Most of the characters in this story belong to Marvel Comics and whoever else has current legal ownership of Iron Man and not to me, even in my wildest dreams. No infringement on anyone's rights is intended in any way. This story is not being written for profit.
This story was written for all of you who wanted a sequel to my story "The Sense of Touch". I sincerely appreciated your kind words and encouragement and I hope that you enjoy this story. :)
Karen walked in the door with a tray of food and cups on it. "As promised: Food and drink." She said setting them down on the rolling tray next to Pepper's bed.
"Doctor's orders Pepper: eat then sleep. Debbie is going to come in to take a few pictures of just the babies in order to calm down the hordes of fans outside in the waiting room until you can grace them with your presence."
"What hordes of fans?" Pepper sleepily asked as Tony raised the head of her bed up so she could sit up to eat and drink. Tony then handed her the tea and she drank deeply.
"Some folks I've never seen before are getting fairly rowdy out there with your family. A friendly rowdy though. Happy has vetted all of them, so I guess they are OK security wise."
"Is there a big blonde guy with them who talks like he should be a Shakespearean actor?" Tony asked amused sitting down next to Pepper on the bed as he pulled up the food tray in front of them.
"As a matter of fact there is." Karen replied "He even kissed me on the back of my hand when Charlotte introduced me as Pepper's doctor. He called me a 'noble physician' and I still don't know exactly what he meant by the 'noble' part of that. I have been called many things before, but never noble."
"I can vouch for that." Pepper added, the corners of her eyes holding a smile that the rest of her face was too tired for.
Tony smiled at Pepper as he handed her the apple kolache. She eagerly started eating it, sipping her tea between bites. Tony had already eaten two sausage kolaches and was working on his third one between gulps of coffee. They were both very quiet suddenly and very intent on eating their food. Tony was tired, his adrenaline high waning and he was positive that Pepper had to be absolutely exhausted. Pepper laid her head on his shoulder as she continued to eat.
Karen smiled at both of them. "I wish I had a camera right now."
Debbie walked in the door carrying her camera, dressed in green scrubs. "Did someone say camera?" she said smiling at Pepper and Tony.
"Yeah" Karen said with a laugh "Get a picture of those two stuffing their faces acting like nothing at all is going on around them. They are too cute."
Debbie immediately pulled her camera up to her face and snapped a couple of pictures of them sitting together calmly on the bed eating, both of them on the verge of falling asleep. She then focused all of her attention on the babies.
"They are so adorable!" Debbie exclaimed as she started taking pictures of the babies from all angles. Debbie was an amateur photographer, but a good one winning lots of awards.
"Maybe we should just go out there for a few minutes with the babies, and then we can come back here and rest." Pepper suggested looking over at Tony "That way we can clear out the waiting room. I am sure that my parents can put all of them up at the ranch until you give us the boot out of your clinic."
Karen looked at Pepper sternly. "Nobody except you and Daddy are to touch those babies." Karen warned "I mean it when I say that I keep my newborns germ free."
"What if I hold the babies, letting every one get a good look but avoiding contact with anyone, while Pepper sits in a wheelchair and gets the hugs, but no kisses?" Tony suggested. "Pepper can shower afterwards and then get a long sleep in."
"No wheelchair, Tony." Pepper corrected "I feel up to a short visit with everyone."
"Only if I am at your side, just in case you get too tired to stand." Karen added. "And the visit is kept short."
"Pepper?" Tony asked wanting Pepper's final approval as he finished up his coffee.
"OK." Pepper replied as she finished up her tea. "But I get to take a quick shower and change before going out there."
"I'll keep an eye on the kids for you while you're taking a shower." Karen replied "But no hanky panky in the shower, Iron Man. You are only there to make sure Pepper doesn't fall."
"Yes, Aunti Karen." Tony replied with a smile. He looked over at their babies who were still sound asleep as Debbie continued to take pictures of them.
Tony got up off the bed pulling Pepper gently up with him. He pulled her into his side, quickly grabbing her birthing bag as they walked towards the private restroom. Inside was a small shower. Tony got out her shower gel and helped her into the shower stall. Pepper didn't want to wash her hair until after they had their waiting room visit so she would be clean for nursing the babies. With Tony standing guard just outside the shower stall, she quickly took a shower. Tony then helped her change into a long, high-waisted casual linen dress with a pair of comfortable sandals. Tony took his time admiring her graceful curves as the dress hugged her features perfectly. He suddenly felt a strong urge to get her pregnant again as his gaze swept from her breasts to her full hips.
