hey everyone sorry for the delay. I had my colonoscopy on Wednesday which I happened to wake up in the middle of but that's a story for another time. Everything came up normal and I can finally eat solid food again. This chapter picks up during Christmas time and nothing ever goes according to plan. Thank you so much for all your support and get well wished you're all awesome, With out further delay here it is. Let me know what you think. Enjoy :)
Christmas was a bit different this year. It started off with Dad talking me into going to Stark Industries annual charity gala, which in turn led to me dragging Aiden and Sam with me.
I complained about not finding anything to wear so dad hired someone to make me a custom gold dress. All I can say is that dad has really good taste.
.
. _
"Nora hurry up," Aiden called out.
"I'm going, you do remember my mobility is a bit compromised by your niece or nephew?" I retorted.
"Stop stalling," he complained. "Sam's here and so's the limo."
"I'm coming." I said coming down the stairs.
"Whoa" Aiden and Sam said.
"I know I look like a beached whale." I said.
"You look gorgeous." Aiden said.
"You really do, pregnancy suits you." Sam said.
"Shut your trap, I can't wait for this baby to leave, everything is swollen, I can't sleep and all I want to do is either eat or cry." I said.
"Well that's all your kids going to be doing the first couple of months so you'll have that in common." Aiden retorted.
"Uh, don't remind me." I said.
"Come on, no moping. It's the first time in months we get to go out without the kids. Nora this is probably your last hurrah before you become a mom. We are going to have fun and I am drinking for you." Sam said.
"You sure Sammy?" I asked.
"Consider it an early Christmas gift." Sam said.
"Is that code for you want me to make you breakfast?" I said.
"That's always the best part of a hangover." Aiden said.
"Well let's get this show on the road." I said grabbing a clutch and a coat.
We arrived and I posed for a few pictures before heading inside.
"I'm never going to get used to that." I said.
"It's for charity." Sam said.
"Open bar." Aiden said redirecting us.
As soon as we got there I recognized a very familiar redhead.
"Natasha?" I said.
"Nora, I didn't know you were going to be here." Natasha said.
"Neither did I? Dad…" I said. "Let me guess Steve's here?"
"He's over there. Sharon isn't here." Natasha said.
"Doesn't matter." I said. "Excuse me for a minute." I went over to where Aiden and Sam were taking shots. "Change of plans."
"What's going on?" Sam asked.
"Steve's here." I said.
"Shit. You've been parent trapped." Aiden said.
"Looks that way, you two are going to have to run interference." I said.
"On it." Sam said
"Let's go to our table." Aiden said. We got there and sure enough I was seated next to Steve. Aiden quickly moved the name cards around so Steve was seated on the opposite side of the table and I was sitting between Sam and Aiden.
"Have I mentioned how awesome you two are?" I said.
"Almost everyday." Sam said.
We ate and chatted until dad came to kidnap me for a dance, which was his version of saying we need to talk.
"So Spangles…." Dad started.
"Who's idea was that?" I said giving him a look.
"Nora…" Dad started.
"Dad, don't get involved. Steve and I are done end of discussion now can we actually enjoy this party and forget about the giant spangly elephant in the room?" I asked.
"Fine but can you at least tell me what happened? All I got out of Romanoff was that he's an idiot." Dad said.
"No because he isn't worth it." I said.
"Mind if I cut in?" Steve said.
"Actually my feet are killing me," I said excusing myself back to the table.
"Nora please." Steve said. "I didn't know Sharon was going to sue you. I had nothing to do with it."
"Stay away." Aiden said getting in his way.
"No, I need to talk to her." Steve said.
"She doesn't want to talk to you. You've done enough." Sam said.
"But…"
"I'm only going to say this once, the lady told you to stay away so stay away. Next time I won't be as nice." Aiden said giving him a look.
"And if I have to I'll file a restraining order." Sam said. With that they both followed me to the bar where I was drinking a cup of water.
"You okay?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, just annoyed." I said.
"He's stubborn, at least his girlfriend isn't here." Aiden said.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear." I said looking at the elevators as Sharon stepped off. She marched straight to Steve and pulled him into a hug which Steve didn't return. "Screw them, I'm here with my best friends and we're going to have the night of our lives. Aiden, blonde at the bar hasn't taken her eyes off of you."
"Red backless dress with diamond bracelet?" He said not looking.
