Chapter 26
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September 5th 1987
It has been a month since Melinda and Phil went on their first, very successful first date, and even with how well it is they haven't been able to go on a second official one as they have been very busy with work.
As he is leaving to do some graduate work at MIT in two days Tony is heading down to the office as there is something that he wants to talk to Howard about before he goes.
"Hey, Dad. You busy?" Tony asks for the door when he gets to the office.
"Yes, but I'm never too busy for you." Howard assures his son, "What do you need?" he asks curious.
"I wanted to talk to you about something." Tony says as he walks in.
"Okay. What?" Howard ask as his son sits down.
"You know I'm going back to MIT to do some post grad studies." Tony says to his Dad.
"Yes, I do." Howard confirms.
"Well if everything goes to plan I should be done by Christmas, and I've been doing a lot of thinking about what I'm going to do once I finish." Tony informs his father.
"Well with your mind and qualifications you could do anything you want." Howard tells his son, looking proud about that.
"I want to work for Stark Industries, but I don't want to do anything that will cause me to have a board overseeing me. I just want to create; I want to build without dealing with the business side of things." Tony explains to his father.
"I really glad to hear you say that." Howard admits, "How about a lab in the R and D department with no restrictions." Howard offers as he was planning on offering Tony something like that anyway.
"That would be perfect." Tony says with a grin.
"One day I would like to teach you the business side of the company, but that day doesn't have to be for a long time if you don't want it to be." Howard explains as he wants Tony to be CEO of Stark one day, but not until he's ready.
"As long as it isn't for a while I'm okay with that." Tony tells his dad.
"Good." Howard responds, "Do you want to see the plans I'm working on?" Howard asks curious.
"Always." Tony says as he gets up and walks over to his dad. Once Tony is standing behind Howard he starts to explain to his son his latest designs and after the explanation is done the two of them alter the designs and then start to create the designs together.
October 10th 1987
It has been a month since Tony talked to his father about what he once to do when finishes the graduate courses he wants to do and he is now back at MIT and is well on his way to completing everything in the time he predicted.
As they have been for the past couple of weeks Phil and Melinda are on a mission together in China.
"Why shooting? Why do all missions lately end with shooting?" Phil asks as he and Melinda both try and get cover while firing back at the people who are trying to kill them, both of them are bleeding a little as they had a grenade thrown at them, one that didn't hurt either of them too badly, to their relief.
"Because we have bad luck." Melinda says as she fires, "I'm almost out." Melinda tells Coulson as she puts in her last magazine.
"Same." Phil admits, "Now would be a great time for a plan B." he comments.
"I'm working on it." Melinda says, trying to think of something as he looks around, "Behind us, cars. Run and I'll cover you." Melinda tells him.
"You better follow." Phil says as he sprints to the car.
For about a minute Melinda continues to fire then when she only has a few rounds of ammo left Melinda runs and fires back without looking and she doesn't stop until she is in the car, "DRIVE." Melinda yells at Phil and that's just what he does.
An hour later Melinda and Phil are in a S.H.I.E.L.D safe house. Phil is sitting on the couch using a cloth to whip some blood of the side of his face.
"I talked to Fury. There is going to be an extraction at location two in twelve hours." Melinda says as she walks over.
"Good, that's good." Phil says relieved, "I'm guessing that we're to lie low until them." He says as Melinda sits down across from him.
"Yep." Melinda says as she takes the cloth off Phil and uses it to whip Phil's face.
"Fun." He says sarcastically.
"Yep. On the plus side Fury has to explain to The Directors why he didn't tell them that just the two of us were going in instead of the whole team." Melinda explains as she puts the cloth on the coffee table, not saying Mom and Dad as Phil knows that she doesn't call Peggy and Howard that unless they are in a completely secure location.
"Wow. I almost feel sorry for him." Phil admits, knowing that Peggy and Howard are going to be far from happy about that, "Are you hurt anywhere?" he asks concerned.
"Not in any way that requires treatment. You?" Melinda asks.
"No, I'm good." Phil responds.
"Good." Melinda says.
"So twelve hours until extraction. Any ideas about what we can do until then?" Phil asks curious.