"Hey, I can see my feet again!" Pepper triumphantly said, a smile now lighting up her weary face.
Tony smiled back at her and then walked around behind her and brushed her hair back into a sleek pony tail for her as he fastened it with a tie. "Two weeks, huh, Mrs. Stark before we can...you know…again." he said as he trailed kisses along her neck, scratching her gently with his beard. "I think that this is going to be the longest two weeks of my life."
"I have a feeling that you will be far too busy changing dirty diapers to be even remotely interested in that, Tony." She teased, turning to him and kissing him soundly on the lips. "After all, you will be on diaper duty for two months."
"I was kinda hoping that you would forget about that." Tony pouted.
"Not a chance, Iron Man." She replied with a chuckle as they walked out of the restroom to see both Karen and Charlotte looking at their babies.
"Less than 5 minutes….I'm impressed." Karen said sarcastically. "The natives are getting restless out there. Let's get you all out there so I can get rid of all those people and get my clinic back to normal. A bunch of guys in black suits have just shown up along with a very big, very scary looking bald man with an eye patch."
Tony smiled. Fury had made it.
"I'm going to go out first and get every body settled down." Charlotte said walking briskly towards the door. "I don't care how big or how scary. I bet I can get everybody in line PDQ!"
"Oma is scary when she gets in her over protective mode." Pepper commented as Karen laughed loudly.
"How do I do this?" Tony asked as he walked over to the babies' crib looking down at his babies.
Karen walked over to the crib and gently picked up Anna Maria and placed her securely in Tony's right arm with her head nestled in the crook of his elbow. She then picked up James Edward and placed him securely in Tony's left arm with his head nestled in the crook of his elbow.
"It's easier to do this with someone handing them to you." Karen told him as he hugged his babies gently to his chest. "I'll show you later how to do it when you are alone."
Tony looked down at his children and smiled. He turned to look at Pepper as she quickly smiled back at him, her eyes quickly returning to their babies. He couldn't wait to show their children off to their friends and family. Tony walked carefully towards the door not wanting to jostle the babies too much. The babies had already started to stir when Karen picked them up, but once in Tony's arms they settled right back down again. Karen opened the door for him as she and Pepper trailed just behind Tony as he walked. The waiting room was just down the hall from their room in a large open space with windows and lots of chairs and a big screen TV mounted to the interior partition wall.
Tony slowly walked down the hall as Debbie stepped outside of the waiting area, taking pictures of him carrying their babies, as well as Pepper and Karen as they approached the waiting area. Tony was concentrating on where he was going, so he wouldn't trip. This was his first time carrying his children and he was being extra cautious. He would glance down at them with every step making sure they were doing OK.
When Tony rounded the corner of the room, everyone inside the waiting area grew quiet not wanting to awaken the babies if they were asleep. Charlotte had prepared the group with the ground rules for the visit, so there was no mad rush for Tony and Pepper. Tony stopped near the wall with the TV and began rocking slowly back and forth watching his children intently. Anna Maria suddenly reached out and touched Tony's face with her fingertips. As he smiled down at her, he noticed that James Edward was content just to watch Tony for the moment, his little hands busy feeling along the edge of his blanket. Pepper walked up and stood next to Tony and reached around him with one arm around his shoulders giving him a tender hug.
Eddie and Pepper's parents were the first ones to approach Tony and the twins. Pepper put her arm around his waist and leaned on him as he held their children. Karen had moved to stand right next to Pepper in an effort to oversee the proceedings.
"Cute as bugs." Eddie said as he looked over his newest great grand children. "They got your eyes Pepper." Eddie reached out to hug Pepper. "You done good kiddos!"
"I hope their eyes don't change color as they get older." Anna, Pepper's mom said "They are so beautiful." Tony could tell that she had to physically hold herself back from touching the babies. "I can't wait to get my hands on them so I can start spoiling them rotten!" She reached out and hugged Pepper tightly "I'm so proud of you both." She said as she smiled at Tony. Tony smiled back at her.
Pepper's dad, Ronald smiled at Tony then looked the babies over with a critical eye. "They are going to be tall. Look at the length of those arms." He said smiling at Pepper. "I sense future athletes here." He reached out and gathered Pepper into his arms and gave her a gentle hug.
Eddie, Anna, and Ronald moved over and motioned for Happy and Rhody to come forward.
As Rhody approached Tony noticed that he still had his flight suit on. "When am I going to get to hold my god kids?" he asked smiling at Tony.