"Exactly. Sam put your arm around me." I said.
"What?" Sam said confused.
"Just do it." I said. Sam did and I let out a laugh.
"What are you doing?" Sam said.
"Being both of you's wingman." I stated before turning to Aiden. "No glove no love."
"Wrap it before you tap it I know." Aiden said.
"Come on Sam there's a chocolate fountain with our names on it." I said leading him away.
"That was nice of you." Sam said.
I grabbed a strawberry and dipped it in chocolate. "I'm in the Christmas Spirit. Brunette from table one is checking out your ass." I said.
"What?" Sam said.
"She's cute. Go talk to her." I said.
"What? No I'm fine on my own." Sam said.
"Sam you haven't had sex in over a year. Jess wouldn't want you to keep wallowing in grief. She'd want you to be happy." I said.
"Nora…"
"Look I'm not saying marry her, or hell you don't even have to sleep with her if you don't want to just go save her from that douche that keeps making boring small talk while staring at her chest. Prove to her that chivalry isn't dead." I said.
He looked over and sighed. "I'm doing this because I hope someday someone will do the same for Ellie." Sam said before walking over.
"Go get 'em tiger." I said.
I watched Sam go over to interrupt the conversation before taking the girl out to the dance floor. Way to go Sam.
"All alone?" Natasha said.
"Playing fairy wingman." I said.
"I can see that. How's mini you doing?" Natasha asked.
"Driving me crazy. Any day now." I said rubbing my stomach.
"Still don't know what it's going to be?" She asked.
"Nope and I'm keeping it that way. They're healthy and that's all that matter." I said.
"If it's a girl, Natasha would be a good name." She suggested.
"I don't know, Antonia is starting to sound kinda cute." I said and she lifted an eyebrow and smirked. "I don't know how if you'd be interested but I was wondering if you'd be okay with being mini me's godmother?"
"You want me to be your kids godmother?" Natasha asked.
"If that makes you uncomfortable you can say no…" I started.
"No, I mean Why me?" She asked.
"Well for one, you were the one that snapped Wren out of his programming. If it weren't for you we would have never met and there would be no mini me. And two you check up on me just as much as Dad, Sam and Aiden do even if you think I don't notice." I said.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Natasha said.
"Sure you don't, the piroshkies were delicious thank you." I said.
"Auntie Nat does have a nice ring to it." Natasha said.
"I thought it might." I said.
"Sharon, let's go." I heard Steve say.
"No, I have just as much a right to be here. I'm one of Stark's employees." Sharon shouted.
"You're drunk." Steve said.
"Of course I am, do you know what today is?" Sharon Shouted. "Do you!?"
"Calm down." Steve said.
"Today's my due date." Sharon cried. "Our son would have been born today but he's not here is he Steve, because your bitch killed him! You did this to me!" She yelled looking at me. She lunged toward me but I held her still up in the air. "Let me go!" She screeched.
Security arrived and I put her down long enough for them to grab her and start dragging her away. Everyone just whispered amongst themselves and some people started giving me dirty looks.
"I think we should go." Aiden said appearing out of nowhere.
"Yeah, I'm kind of tired." I said.
"That and the blonde's boyfriend just showed up." Aiden said fixing his lipstick-stained collar.
"Right, Sam?" I said. He quickly said good night to his new friend who may or may not have slipped him her number. I said goodbye to Dad and the avengers that had shown up before I teleported us back to the house.
"That was a disaster." I said.
"It wasn't your fault, Tony should have a better security system." Sam said.
"Let's just hope his publicity team is better than his security, no way this isn't showing up in the paper." Aiden said making me groan. "I mean, who cares you did nothing wrong. The judge certainly thought so. You're case is getting dismissed you'll be fine."
"I hope you're right." I said.
Christmas Eve-
I did my usual routine of baking a ton of pies. Dad flew out to visit Pepper out in Germany but spent the entire day before celebrating early Christmas. Rhodey was spending it in the compound though he did stop by to drop off gifts and I sent back gifts for everyone. Just because I was pregnant didn't mean I was going to take it easy on Christmas.
"Nora sit down." Sam nagged.
"I'm fine I just need to check on the pie." I said bending down a bit to get a look inside the oven. "They look good." As I was straightening up I felt a pain. "Ah."
