Eating with children is a rather new experience for Steve. And although awkward at times, it's not really unpleasant to have someone ask silly little questions that seemingly come out of nowhere, to then marvel wide eyed at the simple truths him or his partner would tell the kids. After they're done, Steve hopes to have some time to sit Bucks down for a chat, but instead, the little ones demand to play a game. "At least one thing, play one thing with us!“, the boy begs and the girl adds: "You were gone so long, we missed you! And then you stayed away another day, when we thought you'd come back. At least play one game with us, Daddy.“

Cap doesn't dare to argue, that they themselves had said they played with Sharon already, and that his friend most likely also entertained them during his nap. A nap within a dream. So instead, not wanting to take chances, Steve opts: "Alright, but only one quick round, and something very simple, I'm really tired. Something like Memory, how about that?“ Interesting enough, the kids eyes light up, and they both jump up to be the first to get the game from a shelf located on the wall joining the stairs, next to the scratching post. They return with a bright orange box, with purple and green letters spelling out: 'Family memory'.

It looks very artistic, and Steve likes the design. Bucky and Roya mix the plates, whose background is plastered with the same image, then Steve and Kheial spread the cards on the table, making ten by ten rows. And then they start playing. Steve luckily catches on quickly that it's not a game between the four of them, but more like a playful duel between the kids, with him and Bucks being their respective cheat code to help them remember where a piece might be lying. So far the pictures were pretty ordinary, some photographs, others sketches and drawings, in the same art style as before. But then Steve turns over a plate, revealing a picture of Bucky, reading a book.

"It's Babbi reading bedtime stories!“, Kheial grins amused, and Steve notices, that all the other pictures had prompted the kids to say something like that too. Not call it 'blue and red egg', but 'eggs from the Easter bunny', not just 'duck', but 'duck from the park lake', and not 'washing machine' but in a rhyme 'washing machine, that makes the clothes clean'. Always something more explicit, as if they spoke of something personal. Like the drawing of the tea in a cup, that Roya had called: "Chamomile tea against tummy ache.“ Familiar memories, if you will. 'It must be a game you can buy personalized.', Steve thinks touched, especially when the next, non-matching tile he turns over, shows himself with his sketchbook, and Roya squeaks: "And that's Daddy drawing some doodles!“

The game keeps him a little on edge, as each new tile bears the possibility of showing him or someone else from the table, and sure enough there are some more, like Roya sitting on a seesaw 'that you need someone else to play with', Kheial wearing some red and orange lizard costume as 'Charmander, the fire Pokémon', whatever that was, himself sitting on the other motorcycle 'riding a bike, always with a helmet'. And then one that is half covered by a drawn outline of a heart, framing his and Bucky's face. "Kissing! Because you love each other so much!“, Kheial squeals in delight, and Steve for the first time asks himself, what kind of culture clash it must have been for these two, to come from a conservative, religious country, and then get adopted by an openly gay couple.

He wonders if they had needed to adapt to it. And then tries to shake the feeling, as he's just wasting time, pondering over the struggles of imaginary children. Luckily Roya does him the favor of finding the second tile right away, sparing him the humiliation of having to see him making out with his best friend over and over again. To his relief, that is the cringyest picture the deck holds, and they are soon done playing, him and Kheial winning by a hair, with only two pictures more than Roya and Bucky. And since the children have both yawned more than once in the last few minutes, their Babbi is able to go and bring them up into bed without much protest. He only asks his spouse to: "Make sure to start the dishwasher and bring out the garbage, or else the dogs will try to raid it again in the night!“

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So Steve retreats into the kitchen. Once more marveling at the practical, yet homely order that he felt comfortable in right away. Cleans up, and does as he's told, although it takes him some figuring out to start the machine with the right program. And then looking around the kitchen with curiosity, gets to know the different shelves, cupboards and electrical devices, a bit sad at never having to use them. When he comes across the trash bags, he shrugs and empties the containers to put in new ones, as ordered.

He also collects all the now mostly empty pizza boxes, a little uneased at the slices the children left over. Now cold and having some bites taken out of them, they don't look that appealing anymore, but it still irks him to throw out food. He considers eating them, but he's feeling full. Wonders if he should give in to the Saint Bernhardt, following him around, still trying to beg for the leftovers. But ultimately decides, that it doesn't matter anyways, so he just grabs everything, including the smelly garbage bags from the kitchen, and makes a move to go outside.

