Chapter Sixty-Three
The following months passed quickly, but they were filled with joy, love, and laughter. Bucky’s parents arrived, and while they were a little standoffish where Runa was concerned at first, they soon thawed towards her after seeing how she, Bucky, and Steve all interacted with one another, the obvious love and affection between the three.
“I will never claim to understand it, but the three of you make it work. It suits you.” Mary, who had told Runa to call her ‘Ma’ the way Steve and all her children and their spouses did.
“At the beginning, when it was just Steve and I… It didn’t feel quite right. Something was missing. The missing piece turned out to be Bucky.” Runa had confided, “It’s impossible to love just one of them, you see. The two of them… They’re a pair. Two halves of a whole, or two sides of the same coin. I couldn’t love one of them without loving the other. Loving them both… It’s as natural to me as breathing is.”
“I always worried about them, as fond of each other as they are. I knew that if they ever settled down, their wives would have to be special girls indeed. I just never expected them to go and share one wife between them, but as I said, it suits the three of you.”
The dissent that Laura predicted would come with Bucky’s mother never appeared, much to Runa’s joy. She got on well with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, which was a relief as the pregnancy progressed and Runa found herself able to do less and less.
It was not an easy pregnancy for Runa, morning sickness an absolute terror that haunted her throughout the entirety of the day and not just the mornings through most of it. She found that she couldn’t sit down to eat a full meal any longer, but had to have several small meals through the day to keep herself from getting ill. The smell of meat cooking made her queasy, pork worse than any other culprit. It made work in the kitchen difficult, and Happy Sam found himself taking on more of the cooking, not that he minded.
By the middle of her seventh month, Runa’s belly was already enormous, particularly given her small frame. There was a scare with a bit of bleeding, and Bruce confined Runa to either bed or the sitting room, laying down the injunction that she was not to do anything more strenuous than knit or sew. Everyone on Bluestone Ranch rallied around her to make her confinement pleasant.
When Thanksgiving rolled around again, Runa was ready to burst, and was irritated that she couldn’t even help with setting the table. Happy Sam, Ma, and Becks managed the spread beautifully however.
The meal was pleasant, everyone crowded around the table, Iris and Bruce joining the celebrations. Runa smiled and laughed through the meal just as everyone else did, but she was paler than usual, and occasionally a look of distress would cross her features.
She didn’t want to say anything and ruin the mood of the gathering, but she did not feel well at all.
Runa remained sitting at the table as plates and platters began to be cleared away. Bruce moved to sit beside her, smiling, though his eyes showed his concern.
“You don’t look well.” He said without preamble.
“I don’t feel well.” She murmured, “I thought these might be false pains again, but I’m beginning to think this baby wants to be born tonight.” They kept their voices low, so as not to be overheard in the din surrounding them.
“Have you felt any dampness?” He asked, and she flushed.
“During dessert. Yes.”
He stood, looking about. The house was already swarming with activity, and announcing that the baby was making its debut would turn the activity into bedlam. He had to handle this carefully.
He saw Bucky coming back from the kitchen, having helped to clear the table, and he motioned him over.
“Runa isn’t feeling too well.” Bruce said quietly. “Can you help get her upstairs?”
“Sure thing.” Bucky helped Runa up, practically lifting her out of the chair, seeing her grimace of discomfort. “You all right, darlin’?”
“Everything will be fine, Bucky.” She assured him.
Bucky lowered his voice. “Is it the baby?”
“We think so.”
“But its early!” Bucky protested, forgetting to keep his voice low. Bruce closed his eyes and counted backward from ten as everyone looked to them in surprise.
“It’s time?” Ma demanded, hurrying in from the kitchen.
“That’s what we’re going upstairs to check on.” Bruce explained. “Bucky, help her up the stairs. I’ll get my bag from the buggy.” Bruce hadn’t expected to deliver a baby that night, but he had brought his kit in case someone came looking for him, needing help and calling him away.
“Let me go up and get the bed ready. Iris, can you come and help me?” Ma asked, hurrying up the stairs, Iris rushing after her. Newspapers and thick canvas had been collected to make up the bed with, to keep the mattress from getting soiled during labor. “We’ll have it done in just a few minutes!” Ma called as Steve made his way to Runa’s other side.
“It’s fine.” Runa assured Steve and Bucky, looking pale and tired despite the smile she wore. “Women have been having babies since the dawn of time.”