"Nora?" Aiden said coming to my side and Sam on my other.
"I'm fine it was probably just a cramp. Ah!" I gasped. "Okay maybe it's not a cramp."
"Are you having contractions?" Sam asked.
"Don't know I've never… ah! Son of a bitch this can't be happening. It's too early." I said starting to panic.
"It's okay, Just take a deep breath." Aiden said.
"I can't give birth it's Christmas eve?!" I said freaking out.
"Well the entire reason we celebrate the holiday was because a baby was born so …" Aiden started.
"Fuck!" I said.
"Okay, you have the go bag ready, I'll drive us." Aiden said.
"I'll…" Sam started but I interrupted him.
"No, Sam you have to stay the kids shouldn't spend Christmas in the hospital. It could be hours until the baby's here. Stay here, call ahead, and whatever you do don't call my dad he will get in his suit and break the sound barrier if he finds out. We'll call him once labor starts progressing," I said.
"Okay go." Sam said.
"Can you walk?" Aiden asked.
"I think so." I said taking a few steps.
"Auntie Nora, Dad, Uncle Aiden look?" Connor said. We looked down the hall and Ellie was walking towards us. She wasn't cruising she was walking.
"Look at you go princess!" I said making her laugh. "Ah."
"Auntie? Is my baby cousin coming?" Connor asked.
"Uh, we're not sure buddy, Your uncle and I are going to get another scan, why don't you stay here and help your daddy decorate the cookies for Santa?" I said.
"Okay. Can I see the picture when you get back?" Connor asked.
"Sure buddy, you can even decorate the scrap book page." I said.
"I love you auntie." He said hugging me. "Please come back. I love you cousin." He kissed my stomach.
"Ah, I'll be back sweetie." I said kissing the top of his head.
We waddled outside to the car and I started crying.
"What's wrong?" Aiden said.
"I'm about to give birth. My mom died giving birth to me. Jess died giving birth to Ellie. If I die what happens to my baby?" I said crying.
"Hey look at me." Aiden said putting his hands on either side of my face. "You're a doctor you know the stats. We're not in the middle ages and we're going to one of the best hospitals in the country if not the world. You're getting the best medical attention. You've read all the books, you've gotten all the practice you need with Connor and Ellie, and you even took that weird Yoga class." He said.
"It was a Lamaze class." I corrected with a chuckle.
"Point is you're ready and no matter what you're not alone. Now let's go meet the kid." He said.
"Let's do this." I said.
We got in the car and half way there I got a phone call.
"Shit, It's my dad don't say anything." I said.
"Go for Nora." I answered holding back a yelp.
"Hey kid, just calling to say Merry Christmas." Dad said.
"Merry Christmas dad." I said my voice cracking a bit.
"How are the pies?" dad said.
"In the oven." Then some guy cut us off and Aiden honked the horn.
"Fuck you asshole!" Aiden shouted.
"What was that?" Dad said.
"What was what?" I said trying to play it off.
"Nora where are you?" dad asked.
"Just going to the store, we ran out of milk and Santa can't wash down his cookies without it Ah- ah there it is." I said.
"Uhuh, are you alone?" dad asked.
"No I'm with Aiden." I said. "Hey dad I'm about to pay can I call you back? AH!" I said.
"Nora Eliana Stark are you in labor?" dad asked.
"Nope gotta go bye." I said hanging up.
"Nora you have to tell him." Aiden said.
"I'll tell him once we're in the hospital." I said.
"Deep breaths." Aiden said.
"I'm okay." I said.
By the time we were in the hospital Annie, and OB nurse met us at the door with a wheelchair.
"Good to see you doctor Stark, didn't know you were having a Christmas baby." She said.
"Baby's two weeks early," I said.
"Let's go get you checked out." She said. "is this dad?"
"Oh god no" Aiden said.
"Then you can't only family can come in." She said.
"Yeah he's coming, he's family." I said.
"Okay then, come along." She said wheeling me into the exam room.
After a quick scan and some reading the OB on call came in.
"Doctor Stark it appears you're not in labor." He said.
"Excuse me, but I'm cramping and it's the worst pain imaginable and…poot." I started before I farted very loudly.
"The scans show that you had quite a bit of trapped gas. That and the pressure your baby is causing when it moves may have caused you much discomfort." He said. "You're good to go."
"Thank you." I said awkwardly.
