Paintings

                                    

                                          
Dinner with their friends had come much sooner than either Bucky or Allie were prepared for. It seemed that they blinked and it was the night of the dinner. Steve had been the first one to the apartment with Peter and May following closely behind. Sam had been the last to arrive and quickly grinned at the two wishing them each a happy birthday.
                          
The dinner started with simple chatting, the group talking about different things that were going on in their lives. Sam talked briefly about working with the Air Force again, May talked about a group she was volunteering with, Peter told everyone how he was starting his project for a science fair, and Steve was casual about his retired lifestyle.
                          
It wasn't until dessert that Allie and Bucky began to bring in phone screens to call up Dugan and Gabe that their guests realized that there was more to the evening than just a simple "Happy Birthday".  As Dugan and Gabe's faces appeared on the screens and Allie smiled with pride that she was becoming better at using modern technology, Sam and May raised their brows.
                          
"Alright," Allie sighed. "So, um, Bucky and I have an announcement."
                          
"Oh? Is it something good?" May asked hopefully.
                          
Dugan and Gabe were both squinting their eyes into their screens as they looked at Allie. Allie had dress differently than normal. Clad in one of Bucky's sweatshirts they had purchased during the winter in order to hide her bump, Allie refrained from resting her hands anywhere close to her stomach.
                          
"She's not upset so it must be good," Sam grinned.
                          
Peter and Steve simply stayed silent as the others speculated the nature of the news. Allie and Bucky looked at each other with slight smiles before looking back to their friends that were there in person and present on their screens.
                          
"Yes. It's a good announcement," Bucky rolled his eyes with a grin.

"Well, there's no way you're having a baby," Sam rolled his eyes with a cheeky grin of his own.
                          
A pause settled in the room as Bucky and Allie began to have growing smiles and it was almost as if lightbulbs had brightened above each person's head. Each turned to look at Allie, waiting to learn if it was the news or if they were being messed with.
                          
"We're having a baby," Allie confirmed and the faces in the room lit up as Sam's jaw dropped.
                          
"Barnes! You did know where the parts went," Dugan weakly said over his screen.
                          
"Hey!" Allie looked on in horror. "Not only is my brother in the room but there is a child present!"
                          
"I'm not a child," Peter argued.
                          
"Until you're eighteen you are," Allie looked over and May stifled a small laugh.
                          
"I'm happy for you," Dugan said before he began to cough. 
                          
Quickly being aided by his grandchild, Allie tried to not show her worry as Bucky's hand subtly found it's way to hers, squeezing it. The Dugan she had remembered was still big and strong. She hated seeing him weak and sick. 
                          
"That's great news you two," Gabe was heard on the other screen.
                          
"That's wonderful," May smiled as she looked over at Peter. Sitting with a content grin now that the others knew, May noticed that he hadn't had a strong reaction. Raising her brow at him, her mouth parted slightly. "Aren't you excited?"