AN: REUNION TIME! YAYYYYY! Not gonna lie, it was real tough to keep these two apart as long as they were. I was very, very happy to finally have them back together.
(Steve POV)
He had hardly been able to contain himself driving up to the school in Westchester. Racing around bends and way over the speed limit, he had to admit Sam was handling this whole thing pretty well, hanging on to the 'oh shit' handle and remaining as stone faced as possible. If Steve didn't have super hearing he wouldn't have even heard Sam's sharp sigh of relief when they'd parked in front of the huge brick mansion.
"You ready for this?" Sam asked, trying to keep up with Steve's quick and purposeful stride.
"Of course. I've been waiting for six months to see her again. I'm more than ready," Steve answered curtly.
"Alright. Just remember Clint's advice. You don't know how she's feeling. From what it sounds like, she's been through a lot. Just take it slow."
"I know, I know." Steve knocked curtly on the large ornate wooden door. A woman about his age with long red hair and intelligent eyes opened it.
"You must be Captain Rogers. Please, come in." She ushered them into a large foyer with a grand staircase leading to multiple levels. Teenagers and older kids roamed the hallways, barely sparing Steve and Sam a glance.
"My name is Jean Grey. I've heard quite a bit about you Captain."
"Steve, please. This is Sam Wilson, he's a colleague of mine."
"Ah, the Falcon." Jean replied, smiling at Sam's shocked face as she shook his hand. "Oh yes, we hear quite a bit about all of the Avengers, even all the way out here. Please, follow me."
"How is she? Is she doing alright? Does she know why her hands were sparking back in December?"
"Just full of questions, aren't you? Yes, she's been doing well. Her abilities are a result of a mutated gene in her DNA, just like most of the people at this school. Charlotte's been learning a lot about her new abilities and has quite a bit of control over them now. I'm afraid that's all I can share without her present. I don't want to tell you too much." Steve sighed and nodded.
"So why reach out now? Why all this secrecy?"
"As I'm sure you know, Charlotte can be fairly stubborn. She's really made such fantastic progress over the past few months, and now that the school year is ending, we're trying to help her take that final step. Since you are her strongest tie back to her normal life in New York, we contacted Clint, who told you. We've known Clint for a long time, and he's the one who tipped us off about Charlotte to begin with. Without him, we would've had a much harder time finding and helping her." Jean paused in front of a large wooden door at the end of the hallway, turning to face them both.
"So she doesn't know that we're here?"
"No. Now, she has a lot of control now, but sometimes when her emotions overwhelm her, she can lose some of it. Both the professor and I are more than capable of helping her, but for now I would refrain from touching her immediately. She could accidentally do some damage." Steve nodded reluctantly, remembering the night she had been taken.
"I'm made of strong stuff. She won't hurt me." Jean nodded and looked at the door, and seemed to nod again at someone on the other side. Stepping forward she opened the door, stepping aside to let him in. Steve's heart rate skyrocketed. Finally. Finally he would be able to see her again. To feel her in his arms. Striding inside of the large office, he saw an ornate wooden desk, a older bald man sitting behind it calmly. In front of the desk stood a young woman, her back to him, whose curves he recognized immediately. He hair fell in long waves, just past the small of her back. It was longer than he remembered, but still that dark brown bordering on black he knew. Energy pickled over his skin, and that familiar avalanche washed over him for the first time in nearly half a year.
"Charlotte?" he asked, taking a step forward. He watched Charlotte's shoulders tighten and then fall back, straightening resolutely. She turned and met his eyes, her green orbs watching him warily. There she was, same beautiful green eyes, and heart shaped face. She smiled hesitantly, bringing a hand to her middle, drawing his eyes there, his gaze falling on the decidedly rounded swell of her stomach.
"Hello Blue Eyes," she said, her voice washing over him like music. He tore his eyes away from her belly and looked back at her face. She smiled sadly and shrugged ever so slightly.
"So much for going slow," Sam muttered behind him, waking him from his stupor. He took a few steps closer before wrapping his arms around her.