"I am going to keep Pepper and the babies overnight here." Karen interrupted with a smile "They can go home tomorrow. So maybe Tony might let you hold them tomorrow. But then only if you have clean clothes on and have washed your hands. I am the neonatal Nazi you know. That goes for you too, Happy." She said sternly pointing a finger at him.
Up to this point Tony had been silent, which was a rarity for him in a group situation. But he just couldn't take his eyes off of his babies as he continued to gently rock them. He looked up for a second focusing on Rhodes and smiled at him. Rhody nodded at him, understanding.
"I'm not going anywhere soon. I can wait you out." Rhody teased. "I'm staying with Anna and Ronald for a few days." Rhody glanced quickly at Karen who smiled at him. "And yes ma'am, I will be germ free when I hold them."
Pepper's nephews came running up behind Rhody stopping just to the side of him. Pepper shot them a warning glance and they froze in their tracks, as Karen laughed at the expressions on their faces.
"We finally have some cousins that are younger than us." Arliss announced looking at the twins expectantly.
Tony smiled at him and crouched down so the boys could get a better look at them.
"Dang, but they're tiny." Little Eddie said, his eyes widening in amazement.
"Twins are usually smaller than normal full term single babies, but they grow quickly." Travis said with self assurance. "I have been doing research."
"You are exactly right, Travis." Karen agreed.
Arliss looked at the babies, his face frowning as if in deep thought. "Don't you worry Anna and James; you'll get big in no time. And your cousins here will always be around to take good care of you."
Pepper moved forward and hugged the three boys in turn.
"It's good to know they have such great cousins to watch out for them." Pepper said as she hugged each of them.
Big Eddie had moved towards the door. "I have a bar-b-que fire to start. Come on boys" Big Eddie called out to them, "time to go.
The boys blurted out their good bys, hugging both Pepper and Karen before they left and giving both Happy and Rhody high fives as they ran past them.
Tony stood back up and began rocking the babies again. He looked down at Anna Maria as she began sucking on her fist.
"Looks like someone is getting hungry." Happy said as he looked down on the babies. "They sure are cute. Hard to believe that they sprung from your loins, Tony."
Tony just smiled at Happy and then looked back at his babies as he continued to rock them gently in his arms. Tony was just too happy at the moment to let anybody's insult bother him.
"Happy, we are going to stay overnight here in the clinic. Hopefully Karen will let us go home early in the morning so we don't attract too much attention in public." Pepper said.
"So far, the coast is clear outside." Happy replied "The earlier you go home tomorrow the better off we are from a security perspective. The Shield folks are going to stay the night at the Rainbow Ranch. They came in under the radar so to speak without the usual marked vehicles and no uniforms, so I don't think they are going to attract too much attention leaving here. We are calling in more security and surveillance for the night as a precaution."
Much to Tony's amazement, James Edwards looked up and actually smiled at Happy. Happy looked down and smiled back at him.
Pepper started laughing. "James Edward sure likes his Uncle Happy."
James heard Pepper's voice and immediately began sucking his fist, just like Anna Maria.
"Sorry to break up the love-in guys, but these babies need to be nursed." Karen interrupted. "Let's get the rest of the Little Rascals gang over here and have one big happy family moment before everyone has to go."
And with that Happy started gathering up Oma and Anna as they all hugged Pepper once more before leaving.
"We will see you tomorrow." Ronald said as he tugged on Anna's arm in order to hurry her up.
"Take good care of those babies, Tony." Rhody said with a smile "And I expect my turn with my god kids tomorrow."
Tony just smiled at him as Rhody shook his head in laughter as he reached out and hugged Pepper once more before he turned and left with Ronald.
Pepper moved back to Tony's side leaned her head wearily on his shoulder. He looked over at her questioningly.
"Just running out of steam." She replied nuzzling his shoulder with her cheek.
Fury and the rest of the Avengers along with Betty and Jane now gathered in front Tony, Pepper, and Karen.
Thor suddenly pushed his way in front of everyone and craned his neck over at Tony peering down on the babies. "They are most handsome, Starks. They will no doubt be strong judging by their arms, and beautiful seeing how they favor Pepper strongly."
"They are precious." Jane said pushing Thor to the side "Congratulations to you both. I know you are proud of them."
Tony looked at Thor with only a trace of a smile in his eyes, but then smiled sincerely at Jane as Pepper hugged her. Thor bent down to hug Pepper also.
"They do have Dad's mouth and the Stark plumage." Natasha said smiling at Pepper as Clint nodded his approval at the babies. "But the rest of them is all Pepper. And they are definitely cute." Pepper reached out to give Natasha a big hug. She then turned to Clint and hugged him too.