"One." Melinda says before moving in and kissing Phil.
"I like that idea." Phil says with a grin as they break apart.
"I'm glad." Melinda responds and Phil kisses her again. As he does she unbuttons and pushes his shirt off.
"Bedroom." Phil says, between kisses and while working in a perfect union he and Melinda stand up and head to the bedroom. Phil removing Melinda's shirt as they go.
Eleven hours later Melinda and Phil are lying in bed, in each other's arms, where they have been ever since they left the living area of the safe house.
"We should get up soon, if we don't we're going to miss the extraction." Phil tells Melinda.
"We've got time." Melinda tells Phil.
"Do we? Just finding our clothes is going to take some time." Phil comments.
"Not that long, we've got time for one more round." Melinda says as she kisses down Phil's chest, causing Phil to moan.
"Okay, but you're explaining if we miss the extraction." Phil informs Melinda.
"Deal." Melinda says as she moves up and kisses Phil once more.
An hour later Melinda and Phil arrive at the extraction location and as they do they see no sign of an extraction.
"Did we miss it?" Phil asks Melinda.
"No, we're early." Melinda answers, "We've got a few minutes." She reveals and they both drift into silence and wait, "Heads up." Melinda says as she notices a helicopter coming towards them.
"Friendly or fire?" Phil asks.
"Too soon to tell." Melinda admits and as the helicopter comes closer she notices who is flying it, "Friendly." Melinda says as a rope is dropped from the helicopter and Melinda and Phil start to climb it up.
"Buckle in, it's going to a bumpy ride." Natasha, who is piloting the helicopter, says when Melinda and Phil are in the helicopter.
"Got it." Melinda says a she makes her way over to one of the seats.
"Natasha? You're our extraction?" Phil asks surprised.
"Yep. I was bored so I volunteered." Natasha explains.
"Is she kidding?" Phil asks Melinda in a whisper as they sit down because he honestly can't tell.
"Probably not." Melinda responds, "How pissed are people at Fury?" Melinda asks curious as she does up the harness.
"Very." Natasha answers, "It's kind of amusing actually." She admits, knowing that it wouldn't be if Phil and Melinda weren't okay, "We've got a long fight so you might want to get comfortable. Or even get some sleep. You look like you could use it." Natasha comments and by the look on her sister's face Melinda is about ninety-nine percent sure that Natasha has realised what they have spent the last twelve hours doing, she just hopes that Phil doesn't realise that she's realised because he would be extremely embarrassed.
"Thanks, but I'm thinking vigilance might be best." Melinda tells her sister.
"Good call." Natasha responds with a smile as even though it was her suggestions she didn't expect Melinda to actually agree. Hearing that Melinda just smirks back and the three of them drift into silence while Natasha files and Melinda and Phil sit in the back.
November 26th 1987
It has been almost seven weeks since Natasha extracted Melinda and Phil from china and after that she has joined Melinda and Phil on two out of their last three missions, though she only joined after they were already in the field so that no one who didn't know the truth could find out.
It is Thanksgiving and Melinda and Phil are in a sleazy motel a few hours out of DC where they have been running surveillance for about a week, which has been the one mission Natasha hasn't joined in on.
"I have tea and news." Phil says as he walks into the room that Melinda is staying in and he doesn't see any sign of her, "Melinda?" he asks calls concerned.
"Bathroom." Melinda's voice says and Phil heads across the room to the bathroom door, putting the tray with coffee and tea in it down as he goes, which is open a crack and before Phil can ask anything he hears Melinda throw up.
"Melinda? Are you alright?" Phil asks concerned as he opens the door the rest of the way.
"Yeah, I think you made the right call in not eating that Chinese." Melinda says as Phil walks in.
"You were sick yesterday morning too, before you ate the questionable leftovers." Phil says as he walks over and squats down next to Melinda.
"You worry…" Melinda starts to say but then before she can say more she vomits again, "Too much." Melinda finishes once she is sick and then she uses the cloth to wipe her mouth.
"It's not worrying to much when my partner has been vomiting the last two mornings." Phil tells Melinda, "Maybe you should go to a doctor."