He's able to stop himself just before opening the door, remembering that he'll need a key to get back in. Not that it matters much, but still. So he scouts for, and finds some keys, hanging on a few pegs behind the door, left of the wardrobe. Trying them out one by one, until he finds one that he can lock the door with. Satisfied, he unlocks it again, pockets the key and finally goes out, into a breezy suburban night. He hears some crickets singing, and the faint buzz of traffic on the highway. But apart from that, they seem to live in a quiet neighborhood. He takes out the trash, hoping that it wont attract raccoons that will raid the outside cans, instead of their canines rummaging in the ones in the kitchen.

Then he returns inside, and stops to stand in the hall, a bit unsure, and also puzzled by the dogs sitting right at the entrance of the right side room that he hasn't explored yet, as if waiting for something. And then he almost shrieks, and the dogs scurry away, while the chubby beige cat makes a run for it up the stairs, as a loud and shrill alarm goes off. Cap's standing in shock, covering his ears and tries to figure out what's happening. Then he hears his friend running upstairs, and once in view, the White Wolf leaps down to his level with just one jump, cursing: "Dammit Steve, what are you doing? Do you want to wake the whole neighborhood?“ He hurries to get past him, to stand in front of the organized key pegs, and press a part of the wall above them. A compartment opens, showing a digital display, which Bucky swiftly taps something on, making the noise stop.

Then, typing some more, only to close the hidden compartment again, he turns to Cap and hisses angry: "What the hell, Steve? Why do you set the alarm, and then don't shut it off again, if you needed to go outside?“ "Ugh, I... I just forgot, I'm sorry!“, Steve stammers, as he feels himself getting riled up at Bucks annoyed frown. But then the kids appear at the top of the stairs, Kheial hugging his sister tightly, and Roya asking scared: "Did something bad happen? Do we need to hide?“ "No, no everything is fine, dear!“, Bucks quickly assures the two with a kind smile, "Daddy just forgot the alarm, that's all.“ The kids relax a little, but the girl then demands just as worried: "Babbi? Are you and Daddy fighting?“ Steve raises his brows, and his friend seems surprised too, asking: "Oh, nonsense! Why do you think so?“

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Roya looks from Cap to Bucks and notices: "But you're angry at him. And he's been so quiet all day. And you didn't even kiss or cuddle each other, since you came home!“ Steve gulps, afraid his partner might want to assure the children of their ongoing love, by giving him a passionate kiss in front of them. But instead he gestures and calls them over: "Oh sweety, come here! Come here my lil nugget.“, and as the kids rush to come to them, he kneels down anew, nodding at Steve to do the same, who sheepishly complies.

And he mimics him, when his friend puts one arm around him and one around the two little ones in their colorful pajamas, looking at them anxiously, as he reassures them: "Daddy is just a bit tired. It was a long and dangerous mission. But we're both very happy to be back and see you again. And you can be sure, everything is alright, we love you, and we'll protect you, and that's all you need to know, okay?“ Then he kisses both kids on the forehead. Steve wants to contribute something, and thus thinks of a gesture, following Bucky's example, but rubbing in the kiss, by drawing a little cross on the skin with his thumb. Bucks smiles and explains to them: "See, we both love you! And Jesus and Allah will love and protect you too!“

Steve is a bit unsettled at this last statement, but seeing the kids relax and smile back at him, he feels somewhat relieved. Then his friend and him get back up, but Bucks bends down again right away, picking up both children to carry up the stairs, saying: "Now come along, let me finish the story, and then you go to sleep, agreed?“ "Okay, Babbi.“, the little boy responds, clearly tired. Steve is left behind, once more surprised at how real everything feels. And how much that hurts. He tries to keep himself occupied, biding his time until Bucks hopefully calmed down again, and was ready to listen to his own bedtime story, even if it didn't have a happy ending.

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Cap explores the last room on the ground level, which seems to be the living room, containing the couch he had seen them all sit on in the portrait upstairs, with two doors under the staircase, one leading to a small bathroom and another showing steps leading into a cellar. The dogs follow him around, as if waiting for something, and when he turns to look back into the hall, tails the Pomeranian, eagerly scampering ahead to sit before the wardrobe. Steve opens it, and takes a look at the different coats, jackets, gloves, capes, caps and other accessories for going outside, tailored either to the two men, or more colorful, to the kids. Then he sees the dog leashes hanging on the inside of the door, just as Bucks comes back down asking: "Alright, they should be sleeping fine now. Are you ready to go for a walk?“

The dogs seem to wish to answer with a yes, the little one holding back another yipping attack, and the older wheezing a bit. "Ah, sure, yes. Fresh air'll do me good.“, Steve decides, hoping this could be his chance. Bucks gives him a little smile and then moves to the cupboard, opening it to get their shoes. Steve had wondered what happened to his, when he woke up without them, finding instead a pair of galoshes next to the bed. So he changes his footwear, taking a bit longer than his friend, who already takes out two of the leashes, attaching one to each of the dogs collars, before handing him one of those retracting lines that the Pomeranian is already stretching, nervously pacing up and down in front of the door.

