In this world so full of fear

Full of rage and lies

I can see the truth so clear

In your eyes

So dry your eyes

And I'm so grateful to you

I'd have lived my whole life through...

Lost forever...

If I never knew you...

If I Never knew You- Pocahontas - Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz

Chapter 55: There was Worry

There was worry, a deep and unyielding worry that gripped her heart. She could admit it. She was worried for her babies. She was worried for herself. This was her very first pregnancy and, with not being completely human, this was a first for nearly everyone involved. Nearly being the key word.

Erai had been the first to reach her since he had been the closest. He had been gentle as he rushed to her side and helped her to her bed, telling her all the awhile that it was going to be ok. Twins ran strongly in their family and the bonus of this: Erai had access to intact memories of how pregnancy and birthing worked for their people. It was something that Cin could not recall very easily. Her memories of her past life were still fuzzy at best even if she was recalling a little more and more as time went by.

She was grateful for the calming thoughts and words that Erai was projecting to her. She was even more happy when Bruce came barging into the bedroom, his soft brown eyes searching about the room before they finally fell on her. He was quick to get to her side, Erai moving out of the way so the good doctor could take his rightful place beside his wife. He reached out brush the copper curls from her brow as she struggled to breathe through a strong contraction. "Are you ok, Ana? How are the babies?"

She smiled at Bruce as she carefully moved herself to get a little more comfortable. "Oui," said Ana, her smile becoming a little strained as she placed a hand carefully over bulging stomach. "As well as can be expected considering that they are coming a little early."

"We spoke about this," said Bruce as he settled down on the bed beside her and reached out to adjust the pillows behind her so that she could sit up. "It's statistically common for twins to be born early. Just try to be as calm as you can." Even as he said this, there was a part of him that was easily panicking. These were his children coming into the world. What if something happened to them? To his wife? What if-

"Both of you, relax," Erai's deep voice broke through the tension, a light smile playing on his face. "I can sense the panic and the worry but you need not be concerned. The babies will be fine, Ana and Erin will be fine. They are strong."

Bruce and Ana glanced at one another, the parents-to-be taking a moment to allow the panic and the worry to slowly ease away to the nervousness that was common to all people who were going through their first birth. There was a calm that Erai was bringing into the familial link that was shared among the family- a calm that was reminiscent to what Sido would often bring when she had been the head of the pack. Sido was greatly missed but Erai had arrived at a time where his presence helped to slowly heal the wound that had been ripped open with her death. Over the months that had followed, while the family had been trying to figure out the new dynamic that had been brought about by Sido's death, Erai had been integrating himself into this new pack. He had slowly been gaining his sister back and with that he had gained a whole new family he had not been expecting. They had welcomed him in as one of their own, his willingness to put life and limb on the line in the fight against the Abomination had earned him their trust. Since that fight, he had been learning all he could about this strange world his sister and her pack called home. He was also doing his own research into the wild portals that would sometimes rip open across all the Nine Realms. In this aspect, he was quite interested in the research and work of his closest friend Jane Foster and her colleague Dr. Erik Selvig.

Due to this close friendship, he was able to begin his own notes and research on the subject in the hope that he would be able to find away to open up a portal that would lead Pyragia back into the fold of the Nine Realms. There was no stable way for anyone to escape that dark realm. When the ancestors had first used that stone of power to send the Chitauri and themselves to that new reality, that had been the intent. However, Erai had learned that all realms, all possible universes, were interwoven in some way or form. There was always an avenue of escaping from one realm to another regardless of how small or big the opening might be. It was proven since Erin had managed to escape that dark realm and then, 30 cycles later (give or take a few), the Chitauri had found a means of escape by some unknown ally of theirs. Erai had been adamant of finding a stable way to bring his people out of that dark realm since the one tool he could use unfortunately was not within his reach. It had been a slow going process over the months that had followed but he knew it would be worth it in the end...

At the sound of the bedroom door opening, all eyes turned to find the rare sight of one Jennifer Dupont making her way into the room. Her metal suit was moving with the fluid and grace of a natural dancer as she rushed to the side of the bed that was unoccupied by her niece's husband. Her light blue eyes were alight with a joy that was rarely seen these days and, though she could not smile, her suit followed her brain's command to bounce on the balls of her feet. "Are you all right? How are the babies?"

