Everly || Steve Rogers

83 1/2. Parenting 101

Everly stopped just before the wooden door of their little yellow house and huffed, finally stepping inside. She slipped off her shoes in the doorway and ran a hand through her hair, her face scrunching up when a burning smell filled her nose. She rounded the corner into the kitchen to see Steve fanning the air. 

"What happened in here?" She coughed, folding her arms over her chest as she leaned up against the doorframe.

"I tried to cook dinner." He returned, groaning in frustration as he turned to face her. A frown fell over his face when he noticed a small cut above her brow. "What happened?" He met her eyes and she could already see him growing worried.

"Uh..." She rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "A bit of a fender bender on the way to work." She cringed, awaiting his reaction.

"Are you okay?" He hurried.

"Yeah." She nodded quickly and stepped further into the room. "But we should probably talk."

"Okay." He said suspiciously, his gaze raking over her nurse's uniform. 

"So," She began, pausing to think up the right words. "They insisted on checking me over since I was at the hospital anyway and- well at first when they asked I thought it was ridiculous. I mean, I didn't even- but then I wondered if maybe-"

"Eve." He interrupted, raising a questioning brow.

"I'm pregnant." She blurted, cringing as she dropped her face into her palms. He blinked a few times, feeling as though he was reliving a nightmare. The pair sat in silence for a moment before his eyes widened in realization. He stepped forward and dropped his hands to her shoulders. She slowly peeked up from her hands and her eyes flicked between his.

"Are you really?" He whispered. Everly nodded and the brightest of smiles fell over his face as he pulled her in for a hug. She hadn't been sure what to expect from him, but it definitely wasn't this. He seemed unbelievably grateful, as if she'd just given him the greatest gift imaginable.

~~~

Everly hummed quietly to herself as she ran the dish towel over the plate in her hands. She frowned at the feeling of butterflies in her stomach and dropped a hand to her swollen belly. Her eyes widened in surprise at the tiniest of kicks against her palm.

"Steve!" She shouted, setting the plate on the counter and starting for the living room. It was less than a second before heavy footsteps hurried down the stairs and she flinched when he skidded around the corner, eyes wide.

"What's wrong?" He hurried, his gaze scanning her over. "Are you okay?"

"Give me your hand." She beamed, reaching an arm out toward him.

"What?" He asked in confusion, slowly offering her his hand as instructed.

"Quick." She breathed, pressing his palm against her stomach. She looked up into his bright blue eyes and waited, the smile never leaving her face. He frowned, raising a questioning brow.

"Eve, I-" He grew silent at the small thump against his hand. 

"Can you feel it?"

Steve nodded slowly and a breath pushed past his lips. He planted a kiss on her forehead and finally cracked a smile through his shock-ridden expression.

"I feel it."

~~~

They both knew parenting would be hard, though they didn't count on it being - running on an hour of sleep and scraping apple sauce out of your hair - hard. Nor did they count on it being the most rewarding experience either of them had embarked on.

"I'm sorry, Gracie." Everly groaned as she struggled to keep her eyes open, cries ringing through her ears. "Daddy's looking." She added. Tears soaked her food-splattered shirt as she bounced her daughter playfully up and down where she sat perched on her hip. 

"I found it!" Steve called from the living room. She let out a sigh of relief when he came around the corner, pacifier in hand. He sent Everly a sympathetic look before popping the binky into Grace's mouth, instantly ceasing her screams. He reached his arms out, silently asking to hold her. Everly traded out with him, running a frustrated hand through her hair.

Steve smiled down at the chubby baby in his arms and she began drifting off to sleep. She scoffed in disbelief. He had a way with her and it never ceased to annoy Everly when he made everything look so easy.

Then again, she couldn't help but feel like everything was just perfect the way it was. She was lucky enough to wake up each morning to the most amazing person she'd ever met, and they were blessed with a little girl to call their own. With the exception of Grace's tantrums of course, she was just glad that Steve Rogers had found peace, he was finally able to rest.