Chapter 17
Peggy sat on the bed in the bunker, watching the clock. 6:36, 7:06, 7:36. She willed the margins of time not to narrow. Please, please, please, I need more time, not less. Steve had left to get Pepper, just to run it past someone who had been where she was. The bunker was an interesting space, hidden behind a false wall and locked behind an additional heavy door. She couldn't hear much from the other side, nor see much light at all under the crack in the door.
There was a knock, then the door opened to Pepper's calm blue eyes. "Hi, you're having some bleeding?" Down to business, as always. Steve stood behind her, watching Peggy anxiously.
Peggy nodded, "just when I stood up."
"Are you still bleeding now?"
"No."
"And your water didn't break, nothing like that?"
"Nope."
"Are you having contractions?"
Not looking at Steve, Peggy nodded. "Every half hour or so, and they're really short."
Pepper visibly relaxed. "This is coming from a place of experience and not professional knowledge, but think you're ok for the moment."
"How long is 'for the moment?'" Steve asked, eyes not leaving Peggy's face.
"I think we're looking at one to two days before labor really starts, not weeks."
Peggy passed a hand over her abdomen, "he has been measuring ahead this whole time." Ignoring the pain in her chest, she turned her attention to Pepper. "What do we do in the meantime?"
Pepper shrugged, "sleep, eat, I'd stay away from a lot of walking to prevent speeding up labor."
"Thanks, Pepp," Peggy said with a soft smile. She hoped she looked more confident than she felt.
"You're going to be ok," Pepper responded with a smile of her own. She squeezed Steve's arm before heading out.
A beat passed between the couple. "A day or two," Peggy echoed.
Steve knelt down in front of her before kissing her gently. "That's a lot faster than we thought."
For the first time, Peggy realized he had his suit on. "Where are you going?"
"To track down Hydra."
She shook her head emphatically, "Steve, no, it's too dangerous."
"Peggy, the sooner we find them, the sooner we're safe."
"They can do it without you!"
"It's too dangerous to stay here, together."
"What about Bruce?"
"He's staying here," Steve allowed, "but he's shrunk down to original Banner size. He looks like Dr. Banner, not the Hulk. He's more easily hidden that way."
Peggy's eyes filled with tears, "please, Steve."
He took her face in his hands, "I wouldn't do it if I didn't think it would keep you safe."
"Steve, I'm afraid, please."
He pressed his forehead to hers, closing his eyes so she wouldn't see his tears. "I love you. Do you hear me? I love you so much. More than you'll ever comprehend. I'll come back, we'll be safe. It's alright." He kissed her once more, then disappeared out the door without a look back.
/
Peggy woke from Pepper's recommended nap to another contraction. She'd been asleep for a few hours and wasn't sure how far apart they were now. Opting to ignore the pain, she headed upstairs to the kitchen. At the stove, his back to her, was a strange man. Peggy pulled her gun and aimed squarely at the back of his head. "State your name and business here," she commanded.
The man raised his arms slowly, "Peggy, it's me. It's Bruce Banner." A pause, "I'm going to turn around, ok?"
"Slow and easy," she cautioned.
He did as he was told, easing around until he was face to face with her. The man had short gray hair, thick eyebrows, and hooded brown eyes. "Hi, Peg."
The voice was right.
"Are you going to stop pointing a gun at my head?"
Slowly, Peggy lowered her arm, then holstered her weapon. "I've never seen you like this."
He shrugged, shyer than she imagined in human form. "It's not the version of myself I typically go for at this point. I've learned to love Smart Hulk." He tucked his hands in his pockets, desperate to make himself smaller. "I'm not much of a cook but I can make a mean grilled cheese. Want one?"
She smiled, "sure." He passed her a plate and she settled into a chair. She took a bite, swallowed. "You were right, this is fantastic." She cleared her throat, "you never did tell me what kind of doctor you were."
"I have Ph.D.s in biology, chemistry, engineering, physiology, nuclear physics and medicine."
Peggy raised her eyebrows, "you told me you 'weren't that kind of doctor.'"
"I wasn't lying, really. I'm not an OB." He rolled an apple back and forth, avoiding her gaze.
Peggy took his hand, "I'm not angry with you, Bruce. And neither is Steve, he's just scared."
Bruce nodded, "I know." Her hand tightened around Bruce's, eyes shutting. He rested his other hand on her arm. "Deep breath, you're ok. You can do anything for a minute."
