So this is the last chapter (geez my stories have been getting shorter). Wow…we're finally at the end.

Larryeneno: Yes, finally the rescue. (And now I have "Holding Out for A Hero" playing in my head…)

Guest: Thanks! :)

Dr. Huff-Puff: Further chapters? …maybe…if I am struck with a moment of genius.

Isala Uthenera: No Dianne isn't having twins, she just refers to them instead of it because I just don't like referring to humans as it.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Once it became clear to the Avengers that Bucky was heading towards the Southern California base, they wasted no time preparing for their trip, suiting up and boarding a quinjet. Bucky himself was still a few hours from the base, but since was still continuing south along the coastline, they were ninety-nine percent certain he would be going to the one base nearest to him. If they were wrong, Stark would know and he'd inform them and they'd just continue following. However, Stark relayed to the others while they were only a few minutes out that Bucky had already arrived.

"Ready to face him again?" Stark asked the Captain, "You won't freeze up?"

"I didn't freeze up last time," Steve quipped back.

"Then why isn't he dead already?"

"I couldn't kill him Stark," Steve replied quietly, "He's…he's my friend."

"Not anymore. He's the enemy. You're going to have to do what's necessary Cap."

Steve's heart grew heavy. He wasn't sure he could. Perhaps there was some way to bring Bucky back to how he was. Steve would try everything he could to do so, but if it couldn't be done…then he would have to kill him.

Clint and Natasha flew the quinjet over the cement walls surrounding the base, firing the guns on the A.I.M soldiers down below as they opened the back doors to let the rest out. Loki was out first, looking ready to slaughter these people. Stark flew out after, flying around the base to scope it out, and Steve had barely dropped the ten feet to the ground when Loki blasted an entire wall away, with the aid of his Asgardian magic. A.I.M soldiers surged toward him, and he took each one down with a precise hit with his scepter.

"Looks like Loki could take on the entirety of A.I.M. himself," Stark said to the others through the com.

"He's pissed off enough," Clint agreed.

"As am I," Steve added, charging into the fray of soldiers trying to prevent Loki from getting inside the building he half demolished.

Even without Steve's help, Loki would have blown the A.I.M soldiers to smithereens. As they rushed in, they were thrown back by an unseen force. Picking themselves back up, they found themselves face to face with a hideous creature that was mainly a head in a floating chair.

"Prepare for your demise Avengers!" the creature shouted at them in its robotic voice, "I Modok shall rid this world of all heroes!"

"Did he just call himself Modok?" Steve heard Clint asking in the com, "That's supposed to be A.I.M's leader."

With that bit of news, Steve threw his shield at Modok once found his footing, but it went careening off to the left as he felt himself being pushed back again. Modok was using some sort of psychic powers against them. Loki created his holograms as he tried to sneak past Modok; he just wanted to get inside. Again Modok blasted them away, this time with a wave of red heat, scorching both Loki and Steve, making Loki's doubles disappear. They had no choice but to retreat a safe distance to avoid the attacks.

"Loki and I could use a little help over here with Modok," Steve said into the com.

"Looping around," Stark replied, coming around the backside of the building to flank Modok.

Either Modok had eyes on the back of his head, or he sensed Stark somehow, because he erected a barrier as Stark sent a few of his energy blasts at him, which fizzled out against the barrier.

"Okay, this guy is pissing me off now with his psionic powers," Stark said, irritated that this guy was avoiding all their attacks, "Where's Hulk?"

"He's helping us deal with a swarm of agents," Natasha replied.

"Stark, I need you to distract Modok just long enough for Loki and I to get inside," Steve said, lunging out of the way from another heat blast, which also happened to be in the direction of his shield so he quickly picked that up as well, "You guys can handle things out here, we'll look for the girls."

"Distract him?" Stark asked, looping around again and trying another tactic to get at Modok, but he blasted it away, "With what? How?"

"Think of something! He's hardly moving away from the building."

Steve and Loki were thrown back again by the unseen psionic force, hitting the cement wall behind them. Steve shook his head as he began to see stars. It'd been a long time since Steve felt completely helpless. There was nothing he could do against this guy.

Loki was trembling in fury as he stood back up. This thing was keeping him from Dianne, took Dianne and his unborn child away from him, and he was going to shred him to pieces for that. Whirling around to face Modok, he charged at him.

"Loki what are you doing?" Steve asked.