"Okay, now make sure Pikachu wont re-enact Charlotte's web in a hedge somewhere, Sharon told me he started chasing after squirrels. But I guess the kids just didn't power him out like they should.“, Bucky informs him kindly, opening the door, "We'll just meet up at the usual.“ He hardly said it, when the little black and white canine already scampers outside, stretching the leash, jumping through a gap in the gate. Steve tries to run after him, gripping the handle tighter, yelling: "Hey, wait! Stop! Sit!“ He hurries to get to the iron doors, where he has to untangle the leash already, before quickly running down the street after the dog, that seems to need a marathon, more than just a little walk. He keeps trying to call it back, humiliated by having to evade a few pedestrians, most of which greet him and the dog like old acquaintances, and laugh at his ridiculous struggle to keep the tiny beast in check.

The disobedient mutt hardly ever slows down, not when it quickly raises its leg to pee on a tree or a lamp post, nor when they enter a park, where the orange lights give the vegetation an eerie glow. But then Steve hears a short whistle and Pikachu stops where he stands, just happily wagging his tail. Though Cap isn't really out of breath, it feels good to get a break, so he just stands there waiting, as he hears Bucks and Albert jogging up to meet them. Yet even before they are at level with each other, his friend smiles lascivious, saying: "Alright, now for the real deal... Try and catch me! Last one at the railway bridge has to he the bottom!“, to then dash off, down a path to his left.

Steve's surprised to see the old dog keep pace, but the Pomeranian quickly follows, so he also starts running again. He understands that it's supposed to be a friendly race, a tease between a couple, but it still makes him shiver, as he knows what Bucky is implying. Yet he also likes a challenge. So Steve actually goes for it, making long strides, closing in on, and passing his old friend, and once he can see some concrete structure in the distance, he picks up the pace even more, starting to wear on the small dog. It actually feels quiet good, running through the night like this, when he knows where he is going. And racing his friend, just like they used to do as kids, when Bucks would push him to his limit and beyond, trying to keep him fit, training his lungs, and giving him some pride, when he let him win. Sometimes it even felt real to him, as if he'd be able to outrun someone as fit as Bucky.

He gets that they are leaving the official part of the park, when he sees the remains of a chain link fence lying on the ground, a few yards away from where a graffiti covered wall is rising into the sky, to support a steal beam structure of rails, running overhead. Steve hurries to run up to the bridge, tense, but also a little proud over winning the race, and stretching his arm slaps against the concrete, yelling: "First!“, sliding to a halt. The tiny dog that tried to keep up with him, is still following on the stretched leash, panting exhausted, but wagging its little tail relentless. And so Steve grins a little embarrassed, when Bucks and Albert finally catch up with them, his friend complaining: "Couldn't you two youngsters at least pretend us old farts had a chance against you?“, and the Saint Bernhardt wheezing, its long tongue hanging out of its mouth like a stocking.

"Um, sorry. But you did challenge me!“, Steve tries to excuse, before telling himself, that he has no reason to do so. Yet Bucks just takes the leash of him, and making both dogs lose, only smirks: "Well, guess we know who's topping tonight!“ Steve's smile drops, but he tries to contain himself. He wants to speak up to tell Bucky about their problem, about the dream world they are in, but just then a train carrying a lot of containers and tanks is passing overhead, screeching and rumbling so loud Steve can barely hear the short whistles his friend makes to give the dogs commandos, who seem to be a bit irritated, but otherwise ignore the noise and just obey their master.

So Rogers observes and leans on the wall, even after the train has passed and Barnes lets the two pets play by themselves. Still unsure, he clears his throat. "Ugh, hm. Say Bucks? There is something I need to talk to you about!“ His friend is half facing away from him, and calls the animals back: "Albert! Pikachu, here! Well, then do it!? What are you waiting for?“ Cap is still lost at how to start, knowing it wont be easy to convince his friend, least of all if he isn't paying attention, so he demands: "It's not that easy. Can you come here for a minute?“

Then he witnesses bewildered, how Bucks gives the Saint Bernhardt the elastic leash to hold in its mouth, and the Pomeranian the short leather one of the old dog. Bucks asks: "Do you wanna go home?“ "No, I really...“, Steve starts, but his friend shushes him: "I'm not talking to you! Remember, we're still training them!“ Cap wants to complain, when Bucks loudly repeats: "You wanna go home? Okay, go home! Home!“, pointing to where they came from, and suddenly both dogs dash off, carrying each others leash. It confuses Steve and he can't really sort his thoughts, as another train passes overhead, making the dim light coming from above flicker once more.

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