"No need, I'm okay." Melinda tells her partner, "Did you say something about tea and news?" Melinda asks Phil.
"Yeah. There is green tea out in the other room and I talked to Fury. We've got enough evidence to put together a file to use as support to greenlight a taskforce." Phil explains, "We can go home."
"Just in time for us to spend thanksgiving with my family." Melinda says as she flushes the toilet and stands up.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Phil asks concerned.
"I'm sure." Melinda assures him.
"And are you sure that it's okay I join you for Thanksgiving? I don't want to intrude." Phil tells Melinda.
"It's more than okay, and you won't be." Melinda assure her partner as she heads over to the sink so that she can wash out her mouth, "Leave in thirty?" Melinda asks her partner before she drinks mouthwash.
"Sure, if you're sure that you're up for it." Phil responds.
"I am." Melinda assures him once she rinses out her mouth with mouthwash.
"Okay, leave in thirty it is." Phil responds and he leans in and places a kiss on Melinda's cheek, "But maybe I should drive." He suggests.
"Never, not unless the car suddenly turned into your corvette." Melinda says with a grin.
"She has a name." Phil reminds Melinda.
"Doesn't mean I have to use it." Melinda responds with a smile.
"You should." Phil says and Melinda just rolls her eyes.
"Twenty-nine minutes."
"Got it." Phil says and he heads out of the room. Once Phil leaves Melinda as to brace herself against the sink for several seconds as she thinks she is about to be sick again, but then she isn't so she heads out to the other room, hoping that her stomach settles soon so that she can enjoy the amazing Thanksgiving feast that Jarvis always creates.
Like his older sister Tony is also on his way home for Thanksgiving. As he had something to do the day before Tony got up early, something which he hates doing, so that he and Rhodey could drive home to spend Thanksgiving with the Carter-Stark's.
"The Airforce, really?" Tony asks his friend surprised.
"Yes. How many times do I have to tell you that?" Rhodey asks curious.
"Until I understand." Tony comments, "You could work for anyone, any lab, and you're choosing the military, why?"
"Because I want to protect people. I would think that considering what most your family do you would understand that." Rhodey comments.
"Yeah, I guess I do." Tony admits, "Just do me a favour and don't die on me while you're playing the hero." He requests.
"I'll do my best." Rhodey responds with a grin.
"Good, because if you die on me I'll kick your ass." Tony assures his friend, causing both of them to laugh.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing this house." Phil tells Melinda a couple of hours after they left the hotel, something which would have taken longer if Melinda wasn't the one driving, when they get out of the car at the Carter-Stark house.
"You will." Melinda assures him as they head inside.
"Maybe." Phil says and as he does he realises something, "I was going to get flowers, but I forgot to get you to stop, I can't believe I forgot."
"It's okay, Phil. You didn't need to bring anything." Peggy assures him.
"Hey Mom." Melinda says and she walks over and gives her mother a hug, then her Dad and each of her siblings, "Rhodey, it's good to see you again." Melinda greats.
"Yeah, it is." Rhodey responds with a smile.
"James Rhodes meet my partner Phil Coulson, Phil this is Tony's friend and roommate James Rhodes." Melinda introduces.
"It's nice to meet you." Phil says as he sticks out his hand for Rhodey to sake.
"Yeah, you too." Rhodey responds as he shakes Phil's hand, being glad that he's not the only person outside of the family who came to thanksgiving.
"Jarvis is still cooking but everything should be ready in about an hour." Howard explains.
"That's great, having decent food is going to be amazing after what we've been eating the last few days." Melinda reveals as everyone heads back over to the couches.
"Agreed." Phil says in agreement.
"Ahh, bad stake out food. I don't envy that." Natasha comments.
"The food can't be that bad." Maria says, not understanding.
"Oh it is." Melinda tells her little sister.
"Yep." Everyone who has had stake out food says in agreement.
For the next hour the Carter-Stark's, Rhodey and Phil just sit in the living room and talk about all different things, no one watching what they are saying as in this group of people they don't have to worry about saying something they shouldn't as there is nothing that they shouldn't say.
"And I tried to convince him that it was a racoon and not a person in the trunk." Peggy explains as she is telling everyone stories about the late days of the SSR.
