Charlie's POV:
We give ourselves a few days to mourn our loss and failure to change the outcome. We mostly just mope around, not really saying much. On day four Nat finally speaks. "Someone should probably look for Clint eventually. He should be with family." She looks over to me.
"Nat, you know if he doesn't want to be found he won't. He's lost everyone." I whisper to her.
"He has you...He has us." She pleads.
"You know how deeply he loved Laura and his kids. He's hurt. Give him time."
"I know how his hurt can turn destructive." She answers. I get up and walk out. "Where are you going?" I don't answer her. "Steve?" She tries to reason with him, hoping to change my mind. I go and stand outside the door of the living room.
"She doesn't want to do this anymore. Neither do I. Maybe it's time to just move on?" Steve tells her. "What more can we do to change anything? They're gone, all of them are gone. And we can't change anything."
Steve gets up and comes through the door, he looks over to me. "I know that this is not how you wanted things to go, but maybe we should retire. Try to live a normal life."
"What does that even mean?" I whisper up to him.
He places a hand on my cheek. "Let's leave here. Buy a place. Have a... a family."
"Steve, you don't want to do that. Not with me."
"Why wouldn't I? I love you; we love each other. I know that we're not ideally who either of us wanted to be with." I sigh. "I wish it would have been me that disappeared, not Bucky."
"Don't say that." I look up at him with tears in my eyes. I place my hands around his neck pulling him closer. "I love you, too."
"Not like you did with him. I'm not stupid. If he didn't dust away, our relationship would have ended eventually. I was okay with that. You know that while I love you, I love you differently than I did Peggy."
"I wouldn't want to lose you either Steve. I need you in my life."
He smiles at me. "Can we just give this a chance then? I want a normal life, and maybe in time, we'll forget about our ghosts." He brings his lips to mine. I return his kiss and nod.
We spend the next few weeks looking for a house close to the compound. Discussing exactly what we want out of our relationship. We spend our evenings after supper looking online at different houses. There's less stress surrounding us, as we've finally reached the time where we're not just friends with benefits. Both of us knowing that the person we truly love is dead. We have a comforted understanding, and a need to make this work.
"I want to visit Tony and Pepper." I randomly tell Steve. "Would you want to come with me?"
"Maybe another time princess. We've still got so much we need to do, if we want to move out of the compound. I'll stay behind and finish some things up. You enjoy your time with them. When do you think you want to go?"
"Soon. Maybe once we've found a house." Steve sets the laptop on our bedside table. He leans over me, placing an arm on the other side of me. I lay back on the bed, giving him more space, placing my hands on his biceps and feeling his muscles ripple under the pads of my fingers. He brings his mouth over to mine hovering over my lips. I lean up to close the gap in between us.
Steve hungrily kisses me. "I love you Captain." He smiles in our kiss.
"Do you want to start now?"
I look up at him confused. "Start what?"
"A family." I uncomfortably shift under him.
"You are always wanting to speed things up aren't you, Steve? How about we talk about this after we find a house? Moving in while I'm pregnant doesn't sound like a fun time." He hums at me. "But we can get some practice in until that time." Steve brings his lips back to mine, before removing my shirt, looking down at my body.
I reach down and pull at the hem of his shirt, taking it off of him. I trace my hands down his stomach and abs, before reaching his pants and begin to unbutton them, pulling them down. He stands up to help slip them off, before leaning over me and taking my pants and panties off. I arch my back, allowing him to reach behind undoing my bra, and I pull at his underwear, eager to get him naked.
He leans over me and I spread my legs apart. "Greedy little one, aren't you?" Steve's voice is deep and raspy whispering down to me.
"Just fuck me, Captain." I'm able to whisper out. Steve smirks at me before tracing his engorged cock along my entrance teasing me. I move my lips to the side of his face and nibble on his ear, allowing him to hear my panting breath, and how he's driving me crazy. My hands trace up his arms, and down his back, landing on his hips, trying to force him into me.
"I'm not easily moved, princess."
"Fuck me." I cast in his mind, he smirks down at me, realizing I'm using my empathy to control his movements.
"Playing dirty." His hips jerk forward as he finally thrusts into me. A moan slips out of my mouth as I look up at Steve. He is ridiculously handsome. I'm lucky to have him in my life. And in time I believe we can truly be in love with one another, at least that's what we both hope.