As soon as the doctor stepped out Aiden and I started laughing uncontrollably.
"Hahahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"The look on his face!" Aiden said in between chuckles.
"I work with the guy, I can just imagine how awkward it's going to be when I come back to work." I said laughing. "If anyone asks it was Braxton hicks contractions."
"Yeah, okay." He said still laughing,
"I'm serious, this stays between us." I said.
"I'll take this to my grave, scouts honor." He said.
"Good now let's get home, I'm craving pie." I said.
One short drive later we were home.
"So?" Sam said.
"Braxton hicks." I said.
"Yeah, false alarm." Aiden said with a smile.
"That's good. Your dad called, I thought you were going to call him from the hospital?" Sam asked.
"I was but it was just a false alarm I'm not going to ruin his getaway he's been dying for some time with Pepper." I said. "Now, is dinner ready?"
"Just need to set the table." Sam said.
Sam and Connor set the table and we sat down. Half way through dinner the front door opened and Dad, Rhodey, Clint, Natasha, Wanda, Pietro, Sam, Vision and Steve walked into the dining room.
"What the hell Nora?!" dad started.
"What are you doing here you're supposed to be in Germany?" I said.
"I call you and I find out your in labor and you lied about it. I get in my suit, break all of my previous records and the sound barrier and I show up still in the suit to the hospital only to find our your gone. You don't pick up the phone…" He ranted.
"No phones at the table, you know the rule. It was a false alarm, Braxton hicks." I said making Aiden laugh. I kicked him under the table.
"So you're not in labor?" Rhodey said.
"Nope." I said.
"Damn it Tony we were in the middle of dinner." Rhodey said.
"My bad." Dad said.
"Well since you're all here you want to stay for dinner?" I asked. "I made like four pies and there's more than enough turkey for everyone."
"Yeah."
"Sure."
"Don't mind if I do."
Everyone agreed and grabbed a seat. The table was crowded but it was nice. By the end of dinner everyone helped to clean up and then we were all sitting around the living room watching Christmas movies.
I ended up dozing off halfway through How the Grinch stole Christmas. I woke up the next morning with Ellie and Connor curled up next to me in bed. I slowly got up and quickly got dressed in some reindeer pajamas.
.
When I got back Connor was stirring and so was Ellie.
"Hey kiddos. Merry Christmas." I said.
"Presents!" They both shouted before running out of bed.
"Presents!" I heard them shout.
"Ah!" Sam shouted.
I walked into the room. "Oh good you're awake, time for presents."
"Uncle Aiden presents!" Connor said.
"Mh, under the tree." Aiden groaned.
"Come on you also have presents to unwrap." I said. "I'll go start on coffee."
"Cookie!" Ellie shouted.
"That's right sweetie." I said picking her up. "Come on."
I took the kids downstairs and I saw Steve and Sam knocked out on the couches.
"Santa was here!" Connor shouted waking them up.
"Sorry, someone's excited." I said.
"No it's fine," Sam said.
"I'll go make some coffee. Come on Connor, breakfast first." I said.
"Reindeer pancakes?" He said.
.
.
"You know it." I said.
"Yay!" He said running into the kitchen.
I followed after him and got started on breakfast. By the time I was done everyone was up.
We ate and then after some nagging from Connor we got to handing out the presents.
"Okay same rules as always." Sam said.
"Agreed. And no complaining about it being to much." I said giving him a look.
"Agreed." We all walked into the day room, which was filled with wrapped gifts. "Connor hand them out buddy." Sam said.
"Okay." Connor started grabbing gifts and putting them in piles.
"Whoa." Sam Wilson said.
"You guys must know a lot of people." Pietro said.
"Nope Nora just buys multiple gifts." Sam said.
"Quit complaining, you bought me everything on one of my wish lists two years ago." I said.
"You bought half a toy store." Sam said.
"There is nothing wrong with that." Aiden said.
"You too?" Sam said.
"What, it's Christmas." Aiden said helping Connor sort out gifts.
By the time most of them were sorted we each had our own mountain of gifts.
"Okay, open them up." I said. We all tore into them.
"How did you manage to get this?" Aiden cried out pulling out an autographed Foo fighters album.
"I know a guy." I said.
"Oh sweet, Collectors edition of lord of the rings." Sam cried out.
