I know it has been awhile. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let me know what you think.
Chapter 17
Stepping out of the bathroom, with only and towel wrapped around his waist, he was shocked to find their quarters empty. 'Where did she go?' Steve thinks to himself. He was hoping she would have joined him in the shower. They had just come back from a scouting mission; some bad guy trying to sale a large amount of Tony's weapons. Weapons that Tony stopped production on and now are on the black market.
"Tasha?" He says, though their room is small she would either be in the bathroom with him or in the bedroom. Running his fingers through his wet hair, he didn't like not knowing where she was. She had already once disappeared on him and he wasn't going to let that happen again. Panic slowly fills him as he dresses in rapidly.
Outside of their room, is a long narrow hallway, lined with rooms of the their team mates. The Wakanda housing has become a second home for the Avengers team. Seeing that the team members that didn't sign the Accords still have legal issues and can't return to the United States. Steve walks with quite bare footed steps and not wanting to wake anyone that could be sleeping. A soft glow, lights the end of the hallway. Someone is awake in the living room. The living room and kitchen are common rooms that the team shares, much like the ones back at the Avengers compound.
Steve stands puzzled at the junction of the hallway and living room. Candles are lit on the coffee table and it is pushed away from the couch. Pillows are positioned in front of the couch, where a very pregnant Pepper is swaying on the oversized ball. Her strawberry blond hair gathered in a mess on the top of her head, in a very unlike Pepper way. A tight grey tank top pulled tight cross her round belly, with and a black skirt. Steve not sure what is going on, but feels both uncomfortable and relief. Uncomfortable because he feels like he has intruded in something intimate. Relief because there she sits with Pepper, a pad of paper on her lap with a pen twiddling between her fingers. Natasha. His love, his partner, his life. The once panic feeling replaced with a lightness that flutters from the deepest part of his stomach to the tip tops of his shoulders. Making him feel like he could fly, if he had wings. Her hair blond now and the shortest it has ever been, but her brilliant green eyes remain the same. Though her attention is on Pepper, her voice low and supportive. Natasha hands a bottle of water to Pepper and resting her hand on the top of Pepper's knee.
Before Steve was noticed, he sleds into the enormous kitchen, colliding with a small figure. Not paying attention to his footing and not noticing that anyone was in the kitchen. "Sorry." Steven mumbles, gripping the shoulders of Wanda.
"Your good." Wanda replies, returning to her tea at the countertop. Her fingers just above the handle of the spoon and using her powers to stir her liquid in the mug. Giving her a small smile, Steve is always impressed by Wanda's strength and how she has come into her own. Both in her powers and her as a team player.
"What's going now?" He asks quietly resting her elbows on the counter top and leaning over so his head is at the same level as hers.
"Steve, you never seen a woman in labor before?" She questions, with a slight giggle in her tone.
He tenses. Straightening up, knowing that he did in fact intrude on something intimate. He knew that she could go into labor any time but didn't expect her to be in labor. He imagined like it would be in the movies where, her water breaks and they would go to the hospital and have the baby. Not anything like this. This is peaceful and calm.
"In fact, no. But I thought once she was in labor, she would go to the hospital and have the baby. I thought it was a quick thing." He answers. Really paying attention to Pepper's posture, as well Natasha's'.
"Sometimes, it happens quickly. But it's Pepper's first baby and contractions only started 45 minutes ago. It could another hour or it could later tonight. But for her sake I hope it goes quickly. I can feel the energy she gives off with every contraction. I had to take and break, so Natasha took over timing her contractions. I can't believe she is choosing to do this naturally." Wanda explains.
"Why isn't the doctor here?" Steve questions. "And where is Tony, shouldn't he be here?"
Wanda placing a hand on top of his shoulder, and an empty mug in front of him. "Pepper has a midwife; she won't come until the contractions are closer together and more regular. Pepper wants Tony to sleep a little more before he wakes up and starts panicking about the baby coming." Wanda explains while she fills the glass pot with water and pouring it into the back of the coffee maker, adding the filter and coffee grounds, then starting the machine. "It's going to be a long day."
Pepper moves from the ball to a kneeling position on the floor on a pillow in front of the couch, resting her head on top of her arms on the seat cushion. Natasha sitting now on the ball, massaging Pepper's lower back. Soft deep moaning with each contractions hums from Pepper. The atmosphere is calm and peaceful which is odd for anything revolving around the Avengers. There is always something to do, but this happening right now, Pepper laboring in the living room in the middle of the night is the calmest Steve has seen with anything to do with his team mates. As Steve and Wanda sit back and ready for anything. Time seems to stand still, though the glass wall of windows of the living room, changes from pitch black to a light grey. Sunrise approaching. Without really noticing the time has passed.
"Ok, take your time getting up. Breathe." Natasha tells Pepper as they stand. Pepper's face is beat red, slowly waddling forward towards the opposite side of the living room, heading to her and Tony's room.
"Morning Steve." She says passing him.
