Hey everyone, sorry for the delay but here's the next update. It starts off right where the last one ended and then skips around for a bit. I wanted to say thank you for everyone's get well messages you guys are awesome. Anyway as always let me know what you think. Enjoy :)
After the surprise Tonight show visit I was waiting for Dad to snap or make a snide comment. He didn't say anything on our way for burgers or while we were eating or even when he dropped me off at the house.
He was actually okay. Everything was going to be okay.
Third Person POV- Avenger's Tower
Everything was not okay. That sentence ran over and over again through Tony's head. His daughter his baby was having a baby. He was going to be a… a… grandpa.
The thought sent chills down his spine. He went up to the common room where everyone was sitting down watching him and Nora on TV.
"Miss Stark's aim is incredible." Vision said.
"It really is, Wren did a great job teaching her. He even taught her that spin trick." Clint said.
At the mention of Wren Tony's stomach started getting upset.
"Tony?" Steve said as he saw him.
"Yeah, I'm heading down to the lab." Tony said walking into the lab.
Nora's POV-
I was in the kitchen finishing up a cup of tea that I started with some light reading from work when I got a call.
"Go for Nora." I answered.
"Nora, why is your dad locked in his lab suddenly freaking out about how everything is dangerous." Rhodey asked.
"He's what?" I said.
"He's in his lab installing what looks like bumpers on every edge he can find. What's going on?" Rhodey asked.
"I kind of dropped a bomb on him and I thought he took it well but he didn't." I said.
"What's going on?" Rhodey said.
"Dad I'm pregnant." I said.
"Huh?" He said.
"I'm pregnant." I said. "In a few months there will be a tiny human."
"I'm gonna have to call you back." Rhodey said.
One of two things is happening right now. Either Rhodey is calming Dad down or he's also freaking out.
I better call Natasha. I dialed and she picked up on the second ring.
"Romanoff." She said.
"Hey Nat it's me I need a favor." I said.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"I gave the dads some news and may not have taken it so great and I need you to check on them." I said.
"I'll call you back." She said before hanging up.
I went back to reading an article on a new procedure of atrial resections. I was halfway done when my phone rang.
"Go for Nora." I said.
"You need to get down here." Natasha said.
"They're both freaking out aren't they?" I said.
"Yeah." She said.
I ended the call and teleported to the common room where everyone was sitting down. And by everyone I mean everyone including Steve and Sharon.
"Where are they?" I said.
"Rhodey's at the bar and your dad's downstairs." Clint said.
"What is going on?" Pietro asked.
"I'll explain later, I have fires to put out. I'm starting with whoever's closest." I said walking to the bar.
"Dad, are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine." He said taking a drink. "I remember the first time I saw you, you were so small and now… It's the end of an era."
"No its not it's a new beginning thinks of all the first you'll get to be there for. I can already imagine you and Dad fighting over who's going to be the favorite Iron Man or War Machine." I said.
"It's not the same." He said.
"Of course it's not, it'll be better. It'll be you, me, Dad, and cell cluster against the world." I said and then I heard a glass fall behind us followed by someone storming out. "How much have you had?" I asked.
"Just one." He said finishing his glass.
"Okay tomorrow, you me breakfast at the house we're going to talk about how much of a lightweight you are but right now you're going to drink a glass of water and go to bed okay?" I said.
"Yeah, I'll do that." He said getting up and hugging me. "I'm so proud of you and I can't believe I'm going to be a grandpa."
"Yeah I know now I have to go stop dad from baby proofing his lab." I said. I turned around and everyone was just staring at me shocked.
"You're Pregnant?" Steve said.
"Yeah, twelve and a half weeks." I said.
"B-but…" Steve started.
"I can't get pregnant when I'm in another time but when I'm in my own current time I can." I said.
"That's why you haven't been drinking." Wanda said.
"Why you've been wearing looser clothing." Natasha said.
"Yeah, I told the dads tonight which is why they're freaking out." I said. "I need to got stop my dad before he starts branching out from his lab."
