Who: Steve Rogers and Wanda What: Steve is pensive When: Sunday morning (backdated) Where: Farmhouse Warnings: None Status: Completed gdoc
Natasha had left after John Grimm had gone home. Steve worried, but not enough to comment on. She was a big girl and could take care of herself. She’d be alright. And his days of poking his nose into his friends’ personal lives were well over with. For now, he had something else on his mind.
Sunday morning, Steve had foregone his usual routine. He preferred to spend it at the farmhouse, watching the sun come up with a good cup of coffee and the newspaper. When he heard stirring in the house he’d go in and help with breakfast. Today, however, he was joined on the porch by a beautiful lady who wasn’t normally awake at this time. Steve smiled as he scooped her into his lap.
Once he heard Wanda in the kitchen he got up, Judith over his shoulder, to go help. “Good morning. I found this on the porch. She didn’t have a collar, but I’m sure she belongs to someone nearby.”
***
Wanda was worried about Natasha and hoped that her break from Madison Valley would help. Getting away had definitely been a good thing for her, though she hadn’t really talked to Bel since they got back. He was a lot of fun to hang out with, but she didn’t have romantic feelings for him.
When she woke up, she headed down to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee and start breakfast. She blinked in surprise when Steve came in from the porch carrying Judith. “What are you doing awake already, young lady?” she asked.
“I woked up!” Judith said. “I dunno.”
Well, that was probably as much of an answer as she could expect from a five year old. “You shouldn’t have gone outside without an adult,” Wanda admonished.
Judith rolled her eyes, giving Wanda a glimpse into her future when the girl was a teenager. “I looked out the window and saw Steve. He’s a grown up.” One that she’d grown fond of since he moved in with them.
“Okay, fine, go upstairs and wash up. I’ll make breakfast.”
After the little girl ran out of the room, she smiled at Steve. “Thank you. She likes you quite a lot.”
***
“No problem,” Steve answered with that smile still in place. “She’s sweet.” And had been cute as a button walking up to him on the porch all sleep hair and nightgown. “You make a great mom.” Steve gave her shoulder a brief squeeze on his way to get some more coffee.
“You got plans for the day?” He didn’t and was looking for something to do. If she had things that needed to be done he would throw his hat in the ring to help out.
***
Being a mom was an unexpected blessing and she was grateful for both Carl and Judith, though it was especially nice being able to provide Judith with the sort of upbringing that she, Pietro, and Carl had all been denied due to the circumstances of their homeworlds. She poured herself a cup of coffee, grateful that Steve already had that taken care of as well, and leaned back against the counter to take a sip.
“I need to write a paper for one of my classes,” Wanda said. “But other than that, no, I don’t have anything planned. Do you?”
***
Steve shook his head. “Nothing. But if you need some quiet I can take Judith to the park.” A thoughtful look settled on his face after he said that, and remained as he took a drink of coffee. This had been in his mind for a little while now, and he wanted input. He’d meant to talk to Nat, but things being the way they were…
“Can I ask you something?” He held up a hand quickly. “It’s not about your personal life. I need your opinion.”
***
“Of course,” Wanda said, shaking her head a little when he immediately clarified it wasn’t about her personal life. She honestly didn’t care if he asked questions about that even if he wasn’t going to like the answers. “What is it?”
She took another sip of coffee and then set the mug down so she could start making pancakes for the household while they talked.
***
He had gotten in so much trouble with the women in his life that he would never again ask personal questions. If they wanted him to know they’d tell him. Meanwhile, he’d just worry and care.
“I’ve been helping everyone out with their kids,” he began. “Carl gave me an idea, and I want to know what you think.” He sighed. “What do you think about me opening a daycare? After or before school place. All day. Whatever.”
***
Wanda turned to look at him, surprised by what he said. On one hand, it was difficult to imagine Captain America as a daycare provider. On the other, she saw how good he was with Judith and Nate and knew that he would be an excellent person to take care of children.
