A/N: IT'S HEREEEEE. I gotta admit, the actual birth chapter is probably going to be pretty short, mostly because the muse is running a little thin with her being pregnant. The cute, fluffy chapters with the gang meeting the baby will be the next few chapters! ALSO; opinions are needed! Should baby Stark have powers?! Of course, he was bit. I don't think it's hereditary... but then there's also Spider-girl in one series where his daughter gets his powers. What do we think? Quick side note, as if it's not obvious since they haven't been in the story; Rhodey is still Tony's best friend but he is stationed overseas I've decided. Wanda and Vision are staying in Europe. Loki is... well, who knows.
I'm thinking this specific story only has 2-3 chapters left, maybe 4. I will probably be posting several one shots with them because I adore them. Anything anyone wants to see before the story's over? Here we go!
Disclaimer: I forever and always will be upset that I don't own any Marvel or MCU ideas. I would be a very happy lady if I did!
Christmas was in a week, Jess was starting to panic about ideas on what to get for Tony. She had presents for everyone else, even Happy and Pepper who she didn't see or know as well as the others. But what did you get for the billionaire who either had, or could buy, anything and everything...? Some of the others had tried to assist with a choice, all of them assuring her that whatever she got for him he'd love. That just wasn't going to cut it, though. She wanted it to be perfect... after everything they had been through the last few months, he deserved so much more than she could ever give him.
He had been mother henning over her ever since the blood sugar fiasco, making sure she was eating and getting checked by Dr. Cho frequently. Apparently, he had even paid the doctor a nice bonus to learn and take courses about delivering a baby as much as possible since they had found out. She had even found another doctor, one that also had powers, who worked as a midwife. While Pepper had voiced her concerns to both Jess and Tony, Tony had reassured her that this was the best option. That with Jess' powers, it was too much of a risk to have her in a hospital. Hospitals had records, online records. Ones that could be hacked easily. In the end, both women had decided to trust Tony, knowing he wouldn't put his girlfriend or unborn child in any danger.
Pepper had become close to Jess, which both confused and delighted Tony... unless they were ganging up on him, then it was annoying. "I don't get it. You guys have nothing in common." Tony whined as he huffed with his arms crossed from the kitchen, bamboozled into the trap to sign documents for Stark Industries by the two woman who had worked together to pull off the impressive feat.
Jess was sitting on the counter, legs dangled, hand on her big belly as she smirked over at Pepper, shrugging. "You." Pepper had been named the God Mother, next to Steve who was God Father. Pepper had been shocked, asking Jess if she was sure, since she was closer to Nat. In the end, Nat wasn't worried and had settled on being the awesome Aunt who spoiled the kid. Her life was too dangerous to be hauling around a kid, she had said. And it wasn't like she wouldn't ever see the kid, no matter who in the group they were with.
It was a quiet night, the whole team hunkered down on the common level. Thor was helping Pepper make eggnog and sandwiches, while the others sat on the couches or giant cushions that Peter had helped Clint drag into the Tower a few weeks ago. They were all playing Mario Party which all of them had groaned about when Peter recommended but were now all dedicated to winning.
Jess was leaning back against Tony, unable to get comfortable. The last weeks leading up to the birth were the most uncomfortable according to the doctor, and Jess could attest to that. Sleep when it came was so brief and so needed, it was like her mind was cutting her some slack and not making her go crazy. Squirming as she re-positioned herself against Tony, she groaned in discomfort causing the man to glance down at her with a frown. He wasn't playing, deciding to just watch. Of course, Peter had to tease him that it was because he sucked at it and Tony hated being bad at something. "What's wrong, Drew?" He brushed a hand through her hair.
She looked up at him, wincing as she did so. "I guess I should probably tell you my water broke..."
The whole room went silent as Tony simply blinked at her. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Well, you know, I was just trying to wait as long as possible because there's not much you can do, it's been a few hours... it's just that it hurts more now." She took in a sharp breath as she had another contraction, not wanting to squeeze Tony's hand, afraid to break it.
Instant chaos ensued. Pepper was laughing and crying, squeezing Thor's upper arm as the others stood up and started listening to directions that Tony was shouting. Jess sighed, knowing this was really why she had waited so long. To avoid all of this. Everybody was walking towards the medbay while Jess felt like a turtle on it's shell. "Guys! You're forgetting something!" she snapped, still struggling to get off the couch as Peter jogged back and helped her up. She swatted his and Tony's attempts to carry her, rolling her eyes. "Oh, honestly. I'm pregnant, not paralyzed. I can walk, thanks!" Jess protested. They all should know by now she hated being carried.
