AN: Again, a pretty dense chapter. Some reunions, some angst, some fluff, and it ends with a song! This one is "Little Do You Know" by Alex & Sierra. A very good, sad song, but in this case, reverse the male and female POV's to understand how it relates to Steve and Charlotte. Just some recommended listening for you all. :)
(Charlotte POV)
Once I had finally calmed down a bit, I left the spare bedroom to make myself a cup of tea, surprised that Steve still had my favored brew in the cabinet. I briefly thought about just leaving, going to find Steph and leaving Steve to his anger, but reconsidered. I didn't think that Steve would take it well if I left again without talking to him. I'd be a goddamn grown up for the first time in my life and talk to him when he came back. If he decided that I should leave, then I would.
Stirring my tea, I walked over to the couch, sitting carefully and turning the TV on low. I needed some kind of noise to distract me from my thoughts. Something landed on the seat next to me and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Penelope walked over my diminishing lap, purring and rubbing her head against my belly.
"Penny? What are you doing here?" I asked, scratching her behind her ears. The purring increased, and I thought she might just take off with how loud it was.
"Did Steve take you in? Has he been taking good care of you?" I asked. Penny grabbed my hand between her paws, flopping onto her back and licking my hand avidly, probably tasting the honey from my tea. I smiled.
"You seem alright. And I'm very happy to see you too." I scratched her tummy while she stretched, putting an old sitcom on the television.
"Miss Samuels? Agent Romanoff, Dr. Foster, Miss Lewis and Miss Potts are at the door requesting entrance. Would you like me to let them in?" JARVIS's voice called softly. I struggled for words for a second. What were they doing here? Did they want to yell at me? Were they mad too? I wouldn't exactly blame them. Gulping I rose slowly, displacing Penny and making her squeak in protest.
"Sure J, let them in." I steeled myself silently, trying to calm my mind as much as possible, tucking my powers away.
The elevator doors opened silently and Natasha strode in purposefully. Her face was unreadable as she scanned the apartment and focused on me with laser precision. She started toward me and it took everything in me not to flinch. She wouldn't hurt a pregnant woman right?
Nat stopped directly in front of me and reached for my chin, looking me deep in the eyes. I swallowed hard as she searched my face.
"You're alright?" She asked. I nodded wordlessly. "And the kid? It's alright?" I nodded.
"He. And yes, we're both fine." Something akin to relief flashed across her face, ever so briefly.
"Good." she leaned back, taking a seat on the couch, "I was starting to get sick of Rogers' moping." I blinked twice and looked up to see the rest of the girls trickling in.
"Whoa. That is some potent super soldier sperm." Darcy muttered. Jane elbowed her slightly.
"Charlotte. Thank god you're okay." Pepper walked over, as strong and beautiful as ever and wrapped me into a hug. "I'm so happy you're back"
"I'm, glad to be back," I replied, not as sure of the words as I would like. Natasha slid me a questioning look.
"So, are you done with the whole freakout thing?" Darcy asked, walking over and embracing me. I nodded.
"More or less. Trying to stick with the pregnant thing for a little bit." I replied. The corner of Darcy's mouth quirked.
"I see that. Did Cap's catholicism get you in the family way, or did he just forget to wrap it before he tapped it?"
"More the latter. I was on the pill, but now we're having a kid in September." I admitted shrugging helplessly.
"Scary potent super soldier sperm," Darcy shuddered. "Best of luck with that." She said, taking a seat next to Pepper and petting a very social Penny who was lounging in the strawberry blonde's lap. Jane wrapped me in a tight hug.
"I'm so happy that you're okay. Are you going to come hang out in the labs again? You know until the baby comes?" She asked.
"Um, I don't know. Maybe? I wasn't sure if the offer was still good."
"Of course the offer's still good. We could use you. Tony's been a little one minded lately and could use someone else to go over his work. Bruce can only look at so much."
"Sorry boss lady, but is that a good idea? Tony's been not so friendly lately."
"He'll get over it. He won't be able to resist her help on the program he's working on right now anyway. We need an actual mathematician, so her timing's pretty perfect." Jane replied.
"Okay, hold up." I turned to them, shaking my head. "You all are just okay with everything? With me triggering Bruce, leaving, upsetting Steve? Everything's all hunky-dorey now?" The four women looked over at me, apparently surprised at my outburst. Natasha sat unruffled, petting a loudly purring Penny quietly.
"Do you have better control of your powers?"
"Yes"
"Are you and Rogers figuring your stuff out?"
"I...think so."
"And you still like us right?"
"Of course. I missed you all so much."
"Then why shouldn't everything go back to as normal as possible?"
"Yeah, it's not like we're not used to catastrophic events and crazy life changing stuff. We've definitely seen our share." Darcy interrupted. The other women nodded solemnly.
"And we missed you too, Charlotte. It's hard to find people who get along with all of us and who can keep up. We saw how happy you made Steve. We're just glad that you're safe and sound." My lip began trembling and I sat slowly. They had missed me, and were ready to just take me back. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but tears began streaming down my face. With everything that had happened, I couldn't believe how lucky I was. Jane rubbed my shoulder carefully and tried a small smile.
