Epilogue
Wanda took a huge gulp from the glass of water Crystal handed her, wiping her hand across her clammy forehead. "Thanks. I don't know what's wrong with me lately, I can't keep any food down!"
Crystal frowned. "Aren't illnesses common among humans?"
"Yeah, but I hardly ever get ill. Can't imagine why I have now, and besides, illnesses don't normally last for weeks."
Crystal's eyes narrowed. "Wanda... um, not to say anything impolite, but you and Steve, have you... been intimate?"
Wanda went scarlet. "A couple of times, why-" The blood drained from her face. "You don't think..." She shook her head. "I can't be!" Though now she thought about it, when had her last period been?
"Can't be what?" Pietro asked, glancing from his wife to his sister as he walked into the room. "Is everything all right? I heard Wanda being ill..."
Crystal swatted him lightly on the back of the head.
"What was that for?!"
"Eavesdropping. Come on, we're going out for a walk." Crystal glanced knowingly at Wanda. "I think you need to talk to Steve, don't you?"
Wanda nodded mutely, still half hoping it wasn't true, she couldn't be pregnant... how would Steve react? What if he didn't want it? How would she cope with a baby? She wasn't even thirty yet! She took several breaths to calm herself after Pietro and Crystal left, her brother firing questions at Crystal. I'll ask Bruce to give me a blood test first, no need to terrify Steve if I'm not...
She headed down to the lab to find Bruce, grateful that Tony wasn't in there for once. She explained quickly, and despite his shock, Bruce drew the blood there and then, promising her a result in an hour or so. Thanking him, she retreated to the library, hoping to find something to read to distract herself.
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"What?!" Pietro's yell made half the people in the mall stare at them. "My sister- that can't be- she can't-"
"Well, she is! Probably, anyway." Crystal giggled. "And I don't know why you're acting so scandalised, we're having a child, remember? He or she will have a playmate now!"
"Yes, but..." Pietro floundered. "We got married first!"
"Do you really think Steve won't do the right thing once he knows? In fact..." Crystal grabbed Pietro's hand. tugging him into a gift store, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "I have a brilliant idea..."
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Wanda wrung her hands nervously, pacing back and forth in the hallway outside the gym. Bruce glanced at her sympathetically.
"I can come in with you if you want..."
"No, I need to be the one to tell him, it's just... we've never even talked about this!"
Bruce sighed. "Look, I know Steve, he's a good guy. He'll be as stunned as you are, but there's no way he /won't/ stand by you."
She smiled weakly, taking a deep breath. "Thanks."
Bruce put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently, just as she walked into the gym.
Steve smiled widely at her, climbing off the treadmill. "Hi. What's up?" He frowned when she didn't answer. "Are you alright? You seem kind of pale..."
"I..." The words stuck in her throat. "I need to tell you something..."
He came over and took her hands, worried now. "What's going on?"
Wanda braced herself, and opened her mouth... only for Crystal and Pietro to walk in, distracting her.
Crystal noted Steve holding Wanda's hands, and assumed she'd just told him. "Congratulations! I got something for you."
Steve blinked. "What?" He pulled the gift out of the bag Crystal handed him, baffled. A teddy? His eyes widened as he read the words sewn on it. 'For Daddy.' Wanda saw it too, and buried her head in her hands. Steve's jaw dropped.
Crystal's smile faltered. "And I'm starting to think I just ruined the surprise..."
"You think?" Wanda's voice was sarcastic, despite the fact that her face was still hidden.
Pietro cleared his throat, and (sparing one good glower at Steve) took Crystal's arm. "I think you two need to talk." He led his wife out of the room, as she stammered apologies.
Steve stepped over to Wanda and put his arm around her. "I think I can guess what you planned to tell me now."
Wanda looked up slowly. "You weren't meant to find out like that."
"It's ok." Steve felt dazed with shock, but he was beginning to feel stirrings of joy. I'm going to be a father! "How long have you known?"
"For definite? About half an hour. Crystal's the one who actually suggested it, this morning. I don't want you to think I told anyone before I told you..." Wanda chewed her lip. "I didn't expect this, when we..."
"Neither did I. But it's good news, right?"
She stared up at him. "You think we're ready to be parents?"
"No. No-one ever really is, but we can do our best. And I can't think of anyone else I'd choose to be the mother of my child." Steve pulled Wanda close, embracing her protectively. She relaxed against him with a sigh, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I was scared you'd be angry, or that you wouldn't want this..." She murmured softly. "What are we going to do?"
He kissed her softly. "The first thing I'm going to do," He said simply, staring straight into her eyes, "is make you my wife."
Her eyes widened. "Steve-"
"I'd get down on one knee, but I don't exactly have a ring yet." He grinned sheepishly. "I mean it though. I'll marry you, if you'll have me." His heart pounded, afraid she'd refuse. He'd been considering this for a while, since they'd become lovers, but he didn't want her thinking he'd only asked because she was pregnant...
"If I wasn't having a baby..."
"I'd have found another excuse to ask." Please believe me...
Wanda smiled, leaning forward to brush her lips over his. "Yes."
He jumped, sure he'd misheard. "Yes?"
"Yes, I'll marry you." Steve's smile was bright enough to shame the sun. He kissed her passionately, then wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her into the air and swinging her around. She was laughing giddily when he put her down. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again. "You have no idea how happy you've just made me, Mrs Rogers."
Wanda laughed. "I like the sound of that."
"Indeed. And may I offer my congraulations to you both."
"JARVIS! Thanks, but uh, could you please not let anyone else find out yet? We want to tell them ourselves."
"Of course, sir."
Steve shook his head. "No privacy..."
Wanda took her new fiance's hand. "We should probably tell them sooner rather than later, before Tony hacks the camera system or something."
"Good point." He pressed his free hand to Wanda's stomach gently. "Do you know how far along..."
"Steve Junior will be here in about seven months."
"We're not calling him after me."
"Why not?"
"Two Steve Rogers would get too confusing!"
Laughing, the couple made their way to the lounge, hoping that at least some of the team would be there. They were in luck- almost all the Avengers were present and correct. Tony walked in, looking put out. Wanda could only guess JARVIS had sent him... She and Steve held each other's hands tightly as they stared at the rest of the team. This was not going to be easy! Tony was probably never going to shut up about it...
"Well, what's this about?" The billionaire said, looking a bit bored. "I was working on... something." Natasha looked expectant, like she'd already guessed. Bruce was smiling knowingly, Crystal was trying not to laugh, and Pietro was scowling.
Steve cleared his throat awkwardly. "We... uh... Wanda and I have something to tell you." He went red, looking at his fiancee for help. She smothered a laugh.
"I'm-"
A flash of light interrupted her words, and a strong wind made everything in the room that wasn't nailed down go flying. As the tempest died, the gathered Avengers recognised Loki crouched on the floor, clutching Mjolnir in one hand, and cradling something tightly to his chest with the other.
The End
That's the end of the Avengers timeline in this universe (for now), hope everyone who read it enjoyed it! To catch up with events in Asgard, and find out what's happening with Loki, feel free to check out Myth Queen's WIP 'The Gathering Storm' and her upcoming story 'Serpent's Coils.' All will be explained in those stories!