foreversecrets - Tumblr blog

foreversecrets · 1 year

Text

What Burrows in the Boroughs: 6

What Burrows in the Boroughs Masterlist

Rating: Mature

Summary: Riley was just a 25 year old working full time as a nanny to pay her expense of being a medical student when she meets Sarah Rogers and her very attractive father, her life takes some interesting turns after that.

Pairing: Mob Steve Rogers x OC

Status: Ongoing

Present

While Steve spends time with Sarah, Riley allows Wanda and Sam to dote on Alice. Using her time to eat some lunch and start looking for new houses. Nothing she finds matches what she knows both her and Steve want: privacy like their current home but the homes currently on the market are practically surrounded by other homes giving off a claustrophobic feel.

When she voices her concern, it's Sam who offers the reminder. “It’s not just you guys that have to move. The Barnes’ family lives in one of the guest houses and we live in the other. Why don’t you and Steve just buy some land and our three households can design the layout together?”

“Where are we going to find that much land in Brooklyn?”

“Does it have to be Booklyn?” Wanda asks as she shifts Alice, her arms tired but the adorable bundle worth every discomfort.

“Steve loves me, but I know that he’d ever agree to leave Brooklyn.” Riley joked.

“He would if it meant you guys were safe. Hell it might even be better not to stay in Brooklyn for security reasons.” Sam pointed out before continuing. “And if we can find enough land, we can build more houses for the crew.”

“Alright, now you’re getting wild,” Wanda laughs, reigning in her husband. “I have a friend in real estate, I’ll give you her information. She’ll know exactly what you’re looking for.”

“I’ve found a couple I adore but they’ve already closed.” Riley huffed, dropping her phone in her lap.

“Did you forget who Steve is?” Sam laughed. “Nothing is unavailable to the Captain.”

How could she forget? She internally rolled her eyes. It seemed like everything about her life was now a reminder. Was it weird that his illicit dealings didn’t bother her? Then again the day she found out about his career she’d been dealing with a bigger problem and just never addressed the matter again. She’d even decided to participate by being an on call medic for them.

“Sam, be honest with me please,” her voice is low, almost fearful. “How bad is it going to get?” she watched Sam and Wanda share a look, probably debating telling Riley. It's a little too late for her to back out on a life with Steve now, not like she could will herself not to love him or Alice not to be his kid.

“The last time something like this happened a whole burrough was wiped out before they got Hydra beat back.” Sam admitted.

“Would it be safer for me to get the girls out of the state until this is resolved? My sister and mom are still in California.”

“Yeah it’d probably be safer for the three of you but it would make everything else harder and more dangerous for the rest of us.”

“Steve’s the man with the plan, the further his family is from him the more time he is going to spend worrying about you instead of planning and handling the situation.” Wanda explains.

“So we stay.”

“Tony offered to put the displaced Commandos up in the Tower for now.” Sam recalled.

“His AI system is remarkable, would really help white I adjust to life with two kids,” Riley pondered aloud. “But I still have to talk to Steve, we make these decisions together.”

“Him and Sarah should be back soon.” Just as Wanda said that the door opened, they were all expecting Steve. So when it wasn’t, Sam and Wanda wiped out their weapons, Wanda using her body to keep Alice from view.

“I’m here to make sure-”

“I told you if I ever saw you again, I’d let Steve kill you.” Riley growls at the familiar figure standing in the doorway of her hospital room.

“I have information that can help you!” As soon as the woman raised her voice Sam had her pinned to the wall, Wanda handing Alice carefully over to Riley to better position herself in front of her friend and goddaughter.

But Audrey continued, “Hydra wasn’t targeting you. Pierce plans to gather all the kids; Morgan Stark, Sarah and Alice Rogers, Joshua Odinson, Taylor and Dakota Laufeyson, and Paxton Wilson.”

Wanda’s eyes shifted from stern to concerned as she heard her own toddlers name, Sam didn’t take his eyes off of Audrey but the tension immediately brought a stiffness to his posture. Riley retrieved her discarded phone and texted Steve to come back ASAP. It only took ten minutes for him to arrive and assess the situation; Audrey bound and seated on the ground with Riley cradling his newborn across the room in the window seat. His friends and colleagues are a human wall between his family and the unwelcome addition. Steve reacted by picking Sarah up and going to stand beside Riley softly inquiring about the events he’d missed.

“Hydra plans to cripple all the Boroughs by destroying the families. They don’t want Queens anymore, they want all of New York.”

Gone is the doting father and partner Riley was so used to seeing from Steve, in his place was the hardened, unreadable Captain. “They aren’t touching any of the families.”

“Pierce’s plan was the attack on your estate to gather the families at Stark Tower. He plans to demolish the building, he already has the explosives set and men staking out for confirmation, all the key players have tucked tail there.”

“Sam, take her to Stark, Nat and Buck are already in Manhattan, they’ll meet you there,” Steve waited until Sam and Audrey were out of the room before turning to Wanda. “Reach out to the fathers, coordinate with them to relocate to the compound upstate then get yourself and Paxton there. As soon as Riley and Alice are discharged we’ll be heading that way. Our new friends arrived this morning, we’ll meet tonight. Please find somewhere suitable for those discussions.”

Wanda nodded, leaving the Rogers family with hugs.

“What’s the compound?” Riley asked Steve once they were the lone adults.

“An old off the radar facility, it used to be the headquarters for the Avengers-before disagreements had them breaking into their own factions. Stark’s been renovating the past two years in case we needed it.” Steve begins packing their things as he continues on. “It’s the safest place in all of New York and Hydra believes it no longer exists.”

It's only once they receive the discharge paperwork and the family of four are loaded into Steve’s sedan that Riley takes the hand he doesn’t have on the wheel and speaks, “This is really happening then?”

He nods, “Everythings going to be okay. We’ve had almost 3 years to plan.”

Riley’s smile is genuine when he looks at her. His girl has absolute faith and trust in him and his abilities. He only hopes it’s not misplaced.

2 Years Ago (ish)

“Sweetheart, everything looks amazing!” Steve praised as he entered the backyard.

“I picked out the fairy lights!” Sarah excitedly states, jumping into her fathers arms.

“They look beautiful,” he smiles, placing a sloppy wet kiss on her cheek before wiping his lips and placing a gentle kiss to Riley’s.

“You mentioned wanting to barbecue yourself so Natasha helped me pick up your favorites and the proper seasonings.” Riley did one more once over of the prepped yard before kissing him again. “I’m going to run home and shower. The Reynolds are going to be a little late but I’ll have Becca with me.”

Steve looked at his watch, “parties in about two hours, don’t be late. It's a bad look for the host.” he teases.

“You’re a host as well,” she giggled before turning to Sarah. “Make sure you get daddy dressed appropriately before he starts the grill.”

“Yes ma’am,” Sarah gives her a playful salute, moving from her dad’s arms to hug Riley’s legs looking up at her with a goofy smile. “Hurray back!” Riley leaned down to hug her properly which gave Sarah the opportunity to speak into Riley’s shoulder. “I love you Riley.”

Riley’s eyes shot to Steve’s, his were watering with happiness at his little girl's admission. Steve hadn’t even said those words yet, despite them already being an accurate description for how he felt towards Riley himself. He wanted things to move at Riley’s pace to ensure it was one she was comfortable with. But he’d warned Riley, no matter how he felt towards her, he’d never continue to pursue this relationship if his daughter was against it. Now she was being the bravest of the three in her confession. Steve nodded to Riley, letting her know he was okay with what had been said and she was free to respond in whatever way she believed was best.

“I love you too, Sarah.” Riley’s voice cracked a little breathless, the happiness in her eyes proof enough to Steve his girlfriend did truly love his daughter. Riley squeezed Sarah a little tighter for a second before breaking away so the little girl could run inside and up to her fathers closet. Riley moved into Steve’s arms, burying her face in his chest to contain her giddiness. Steve held her tightly, hiding his own smile in her hair.

“I guess I should start looking at rings,” he joked.

Riley pulled back and playfully smacked at his chest, “It’s only been six months, besides you're still married.”

“Doesn’t matter,” he kissed her temple. “I’m going to marry you one day because my daughter isn't the only Rogers who's in love with you.”

“Steve I-”

“Nope, you gotta go get ready.” He gently nudged her towards the back fence that led to the driveway out front.

📳

Meeting Steve’s friends brought forth an unnecessary anxiety within Riley, she didn’t really need their approval (especially after earning Sarah’s) but she really wanted it. She couldn’t bear the thought of any of Steve’s friends not liking her and the inevitable choice he’d be faced with at some point: her of them. Her outfit was casual, just dressy enough to leave an impression but not enough to go overboard. Something easy to change in and out of in the event she had to wrangle the kids in the pool too.

She had the upper hand for all of two seconds when Natasha and her husband, over the past several months Nat and her had become friends. With all the help the redhead had been dealing with the stalking incident they had plenty of time to get to know one another so the smile on Riley’s lips when Natasha entered the backyard was genuine. Only faltering a little when she turned to Steve’s best friend-the man whose opinion mattered to Steve almost as much as Sarah’s did. His cold blue eyes glared at her, his lips tilted slightly in an almost frown as she offered her hand during the introduction.

“Steve speaks very highly of you,” Riley started trying not to let herself be affected by the sternness of Bucky. “But Nat has a more playful description of your character.” Steve and Nat chuckled at her joke but Bucky’s lips only curled into a sneer.

“Funny, Steve barely mentions you.” his tone was harsh as he brushed past Riley. Her sensitive heart clenched as Nat rushed after him with an annoyed look now. What could she have already done to make Bucky dislike her? She was panicking, her anxiety sending her into a near attack.

“Babydoll, hey don’t mind Buck, he’s a jerk sometimes.” Steve kneeled slightly so they were face to face.

“What did I do?” her lip quivered a bit.

“Nothing, sweetheart. Buck’s just pissed off he wasn’t the first to find out about you and he’s a little bitter about my dating life. My ex left a foul taste in his mouth.”

“I’d never hurt you like-”

“I know the baby doll, but he doesn’t not yet. Just give him time and he will discover how incredible you are.”

Before anything else could be said Sam and Wanda Wilson arrived, their introductions going so much better. As if the pair could sense the discomfort and felt the personal duty to ease them. Sam easily pulled a smile out of Riley and Wanda quickly endearing herself to Riley. Steve let out a breath and relaxed as his girl was pulled away by Wanda.

“Thanks man,” Steve clapped Sam on the shoulder.

“Buck give her the fifth degree?”

“Couldn’t wait to escape her is more like it, snapped at her first.” Steve shook his head. “I knew he’d be protective but I didn’t expect his disrespect, I told Riley to give him time to get to know her but I need to ask him to tone it down. He nearly sent her into a panic attack and I really need her to be relaxed for tonight.”

“You got a plan?”

“Yeah, Nat is handling it.”

It was only about 30 minutes later when the party was in full swing. Riley had met so many new people she couldn’t possibly remember all the names. A few people stood out; Wanda who she instantly connected with both of them with being similar people with nurturing personalities, Bucky who seemed determined to use his stare to cause her to die of a heart attack, and Tony Stark who refused to not be the center of attention. For the most part the night was going great and she was starting to feel more at ease, especially when she noticed Audrey arriving.

“Audrey!” she cheered happily rushing over to wrap her best friend in a hug welcoming her before pulling her over to Steve who was prepping the grill. “Audrey this is my boyfriend Steve, Steve this is Audrey.” Riley broke physical contact with Audrey as Steve pulled her into a embrace-her back to his chest with his hands on either of her shoulders.

“Nice to meet you,” Audrey offered her hand hiding her dislike but Steve wasn’t so subtle when his cold blue eyes met hers, she could clearly read the message: ‘She’s mine and I know who you are.’

Before Steve could respond the little footsteps broke Riley from Steve’s arms as she bent down to catch Sarah in her arms and place the little girl on her hip. “And this is Steve’s daughter, Sarah.” Riley pushed Sarah’s escaped hair out of her face. “Sarah, this is my best friend, Audrey.”

Steve sneered at the title Riley was using for the woman who was ultimately the cause for all her stress. Sarah, is a normally outgoing sweet kid, curled into his girlfriend-hiding her face from Audrey. His hard exterior flickering as he looked at the discomfort of his kid, he already hated Audrey for what she was doing to Riley but now she was making his daughter upset. If Audrey was just a Hydra agent he could’ve overlooked that but the stalking, the photography and videos, and now this. He wanted this woman gone-yesterday.

“My apologies for my daughter, she’s not usually shy.” Steve reached over taking Sarah from Riley’s arms. Riley’s eyes trained on the little girl, concerned with Sarah over introductions.

“Riley, Steve, I need you for a moment.” Nat came over. “Sarah, go find uncle Bucky.”

