A/N: Wow, your feedback was incredible! Thank you so much!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!


Chapter 25: Bundle of Joy

Bruce POV

"The baby is coming now?!", I asked, rushing over to Natasha who cringed as her first contraction hit her.

"Augh, yes, the baby is coming now. We have to go to the hospital! Get Ivan and Jane!", she said through clenched teeth, supporting herself on the deck railing as I called inside for Ivan and Jane. I also told Pepper to call Dr. Hiddleston and let him know that Natasha was going to have the baby tonight.

Ivan ran out with Thor and they supported Natasha as I tried my best to calm down. I couldn't afford to miss the birth of my son or daughter because of the Hulk.

The Hulk was frantically attempting to make some sense out of the sudden predicament.

"Bruce scared, Natasha having child, Natasha in pain but Hulk don't know what to do except not smash thing that cause Natasha pain, but when Bruce scared, Hulk protect Bruce and when Natasha in pain, Hulk smash thing that cause Natasha pain. Child causing Natasha pain and Hulk love child, so Hulk not sure what to do."

I shook my head and focused on Natasha.

"Do we need to call an ambulance?", Jane asked, pressing the back of her hand to Natasha's forehead.

"No, get me to the lobby. Have Happy take us to the emergency room.", Natasha panted, clutching her abdomen.

Soon we were checking into the hospital, Natasha was being transferred to a gurney and had a nurse taking her vitals in a side room where Natasha would stay until she was dilated far enough to begin pushing.

I watched as the nurse gave her an IV, prepping her for the epidural anesthesia test and eventually the catheter.

Natasha grasped my hands, making sure she didn't squeeze them, as the epidural catheter was administered directly in between two of her lumbar vertebrae. She clenched her jaw and I got down to her level, looking her straight in the eye. I saw how truly terrified she was of this whole ordeal and I couldn't help but blame myself for all the fear and pain she was feeling.

"Natasha, you're doing so well, soon you'll be numb and then you'll feel a lot better.", I murmured as I stroked her cheek gently.

"Bruce.", she hissed through clenched teeth, "Get Phil and Maria."

I nodded and kissed her forehead before getting up and leaving the room.

As I entered the waiting area, the whole team stood up and questions were rapidly fired in my direction. I held up my hands and they fell silent.

"I need to speak with Phil and Maria. Natasha is doing well but I have a feeling that they're going to be moving her back into one of the delivery rooms soon.", I said calmly.

"Hey, what's up?", Maria asked, glancing over at the door to Natasha's room.

"Natasha and I want you and Phil to be the godparents, so follow us when we go back because we want you guys there for the birth."

"Dr. Banner, we're going to be moving her back soon, so come with us.", one of the nurses said.

"Wait. Bruce, before you take her back….", Ivan said, "I want to wish her well and to tell her something important."

"You can come back with us if you want to.", I said.

Ivan shook his head.

"No, I may have been an assassin and a spy, but I witnessed childbirth once in a Russian hospital and I must say that I couldn't handle it. I would only be in the doctor's way."

"Suit yourself.", I said with a shrug.

Childbirth was something I got somewhat used to in Calcutta, of course I was never helping the mother deliver, I was there to make sure that there was enough supplies and that the mother and child were alright after the birth. The local woman who assisted me in my practice was the midwife and women's health expert who knew more about natural remedies and delivering babies than I probably ever will.

We went back to Natasha's room and Dr. Hiddleston was flipping through Natasha's file to see if there were any potential concerns. He pointed at me and then at the cabinet behind him.

"Dr. Banner, it's standard procedure to put on external wear scrubs and gloves before heading back into the delivery room, tell the godparents to do the same."

I nodded as I pulled on a set of scrubs and washed my hands before having a nurse help me pull on a pair of gloves.

I glanced at Ivan who kissed his daughter on her forehead, murmuring something in Russian before standing and coming over to me.

"You are a good man Bruce. I know you can take care of my daughter, you have proved that to me in the past three months. You have earned my trust and now I need you to promise me this."

"What's that?", I asked.

"Give my grandchild what they will need to surpass their fellows. Give them roots to stand firm in the face of adversity and wings so their dreams can take flight. Raise them well and do not doubt yourself, for every man fears that he will not be a good father but in some way or another, he will end up doing something good. I know you had a rough upbringing and your father wasn't the best role model, but he did give you something that you will never lose.", Ivan placed a hand on my shoulder and said, "He gave you the passion to become a better man and a better father than he was. You are my son, and I have faith in you to take care of my little girl."

He smiled and clapped me on the shoulder before walking away.

Dr. Hiddleston came over to us and said that we would be heading back to the delivery room now.

Maria and Phil both nodded before pulling on some scrubs and following Natasha, Dr. Hiddleston, and I back to the delivery room as everyone else wished Natasha the best of luck.

My heart was racing as Natasha began to breathe heavier. An older woman with a motherly look about her came over to Natasha and introduced herself.