"Ah! Shoes, can't wait till I can wear these again." I said looking at my pair of heels.
We opened more gifts until I got to the last one it was a picture frame of me and Wren during our last trip to Paris. I teared up at the sight of it.
"Mini you should get to see how much their dad loved their mom." Sam said.
"I totally forgot about this picture." I said.
"I know," Sam said
"Thank you." I said.
January 4th, 2016-
It was the big date, the day the judge would hopefully dismiss the case. Sam had to go into work for a few hours and he was going to meet Aiden and I there. After the court date we were going out for a celebratory lunch with the kids.
I got dressed and went to meet Aiden at the door. On the last step I felt a sharp pain. It passed just as fast as it came. It was probably more trapped air.
"You ready?" He said.
"Yeah." I said. I took a step forward and I felt my pants get wet. Oh hell. "Actually we're going to have to make a quick pit stop."
"Where at?" Aiden asked.
"The hospital, I think my water just broke." I said looking down.
"What?!" He said.
"Yeah… Ah… and that was definitely a contraction." I said.
"Oh crap, okay okay, we went over this go bag is in the coat closet, keys keys keys!" He shouted.
"In your hand." I said,
"Right." Aiden said "lets go." He walked out and closed the door leaving me behind.
"Friday send Sam a message that I'm on my way to the hospital and to apologize to the judge for me," I said as Aiden walked back in remembering he had left me behind.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry." He said he said helping me walk out of the house and into the car.
We got in and the contractions hit me again.
"Ah, Oh." I said breathing through it.
"Dial tin man." Aiden said and the dial tone started.
"Aiden." Dad started.
"Hey dad." I said panting,
"Nora?" dad said.
"We're on our way to the hospital, and this time it's not a false alarm." Aiden said freaking out a bit.
"I'll meet you there." Dad said before hanging up.
Third Person's POV-
"Mr. Winchester is your client going to grace us with her presence this morning or can we continue as planned?" The judge asked Sam.
Sharon's lawyer called upon Steve Rogers to testify. This could not be good. He thought. His phone dinged and he opened it. What he saw brought a smile to his face,
"You're honor I'm sorry for breaking your no phones rule but that was my client. She's currently on her way to the hospital, she's in labor." Sam said.
"What?" Steve said.
"Oh, well I believe it is in everyone's best interest if this meeting was moved to another day." The judge said.
"Objection your honor." The opposition started.
"Over ruled, We will reconvene in two weeks, that should give plenty of time to both mother and child to recover. You're dismissed." The judge said.
"Can he do that?" Sharon sneered.
"Of course he can, it's a medical emergency and he's the judge he can do whatever he wants." The lawyer said.
"Steve!" Sharon called out to him but Steve ignored her.
"Is Nora okay?" Steve asked Sam.
"Not sure, I just know she's on her way to the hospital." Sam said packing up his things. "Aiden's with her and no doubt Tony's on his way too. I have to go."
Nora's POV-
"Why is traffic so shitty?!" I shouted.
"It's rush hour in Manhattan what did you expect?" Aiden retorted.
"I don't want my kid to be born in a sports car." I cried.
"He won't it's just one more block. Keep your legs closed." Aiden said.
"I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way." I said panting,
"We made it." He said beating a car to the spot and quickly moving to the other side to help me out. "Come on."
We quickly made it to the reception and I was put into a wheel chair. They rushed me into a room and got me changed into a gown. We were talking about names when dad walked in.
"Hey, traffic was insane, I left the car somewhere and flew the rest of the way." Dad said. "What I'd miss?"
"OH nothing much, Ah!" I said. "I need to walk a bit." I said moving a bit.
"Is that a good idea?" dad said.
"They told her to try, it'll help move things along." Aiden said giving me a hand.
"So names?" dad started.
"I've narrowed it down." I said.
"And?" dad said.
"Lena for a girl. For a boy I've got a few picked out." I said.
"Tony anywhere on that list?" dad asked.
"Maybe for a middle name. Kid's definitely going to be a hyphenate." I said.
"So Stark-Spencer?" Dad asked.
"Spencer-Stark" I corrected. "The dad's last name normally goes first."
"Baby Spencer Stark." Dad said. "Good ring to it, and the family name get's passed on."
"Just think, in a few hours there's going to be another Stark in the world." I said.
