Chapter 45-Following in the footsteps

By: MysticFantasy

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Steve and Natasha were sitting at the table while waiting patiently for their son to tell them a big announcement he had.

It must be pretty serious since James was taking his time to speak to them.

"James."

The seventeen year old looked up at his parent's. They were both waiting to hear his news.

"Mom. Dad." James started. "I'll be graduating high school next year and...I know what I want to do right after."

"College?" Steve asked.

"Are you having trouble deciding what you want to study?" Natasha asked.

"No. It's not that." James answered.

"Then what is it?" Natasha asked.

James was silent for a moment before looking at his parent's directly.

"Mom. Dad. I...I want to join the army."

The young red head noticed his parent's sit straighter in their seats and the surprise on their faces.

"James," Steve started after a moment. "Are...Is this what you really want? Or are you doing it for another reason?"

"Another reason?" James repeated.

"James, you know how nearly the whole world thinks that you're going to be exactly like your father." Natasha said. "Doing this will give proof to everyone that you're trying to be like him."

"But, I'm not." James stated. "I really want to join the army and it's not to be like dad."

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Steve asked. "You've seen your mother and I do a lot of things over the years with the Avengers when we were called for help but you never saw the things we did. Being part of the army was no different. You see things that stay with you for the rest of your life. Believe me, I know. Do you really want this?"

"I do, dad. I've been thinking about it for nearly seven months already. Let people think that I'm trying to be like you. I know that I'm not. This is what I really want to do."

Steve and Natasha were silent for a moment as they thought through this. They were proud that their son wanted to serve his country but at the same time he's their only child and only male to carry the family name since Natasha wasn't able to have anymore children.

Plus, the two really didn't want to see anything happen to their son.

"Ok." Steve started. "Your holiday break is coming soon. If you want, for a few days, I can take you to the base and you can see first hand what we do. Think you'd be up for it?"

"Yeah. Thanks, dad." James answered with a smile.

"Alright. Then go ahead and get ready for bed. You have school in the morning." Steve said.

James nodded and hugged his parent's tightly before heading to his bedroom. When he left, the two adults sighed.

"Steve, do you think he's really going to join the army?" Natasha asked.

"I think he will." Steve admitted. "James has always been the type to go after something he wants and won't stop until he gets it. Do your really think that he's doing this to try to be more like me?"

"James has always tried to be like you, Steve." Natasha said with a fond smile. "Ever since he was old enough to know who his daddy really is. But I think he's really trying to be himself this time. He'll always be known to everyone as the son of Steve Rogers. That's something else no one can ever claim. I think James wants to take that fact to its highest peak. By carrying on a family legacy. You're an army captain and he may try to add to the Rogers family legacy."

"And I thought Captain America marrying Black Widow was a history page maker alone." Steve said with a smirk.