Chapter 4
His eyelids flutter open and for once, he feels at peace. Only for a mere second, until that same excruciating pain hits him all in one and he feels as if his parched throat is pulling his insides out. There's a sharp pain in his back and neck- probably from laying on his back for so long.
Slowly, he lifts himself up off the bed but can't feel his legs. It's like they've been torn off, so to avoid any more stress he lays back down onto the bed. Bucky quickly comes into the room when Jarvis told him Steve was awake and breathed for once seeing his handsome Omega turning onto his side.
He walks over to the bed and sits at the edge of it, running his hands through Steve's hair. "Feeling any better?"
"I...think so." Steve flashes a small smile at Bucky then all of a sudden, clenches down onto his big round belly and scrunches his face up.
Bucky panics and falls off the bed onto his knee's lifting up Steve's thin and baggy shirt. His skin is almost purple now, all types of light shaded colours that aren't good signs whatsoever. They're signs of agonising pain and frustration.
Throughout the day Steve stays in bed because that's the only thing he can do. Bucky spoils him, grabbing him the food he wants even if he just takes a bite and can't eat anymore, gently setting Stevie's body down in a warm bathtub and taking his time washing over that beautiful flesh. He keeps his legs set straight in the water, washing over his stomach while being bathed thoroughly. Everytime Bucky pulls the shower head off it's stand from up top and lets the water run down Steve's skin, he shudders but smiles. It feels nice. Water dripping down him.
Though it's heartbreaking. Seeing Steve struggle so much and he doesn't want anyone to worry. He has the heart of a lion. The fury of an ox. The strength of a madman. But is too stubborn to rely on those offering his help.
At 4:30pm, Bruce decides to do another check up on the baby. He comes into the room setting all the equipment up with the help of Jarvis and goes through another ultrasound, then running blood results and basic health tests. Not everything is in tact and Bucky knows. Everyone knows. The baby has slightly developed (as in the body has grown a bit larger, hence the much more larger stomach) and Steve is relieved that at least his child is doing okay.
"Hey- surprise, surprise...the baby's got a little heartbeat!" Bruce exclaims and the couple gasp, holding their breaths in. Steve almost cries at that but holds his tears in and looks over to his Alpha.
"Buck, the baby has a heartbeat!" He whispers, his voice already rasped from lack of eating and drinking. Bucky nods and kisses Steve's forehead. "It's alive baby."
The appointment finishes and Bruce leaves. Steve and Bucky smile at each other.
"The baby is growing, Stevie..."
"I know, I'm so glad." Steve can feel the tears start to well up in his eyes again as he rubs a hand over his stomach. It's large, but soon it'll become too large for his skinny body to hold.
"I love you, Stevie." Bucky tells him that every day, whether it's making up over a minor argument or just when they're cuddling on the couch. The thing is though, he really does. James Buchanan Barnes is madly in love with Steve Rogers. He always has been, and he believes he is the most luckiest man in the world to have such an amazing, artistic, lovable person as his partner. Every day Bucky wakes up hearing Steve beside him gently snoring, hands flat on the pillow for his head to rest on. Nowadays, Bucky only falls more in love with Steve. He spends as much time as possible with him. They watch movies in bed or pick each other's grapes off the small stems, from the boxes Tony had delivered them. They do everything together now.
Because somewhere deep down Bucky also believes that they're time together is limited.