Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Two Days Earlier

Bucky still wasn’t keen on the idea of visiting the Palace physicians. He supposed it was like the whole Schrödinger’s Box scenario – whilst he didn’t go and have the reasons why he hadn’t had a Heat checked out; it couldn’t be because something was wrong.

However, it was eating him up inside.

Whilst the idea of actually being pregnant – something very distinctly Omega – didn’t exactly enthuse him, the idea of not being able to have children was awful. And it wasn’t even only the sense of him and Steve not being able to have children, it was all the additional implications of it that came with being the King of a Country, needing an heir: what would happen if he was unable to provide and so on.

Much like everything else in Bucky’s life, it was a lot to deal with.

And so here he was.

A little guiltily he had timed his appointment for a gap in his own schedule that did not correspond with a gap in Steve’s. He told himself that the reason he didn’t want his husband with him was that any tests that the physicians would run would be pretty undignified, but if he was honest with himself, he knew that the reason was he couldn’t take Steve’s unerring kindness and the fact that he would tell Bucky it was fine when it clearly wasn’t and try and comfort him nonetheless. That would hurt him almost as much as any diagnosis itself.

So here Bucky was, walking down the corridor leading to Dr Banner’s office, trying to steel himself against the inevitable fact that he was about to be given some news that he didn’t want to hear.

He wondered idly if it was too late to back out, to go back to their suite and use the brief reprieve between appointments to get in a nap – he had to sit in on negotiations with the Trade Minister and his Bulgarian equivalent after this and he really did feel too tired to be dealing with it, or rather he would if his job came with any down time at all – but he knew it wasn’t really an option. Feeling distinctly nauseous, he reached his destination and raised a hand to knock on the door being unsurprised anew when it swung open immediately.

For all of his misgivings, Bucky actually liked Dr Banner. A male Omega himself, he seemed to understand a lot of the minor niggles Bucky had and had been the one person able to change Bucky’s suppressants to something bearable back when he was actually allowed suppressants.

“Your Majesty,” he said as he opened the door, giving Bucky a respectful nod.

“Dr Banner, I’ve asked you before, please just call me James. You know too much for the whole ‘Your Majesty’ thing,” he grumbled and the doctor gave him a smile.

“Manners don’t cost anything, though,” he said wistfully. “Anyway, come inside,” he said, stepping aside to allow him entrance.

On entering the sterile white room, Bucky could feel his heart pounding faster and his palms a little bit sticky and sweaty with nerves. Sitting himself down in the chair he usually sat in when he was here, he looked across at the doctor, almost feeling nonplussed at what he was supposed to be doing.

“So, what seems to be the issue?” Dr Banner asked, coming and sitting himself down in his own chair behind the desk that took up most of the middle of the room.

Bucky licked his lips. Somehow admitting this was… oddly difficult. “My husband and I – that is to say, Steve and I… we decided to become Mates,” he started and the doctor nodded encouragingly.

“Congratulations,” he said with a small smile and Bucky nodded his thanks, a small, shy smile turning up his lips in return.

“Thank you. But… he went into Rut afterwards like he’s supposed to, and I didn’t have a Heat,” he said simply. Once they were out Bucky felt slightly better, but the reality was that they were still there hanging in the air between them, almost like another presence in the room.

To his credit, Dr Banner did not look too worried immediately.

“Alright. Did you have any symptoms of Heat at all? I know that it’s been some time for you, James – do you remember what pre-Heat feels like?” he asked, tone neutral and kind.

Bucky swallowed. “I… yes,” he admitted, figuring that doctors were bound to confidence anyway, and there wasn’t any point in lying or covering it up when he needed help. “I actually had a full Heat, though I didn’t really recognize the symptoms then. In Bacau, before Steve and I were married,” he clarified.

“Okay, and what symptoms did you have?” The doctor asked patiently.

