While she had been in the shower, he'd gotten their kitten off the counter and into one of her little hut beds to play with a new toy. Any distraction to keep her from trying to steal their sushi was a good distraction. He changed, too, into comfortable clothes, and walked back to gather up the sushi cartons as he heard her flop onto the couch.

"I'm just sorry the time you took off wasn't as relaxing as you were hoping," he said as he walked to the couch. "I know you wanted to get a lot of the planning done, but I was hoping you'd be able to have time to have a day to just... you know, exist with some ice cream and that book you've been trying to finish since January."

Groaning at the thought of all the planning she’d got done, Jenna waited until Bucky was on the couch with her before she laid over his lap and made herself comfy. “It wasn’t that I wanted the time off too relax, I’m glad I got things done that needed to be done and I know the office will be fine when I get back but I just don’t want to go back.” She pouted, knowing that this whole not wanting to go back wasn’t true, once she got into the swing of things it would be fine.

“I plan on getting that book finished on or around the honeymoon…” she said, as if it was a completely normal statement.

He let her get comfortable, running his hand through her hair to help her relax. "I wanted you to have the time off to relax," he retorted gently. She worked so hard, putting her all into everything she did. He admired that about her so much, but it did worry him sometimes. He'd seen her burn the candle at both ends, and he promised himself, he'd never let that happen. He'd hold the other flame and do whatever he could to help her have time to just be.

"So you're gonna wait even longer to pick it up again?" he asked. He shook his head a little, and continued to play with her hair. "What else can I do to help? Name it, I'll do it."

“We’re getting married baby, there is no relaxing.” She chuckled, humming softly at his fingers in her hair. It was so soothing. “I can relax now they we don’t have anything else to plan or worry about.” It was true, apart from doing life and keeping their kitty alive, she had nothing else to worry about now.

“Even longer, I’ll add it to the pile of books I haven’t finished yet.” Jen teased, rolling so she was now looking up at him, “I love you so much, you know that right? There is nothing else to do… maybe make sure I don’t eat too much chocolate or I won’t fit in the dress.” She chuckled.

"We just have to wait for the day to come now, hmm?" he said, smiling softly down at her. He couldn't wait for that day. He wanted to wake up to the morning of their wedding, with her in his arms, giving her one more kiss before they were separated to get ready. He couldn't wait to see her in her dress, to see her beaming with happiness.

"Mmm... but chocolate... Chocolate's very easy to burn off," he reminded with a wider smile. "You're going to be so beautiful in that dress, I know it."

“Just a waiting game.” She hummed, reaching up to caress his face as she grinned, their wedding day couldn’t come soon enough. Not that she was fussed about the whole wedding thing but officially being his wife was the thing she most looked forward too.

“Stopppp baby.” Jenna giggled, knowing he was right and at least it was a fun exercise. “Oh! I have that shoot next week with the dresses for Vogue… you should stop by!”

While she had been in the shower, he'd gotten their kitten off the counter and into one of her little hut beds to play with a new toy. Any distraction to keep her from trying to steal their sushi was a good distraction. He changed, too, into comfortable clothes, and walked back to gather up the sushi cartons as he heard her flop onto the couch.

"I'm just sorry the time you took off wasn't as relaxing as you were hoping," he said as he walked to the couch. "I know you wanted to get a lot of the planning done, but I was hoping you'd be able to have time to have a day to just... you know, exist with some ice cream and that book you've been trying to finish since January."

Groaning at the thought of all the planning she’d got done, Jenna waited until Bucky was on the couch with her before she laid over his lap and made herself comfy. “It wasn’t that I wanted the time off too relax, I’m glad I got things done that needed to be done and I know the office will be fine when I get back but I just don’t want to go back.” She pouted, knowing that this whole not wanting to go back wasn’t true, once she got into the swing of things it would be fine.

“I plan on getting that book finished on or around the honeymoon…” she said, as if it was a completely normal statement.

He let her get comfortable, running his hand through her hair to help her relax. "I wanted you to have the time off to relax," he retorted gently. She worked so hard, putting her all into everything she did. He admired that about her so much, but it did worry him sometimes. He'd seen her burn the candle at both ends, and he promised himself, he'd never let that happen. He'd hold the other flame and do whatever he could to help her have time to just be.

"So you're gonna wait even longer to pick it up again?" he asked. He shook his head a little, and continued to play with her hair. "What else can I do to help? Name it, I'll do it."

“We’re getting married baby, there is no relaxing.” She chuckled, humming softly at his fingers in her hair. It was so soothing. “I can relax now they we don’t have anything else to plan or worry about.” It was true, apart from doing life and keeping their kitty alive, she had nothing else to worry about now.

