A/N: Don't own anything Avengers…..I've been thinking on expanding this story and some ideas came through in my dreams….hope you enjoy and Please REVIEW, I would like to hit 5 Reviews at some point.
Hope is Born Today
Chapter 2: Invitation
"She's so tiny" Steve says in amazement at how tiny little Hope is. Steve looks at Clint and Tony as they chuckle and smirk.
"What?" Steve asks at his chuckling friends.
"We all start out tiny Cap" Clint reminds him causing Steve to blush a bit.
Eva sighs tiredly and smiles down at her daughter, "Didn't feel tiny a bit ago"
Hope lets out another yawn as she stretches her little fist out of the blanket causing everyone to give a joint "aww" as Eva leans back heavily onto Clint's chest.
"Eva" Bruce calls out.
"Hmm"
"I would like for you and Hope to stay here for a few days so I can monitor you both if that's ok" Bruce asks.
"Um…I don't know Doc, I don't have any of her supplies here or even a change of clothes for myself, besides I've intruded long enough on you all's hospitality." Eva states
Tony waives his hand dismissively, "Oh don't worry about that, I can get whatever this little bambina needs for a few days and a few things for you as well"
Eva is overwhelmingly tired and really doesn't know what to say to that, "Um…"
Hope lets out a squeak of noise and a full body stretch, well as much as she could still swaddled in the blanket causing everyone to look down at her and smile.
"Well it's settled then, the little one over-ruled her Momma" Tony says chuckling and rubbing his hands together excitedly, "I guess I'm going baby shopping." Tony drops a light kiss on Eva's head and just a brush of his lips on Hope's before heading out the door.
"Nat you better go catch him or he's going to be buying a year's worth of kids clothes and it will all be Iron Man onesies" Clint states.
Eva giggles tiredly at these people and their antics.
"Um…So Doc where will we be staying at?" Eva asks Bruce.
"Well, I have a spare room in my apartment upstairs, it wouldn't be any trouble and that way I can monitor you and Hope in case there are any complications" Bruce says shyly.
"He means hog the baby" Clint says from behind Eva.
"I-I wouldn't" Bruce whines causing Steve and Clint to laugh, Eva smile warmly at him.
"Doc are you sure?" Eva asks Bruce who is transfixed on Hope as he reaches out his fingers to touch Hope's little hand when she grabs hold and hangs on to his index finger with her tiny grip.
"She's strong" Bruce says in awe, "just like her Momma"
Clint shares a quick look with Steve as they both watch Bruce interact with the little one and see a change in the man.
"Yeah, I promise it's no problem besides with this lot there will be no shortage of sitters so you can rest and recover" Bruce states.
"Okay" Eva responds quietly.
"Okay?" Bruce confirms surprisedly.
"Um yeah…but only for a few days" Eva states firmly
"Of course" Bruce agrees secretly hoping it's more than that but doesn't dare say anything and tries hard to guard his facial expressions but Clint sees the excitement before Bruce can lock it down.
"Well if you're ready we can get you moved in now if you like" Bruce offers.
"I really don't think I'm up to walking yet Doc and you all are not carrying me I don't care how big Steve's muscles are" Sara states causing Steve to blush and Clint to snort.
"Ah well I think there is a wheelchair around here somewhere" Bruce comments.
"I'll go grab it" Steve says still blushing as he walks out of the medical room and down the hall before he quickly returns with said wheelchair.
"Your chariot my lady"
"Why thank you kind sir" Eva says with a smile.
"Steve why don't you hold Hope while Clint and I help Eva into the chair" Bruce recommends
"Um…" Steve hesitates.
"Oh come on Cap it's easy come here, now place your arms like so, good now Eva go ahead" Clint instructs the two of them.
"She's so warm" Steve whispers which brings Bruce over to check on her.
"She's okay. Baby's need to be kept warm and swaddled to help regulate their temperature, you're doing fine Cap, just remember to support her head and neck, yep just like that" Bruce tells Steve with encouragement looking at his cradling arms.
As Clint scoots back from Eva to hop off the table he and Bruce begin to slowly help Eva down from the table as well and into the wheelchair adding a warm blanket across her legs as Steve keep a close watch over his precious cargo.
"You little one caused quite a stir today, especially with Dr. Banner" Steve whispers to Hope.
Hope gives Steve a yawn then crinkles her forehead as she waves her little hand out of the blanket towards him. Steve's heart melts.
"Oh don't give me that look, I'll tell you a secret little one, I think Bruce needs a little stirring up anyway so do you think that you and your Momma are going to be up to the challenge hmm, you'll have plenty of back up from the Team I promise" Steve smiles down at Hope.
"You're not giving away any trade secrets over there are you Cap?" Clint asks seeing Steve having a one sided conversation with little Hope causing Steve roll his eyes at Clint and stick his tongue out at him.
"Oh that's mature" Clint chuckles
"Don't be silly, just checking to see if this little angel is ready for her next mission" Steve states his eyes were dancing with humor and mischief.
"Um…yeah no missions till she can at least walk and talk buster and you better get clearance with mission control, that being me" Eva states around her hand covering another yawn.
