AN: I uploaded this a year(ish?) ago but I actually decided to give it a quick rewrite and reupload it. Some side Sambucky but easily skippable if you're not into it.

This chapter is a little gross but in my experience babies are a lot of gross, and I'm just trying to stay authentic here, people. Lots of fluff because what else can you expect from me?

"So what is it that you want, huh?" Bucky demanded. He stared at his target, hours of intimidation by not one, but two men and still, he had yet to break.

Silence. Again.

"Maybe he'll break for a graham cracker," Sam inquired as he watched with his arms folded across his chest.

"No," Bucky insisted. "Once he gets what he wants he won't break his silence."

Bucky leaned in close to the target, his blue eyes fixed in a glare that had intimidated even the toughest of assets. "I can be here all night," Bucky stated, only to have a spray of drool hit him in the face as James laughed at his close proximity. "Gross!" Bucky exclaimed. "Not cool, little man."

Bucky shot daggers at Sam as he burst into a fit of laughter next to him. "It's not funny," he insisted, which only caused Sam to laugh harder.

The laughter stopped as the front door opened. They heard Natasha's spare key to their apartment jingle as she put them back in her pocket. "Are you intimidating my son again?" Natasha called out.

"No!" Both men protested in unison.

She entered the room, a hunter green jacket thrown over her black suit. Her hair was mussed slightly, the curls on top frizzing up a bit after a long day of work. James babbled happily at the sight of his mother, and she smiled at him as he walked to her on clumsy legs. "Good," Natasha said sweetly. "Because I would have to hurt you if you were."

"Yeah, yeah," Sam waved a hand at her. "Mama cub and all that."

James grabbed onto her leg, looking up at her with round eyes as he reached his arm up and babbled something in his own language. Natasha hummed in agreement before scooping him up, peppering his face with kisses as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Her face contorted in a few humorous expressions to James, who laughed and tried to copy her before turning back to her friends. "He's never going to speak if you keep putting him on the spot."

"Everyone cracks under pressure," Bucky insisted.

"He's a baby, Bucky-" Natasha stopped mid sentence and rose a brow at him. Her green eyes focused on a spot on his face as James happily tugged on one of her curls.

"What?" Bucky asked defensively.

"Is that," Natasha started, squinting her eyes slightly, "Food on your face?" She stepped closer and grimaced. "It's chewed up."

"Looks like that banana we gave James made a reappearance after he spit on you," Sam pointed out.

"He spit on you?" Natasha asked.

"Laughed." Bucky said, unamused by the situation as he wiped the offending food off of his face. "Lots of spit."

"Babies do that," she snorted.

"Babies are disgusting."

"This one is named after you. You're not allowed to think he's gross."

Bucky leaned in close to James. "You're gross." He stated. James only grabbed at the wisp of hair in his face and smiled widely. "Alright, we get it. You're cute. Cute and gross."

"Well, if you're done insulting my child, Steve's waiting for us back home. Thanks for watching him."

"Anytime, Natasha," Sam assured her.

She smiled gratefully to them before turning to James. "Say bye, Jamie," she prompted.

James only waved at Sam and Bucky, almost knocking into Natasha's face in the process. They both waved back until the door shut between them, and they faintly heard Natasha telling James something as they walked down the hall.

"We're never having kids," Bucky stated, collapsing onto the couch.

"Scared of losing your figure?" Sam asked. He was rummaging around in the kitchen, probably cleaning up the mess James had made as they watched him for the night. Even after growing up and raising three younger sisters, Bucky still didn't understand how kids could make such a big mess. Or why they were always sticky.

"I'm serious," Bucky said, "No kids."

Sam emerged from the kitchen, drying his hands on a dish towel before tossing it on the table. "You love kids," he pointed out.

"I do not."

Sam settled onto the couch with him, wrapping his arms around him as he got comfortable. "In fact, if we had kids, you'd be upset because I'd be their favorite."

"I would be their favorite parent," Bucky insisted.

"So you do want kids?" Sam asked, smiling knowingly at him. It wouldn't be bad, he guessed, if he had Sam with him. He did like kids and so did Sam, when Steve and Natasha had announced her pregnancy they were almost excited as they were to have a kid around. It was Bucky's normal, he helped his mother raised his sisters, and even though it been years, caring for them was almost second nature. And even if he wouldn't admit it, seeing his husband hold James had brought the thought to his mind a few times.