“Even longer, I’ll add it to the pile of books I haven’t finished yet.” Jen teased, rolling so she was now looking up at him, “I love you so much, you know that right? There is nothing else to do… maybe make sure I don’t eat too much chocolate or I won’t fit in the dress.” She chuckled.

"Guess we should spoil him with more Lego sets then," she said. She loved that kid so much, thought he was such fun to have whenever he got to stay with them. He was bright and sweet, and honestly the best cuddle buddy for cartoons on a Saturday morning. As Jase looked at the screen, she had a moment of picturing Zan and another little one, sharing snacks while he explained the plot of some show to the other- and his eyes snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked at the screen, a slow smile forming on her face. "So it's half-super soldier instead," she said softly. "... Oh my gosh..."

“Absolutely not, you didn’t see the tantrum when he dropped one and it shattered.” Like he needed any more of a reason than they hurt to step on. And he wasn’t getting into gaming or being an iPad kid anytime soon or at least when he was with them. Jase grinned as he watched the smile appear on his better half’s face, there was no doubt in his mind that they were ready for this and that Zander would be an amazing big brother. “We’re gonna be parents again.”

"Oh honey, you've clearly never made a robot if you think that," she laughed. "Robots are so much more complicated... though I suppose if there is a baby on the way, I'm in the fabrication process. Beep boop beep." She ate another spoonful of ice cream, and leaned on his arm. "Alien baby... Come on, I get lonely when you're away on missions, but I'm loyal." She stuck her tongue out at him a bit, but she was amused. "I'm not sure, honestly... I think if we had planned this, I'd be a lot more... nervous. I won't be disappointed if it's negative, but... if it's positive... I dunno, maybe it's the final nail in the coffin to retire. Return strictly to engineering... Pepper's been wondering if I want to be the new head of Research and Development. Kind of... pick up where my career almost left off before SHIELD fell."

“Babe look at me, do I look like the kind of person that would build a robot.” He laughed, sure he had worked with robots and part robot people before but there was no point in time that he had been interested in anything to do with robots. “Hey you never know what you could have picked up around the office with all the visitors we have now.” It was entirely possible but he also knew it wasn’t, clearly he had been watching too many movie with his son. “That would probably be an easier option than continuing running everything here when we move to the farm.” It wasn’t like he had much say in what she did and he was happy with that, like how Eira wouldn’t stop him from going on missions. “If it’s positive as long as it’s healthy, I’m happy.”

"Oh, so you didn't build that Lego robot set I bought you? I knew it," she teased. "But that whole alien baby thing is the reason I have biometric locks on everything in the Tower now. You know, the first rumor of an alien that I never heard of, wasn't even like Thanos or Nebula- you know who Venom is, right? Real name- or rather, host name- Eddie Brock? They may beat up bad guys, but the whole black alien goop thing gave me too many Doctor Who heebee geebees the first time I heard rumors about it. I even consulted Doctor McCoy- Beast, you know, X-Men- and he helped me make the proper adapters. At least... as proper as we can figure out for now..." She was starting to ramble, a sign that maybe she was more nervous than she'd said earlier. "As long as it's healthy... doesn't matter if it's a mutant- that's still healthy, just... extra." She wondered how the serum in Jase's DNA could affect a baby. His son seemed normal enough, but the X-Gene didn't begin to show until puberty, and she was never going to support any cause that made a test for such a gene. Something like that was far, far too sinister for her comfort, and she was just a regular old human. "Let's just hope the kid doesn't have feet as big as yours," she teased, as the timer on the test went off. She closed her eyes, felt for the proper button on the keyboard, and pressed it. "What's it say?" she asked, her eyes still squeezed shut.

“No I did not but Zan loved it, he thought it was so fun.” Lego was a bit out of his league and Jase wasn’t scared to admit it. Listening to her explanation, Jase knew better than to interrupt because she was clearly nervous and it showed as she rambled on about aliens. “I’m so glad you have all that in place, the last thing we need is more symbiotes running around, Peter has mentioned another few he knows of but that’s way way out of my league, alien goo is crossing the line.” He chuckled, knowing they’d faced worst in the past but still. “Hmm?” He hummed, watching as she pressed the button and closed her eyes. “It is… not an alien!” He teased, leaning down to steal a kiss as the screen lit up with positive. Or the sciencey terminology but it was positive, he knew that much.

