This chapter is looong, but I think it makes up for the slightly longer wait. Well, the real reason it's so long is because I added the last part just towards the end when I got a very impulsive idea. But this sort of ties her together with others in a way that's good for future stories (that is if you guys want to read more about Maria and Steve).

Let me know what you think about the last part, and also, let me know what you guys think of the new info you get here in this chapter. I could have described it better, but to be fair, Maria doesn't understand much either but she will once future stories are published, and so will you guys :) Enjoy!

Thanks to those who favorited and followed!

And a special thanks to love . fiction.2017 who reviewed! :D

Make You Feel My Love
~Book IV~

Disclaimer: I do not own Civil War or any other Marvel characters in this story. All I own is the story I've come up with and my own characters.

Chapter 24

"I'm pregnant."

Steve stared at her, not blinking, not reacting. Just staring. His face paled considerably, though he remained motionless.

"I know I said that this was not a pregnancy, that I can't, or rather 'couldn't', get pregnant. But it is. It's a pregnancy. I'm pregnant – Steve, why are you not reacting?"

She was worried now. Truly worried. Never in her life had Steve not replied to something that she had told him. He always listened intently to whatever she had to say, even though he sometimes could barely follow her train of thoughts due to them coming from different eras. Yet, he always replied, even if it was with a question. Now, when Maria came with the biggest news in the world, Steve was quiet and showed no sign of having heard anything of what she said after the words 'I'm pregnant'.

"Steve?"

Finally, his gaze flickered with a strange light, his eyes changing. His usual calm, blue orbs were completely riddled with questions and fear; uncertainty. And then a horrific thought must have struck him as he gasped, rushing forwards to grasp her hands and hold them close to him while crouching in front of her.

"I let you fight against Tony and the others!"

"Steve, no-"

"You could have gotten hurt! Or worse!"

"No, listen to me, Steve, that was my choice. I... I kept this from you because I knew you wouldn't allow me to help you out. And I desperately wanted to be by your side. I think a part of me was afraid that, if we split up, we might not see each other again... But it turns out that, even when split up, you come back for me." She smiled softly at him, shifting her fingers so they were intertwined with his. He let out a sigh, sitting crouched in front of her with his head basically resting in her lap.

"I... You're pregnant... But you said you couldn't- Maria, if I had known, I would've been more careful, I promise! Please don't think bad of me-"

"Bad of you?" interrupted Maria, her eyes narrowing in complete and utter confusion. "Why on Earth would I think badly of you? You are the most perfect thing that has ever happened to me and you think that I can think badly of you?" She nearly scoffed him right in the face, though instead pecked his forehead with her lips. "What you apparently think you've 'done' to me, is not bad. Steve, this is literally all I've ever wanted. Besides, I had a pretty big part in this as well."

Steve smirked before blushing, composing himself and shifting so he was sitting next to her on a seat. "I... I will admit that I never thought it would happen. I honestly didn't think I even could have children."

"You too? Why?"

"Just something I assumed seeing as my life had already been so miserable. Not to mention that I didn't have much luck with any of the ladies back then either."

"Their loss, by the way," assured Maria, their hands still intertwined as he had not let go of her yet.

"And now that it actually happened... It just feels completely insane! Not only did I think you couldn't after your accident... But... Wow..."

"You okay?" Maria looked him over, seeing his face go pale again.

"Yeah. Don't get me wrong, this is amazing. I-I honestly do like kids."

"It's funny how people say that. Because, just 'cause you don't like others' kids, doesn't mean that you won't love your own child."

Steve simply smiled at her words, gently letting his thumb trace over the palm of her hand. "We're pregnant…" he breathed before the two of them exchanged a look. Suddenly, both were filled with complete joy and the two let out a squeal before embracing each other in a loving hug.

"I promise to protect the two of you against everything that may harm you." The way he sincerely whispered it into her ear made her shiver and she pulled away from the hug, looking into his eyes. "Nothing will harm the two of you ever."

"Steve Rogers aka Captain America, you're going to be the best father in the world."

Steve smiled at her words before gently hugging her again, one arm draped around her back and the other still holding her hand. He lightly kissed her hair before trailing kisses all the way down her ear and down to her shoulder. She leaned in to the touch, a faint fire stirring up inside of her.

