Chapter 11
38 Weeks And Three Days Pregnant
Bucky
Bucky was lying on the bed waiting for Steve to get home with their graduation caps and gowns.
Steve told him to try and rest, maybe take a nap but that definitely wasn't happening with this little parasite banging away at his insides.
Bucky didn't get any sleep last night, and Steve's trying to be all caring so he stayed up with the Omega, watching crappy reality tv.
Recently the baby had dropped lower, causing Bucky's bladder to feel ten times smaller.
He was done, he was ready to get this kid out of him, it was two days until graduation and he was already regretting his decision to walk with the rest of the class and except his diploma.
He tossed and turned on the bed, trying to get comfortable. He couldn't sleep on his back because it felt like the baby was gonna crush his insides, and when he was on his side even with the pillow between his knees and under his belly his hips and back ached.
He heard the front door open and close, then soft footsteps towards the bedroom.
Steve pushed open the door quietly, but frowned when he saw Bucky still awake, laying on his left side in the center of the bed.
"Still can't sleep baby?" The Alpha asked.
Bucky shook his head pitifully.
Steve walked over to the bed, laying beside Bucky, kissing his forehead.
"You wanna take a bath?"
Bucky shook his head no.
"Want me to rub your back?"
No.
"Want me to rub your feet?"
No.
"Want some food?"
No.
Tears began to leak out of Bucky's eyes, and the Omega sniffles, rubbing his stomach.
He just wanted the baby to calm down so he could sleep.
Steve almost whined, all he wanted to do was help his boyfriend. The Alpha reached out his hand to place on Bucky's belly, sliding down to be level with his child.
"Hey baby." The Alpha whispered, lips almost pressed against the taught skin, feeling little kicks from inside. "Can you please calm down in there? Momma needs to rest, so does daddy for a matter of fact." Steve gently said.
It didn't work.
Buck groaned when a sharp kick hit him in the bladder, he tried getting up by himself but it was no use.
Steve must have noticed his attempt, because the Alpha sat upright and helped the Omega to his feet.
Bucky made a beeline for the bathroom, relieving himself only to feel completely unrelieved in the end.
"Maybe I will take that bath." He called to Steve.
The Alpha came rushing in, preparing the tub and grabbing a towel.
Bucky looked down at his belly, giving it a soft rub while Steve bustled around. "Please just go to sleep little one."
_-_-_-_
Steve
Steve helped Bucky onto the exam table, gave him a kiss and held his hand like a good boyfriend.
He really felt for Bucky right now, the Omega was now going on two days of hardly any sleep, a few power naps here and there adding up to four hours total.
Steve had ended up clocking out around ten last night, he hadn't meant to, but he'd been staying awake with the Omega the whole time and apparently he hit his limit.
Steve looked to his boyfriend, feeling great sympathy for the Omega. He was currently wearing a hospital gown and had on the most pitiful look Steve had ever seen.
He brought Bucky's hand to his lips, the Omega looked over to him, smiling slightly.
Dr. Cho came in, smiling at the couple.
"So how's mommy doing today?"
Bucky just sighed, starring depressively at his stomach.
Dr. Cho chuckled, knowing how uncomfortable the Omega had to be.
"And how's daddy to be feeling?" She asked, directing her eyes towards Steve.
"Sympathetic." The Alpha answered, giving a half smile to Bucky.
"Alright, how's about we take a look at how baby's doing?" The doctor asked, and the couple nodded.
She slid a blanket over Bucky's legs, and then slipped his hospital gown above his belly.
Steve saw Bucky flinch at the cold gel that was squirted onto his stomach.
The couple held hands as they watched the ultrasound focus in on their baby, and Steve was amazed at how much the blurry image looked like a baby now, an actual human being that was part him and part Bucky.
His breathe would never not be taken away at that sight, and he assumed Bucky felt the same way, seeing as the grimace he held moments ago melted into a content smile.
"Hmm." Dr. Cho murmured.
Both Steve and Bucky looked at her concerned.
"Hmm what? What's wrong?" The Omega questioned, worry lacing every inch of his tone.
"Nothings wrong, it's just that the baby is kind of big for how far along you are, we might have to induce labor soon."
Bucky looked to Steve, eyes wide.
"How soon?" Steve asked.
"Within in the next week, I'm gonna schedule you to be induced on Tuesday if your water hasn't broken by then." She said, still looking at the screen housing the image of their child. Their child who was moving around a ridiculous amount, poor Buck.