Third Person's POV-
Nora was pregnant, his soulmate was pregnant with another man's child. Steve was in shock. Nora was right, he really was an idiot.
Steve stood there shocked after Nora teleported away to go deal with her father.
"You okay man?" Sam asked.
"Uh, yeah just surprised." Steve said.
"And feeling like an idiot." Natasha deadpanned.
"That too." Steve said. "How is this happening?"
"You really need us to explain that?" Clint said.
"No I mean… uh just forget it." Steve said walking out of the common room and getting in the elevator.
He went down to his floor and found Sharon on the couch.
"Is it yours?" She asked.
"No, she's too far along." Steve said and Sharon let out a sigh of relief.
"That's great," She said. "Right?" She said looking at the glum expression on his face.
Steve just ignored her and went to his room.
Nora's POV-
I appeared in the lab and got through all the glass panels. I found dad drilling bumpers onto the side of the lab table and arguing with Friday over the best way to child lock his drawers.
"Dammit Friday just order them." Dad said.
"Friday cancel any orders he placed relating to baby proofing." I said.
"User blocked." Friday said.
"Override Nora is always right." I said.
"User accepted." Friday said
"Kid, what are you doing here?" Dad said.
"You're freaking out." I said.
"What?" he said as he looked at the hammer in his hand and threw it on a table. "I'm not I'm am so okay with being a…"
"A what dad?" I said.
"A…" He started.
"I can't hear you." I said.
"G-grandpa." He said.
"Still think you're not freaking out?" I said.
"So I might be panicking just a bit." Dad started.
"A little? You baby proofed the lab. When did you ever do that with me? Wait why would the baby even be in here unsupervised?" I said.
"See this is why I didn't say anything. You're so put together and ready for this. Twenty two years later and I'm still screwing up as a parent." Dad said.
"You think I'm ready for this? Dad I'm a freaking time traveler. I could be here one minute and gone the next. In six months there is going to be a tiny human that eat sleeps and poops depending on me to take care of it. I can barely handle taking care of myself. I am freaking the hell out and the only things that's keeping me calm is that I have you. I'm scared daddy." I said tearing up.
Dad came over and pulled me into a hug. "It's going to be okay Nora. We still have a few months we'll figure it out together. But for now… I'm fairly sure your kid's not going to be crawling around my lab unsupervised." He said.
"Yeah, wait why would they be crawling down here in general?" I said.
"To use the tiny lab station I'm going to have installed…" Dad said.
"No sharp objects or corrosive chemicals." I said.
"You're no fun." Dad said.
"Let's get out of here, You can clean in the morning, right now I'm craving cocoa puffs." I said.
"Friday?" Dad said.
"Kitchen is fully stocked boss." Friday said.
"Let's go get some cereal." Dad said.
June 27th, 2015- New Avenger's Compound
After Sokovia dad got to work on opening up the New Compound and after almost two months it was done.
"I think you may have missed your calling dad." I said looking around the compound." I said.
"If you think this is great you should have seen the house in Malibu." Dad said.
"I'm gonna check out the labs." I said. "I'll help set up the Code Cronus protocols."
"Code Cronus?" He asked.
"Yeah, in the next couple of months a past version of me, at around eighteen is going to stop by for a visit and the team had a protocol set up for it. I'm gonna go install it before I forget." I said.
"Good call." Dad said.
With that I left to the labs. Halfway there someone called out to me.
"Nora!" Pietro called out.
"Hey speedy, how do you like the new place?" I said.
"It is good, very big." He said.
"My dad doesn't do it any other way." I said. "What's with the bag?" I noticed he had a big backpack.
"I travel light." He said.
"Well go pick out a room before all the good ones are taken." I said.
"Da," He said before running off and making most of the office workers groan in frustration at having to pick up all the papers that fell.
I found Steve's office and hacked my way in.
"What are you doing here?" Sharon said coming in.
"Hacking into Steve's computer to install a program for the team." I said.
"Why are you still around?" She sneered. "Can't you get the message, he doesn't want you."
"Considering he left like ten messages in the last three days I thinks it's actually the opposite." I said typing in the code and putting in the flash drive. "Just copying the code and done." I pulled out the flash drive and got up.