"Doesn't matter what you call him." Aya said appearing out of the blue. "That kid's going to be the offspring of a teleporting master assassin and a super soldier that happens to be my host. Nora's amazing but that kid will be extraordinary."
"Super soldier? I'm not ah! Whoa those are getting really close." I said.
"Knock Knock, how's my favorite patient doing?" Doctor Bennet said walking in. "Still don't want that epidural?"
"Nope, women did without for hundreds of years I can ah endure." I said.
"Well I need to check how far along you are so I need you on the bed." She said.
"Right." I waddled over and sat down.
"Are you two going to be in the room for the delivery?" She asked.
"Uh?" dad and Aiden looked at each other.
"Just assume no." I said.
"Oh well if that's the case We're going to move you in now." Doctor Bennet said.
"Right Now now?" I said starting to panic.
"Yup, your dilated enough it's time to meet cell cluster." She said with a smirk.
"Okay," I said breathing through it.
I was wheeled into the delivery room with Aiden and Dad at my side.
"As soon as the kids out I'm not leaving his side." Aiden assured me even though I think he was doing it more for his peace of mind than mine.
"Thank you." I said.
With that I was wheeled in and set up on the bed. My feet were put up in stir ups and I was getting ready.
"On the next contraction I need you to push, ready Nora?" Claire said.
"This kid better be freaking cute! AH!" I yelled as I pushed.
"That's it, you're crowning." She said.
"Ah," I panted.
"Give me a big push on the next one." She said.
"ah ah ah, ah!" I pushed again.
"Head's out I can see the shoulders." Claire said.
"I really should have gotten that epidural." I said. "Oh crap I can feel the next one."
"You're almost done Nora, just think of it this way, Five minutes of pain for a lifetime of joy now give me one last push, give it all you've got." She said.
"GRAH!" I shouted.
"Whah! AH!" I heard my baby cry.
"Baby's out." She said.
Everything started getting fuzzy.
"Something's wrong, I don't feel…uh." I said and everything when black.
Third Person's POV-
Tony and Aiden sat in the waiting room listening to Nora's screams.
"Is that normal?" Aiden asked.
"I think so, with Nora Ellie passed out so there wasn't any yelling." Tony said. Suddenly the nurses ran out of the room with the baby in the carrier. "Go." He told Aiden.
Aiden ran after the nurses and followed them to the nursery not letting the baby out of his sight. They saw them wheel Nora out in a gurney.
"What's going on?" Tony shouted.
"My Stark calm down, we need to rush her into surgery, she's hemorrhaging and the Placenta isn't detaching normally." Doctor Bennet explained.
"Is she going to be okay?" Tony asked.
"We're doing everything we can." She said before rushing after the gurney.
With that Tony's world came crashing down.
Down in the OR-
"I need suction down here." Doctor Bennet said.
"Pressure's dropping." One of the nurses said. "We're in B-fib."
"Damn it Nora stay with me." Doctor Bennet said. "I need paddles, charge to two hundred, Clear."
They shocked Nora but still nothing.
"Charge to three hundred… clear." She said but still nothing.
"She's unresponsive." The nurse said.
"Damn it. I'm calling it, Time of Death 12:02pm." Claire said. "I'm sorry Nora."
Claire walked out of the OR and wiped the tears off her face. In the short time she had known Nora she had turned out to be more of a friend than just a work colleague. She walked out to the waiting room to where her father was waiting. He took one look at her and he knew.
"Mr. Stark There were complications during the delivery and the hemorrhaging could not be controlled. I'm sorry for your loss." She said.
Tony stood there in shock.
"Tony? How's Nora?" Steve asked.
"Tony?" Sam asked.
"Uncle Tony, I made a card for Auntie Nora can I go give it to her?" Connor asked.
Tony just broke down. "What's going on?" Sam asked.
"There were complications during the delivery, I'm sorry for your loss." Claire repeated.
"Daddy, where's auntie Nora?" Connor said tearing up. Sam took Connor in his arms.
"Can I see her?" Tony finally said.
"Of course follow me." Claire said. They walked into the OR where Nora's body was still on the operating table covered in a sheet. "I'll give you a moment."
"Damn it kid, what am I supposed to do without you?" Tony cried.
Nora's POV-
There was a bright light at the end of a tunnel and when I finally got to the end of it I was standing outside the ranch. I was wearing the red maxi dress I wore every time something like this happened. Maybe I really was cursed.