"It's Thursday, that's less than a week away." Bucky said, wiping his stomach off when the doctor was finished and gave him a towel.
"If we wait any longer there could be a risk to you and the baby, I'm not taking that chance. Don't worry, the baby is far enough along and plenty big, there shouldn't be any extra risk."
They both nodded.
Steve knew the baby could come anytime, but being told your baby would be born by Tuesday, that makes it real.
He was gonna see his kid soon, hold them, care for them.
The Alpha was scared but he couldn't image what Bucky was going through, sure they'd be responsible for another human being soon, but Bucky was the one who had to deliver said human being into the world.
They went out for ice cream afterwards, Steve's way of soothing Bucky's fears.
"Can you believe it." The Omega murmured. "We're gonna have a baby soon."
"Yeah, weird to know that it will happen so soon, like, I knew they were coming but now it's really happening." Steve chuckled nervously, not quite sure how to react.
"Yeah, have you thought of names yet? I think I have mine." Bucky said, looking excitedly at Steve.
"You do? I have a few." The Alpha said, smiling goofily at his other half.
"You go first."
"Okay, um. Andrew, Landon, and my favorite, Simon."
"Simon?" his boyfriend questioned.
"I like Simon, I think it's a good name. Besides, what do you have?"
"I only have one, but I think it's really nice. Idalia."
Steve lips slowly tugged at the edges, grinning at his boyfriend he said. "That's beautiful Buck, I love it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I think it's perfect."
The Alpha stood from the bench they sat on, crouching in between Bucky's legs to bring his lips to his boyfriend's belly, his hands resting on Bucky's hips.
"Hi little Simon or Idalia, hope you enjoy the time you got in there, cause you gotta be booted out by Tuesday."
Bucky laughed, smiling down at the Alpha, and Steve could feel the love contained in that stare.
They kept looking at each other, Steve started leaning up for a kiss but was interrupted when Bucky let out a little oof.
"I don't know about the kid but I'm ready to have my body back to myself." Bucky said, resting his hand on his stomach where a foot kept wacking.
"Just gotta get through graduation tomorrow and then you can lay in bed until Tuesday." Steve said, kissing Bucky softly.
_-_-_-_
Bucky
The Omega was laying on the bed, watching Steve take his shirt off, sleeping in only pajama pants.
Bucky was currently propped up by five pillows, and more comfortable then he'd been in days.
When Steve laid down beside him all Bucky could do was stare at his toned torso.
Slowly, the Omega raised himself to his knees, climbing on top of Steve, straddling his hips.
The Alpha's eyes popped open at the sudden weight on top of him, smiling when he saw his boyfriend, but that smile slowly dropped when he saw the hungry look masking Bucky's face.
"Buck?"
Bucky ran his hands across Steve's middle, feeling his underwear become wet with his slick, and he was finally understanding what all those horny pregnant people were talking about.
"I want you." The Omega said.
Steve sat up so their faces were level, Bucky still straddling his lap.
"Are you sure?"
Bucky nodded, kissing Steve's neck.
"Absolutely."
The Alpha had Bucky raise up on his knees so he could pull his pajamas and underwear off, helping the Omega out of his clothes as well.
As things progressed Bucky wondered why he'd been holding off on doing this for so long.
It was pure bliss.
_-_-_-_
Bucky was awoken by Steve shaking his shoulder and murmuring in his ear.
"Baby we gotta get up, take showers and get ready. Graduations today!" Steve whispered enthusiastically.
Bucky stretched and rolled over, facing the Alpha.
"You doing okay?" Steve quietly asked.
Bucky nodded, smiling tiredly at his boyfriend.
"I'm fantastic."
Steve grinned, leaning over Bucky and kissing him deeply.
"I love you so much."
"I love you too, Stevie."
When Bucky was in the shower he gently touched his nether regions, feeling the soreness there.
The baby kicked, just starting to wake.
Bucky smiled down at his stomach, he couldn't believe his little passenger wasn't gonna be with him every second of the day soon. He'd gotten so used to having the baby with him all the time, like he or she was his little sidekick through school and work.
Part of him was gonna miss being pregnant, but the other part of him, the exhausted, hormonal, uncomfortable part was counting down the days.
He reached down and turned the knob to the shower off, carefully stepping out of the bathtub and grabbing his towel.
Steve opened the door, going to stand in front of the mirror (about where Bucky was standing, because their bathroom was tiny, but hey, he could deal).