Steve set his daughter down who couldn’t get away from the treacherous woman fast enough. Steve gave Audrey a false apologetic look as the three of them retreated to the kitchen. He should be paying attention while Natasha explains the carefully crafted excuse they came up with to convince Riley to use her old phone and call the number but his heart was already hurting. Even before he learned about Audrey’s true identity, Riley mostly spoke fondly of her friend and how she knew him and her would get along. Once he learned the truth, he was angry on her behalf.

“Steve, will you do it?” The waiver in Riley’s voice breaks Steve from the plans he is forming to cheer her up once the party is over. She is afraid, of course she is, who would be with discovering and confronting their stalker?

He takes the phone from her but doesn’t hit the call button just yet, he titles her chin up so their eyes meet. “I promise I will keep you safe. Learning who the culprit is will make that so much easier.” She nods and then hits the button just as Audrey enters.

“Hey Ry, they are out of-” Audrey's sentence is stopped as a generic ringtone plays from her pocket. Riley’s eyes are trained on her best friend as she pulls out a phone she’s never seen her with before and she answers the phone, her voice echoing from the speaker from Riley’s own phone. The whole room goes silent as Audrey meets Riley’s eyes and knows that Riley knows. “I can-”

“Give me the phone,” Steve has never heard Riley sound simultaneously deadly and emotionless at the same time.

“I was trying-”

“Give. Me. The. Phone.”

She does, sealing her fate. Riley first pulls up the text chains seeing all the poetry, photos, and misguided love messages. Then she goes to the photo library and scrolls endlessly, tears of anger and betrayal blurring her vision until she drops the phone from her trembling hands. Betrayal is too mild a term to describe how Riley feels in this moment, learning that one of the people she trusted most in her life was the one intentionally hurting her the most. Audrey attempts to step forward but Steve places himself half in front of Riley, warding off the Hydra bitch.

“I was trying to get you away from him!” Audrey snarls her defense.

“Clearly,” Riley gives a humorless chuckle trying to swipe away her tears but fresh ones take their place. There is no doubt in her mind what those intimate photos of herself on Audrey’s phone have been used for before this stalker situation.

“Not like that-I care about you, I do but this was about keeping you safe. Riley he’s a m-”

“Enough!” Steve barks, his raised tone triggering his crew lurking in the shadows to make themselves known but their weapons not yet drawn.

“No, she should know the danger you’ll bring to her!”

“Danger! The only person who made me afraid of my own skin is you! The paranoia I’ve been living with-I cried my eyes out to you about how this stalker was affecting my life and it was you the whole time!”

“Riley, he’s a mob boss!” Audrey blurts.

Everyone descends now that the cat is out of the bag, weapons drawn but no one making a move as all eyes fall to Riley. If she is affected by the discovery she hides it well, even Steve is unsure what to do or say now. While everyone else in the room seems unsure what to do, Riley’s despair turns to full on rage.

“Were you hoping that would change things?” her voice is trembling with each word as she seethes. “Was that the excuse you used to justify your deeds? Some of those pictures were taken before I even met you Audrey, two years before I even met Steve.”

“He kills people! He is a criminal!”

“This isn’t about Steve, this is about you.” Riley approaches Audrey each step more sure than the last until she is standing before her. “But if besmirching him matters so much to you know this: it doesn’t fucking matter what he does for a living, and do you know why?” Riley glares, waiting for Audrey to answer but Audrey's heart breaking in the moment prevents speech from slipping past her lips, even when she moves her lips to speak. “Because even with his chosen career path, he has never intentionally hurt me. He have never manipulated me, invaded my privacy in the most depraved form, betray my trust in such an unforgivable manner, never terrorized me to the point of barely functioning. In all this turmoil, he has been my sanity. In my every discomfort no matter the size of it, his one desire has been to ease anything in anyform.”

“You’re not angry?” an awed whisper slips from Steve’s lips but Riley ignores him, her eyes completely focused on Steve.

“Did you think confessing to me that Steve was the infamous Captain of the Howling Commandos would change my mind?” Riley laughs picking up the dropped phone and thrusting it back into Audrey’s hand. The other woman silently weeping now as she shatters before her best friend, the woman she’s loved for many years now. “Nothing you can say will change that fact that I’m in love with Steve and if I ever see you again I will let Steve kill you.”

With that Riley slips upstairs to Steve’s room leaving Audrey face to face with the Howling Commandos.

“Out of respect for my girl and the friendship you shared, I am giving you my oath you will leave here tonight untouched but if I ever see you near my men or my family again-you will wish for a quick death.”

#mob boss steve rogers #emotional manipulation #stalking #childbirth #unplanned pregnancy #cheating #implied cheating #divorce #marriage #motherhood #pregnancy #alternate universe #steve rogers #steve rogers x oc

0 notes

foreversecrets · 1 year

Text

What Burrows in the Boroughs: 5

What Burrows in the Boroughs Masterlist

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Mob Steve Rogers x OC

Status: Ongoing

Present

Steve looks down at his sleeping Alice in the bassinet beside the hospital bed that Riley is sleeping in. His youngest was already proving to be more of a troublemaker than her older sister has been. But she is a beautiful and healthy newborn, his eyes shift to Riley still sleeping. By the time he arrived in her room she was asleep, he hadn't had a chance to speak with her, to soak in the bliss of the new addition to their family. When he arrived at the hospital the nurses swept Alice away to tend to her while Steve was brought to the doctor who’d operated on his wife. He hadn’t been able to focus, he knew Alice was mostly okay but the last sight of his wife was her covered in her own blood barely conscious, he can’t focus not until he sees her and knows she’s okay. He registered enough to know, there will be no lasting effects on his girlfriend and the praise the doctor pours upon him for his efficient delivery of his daughter. But then the doctor had led him to the room Riley was assigned and the relief he thought he’d feel was ripped from him. She is abnormally pale-the blood loss the doctor says, several IV’s and monitors hooked up to her to monitor and treat her condition, and she’s sleeping deeper than he’s ever seen her, drool falling from her half opened mouth. It's only a few short minutes later when Alice is brought in, along with the birth certificate.

“You’re perfect,” Steve whispers down to his little girl, softly brushing his fingertips across her chubby cheek. Her only response is a little gurgle and her head trying to move closer to his fingers but the blanket swaddled around her limits her movements. He wants to pull his shirt off and hold her to his chest, develop that bond as he had with Sarah but his hands still have a slight tremble to them. He can’t trust his receding anxiety so he resigns himself to stealing little touches, once he is calm he’ll hold her and never let her go.

His friends had quickly filtered in and out of the room, just wanting reassurances that mom and baby were alright but they had more important matters to handle. Bucky and Nat volunteered to care for their goddaughter while Steve remains at the hospital but the rest of his friends are gearing up for a response to the attack. Once he’d had a moment to breathe, with both girls sleeping his phone was in his hand, calls, emails, texts, so much work being done while he had the downtime. The Guardians should arrive by morning and the Wakandans the day after once they arrive a sit down discussion before forces mobilize and strike out against Hydra.

But Riley has made him a father again, his duty to his family demands he’s by her side for all of Alice’s first experiences but a bigger part reminds him if he fails to get a handle on Hydra he may not have a family to come home to. It's a well known fact that his history from serving in the army he is well versed in battle strategy, the rest of the boroughs are going to be looking to him for orders, he can’t just sit on the sidelines. Looking down at his daughter he vows to himself that he will remove Hydra and still be around to raise her.

“Is she alright?” Riley’s rough, sleepy voice pulls him from his musings. She looks better from when he first arrived, but there’s still bags under her eyes displaying her exhaustion. However, there’s a bright, hopeful, smile on her face.

“She’s perfectly healthy. The doctor promised you’d be alright too.” he whispers softly separating from his daughter and moving to Riley.

“I am,” she promises, cradling his hand between her cheek and her own hand. “Pretty sore but I think that’s to be expected.”

“I’ve never been so afraid before,” he confessed into her hair, closing his eyes and breathing in deeply. Her scent is wrong, instead of her usually lavender smell he picks up blood, sweat, and hospital. She looks up, placing a gentle kiss to his lips.

“You did so good, both kids are safe, I’m safe and it's because of you.”

“I lashed out, terrified Sarah.” His voice is thick with emotion, he’s never been ashamed of crying in front of Riley but he knows if he starts now he won’t be stopping anytime soon. “When Banner came to help, he tried-”

“I know Steve, but I’m here, I’m okay and we get to spend so much time reassuring and raising our kids because of you.”

“I almost lost all three of you because- '' Steve self-rant was cut short by the soft whimpering of Alice from the bassinet.

Riley smirked at Steve trying not to laugh, “See, even our youngest agrees with me.” The sound of her mothers voice seemed to soothe Alice since she calmed after hearing Riley. “She’s probably hungry, can you bring her over?” Riley asked as she sat up, preparing herself to nurse her daughter.

Carefully Steve places Alice in Riley’s arms, too distracted by his little girl to pay any mind to his girlfriend's exposed breasts. Any other day she would tease him or maybe be a little insecure but they are both so wrapped up in the new addition to their family she pays it no mind. Steve just watches as Riley adjusts and presses her nipples towards her daughter's mouth. It seems to be a struggle but Riley is patient while Alice keeps latching on to the wrong section until finally Riley is able to guide her into the correct position. A bright smile spreads across Riley’s lips as she watches her daughter nurse.

“We make beautiful babies,” she whispers softly, trying to minimize her movements. The last thing she wants is to jostle her daughter out of position and restart the process of latching her on. Slowly she lifts her head to meet Steve’s eyes, they are glossy as if tears of joy will pool any minute.

“That we do.”

“I want another.”

He bursts into laughter, his worries fading away. He isn’t entirely sure if she’s serious or just trying to relax him but she succeeded. Just six hours ago she was complaining about how awful this last trimester of her pregnancy had been and refusing to have any more children. He regains his composure as he sees Alice's little fist slowly jerk as if scolding him from distracting her.

“What?” Riley asks, laughing along. “It was worth every discomfort I endured.”

“Let’s get her home before you start naming our future kids.”

“You said you wanted as many kids as I was willing to give you,” she teases.

“This is the easy part,” he smiles. “See if you’re singing the same tune once she starts teething or you're trying to juggle Alice and Sarah.”

“Speaking of, where’s Sarah?”

“With Buck and Nat, the doctors want to observe you for a few days so they offered to watch her.”

“And our house?” he sees the worry in her eyes, she successfully masked it from her tone but he knows her too well to not see it. Memories from the day flooding back to them both, knowing Steve wasn’t going to allow his family to step foot back in that house until the problem was obliterated.

“About that,” he moves to carefully sit at her feet, their legs running parallel in opposite directions so her feet are at his hips and vice versa. “It's all cleaned up.”

“There’s a but you’re not saying.”

“Once I was sure everyone was okay, I emailed mine and Peggy’s lawyers.” He sees her tense though Alice has stopped nursing. “I offered her the house in exchange for her signing the paperwork by the end of the week.”

“She agreed?” hope bleeds through her tone.

“She did but she wants the furniture as well. Of course there’s things like everything in Sarah’s room we get to keep-”

“But now we can have a home that’s untouched by her, we get to build our home together in our style.”

“It’s bad timing.”

“I don’t care,” she admitted. “I’m finally getting everything I want. I get you, a home, our kids.”

She looks so happy, he doesn’t want to ruin the moment. The only thing that could make the image in front him better is if Sarah was present, sitting besides Riley. Riley’s right, they both finally achieved everything they’ve ever wanted, Steve has his perfect family and the radiant smile on his girl's face isn’t something he ever wants to live without. Nat and Buck are going to bring Sarah around in a couple hours after they feed her breakfast, he’ll wait until then to tell her. It’s going to destroy the atmospheric bliss but she had to know the attack has jump started the war they’ve been preparing for over the last couple years. He isn’t ready to tell her that finding a new home is going to fall in her lap while he lays out battle plans. Doesn’t want to voice aloud how little sleep they are going to get as new parents and how little help he is going to be. He knows it’s going to hurt them both when he warns her she isn’t going to see him nearly as often, he is going to be gone in the morning before she wakes up and returning once her and the girls are tucked into bed.

“Steve?” he hasn’t realized he’d been pacing until her worried tone breaks his train of thought. ��I know what the attack means, I declined the job offer at the hospital.”

“What?” he’s breathless, guilt consuming him once again. All she’s ever done since they met was work towards becoming a doctor and sacrifice for him.

“We hadn’t had a chance to talk about it but I decided last month when I finished my residency-I don’t need the money. You, Sarah, and Alice are my whole world.”

“You don’t have-”

“Let me finish,” she gave him a playful smile. “I spoke with Bucky and Abraham-he’s getting older-”

“I see where this is going and no.”

“If anything happens to him the Commandos won’t have any on hand medical assistance.”

“I’m not allowing you into dangerous-”

“I won’t,” she promises. “I’ll stay in our territories but this way I get to devote my time to our family while still getting used to my degree.”

“You only work out of the office.” he compromises.