"Have a nice day." I said with a fake smile. I walked out and saw dad, Steve and Thor walking over.
"Nora." Thor greeted.
"Hey, you heading back to Asgard?" I said.
"That I am my friend, our friends will be happy to hear about the future warrior that will join their ranks." He said looking down. "They shall toast to his health."
"I know they will, don't drink Asgard dry without me." I said.
"I shall let Volstagg know." Thor said.
"We both know it's not Volstagg we should be worried about." I said giving him a look.
"The rules have changed." Steve said.
"We're dealing with something new" dad said.
"Well the Vision's artificial intelligence." Steve said.
"A machine." Dad said.
"Are they still trying to figure out why they couldn't lift Mjolnir?" I asked.
"Aye." Thor said lifting up his hammer.
"Want to annoy them even more?" I whispered.
He gave me a grin and handed me Mjolnir. I took it and twirled it around.
"You know you never showed me the lightning trick?" I said.
"Ah that is best saved for another time." Thor said.
"Oh now you're just bragging." Dad complained.
"The vision's a machine it doesn't count." Steve reiterated. I handed mjolnir back.
"No. It's not like a person lifting the hammer." Dad said.
"Right. Different rules for us." Steve said.
"Nice guy, but artificial." Dad pointed out.
"Thank you." Steve said.
"If he can wield the hammer, he can keep the Mind Stone. It's safe with the Vision and these days, safe is in short supply. Same goes for Nora." Thor said.
"And even if that weren't the case it's not like Aya's going anywhere." I said.
'You're damn right I'm not.' I heard her say.
"But if you put the hammer in an elevator..." Steve started.
"It would still go up." Dad said.
"Elevator's not worthy." Steve said.
"I'm going to miss these little talks of ours." Thor said.
"Well, not if you don't leave." Dad said.
"I have no choice. The Mind Stone is the fourth of the Infinity Stones to show up in the last few years. That's not a coincidence. Someone has been playing an intricate game and has made pawns of us. But once all these pieces are in position..." Thor said.
"Triple Yahtzee?" dad said.
"You think you can find out what's coming?" Steve asked.
"I do. Besides this one, there's nothing that can't be explained." Thor said.
"Give Heimdall and everyone else my regards." I said.
"I shall." Thor said before he went back leaving a burning mark on the grass.
"That man has no regard for lawn maintenance. I'm gonna miss him though. And you're gonna miss me. There's gonna be a lot of manful tears." Dad said. I looked over and saw Natasha.
"I'll be back." I said as I walked over. "Hey."
"Hey, leaving already?" She said.
"Yeah, we made plans to show Connor the science division at the tower before dinner." I said.
"I asked around for that thing you asked, this is all they found." Natasha said handing me a file with a few redacted parts.
"Cornelius Snow." I said. "We got a name and a city, that's more than yesterday. Thanks Nat."
"Nora, be careful." She said.
"I'm not the one going after him." I said.
"I know, but Aiden's…" Natasha said.
"Dangerous? So am I. Everyone deserves a second chance where would we be if someone hadn't given us one?" I told her. "Before I forget I installed a program in the server, it's called a Code Cronus, Make sure everyone goes over it you're going to be using it more than you think." She nodded.
"We still on for movie night?" She asked.
"Course, I'll bring pasta from Rome." I said.
"Wine too?" She said.
"Wouldn't be a girl's night without it." I said going back to the car.
"I will miss you, Tony." I heard Steve say as he looked at me.
Yeah why do I have a feeling that wasn't meant for me? Besides, it's time for me to tap out. Maybe I should take a page out of my own book and build Pepper a farm, hope nobody blows it up." Dad said.
"I spent over twenty years hiding on a ranch it's not all it's cracked up to be." I said getting in the car.
July 4th, 2015- Thirteen Weeks
I woke up that morning relieved that I got the weekend off. Sam, Aiden and I decided we were going to take the kids out to the beach house to see the fireworks on the beach. Aiden had decided to stick around for a while until new leads turned out.