"That's great." Tony says amused.
"Dinner is ready." Jarvis says, walking into the room.
"Great. Thanks Jarvis." Howard says and everyone gets up and heads to the dining area where the table is covered in food.
"Wow Jarvis, this is incredible even for you." Tony says, sounding amazed.
"Thank you." Jarvis responds.
"Who's the extra chair for?" Phil asks Melinda in a whisper as he notices that there are more chairs than people.
"Steve Rogers." Melinda answers to Phil's complete shock, but then even though the food smells amazing Melinda can feel the feeling in her stomach, the feeling that she is going to be sick, rising once more so she closes her eyes in an attempt to push it down.
"Melinda?" Phil asks concerned as he notices the action.
"Excuse me." Melinda says before running as fast as she can upstairs, hoping that she makes it to her bathroom before she is sick.
"MELINDA." Phil calls after her.
"MEL." Her family calls.
"She's been sick the last couple of mornings, but she said she was fine." Phil explains, "I'll go check on her." He says.
"No, it's okay. You eat. I'll go." Peggy says before heading upstairs, everyone else being pretty sure that they aren't going to be able to enjoy their Thanksgiving feast until they know Melinda is okay.
After leaving the dining area Peggy heads straight up to her daughters' bathroom and just like she was expecting Peggy finds her daughter on her knees over the toilet being sick. So, Peggy walks over, pulls her daughter's hair back and rubs her back while she is sick. After a couple of minutes Melinda stops being sick and just leans back.
"How long have you been sick for?" Peggy asks her daughter.
"A couple of days." Melinda answers, "It's probably just the bad leftovers I've been eating." Melinda tells her mother.
"Phil said that you've been sick in the mornings." Peggy tells her daughter, hinting at something which she hopes Melinda picks up on.
"Yeah, guess it has just been in the mornings." Melinda realises and as she does she realises what her mother is hinting at, "No." Melinda says her eyes widening.
"Is it possible?" Peggy asks her daughter.
"Yes." Melinda confirms and she looks thoughtful, "I've missed my last two periods." She realises, a look of completely shock appearing on her face, as she hasn't really thought about it because she's been so busy, "I might be pregnant." She realises, her voice shocked.
"Yeah, you might be." Peggy tells her daughter, who looks both shocked and scared, "It will be okay, Mel. You'll find out for sure and then take it from there." Peggy tells her daughter as she moves so that she can put an arm around her.
"I need to know, I need to know today, but nothings open." Melinda tells her mother as she leans into her mother's embrace.
"We have a lab downstairs; we can run the test here." Peggy tells her daughter.
"I don't want anyone else to know until I know for sure." Melinda tells her mother, "Is there a way to run the test without Dad or Tony?"
"Yes, I can run it." Peggy tells her daughter.
"Really?" Melinda asks, looking at her mother with a look of hope on her face.
"Yes, you don't spend over forty years around Howard without learning a few things." Peggy explains, "We can to the lab whenever you're ready." Peggy tells her daughter.
"I'm ready." Melinda tells her mother.
"Are you sure? Are you going to be sick again?" Peggy asks her daughter concerned.
"No. I'm okay." Melinda responds and she flushes the toilet and stands up and so does Peggy, "Thanks Mom."
"You don't have to thank me. I'm your Mom, being here for you is what I do." Peggy tells her daughter and Melinda hug her.
Fifteen minutes later Melinda and Peggy are in the lab, having headed there via a way that doesn't pass the dining room, and Peggy has drawn Melinda's blood and has started the test.
"How long will it take?" Melinda asks her mother.
"Not long." Peggy answers, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." Melinda says with a nod, "I just wasn't expecting this." She admits, "One day, yeah. But not today."
"Sometimes things happen that surprise us, and they can turn out to be the best things." Peggy tells her daughter who just nods, "It will be okay, Mel. And no matter what the test shows you're not alone and me, and your father, and Jarvis and your siblings are all here for you." Peggy tells her daughter.
"I know." Melinda tells her mother as she never doubted that, "If I am then I'm glad it's with Phil, I'm glad it's with my best friend, he'd make an incredible father." Melinda says as even though she has some doubts about herself considering everything she doesn't doubt that Phil will make an incredible father.
