Chapter 4
There was something about coming home after any length of time away from it, that feeling of missing your bed, missing your loved ones, instantly soothed as soon as you stepped over the threshold every time. There was music playing from the kitchen, not loud, but still welcoming, familiar. "Mommy!" That voice, wavering with excitement, made you drop your pack as the owner of it charged out of the kitchen, her small frame speckled with flour, a new gap in her front teeth.
"Oh there's my little Natalie!" She leapt into your arms, hers tight around your neck as she hugged you as hard as she could, giggling as you lifted her off the ground as your stood up straight again. "Why are you all covered in flour, Mija? Are you spying on the neighbor's cat again?" You hummed as you began taking exaggerated steps further into your home, swinging your legs out wide to the side with every step so that your big little bundle of joy swung and shrieked little giggles as she clung to you as hard as you were clinging to her.
"No, mommy!" She giggled, movement over her head pulling your attention up to Miguel as he exited the kitchen, the very definition of self satisfied as he leaned against the doorframe, splattered head to toe with flour.
You couldn't stop the bubbling laughter as you pressed a kiss to her adorable head "Oh I think I understand now! You waged culinary war on Daddy, didn't you?"
He pushed off of the doorframe as she nodded with devious laughter, letting her grip on you loose as you began to set her back down on her own feet "Welcome home, mi reina." His hand was warm and comforting as it cupped your cheek, pulling you into a tender kiss as he leaned over Natalie, the child making a sound of disgust before racing off back the way she came "I missed you, Mrs. O'Hara." He murmured against your lips as he quickly took the vacated space, holding you close like he hadn't seen you in months. It'd only been two weeks, but he'd always greeted you with the same intense enthusiasm, even if you had been apart for an afternoon.
"I missed you too, Mr. O'Hara." You hummed, stealing a chaste little peck from him, your palm against his chest, refamiliarizing yourself with his heartbeat. "I have a surprise for you tonight."
You smiled up at him through your lashes, easily rendered breathless as he smiled so prettily down at you "Oh?" He rumbled, beginning to sway with you to the music that was still filling the apartment.
You nodded with a soft giggle, falling into step with him easily "Mhmm, I'm positive you're going to love it." You closed your eyes with a contented sigh, letting your latest adventure melt off your frame as you relaxed with your love "Some peace and quiet with my loves is just what the doctor ordered tonight."
He stopped moving, a guilty cast to his eyes as he smiled awkwardly down at you, his mouth opening to release words he didn't get the chance to utter. There was a firm knock at the door, Natalie practically a blur as she rushed past excitedly, beelining for the door as you both just watched "Uncle Bucky! Uncle Sam!" She yelled excitedly, throwing herself at the two men as she opened the door for them, her missing tooth making her whistle Sam's name.
"Hey sweet pea! What have you been up to little miss?" Sam was quick and enthusiastic with his greeting as he picked her up with his free arm, holding her close as he and Bucky entered the apartment, both carrying bags of things. "Glad to see you home, Y/n." He greeted you next, putting down his single bag to give you a quick side hug, Buck setting down the six bags he was carrying to collect you in a proper hug of his own.
"Daddy taught me how to make empanadas like abuela!" Natalie answered enthusiastically, thoroughly proud of herself.
"He did?! That's pretty cool!"
"Glad to be back." You hummed as you hugged Buck tightly, pulling away with a confused glance back at your partner "I love you both, but what's the occasion?"
"Don't tell me you forgot your own one hundred and sixth birthday! Ya old lady!" Peter B announced his presence with a well humored scoff, carrying a small stack of pizza boxes, Mayday on his heels with a bouquet of flowers.
"These are for you, Auntie Y/n!" She announced proudly, thrusting them towards you.
You accepted with a warm smile, immediately smelling them "Aww thank you May! These are my favorite!" Before you could mention anything about finding a vase, both she and Natalie were racing off to go play, giggling between each other.
Without a word and a soft peck on your head, Miguel took the flowers to go hunt down one of the ever moving vases in the kitchen, leaving you with the guests who were conversing with each other "Hope I'm not too late! Parking was a nightmare." Jess announced her presence with a tired smile, pulling you into a hug that you gladly returned "Happy birthday, Y/n."
"Thanks, Jess, you're just as on time as always. Feel free to relax, there should be a fresh bottle of Riesling in the fridge if you'd like some."
Your birthday passed in a blur, fatigue taking all but the major details from your memory as you made conversations with guests. If Miguel noticed your waning energy, he didn't say a thing, instead stayed close to your side and created a sort of buffer so that you weren't constantly talking. "Speech!" You could clearly hear B's voice call from somewhere in the gathering, drawing a cheering of agreement. You could only imagine what the neighbors were thinking.
Jess pulled Miguel from your side with a teasing smile to you both, handing him an empanada in place of a microphone "Yay! Speech! Speech, Daddy!" Natalie cheered loudly, clapping her hands as May cheered along with her.
He looked to you for help but you just laughed and shook your head, sticking your tongue out at him as he playfully waved you off and gave in. He cleared his throat nervously as he looked around the gathering, at all the familiar and expectant faces "Thank you all for coming and celebrating Y/n's birthday with us." He turned to look at you again, his face scrunched with emotion, his eyes brimming with love and adoration "Happy birthday to the most wonderful wife and mother Natalie and I could have asked for, and I can't wait to spend many more with you. Salud a ti mi amor." He held up the empanada as though he was toasting before taking a small bite out of it.
