A/n: I only own Ellie, Grant, and Sarah; all other characters that you recognize are property of Marvel.
a/n2: So it looks like FatWS has wrapped. At least in Prague. Hopefully we will get an idea of release soon!
THank you to the new followers: Titiff and RandomRomanoff
I had big issues actually getting this chapter to post today. So hopefully the third times the charm. It says its posted, but stats and the link don't show it posted. UGH technology
UPDATE: So the chapter posted to the app, I can access it but not on the main website... weird. If you see this even if you don't want to leave a full review. Just post I SEE IT, so I know others can actually see it. Thank you!
Said I've been waiting for that day
Just to feel your warm embrace
Your love has shown
I will never be alone
You will welcome me home
~ Welcome Home (You) by Brian Littrell
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 12:30 am- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Sound asleep, Ellie shot up sucking in a breath as she rubbed her belly when she felt a hard punch, "Girls settle down."
Settling back down, she tried to go back to sleep. Just when she had started drifting off, she felt her lower abdomen cramp up, and winced at the pain. It felt like a deep menstrual cramp. She groaned when she realized that they were not Braxton Hicks contractions like she had became used to, these were the real deal and she was actually feeling them this time.
Ellie slowly rolled and pushed herself up letting out a breath as the contraction stopped, "FRIDAY," She whispered, "Can you contact Bruce for me?"
"Yes Ellie," FRIDAY replied quietly.
Ellie glanced over at Grant, to see he was still sleeping away. She waddled out of the bedroom out to the common area, as a sleepy Bruce in sweatpants and a white t-shirt came down the hall.
"Ellie, are you okay?" Bruce asked concerned.
"I'm having contractions," Ellie told him uncomfortable as she sat down slowly, as another one hit and she looked at the clock, "That was 8 minutes."
"Okay so we are catching it earlier this time than before. Steve said your labor last time came on suddenly," Bruce said as he sat down next to her and took her wrist to see her pulse.
"Well, I didn't really know what the pains were. I know what they are now," Ellie told him as she looked at him concerned, "Bruce, they are still a week earlier than we wanted."
"You made it to 36 weeks, we knew that they wouldn't be as big as Grant, but they will be fine," Bruce assured her, "Do you want to go to the room we set up?"
Before she could answer, Hank walked into the room in the same clothes as the day before, "FRIDAY told me that we have contractions."
"Eight minutes apart," Bruce informed him.
"Want a ride?" Hank asked Ellie with a smile.
"No, no… I am too… holy crap," Ellie said as he picked her up effortlessly, "Well hello."
"Honey you aren't heavy at all," Hank assured her.
Bruce followed them to the elevator that led to the subfloors.
"I didn't realize there were sublevels," Ellie said surprised as they got into the elevator and Bruce hit the button for S3.
"For Tony's…. more….interesting experiments that may blow up. We figured down here, if you surged, it was the safest. Plus everything down here works off a backup generator if the power goes out," Bruce told her as they got out of the elevator and Bruce led them into a room that was set up with equipment.
After placing her onto the bed, Bruce pulled out the belly belt to monitor her contractions, then hooked the monitors up to monitor her heartbeat as well as the babies.
"I think I have them placed correctly. Dr. Golden when she gets here can see better, I'm going to check to see if you are dilated at all," Bruce told her.
"Shit," Ellie said as she threw her head back against the pillows, "Now two official Avengers will have seen my lady business in the worst circumstances."
Bruce laughed as he used FRIDAY to scan her to send to Dr. Golden.
"Dr. Banner, she is three centimeters dilated," FRIDAY informed him.
Bruce looked at Dr. Golden's reply, "She wants to know your pain level?"
Ellie sighed, "Not bad, just sharp period like cramps."
Bruce nodded.
Hank handed her a clicker, "Hit this when you feel those girlies move so we can monitor them better."
"Thanks," Ellie said as she took it as she felt another contraction, then checked the monitor.
Hank looked over the tape as it printed, "Looks even, that's good. Do you want me to call your brother?"
"No," Ellie said shaking her head, "Let him and Mother sleep. This is not going to be Grant's labor."
Ellie laid her head back and closed her eyes then snapped them open, "Shit, Grant…" Ellie said as she tried to push herself up, "I gotta get Grant."
"Ellie, Dum-E is currently moving Grant's crib to Ms. Ramonda's bedroom," FRIDAY told her, "Ms. Ramonda said to rest and she has it handled."
Ellie sighed as she laid back and started crying.
Hank placed his hand on her shoulder, "Why the tears?"
Ellie wiped them away, "This isn't how I imagined this going. Grant's labor, it was so fast I didn't have time to think about everything, plus… Bucky was there."
