A Whole New Ballfield: Green Series 13 (Pre-Serum Omega!Steve x Alpha!Bucky)

Twenty-Five

Ding-dong!

Being on the other side of things for this bris, Steve worried that he potentially just woke his son and grandson. He really hoped that he didn't though. Especially since they deserved to get as much rest as possible. Even more so when he knew how – what's the word – mean – yeah, that works – his son could get mean when sleep deprived. And that was the last thing he wanted to happen today.

Waiting, Steve listened closely to see if there was any movement inside of the townhouse. He couldn't tell, and he hesitated to ring the doorbell again. After all, he also didn't hear a baby crying. And he really didn't want to wake Rory up.

"What's the holdup?" Bucky asked, joining him on the porch, carrying the oatmeal bake that Steve made for the brit milah brunch.

"Should I ring the doorbell again?" Steve asked, worrying his lower lip with his teeth.

"Unless you wanna use the emergency key," Bucky offered, reaching for the keys in his pocket.

"No, it's for emergencies," Steve dismissed, reaching out to ring the doorbell again. Hoping that it wouldn't wake Roo.

Ding-dong!

This time, Steve could hear footsteps approaching the front door. As the deadlock was unlocked and the chain lock was undone, Steve fixed a grin on his face. And when Rhodey pulled the door open, the sleep deprived alpha seemed relieved to find his fathers-in-law.

"Rough night?" Bucky joked, taking in the younger man's disheveled appearance.

Elbowing his husband, Steve asked, "Did we wake you?"

"Yes and no," Rhodey shrugged, moving to the side so the older couple could enter his home. "I set an alarm, but slept through it."

Steve nodded, understanding. As he and Bucky slipped and shrugged out of their outerwear, Steve insisted, "Well, go get some more sleep. I'm just going to pop this in the oven."

"I don't know," Rhodey yawned, reaching up to scratch at the back of his neck.

"You need me to tuck you in?" Bucky half-joked. Offering, "I could even read you a story."

Much louder than he probably intended, Rhodey barked out a laugh. Steve couldn't help but smile. Until he heard the shrill cry of his grandson cut through the silence that followed the baby's father's laughter.

"Fuck," Rhodey muttered, worrying his lower lip with his teeth. Admitting, "He just got to sleep."

"Oh, no," Steve sympathized, having been there and having done that.

Then, a sour note in Ollie's scent announced his presence. Rushing downstairs towards the entryway, he held a crying Rory while crying, himself. It caused that protectiveness rooted deep in Steve's very being to spark with new life.

"Oh, squirt," Bucky consoled, marking his broad shoulder before marking over Rory's back.

"I jus–" Ollie hiccupped "–ust can't."

While Rhodey held out his arms to take his son from his husband, Steve knew that both of them deserved a few more minutes of sleep. So, Steve suggested, "Why don't you give Rory to pappy? You know he's the baby whisperer."

"That's true," Bucky agreed, handing the oatmeal bake to Steve so he could extend his arms towards the still-crying baby.

Weakly, Oliver joked, "You are boring enough to put someone to sleep."

"I'm gonna let that slide," Bucky teased, situating Rory in his arms so he'd be more comfortable.

Setting the bris dish down on the bench, Steve herded his son and his son-in-law back upstairs. Instructing the pair, "Take a shower. Sleep for a little bit. Dad and I will take care of everything until it's time for you to get ready. You don't have to worry about a thing."

"Pops, you don't gotta do that," Rhodey argued, but yawned again.

"It's fine," Steve assured the alpha. Guiding him to the king size bed. Being careful of the nest that had been created there. When Rhodey laid down, he yawned once again and his eyelids fluttered closed, Steve pulled a comforter over him. And Steve was glad that his son-in-law didn't fight him off, but now he had to deal with his headstrong, stubborn son.

"C'mon," Steve led the omega towards the ensuite. "All you need is a nice shower. Or a bath. I could run one for you. How does that sound, squirt?"

More tears fell from Oliver's puffy, tired eyes. When the cries turned into sobs, Ollie covered his now-blotchy face and just stood in the middle of the master bathroom.

"Oh, c'mon now," Steve comfortingly rubbed Ollie's back, marking him occasionally.

"I don't know if I can do this," Ollie sobbed. "All he's been doing is crying."

Steve wiped the younger omega's tears from his freckled face as he assured, "That's what babies do. He's going to cry. And he's going to cry a lot."

"But it fe-els like he's cry-crying bec-because of me-e," Oliver continued.

There were tears building in his own eyes, but that didn't stop him from heading for the tub. Leaning over so he could start the bath, Steve let his son cry because sometimes adults needed to cry too.

"I mean, am I doing something wrong?" Ollie questioned, trying his best not to hiccup. "He never wants to fall asleep for me. And he only seems to like me when he's eating. And I –"

"Sweetie," Steve rubbed over his arms as though he was trying to warm his shivering body, "He loves you. You're his papa. Besides, that's how I felt with you at this age, and you love me, don't you?"

Weakly, Ollie nodded, "Yeah, of course, I do."

"See," Steve assured, retrieving the lavender bubble bath. "Just because he's being a newborn doesn't mean that he doesn't love you. Because he does. He loves you so much!"

"You promise?" Oliver sniffled, looking extra sad with the dark circles under his red and puffy eyes.

Cradling Ollie's face in his hands, Steve leaned forward to kiss his son's forehead, "I promise."

With fresh tears in his eyes, Ollie wrapped Steve in a tight embrace while the younger man scented him. Steve could feel his own tears rising to the surface because he understood what his son was going through. Postpartum was no joke, with or without depression added to it. And it didn't seem that long ago since Steve had gone through this, himself.

Pulling back, Steve wiped Oliver's tears once more and instructed, "Now, you take some Me Time, and dad and I will take care of everything downstairs. Okay?"

Ollie nodded and started to relax, "Thanks, pops."

"Of course, squirt," Steve smiled. Standing on his tiptoes once more so he could kiss his son's forehead.

As he exited the master bathroom, Steve made sure to exit the bedroom as quietly and as quickly as possible, not wanting to disturb his snoring son-in-law. When he at last made it to the first story of the house, Steve was relieved to find the oatmeal bake in the oven and his husband cuddled on the couch with their grandson.

Joining the pair on the sofa, Steve was transported to his memories. Especially when Bucky leaned over to give him a sweet, tender kiss, all while the baby snoozed comfortably against his strong, broad chest. And when Bruce headbutted Steve's hand, he couldn't help giving some love to the cat. All the while, feeling like the thirty year old he used to be.