked hard with the knowledge that he was probably running even hotter than normal from his orgasm and that Sam was reaping the benefits. Sam's fingers threaded into his hair, not pushing or controlling Steve's movements it was more just him hanging on for the ride.

"Steve, goddammit, baby please just don't stop." Steve moaned again around Sam's cock this time as a result of just how gorgeous Sam sounded like that: all desperate and pent up and in need of a release. He sucks improbably, impossibly harder and applies just the right amount of pressure on his prostate.

"Steve, Steve." Sam says it with warning in his voice but Steve plows through sucking and bobbing his head throughout Sam's orgasm to prolong it for him. He doesn't usually swallow but pregnancy gives way to strange changes. Steve's never going to tell anyone this change though. Sam's still twitching and having muscle spasms from the intense orgasm when Steve pulls off his softening dick, crawls to Sam's bedside lamp and flicks it off before carefully flopping down next to him on his side. Sam's breathes heavily next to him for another minute before curling himself up to Steve's side.

"Better?" Steve asked. He could feel Sam nod against his shoulder.

"Better." He replied, his voice sounding lethargic. Steve sighed and turned a bit so Sam was further in his arms, he could feel when he dozed off. He decided to get a little rest himself. He brought the finger with the ring up to his mouth and kissed it. Yeah, he wasn't going to worry for a little while.

Steve found himself awake early the next morning with his bladder weeping for relief so he detached himself from Sam, rolled out of bed, pulled on his pants and made a beeline for the bathroom. Once he was done he didn't feel particularly tired so he brushed his teeth, dragged on a T-shirt and then wandered down to the kitchen. When he got there Bucky and Logan were in the room, Bucky drinking a glass of orange juice and Logan drinking a beer and smoking a cigar.

"Isn't it a little early?" Steve asked addressing both Logan's beer and Bucky's presence, it was barely 7 and Bucky usually slept much later unless he'd had a nightmare.

"It's never too early." Logan answered and Bucky just shrugged without looking at him. Steve just lifted an eyebrow and then coughed a little, more for effect really, as the smoke from the cigar tickled his throat.

"Hey bub, watch it!" Logan said in protest as Bucky grabbed the cigar out of his mouth and put it out in his metal hand. Steve winced a bit even though Bucky couldn't feel anything with the arm.

"Not around Stevie." Bucky said as he got up and opened the window wide to air out the kitchen.

"Your little situation is a horrible inconvenience for me, Cap." Logan grumbled.

"My bad." Steve replied dryly. Bucky sat back down, reached over and snatched Logan's beer from him, taking a swig. Logan exhaled slowly from his nose.

"You're cruisin' for a beat down Barnes."

"This isn't helping you get a date with Storm." Bucky retorted taking another gulp of beer. Logan went a little red around the cheeks causing Steve to chuckle, watching them skirt around each other had been another highlight of the past month for him.

"Oh please, Barnes because you're better off." As if by magic Natasha materialized into the room a little sweaty like she was coming from a run. She patted Steve on the shoulder as she passed him to get to the fruit bowl where she grabbed an apple. She wordlessly flicked Logan's ear causing him to start muttering to himself before continuing over to Bucky's chair. He tilted his head back as she stopped behind him, leaned over and kissed him on his lips and then his nose and then his forehead before continuing on her way out, lifting the beer from his hand in the process. Steve was a little surprised. Natasha wasn't prone to PDA at all. She only usually let herself show affection to Bucky in public when he had a nightmare which only made Steve more suspicious. Bucky watched her go before turning to Logan with a smirk that was equal parts shit-eating grin and lovesick dopey smile.

"Yeah, I'm a lot better off than you."

"Hey Tasha, that's my beer." Logan called getting up to go after her.

"Is beer really worth your life?" Steve asked sitting next to Bucky.

"I'm not afraid of Natasha." Logan scoffed.

"There's your first mistake." Steve watched Logan saunter out of the room and a few seconds later there was a crash and a pained groan that was decidedly male.

"Get Ororo to kiss it better." He heard Nat say. He chuckled before looking over at Bucky who was staring at him with a scrutinizing look on his face.

"What?"

"Well you got laid." He said casually, lifting up his orange juice for a sip. Steve blushed scarlet.

"Buck!"

"You did, it's practically flashing above your head like a gaudy neon sign."

Bucky's metal hand flashed out in a silver blur and grabbed Steve's left hand briefly before letting go and very lightly knocking Steve across the head.

"And apparently you've got no patience either."

"Thanks by the way for allowing me to freak out and saying nothing about it."

"Nat would've been pissed. I love her but she's scary when she's angry. I decided to not risk spending the next 70 years on her shit list." Steve smiled a little again.

"You plan to be with her in 70 years?"

"Of course I do."

"How horribly domestic of you."

"Says the guy who's six months pregnant and just got engaged." Bucky retorted.

"I never said domestic was a bad thing. Mom and Mama like her at least."

"You mean they would've liked her."

"No I mean they do like her." Bucky raised an eyebrow at him.

"I thought I was the crazy one. In case I'm horribly mistaken, Mom and Mama are dead."

"I had dream. Mom was there, she talked to me. She told me that she and Mama were taking care of my son, she told me that they both like Sam and Nat, that they would watch over this baby, that Mama's happy you reconnected with Becca and that they miss us and love us."

"It was a dream, Steve." Bucky replied blank faced but Steve could see the slightest bit of fear and panic in his eyes.