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 2:30 am- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Ellie opened her eyes as she heard the door open and frowned when Pepper walked into the room in sweats, "What are you doing here?"
"FRIDAY told me as soon as she knew you were in labor," Pepper told her as she pulled a chair over, "How are you feeling?"
"Not bad, it's just like really bad period cramps. The girls are still really moving and everyone has a good heart rate," Ellie told her as she tried to adjust.
"Need help?" Pepper asked as she stood up.
"I just need to readjust the pillow," Ellie told her as she pushed herself up.
Pepper adjusted her pillow lower, "Is that better?"
"Yes, thank you," Ellie said as she closed her eyes after putting the other pillow behind her head.
"Where is Steve?" Pepper asked looking towards the door.
"He will be up at 5:30, if I start going into active labor I will wake him up earlier but…" Ellie said as she yawned, "For right now at least he can sleep."
"How about you? Have you been able to sleep?" Pepper asked.
Ellie shook her head, "Well… I did sleep earlier."
"For how long?" Pepper asked.
"Um… from 9 until a little after midnight," Ellie told her closing her eyes.
"I'll sit with you, how about you close your eyes and get some rest," Pepper suggested.
Ellie shrugged, "Maybe I'll be able to."
"Rest," Pepper said as she sat back in the chair, and put her feet up on the bed then pulled her phone out of her pocket.
Ellie closed her eyes and was able to fall into a restless sleep.
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 3:45 am- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Ellie groaned as a contraction hit her, "Ok fuck that one hurt."
Bruce looked at her monitor, "That was stronger."
"Dr. Banner, there is a Dr. Springston at the door, she said that she is Dr. Golden's assistant," FRIDAY informed them.
"I'll go bring her down," Pepper said as she jumped up.
Bruce looked at Ellie as Pepper left, "Scale of 1-10, how bad was that contraction?"
"Well on the scale of 1- stubbing my toe to 10- getting a Hydra weapon to the back, a four," Ellie told him.
Bruce looked at her, "Say what?"
"In 1943, I took a Hydra weapon to the back. Damaged my kidney and a whole bunch of stuff… without the serum…. Probably wouldn't be having twins. The serum healed me," Ellie told him with a sigh as she looked over at the heart rate monitor of the twins, "I regretted getting it. I honestly thought it would kill me, but it didn't. Back then I wondered why."
Bruce placed his hand on her shoulder, "Now you know why. You brought Grant and these two into the world, plus you will do amazing things. You have done amazing things."
Ellie bit her lip as a tear fell down her face, "Then why do I feel like such a failure?"
Bruce sat on the edge of her bed, "Why do you say that?"
"I can save all these people because I can go into the past, but if I were to tell Bucky information that could change… everything… but I can't, because I could make it worse," Ellie told him torn, "He…Bucky, made me promise, that I wouldn't change anything."
Bruce sighed, "He is right. As far as I know, time travel, time changing other than Dr. Strange, has never been done. I could see how it could be a domino effect. One small change and it could cause a whole mess of issues."
"Well, it sucks," Ellie told him wiping the tears from her face.
"I'm sorry that this kind of burden had to be on you," Bruce told her.
Ellie laid her head back and closed her eyes. Not only did she have the belly bands with the fetal monitor around her midsection monitoring the contractions and the heart rates of the twins, but she also had a pulse ox monitor attached to her finger. She had heart monitor stickers attached to her body attached to another machine. On her head was a cap with what appeared to be a hundred monitors to monitor all the parts of her brain. Thankfully the cap was at least wireless.
Pepper came into the room with a tall redheaded woman following her, "This is Dr. Springston."
"Hello Mrs. Barnes, I am Dr. Springston I am sorry that Dr. Golden could not be here but she had an emergency delivery and two others in active labor, so she asked me to come to check on everything until she could get here," Dr. Springston explained.
Ellie let out a breath, "Okay."
"No worries, I've been doing this for 30 years, I have seen it all," Dr. Springston told her.
Bruce looked at her, "Did she tell you Ellie's background?"
"I brought one of my best labor nurses with me and I read her case file on the drive over," Dr. Springston said washing her hands, "Let's see where we are."
After another exam, Dr, Springston told her that there was no change, that she should try to get the sleep that she could. Another wire went into her hand to administer pain medication through an IV, to knock the edge off so she could sleep.
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 6:30 am- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Ellie's fluttered open as she groaned when a sharp contraction hit her.
Suddenly a hand was within her own, and she looked at Steve blurry-eyed as he came into focus.
"Just breathe, I'm here," Steve told her as he ran the other one over her face.