I move my hands around his jawline, feeling his now clean-shaven look. He smiles down at me. He pulls out and growls, "Get on your knees." I comply, turning my body, he pushes in between my shoulder blades so my head is laying on the pillow, his hand traces down my spine as he pushes my legs further apart. He pushes himself into me with a growl. I quickly intake air and I hear a deep chuckle come from Steve, "You like this huh?"
"Yes, Captain." I breathe out. It's shocking just how easily he makes me fall apart. He pumps into me quickly, before giving a quick smack to my ass. I hiss feeling his hand pop on my skin. His hands grab my hips as he ruts into me rough and deeply. I feel the heat rising from my pussy up into my stomach, Steve senses how close I am and gives my ass another smack. The heat spreads through my body as pure pleasure and a numbness washes through my body.
Steve continues pumping into me, before I feel the warmth coming from him, he slows down his thrust, allowing the tightness in me to fully milk his cock. He pulls himself out before collapsing on the bed, and pulling my body over onto his chest. We lay quietly panting on one another before, both of us drift to sleep.
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Charlie's POV:
The drive to Tony and Pepper's cabin is a long one. The countryside is beautiful and peaceful. It's just what I needed. I don't regret my decision to be with Steve and try to create a normal life for us, but I would be lying if I didn't miss Bucky. We never got our vacation, or time. Apart from my few weeks in Wakanda Bucky and I were always surrounded by other people, and usually in a battle.
I pull up the driveway of the Stark cabin, and I see a confused Tony walk out the door. I get out of my car, closing the door and look up at him. "I was wondering when you would make your way out here Hunger Games."
"You know Tony, it's odd that you use that as my nickname, when I very rarely use a bow."
He shrugs, "Well maybe not, but you are a miniature Barton. Seems appropriate." I walk up the steps and stop in front of him. "If you're waiting for me to hug you, it's not happening." I slap at his shoulder as he makes a fist and playfully punches my own shoulder. "Pepper can we get some tea?" He screams in the cabin.
"So, Charlie, what brings you out here?" He leads us over to chairs and a small table. Pepper joins us with tea in tow. I look down to her growing belly. I had felt she was pregnant when she was at the compound, seeing how obviously pregnant she is now brings a smile to my face. "Yeah, no keeping this a secret anymore." Tony gently caresses the bump.
I smile up at him, they're both glowing. "You're not going to answer my question?"
"Sorry, I knew...that you were pregnant, but seeing you two like this..."
"What do you mean, you knew?" Pepper looks at me.
"It was a long two years; I've developed more and stronger powers. I read your worried thoughts of being pregnant and Tony being missing." Tony looks at me, furrowing his brows thinking of his time on the Milano.
"Is that how you..." He points at his head and I nod.
"And to answer your question, I just wanted to see you two." I give them a weak smile.
"How is everything at the compound?" Tony asks.
I chuckle, "Um, Steve and I, we've retired. We bought a house close by there, that way we can have family dinners with the ones who are left."
"You finally got your man." My mouth smiles, but it doesn't reach my eyes. "What is it?"
"It's complicated." An exasperated laugh huffs out.
"When is anything not complicated with you two." Tony pauses looking over my face. "Barnes?" I look down nodding my head. "Want to enlighten me as to what happened between the three of you?"
"Not really."
"Complicated, huh? I'm going out on a limb here. Steve still loves Peggy, and you love Barnes?"
"What makes you say that?" I tilt my head at him.
"You and Barnes had an odd connection, pretty early on. Steve has always carried a torch for Peggy. And then the two of you meet. You fell for him hard, puppy love, remember? Until meeting Barnes. And now that they're both gone, you and Steve have decided to make things work between you? Because you do love one another. More so than friends, but not as much as you two love the ones that left you behind."
"Do you think we're making a mistake?"
"No. I think in time when the pain isn't so strong you could fall in love with one another. You're great together. Both of you would do anything for the other, even settling for a life you wanted with someone else." Tony takes a sip of tea.
"They're not coming back. We should move on. And Steve makes the most sense. How many other people am I going to find that understands that life, my life?"