Loki knew Modok would attack, but he also knew he had to deal with Stark's third loop around so he would have to decide which one was the greater threat. As Modok erected the shield that disrupted Stark's energy blasts, Loki smirked. He miscalculated, using one of his psionic blasts would have been the smarter thing to do. Lunging forward Loki speared the blade of his scepter into Modok's left eye, twisting the blade sharply once it stopped sinking into his head. Modok roared in agony and Loki purposefully ripped the blade out at an odd angle as he tumbled over the back of him. Stark then used Modok's distraction to blast him away from the gaping hole in the building wall. Steve ran to the opening, and jumped down the stairwell after Loki just as Modok tried blasting him again.

"That's what I was doing," Loki said to the Captain as he caught up to him.

"Nice job."

"Now let's finish tearing this place apart."

Steve was in complete agreement, and the two made their way down the hall, opening every door they came upon to see what was behind. After rounding a second corner and checking two doors, they made their way to a third. As Steve started to open the door, a hand jutted out from the opening and Steve felt his muscles spasm as his body was wracked with pain, bringing him down onto his knees. The door was then thrown open, and he looked up to see Bucky there.

"You again," Loki growled, narrowing his eyes into a death glare. He was still bitter about the whole getting shot thing.

With Steve down for the count, Bucky faced Loki, and held his left arm out and used the taser effect on him as well. Loki convulsed for a few seconds, his knees buckling, but he didn't drop, instead recovering from the hit. Bucky's eyes went wide. What the hell? Why didn't it work? What was this guy? Eyes burning in anger, Loki grabbed Bucky's right arm, squeezing the already broken limb, making him cry out in pain. He then kicked Bucky's feet out from under him so he was prone and temporarily not an issue. Turning back to Steve, he helped him to his feet.

"Are you alright?" Loki asked.

Steve nodded, shaking off the last bit of tense muscles, and looked down at Bucky, who was groaning in pain, but looked like he was going to get back up and start fighting again soon, "You keep going, find Olyvia and Dianne. I'll deal with Bucky."

Loki nodded, and continued down the hall, opening doors as he went. Steve turned back to Bucky, who was now halfway to his feet.

"How many times do I have to tell you," he growled, "I'm. Not. Bucky!"

Jumping to his feet he went to punch Steve, who leaned backwards out of the way, before returning with a swing of his own, which Bucky managed to dodge. Bucky was just as fast, if not faster, than himself.

"But you are!" Steve shouted, raising his shield to block another attack, "I don't know how, but you're the guy I grew up with. We were best friends. Don't you remember?"

Bucky cringed, grabbing onto his head as pain pierced his skull. More images flashed through his head, but he tried his best to suppress them, and sent out an EMP blast from his prosthetic arm this time. It didn't do much to Steve, except deafen him for a few seconds, but it caused the lights to flicker before going out.

"I don't remember anything before waking up in a Russian lab!" Bucky shouted back.

"You were a soldier," Steve tried again, "In the 107th. Then I recruited you into my team."

Grabbing the pistol on his hip, Bucky shot at Steve, who ducked inside the room Bucky had exited a few minutes prior. Bucky missed horribly though, due to squeezing his eyes shut as more images…memories, flooded his brain, war grounds, tanks, explosions, a lab, Steve…coming to rescue him. It still wasn't making any sense. He had never heard the name Bucky before now. He was James Buchanan Barnes, that's what it said on his dog tags…from World War II.

"I thought you had died Bucky," Steve said from the dark room, "On our last mission. We were on a train, to get Dr. Zola."

Bucky crumbled down onto his knees as the memories continued to flood his mind, causing unspeakable pain, as if something was trying to force its way back into his head. Steve then stepped out from the room and grabbed Bucky by the collar of his shirt.

"Remember who you are soldier!" he shouted at him, his voice stern and authoritative.

The floodgates of his mind then broke, and Bucky was overwhelmed by the onslaught of memories. Childhood in Brooklyn, protecting little Steve from the bullies, signing up for the army, saying goodbye to Steve, going to war. At the forefront of all the memories, was Steve desperately reaching for his hand as he dangled from the blown out train wall, and inevitably fell to what was expected to be his death. Tears were streaming down Bucky's face as he looked up at Steve's piercing blue eyes.

"Steve I…" he paused, wondering how he should phrase his wording so Steve would know he wasn't trying to trick him. Then it came to him, "I thought you were smaller."

"Oh thank God," Steve breathed as he hugged his long lost friend.

"Can't breathe Steve," Bucky wheezed.