"We're both 95 year old biochemically enhanced super-soldiers. Your girlfriend is a 60 year old enhanced super-assassin but we all look 30 years old at most. We're living with people who have extraordinary abilities, I'm pretty sure I saw a kid levitate a car the other day. Hell two of our roommates are a hulk and a demigod. For god sakes, I'm pregnant. Reality was suspended a long time ago. Is Mom visiting me in a dream really that farfetched?" Steve asked. Bucky looked away from him and got up and walked towards the sink to wash out his glass. Steve softened a bit.

"Buck, they're proud of you. They never doubted you could break HYDRA's brainwashing for a second. Also Mom thinks you need a haircut." Bucky chuckled and it sounded wet to Steve's ears. He waited for Bucky to make the approach instead of pushing the issue himself. Bucky returned to his seat next to Steve but didn't look at him.

"I had a nightmare."

"I figured."

"I killed her. I killed your baby. I knew she was yours because she had your eyes. She was crying and no one else was there. I went to pick her up to try to soothe her and I snapped her neck instead."

"Bucky—"

"I'm dangerous Steve. I could hurt her. I don't want to but… you lost your son, I don't want you to lose your daughter because of me."

"It's just…" Steve trailed off and stopped himself from saying it was "just a dream" because he knew better than saying that.

"Bucky, you're not going to kill her. I trust you, I know you. Do you really think I would put her in danger if I thought you were dangerous to her?" Steve was distinctly aware that he'd said much the same thing to Sam last night.

"…no." Steve rested his hand on Bucky's shoulder.

"You will be fine. You won't hurt her. I know you won't. I trust you, Sam trusts you, Natasha trusts you and Mom and Mama trust you. You'll be fine. We'll all be fine." Bucky looked at him and Steve ignored the red, wet eyes as he smiled a little at him.

"So a haircut?"

"Mmm, a trim at least but she said she understands why you won't do it." Steve kept looking at Bucky as he relaxed more and more. He suddenly looked down as the baby started kicking. He gently took Bucky's hand and placed it on his stomach. He looked a little startle at first before looking up at Steve with awe and surprise.

"I think she agrees that you're not a real danger to her." Bucky smiled a little and actually looked like he might start believing Steve's words.

"So you guys settle on a name yet?"

"Not yet."

"Well hurry up, Pepper's coming back in two weeks and she's throwing a baby shower. I'm pretty sure Tony's doing something big and wants a name for it."

"Baby shower? Sam and I don't need-"

"It's Pepper."

"I-yeah." Try as he might he knew it was going to happen no matter what he did and honestly that warmed his heart more than it made him uncomfortable.

When he goes back to his and Sam's room, greeting students as he passes, he's so absorbed in studying his engagement ring (I'm actually engaged, holy shit!) that he doesn't notice Sam's awake until he speaks.

"I can pick a hell of ring, right?" He looks up and he's wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a towel around his neck looking fresh off a shower so really the logical thing to do was kiss him senseless. By the time he pulled away he was looming over Sam who was laying on the bed underneath him.

"Okay new rule, feel free to knock me upside the head next time I try to pull away from you." Sam said placing a hand to Steve's cheek.

"Agreed." Sam pulled him down for another kiss which was interrupted by the baby kicking between them. They broke off again chuckling. Sam's hand reached down and pressed to Steve's stomach.

"She's been more active lately. Buck thinks she's itching to have a name." Steve commented.

"Hmm. What do you think, Denise? No, Trisha? Mercedes? Sarah?" The name suddenly brought his dream back and he told Sam about it without hesitation.

"So your mom thinks I'm hot?"

"Of course that's what you got out of all that." Steve muttered rolling his eyes, Sam kept talking as if Steve said nothing.

"I mean I don't blame her of course-" Sam trailed off laughing as Steve tickled his sides.

"Mercy, uncle, I tap out, I give." Steve stopped tickling him so he could catch his breathe.

"So you actually believe me then? Buck was more hesitant to think it was more than a dream."

"I never told you about that dream I had, did I? It was the night of the miscarriage and before JARVIS woke me up I had a dream about my Nana, well with my Nana. First I thought it was a flashback dream because it seemed like the last Thanksgiving we had with Dad still alive but then Nana started talking about you. Full disclosure she doesn't think you're too bad looking yourself. She told me things were going to get hard but I should just remember to breathe. I'm pretty sure that dream got me through that night." Steve looked at Sam and he seemed at peace in the memory of that dream the same way he felt when he was with his mom.

"Your Nana's name was Elise right? Sarah-Elise?" Steve suggested.

"We already agreed that we wanted her middle name to be Margaret after Peggy so in the interest of her not hating us for giving her two first names how about a compromise? We could combine the names instead." Sam threw out.

"So Saralise Margaret Wilson-Rogers?" Steve tested before he looked down to his stomach and pressed a hand to it.

"What do you think? Saralise doing it for you?" He asked. The baby kicked in response causing them to chuckle again.

"Saralise, it is. I can barely wait to meet her."

"Me too. Baby blues?" Steve smiled in response.

"Baby blues." He leaned and kissed Sam. They still didn't have it all worked out. Getting married would present new challenges, they had no idea what to tell the general public about their baby's existence and apparently they were probably going to be contending with a more than likely over-the-top baby shower pretty soon but he didn't let himself worry. Everything would fit into place eventually.