“Office and house calls,” she negotiates.

“Just the office, Erskine will still handle the brunt of the duties,” his tone is sterner but she nods in acceptance. “I don’t like it.”

“Noted,” she giggles at his grumbling. “Do you want to hold your daughter?” Part of her is asking to distract him from his discomfort with their conversation and the other part is because she wanted to lay back down, her body is still sore. Steve pulls off his shirt and gently takes Alice pressing her body against his chest. He returns to his seated position at Riley’s feet but keeps his eyes on the softly breathing newborn.

“I hope her appearance favors you.” Steve admits.

“Oh please, you’re the ten here. She better look like you.”

While they are softly talking, back to their normal banter Steve becomes aware his girls have drifted to sleep. The Steve he was from his first marriage would be enraged but keep his anger to himself but the Steve Riley has brought him back to being knows how exhausted they both must be. He realizes he’s tired too, so he gently tucks Alice back into her bassinet before carefully maneuvering himself to lay beside Riley to get some rest. His heart warms when she adjusts in her sleep, reaching out to him and bringing them as close as they can be in the awkwardness of the hospital bed.

***

When he woke up it was to the familiar giggle of his eldest daughter. Steve whipped the sleep from his eyes and focused on the view in front of him. His head is resting on Riley’s shoulder, Sarah sitting between Riley’s legs as she helps the seven year old hold her sister in her arms.

“She’s so small,” Sarah whispers in awe, not knowing her father is awake now and watching on.

“You were this tiny once upon a time.”

“I was?”

“You were even smaller,” Steve’s voice, his soft, hi arms moving to assist in cradling Alice as surprised excitement spreads to Sarah making her want to reach out and hug her dad. The restriction of her arms reminds her she’s still holding her sister so she relaxes. “Unlike Alice, you were almost a whole month early.”

“Daddy, Uncle Bucky said we’re moving.” Sarah changes the subject of her attention now fully on her dad. Alice begins fussing to draw her sister back in.

“Sarah, can you cuddle with daddy please? I need to feed your sister.” Riley maneuvers Alice from Sarah’s arms, lifting the baby carefully above Sarah’s head so the seven year old hops off the bed.

“Can I feed her?”

“No silly,” Steve chuckles as he gets off the bed and pulls her into his arms.

“Why not?” she asks oblivious to Riley covering herself and Alice begins to nurse.

“You remember how when Alice was in mommy’s tummy and she had to share her food with her?” Sarah nods. “Well, now Alice can mostly eat on her own but it still has to come from mommy, at least for now.”

Sarah looks back to Riley, confusion evident on her face but Riley doesn’t elaborate. Steve nods to Riley who lets Sarah get a little peak of Alice’s toes under the cover so as not to worry.

“I don’t understand,” Sarah sighs, giving up. “But I’m hungry too. Can we get chicken sticks?”

“That sounds delicious,” Riley accidentally lets a moan slip.

Steve gives her a warning look, “Come on, we’ll go out and grab lunch so mommy can finish with Alice.” Steve leans over kissing her but doesn’t leave until she tells him she wants a chicken sandwich and a smoothie.

It's not until he exits her room that he realizes he’s about to leave Alice and Riley unprotected. He sends a text to Sam and Wanda, they live the closest and he trusts them with his own life; he values his family more than his own life. He debates leaving now to prevent a hangry Sarah from making an appearance but she’s nuzzled into his shoulder distracted. He paces the length of the hall, allowing the illusion of traveling while she gets in her cuddles. He knows she’s missed them but he’s proud of her for behaving so well the last 24 hours. Twenty minutes later Sam and Wanda arrive, telling him to take his time. An offer he’d normally decline but just as Riley and Alice aren’t going to be seeing him as often in the coming weeks-its the same for Sarah. He decides 4 hours should be okay. He’ll drop off Riley’s food, text her, and then have some daddy-Sarah time.

0 notes

foreversecrets · 1 year

Text

What Burrows in the Boroughs: 4

What Burrows in the Boroughs Masterlist

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Mob Steve Rogers x OC

Status: Ongoing

“Steve has a friend who's good with that kind of stuff, she kept my phone. Which is okay with me, the whole situation made me not want a phone anymore but Steve convinced me to join his plan with a new number.” Riley explained to Audrey as they stopped at the coffee cart on campus.

“That’s a fancy new phone,” Audrey’s tone was slightly accusatory as she pointed to the device in Riley’s hand.

“It’s Steve’s old one, he hadn’t got around to recycling it yet so it worked out.”

“It’s pretty expensive, are you sure you haven’t slept with him?”

“We have not had sex!” Riley snapped, his raised tone drawing a few people's attention causing her to head to a bench.

Audrey had been pesting about Steve since she found out about him and her question ranged from flat out rude to disgusting. This past weekend she’d ended up sending the night at his place, not in his bed they’d both agreed until this whole stalker situation was resolved they wouldn’t have sex. She’d stayed in his guestroom, wanted to sleep in his own bed with him, not for anything adult themed just to have the embrace of another while she slept. She was a big cuddler, Becca would oftentimes sneak into her room to snuggle at night and those were some of her favorite evenings. Riley explained to Steve how dirty the photo had made her feel-even though she’d done nothing wrong, Steve understood and promised her that the physical aspect of their relationship was fully under her control.

“Why are you so anti-Steve? You haven’t even met him.”

“I’m not anti-Steve, I’m worried about you dating right now. Aren’t you getting ready to switch to emergency medicine?”

“I am and I’m good with time management.”

“And what about me? I haven’t got more than ten minutes since you started dating.”

Riley studied her, was she serious right now? How many nights had Audrey dragged her to a bar she didn’t want to go to and then ditched her for a one night stand? How many nights had Audrey put her into uncomfortable situations and never once offered an apology. Riley had always written Audrey’s behavior off as being young and reckless.

“You’re one to talk.” Audrey picked up on the annoyance in Riley’s tone, realized she needed to backpedal and regain control over her.

Don’t be like that, I just want-”

“I’m an adult, if I fuck up that’s my progrative!” Riley snapped, ending the conversation by abandoning Audrey and heading to the Reynolds car in the lot. Usually she borrowed their car to get to school, they’d offered many times with different ideas on assisting her in buying a vehicle of her own but a car was something Riley wanted to do completely on her own. She’d actually found one that was planned to test drive this weekend that was in her price range.

When she walked up to the car she found sunflowers resting on the hood. Smiling, she grabbed them and slid into the car already pulling up Steve’s contact.

“Hey sweetheart, heading home?”

“Yeah, I just wanted to thank you for the flowers you left on my car.”

“What flowers?”

Her stomach churned, she dropped the flowers into the passenger seat and opened the card. Photos of her sleeping in Steve’s guestroom, cooking with Sarah and Steve in his kitchen, and a photo of her and Steve crying by his front gate were included with the note.

You don’t need to be angry with me, I would never hurt you. I’m sorry I upset you but I want you to know I forgive you for your unauthorized sleepover at the Rogers Residence.

Riley pushed open the car door and vomited on the pavement, ignoring Steve’s voice coming through the car speakers. He no doubt could hear her vomiting but she was developing a helpless feeling. Even with Natasha investigating the original message this creep was still able to get to her, to invade her privacy.

“Baby what’s going on?”

Riley took a deep breath, pulled herself back into the car, and gathered herself before responding to Steve. “Creep sent me flowers. Steve, there’s pictures of us from this weekend �� Sarah’s in one of them.” Guilt began creeping through her.

“Come to my house, Riley. Stay with Sarah and I tonight.”

“I can’t, I’m endangering Sarah the more time I spend around her.”

“No, don’t think about it that way, this isn’t your fault. Besides, my house has an amazing security system, you’ve seen it.”

“What if this guy decides the messages aren’t enough? What if he turns jealous? I don’t want you or Sarah to get hurt.”

“Baby you’re upset, let me be a good boyfriend and take care of you. I promise, this asshole can’t get to anyone under my roof.”

“I have to call the Reynolds and make sure they don’t need me tonight.”

“If they do, and they’re okay with it, Rebecca can stay the night as well.”

“I’ll let you know.”

“Please drive safe, sweetheart.”

An hour later Riley was tucked into Steve’s left side, Sarah on his right side while Disney played on the television. Becca safe at home, Riley was able to bury her face into Steve’s shoulder and relax. Wry of Sarah’s presence, she made sure her crying was discret though Steve picked up on it. When she’d arrived, Steve had taken the flowers, photos, and notes to handle it while Riley and Sarah made dinner for them all. Nat had found the original message originated from a Bronx area code. After dinner they’d moved into the living room, both Sarah and Riley looking up at him with big eyes asking for cuddles. He couldn’t remember a happier moment, maybe the day Sarah was born. He’d placed himself in the center seat of the couch (one he usually hated taking) and allowed his girls to snuggle into either side of him. Sarah put on a movie but Riley just buried herself into his shoulder, whispering venting to him she was sure Sarah was fully invested in the movie.

Wrapped in Steve’s arms she felt torn, it was about a month now since the creeper started leaving her messages. It seemed like her stalker was waiting for her fear to subside or for her to get complacent and then he’d send a new message to remind her she wasn’t free. Within the Rogers Residence, within Steve’s arms she felt safe, untouchable because of the power Steve excluded, the security system, and the gun safe. She felt cherished, worth the hassle she was currently causing him. Then she’d see Sarah smile at something, the guilt would hit her hard, knocking the wind out of her. She rationalized if she went home she’d be putting the whole, unaware Reynolds family at risk. Then she’d slip onto a merry go round train of thought, it was a no win scenario-Rogers or Reynolds? Neither choice sat well with her. The Reynolds were like her family, she’d been around them long enough to potty train Rebecca, she’d celebrated holidays and birthdays with them. But the Rogers? She couldn’t deny it, she was in love with Steve and she absolutely adored Sarah. Which family would it hurt the least to lose? I’d rather I be the only one to suffer, she thought but that wasn’t right either. This wasn’t some grand punishment she’d earned for being a vile person, she was an innocent victim.

“You’re thinking too hard,” Steve whispered into the top of her hair, looking down at her.

“Why me? There are far more attractive women in this world. Better personalities. Why does this guy want to torment me?” her voice was a whisper. Looking down she noticed Sarah had fallen asleep but she didn’t want to wake her.

His knee jerk reaction was to rebudd there being better options than her but that seemed counterproductive. To agree with her didn’t seem wise for their long term relationship. So Steve settles with kissing her temple and promising they would find this asshole. Another twenty minutes passed before Steve picked a snoring Sarah up in his arms and took her upstairs tucking her into bed.

Riley met him at the top of the stairs, “Can I sleep with you? Not for sex just, I feel better the closer I am to you.”

“You never have to ask,” he smiled, placing a soft kiss on her lips. He took her hand and led to his room where they cuddled up in bed together, falling asleep in each other's embrace.

***

With Bucky still handling the Wakanda situation, it felt wrong for them to call a meeting but Natasha insisted upon the importance. So the Howling Commandos gather in the conference room of their city office, Bucky on the computer monitor setup in his usual seat to Steve’s right, Sam on his left and the rest of the crew getting a seat where they could. With a few housekeeping matters reviewed, he opened the floor for Natasha who gave him an apologetic look before beginning.

“We know Hydra’s been pushing into Queens, but this more of a personal issue with Hydra presenantly.” Nat tapped at her tablet to connect to the projector, a personal file of someone vaguely familiar to Steve popped up. “They are in Brooklyn already. This is Audrey Collins, she is posing as a college student studying economics but she’d actually,” a few taps and the screen changed to display several photos of her with known Hydra affiliates. “Records indicate Brock Rumlows is her uncle but I was unable to verify that information but he has been training her since childhood.”

“Audrey Collins?” Steve's tone was calm as he met Natasha’s gaze, ignoring the photos changed on the screen to one of Riley and Adurey out drinking at a bar.

“Audrey’s the one who sent the test, took all those photos, and sent the flowers. “

“Now I’m lost,” Buck’s voice rang in Steve’s ear, Nat couldn’t meet Steve's intense gaze. Steve felt nauseous, the person Riley claimed to be her best friend was causing her to suffer and she was doing it intentionally, nevermind the fact that she was part of Hydra.

“Riley Riggins is a medical student at the same university and Audrey’s … mission? Obsession is probably a better word. She was tasked with convincing Riley to switch her focus to emergency medicine which as of Monday was successful. Upon graduation Audrey is supposed to recruit her to Hydra.”

Steve’s fists clenched under the table as Nat scrolled quickly through Audrey’s personal gallery; she had hundreds of photos of Riley in various states of awareness and dress. Audrey was in Riley’s life before he was but he hadn’t done his due diligence in protecting her. He knew better than to be so negligent, he’d done a background check on Riley and Mr. Reynolds (his insecurities getting the better of him) but no one else in her life.

