Chapter 5
“Oh wow, you are really good at getting the ball!” Steve grinned as he tossed the ball again at Brian. Brian missed, again, and chased after it once it went past him. He grabbed the ball and threw it somewhere in the direction of Steve. Brian was giggling and having a blast. He wasn’t very good at tossing a baseball back and forth. He had never done so before, but he was having a lot of fun.
Bucky smiled at them from his place on the bench. He was nursing Alice and was covered with a blanket. “Your brother is having a lot of fun, isn’t he?” he whispered to the baby. She just grunted as she continued to nurse and placed a chubby hand on his chest.
“Mommy! Did you see that?” Brian squealed in delight as he ran back over to Bucky. “I threw the ball!”
“I did,” Bucky smiled. “You are so good! You should be a baseball player.”
“He is a quick learner,” Steve smiled as he walked over to the bench. He ruffled Brian’s hair. “Is she sleeping?” he peaked over the blanket and instantly his face turned red. “She is definitely not sleeping. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I keep doing that. I keep looking and I shouldn’t. I’m so sorry.”
Bucky laughed a little. “Steve. It’s okay. The more you spend time with me, the more you will probably see. She’s just a baby. She eats a lot.”
Steve blushed redder and rubbed the back of his neck. “So, um, are you guys hungry? I mean, besides the baby. She’s clearly already eating.”
“I could go for some food,” Bucky nodded. “Do you mind if we wait until she’s done? I mean, unless we have to go…”
“Of course we’ll wait,” Steve frowned. “Bucky, her needs come first. I’m a grown man. I’ll live.”
“I just… I don’t want us to be a burden,” Bucky said quietly.
“You aren’t. You three couldn’t be,” Steve grinned. “I’m honored you guys are letting me spend time with you.”
“We can always hang out, Captain America,” Brian tugged at Steve’s pants.
Steve laughed. “Buddy, call me Steve.”
“Okay,” Brian blushed. “Mommy, he wants me to call him Steve,” he whispered loudly.
Bucky laughed and shook his head. “I heard, honey.”
Steve knelt down to Brian’s level. “So since your mom and sister are busy, do you want to skip rocks?”
Brian looked absolutely confused as he stared at Steve.
Steve grinned. “Come on, I’ll go teach you.” He took Brian’s hand and led him to the pond. He explained the basic mechanics on how to skip rocks and tossed on himself. “See? It’s not so hard.”
“Okay,” Brian nodded and tossed a rock straight into the pond. He frowned and looked down. “I think that was a bad rock.”
Steve laughed and got down on his knees to try to guide Brian into throwing it properly. “And look at that! You did it!”
“I did it!” Brian squealed. He looked back to make sure Bucky was watching and jumped up and down. “I like you, Steve,” he smiled up at him. “I like doing fun things with you.”
“I like doing fun things with you too,” Steve smiled. “Does your dad do stuff like this with you?”
Brian shook his head. “Daddy doesn’t like me,” he said quietly. He looked down at his little hands and balled them up until little fists and released them.
“Why would you say that?” Steve asked softly and put his large hand on the boy’s small back.
“He says that Mommy shouldn’t have had me,” Brian bit his lip. “And that I ruined his life.” He scrunched up his face and quietly cried. He rubbed his little forearm across his face to catch the tears.
Steve sighed. “Come here,” he pulled Brian into a hug. “I am very very happy that your mommy had you. And you ruined no one’s life. Never ever think that any of that is true, okay?”
Brian nodded and buried his face against Steve’s neck. He threw his little arms around his neck and clung on tightly to him.
“It’s okay,” Steve soothed and rubbed his back. “Everything is okay.”
“I wish you were my daddy,” Brian whispered against Steve’s neck.
“Is everything okay?” Bucky asked as he walked up to them. Alice was back strapped to Bucky’s chest and was kicking her little feet around. “Brian, baby, what happened? Are you okay?” His voice shook with fear as he glanced over at Steve.
“Everything’s fine,” Steve assured him. “He just, uh, was just talking about home.”
Bucky stared at Steve with a blank face. He turned to look down at Brian and grabbed his hand. “I’m not a bad mom. I’m… I’m doing the best I can.”
“I never said you were a bad mom,” Steve pulled Bucky into a one arm hugged. “How about we go get some lunch?”
Bucky gave him a weak smile. “I think some lunch sounds great.”
“You want some lunch, little guy?” Steve smiled down at Brian. Brian nodded eagerly and have him his affirmative. Steve glanced over at Alice who was happily chewing on her fist as she rested her head against Bucky’s chest. “I guess you’ve already had yours.”
“Let me know if I go too far,” Steve said to Bucky. He picked up Brian and rested him on his shoulders. Brian squealed in delight and grabbed at Steve’s head.
“You aren’t going too far,” Bucky smiled. “You having fun up there?”
“Yes!” Brian squealed as Steve started to walk. Steve pressed his hand to Bucky’s lower back and kept the other on Brian’s leg as they walked to the deli.
“This is, ah, this is nice,” Steve said as he looked over at Bucky who was rubbing his hand against Alice’s back as she cooed at him.
“Yeah?” Bucky glanced up and over at him.
“I don’t normally have anyone to go to lunch with,” Steve admitted. “And I definitely don’t have anyone as cool at Brian to go with me.” He laughed as Brian patted the top of his head.
“Well, I think we are enjoying your company,” Bucky smiled and pressed his lips to the top of Alice’s head.
“Captain America has an omega?!?”