Ellie breathed through the contraction and let the grip go on his hand, "When did you get here?"
"About 45 minutes ago, FRIDAY told me when I woke up. Why didn't you wake me?" Steve asked.
"These two are in no rush," Ellie told him as she relaxed back into her pillows, "We didn't need both of us going without sleep. Pepper was here with me."
"She went up to sleep, told me to wake her as soon as there was progress," Steve told her, "So these two are more Bucky than you?"
Ellie laughed, "Let's hope. He was way more patient than I ever was."
She looked up at the ceiling blinking back tears, "I can't do this Steve."
"You are doing it and you will be awesome at it. You already did it before, much faster and… harder. This time shouldn't be as bad, it will be spread out over hours instead of 45 minutes," Steve joked.
"Not funny," Ellie said as she threw her arm over her face.
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 11 am- Esopus, New York *~*~*
"Momma!" Grant yelled as he ran down the hallway to her as she walked back and forth to stretch her legs.
"Little Man! Oh my baby," Ellie said as Steve grabbed him and picked him up.
Grant leaned over and kissed her then frowned at her head, "Momma, ow?"
"Mommy is okay," Ellie assured him, "The babies are going to be here soon."
"Baby? No baby," Grant said.
Steve laughed, "Too late for that Bud."
Grant frowned, "Dada baby?"
"No Dada sweetheart," Ellie said trying to hold back the tears.
Ellie grabbed onto the wall as another contraction hit.
Steve set Grant down, "Go run."
Grant laughed as he ran down the hallway.
Steve rubbed her back, "Just breathe."
"Better said than done," Ellie growled, "Where is Grant?"
"He is showing off how he can run," Steve told her as Ramonda grabbed him, "Ramonda has him."
Ellie straightened up, "I better start dilating fast, this is getting old."
Steve laughed as Ramonda walked over with Grant.
"How are you, darling?" Ramonda asked.
Ellie had to swallow the lump in her throat, "Doing okay. These two aren't as impatient as this little one," She said as she rubbed Grant's head.
"Are you hungry?" Ramonda asked, "Maybe a soup for lunch?"
"That sounds amazing," Ellie told her.
"I'll go get you some, come on Grant," Ramonda said.
"He can stay Mother," Ellie told her as she slowly sat down on a bench, "I want some time with him."
Ramonda nodded as she went back to the elevator.
Ellie laughed as Grant ran into the wall laughing, then groaned as her muscles protested.
Steve sat down next to her, "He has so much energy."
Ellie smiled at him, "So did you when you were younger. Mom always told me that I was the old soul."
The elevator opened and Ellie looked up to see Dr. Golden, "Doc!"
"Hello Ellie, Mr. Rogers," Dr. Golden said as she walked over to them, "How are we doing? Sorry, this is the soonest I could get here. Something about holiday stress makes babies come."
"Not bad," Ellie told her, "Contractions are five minutes apart and strong but not severe as they could be. Of course, I have this."
Dr. Golden nodded at her IV pole, "Does it seem to be helping?"
"It has taken the edge off but I didn't want too many drugs in my system," Ellie told her.
"How about we head inside the room and I'll take a look to see where we are," Dr. Golden suggested.
Ellie nodded, "Hopefully getting closer," She said as Steve helped her stand up.
After an exam, Dr. Golden took her gloves off and washed her hands, "Well you are 50% effaced now but at 4-5 centimeters. Mr. Stark offered me his helicopter so I can go back and forth to the hospital as you need me. Since there is not much progress, I will put you back into Dr. Springston's hands and go back to the hospital. Unless things start progressing faster, I don't think they will be here before dinner."
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 4 pm- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Ellie groaned as a hard contraction hit her, and she cried as it ended.
"I wish I could do something," Steve said wiping her forehead.
Ellie swallowed hard as she laid her head on the pillow, "I'm so tired."
Dr. Springston walked in, "How are things going?"
"Can we do anything for the pain? They are getting so painful now, that she is getting exhausted," Steve told her.
"Let's take a look," Dr. Springston said as she moved the bottom of the bed and dropped it down so she could examine Ellie, "Well, good news, you are at 5cm now. So we can give you the epidural now."
"Thank god," Ellie said, "Even if it just takes the edge off and doesn't block the pain, it will…. Oh god."
Steve took her hand as another contraction hit her.
"I will be right back, and you should be feeling better in no time," Dr. Springston told her as she left the room.
Ellie let out a breath as she sobbed, "I give in, give me the C-section."
Steve took her hand, "You know what they said, that it might be difficult if they had to do the c-section with our accelerated healing."
"I am a dumbass, why did I do this to myself?" Ellie sobbed.
