Steve sat outside of the hospital room in a stiff, plastic chair with his arms folded over his chest as he reviewed the last twenty four hours. Roman had been kidnapped then found and now he was waiting to find out if she was still pregnant. That had been a shock that he wasn't sure to think of. Roman refused to let him see her, something that Penny and Charlie made sure to enforce, no matter how sympathetic they might be to his plight.

"Steve?"

He had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed Penny approach him. Sitting in the chair next to him, she sighed. "I called her mom. She'll be here soon."

"How's she doing?"

"She'll be okay. Dr. Harrison's a good surgeon."

"And the baby?"

Penny licked her lips. "I think she should tell you about that."

"How can she when she won't let me see her?" He jerked out of his chair and ran a hand through his hair.

"Steve, I know you're frustrated but you have to be patient. There's a lot she wants to explain to you."

"Then let me in so I can talk to her."

She shook her head. "I can't. I'm sorry."

"Penny, please. You have to tell me how she is; how the baby is. Anything." Steve sighed and very seriously considered begging on his knees. "I need to know."

Penny held his gaze, staring into those blue eyes brimming with tears, and her resolve broke. "You can't tell her I said anything."

"I won't."

"Roman's devastated. She won't talk to anyone, she won't look at anyone, she just stares out the window. The only thing she's said was that she didn't want to see you. But if you ask me-" She paused and sighed deeply. "I think that she wants you there."

"Help me. Help me be there for her."

Checking her watch, Penny stood. "I have to go run some errands for Ms. Potts. I'll be gone for a while so nobody will be guarding her room."

Steve smiled at her and gave her a hug. "Thank you."

He waited until she disappeared down the hallway before opening the door to Roman's room. It was quiet, not even the television was on. Roman was on her side, facing away from him and the blanket wrapped tightly around her. She didn't move when he entered and he slipped his jacket off, draping it over the arm of a chair tucked into the corner. He wasn't sure if he should speak or not because he didn't know if she'd kick him out if he did. The clock ticking echoed in his ears as he decided what to do. "Roman?"

"Please go away." Her voice sounded so small.

He walked around the bed and knelt in front of her, brushing her hair away from her tear stained eyes. Stroking her cheek with his thumb, he said gently, "If you really want me to go, I will. But I wanted you to know that I'm here for you because I love you."

Roman sniffled and let out a shuddering breath. "I'm so sorry."

"It'll be okay." He told her softly with a small smile.

Wiping her eyes with the blanket, she replied, "I lied to you the whole time we were dating."

"We don't have to talk about this now."

"I need to tell you everything." The whole sordid story poured out of her mouth and Steve listened to every word, on his knees in front of her hospital bed. When she was finally done, she waited for him to reply. Instead of speaking, he kissed her and she started to cry again. Resting her forehead against his, she said, "I thought for sure you'd hate me."

"I don't think I could even if I wanted to." Steve admitted with a grin. "What about the baby?"

Roman shook her head. "There's no baby. I was never pregnant."

"Then why-"

"To save your life." She said. "I figured he'd jump at the chance and he did."

"Don't do that ever again." Steve chastised her gently. "You don't have to protect me."

"Yeah I do, you star spangled ding dong."

"Why?"

"Because I love you too."

Steve kissed her forehead and stood, much to Roman's displeasure.

"Where are you going?"

He didn't answer, just gestured for her to scoot over and she did, allowing him to squish into the bed beside her. The bed was too small for both of them but he wrapped his arms around her and Roman refused to move once she was tucked beside him.

"I'm a stripper."

"I know."

"Hunter is my baby."

"I know."

"I love you."

"I know."

-0-

Two days later, Roman was discharged and allowed to go home, which Steve insisted was his apartment until she found one of her own. Honestly, he'd have been happy with her staying with him indefinitely but he respected her wishes. Waking up to Steve was the best part of Roman's morning (even though she'd never admit it).

"Have you decided what to do about Hunter?" Steve asked as they lay in bed early one morning.

"I'm not sure what to do." Roman confessed. "I don't feel like he'll be safe with anyone else but at the same time I can't keep him either. I don't know how to take care of a baby."

"If you wanted to keep him, you could learn."

"I don't know if I'm ready to be someone's mom. I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

"What if I'm a bad mom? What if I can't take care of him?"

Steve propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her, brushing the hair out of her face with a smile. "Whatever you want to do, I'll support you. But it might be kind of nice to have a little kid around."

"Does Captain America want to be a father?" Roman teased.

He chuckled. "Honestly, I don't know if I want those things anymore. Until recently, I didn't think I wanted a relationship but things change. Both of you can stay here, with me, until you decide what to do."

"We have a lot of shopping to do then."

"In a little while." Steve promised, leaning down to kiss her again. "But first, breakfast."

-0-

Roman played with Hunter on the floor, watching the baby as he found himself fascinated with his toes. She was waiting for Clint and Charlie to make a decision and the tension was killing her. Finally, they emerged from the bedroom with neutral expressions on their faces. Nervous of their answer, Roman asked, "What did you decide?"

Charlie's face broke out in a smile. "We'd love to have Hunter become a part of our family. We'd love to have both of you become part of our family."

"Really? Roman couldn't believe it.

"Absolutely." Clint grinned as he slipped his arm around Charlie's waist. "The more the merrier. Does he happen to like arrows at all?"

Hunter squealed and clapped his hands gleefully, causing the adults to laugh with him. As Charlie and Clint sat down next to their newest addition to the family, Roman decided that this was a family she could be happy to have for Hunter. He'd be protected and loved forever and definitely be provided for. She had Steve and that was what she wanted and honestly, he was exactly what she needed. They loved each other for exactly what they were.

Even if they started out as strangers in a chat room.

A/N: So there we have the end of the story. I do hope you guys liked my effort to tackle Cap's character and he wasn't too out of character. I really think there's more to him than the apple pie goody goody that a lot of fics display him as. But that could just be me. Thanks to everyone who sent good thoughts when my kids were sick. They're all better now which is why I was able to update this quickly.

A huge thanks to my readers/followers/favorites/reviewers. You guys are the reason I write the stories. I love all of you!