Your eyes misted over with the barest amount of tears as you smiled up at him, closing the distance to press a kiss to his cheek and recollect yourself "I also want to thank everyone for coming and making this one of the best birthdays that I can remember. And, I'd like to thank Miguel for planning this, because I know, if he'd asked, I would have been resistant to such a fuss." Everyone laughed, knowing you all too well, Miguel pressing into you again, his arm solid and centering around your waist.
"Daddy, I'm tired." Natalie mumbled between the two of you, holding one hand up to him as the other rubbed her eyes. His smile was tender as he scooped her up, holding her as she rested against his shoulder, her fingers threading through her hair for comfort. It was one of your favorite views of your family, the relaxed contentedness that radiated from Miguel as Natalie fell asleep on his shoulder. You knew that one day you'd never see the view again, that she'd be too big and not want to be held like that, that she'd insist she was too old for her parents' comfort and love. So you always soaked it up when you had the chance.
"Daddy, I'm tired too." May's voice brought your focus back to the present, back to the party, smile firmly on your face as you watched the ten year old reach for her own father's embrace.
B was all too happy to oblige with a chuckle, holding his bundle close like he used to. "I think it's time to get a certain someone home and tucked in." He chuckled, tone soft and soothing as he ran a hand up and down her back lovingly. "Thanks for the invite, have a wonderful night you three."
"You too, B, thank you for coming." Everyone trickled out after that, though Buck and, consequently Sam, stuck around to help you clean as Miguel sent Natalie to bed, his soft voice floating through the apartment as he read her a story, her little snores following him when he finally joined you all in the living room "Thanks again for coming, guys. It means a lot." You were trying to keep the trash bag from Buck, but he was even more stubborn than you and Miguel combined, taking it from you gently with a teasing smile.
"Of course, doll. Wouldn't miss it for the world, you know that." He assured with a chuckle as you stuck your tongue out at him.
"Couldn't leave our partner out to dry on her birthday, what kind of friends would we be?" Sam scoffed humorously, patting you on the shoulder lightly before making his way to the front door "Which rotation is this? Is it a Here month or a There month?"
"We'll be here for a week and a half more, and then we'll be staying in nine twenty-eight until school starts up." Miguel answered, tucking you neatly into his side. You leaned into the contact, your head resting where his chest met his shoulder as that fatigue began trying to pull you under while you still stood.
Sam nodded understandingly as Buck left the apartment, disappearing with a wave "We'll be seein' ya, Y/n. Have a nice night." With that he was gone too, waving as he closed the door behind him.
You weren't sure how, but the two of you suddenly appeared on the couch, you curled up against Miguel's side, as close as you could be without being on top of him, his fingertips trailing up and down your side soothingly, looking like he was trying to string words together. "So," His voice vibrated through every point of contact you shared, pitched low for privacy and allure "What was that surprise you mentioned earlier?"
You hummed softly as you completely shifted your position, straddling his lap, his hands firm and steady on your hips as he smiled adoringly up at you, his lids slipping closed as you played with his hair a little, brushing it out of his face. You kept him teetering on anticipation as you moved his right hand from your hip and to your lower stomach, thoroughly enjoying the warmth and security it instantly provided. His brows furrowed in confusion as he glanced up at you with half lidded eyes, that shade of garnet that you loved more than any other color "What would you like to name a second child? If we had one?"
He was still watching you with confusion as he mulled it over in his head, taking a moment to actually think about it "Ana, if we had another girl? And Luca if we had a boy? Why, mi corazon?"
Your face lit up like the fourth of July as you beamed down at him, brushing some of his hair behind his ear with a delicate touch "Well, we're going to need a bigger home soon. I don't think it'd be fair for Natalie to have to share her room..."
"Why..." His eyes widened as realization dawned on him, making him grip your hips tightly as he sprang to his feet, holding you high as he spun around with a boisterous laugh "You're pregnant! Oh, mi amor! ¡estás realmente embarazada!" He was careful as he set you down on your feet, pressing his forehead to yours, beaming smile cemented in place "How long have you known?"
One hand threaded with the hair at the nape of his neck, the other pressed over his heart "Only a week. I was feeling weird on the mission and picked up a three pack of tests. They all said the same thing."
His lips on yours were consuming, conveying every emotion that was flowing through him so much better than words could, opening himself up to you so wholly, so intimately "I love you."
"And I love you. More than anything." Without a word he lowered to his knees, his hands circling the back of your thighs as he nuzzled into your lower stomach. You could feel his smile through your shirt, the heat of his relaxed sigh as your fingers massaged his scalp. Your life hadn't been all sunshine and roses, but you were more than happy with how it was going.
"Thank you." He mumbled into your flesh, like he was trying to talk directly to the baby.
You touch migrated to his face, pulling his focus up but not away from where he wanted to be "For what?" You hummed, preening under the earnest, loving gaze of your lover.
His grip tightened, resembling a hug as his thumbs brushed soothing patterns into your thighs "For giving me a second chance."
Your eyes immediately misted with tears as a smile tried to break your face, your fingers carding through his hair again "Thank you for giving me one as well." You hummed past the ball of emotion in your throat.
"Always."