“I craved sweet things, Steve said my scent changed, I wanted to be home and to build a nest and be somewhere tight and small and safe…” he remembered, shaking his head. “But I haven’t had any of that since then.”

The doctor nodded, again not looking concerned. “Well, the fact that you’ve had a Heat since coming off of your suppressants and blockers is a good sign. I understand why you were on them so long, but the fact your system righted itself so quickly is really good.”

Bucky felt something lift, nodding, not trusting himself to speak and really just wanting the doctor to continue.

“But the fact you didn’t have a Heat after a Mating bite still remains. Did the Bite take?” he asked.

Instead of answering verbally, that sick feeling in his stomach roiling even still, Bucky tugged down the collar of his shirt, exposing the scar.

“Oh yes, it certainly did,” Dr Banner replied, tapping something in on his computer – Bucky supposed it was a case of keeping his file up to date. “So, have you had any other symptoms?”

Bucky squirmed, wondering what actually counted as a ‘symptom’. “I… guess I’ve been a little tired lately?” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck with his hand. “But I figured that’s because since we got back from our vacation in America we’ve been so busy, full schedules and all, and then getting Steve through his Rut…. And I guess I’ve been a little nauseous? But that's mainly from nerves whenever I think about this whole thing.”

He was well aware that the end of that came out sounding like a question, but it could be a coincidence. He’d noticed it on a number of occasions, sure, but it was often like when he’d been standing outside of this very room – in situations that warranted it. Even if he’d been off his breakfast.

The doctor nodded, tapping that in, too. “I have one theory,” he said, pausing. “And you might have to humour me for a second on this one – but have you been using protection when you’ve been… uh, intimate? Before the Mating, I mean?”

Bucky paused, staring at him. “I… we did when we first got married, but it kind of…”. He shook his head then, because no. Everyone knew, after all, that it was practically impossible for an Omega – especially a male Omega – to fall pregnant outside of an actual Heat. It made contraception pretty superfluous, and given that Steve hadn’t had many partners and Bucky hadn’t had any… well…

“Right,” the doctor said, giving him a kindly smile. “Let’s rule out the first thing, shall we? Do you think you’d be able to provide a urine sample for me?”

“You think I’m pregnant?” Bucky asked, entirely incredulously, blinking. “But the problem is I haven’t had a Heat, and it’s basically impossible...”

“Improbable. It’s improbable, but not impossible,” the doctor corrected gently. “So there is a possibility and I’d like to rule it out before we go any further with anything more invasive – after all, your body would know it doesn’t need to induce a Heat if you’re already with child, and that would explain it.”

“I… okay,” Bucky replied, blinking and feeling a bit numb, but also very, very stupid for not even considering it when they had been playing fast and loose in the bedroom. He picked up the sample jar that the doctor had handed to him and headed out of the room, knowing that there was a bathroom just down the hall.

Standing there with it in hand and trying to relieve himself was a whole other problem, and he spent a lot more time staring at the cup with his dick above it than doing anything. It was just… difficult to pee with that kind of pressure.

Eventually though he managed, and washed his hands very thoroughly before leaving. The cool running water and soapy suds feeling quite soothing as he tried to calm his heartbeat.

He couldn’t already be pregnant.

That only happened in extremely rare instances where the couple in question were very highly compatible.

It was a statistical one-off.

...Although he and Steve already had plenty of one offs, such as getting caught in a pool house together and being more or less forced into a marriage, to Bucky becoming Romania’s first Omega King and various things in between. But he couldn’t be. Could he?

Going back into the office he handed the (still embarrassingly warm) jar across to the doctor, cringing as he did and cringing even more as the doctor immediately unscrewed it and dipped what had to be a testing stick into it, leaving it to rest on the lid thereafter.

“I’m afraid this will be the worst bit,” he said and Bucky nodded, swallowing dry as he tried and failed to not stare at the damn stick.

Photographers and members of the press had already changed his life and that was one thing – but for a bit of plastic to do the same again was quite another.