"He's a good man." Pepper agrees. "You could do worse." She walks over giving me a hug. "You want to feel?" I nod my head and she brings my hand to her stomach. I feel the baby kick once on my hand. I focus on her stomach trying to read the baby. Pepper senses what I'm doing. "What did you feel?"
I smile up to her, "Just pure love for her mama."
"Her?" Tony squints at me.
"I'm sorry, did you guys not know?"
"We knew, it's just weird that you were able to pick up on that. I've got some things I need to do, but you take care, come back anytime."
"As long as she lets us know beforehand." Pepper leans over giving Tony a quick peck on his lips before going back inside. Tony turns to look at me. "Am I going to see you and Steve like this one day?"
"Only time will tell." I grin.
"You two have actually talked about it, haven't you?"
"As a matter of fact, we have. But nothing is happening until we've fully moved in. It only seems right. We've got a lot to do, and furniture to buy. The place is very empty."
"Let us help. Look at it as a housewarming gift."
"Tony, no."
"Come on, it's the least I can do. You know it's not going to be anything to me. I know Pepper would want to help decorate your home."
"Can I discuss it with my boyfriend?" The word sounds odd in my mouth, but also a bit refreshing. I've never referred to Steve as boyfriend, but buying a home together and wanting to eventually start a family the title makes sense.
Tony smiles at my wording, "That's fair."
We spend the rest of the afternoon reminiscing. Even talking about my growing powers, it fascinates him. "If ever you decide to go back into the business, maybe I could add some enhancements to your suit." I scowl at him. "I said if, not that you will. It's always good to have that, just in case."
I drive back to our house, our home. All this talk about Steve makes me want to be near him as soon as possible. When I reach the entryway, I quickly make my way to our room, finding him sitting on our bed, it's one of the few pieces of furniture we have. He smiles up at me, and I rush to him and kiss him, "What's this all about? Good visit with Tony?" I kiss him again before leaning back.
"I'm so lucky and blessed to have you, Steve. I know that this isn't the most ideal situation, but I really do think that we can make this work. And I'm just excited to get our life started. I know that we have our issues, but I think together we can have a good life." Steve's eyes search my face. He's oddly silent.
"Marry me."
"What?" I lean back looking at him.
"Not right now, but eventually. Marry me." He reaches in the nightstand beside the bed and pulls out a box opening it to reveal a white gold French cut pave ring. It's delicate and petite, perfect. I look at it and back up to Steve. "I just want everyone to know that you're mine, and we're together. You don't have to decide now, but..."
"Yes." I smile at him, tears filling my eyes. He crashes his lips on mine. He brings me closer to him. Smiling in our kiss. "I think I'm ready."
He leans back looking at me. "For what?"
"You know I always blame you for speeding things up or doing things backwards, but why wait, I'm only getting older..."
"And you're only rambling. What are you ready for?"
"Well, it may take time, but I think I'm ready to try...for a baby." Steve's eyes light up as he smiles at me. "I mean maybe it's because I saw Pepper very pregnant, but there's a peacefulness here in our bubble. I'm content. We can't change what happened, but we can work on our..."
Steve leans over crashing his lips on mine. He rolls over on the bed dragging me on top of him. "I mean I'll need to go to the doctor, but..."
"Charlie, shut up." Steve teasingly tells me. He pulls me down to him kissing me, his fingers trace down my back finding the hem of my sundress before pulling it off. He reaches up to undo my bra, letting it fall on him before throwing it over on the floor with my dress.
I pull at his shirt before he takes it completely off. I shift back and pull at the buttons of his jeans. He lifts his hips with me on him before pulling his pants and underwear down. His hand traces the outline of my panties. "How much do you like these?" He says on my lips. I smile and he rips them off. He pushes my body up, urging me to go lower so he can enter me. I comply. I sit on him, feeling his cock completely fill the space of my pussy, gazing down at my fiancé, and maybe eventually baby daddy. His hands move to my hips as he begins assisting me rocking on him.
I go slowly, thinking only of Steve, and the life that we wish to have. We just gaze at one another completely enraptured in our pleasure. "Doll." I gasp and pause my movements. Looking down at Steve, and not Bucky. Steve sits up and wraps his arm around me, another coming to my cheek. "Charlie, are you okay? What's wrong?" I sit on him frozen, my eyes are wide and blank.
I blink at him. He presses his lips on mine. "Hey, I've got you."
