"FOR GOD'S SAKE HOW LONG DOES THIS GO ON?!"

Pietro was being driven crazy by the screaming that was happening outside the maternity ward. He had been pacing the last three hours while Esca Rarity, groaning and trying not to scream, was frantically escorted into the hospital by himself, Stark, and Rogers. Pietro had held her hand in the backseat while Stark sped as quickly as he could without getting in a wreck, and Rogers was uncharacteristically hysterical as he switched between backseat driving and comforting Esca Rarity. In the end, Esca Rarity started crying due to all the panicked screaming going on in the car and Pietro, 100% fed up, just kicked the door open, picked her up, and ran to the hospital without the others.

But now the gang was all there—and effectively gathering quite some attention—and for some reason, this was worse. Pietro knew why of course; he wasn't with her. She had asked for Natasha and Natasha alone before really suffering the contractions, and the nurses were busy with other patients as well, so he wasn't getting any information!

It was Steve who responded to Pietro's shout. "We don't know, Maximoff, so you might as well get comfortable."

Pietro groaned. It was horrible, waiting like this. This was the birth of his son. He should be there. He should be helping Esca through her pain. He should be the second person to hold the baby, not counting the nurses.

This thought was what prompted him to say, "Well, screw it, I don't care anymore. I'm going to find her."

And before anyone could stop him, he sped-walked toward the door, opened it, and whirled around to find a nurse.

Within the next minute, he was outside the room. But as he reached out to the doorknob, something inside him froze. He didn't know what he would find if he opened that door. He and Esca Rarity had done plenty of research within the past month and whatnot about what she would have to do during childbirth, how to breathe and collect herself, what types of medicines she might be able to take to lessen the pain.

But Pietro wasn't sure if all that information would be completely accurate. And what if she didn't want him inside?

He stared at his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath. This was Esca Rarity and his son. He could do this. He shouldn't be the one afraid, he knew it.

So he opened the door.

"Pietro," grinned Esca tiredly. The door had opened right after the nurses had told her the baby was delivered. Out. And in the world. "Good timing."

Pietro, however, just stood there, blinking. He stiffly walked to her bedside; Natasha moved aside for him as he knelt and took one of her hands in his. He stared at her, obviously trying to think of what to say. After a moment, it appeared he decided to go with, "Are you okay?"

Esca nodded and weakly gestured to the nurses on the far side of the room. They were cleaning off her baby. Their baby. It was still so strange to think that she was a mother now.

He followed her line of sight and inhaled sharply. Esca watched him as he realized what was happening... His face changed from worry to immense anticipation and joy in less than two seconds. She couldn't help but smile at his expression. She was so glad he was here now, but she had known that if she'd allowed him in during the actual birth, he would've been too nervous and jittery and would probably have broken something.

"What will..." he started to ask, but he couldn't finish.

That was alright. Esca knew what he was going to ask: What will we name him?

"I still don't know," she murmured, sighing. "I wish I had an answer."

"It's okay," he said. He started to say something else, but he choked as the nurses started to walk over, a bundle of cloths in their arms. And within that—

"Here is your son," they said with a smile, and then they gave the bundle to Esca.

Esca laid eyes on her son and immediately started to cry.

"I'll go get the others," murmured Natasha. She had been so quiet that Esca had forgotten she was in the room. But her oldest friend put a hand on her shoulder, gave her a warm smile, and walked out of the room.

Esca gazed at her son again. His eyes were squinted shut and he was pink all over, but he was still the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Whatever pain she'd experienced from the childbirth rapidly vanished from her memory. Absolute love for the man kneeling beside her bed and the little human in her arms filled it.

For a while, she simply stared at the little infant, not quite sure what else to say or do. She felt tired, yet immensely happy, and yet anxious as well. As always, the fear of being an insufficient mother filled her mind. As soon as that thought came to her, however, Pietro put a hand on hers. She tore her gaze away from the child to Pietro's face, which was filled with pride. He didn't say anything, but Esca knew what to do.

She carefully sat up and passed the baby to him. He reached out with steady arms to hold him. Esca gazed over the two of them, her mind filled with wonder. How had she been blessed with these two miracles?