The knot loosened, allowing Peggy to open her eyes and relax. "Thank you."
"This is labor."
"I was bleeding earlier."
"I know, Pepper told me."
"They're getting closer together, and longer. Just worse, overall worse."
"When was your last one?"
Peggy glanced at the clock, her face going pale, "not ten minutes ago."
If Bruce was panicking, he didn't show it. "Steve, Pepper and the guys are tracking the phone signals from Hydra's phones to your apartment. This is the safest place for you to be," he said gently.
"I just wish he was here," Peggy said, the gravity of the situation weighing on her.
"He will be," Banner said gently, "you've got a ways to go."
Peggy poked at her stomach, willing the baby to kick.
"Want me to take a listen? Peace of mind?"
Peggy nodded silently as Bruce went to his bag and removed a stethoscope.
He bent, listened intently for a moment, then smiled up at her, "he's got his back to me."
"He sounds alright?"
"Just fine."
"Good," Peggy smiled and allowed herself to relax slightly.
The few minutes' peace was broken by Jarvis' alarmed voice. "Intruder, perimeter breached, intruder, perimeter breached." Bruce launched himself at a tablet on the wall, moving his fingers about to zoom. Even from a few feet away, Peggy saw the emblem of Hydra. "We have to get downstairs," he urged, grabbing her hand.
She only made it a few steps before a wave of pain made her gasp and stop dead in her tracks. "Bruce-"
He whirled around, "Peggy, we have to go." His eyes went to the floor, where Peggy stood in a small puddle of water. "Ok," he steadied her as they headed for the stairs, "it's ok." Bruce settled Peggy in the bunker bedroom, locking the heavy door securely behind them. Peggy leaned heavily on the wall, breathing shakily. That was only five minutes, Bruce thought, this is moving faster than I thought it would.
Across the city, Steve watched his apartment building from an adjacent rooftop, sheltering behind a chimney to prevent the midday sun from reflecting off his shield. Four hours had passed since he had left Peggy; he prayed she was sleeping. He turned to the bound and gagged member of Hydra Cliff had found. "That's where they're going?"
The soldier nodded desperately.
"If you're lying, we'll know," Cliff added.
The soldier rapidly shook his head.
"Got it. Parker, this one's yours," Steve called over the radio.
"Thanks Mr. Rogers!" Peter swooped down, wrapping the soldier in web fluid and securing him to the brick chimney. "We'll be back at some point. Good?" he turned to Cliff.
Cliff nodded, "good." The kid grabbed Hawkeye and swung the two of them over to the apartment roof.
Falcon landed gracefully beside Cap. "Ready?"
"Let's go." Sam got Steve by the arm, flew, dove, and swung Steve through his own living room window, landing at his side. Eight hydra soldiers stood in the wreckage of his apartment, shocked briefly before opening fire. The pair dodged them easily, returning fire as the shield ricocheted off the walls. They made short work of them, Peter binding them with more web fluid.
"Leave that one," Steve said. He grabbed the soldier by the shoulders. "Is this all of you?" The soldier didn't answer, earning a swift punch to the nose. "I said- is this all of you?"
He shook his head.
"Where are the rest?"
The soldier smiled, blood pouring from his nose, staining his teeth. "Where's your god, Captain?"
"Where's our-" Bucky stopped short, putting a neat hole in the soldier's head.
Steve was already on his feet, "Thor! Thor, can you hear me? Thor!" He swore, "Pepper! Come in, Pepper! Rhodey! Anybody?"
"Let's move!" Falcon yelled. Peter alerted police to the bound soldiers' location, grabbed Cliff, and swung out the window. Outside headquarters, Steve hit the grass running, throwing his shield and dividing a heard of Hydra soldiers. Thor, Pepper, and Rhodey spun in every direction, badly outnumbered.
"Fan out!" Steve called.
In the bunker, antsy from hours of hiding, Bruce heard the familiar sound of vibranium bouncing off stone. He smiled, "Peggy, Peggy, Steve's here!"
"What?" Peggy rasped.
"Steve's-" he turned abruptly. Peggy was on her hands and knees, pale, shaking, her skin shining with sweat. A deep groan escaped her mouth. "Peggy," he said gently, "Peggy, he's ready."
