#uncle thiago

Thiago hesitates for a moment—he’s not one for indulging in playful requests like his sister Estella might—but when he looks at Marianna’s face, that sweet, innocent smile, it’s like something softens inside him. A small chuckle escapes him as he leans forward and scoops her up without another thought.

“Alright, princess.” He lifts her high into the air, watching her squeal with joy as she wraps her little arms around his neck. “Hold on tight!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Quiet Reflection: 🍿

As he holds Marianna, spinning her around in a playful circle, Thiago’s thoughts start to drift. The chaos of the moment—the laughter, the squeals—doesn’t escape his analytical mind, but he starts reflecting on how much Marianna has changed him in such a short time.

A couple of years ago, he would have been too serious for this. Too logical, too focused on other things. He used to be the big brother, always looking out for Estella and trying to keep things in check when she made rash decisions or acted impulsively (and honestly, he wasn’t always the biggest fan of Steve). Estella, with her sweetness and sometimes silly nature, had always been the one who wore her heart on her sleeve, while Thiago stayed the more grounded, responsible one. It’s probably why he had his doubts about Steve when Estella fell for him.

“You sure about him?” Thiago had asked more than once, never really hiding his concern. He thought Steve’s carefree, “American hero” vibe was too distant from what Estella needed. It wasn’t until Marianna was born that Thiago began to soften. Seeing the way Steve cared for his daughter, how he was gentle and affectionate with her, made Thiago realize something he hadn't before: Steve made Estella happy.

In those early days, Thiago was still wary, but it was hard to ignore how good of a father Steve was. Slowly, but surely, his guard came down, and he started to see Steve not just as the man who had “stolen his sister’s heart” but as a genuine, caring individual. But the real change came when Marianna was born—Thiago’s world began to shift completely.

The Protective Uncle: 🧸

As Thiago holds his niece, he looks down at her little face, beaming with joy. His heart swells with a mixture of pride and love he hadn’t expected to feel. "Protect her at all costs." The thought hits him with absolute certainty. He had never promised anyone anything so fervently in his life, but with Marianna, it was different.

This tiny girl—his princess—was his responsibility now, too. He was determined to be her protector, just as he had always been Estella’s. Like it’s always been with his nephews as well.

But with Marianna, it felt more urgent, more instinctive. She was more tiny than her brothers, Kendall and Bradley, were when they were born.

Maybe it was because she was so much more vulnerable, so pure in her innocence. The thought of her getting hurt or facing hardship made his chest tighten with a protective intensity he hadn’t known he could feel.

~~~~~~~~~~

Thiago’s Quiet Promise ✨

Later that evening, after the family has settled in, and Estella and Steve are enjoying some quiet time together, Thiago finds a moment alone with Marianna in the living room. She’s snuggled up against him, watching the flickering light of the TV. She’s content, her small hand resting on his knee as she leans into him, her head nestled against his side.

Thiago glances down at her, unable to hide the softness in his expression. He’s deep in thought, as always, but now there’s a certain tenderness in his eyes. He’s always been the “serious” one, the one who kept his emotions in check, but Marianna brought out a different side of him. A side he hadn’t expected.

“Tio?” Marianna asks quietly, her voice so small and trusting. She looks up at him, her face filled with innocent curiosity.

“Yes, princess?” Thiago answers softly, running his fingers through her hair.

Marianna doesn’t reply with words. Instead, she raises her little arms, and Thiago knows exactly what she wants. A snuggle. He chuckles softly, lifting her up into his lap, where she curls up like a small kitten, seeking comfort and security in the quiet space between them.

“I’m always here, you know.” Thiago says, his voice low and serious. It’s more to himself than to her, but he knows she can sense the weight of his words.

He pulls her close, her little head resting on his chest as she relaxes in his arms. Thiago’s heart softens further. He silently makes a vow in his mind: No one is going to hurt her. I’ll always protect her.

Even though he doesn’t always show it outwardly, this moment—this quiet promise he makes to himself—deepens his commitment to being the kind of uncle Marianna deserves. Even if it means changing himself a little—becoming more tender, more playful, more willing to show her that side of himself—he would do whatever it took.

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Ok this has been sitting in my drafts for a while now and i thought why not post it? Anyways let me know what you think 💭

Stella, on the other hand, already knew what it was like. The youngest of three, raised with brothers Thiego and Leonardo, plus a storm of cousins who treated her like the baby sister and the eldest daughter at once—she knew the joy and the mess of having a full family. She loved it. But she also knew the work of it.

So she made her stance clear: “Two. That’s my max. A third if we’ve really, really lost our minds.”

Steve whined, but in the way that made her laugh and roll her eyes. Truth was, as long as it was with her, he’d take whatever number of kids she gave him.

—~~—

Years later, they got their “max.”

First Kendall, who they were sure was going to be a girl (Steve already had “Della” written down), but Stella insisted on the name Kendall, certain it would suit either way. When their son arrived, loud and bright and so Steve-coded in every way, they knew he was the perfect first.

Then Bradley, born in a whole different season of their lives. His name came from a lazy summer afternoon when Stella was rewatching Top Gun.

Steve thought it was ridiculous, but when she called the bump “Bradley” one too many times, the name stuck. This second boy was just as rowdy, just as punch-first-ask-later as his brother, but with a flair for drama and the arts that made everyone laugh.

Bucky, watching the boys wrestle one day, just shook his head. “Thing One and Thing Two,” he said. “Mini Steve’s. God help us all.”

And that was it. Two boys with big smiles, clever minds, and louder personalities. Steve was content. Stella was at peace. They had their perfect little family.

She even teased him once, during a pillow fight with the boys, that maybe it was time he went and got “snipped.”

Steve shot her a look while taking a flying hit from Kendall’s pillow, but she just laughed harder.

—~~—

And then came Valentine’s Day.

They’d gone out to dinner, dressed up and glowing like they were still twenty. At the table next to them sat a young couple with a baby boy and a baby girl—siblings, sweet and small, a matching set. Stella thought it was adorable. Steve thought it was dangerous, the way his chest ached watching them.

He teased her about “one more.” She teased back that he was crazy. They both swore up and down they were done.

Then the hotel happened. Then the champagne. Then a night that left them both breathless and giddy.

Weeks later, Stella nearly fainted at work. She came home with trembling hands and test results that made her stare at the wall before she could even look at him.

“Steve…” she started, quiet.

His heart froze, then raced. When she told him, he blinked once, twice, caught somewhere between shock and a joy he didn’t want to say out loud in case it wasn’t what she wanted.

“If you don’t want it,” he said carefully, “we’ll go to the doctor. We don’t have to do this again. Not if you’re not ready.”

Stella bit her lip, tears welling. She looked at him the way she always did when she’d already made up her mind but wanted him to be the one to say it.

“Babe…”

He smirked. Soft. Hopeful. “Honey…”

And then she laughed through her tears, whispering, “If you want to, of course—”

That was all it took. He kissed her like he was twenty again, like he’d just gotten his miracle, because he had. Because they both knew the truth—

This third baby wasn’t an accident. She was inevitable.

—~~—

Ahh I told ya I had more in store. And thank you ChatGPT for putting my ideas in perspective 😅

Anyways let me know what you think 🧐