#reply q

“Not necessarily,” Steve murmured, shrugging a shoulder as he peeled off his undershirt and sighed heavily. “and truth be told, it really did go better than I thought it would. But still... that was pretty awful.”

“While I’m sorry your kidneys are suffering, why do I have to suffer along with them? Besides-- they get the kicking thing from you.”

There was a small pout as she caught his tone, and all he could do was shake his head. “’m not jealous.” Ha-- with that answer, of course he was giving himself away, but Steve didn’t give a damn. “I just asked who he was is all, I’ve never seen him before.” The Captain continued to play it off badly, pointedly avoiding her gaze as he glanced around the empty hall before scuffing his shoe on the floor absently.

Steve let her cling to him though it made his heart ache. He always felt so helpless when he had his own nightmares, but Nat? Christ, it was even worse. He shushed her gently and shifted to the edge of the bed. “You’re not gonna hurt me, sweetheart--” he murmured, pressing his lips to her sweat-slicked forehead gently before tucking her hair behind her ear. There was little she could do to really hurt him, but he knew she needed to at least sit in the tub with some cool water for a minute. “I’ll fill the tub, that way you can sit instead of me holding you in the shower? Unless you want me to sit in the tub with you-- whatever you want, Nat, is fine with me.”

Steve couldn’t help the little self-satisfied smirk that tugged at his lips when she said that no one could figure out who the flowers were from. Sure, he’d left no note with them, but he figured Peggy would know. “You like ‘em then?” He asked, expression softening as he fussed with the jacket of his uniform. “I uh... you’re welcome, Peggy. I hoped you’d know they were from me at least, I know I didn’t leave a card or nothin’...” Steve said, rubbing the back of his neck as his cheeks flushed.

Steve hummed rather contently as Peggy pressed a kiss to his forehead, cheeks already warm from the alcohol in his system. While he wasn’t a lightweight by any means, it had probably been a bad idea to challenge Peggy to some kind of drinking game that she could clearly beat him at. “Shut up-- I totally will. With all the things my ma taught me? Imma--” hiccup. “Be the best housewife-- er-- husband someday.” He slurred, eyes closing as he continued relaxing in her lap.

Steve chuckled quietly as he concentrated on patching Nat up as gently as he could manage. “Yeah, it’ll probably scar.” He murmured, finishing off by taping a piece of gauze over the injury, very gently placing a kiss against her unmarred skin beside it. “But I like your scars. Makes you look tough-- I mean you are tough, but you don’t need fake skin. I like your skin just the way it is.” He teased, looking up at her and pressing up slightly to kiss her lips.

Steve was sure that if he was quiet enough, he really could hear the baby’s heartbeat, but he was just enjoying the closeness, the feeling of Peggy’s slightly rounded stomach under his ear and her fingers in his hair. “’course I’m okay.” He murmured-- sure he’d been disappointed earlier when they’d found out it was a girl, but he wasn’t going to be upset about it for long. So they’d have another girl and he’d be massively outnumbered, but he’d still love them. Just like he loved Emma and Audrey with all his heart. “Are you okay?”