Ana could only laugh at her aunt's excitement, the energy was infectious enough to make her feel even more relaxed. Almost all of her family was here by her side. She did not need to worry. They would help to ensure that everything would go smoothly as possible with this birth. "I am all right Tante," said Ana as she took in a relaxing breath and eased it out slowly passed her lips. "I am all right..."

-o-

The hours had passed since the initial panic attack that had happened. The medical staff, that had been working to ensure that they had all that they needed to be ready for Ana's delivery, had barely been able take a break. Many were rushing to and from various places in the house to get necessary equipment and supplies ready for a regular birth or an emergency c-section. The more time that went by, the more it was clear that the babies would be making an appearance by that evening. It was only mid afternoon at this point and the good doctor had been a nervous wreck with everything that was going on. It had been decided that, though he had his liscencing as a medical dr, he would not be the one to the deliver the babies. He was so afraid that he would make some kind of mistake that the best thing for all parties involved was just to have Bruce there for emotional support.

More time had passed.

Ana had finally gone into the stronger contractions and her dilation was close that soon she would be able to start pushing. She had been offered to get an epidural to ease the pain of the contractions but a harsh growl and a flash of yellow eyes was a clear indication that nothing was going into her system that might affect her babies in any way. Ana was not a typical human woman and the further along in the birthing process she went, the more that Cin was emerging to become the dominant personality. She wasn't fully changing but it was quite clear that Cin was aiming to be the one taking charge in the birth of their twins.

Bruce was having some issues in keeping the Other Guy under wraps. He could sense that his mate was in pain and knew it was because of the babies but he didn't understand why it was that their children could cause so much pain to their mother. Bruce was helping Ana through her breathing exercises, mostly for both of their benefits as to keep their other selves as quiet and calm as possible through this ordeal. There had been discussion as to whether they would move Ana from the room and into one of the vast home's medical facilities in the lower levels but Ana once again refused. Cin seemed to be driving on instinct and she was not going to go anywhere or take anything if it meant any potential harm to her babies. Bruce could only agree with his wife, if only to help keep her- and himself- as calm as possible.

It was during this time that Jenn had gotten word from Jarvis that Pepper had just arrived with a guest in tow. Bruce had been aware of the guest that would be staying with them for the brief time Pepper was going to be there and had given strict instructions that this guest was to stay as far away from their wing of the house during that time. He did not trust anyone outside of his immediate friends and family and with his wife now in labor the Other Guy was brimming beneath the surface, just waiting for something to happen...

Erai had been the one to greet the new woman while Pepper had gone ahead to meet with Jenn in the upper floor, who was waiting for her to lead her to Ana's room. Their medical staff and various sercurity staff were running to and fro, making sure that things would go as smoothly as possible for the coming birth. Erai had taken the woman by the arm and led her in the opposite direction of where everyone else seemed to be congregating, taking her to a well furnished den on the ground level that looked as if it were rarely used. It was clean and well furnished but it had the look of one of those rooms where it was meant for show.

He had told the woman to make herself comfortable while going off to take a seat in one of the plush arm chairs that faced a bookshelf that dominated the entire width of the wall opposite of the door they had entered. He was sitting on the very edge of the chair and kept his large hands braced atop his jean-clad thighs. His piercing blue eyes were watching every move she made as she slowly walked further into the room and set her purse down upon the armchair opposite of him.

Maya Hansen could admit that this man was dangerously attractive. There was this inhuman, feral quality that seemed to roll off of him in waves. When she had noted the red veins against the sides of his neck that ebbed and flowed with each beat of his heart, she wondered if he was even truly human. She recalled from his comment before that he could sense what she carried within her purse and it had her wondering if he could truly sense the Extremist Virus that in that small vial. She immediately decided not to dwell on it. It was a dangerous situation she had found herself in and now she was worried just how much trouble she had brought to this small family. She was not a fool. She was well aware that at any moment the situation could escalate to something comepletely out of her control. She wondered just how badly things were going to go once Killian decided to put one of his many plans into action. Pepper Potts had been the key to getting Tony Stark on board with developing a stable cure for the virus. Now that plan had essentially been thrown out the window...

What would his next course of action be? She was afraid to find out...