“I think it would suit you quite nicely,” she said. “The children adore you.”
***
“Yeah?” He actually looked a little embarrassed by that judging by the smile that appeared and that he lowered his eyes. “I like working with them. They don’t have any expectations.” And they don’t have any awkward hero worship that he hated so much.
“Now I just need to figure out how to do it.” He shrugged a shoulder. “It isn’t as if I have a lot of money set aside.”
***
The logistics weren’t Wanda’s forte, though she had a few ideas. She focused on mixing up pancake batter while her griddle pan heated up while she shared. “Phil and Darcy may have some good advice,” she said. “They were involved with the opening of the casino from what I recall.” Plus they had been running it for several years, since the Tony and Pepper who opened it left.
“You could also look into using space in the community center,” she added. “That’s the sort of thing that would fit there perfectly.”
***
Steve hadn’t thought of asking Phil or Darcy, but now that Wanda said it, it made sense. He nodded. “They might not be thrilled with having to fill my position at the casino, but Darcy might like having a place for Stephanie.”
He still seemed uncertain, but more confident than he had. “The community center is a good idea, too.” Steve chuckled. “You want to be the office manager?”
***
“I think they will be pleased that you have found something that suits you better,” Wanda said. She didn’t see either of them being petty or selfish about that sort of thing. Plus there were plenty of former cops and superheroes running around town who would like doing security work.
His offer surprised her again and she stopped stirring her batter to think about it. She was taking classes to do social work, but helping run a daycare/school program was not completely unrelated and would probably be more interesting than continuing to work at the Creamery. “I could possibly do that,” she said. “As long as we can work around my classes.”
***
Steve was surprised she agreed. He had been joking, not expecting her to take him up on it. She was definitely qualified, and her choice of career had been in his mind as well. Having someone with a social work background, even if she were a student, would help.
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” he assured her. “And give you time for your homework. Maybe we could find another person to work part time.”
***
The amount of staff they would need would depend on how many kids they ended up with. Wanda figured it would largely be the children of the displaced population since the town folks didn’t tend to trust them. Then again, if they knew it was Captain America, they may be more open to it.
“Well, you should find out about getting space at the community center and then we can go from there,” she suggested.
Judith ran back into the kitchen then and made a beeline to climb up on Steve’s lap. “Pancakes?” she asked hopefully. “And juice?”
Wanda finished spooning batter onto the hot griddle and turned to grin at her daughter. “Pancakes soon,” she said. “But yes, I will get you some juice.”
***
This was beginning to seem like a reality. Steve was both panicked and pleased. Having someone on hand to help him kept the panic to a minimum, however. “Who do I talk to about the community center?”
Then there was suddenly a bundle of energy in his lap again and he grinned. “Want me to get the juice?”
***
Wanda laughed and shook her head. “No, I can pour it before I flip the pancakes,” she said, getting out one of the plastic cups with a lid that were specifically for Judith and Nate and filling it with apple juice.”
As she set the cup in front of them, she considered Steve’s question. “That I do not know. Perhaps you could talk to one of the businesses currently there? Or Darcy might know.” She’d been here longer and, if Wanda remembered correctly, was involved in the fundraising for the center.
***
“My list to pester Darcy with is growing.” Steve chuckled as he gave Judith’s ribs a light tickle. Of course that was before she got the juice. Not only did he not want to make her choke, but he didn’t want apple juice soaked pants, too.
“Thanks, Wanda.” He gave her an honestly grateful smile. “I appreciate it.” He peered around Judith’s head. “What do you say, squirt. Want to go to the park after breakfast?”
***
“Yes yes park park!” Judith chanted, bouncing up and down on his lap. “Pancakes and park!” It sounded like pretty much a perfect day for a five year old.
Honestly, it sounded pretty good to Wanda too, but getting Judith out of the house for a few hours would give her some quiet time to work on her paper and she was grateful that Steve was willing to help out. “Thank you,” she said, moving back to the griddle so she could flip the pancakes.