I walked up to the porch and opened the door. I walked in and everything was different. The house changed and I was in the living room of the townhouse.
"I like what you've done with the place, you did always have great taste." A very familiar blonde said.
"Jess?" I said.
"Hey sis." She said with a bright smile. I ran up to her and pulled her into a hug. "I missed you too but we can catch up another time. You made me a promise, thank you for keeping it but I need you to keep doing it."
"Jess, I don't know how I got here, I left…" I started.
"I know, we've been keeping an eye on you guys." She said.
"We?" I said.
"We." A very familiar voice said from behind me. I turned around and saw someone I never thought I'd see again.
"Wren?" I said.
"Nora." He said pulling me into a hug. "You've been so strong."
"I'm sorry." I said.
"What do you have to be sorry for?" Wren said wiping the tears from my face.
"I… You died and I, I didn't get to tell you I loved you." I said.
"I know you did and I love you too." He said kissing me. "But that doesn't matter right now."
"What?" I said.
"You still have a chance to get back and you have to our son needs you." He said.
"It's a boy?" I said.
"It's a boy." He said.
"I left my kids and Sam, they can't lose you too Nora." Jess said.
"Our son needs you Nora," Wren said.
"What do I do?" I said.
"You go out the same way you came in and you don't look back." Wren said.
"I miss you guys." I said.
"We know." Jess said. "We'll see you in a few decades and not a second sooner."
"Keep doing what you're doing. And Thank Aiden for me." Wren said kissing me and hugging me one last time.
"Give Connor and Ellie a kiss for me and tell Sam that it's okay, I love him and I want him to be happy." Jess said hugging me.
"So I just go through that door?" I said.
"Yup, don't look back." They said standing behind me.
"I love you guys."
"We know." they said.
I looked at the door. I felt them both put a hand on my back and push me forward. I walked forward and didn't look back. I opened the door and stepped through it. It closed behind me and saw the tunnel again but this time the light came to me.
"Ah!" I woke up gasping and coughing.
"Nora?" I heard dad say.
"I really hate dying." I groaned.
"Doctor Bennet!" Dad called in and Claire ran in and stared at me in shock.
"Miss me?" I said.
"But-how?" She said.
"Don't know but If it's all right with you I'd like to see my son now." I said.
After freaking everyone out and finally being moved into a private room, Aiden came back with a nurse and my baby with them.
"Here he is." The nurse said picking him up and putting him in my arms.
"Hi sweetheart." I said. He was wearing the generic hospital diaper and pink and blue striped hat.
"I'll leave you to it." the nurse said.
"You gave us quite a scare." Aiden said.
"Sorry, I wasn't actually expecting that." I said.
"I thought as much, the kid's a saint though he does have a pair of lungs on him. He's a little carrot top like his father." Aiden said.
"Yeah, When I died I saw him." I said.
"Saw who?" Aiden said confused.
"I saw Wren and Jess." I said. "We talked they literally pushed me back here. He told me to say thank you."
"Wren said that?" Aiden asked.
"Apparently we all have a guardian angel or two watching us." I said. I looked down at my son. "So I finally picked out a name."
"Did you now?" He said with a smirk.
"Yeah, Uncle Aiden say hello to your nephew, Wren Aiden Spencer-Stark." I said.
"You're naming him after me?" He said shocked.
"You've been with me every, carving, fart contraction and real contraction of the way. Sam called godfather when I was still in college so this is the closest thing I could find." I said.
"Hi Wren." He said touching the baby's hand.
Then there was a knock at the door.
"Hey we got some visitors here to see you." The nurse said letting Dad, Sam, Connor, and Ellie in.
"Hi." I said.
"Hey." They all said quietly Connor quickly jumped onto the bed and curled onto my side.
"Connor!" Sam chastised.
"It's okay Sam. Hey buddy." I said kissing the top of his head. "Sorry for scaring you."
"They said you…" He said crying.
"I know sweetie. I'm okay now and look who else is here?" I said. "It's your cousin. Turns out you were right."
"It's a boy?" He said.
"Yeah," I said.
"What's his name?" Connor asked.
"Is it Tony?" Dad asked and Aiden laughed.
"Everyone, meet Wren Aiden Spencer-Stark." I said.
Sam teared up a bit at the name but smiled. "Hi Wren."