She shook her head, "I don't want," her words were broken by pants, "I don't want him to die." Try as she might, she knew it wasn't up to her. "There's so much pressure!" Peggy groaned through another contraction. "I need to push," she said, "if I don't push, it hurts too much."
"Ok," Bruce said, heart pounding as Peggy leaned back against the wall. He grabbed a sheet he'd set aside and tried to drape it over her lap.
"I don't give a damn what you see as long as you get him out!"
"Ok," Bruce nodded. It seemed that was the only word he knew anymore. He surveyed the supplies he'd found in the basement linen closet: scissors, dental floss, towels, a bowl of water, and washcloths.
"What do I do? I don't know what to do," Peggy gasped.
"Trust your body, your body knows what it wants to do. Don't fight it."
Peggy nodded, tears mingling with sweat as a groan erupted unbidden from her chest. She managed three pushes before the contraction ended.
"Good, Peggy. Deep breaths for me, all the way in, all the way out."
Shutting out all external stimuli, Peggy did as she was told. She gathered her strength.
"You're doing great." A crash sounded from the other side of the wall. Bruce jumped up.
"No, no, no," Peggy moaned between pushes, "they can't have him!"
Bruce grabbed the gun, aiming it at the door.
"Bruce? Peggy?" It was Steve's voice! Bruce set the gun down carefully, throwing open the door.
"She's over here," Bruce pulled him inside, shutting and locking the door again behind them.
Steve went to the ground beside Peggy, kissing the back of her hand.
"You're here," she smiled for the first time in hours, forgetting the pain and fear. " Stay."
He smiled back, "I'm not going anywhere." He turned to Bruce, "what do I do?"
"Peggy, do you want to stay sitting up like this?" Peggy nodded, bracing for another contraction. "Steve, sit behind her, let her lean up against your chest."
Steve nodded, doing as he was told, pressing a kiss to her temple as he took her hands.
Peggy blew out hard, "it's burns, why is it burning?"
"That's your baby's crown, Peggy. I'm just giving you some counterpressure here."
Steve grabbed a washcloth, dipped it in the water, and pressed it to her forehead. "I'm so proud of you, you're doing amazing."
She gulped air, and ducked her head, growling through another contraction. "I can't do it, I can't." She looked at Steve, "I'm sorry, I can't!"
Steve looked worriedly at Bruce, "is it too late to call an ambulance?"
"Half your baby's head is in my hand right now. Here, give me your hand."
Reluctantly relinquishing one of Steve's hands, she gasped, "what is that?"
"That's the top of his ear. You're right there, Peggy."
"Does he have hair?"
Bruce nodded, "a little, it's dark like yours."
Steve whispered gently, "you're almost there, love, you're so close."
Nodding, Peggy clutched Steve's hands again, rallying her forces.
"His head's out, rest a second, let him turn."
Steve craned his neck, jaw dropping, "Peggy, I can see him! I see his face!" Already, tears filled his eyes.
"You've got one, maybe two contractions left. You ready?"
"If it's more than one, Bruce, I swear to God-" Peggy didn't finish her sentence. She put in everything she had left. The pain, the pressure, all of it, alleviated so quickly she cried out.
"He's here!"
Silence.
"Come on," Bruce muttered, grabbing the towel, drying and stimulating the baby.
Silence.
A sob escaped Peggy's throat. Steve closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against his wife's temple. Unseen from the bunker, Bucky sat at the top of the basement stairs. Pepper rested a hand on his shoulder.
"You're ok," Bruce said to the newborn, tapping the soles of his feet.
Silence.
Peggy was weeping, Steve gently rocking her, apologizing to her. Bucky put his head on his forearms.
Bruce would not be defeated. He bent, listening to the baby's heart and lungs. He suctioned his mouth and nose. "Come on," he blew air into the baby's face. The baby grimaced, raising his hands in defense. " Hey!" Bruce yelled, grinning wildly. He turned the baby on his stomach, placing him on Peggy's chest.
"Wait, what?" she stared in disbelief.
"He's surprised, is all," Bruce clarified, grabbing the towel again and rubbing his little back vigorously. The baby took a deep gasp and let out a wail. Steve crossed himself.
"Oh!" Peggy cried, tears pouring anew, "he's breathing?"
"Yes," Bruce's vision was blurred.
"He's breathing?" Peggy asked again, not believing.
"If he has anything to say about it," Bruce smiled, swiping at his eyes with his sleeve.
"'He?'" Steve repeated, "it's a boy?"