(Charlotte POV)
Steve stepped forward once he was able to tear his eyes away from my stomach and wrapped me up in his arms. Relief washed over me in waves and I clung to him, grabbing his shoulders greedily and choking out a sob. His arms were solid around me, real and warm and I couldn't believe it. I never thought I would ever see him again, let alone be in his arms. I thought he would hate me, despise me for everything I did to him, to Bruce, to everyone. But here he was, holding me tight. I vaguely remember hearing the door shut and when he finally loosened his grip, I could see that the room had cleared. He framed my face in his large hands pulling my attention back to blue eyes.
"Steve, I-" I managed before he took my mouth with his. Backing away, his hands stayed on my face, wiping away some of my tears.
"I'm so sorry Steve," I began, "I'm, so, so sorry" Steve shook his head, suddenly seeming to remember himself before taking a full step back. Without him my arms felt cold again, and I hugged them close to me in an attempt to comfort myself. He sat with a slump in the large leather chair in front of me, his eyes focused on my stomach. The silence stretched out in front of us as I tried to find any words to explain, but came up empty.
"How long?" he asked quietly, his voice flat. I gulped.
"About 6 months. He's due in the beginning of September."
"He?" his gaze shot up to my face, "It's a boy?" he asked. I nodded.
"Yeah, it's a boy. So far a big, very active boy to be exact." I told him. A smile pulled at the edges of Steve's lips.
"He's healthy?"
"Very. He's a bit bigger than expected and he's constantly moving around. Do you want to feel?" I asked. Steve looked up from my stomach, hope in his eyes before nodding wordlessly, I took his large hand and pressed it to the side of my stomach where our child was moving, elbowing me slightly as he did so. Steve's brows shot up, looking up at me in awe.
"He's strong," he added. I nodded, fighting back tears.
"Yeah, he's doing well. We both are." he looked up at me and stood, holding my gaze.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was afraid. I didn't find out until a month after I left. By then, I was sure that you hated me."
"Why would I ever hate you Charlotte?"
"Because I ruined everything. I got you attacked, hurt Bruce, probably destroyed the medical floor, put all of you in danger. I screwed up everything." Tears began falling steadily. Steve grabbed my shoulders firmly, his gaze drilling into me.
"You didn't ruin anything. Bruce is fine. So was the med floor. No one was mad at you. We just wanted to help."
"I'm so sorry." I managed around sobs. "I just couldn't-I couldn't risk hurting you again. I had to get out." Steve pulled me closer and rubbed my hair soothingly.
"Oh Charlotte, this is all so messed up." We held each other for a bit, trying to soothe each other as we worked through the last few months. Finally parting, Steve stepped back, motioning for me to sit. I sunk down onto the edge of the seat, wiping moisture from my tear stained face. Steve just looked at me, blue eyes filled with more disbelief than anything else.
"When did this even happen? We were careful, weren't we?"
"Of course. But, do you remember the night at my apartment? When we watched White Christmas and rough housed?" I prompted. Steve looked at me in bewilderment before realization dawned. "Yeah. I'm pretty sure that's when it happened."
"Oh God."
"I know. Once again, I'm really sorry. First I pop your cherry, now I'm carrying your child out of wedlock. This is not how any of this is supposed to happen. You must think I'm a tramp." Steve's mouth quirked at that.
"No, I don't think that. These things happen. Even back when I was growing up these things happened. I can't imagine any of that changed in the last seventy years."
"I didn't want you to think that I did this in purpose. Like I did this to trap you or something. I swear, I was planning on taking care of this kid on my own, I'm not going to ask for money or anything like that-" my voice was cut off by the anger in Steve's eyes. For this first time in this whole debacle his eyes heated.
"What are you talking about? Of course I'm going to help you. This is my kid isn't it?"
"Yes, of course but-"
"Charlotte, I thought you knew me. I'm not a cad or a shmuck. What makes you think I wouldn't do everything my power to protect and provide for you both?" My lips clamped shut at the barely repressed rage in his voice. I'd never seen him so angry. He stood abruptly, pacing the room.
"Of course I want to be a part of my child's life. I-I never thought I'd even get to have children. What made you think I would want you to just disappear with him? That I wouldn't want to know my own son?" Guilt welled up in me, closing up my throat. I hung my head, knowing that he was right. I had known him well enough to know that he would support me if he found out. I'd just been too much of a chicken to tell him, terrified that I would become some horrible burden he'd have to live with out of a twisted sense of guilt and honor.