"Jess, why didn't you tell me?!" Tony groaned, an arm around her as she waddled with the others and did the practice breathing things that Dr. Cho's assistant had taught her.
"Because I'm not ready!" she whined, gripping his arm and looking at him with scared, wide eyes. "I'm ready to not be a whale anymore, but I'm not ready to have a baby. I don't know how to be a parent, Tony."
Tony hated seeing her look so petrified, squeezing her side gently as he chuckled. "Cupcake, I don't think you have a choice when the baby comes. No one knows how to be a parent before they are a parent. We're going to get through this, you're going to be a great mom and I'll be an alright dad, okay?" he teased, kissing the top of her head as they got closer to the medbay.
"Don't leave me, okay?" Jess panted as she held Peter's hand and squeezed, another contraction coming through painfully. Peter was talking excitedly as they marched her through the open doors, wondering what names they had picked out and asking people if they thought it would be a boy or girl. Jess wished she was as certain about things as him and Tony.
"Never." Tony promised, lifting her chin with a finger and kissing her lips lightly. "We're about to be parents, Jess. We can do this. We can take on anything this world throws at us." he whispered to her, smiling though she had a tear running down her cheek.
"What if I'm not good enough?"
"No parent thinks they're good enough, Drew. It's a fact. The fact that you're worried and want the best for our baby already makes you good enough. Now, darling, I know you've been holding this baby in... but I think it's time to let Baby Stark out." Tony was grinning, standing up as the doctor came in. She and the people she had hand picked had been staying in the rooms on the same level as the medbay for the last two weeks, wanting to be close just in case.
"Are we ready to have a baby?" Dr. Cho asked, smiling softly as the whole team started cheering and laughing, slapping each other on the back and hugging. "Alright, everybody. Everyone out that doesn't have the last name Stark or is having a baby." One of the nurses herded them out as Tony helped her get into a gown.
The next few hours were Hell. "Torture isn't as bad as this!" Jess had snapped at some point, glaring at Tony as he agreed jokingly. The whole time, all she could think of was how she would love and nurture a child? She didn't remember love, didn't remember what it was like to have parents who cared and were there. Jess had refused the pain meds from Dr. Cho since there was already no way to make sure the baby was healthy all those months. She didn't want another variable that could possibly hurt the baby. After everything that had happened, Jess was so sure something would be wrong. That all of their enhanced ears were wrong and the baby wasn't okay, wasn't alive. Crying as she was pushing, saying she was sorry as Tony continued to encourage her to push.
"Cupcake, I know this is hard and I know a lot isn't known right now... but Jess, you're so close. You're almost there and then we can know for sure, okay? You're the strongest person I know, just a little longer." He was basically cooing, his heart pounding so hard, Jess was scared for a moment that he was having a heart attack. Clenching her teeth and pushing while she yelled, Jess gasped and leaned back after she heard Dr. Cho saying she had done it. It seemed like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for any sound. Her heart almost exploded as she held her breath, letting it out as the baby finally cried.
Tony was crying, something that she wasn't used to, but so was she and she wasn't used to that either. He let his forehead rest against hers, not caring that it was sweaty. Pushing her wet hair back out of her face. "You did it! You did it, see? All that fuss for nothing, piece of cake, eh?" He smirked as she pushed his shoulder, laughing through her sobs and closing her eyes for a moment.
"It's a girl! Do you want to cut the cord, Dad?" Dr. Cho said loudly, and Jess was pretty sure that she saw what suspiciously looked like tears from the doctor as he stepped away for a moment. He was right back at her side, kissing her hand as he beamed down at her.
"They just want to check her real quick, make certain that everything is okay since they haven't been able to check her much the last nine months." Tony explained without Jess saying anything, seeing her looking over as if wondering what was happening.
"Here you go, she's perfect. I already took a little blood sample so we can check and see if she's got the mutation in her blood... congratulations you two." Dr. Cho whispered as she brought the already swaddled baby over and laid her gently on Jess' chest.
Jess' eyes widened as she looked down at the baby. Her heart melted the moment her little eyes opened and she made these little noises that just about broke her already melted heart. She had never even held a baby... now she had one. It was so surreal, she couldn't speak for a moment as the tears kept coming silently. "She's... she's so small." Jess managed to get out, swallowing and looking up at Tony.