“I know,” Jenna said softly as she placed down an extra bag of groceries onto Callum’s kitchen counter. It was a habit she knew she needed to stop but she cared too much to just stop. “But I like helping.” As if that explained it. She knew Cal worked long hours and he wasn’t always the most present when he needed to be sometimes, that was also why when Jenna picked Izzy up from school she asked for extra snacks in the weekly groceries. “Izzy is a great kid, she’s gonna be able to tell every how great her dad is too but you gotta start living your life for something other than her Cal.”

Callum knew all everyone was just trying to do was help. This was out of his comfort zone, being a single dad wasn't something he saw coming. And he knew he was too consumed in his own grief to be the best of fathers right now. It was so fresh and he needed help, Izzy was still young and he wanted to make sure she was okay first and foremost. He sighed, that's all everyone ever said. That he needed to get out there, learn how to live again. But how? "I'm good, she's my focus. Whether or not I'm doing a good job of it, I don't know. But right now she's the only person I want to focus on. Making sure she's okay. I don't know how to live my life. My life has been with Claire for the past eight years. So forgive me for not wanting to rush and have it all change. I'm just trying to get through every day, I know you're trying to help. And I appreciate everything you've done for me and Iz."

“I love that little girl like she’s my own and you know that Cal…” Jenna said before stopping and listening. She knew people were probably telling him it was time to move on, get back out there and date but she knew the Boys and knew it wasn’t that easy for them, they got attached and it was one of their best features. “Callum, I’m not saying forget everything else. Get back out there, take Iz out for dinner, go see a movie together. Show her that life without mum can still be fun and we don’t have to be so sad all the time. Wallow if you need and you’ll have days, god when I lost my dad my Ma was a mess for years and it sucked but it didn’t have to be so hard.” She admitted softly. “Maybe start with milkshakes after school, she would love that. She asks me everyday when I collect her when you’re coming back to get her.”

Although she was frustrated with him, she’d always be so grateful that Ben was hers. Knowing better than to continue and push Ben, Jen relaxed back into her chair and tried to remember to warm up a little as she rubbed her hands together and shoved them in the hoodie pockets. It had been a lovely day but it was getting chilly now that the sun had set.

“But that’s your right as the older sibling, my brother holds it over me and he’s only like an hour older.” She chuckled, smiling at Callum’s words, it was a good thing that could all have this time together now. “How is Izzy going? She still struggling with school or has that all settled down now?”

Callum smiled, he knew if it wasn't for Jenna then he and Ben wouldn't be as close as they were now. It had been a long time since things had been bad between them, but she always had tried to get them together for holidays and birthdays. Made them see eye to eye and realise that family mattered. They couldn't hold grudges.

"She's doing okay." Callum said with a smile, he always worried about his daughter. Although she had been young when her mom had died, it still played on his mind. That it still hurt her and something she battled with. "She's working hard, getting her grades up for college. I got her a few tutor lessons to help because well -- I was never great at school. But she seems to be okay, keep reminding her that all she can do is try her hardest. College isn't the be all and end all, look at Ben. He's done well and never got to finish college."

Jenna just smiled as she heard Callum’s words, these were all things she had been trying to explain to her own daughter. Try your hardest and see what happens, it’s not the end of the world if you fail, you get up dust yourself off and try again. “This sounds like a repeat of everything I keep telling Mae but the reality is Ben and I struggled for so long, even after the kids we’re here and we got somewhere good now but that’s not something we want for our kids.” She said, having had the conversations with Ben about what they were willing to do for the kids and they would help them but not continue to provide, they needed to learn how to do life for themselves.

“I’ll never forget when we found out about Mae and Ben was adamant he was selling the business and starting a new garage so he could provide for us…” Jen just smiled, a hand running her bump as she remembered how hard it had been.

Bruce was used to staying awake until early hours in the morning due to his responsibility as Batman. Sometimes he didn't get to sleep at all. Which was why he didn't have much of a problem calling her at 2 in the morning. Although he realized that in hindsight he shouldn't have done that. Thankfully jenna still seemed to be awake which was good. The man sighed softly as he heard her voice over the phone before clearing his throat at her. "I am serious. Very much so. I shall send you a car in the next few days to pick you up and bring you here. " he responded to her.

Her heart raced when he confirmed that he was serious, this was something she’d been wanting to hear for a long time. “Woah… Bruce…” she said with a little laugh, he always did things a million miles a minute. “I mean I would need more than a few days to pack up my place and get my business adjusted to the change… can I sleep on it?” After all it was midnight and she should have been tucked up in bed by now. “This is a big decision to make at..” looking over at the time which was followed by a yawn, “Midnight… god when did it get so late.”