I woke up early that morning and I decided to make some pies and goodies. While I was baking I remembered what today was. Steve's birthday.
I don't know if it was the hormones or the fact that despite how big of a moron he is I still love him I decided to make him his favorite pie. I hacked the tower and checked if he was getting back from his morning run. I quickly teleported over to the common room and left him the pie on the kitchen counter with a birthday card before teleporting back to finish everything else up.
I wore a loose sleeveless button up and some dark blue shorts with some sandals.
.
We were setting everything up to eat on the dock close by when my phone started ringing.
"Go for Nora." I said tilting my head to the side so I could hold my phone as I set the table.
"Hey kid how's the Hamptons." Dad greeted.
"Hey dad, They're great. We're just about to have lunch at the dock close to the house." I said. "You know you can still stop by, Pepper too?"
"Thanks but we're good here. Pepper's planning Spangles' birthday party. He told me to say thanks for the pie he ate it in one sitting." Dad said. "Why'd you make him a pie anyway Carters was glaring daggers at him the entire time he was eating?"
"He prefers pie to cake." I said. "Besides the pregnancy hormones are making me very… motherly."
"I can see that so listen Pepper wanted me to ask the gender because she's throwing you a shower that she'll tell you about next week." He said.
"Dad I already told you I'm not finding out the gender until the baby's born so stop asking." I said.
"Oh come on you know you don't want a gender neutral shower, it'll be different shades of white." He whined.
"Goodbye dad." I said hanging up.
"Is that Tony trying to get you to change your mind again?" Aiden asked.
"Yeah, he said Pepper wanted to know for the shower she's throwing me." I said.
"You know it would be easier to shop…" Sam started.
"No." I said.
"Okay." Sam said.
"I want a boy." Connor said making us all laugh.
July 22nd, 2015- Sixteen Weeks
I pulled a page out of the Duchess of Cambridge's book and got dressed in a white with black polka dot dress with a nice black blazer.
.
I was in the waiting room for my sixteen-week ultrasound when dad walked in with a cup of tea.
"Sorry I'm late the meeting ran a bit late." He said.
"It's not a problem, I just got out of my last consult. I just got here." I said.
"You free for the day?" He said.
"Yeah, I always take half days on appointment days." I said.
"Okay we're going out for lunch." Dad said.
"Works for me." I said.
"Doctor Stark we're ready for you." One of the nurses said.
"Let's go check on the cell cluster." I said.
We walked in and we went through the usual weigh in and measurements before getting right to it.
"So you finally told someone." Doctor Bennet asked.
"She did." Dad said.
"You were right." I told her.
"I usually am. Now let's get a look at the cell cluster." She said.
"Can you tell her waiting until the birth to find out the gender is a horrible idea." Dad started.
"Its sweet." Doctor Bennet said.
"Thank you." I said.
"But it does limit what you can buy until then." She said.
"See, how am I supposed to know what I can and can't put in the nursery." Dad said.
"You're planning a nursery? Aww dad." I said tearing up.
"Are you crying?" Dad said.
"Hormones, yesterday I cried over that funny cat commercial." I said.
"There it is, it doesn't look like a cell cluster anymore." Doctor Bennet said.
"Strong heartbeat though." I said "That's your grandkid dad."
"Uhuh." Dad said not taking his eyes off the screen.
"The cell cluster is about the size of an avocado now." Doctor Bennet said.
"Aw, my little guacamole." I said.
"Guacamole?" Dad said.
"I'm kind of hungry." I said.
"Any chance you can tell me if it's a boy or a girl?" Dad said.
"Dad." I said.
"Actually because of the baby's position we can't get a look down there so you're going to have to wait until next time." Doctor Bennet said. "You're picture." She said handing me one.
"Can I get one? I want to show Pepper." Dad said.
"Here you go Mr. Stark." She said with a smile. "Nora if you feel off or anything…"
"I got to the ER and I have your number." I said.
"Exactly. See you in four weeks." She said.
"Thanks doc." I said.
After we got out of there dad took me to a Mexican restaurant and I got my chips and guacamole.
