The Throne: A Prince Steve Rogers Story

XVII

Three months later.

Three months.

Three months since I had seen or heard from my husband.

Three months with an empty bed. Three months being alone with our baby.

Until I heard his voice in the great hall.

I ran out of the office quickly, hearing him talking to Sarah.

I saw him standing in the middle of the room. He was talking with his mother.

He had a beard. It was short, but it was facial hair.

I smiled as he saw me. He came over and picked me up, hugging me.

I giggled and hugged him back.

"That wasn't a short amount of time."

"I know. I had a lot to do over there. It wasn't as much war as negotiating." He said. I nodded as he set me down.

I touched his face.

"I like the beard." I whispered. He smiled and kissed me.

I pulled away and looked at him.

"I'm with child." I whispered. His face lit up.

"No you're not." He whispered. I nodded and moved my dress to show my bump.

He smiled and kissed my cheek.

"Oh darling. You look so good for being with child. I would've never known." He said. I draped my arm over his shoulder and smiled.

"I've missed you." I said. He kissed me again.

"Ahem. You know I love to see the happy couple back, but I'd like to say hi to my sister and get congratulated for being an uncle." I heard Tony say. I pulled away and smiled, going to hug him.

He looked down at my stomach.

"So his middle name is Anthony right?"

"First off, him? Second, no."

He smiled. "It's a boy. Mother and father had a boy first, and same with Sarah and Joseph. Both lines have males first."

I smiled softly. Steve stole me back from Tony.

His hand was on my back immediately.

"You need to get out of this armor." I said.

"Do I smell that bad?" He asked. I rolled my eyes.

•••

Steve had changed into his tunic. I stared at him.

"I like the beard." I whispered.

"Yeah?" He asked as he touched it. He came over and sat next to me.

He set his hand on my stomach.

"Are you gonna treat me like I'm a little bubble and I'm not allowed to be popped because of this baby?" I asked.

"Yes." He said as he moved my hair behind my ear.

I hummed and kissed him softly. He pulled me in and kissed my head.

"I've missed you." He said. I smiled.

"I've missed you too king."

He held my hand and sighed. "I can't believe you're actually pregnant. You know I honestly came back and I was prepared to be getting back into our every night sort of thing but that took a toll on our relationship so I'm really happy."