"Do what? Get pregnant?" Steve asked confused.
"No, get the damn serum," Ellie said.
"El, because you wouldn't be here if you didn't. Grant wouldn't be here, the girls wouldn't be here. Hell, I wouldn't be here. I'm glad you did it," Steve told her squeezing her hand, "I'd be lonely if you didn't."
"Kiss up," Ellie hiccupped.
Steve kissed her forehead, "I know this is painful and you are tired. I wish I could help you with that, but I'm here for you."
Dr. Springston walked in with a man following behind her pushing a cart, "Alright Ellie, time for the good stuff."
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 6 pm- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Ellie looked up at the monitor as her stomach tightened up and spread through her back again, "There was another."
Natasha looked over her magazine as Ellie started itching again, "You are scratching again."
"I'm just so itchy suddenly," Ellie said as she grabbed her cup and started sucking on ice.
"It's the meds. It sucked," Natasha told her as Dr. Springston came in.
"How are we doing?" She asked as she washed her hands.
"I don't hurt from the contractions, I feel them as tightness but I can breathe better now. The worst thing is the itchiness," Ellie told her.
Dr. Springston pulled her sheet up to examine her, "If the itchiness gets worse, let me know. We will have to turn the epidural down. So you are at 6cm so I will call her to tell her to come here. I want to suggest something for when she gets here," Dr. Springston told her sitting back.
"What is that?" Ellie asked.
"Your contractions are every 3 minutes but we aren't progressing as fast as we'd like. I suggest starting Pitocin to start the contractions stronger and faster," Dr, Springston told her.
"No," Ellie stated, "They have a serum in their veins, I have the pain meds, epidural… no… no more drugs. If they aren't in distress, no."
Dr. Springston nodded, "They are doing great. I just don't want you to get too tired."
Steve walked back in, "Good news?"
"Dr. Golden gets the call, I'm at a 6," Ellie told him as he stood next to Natasha and her chest started burning as it itched, "GOD my chest is the worst part of this whole itching and my stomach."
Dr. Springston walked over to her, "I can give you some lotion that will help. Let's take off your necklaces-"
"NO!" Steve yelled causing them all to jump.
"What the hell Steve?" Natasha asked confused.
"No, leave on your necklaces… just… please," Steve told her.
Ellie looked at him confused then nodded, "Necklaces stay, they really aren't bothering me."
"Ok, I'll go call her and tell her she needs to be coming here," Dr. Springston said as she left the room.
"What was that about?" Natasha asked Steve.
Steve sighed, "Future you told me not to let them take your necklaces off," Steve told Ellie.
Ellie nodded, "Alright, so they stay… for some reason. If future me says they need to stay, they stay."
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 8 pm- Esopus, New York *~*~*
"Fuck," Ellie said as she grabbed the sides of the bed.
"What's wrong?" Steve asked as he came back over to her.
"Shit my water just broke," Ellie said as her head snapped back to the bed, "Oh God!" She moaned as a contraction hit her harder.
"Breathe," Steve said as he took her hand and felt her shaking.
"Stop… telling…. Me to breathe!" Ellie growled as she relaxed as the contraction stopped.
"Sorry," Steve said as he massaged her hand, "Are you cold? You are shivering."
"I've been shivering since the epidural but it just got worse," Ellie told him trying to catch her breath.
Steve looked at the nurse in the room with them, "Is that normal?"
"I'll go get Dr. Golden, it can be but we will have her look," The nurse said as she left.
Ellie held his hand tighter, "Something… is wrong…. Isn't it?"
"We don't know that," Steve told her as he kissed her hand.
Dr. Golden walked in and went to the sink, "So we have the shivers?"
"Occasional teeth chattering too," Steve told her.
Dr. Golden walked over to the monitors, "Your respirations are higher than I'd like but no signs of distress. This happens with an epidural sometimes and we had to give you double the dose."
Ellie groaned as another contraction hit her.
"This is what we will do, after this contraction… we will put you on oxygen and put you on your side. See if that helps any," Dr. Golden told them as she started getting a mask ready.
After her contraction stopped, Nurse Julie, Dr. Golden, and Steve helped her onto her side then Dr. Golden put a mask over her face.
Ellie took Steve's hand back in hers, "Karma is coming back to bite me," Ellie told him.
"Why?" Steve asked leaning closer to hear her over the oxygen.
"I never was sick, never had any issues," Ellie told him as some of the shivers went away, "Now all that is biting me."
"Seems like your breathing is better," Steve said looking at Dr. Golden.
"Respirations are more normal, with twins sometimes just staying on your back cuts off some breathing space, on your side opens up the airways a bit more," Dr. Golden told them, "Plus adrenaline crash… just call me if you need me."