"You know..." she purred, gently nuzzling her nose against his. "Earlier this week when you were holding that chopper down with only your own strength and you were showing off all your muscles..." Steve blushed, immediately recognizing the tone in her voice. "It was very hot."

He simply cleared his throat, looking back over at Bucky who had quickly turned away, pretending he couldn't hear anything just like the others.

"Pity we don't have the jet to ourselves."

Steve's blush became more imminent, though a faint smirk appeared on his lips, his thumb gently tracing over the engagement ring on her finger.

"We might at some point," purred Steve back into her ear, causing her to gasp up at him.

"Well, well, so Captain America does have a naughty side after all," teased Maria before she leaned in towards his lips, lightly teasing him by only letting her upper lip brush against his, staying millimetres away from his lips even as he moved in to kiss her.

"Well if a man can't please his soon-to-be wife, what is he good for?"

She chuckled at him, placing a light kiss against his lips, "I like this new side of yours..."

Wakanda, medical facility.

"You sure about this?" asked Steve quietly, standing before Bucky with Maria's arm intertwined with his.

"I can't trust my own mind. So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head, I think going back under is the best thing… for everybody."

Maria did not miss the faint flicker of his gaze down to her belly. Her heart ached slightly at this, and she grabbed a tighter hold of Steve's arm.

"In that case, we'll see each other again," said Maria quietly, leaning down to plant a soft kiss to his cheek.

Smiling at the blush appearing on Bucky's cheeks, Steve and Maria turned around to leave the room. And from a nearby overlook, they watched through a glass wall as the doctors gently lay Bucky down on a cot before it was enclosed in a tube-like case. Fog suddenly iced up the glass of the tube and Bucky fell asleep, his eyes closing with a flutter. Steve shivered at the flashback to his time in the ice, causing Maria to lean her head against his shoulder while the two of them watched in silence as the doctors continued to work around Bucky, securing his cryo-chamber.

T'Challa's reflection appeared next to theirs on the glass.

"Thank you for this," said Steve silently.

"Your friend and my father, they were both victims. If I can help one of them find peace…"

"You know, if they find out he's here… They'll come for him," warned Steve, glancing over at T'Challa.

"Let them try."

Maria smiled, causing T'Challa to smile as well.

"If I'm not mistaken, the doctors are done with the bloodwork. If you will follow me, Miss Dalton," said T'Challa, beginning to walk away from the glass-wall.

With their fingers intertwined, Steve and Maria followed the King of Wakanda towards the other side of the medical facility where both Maria and Bucky had left numerous blood-samples for the doctors to work on earlier that day. For Bucky, it was about finding a cure for what had happened inside of his mind, for which he did not have to leave as much blood-samples as Maria seeing as it was mostly psychological. Though Maria's blood-samples were both to check on the baby, and to check up on what was going on with her. Meaning double the blood-work which had caused Maria to feel rather light-headed afterwards. Or rather, more light-headed than of late.

The moment they had landed and the moment they had been shown to their part of Wakanda, each Avenger had been given a small hut to live in on the outskirts of a beautiful tropical forest where the King of Wakanda lived - and also where the Black Panther had always lived. Maria and Steve had immediately sat down to talk everything over one more time, and Steve had once more told his story of how he and Tony had fought and how he had left his shield behind. Currently, Steve was unsure of whether or not he was Captain America still and a part of him did not want to be it anymore either. He figured the world had had enough of Captain America and might need some help from Steve Rogers instead and when it needed him, he would be ready.

Maria had instead told her part of the story for the first time. Steve's face had twisted into one filled with guilt and pain as she told him about what had happened to her at the airport, especially when she mentioned all the blood and where the blood had come from. Though she was still fatigued and weak the way she had been before the blood, and therefore they both were hoping that nothing had really happened. Perhaps her healing abilities had shielded the baby, they thought.

Now, the two of them were on their way to the doctor who was about to either confirm their hopes, or crush them.

T'Challa showed Maria to a cot where she hopped up with some help from Steve. He stayed standing up behind her, one of his hands resting on her hip while the other one was gently rubbing circles on her arm, soothing her and himself as they waited patiently for the doctor to arrive.

"I hope you were okay with my asking him to look into your abilities as well," said T'Challa, breaking the silence in the room.

"Oh – Yeah, that's fine," nodded Maria. "Can I ask why?"