“It looks like somewhere along the way Riley stopped being a mission to Audrey and became-”

“Stop!” Steve snapped. “We get the picture.” He seethed, trying to regain control of his emotions. His crew stared at him with varying emotions of confusion and worry. He couldn’t keep Riley to himself anymore, not after this bombshell of information was released. His men wouldn’t understand the significance of the situation.

“Riley Riggins has been receiving frightening messages and sending indecent pictures of herself from Audrey it appears. Riley has been struggling with fear and guilt and just plain feeling of violation since this began.” he took a deep breath, everyone’s attention frimley on him. “And I know all this because Riley is my girlfriend.”

Silence.

He saw Nat’s eyes move to the computer monitor of Bucky and nod. The rest of the crew exchange looks ranging from disbelief to genuine surprise. Most of the crew had been around to see the effect Peggy had on him, they’d witnessed him pinning until Peggy initiated the relationship. Some were hopeful Steve could be happy and not have to endure the manipulation again. But he could tell from the looks on Sam and Bucky’s faces that his closest friends were going to give him the third degree once they had the chance. Sam was more curious while Bucky was in interrogation mode-he’d no doubt come down hard on Riley.

“Riley has not joined any crew and I don’t believe she has any intention to do so.” Nat clarified.

“She doesn’t, she doesn’t even know any of them exist. She hasn’t been exposed to the underbelly of New York,” Steve confirmed before he turned his harsh eyes on his men. “And it will stay that way until I deem otherwise, understood?” Several nods, a few grunts of acceptance. “I’ll handle separating Riley from Audrey, in the meantime I want a silent tail put on her for her protection. Sam I want you to handle the details, excluding Nat. Riley knows Nat, I don’t want to give her more reason for concern.”

Sam was already putting together a roster on his cell phone while Steve spoke.

“If Hydra’s interested in her, Audrey’s not going to be the only one watching over her.” Bucky sighed, apparently deciding his interrogation of his best friend and wife would have to wait until they were all back in the same time zone.

“I’m putting together files on people she associates with on a regular basis, anything her security tail finds would be helpful,” Nat looked to Sam who nodded.

“Buck, what’s the status of the negotiations?” Steve changed the subject.

The next two hours was spent relaying what the Wakandans wanted in exchange for their help, discussing terms, agreeing to some things but denying a few others that Buck would have to negotiate. When everyone had been dismissed Sam and Nat hung back, knowing Steve was more unsettled than he led on.

“How are you gonna handle the stalker?” Sam asked.

“She’s Riley’s best friend, you have to be careful.” Nat warned.

“I’m going to let her expose herself, those photos were on her personal cell right?” Nat nodded solemnly. “I’m throwing a party this weekend, invite the whole crew, warn them a Hydra asset will be present and she’s not to be harmed while present.”

0 notes

foreversecrets · 1 year

Text

What Burrows in the Boroughs: 3

What Burrows in the Boroughs Masterlist

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Mob Steve Rogers x OC

Status: Ongoing

Riley packed up her messenger bag quickly, practically bolting from the lecture hall. She wasn’t the kind to linger after class but she wasn’t the eager kid who was out the door as the bell rang. Which is why the redhead nearly missed her escape, she was used to waiting a couple minutes for her friend to emerge through the crowd. The redhead happened to look up from her phone in time to catch the chestnut haired women rushing towards the quad that led to the parking lot.

“Riley!” she called, drawing her attention to her.

Riley offered her an apologetic smile, slowly her gait but not stopping, “Audrey, hey! Sorry I forgot to mention I have lunch plans today.”

Audrey had been the first friend Riley made when she moved to New York-they’d had no classes together but Riley seemed to run into Audrey frequently at ‘school’ events, mostly parties her classmates invited her to to get her out of the house. Once Audrey and he finally exchanged numbers, their friendship seemed to solidify overnight. Audrey was the wild party girl, always dragging Riley out to clubs and bars-making her postpone her responsibilities in lue of being young and having fun. Not necessarily in a negative way, Audrey always backed off when Riley’s deadlines for things were approaching or when she had to work, but in a way that let her enjoy her life.

“Plans? You never leave campus until all your classes are complete for the day and I know you have another lecture in a couple hours.”

“I’m sorry,” Riley kept walking, sending looks over her shoulder to Audrey as she spoke. “I’m running late, I’ll text you!”

Audrey’s interest was thoroughly peaked, Riley never made plans that didn’t include herself or Rebecca. She watched her friend, staying close enough she could see Riley but far enough away she couldn’t be spotted. Riley approached a sleek black car and got in, all smiles. Audrey pulled out her phone, her mind running a mile a minute as she snapped pictures of the license plate as the car navigated through the parking lot. Riley didn’t really date, the few dates Audrey knew of hadn’t impressed Riley and she had her stupid mantra ‘I have too much going on to invest my time in something I don’t see working’. She sent the photo off to Brock, cashing in that favor he owed her, she didn’t expect anything right away so it was shocking when her phone rang a couple minutes later.

“That bad?” she joked as a way of saying hello.

“Where did you see the car? Who got in? How long ago did it leave? Was there another car following?”

“Whoa! Calm down Brock. Whose car was that?”

“It’s registered to Steve Rogers.” Audrey collapsed on the bench beside her, mumbling a curse as she processed the information. “Also known as the Captain. You know the Howling Commandos? The people you need to be monitoring while you're working that side mission.”

“I fucking know that!” she snapped.

“Audrey, who got in that car?”

“I got to go.”

“Audrey!”

She hung up biting her nail as things ran through her mind. She should be focusing on things from the perspective of the Captain but she couldn’t. Her entire focus was on the woman she couldn’t get out of her mind, the woman she kept forcing herself to encounter until she managed to convince Riley her phone number. She’d been working herself into Riley’s life for the past several years, waiting for her moment, not for her duties to Hydra but for personal reasons.

Riley was HER’S and she had blown her off to get in the car of a mob boss. If her focus was where it should be, she would be seeing this a golden opportunity. She could use Riley’s relationship to Steve to develop her own friendship with him which would give her easier access to his office and dealings. But all Audrey could think of was separating Riley from the Captain. A plan developed, the best part was she’d have all the power and resources of Hydra at her disposal. A plan that would force Riley to spurn Steve and come crawling to her for support. She’d put far too much time and effort into obtaining Riley to let her slip away. Riley was Audrey’s and not even a rival mob boss was going to keep them apart.

“Steve,” she whined as he pulled her hand back to his chest to prevent more than her right leg exiting his vehicle. “I’m going to be late for my next class and Professor Briggs is an asshole.”

“One more kiss?” he wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

Their lunch had gone very well, it was their second date but in an effort to show Riley that he was dedicated to a committed, serious relationship they had spent that time discussing their wants and desires from the relationship. Talked about deal breakers, things they wanted that they wouldn’t compromise on. Everything she wanted was reminiscent of things Steve has wanted, the things he tried to achieve with his marriage to Peggy, things she made him believe he could never have. She wanted kids, grandkids, a built-in support system, and best friend within a lover, true love, everything he was realizing he still longed for and was willing to give in return. But he made himself a silent promise, this was the last time he was going to have hope, the last time he was going to try because if it failed this time? He wasn’t sure he’d recover.

“You said that five kisses ago,” her tone was whiny but she was smiling. He pushed out his bottom lip, pouting at her exaggeration. She laughed and leaned over the center console and kissed him one last time. Just a quick peck then she launched out of the car, her head popping back into the car smirking at him. “I’ll text you after class.”

“And when you get home?”

“Steve,” she giggled. “I promise, not I really have to go.”

He watched her sling her bag over her shoulder and disappear into the crowd, an extra pep in her step. Both of them were buzzing with the excitement of a new relationship, the playfulness from the car remaining with them for a while after they said goodbye.

Steve parked in front of the modern style building with far too many windows, coming here always made him uneasy. Too many vulnerabilities in the layout of the building, and this time he was alone, usually Buck or Sam would accompany him for business. He entered, ignoring the receptionist as he walked through the halls going straight to Detective Fury’s office.

“Figured I’d be seeing you soon,” Fury sighed, rubbing his temples as sat across the desk from him. “I can’t help you, shield is just barely starting to rebuild.”

“Within the police force?” Steve was impressed, he’d heard rumors they were trying to pick up the pieces but he hadn’t had any solid evidence. He should have known better, Shield was Nick Fury’s entire life, he couldn’t just walk away. But what bravery to undermine justice by falsifying motives?

It had been Hydra that destroyed Shield years ago, Nick may believe he couldn’t help their plight but Nick’s desire for vengeance would be too great. He wasn’t going to push too hard on Nick now, save his hand for later when he’d really need Nick’s help.

“Best way to get intel first hand.”

“Interesting method,” Steve praised. “Anyway I’m not here to ask for assistance. I’m here to warn you and cash in that favor you owe us. We are going to let Hydra step into Queens, once there we are pulling into new players to wipe them from the map. All we need from you is to look the other way.”

“You really think it will be that simple? It was 4 to 1 against them last time, we beat them back into a corner but they took a whole family down while they retreated.”

“It's a different time, we’ve got a genius arms dealer, a war veteran, a tech genius, men who are built like god, and a new wild card to introduce. You’re right, it might not work but we have to do something.”

“You know my opinions of Hydra, you take them down and I’ll add another favor to what I already owe you.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

Steve stood ready to leave but Fury’s next comment halted him, “Rumor has it you’ve been hanging out around the university.”

“Where does this rumor originate?” Steve’s tone was emotionless now, far different than the tone of voice he was previously using. It was too soon to bring Riley into his world but if someone was tailing her that might be out of his hands. How had he missed it? He’d been so careful about watching the crowd when they were out together, he hadn’t seen anything concerning.

“Don’t know, got an anonymous tip the commandos were recruiting on campus, using unorthodox methods.” Fury held out a photograph to Steve. It had been taken only an hour ago of Riley and himself when she’d given him that last goodbye kiss.

“Who all knows-”

“That the Captain has a new mistress?”

“Don’t call her that!” Steve’s tone was raised, anger on his face. “She’s my girlfriend.”

“You’re still married-that makes Riley Riggins your mistress.” The slight smug smile on Fury’s lip told Steve he was trying to provoke him. Hoping to obtain more information about Steve’s dealings than he was getting, Steve didn’t take the bait.

“Thank you for this, I will handle it.” Steve growled taking the photograph as he left Nick’s office, trying to decide how to handle the situation.

📳

She woke up groggy to the harsh buzzing of her cell phone against the wood of her nightstand. She’d stayed up late last night flirting/talking to Steve, even after she’d told him she was going to bed they kept talking. For such an intimidating guy he was a cheesy romantic, it was easy to fall for him. Her phone buzzed again, making her groan as she reached over to grab her phone. Eager to see what sweet good morning message Steve had sent her, it was 5:00 am far too early in the morning. He did get up early to workout every morning but he usually waited until around 6:00 am to wake her up.

But the message wasn’t from Steve, it was a text from an unknown number.

There was a photo and a short message. The photo was of her changing in her bedroom here at the Reynolds home, changing out of her sports bra and into her regular bra she wore on a day to day basis. Her breast on full display, her legs still covered in her workout pants, her socks had little strips of dark cloth where she’d been sweating.

Our months and our souls miz as we become one,

Love second to none …

Our lives and world … done

(Last Kiss - Gregory Richard Barden)

She dropped her phone in a panic, someone had taken the photo from the street, she hadn’t realized her window had been open. Her privacy had been invaded by a stranger, they had revealing photos of her and who knew what they were doing with them. She’d never taken a nude photo before in her life, always too worried it would get out. Tears had fallen but she was acting on pure emotion as she grabbed her phone and called Audrey, explaining the message, crying out her feelings.

“It’s just one text? There isn’t anything else?”

“The text isn’t what’s upsetting me.”

“Did you try to respond?”

“No, I didn’t want-I don’t know.”

“Well whoever this is sounds like a stalker. Maybe your new boyfriend will scare him off.” There was a bitterness that Riley knew was going to be Audrey’s focus until she fixed this. But she had her own problems to handle right now, she didn’t have the capacity to deal with her friend's ego right now.

“How did you-nevermind, that’s not important. I was going to tell you but it's still new and I wanted to get past the honeymoon phase before telling anyone.”

“I’m not anyone-I’m your BEST FRIEND!”

“Audrey, can you be mad at me later? I’m kinda having a crisis here-the whole nude photos out there, invasion of privacy, creepy note thing.”

“I was being serious, you should tell your guy or take it to the police, they might have ways of tracking the prev down.”

“The Reynolds have the car today, can you take me to the station?”

“With what? My skateboard?”

“Right,” Riley sighed, forgetting Audrey didn’t even have a driver's license. “I’m going to call Steve.”

“So his name is Steve?”

“Goodbye Audrey.”

