Most of the characters in this story belong to Marvel Comics and whoever else has current legal ownership of Iron Man and not to me, even in my wildest dreams. No infringement on anyone's rights is intended in any way. This story is not being written for profit.
This story was written for all of you who wanted a sequel to my story "The Sense of Touch". I sincerely appreciated your kind words and encouragement and I hope that you enjoy this story. :)
His eyes opened, suddenly wide awake as he became aware of an eerie silver light flooding their bedroom. He sighed with relief as he realized that the source was just the light from the full moon now rising above the mountain tops. He looked at the time: 3:22AM. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on going back to sleep. His arms gently pulled the woman beside him a little closer and he felt her move fitfully in her sleep. He turned his head back to her and nuzzled her neck tenderly.
"Shhhh Baby Mama" he whispered into her skin "I love you." He felt her squirm one more time as she repositioned her legs with his, raising one hip up slightly trying to get comfortable as she lay on her side. He spooned up against her back and his left hand began to stroke her belly soothingly. He moved his right hand out from under their pillow to gently brush her hair back from her forehead. He heard her sigh softly as she stilled once more.
Thirty six weeks and one day. That's how long they had been man and wife. And if their calculations were correct thirty six weeks and one day is exactly how long she has been pregnant. He smiled to himself recalling their wedding night. He could now feel the twins moving under his left hand, and he knew that their movements had probably caused his wife's restlessness. Since the very first time he felt them move under his hands months ago, he always had a sense of wonderment every time he felt those tiny arms and legs so busy under his touch. It was simply amazing. Although he would never confess it to anyone except his wife of course, he had cried the first time he felt them move. Up until that moment, it just didn't seem real to him that he was going to be a father. When he was younger he had never in his life wanted to be a father. But that changed the day he met one Pepper Potts.
"Stark Babies" he whispered, his voice low and soothing as he continued stroking her swollen belly gently "let your Mamma rest." He was positive that his unborn children could feel his hand and hear his voice. After all, he and Jarvis had done the research and found supporting documentation confirming this. He smiled as the babies seemed to settle back down to sleep again. He was hoping that they would mind as well after they were born.
Pepper had been restless the past two days. She had insisted on cleaning the entire house. This housekeeping frenzy of hers made no sense at all to Tony, who continued to fuss at her as he and Happy followed her about the house trying to stay one step of ahead of her in her self imposed whirlwind of activity.
While they were dusting off the fire place mantel in the living room, Tony noticed that her baby bump had moved lower on her body from earlier that day. "Does it feel like the babies have moved, Pepper?" he had asked her. "Because your baby bump sure looks like it has moved lower on your body."
Pepper stood up straight and took a deep breath. "Definitely." She replied looking at him with a small smile on her face "I am having a much easier time breathing now." And with that she walked/waddled quickly into the next room to be cleaned with Tony and Happy right on her heels.
Her grandmother, Charlotte insisted that this sudden burst of energy meant Pepper would go into labor soon. She had called it the 'nesting instinct'. Charlotte had also remarked that the full moon would also help labor get started too. Tony tried not to get too excited. Pepper's grandmother did have a lot of practical experience not only from having children of her own but also from being a midwife for the birth of 62 other children throughout the years. She was a licensed midwife and a member of the Arizona Association of Midwives. Pepper's OB Gyn, Dr. Karen Summers, who was Pepper's roommate from their freshman year in college and lifelong friend also sponsored the midwives of northern Arizona and provided free of charge assistance to them. Dr. Summer's birthing center was part of the support network for the midwives, assisting women who had complications in childbirth. Pepper believed she was in very capable hands and Tony, of course, trusted her judgment implicitly.