The triplets had to stay in intensive care for a couple of weeks. They were healthy and thriving but still very premature, so they needed that extra help. Clint joked that they weren't done baking. It was an analogy you, Steve, and Bucky had thought was perfect.
It hadn't been so bad in the end. You needed to recover from surgery in the ward, so the twins were close enough to go and visit whenever you wanted. Even if that was the middle of the night because you were feeling paranoid. It helped ease that feeling of stress due to them being in intensive care. That meant that you were free to get the rest you needed to heal properly.
The twins were thriving. They did have an initial drop of weight immediately after they were born, but quickly regained it and started putting on weight with their regular feedings. They were responsive and alert and had strong heartbeats. Out of curiosity, you had run paternity tests on them. It had turned out Sarah and Anthony were both Bucky's biological children, while Rebecca was Steve's. You had all found it quite hilarious and when Tony found out about Anthony, he teased Bucky mercilessly, telling him he always knew there was something special between them.
Steve and Bucky carefully prepared for the day you all came home to the apartment. Not that they weren't already ready. The nursery was ready. The nanny had been hired. The groceries had been bought. They were still nervous though. It was one thing to go up and see them throughout the day and hold them or feed them a bottle only to hand them back to the nurses to do the hard stuff. It was another thing altogether to be wholly responsible for their care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
They wanted it really badly but at the same time, they were both terrified of doing it wrong.
They also missed you. They wanted you home in their bed. They wanted to wake up next to you and go to sleep spooning you again.
So on the day that you were due to all be released and allowed to return home, they wanted to make it special. They spoke to someone at the chocolate shop and had them prepare a special dessert. Bucky scoured recipes on the internet to find something he thought was both interesting and something you liked.
When you were finally wheeled in through the front door of the apartment, Sarah cradled in one arm and Rebecca in the other, while Steve wheeled you, and Bucky followed behind, holding Anthony, the whole place was spotless and the aroma of herbs, spices and things roasting filled the place.
"Hey, babies. This is your new home," you said as you looked back at Steve. The babies were still so small. Anthony almost just fit in the palm of Steve's hand and he looked so awkward holding him, even with the giant smile plastered on his face.
Steve came and took the girls from your arms so you could stand up. "You've been cooking," you said, stretching your arms up over your head. You looked at the babies who were all alert and looking around. "I wonder how long they'll be like that? Should we put them down so they can kick or something?"
"That sounds like a great idea," Bucky agreed, going to set up the play gym one-handed while Sarah was still safely cradled in his arm. He looked like it was something he'd done a hundred times before. You wondered when you and Steve would look so natural.
"How are you doing that?" you asked, taking Rebecca from Steve and gingerly putting her down on the mat.
Bucky and Steve crouched down next to you and put Anthony and Sarah on either side of her. "I don't know. I thought I'd be scared to hold them. They're so tiny and this -" he held out his metal hand and the plates flexed and shifted. "I always feel like I can't do delicate things with it. Even though I can. Just... that one day I'll go to squeeze some fruit and just push my thumb through it by accident." He wriggled one of the toys over Sarah, watching the three of them closely as he spoke. "Never have though. And then I held Sarah for the first time and I could feel the warmth of her skin and how soft and fragile she was and I knew that I was okay and I could do this."
You rubbed his arm, feeling the ridges of the metal plates under your hand. "It might have been made as a weapon, but now it's so you can hold and protect those babies."
He looked up at you and grinned. "That was so fuckin' sappy."
"Language in front of the babies, you little shit," you teased and punched his arm, forgetting that it was metal for a split second until your hand hit it. "Ow, mother fucker!"
Bucky fell on his back laughing while startling the three babies and making Anthony cry. Steve picked him up and started to rock him. "You two are gonna be the death of me, I swear," he scolded.
The girls joined in the crying, first Rebecca and then Sarah and you and Bucky picked them both up again.
"Alright, you take a seat," Steve said to you. "You hand over the baby," he added, gesturing to Bucky who put Rebecca into your arms. "I'll go get some bottles going, and Bucky will finish off dinner. Maybe we can get them down and have a nice meal while they sleep."
"Alright, bossy," you said, taking Sarah from Bucky and bouncing her while the two men disappeared.
Steve returned again with two bottles tucked under his arm and holding the other so Anthony was drinking from it. He sat beside you, and with some careful juggling, all three babies ended up with bottles and eating well.
"You're pretty optimistic about them going to sleep while we eat," you whispered as you gazed down at the babies. They were all still alert and staring up at you as their arms flailed around.
Steve hummed. "I know. Kari will be here in a couple of hours. So worst comes to worst we can have her give us just that little bit more time."
"You don't think having a nanny is a cheat?" you asked.
Steve laughed. "We're raising three super soldiers. I sometimes wonder if one nanny is gonna be enough. She'll just be here for when we get overwhelmed. I want to be present for this."
You nodded, not looking up at him, just staring down at the three babies. "We are never sleeping again are we?"
Steve shook his head. "I would say that is very unlikely."
As the babies each finished their bottles and started looking sleepy you got up and changed them before putting them in their crib, side by side by side. You watched them as they wriggled a little and their eyelids drooped. Steve sang 'Somewhere over the rainbow' to them, patting Rebecca on the tummy as they each slowly drifted off to sleep.
You managed to get through dinner with no interruptions and you relaxed back into what felt normal again. Sitting with your husbands and just enjoying each other's company in your home. Bucky brought the dessert out. German chocolate bombes filled with chocolate mousse and a coconut-pecan pudding.
"You're spoiling me," you said as it was placed in front of you.
Bucky rubbed the middle of your back and smiled down at you. "We missed you. Besides, it has been a long time since you were allowed to eat something like this."
You tilted your head back and Bucky leaned down and kissed you softly, his stubble tickling your lips. As Bucky sat down, you took a bite of the bombe. You closed your eyes and just savored the blend of flavors and textures. The bittersweet of the creamy chocolate mousse, the crunch and salt of the pecans, and the soft cake base.
"Holy shit, I missed this," you mumbled through your mouthful.
Bucky smirked at you. "I missed you making sounds like that," he teased.
You punched him in the leg. "Still got about four more weeks to go too, you perv."
He started laughing. "I'm sorry, darlin'."
Steve reached over and rubbed your leg. "Bucky and I were talking. We decided we will wait for you. It's not fair if you can't have sex and we still are."
"Damn straight," you teased.
Bucky made a face at you, and you poked him in the side.
"Thank you, guys. Just like when we waited for Steve," you said.
"And I'm the one who always has to wait," Bucky joked.
"Well, I'm not even thinking about it. So you got some waiting to do, pal," you said. "For now, dessert is all you get."
Bucky rolled his eyes. "I guess."
You took his hand and squeezed it. "It's kinda weird, isn't it? There were no babies and now there are three babies? And how they couldn't come home but now they are home? They don't tell you about how strange that feels, do they? Like there's a disconnect?"
Steve put his hand on your thigh. "It is. All they tell you is no sleep, poopy diapers, and breastfeeding and we really haven't had much of that at all. Not to mention we've been separated from each other. They don't prepare you well. But we're together now, and no matter what you're feeling we won't judge you. You can tell us."
Tears sprang to your eyes and he pulled you into a hug. Bucky came up behind you and wrapped his arms around you both. "I love you both so much," you whispered.
"We love you too, sweetheart," Steve replied.
There was the soft sound of crying through the baby monitor. One voice was soon joined by two others, and Steve and Bucky let you go. "That was pretty good timing." Bucky joked, getting up out of his chair.
You nodded and followed him down to the nursery to get your children.