"Morning." She says back, not sure what to say. It was thing to stand in the back ground ready to help something happened. But feeling uncomfortable with being noticed that he was taking part of this intimate occasion.
Natasha stretching on top of her tip toes and giving him and quick peck on the lips. "Morning Soldier." She smiles before returning to Pepper's side. Steve only realizing then that she had not changed from her sleek black uniform to something more comfortable. The top of her cat suit unzipped, revealing the black tank top underneath and the arms of her cat suit tied around her hips. She is bootless her bare feet soundlessly walking across the floor.
Now feeling restless, Steve starts falls into a mindless action. Rinsing the dirty dishes in the sink, and placing the dishes on the racks of the dishwasher.
A loud commotion comes from Tony and Pepper's room, a mixture of a broken scream followed by something thudding to the ground. Without thinking Steve rushes in. Fearing that something bad has happened to Pepper. Instead Steve finds Tony leaning against the door frame in front of the partial bathroom door open.
"Tony, she is fine. She was working through a contraction when her water broke. She is getting in the tub to help with the pain." Natasha is telling Tony with her most calming voice from inside of the bathroom. Steve unable to see his partner from where he stood, she didn't usually use her calming voice for anyone. Especially with Tony, this whole situation made Steve filled with unease. He had read there is a significant increase in maternal deaths. A fact he wished he was oblivious too; he wouldn't be thinking the worst of this situation when it was supposed to be a happy day.
"Hey Tony, why don't we get dressed for the day, and get you some coffee." Steve pulling Tony's attention from the bathroom. Pulling away from his own fear. This might be the only time; Tony has ever been a loss for words. Tony is in boxers, a white V-neck shirt and a sock. The only light coming from the bathroom illuminating Tony's statue. Steve pulls Tony by the forearm away from the door, so he can push the bathroom door closed. Steve wanting to respect Pepper's privacy. "Tony. Tony. Hey Tony!" Steve finally getting Tony to move from his stationary position. Snapping his fingers in front of Tony's face. "Pepper is going to need you soon. Let's get dressed, and we will get some food in you and coffee." Steve starting to see the gears slowly turn as Tony moves in slow motion, getting dressed.
"Baby?" Tony mumbles putting on pants.
"Yes. Tony, your baby is going to be here today." Steve tells him, trying to keep my excitement to himself and keeping Tony focused. Tony is finished getting dressed, Steve guides Tony into the kitchen. Pouring Tony and himself a cup of coffee. Then throwing some toast in the toaster.
"When…. How long has it been happening?" Tony asks, while Steve is buttering the toasted bread.
"Sometime after we got back from the mission. Nat and Wanda have been with her." He tried to reassure Tony, placing the buttered toast in front of Tony. Steve having a difficult time imagining what it will look like when the baby is finally here. Steve has seen it coming and knowing it would be soon, as Pepper's belly grew. But now that day is finally here, there will be a little one here; a new addition to the Avengers team. Part of him aches for the children that Natasha would never bare, and a pinch of guilt for feeling that way.
"Where's the midwife?" Tony questions, pulling him from his wayward thoughts.
"I don't know. I asked the same thing. Wanda said something about her contractions needing to be closer together." He explains but not 100% sure. Tony bites into the toast, when the sound of foot steps down the hallway pulls their attention. It is still early in the morning and most of the team was on the scouting mission last night. Afraid that maybe the noise had woken up one of their teammates. T'Challa appearing at the end of the hallway with a petite woman wearing white scrubs, with a large bag slung over her shoulder and pulling a suit case behind her.
"Morning." Steve greets the King of Wakanda.
"Morning gentleman, Agent Romanoff called for the midwife." T'Challa referring to the woman beside him. Both Steve and Tony stare blankly at the woman. The reality of the situation stunting them both.
"Good you're here." Wanda her voice coming from behind them with her naïve accent slipping slightly, looking weary as she is refilling a pitcher full of ice and water. "This way. Tony you should come too."
Tony following Wanda back into the bedroom, leaving Steve and T'Challa alone.
"Exciting morning?" T'Challa questions.
"Exciting night that has rolled into the morning." Steve replies, motioning to the coffee. T'Challa gives a head nod.
"Successful mission last night?" T'Challa asks, while Steve pours a cup for him.
"As far as scouting goes, it was. But that will have to wait. At least for the next couple of days." Steve hands him the cup of coffee. "How is the research going?" Steve asks, knowing that Bruce and Tony have been working on the stone that in Vision head. Somehow the stone that gave Wanda her powers and created Vision, is linked to the tesseract that Steve had witness its powers for the first time back when he fought Hydra.
"It seems like Bruce answers one question, to only reveal five more questions. He gets very frustrated that he can't solve the whole puzzle, but fascinate by the unknown." T'Challa speaks with excitement. Steve knows to well about that fascination. Afraid only bad will come from it. Like the World Council and S.H.I.E.L.D using the powers from the tesseract to create new weapons.