"I'm sorry, I just, thank you, thank you all so much. I never thought I'd end up with more than one friend. I always thought it would just be me. I'm so happy that I found you all."
"Oh, man, now you're gonna make me cry." Darcy muttered, sitting next to me and rubbing my back.
"We're glad our little club is expanding. Too many men in this building," Pepper noted, "We're glad to have you back. And we hope that you'll be here for a long time."
"And maybe after the baby comes we can talk about training? If you ever get the itch to use those powers for good."
"I've done some already actually. And I would like to help as much as I can. Obviously not right now, though he's pretty chill about me using my powers." I offered, rubbing my stomach absently.
"Could you show us?" Darcy asked eagerly. Jane shot her a dirty look and Darcy stuck out her tongue in response. I laughed and nodded.
"Sure. I've got a decent handle on it, but I'd move back a bit just in case." Jane and Darcy moved to the opposite couch and I composed myself, raising my hands from my lap and focusing on the space between them, watching blue sparks move down my arms and collect in a softball sized ball between them. I released my breath and the sparks stopped moving down my arms as I passed the ball back and forth between my hands.
"Holy shit, that's cool" Darcy said. I grinned up at her and closed my fist around the ball, letting the energy disappear back into my skin.
"So that just kind of happened when you got kidnapped? I'm still fuzzy on the details." Pepper wondered.
"Sort of. It's kind of a long story." I admitted. Natasha smiled her catlike smile leaned back in her seat, looking like a bond villanness with Penny on her lap.
"We've got all night."
(Steve POV)
Steve's mood hadn't improved all that much after they left the Tower. Stark was right, the place was private, slightly upscale, and they had the back area all to themselves for the evening. Tony had ordered a few rounds, but the mood in the corner remained somber. Steve nursed his fifth drink, leaning forward on his elbows, small glass of whiskey cradled in his hands. This day had shook him to his core. Finding Charlotte again, finding out the he was going to be a father, that she had kept that fact from him for six months; it was a lot to handle. His hands shook just slightly as he brought the glass to his lips on that thought. He was going to be a father. Something he had never in a million years imagined would actually happen. It was a pipe dream, that crazy goal that probably wasn't going to happen. Now all of a sudden it was reality. He knew from the moment he met Charlotte that he wanted her to be the mother of his children someday, but like most things in his life, he couldn't have ever imagined it happening like this.
"You doing alright there Cap?" Sam asked, watching Steve closely.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look that fine," murmured Clint from his corner.
"I'm-I don't know." Steve gave up the front, unable to keep it up any longer. "I don't know what I am. I'm angry and confused and so fucking happy. I-I don't know."
"This is a confusing time in any man's life. And you and Lady Charlotte have taken a rather abnormal path to get here."
"You can say that again," Clint added.
"However, that does not change the fact that it has occurred. Lady Charlotte is to bear you a child. That is a wondrous and beautiful thing." Thor finished. Steve nodded. Thor was right. He was going to have a son, and it was a miracle.
"Can we not forget that she didn't have any intention of telling him about this though? Six months and not a word?" Sam added. Tony nodded.
"That's right. She just disappeared. Who knows when you would've seen her again? Probably for child support payments." Steve glared at Tony.
"She is not in this for the money Tony. She wasn't even going to ask for support." Tony looked unconvinced.
"I do not know much about your Midgardian courting rituals, but once a woman is with child, is it not the father's role to support and commit to her?"
"Kind of. They're going at this backwards. Traditionally he should have married her before he got her pregnant." Bruce explained. Thor nodded in understanding.
"Then Steven, you must marry her at once. It is your duty as a man and soon-to-be father." Steve's catholic guilt rankled at Thor's statement. He knew that the god was right.
"It's a bit more complicated than that Point Break," Tony interrupted. "Charlotte broke his trust. And they weren't even all that committed to each other before she left. You'd only been seeing each other for what, a couple weeks?"
"It was almost a month before she left. But that doesn't matter, we were serious about each other."
"If you had been really serious, she would have talked to you before she left." Tony added.
"Oh, come off it Stark. The poor kid was scared shitless. You can't blame her for running off." Clint admonished Tony.
"How serious were you? Before she left?" Sam asked.
"Serious. I was going to propose on Christmas Eve. Had the ring and everything." Steve admitted. Everyone else sat back for a moment.
"Shit. Really?" Sam murmured.
"Yeah. I was in love with her, am in love with her. If I've learned anything in my lifetime, it's to not waste time once I know what I want."
"Then you shouldn't hesitate here." Clint offered. "I know I said that you guys should go slow, but I didn't really know how serious you still were. Do you still love her?"
"Of course I do. I never stopped. She just works. I can't explain it. She's everything I never knew I wanted or needed."
"Even now that she's changed? Now that she has powers?" Bruce asked.
"Yes. Even now. Now we have even more in common."
The rest of the group looked stumped. Tony finished his drink and set it on the table slowly.
"Then you've got to go back to her." Steve looked up in surprise, Tony's slightly disgruntled admission shocking him.
