Epilogue:
Bruce paced back and forth outside the hut, desperately trying to keep his heart rate at a safe level. His anxiety was through the roof and there wasn't much he could do to remedy it. Growing more frustrated with himself, he sat down beneath a tree, leaning his head back against the bark with his eyes closed, taking deep breaths.
It had been nearly two hours since he had rushed Ari to the doctor's home, only to be shut out moments later. It was too early. They weren't expecting their child for another month, but he/she had other plans. And this worried Bruce even more.
He clenched his fists, breathing deeply. He wasn't going to lose it. Not today. Not when Ari needed him.
Bruce opened his eyes, looking up suddenly at the feeling of a hand on his shoulder. A kind, old face stared back at him with a gap-toothed grin, nodding at him. The woman held her hand out to him, her silvery hair falling over her eyes. Bruce could hardly contain his excitement as he hopped up to his feet, grasping the old woman's hand and squeezing it gently in thanks.
Without a word, he ran over to the hut. The same hut he had sat outside of for weeks as Ari healed from her injuries. At the time, he could barely stand to go inside. Yes, he was a scientist, a doctor, but when it came to the people he cared about, he couldn't stand to look. Especially when he was the one at fault.
Bruce paused just outside the door, swallowing the lump in his throat as anxiety began to set in. The wrinkled, old woman was at his side once again, beckoning him to go inside. He inhaled deeply, calming himself, before stepping into the dim lighting of the hut.
He stopped in his tracks, staring straight ahead at the cot, the same one that Ari had laid on seventh months earlier. This time, however, there was someone accompanying her. Bruce watched intently as Ari looked down at the baby, his child, rocking the bundle gently.
"Are you just gonna stand there all day?" Ari asked with a smile, never taking her eyes off the baby.
With a soft exhale, Bruce stepped closer to the cot, kneeling down on the dirt floor beside it. He peered over Ari's shoulder as she carefully pushed the stained, grey blanket away from the little one's face. "Boy or girl?" He found himself asking quietly.
"A girl." Ari glanced up at him, smiling brightly.
The doctor side of him finally kicked in. "And she's okay? Even though she's premature?" The last thing he wanted was to lose his daughter so soon after she was born.
"As long as we keep a close eye on her," Ari replied. "Which I don't think will be a problem." She returned her gaze to the little girl in her arms.
"She's beautiful. Just like her mother." Bruce couldn't help but to smile at the scoff that had escaped from Ari's lips at the clichéd line. "I don't suppose you've named her yet, have you?"
"Hannah Carter Banner," she replied almost instantly. "Hannah because we had discussed it. Carter for Steve."
"Martin."
Ari furrowed her brows at him in confusion. "What?"
Bruce bit his lip, as if his coming words pained him. "Hannah Carter Martin. It's too dangerous for her to go by my name."
"Bruce..." She sighed softly to herself. "You're her father."
"I'm not willing to risk it. I don't ever want to feel like I'm going to lose you, either of you, ever again. It would kill me. She needs to go by your name. I have to keep my girls safe." Bruce gently placed his hand over hers, giving it a light squeeze.
Ari gave him a small, understanding smile. "Do you want to hold her?" She carefully held the small bundle out to Bruce, making sure he held her securely before letting go.
Bruce could do nothing but stare at the baby in his arms in complete awe. Little Hannah was a part of him, always would be. He grinned at her as she slept, Ari watching them intently, nothing but her love for the two of them in her eyes.
"There's one more thing." Ari said as she fiddled with the hem of her blanket.
He looked up at her. What else could there possibly be? He was holding his newborn daughter in his arms, his little miracle, it couldn't get any better than that. "What is it?"
This time, it was Ari's turn to bite her lip, for a completely different reason. "She has wings."
Well, that concludes the story of Bruce and Ari. It took a long time to get here, but I'm glad that it's finally done. (Although, I do apologize for the lack of updates.) I'd like to thank my friend, winggirl6577, for helping me choose a name for their little girl. And, of course, I'd like to thank those of you who stuck with theses two love birds until the end (nope, did NOT just steal that from HP). If you have any questions, feel free to message me or, of course, leave a review. Both would be greatly appreciated. Now, on to finishing my other fics.
