Steve breaks the ice first. All he does is whisper my name. It isn't even really audible, but I know the way those lips move too well to think he said anything different. Suddenly all the complications are pushed to the side as I walk towards him and practically collapse into his arms. "Steve." I whisper back and tears prick my eyes. Tears of relief; sweet, sweet relief that he's alive, that he's whole, that he's in my arms wet my cheeks. His strong arms wrap around me, but much gentler than they usually would, and it takes me a moment to realize his arms feel strange around me because now I'm used to being wrapped in another's.

He pulls back and frames my face in his hands while wiping my tears away with his callused thumbs. My eyes rove over his face and see he's grown a beard to go with the exhaustion mounting in his eyes. Still, there's joy there at seeing me. "I'm glad you're okay." He tells me and brushes my hair back from my face.

"And you. I can't...I can't believe that you're alive. How...how?" I can barely speak from the shock, but his head shakes.

"Later I promise." He swears before releasing me and taking my hand, then looking towards Bucky. They stare off a few moments and the tension mounts in my heart before they both step forward at the same time to share an embrace. It's silent for a minute as they both hug, then both men turn back to me. "You should sit down." Steve says and both men step forward to help as I lower myself into a chair that Bucky made. Both glance to one another at the realization, but are too slow to react as I lower myself down alone. "You must be nearly ready, right?" He asks and I stiffen slightly as I stare down at my bare feet.

"Nearly." I respond without looking up.

"How long have you both been here?" He asks and now I risk looking up at Bucky, but his eyes are far away as he stares down at my growing stomach.

"A while. Few months." Steve nods and kneels next to me before taking my feet into his hands just as Bucky had a few moments ago when everything was different.

"Okay." He says simply and that's it for the rest of the night. None of us wants to talk about what's going on or maybe we all need time to figure out what we think about it first. Steve isn't an idiot. There's barely a chance that I'd be pregnant by him and even if I was, I'd be much further along. He has to know that this isn't his baby. But I'm not about to say that to his face and it seems like Bucky isn't either. Should we? Is honesty still the best policy after all that's happened?

That night, we enter the hut that Bucky built for us and I stop in the door at the sight of the double bed. "Go on. You need the rest." Bucky's voice is soft and firm as his hand nudges me towards the bed. "We're going to stay up a little longer anyway." There's an edge to his tone now and my eyes flick to his filled with all the words I wish I could say.

"Sorry." The word is barely said, but it's said all the same. It's a horrible thing to say really. What am I sorry for? The baby? Feeling the way I do about both of them? That Steve's alive? No answer is good, but the sentiment is genuine. I'm just...sorry. Bucky's sapphire blue eyes rove over my face before he nods.

"Me too." He says before ducking out of the hut. I take his advice and settle into the bed while trying not to let my mind run away with me. It doesn't help that I can hear whispers outside.

"Thank you for taking care of her." Steve murmurs and I hear the both of them settle into the dirt outside around the fire.

"We took care of each other." Bucky returns and my lips press together in bed as I try not to think about all of that. I'll just end up crying and then they'll know I'm awake. "I'm not leaving her." Bucky says suddenly and there's more life and determination in his voice than I've heard all day. "If she wants to go, fine, but I'm going with her. Anywhere. Everywhere." My heart squeezes at his words and I try not to hold my breath while waiting for Steve's response.

"No one's asking you to leave, Buck." He replies and I sigh quietly in relief. "I was gone for a long time. I understand that you both have built a life here. If...if you want me to leave, you have every right to ask. I can't promise to stay away, but I'll give you both your space." The lament in my heart at losing him again surprises me, but once again I'm left waiting for an answer.

"I'm not asking you to leave." Bucky says and this time his voice is deeper and calmer. "But there's no way in hell I'm making you a house out here." They share a slightly awkward chuckle, but it's still soothing to hear.

"Think I can make my own. With a little help." Steve allows and I can tell just from his tone the little smile on his face to go with a little narrowing of his eyes. The words mean more than just the obvious.