"Sorry," Steve said, letting go and taking a step back, but keeping his hands on his shoulders, "What happened to you Bucky? How…how are you still alive? It's been seventy years."

"Well, how are you still alive?" Bucky retorted.

"Frozen in ice."

"Ah, well sort of the same thing for me," Bucky replied, "I was put in stasis by a Russian scientist."

Now Steve was confused, "Then how'd you come to work for A.I.M?"

"They woke me up over a year ago, hired me," Bucky replied, getting back up onto his feet, "Oh God what have I done?"

"Shot my sister-in-law and kidnapped my wife, just to name a few," Steve couldn't help but say bitterly.

"I'm sorry," Bucky muttered, "So married huh?"

"Yes, and speaking of which, do you know where she and the others who were kidnapped are?"

Bucky nodded, "Yes. Follow me."

Bucky took the lead, and Steve followed closely behind as he led him further down the hall.

"I hope we reach it before your other friend," Bucky commented.

"Why is that?"

"Because the door leading into their room has an electrical charge running through it," Bucky said, "It'd fry someone's arm off."

"Oh, then we better hurry."

The big metal door was practically screaming, "I'm holding hostages!" Of course, they'd need an impressive door to keep Olyvia from breaking it down, though Loki had to wonder what it was made out of that she wasn't able to, or why she didn't try. Easily dealing with the guards standing there, Loki looked to see if it was locked, but it had an electronic keypad, which he had no clue how to run. Perhaps he could break the lock on the handle, his Asgardian strength surely could do that. Gripping onto the handle, he felt the shock of electricity shooting through his body, making him go into convulsions. He was able to pry his hand off at least, and he looked at his hand as it started tingling from numbness.

"Wow…haven't felt that in a while," he said to himself.

It had, in fact, been quite a few hundred years since Thor would zap him with lightning for the fun of it, since he finally matured enough it wasn't so funny. Loki was sure his hair was standing up a little. Knowing he could withstand the current, it was just a fact on whether he wanted his hair looking like Olyvia's on a bad day, he grabbed onto the handle again, and turned it past the locking mechanism, breaking it. Then with a kick, since he had no desire to continue holding the door, he pushed it open, slamming it against the wall. The occupants inside all jumped at having the door slam open, but when they saw it was Loki, they burst into tears of joy at having been found.

"Loki!" Dianne exclaimed as she tried pushing herself to her feet.

Her husband was faster though, and practically threw himself at her as he enveloped her in a tight embrace, though not too tight that he was choking her.

"Thank the Gods you're alright," Loki murmured into her hair, "You are alright, right? And the baby?"

"We're fine," Dianne replied, pulling back to look her husband in the eye, "We're all fine, though I would love to get a checkup on the baby, just to be sure. I haven't taken my vitamins this last month after all."

"I swear, if anything happens to the baby, I will personally slaughter every last member of A.I.M," Loki growled.

"Where is everyone else?" Rosemary asked.

"They're outside," Loki replied, "Steve should be on his way here though. We'll probably go back to help the others, but it would be best if you remain here and out of the way, that way nothing can happen to you."

They all nodded in agreement, before Dianne's eyes grew wide in excitement, and she grabbed Loki's wrist, pulling his hand to her belly.

"Do you feel it?" she asked.

Loki stared in shock at his hand as he felt a slight kick against it. The baby was moving. That meant it was mostly okay. Unable to help himself he hugged his wife, kissing her, before planting a kiss on her belly. Dianne smiled as she heard Loki whisper against her belly.

"Oh I love you."

When Steve and Bucky reached the room the door was already broken down, and Bucky just stared in shock and horror at it, seeing Loki in the room, and alright. Being a Norse God obviously had its benefits.

Steve didn't pause at the door, instead sped up his pace into a run as he pulled his cowl off and went straight for his wife, who jumped to her feet seeing him.

"Steve!" she cried as she threw her arms around his neck.

Rosemary made a face as the two instantly locked lips, practically gluing themselves together they were holding onto each other so tight. She couldn't blame them though, they hadn't seen each other in over a month.

"I missed you so much," Olyvia said once they finally broke apart, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"I missed you too Livy," Steve replied.

She hugged him again, this time resting her head on his shoulder, and that's when she noticed James standing in the doorway. Steve barely caught her in time as she tried lunging at him with a deranged shout.

"Livy! Stop, it's okay," Steve said, "He's with us."

