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- I'm sorry, sir, we're out of cinnamon rolls.
Disappointment. That's the first thing he feels upon hearing those words come from the young barista on the other side of the counter, a Beta who quickly offers him other options such as apple or sugar doughnuts or raspberry pancakes. Disappointment followed by an almost overwhelming urge to burst into tears right there, in the middle of the café. But he doesn’t, and instead takes a deep breath before exhaling just as deeply, pointing to the raspberry pancakes with a simple wave of his hand. He can’t just start crying because he didn’t get his cinnamon roll, that’s ridiculous. He’s an adult, and as silly as it may be, adults are supposed to be mature enough to control their emotions. Mature enough to admit that the complete absence of cinnamon rolls at their favorite café wasn’t a good enough reason to break down in tears at the counter, even as the line began to grow behind him.
Bucky is an adult, sure, but he’s also an Omega enjoying one of his first solo outings after days of recuperation following a long and difficult birth, his emotions were constantly on a rollercoaster, and the slightest annoyance - like today - made him want to burst into tears, so showing even a shred of maturity over something so trivial was the last thing he was capable of. If the super soldier is brave enough to pay for his decaf coffee and pancakes or go home without breaking down in the middle of the street, he certainly isn’t brave enough to resist when his gaze falls on Steve, who is busy reading a book on the ground next to the bassinet in which Erin is sleeping soundly.
- Bucky ? Are you okay ?
He's ridiculous to cry over such a small thing, Bucky knows that, but he can’t help himself. He can’t stop himself from starting to cry, holding the paper bag containing a cup of decaf coffee that’s already cold and some raspberry pancakes he didn’t feel the slightest bit like eating. After making sure their little girl was safe in her bassinet, his husband stands up to take the paper bag from his hands, setting it on the nearby cabinet before hugging him, his body pressing against his. Steve remained silent, letting him sob like a silly child while stroking his hair. That was all he could do for now, aware that Bucky needed to let it all out before he could explain himself.
- There were no more cinnamon rolls…, Bucky finally managed to say several long minutes later. Steve’s hand in his hair stops stroking it, and he hears his husband start to laugh before stopping when the former Winter Soldier gives him a little tap on the chest with his metal hand. He’s ridiculous to cry over something so ridiculous, he knows that, but Steve has no right to laugh at him ! Ever !
- I'm truly sorry I laughed, honey, Steve assures him, though Bucky can still detect a faint hint of amusement in his voice. If Steve keeps making fun of him, he'll never have sex with him again. Anyway, it had been weeks since the two of them had sex so... And for good reasons, whispered that tiny, still-rational part of his brain - reasons like his childbirth and the six-week postpartum period - but Bucky was far too desperate for a good cinammon roll to pay it any attention.
- I hate you… I'm literally the mother of your child, don't make fun of me...
- No, you don’t. And you certainly won’t if I make you some homemade cinnamon rolls.
Bucky slowly looked up at his husband, using the sleeve of his long-sleeved sweater to wipe his cheeks. He had lied, he didn’t hate Steve. He couldn’t hate Steve. How could he hate his husband and Alpha when Steve put up with his stupid mood swings, encouraged him to get out of the house for some fresh air or to buy a caramel coffee around the corner, or even offered to cook for him ? His husband’s lips brushed against his temple to kiss him before gently pushing him toward the bassinet where their daughter was still asleep.
Erin was truly the most adorable baby in the whole world ! This time, Bucky wasn’t ashamed to start crying again as he watched his little girl sleeping peacefully and snugly in her pale blue romper, stroking her tiny hands with his own. In her sleep, Erin’s little fingers clench tightly around his thumb and the Omega holds his breath, still as amazed as ever to know that this adorable baby was proof of all the love he and Steve could have for each other ! Steve was humming in the kitchen, already busy following a recipe he’d probably found on some cooking website. Steve, who comes to bring him a cup of hot coffee with an almost indecent amount of caramel before returning to his stove to leave him purring with pleasure as he savours the delicious nectar, caffeinated this time. And when Bucky once again feels tears welling up in his eyes as he finally bites into a cinnamon roll that looks as perfect as it tastes nearly two hours later, Steve is kind enough not to say a word.