"And if it is positive you'll make an incredible mother." Peggy assures her daughter as she can tell that Melinda is worried about that.
"Thanks Mom." Melinda says gratefully and the two of them drift into silence and for a couple of minutes they are quiet until the computer beeps.
"That's the results." Peggy informs her daughter, "Are you ready to know?" she asks and Melinda just nods so Peggy has a look.
"So?" Melinda asks her mother.
"It's positive."
"It's positive?" Melinda says shocked.
"Yes, you're pregnant." Peggy tells her daughter.
"I'm going to be a Mom." Melinda says amazed as she rests her had on her stomach as she looks at her mother with a look of amazement and joy, though nervousness, on her face.
"You're going to be a Mum." Peggy tells her daughter with a smile before hugging her, "Congratulations Mel."
"Thank you." Melinda responds as she embraces her mother's hug as even though she is scared about what this means she is also excited and happy about it.
"Maybe we should go see if everything is okay." Phil says concerned after Peggy and Melinda have been gone for a while.
"Give it a few more minutes." Howard says, his own concern growing.
"No need." Natasha says as she notices Peggy and Melinda walk back in the room.
"Are you alright?" Phil asks concerned as Melinda walks over to him.
"Yeah, can we go for a walk?" Melinda asks him as she decided that she wanted to tell Phil right away.
"Sure, but don't you want to eat." Phil says confused.
"I'll eat after." Melinda explains as honestly she isn't sure if she would be able to keep anything down right now.
"Okay." Phil says as he gets up and follows Melinda out the back, everyone except for Peggy watching them go in confusion.
"Is everything okay?" Phil asks concerned about a minute later when he and Melinda are walking in the back yard.
"Yes." Melinda confirms.
"Is that an ice ring?" Phil asks shocked.
"Yeah, Tasha and Dad built it for me not long after my parents were killed. It stays frozen all year round." Melinda explain.
"That's soo cool." Phil says and Melinda just smiles, "Why were you and Peggy gone so long?" he asks curious.
"After I finished being sick we went down to the lab so that Mom could run a test for me." Melinda explains.
"Test? Are you alright? Is something wrong?" Phil asks worried.
"I'm alright, I just found out something, something good, or at least I think it's good, terrifying but good." Melinda explains.
"What do you mean?" Phil asks being completely confused.
"I'm pregnant." Melinda tells Phil.
"You're pregnant." Phil says completely shocked.
"I'm pregnant." Melinda confirms with a smile and before she can even react Phil is kissing her, "I take you're happy then." Melinda says when they break apart.
"I'm beyond happy." Phil corrects, "We're going to be parents." Phil says with a smile.
"We're going to be parents." Melinda confirms also smiling and the two of them kiss once more.
Almost ten minutes after Melinda told Phil their news they return back inside holding hands and as soon as they walk in and she sees how happy they are Peggy smiles as she knows that Phil must have taken the news well.
"Okay, is someone going to explain what is going on now?" Tony asks curious when he sees his sister and her partner.
"Yeah, we are." Phil says after he and Melinda exchange a look as that is something they talked about while they were outside and they decided to tell Melinda's family, including Rhodey and Jarvis, now, but wait before they tell anyone else.
"I'm pregnant." Melinda tells her family.
"Really?" Howard asks shocked.
"Yeah, Mom did the blood test." Melinda says and then before anyone can say anything Natasha and Tony are both up and hurrying over to her to hug her.
"Congrats Mel." Natasha and Tony says as they hug her.
"Thanks."
"And Congratulations Phil." Natasha adds.
"Thanks." Phil says smiling and for the next few minute everyone comes over to Melinda and Phil and congratulates them.
December 11th 1987
It has been two weeks since Melinda found out she was pregnant and the only people who know are the Carter-Stark's, Phil, Jarvis, and Rhodey, because of that Melinda has still been assigned missions by Fury, missions that she can't do, so as a way to cover for Melinda Natasha has been taking Melinda's place on missions without Fury or anyone other than Phil, Peggy and Howard realising, once they have been assigned.