"That sword you carry. I've seen it's likes before. It is not of this world," explained T'Challa. "And only special people can carry those swords."

"Who?" asked Maria, remembering how Steve had been able to hold her sword.

"The dead," said T'Challa, causing Maria to gawk at him slightly before she recuperated, asking him to repeat himself. Steve had stopped rubbing circles on her arm, listening intently. "The dead. But also sometimes those who are links between our world and the world of the dead."

"Oh… Yeah… Right…" stammered Maria. "Completely normal."

T'Challa smirked at her reaction, "Let's just wait until the doctor arrives with his results."

"What do you mean? Is it dangerous if she is a… link?"

"Possibly," sighed T'Challa. "That is why I wanted to see what your powers truly are."

"I'm just a mutant. Nothing else," breathed Maria, shaking her head.

T'Challa stayed quiet, nodding his head half-heartedly at her words. Minutes later, the doctor arrived wearing pure-white clothing.

"Ah, Miss Dalton. Mr Rogers," he greeted them, shaking their hands. "I'm Doctor Cayman. I've been given a few hours with your bloodwork, Miss Dalton, and there are a few… remarks."

Maria glanced back at Steve who took a deep breath, nodding his head at her that he was prepared for whatever he may have to say.

"Before we begin, I just want to say that I have degrees in both biology, genetics and biophysics. I even wrote a paper on the genetical enhancements of mutants. Which means I have seen quite a few things in my life when it comes to mutants."

Maria nodded her head, watching as the doctor turned around towards a large screen behind them, pressing a few buttons on it. As he turned back around, she noticed a small pendant around his neck in the shape of a panther's head.

"Charles Xavier."

She nodded, "You know of him?"

"I do. I'm glad you do too. He has done much for your people," he said with a soft smile on his face. "He told you some things, I presume."

Maria nodded again, "He showed me that I don't just have healing abilities. But also some, uh, telekinetic abilities."

"He felt that, I assume," nodded the doctor. "But I can see more than he can feel, just by simply looking at your DNA."

The doctor showed to her and Steve an image of a double helix that was clearly a piece of her DNA, only shown to them as a picture due to the enhanced computers Wakanda seemed to have. Before their eyes, it untwisted itself and broke apart. Some of the unbroken parts were highlighted before the doctor turned back towards Maria and Steve, T'Challa staying in a corner simply watching.

"This may seem like obvious to you and you may be more interested in your baby's well-being, but trust me when I say that this is important for the baby's well-being as well. For you to understand what is going on with your baby, who is perfectly fine and healthy by the way," the doctor smiled at them as both Steve and Maria beamed with joy and relief, "Your DNA's not like any other human's DNA. It's, if I use easier words, special. Of course you already know that you were born with the mutant genes of your father or mother-"

"Father," interrupted Maria. "My father had them as well."

"Your father," corrected doctor Cayman, "When forced to a great extent, your genes can go dormant. I believe this has happened to you before, as not all of your mutant genes are active to this very present day."

"Uh, yeah. Professor Xavier told me that…" She sighed, preparing herself to remember it again, "That my mother's abuse to me was the reason for it. She, uh, wanted me to be normal and not like my father whom she grew to hate. When I used my powers I sort of reminded her of him, and she didn't like that. After everything she did, I forgot my powers."

"You forgot, because they were forced into hibernation. Many mutants don't discover their powers until they are teens or young children. That is when they are activated. Usually because of something happening in their lives to excite them to the point of 'turning', as some call it. You were a special case, I believe."

"Yeah, I was born with my powers. My father mentioned something about me making my dolls move without using my hands when I was just a toddler."

"So her genes were re-awoken when she had a trauma a couple years ago," added Steve. "But you said they're not all awake?"

"Well, they're awake, but not active. The moment you become aware of them though, you'll activate them again," said the doctor. "These base pairs that I have highlighted on the screen are your mutant powers. Two of these make sure your healing capabilities work. Three of these are for your telekinetic powers."

"There are two left," noted Maria, staring at the screen.

The doctor nodded his head, the screen now only highlighting the last two base pairs of her DNA, "These are… Strange. They're made of no base sugars I have ever seen. And I have seen a lot of mutant bloodwork. They're… Special. But they weren't impossible to figure out."