"With you?" Olyvia screeched, and Steve was starting to get a little scared of his wife, wondering just what Bucky did to piss her off like this, "Last time I knew he was working for Mr. Roboto!"

"He was brainwashed," Steve said, one of the things he learned from Bucky on their way here, "He's my friend Livy. You remember me telling you about Bucky right? Well…that's him."

"And you trust him already?"

"I do."

"Well I don't!" Olyvia shouted, "He kidnapped me! He belittled me! And then he kissed me! After all that!"

"He what?" Steve exclaimed, whirling around on his friend, who was looking very guilty.

"WHAT?" her sisters shouted in unison, also turning to look at Bucky.

"I-I-I…I have nothing to say to defend my actions," Bucky said.

Steve looked ready to kill, but since it was Bucky, he settled with just punching him. In the jaw.

"Feel better?" Bucky asked after popping his jaw back into place.

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry," Bucky apologized.

Steve was silent for the few moments following his apology before finally saying, "I forgive you. Touch my wife again though, I won't hold back."

"Understood. Let's head up top shall we? Help finish off whatever's left up there?"

"With a broken arm?" Loki asked.

Bucky shrugged with his left shoulder, "I've been able to manage so far."

Loki looked to Steve, "You trust him enough for me to heal him?"

He nodded, and Loki took Bucky's arm, making him flinch. He cringed even more as his bones snapped back into place, and once Loki finished, the Norse God was feeling rather weak.

"Perhaps you should stay," Steve suggested.

"I'm fine with that," Loki said, looking over to his wife. He didn't want to leave her side.

"We'll be back once everyone else is taken care of," Steve said, then went back to Olyvia's side and scooped her into his arms and gave her another kiss, "I love you."

"I love you too," she replied, then added, "But I hate your friend."

Steve sighed. From what he could foresee, those two would never get along. He hoped she wouldn't make him choose between her and his long lost friend. He'd choose her of course, but it'd kill him to say goodbye to Bucky again.

Once Steve and Bucky made it outside, there was little for them to do. Hulk was busy making Modok jam, which Bucky sent an EMP blast over among Modok's debris remains to make sure he stayed dead. There was no telling what the guy had done to ensure his life. There were only a few A.I.M agents left, which were quickly picked off, but it was the explaining to the rest of the group about Bucky that took the longest. None of them were willing to trust him so readily as Steve, which he understood and expected.

With no more enemies to deal with, Steve went back to get Loki and the girls, bringing them up top to reunite with the others. Stark pushed Clint and Natasha aside as he hurried over to Pepper, hopping briefly out of his Iron Man suit to give her a hug. Once he finished giving her a hug, Rosemary then tackled him to the ground in her excitement to see him. The reunions were brief, Bruce ushering everyone back onto the quinjet so he could check over everyone to see how they were doing after a month in confinement. Aboard the quinjet, Bruce insisted on seeing Olyvia first in the small room in the back where he had his equipment.

"Dianne should go first," Olyvia argued.

"Livy, just do as Bruce says," Steve said.

"Why? I'm fine! Except I have to use the restroom, but I think I can hold it for a little," Olyvia argued.

"Livy…you're—," Steve began.

"Not indestructible, yes I know," Olyvia interrupted, "I've gone through enough crap to know that definitely isn't the case."

"Olyvia, if you'd just let me finish—," Steve tried again.

"But I'm fine this time," Olyvia said, "Just emotionally scarred perhaps, but fine!"

Since she wasn't letting him get a word in, Steve picked her up and carried her in, setting her down on the table in there, "Olyvia, Bruce wants to see you first!"

"I want him to see Dianne first!"

"LIVY!" Steve exclaimed exasperatedly, "It's about your blood tests. Bruce—."

"Oh my god," Olyvia breathed, "The mutation…it's coming back isn't it?"

Steve groaned and slapped a hand over his face. If she would just let him speak!

"Olyvia, just listen to me for—."

"I thought I was cured of it!" Olyvia burst into tears, "Of course I couldn't escape it. Everything bad happens to me. That's just my luck."

Bruce finished setting up the equipment he needed, and asked Olyvia to lay on her back. She flopped down, slapping a hand over her eyes as she started crying even harder.

"Olyvia—," Steve tried again.

"I don't want to hear it Steve," Olyvia said, then realized Bruce was pulling up her shirt, "What are you doing? Is there any need for that? Bruce! Steve! What is he—?"