"Mrs. Banner, I'm Audrey Dunner and I'll be the midwife assisting you in the birth of your child."

"Nice to meet you.", Natasha hissed through her teeth.

"Now, Dr. Hiddleston and I will tell you what to do, so here we go. Listen to me; I want you to breathe. Making sure you keep breathing is the most important part of the birth."

Natasha nodded and inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled through her mouth.

"Good, keep that up.", Audrey instructed.


Natasha POV

Inhale.

Exhale.

Just keep breathing.

It had been almost seven hours since I had gone into labor and I was beginning to notice how there was less and less space between my contractions. I couldn't feel anything but dull pain from my waist down with the occasional contraction cutting through, causing me to cry out as the wall clock told the time.

June 17th, ten thirty pm.

The baby would be born one week early.

"Impatient little baby.", I thought to myself as I whimpered pitifully, another contraction moving through, as the last one was barely subsiding.

Why wasn't anything happening?

It took seven hours for Jane to have demigod twins and I was fast approaching eight hours and the only thing I had produced was the occasional scream.

Audrey was telling me to keep up the good work, but now I was beginning to wonder exactly how much progress I had made in seven and a half hours.

Bruce had taken to pacing by my bedside, glancing down at his feet and giving me apologetic looks as I cried out in pain, and I could tell he was mentally tortured by my screams, blaming himself for the ordeal I was going through.

"Bruce.", I grimaced as the pain rolled through me, "What's going on? Can I start pushing yet?"

I glanced at Dr. Hiddleston and Audrey, who shook their heads.

"You're dilated all the way, but the baby has to come just a tiny bit further down the birth canal before you can start pushing. This is why birth takes so long."

"Just a bit longer dear, if you don't deliver in four hours, we'll have to perform a Caesarian section.", Audrey said, running a cold damp cloth over my forehead.

Bruce lifted his head at her words.

"Natasha, how do you feel about getting a C-section?", he asked.

I shrugged.

"If it means we get to see our baby, then I don't mind. Besides, I already have a ton of scars. What harm is one or two more going to do?", I asked.

Maria spoke now.

"Put you out of work for an extra two weeks. It's standard protocol."

"Oh well, I oof-", I said, clutching my abdomen as I felt a shift, followed by a sharp pain.

"Wait a moment! Natasha! Start pushing on my signal!", Audrey yelled.

Now we were getting somewhere.

A random nurse stuck her head in the door.

"Pardon my intrusion, but I teach a night class of undergrad med students here at the hospital and, as part of their training and education, they have to observe a birth. Mrs. Banner, would you mind having fifteen of my students observe your birth?"

I screamed as my strongest contraction hit me like a tractor-trailer.

"DOES IT LOOK LIKE I WANT A FUCKING AUDIENCE?", I snarled at the nurse.

The nurse ducked out of the room quickly before I could chew her out further.

Bruce was at my side, murmuring words of encouragement into my ear, trying to calm me down.

"Natasha, you're doing so well. Just a little bit longer."

"Push!"

I pushed as hard as I could, using all my strength as pain sliced through me rapidly.

"AUGHHHH!"

I swore loudly in Russian as the pain of another contraction coursed through me, igniting every nerve in my body.

"It's crowning!", Dr. Hiddleston said excitedly.

"Push!", Audrey instructed, "We almost have the head!"

"FUCKING HELL, THIS HURTS!", I screamed, pushing again and feeling proud when I heard Maria say in amazement, "The head is almost out!", while Phil muttered, "I think I'm gonna hurl.", before he ran to the trashcan and I heard him retching.

Bruce cringed when I screamed again.

My contractions fused together and became one steady blur of the most intense pain I had ever felt in my life.

"One more time! You're doing great Natasha!"

I pushed one two more times and felt a release of pressure as Maria, Dr. Hiddleston, Audrey and Phil (having overcome his nausea) all congratulated me.

I slumped back on the pillows and heard the baby cry for the first time, it was clear and strong.

I started crying when I heard it.

Bruce pulled off his glasses and wiped his tears away. The cord was cut and the baby was placed on my abdomen to be dried off.

I had read in one of the birth books that skin to skin contact was very important directly after birth.

Bruce leaned down and pulled off his surgical mask to kiss me.

"You did so well Natasha. I'm so proud of you.", he murmured softly.

The words that came next made me cry harder.

"Congratulations, it's a girl!"

"Bruce…We have a daughter...", I whispered as the news sank in.

"A daughter….", Bruce breathed, looking up as he went, and I somehow knew he was thinking of his mother and sister.

I couldn't help but send some thoughts towards my parents, wherever their souls may be.

Audrey brought over a wriggling, crying, pink bundle and grinned as she handed the bundle to me as Bruce snapped a picture on his phone..

"Congratulations."

I took my daughter with shaking arms and kissed her as Bruce took another picture. She quieted as I rocked her back and forth gently.

She looked at me with wide brown eyes, clearly her father's daughter.