And besides that, he’d had a lot in the last eighteen months – they both had. They’d met, gotten engaged, married, had a mini-moon, had said mini-moon interrupted whenBucky’s father had died and left him King and everything that came with all of that, and then a second mini moon and a mating and, things were only just starting to calm down! He knew they needed a baby and he was scared of not being able to provide one, but the reality of having a baby now was strangely shocking all the same.

“It is,” Bucky muttered, still not tearing his eyes away from that little strip, as if absolute concentration on it would make it yield a result any faster.

There was silence as they waited, the doctor realising that Bucky was trying to process and bit back any interruptions, he was glad for it. He knew that no matter what happened until he knew, he was going to continue to be distracted.

Eventually, the doctor picked it up, before holding it across to Bucky. “The bottom line shows the test worked, and the top line… congratulations, your Majesty. You’re with child.”

Bucky stared at it again, feeling his own eyes going wide.

He was pregnant.

Actually pregnant.

Holy shit.

And they’d done it outside of a Heat.

“So, I’m going to give you some information now, and we’re going to get you onto some vitamins and folic acid, ” he said gently and Bucky nodded even as he could hear white noise in his ears and knew his heart was hammering a mile a minute.

Then the doctor was talking about all sorts of things, getting enough rest, keeping as much stress from himself as possible, making sure his husband was on board, how they’d have to do another test in a few minutes to date the pregnancy – how his symptoms were likely mild for now but would worsen when the hormone levels really started changing…

And his head was spinning.

As he placed a hand against his stomach, he knew he needed time to process this and more importantly he had to bring it up with Steve.

*****

Present Day

“Steve?” Bucky asked him quietly, those icy blue eyes glancing at him, full of apprehension and in that moment Steve wanted to move, to wrap him in a hug and help with whatever it was that was bothering him in any way that he could.

“Yeah?” he asked, realising that Bucky wasn’t going to speak without some sort of prompt and he really needed to know what was bothering his husband so that he could at least try and make it better.

“I’m pregnant.”

The phrase dropped heavily between them and Steve felt his own eyes widen, shock going through him.

Hormone treatments. They’d just been talking about hormone treatments and artificial insemination and whatever Bucky might need to get pregnant when they were ready to do it because he hadn’t had a Heat and… he hadn’t had a Heat..

The odds of an Omega getting pregnant with no Heat were… well. Very slim. Had they…?

“You’re what?” he asked, his own voice sounding a little distant even to him, though Bucky flinched at the words and immediately Steve wanted to take them back, to retract them entirely.

“Pregnant, Steve,” he said, gesturing his hand at his stomach, before looking so guilty about it Steve’s heart hurt. “I’m so sorry, I know it’s not what you wanted and I know it’s not what we wanted, not right away after everything else, but uh… it’s happened. And I’ve thought about it, and I think the best thing to do is keep it.”

“When did you find out?” he asked, before another question came to mind. “And is it what you want? Or just the best thing?” He didn't even register Bucky's comment about keeping it, of course they were going to, it was their child. Oh my god they were going to have a child.

Bucky swallowed and glanced at him, wringing his hands in his lap. “Two days ago. I… went to the Palace physicians because I hadn’t had a Heat – I… I needed to check that there was nothing wrong. I mean, I guess there’s not,” he said, pausing. “And does it have to be one or the other? Can it not be both?”

Steve felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Bucky had worried enough to go to the doctors without him. He’d always assumed that when Bucky was ready he’d come to him and they could go together – more than anything else Steve would have wanted to be there. And then he’d found out he was pregnant, and presumably said nothing for two days. It… didn’t add up.

“Two days? Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, not knowing whether he was asking why Bucky hadn’t told him about the appointment at all or the pregnancy itself – perhaps the answer to that was ‘both’. “And it can be but… shit, Buck, we have had a lot, and I know it’s what is expected and all, but the main thing I want is you to be happy.”

