It's been seven months since the ordeal in Westview. Freya's only heard from Wanda a few times, but Wanda assures her that she's fine and training. Freya's stomach has grown to full term since as well. Her now protruding belly her most prominent feature.
"How are you feeling, Doll?" Steve asks. He walks into the living room with a cup of tea and sits on the couch next to her. She looks up from the parenting book in her hands and smiles.
"Aside from the nausea, I'm good," she chuckles. She takes the tea from him and hums in content when she takes a sip. "Mmm, thank you, Spangles. I needed this."
"Anything for you," Steve smiles. He presses a kiss to her head and rubs her belly fondly. "And how are my kiddos doin'?" He receives two small kicks in response and laughs. "That's my boys."
"Will you get over that whole boy thing," Freya rolls her eyes. "I already told you, it's a boy and a girl. I just know it."
"Well, whatever the genders, I will love them just the same," he smiles lovingly.
"As it should be," Freya boops him on the nose. Making him chuckle. Her face suddenly falls when she thinks of something else. "Have you heard anything from Bucky lately?"
"No," Steve frowns. "Sam has been trying to get a hold of him too, but ever since the government forced him into therapy he's been closed off. And I don't blame him."
"Neither do I," Freya nods. "I just wish we could help him. Or that he'd at least let us."
"He was still struggling with everything even after T'Challa helped him. But maybe this might be good for him," Steve offers.
"I hope so," Freya sighs. She suddenly gasps and holds her stomach. "Oh, ouch."
"What? What's wrong? What is it?" Steve panics.
"Calm down, Spangles," she laughs. "It's noth-" Her eyes widen and she quickly gets up from the couch. Looking down, a dark patch of liquid begins to soak her blue pajama pants. Her wide eyes meet Steve's bulging ones and she lets out a small, nervous chuckle. "My water just broke." In a flash, Steve is rushing around the house.
"Okay, we need to call Pep and Happy, and tell Carol. We need to get the room ready upstairs and-"
"Spangles," Freya smiles. He pauses to stare at her, his breathing heavy. She motions to take in a deep breath, which he does. He finally calmly nods.
"Okay, I'll call Bruce and Nat. You get Pep and Carol."
"On it," Freya smiles. He pulls her to him and presses a kiss to her lips.
"We're having our babies," he smiles tearfully.
"Well, I am," she says playfully, making him snort. "Go, I'll call the others. Oh! Don't forget Clint, Rhodey, Sam and Bucky."
"I got em!" Steve calls back to her as he runs out of the room. She shakes her head with a chuckle and waddles upstairs.
A few hours later, their house is filled with their family and friends aside from Bucky. Who isn't able to attend due to his court-ordered therapy. Sam had been able to catch a private flight out to them. He stands next to a pacing Steve while they listen to Freya's yells of pain from upstairs. Bruce, Pepper, Carol and Natasha are the only ones upstairs with her.
"I hate not being in there," Steve sighs. "Hearing her like that is killing me."
"I know buddy," Sam nods. "But there's nothing you can do right now."
"I know, I know," Steve mumbles.
There's a quick flurry of footsteps from the floor above them before Carol appears at the top of the stairs in her uniform.
"It's time, Steve," Carol smiles.
Steve doesn't have to be told twice. He's already bolting for the stairs and is up them in the blink of an eye. He follows Carol into the spare room that they had set up as a birthing room. Freya lays in bed with blankets all around her. Her hair matted to her forehead from the sweat. She looks up at him and smiles.
"Hey, Spangles."
"Hey, Doll," Steve smiles back. "You look beautiful."
"Lying isn't your strong suit, dear," she retorts, making everyone laugh. Her face scrunches in pain and she lets out a yell.
"Okay, Freya, it's time," Bruce informs her as he does the best he can with one arm still in a sling. "You need to start pushing." Bruce gets into position while Steve places himself at her bedside and grips her hand. "Nat, some fresh towels, sweetheart," Bruce requests.