She hung up with Audrey and went to call Steve, her finger hovering over the call button on his contact screen. She was suddenly nervous, she wasn’t sure how he was going to react, she was still learning him just as he was learning her. Those things you had to see first hand, witness with your own eyes-the things you couldn’t tell someone. The fact that some unknown person had nudes of Steve’s girlfriend could put a strain on their relationship, she wasn’t sure she was ready to test that yet. Steve was the first person she’d ever gone on a date with that she could actually picture a future with, she was scared to risk it. She decided to text him to see if she was busy today.

Steve: I will be once you tell me what we’re doing?

She was momentarily distracted from the other message by his eagerness to see her. She didn’t tell him what was going on, only that she needed a ride and he was happy to provide. Steve knew something was wrong as soon as she got in the car, and it had nothing to do with Sarah sitting in the back seat. Riley had made it clear that she understood going into this relationship that Steve and Sarah were a package deal. She had been the one to say she wanted to go on dates with just the two of them but she wanted them to also make time for them to have outings with the three of them. Her insistence had further endeared him to her.

Whatever was upsetting her she clearly didn’t want Sarah to know about it. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, “I need to go to the police station.”

“What happened?” his tone was worried as his eyes scanned her looking for any sign she was hurt. But there was an undertone of self-directed anger, had something happened due to his negligence? Had his arrogance in his thoughts he was capable of protecting Riley on his own led to threats against her? She held her phone out to him, showing the unsettling text and photo. He took the phone looking over it closer, his anger no longer directed at himself as he looked up at her.

“Steve I-” She started, tears in her eyes, like she owed him an apology.

“Riley, we are going to take care of this,” He leaned over, his hand gently on the back of her neck pulling their foreheads together. “I’m going to protect you, I promise.” He kissed her temple, handing the phone back over.

He pulled out of the Reynolds driveway, tapping at the display to call Natasha as he headed towards his home instead of the police station. From the corner of his eye he could see Riley was uncomfortable, he understood why he just felt powerless to ease her. Riley looked over her shoulder at Sarah, sending her a smile before making a funny face to provide an air of normalcy. A small smile came to his face as he witnessed his daughter and girlfriend interacting then the call connected.

“Steve, what do you want?”

“Can you meet me at my place in twenty?”

“What’s it for?”

“A personal matter.”

“On my way.”

The call ended and Sarah cheered from the back seat at the news Natasha was coming over. Steve chanced a look at Riley as they turned down his road. This would be her first time seeing him home, he wished it was under better circumstances but he couldn’t deny he was a little giddy to see her in his home.

“Natasha is a good friend, she'd be good with this sort of thing. She’ll find out who sent the message so we can handle it.”

“We aren’t going to the police?”

“Apart from the photo, whoever this is gonna get a slap on the rest max. The cops can only do so much but I’m not going to let anyone get away with upsetting my girl,” he promised, placing his right hand on Riley’s knee trying to relax her.

“Your girl?” she teased, her smile coming back, her shoulders relaxing.

“You agreed to it,” he reminded, his own tone teasing now.

“I know but you haven’t called me your girl before.”

“Well get used to it,” he squeezed her knee. “I enjoy using pet names.”

“Noted.”

“Daddy I’m hungry,” Sarah’s voice from the backseat popped their little flirting bubble.

“We’ll make something once we are done with Aunty Nat.”

“Can I help?” Sarah perked up.

“Maybe we can all make lunch together?” Riley offered looking over her shoulder to Sarah.

“Can we make homemade pizza?”

“You and Becca made a mess of the bread flour last time,” Riley laughed before lowering her tone and turning her gaze on Steve. “But I guess we will leave that decision up to your daddy. ”

Steve’s brain short circuited as he tried to focus on the road in front of them, Riley hadn’t meant it in a sexual way. But the way the word had fallen from her lips woke parts of him he wasn’t prepared to deal with right now. He squeezed her knee again, stealing a look at her again to see a little smirk on her lips, maybe she had intended it to be suggestive. What a little minx!

“How about we make mac’n’cheese?” he suggested, his voice a little rough.

“With hot dog slices?” Sarah seemed completely unaware of what was happening in the front seats of the car.

“Of course.”

Sarah cheered, the conversation in the car coming to a halt. The adults shooting each other suggestive looks while Sarah watched out the window as they began pulling into the driveway.

Riley hadn’t asked Steve what he did career wise, the brief time careers had come up he’d seemed uneasy so she was content with his answer of being ex-military. She knew whatever career he currently was involved in put him on the weather side of things, but being around the Reynolds as long as she had been, she was starting to think everyone who lived in New York that wasn’t a broke college kid, was ridiculously wealthy. From the clothing both the Rogers wore, to Sarah’s private school, Steve’s cars all were testament to his finances and nowhere was it more evident than his home. It was a massive, old building on the outskirts of the city, the front gate several yards from the front entrance. The driveway to the house was covered in gravel up to the perfectly manicured lawn.

“Your house is massive,” she whispered in awe. She couldn’t imagine what one would do with so much space.

“Do you like it?” Sarah asked from the backseat.

Riley got a hold of herself and smiled at Sarah, “I’ll have to decided after I get a tour.”

“Which we will do after Riley and I are done with Aunt Nat. While we are working, you will be cleaning that bedroom you destroyed this morning.” Sarah pouted at him through the mirror.”No lip.” Steve in dad mode was incredibly sexy in Riley’s opinion but she didn’t have time to focus on it because she was whisked into the house and introduced to Natasha. It was shitty circumstances that her first introduction as Steve’s girlfriend was to handle a delicate situation.

Steve let the two women into his office so Nat could do her thing, then he headed upstairs with Sarah to supervise (help her) clean her bedroom. He was a little moody about Nat being the first to meet her and not Bucky but Buck was still away and Nat was really the better choice for assisting here.

“What a fucking perv, now I see why Steve dragged me into this.” She connected Riley’s phone to her laptop and got started. She tried to explain things as she went but after several minutes they both realized Riley had no idea what she was talking about so she changed the topic. “How are you feeling about all this?”

“Honestly? Not so great. I didn’t even really want to tell Steve about it. Our relationship is still new, I wasn’t sure how he’d react.”

“He’d rather know,” Nat gave a supportive smile. “He’s the kind of guy that likes showing he cares with action, especially if that means he gets to be all mucho protector. My idiot husband is the same way.”

The idea of Steve being a protector was something that made her smile, she was beginning to see that side of him. He had an old school gentleman vibe about him that she was growing fond of, a little worried care might turn into possession but that wasn’t a red flag she’d seen from him yet. Nat studied Riley, she was younger than Peggy. Maybe Riley was Steve’s mid-life crisis? But the way he looked at her spoke of something deeper than that, Nat made a note to monitor the development closely.

“I’m glad he met you. His wife is awful-make him into a person no one, not even himself likes.”

“I’m sorry,” Riley’s eyes closed for a second before studying Natasha intensely. “His wife?”

“Peggy? She’s a piece of work.” Nat groaned.

“Steve said they’re divorced.” her voice was weak, images of broken families she’d known in her life flashing through her head.

You’re a homewrecker! Her mind was running a thousand miles a minute.

“He’s-” Nat started only to be cut off.

“I need the restroom, excuse me.”

It was rude but Riley couldn’t breathe, she needed air, needed to escape. She left the office, she heard Steve’s laugh at the top of the stairs, his footsteps heading for the staircase. She bolted, unable to face him, afraid he’d lie to her again and she’d believe him.

📳

“Nat, where’s Riley?” Steve asked, coming into the office. Nat looked up, a guilty look on her face.

“I messed up, I may have told Riley you’re not divorced yet and before I could explain she ran.”

“Damn it! Watch Sarah.” he instructed sprinting.

He heard the front door just before he came downstairs, he knew he could catch up to her before she left the property. He probably could have got in the car but his sole concern was getting to her. She was just approaching the front gate when he caught her, gently grabbing her wrist, halting her escape. He spun her around to see she was sobbing, her eyes broken as she glared at him,

“You lied to me!”

“I didn’t lie,” he promised, trying to cup her face in his hands but she pulled away, taking several steps away from him. Fear formed from desperation with him-he couldn’t lose her, not like this, not for a misunderstanding. “The last two years of my marriage have been nothing but hate and resentment. I filed for divorce six months before I even met you, I can show you all the documents that have followed with dates from our lawyers.”

“Then why aren’t you divorced?” she was crying.

“Peggy’s dragging this out to exhaust me into giving her everything she wants in the settlement.”

Or she still loves you and I’m destroying a marriage.”

“No baby,” he finally wrapped his arms around her despite her pathetic attempts to struggle away. “Peggy destroyed our marriage, I’m not convinced she ever truly loved me.”

“Sarah,” Riley whispered looking up to him with panicked eyes. “She’s trying to take Sarah from you, which is why you’re not divorced yet.”

“Peggy can’t take Sarah from me and she has no desire to even try. Peggy did not like Sarah, hate is a strong word but it might be accurate in this case.”

“How could a mother hate her child?” Steve kept one arm around her waist, his opposite hand coming up to cradle her cheek as their eyes met. “How could anyone hate Sarah?”

“Because Peggy’s not Sarah’s mother, she never wanted children but I did. Once our marriage began to show the cracks, Peggy thought to manipulate me back under her control by allowing me to take a lover and have a child.”

“She allowed an affair?” The disgust in Riley’s voice reassured Steve she’d never ask him for such arrangements, she was a one man kinda gal and she expected the same from her partner.

“Peggy opened our marriage, convinced her niece to bear me a child and then surrender her rights. I am Sarah’s only legal guardian.”

“That’s horrible!”

“It is,” he agreed, his own tears falling then at the life he’d created for himself and his daughter. “But I so badly wanted to be a father and Peggy didn’t want to lose the income our marriage provided.”

Riley listened, seeing the heartache on Steve’s face there was no doubt in her mind, Steve loved Peggy once upon a time but no longer did. To deny him a child and then use it against him? What kind of twisted person used anothers dreams against them? How could someone claiming to love him hurt him so deeply and intentionally? Riley was angry on his behalf, if she ever met Peggy she would have some harsh words she wouldn’t voice aloud. She was an amazing father, especially considering poor Sarah never once seemed unhappy or to even acknowledge their family was missing a piece.

“I do NOT love her, I have NOT seen her since the day she was served and I will NOT again.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me all that?”

“A little heavy for a first date, don’t you think?” he joked, both of them laughing through their tears. Steve wiped hers away before she buried her face in his chest. “I know it's soon but I think I’m falling in love with you Riley, and I don’t want to lose you.”

“Then no more secrets, I don’t want to be blindsided. I want you to be the one to tell me things. Even the hard stuff, I don’t want to find out from your friends.”

“There’s something I’m not ready to talk about.”

“Then we don’t have to,” this time she was the one cupping his face. “But I don’t want to hear things second hand.”

“I can agree to that,” he promised.

“Then you aren’t going to lose me.” She sealed her statement with a kiss.

1 note · View note

foreversecrets · 1 year

Text

What Burrows in the Boroughs: 2

What Burrows in the Boroughs Masterlist

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Mob Steve Rogers x OC

Status: Ongoing

Tony Stark wasn’t the kind of enemy you wanted if you expected to survive in New York. Only one man had lived to both be Tony’s enemy and his friend, but maybe that’s because the Captain of the Howling Commandos had been Tony’s friend long before they’d even been enemies. Rumor was the Iron Legion declared war on the Howling Commandos the day Sarge-the Captain's right hand man had inadvertently killed Tony Starks’ parents. That much seemed true enough based on the timing of events: the car accident, the funeral, news reports indicating it wasn’t an accident, and the declaration of war that followed. What no one seemed to have a theory about, is how the Howling Commandos managed not only to make peace but resume their alliance with the Iron Legion six months later.

But that’s history, the latest gossip in the Boroughs is consumed by debate on who will fill the power vacuum of Queens, which man or woman is arrogant enough to take up the mantle? Apparently, the Borough that had been previously handled with a shroud of secrecy had been passed on to a self-proclaimed Spiderman who decided he wasn’t fit to run a crew. Queens was desirable for the access to several ports and two airports, the families that ran the other Boroughs had all agreed not to divide up the territory but instead elevated another family for the responsibility. Queens was also tasked with keeping Hydra at bay, the power hungry crew was confined to the Bronx and had been for the last twenty or so years since the last major turf war. Of course the other families would assist when needed but they mostly stuck to their own territories; The Iron Legion in Manhattan, Staten Island for the Asguardians, and the Howling Commandos in Brooklyn. But now with Queens unclaimed, Hydra had decided to expand, they were tired of playing the punished child told to sit in the corner and reep no benefits of the alliance of the Boroughs.

Two blue eyed men, pressed in expensive suits stepped out of a black sudan. The blonde in a deep navy, the brunette in a charcoal black suit stepped into the Whip & Fiddle bar, it had been their first purchase together once they’d scraped up enough money. It was an older establishment now, but they’d renovated it a few years back, and hired people to handle the bar so they could use the upstairs ‘VIP section’ as their personal office. It was a discreet way of handling their business endeavors away from prying eyes. Tonight, they aren’t wearing smiles when they nod to Ned at the bar-the one who runs the legit business of Whip & Fiddle. The nod is enough for Ned to know upstairs is off limits for the evening and to send a mixologist upstairs to handle their beverages.