As he returns home for the day Howard starts to look for Maria, who is the only one currently home, and as he can't find his daughter he starts to feel panicked.
"JARVIS! Where is Maria?" Howard asks worried.
"Out playing on the ice. I've been checking in on her, she's fine." Jarvis explains.
"Good, good." Howard says before heading outside.
A couple of minutes later Howard arrives at the ice ring where Maria is using a hockey stick and shooting into goals.
"Dad!" Maria says happily.
"Hey Sweetheart. Are you having fun?" Howard asks curious.
"Yes!" Maria says with a grin, "Do you want to play?"
"Sure. But you're going to have to tell me how." Howard says as he walks over to the box that the skates are kept in near the ice.
"I can do that." Maria promises her father.
"Good." Howard says as he grabs his skates and starts to change into them.
"Dad, can we go to the next Rangers game?" Maria asks her father curious.
"I have to arrange a private box so we might not be able to go to the next one, but well go to one soon." Howard tells his daughter, "Promise."
"Really?" Maria asks, looking glad.
"Really." Howard confirms as he stands up, "So, why don't you show me what to do." He tells his daughter.
"You'll need this." Maria says as she hands her father a second hockey stick and she starts to teach her father how to play hockey.
December 25th 1987
It has been two weeks since Maria taught Howard how to play Hockey and even though it wasn't the kind of thing he enjoyed he knew how important it is to his daughter so he kept playing even after he realised that.
It is Christmas morning and after being woken up extremely early by Maria all the Carter-Stark's, Phil, and Jarvis are sitting around the Christmas tree in the living are, Phil having gotten the explanation weeks earlier about how they celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah.
"Thanks Tony." Natasha tells her brother with a grin as she opens one of her presents from him.
"You're welcome. I thought you'd like it." Tony tells his sister.
"I do." Natasha assures her brother, "What's next?" she asks as it is tradition in their family to open gifts one at a time, and then usually, once they are done, Peggy and/or Howard have to make a quick trip into S.H.I.E.L.D to check up on things, but then, unless there is a major problem, they are back by lunch.
"I think it's the perfect time for this." Howard says picking up a small box, "It's for the two of you from Peggy and I." Howard reveals as he hands the box to Melinda and Phil who are sitting next to each other. Being confused by what it could be Melinda takes the box from her father and opens it when she and Phil look inside they both look confused.
"A key?" Melinda asks her parents as knowing them it could be to anything.
"To a house." Howard answers.
"It's about five minutes from here, four bedrooms with an office, garage, and room for an indoor training area and we're also going to handle the cost for you two to furnish it the way you want and it can't be traced back to any of us so you'll be as safe as possible." Peggy tells her daughter and Phil.
"That's… thank you." Phil says, being completely lost for words and completely amazed.
"Your welcome. With the baby on its way you're going to need your own place and this way you'll still be close and can focus on the other things you have to organize and figure out." Howard explains.
"Thank you Mom, Dad." Melinda says before hugging both of her parents.
"You're welcome." Peggy responds.
"And because we know that you're looking into cars I would like to add upgrades to any car you buy to make sure it's extra safe." Howard says.
"That would be incredible, thank you." Phil informs Howard as he attempts to digest everything that Howard and Peggy have told them.
"And because I know that you're pretty attached to your Corvette I thought I would add some things to her as well if you're interested, including this." Howard says as he passes a file to Phil. Accepting the file from Howard Phil opens it and has a look and as he does a look of complete shock appears on his face.
"You want to make Lola fly?" Phil asks shocked.
"I want to make Lola fly." Howard confirms.
"Thank you, thank you so much for everything you've been doing for us, all of this." Phil says gratefully.
"You don't have to thank us Phil." Peggy assures him and Phil just nods, "How about we open the next one." Peggy says as she picks up one of the larger presents that is still under the tree and hands it to Maria.
As she watches her little sister open her present Melinda reaches out and takes Phil's hand with one of her hands while she rests the other on her stomach. As she watches her sister who seems so happy Melinda smiles as she knows, without a doubt, that she has the most amazing family ever and that she is looking forward to her child joining their incredible family.