"Not that I don't love spending time with you but what's up?" I said.
"What do you mean?" He said.
"You look nervous if you were anyone else I'd think you're going to ask me for a kidney. You're not right?" I said.
"Oh no, still going strong." He said. "Pepper and the board kind of need to know how to handle the press about your pregnancy I don't know if you've noticed but you've been on a lot of tabloids."
"I have?" I said.
Dad pulled out his phone.
"The Met Gala." He said showing me a picture of the both of us. I remember how nervous I was trying to get into that gown with my breasts growing.
Items_Big/64510_
"Nora Stark Wows in white floral ball gown." I read. "Not bad."
"Then there are the pictures people have taken on you on the streets." Dad said showing me pictures of me on errands or on my runs.
"Wow I'm being stalked." I said.
"Yeah get used to it all it takes is one person with a smart phone." Dad said. "Point is press needs to be handled we go up on stage we tell them you're expecting and that you're doing well and then we get home in time for Primetime HBO."
"Can't we just wait for them to figure it out? I really don't want to complicate this more than it already is." I said.
"I can try to stall but eventually one of them will notice." Dad said.
"Then let's see how long it'll take." I said. "Let them speculate."
"PR is going to have a hard time dealing with it." Dad said.
"Them let them, it's not like you don't pay them." I said. "Cell cluster will have as much of a normal life as he can with a time traveling mom and an eccentric grandpa."
August 26th, 2015- Twenty Weeks
There I was dressed in a white tank top and a blue skirt with white flecks printed on it.
.
I was halfway there and everyone still wanted to know what I was having. Dad and I were sitting in the waiting room and he was showing me potential baby outfits to convince me.
"Look, tiny Iron Man onesie." Dad said.
"Nope." I said.
"Red and gold tutu?" He said.
"Not happening." I said.
"Come on Nora, what are you going to name them?" he asked.
"There are a lot of gender neutral names." I said. I wasn't going to tell him I already had names picked out in case of each scenario. It was fun to watch dad try to convince me otherwise.
"You know Tony could be used for either." Dad started but that's when we were called in.
"Hey how are you feeling?" She asked.
"I'm good you know just juggling the munchies and a scalpel." I said.
"Have you changed your mind or do you still want to wait to find out what you're having?" Doctor Bennet asked.
"I'll wait." I said.
"But can you like whisper it to me or write it down somewhere?" Dad said.
"Dad." I said.
"I promise I won't tell you." Dad said.
"Fine but no taunting and I swear if you tell anyone else or me…"
"My lips are sealed." He said
"Okay, you can write it down for him and I'm not looking at the screen, I'll know what it is if I do." I said.
"Let's get started." She said.
After the appointment we went to the compound since dad wanted to get a better look at Sam's wings for an upgrade he was working on. Dad had to step out for a minute to take a call so I was heating up a bit of water for tea. That's when someone walked in.
"Oh it's you." Sharon sneered.
"Yup, just making some tea. Would you like some?" I said.
"No, ew gross." She said looking nauseous.
"You're still having morning sickness?" I said going into doctor mode.
"Yeah, why do you care?" She said.
"You should tell your OB that's not normal considering you're going into your third trimester." I said.
"I'm fine, it'll pass Steve's been amazing. He's so supportive and loving. He reads the baby stories before bed." She said trying to brag.
"Good for you." I said pouring the water into a mug.
"I can't imagine having to do this all alone." She said putting emphasis on the last word.
"I'm not alone, I have my dads, friends family. Not to mention I have a crap load of money and a successful career. What do you have? You're expecting the baby of a man that doesn't love you and is still in love with both of his soulmates, you're face is plastered on all the tabloids so your career as a spy is over this is all you have left while I still have a lot going for me besides my baby." I said leaving her on the verge of tears. "Congratulations on your son, I heard it was a boy." With that I walked out. I saw Natasha standing by the elevator with a smirk. We walked into the elevator quietly and then she finally said something.
"That was brutal. That made my day." She said.
"She was trying to make me feel bad for being a single mother." I said in my defense.