He walked over to a lamp, T'Challa turning off the main lightning in the room until only that lamp was illuminating one corner of the room.

"Please. Make it dark in here."

Maria glanced back at Steve who looked rather alarmed at what was happening, before she turned back to the doctor, "Pardon?"

"Make the lamp's light go away."

She fought against the impulse to just walk over to it and turn it off. And a part of her wanted to turn the switch with her powers. Though as the darkness formed around her, she was suddenly remembered of what her mind had looked like when Wanda had gotten to her a year or two back. How the darkness around the lights turned on had seemed to be something… Something darker than shadows.

Without even trying, the darkness around the lamp, which was not a lot of darkness seeing as the sun was shining in through the windows, suddenly became an intense darkness that could only have been described as a void. Small hands appeared from that darkness, moving into the light of the lamp and suddenly, everything was pitch dark. Whispers were heard for a brief second and then Maria gasped out of fear when she realized she was doing that, and the darkness disappeared and the sunlight returned to the room.

Steve's hands tensed on her body and she glanced back at him, seeing him looking around the room in surprise.

"What-"

"That was those genes I found. Funny how Xavier did not notice them," mumbled the doctor.

T'Challa walked up to the doctor, "A link. Those whispers you heard…"

"Why does everything about me always have to be about death?"

Her past. The media's name for her; Mater Mortis (mother of death). Her strange shadowy powers apparently being a link to the world of the dead…

"Not everything," said the doctor with a smile, moving over to the screen again. The image of the broken apart DNA was moved to a corner while a new picture appeared instead; vital signs of two people.

"The baby," smiled Steve, his hands relaxing again.

"The baby's vitals are splendid. It's got what it needs for a three-month-old foetus. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a more healthy baby in my life. However… There are some odd things," said the doctor, causing both Maria's and Steve's smiles to falter. "The baby is… Strong. And quite extraordinary so too. I examined some of Mr Barnes' bloodwork and the serum he has in his DNA seems rather… similar to what I saw in the baby's."

"You mean the super soldier serum is in the baby? It transferred?" asked Steve quietly.

"It did. And with any normal mother, the baby would not have been able to be carried. The mother would have been drained of any nutrition she eats, and the baby would have been too powerful for the womb. But, this is where your powers come into play. Albeit you should not be able to carry this child either, your powers are actively healing anything around the womb. Your powers are making sure this baby is alright. Your powers are saving both you and your baby."

"That's why I'm weak," deduced Maria. "Because the baby's got so many needs? And… when I use my powers-"

"You distract them from keeping the baby safe, which is why it hurts," nodded the doctor. "I can help you to not be exhausted all the time. All you need to do is take a shot of a small concoction I've prepared for you, every day. Each month, however, I will need to check up on you so that you don't need more of the concoction. But that is it. The baby's fine."

"But the blood…" started Steve.

"It was because I was pushing my powers to such an extent and for so long. That blood is what would happen if I didn't have my powers," realized Maria, glancing back at Steve who looked like he was ready to apologize to her. Though she smiled at him, gently leaning back against his chest. "I'll just sit on the bench for the remaining six months."

Steve smirked.

A small beep was suddenly heard and the doctor looked down at his phone, "I need to be somewhere. One of the nurses will give you the concoction and show you how to inject it on your own. Good day."

With that said, the doctor hurried out of the room, leaving the three of them on their own.

"Thank you," said Maria quietly, looking over at T'Challa who simply smiled at her.

"You were afraid her powers might be dangerous?" remembered Steve.

"Yes. But it turns out you are simply a link. There have been legends about those swords coming down from the sky. Only the dead could touch them and those who were links between that realm and this one."

"And… being a link means what exactly?"

"Nobody knows. Except for the fact that all those links have been able to control the shadows, like you apparently can. Whether these legends come from mutants like yourselves, or if they are something more… powerful, I do not know. But it looks like it is simply something made up by people who knew no better than to believe you were godlike."

She nodded her head, still confused.

"There are cave paintings not too far away from here, if you want to see them, I can take you," smiled T'Challa.

"I'd love that," replied Maria, although her voice quivered with uncertainty. "And… the swords came from the sky?"

"It is believed they are not of this world."

"Alien?" asked Steve with a raised brow.

"There are four other swords like yours on this earth, stolen from Wakanda during one of my forefather's reigns. Where the other three are, I do not know…"

Asgard.

