Shotgun wedding~! (for like_a_gerbil)

[antonia_stark]

"You know I can work it out. I want to. I'll talk to Pepper about it later, cause we need to go running together. It'll be good for you to have that." Because wolves needed to run. And that way he could do it safely with her there. Especially now... when she needed to feel safe and protected. And the thought alone had her other hand suddenly lowering to cover her stomach. A new motion. One she'd never used before and it normally went to the reactor instead.

Smiling at the words softly, she leaned in closer to him just to revel in his warmth. "I'm glad... it's the same you know. I'm happier now than I've ever been. Even flying..." And that said a lot.

The knowledge that he'd marry her had her lips turning upward in pure delight. And when he kissed her, both arms went about his neck as she kissed him back enthusiastically. Hugging him tight, she grinned and touched their noses before nibbling at his lower lip even as he was still talking. The excitement was so clear in her expression, she felt like she might combust. "I'd say yes... you should ask me. I want you to ask me. Would you ask me, Steve?"

He was from the forties. He deserved the right to do things the traditional way. "If you don't... I will." The fear from before was nearly gone even as she kissed along his jaw only to nuzzle at his ear. "I... Steve... I can wait. I can. But I just..." Now it struck her that maybe she would be taken that way... as though she were trying to tie him down to her. And she ducked her head at the thought. "Puppies..." It was soft, but she knew he'd hear it. "I'm..."

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[like_a_gerbil]

The hand to her stomach was new but the implications didn't quite set in since there were more important things to consider.

He'd been planning to propose someday, If she'd have him and if she ever seemed ready for that step, accepting that if she never was it'd be fine since that wouldn't mean she loved him any less. When she seemed so enthusiastic about the idea, he would've asked immediately. The right words were there and he was trying to figure out if he should go down on one knee or not since that would mean she'd have to move from his lap. And proposing with her on his lap seemed almost right since that was so Toni...

"I want to ask. I -" He tipped his head to give her better access to his ear, eyes drifting closed as she said that unexpected word.

Puppies?

"Uh - " She wanted a puppy? Was that why she'd asked about marriage and a dog. And 2.5... Pulling away, he tried not to stare at her like he'd lost his mind but he was afraid to hope that he was guessing right and afraid that he'd guessed wrong, unsure of how Toni would react to having their whole lives turned around like that. "You're...?"

[antonia_stark]

Taking a deep breath, she knew it was now or never. Get it all out there and make sure they both understood each other. That neither of them had misunderstood or took it the wrong way. Pressing her lips together as he pulled away, she lowered her head and pressed her hand firmer to her stomach.

"Guess the celebration turned out more productive than we thought it would..." Laughing nervously, she finally lifted her head to look at him. "I didn't plan for it to happen... I don't want you to marry me just because I'm... I want to be with you. Just you. No one else..."

Shifting back, she caught his wrist carefully and drew his hand between them. "Doctor confirmed, morning sickness second opinion and all." Splaying her hand over his on her stomach, she searched his face. "Never... never really thought about it before. Having kids. Didn't really want to... but I'd thought it before... when I was with you. That if they were yours... I'd want them. Even if the idea terrified me." It still terrified her. But they were his.

Lowering her head, she covered his hand with both of hers. "I don't regret it. I'm scared..." That made her laugh a little in self reproach. She never admitted to being afraid. "But I'd never regret anything with you."

[like_a_gerbil]

It took every bit of his patience and self-control to wait for her to finish, knowing she needed to tell him in her own way and at her own pace. But that didn't stop the blinding grin or the look of awe when she placed his hand on her stomach.

His...theirs...

"I'd never think that you'd, because of..." He wasn't making sense. He doubted he could make sense. Not when she'd just told him that they were pregnant. Okay, Toni was pregnant but he wanted to be with him so it counted as them instead of just Toni. "I didn't think that I could..."

It was something Steve hadn't considered, figuring that the serum and being a werewolf would make it impossible. Or maybe it had made it possible and it wouldn't have been before.

"Puppies." He was laughing even as he kissed her, trying not get so caught up in his happiness that he held her too tightly . "We'll both be scared together. It'll be okay. I love you. And we'll get married soon. Or afterward. Whenever you want."

The look of awe returned as he gently touched her face, his smile turning nervous and adoring. "Is it bad to thank you for this?"

[antonia_stark]

The brilliant smile on Steve's face took a huge weight off of her chest. He was happy. This made him happy. As happy as she had been when she sat and thought about the idea of having Steve's kids. And only then did she start smiling brightly in return.