"That's manageable." Bucky allows and finally, I start drifting off feeling another few kicks from the growing life in me.

The next morning I wake up late, blame the person growing inside me, and find Bucky working with Steve on getting material for a new house. My bare feet carry me over to them and they look up to me with gentle smiles that make my heart squeeze. "I want the houses to connect." I say without giving a reason why or how I know they're building houses. Steve's face is a little surprised, but Bucky just sighs and nods.

"You givin' the orders now, doll?" He asks and goes to press a kiss to my head as he normally would, but stops mid-step as his head turns slightly towards Steve. Determinedly, I step forward and kiss his cheek, then Steve's too.

"Always have." The blonde says with a little smirk as I nod.

"That's right. But first, me and the dictator baby would like eggs." Bucky shakes his head, but now he's smiling too and that old almost happy feeling is creeping back into my heart.

"Any weird things to go with those eggs? Peanut butter maybe?" He teases, but my stomach rumbles at his words. The three of us laugh softly and it actually feels normal for a minute. Like old times.

"I think just protein would be good. And milk. And some peppers." I list and Bucky just nods along as Steve walks behind me with a hand hovering over the small of my back just in case. He settles me down in my chair before helping Bucky with breakfast since I can't stoop to cook anymore without my belly getting in the way. It's nice watching the boys cook even though Steve has never been too talented at the skill. I'm finishing up my eggs when a kick nearly makes me toss my plate. "Mm!" I wave both over and set my plate aside to take their hands and press them to my stomach.

Bucky can't keep the smile off his face as per usual and there's awe shining out of his eyes. Steve's eyes get big as he stares at his hand on my stomach and his lips part slightly as breath whooshes out of his lungs. "Do..." He has to clear his throat in order to continue. "Do you have a name yet?" I note that he only asks me and not Bucky, but that's okay.

"No. I've no clue what gender it'll be, so I wanted to wait." It's the truth. Bucky and I had never talked about it so I figured we'd just wait until it was born to pick a name. Steve nods.

"What do you think it'll be?" Bucky asks and I blink at the question. My mouth screws up as I shrug and they settle back down while my hands run over my stomach.

"A girl. I don't know why. It's just a feeling."

"A girl." Bucky repeats with reverence as if she were already a deity he worshipped daily. Affection fills my heart for him before I pick up my plate and struggle to stand, but Bucky's there in an instant.

"Alright. Time to get to work." I say and both men nod before we part ways.

The day goes on as it usually does and it's almost nice not getting anything done because of my overprotective bodyguards. Part of their work today was building elevated beds for themselves just outside the hut where I sleep. I didn't comment on it.

Another month passes and with help sent from T'Challa, our monster hut is complete. The original is now just a place to cook and gather inside during the rain while the three other sections are bedrooms for me, Bucky, Steve. And of course the little baby to come. It's nice to have privacy but also have the both of them close.

I'm having a restless night. The baby won't settle and that means I don't get to settle either. Still, I'm finally just over the edge into unconsciousness when I feel fingers sliding up my thighs. I hum slightly at the sweet feeling before the fingers turn into hands and gently lift one of my legs up since I'm on my side. There's a whispered curse when he finds I'm not wearing underwear before I feel my leg settled over a strong, bare back and lips pressing softly to my inner thigh.

Warm fingers trace my outer shell and I hum again in appreciation. A few more times, he just traces me before opening me to the warm air around us. I bite my lip and wake up just a tad more, but the promising pleasure before me offers a new kind of dream. One finger now coasts back and forth over me, pausing every now and then to rub a rough knuckle over my clit. My leg over his back is now pulling as much as I can before I hear a low chuckle, then his finger dips inside me. I gasp and my hand reaches down desperately for more, but even as I latch onto his wrist and tug, he holds firm.

"I'm taking my time." He growls and only then does it sink in who this is. The fact that the wrist I'm gripping onto is his left and it's warm and soft unlike the metallic one I've grown used to. I don't have time to think about it because just then Steve adds another finger and starts moving inside me. I whimper and just squeeze him harder while trying to drag his body closer with my leg. "So wet already. Christ, I've missed this. Missed you." His fingers move faster and I can feel my peak coming fast. I hadn't been touched like this in a long while and even longer since Steve who knows exactly what I like.