"When do you not get what you want?" Bucky sighed, leaning in as a sudden wave of affection went through him.

"Love you too," Sam said, bringing his lips to Bucky's.

"We're home!"

Steve smiled as he heard Natasha's voice, already rising to greet his family at the door. Natasha beamed brightly and James happily grabbed at the air as they caught sight of him, and he didn't hesitate envelop them in his arms in greeting. Days were too long when he was far from them, and he held them tightly as he appreciated the moment. Finally feeling whole again since he was forced to say goodbye to them in the morning.

"We saw you this morning," Natasha protested though she still sunk into his embrace.

"Shh, I missed you," Steve said. He tilted his face down to hers, and even though she rolled her eyes she still leaned up and pressed her lips to his. The message was clear, she had missed him too.

They broke apart from their brief kiss when James let out a noise of discomfort at being squished between them. "Sorry, Buddy," Steve laughed. "You've been making a lot of interesting noises lately," he commented, taking James from Natasha even as she protested. He resembled Natasha more than him but he didn't mind, strangely enough he preferred it. Even if he and his son's eyes shared the same shade of blue, the curls on the top of his head were as bright red as Natasha's and he recognized the smile he and his wife shared. A bright smile that lit up her entire face, and one that James showed much more freely than her.

"He's probably going to start talking soon."

"Probably," Steve agreed. "I hope we don't miss it."

"Bucky and Sam are really trying to get it out of him," Natasha sighed as she slipped off her shoes and pulled her hair into a bun on the top of her head.

"That's not gonna work," Steve cooed to James as he lifted him in the air, and smiled as James bursted into laughter. "You're stubborn like your mother."

"Hilarious," Natasha deadpanned.

"I know. My humor is why you keep me around."

"You caught me."

She disappeared into their bedroom, and Steve had to stop himself from staring through the cracked door as she undressed. Her bare back exposed to him as she slipped out of her suit. That suit did things to him, and he made his way to their sitting room to keep her eyes off of her as she changed. The coffee table had long since been moved out of the way so James could have a play area still in sight of his parents. It was where James sat then, his attention on the few toys he had. The television was turned on to some bright kids movie that they've both seen too many times and the chiming from James' toys were irritating to say the least, but still, when Natasha joined them he pulled his girlfriend closer to him with a smile on his face. He really was the happiest he'd ever been.

They had adjusted to their new life quickly, as the pregnancy was a surprise in many ways. Natasha didn't think she could get pregnant, and Steve didn't even want to allow himself to believe it was true until he first saw James on the ultrasound screen. They welcomed the surprise, completely ready to start the next chapter of their lives together. Still, he wanted more. Wanted everything he could possibly have with her, to share everything he had with her.

"I want another one," Steve said suddenly, breaking the content silence.

Natasha looked up at him, her face twisted in shock. Steve could guess her reaction already. It wasn't easy to surprise Natasha, in fact, he was probably the only one who could. "What?"

Steve took a deep breath and held his ground. "A kid, I mean. I want another kid. Not now but as a thought for the future."

Natasha grimaced. "You wouldn't be bringing this up if you were the one that had to be pregnant," she pointed out. "Having Captain America's super soldier baby wasn't exactly easy."

"Hey, I held your hair when the morning sickness hit."

"Romantic."

James cooed to himself as the button under his hand lit up and emitted a noise, oblivious to his parents' conversation. Steve watched him for a moment, his mind set as his son smiled brightly. "I'm serious, Doll."

"We'd have to move places. This apartment is too small for a family of four," Natasha pointed out.

Steve only shrugged. "I'm not attatched to this place." His hand reached up to run through her hair once before returning to cup her cheek. "You're my home, alright? I don't care where we are as long as we're together."

"In that case I'm thinking New Jersey-"

"Anywhere but New Jersey, Nat."

Natasha snorted before turning serious again. She looked into the blue eyes staring back at her. He was still cupping her cheek, and Natasha's hand slid over his in a loving gesture. "You're my home too." It almost felt like too much sometimes, how much he loved her. How even after years and even when he knew almost everything there was to know about her, every declaration felt like the first. That rush of happiness he felt the first time she told him she loved him coming back every time she gave the slightest hint that she felt everything he did.