A mingle scream from Tony and Peppers' room made Steve clinching the counter. Fighting every cell in his body from running into their room. Remaining himself that Pepper is in labor. T'Challa wearing the same expression of concern. Hoping Pepper will survive and won't be in labor long.
Vision appearing in the arm chair in the living room, his index finger moving the width of mouth against his lips. Vision looking like he is deep in thought. Steve wondering if Vision was watching through Wanda's eyes. His head snapping as another pain filled groan echoes from Pepper.
"Whoa, what's going on?" Clint questions walking into the kitchen. His sleepwear and bedhead were clear that he was woken up, and probably the rest of the team will be up soon as well.
"Pepper is in labor." Steve says plainly. The tense building in between his shoulders.
"Sounds like it." Clint says, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "I remember when Cooper was born, I was a wreck, I didn't know what to do or how to help her. But Laura she was a freaking champ, she labored for 18 hours and she pushed for 3 hours. The moment he started crying I was done for. Cooper was on her chest; he was just so small. Laura looked amazing. One of the best days of my life."
"18 hours?" Steve questions. Fear filling him, not sure if he could handle waiting for the first cry.
"Yea. But the second two came much faster. Lila was less then 6 hours, and Laura pushed three times. Nathaniel, we didn't even make it to the delivery room, Laura had him in the lobby of the hospital. Natasha was the one that delivered him, I was trying to get a nurse." Clint said playing it cool, but clearly, he had stunned the two non-fathers he was talking too. Clint enjoying making the other men uncomfortable with these things they have never experienced.
"She delivered him?" Steve shocked by the news.
"Yes, Natasha was rolling her in, when Laura started yelling that he was coming. Nat got down in front and caught him. Nat was there for each of my children's births." Clint tells in a dream like way, like he was remembering each time Natasha was there when his children were brought into the world. She is always there for him and his family.
Steve still trying to find the rights word to say. "Natasha said she was there and it was quick. She turned around had to come back for training. She really didn't go into detail." Steve now wondering if she didn't go into detail because she was sadden from the lack the of children she would ever carry. Or if it was simply she wasn't comfortable with him to tell him about her exciting experience.
"Yea, that was how most of the deliveries were like, I was just lucky that I came home a week early because Lila decided to come that same day. Nat had barely made it back to Headquarters when labor started, she turned around and made it for the last few hours the labor. Natasha could always soothe Laura in a way that I could never. Then she would boss me around and direct me in ways to help Laura." Clint giving a smile, Steve knowing all too well exactly what he was talking about. She did it this morning with Tony. She has soothed him in ways no one else could be. One of the reasons he loves her.
"She is arriving." Vision announced over their conversation.
Clint, Steve and T'Challa seem to pause, waiting for the precious sound. The silence that hung in the air with the anticipation and excitement lasted for what seemed like a life time. The tension and dread became unbearable, Steve clinching the countertop trying not to leave indentations in the marble top. Terrified that the last time he saw Pepper she was pregnant and in pain, fearing that would be the last imagine in his head of her. Or fearing that if she lost the baby, he wouldn't be able to look at her without feeling pity and sadness for her. Fearing that this happy moment that Tony and Pepper have been looking forward to and preparing for could end very badly. The dread of the spiral that would come from Tony and knowing he would never get over this, and what would happen with him and Pepper. Nothing but bad things are going to come from the silence that fills the room.
Steve imagining what it would feel like if him and Natasha were to lose a child. He began mourning the imaginary child that him and Natasha had lost. Feeling emotional, his steel tight composure slipping, he released the counter top from his nervous grip and stepping in the opposite direction of Tony and Pepper's room.
Both T'Challa and Clint watch Steve depart from kitchen. It was at the mouth of the hallway that lead to his and his partners' room. That the high pitch whale cried through the living space. A health cry, ringing from Tony and Pepper's room. Relief swarms is chest, replacing the fear that invaded in his veins.
"Vision how's everything looking in there?" Clint asked from across the bar.
"Not sure. Everyone is weeping." Vision reports.
T'Challa and Clint taking a few steps closer to the entrance of Pepper and Tony's room, wanting to know the baby size and name. Tony and Pepper have been keeping the little ones name a secret. Steve turning around and returning to his spot in the kitchen.
Tony walks out of his room, slowly with a bundle of white in his arms. Wanda right behind him. "Tony support her head. Go slow." Wanda reminding him.
"Everyone this is Morgan Howard Stark. She is 8lbs, 11oz and is 19 inches long. Morgan this is your family." Tony makes the introductions, beaming as a new father. Steve glimpses the sweet new face of the Avengers team member. A different type of weight presses on Steve's shoulders. Though the feeling of happiness and excitement pumps through his veins, he realizes then that he will be fighting to keep this little one safe and taking extra care to ensure he brings her father home safely after every mission. Steve is reminded as the team's leader his shoulders carry a heavier weight then the rest of the team. Questioning if he can bare the weight of that responsibility.
I hope you enjoyed it!