Bruce nodded, "you've got a boy."
Steve laughed, "I'll never doubt you again!"
Bruce tied dental floss around the cord before passing Steve the scissors. "You want to do the honors?"
Breathless, Steve accepted the scissors and cut the cord. He was amazed; this little person who he'd waited his whole life for, was finally here. His little boy, half him, half the love of his life, gazed wide eyed before settling on Peggy.
"That's Mummy," Steve said to his son, "you know her, you've spent the last nine months with her."
She shook her head, "I can't even think, I can't believe it."
Steve looked down, "do you want off the floor?" She chuckled, having totally forgotten where she was. Steve scooped Peggy up easily, letting Bruce pull the covers back on the bed before carefully laying her down and tucking her in. Bruce, noting his services were no longer required, washed his hands and quietly left, shutting the door behind him. Steve sat on the other side of Peggy, studying every inch of his son's face. "He looks just like the pictures," he said softly. "His eyes are so blue!"
"All babies have blue eyes," Peggy said, kissing her baby's little forehead, "but I hope they stay. They look just like yours."
"I'm so proud of you. I love you more than I can say," Steve pressed a kiss to her forehead. "What should we call him?"
Bruce stood outside the door, overhearing the exchange. For the first time all day, he realized how tired he was. He was surprised to see Bucky at the top of the stairs, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Bruce climbed the stairs, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Buck?"
Bucky looked up at him, "they're ok?"
Bruce smiled, "they're great. They've got a little boy."
"And he's going to be ok?"
Bruce nodded, "he scared me for a second, but he was just surprised. He'll be fine. Come on, let's get you some water." Bucky nodded, swiping at his eyes.
Bruce turned the corner, meeting the anxious stares of Pepper, Sam, Rhodey, Peter, Thor and Cliff.
"Everyone's good?" Pepper inquired, edging away from the counter.
"Everyone's good," Bruce confirmed, practically asleep on his feet. Before Pepper could raise her arms to hug him, Steve appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Bruce?"
Anxiety rose momentarily in his throat. "Still ok?"
Steve smiled, "they're great." He stepped toward his friend, clapping him into an embrace. "Thank you," Steve said before letting go. He rubbed the back of his neck, "look, about earlier-"
"It's ok."
"It's not really. I'm sorry."
"I know." Bruce offered him one of his shy smiles. "Does he have a name?"
Steve smiled at Bucky.
/
On Peggy and Steve's first anniversary, they stood again in Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church in Brooklyn. It was a cold, sunny Sunday, but no freezing temperatures could steal the warmth in the little family's hearts. Bucky rocked his godson, who was fast asleep, by the font, listening to Father Tom bless the little boy and baptize him James Anthony Rogers. Pepper dabbed at her eyes, ever the doting godmother.
Peggy leaned her head on Steve's shoulder. It wasn't lost on her that, should anyone decide to peruse the baptism records, they would find Steven Grant Rogers and James Buchanan Barnes entered almost a hundred years prior. Unknown to her, Steve's thoughts wandered in a similar direction. That night, after the food was cleaned up and the gifts put away, Steve stood over the crib, gazing down at his son. He sensed his wife tiptoe into the room, sliding her arms around his waist. "That's our son," he said softly.
"Yes," Peggy agreed, slightly confused.
"I just never thought," he shook his head, "not in a million years would I have dared to think when I first met you…"
"I know."
"I certainly wouldn't have thought it would take seventy four, seventy five now, years to get here."
"No."
"Time is crazy."
"You need sleep," Peggy reasoned, "you get philosophical when you're tired."
"I miss him."
"He'll be up in four hours."
"Wait," pulled her back toward the crib, "just look at him for a minute." He threaded his arm around her waist.
Peggy smiled, running her fingers over his downy hair, like a baby bird just getting his feathers. His eyes were still that bright blue, she prayed they'd never change. "I love him so much," she murmured.
"I'd do all of it again," Steve said, "every last minute. The war, the ice, Hydra, Thanos, everything, to be here with the two of you."
Peggy turned, running her fingers through his hair. "I'd wait another seventy four years for this, if that's what it took."
Steve folded her into his arms.
Ladies and gentlemen, all it took was many years and one bad bout of covid to finish this. Thank you all for being here. I hope to write more in the future, though I'm not sure when. In the meantime, peace and blessings.
-PaintedLanterns