"Let's hope that they really don't have Tony's mouth." Bruce said as he put his arm around Betty. "That mouth of his has gotten him and us in enough trouble as it is. One of Tony is definitely enough…maybe even too much."
Tony cut his eyes at Bruce quickly, but then smiled serenely at him. Bruce's eyebrows shot up at Tony's reaction. Bruce was expecting some sort of smart ass reply from Tony but he didn't get it.
Betty elbowed Bruce and he let go of her quickly. "They are gorgeous. It's going to be hard not to spoil them though. It won't take them any time at all for all for their godparents to be wrapped around their little fingers, right Uncle Bruce?" Betty then reached out and enveloped Pepper in a tight hug. Bruce stepped up to Pepper and gave her a quick hug, too.
"Yes, dear." Bruce deadpanned with a small smile as he put his arm back around Betty.
Steve leaned around Natasha to get a better look at the babies. He smiled at Pepper and then Tony "Good looking kids. Congratulations!"
Steve then stepped forward and hugged Pepper gently. Tony locked eyes with Steve as he finished the hug and he slightly nodded his approval to Steve who nodded back.
"Thank you Steve." Pepper replied as she moved back to Tony putting her arm around his waist as she leaned her head against his shoulder again. Tony glanced at her, worried about her. She looked at him as a small smile moved across her face.
"I'm OK." She whispered to him reading his thoughts.
Fury walked up to stand in front of Tony and Pepper as Steve moved to the side of Bruce and Betty. He looked over the babies and solemnly nodded his head in approval. Then he turned to look at Pepper directly.
"Your children are indeed handsome." Fury began with a small smile "Congratulations to you both."
"Thank you, Nick." Pepper replied as she stepped forward to hug him. "And thank you so much again for the beautiful baby blankets."
Tony couldn't help but be surprised that Pepper was on a first name basis now with Fury. But then even with all of his annoying mannerisms Fury was a smart man. He knew and appreciated Pepper's value to the Avengers' Initiative as well as to Tony personally. And, after all, Pepper had given Fury his weekends back twelve years ago.
"Your parents have graciously allowed all of us to stay at their ranch for a few days." Fury said "And I have heard stories as to your Grandfather's skill at the bar-b-que pit, so I am looking forward to sampling that side of beef he will be cooking today and all night for lunch tomorrow. I haven't had real pit bar-b-que in years."
"Opa's bar-b-que is legendary." Pepper replied with a smile. "We will no doubt be joining all of you for lunch."
As the group waved goodbyes to Tony, Pepper and Karen, and turned towards the door, Fury suddenly turned back around, pointedly looking at his watch. "And just for the record, here" he started as he smiled at Tony "Fourteen minutes and thirty two seconds of silence from Tony Stark. That's a new record. I've known him all of his life and Stark's not even quiet when he is unconscious." Fury paused dramatically, he eyes now locked with Tony's. "Oh and about that open position for grand god father…consider it filled, Stark." And with that Fury walked out the door followed by the rest of the group.
Pepper chuckled as she hugged Tony's hips. She then gently nudged him towards the hallway. Tony smiled and looked at his babies who were still wide awake looking at him intently, their fists crammed into their mouths. "Let's go Iron Dad."
Tony turned to look at her and smiled broadly at her as he let her lead him back down the hallway towards their room. Janice had taken her arm in hers making sure that Pepper was able to walk back to their room safely.
Tony held the babies as Karen helped Pepper change into clean scrubs, washing her hands and her face first, and then helped her into bed, positioning the pads around her so she could nurse. They decided that washing Pepper's hair could wait until after Pepper got a nap in. Tony gently handed James to her first, and then Anna. The babies immediately searched for and found their targets within seconds. Tony sat down on the bed next to Pepper's hip, placed an arm around her waist, and sat there motionless as he watched his favorite three people in the whole world. His children were blissfully nursing, making occasional satisfied noises and Pepper eyes were closed as she softly talked to the babies as she lovingly cradled their heads in her hands. Tony suddenly felt a joy inside of him that he had never, ever felt before. Almost like a super-charged feeling of contentment combined with one of pure happiness. Better than flying, better than anything.
Suddenly Pepper opened her eyes and turned her face towards him and they locked eyes. Tony realized at that moment Pepper felt the same way too. And as they continued to look deeply into each other's eyes, Tony noticed that her gaze had quickly evolved into a look containing both love and desire. Tony smiled coyly at her, knowing instinctively that Anna Maria and James Edward were not going to grow up alone. Yes, now there were definitely more Stark babies in their future. Maybe being on diaper duty wouldn't be so bad after all.