Ellie let out a slow breath as she held Steve's hand as another contraction hit her.
"You are doing great," Steve said as he rubbed her back.
"Don't touch me!" Ellie yelled as he stopped rubbing her back then she cried after the contraction stopped, "I'm… sorry Steve," She sobbed, "I do need you."
Steve leaned forward and kissed her forehead, "I know, I don't take offense."
"You are eight centimeters now, so should be soon now that your water has broken," Nurse Julie told them.
"You can do this," Steve told Ellie.
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 9:30 pm- Esopus, New York *~*~*
Ellie looked at Steve, "I can't feel my contractions anymore. It's just tightness every minute and a half."
"That's a good thing right?" Steve asked as Ramonda paced behind Ellie.
"Dr. Golden is coming back in here to see her progress so I turned the epidural back up to where it was, we turned it down when her shakes got too bad," Julie told them.
"Great, so shakes will be returning," Ellie said as Steve looked up as Dr. Golden came in.
"How is everything going?" Dr. Golden asked going over to wash her hands.
"Contractions aren't painful but I feel pressure," Ellie told her looking at Steve.
"Let's get you on your back and I'll check to see where we are," Dr. Golden told her.
Steve held her move onto her back and Ramonda took her hand.
"You are doing amazing my child," Ramonda told her.
"Well great news," Dr. Golden said as she looked up at her, "You are nearly at 10cm, sitting around 9 ½ actually but you aren't completely effaced. How about we do some practice pushes since you didn't push before with your son with an epidural."
Ellie nodded as Nurse Julie moved her bed up so that she was sitting up more.
"Alright, on your next contraction, I want you to push but not hard pushes just testing your muscles with soft flexing to try them out without feeling," Dr. Golden told her.
Ellie nodded as she let out a breath. Then inhaled as she felt the pressure, "Ok."
Steve held her hand as Ramonda rubbed her back as she pushed.
"Not so hard, your muscles know what to do, there you go…now relax," Dr. Golden told her as her contraction stopped, "Alright, we will wait until the next contraction and we will push until 10."
Ellie nodded as Ramonda wiped her forehead, "Thank you, Mom."
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Ramonda told her.
"Okay, let's push again," Dr. Golden said as another contraction hit.
Ellie pushed.
"1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…and 10," Dr. Golden counted, "Rest, that push effaced you, so it's time to get the team together because I can see baby A's head."
"Really?" Ellie asked surprised.
"Yes, so while we get the team in here and prepared, no pushing… just relax and let nature just bring her down the rest of the way and we will be ready," Dr. Golden told her with a smile, "You are doing great."
Ellie looked at Steve, "Talk about a Christmas present."
Steve laughed, "At least they aren't born on Christmas."
Ellie laughed, "That's for sure. That would suck having to share your….oooh…..birthday on … Christmas."
The door opened and two other nurses came into the room and Dr. Springston with another nurse and with Hank and Bruce.
"Should have put you in our deluxe suite," Bruce joked as he walked over to her, "How are you kiddo?"
Ellie chuckled as she looked at him, "I'm way older than you."
"You don't look it though," Bruce told her.
Ellie breathed through another contraction as they got everything set up, "How is everything looking, Hank?"
Hank tried to stay out of the way, "Nothing changing on the monitors outside of… sorry…" Hank said as he moved out of the way of a nurse, "Just normal brain activity. You know what, I better wait outside. I'm no help in the actual birth. I'll monitor from the hallway."
Ellie laughed as Bruce looked at her, "He is a little squeamish about it," Bruce told her with a wink.
*~*~* December 23, 2018 – 10 pm- Esopus, New York *~*~*
"Alright, who is going to be assisting?" Dr. Golden asked.
"Steve, you are at my head," Ellie told him.
"That is fine with me," Steve said coming to the top of the bed.
"I'll hold a leg," Ramonda said coming next to her right leg.
"I'll help," Bruce said as he rubbed her left knee.
"Thank you," Ellie said wiping a tear.
Steve looked around, "Everyone, can I have your attention quickly?" He asked in his Captain America voice.
Everyone stopped and looked at him.
"Look I know you have all been briefed, but please make sure you don't have your phones on you or anything that electronically can get damaged," Steve said taking Ellie's hand, "This isn't going to be a typical delivery."
One of the nurses left the room causing another one to laugh.
Ellie squeezed his hand, "Thank you…. Steve," Ellie groaned as another contraction hit her, "I have to push."
Dr. Golden sat on her stool, "She is ready, Grandma, want to keep count of the pushes?"
Ramonda nodded, "10…9…8…7…6…5…4...3…2…1"
Ellie stopped to catch her breath.