“I needed to process. I still haven’t, really, it’s a shock. I…”. Bucky shook his head. “I’m really sorry, Steve. I know this isn’t what you wanted.”

Steve blinked a couple of times. Wasn’t what he wanted? But he did want children – he always had. And he knew without any doubt that if he was having children he wanted to have them with Bucky.

“Buck no – I… wait, weren’t you drinking champagne tonight?” he asked, remembering them both being handed a glass when they walked in to the function they’d just come from.

“Really? That’s your question?” Bucky asked flatly, crossing his arms over his chest which Steve knew was never a good sign. “And it’s very bold of you to think I’d actually drink it. I’m not that selfish, Steve, for all that I’m the King. I walked around with it for a while before I passed it back to a server, if you must know.”

Something like relief blossomed in Steve’s stomach and he looked up. “Buck, I’m sorry,” he said quietly, shaking his head. That possessiveness and protectiveness had been immediate and he couldn’t have stopped it if he tried. Already, he realised, he cared. “I just… it’s a shock. You haven’t had a Heat – and… wow. You’re really pregnant?”

“Yes, I’m really bloody pregnant,” Bucky replied, shaking his head, lips pursed in irritation presumably at Steve’s words. “And I know I haven’t. Which was why I was shocked and I needed some time. Apparently we’re just that goddamn compatible that we’re going to have to be very careful about contraception in the future. Are you happy now?”

Steve couldn’t help it; at that moment he felt a laugh bubbling up in his chest. It was an incredible situation to be in really, he supposed, but then again, what in their relationship couldn’t be categorised in that way? And even hearing Bucky swear and spit with rage, which would normally have him backing all the way down was just so…

“Are you seriously laughing at me?” Bucky asked, eyes flashing with anger now and Steve knew he was on thin ice here, especially if he was dealing with a potentially hormonal Omega but he couldn’t stop.

“No, not at you, Buck – the situation. Shit, only us, you know?” he asked, glancing back up and finding Bucky’s annoyed face melting away a little, the peppery notes of anger to his scent calming slightly with it. “Like, every little thing that seems to happen to us is a one in a million and now this? My god, I was preparing to do anything we needed to make sure you could have that Heir when you wanted, but this? Shit.”

“Wait,” Bucky replied, blinking a couple of times before glancing up hopefully. “Are you trying to tell me you’re happy about this?”

“I mean, if you are, I am. I really really am. God, Buck, I want a family with you. Sure, I’d be happy to wait and enjoy you all to myself for a bit longer, but everything happens for a reason, you know?” he asked quietly, reaching across and taking one of Bucky’s hands, smoothing his thumb across the skin of the knuckles affectionately.

“Well, it’s a bit late for that,” Bucky mumbled, blushing a bit at Steve’s words. “But if you do want to try and enjoy me whilst you have me all to yourself – and I really hope that you do – then you’d best get on with it. You’ve got about eight months.”

Steve had to rein himself back in from grinning like a complete idiot at that and think practically. “Wait, eight months? So we’re super early on, right?”

“Right, which is why I haven’t had many symptoms yet. A little tiredness and nausea I’d put down to being busy and skipping some meals,” he admitted and Steve filed that information away, already knowing he wanted to do anything that would make his Omega’s life easier going forward.

“Which won’t be happening anymore,” he said, referring to the meal skipping. He’d make sure Bucky took breaks from his schedule for those if he had to interrupt every meeting that overran near a mealtime personally. “But wait that also means…”

“Yeah,” Bucky said laughing, clearly watching Steve’s face as he began to smirk.

Their child, the future Heir to the Romanian throne, had been conceived at some point during their vacation. He or she had been made in America… and quite possibly in his parents house. Steve actually liked the idea that it had happened then because it meant his kid definitely still had ties to New York and to Brooklyn specifically. There was something about that idea that was completely perfect.

