A/N: Welcome to my fourth fic, and my second for Avengers. It is a sequel to my story All I Can Do For You and is set a little over three years afterward. Right now, I am addressing a major mess up in the final chapter of AICDFY. The announcement at the end was not for Pepper's pregnancy. It was a little reveal that they had been holding back (on a bet between Pepper and Tony) that their baby was to be a boy. Sorry about that. (Btw, Pepper won the bet. She said Tony wouldn't be able to keep it a secret all the way to the birth and Tony thought he could, but he broke. The price was steep, but I think they're both happy.) Anywho, onto the first chapter! Please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers. I only own Alyssa and the kids. And the story. Otherwise, it's all yours Marvel.
Chapter One
In the living room of the Tower, the Avengers all lounged about dozing or reading on the various couches and chairs while the winter wind whistled outside. Jane and Thor sat curled up together, she on his lap and his hands resting gently on her slightly rounded stomach. Both were smiling softly in the gentle light and it created a sweet, glowing picture.
Clint and Natasha, the Hawk and the Widow, shared the couch with the expecting couple, although Natasha was the only one actually on the couch. She drowsed with a red-headed baby girl in her lap and Clint leaning against her legs. Another crimson-haired baby, this one a boy, lay fast asleep in his arms as he dozed. The little girl cooed and gurgled, blowing bubbles and waving her arms up at the ceiling. Her eyes were the same sharp green as her mother's, though her twin brother's were the exact shade of silvery blue as their father's. Both assassins were relaxed and happy, something they hadn't thought possible just a few short years ago. They had a family of their own, and it had made all the difference.
Across the room, Pepper sat quietly on a second couch, Tony's head in her lap and a dark haired boy sleeping on his chest. Her fingers methodically brushed through her husband's thick, soft hair and a soft smile played across her face as she watched him snore quietly. Her small family was safe and happy and it was Christmas Eve. She was content.
Bruce and Cap sat in the two armchairs, reading War and Peace and A Christmas Carol, respectively. Everyone was waiting for a knock at the door, bringing with it a face that they hadn't seen in almost a year. A grandfather clock ticked mutedly beside the low burning fireplace. Pages turned every so often and Natasha shifted slightly. Clint cracked one eye open to check on his wife. Assured of her security, he reached up to touch her face and was rewarded by a slight smile and her hand gripping his comfortingly. He dozed off again.
It was five minutes past midnight and even the insomniac Bruce was drifting off when a gentle ding sounded by the elevator. Instantly, Natasha and Clint were on their feet, followed swiftly by Tony and Steve. Surprised at being swiftly set on the couch or in Jane or Pepper's arms, the two babies began to cry and the boy whimpered. Cap got his wits back first, walking forward as the elevator door opened. A petite, dark-haired girl was revealed, carrying a small bag and pulling a larger suitcase. Cap smiled.
"Alyssa, welcome home. Come on in, we've all been waiting up for you." Smiling softly, but also in a way that gave Steve a sense of sadness, she stepped in and everyone relaxed.
"Merry Christmas, everyone." She murmured, and then the family descended in a whirl of hugs and laughter. And since she had arrived, it was a very Merry Christmas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Time Squiggles Happy 50th Dr. Who!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, at the insistent, silent tugging of young Eric Stark, everyone assembled in the living room for presents. The tired adults sat on the various couches and dozed while Alyssa sat on the floor and aided Eric in his unwrapping efforts.
From his parents, he received a snowsuit patterned to look like an Iron Man suit (the closest thing to an actual suit Pepper would allow), complete with boots and gloves with small 'repulsors' on them. He was more interested in the set of rainbow colored, different sized rubber balls that came in a series of gold-wrapped boxes from Thor and Jane. Halfheartedly, and only when the balls were hidden completely behind the couch, Eric opened a set of picture books from Bruce, two puzzles from the Bartons and then pulled the big red bow off of a small sled patterned after the Captain America shield from Steve.
Finally, at the bottom of the stack, slid under when the child wasn't watching, were a Japanese Avengers coloring book and a box of neatly sharpened crayons. He zeroed in on this last one and set to work coloring in one image of Cap on top of a building with his shield raised. As with many severely autistic children, he became entirely focused on this one task and therefore didn't notice when his mother came down from her perch by her husband and began hugging him and running her fingers through his thick, dark hair. A sad, loving look filled her eyes, but she smiled as a neat little picture came to life beneath his chubby hands. Alyssa retreated, taking Pepper's place beside Tony.
"How's he doing?" She asked softly, taking into note the heavy sigh that came from the millionaire.
"Better, since you saw him last year. He recognizes more people and responds to noise better. He's learned more sign language, and Bruce and Pepper are teaching him to read. They're the only ones who can get him to talk in fact." His voice grew slightly bitter, but he took a deep breath and continued. "He's a smart kid, reading at three years old. The other day, he said his first words to me. He said 'Daddy, I'm sleepy.' And I'm not ashamed to say I almost cried right there." A soft laugh rippled along the line of adults, startling the two babies and setting them to whimpering in the two assassins' arms. The small sounds put a smile on Alyssa's face.
"Twins. How's that working out for you guys?" She asked, a fluid laugh following when simultaneous sighs were their first answer.
"Don't get us wrong, we love them with everything we've got but sometimes…" Clint began.
"…we just wonder how hard Fate is laughing watching us trying to juggle the two little buggers." Natasha finished, affectionately stroking her little girl's face.
"What are their names again? I didn't catch them last night." Alyssa queried, leaning forward and resting her hands on her knees.
"Anya Chantelle and Alek Daniel. Their both your godchildren as well or didn't I mention that?" Clint replied, winking. Alyssa's jaw dropped, pale blue eyes widening.
"Me? Why…? Wha…? I mean…" Everyone laughed, the sound even making Eric tear his eyes from the half-completed picture.
"Why were you chosen? Because I wanted my little girl to have a loving, beautiful young lady to look up to." Natasha said firmly
"And I want my boy to know what kind of strong, honest woman he should try to find when it's his turn to fall in love." Clint added, a gentle smile translating clearly into his softly spoken words. Silvery tears collected in Alyssa's eyes.
"Steve is godfather of Anya and Phil is Alek's godfather." The archer went on, but he stopped when Natasha nudged him. Looking back at Alyssa's face, he saw that her tears weren't from happiness. In fact, although her face was as blank as stone (a bad sign in and of itself), her eyes were filled with pain, sorrow and anger and her hands were clenched.
"No." She choked out. Closing her eyes and standing with her head turned toward the floor so her short hair blocked her face from sight. "No, you've got it all wrong. I don't deserve this. I don't…" She paused, taking a shuddering breath and walking from the room with everyone's shocked eyes following her. The heard her door shut softly and slowly, everyone woke up. Tony glanced around, seeing the same surprised expression on everyone's face. Steve was the first to speak.
"What just happened?" No one knew how to answer him.
A/N: So, is anyone else worried and confused? I even know what's going on and I'm still freaking out! Please review, love you guys, I'll update ASAP. Have a great Thanksgiving!