Insp. by @teambuckybarnes
1942

Waiting for the slow public telephone to register her call, Natasha taps her foot impatiently and rocks the white carriage in front of her gently to keep the infant occupying it asleep.

The other line picks up after a minute and her breath hitches in her throat.

"Hello?" Calls the tired voice on the other end.

"Steve?" Rocking the carriage has been momentarily forgotten and the infant begins to fuss.

"Darlin'," Steven Rogers says, sounding relieved. "It's so good to finally hear from you. But why didn't you write me?"

"Because, Steve, I wanted you to hear the sound of your week-old son."

The baby fusses louder and Steve's voice cracks as he asks, "that's my son? Have I been gone that long?"

"Mm-hmm. In fact, you been gone for a week and six months. You ain't been going to those striptease shows, have you, now?" Natasha asks, joking with her husband of three years.

"Oh, baby, you know they ain't got any of them over here." His voice becomes sarcastic-sounding. "I sure do wish they had Miss Gypsy Rose Lee-"

A clatter and a woman's frantic voice, calling, let's go, men! fill the background on Steve's end.

"Baby, I gotta go now."

"No, Steve? Please don't leave-"

"I have to. I will make it home to you and- what name'd we decide on?"

Natasha hears the smile in his voice.

"James."

"Right. I will fight everyone that stands in my way ho-"

The line cuts.

"Baby? Steve?"

The redhead hangs up the receiver quietly, a tear slipping down her face. Somewhere, deep inside her heart, she knows Steve won't be back to see his son or wife.

1945

The war is over. Natasha finds herself opening the door to a rather lovely red-lipped brunette whose eyes are red, seemingly from tears.

"How can I help you?"

"Hi. I'm Sergeant Peggy Carter. I'm from the US Army division." At Natasha's invitation, Peggy steps inside, allowing the redheaded mother and wife to shut the door.

"Are you here about Steve? Is he coming back?"

Peggy shakes her head sadly and looks down at the linoleum floor.

Natasha falls apart, holding her three-year-old son, at the news that Steve sacrificed himself and dove a plane into the ice-covered Pacific and will never come back to her.