Olyvia was for once cut off by the sound of a heartbeat as Bruce pressed a heart monitor onto her abdomen. Olyvia whipped her head over to the monitor to see a quick little heartbeat making its way across the screen.

"You're pregnant," Steve said, "That's what I've been trying to say."

Olyvia looked back to Steve, jaw agape, tears glistening in her eyes, "H-h-h-how?"

"I think you know how," Bruce commented.

"You know what I mean!" Olyvia said indignantly, "I thought you said it was impossible."

"Obviously not," Bruce said, "Would you like to see how your miracle baby is coming along?"

Olyvia nodded enthusiastically, bursting into tears of joy, burbles of laughter escaping her lips. Steve wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead as she continued to cry it out before she finally composed herself and Bruce was able to do an ultrasound.

"Now I'm not trained for this sort of thing, so you're going to have to see a gynecologist when you get back home, but just so you can see," Bruce said, bringing up the image of the fetus, still in the early stages of growth.

Olyvia started crying and laughing again, "There's our baby."

Steve's grin couldn't have gotten any wider when she said that. Our baby just sounded so wonderful.

"The fact that we have a heartbeat is the good thing," Bruce added a few moments later, "That was our main concern. The stress you were under while being kidnapped could have proven fatal."

"Well…I'm glad you got us out of there when you did," Olyvia said, "Modok was up to something again, and he was going to use me to do it."

"Then a very good thing we arrived when we did," Steve agreed, "And we'll be back home in time for your birthday."

"Right, my birthday," Olyvia muttered, "Can we just…do a small little thing with just the two of us and my gift is sleeping in? I have a lot of sleep to catch up on."

Steve chuckled and kissed his wife's forehead, "Whatever you want dearest."

With their turn now over, Olyvia headed back into the main part of the quinjet, and Dianne went in next. Again, Bruce was going to give her an ultrasound, since he would be able to at least tell if the baby was malnourished, knowing how far along it was. Loki hoped he could determine the baby's sex, since Dianne had missed the appointment where they'd find out, but he was disappointed to hear Bruce couldn't, since he was not schooled in that area.

"The baby looks fine," Bruce said after staring at the ultrasound for a few minutes, "about the size a five month should be. Are you craving anything?"

"Besides orange juice?" Dianne asked, "Um…okay, I know this sounds weird, but…rocks?"

"Sounds like you're deficient in iron then," Bruce said, "Your gynecologist will get everything sorted out for you."

Dianne nodded and looked up to her husband, who was just staring at the ultrasound monitor in awe, "Seeing if you can determine the sex yourself?"

"No just…watching," Loki replied.

"Still hoping for a boy?"

"Yes," Loki replied, "You?"

Dianne nodded, "Yep."

The girls were all taken to the infirmary at the helicarrier once they landed, and stayed there overnight. All four were sorely needing some nutrition, since they didn't exactly have a balanced diet while imprisoned. The rest of the team wrote out their paperwork of what happened at the base, and Bucky was, unfortunately, placed in a holding cell. Again, no one except Steve was willing to trust him enough just yet. Fury saw the potential of having him, trained as he were, but he would have to see first just how trustworthy Bucky was.

After a night in the helicarrier, the girls were discharged, and the first thing they did before heading home was take a shower. They probably used up all the hot water available on the carrier due to taking so long, but having been without one for a month, save Olyvia who only was allowed to wash up after being dunked in salt water, they all were rather filthy and it took a bit to get it all washed away.

Once all spruced up and ready to go, the girls boarded a quinjet, where Stark, Loki and Steve were already waiting for them. Clint and Natasha were in the cockpit, being the ones to take them home, and headed to New York first to drop off Stark and Pepper. Then it was across the country to Oregon where Steve and Olyvia said their goodbyes. A skip and a jump later, Rosemary had been dropped off, Nelly had been picked back up, and Dianne and Loki had finally made it home. Which was still a mess from the intrusion over a month ago.

"You didn't clean up?" Dianne asked as she looked around her damaged home.

"I fixed the door at least," Loki said, "So animals didn't claim the house while we were gone."

Dianne went ahead and let Nelly out of her cage, who then took off like a shot across the living room and down the hall back toward the bedroom, "Nelly will be happy about that. No fighting intruders. Thank you for taking her to my parents to be looked after."

"Of course," Loki said, "You love that cat and you'd have my hide if I just left her here."

"You know me so well," Dianne said with a grin.