“Shit, Buck,” he said, laughing again even as he leaned across and messily pressed his lips to his husband’s, the motion lacking any skill or finesse whatsoever. “I love you, and whilst we’re really gonna have to talk about you worrying and not telling me, I want to enjoy this moment. We’re having a baby!”

“We are,” Bucky replied, smiling for the first time in this conversation, his whole demeanour thawing as he did, relaxing into Steve’s side. “Shit, I thought you wouldn’t want this.”

“I’ll never not want this,” Steve promised him, moving and pulling Bucky closer so he could kiss him again. “I want everything with you, I meant that. Holy shit, though.”

“Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction,” Bucky admitted, and then as the tension fully melted away, they were both laughing.

*****

Later that night, Bucky felt lighter than he had in the last two days, longer actually, curling into his husband and pressing some sleepy kisses against his skin and then his lips and then his shoulder again as they got ready to sleep. It was amazing how much easier everything felt without the weight of guilt from a secret weighing heavily on him, even if the weight of impending parenthood was very much still present.

Parenthood.

Holy fuck, that idea still blew his mind. It still took him by surprise some days that he was old enough to be married – not to mention being the King of a whole damn country.

But with Steve by his side, he was sure that they could do this. He trusted Steve – and his happiness at their news was no surprise really, given that Steve had always been the steady one in the entirety of their frankly bizarre relationship and had always seemed to just want Bucky happy and healthy. And he him in return.

There was absolutely no doubt in his mind as he drifted off to sleep that if he was going to do this with anybody, he was beyond grateful that he was doing it with Steve.

*****

The next morning, however, he felt far crabbier as he picked at his breakfast. It just… didn’t look that appetising, and he also had one of those whole-head headaches that could only come from being overtired.

Tearing the end off of a croissant, he popped it into his mouth, chewing it for just a bit too long before swallowing. He didn’t feel like he was going to be sick, exactly, but he certainly didn’t feel too special. It felt honestly like his stomach might revolt at the slightest provocation, so he was going to do his damn best not to go there if at all possible. It was like his nerves from the last few days had been amped up rather than calmed down.

“You okay there?” Steve asked, watching him like a hawk, which he had been doing for the duration of the meal so far.

“Fine,” Bucky replied, sipping at the glass of water that he’d poured for himself. Given how Steve was acting he was very glad that they were taking breakfast alone in their suite this morning rather than in the family dining room with his mother, sister and… whatever Thor was to him these days. “You don’t have to watch me quite this closely, you know.”

“You just… I can’t help it,” Steve admitted, looking just a little chastened.

Bucky sighed then. “Look, this… I’m really early on. Yes, I have to look after myself a little and there are going to be some changes but right now we’re probably in the least certain part of all this. Given how much pressure there’s been and how much interest in… well. In this happening, I’d kind of like to keep it under wraps if we can – at least until I hit twelve weeks because according to the physicians that’s when anything going wrong is less likely. This really can be just for us Steve, at least for now. And I’d like to enjoy that with you,” he said carefully, very deliberately choosing his words.

“I’d like that, too,” Steve admitted, looking just a tiny touch guilty.

“But for that to happen you’re going to need to act like nothing has changed,” Bucky said, forcing another piece of croissant into his mouth before pushing the rest of it away, wrinkling his nose slightly. That really wasn’t sitting well.

It was Steve’s turn to sigh then. “I know, and I’ll honestly do my best, but I just… god, Buck, everything inside of me just wants to take care of you and the little one.”

“Which you’ll be doing if you try and keep this quiet,” Bucky replied, giving him a small smile and gently sipping at his water. He could really do with it being a bit less warm today, he’d decided, and he could do with fresh air and not back-to-back meetings, but unfortunately his schedule was set.

“I’ll try,” Steve promised, and as Bucky glanced over at him he knew instinctively that his husband would, but also that Steve was Steve through and through and the likelihood of him not getting completely overprotective, no matter how annoying it would actually be, was pretty much zero.