Wandering down the catacombs in search of something he had seen on one of his trips, Thor Odinson's footsteps echoed against the walls, a torch in one hand and Mjölnir in his other hand. He had seen a shield being auctioned off, one he had seen on Asgard in his father's and forefather's treasures. If they had stolen it, it meant Thor had found himself another adventure to go on, and a part of him wished it had been stolen even if it meant that he would have to go and tell his father… Which he was not looking forward to as Odin would be furious.

As he walked, something caught his eye which caused him to stop. To his left the treasures had already begun to pile up and there, amongst the gold, he saw a sword lying quietly. He smirked, remembering his friend on Midgard who had been quite excellent at swordsmanship. There were runes on its blade from a language he did not recognize, and the pommel had beautiful gems on it.

"Lady Maria would like that as a gift when I meet her," thought Thor with a smile on his lips, putting the torch away so he could grab the sword.

However, as he went in to touch it, something sparked against his fingers and he was sent flying through the air, hitting the opposite stone wall with a boom. Groaning as he recuperated, he glanced over at the sword once more.

"Maybe not then…"

Sanctum Sanctorum, London.

Cleaning up the house was not that difficult, even though Stephen Strange hated cleaning up. Though it was the least he could do if he was going to stay there, protecting the sanctum and its artefacts from anyone who could use it for bad intentions. The only part of the house he had yet to clean up, was the room filled with display cases and artefacts – the very artefacts he wanted to keep safe.

Sighing, he entered the room and began to clean up some of the glass, sweeping it up. It was quite honourable to be a 'hero', but there were still parts of his new life that were not equally as honourable… cleaning up, for instance. In his old life, he might have hired someone to do the job for him, though he was broke now… And a hero. He had to keep his mind off of his previous life, no matter how much he wanted to just slip into his old self and hire someone to clean everything for him. Though it had to be done. He was almost done, although he still had the entire Sanctum of New York to fix up as well… Strange tried not to think about that yet.

As he walked through the room, cleaning up bits of glass as he did, something caught his eye. He turned and looked at one of the display cases still intact and the artefact inside. A sword was on display there, its blade holding runes he could not read and its pommel decorated with beautiful gems.

He wondered where it had come from, an answer he might be able to get in the near future.

Sighing, he went back to work.

Ego, billions of lightyears away from Earth, at the very least.

"Wow! Look at this!"

Peter ran past Gamora and Drax towards one of the display cases ahead of them. Together with Mantis, or rather under the supervision of her, the three of them had been shown around Quill's father's treasury room where he had stored all of the treasures he had gathered over the years from different parts of the universe. Peter was running around to each display case as though he was a child at Christmas (a very Earthy expression Gamora had picked up), clearly trying to prove to both her and Drax that his father was 'awesome'.

"It's a sword!" exclaimed Peter, pressing his nose against the glass, his breath fogging up some of it.

Gamora glanced at it, raising her eyebrow.

"Imagine if I can have it! I'd be Star Lord, the sword-wielding Guardian of the Galaxy," said Peter, taking a step away from the glass cage, his eyes roaming it. "I wonder how this opens…"

"You'd be a terrible swordsman," stated Drax, furrowing his brow.

"Yes, thank you for the support Drax," mumbled Peter, continuing to search for a way to open the glass cage.

"You would be, because you won't be able to touch that sword," stated Gamora, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well, it's out there now. You two are officially the worst friends a guy can have," sighed Peter, glaring at Drax and Gamora.

Gamora sighed, pointing towards the sword's blade, "You can't touch it because of what the runes say. It's clearly not yours."

"Uh – What do the runes say?"

Gamora rolled her eyes even though she had figured only she could read them (and maybe also Peter's celestial father). Thanos had taught her all languages in the Universe. There was not a lot she could not read.

"They say it belongs to one person alone. The runes spell out the name as well, but I can't pronounce it," said Gamora.

"Try," shrugged Peter.

"Uh... M-Mariarogers."

Peter and Drax glanced at each other before they both shrugged, "Never heard of. Oo! Look at that!"

Rolling her eyes, Gamora followed Peter as he ran away from the sword to another display cage. Though she did not miss the way the gems on the pommel illuminated as she tried her best to pronounce the name and she wondered who this Mariarogers was.