I continue staring at him, realizing that voice was only in my head. I give him a smile, and continue my grinding on his lap. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly against his chest before we both release together. I lay my head on his shoulder panting. His hands swipe over my arms.
"What happened?" He whispers.
"Did you cast anything into my thoughts?" My head still lazily lays on his shoulder.
"No." We sit silently for a moment. "You heard him, didn't you?"
I lean back looking at him. My hands go on either side of his face as I use my thumb to caress him. "Yes, I'm sorry. I don't want to think of him. Not when we're like this."
I lean back to pull myself off of Steve. He holds me steady, "I know. It takes time, princess. I'm not mad." I smile at him and plant a sweet kiss on his lips. He allows me to get off of him. He pulls the covers over us and I nuzzle into his chest. "I love you, Charlie."
"And I love you, Steve."
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Steve's POV:
The past few weeks has seen a very pregnant Pepper over at mine and Charlie's home, offering her assistance with furnishing and decorating, at the expense of Tony's credit card. Reluctantly I agreed to let him pay for everything. He offered it as a housewarming gift. Charlie loves having Pepper at our place. She has a light hearted look about her when she's around. Always fussing over Pepper's pregnant body. I know she's looking forward to the time when that can be her. We picked out a room that would be perfect for a nursery, and closed it off for now. Until the time she's actually pregnant and can decorate it.
Tony hasn't joined Pepper, he said when everything is complete, he would come over for dinner. Charlie beams with pride at our home. Her and Pepper, with very little input from me, have done a great job. It wasn't a lack of Charlie asking what I thought. I'm just content that Charlie is excited. I know she has an emptiness creating our life without her family. Laura and the kids dusted away, while Clint is off doing who knows what, but it doesn't stop her from trying to be normal.
Nightmares have returned to Charlie's nights. I know they mostly include Bucky, but also Sam and everyone else who vanished. She looks at Sam almost as a big brother. Her dreams sometimes include Thor and his depression. She deeply wants to help him, but he's refused her multiple times. So, instead she busies herself with making our house a home.
We're not interested in timing out when we should have sex, just have fun, and enjoy our moments with one another. So far nothing has become of our tries, but we've barely begun this journey. There is an odd sense of quietness surrounding us. We visit the compound regularly checking on Nat, and she will sometimes visit us. Charlie's cooking has gotten better as she tries to be more domestic. This life does look good on her. However, I see the darkness under her eyes due to her constant nightmares.
The time has come where the house is just right according to Pepper and Charlie. Pepper is very pregnant, nearly at her due date, but she convinces Tony to visit our home for dinner. Charlie runs around the house picking things up, making sure all the plants are watered, placing out the good china that Pepper insisted we get.
"What should I even cook?" She worriedly looks at me. Her nose scrunches up as she thinks of the perfect meal. She's too adorable.
"Princess, anything you cook will be perfect." I coo at her.
"Pasta? That's safe, and something most people like, right?" I smile and nod to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and bring her closer to my body.
"Sounds perfect." I pick her up and place her on the counter and position myself in between her thighs. She pushes on my chest a bit. "What's wrong?" I coo at her.
"No, Steve. Tony and Pepper will be here in a couple of hours."
"I can make it quick." I nip at her neck, knowing that spot really gets her going.
A giggle escapes her pretty lips. "Only if you clean up afterwards." She smirks at me, thinking that would actually be a problem. I scoot her ass closer to the edge of the counter as I press my hips to her. Her arms wrap around my neck. She wraps her legs around me and I can feel the heat and pulsing coming from her pussy and let out a hum. "What's wrong, Captain?" She utters up to me.
"I just want to feel you." I reach and pull her dress up, pulling her panties off throwing them on the floor below, before placing my fingers on her mound. "You're so wet, princess. Always ready for me, hmm?" I lightly bring my thumb to her clit, gently tracing circles on it before placing to two fingers inside. She moans on my lips. "You said you would make this quick. I want to feel your cock in my pussy, Captain." A growl emits from my mouth as I pull back and unbutton my jeans. I jerk them down and pull down my underwear before roughly entering her. Her warmth wraps around me and I bring my mouth to hers, again her legs come around my waist as I pump into her.