After five minutes of pushing Ellie started sobbing, "I want Bucky."
Steve kissed the top of her head, "I know you do, I wish he was here too."
Ellie growled as she pushed again with Ramonda counting, "Bucky! I need you here!"
"I'm here"
Ellie sobbed, "No I need you here for real."
Ellie felt a ghost of a kiss against her temple, "There are too many people."
"Fuck people, I need you," Ellie groaned.
"Who are you talking to?" Steve asked confused.
"BUCKY! I WANT TO SEE YOU!" Ellie yelled.
Steve nearly fell off the bed as Bucky appeared right across from him in the same outfit as he saw him in last, semi-transparent but there, "Hey Steve," Bucky said with a smile, "Thanks for all this."
Ramonda looked at him with tears in her eyes, "How?"
Bucky shrugged, "I don't know, I just… I'm here when she needs me."
Ellie held up her hand, "I can't do this Buck."
Bucky moved into her sight, "Yes you can, you are doing awesome angel," Bucky told her as he tried to take her hand and couldn't.
She pushed again.
"Her head is out, now it's just the shoulders," Dr. Golden told her.
Ellie looked up at Bucky as he seemed to flicker, "Don't leave me… stay," Ellie begged.
"I won't leave until you want me to," Bucky told her.
Ellie grunted as she pushed.
"We have baby A!" Dr. Golden announced holding her up.
Ellie cried as she watched Dr. Golden hand her off to one of the nurses.
"Kasie," Bucky said in awe.
Ellie looked at him, "Kasie Faith Winifred."
"Perfect," Bucky said as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead.
Dr. Golden took the ultrasound machine, "Okay sissy needs to flip, she is head down, but face down."
"What does that mean?" Ellie asked her.
"I'm going to have to turn her," Dr. Golden told her, "It will be more comfortable for both of you that way."
Nurse Julie finished wiping Kasie off as she started fussing.
The other nurse walked over with scissors.
"Steve, go ahead," Bucky told him.
Steve took the scissors and cut Kasie's cord as they laid her on Ellie's chest.
"God she's perfect," Ellie said looking at her.
"Just like her mommy," Bucky told her.
Ellie started crying again as Dr. Golden told Julie to take her to check her over.
"Just until Baby B comes," Dr. Golden told her with a smile, "I think she is ready now."
Ellie started pushing again as a contraction hit her.
"You are my superhero baby," Bucky told her as Beckie came much faster than Kasie within ten minutes of pushing, with Kasie crying in the background, Beckie entered the world.
Ellie laid her head back catching her breath.
"God El, you are my hero," Bucky told her as they set Beckie on her chest and started cleaning her up.
Bruce slowly set her leg down, "Great job, Ellie."
Ellie tried to catch her breath and frowned as Beckie didn't cry, "She isn't crying."
"She is just having a harder time," Dr. Golden said as she cut the cord, "Let's get her mouth cleared out and she will be screaming away like her sissy."
Ellie bit her lip, "Buck."
"She is fine," Bucky told her as he watched her be taken away and followed her.
Steve squeezed her hand, "Have you been able to see him this whole time?"
"No, I can feel him and I saw him once but… I was half asleep, I thought it was just that I was half asleep," Ellie said watching the glowing form of Bucky watch over Beckie as Nurse Julie brought over Kasie, who was crying.
"Momma, do you want to hold her?" Julie asked.
"Yes," Ellie said as she took her and pulled down the blanket, "Hey there beautiful, I am Momma."
"She is adorable, El," Steve told her as she looked up at him and he frowned.
"What?" Ellie asked confused.
"Your eyes," Steve said, "They are kind of glowing red."
"What?" Ellie asked confused.
"I don't know, I've never seen that before," Steve told her as Beckie started crying
"Thank God," Ellie said as she looked over and Bucky gave her a thumbs up.
"Okay Momma, here is baby B, she is having a little more difficulty with her lungs, but that is common in twins, we have an isolette and oxygen. She is okay but just isn't adjusting as well as baby A to the outside world," The nurse said as she laid Beckie in Ellie's other arm, then adjusted the tiny oxygen cord that was attached to her.
"But she will be okay?" Ellie asked.
"No signs of distress, just a slight struggle. Nothing that would require her to be transferred to the hospital. Dr. Banner made sure to get all the equipment that you may need," Dr. Golden told her as she looked over at , "In fact, I am confident in the fact, I am releasing you to Dr. Springston. I will come back and check on you tomorrow but congratulations Mommy," She said as she looked at Bucky's ghostly form, "And Daddy."
Steve cleared his throat, "I'll walk you out, Dr. Golden."
