Chapter Text
"Jamie! Jamie, do not climb on the back of the sofa. Get down now."
"But Mom, I wanna fly! Iron Man can fly, and Falcon. I want to be a superhero."
"Your Dad can't fly. Neither can Uncle Steve. You don't have to fly to be a hero, sweetie. So, come on. We'll get you a snack before Aunt Jane and Uncle Thor get here to pick you up. Did you remember to put pajamas and your toothbrush in your bag?"
"Ugh. Yes, Mom. Uncle Thor can fly."
"Jamie."
Darcy loved Jamie with all her heart, but that boy was going to be the death of her. He'd already broken his arm twice and he wasn't quite 5 years old. Luckily, he had an advanced healing rate and had spent less than a week in a cast each time. Jumping off the back of the sofa could result in another broken arm, which was inconvenient and painful, or it could result in a broken neck, which wasn't likely to heal even with accelerated healing. The joys of living with superheroes and daredevil adrenaline junkies.
Bucky had asked Darcy to get a sitter for Jamie overnight. Usually, a few hours was all they took for date night. Dinner out and a movie, or a concert in the park. Events close by so they were always home early. The pair liked to participate in Jamie's bedtime ritual together; both the storytime and the ten trips to the bathroom to avoid sleeping. Given the change in routine, she was a little nervous. Bucky must have a reason for wanting an extra special date. She just hoped it wasn't the reason she feared. She had a plan for that. It wouldn't do for him to upset it. Well, maybe she could alter her plan if it looked like his date was about the same thing. Maybe he just felt extra romantic. Not everything had to be a big deal that needed a discussion. Right?
Darcy spent extra time getting ready. She used her sweetest smelling bath products. She shaved her legs. It took almost an hour to get her hair just right. Her hand shook too much to get her eyeliner straight. She had reason to be nervous. Luckily, Jane was glad to draw Darcy's lines on for her. The dress she selected was slim-fitting and accentuated her breasts, which were trying valiantly to escape. Finally satisfied with her appearance, Darcy waited in the living room the few minutes it took Bucky to come home from visiting Steve.
Bucky had also dressed up and taken extra care with his hair and beard. He was wearing a beautiful suit with a shirt that complimented his eyes. Darcy was reminded all over again that she had a wonderful, sexy man in her life and that things were as close to perfect as they had ever been. She hoped that wasn't going to change. He presented her with slim glass vase holding one perfect long-stemmed red rosebud, then held his left arm out at an angle for Darcy to slip her right one into. Leaving the rose on the entry table, he escorted her to the elevator as though he had picked her up from her parents' house. His right hand resting on hers at the crook of his left elbow. It was sweet and chivalrous. Given the arm, he was literally her knight in shining armor.
They had a fantastic dinner out at a pretty fancy restaurant with candles on the table and classical music in the air. Bucky had their driver drop them three blocks from home, just so they could walk the rest of the way arm in arm. They took the elevator past their floor and all the way up to the roof of Stark Tower. The night was clear and warm. From this high up, the city smog was thin and the light pollution was diluted enough that they could see a few stars. Darcy was nervous. Bucky seemed to be, too.
"Doll, I know we decided that our relationship was great the way it is. I know we agreed that it didn't need to change to be fulfilling."
Darcy's heart thudded in her chest. He already knew and wanted to talk about it now. She should have known a romantic date was just a ruse after years of dates built around Jamie's schedule.
Bucky didn't seem to notice her panic. He was looking down a bit instead of into her eyes, he didn't see how widely they were opened or the way she was chewing her lip. "But as the years have passed, I can't help but want to make a change."
"Oh. You know, I've been thinking about changes recently, too." Maybe she could be nonchalant about it and he'd not panic.
He took both of her hands in his and finally looked directly into her eyes. His were wide with dilated pupils. She found she couldn't predict what he was going to say. Would he just blurt it out? Was he going to tell her it was a bad thing?
"Darcy, I love you. I love you more than anything. I never want to be without you. Not ever. I want to spend my life with you." Bucky stooped to one knee and produced a tiny velvet box. Oh. Oh! This was not what she was expecting. Her chest tightened. "Will you marry me?"
Of course, she would, yes yes yes. But when she opened her mouth, that isn't what came out.
"Is this a bad time to tell you I'm pregnant?"
They say couples who can laugh together, stay together. They'd probably be together a very long time.