𝗀 𝗁 𝗈 𝗌 𝗍 | | 𝗌 𝗍 𝖾 𝗏 𝖾 𝗋 𝗈 𝗀 𝖾 𝗋 𝗌

𝗇 𝗂 𝗇 𝖾 𝗍 𝗒 － 𝖿 𝗂 𝗏 𝖾

✩ 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟦, 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗅𝗒𝗇, 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗋𝗄 ✩

MARTA WAS ONLY EIGHT MONTHS pregnant when her babies came. The doctors said it was normal, but Marta wasn't convinced. Steven had come early, and she was terrified the twins would be just as sick as he was. But the twins were still kicking and punching, intensely strongly, so that was a good sign. "Drive faster, please." Marta told Steve, eyes screwed shut.

        She wished Natasha were there with her like last time. Marta cried out in pain, her hand absolutely crushing Steve's. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" Steve asked in alarm, focusing both on driving and comforting his wife.

        Marta rolled her eyes. "I'm never carrying your children again." she gritted out, and Steve smiled. Three kids was enough for both of them.

        Bucky was home with Steven, planning on coming to see Marta and the twins as soon as she wanted him to. He was excited, and Marta loved that he was excited. They got settled in a room quickly, Marta still gripping Steve's hand. He smoothed back her blonde hair, kissing her forehead. "I love you." Steve said, and Marta nodded, not having the energy to say it back.

        The twins were born after thirteen long hours, at 7:10 and 7:12 a.m., on July 11th. But they didn't cry. Marta sat up once they were both out, holding onto Steve. "Why aren't they crying?" Marta asked in alarm, breathing heavily.

        She received no answer, and before Steve could demand one, the first baby started crying. Then a moment later, they were both screaming, and all Marta could do was cry in relief. "They're okay." Steve whispered, kissing Marta's head, tears in his own eyes.

        Marta and Steve held their twins. They were little, but they were perfect. They were healthy, they just had to get a little jump to start breathing. "Did you call Bucky?" Marta looked up at her husband, holding Baby B.

        Steve nodded. "As soon as they cried. They'll be here soon." Steve said, sitting on the edge of Marta's bed, fixing Baby A's hat.

        When Bucky and Steven arrived at the hospital, the toddler climbed up onto Marta's bed with Bucky's help, settling beside his mother. He peered over at the baby she was holding. "Are you okay, Mama?" Steven asked, noticing Marta was tired.

        Marta smiled. "Yeah, I'm okay." she said, pressing a kiss to Steven's head. Her first baby cared more about his mother than his new siblings, and Marta loved him so much. Marta showed Baby B to Steven as Steve stood up with Baby A, showing the newborn to Bucky, who was in awe.

        "What are their names?" Bucky asked, keeping his metal arm tucked into his pocket.

        Glancing at Steve, Marta's smile widened. "This is Sarah Natasha." Steve said, referring to the baby he held.

        Marta fixed Baby B's blanket. "And this is Winnifred Rebecca. Winnie." Marta smiled at Bucky, and he looked happier than he had been in a really long time. Steven stood up on his knees, peering into the blanket at his little sister.

        The twin girls were absolutely perfect, and Marta loved them so much. They all went home a few days later, and Bucky was staying in the spare room at the house for a little while to help out with Steven and make the adjustment for Marta and Steve smoother. While Steven was constantly screaming and crying as a baby, Sarah and Winnie were silent. They cried only when they were hungry, and for a very brief amount of time. Unfortunately, when one started crying, the other did almost instantly.

        Marta was exhausted, but it was a good exhausted. All three of her children were perfect and healthy and got along. Steven adored his baby sisters, and gave them kisses every night before he went to bed. Probably the best part about having two girls was that Marta could give Sarah and Winnie the two bunnies that once belonged to Rebecca. Sarah had the one with pink bows on her dresser, and Winnie had the one with purple bows.

        "Hi, Winnie." Marta smiled, feeding Winnie from a bottle on the couch. Steve was making dinner with Steven, and Bucky was holding Sarah. It was the first time he had held one of his nieces, needing a few weeks to trust that he wouldn't hurt them.

        "How do you know which is which?" Bucky asked curiously, his dog tags tucked into his shirt.

        Marta wrapped Winnie back up in her blanket, the infant cooing. She lifted up Winnie's left wrist. "Birthmark. Steven and Sarah don't have it, it's just her, me, Becca and you." Marta said. On all three Barnes siblings' wrists was a tiny star-shaped birthmark that now Winnie had.

        Bucky smiled, cradling a sleeping Sarah. "How are you feeling? You're good?" Bucky asked. His concern for his little sister rivaled everything.

        Putting Winnie in her bassinet, Marta nodded. "Yeah, I'm good. I'm glad that the girls are done kicking and punching me. The bruises kind of sucked." she said, reaching over to fix Sarah's blanket.

        She took Sarah from Bucky to give her a bottle, and told Bucky it was okay that he picked Winnie up. "Are you sure? What if she wakes up?" Bucky asked, nervous.

        Steve came into the living room, placing Steven on the ground with his stuffed dinosaur. "Buck, it's okay." Steve patted Bucky's shoulder, and apprehensively, Bucky picked Winnie up into his arms, holding her carefully as she kept sleeping.

        Marta smiled at them. Bucky was Winnie's godfather, that wasn't a question. Marta and Steve had asked Pepper to be Winnie's godmother, and Pepper accepted happily. Morgan was excited to see the girls, and was extremely gentle with them when she and Steve visited. Morgan was tough, so she would get through her grief just fine.

        The days passed by, and Bucky went home to his apartment. He was still around, taking Steven to school and to the park, watching the girls so Marta and Steve could get things done. The first day Marta went back to work, Bucky stayed with Steve, the two of them figuring out the three kids cluelessly and together. Sam came to meet his nieces, and was thrilled to be asked to be Sarah's godfather, Pepper her godmother also.

        Then, when Sarah and Winnie were two months old, Steven having turned three a few months before their birth, Sam made a tough decision. He retired the shield, for good. It wouldn't be used by anyone anymore, even though Steve had given Sam the mantle. Marta and Steve didn't really know how to feel. Steve knew he wasn't Captain America anymore, and he figured that so long as the shield was safe in the Smithsonian, he was okay that Sam wasn't using it.

        In the middle of the night, all three kids woke up. Steven had a nightmare, Winnie was hungry, and Sarah was crying because her sister was. "I'll get Steven and calm Sarah." Steve said, hauling himself out of bed.

        "I'll get Winnie." Marta rubbed at her eyes, accidentally walking into Steve on her way out of the bedroom. They were a team, and the best one at that. Three kids were a lot, but Marta and Steve put themselves first, knowing they were better parents when they worked together. Marta loved Steve, and was so excited for a life without fighting.

✩