"She's been driving us all insane, she's planning her own baby shower." Natasha said. "I really hope there's a mission that comes up so I can miss it and just send a gift."
"Say one of your contacts found one and hide at the beach house or somewhere else." I offered.
"I might take you up on that offer." She said.
"Just let me know so I can have the kitchen stocked up." I said.
"I will." She said getting off at the gym floor while I kept going down to the lab.
August 27th, 2015
You've ever woken up and had a bad feeling you couldn't shake? Today was one of those days.
It all started off with a nightmare…
"This is all your fault!" Steve shouted.
"What?" I said.
Then everything shifted there was an explosion at a very familiar mall and I was walking out of the Operating Room. My gloves were covered in blood and I couldn't help the panic I felt seeing that. I woke up gasping and freaking out.
"Nora!" Aiden was at my side, his hands on my arms.
"Aiden?" I said confused.
"You were screaming, are you okay?" He checked.
"Yeah just… had a weird dream." I said.
"Nightmare by the sound of it." he said.
"Something like that." I said.
"You want me to make you some tea?" He offered.
"No thank you just need to catch my breath." I said.
"I'll be in my room if you need anything." He said getting up.
"Thanks." I said. I laid back and put a hand on my protruding stomach feeling the baby kick. "It was just a nightmare sweetie. No matter what I'll keep you safe."
I drifted off to sleep not long after that. I woke up and had breakfast at the compound with dad and everyone else. Clint was making waffles, that alone was worth getting into work an hour late.
"So what's going on?" I asked.
"Nothing much." Everyone said.
"Really?" I asked. "How's training?"
"I need help." Wanda admitted sadly.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"The energy manipulation is having backlashes." Rhodey said.
"Oh that used to happen to me all the time, If you want I can stop by a few hours after work and I can show you a few tricks that helped me?" I offered.
"Yes thank you." Wanda said.
"I'll call you when I'm on my way over." I said getting up.
That's when Steve and Sharon walked in.
"Hey everyone, Nora." She said with a glare.
"Hi." I said.
"I wanted to invite everyone to my baby shower it's in two weeks on Saturday." She said handing out invitations.
"Uh, we can't go." Sam said.
"Same." Clint and Natasha said not even bothering.
"Da." The twins said and everyone else agreed.
"Why?" Steve asked.
"I kind of invited them to mine." I said.
"What?!" Sharon screeched annoying everyone. She stormed off.
"Sorry, I just found out this morning." I said. "Pepper's been planning it dad let me know this morning."
"No it's fine, we can just postpone it or move it up." He said taking a seat.
"Shouldn't you…" Sam suggested.
"She needs to cool off." Steve grimaced.
"Well I have to go," I said standing up.
"You're leaving?" Steve said.
"Yeah, I have lives to go save and interns to go teach" I said. "Bye."
Third Person's POV-
"Could you two be any more obvious?" Tony said.
"What?" Steve started.
"He's talking about you and Nora, man this is sad to watch." Sam said.
"You messed up." Wanda said.
"I want to punch you sometimes." Natasha said.
"You're an idiot and Nora can do better but she doesn't want better she wants you dummy." Clint said.
"And you're obviously miserable with Carter." Tony said.
"Can you blame him?" Pietro said.
"Guys Nora wants nothing to do with me besides Sharon's having my son and Nora's having someone else's kid." Steve said.
"Does that make you love her any less?" Tony said.
"Training in twenty minutes." He said standing up and walking out. He didn't answer the question but they all knew the answer anyways.
Steve went to his room to get dressed and saw that Sharon was in there crying again.
"Sharon it's okay we can postpone or move it up so everyone can be there." Steve said trying to console her.
"Why did it take you so long to find me? You were talking to her weren't you?" Sharon said.
"Calm down it's not good for…" Steve started.
"I am calm!" She shouted. "It doesn't matter how hard I try you don't look at me the way you look at her. I'm the one carrying your son not her. I'm the one that's been by your side for years while she was out there with another guy!"
"She's my soulmate just like Bucky. I love her always have and I always will. I'll be there for you and my son like I promised but I can't promise you anything else." Steve said grabbing his gym bag. "I left my credit card so you can buy anything you want when you go in the city later."
