A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for the wait. I do have one thing to ask of you, please review adn tell me what you think of this chapter and which story you'd like to see first: a sequel focusing on the kids (with firsts from the other kids that we didn't see and other moments), or a prequel focusing on the first year of Steve and Amy's realtionship, including moments we haven't seen in the story. My author's note from the last chapter has a few more details on the prequel/sequel. Thanks and enjoy :D
The kids had gone to bed early, excited for the prospect of snow the next morning. The ten adults remained awake for most of the night, sharing the couches and floor space, watching the news for updates on the storm. Sometime around 2 in the morning the winds kicked up and it began to rain.
Amy and Steve were the last to fall asleep. They were tucked together on one end of the couch, wrapped up in a throw blanket.
'I really hope this storm doesn't go crazy. I'm not a big fan of extreme weather conditions.' she tucked her head under Steve's chin and he wrapped his arms tighter around her.
'It'll be fine. There are nine of us and all the kids to keep you occupied. You'll barely notice the storm. Why don't you go to sleep now? The twins and Will should be up in a few hours. You'll be exhausted.'
'Mhmkay. Night Steve. Love you.' Amy breathed as she nestled close to Steve's chest. He kissed the top of her head as they fell asleep.
Surprisingly, everyone slept late the next morning. Natasha was the first to wake up at 9:30, and only because of her need to use the bathroom.
She checked on the kids on her way back to the den and found Leo wide awake, sitting quietly in his crib.
'Hi Leo. Want to come inside?' She leaned over the edge of the crib as the toddler nodded.
'Side Aunt Tasha!' Leo held out
his arms and Natasha lifted him out of the crib and rested him on her hip. She chatted with him softly as they walked into the den. Leo perked up as he saw Tony. The mini Stark absolutely worshiped his father and loved to spend time with him tinkering away in the lab.
'Daddy! Daddy!' Leo shouted and wiggled his way out of Natasha's arms. Tony started awake and yawned widely.
'Hey buddy. What's up?' he spoke through a yawn as Leo crawled onto his lap. Tony was still half asleep and leaned his head against the back of the couch, closing his eyes as Leo played with the buttons on his shirt.
'Hungwy. Can I have miwk?' Leo questioned and Tony stood up.
'Let's go little man.' Tony looked through the window as he walked into the kitchen. He could barely see a foot away; the rain was falling hard and fast. Since there were no lights on and it was dark outside, the kitchen and den were fairly dark.
'Okay, let's turn on some lights and get my pal some milk.' Tony mumbled to himself as he bounced Leo on his hip and stuck out his hand to find the light switch. He flipped it and nothing happened. Tony began flipping the switch frantically to no result.
'Oh shit.' Tony mumbled.
Leo laughed, 'Shit. Shit.'
Tony groaned. Pepper would never forgive this one. He tried to shush Leo, telling him to not repeat that word.
Natasha came up behind Tony.
'What's going on?'
'Ah! Don't sneak up on me like that!' Tony grumbled. Natasha shrugged.
'Again, what's going on? Why don't you have the light on?' Natasha reached over and flicked the switch. When nothing happened, she cursed in Russian.
'That's why. I guess we'd better wake the others.' Tony put Leo in the playpen and gently shook Pepper.
'Pep, hey Pep. Get up.'
Pepper yawned, 'What Tony?'
'Power's out.' He responded as he leaned over to shake Bruce awake. Natasha had woken Clint and Steve. She was working on Thor as a giant clap of thunder hit.
'Um, maybe we shouldn't jostle Thor?' Pepper said as the rest of the group looked on.
'Mhmm, you're probably right.' Natasha stepped away from the Norse god. The thunder had woken Jane, Amy and Betty, however.
'What's happening?' Amy mumbled through a wide yawn. Steve slipped out from behind her and filled her in on the power outrage.
An hour later, the adults had gathered the flash lights with the help of the greyish light coming in through the windows. The kids had all woken up, demanding to be fed.
'Mama, when can I watch Sesame Street?' Kira sighed as she sat next to Clint at the breakfast bar. 'I'm going to miss Elmo. I can't miss Elmo.' She stuck out her bottom lip and looked at Natasha with wide blue eyes.
'I'm sorry my love. The winds took away the power. There won't be any TV today. We'll do something else.' She sliced a banana into Mila's bowl of Cheerios.
'Oh. Leo! No Elmo today!' Kira shouted over to her partner in crime. The little boy kicked his chair leg.
'Daddy! I wanna see Elmo!'
Pepper looked up from the omelet she was cutting up to give Rob. 'Leo, there won't be any Elmo today. You and Kira and Mila and Will and Rob can still play around the house. Now finish your Pop Tart.'
The little boy pouted but bit into the sugary breakfast.
The rest of the afternoon was spent entertaining the kids. Tony and Bruce disappeared to the lab to work on the power situation.
'Will! William Phillip! Stop!' Amy ran after her son as he made laps around the room, sans diaper. As soon as Rob saw what was happening, he began playing with the button of his little blue jeans, and before Pepper knew it, she was chasing her half naked son. Steve caught both boys up in his arms and admonished them, before handing each over to his respective mother.
'Thank you! I think he's going a little stir crazy.' Amy kissed Steve on the cheek as she blew a piece of hair out of her eyes. 'Hopefully Tony and Bruce get the power up soon.'
Steve nodded, 'They've been working all day. They must be close.' He went back to the game of Candy Land that was being played with Clint, Kira and Mila.
Three days later, power was still out. Tony had rigged a generator to keep the refrigerator, cell phones and a few lamps working. It had been a rough three days, and now the kids were passed out on the couch, snuggled up together.
'How much longer can this go on?' Clint moaned. 'I miss hot showers.'
Natasha agreed, 'You're no peach to sleep with after three days without a shower.'
Amy laid her head on her crossed arms. 'I can't go like this anymore. Will's on a weird schedule and I'm awake all night.'
Steve rubbed her shoulders. 'It'll be okay. Why don't you go take a nap?'
When she didn't respond, Steve bent down and saw that Amy was fast asleep. He laughed and lifted her into his arms, before carrying her into their bedroom.
It was a full two weeks before their area of Manhattan got power back. Clint ran to the shower and made the water as hot as he could.
The cheer that came out of Kira when she found out she could watch Sesame Street was loud enough to wake the dead.
Jane made a mad dash back to her lab to check on her equipment and research.
Steve and Amy sat on the couch with Will and their nieces and nephews, watching Sesame Street.
'I am so thankful for this TV right now.' Amy sighed.
Steve nodded, 'I'll be glad to head out tomorrow and see what needs to be done to clean up the city.'
Amy craned her neck to look up at Steve. 'My superhero. Be careful out there, okay?'
Steve smiled, 'Always.'
'Aunt Amy! Uncle Steve! Shush! Elmo's on!' Kira admonished to the sound of her aunt and uncle's laughter.
A/N 2: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Also for reviewer KLS98 here is a list of all the kids and their current ages (approximate)
Kira-5
Leo-4
Mila-3
Rob-1(3 mos older than Will)
Will-1
Van and Aric-8 months