Another ten minutes passed, with Esca and Pieto taking turns holding their son, before the door opened, and all the Avengers walked inside. As soon as Wanda saw the baby in Esca's arms, she began to cry. Zelda threw her hands to her mouth, blinking rapidly. Thor grinned wildly, Bruce sniffled a little but had a proud smile as if a father would have, James was shaking his head, a grin on his face.

Tony wiped his eyes on his sleeve and was the only one who spoke. "Blast these liquids in my eyes. They're so scared of me they're trying to escape through my tear ducts."

Steve stood in the doorway, looking at the three, a pained smile upon his face.

There was silence in the room for a while before Esca turned the baby towards Natasha, his godmother. She cooed softly at the baby and held him close for a little while. Natasha was surprisingly good with babies. Clint wasn't bad at it either; but after people began to cram around him to get a look at him, the baby began to cry.

"I think the Midgardian child longs for his mother," remarked Thor, gently pushing a few of the others away. Hearing this, Clint returned him to Esca.

"What will you name him?" asked Natasha softly.

Pietro chuckled. "We don't know yet."

"Well, th-that's okay. You still have t-time," stammered Wanda, stifling tears. Vision put an arm around her shoulder in support.

"That we do," murmured Esca. She gazed over all of her friends, congregated there for support. She smiled in gratitude and thought about each one of the men: Clint, Bruce, Tony, Thor, Vision, James, Steve. She knew she wouldn't be able to think of a name for her child at this exact moment, but she could at least pick the godfather, as they'd all begged her to do for the past seven months.

She looked at Pietro. She knew he knew what he was thinking.

"It's up to you," he said, kissing her forehead. "I think they'd all be wonderful godfathers."

Esca giggled somewhat and nodded. It was true; each of them would be phenomenal in their own way. But there was one who stood out to her... One who'd helped take care of her when she was sick, who did his best to always put her at the front of his mind, who was always there when she needed comfort or help. She knew he would do the same thing for her child.

She looked past those gathered around her bed and to the man standing in the doorway.

"Steve," she said.

That was all she needed to say. Steve's face morphed immediately; he was shocked. That much was obvious. But there were other emotions underneath that as well. Joy, anxiety, gratitude. Fear.

He walked forward, seemingly unable to speak. He knelt at Esca's other side, smiled, and finally said, "I'd be honored."

Esca grinned. She knew this would be the right choice. "Thank you, Steve," she whispered.

He nodded; the others began congratulating him. Esca allowed him to hold her son; the Captain stared at the child with a sort of affection that made Esca's heart warm.

The silence in the room gave way to exclamations of congratulations and joy and excitement. Esca looked at Pietro, who was still beside her and was also observing their friends. They exchanged grins and watched as the group surrounded Steve, who was already overwhelmed. He swiftly yet carefully gave the baby back to Pietro before being swamped yet again.

"Do you think they'll all dote on him?" murmured Esca to Pietro.

Pietro chuckled. "Many of them will, I'm sure. And he'll be very well protected by a rather large and deadly family."

"Mm, I suppose you're right," she laughed, looking again at the baby. This time, however, his eyes were open.

They were exactly like Pietro's.

"He has your eyes," she whispered, a grin making her face glow.

"Hopefully he has your hair," he replied, reflecting her joy. "Trust me, you don't want to see what my hair looked like before those stupid experiments."

Esca laughed wholeheartedly now and kissed him and then the baby's forehead. She grinned as Pietro laughed, and then the others shifted over to them again and they were surrounded and everyone was laughing and crying and nothing less than a joyous mess.

But that mess was her family now, and between Pietro and the rest of her friends, there weren't any other people she'd rather have as a family.

As you all can see, I heard your requests for one last chapter! I hope you'll forgive me for why I waited so long to do it; when I finished the story in August, I imagined that Esca was approximately one and a half months pregnant. Now, seven months later... it lines up quite nicely, doesn't it?

But this is the last chapter. I have not planned a sequel or any sort of continuation for this line of Marvel adventures and fluff. All things must come to an end, sadly enough... even the good ones. I hope you have all enjoyed my writings these however many months... And thank you honestly, from the bottom of my heart, for dedicating so much time to read this. It means a lot to me...

If you feel so inclined, of course feel free to leave your thoughts and comments as a review, or a message. Your words are always welcome.

That's all for today, my friends. And everyone... Have a MARVELous day. :)

The End