It's not until they are seated, looking over the railing that people watch the entire rest of the bar. Part of the renovations they had insisted on with the contractors, they wanted to be able to see everything happening on the first floor. They’d had to strong arm the man, but he did a good job, though the railings made entirely of glass was a minor gripe they let go.

“You gonna tell me about what happened this weekend? You never blow me off and I know for a fact Sarah had a sitter yesterday.” the brunette eyes the blonde, searching for answers he wasn’t convinced he’d get. Both ignored the mixologist as she moved to the private bar to prepare their drinks, it was always the same: a bourbon for the blonde and a whiskey for the brunette. Their orders very rarely varied, and when they did the men informed her before she stepped behind the bar.

“I spent Saturday with my daughter and I had a date yesterday.” His tone is trying to play it down but the brunette knows him well, he can see the bliss in his friends eyes.

“You don’t date, you fuck and forget.”

“Buck!” the blond snaps. “You make it sound so crass.”

“Because it is, you never used to be this way Steve. Peggy-”

“Don’t,” Steve warns in a deadly calm tone as their drinks are placed on the table in front of them. “Peggy is out of my life, I am working on fixing the damage she’s done.”

“What about Sarah? You’re not even a little bit worried she’ll try to take her just to spite you?”

“She couldn’t if she tried. Peggy is not Sarah’s mother.” Steve had insisted on that fact since Sarah was born but Bucky wasn’t convinced a court would see it that way. He lets the matter drop as Tony makes his way to the stairs to join them. Best not to piss the aggravating topic before they have to handle whatever antsy situation Tony needs their help right.

“I see you started the party without me,” Tony nods to the glasses in their hands. “Scotch on the rocks.” he nodded to the chick behind the counter as he sat in one of the empty seats. He tosses a small device on the table and a projection displays a video. “Surveillance in Queens picked this up. That Parker kid found a couple of my guys unconscious and three dead, brought this to me.”

The three watch as a group of men, about five with no discernable marking, make their way to the shipping crates at one of the many docks in Queens. Heading for the creat marked with the Stark Industries logo.

“I recognize him,” Bucky points to the man whose face has become visible as he barks out orders to the other men. “Brock Rumlow, with Hydra.”

The men move quickly, knocking someone unconscious but once they lose the advantage of stealth they pull out their guns, clearly whatever they are doing has a time limit. Starks men down for the count the Hydra men break the lock on the container, slipping inside. They are only in there for a few moments before they are exiting with a single crate.

“That shipment contained my latest project, untested. They killed four of mine to get that,” Tony taps at his phone and the display changes showing endless pages of scribblings. “A clean power source I’ve been perfecting, works wonders to power my tower but use it on weapons? That could wipe Manhattan off the map.”

“They are making their move into Queens,” Steve acknowledged. “And I’m assuming negotiations with the new bloods you found to handle Queens aren’t progressing? When is Rhoedy returning?”

“Quill has some big ideas but his crew is kinda unpredictable, I don’t suspect them to be a problem but I also don’t think they are fit for Queens. I have a meeting with the Wakandans next week.”

“T’Chall is a friend of ours,” Steve looked over to Bucky, not intending to look at his metal arm but doing so anyway. “Let Bucky handle that, we need to devise a plan of actions against Hydra.”

“We’ve let them run the Bronx for years, even after the shit the last generation had to deal with, I think it's time we remove them from the equation entirely. We pull in the Guardians, offer them the Bronx for their assistance, and offer up Queens to the Wakandans-much better choice for the responsibility of Queens.” Tony was rambling out loud as he thought of all the moving pieces.

“Can you really afford to go to war right now?” Bucky’s tone was tight, but the two men were used to each other's mannerisms at this point. Bucky’s hard comment was born of concern for Stark, his wife, and his six month old at home.

“Not now, we gather our resources-wait until they’ve moved past the Bronx. At best the expansion should take three years at worst six months. We need to strike once they are confident they’ve succeeded, put up enough of a struggle to convince them they’ve won but not enough to exhaust our resources.” Strategist Steve was in full force considering the factors and all the moving parts. Tony and Bucky could practically see the wheels turning in Steve’s head.

“I got Quill and Thor, you handle the Panter and loop in Fury. I know they retired Shield but most of those guys are in law enforcement now working with us. And he technically owes us, well owe you.” Tony pointed at Steve as he gathered his things to head off.

A phone buzzed, normally manners and business kept Steve from checking his phone but when it buzzed again, concern for his daughter won out over politeness. The message wasn’t from Sam who was watching Sarah tonight, it was from Riley.

Riley: I’m really sorry but the Reynols need me to stay in Friday morning, Mrs. Reynolds has a court thing and Mr. Reynolds has a doctor's appointment.

Steve scowled at his phone, waving Tony’s goodbye off. Their date yesterday has gone better than he’d hoped, Riley had even been the one to initiate the several goodnight kisses they’d shared. When he texted her he’d made it home, they had set up a breakfast date before her one class she had on Friday for noon. He was trying to think of a way to respond without seeming like an asshole or showing how disappointed he truly was.

But I have a 2 hour window on Wednesday for lunch? And I promise to make it up to you-or if you have an idea of how I can do that?

Bucky returns from seeing Tony out as Steve is contemplating the ways he wants to respond-so many good things he could ask for but it's too soon. He uses Bucky’s return as a distraction to ease the discomfort in his slacks. They spend the next thirty or so minutes making plans and looking for flights. It's decided Bucky will fly out and meet with T’Challa tomorrow while Steve meets with Fury on Wednesday. Bucky doesn’t question him, but he knows something is a little fishy with his timing. Bucky doesn’t need to know Riley’s university is nearby Fury’s office, doesn’t need to know Steve is going to treat her to lunch and then handle his responsibilities.

She’s not a secret but right now Steve is enjoying the separation between his two lives, likes having something that’s just his that no one knows about. His world is full of violence and drugs, murder and sex, blood and destruction so to be face with a women like her? Innocent and delicate, fragile and strong, full of optimism-she’s everything right in this world and he wants her to be everything right in his and Sarah’s lives. The longer he can keep her from his darkness and bask in her purity, the deeper their connection will be forged making it harder for her to leave him. Even the terrifying Captain had a soft spot for a kind soul. They’ve only been on one date and he’s already picturing their wedding, painting the nursery of their kids. It’s fast but so is everything else in his life-such a contradiction to her slow paced college life she’s been living thus far. His life moves fast because tomorrow isn’t promised, in fact it's a gift for someone in his profession. Their relationship is going to require him to be patient and nurturing and supportive, it's going to take more effort than he’s ever given a woman before.

Is she worth it?

Unlocking his phone again to find a picture message from Riley. It's a picture Rebecca had taken on Riley’s phone when the girls weren’t paying attention last Saturday during their lunch break. Riley is hugging Sarah to her stomach, a wide smile on her face with a mouth full of pizza, the position of Sarah’s head on Riley’s stomach draws attention to her breasts in that black swimsuit he’d admired all day. Sarah is clinging tightly to Riley looking up into her face with utter admiration, he thinks that’s when Sarah had asked if they could get back in the pool. His daughter is already in love with her, and her opinion is the only other one besides his own that matters to him.

She is worth everything I am.

0 notes

foreversecrets · 1 year

Text

What Burrows in the Boroughs: 1

What Burrows in the Boroughs Masterlist

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Mob Steve Rogers x OC

Status: Ongoing

Two Years Ago

The Reynolds family had a Godsend for a struggling college kid working three jobs just to meet expenses her scholarship didn’t fund. When Riley Riggins moved across the country to New York City, she knew things were going to be difficult. She’d been confident between her scholarship and work study she would be alright, she hadn’t anticipated how expensive the Big Apple would be. So when an ad popped up on the student bulletin board offering a job as a live-in nanny and the only requirements were the person needed to be currently enrolled she threw her name into the pot.

Mrs. Reynolds took one look at Riley and knew the girl was suitable to care for her precious Rebecca. Riley’s courses she’d previously completed in child development mixed with her current goal of becoming a Pediatrician was enough for her. Mr. Reynolds grew attached to Riley, seeing much of himself in her; they'd both come from low income families and now worked hard everyday to improve their lives. When they hired her on the spot, they had expected a reliable nanny, they hadn’t anticipated a close bond forming; Riley became like a daughter to them. Rebecca adored her, she was cautious at first, as her parents had taught her to be but twenty minutes with Riley and Rebecca’s dream of an older sister had come true.

Both the Reynolds were illumni of Riley’s college, they encouraged her education and always put that above all else, working around her schedule to do date nights or work events. Mrs. Reynolds was born into a well-to-do family, money had never been something she had to worry about until her freshman year of college when her parents discovered she was majoring in law instead of business-she’d been cut off and had to make her own way in the world. Mr. Reynolds did his best to achieve the best grades, participating in every sport until he was granted a scholarship for baseball. He played all through college while studying hard to become the therapist he now was. It was in college, at an after party celebrating a victory the two had met and fallen in love.

Cindy and Joshua Reynolds were the second couple Riley had seen in her life that made her believe true love existed. The first being her parent before a training accident gone wrong had taken her marine father away from her. Her pensive thoughts had taken her from her notebook where she was supposed to have been editing her rough draft for class but instead she was just tapping her pencil on the notebook.

“Riley!” Rebecca’s shrill voice called from down the hall, tiny five year old footsteps pounding on the second story floor as they rushed towards Riley’s bedroom. Followed slowly by the familiar clicking of Mrs. Reynolds heels. Riley dropped her pencil and fell to her knees prepared to catch the bounding ball of excitement the moment she burst through the door, and that is exactly what happened.

“You’re full of energy this morning,” Riley teased. It was an early Saturday morning, normally, the four of them would have breakfast together before going about whatever plans they’d made for the day, but today was Cindy and Josh’s anniversary and they were leaving shortly for the rest of the weekend.

“Sarah is coming over!” Becca cried as Riley swung her around in her arms.

“That is exciting,” Riley tried not to let the guilt creep into her voice.

Sarah Rogers was Rebecca’s best friend, they spent everyday at school together and a lot of time outside the classroom together as well. Until Riley had made a suggestion to Mrs. Rogers about a home remedy her mother used to use to help with heat rash like the one Sarah was developing. Mrs. Rogers had snapped at her to ‘mind her own damn business’ and since then Sarah hadn’t been allowed to come over nearly as often. Riley had of course admitted the issue to Rebecca’s parents who supported her fully and assured her Peggy Rogers was defensive when it came to the topic of children in general and she’d done nothing wrong.

Cindy appeared in the doorway, smiling at the two as she fastened one of her earrings in. “I’m sorry I know it's last minute but her father called and,” Cindy met Riley’s eyes, the two of them communicating with their eyes instead. Cindy’s emerald eyes spoke volumes for the situation, something was happening in Sarah’s home and she really needed to take a break for a couple hours, Riley only smiled.

“Sarah is an amazing kid, I don’t mind pulling double duty.”

“I informed Mr. Rogers he is welcome to stay but if he wasn’t I wanted to make sure he was comfortable with you supervising Sarah in the pool. He is bringing her wings and some sunscreen but he seemed not to mind as long as someone was here to assist her in the pool.”

“Sarah loves swimming!” Becca smiled.

“Well maybe she can help me convince you to get all the way in the water today?” Riley nuzzled her nose into the top of Rebecca’s head, teasing her a little. Becca liked the pool, as long as her face didn’t have to go into the water, it was the same at bath time but Riley was spared from those temper tantrums.

“Becca come give me a hug, I have to go.” Cindy instructed. Riley set the girl down and watched and she hopped like a bunny towards her mom, dramatically wrapped her arms around her neck, and placed several sloppy wet kisses to her moms face. A dull ache of longing for her own mother pulled at Riley as she watched the interaction. “Be good.” Cindy instructed before heading downstairs to leave.

“Alright Becca, why don’t you pick out what swimsuit we both should wear and I’ll dig out the pool towels and sunscreen?”

Becca nodded, heading to her room first while Riley got everything. Ten minutes later the pair were in the backyard, Riley checking the chemicals in the pool while Becca was dipping her toe in to test the temperature.

“It’s cold!” Becca moaned.

“It’s supposed to be sweetheart, cold water combats hot weather.” Riley laughed. She was about to call Becca over to sunscreen them up when the doorbell rang. “That should be Sarah.”

Riley picked Becca up, holding her on her hip so she wouldn’t run along the poor to get to the front door as quickly as possible. Riley didn’t think about grabbing a towel or her cover up to be more decent when answering the door, didn’t even think about it, not until she opened the door to discover Sarah holding the hand of a tall, attractive, built, male, adult version of herself.