-o-

Aldrich Killian was not the kind of man who gave up easily when one of his plans did not come to fruition. His initial plan to use Pepper Potts to gain leverage over Tony Stark's genius to find a way to stabilize the Extremis virus had been a long shot. However, using Maya Hansen as a lure to get Pepper to him had not gone exactly as he had hoped. Instead, Pepper had fled the country with Maya in tow, their destination being the country of France. Based off of Maya's last tracking signal, she was located in some resort town. A town that was home to an old and vast family estate that belonged to one of Tony Stark's most recent business partners. The family that owned a well known international pharmaceuticals company and who had within their residence another well known genius. A genius who had been, up until recently, in hiding for years.

Dr. Bruce Banner.

Perhaps this turn of events would work much better in his favor. Killian was looking forward to putting together a plan for this.

-o-

After a several hours of contraction after contraction, the doctor who was overseeing Ana's birth - the only doctor who had been allowed to follow Ana's care since she had initially been found by Sido- finally gave the go ahead to begin. One of the babies had begun to crown, which one it could have been was unknown. When the last sonogram had been done a couple of weeks before, it had been the girl who had been on the bottom, her head nestled in the exact position for an optimal birth. Her brother had been above her, his back facing his mother's stomach and his head nestled against his siser's legs. Since then it looked as if they had switched around so now the staff did not know who it was that was now getting ready to come out first. At this time, Ana was not caring which one was first so long as both of them finally got out.

By this time the medical staff had equipped Ana's room with all of the medical equipment and devices that would be needed to ensure a healthy and clean delivery of twins comparable to that of any well run hospital. Bruce was dressed in scrubs and a mask as the room was made as sterile as possible. The doctor had wanted to place Ana on a stretcher and stirrups as in a hospital setting but Ana had declined with a harsh snarl, stating that she was going to give birth in her own damn bed and if anyone so much as made an attempt to move her they were going to have a few singed clothing and objects to worry about.

Bruce could only laugh at this entire situation. His wife was about to give birth to his son and daughter. It was one of the most surreal moments of his life. He was quick to turn that laugh into a cough the moment Ana's flashing brown eyes turned his way and he endured the brunt of her anger as she cursed at him in French, no doubt blaming him for her current predicament and probably swearing off any intimate act with him in the foreseeable future.

Bruce could only smile and give his wife a sweet kiss to her temple. God, did he love this woman...

-o-

After hours of pushing, hours of cursing every person in the room, and plenty of screaming rage, the first cry of a baby could be heard. The doctor held up the first born of the twins and called Bruce over to take his firstborn, since its sibling was quickly following after. Bruce had walked quickly, yet in a daze, as he moved over to take his oldest child from the nurse who had wrapped the wriggling, crying newborn in a warm blanket. She handed the baby over with a large smile on her face. "Here is your daughter, Dr. Banner."

He took the baby girl in his arms and his heart gave a painful thump as tears threatened to spill over. The newborn girl was whining, her eyes scrunched closed, as she turned her head, searching for something to latch on to. He reached out finger to gently brush a stray whisp of a dark brown curl away from her forehead. She had a lot of hair, he noted with a smile, and she looked completely and utterly normal. Another baby's cry filled the room, exactly five minutes later, indicating that her brother had just arrived.

Bruce glanced up the the dizzying sight of his daughter's cherubic face to see the nurse wrapping up the baby boy in another warm blanket. Both babies were messy and wet and they had yet to be devoid of their umbilical cords, but the moment the nurse placed the newborn boy in his mother's arms, a wave of emotion swept over the good doctor. Ana was staring at her son with the look that every mother in the world could understand: Awe and instant love.

He had moved over beside his wife and placed his daughter beside her brother in his wife's free arm. Ana looked at her daughter and son, the link that had grown between since she had carried them solidifying and reaffirming itself. "Hello my sunshines," said Ana as she held her newborns closer. She sniffed back a few tears as she looked up at Bruce, her smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. "They're perfect, mon amant."

Bruce could only nod as he looked at his wife and his children. His family...

Deep within his subconscious, the Other Guy let loose one thought. One thought that Bruce always found was the one thing he could agree with.

Ours... Always...

-o-

(A/N) Surprise! In honor of Mother's Day! And also a portable keyboard and an app that Fanfiction made for smart phones. I can write on my spare time! Woo! Hope this satisfies! I'll be back with the next chapter when I can. I have names thought up but I am open to suggestions. :) Thanks everyone who still reads this story! Please disregard any errors, I'll go back and fix them later.