"Hey, hot stuff." The Alpha smirked as he looked Bucky up and down, reaching for his toothbrush.
"I'm not hot right now."
"There's literally steam coming off of you, and that's not from the shower, it's from how blindingly flammable your looks are, I swear to god." The Alpha said, looking at Bucky through his reflection.
Bucky chuckled, playfully hitting Steve in the shoulder on his way out of the bathroom.
He could hear his boyfriends laughs as he walked into the bedroom, smiling at the clothes Steve had laid on the bed for him.
The Alpha knew Bucky hated looking through clothes because none of them fit properly, or comfortably, so Steve had taken to picking out clothes for Bucky to just through on, saving him the self deprecating hassle.
Once he was dressed, in a black pair of jeans (elastic band built in, ugh.) and a maroon shirt, he slipped his socks on and waited for Steve to finish in the bathroom. Because, yes, he needed the Alpha to put his shoes on.
After the two were dressed and ready (Steve in a nice pair of Levi's and a navy button up) they walked hand in hand to the car, which Steve had already packed with their caps and gowns.
When they were in the parking lot looking for a space Bucky all of a sudden felt a tightness run through his torso.
He tried to keep his face calm as Steve backed the car up into a space, slowly bringing his hand to his middle once the pain had passed, feeling the baby move around in there.
Was that a contraction?
Shit.
This was not happening now, it couldn't be, not today.
He was just gonna have to bare through it, as long as this didn't progress to quickly everything would be fine.
He thought about telling Steve but the Alpha would probably just take him to the hospital, foregoing the whole ceremony. Bucky knew how much this meant to Steve's parents, for them to see him get his diploma, heck, this meant a lot to Steve.
Bucky couldn't ruin this, he was just gonna deal with it as best he could.
Besides, the contraction wasn't even that intense, he probably had hours before this kid came clawing out.
Steve looked at him and smiled, grabbing his hand and bringing it to his lips.
"You ready?" The Alpha asked.
Bucky nodded, smiling at his boyfriend.
"Yeah, let's do this."
_-_-_-_
So far Bucky had experienced two more contractions, each growing a tad more intense then the last.
It had been two hours since they arrived, waiting to be led to the football field (where the graduation ceremony would take place) with the rest of the class.
He was leaning against Steve's side as the Alpha and Sam chattered away with each other.
Steve had his arm around Bucky's shoulders, rubbing his arm soothingly.
The Omega was grateful for the sturdy weight of his boyfriend, just incase he were to fall.
Bucky almost lost his cool when the baby dropped, moving down slowly.
He breathed through his noes, rubbing soothingly at his gown covered stomach, the red silk protruding from his child.
The baby gave a sharp kick, right against his bladder.
"Steve?" He whispered in the Alpha's ear, and his boyfriend leaned down to look at him.
"Yeah Buck? Everything okay?"
"Mhm, I just need to go to the bathroom real quick, be right back." He leaned up to kiss Steve's cheek, smiling reassuringly.
Once he was in the bathroom, luckily alone, he put his hands on either side of the sink, breathing in as another contraction took over his body.
This one was longer and more painful, for a second he thought he was gonna crumble.
When it finally let up he made sure to relieve himself in a stall, wash his hands, and then return to the graduates.
Bucky held Steve's offered arm as they walked to their seats, sadly they weren't sitting together, alphabetical order and all.
The Alpha walked him to his seat, kissing his forehead and murmuring about how he'd see him in a little bit.
Luckily Bucky and Bruce were in the same row, not next to each other but close enough to see.
Bucky smiled encouragingly at Bruce's nervous gaze, he could see the Beta's hands fumble with the cards he was holding.
Bruce had been working on his valedictorian speech for a long time now, he'd expressed to Bucky how scared he was about having to talk in front of so many people. Bucky was quick to reassure him that he'd be great, to not worry about the audience and focus on his message.
As the ceremony went on Bucky began to get light headed, everything was blurring in and out of focus and before he knew it Bruce was standing on stage, reading from his cards.
Bucky only got bits and pieces of what the Beta said, he was distracted by the baby shoving its head lower and lower down his body.
He could do this, there was only a half hour left.
"... I'm excited to branch out on this knew part of my life..."
Bucky bit his lip as a contraction racked his body again.
"... honored to have shared these last four years with my fellow graduates..."
Just focus, think of how happy your family will be to see you graduate.
"... I know that this is a scary thing to experience, but..."
