Author's Note: I don't own any Marvel characters.
xxxx
The doctor went over to shake Bruce's hand. "Sif said you were a big guy."
Bruce looked at his crouch.
The doctor laughed then shook Bruce's hand.
"Five pounds," the doctor said. "Good, Sif."
Sif smiled.
"Your baby is growing nicely. Third door down," said the doctor. "Take your shirt off and put on the gown. You may keep your pants on."
Bruce took Sif's hand and led her to the correct room then he helped her with her shirt silently. After she had her gown on and was on the examining table, Sif put his hand over the baby. The doctor, finally, entered the room. She put gel over Sif's belly and ran her scanner over the baby. Stopping every few seconds to take notes.
"Are you sure about the date?" said the doctor. "She's a bit bigger than I expected."
Bruce nodded then Sif.
Bruce kissed Sif. "I'll wait outside." Then he left the room. He was still a giant when they conceived. Of course, the baby would be big. He went outside the building to walk around just to be sure his aura or whatever wasn't influencing Sif.
After the appointment, Bruce helped Sif with her helmet then he put his own helmet on. If anything would happen that he would need a helmet, he would change and the helmet would be trash. But he didn't want a ticket for riding without one. Sif got on behind him and wrapped her arms around him.
xxxx
Bruce and Logan took their bikes to Frank's Place. Bruce would drink less this time. He had experienced getting drunk and had no desire to repeat the experience at a public place - on a grassy field with on a blanket with Sif had possibilities - especially, since the alcohol would help keep the Hulk from making an a appearance.
When Bruce ordered a pitcher of beer for the table, Frank said, "You said 'Hulk smashed' last time you were here."
"I said a lot of things," said Bruce.
"I found a picture and I won't say anything and I don't care if you and your lady friend are making hulk babies," said Frank. "I just wanted you to know, so you don't slip, again."
"I won't get drunk in public, again," said Bruce. "I stick my foot in my mouth enough when I'm sober. Thanks for the heads up."
"Your name is Bruce," said Frank.
Bruce offered his hand. "Dr. Bruce Banner. It's OK. The people that want to do experiments on me or just use my genetic material for unethical reasons already know my name. I've been telling one gentleman that has been wanting a blood sample no for years. Several governments have files on me."
Frank shook his hand. "And the lady hulk?"
"The government has files on her, too. She's also internationally known," said Bruce. Rogue was, at least, known in two countries - the United States and Canada - that made her internationally known.
"And they don't mind you teaching?"
"They watch me and I know they're watching." Bruce commented, worrying about his unborn child. Since Howie had inherited the perfected super-soldier serum from his father Steve Rogers, agencies like H.Y.D.R.A. would be more interested in Howard Rogers than a child born with Bruce's unstable genes. With Captain America and Black Widow as his parents, no one would be stupid enough to get near Howie. So they may decide to settle on Bruce and Sif's baby. Then Sif was an Asgardian warrior, meaning Dagmar would be far from unprotected.
"Bruce, are all mutants as smart as you and that Hank person?" asked Frank.
"The ones I'm teaching appear to be." Bruce had just mailed out paperwork to the Nobel Prize community on his research on cold temperature physics and the science that lead up to him discovering a high temperature superconductor. "Makes teaching interesting. Does everyone around here know about the school?"
"Those who didn't found out when the military raided the place last year," explained the bar owner. "Military raids are never secret after they occur." Jeeps, helicopters and whatever else Striker bought with him would have alerted all the neighbors for miles.
xxxx
While talking to Hank about mutant rights, Bruce mentioned that the local bar owner and most of the neighbors knew about the school due to the raid last year. It seemed Hank only hear the word bar. "You shouldn't self-medicate with alcohol, especially since your father was an alcoholic."
"I let myself get a bit tipsy and it takes the edge off," admitted Bruce. "Too drunk and I'm not going to get it up, so that defeats the purpose."
