AN: Hey guys! No, you are not dreaming! This is the second chapter tonight! EXCITING! I don't really have much to say so I will leave you to get on and read!

Disclaimer: I in no way own any of the Avengers, anything to do with Marvel comic rights etc etc. I think you all know the drill by now! I do own the plot line and the writing so please ask for my express permission before recreating any of my work.

Eva
xxx

"I thought we were supposed to be doing what relaxed you… Not what you are forced to do by your PR team."

The Avengers were standing outside the children's ward in a small hospital. They all wore disbelieving expressions on their faces as they looked at Tony.

"Hey! I'm not doing this because I have too! You guys all seem to think that I am such a 'bad guy' but I'm not! I do actually do things, for other people!"

He seemed to be looking specifically at Steve, who scoffed loudly. "Doing something to prove a point is not the same as doing something because you want to help others!"

The rest of the team all sighed. The past two weeks had just been filled with arguments and they were getting thoroughly annoying. Though, they did try to ignore them, as it was better not to take sides. Just looking in one direction could cause either of the men to bring you into the argument and then you wouldn't get any rest!

"How about we just go in. And please everyone, I am actually begging you guys, don't do anything that will or could traumatise small children. I repeat, ANYTHING! I did try to get the Director to stop this, but he seemed to think it was a good idea."

Everyone nodded and then turned to the door. Tony had to use the intercom to be able to get them in as the doors were locked. The nurses' station was at the end of a long corridor, which as decorated with lots of cartoon characters, and child-friendly images, such as flowers and animals. Beyond the nurses' station were two more, long corridors with rooms going off the sides. You could see a visitors' waiting room and various machines along the way.

There was a brown-haired nurse at the station who smiled when she saw Tony. "Ah, Mr Stark! It is so great to see you again! The children really do enjoy your visits! And it is just so fantastic that you have brought friends with you! You do know where to go don't you? I am sorry, but I must just run off and do something, I am sure you will be able to find someone else if you need any help…"

The nurse didn't wait for answer; she just smiled and then walked off into a side room and closed the door. Tony nodded at her and muttered a thank you underneath his breath, before leading the group, off down the left corridor and then into a big room with large cushions on the floor.

There were about ten children, all sitting on the floor, who jumped up and rushed to Tony as he entered. He knelt down so that they would be able to reach him easier. The other avengers looked on in amazement as the kids clambered all over Tony and chattered excitedly in his ears. Gradually they calmed down and realised that there were other people in the room. They looked on warily as Tony introduced them all.

"Okay kiddiewinks! I have brought a couple of my friends along today! This is Steve, Natasha, Hawk, Hulk, Thor and Coulson." He pointed to each of the team in turn but Bruce stepped forward.

"Actually, my name is Bruce…" He scowled at Tony, who in turn just smirked.

"And guys, these are Poppy, Ellen, Ksenia, Tom, John, Gareth, Kosta, Jeremy, Berry and Perry. Berry and Perry are twins."

The children all smiled shyly. They looked about to be between six and eight, but most of them were on the small side.

"The majority of the kids here are being treated for leukaemia, or other, long term diseases. But the good news is, they all have treatable conditions and doctors don't think anyone here is terminal."

"Tony… Maybe we shouldn't discuss that in front of them…?"

Coulson trailed off awkwardly, out of everyone, he probably looked the most out of place. Although… maybe that was Bruce…

"Oh no… It is absolutely fine, they don't mind! Do ya?" Tony turned to tickle one of the little girls. "Okay munchkins, it is time to mingle!" With that, Tony grabbed one of the boys and swung him onto his shoulders. "C'mon Jeremy! Let's go blow stuff up!"

The little boy giggled and blushed. "Okay Tony!"

Slowly the kids started to move. Most of the girls went over to Natasha and she sat down on the floor with them. Clint joined her, much to her annoyance. "Go find your own kids!"

"I can't! I mean, only got through that CRB check with falsified records! I am not exactly safe! Besides, I don't want to scare them with my awesome skills!"