Both hands now come into play as he pumps another finger into me while his other hand vibrates over my clit. I'm moaning within a minute and slap a hand over my mouth to keep from screaming as Steve doesn't lessen his assault until I've come down. "God, you're beautiful." He whispers before leaning down and sucking on my still sensitive nub.

"Steve!" I nearly shout into my hand as my foot tries to shove his head closer to me to give me more. Still, he doesn't allow me to push him into anything. He lavishes me with his tongue. He licks circles around my clit then up and down my opening, licks full up and down, then flicks my nub with his tongue a few times before truly diving into me with his mouth. The pillow is in my mouth now as I throw my head back and nearly cry with the pleasure. I'm nearly there again when he rubs his thumb over my clit and I topple over. Darkness and stars dance in front of me as fireworks burst inside me before I finally come down panting.

Soft hands smoothing up and down my legs brings me back as I wipe sweat off my forehead. "Are you alright?" Steve asks gently and I nod breathlessly before glancing down at him. He looks a mess in the faint moonlight. Dark blonde hair pointing every which way, beard messy and gleaming with my juices, and his face red but glowing from the exertion. He's beautiful.

"I want you." I murmur hoarsely and shock flashes across his face. "You won't hurt me...or the baby. I want you. Now." I pant, still a little out of breath, but I can see he understands. Steve stands and removes his clothing, then hikes my dress up before lying down beside me so we're spooning. He raises one of my legs and sets it over his body before I can feel his cock sliding between my thighs. Instinctively, my hips start rocking to coat him with whatever slick I can. It's heaven just to hear his small intake of breath at the movement and his low growl as his hand slides over my belly down, down, down.

"We have to-" He grunts and repositions himself slightly and I love hearing the strain in his voice, love that he has a hard time resisting me. "start slow." I nod before pressing my lips tight together as I feel his tip at my entrance. Carefully, he enters me and I whimper at the fullness. His hand slides over my throat, squeezing how I like, before moving over my mouth. "Quiet." He tells me and I nod, but I like that his hand doesn't leave my mouth. He painstakingly moves into me as my body stretches to accommodate him and my hands cling to his arms. One grips his arm around me in a death vice while the other clings to the wrist of the hand over my mouth.

Once he's balls deep in me, we both wait a few moments and take a few breaths. "Are you ready?" Steve asks and he sounds just as out of breath as I am. I nod and his unsteady breaths tickle the hair around my ear as he takes a deep breath before moving. Inch by inch he moves out, then pushes back in at the same pace. My hand on his arm slaps him twice and he chuckles breathlessly, then starts to pick up the pace. Steady and unfailing, his pace has the pleasure in me rising before leveling at a delicious toe-curling pace.

Steve knows me too well.

As soon as he hits that pace his hand reaches down and starts drawing circles on my clit as I hold onto him for dear life. He removes his hand from my lips to instead gently hold my throat. "I'm close. I'm so close."

"Cum with me." I breathe and no sooner have I said it than he does. I feel ropes of white fill me before the pleasure bursts inside me and the only thing keeping me on earth are my hands clinging to Steve. Wave after wave of ecstasy crashes over me until finally I float down like a leaf from a fallen tree.

"Sorry." Steve breathes as we both try to regain our breath. "I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine, Steve." I wave him off with a small, amused smile before my mouth opens again. I love you is on the tip of my tongue before my hand comes down onto my stomach and I remember where we are. What's happened. Who is in a hut just a little way away from here. Fuck. Steve leans over to kiss me and I return it before he rises. He cleans up, then cleans me up before giving me another kiss and floating back through the adjoining doors to his rooms.

I manage to keep my emotions at bay while holding on to that tenuous string of pleasure still lingering in me, but I know I'm going to have one hell of an emotional hangover tomorrow.

*A/N*
*heavy breathing* o_O