Pepper was disheveled and somewhat sweaty, looking tired and wan, but Tony thought that she'd never been more lovely. He smiled, tenderly, down at her, and the newborn baby that was in her arms.

"He's beautiful, isn't he?" she asked, her eyes moist with happy tears, and her smile wonderous.

Tony looked at the baby that he was holding, and shook his head as he carefully seated himself on the edge of the hospital bed she was in.

"He's perfect," the billionaire agreed. "But I think his brother is a little cuter."

Of course, the baby Tony was holding had been born first, and wasn't quite as red and wrinkly as the one Pepper held. Pepper didn't argue. Instead, she brushed a gentle fingertip along the little cheek of the baby she held, smiling when his mouth opened in a mighty yawn.

"Did you get ahold of Peter?"

"He's on his way." Tony smiled, again, unable to help himself – or maybe he hadn't stopped smiling. "He said that Ned is going to be with him. You don't mind, right?"

"No. You reminded him that they're already born, so there's no reason to speed, or drive recklessly?"

"Of course. He pointed out that it would have been more convenient for them if you'd have delivered at the compound."

The medical facilities at the compound were excellent, of course, and state of the art, but Tony wouldn't have dreamed of having Pepper deliver their twin sons away from the hospital – and her personal doctor. Things had been going amazingly well, the last couple of years, and he wouldn't tempt fate if he could avoid it.

Besides, there was another reason to be at the hospital, that night.

As if summoned by the thought, there was a gentle tap on the door, and Wong stuck his head into the small space created when he opened it.

"Decent?"

Pepper smiled, again, and nodded.

"Come in."

The sorcerer entered the private hospital room, and walked over to the bed, his expression softening when he saw the two babies.

"Look at all that hair…"

"Right?" Tony looked smug – as he should be, considering his small family had just almost doubled in size. "How's Romanoff?"

"She's definitely in labor," came the reply. He held his arms out, clearly asking for a baby, and Tony handed him the newborn that he was holding, watching as Wong easily tucked the baby into his arms, cooing at it to make sure it didn't scream. Plenty of time for that, later, after all. "They said the babies look perfect, for all that they're going to be almost a month early."

"What are the odds of her delivering the same day Pep did?" Tony asked. "And twins, too?"

"Astronomical," Wong agreed.

"You're sure Stephen didn't have anything to do with it?" Pepper asked. "I know she's been pretty moody, lately."

Moody, pregnant, and grumpy, was more the reality. Natasha had been ecstatic when she'd found out that she and Stephen were expecting, but some women were not meant to be pregnant, and she was right there at the top of the list. She was uncomfortable, and she felt huge (it hadn't been any use reminding her that she was carrying two babies, either, of course) and her feet and ankles had been swollen and annoying since only a few weeks in. Nothing tasted right, everything smelled crazy strong, and her back ached. She was snippy with everyone around her – except Peter – and had looked more relieved than concerned when the sharp pains in her back that had been bothering her all morning were identified by Stephen as potential labor pains.

Since Pepper had already been taken to the hospital by sleek helicopter rather than Tony risking the long drive in with her, Natasha had asked Stephen to take her to the same one. Might as well have both sets of twins in the same place, after all. If it was, indeed, the babies coming and not a false labor, or something.

The magician snorted, shaking his head.

"Magic doesn't work like that. Tony."

Stephen did have his own suspicions, however – and so did Wong. Like they'd said, the odds of both Pepper and Natasha becoming pregnant with twins – when there weren't twins in either family line – was next to impossible.

"Does she need anything?" Pepper asked.

"Stephen's with her," he replied, handing the baby back to Tony. "She'll be fine." He looked at the two of them – and then the babies. "Peter's on the way?"

"Yes."

"Good. Which one is which?"

Tony looked at Pepper. They'd been thinking up names since pretty much the minute they knew she was pregnant with boys. Understanding that he was allowing her the final say, Pepper smiled. With her free hand she brushed her fingertips against the baby she was holding.

"This is Parker," she said. "Tony is holding Morgan."

"I can't believe neither is a junior…"

"On purpose," Tony assured him. "I was-"

They were interrupted by another knock, and this time it was Peter who stuck his head into the room, eyes excited and his expression hopeful. Right beside him was Ned.

"Can we come in?"

"Yeah, of course," Stark replied. "Come in son," he said. "Meet your little brothers."

Tony woke with a start, so wrapped up in the dream that he'd expected to be in a hospital room. The sudden motion woke Pepper, who'd been sleeping, soundly, beside him. She opened her eyes, also sitting up.

"Are you alright?"

"What?" he looked around – still looking for babies – and feeling a little foolish when he realized it had been a dream. But what a dream it had been! "Yeah… sorry. I… it was a dream."

"A bad one?" she asked.

She knew better than anyone that he'd had a few in his time, after all. He hadn't had one in a while, though.

"No." he smiled, still wrapped in the scenes that had played out in his mind, and he lay back down, bringing her with him. "It was incredible."

She cuddled up beside him, sleepy, still, and not worried, now.

"What was it about?"

The billionaire pulled her close and kissed her temple, recognizing that she was sleepy and it was the middle of the night. Besides, they had Peter, they didn't need another son. Much less twins. Did they?

"I'll tell you later," he promised. Maybe. "Go back to sleep, Pep."

"M'kay."

Tony waited until she'd fallen asleep, again.

"Friday? Where's Peter?"

"Sleeping in his quarters," came the soft reply, as the AI reacted to the fact that Pepper was asleep. "He's fine."

Tony smiled, and buried his face in Pepper's head.

Life really was good, wasn't it?

With the dream still in his thoughts, he drifted off, holding Pepper and thinking of whatever adventure he and Peter might get into the next day.

THE END

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Author's note: So that's it, guys. That's where I'm going to leave this AU that I've been working on for so long and have had so much fun writing, and reading all of your comments. I'm not done with the Avengers, or with Peter, of course, but this particular story line has gone as far as I think it can go, and it's been incredible for me.

As a spoiler, I will tell you that I was thinking of revisiting the AU I created in the last story – the one with our eight-year old Peter, and maybe running a few stories of the adventures that he has with Tony and the other Avengers. He's much younger, but it'll still be a good time, I think.

Thank you so much!