"She's perfect." He declared, arm around her as he held her close, using a finger to rub his daughter's little cheek. "She's never going anywhere. Ever. She's going to be carried everywhere, want for nothing, and never cry to be held." Jess laughed as she held the baby in her arms, still mesmerized.
"You want to hold her, daddy?" Jess had taken on the whispering tone that Dr. Cho had settled with, not sure why but knowing it felt right.
The man nodded eagerly, thanking one of the nurse's who brought him a chair before taking the baby so delicately, it surprised Jess. She looked even tinier in his arms as he held her close to him, obviously having the same heart melting condition as Jess as he stared down at the baby in wonder. "We made this, Drew..."
Jess smiled at him as she let her head rest on the pillow, looking at the two most important people in her world. How did she get so lucky...? After all the absolute awful stuff she had done, how did she manage to land a family?
Part of her family was missing, though. "Can we move to a different room? I think she has a brother who wants to meet her..." Jess pointed out to Tony, who only nodded but didn't take his eyes off the baby.
"Wait, really Mr. Stark?! You're letting me be the first to meet Baby S?" Jess chuckled softly as she heard Tony and Peter walking down the hallway as she held the baby. It hadn't been hard deciding who got first dibs.
"Yes, kid. Of course. If it wasn't for your inability to let things go, we wouldn't have met."
"And Miss Drew is okay with it?"
"Peter, I will have Thor smite you if you don't call me Jess." she said sternly, but with a smile, knowing he could hear her from the hallway.
They rounded the bend and Peter's mouth dropped at the pink blanket. "Oh my gosh, it's a girl! Baby S is a girl. She's so tiny, but look how cute!" Peter walked over to the bed, grinning at Jess who grinned right back.
She handed the baby off to Tony before patting the spot next to her on the ridiculous sized beds, waiting for him to sit next to her just like the last time. "Come here often?" Jess teased, ruffling his hair up and pulling him closer to hug. Peter didn't even protest, too happy to care.
"Are you sure I should be sitting here? Are you feeling okay? Is she okay? What's her name?"
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down. Spider healing, kid. I'm just fine. And she's perfect."
"Of course she is, she's a Stark." Tony piped in, making Jess roll her eyes. "What do you say, Underoos? Want to hold the little sister you never had, wanted, or asked for?" Tony was looking at the boy with adoration, a look that Jess fell in love with every time she saw it.
Peter's eyes widened at his words, and Jess wasn't sure what part surprised him. The offer to hold the baby, or Tony basically calling him his son. Really, it wasn't that far fetched of a comment. Tony had worked out with May that Peter was here every weekend and on the holidays. Really, if he could've, Tony would've adopted the boy in a heartbeat. But they all knew (well, besides Peter who was still just shocked that Tony and everyone loved him so much) that Peter was like a son to him. Peter hesitated but ended up nodding with a smile. "If you're sure you're okay with it..."
Tony didn't answer verbally, instead he walked over and slowly put the baby in his arms. Automatically without having to be told, Peter made sure to support the baby's head as he looked down at her in awe. "Wow... she's so small!" Peter parroted Jess' words as he put a finger out to the infant's fist. Laughing quietly as the baby grabbed onto his finger, Peter looked up at Tony who was standing next to Jess with a hand on her shoulder. "She's strong! Just like her mom." Peter winched as Tony cleared his throat, making Jess snicker. "And- and Dad! Hi Baby Stark... my name's Peter. I'm going to be the best big brother to you... I'm going to teach you all the important stuff like how to build robots and sneak Poptarts after bed. I'll protect you no matter what, especially when your mom and dad are being mean. I'll come break you out."
His words made her already melted heart explode in a moment of feels. Glancing over at Tony, she could tell the same thing was happening to him. He had never looked as proud as he did staring at the two kids who had stolen his heart. Taking his phone out, Tony snapped a picture of the two to send to May (and secretly put as his screen saver), before motioning for him to get closer to Jess. Jess put an arm around her kid who was holding her other kid, looking fondly at the two before looking up at the phone with a tired, but happy, smile.
After Peter visited a little and Tony told him to let the other's know they would be able to come in in a little bit, Jess watched her boyfriend carry around their baby. Talking to her about quantum physics and gamma radiation, about mechanics and radioactive spiders... Jess realized the others were right. It turned out, Jess had the perfect gift for Tony after all. A gift that he had never had, couldn't buy, and would always love... she had given him Anya.
A/N: I didn't name the baby Morgan, because that was Pepper's family member and I don't know, it felt weird to me lol! Soooo, we just went totally AU and decided on Anya. Not for any reason but that it's another Spider person haha.