(a/n) -frowns and points at Fall Out 4, Undertale, and various fanfics - It's their fault. They've been taking up what spare time I have. I've hit a writer's block that won't go away. So… here's something. Thanks to everyone who continues to read or will read this fic. You are all awesome.


We're facing these giants

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

But I still believe in

The dreams we've been dreaming

The hope that we built on

Is never too far

It's never too far

Family – TobyMac

Chapter 54: The Pressure

The pressure was becoming too much.

Ana had no other choice.

She had to get up from her comfy chair and head to the bathroom or she would burst. It didn't help that the twins were bearing down on her bladder.

With some effort, she managed to get herself up and very carefully try to waddle her way across her bedroom toward her bathroom. She almost regretted asking Bruce to get her a sandwich, his help would have been greatly appreciated. As she was halfway across the room, she felt a deep pop in her lower area, mainly around her uterus…

The sudden gush of warm liquid soaking her pants and running down her legs caught her by surprise. Did she lose control of her bladder? Her first thought was to not stain the carpet when a pinching feeling caught her off guard and she doubled over with a pained groan as the first of a series of painful contractions began. She had had them before, the fake contractions over the last several weeks as her body prepared itself for the birth to come. This, however, had never been accompanied before losing one's control of their bladder…

It took a moment before the panic and confusion from her son and daughter started to trickle up through their mental link. Ana's own panic began to build as she realized what was happening. "Oh, mon dieu..."

The babies were coming and they were three weeks early.

She had been preparing for this with Bruce and her family for months. Now that the time had come, she couldn't think of a single thing that could help her in this situation. She was alone and being alone when her water broke had always been her greatest fear. With a whimper, another contraction hit her, and without meaning to her panic, worry and above all fear, was broadcasted throughout the mental link she shared with her family.

-o-

Bruce had been making his way back to his wife, sandwich in hand, when the panic and fear hit him with full force. He paused in midstep, his mind wrapping around the sudden strange emotions bombarding him when his quick wit caught up with what was happening. Dropping the sandwich without a second thought, he was running down the corridor as quick as his legs could carry him, nearly tripping over his own feet as his own panic began to rise.

His wife was in labor.

The babies were coming.

His son and daughter were coming into the world!

The very last thought was what spurred him on and an excited smile, the first that had ever been on Dr. Bruce Banner's face in a long time, emerged on his lips.

He was going to be a dad!

-o-

Erai had not felt such excitement through the mental link he shared with his sister since he had first arrived to this realm. Ever since he had been welcomed into the family, his link with his twin reestablished, he had been washed over with the subconscious thoughts and love between Erin and her mate and her pack for months. It had been so long since had felt such happiness coming from his twin that he couldn't help but linger around her. He was never too far from her if he could help it, at least whenever her mate would go off to grab her something to eat. He would stay a few rooms over during those times, reading various books or perusing the internet, should she need him for anything.

It was one of those times that he was glad he was near.

The moment her panic and fear had reached him, he was up on his feet and tearing through the doorway of the study he had been in.

-o-

There was very little that could get Jenn excited these days.

Losing her older sister had done a number on her.

Don't get her wrong, she loved her niece with all of her heart. Ana, Bruce, and their babies- hell, even the others in this new pack- were the only family she had now. Yet, she still felt isolated from everyone and everything. She always had.

Being a quadriplegic in a metal body that did the moving for her had lost its appeal after Sido's death. The depression that had been a constant in her everyday life was somewhat dulled by the ever present entity known as JARVIS. Where her family had to take care of their own businesses and needs when they were not visiting her, Tony Stark's AI was able to be in multiple places at once, keeping her company being one of those places. She had to admit, over the months that had followed since she lost her sister, Jarvis – as she had grown to know him as – had become a good friend. Where there were moments when the depression could get so bad that she could barely get up on her own, Jarvis was there to make sure she was able to get up and exercise and take care of herself as she needed to.

Today was one of the good days.

She was up on her own and moving around her bedroom, looking at one of the various servers that dotted the walls. She was still connected to them but on a remote level. Since she had been able to move on her own, she liked to keep up with the maintenance the machines herself, especially on her bad days. It was while she was doing this that all of the commotion hit her from first her niece and then Bruce and Erai.

She froze for a moment before the first real look of happiness appeared in her clear blue eyes. "Les bebes..." She moved away from the server she had been working on, her eyes flicking over to the door before her body began to move. "Jarvis! Ana's in labor! Tell Tony the babies are coming!"

-o-

Maya Hansen was introduced to the family in a way no person would have ever imagined.

On the flight over, the red head had explained to the brunette about the uniqueness of the family she was about to meet. It was during this explanation that her phone had rung. Answering the line, she was notified by a slightly flustered Tony that Ana's water had broken and she was in labor. They were still several hours away from their destination but the anxiousness could be heard in Tony's voice, who was currently cursing himself for not leaving with Pepper so he could be there.

Maya had never known Tony Stark to be the sentimental type. He must really care about this family.

Once they had arrived into the country and made it past customs, Pepper was leading the way out of the airport as she spoke on the phone, Maya struggling to keep up with the redhead's quick steps. There was a car already waiting for them at the exit and they hopped into the backseat. Pepper greeted the driver, a young woman of Asian descent named Cammie, before they were whisked away to what Maya could only assume was one of the most grand old estates she had ever had the privilege to see.

She followed in after Pepper Potts, who led the way into a grand home that was currently swarming with activity. Here and there, members of the house staff could be seen running from one corridor to another, occasionally a staff member that looked like a part of a medical team could be seen as well. As Pepper led the way into the home, they were greeted by one of the most tallest men that Maya had ever seen. He was a lean man, with russet skin and piercing blue eyes, his long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. It was then that she noted the distinct dark red lines against the visible area of his neck. They seemed to pulse back and forth along with his heart beat. He had greeted Pepper with a bright smile, his piercing eyes flicking over to Maya in faint interest.

Maya could have sworn there was a flash of yellow that appeared in his eyes before his smile faded. He focused his gaze on Pepper and there was a moment of silence as they stared at one another. Maya had the distinct feeling that she was being left out of the loop of whatever was going on. It was only a moment later that the tall man moved to stand beside Maya and reached out to wrap a terribly strong hand around her bicep. Pepper turned around to gaze at the brunette and a slight muscle ticked in her jawline. "This is Erai, he's Ana's brother. I would advise not to do anything rash while you are here and close to our family. Otherwise, you may regret it." She frowned at the brunette, glanced at the tall man, before she gave a nod and turned around to walk deeper into the home.

Maya was slightly confused until she winced, feeling the hand holding her squeeze a little more. She froze when Erai leaned down close to her ear, a deep growl escaping him. "I sense what it is you… Do not think you are going to cause any trouble while you are under this roof."

Maya could not think to reply in any way other than a quick nod.

Although a part of her was beginning to panic.

When this entire ordeal started, it had been her job to lead Pepper to Killian Aldrich. Now, it seemed she was the one who was going to be held captive since she was now in the home of what now seemed to be a dangerous group of people. Her thoughts went down toward the tracker that had been imbedded in her phone that was now giving off her current location. She wondered how long it would be before Killian would make his way to this very location. And she wondered just how big of a mistake she had made by agreeing to this plan in the first place.