Ellie looked at Bucky, "They are here."
"Just as beautiful as I knew they'd be," Bucky told her.
"Alright, so Baby A, any name picked out for her yet?" Julie asked.
Ellie looked up at Bucky with a smile then back at Julie, "Kasie Faith Winifred Barnes."
"Winifred…. That is an old name," Julie said.
Ellie looked at Kasie, "That was her Grandmother's name."
"Well, she was 7lbs, 2 oz and 18.9 inches long. For a twin, that is amazing," Julie told her, "What about her sister?"
"Rebecca," Ellie said looking at Bucky, "Rebecca Shuri Wanda Barnes."
"Oh Ellie," Ramonda said as she started crying.
"I wanted to include Nat in there too but, she would have killed me," Ellie said with a tearful laugh.
"Well, Miss Rebecca is a little smaller than her sister, 6lbs 4 oz and only 18.5 inches but that is healthy for a twin too," Julie told her, "But I have to take them to get them cleaned up all the way and we want to just keep a closer eye on little Miss Rebecca."
"Thank you," Ellie said as she took them and handed Kasie off to another nurse then laid her head back as she put her arm over her face, "God I am a Mom of three."
"I'm so sorry Angel."
Ellie looked at Bucky, "For what? God Buck… look at them, they… they are perfect."
"I'm going to miss it all," Bucky said sadly.
"Look at me. I want you here, trust me I do," Ellie said as she started crying, "But I don't want you stuck here as a ghost. You need to move on."
"I don't know if I can," Bucky told her.
"I'll be okay," Ellie told him, "I have Steve and Nat, and Mom. I will miss you every moment… but you aren't meant to be here anymore. I don't know how you are still here in the first place but… the big guy is calling you up."
Ramonda shook her head, "It is not fair."
Ellie wiped her tears, "I know, life is never fair but… we have faith… I have faith that we will all be back together again."
"Wait, don't go yet Bucky. I'll go get Grant from Natasha. I want you to all be together just once," Ramonda said as she left the room.
After offering congratulations, slowly all the medical staff left leaving only Julie and Dr. Springston behind working on cleaning both girls up.
Ellie looked at Bucky, "Stay with me until I fall asleep."
"I won't leave you until you want me to leave," Bucky told her sadly.
"I don't ever want you to leave, but I want you to get rest," Ellie told him as Steve came in.
"Sorry I just wanted to make them all sign a nondisclosure agreement about… everything," Steve said as he looked at Bucky, "Hey Buck."
Bucky looked at Steve, "Thanks Punk."
Steve looked at the ground, "I'm sorry that I couldn't stop him."
"Seriously? You took on this… alien with Godlike powers with your hands and survived, you did nothing wrong. I'll be back, we will all be back. As Ellie said… have faith," Bucky told him.
"Alright Mommy, both girls are doing well. I'll hand them back over to you," Julie told her, "We will just have to monitor Rebecca a bit closer, she has a monitor on her foot to keep an eye on her breathing."
Ellie took Kasie into her arms first, then let Julie put Rebecca into the other arm, "Hello my girls."
Kasie blinked and opened her eyes.
"Oh Bucky," Ellie said looking up at him.
Bucky leaned over and kissed Kasie's forehead, "Hello my sweetheart," Bucky said as he looked at Rebecca, "Beckie, our baby girl, look at you."
"I'll be in the other room if you need me, we will give you some time," Dr. Springston told them as Julie put a clean blanket over Ellie's legs then followed Dr. Springston out.
Ellie looked down at the girls, "They are so beautiful."
"Of course, they are like their mommy," Bucky said as the door flew open and Natasha came in with Grant.
"Dada!" Grant yelled as he saw him.
"Oh Grant, my little buddy," Bucky said as he walked over to him.
"Holy shit, you are… you are here," Natasha said in shock.
Bucky swallowed hard then looked at her, "Ellie can't hold me here much longer. Can you put him on the bed?"
Natasha nodded as she walked over to the bed then set Grant down.
"Momma?" Grant asked as he turned his head, "Baby?"
"No honey, babies. Meet your sisters," Ellie told Grant as Steve helped him up next to Ellie, "This is Beckie and this is Kasie."
Beckie opened her eyes and reached her hand out to Kasie.
"Steve," Natasha said as she swallowed hard, "We need to give them some time."
Steve looked at Bucky, "I love you, Buck."
"I love you too Punk, take care of them for me," Bucky told him.
Steve nodded as he left the room.
Ramonda swallowed, "I'll give the two of you time, will you be okay?" Ramonda asked Ellie.
Ellie nodded, "Thanks, Mom."