After a few hours Sam had to go home with the kids and Dad had his publicist announce that I had given birth and that both the baby and I were healthy. Dad stepped out for a minute and Steve walked in.
"Y-You're okay?" He said.
"Yeah, it was kind of touch and go for a minute but I'm fine, we both are." I said looking down as Wren started fussing and opened his eyes. The blue grey eyes I was sure would one day look just like his fathers. "Sh sh, it's okay sweetie." I grabbed his bottle and gave it to him. He latched on and started drinking the formula.
"Congratulations he's beautiful." Steve said.
"Thank you." I said.
"I'm sorry about the trial I had no idea…" Steve started.
"I know, you're not your girlfriend but you still shouldn't be here." I said.
"Right, conflict of interest." He said. I didn't even bother looking up at him I was to distracted by my son to care about Steve at the moment. That saying about how you don't know what true unconditional love is until you first look at your kid was right.
"Hm." Wren fussed.
"Sh it's okay sweetheart, mommy's here." I said picking him up and burping him. He let out a big one and I smiled.
"He looks just like his father." Aya said.
"Yeah he really does." I said. "Thank you for bringing me back."
"It wasn't me. I had to separate myself from you fro the birth to ease the strain on your body. You brought yourself back." Aya said before disappearing.
"Huh, Well that was Auntie Aya and just a heads up, her barks worse than her bite." I said.
Dad came back in with Claire.
"I don't know how you did it but there's not a mark on you. Not from the surgery or any stretch marks from the birth. If it wasn't for the fact that I delivered Wren and that I was your OB for your entire pregnancy I couldn't tell if you had a kid or were ever pregnant." Claire said.
"Wow, well at least now I don't have to worry about losing the baby weight." I said.
"Nora be serious." Dad said.
"I kind of am. You know this isn't the first time I died and in all honestly it probably won't be the last." I said. "The only thing that matters is if Wren's healthy so what's the prognosis?"
"I'd keep you under observation but considering you're probably the healthiest person alive I'm discharging you tomorrow afternoon." She said.
"Yay, I just need to text Aiden and tell him to put in the car seat." I said.
"I got that covered." Dad said.
"Awesome." I said.
"You want the little guy to sleep in the nursery or in here?" She asked.
"Here, I'm not letting this little guy out of my sight." I said.
"Okay then, try to get some rest." Claire said before leaving.
"Thank you." I said as she walked out.
"Here give me a second with my grandson." Dad said.
"Sure." I said gently putting Wren in dad's arms.
"It's been a while since I held one of these." He said chuckling.
"I've noticed." I said.
"So what's it feel like? Motherhood?" dad said.
"Don't think I'm ever going to sleep the same way ever again." I said. "Everything feels different. I was freaking out about everything before how I was going to handle taking care of him but now it doesn't matter."
"He's quiet." Dad said.
"Yeah he's a good baby." I said. "So you disappointed he's not named Tony?"
"He's healthy and so are you that's all that matters. You scared the crap out of me kid." Dad said.
"I know, Didn't expect to die today but I'm kind of glad I did." I said.
"What?" dad said.
"When I died I went somewhere and I saw Wren and Jess and it's weird but it just made me feel like every feeling of remorse I had about all those unresolved feelings were just gone." I said. "I got to tell him I loved him and I got to see my best friend. All in all it was a good day."
"Can say I share that sentiment but I'm glad you're feeling better." Dad said.
"Yeah now onto the next adventure, raising Wren." I said.
"Before I forget, Pepper told me about gifts people give mom's after giving birth, she said they were called push presents. I kind of got you something after your false alarm on Christmas eve." Dad said pulling out a jewelry box. I opened it and smiled.
It was a necklace with three pendants. One was a gold silhouette of a show with a wing on it. It had a W engraved on it. Then there was a circle pendant with Wren Aiden engraved on it and the last one was an arc reactor pendant with an N on the back.
.
.
.
"How did you…" I started.
"I knew the gender and I had Happy go get it engraved when you went into labor." Dad said. "Aya told me what you were going to pick out as a name though I kind of figured Wren would be used in some way before everything."
"It's gorgeous, thank you." I said.
"Get some sleep kid, tomorrow is going to be hectic." Dad said.
"Wake me up when it's time to feed Wren." I said.
"I will." Dad said.