Think of Steve's sunshine smile, of the pride the Alpha takes in every accomplishment you make.
"... we did it..."
By the time it was Bucky's rows turn the Omega wasn't sure he could stand.
But he did, painfully.
Almost finished, it wouldn't be long now.
He clapped when Bruce's name was called.
Waited his turn as the people between them were called, slowly moving to the four steps of stairs.
When there was only one person left Bucky was already on the second step, ready to lift his foot to the third but was distracted by another contraction.
He gripped the railing with his left hand, the other holding his stomach as every muscle clenched.
"James Barnes!"
Bucky squeezed his eyes shut, trying to breath through the pain but no breathes came in.
"James Barnes?"
"Buck?" He heard a familiar voice call.
Steve.
He needed Steve, needed him more than anyone else right now. Steve could help, he'd know what to do.
When the contraction ended he realized he was wrapped in someone's arms, the person supporting his weight.
"Buck? Are you in labor?"
Steve, it was Steve.
Bucky just nodded breathlessly.
"Okay, we need to go to the hospital, can you walk?"
Bucky shook his head as tears filled his eyes. "No." He whispered pitifully, sniffling.
He whined when the baby moved, his muscles were sore and he didn't know what to do.
"Okay, I'm gonna carry you." Steve said, and before Bucky could register his words the Alpha swept him up bridal style.
Steve grunted softly. "Damn Buck, that kid must be a ten pounder."
"Shut up." Bucky whispered.
Bucky was confused as Steve walked up the stairs and onto the stage.
"Mind if we get our diplomas?" The Alpha asked.
Bucky slightly registered two small things being set on him, but he was to disoriented to care.
When they were close to the car Bucky felt a hand press to his forehead, and then the sound of his fathers soothing voice.
"It's okay buddy, everything's gonna be just fine." George whispered
He could vaguely hear his little siblings, yelling out things like "is Bucky okay?!" "Why is Steve holding him?"
He assumed the crying was from Luke, the baby probably realized something was wrong with Bucky and didn't know what to do with himself.
George opened the passenger door on Steve's car, and the Alpha gently lowered Bucky in and onto the seat.
His father crouched down.
"We'll follow you to the hospital okay? Just try and stay relaxed."
Bucky nodded, letting George kiss his head and then shut the door.
Once Steve was in he started the car immediately, then he took Bucky's hand, rubbing soothing circles with his thumb.
"Do you think it was the sex last night? I read that sex is one of the number one ways to induce labor." The Alpha asked.
Bucky wanted to laugh but was overcome with another pain splitting contraction, gripping Steve's hand tight.
"Just try and breathe Buck, remember what we learned in Lamaze class. You got this."
"Fuck Lamaze class this hurts!"
Bucky tried to take in a breathe but these damn contractions were insufferable. He'd never felt anything like this in his life, fuck it hurt.
Once the pain had passed Steve kept murmuring soothing words to him.
Why wasn't Steve panicking, this whole pregnancy he was the one to worry about everything, why when Bucky was in fucking labor he was as calm as a goddamn cucumber.
"Why are you so calm? Shouldn't you be freaking out?"
"I don't have a reason to freak out because everything is going to be just fine, nothing is gonna go wrong and unless it does, which it won't, that's when I'll panic." The Alpha stated, words relaxed and calm.
"Just get us to the fucking hospital, I want this baby out."
_-_-_-_
Steve
"I don't Know if I can do this- I can't- I can't, oh my god!"
Steve watched helplessly as a contraction cut Bucky off mid sentence.
The Omega was lying in the hospital bed, wearing a hospital gown and clutching Steve hand.
Steve didn't know how to help him, all he could do was watch Bucky grit his teeth and groan.
When the pain finally past it left the Omega gasping, clutching his belly.
Dr. Cho came in moments later, a sympathetic look on her face.
"Well, you've been here an hour already, let's see how you're progressing."
She helped Bucky lift his legs to the stirrups attached to the bed, and then moved his hospital gown out of the way.
"Hmm, about seven centimeters, still have a ways to go though. Hopefully your water breaks soon, that should help speed things along."
She left, with the promise of checking on him in another hour, and if something happened to get a nurse immediately.
And that's how their night went, every hour Cho would come in, bringing with her no good news.
By the time 11:00 PM rolled around, with the contractions still ten minutes apart and Bucky having not dilated anymore, the Omega was exhausted.