"Fine!"

The girls giggled. Natasha leaned close and whispered conspiratorially, "I think he is just shy!"

The girls giggled some more. "I think he likes you!" One girl with long, light brown hair was blushing furiously as her friends laughed. She had obviously not meant to say it that loud.

"Poppy!"

"Shut up Ellen! You said it too!"

"Whatever Poppy!"

Clint and Natasha both laughed at the girls' antics. They had started poking the girl next to them who had long brown hair.

"Whatever you two! I think that Tony likes the tall one with blond hair!"

"Ksenia!"

All three girls were now laughing. Berry and Perry, the other two girls were looking on and trying to keep straight faces. One of the girls rolled her eyes and said loudly, "Why do you always do this? You are being rude!" But none of the girls could stop laughing.

Clint and Tasha looked on in amazement. "You know, that girl was right…"

"About Tony and Steve? Obviously!"

"No… Well yes, but not the point… She was right about me liking you…"

The girls awed and Natasha blushed.

"Clint!"

Elsewhere in the room…

"No mini midgardian! You must smash!"

Thor was trying, unsuccessfully, to teach a boy how to use a hammer. Fortunately, there were only plastic hammers and the boy was more interested in Thor's hair and cloak. Beside him, Coulson was letting Gareth try on his suit and sunglasses.

"I like the suit on you!" Another boy, John was watching and he smiled shyly at Gareth, "But I don't think that you should wear the sunglasses. It means that no one can see your eyes…"

Coulson chuckled and offered the sunglasses to John. He tried them on and then grinned.

"How ya doin' good lookin'?"

Gareth shook his head. "I don't think so John… They don't really suit you…"

John smiled and took them off. "Whatever you say Gar!"

Coulson smiled again. He could just imagine having children with Pepper, then he caught himself: they hadn't even been on one date yet! As soon as the director's foolish experiment on whether any activity could calm the Avengers down was over, Pepper had agreed to go out for a meal. Her and Tony had broken up almost a year ago and she and Phil had been skirting around the subject of dating for ages before he had finally gotten up the nerve to ask her out. Tony had actually been the one to push him into doing it. Phil did have a slight suspicion that it was only so Tony would be free to date Steve but he couldn't really complain… Speaking of Steve… He was standing in the corner smiling slightly but with the hint of tears in his eyes. He was looking across at Tony. When he saw Coulson staring he tried to smile more and made a gesture, as if to say, 'I'm okay!'.

"Okay… maybe we should try building something smaller?"

The slightly worried voice made Coulson turn around. John and Gareth were chatting away with each other, so he thought it would be okay to leave them for a minute or two. He also knew that Steve would be able to handle himself and whatever he was trying to deal with over Tony.

The worried voice was coming from Bruce who was trying to stop the construction of a gigantic robot. Tony had brought a few of the cupcake robots along and they enthralled Jeremy and Tom. The two boys, along with Tony were trying to convince Bruce, and now Coulson, to allow them to build a massive cupcake-robot.

The argument was interrupted by the brown-haired nurse coming into the room. "I am really sorry everyone, but visiting hours are now over, so you guys will have to leave, and all you kids will have to go back to your rooms. The medicine cart will be around soon."

The children made weak sounds of protest, but a lot of them were tired and so they just filed out. They did give everyone a quick hug and made the Avengers promise to come back and visit them soon. The nurse smiled sympathetically at the kids and their downfallen expressions. "Don't worry! I am sure Mr Stark and his friends will be back very soon!"

Tony nodded and then looked at the rest of them. They all nodded too and from that day onward, there was an agreement that if there was any free time, they would come here.

"Well… That went surprisingly well! No accidents or traumatised children…"

Suddenly there was a scream.

"Maybe I spoke too soon!"

The team all nodded at Coulson while Tony ran back to see what was wrong. He jogged calmly back towards the group with a grin on his face. "Jeremy and Tom had taken two of the cupcake-robots and were scaring the girls with them… Everything's fine."

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