“Hi Sarah!” Becca squealed, wiggling until Riley set her back on the floor so the two girls could hug one another.

“You must be Mr. Rogers, I’m Riley.” she held her hand out trying to keep her tone calm.

Steve studied the young woman wearing nothing but a two piece swimsuit, it wasn’t exactly a bikini but it did expose all her legs and emphasize her breast in the black color. Her smile was bright, if not a little nervous judging by the down cast angle of her gray eyes. She was beautiful, in that girl next door way he’d never cared for before.

“Sarah speaks fondly of you.” He smiled, shaking her hand.

“She’s a great kid, it's nice to see where it comes from.” Did I really just say that!? It was bad enough pissing off his wife now you're snarking about her attitude. She tried to give an apologetic smile, surely he’d put his foot in his mouth before?

“Thank you,” he laughed. “And please call me Steve.”

“Alright Steve,” she pushed the door open a little more so they could step into the house. “Will you be joining us or should I give you my number for later. I can drop Sarah off or you can pick her up.”

Steve gave her another once over, not being discreet in the slightest, he wanted her to know he was appreciating her physique while he considered the offer. His plan had been to drop Sarah off and then meet up with Bucky for some beers to shoot the shit and decompress from the latest meeting with Peggy and her lawyers. He was nearing the end of his rope with how long she was dragging the divorce proceeding out, he just wanted this done and over with and at that point he was prepared to give her anything but Sarah. Sarah wasn’t hers to take, Sarah was no one but his, and he’d kill before he let anyone take her from him. But a beautiful young lady had offered to let him stay. What better way to relax than lounging by a pool watching a pretty lady caring for kids? His mother had been a housewife, not common in today's society but he’d craved that kind of woman for the longest time. Eventually he’d given up settling for a strong independent woman and now he was suffering the consequences.

“I’m not sure how long I can stay but if it's not too much trouble, I’d like to stay while I can.”

“Not at all, I was just about to get us all covered in some sunscreen, you can help.”

They turned making their way through the house to the backyard, each girl holding one of her hands, Steve taking up the rear to appreciate hers. Her butt jiggled with each step but reminded her bottoms. Nice perky little ass. He smirked as his eyes continued to roam her body, his attention drawn to her left shoulder blade where a star constellation tattoo was inked into her skin. He didn’t take astronomy ever, he couldn’t even make a guess. He took out Sarah’s spray on sunscreen while Riley grabbed the lotion version.

“Perfect, you can do the bodies and I can do the faces,” Riley smiled at him. He raised a confused eyebrow at her, she elaborated, “It’s safer, if they open their eyes before it dries it will burn.”

He nodded and followed her instructions of leaving Sarah’s face free from the mist before they swapped kids and he did the spray for Becca. He looked over after finishing to see her rubbing lotion into her own face.

He tried not to sound cocky or smirk as he approached, “May I?” he held up the lotion, she nodded, pulling her hair out of the way of her back. “This tattoo-”

“It's the Cassiopeia constellation, I got it in honor of a stray cat who kinda adopted me when I was a kid. I named her Cassiopeia.” His fingers traced over the lines as the lotion dried, proud when her body shivered despite the heat. “Do you need lotion for your face?” she spun around changing the subject but he noted the blush on her cheeks.

“Please,” he moved closed and kneeled slightly so she could rub the lotion in. Her hands were soft, he expected her motions to be delicate but the first smear nearly knocked him back, he’d been unprepared for the force.

“Sorry, it's thick. Got to put umph into it.”

He laughed but said nothing while she finished and dropped the tube of lotion. “Girls, floaties please.” she called out. Becca walked over quickly holding the deflated plastic to Riley. Steve was starting to think staying was a bad idea when he watched Riley blow up both sets of wings for the girls. Her face red from lack of air, her cheeks puffy as her eyes made rotations between everyone here.

“I can get Sarah into hers,” Steve took the purple set from Riley while she got Becca into the green set.

“Okay, you know the drill?” Riley looked at both girls who nodded excitedly. “Alright, I’ll meet you over there.”

Steve watched with interest while the kids went to the shallow end of the pool while Riley went to the deep and dove in, staying under water while she swam all the way over to the girls. When she came up in the shallow end, her chestnut hair was pulled into a ponytail on top of her head.

“Alright Sarah, come on!” Riley’s smile spread wider when his daughter jumped eagerly into the arms of Riley. She didn’t hesitate in the slightest, a perfect demonstration for how much she trusted the nanny. She carefully maneuvered Sarah out of her arms and into the shallow water. “Becca you're up.”

“Promise I won’t go under?” Becca pouted.

“Becks we talked about this, if you want to join the junior swim squad this summer you’re going to need to get your face wet.”

“No!” the girl pouted.

“Alright, I’ll just play with Sarah then,” Riley smirked, reaching over the side of the pool to grab one of the noodles.

“Wait no!” Becca jumped before Riley could reposition herself, the nanny dove quickly to get back over and pull Becca up from the water. She was gasping and crying.

“Sweetheart, you need to wait until I’m ready.” Riley said softly pushing the hair from Becca’s mouth, cradling her softly to her chest as she approached the steps where Sarah sat.

Steve spent the next hour or so watching as Riley swam around the girls but most let the two best friends do their own thing. The May heat was finally getting to him, or was it the beauty in the water? Eventually Riley swam over to the edge of the pool near him so they could speak.

“I wanted to apologize for a few weeks ago, I feel I overstepped when trying to assist your wife in getting rid of Sarah’s heat rash. I didn't mean to offend her.” Riley looked at him for a moment to display her sincerity before turning her gaze back to the girls who were sitting on the second step of the pool making shapes in the water with their hands. “I would hate to be the reason the girls can’t be friends anymore, and I would never imply anyone was failing at caring for their kid.”

Steve was even more confused now, Peggy hated kids he knew this before they ever married. He didn’t believe she’d be offended by anyone offering her advice about tending to Sarah, she also hadn’t said anything to him. But Peggy was very rarely alone with Sarah for the exact reason that she didn’t know how to properly care for a child. From what he’d seen thus far, and what he knew of Riley from the Reynolds and Sarah, she was a sweet innocent soul. He believed she’d never intentionally harm anyone.

“First off, I’m no longer married; it's almost been a year now since I filed for divorce,” she didn’t need to know that but he needed her to, why? Maybe because he couldn’t stop undressing what little clothing she was already wearing. “Second, Peggy isn’t the kind of person to dwell on something like that.”

“I’m sorry,” her voice was soft. “About the divorce.”

“Don’t be, I’m a happier man without her in my life.”

“Riley! Your phone.” Becca called.

“That will be the pizza guy, can you handle them for a minute?” she asked and she braced herself on the side of the pull and lifted herself out of the water. His speech was temporarily unavailable so she just nodded. “Girls, time to hop out and dry off.”

Fifteen minutes later the four of them were seated in a square shape in the grass, the girls playing with some of the pool toys while they ate, Steve and Riley having a conversation of their own while they watched the kids.

“Sarah said you’re in school?”

“Yeah, working towards becoming a Pediatrician.”

“You’re parents must be proud,” his tone implied it wasn’t more proud that he felt it was expected of someone living in a lavish home such as this. It was then Riley realized she’d never offered her last name and so Steve had been forced to make an incorrect assumption.

“Oh! No, the Reynolds aren’t my family, though they feel like that sometimes. My mom and little sister are back on the East Coast.”

Her words are like a trigger for him, he begins seeing things about her he missed every other time he’d been ogling her today. The nails on her fingers were a little crooked and hand painted, the material thinner than the nails Peggy wore that were professionally done at a salon indicating that Riley had put them on herself. Her hair seemed blonde in places that were more often exposed to sunlight, providing her chestnut hair with uneven blonde highlights though they were slight. Or how about the fucking walmart tag that was sticking out of the back of her top!

No, Riley doesn’t come from money.

“How did you meet Reynolds?”

“They needed a nanny and they know how difficult it can be to put yourself through school so they put an ad on the school bulletin. When I met them, they practically hired me on the spot, I guess I was exactly what they were looking for.”

Steve tried not to growl, a sexy young nanny, of course Mr. Reynolds would approve but she’d charmed the wife too. There was a time when Steve was an expert at resisting temptation but for the last several years he hadn’t had to, Peggy had opened their marriage up thinking it would save it. All it did was make them both think it was alright to cheat-at least that’s how Steve saw it but now he was trying to get back to a place where monogamy was required.

“You didn’t mention a dad?”

“My dad was a marine, he passed away when I was ten, about a month later my mom found out she was pregnant. That was a really hard time in our house.” Riley’s eyes went off somewhere far from where they currently were. “But my parents and Reynolds give me hope that soulmates exist because I’m pretty sure they were fortunate enough to find theirs.”

“You believe in soulmates?”

She nodded bashfully, “Sorry I’m a bit of a romantic at heart. I’m not foolish enough to think I’ll ever find my own, hell I’d just settle for a faithful man who keeps his promises.”

He noted both of these for later, he was definitely a man of his word, he would work on the other requirement.

“Riley, I’m sleepy.” Becca yawned.

Riley looked at her phone, “that’s because it's nap time.”

“I’m not sleepy!” Sarah yelled as if the intensity of her voice was proof of her energy levels.

“How about we set up a blanket fort in the living and throw on some Disney and just relax then?”

“Okay!” Both girls squealed.

Steve spent the entire day at the Reynolds house, watching as Riley cared for the kids with love and affection but didn’t neglect him either. Even when the girls finally fell asleep and she grabbed her laptop, notebook, and textbook to work she still kept him engaged in light conversation so she could split her attention. Was it possible to fall in love in one day? Steve wasn’t sure but he wasn’t about to let her slip through his fingers.

“Riley, do you think I could bother you with some babysitting hours of my own?”

“I’d have to coordinate with the Reynolds but I don’t see that being a problem as long as it doesn’t interfere with my classes.”

“I mostly work from home so I’m always there but I can’t always give Sarah the attention she needs. Any amount of time, even if it's only an hour, would be a great help.”

Riley’s smile was tired, probably from the combinations of exercise, sun, the kids, and her paper. “I’m happy to help when I can,” she ripped a piece of paper from her notebook. “That’s my phone number and email address, I’m not sure which you prefer.”

“Am I allowed to use this for purposes other than kid related?” her cheeks heated up but she didn’t say anything. “Say to ask you out on a date.”

“Steve I don’t, if you want to ask me on a date that’s something I can agree to but not if I’m your employee. If you want a babysitter I can do that too, but not if I’m dating you.”

“Not the kind to mix business and pleasure?”

She shook her head no, “I’m also not like most people my age, I don’t do the just for fun thing. It gets messy and I want a long term.”

“What makes you think I’d be opposed?” He had a cocky smile now.

“Most people are just looking for flings after getting out of a marriage, especially if it ended badly. I’m not trying to pass judgment on you, I just want you to see my perspective.” she pushed everything off her lap, full on serious now. “I have too much going on in my life right now to put time and effort into something temporary.”

“Can I kiss you?” She rolled her eyes, “I’m listening and understanding everything you are saying.” he promised. “But maybe if you let me kiss you, you’ll see I’m on the same page as you.”

“I’m on the clock, so no you may not.”

“Is that the only reason?” his wolf-like grin spread when her cheeks flamed and she remained quiet. “Then, Riley, will you let me take you out to dinner tomorrow? Perhaps I can get a kiss out of you then and convince you I am more than happy with a serious, committed relationship.”

“You have my number Steve,” she whispered, smiling a shy, closed mouth one at him. Before Steve could respond the front door opened to the Reynolds returning home.

0 notes

foreversecrets · 1 year

Text

What Burrows in the Boroughs: Prologue

What Burrows in the Boroughs Masterlist

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Mob Steve Rogers x OC

Status: Ongoing

Everything had happened so fast.

Riley is leaning back on the arm of the couch, her bare feet in Steve’s lap as he helped relax her after a long day, working his thumbs into the balls of her feet. She hadn’t been feeling sexy lately, it was hard on her to be this pregnant but he’d been here before; he was entirely prepared to do anything to make her more comfortable. When she got home from her day out with Sarah, the kid had run off to find Bucky while Riley had went in search of him, pulling him from his work.

“I hope you're content with two because I don’t know if I can go through this again,” Riley sighed, closing her eyes.

Steve laughed at her, “Sweetheart I was content with one, but I will take as many as you’ll allow me.” he leaned down and kissed her calf.

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” she opened her eyes, meeting him in all seriousness. “I may not be Sarah’s biological mother but she is 100% my kid, but I just wanted to know what it felt like and for the most part it's been okay but this kid is two weeks over the due date. I just want to be able to shave my own damn legs!”

He leaned over and kissed her lips, smirking. “You know I don’t mind helping you in the bath, and your libdo has been rather ravenous.”

