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

Twenty-Seven

"Okay, smile real big!" Bucky instructed, taking another picture of the girls.

"Are we almost done?" Bitsy asked, slumping in her spot between her sisters.

"Just a couple more," Bucky insisted.

Bitsy threw her head back in annoyance and Nevie slouched, smiling dropping from her face. Even Cori seemed done. Moving her jaw around as though to stretch it so it wouldn't be so sore from all of the smiling. Of course, just as fast, she was back to giving that toothy grin of hers. The same one that she wore during pep rallies and on the sidelines from the sports games they cheered for.

"Pops, tell dad to stop," Bitsy whined, half-joking.

Shaking his head, Steve reached up for Bucky's arm and tugged his prosthetic arm down. The alpha sighed and let the pictures be done. For now, at least. But Steve understood. The sooner that the pictures were done, the sooner the girls could go to prom. And the sooner that this night was over, the sooner the girls were to graduating. And then the sooner they were to leaving. But what hurt the sweetest was that the sooner they were to growing up.

With glassy eyes from unshed tears, Bucky pulled Steve close so he could kiss his omega's temple. They knew that this was a part of life. But that never made it any easier.

As the girls joined their siblings on the sofa, their fathers stood there for a moment. Just looking over their family. The girls in their sparkling, glamorous dresses, reminding Steve of when they would play dress-up. But that was true with their other kids too who were relaxing in comfy, lounge clothes.

Steve still wasn't sure what he had done to deserve this, and he'd never stop being thankful. Hugging his husband's torso, Steve smiled up at him and adored the kiss that Bucky pecked to his lips.

Rory's giggles, regained the men's attention as they watched Ollie hold the almost three month old up so he could blow a raspberry on his stomach. Rory, just like his father had when he was a baby, loved them and found him so silly. His laughter was like music to Steve's ears. Glad to see his grandson happy and healthy, just like how he had been glad with each of his own kids.

"What? Hmm?" Rhodey asked his son, "Is papa silly? Huh? Is papa silly?"

"If nothing else, he sure is goofy," Finn good-humoredly mocked his older brother.

"Goofy looking," Cori teased, feigning a cough to hide the playful insult.

Oliver kept his attention on the two month old as he continued his baby talk, "This is why your kiki is the favorite. Yes, it is."

"Hey," Finn and Cori objected while Kit looked pleased as punch.

Extending their arms towards the soon-to-be three month old, Kit insisted, "You wanna see your favorite kiki, yeah?"

Cooing and kicking his legs as Oliver passed the baby to their siblings, Rory was all smiles. He was such a happy baby, and it reminded Steve of when Kit was that young. Nothing but gummy smiles and excited coos. The way all babies should be, Steve decided.

Cozying up to her older sibling, Nevie rested her head on their broad shoulder so she could affectionately caress over Rory's chubby cheek. Steve couldn't help but admit that there were some upsides to his children getting older. One of those was grandkids.

"Hi, Roo," Bucky smiled, using that special tone that he used for their babies and their cats. "Whatcha thinkin'? Hmm? Are you havin' fun with your kiki? Yeah? They're a lot of fun, aren't they."

As Rory's eyelids fought to stay open, it was obvious that the two month old was getting tired, so Kit brought him close, situating him on their broad torso. Not that Kit minded though, as the almost three month old nuzzled closer, resting his head on his kiki's strong shoulder.

When the room quieted to accommodate Roo, the doorbell rang. Instantly, the girls stood from their seats on the sofa. That familiar lump of emotion threatened to choke Steve as he watched his daughters, his last babies, head down the hallway to the front door. Through the bond, Steve could feel Bucky's twin emotions. The bittersweet of the moment was going to drown them because they were so happy for their girls, but heartbroken that this chapter of their lives was almost over.

Sure, their family was still going to retain that strong connection that they currently had. But it wasn't going to be the same. Ian and Aunt CeCe weren't going to be the only members in California, Cori had been accepted to a school for where her acting career could flourish. And while Bitsy would be continuing her ballet study in Manhattan and Nevie would be based in Ithaca, it wouldn't be the same.

"Let's do this one last time," Bucky softly smiled down at Steve.

Nodding, Steve laced his fingers with Bucky's and walked hand in hand towards the front door. Their daughters were talking with their dates, and Steve's chest felt tight.

They were doing this again.

Just one more time.

One last time.