He wasn't upset. He wasn't angry or thought less of her. She nearly died flying with that nuke into the portal, but in the end, she not only lived, she was bringing a new life into the world. It was scary and amazing all at once. "Puppies." Grinning broadly, she leaned in closer and kissed his lips softly.

"Will they be puppies? Cute and furry sometimes? Because that's adorable. I'll have a family of puppies." Her eyes lit up as she pressed closer to him and wrapped her arms about him. "I get to cuddle with multiple warm balls of fluff?" It was already something she loved with Steve. So why wouldn't it thrill her?

And the comment about thanking her? Brought a rush of laughter out of her. Arching a brow at him, he leaned in and kissed his lips again. "You can... but It's what I want too..." Nuzzling his ear, she kissed there gently.

"I love you." She moved to rest their foreheads together. "I'm scared... My parents well... they sucked. I... I don't want to suck at this. I want to do well. I have to." Cupping his neck in her hands, she shivered a little. "It's part of you.... I already love our child."

[like_a_gerbil]

"Puppies?" He still wasn't sure about that. Erskine hadn't said much about werewolf reproduction when he'd told him about the possible side effect of the serum but then it probably hadn't been that important compared to creating a super soldier. "They might be furry? I don't - Erskine never told me if... They'll be adorable whether they're furry or not."

Holding her close, he murmured a soft 'I love you' against her hair. "I'm scared too, but we'll do all right. It won't just be us. You know everyone'll want to help and..." He couldn't help grinning at one particular member of the team helping them. "Phil really will be supernanny."

Running his hand along her back, he kissed her hair, nuzzling lightly. "You'll be an amazing mother. You know what not to do and that's a start. And you'll love them. And I'll be there to help you not be scared. I promise."

Then, a certain detail caught his attention and his hand stilled along her back. "Puppies? More than one?"

[antonia_stark]

"Well... any mini Rogers is going to be adorable. But still.. fluffy little puppies every full moon? You can't tell me that doesn't shoot the adorableness up to unprecedented heights." She gave him a serious look before breaking into a grin and kissing him. "I love you."

Snuggling in close to him, she closed her eyes and simply listened to his heart. Smoothing her hand over his chest, it stopped right over that steady rhythm. A happy sigh escaped her at that moment. "I want to ask him to babysit then follow him to videotape. You realize he'd die of happiness taking care of Captain America's kids, right? I have to see this now..."

Smirking to herself, her expression soon smoothed into contented happiness. "I know you will. I'm more eager to see you with our kids." Because god... he'd be the most amazing father. None could or would even come close to holding a candle to him.

Pausing at the question, she shifted a little and cleared her throat. "I um... went through a little bit of denial. So... I didn't get checked right away. Or... well... any time soon." It had been a while since that night. Maybe a little over two months. "So... um... the tests when I did go... twins. Least that's what the doctor said." She didn't look up at that. Because the fact she waited so long and still went out on missions with them... she was ashamed of that.

"I didn't know... I just. I'm sorry... I wouldn't have gone out with you guys if I'd known. You believe me, right?" Looking up, she gave him a hopeful look edged in concern. "I'd never do anything to hurt them...." And she was just unbelievably thankful she'd not been drinking since Steve came into her life. She just... didn't think to when she was so focused on him.

[like_a_gerbil]

"You mean they'll be mini Starks so they'll be adorable when they're human and when they're puppies." Adorable werewolf geniuses... It was going to take the entire team and Coulson to keep them out of trouble... "He'll either die of happiness or tase us for convincing him to babysit."

He returned the kiss, holding her close as she snuggled into him. "I love you too." When she didn't meet his eyes, he began to wonder if maybe something was wrong with her or the pup...twins.

Then, he understood why she was so worried. Not that he would ever think she'd do something to harm their children. No, she shouldn't have been out on missions but it hadn't been intentional. She hadn't gone with them for selfish reasons or to prove herself without caring who might get hurt. Kissing her softly, he began nuzzling her ear. "Toni, I know you wouldn't have done anything to hurt them. You didn't know.

Pulling away enough to meet her eyes, he gave her a sheepish smile as he spread his fingers wide over her stomach. "You realize I'm going to be more protective than normal. I'll try to keep it under control but... It's difficult to control the wolf's instincts sometimes and this is going to make them stronger."

Giving her a look that if he was in wolf form would have been accompanied by his ears flopping forward to help beg for forgiveness, Steve hoped that it would distract Toni from her guilt. "Are you going to make me sleep on the floor if I get too overprotective?"

