The section of the Tower referred to as the 'band-aid tent' by Tony had recently been converted to a much more advanced hospital wing in preparation for Tina and the babies. Bruce was having an animated yet hushed conversation with the team of obstetricians and pediatricians gathered in the room while Pepper and Natasha helped to get Tina comfortable.

"All good?" Steve asked his wife as Natasha straightened an already-straight pillow compulsively.

"Yup," she replied, smiling briefly in an attempt at nonchalance.

As a contraction began, Tina squeezed Steve's hand and Pepper and Natasha edged towards the door.

"Nat-wait," Tina panted out, "stay."

"She was planning on asking if you'd be here when the babies are born," Steve elaborated.

Natasha smiled a little, feeling touched that she was going to be included in this special time.

"Deep breaths, Tina," she said, immediately assuming the role of coach.

Steve jumped into the part of cheerleader.

"That's great," he encouraged, "just like that."

Bruce smiled at them. Although he was still a bit concerned, the team of MDs was sure that Steve's super DNA would at the very least help to counter any side effects that the babies' premature birth might have had. He was sure that Champ would be fine, but Doll…he worried.

"Good news," he addressed the couple, "Champ will come first. That gets the hard part over with first for you, Tina."

She nodded, keeping focused on her vice-like grips on both Steve and Natasha. Bruce rubbed his hands together in anticipation. He was incredibly excited to be an uncle and couldn't wait to meet the newest members of the Tower.

"Here we go!"

…

Thor alternated between pacing back and forth restlessly to sitting as motionlessly as a statue. The Lady Pepper and the Healer Bruce had informed him many times that childbirth was not that dangerous anymore. They'd told him about all the many procedures and back-up plans in existence- just in case. But he was not comforted. In his homeland, although the healers there used magic, women occasionally still died in the effort. Hearing Tina's yelps of pain did not help him calm himself either. The prince glowered at the floor from the much-too-small hospital chair which quaked under him.

"How much longer?" Tony asked for about the thousandth time.

"Tony, for the last time, we don't know. It's her first baby, it takes a while," Clint answered pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

Silence reigned a while longer, only broken by the click of Pepper's heels and occasional snatches of conversation as she talked with Tina's parents on the phone. Tina screamed out again, and Thor leapt from his seat to resume pacing. He tightened his grip on Mjolnir, taking comfort in its familiar weight.

"I want a play-by-play," Tony grumbled, "waiting sucks."

"You don't actually want a play-by-play," Clint assured him. "You ever see a baby be born? It's not pretty."

"How would you know?"

"Circus, dude. Circus," Clint answered, shaking his head. "I've seen some crazy stuff."

Step, step, step, turn. Step, step, step, turn. Thor almost wished for a battle, or at least a sparring match to burn off some of his excess energy.

"The grandparents-to-be are very excited," Pepper announced as she took a seat beside Tony. "And Thor, Jane said she was coming around noon, so soon, okay?"

The thunder god nodded in response; quite sure that even Jane wouldn't be able to make him feel completely at ease. He would feel better when both babes were born and Tina was taken care of. He thought of her as a sweet little sister, part of his Midgardian family. Although Natasha had come out a few times to say that everything was going perfectly, even easily for someone having their first baby, he worried for her health. Suddenly, he heard raised voices from the room and then silence. He stopped pacing, staring at the door with worry pounding through his veins. Then, the quiet was broken by the lusty wail of a baby. A cheer sounded through the whole hall of people waiting. Thor laughed and dropped his hammer (which crunched through the thin plastic seat of a chair) to grab the Archer in a huge hug. Natasha poked her head out of the room, grinning from ear to ear.

"It's a girl," she giggled uncharacteristically, "all this time, Champ has been a little girl. She's so perfect and beautiful." The assassin-turned-aunt smiled again and shut the door.

Thor began to relax, chuckling as he imagined the look on Steve's face when he found out that "Champ" was a little lady.

…

Bruce handed the angrily protesting infant to Steve, who accepted her gingerly. Instinctively, he pulled her in close to his chest, cradling her in his arms and rocking her gently. He couldn't stop staring at her little face. Sticky curls were matted to her head, and although her skin was still a raw red, he could see that her lips and button nose were shaped exactly like her mother's.

"Hi, baby," he whispered. "I'm your daddy."

She stopped fussing, waving her little fists in the air instead. "Sorry for calling you Champ all that time," Steve apologized with a half a giggle.

She opened her eyes, giving him an indignant look, as if she was still offended by her boyish nickname. Steve gasped as he saw her eyes. They were a surprising shade of aqua, just like the water of the tropical island he'd gone on his honeymoon to. Blue and green meshed together to form the most beautiful teal he'd ever seen. Steve's heart felt almost achey. He had no idea he could possibly love something as much as he loved his daughter.

"Tina," he murmured, holding the baby up against her chest, "look how beautiful our daughter is."

His wife laughed wetly, tears flowing freely from her eyes.

"Look at those peepers," she sighed in wonder. "I love you, little girl." Tina brushed her fingers against her daughter's soft cheek.

Tina pulled back her hand and groaned again, shaking Steve out of his reverie. How could I forget? There's another baby! He pulled his daughter back, holding her close to his heart. The child rested her hand against the skin where his shirt was unbuttoned. A kind-faced nurse smiled at him and reached for her. Steve's clutch on the baby tightened momentarily. He gazed back down at his little girl, trying to suppress the totally irrational fear of letting her out of his sight. She'd fallen asleep, tiny hand gripping his finger with a surprising strength.

"She's beautiful," the nurse smiled, gazing at the infant.

Steve nodded in agreement.

"Let's get her cleaned up and snuggled in a blanket," the nurse suggested, holding her arms out once more. The soldier reluctantly gave his baby to the nurse, who cooed softly at the sleeping child as she left the room. He resumed his place at Tina's side, full to the brim with joy.

"Remember the name we discussed?" he murmured in her ear.

She nodded, concentrating on her breathing. "It works. She's gorgeous but also incredibly strong. You should've felt her little grip."

"Our moms- will be- so happy," Tina agreed in between pants.

Natasha reentered the room.

"About what?" she asked, giving Tina a look that clearly wondered whether or not exhaustion was making her hallucinate. "Steve's mom isn't…exactly…"

He laughed.

"She'll be proud from heaven. We're going honor them both and use their middle name."

"They have the same middle name?"

Tina nodded, smiling through her effort.

"And- add something- new- too."

The kindly nurse brought a little pink bundle back to Steve who gladly accepted it. He kissed her forehead and cuddled her close.

"Rose Charlotte Rogers, Daddy missed you."

I adore Daddy Steve...and overprotective Thor. And everyone... How excited/worried/thrilled are you all to meet Doll?

Soooo it's getting to that point in the story where I've gotta ask my usual question: what do you all want to see from me next?

Thanks for reading :)