Grant pulled a car out of his pocket and started running it up Ellie's legs under the covers.
"I am so proud of you my son," Ramonda said as she turned and left the room.
Ellie sniffed, "Just us, God I wish you could touch me and hold them."
Bucky reached out and wiped a tear away from her eye, "You control what I can do, somehow."
Ellie leaned into his hand, "Do you want to hold your children?"
Bucky picked up Beckie and held her out in front of him, "Hello beautiful, now… you have to listen to Daddy. You aren't to give too much trouble to your Mom, okay? I want you to behave and be a good girl. Give your Mom a break sometimes. You got lucky, you got the best one."
He set Beckie back into her arms and she placed her on her breast as he picked Kasie up, who looked at him immediately, "Oh sweetheart, I feel like I already know you. You are going to be our little firecracker I have a feeling. I love you and your sister so much. I'll always be there with you," Bucky told her as he gazed down at her.
Bucky sighed as he set Kasie back into Ellie's arms and helped her adjust her to her other breast.
Ellie sighed then flinched as Kasie latched, "I didn't miss this," Ellie said as he then picked Grant up.
Grant frowned, "Dada bye?" Grant asked touching Bucky's face.
"Yeah bud, I'm going to have to go soon. I am so proud of you and how you are growing. Daddy loves you so much. I want you to be good for Mommy and listen. Eat your healthy growing food, even those beans you hate so much," Bucky told him.
Grant placed his hand on Bucky's face, "No sad."
"You are right, no sad," Bucky said as he kissed Grant's forehead, "I love you so much."
"Can you put them in their beds?" Ellie asked him clearing her throat after the twins finished eating.
Bucky took each girl and placed them into their beds then turned back to Ellie, "You need rest."
Ellie shook her head as tears streamed down her face, "I don't want you to leave."
"I'll always be here for you," Bucky told her.
"No, you need to move on… go… to heaven," Ellie sobbed.
Bucky leaned over and kissed her, "I love you so much. You are my rock, my whole heart. I'll be back. It will be a few years but I'll be back."
Ellie touched his face, "Did I tell you something?"
"No, but… I have a feeling," Bucky told her.
"Come here," Ellie said holding her arms open.
Bucky climbed into bed and held her with Grant in between them then looked over at the girls, "We did good Angel."
"Yeah, we did. We got lucky," Ellie told him as she chewed on her lip.
Bucky ran his thumb over her lip then kissed her, "Quit biting your lip, I noticed you do it more now than ever before."
Ellie sighed, "I know."
"I love you and I'm so fucking proud of you Angel, never forget that," Bucky told her.
"I love you so much," Ellie said as she sniffled back her tears, "I won't say goodbye."
"It's just an I'll see you soon," Bucky told her as he held her to him tighter then looked at Grant, "I see he is out."
Ellie took a shaky breath, "He's back in Daddy's arms… we haven't been this happy in a while."
"Don't be afraid to be happy," Bucky told her as he played with her hair, "Don't be sad and put your life on hold until I get back."
Ellie nodded, "I'll do my best."
"You are exhausted, angel. You need to rest. Get some rest," Bucky told her.
"I will miss you," Ellie said as tears fell down her face and relaxed into his arms.
Bucky kissed her forehead, "I love you."
Ellie held Grant to her tighter as she felt him leave.
She held her eyes tight together refusing to open them until she heard the door open and a sharp intake of breath.
Opening her blurry eyes, she gave Steve a forced smile, "Hi."
"Oh El," Steve said as he walked over and climbed into Bucky's vacated spot.
"I was selfish, I told him to wait until they were born," Ellie sobbed.
"He got to see them at least," Steve told her.
"And hold them," Ellie sobbed, "What am I going to do Steve?"
"I wish I had the answers… but I don't but I'm here for you," Steve told her as he kissed the top of her head.
A/N3:And there we go, I'll admit I cried writing it and rereading it as I edited it. Hope you all enjoyed it though.
Now to the reviews:
Cheryl Alvarro: hopefully it was a good mind-blown ;) Thank you for reading and reviewing!
PrettyRecklessLaur: Thank you for reading and reviewing! I am hoping to be able to write more soon for hopefully a bonus chapter as soon as I can!
Preview of Chapter 98- Miss You Most
"No," Ellie said adamantly.
"What?" Hank asked confused.
"No one else will know about this," Ellie told him, "Keep it here in the compound, please. Even then… I don't want too many people knowing."
Hank leaned towards her, "Do you know what it is?"
"No, but…" Ellie sighed, "I don't want others to have suspicions of shit. SHIELD and by default, Hydra pumped who knows what shit into me. I want answers but… some things don't need to be answered."