"Come on Momma let's get you settled in Bruce's quarters and see were Tony is at with ordering the supplies" Clint states as he pushes Eva out of the medical room and to the elevator.
"Bruce" Steve calls motioning for him to take Hope as Steve deposits her into Bruce's waiting arms cradled safely.
"It's a good look for you Bruce" Steve states as they walk out of the room and join Clint and Eva on the waiting elevator.
The elevator finally stops on Bruce's floor as everyone piles out and heads towards Bruce's apartment door.
"Jarvis would you please unlock my quarters, thank you" Bruce calls out still cradling Hope in his arms.
"Of course Dr. Banner" Jarvis replies as the click is heard. Steve opens the door for Bruce who walks in and is followed by Clint pushing Eva and Steve bring up the rear.
Bruce's quarters are designed like the rest of the Team's, a small kitchenette and table, living room, hallway with full bath and two bedrooms, the difference in Bruce's rooms are the books. There are books everywhere, a rather impressive book shelf taking up one whole wall in the living room, stacked on the kitchen table, the coffee table and if Bruce wanted to be honest the spare bedroom is his catch all for the remainder of them, which he forgot about and will need to quickly shuffle them out to make room for Eva and Hope.
"Um….so yeah lots of books, sorry" Bruce says to everybody shyly.
"Don't worry about it Bruce, we all have our own personal things in our rooms as well, that's why Tony gave the Team the rooms" Steve states easily.
As Clint pushes Eva further into the living room and around the obstacle course of books she suddenly reaches down to the wheels to stop the chair.
"What…Eva you okay?" Clint asked not sure why she stop him.
"Couch please"
"Eva you need rest" Bruce states.
"Yeah and I can do it just fine on the couch which looks so damn comfortable" Eva simply states.
Steve clucks his tongue, "Language in front of the baby" Bruce and Clint snort and laugh, Eva looks at Steve like he's crazy.
"Um…she's not even twenty-four hours old Steve, I don't think we need to worry about that quite yet" Eve says rolling her eyes at him causing Steve to huff.
Clint rolls Eva over to the couch and helps move her from the chair onto the over-stuffed couch.
"Clint there is a side handle that will kick the feet out so Eva can recline back" Bruce lets Clint and Eva know.
Clint reclines Eva back and causing her to sigh in comfort making the men smirk in understanding.
"Nice huh" Steve asks.
"Oh yeah, okay Doc hand her over she is probably hungry by now" Eva states to Bruce holding her arms out for Hope and notices she is starting to get fussy.
"Um unless you boys want a show I'm going to needs some kind of shawl or blanket while us ladies take care of business" Eva says watching all three of them blush and scramble to find something for her.
Bruce comes back in with a light weight blanket, unfolds it and lays it across her chest.
"Thank you Doc"
Eva pulls the blanket over her head has she pulls down her top so she can get Hope to latch on to her nipple and begin to feed. It takes a few minutes but once Hope is in position she begins to suckle and Eva pops her head back out so she can breathe leaving a wide enough opening for Hope to also get plenty of air flow.
"She on?" Clint asks, being a Dad of three he is more accustom to this then the other two men.
"Oh yeah, she's got her Momma's appetite" Eva says with a tired smile laying her head back on the couch trying to relax as Hope feeds.
"Um Bruce, why don't we clean out your spare room and make sure everything is set up for them in there while the ladies are otherwise occupied" Steve suggest.
"Ah yeah, good idea Cap. Eva we are going to be just in the other room, call out if you need something okay" Bruce informs her.
Eva just waives a tired hand at them and ducks back under the blanket to check on how Hope is doing then pops back out again, eyes closed and relaxed.
"Bruce I'm going to go check on Nat and Tony and see when we can expect everything to be delivered" Clint stated and then made his way out of Bruce's apartment.
In the time it took Steve and Bruce to move all his books out, straighten the bed and put fresh towel into the bathroom Eva had switched Hope to her other breast and was in the process of straighten her top and placing Hope on her shoulder to burp her, which of course Hope did not like one bit.
Eva was rubbing her back and talking softly to her when she finally let out a little burp which calmed her fussing down and drifted off to sleep, Eva was close behind her.
When Bruce and Steve came back into the living room to find Hope sleeping and Eva drifting Bruce came over and knelt down next to Eva.
"Eva, I need to stay awake for just a few minutes okay" Bruce whispers.
"mmmmm, what you need Doc" Eva slurs out.
"Eva I didn't even think to ask but is there anyone we need to call, family, husband, work?" Bruce asks.
"Mmmm, on our own….boyfriend walked….didn't want….not her fault….I couldn't…I just couldn't….not her fault…..parents past few years ago" Eva manages to get out around a large yawn and drops off into sleep.
Bruce and Steve stand silently watching Eva and Hope, both sleeping peacefully.
"Bruce…." Steve trails off into his thoughts.
"Yeah I know" Bruce sighs "They will be safe here till they are ready"
'But I'm going to do my best to keep them here' Bruce thinks to himself and just for a moment Bruce feels the Hulk push out and one word echoes in his mind…
"MY GIRLS"
A/N: What do you think…..should I keep going? Please REVIEW and let me know….