Chapter Text
"Come on Bucky, just say it. It's easy. Da-da. Come on, try it for Papa," Sam insisted eagerly. The infant looked up from his precious carrot that he was chewing on and stared at his Papa like he was crazy.
"You do know that pressure will not make him speak faster, right?" Loki said, pulling out a juice box from the fridge.
"I don't understand! he said it yesterday to Natasha," Sam sighed. "And he did it to Pepper last week. Why can't he just say it for me?"
"Dada!" Bucky said, and Sam looked up, only to see him reaching for his big sister. Sam groaned.
"Not quite ditya," Natasha chuckled. "Maybe he has us all mixed up Sam."
"I ain't buyin' it Tasha. The kid knows damn well I'm his papa."
"What have I said about swearing in front of him?!" Steve said firmly as he entered the kitchen. Sam ran a hand over his face while Steve took the kid from Tasha. "Hey little man. You all ready to go to playgroup? Your Papa can come too if he'd stop pouting about you talking."
"Thanks but no thanks. That's your deal, not mine," Sam groaned. "You do realize he's too little to actually remember any of this, right?"
"Can't hurt to have him make a few new friends," Steve cooed. "Besides, there's another same-sex couple in his playgroup. Two moms and their twin boys."
"Why do I get the feeling you've been wearing your hipster glasses when you go to these things?" Sam teased.
"....Cuz I don't want to cause any trouble," Steve sighed. "It's not like we can really explain away the fact that I have a kid if the media found out."
"They're gonna figure it out eventually Steve," Sam pointed out. "Maybe we should talk to Pepper about this. Have some sort of press conference or something."
Steve shook his head. "No."
"You're so stubborn," Sam sighed. "Go take him to mommy-and-me. We can finish this conversation later."
Steve kissed his partner and took the infant to finish getting him ready.
* * * *
Sam's words kept Steve distracted during the little play-group of infants.
"Something on your mind?" Eva, one of the two lesbian moms, asked.
"Nah," Steve said nervously.
"You know, you're a terrible liar," Eva teased.
"So I've been told," Steve sighed. "It's just... my partner really wants to tell my... family about us and James."
"They don't know?" Eva asked.
Steve shook his head. "We um, we don't really talk much unless we have to. They love me and all, but..."
"It's complicated," Eva finished. "We had the same problem when we adopted the twins with Maggie's parents."
"Really?" Steve asked.
"Yup. They had been pretty absent up until then. But she really wanted the kids to know Grandma and Grandpa Hagans."
"How did you two do it?" Steve asked.
"We just told them we were planning to adopt. We send them pictures and updates. Her mom has been much more open and even came down to visit a few weeks ago."
"And her dad?"
"He's... set in his ways. Maggie and I have just come to accept it as a fact. We try not to dwell on it, otherwise our lives would be pretty miserable." Steve nodded. "So, what do you think you're going to do?"
"I think Sam and I are going to have to talk," Steve sighed.
"Good choice," Eva giggled. "You really should bring him one of these times. He sounds like a wonderful partner."
Steve smiled. "Yeah, he really is."
* * * *
"Alright look, maybe you're right," Steve said as they sat in bed that night.
"Of course I am. What am I right about now?" Sam asked.
"....Maybe we do need to at least acknowledge that we're together or have Bucky," Steve sighed. "But..."
"Hey, we can take it slow," Sam said.
"I have never done anything slow my entire life," Steve pouted.
"Your ass on the line," Sam shrugged. "What are we gonna tell people about Bucky?"
"....Tony knows how to get fake documents, right?"
"Dude, half the residents in this tower have and have USED fake documents!" Sam laughed. "What's going on in that brain of yours?"
Steve kissed Sam delicately. "You'll just have to wait and find out."
* * * *
It was a week later. Steve really wished he was at playgroup with Bucky. Instead, he was about to tell the world he was both gay and a father. Needless to say, he was shaking like a leaf.
"Steve, I promise. Everything is going to go just fine," Pepper promised. "You'll have all of us supporting you."
"Yeah Stevie," Natasha said from beside her daddy. Steve took a deep breath and smiled at her.
"I love you princess," He said softly.
"Alright people, places!" Pepper called. Steve took a deep breath and took Sam's hand. He wouldn't do this without Sam's complete consent.
"Last chance to back out," Steve said. "Anyone that might have known me is probably dead or too old to care anymore."
"Nope. And my family is surprisingly open-minded," Sam said. He watched Loki play with Bucky, and smiled. "And I think James is going to be a lot happier too."
"Let's hope," Steve said, marching onto the stage. Lights flashed and people erupted into claps and questions, all of which Steve silenced with a hand in the air. He looked at the cards set before him, remembered Pepper's threat if he went off script, and took a deep breath. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press. There have been a few changes within my life and within the Avengers I feel would be beneficial for you to know about." Sam smiled, and took his designated Spot beside Steve, taking his hand. "This is my... My partner, Sam Wilson."
The room erupted, Steve tried not to wince, but Sam squeezed his hand, and took over. "We've been together since July, and y'all can take your judgements and-"
"We have a kid," Steve said, and wait, that wasn't supposed to come out yet, but here came Pepper, holding Bucky, and she stomped on his foot as she handed him over to Sam. As soon as everyone stopped shouting, Steve finally let them ask a few questions.
"Captain Rogers, how exactly did you gain custody of an actual child?" The female reporter asked.
"Agent Coulson left him behind unknowingly," Steve fibbed. "His mother felt unable to care for him, and she left him with Maria Hill for me to care for. Next question."
The next reporter Steve knew. He was from Fox News and Steve hated him. "How can you possibly stand for America and yet claim to be a homosexual?"
Steve and Sam both glared at her, Steve was about to say something Pepper would probably get mad at later, but then Bucky started to cry, and damn. Steve hated when that happened. Sam bounced him, trying to shush the kid, but he wasn't having it, he wanted Steve. So the Captain took his son, and shoved his finger in the kid's mouth, and Sam took the pillar while Steve cooed to him. Sam took over. Steve had zero fucks to give. In the end it didn't matter. His world was Sam and Bucky.
"What's his name?" A reporter finally asked.
"James. James Buckie Rogers," Steve answered happily, rocking the baby in his arms. "His mother named him, but it couldn't have been more perfect." There was a collective aw, and then they dismissed.
* * * *
Pepper was waiting backstage. "You have no idea how lucky you got Steve," She growled.
"I know," He said meekly.
"Daddy, there's a really nice lady on the phone for you," Natasha said, handing over the cell.
"Hello?" Steve said.
"Seems you weren't quite honest," Eva laughed. "We'd like to invite you over for dinner. As Steve and Sam and little James."
"Are you sure? I-I don't-"
"Steve," Eva cut in. "You just did something really crazy. Have a night of normalcy. You'll appreciate it."
"You sound like Sam," Steve joked. "Alright. We'll come."
* * * *
"Steve are you really sure about this?" Sam asked, holding their humble desert offering.
"For once, yes," Steve said as he knocked on the door, There was the pitter patter of little feet and then a teeny little girl opened the door.
"Hi Mis'er Cap'n 'Merica!" She squealed.
"Annie," Eva said as she came around the corner. "Remember what we say when we meet new people?"
"Oops! Sorry Mama," The little girl said, before running off.
"Sorry, she gets excited," Eva chuckled.
"I'm used to it," Steve shrugged with a smile. "She's precious."
"So is this one," Eva cooed, taking Bucky from Steve. "Hi James."
"Bucky," Steve said. "We... we call him Bucky."
"Like your bestest friend!" Annie piped up. Steve chuckled. Yeah, a night of normalcy was definitely needed.