“And I’m certain that husbands have been worrying since the dawn of time.” Bucky grumbled as he and Steve guided Runa to the stairs, both of them following behind her to steady her and break her fall in case she lost her footing. She didn’t, but she did have to pause on the stairs to wait out one of her pains and catch her breath afterward.
They got Runa into the bedroom and were promptly shooed from the room by Ma and Iris.
“You don’t need to be in here. You won’t want to be in here. The only man allowed in is the doctor. Now go and wait in the sitting room.”
“Yes, Ma.” Both men said with wry smiles, stealing kisses from their wife before heading downstairs, Bruce shouldering his way past them, heading up.
There was an air of expectation in the house now, a sort of hush falling over the revelry. Steve and Bucky paced more than sat, while Becks finished clearing up after dinner.
“Sit down.” Pa said with a knowing smile to Steve and Bucky, “Babies come in their own time. And they like to take their time.”
“And you were calm the four times Ma did this?” Bucky asked with a smirk, causing Pa to laugh.
“Well, I might have been nervous the first three or four times.” He confided, “But the midwife knew what she was doing there, just like this doctor knows what he is doing here.”
“We have to have faith that Bruce will get her through it all right.” Titus agreed, though he looked a bit pale, and just as worried as Steve and Bucky.
“It’ll come out all right.” Pa assured them all.
Bucky and Steve nodded, but neither voiced the worry that they had shared with one another when they were away from the house, where Runa wouldn’t hear. Runa was petite, and from the size of her belly, it looked like the baby was taking after Steve and Bucky. They worried about what might happen if the baby was too big to deliver.
They kept the grim thoughts to themselves and waited.
Evening came, and Wanda and Pietro returned from spending the holiday with their parents. They were surprised when they saw everyone waiting so expectantly, but upon hearing that Runa was in labor they brightened. Wanda went to the kitchen with Becks, the two of them preparing coffee and a late supper of food leftover from dinner, urging everyone to eat and drink.
“You all don’t have to wait with us.” Steve ventured as the meal ended, “We’ll come to let you know how it goes.”
“All due respect, Steve,” Happy Sam smiled, “I’m staying right where I am until I see that baby and make certain Runa is all right. You aren’t the only ones worried about her.”
There were murmurs of agreement, and Steve and Bucky smiled.
It was just after midnight, nearly everyone dozing in their seats, when they heard footsteps on the stairs. Steve and Bucky sat up, blinking worry and exhaustion from their eyes as Iris entered the sitting room, a tiny bundle wrapped up in a yellow blanket in her arms. She smiled up at Steve and Bucky, approaching them slowly.
“Steve, Bucky, you have an absolutely perfect little boy.” She announced, words that caused an explosion of whoops and cheers and whistles in the house. Bucky saw the little bundle give a start of surprise at the din, and then a thin, hacking cry filled the room, before it turned into a wail. He stepped forward, instinctively reaching for the baby, whom Iris passed to him carefully. He made soft soothing sounds, smiling down at the freshly scrubbed, wizened red face as he tried to soothe the little one. Steve hovered beside him, also looking at the baby, making soft sounds of his own to soothe the baby.
“We’re your Papa’s, little man.” Steve murmured, reaching up and tracing one finger over a rounded cheek, smiling as the bleary light blue-gray eyes looked up at him and the crying having stopped. Steve looked to Iris, smiling. “How’s Runa?”
Iris’ smile faltered a moment. “She’ll be all right, with time and care. She lost a bit more blood than Bruce liked, and she’ll need to stay in bed a week or two, but she’ll be perfectly fine.”
Steve’s smile had faded, and he nodded his understanding. “When can we see her?”
“As soon as Bruce is done with her.” Iris assured them.
“And when do I get to meet my newest grandson?” Pa called. Bucky smiled at that, passing the baby to Steve, who smiled down at the little one, before carefully walking to where Pa sat, placing the baby in his arms as if he were made of spun glass. Titus stood, coming up beside the chair, smiling down at the baby, before looking to Steve and Bucky.
“What did you three decide to call him?”
“I lost the coin toss, so it’s James Junior. Jamie for short.” Bucky answered.
“Jamie.” Pa tested the name out, before nodding. “A good name. Wait. Lost the coin toss?”
“I was voting Steven Junior.”
“I told him we could have a James Junior, since he goes by Bucky, but we don’t need two Steve’s on this ranch.” Steve smiled.