[antonia_stark]

"Stark-Rogers puppies." Nodding sagely, she wouldn't back down. If he wouldn't let them be just Rogers, then it would be all or nothing. They were a family... and god but she planned to marry him someday. And if it weren't for the whole multi-billion dollar international company, she'd just go with his last name. But being in the business world, she couldn't abandon the Stark name.

"Phil will love them. Love them so much he'll be taking them away from the other avengers because they will not be moral enough to deal with his idol's children." Smirking a little, she cuddled close to his chest and tried not to think about her transgression. She'd already spent a lot of time awkwardly building herself up to apologize to the babies even if they couldn't hear her. It was only fair.

"I just... can't... won't... lose or hurt a part of you." She said that resolutely even as she recovered his hand on her stomach. Like that dual layer of their hands would shield them from everything.

"You promise? I know I can't do this alone..." Which was hard to admit in any case. She rarely if ever asked for help. But she knew she needed help and she wanted it to be him. Tracing the side of his face, she smiled softly. "I will never make you sleep on the floor. And the couch will only happen if you hurt my feelings. Which... I doubt you'd do."

Nuzzling his cheek, she purred softly. "I'm yours... they're ours... protect me all you want, love of my life."

[like_a_gerbil]

Stark-Rogers... "Is that what you'll go by after we're married?" There was a hopeful note in his voice that she hadn't forgotten the proposal. He wanted to marry her but he'd be patient. They would be his family whether they had a piece of paper declaring it or not. No one would look down at any of them like they might have decades ago.

And Toni was never one to follow convention and Steve knew better than to expect that from her. He did want her to say yes and to someday say 'I do' during a ceremony that she'd probably would complain was old-fashioned even if she loved it as much as he did. Whether it happened before or after, he didn't care as long as she said yes.

Pulling her close, he rested his cheek against the top of her head, curling around her slightly, already wanting to protect the three of them, unwilling to voice his own fears for his family. "I know, Toni.

"You won't have to do this alone. You'll have me and the rest of the team. You know they'll want to help." Even if he wanted to be the protector, he knew that he would need help and the others would demand to be a part of their family And he couldn't imagine a better group to protect them.

"If you send me to the couch we both know I'll end up curled up at the foot of the bed." Giving her sad, puppy eyes while keeping her warm.

Kissing her hand, he closed his eyes as she nuzzled his cheek, the wolf somehow both content and alert in the back of his mind. "Mate and pack." Toni knew what that meant to him, that he would always be hers and how important their children were to him. "I'll do anything I can to protect you." The words were accompanied by a gentle, dazed smile as he corrected himself. "All three of you."

[antonia_stark]

"I would prefer... to be call Mrs. Rogers. But cause of the company I'm going to have to go with the hyphenating of the name. I don't think the kids should have to... unless you do. But yes... I want to take your name when we're married." She said that matter of factly. Like there was no truer statement in the world than it. She wanted to marry Steve and be his family for the rest of their lives.

Pressing closer to him as he wrapped about her more securely, dark eyes fluttered closed. Hugging him like he was her only lifeline, she let out a slow breath. "I don't like being a bother..." But she'd ask them for help. Now she had two more to think about other than herself and her pride.

Chuckling softly, she lifted her head and met his eyes. Leaning closer, she caught his lips in a soft kiss. "Thus I said I doubt you'd do it. I don't think I could last long without you close by." Smoothing her fingers through his hair, she hummed a happy sound.

"All three of us thank you." Grinning a little more, she looped her arms about his neck and touched their noses. Edging closer, she softly kissed him again, quick and sweet. Then she kissed again, the touch lingering this time as she purred into the meeting of lips.

"I love you, Steve Rogers. You're the first and only person I've ever wanted to have a family with."

[like_a_gerbil]

When Toni said she wanted his name, he couldn't help grinning. Yeah, it was old fashioned and some of the ladies he knew would say it was chauvinistic but he loved the idea that Toni wanted the world to know that she was married to him.

And their children should reflect both sides of their family even if that wouldn't have been normal during the time he'd grown up in. "I know you need to keep your name. I'm glad that you want to add mine to yours. The kids should have both too since they're part of both of us.

"You're not a bother. They'd be insulted if we didn't ask." He pulled away enough to give her a worried look that didn't quite hide the happiness in his eyes. "Do you really want to deal with them if we don't include them?"

"I love you, Toni Stark. You're the only one I want to be with." Nuzzling her neck, he grinned and nipped lightly at her skin. "I'd better be the only person you want to have a family with. Even if you'll have to house train part of our family."