"I don't mean now," Steve started. His thumb made small circles on her cheekbone like he knew she loved. Despite the heavy conversation, her eyes fluttered shut, completely content as she leaned into his touch. "Maybe after we're married."

Natasha's eyes flew open at that. "Married?" She exclaimed. She faintly heard James try to mimic the sound but her mind didn't register it.

"Not now. But you've never thought about marrying me?" He looked wounded as his hand fell to his side, his eyes doing the look. The one a grown man had no business being able to do as he considered her. Natasha buried her face in her hands and sighed, suddenly feeling exhausted. There was no point in trying to be coy, he could read her better than anyone.

"I have," she assured him. It was true, and she was half surprised he didn't get down on one knee the second she told him she was pregnant. Even feared the possibility when she had thought of how to tell him, but he didn't. Only focused on her pregnancy as he held her close, telling her how much he loved her as he kissed over and over again. It was crazy, being afraid of this wonderful man proposing to her. It took some time, but she had accepted that he was her's. Was always her's before they had even met and she would never leave him, but her mind could only be on the subject of marriage for so long before she had to think of something else. "We have time, Steve."

"Why wait?" Of course he would say that, he was never afraid of anything. Never bothered to think anything completely through before making a move that he was completely certain of. "Don't you want to start our lives together?"

She laughed at that with a shake of her head. Looking around the apartment, their apartment, where they raised their son together. "We have a kid. Our lives are already together," she insisted.

"Then why are you afraid of marrying me-"

"I'm not afraid, Steve," she snapped. She looked at James, hoping this wouldn't become one of his earliest memories, but he was thankfully oblivious to their conversation. His hand wrapped around hers, comforting even when she lashed out at him.

"Hey, look at me," he said, tilting her chin to him. "You know that I'll never hurt you, Nat. Talk to me, please. You don't know how much it hurts me to see you get inside your head like this."

She contemplated her thoughts for a moment, eyes on James babbling nonsense happily to himself. She took him in, his red curls identical to her own and in need of a trim, his blue eyes inherited from Steve lighting up every time there was a bright noise from the toy in front of him. She could see Steve in the corner of her eye, looking at her with concern and squeezing her hand affectionately. It all made her chest feel tight in a way it never had in the years without them in her life. When she was alone and could not even imagine having the life she did, when nothing in her life was permanent because nothing tethered her to any certain place. Steve had given her a life she never thought she could have, or even that she deserved. "It seems too perfect sometimes. I don't want it taken all away. It's not something you or I can prevent."

"Nat-"

"I do love you. More than I ever thought I was capable of."

"I love you, too." Steve said, bringing her hand to his lips and placing a kiss to her knuckles.

"But," Natasha started again. "I like the way things are now. I don't see why we have to change that."

Even if he refused to relent, he was patient. Having an answer for every downside that she could possibly think of. "It wouldn't be changing anything. We're already basically married."

"Exactly. It's just a piece of paper, and not worth enough to change anything." He winced and the weight of her words finally set in. She never means to be harsh, but it's all new to her. The Red Room didn't exactly give her a traditional raising. No one ever had to have her home by ten and she still wasn't exactly sure what the difference between homecoming and prom was. He was her first relationship, the first person she couldn't get off her mind, the first time she felt butterflies when she kissed him. Even if she didn't know exactly

how these things usually went, she was sure that there was no time limit until they had to get married. And if there was then she refused to follow it. But looking at Steve…

"I didn't mean it like that," she said quickly.

"I know," he said gently, taking her hand in his. "But it's not just a piece of paper, it's a ceremony and a day just for us, and so much more."

"That doesn't seem bad," she admitted. "It's just everything else."

"Nat, you gotta tell me what you mean by that-"

"Stop," Natasha said suddenly.

For the first time that night Steve's gentle disposition cracked. Anger replacing it even if it was contained as he insisted, "Natasha, this is important to me-"

"Shh," Natasha said again.

Before Steve could protest he heard a quiet, new voice behind him, but he couldn't make out what it said.

"Did you get that?" Natasha asked.

"No," Steve answered. "James? Can you say that again?" Their son looked at them for a few moments, wondering what they were staring at. Then, right when Steve and Natasha were about to write it off as a false alarm, he opened his mouth again.

"Cap!"

AN: If you're wondering why this seems familiar is because I posted a headcannon on tumblr a few years ago about this and another blog made a gif set with my permission. Review please !