“Stop it,” she pushed him back. “Sex is too much work when I this big.” she groaned. He was going to make another comment when she suddenly lurched, arching her back and grinding her teeth. His eyes went wide as he watched her, she’d started experiencing Braxton Hicks Contractions a few days ago-which was leading to most of her distaste for pregnancy.

“The doctor-” he is interrupted by the blaring of his phone, he doesn’t immediately recognize the sound-it's not one he hears often. But it only takes him a few seconds to realize it's the security alert, telling him the house is going into lockdown due to unauthorized access to their front gate. “Baby get to the panic room, I’ll get Sarah” he instructs, rising from the couch quickly.

She wiggles from the couch the best she can, watching as he grabs his gun holster and heads from their living room. Her contractions aren’t stopping but she knows she doesn’t have much time to get to the basement where the panic room is before whatever danger is upon the house. She is waddling through the hall that leads to the set of stairs for the basement when she hears the gunshots outside the house. Adrenaline and fear are her companions and she moves into the hall closet, typing in the code for the safe and retrieving a gun of her own. She’s trying not to cry out as the pain in her lower abdomen radiates but she’s barely moving now as she reaches the top of the stairs.

She can hear voices at the bottom, she recognizes Bucky’s, that provides some relief-knowing Sarah is safely downstairs. She takes the first step and her knee buckles, her hold on the railing the only thing holding her up as she realizes what's about to happen.

“Riley!” She hears Steve’s terrified screech from downstairs, but she can’t call out to him because the fear that was already there only intensifies when her water breaks. Steve is already running back up the stairs to look for her when she finally allows the fear and pain to produce tears on her face. “Riley, baby we need to get downstairs.” he’s on her now, nearly slips on the puddle underneath her.

“I can’t,” she is breathless as she looks up into his wide blue eyes as he realizes what’s going on.

“Shit,” he bent down, slipping his arms underneath her to carry her bridal style down and into the panic room. “Sarah sweetheart, please get off the bed.” Steve instructs his daughter who quickly runs over to them.

“Mommy what’s wrong?”

Steve places Riley on the bed and turns to nod to Bucky who seals the panic room, the two men whipping out their phones. Steve calls in favors so his girlfriend doesn’t give birth in distress and Bucky to the other members of the crew.

“Mommy’s having the baby,” Riley tried to keep her tone calm so as to not frighten the seven year old in front of her.

“Daddy, we have to go to the hospital!” Sarah yells at her dad, concerned for her mother filling her features and tone.

“Stark, I’m calling in that favor you owe me. Hydra’s surrounded my home and my girl just went into labor.” Steve isn’t acknowledging his girls, right now his focus is on getting the danger handled so he can take care of his family.

“Sarah, sweetheart,” Riley’s tone is soothing, though she’s clenching her fists tightly, one around the gun, the other cutting into the palm of her hand. “Daddy’s got to make sure everything's okay first, then we can go to the hospital and meet your little sister, okay?”

“But you're hurting,” Sarah pouts at Riley with those same blue eyes Riley adores so much on Steve. “I don’t want you to hurt.”

“I know, baby girl but right now, it's not safe for us to leave this room.” It looks like Sarah is going to protest again so Riley continues. “Why don’t you read me a chapter from that princess book daddy bought you?”

Sarah’s temporarily distracted, running over to her backpack she’d been wearing when the lockdown happened and pulling the book out. Another contraction hits, Riley isn’t able to muffle the sound of the pain as her body struggles to adjust. Both Bucky and Steve look at her, assessing, thinking, trying to figure out how the hell they are going to get this handled and get her to the hospital before the baby is born. The groan of pain is enough to alert Sarah and make her angry again, she places her book on the table near the bed and marches up to her father glaring at him down.

“We need the hospital!” she stomps her foot as if that will change anything.

“Sarah, do as your mother says.” Steve’s tone is stern enough to tell her this isn’t a debate but there isn’t a harshness to it. He knows she doesn’t fully understand what’s happening, part of him is gald but another part wishes she was old enough to understand.

Sarah grumpily returns to Riley’s side to read, Riley helping with the longer words but she keeps looking at Steve. He knows she’s terrified, when he taught her to use a gun, he promised he’d never put her in a position to use it and now, when she needs protecting the most she has a pistol in a death grip. The fear on her face is only rivaled by the determination to protect their kids, both the grumpy one and the one trying to escape her uterus.

A silence settles as they hear footsteps above them, the security cameras showing that the enemy is looking through all the rooms. He knows there is no way they are getting into the panic room, knows the only danger inside is Riley needing medical care none of them can provide but rage fills him as he watches these men tear apart his house. Whether they are here for him or to hurt his family is irrelevant, Hydra is on its last leg and that desperation has led to this. He called Stark, the deal the Boroughs had struck against Hydra in full effect now that they’ve made this personal. Tony promised to gather the other crews and be over as soon as he could, and promised to bring Dr. Banner in the event Riley has to deliver before help gets there but it's not enough. He wants to be out there, him and Buck, like the old days protecting their own; being the ones to kill those who threaten the peace. But to leave would surely piss off his laboring girlfriend, and leave both girls more frightened than they already were.

“Steve!” Riley’s screech breaks the silence. “The pressure-” she gasps out in pain.

He looks to Bucky, a silent conversation happening between them then Steve is at Riley’s side and Bucky is pulling Sarah away to distract her with a game on her tablet. “I’m right here baby,” he whispers in her ear, kissing her temple then pushing her hair from her face.

“It hurts.”

“Riley, you might have-”

“I swear if I have to give birth down here Steve.” she growls out, her face scrunching in pain again.

“I’m going to make this up to you, I promise.”

“I want that wedding you promised me.”

“It's yours baby,” he smiles, trying to be reassuring but has been timing the contractions. He knows they are going to make it to the hospital, she’s gonna have to start pushing soon. “I’ll give Peggy whatever she wants to finalize the divorce and then I’ll get all the paperwork figured out, we can be married by next week.”

She weeps now, he doesn’t know if it's pain, fear, or his promises that he’s made so frequently but yet to fulfill. It's not that he was going to, there’s just been so much happening. Peggy dragged out the divorce proceedings, the discord of Queens, Hydra trying to snatch up territory, and Riley was nearing her residency requirements to get her degree. He continues to whisper words of encouragement to her, stroking her hair in the way that’s always soothed her.

“Honey, I know you know what’s happening,” she whispers. She’s been timing her contractions to, and the way her body feels. “It’s time, Steve, you have to help me.”

He nods, keeping his facial expression steady but his heart is beating too fast now, he is absolutely terrified because he has no fucking idea how to deliever a baby. He’s suddenly glad she decided to wear a sundress for her day out with Sarah, because he really doesn’t want to scar his kid and best friend. He carefully assists her in removing her panties and then positioning her body the way he remembers from Sarah’s brith. He wants to ask his best friend for help, but he genuinely has no idea what he’s doing and he needs him to distract his kid.

“I have to push with the contractions, when you see the baby, don’t pull exactly just guide her,” Riley instructs. Both of them regretted in the moment that she wasn’t training to be an obstetrician, this would be a little easier if it was her area of expertise. He sees her bare down and knows she is pushing by the redness on her face, he bends to look over her vagina. Seeing it in a way he never has before, he’s never been afraid to go down there before but now it's taking everything in his power to keep his hands steady as he keeps her thighs pushed apart.

“I’m right here babydoll, we are going to do this together,” he’s proud his voice is steady, soothing even as he whispers to her.

“I should have listened to my mom!” she cries but there’s an exasperated laugh at the end. “I should have made you use a condom.”

“You were on birth control baby,” he reminds, teasing her but she only glares at him. “Okay not in a playful mood.”

“You push a human out of your dick and see how playful you feel,” she hisses quietly so Sarah doesn’t hear the crude terms. Steve visibly flinches at the idea. He shuts his mouth as she bares down again, she’d exert herself to the point he can see her hands shaking. It's then he finally sees the gun in her hand.

“Riley,” he puts his hand out. “Give me the gun.” for a second he thinks she’s ignoring him but then she flicks the safey on and just drops it. She sends him an apologetic look, he assumes the pain she’s feeling is making her afraid to move any of her limbs. Another push and he can see the top of the baby's head.

“Steve, I can’t” the words come out tired, barely hearing her.

“You can, I can see her head, come out sweetheart. You can do this.” he is trying to be encouraging but his voice is starting to tremble.

“What’s happening?” Sarah's voice shatters the bubble of the expecting parents, panic surging through them both again as Riley has to push agai.

“Buck, I can't,” Steve nods to Sarah.

Bucky picks Sarah up and props her on his hip, explaining while Steve does his best to handle the situation. “You’re mommy’s giving birth, we get to meet your sister in a few minutes.”

“I wanna see!” Sarah says excitedly, trying to wiggle out of Bucky’s hold but his grip is strong.

“Not yet, it's not a pretty sight.”

My teacher said childbirth is a miracle, aren’t they pretty?”

Bucky snorts, meeting Steve’s eyes. Sarah can’t see it but the three adults know there's a blood mess happening on the bed right now and Riley sure as hell does not feel like she’s experiencing a miracle right now.

“Sarah, why don’t you tell Uncle Bucky the name we came up with?” Riley’s tries to be encouraging but she is weeping now.

“Alice Rogers!” Sarah says proudly. “Mommy and Daddy let me help, I chose Alice from the book mommy read to me when she first moved in with us. And Mommy chose Marie for the middle name after her Daddy who was a marine.”

“Alice Marie Rogers, it's a beautiful name. You made a good squid.” Bucky tweaks her nose.

The playful giggles from Sarah are interrupted by the wailing of a newborn. Bucky puts Sarah down on the couch, instructing her to stay, he moves to Steve to take the baby so he can help Riley with the after birth. Sarah makes sure to stay out of the way but she follows Bucky, watching in disgust as he cleans all the yucky fluids from her little sister.

“Buck!” Steve’s scream is unlike anything any of them have ever heard. Bucky looks over his shoulder to see his best friend of countless years, one hand under his girl's dress the other on her face, pleading with her to stay awake. “She’s still bleeding!”

“It could be post …” her voice is weak as she tries to explain. “Postpartum hemorrhaging. I need to go to the hospital Steve.” She tries to keep her eyes on him, her tone low as not to scare Sarah anymore than she is. “It can be fatal.” she hopes Sarah hasn’t learned that word yet.

It doesn’t matter, the agonzied noise that comes from Steve in the moment has both kids crying. Riley is doing her best to keep her eyes open, but Bucky can see she is afraid, her eyes aren’t so vibrant anymore. Holding Alice in one hand Bucky reaches into his pocket with the other and dials Stark. “We need medical help immediately.”

“Baby stay with me,” Steve is pleading, covered in Rileys blood. He’s moved on the bed now, straddling her hips but not leaning on her at all as he holds her face in his bloodied hands. “Riley, baby you can’t leave me, remember we talked about this. You’re stuck with me.”

There’s banging at the panic door, causing the crying to get worse. Bucky tries to hand the baby to Steve but he’s hysterical, so he tucked Alice safely in his metal arm and grabs his gun, approaching the door to see Banner, Stark, Natasha, and Parker. He instantly opens the door, Banner rushing to Riley while the others process everything that’s happening.

“And I thought there was a blood bath outside,” Tony tries to joke but everyone's eyes are turned to Steve, who flung Banner away from Riley.

“Take her!” Bucky shouts, holding Alice out to them. Natasha takes the baby while Tony and Bucky move over, pulling Steve from Riley and letting Bruce get close to her. “Steve, stop!” Bucky grunts at his friend, but Steve is thrashing, fighting to get back to Riley.

“Daddy I’m scared.” The little voice of Sarah breaks through the chaos, it's enough to drop Steve to his knees. He looks to Sarah, his little girl bringing him back to his duties and responsibilities. Tony and Bucky release Steve, standing nearby in case they need to restrain him again.

“Come here babydoll,” Steve whispers softly, Sarah jumps into his arms. Holding each other tightly, Steve silently cries as she watches his friends helping his girl onto a stretcher to transport her to a hospital. He trusts them, but he needs to see his whole family, needs to see they are okay.

“We are taking them to the hospital Steve,” Natasha says softly as she kneels with the newest addition to his family. “You should take Sarah and Alice, Bucky and I will stay here and clean up … everything.” She looks over the room.

“What if-”

“Don’t do that to yourself, just get your butt and baby to the hospital. Stark took the jet, they should be there in a few minutes but this kid is going to need tending too as well.” Sarah releases Steve. “Hey kiddo, can you help your dad get your sister to your mommy?”

Sarah nods, rubbing her tired eyes. Steve takes Alice from Nat, it takes what’s left of his energy to get them to the car, instructing Sarah intensely on how to hold her sister during the drive. He tries not to speed but all he can think about the whole drive is Riley, he’s been a solo parent before but now-now that’s she’s been a part of their lives, he’s not sure he can do it alone.

6 notes · View notes