"Oh honey, you've clearly never made a robot if you think that," she laughed. "Robots are so much more complicated... though I suppose if there is a baby on the way, I'm in the fabrication process. Beep boop beep." She ate another spoonful of ice cream, and leaned on his arm. "Alien baby... Come on, I get lonely when you're away on missions, but I'm loyal." She stuck her tongue out at him a bit, but she was amused. "I'm not sure, honestly... I think if we had planned this, I'd be a lot more... nervous. I won't be disappointed if it's negative, but... if it's positive... I dunno, maybe it's the final nail in the coffin to retire. Return strictly to engineering... Pepper's been wondering if I want to be the new head of Research and Development. Kind of... pick up where my career almost left off before SHIELD fell."

“Babe look at me, do I look like the kind of person that would build a robot.” He laughed, sure he had worked with robots and part robot people before but there was no point in time that he had been interested in anything to do with robots. “Hey you never know what you could have picked up around the office with all the visitors we have now.” It was entirely possible but he also knew it wasn’t, clearly he had been watching too many movie with his son. “That would probably be an easier option than continuing running everything here when we move to the farm.” It wasn’t like he had much say in what she did and he was happy with that, like how Eira wouldn’t stop him from going on missions. “If it’s positive as long as it’s healthy, I’m happy.”

"Okay, fine- I will micro panic. I feel like I already know what it's gonna say, but there's a difference between a 'maybe' and a 'pick wall paint colors', you know?" She pushed the button, and shook out both of her hands. "Phish Food, I need all the processed, comfort sugars I can get right now."

“Are you forgetting that I have already semi raised a decent child… besides who do you think changed all the diapers and did all the late night feeds.” He shrugged, not at all bothered by what he had done for his son. “That’s so basic, like Ben and Jerry’s basic flavour babe.” He teased with a laugh before getting the icecream and spoons and rejoining her.

"And are you forgetting that I have only ever raised robots... and like one kitchen parsley plant that has somehow outlasted all expectation and survived for eight years?" She took the tub from him and her spoon. "That's rich coming from the man who's eating fruit flavored ice cream... At least strawberry is a classic and excusable," she teased. She ate two big scoops in silence before sighing softly. "What are you hoping for? Be honest."

“Babies are kinda like robots I guess, I mean they’ll let you know when you need something and they learn a lot on their own?” He shrugged, it wasn’t anything they couldn’t handle and Eira was a genius after all. “Hey now… there is nothing wrong with chunky monkey, it’s a delicacy.” He laughed, digging into his own tub before looking up with a mouth full of icecream. “A healthy baby? And not some alien baby thing.” He honestly didn’t mind at all. “Why what’re you hoping for?”

While she had been in the shower, he'd gotten their kitten off the counter and into one of her little hut beds to play with a new toy. Any distraction to keep her from trying to steal their sushi was a good distraction. He changed, too, into comfortable clothes, and walked back to gather up the sushi cartons as he heard her flop onto the couch.

"I'm just sorry the time you took off wasn't as relaxing as you were hoping," he said as he walked to the couch. "I know you wanted to get a lot of the planning done, but I was hoping you'd be able to have time to have a day to just... you know, exist with some ice cream and that book you've been trying to finish since January."

Groaning at the thought of all the planning she’d got done, Jenna waited until Bucky was on the couch with her before she laid over his lap and made herself comfy. “It wasn’t that I wanted the time off too relax, I’m glad I got things done that needed to be done and I know the office will be fine when I get back but I just don’t want to go back.” She pouted, knowing that this whole not wanting to go back wasn’t true, once she got into the swing of things it would be fine.

“I plan on getting that book finished on or around the honeymoon…” she said, as if it was a completely normal statement.

Asking Bucky to zip her dress was a slippery slope into a lecture and 20 minutes complain fest but she’d been trying to get the zip for ten minutes alone and it just wasn’t happening. Admitting defeat she walked over the hallway to the bathroom Bucky was getting ready in and asked for help.

“Because you said yes when asked.” She replied to the initial question, after all it was the truth. The last place Jenna wanted to be right now was going to a gala and having to get dressed up when she could have been at home in her pyjamas watching silly movies with her daughter because she started school next year and they wouldn’t be able to continue to do this.

But here she was, glammed up and ready for a night of schmoozing money from the rich to help out various charities Sam had chosen. Pulling her hair to the side, Jenna turned around so it would be easier for Buck to get the zip. The navy blue dress hugging all the right places but this was hardly the place you’d find a suitable husband especially as a single mother.