"On it," Natasha nods before quickly leaving the room. They can hear a cupboard close down the hall before she hustles back in with fresh, clean towels.
"Okay, start pushing, Freya!" Bruce tells her.
Freya responds by yelling out in pain as she follows his directions. Steve grips her hand and notices that her grip is abnormally weak. She takes a deep breath and yells out again.
"I can see the head!" Bruce says excitedly. "Here's the first one! Push one more time, Frey!"
Freya yells out as she pushes again. A baby's cry is heard throughout the room and Freya's eyes instantly start tearing up.
"My little girl," Freya says.
"How'd you know?" Bruce asks.
"A mom knows," Freya smiles.
"Here." Bruce hands a pair of scissors to Steve for the umbilical cord. "Cut here," Bruce directs him. Steve has to wipe his eyes first before he can cut. When he does, Bruce hands him his little girl and he completely breaks down.
"Hello, my sweetheart," Steve coos. He wraps the baby up and hands her to Freya. Who eagerly reaches out to see her daughter for the first time.
"She's so beautiful," Carol cries. Pepper nods and wipes a tear from her face.
"I hate to cut this short, but you still have one more to go, Frey," Natasha reminds her.
Freya nods and hands the baby off to Natasha. Who cradles it gently. Freya takes a deep breath and looks up at Bruce.
"Start pushing," Bruce nods. Freya let's out another yell of pain and begins to push her next child out. The pain is unbearable, but she fights through it. "Here it comes!" Bruce tells them. Another baby's cry is heard as Bruce swaddles the baby. "It's a boy!"
"Told ya," Freya tells Steve breathlessly.
He laughs and leans down to press a sweet kiss to her lips. He cuts the umbilical cord on his son and hands him over to Freya. Natasha brings the little girl back over and lets a Freya hold both.
"You guys have names picked out?" Pepper asks.
"We do, actually," Steve smiles. He looks down at Freya and encourages her to tell them.
"Why don't we have everyone else come upstairs first," Freya smiles.
Bruce goes to clean up while Natasha gets the rest of their friends and family. When they all circle around Freya and Steve and coo over the babies, Freya decides to reveal their names.
"So, I'd like to introduce you to Sarah Caroline Rogers," Freya tells them. "Sarah was Steve's mother's name and Caroline is for..." Freya looks pointedly at Carol, who's already tearing up.
"You named her after me?" Carol asks.
"Of course," Steve nods. "We wouldn't have it any other way."
"Oh, guys," Carol sniffles. She quickly wipes her tears and nods at the little boy. "And your son?"
"Anthony Clinton Rogers," Steve reveals. Pepper's eyes instantly well up with tears as she silently starts to cry.
"Wha..." Clint gasps.
"We named him after my dad and Clint," Freya smiles. "Two of the most important men in our lives."
"Thank you," Clint chokes out.
"We want you to be their godfather, Clint," Steve tells him.
"I'd be honored," Clint smiles.
Bruce notices the tired look on Freya's face and starts to usher everyone out.
"All right, the new mom needs some rest everyone." Once everyone except Bruce and Steve filter out, Bruce turns to Freya and looks at her curiously. "Are you feeling okay, Frey?"
"Uh, I mean, I'm exhausted. Which should be expected. I feel like I could just pass out," she says.
"You're not feeling off or anything? I was wondering how this would effect your powers," Bruce reveals.
"My powers?" she asks.
"Yeah," Bruce nods. "After what happened with Thanos, you were in a coma. This should have been more taxing on your body. But you seem to have held up okay."
"Doll?"
"Hm?" Freya hums as she looks up at Steve. She sees a worried look on his face and tilts her head. "What?"
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asks
"I think so. Why?"
"Well," Steve begins. "Because I tried to mentally communicate with you and you didn't respond."
Her eyes go wide and she blinks a few times as she tries to reach out to Steve. But she can't hear anything. She closes her eyes and lets out a groan.
"Not again..."
TO BE CONTINUED...