Her hand strokes the side of my face gently, even though her kissing is ravenous and full of passion. "Make me cum." She casts in my mind. I thrust into her relentlessly, we've got to make this quick, so I will. Charlie's breathing speeds up and I feel her tighten around me as I allow myself to release in her. She smiles on my lips, before puckering her lips and kissing me sweetly.
"Charlie, we brought some food. Tony was being very particular about what he wanted to eat." Pepper comes through the door without knocking. We gave her and Tony a key, so she feels too comfortable barging in, knowing we're actively trying for a baby ourselves.
Charlie looks at me with wide eyes, "Shit. Glad that was quick." She jumps off the counter and quickly tries to right herself as Pepper walks in the kitchen. I've barely just got my pants pulled up. I keep my back towards her, while I button my pants up.
Charlie awkwardly stands there. I look down at the floor and notice her panties laying there. Pepper pauses staring at us before Tony enters the kitchen. I turn to look at him. "Nice place you got here guys. Good to see the housewarming gift looks good in here." Charlie awkwardly shifts around, and Pepper continues staring, but she looks at the floor where Charlie's panties are. "Why are you two just standing there?"
"No reason." I answer.
Tony looks to the floor, right at her panties. He laughs, "Did we interrupt something by coming so early?"
"Excuse me." Charlie stiffly walks out of the kitchen. I reach down and pick up her panties, holding them, not really knowing what to do. Pepper and Tony still stand there staring.
"To be fair, we're trying to get pregnant. And you're early."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize she was ovulating." Pepper smiles at me. I shake my head, my super soldier senses tell me she isn't actually ovulating, I was just horny.
"Please, make yourself at home, I'm going to check on my fiancé."
"Tony, they're so cute!" I hear Pepper say as I make my way to our room.
I go into our bedroom; Charlie isn't there but I see her in the bathroom straightening herself back up. "You, okay?"
"Yeah, a little embarrassed, but okay." I toss her underwear to her and she rolls her eyes placing them in the hamper. She goes to the sink washing her hands.
I walk over to her wrapping my arms around her. "You look beautiful flushed like that." She looks at our reflection and giggles.
"Hush, Captain. Let's go make some dinner. You and Tony catch up."
"You keep calling me Captain, and we'll be late going downstairs."
"Steve, watch yourself. Save that for tonight." She grabs my hand and leads me downstairs.
Her and Pepper walk into the kitchen and begin preparing dinner. Tony and I sit on the couch. I know Charlie will want to give him the grand tour together. She's very proud of our home and the farmhouse décor her and Pepper went with. Neutral tones adorn our home, with pops of deep warm browns. It brings a lightness everywhere.
Tony looks around the room and glances back at Pepper and Charlie working on supper. "You've done good, Cap."
"Thanks to you and Pepper."
"I wasn't talking about your house. She seems happy and content, despite everything." I look back at Charlie, my fiancé, it doesn't seem real. We both still have a twinge of guilt, knowing we envisioned our lives with someone else.
"She's the best. She never ceases to amaze me."
"You guys looking for a little Cap and Katniss running around?"
"Hopefully one day. For now, I'm just enjoying being here with in her this moment."
Tony chuckles, "So I've seen. Not much has changed, except you're not hiding in corners."
"No cameras, and nobody creepily watching us."
Pepper and Charlie come into the living room with us, getting the dinner at a point where they don't have to hover over it. Charlie sits sideways on my lap; her legs drape lazily over. Pepper wobbles over to Tony and he helps her sit down. Charlie softly beams over at them. "One day that could be us." She casts at me. I smile and lean to kiss her cheek, rubbing my hand on her thigh.
"When do you two plan on getting married?" Pepper breaks the silence.
I glance at Charlie; this is something we've talked about. She smiles over at her, "We just officially became a couple. We're going to have long engagement. There's no rush."
"We just recently retired, we've bought a house, and we're trying to have a baby. Planning a wedding isn't our top priority." I add. A lot has happened in the past few months.
Our conversation continues a bit before Charlie jumps up to check on the lasagna. She takes it out of the oven and puts in a garlic bread that her and Pepper prepared. It smells heavenly in here. Once she brings the bread out of the oven, she walks back to us, gently pulls at my hand and announcing dinner was ready. Tony helps Pepper up before we follow her into the kitchen. Peace. Life is peaceful.