With that he left and Sharon was left alone.
Nora's POV-
It was a slow day at the ER. I had one of the interns pump a fraternity brother's stomach, talked to a man about changing a diet after his heart attack turned out to be heartburn, and helped sew up a kid's arm who tried to jump a fence. All thing's considered it was a slow day. Until it wasn't.
"Hey if you want to head home early you should go I can…" Henry started and then the news came on.
"Breaking news Manhattan is at a stand still. An act of terror has taken place here at the heart of the city. That has left people wounded or dead…"
"Nevermind." Henry said.
"Everyone listen up! There was an explosion at Manhattan Mall and you know what that means. Anyone that isn't critically wounded clear the ER. Staff get a gown and stock up all stations with supplies Attending's you know the drill dress up and get ready to triage. Remember chances are that some of these people won't have ID's on them so one of your interns is in charge of taking pictures and posting them in the waiting room. Now let's go ambulances are on their way.
And that was the beginning of turning my great day into a shit storm.
The ambulances came in and even with two ER's we were packed. People were running in. I went into full on army mode and triaged like never before. Wren would be proud.
I lost count on how many people were treated before another ambulance came in. I rushed to meet them.
"Female five to six months pregnant she was impaled with a pipe in the abdomen which was removed when she was removed from the site." The EMT said.
"Anyone checked on the fetus?' I said.
"Fetal heart rate was gone. There are signs of internal hemorrhaging and as you can tell facial bruising making her unidentifiable." Her said.
"Okay I got her." I said moving her into an exam room and grabbing a portable ultrasound machine.
"M-my ba-baby." She muttered.
"Shh hey it's okay, I'm Doctor Stark and I'm going to take care of you. I'm taking you up to surgery." I said as the interns came in to take her to the OR. "Someone get Claire Bennet and a neuro consult to meet us up there?"
"Yes ma'am." One of my interns said before grabbing a phone and making the calls.
I put a hand on my stomach as I felt my baby kick. "That could have been us sweetie, thank goodness your mommy's a workaholic." I said before taking a deep breath and scrubbing in.
I put on my gloves and gown. Doctor Bennet walked in and did her thing. I couldn't repair anything until the remains were removed.
"Nora I need a hand." She said.
I looked at the remains and wanted to cry. I pushed those feelings back, patient first cry later.
"What's going on?" I said.
"There's bleeding everywhere but the biggest one is in the uterus." She said.
"You want to do an emergency hysterectomy." I said.
"There's too much bleeding and honestly you have bigger things to worry" she said handing me a bone fragment.
"Shit." I said. "I'll retract and get you as much vision while you get in there."
"Sounds like a plan." She said.
Grueling hours of surgery later my patient was childless and barren but she was going to walk again. For some reason that didn't make me feel any better. I looked down and saw my gloves covered in blood. I quickly took the gloves off and through them away. I walked out of the ER and saw the last person I was expecting to see.
"Steve?" I said confused as to why he was there.
"Nora, how is she how's my son?" He said. Oh fuck me that couldn't be Sharon there was no ID.
"Uh, I need a minute." I said trying to look for one of my interns who had the file.
"Nora, she had my credit card in her things that was how they called me. Please just tell me." He begged.
"She came in after being impaled by a pipe and buried under rubble. It caused a lot of bruising and swelling on her face. Luck no fractures so she'll heal and there won't be any scars. The abdominal wounds were very severe. The pipe impaled her in the…" I said trying to hold my emotions back and maintaining professional composure. "Stomach and through the uterus. The child did not survive and to save her life and be able to stabilize the patient so the spinal fracture she obtained could be repaired an emergency hysterectomy had to be performed. She will never be able to conceive again but she will be able to walk."
Steve just stood there sobbing. "I'm very sorry for your loss." I said "The neonatal surgeon that also operated will be out shortly to answer any questions you may have."
"This is all your fault!" Steve shouted. "She was mad at me because of you and we fought and she left on her own."