"We can try a few medicines and see what works," said Hank. "That is a better option that drinking the Hulk away."
"I'll give it a go," said Bruce.
"That's my boy. I'll monitor your medication. We both know the folly of self-medicating. You can make suggestions, but I get the final word. And never change your medication or the dosage without consulting me first."
xxxx
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Bobby knocked on the door of Bruce and Sif's bedroom. "Can I come in?" asked Bobby.
"Is Rogue with you?" asked Sif.
"No," said Bobby.
Sif's English was much better. "Then you can come in."
"A confined space with Rogue and I is asking for trouble," said Bruce.
Bobby came in and looked around the room, staring at the IV pole a bit too long. "My parents don't want me coming home for Thanksgiving."
"I'm sorry to hear that," said Sif.
"We went to see them after Striker raided the school," said Bobby. "And my mom, actually, said 'Can you stop being a mutant?'"
Bruce smiled up at the tall boy. "That's bad."
"I freeze things. It isn't like I turn green and trash buildings. No offense."
"None taken." Bruce smiled. "That isn't my mutation. I became the Hulk because I exposed myself to super-soldier serum. The animals that we tested before my radiation exposure all died, but I didn't. I survived so something in my genetic make-up is different."
"Like Logan surviving the experiments done to him," said Bobby.
"Exactly," said Bruce. "Do you want to talk about your parents?"
"I don't know if I want to talk or just not be alone."
"Where is Rogue?" asked Sif.
"On a bus to Mississippi, she told me she is going to visit her parents, even if she gets a door slammed on her face," said Bobby.
"And you didn't go with her?" said Bruce.
"She insisted on doing it alone and you know how she is," said Bobby.
"She'll be OK," said Bruce.
"I can't talk to Logan about this and the other teachers." Bobby paused. "Well, Storm is always supportive."
"Do you want to talk man-to-man?" asked Bruce.
"I wouldn't ask your wife to leave," said Bobby. "I don't know what I was thinking. I shouldn't have told my parents that Logan is a teacher. They aren't stupid. I freaked them out pretty bad, but it's been nearly a year. And my brother was the one who called the police. I don't think I am quite really to forgive him."
"Do you want me to talk to your parents?" asked Bruce. "Let them know you have real teachers and you're doing well in your classes."
"Just a parent-teacher call." Bobby dialed the number and handed Bruce the cellphone.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Robert Banner, Bobby's calculus and advanced-placement physics teacher." Dr. Bruce Banner being the Hulk wasn't common knowledge like Tony Stark being Ironman, but it had leaked out enough times that Bruce feel better using his first name with the woman. He didn't think about the fact that he had the same name as her son until he said it.
"Robert like my son," said the woman on the line.
"Yes, it's a common name," said Bruce. "Bobby is upset that you didn't invite him home for Thanksgiving, but that isn't the reason I called. After what happened last year, I thought you would like to be reassured that he is getting a real education."
"Yes, of course," said the woman. "Are you a mutant?"
"No, ma'am, I'm not," said Bruce, thinking about the conversation he had with Xavier. To be a mutant, he would have to be human. And Sif and him breeding proved otherwise.
"Yet, you teach at a school for mutants."
"I was between jobs and a friend of mine told me of this position. Back to Bobby, he's my best student. I taught at Berkeley before coming here. Your son is getting a fine education and any college would be lucky to have him. Would you like to speak to Bobby?"
"Sure," said the woman. "One more question, if I may."
"Fire away," said Bruce.
"Mr. Logan doesn't teach art."
"No, martial arts." Bruce tried to keep from laughing. Logan was now assisting Sif with exercises in the danger room. "Who told you he teaches art? He studied karate in Japan."
"Mr. Logan did," said Mrs. Drake. "Give Bobby the phone."
Bobby said, "Hello, Mom." Then he took the phone into the hallway.
Sif put an arm around Bruce. "What you did for Bobby was nice."
"He's my best student," said Bruce. "I was only telling the truth."