"Yes I do," Loki agreed, coming to stand beside his wife and placed a tender kiss on her lips, "And I know you're probably exhausted so you go ahead and rest, I'll do as much cleaning up as I can in the few hours I have before sunset."

Dianne nodded, and headed to their bedroom. It was still orderly, though there was a layer of dust on everything. After shaking out the blankets and the pillows, she made herself comfortable on the bed, which still smelled dusty and caused her to sneeze a few times. She lightly napped until the sun had set so she was still awake when Loki came to bed and laid down beside her.

"Oh I missed this so much," Loki said as he wrapped an arm over his wife, letting his hand rest on her swollen belly.

"I missed it too," Dianne replied, sounding like she was close to crying, "I missed you so much while we were kidnapped. There were times…I thought I'd never see you again."

"Don't cry," Loki said, kissing the back of her jaw, "I'm here now, and I'll never let anything like that happen again, I promise."

"Won't old age do that?" Dianne asked, "I mean…you have your Asgardian powers back, you'll stay young for a very long time, won't you?"

"Actually," Loki began, "When Od…father granted my powers back, it was just that. I will still age as a mortal with you, because that is what I desire."

"Really?" Dianne asked, turning her head as much as she could in an effort to look at him, "I thought—."

"Sorry that I didn't explain earlier," Loki said, "It sort of slipped my mind."

"What about the baby?" Dianne asked, "Will they be…Asgardian or…"

"Honestly…I don't know," Loki said, "But I'm pretty sure they'll at least end up with some sort of ability, since we both have some of our own."

"Or abilities."

Loki nodded in agreement, "Very likely."

They fell into silence, and as the time ticked by, eventually fell asleep, Loki's hand still splayed across Dianne's belly, a small smile on his lips from when the baby had kicked against his hand yet again.

For the following week, Steve wouldn't let Olyvia out of his sight. Not even to go to the bathroom or take a shower. He was still terribly upset over her kidnapping, and even though she reminded him A.I.M had been taken care of, he was still paranoid that perhaps someone was still out there who would try to snatch her. Being Captain America, he was sure to have enemies, though few knew of his real identity, but still he worried.

The couple called a doctor for Olyvia to visit, who made the earliest available appointment to see her since she just discovered her pregnancy, though it was still over a week away and a few days after her birthday. Olyvia figured that finding out whether the baby was okay would be enough of a birthday present, though Steve did get her a few things. Once the appointment date finally came, both Olyvia and Steve were nervous and giddy about it. They were excited to see the baby's progress again, but nervous the doctor might find something wrong.

"Steve…just breathe," Olyvia said to her husband as they said in the waiting room, "Really I should be the one being told to breathe but honey…you're going to hyperventilate. It's okay."

"I'm stressed," Steve said, "What if the baby isn't doing well? What if something's wrong? What if they have some sort of physical defect caused by my DNA. We both know mine's been altered, what if that screws everything else up. What if my DNA isn't compatible with yours?"

"Okay, someone has been thinking way too much about this," Olyvia said, "And our DNA is perfectly compatible. We're going to have a gorgeous baby, I mean look at us, We're perfect for each other, and for making utterly gorgeous babies."

Steve chuckled, "You're silly, but it's not helping ease my mind."

Olyvia took her husband's hand and gave it a firm squeeze, "Whatever happens, we'll be able to handle it. We've gone through worse and we've overcome it."

Taking in a deep breath, Steve nodded in agreement. Even if any of his what-if's happened, they could deal with it. He managed to calm down until a nurse called for Olyvia, and Steve's nerves spiked again. Olyvia gently coaxed Steve to his feet and the two walked into the back and took a seat in the observation room they were led to. They waited about ten minutes before the gynecologist arrived, and after some questions it was time for a sonogram. The doctor took plenty of time to look everything over, and then he gave the couple the diagnosis they were hoping for, everything looked well and fine with the fetus. Steve and Olyvia sighed in relief, Steve probably more so than Olyvia, nearly collapsing back into his seat from where he stood next to the bed. And just as they expected, the doctor calculated Olyvia was ten weeks along, and to start expecting a baby bump to start being more noticeable now. And then of course the information they really came here to get; when they should expect the little one to be born, which would be in last week of March.

Steve and Olyvia were all smiles as they headed back to the car, happy to have received good news, and that they were on their way to becoming parents. Steve was eager for the day he would officially be a father.

"I can't wait to tell mom," Olyvia said giddily as Steve drove them back home, "She'll be so excited. Two more grandkids within three months of each other."