"Again I'm sorry for your loss." I said my voice cracking before I walked away and into the first on call room I could find. I broke down crying. That's where Henry found me and told me to go home.
I didn't even put up a fuss I got dressed and went home. I walked through the door and Aiden and Sam were already there with a pint of half baked and a plate of lasagna.
"Natasha called." Sam started and that was all it took. I broke down crying. Next thing I know I woke up the next morning hugging a half eaten baking pan of lasagna in between Sam and Aiden with the TV still on. Axl jumped on the bed and woke them both up.
"Kill the bitch!" Aiden muttered making Sam and I burst out laughing. Yeah we were way too adjusted to these sorts of things.
"Evil ex girlfriend?" I asked.
"One night stand." He said.
"Right, I'm going to start on coffee." Sam said getting up.
"Thanks Sam." We said.
"You want to talk about last night?" Aiden said.
"I thought you didn't do feelings?' I asked.
"You're one of the few exceptions to the rule." Aiden said.
"That could have been me." I said.
"What?" Aiden asked.
"That could have been me instead of Sharon. She's a total bitch at times but no one deserves to go through what she did and you want to know the first thing that went through my head when I saw her be wheeled into the ER? I thought I'm so glad that's not me and I felt like the worst person in the world. What kind of mother am I going to be if I think something like that?" I cried.
"The best. Nora I've seen you keep your cool in the worst situations possible. Hell I tried to kill you more times that you know and even then you gave me a second chance and let me into your life. You are not the worst person in the world I am. I've helped cause wars, deposed democracy in many small countries and almost killed my brother without feeling the slightest bit guilty. You, Wren and Sam believed I could be better and maybe I'll never make amends for what I did but I've made a new start and I'm trying. The fact that you can find it in your heart to look past that and still think I am capable of redemption is the sign of someone who's going to love their kid unconditionally and above everything else. You were scared because even if you haven't met them you love your kid. You're going to be a great mom Nora so stop freaking out." He said.
I was tearing up at this point. "I'm going to hug you now and you're going to take it." I said hugging him.
"I'm surprisingly okay with that." He said. "Come on, I'll make breakfast." He said getting out of bed.
"Okay just need to pee, mini me's kicking my bladder again." I said.
"Mini me is better than cell cluster." Aiden said. "If we knew the gender…"
"Breakfast Aiden." I said.
"Right." He said.
I got up and sighed. Everything was going to be okay.
Third Person's POV-
Steve sat at Sharon's bedside. She still hadn't woken up but it was only a matter of time. The door to the room opened and he wished it was Nora so he could beg for her forgiveness but it wasn't.
"How is she?" Natasha asked.
"Still unconscious. She hasn't woken up once." Steve said and Natasha could tell he had been crying.
"The forensics came back it wasn't an accident but it wasn't terrorists like the news has reported." Natasha said. "This was personal."
"What do you mean?" Steve asked.
"Security cameras recorded this." Natasha said handing him an image.
"Rumlow." Steve said. "He did this?"
"He does hate us after what happened in DC, it's a wonder it took him this long to make a move. It matches the other three bombings perfectly and we received this." She said playing a video on her phone.
"Captain America the world's greatest soldier, he can't even keep his girlfriend safe. I got news for you Cap, I'm coming and you can't stop me." Rumlow said before the video ended.
"My son's dead because of me." Steve said.
"No he's dead because of Rumlow no one else. You have a job to do, don't let this sacrifice be for nothing." Natasha said.
Later that Day-
Steve walked up the steps of the town house and knocked on the door. He could hear the television being paused and footsteps heading towards the door.
The door opened and Nora took one look before trying to close the door.
"Nora wait please." Steve asked.
"No, I'm done taking shit from you." Nora said
"Nora I'm sorry. I was…"
"You were what Steve, Talking out of your ass? Because at this point that's all you do." Nora said.
"I lost my son." He said.
"Yeah I know I was there and I'm truly sorry for your loss but I don't know what you want from me. You made it very clear you want to be with Sharon then go be with Sharon. Stop using me as your punching bag and leave me alone." Nora said slamming the door in his face.