"I know, I know. I just didn't want you to feel obligated-" he whirled around, striding over and kneeling in front of me.
"Obligated? Charlotte, a baby is not an obligation. A responsibility yes, but not an obligation." he paused, trying to find his words. "Do you have any idea how long I've wanted to be a father? When I grew up, I never thought I'd find a dame willing to marry me, let alone have my children. When I woke up, with everything as screwed up as it was, I'd completely let go of that dream. Then I met you and I let myself dream again. Don't you see? It doesn't matter how this happened. What matters is that it did. I still love you with everything in me, and you're carrying my baby. I'm finally going to get the chance to be a dad. Please don't take that away from me."
In tears again, I couldn't help but melt. I had been so dead set on the idea that I would do this alone, that I had to do this alone, never imagining that Steve would be so passionate about this. In hindsight, that was probably foolish. Of course he was passionate about this. He was Steve. Underneath all that Captain America crap there was that core of goodness to him. Of loyalty and trust and honor. I should have known better.
"Of course, Steve. I'd never take him away from you. Ever. I didn't know how you'd react, but I realize now that I was just in denial. But, I've screwed all of this up. I'd never take him away from you, but I don't want you to feel like you have to take me too." He looked up at me with big eyes.
"Charlotte, neither of you are any kind of burden. I know things have been tough these past couple of months, but I love you. I still love you. There's no one else in the world I'd rather be a parent with. You just have to promise me one thing," he finished. I looked at him hesitantly.
"What?"
"Please don't run off again. Or at least let me know why you're leaving. I understand needing to get out but we can't do this if you're going to run every time things get rough." I nodded.
"I know. I know that. And I'll try my best. I've figured some things out over these past couple of months. Everything is going to change again soon, I know" I said as I rubbed a hand absently over my belly, "But I've never felt more ready in my life." Steve grinned and stood, helping me up and pulling me into a tight hug.
"God I missed you Charlotte."
"I missed you too Steve." It was like paradise being in his arms again. We held on tight, probably too tight, as the baby began squirming in protest. Steve loosened his grip in surprise.
"So he's doing good?" he asked.
"Always active. He seems to sleep when I sleep, so that's been good."
"Have you been feeling okay?"
"Once the morning sickness stopped, it's been pretty normal."
"Have you had any cravings? I remember when Buck's older sister was carrying she loved fresh oranges. We tried to bring them home whenever we could."
"It hasn't been too bad before, but lately I can't get enough sweets. Anything at all with sugar. Cakes, pies, ice cream, you name it. The kid has your sweet tooth." Steve chuckled.
"God help us all. So, will you come back to New York? Stay with me for a bit?" I sighed and turned away a bit, unsure of how to respond.
"Maybe. I have to finish out the term here, but after that I can come back."
"When does the term end?"
"Next week. It'll be soon."
"Can I stay with you here? Now that I've found you, I don't want to leave again," he answered, a sheepish smile on his lips. I chuckled and cradled his face.
"I'm sure that would be fine. I don't want you to leave either." A knock sounded on the door and we turned together as it opened. Dr Xavier wheeled in and passed us on his way to his desk.
"Have we come to a decision?" I nodded, turning towards him and keeping Steve's hand firmly in my own.
"I'll stay until the end of the term, and then I'll go back to New York. " The doctor smiled indulgently and nodded
"No need to stay Miss Samuels. The term is nearly over. Most of your classes have already taken their exams. Go home. Be with the people you love." Dr. Xavier wheeled himself in, coming to a stop in front of us both. My eyes brimmed with tears. I had been through so much these past few months, had discovered so many things about myself with the people here. I would miss it, but I knew where home really was. I nodded, swallowing hard.
"Alright. I'll come back with you today," I looked up at Steve, "I've just got to pack up my things."
"Let me help out with that," Steve offered and I nodded, pulling him past Professor Xavier.
"I was not joking about you coming back for another term Miss Samuels." Professor Xavier began. I turned back to face him, Steve at my back, "The students very much enjoyed having you this semester. Once things are settled, we would enjoy having you back on campus."
"Of course Professor. That'd be wonderful." I smiled back at the man who had done so much for me. He nodded solemnly and I turned to leave, shutting the huge wooden door behind me.