“Only you two.” Titus chuckled, before Pa looked to him, the two men sharing a few words before Pa passed Jamie to Titus. Pa and Papa Titus had struck up a friendship and played cribbage or checkers most evenings together. Titus smiled down at Jamie, his expression softer than anything anyone had ever seen on him, “Hello there, James.” He murmured. “I’m your grandpa Titus.” Finally, he relinquished the baby back to Steve, who allowed everyone to come forward, one at a time, to smile down at the baby, before wishing everyone else a good night and filing out to the bunkhouse.
Bruce came down shortly after, smiling when he saw those who remained in the sitting room; Bucky, Steve, Becks, Wanda, Titus, and Pa, who was known as Frank to everyone outside the immediate family.
“Mary is helping her to clean up.” He explained quietly. “You can see her soon. Runa needs to stay in bed for the next two weeks, except for trips to the outhouse. I don’t want her lifting anything heavy, not even the baby. She can hold him if someone else hands him to her, but she is not to pick him up. Do you understand?”
The two men had paled. “We understand, though we’re going to have to tie her down to keep her from picking up the baby herself.” Bucky confessed.
“One of us will stay with her at all times.” Steve said in a firm, no-nonsense tone, before he asked Bruce anxiously, “But she’ll be alright?”
“She’ll be fine with care and rest.” Bruce assured them, “Its nothing I haven’t seen before. As long as she follows my orders, she’ll be fine.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Steve asked, a knot forming in his stomach.
“We’ll worry about that only if she doesn’t listen. But with someone by her side at all times, she’ll be more than fine.” Bruce promised them as Mary came down, carrying an armload of soiled canvas and old newspapers.
“I’ll take that, Ma.” Becks offered, hurrying forward. Mary let her take it, before striding over to where Steve stood holding Jamie, holding her arms out expectantly. Steve grinned, carefully settling the baby into her arms.
“Ma, meet James Buchanan Barnes-Rogers Junior.” Bucky said proudly.
“He’s a darling.” Mary smiled radiantly down at her newest grandson, before carefully passing him to Bucky. “He’s going to need his Mama soon to nurse. Bruce and I have explained the how of it to Runa, but if there is any trouble at all, you come and get me, you hear?” She demanded. “Why don’t you two take this little man up to see her? I know you’re both itching to check on her yourselves.”
“Thanks, Ma.” Steve grinned.
“We’ll finish putting everything to rights down here.” Wanda promised them, earning a grateful smile from both Steve and Bucky, who bade everyone goodnight before heading up the stairs.
When they entered the room, Runa was sitting propped up in bed. She looked to the door as they entered and gave them the most brilliant smile either of them had ever seen. “Isn’t he the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?” She asked them as they moved to sit on the edge of the bed, where Bucky carefully passed Jamie to her.
“He comes a very close second.” Steve said, “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is sitting in front of me right now.”
She looked at him, startled, before she laughed. “I’m supposed to be the close second.”
“Well, we’ve always been a bit backwards.” Bucky teased. “How about he’s the most beautiful baby we’ve ever seen, you’re the most beautiful woman, and seeing you holding him is the most beautiful sight?”
She smiled tenderly at him. “That I can accept.”
The two men watched as she unbuttoned the top of her nightgown and attempted to nurse. There were a few false starts, but Jamie finally latched on. Runa wrinkled her nose a moment, but she still smiled.
“Something wrong?” Steve asked, reaching up to brush back a lock of hair that had come free during her labor.
“No. It just feels… Different.” She looked up at the two of them with an impish grin, “Now I know what the cows feel like.”
Steve and Bucky both laughed at that, watching the scene for a few more minutes.
“You made us a beautiful baby, sweetheart.” Steve finally murmured.
“I wasn’t the only one involved in the making.” She pointed out.
“Yeah, but our part wasn’t as involved as yours.” Bucky protested, “We just planted the seed. You grew it. Into a beautiful little boy.” Bucky moved so he could place a kiss on her temple. “We’re going to get ready for bed. Let us know when the little guy is done, and one of us will put him in his cradle.”
“All right.” Runa turned her attention back to the nursing baby. “Oh, he’s such a darling.” She murmured, a sentiment both men echoed.
As they settled in to bed a short time later, all three of them were thinking similar thoughts; that this was what true happiness was, and it could never get any better.