"When is Dianne due anyway?"

"January."

Steve laughed, "Another January birthday?"

"At least we're in Mar—oh…we'll be adding to another of the four already in the last week of March."

"Christmas, January, and March we'll end up nearly breaking the bank," Steve said.

"Probably," Olyvia replied, "Speaking of Dianne, we should be getting a call from her sometime this week letting us know the baby's sex."

"That'll be exciting."

"Personally, I'm hoping it'll be a girl," Olyvia said, "Mom and Dad have plenty of grandsons from Kristie."

"I'd like to have a son," Steve said quietly.

"I'll be happy with either," Olyvia said with a smile, "I'm stoked that I managed to get pregnant so I'm not going to complain about gender."

"I won't either," Steve rephrased, "But…I can't help but hope for a boy."

"I understand," Olyvia said.

Reclining in her seat, Olyvia closed her eyes and let herself nap while Steve drove back to the house. It wasn't a few minutes later though that she spoke up again.

"You know…I'm going to have to buy new clothes soon."

The day of the remade appointment had finally come and Dianne had never seen Loki more excited than he was as they got in the car and made their way to the doctor's office. Since the doctor was so busy with other patients, it took two weeks before they could go see her. But finally all their waiting was over, they would finally find out the baby's gender.

Of course, the waiting took forever, in the waiting room and then in the observation room in the back. Apparently the doctor was very busy, but it eventually became their turn.

"Ready to see your baby?" the doctor asked as she began punching buttons on the sonogram machine.

"Yes," Loki replied first, making Dianne giggle. He was just so impatient today it was funny.

With the machine already prepped, she got to work bringing up the baby's image on the screen. Dianne and Loki stared at the primitive picture on the screen in adoration, seeing the baby moving around. The doctor studied the image for a few moments before turning to the couple with a smile on her face, "So which one are you hoping for, boy or girl?"

Olyvia was pouring through paperwork from the university trying to get her money back since she was already dropped from the classes due to missing the first day of class when her phone rang. She was grateful for the distraction, since the paperwork was frustrating her and apparently the university didn't take 'I was kidnapped' as a viable reason to return any of her money back. From the Bolero of Fire ringtone, she knew it was Dianne, so she quickly picked it up.

"What's the news?" Olyvia asked right away.

"A boy! We're having a boy!"

Olyvia let out an ecstatic squeal, making Steve and Oscar jump from their seat on the couch where they were lounging.

"Everything alright?" Steve asked, looking panicked.

When Olyvia tried relaying the news all she was able to do was let out shrill squeals that only sort of sounded like words. Steve just stared at his wife before walking over to the table and holding his hand out for the phone. Olyvia handed it over, and started taking in deep breaths.

"So what's gotten Olyvia into hysterics?"

"Loki and I are having a boy!" Dianne replied excitedly.

"Congratulations," Steve said, genuinely happy for his sister-in-law, "You and Loki were both hoping for a boy weren't you?"

"Yep," Dianne replied, "So when do you and Livy find out?"

"Five more weeks," Steve replied, to which Olyvia made a face, knowing what he was referring to. She was an impatient person, so the next five weeks seemed like forever to finally find out the gender of their own baby.

"Forever," Olyvia complained.

"It'll be here before you know it," Steve said to his wife.

Olyvia scoffed, "Yeah right."

"Oh believe me," Dianne was saying on the phone, having overheard her sister, "It'll just fly by."

The next five weeks hadn't flown by, but it went by faster than Olyvia anticipated, seeing as how the day actually arrived. Part of the reason might have been the fact Steve had to go on a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D, to clear out the rest of A.I.M's bases, which Bucky was helping with. Olyvia still distrusted him, doubted she would ever trust him, and she didn't like the fact he would be with Steve, where he could possibly betray him. If he ever did, he'd rue the day he ever pissed her off because she would make sure he suffered. Steve made sure to call every day he was gone, and tried even harder to convince Olyvia Bucky had changed, but he could tell it was a very steep uphill battle that would be hard to win. Defeating the Chitauri, Thanos, Skrull and Modok all at once sounded easier than getting Olyvia to change her mind about Bucky.

Though Steve still had a few bases left to deal with, Fury allotted him time to be home for this appointment, which Steve would have gone AWOL anyway to be there since he wasn't going to miss it. When he first arrived back home, he stared in shock at Olyvia's baby bump, not expecting for there to be so much growth in the little amount of time he was gone. Of course, he only got to stare for a few seconds before Olyvia threw her arms around him, but then he had her stand back so he could properly give a kiss to the little one.