"I know that this whole situation is bullshit, and I still think that she's got a lot of explaining to do, but at the end of the day, you're both going to be parents. If you still love her, if you think it can work, then you have to try. A kid deserves two real parents." Thor nodded.
"It is your duty Steven. You will be a wonderful father, and the Lady Charlotte a good mother. If you still love each other, you must work out your differences for the sake of the child." Steve nodded and gulped. He knew that they were right, and began to feel a bit rotten for blowing up at Charlotte before he left the tower.
"Then I guess its congratulations, huh?" Sam offered, raising his glass. "To the kid."
(Charlotte POV)
I was restless. The bed in the extra room was plenty comfortable, but I couldn't seem to quiet my mind. Steve still hadn't returned, and I couldn't help but be worried about him. On top of being worried, I was guilty. Guilty about everything I had said, about not telling him, about insisting on the guest room like an idiot. No wonder I couldn't sleep.
After turning back towards the windows, I heard the elevator door open and close, the lights flickering on outside. I froze, unsure of what Steve was going to do. I heard the door to the other bedroom open and close, sighing quietly. This was what you wanted, remember? I told myself, angry at my own indecision. A tiny part of me had hoped that he would come and see me, that we could talk. Everything was still so uncertain, and I felt so terrible about it all. I just wanted a resolution, but knew that I'd have to let Steve come to it on his own. Slowly my eyes drifted closed and I fell asleep.
Steve POV
Steve lay in bed for a solid hour, trying to make himself fall asleep with no success. It felt wrong, being in his bed with her so close, but so far. After an hour, he rose, frustrated. Maybe if he just saw her again, saw that she was still here, he'd be settled enough to sleep. The door to the guest room was just slightly ajar, Charlotte's sleeping form facing the floor to ceiling window. He circled the bed, watching her face in sleep, her hair scattered around her face, mouth slightly ajar. It was as if nothing had changed.
Little do you know
How I'm breaking while you fall asleep
Little do you know
I'm still haunted by the memories
Little do you know
I'm trying to pick myself up piece by piece
He reached out, moving a stray piece of hair from her face. It was longer than he remembered, and softer. He could see it in his mind from earlier, now reaching the small of her back in dark loose curls. He got a flash of her from his memories, bathed in moonlight, round face glowing and calm in sleep.
Underneath it all I'm held captive by the hole inside
I've been holding back for the fear that you might change your mind
I'm ready to forgive you but forgetting is a harder fight
He stepped back, looking down her form, her hand cradling that still foreign bump. She was beautiful pregnant, his artist's eye itching to draw her. From the first moment he saw her it was those luscious curves that had drawn him in, and now there was one more full curve, holding new life. His son's life. He let out a shaky breath at the thought, hand reaching out to touch the rounded bump.
Little do you know
I need a little more time
(Charlotte POV)
I felt a hand touch my stomach and awakened immediately, stilling as soon as I saw that it was Steve. He knelt by the side of the bed, seemingly unaware that I was now awake.
I'll wait, I'll wait
I love you like you've never felt the pain,
I'll wait
I promise you don't have to be afraid,
I'll wait
The love is here and here to stay
So lay your head on me
I watched him through heavily lidded eyes as he leaned forward, placing his forehead beside his open hand. I swallowed back tears, catching a glint of moonlight off of the corner of his eye, sparkling in a tear there.
Little do you know
I know you're hurting while I'm sound asleep
Little do you know
All my mistakes are slowly drowning me
Little do you know
I'm trying to make it better piece by piece
I could see him wrestling with himself, and cursed myself for causing him this much pain. It was never meant to be this way. I was never supposed to hurt him. I was supposed to be a fling and then be gone. I shouldn't have mattered this much to him. I had fulfilled my own prophecy, and I hated myself for it.
Little do you know
I, I love you 'til the sun dies
I was about to speak when I saw him shift, standing and walking away. I relaxed, thinking that he was going back to his room, surprised when the bed bent under his weight, and he lay down next to me, his hand joining mine on my stomach.
Oh wait, just wait
I love you like I've never felt the pain,
Just wait
I love you like I've never been afraid,
Just wait
Our love is here and here to stay
So lay your head on me
I felt his tears on my neck and couldn't hold mine in any longer. I let out a quiet sob and felt him hold me closer. I gripped my hand in his and we cried silently together.
(Steve POV)
They laid together in bed, Steve feeling Charlotte's sobs against his chest, Steve's silent tears rolling into Charlotte's hair.
I'll wait (I'll wait), I'll wait (I'll wait)
I love you like you've never felt the pain,
I'll wait (I'll wait)
I promise you don't have to be afraid,
I'll wait
They cried for the lost months, for losing each other, for fearing each other. They cried together at the dawning realization that neither was alone anymore, and that neither would ever have to be alone again. They cried at the idea that they would be parents, and that the life they held together would be a combination of their own, and a new beginning for them both. They cried tears of forgiveness and drifted off to sleep together.
The love is here and here to stay
So lay your head on me
Lay your head on me
So lay your head on me
'Cause little do you know
I, I love you 'til the sun dies
AN: Gah, the feels. Brighter times ahead, I promise!