Their family would stop in every now and then, everyone agreed that the kids shouldn't come in. It may freak them out to see Bucky go through a contraction, neither Bucky nor the kids needed that stress.
Currently Bucky was laying on his left side, Steve sat on the bed behind him, rubbing his back.
When Steve leaned over he was happy to see that Bucky had fallen asleep.
He sat back in his chair, to scared to lay on the bed and end up messing with one of the wires or tubes connected to Bucky.
He thought back to what Bucky said earlier, about why he was so calm, and, if he was being honest, he hadn't a clue.
Yeah, this was a scary thing and yes, he was worried about all that could go wrong. But, when he saw Bucky hunched over on those steps, his name being called, something came out in Steve. Something he'd never experienced before.
Steve looked at Bucky's back, and smiled.
Protect, his Alpha told him, protect what's mine.
_-_-_-_
Bucky
"Why isn't anything happening?" Bucky asked.
It was six in the fucking morning and still, no change.
His parents sat on the seats next to the bed, Sarah and Joseph were entertaining the kids in the waiting room.
"Baby's stubborn, just like you were." Winifred said, a sympathetic smile on her face.
"It's been fourteen hours." Bucky cried.
George stood from his seat, wrapping Bucky up in a hug, his hands smoothing down the Omega's back.
"It's gonna be okay Bucky bear, things'll start happening soon."
Bucky seriously doubted that.
2:27 PM
"Twenty. Two. Hours."
Bucky was ready to pass out and die, out of that time, including contractions every ten minutes, he'd probably gotten a total of an hour and fifteen minutes of sleep.
"I know baby, something's bound to happen soon though." Steve murmured against Bucky's hand, where it was pressed against the Alpha's lips.
Just then dr. Cho walked in.
"Hey there, how's mommy holding up?" She asked, smiling a little as Bucky automatically spread his legs in the stirrups, he knew the drill by now.
"I just want this to be over with." Bucky whispered, sniffling a bit.
"I know, let's see if anything changed shall we?"
After a moment of inspection she looked up at the couple, a smile on her face.
"Eight centimeters." She said in a sing songy tone.
"Thank god." Bucky breathed out.
Finally, some kind of change.
4:56 PM
Bucky was holding Steve's arm as they walked down the hospital halls.
The doctor said walking may help, and Bucky was desperate.
They'd only been walking five minutes when Bucky had to stop, feeling something odd.
The baby's head descended lower, and a pressure was released when he felt liquid flowing down his legs.
Bucky gasped, his hand clutching his stomach in shock and discomfort.
"Oh god." He whispered.
"Okay, let's get back to the room." Steve said, ushering Bucky back from where they started.
"Looks like you're fully dilated, okay? So this is it. On the next contraction I want you to start pushing. Real big ones okay?" Dr. Cho asked.
Bucky nodded, feeling the familiar tightness start to build.
"Push!"
Bucky boar down, screaming through gritted teeth.
He was pretty sure Steve's hand would be bruised because of how hard he was squeezing it.
"Okay take a break, breath."
Bucky gasped in air, letting his legs relax.
Before he knew it the next contraction was starting and the doctor was telling him to push.
Each push caused the burn to intensify, and Bucky could feel the baby's head pressing against his bottom.
Each time the baby was almost out Bucky would lose his strength and the head would slip back in.
"I can't- I can't do this! I can't-" he cried.
"You need to push." The doctor said.
But Bucky couldn't.
"No, I can't." Tears were streaming down his face and his bangs were stuck to his forehead from sweat. Snot was leaking from his noes and his face was red.
Steve leaned their foreheads together, his large hands cupping both of Bucky's cheeks.
"You can do this, you're so, so close. Just think, our baby is almost here, you just have to push, you can do it."
Bucky was full on crying now, little hiccups breaking through his staggered breathes.
On the next contraction he pushed as hard as he could, feeling the baby's head slip out again, almost past the ears.
With one last scream, the baby's head was out and the burn only intensified.
On the next contraction he pushed as hard as he could, feeling the baby's shoulders slip out a little, and then right back in.
He screamed, and pushed for another ten minutes before the baby came sliding out, into the doctors waiting hands.
Bucky laid back gasping.
"Oh my god, Buck, that was the most amazing thing I've ever seen anyone do." Steve whispered.
"What is it? Do we have a daughter or a son?" Bucky asked breathlessly, breathing in ragged breathes.
Dr. Cho held up the crying baby, announcing.
"You have a beautiful baby..."
To Be Continued.