Now at the appointment, and the doctor looking over the sonogram, the couple waited impatiently for the doctor to tell them the baby's gender. Olyvia had waited long enough, she wanted to know now!

"The baby is really moving today," the doctor said, and Olyvia whimpered. Though she loved feeling the baby move and kick, she really, really, really wanted them to take a breather for just two seconds for the doctor to get a decent enough picture to determine gender.

"Ah, there we go," he said a few moments later, then made a circle on the screen using the computer so the couple could pinpoint it out as well, "You're having a boy."

"Another boy," Olyvia said with a laugh, "Oh I guess this is Dad's repayment for having all girls. He has nearly all grandsons."

"Now we need to seriously start considering names," Steve said.

"We'll start on that once we get home."

The high from learning the baby's gender dissipated after a few days when Olyvia realized Steve would be heading back for the helicarrier the following morning. She moped about the evening, pouting and sighing, wishing Steve could stay because she hated being alone. Steve hated leaving her alone, since he was still paranoid about her getting kidnapped again. That evening as they laid in bed, Olyvia cozied up as close as she could get to Steve with her back against his chest, holding his arms snugly around her as they tried to sleep.

"I don't want you to go," she whimpered, clinging to Steve tighter.

"I don't want to either," Steve replied, kissing the back of her neck, "But there are only two bases left. It should only take another week or two."

"Forever," Olyvia said, elongating every syllable.

"I'll be back before you know it," Steve said, "I hate being away, but I need to get this done. And then I shouldn't be needed for a while."

"Unless there is another catastrophe."

"The others could handle it without me, I'm sure," Steve said, "I just throw around a shield."

"You're the leader, of course they'd need you."

"Enough talk about me," Steve said, giving his wife a squeeze, "Let's just savor the moment and get some sleep."

As his left hand was laid on his wife's belly, he felt a kick against it, "Even you bud. Sleep."

Olyvia sniggered, "You're cute love. And I doubt sleep will happen anytime soon for him."

She could feel Steve's smile against the back of her neck before he gave her another kiss, "I love you."

"I love you too," Olyvia replied.

Steve sighed contently as he held all that mattered to him in his arms, "Life is perfect."

Steve was gone longer than two weeks, for which he apologized profusely over the phone to Olyvia. Being emotional, she cried, which made Steve feel bad and he desperately tried to stop the waterworks, but it was only after crying for five minutes that she finally finished.

"I need some ice cream," Olyvia sighed into the phone.

"Just because you're pregnant doesn't make it okay to eat all the sweets you want," Steve commented.

"You're not here, and won't be for another week or more," Olyvia complained, "So I am moping and ice cream helps me mope."

"Just don't get a gallon of it," Steve said.

"How about a box of ice cream sandwiches?"

"You realize it's November now, right?"

"And?" Olyvia asked, "Ice cream is good anytime of the year."

"Point taken," Steve muttered, "Alright, I have to go. Stark is starting to bug me, he wants his phone time."

Olyvia managed to chuckle a little at that, "Alright, love you, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Be safe."

"Love you too, and I will."

Hanging up the phone, Olyvia sighed and looked over to her car keys. Though she wanted ice cream, she was feeling incredibly lazy. After debating with herself for a few minutes, she finally got up, grabbed the keys and headed to the car. Since she was in need of a shopping trip anyway, she decided to go ahead and buy her other groceries instead of making another trip another day. She ended up with a full cart by the end of the trip, and she was dreading having to put it all away in the car, let alone back at the house. As she began placing bags in the trunk, a middle aged man approached her.

"Here, let me help you," he offered.

Normally she would have declined someone's help, due to also being paranoid of strangers from her previous kidnappings, but she was just so exhausted she didn't care right now. Besides, he had a kind face and a warm smile.

"Thanks," Olyvia said as the two of them worked on placing the bags into the trunk, "Even though it's the middle of the day, I'm already tuckered out."

"I can imagine," the man said, "Well…okay maybe I can't."

Olyvia smiled at that comment. She doubted most men could imagine being pregnant.

With the man's help she was able to get everything in, in record time. It was just going to be the transferring from the car to her kitchen that just might do her in. At least she had a bit more energy to do that though.

"Again, thank you so much…Mr.—," she paused to see if he would give her his name.

"You can call me Phil."