“Hopefully not needed but… I don’t know women are usually really friendly to each other in the bathroom…” it wasn’t a false narrative but she was hoping for the best. “Stop fussing…” Jenna said before reaching for the tie and starting to do it up so it wasn’t all crumpled or too tight but the perfect shape. “Whats your plan if someone asks for a dance?”

@wxrwounds callum sc

"I'm doing okay, you know that, right?" Callum asked as he noticed his sister in law walking in to the house. He knew sometimes he lied, sometimes he pretended to be fine. Parenting alone wasn't easy, and some days the grief hit him harder than he had been expecting. "Izzy's happy, she's doing well at school, making friends. That's my priority."

“I know,” Jenna said softly as she placed down an extra bag of groceries onto Callum’s kitchen counter. It was a habit she knew she needed to stop but she cared too much to just stop. “But I like helping.” As if that explained it. She knew Cal worked long hours and he wasn’t always the most present when he needed to be sometimes, that was also why when Jenna picked Izzy up from school she asked for extra snacks in the weekly groceries. “Izzy is a great kid, she’s gonna be able to tell every how great her dad is too but you gotta start living your life for something other than her Cal.”

As she was told to stay seated, Jenna huffed and sat herself back down. She knew he was right and that she needed to relax and not worry about every little thing but it was just easier to do the things while she thought of them before baby brain took over and she forgot. “Benjamin…” she pouted, wanting nothing more than to just retreat into her bedroom and get all cozy for the night. “Alright, thank you baby.” She grinned, turning her attention to Callum with a small smile.

“He doesn’t mean all that but I’m sure Ax would love for you to join them in the fort together.” Jen hummed, knowing he would think it was the best thing ever if all the boys were hanging out and watching movies. Watching as Ben walked away, Jenna shook her head. “He misses you when you’re away for ages but he’ll never admit to it.”

Ben gave her a look as though to say 'don't even' when she was scolding him for making her stop. He didn't want her pushing herself too far, he wanted to be able to do things for her and let her rest. He kissed the top of her hair before heading upstairs to tell the girls to get ready for bed. He knew it would be a nice night, the boys in their fort watching movies.

He loved having time with Axel, he wanted to savour it before the baby arrived and their focus was taken from their teenagers. Callum looked at his sister in law as she spoke, a small smile on his lips. "I know he does, deep down. Thankfully none of us have to be apart for long any more. I know even after all these years he still sees me as the annoying big brother, that'll never change."

Although she was frustrated with him, she’d always be so grateful that Ben was hers. Knowing better than to continue and push Ben, Jen relaxed back into her chair and tried to remember to warm up a little as she rubbed her hands together and shoved them in the hoodie pockets. It had been a lovely day but it was getting chilly now that the sun had set.

“But that’s your right as the older sibling, my brother holds it over me and he’s only like an hour older.” She chuckled, smiling at Callum’s words, it was a good thing that could all have this time together now. “How is Izzy going? She still struggling with school or has that all settled down now?”

Jenna never knew what to advise Ben with these situations, her own family dynamic was weird but it was never this complicated. “Baby, you’re allowed to voice your opinions.” She reminded, knowing it probably took a little strain off that she was helping with the party, after all it wasn’t what you knew but who you knew that got doors and clubs opened. “But you know that one day they’ll realise how much you’ve done for them right? Sure Callum provides them with a good time but you’ve raised them and put a roof over their heads.” This wasn’t new news, they all knew this but Jenna wanted to remind him.

Ben never knew if he was being petty, if he was being the typical middle child right now. Being annoyed at her older brother, wondering if that jealousy would ever go away. All his life he felt as though he was living in Callum's shadow. He didn't want to upset his sisters, to risk pushing them away even more. "Maybe they will." He said with a small sigh leaving his lips, they were still young. They wanted to have fun, and that's what Callum brought to the table. It was only when you got older you realised what people had done for you, that you process that they had done whatever it takes to keep you happy and alive. He worked his ass to the ground to make sure they had the things they wanted, school trips, small vacations, the chance of going to college. "I don't know, teenagers are tough. I didn't understand them when I was one, don't understand them now. At least they have you, they adore you."

“One day and it’ll be when you least expect it.” Jenna said softly before she moved closer to Ben and forced him into a hug. Jenna never knew sibling rivalry like this, her twin brother and her were never really compared like Callum and Ben had been. “Baby, they’re not teenagers anymore, they’re legally adults now.” She reminded before nodding. “They’re like the little sisters I never had and I love them, which is why I know they’ll be able to see all you do for them soon.” She promised, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheeks. “Do you need anymore help planning anything for the party?”