"She has your eyes Bruce.", I said with a yawn, exhausted from the labor, and I handed our daughter to Bruce who leaned in to plant a kiss on his daughter's forehead before he took her with trembling arms.

"She's so small.", he murmured in wonder as I reached into his pocket to grab his phone and take a picture of him holding his daughter for the first time.


Bruce POV

My little girl wriggled in my arms as I held her for the first time.

My little girl.

The one thing I always wanted, the one thing that I had never been able to have until now, and here she was after so many long months.

She was worth every hour of the wait.

She was perfect, just like her mother, and she had my eyes.

She was so small and fragile, but she had enough strength to bring the world around me to a complete halt.

All the missing pieces of me fell into place.

"Hulk love his little girl, Hulk happy."

Audrey and Dr. Hiddleston moved Natasha to another gurney after cleaning her up and putting a new gown on her.

Phil and Maria came over to where I stood next to Natasha.

"She's beautiful.", Phil said. "What are you going to name her?"

I turned to Natasha and then glanced at the baby in my arms, noticing how much they looked alike. She had the same eyes that both Grace and I had had and she had Natasha's nose.

"I think we should name her Anastasia Grace.", Natasha said from where she laid, yawning as a nurse put an IV in her arm.

"Anastasia Grace…", I murmured, glancing down at my sleeping daughter, "I like that name."

"It's a beautiful name.", Maria added as Phil nodded.

Audrey came over to us.

"Have you named her yet?", she asked.

"Yes, her name is Anastasia Grace Banner.", I replied proudly.

"That's such a pretty name. We're going to move Natasha and Anastasia to their postpartum room now and you can stay with her. The godparents can come back if they want to, but it's up to Natasha. Most mothers don't want to have an audience when they try to feed their baby for the first time. I will have to be there because I'm the midwife that is observing, just to make sure you're doing it the right way.", she explained as Natasha nodded.

Phil held his wife's hand.

"I think Maria and I should go now and respect your privacy. We'll let you tell everyone that it's a girl.", he said, addressing us with a nod.

"Okay thanks Phil, thanks Maria. You guys were great.", Natasha yawned as they left the room.

As they walked away, I heard Maria say, "Now I really want a baby.", and Phil chuckled.

Natasha and I went back to the postpartum room and I massaged Natasha's neck as she learned how to feed Anastasia properly.

"I can't believe this was what was growing inside you for nine months. I mean, I believe it, but it…she's just so incredible.", I said as Anastasia fell asleep in Natasha's arms after being fed.

"Yes she is. Bruce, I love you."

"I love you too.", I said as I ran my fingers through her blood red locks and then she murmured,

"Take Anastasia, I'm really exhausted from bringing her into the world. I just want to sleep now."

"Here," I said, holding out my arms to receive my daughter. "I'll take her."

"Thanks honey...", she yawned as I kissed her one more time, "Goodnight."

"Sleep well, Natasha.", I said as Audrey turned out the harsh overhead lights so that the soft glow of the bedside lamp was casting shadows over my sleeping wife.

Audrey closed the door behind us and said,

"We have to take Anastasia to the nursery now, but you can visit her and stay all of tomorrow if you want to, that's how many fathers are, they want to spend as much time as they can with their newborn child and wife. Natasha will probably be up and about by tomorrow and she will be moved into one of the best rooms we have to offer."

"What? That's very generous of you, but…", I trailed off.

Audrey raised her hand to silence me.

"Don't worry about it, it's the least we can do for you after you've protected all of us for the past two years."

"We've done what now?", I said, getting a bit nervous that she was going to blow all of our covers.

"Don't worry, your secrets are safe with us. Remember, we would be breaking federal law if we were to say a single word about any of our patients. I overheard Tony and Pepper Stark telling my friend in booking that they wanted the finest private room that we had to offer. Then I realized who you all were. You are Dr. Bruce Banner, better known as the Hulk. Natasha Banner is the Black Widow. The tall blonde man with the long hair in the waiting area is Thor and he's with his wife, Dr. Jane Odinson. The man with the short black hair and intense green eyes is Loki with Dr. Odinson's assistant Darcy Lewis. The other blonde man is Captain America and the girl with him is Beth Covington, the girl who was almost shot last year by that one guy but she took him out with a pole. The man with the purple t shirt on is Hawkeye and that pretty British woman with him is Serena Atwell.", she listed. "I was wondering if I could get the team to autograph a team photo so I could give it to my seven year old son, Ben. He's a big fan of the Avengers."

I nodded and kissed my daughter goodnight before handing her over to Audrey who put her in the nursery with all the other newborn babies. I walked out of the maternity ward with her into the waiting room where everyone else was sitting.

Tony picked his head up off of Pepper's lap.

"So? What is it?"

I grinned broadly and said,

"It's a girl. Her name is Anastasia Grace Banner."

"I have a granddaughter?", Ivan asked in wonder before embracing me and laughing, "Congratulations Bruce!"

I watched as half of them dug out their wallets and began to pay the other half while congratulating me.

"So when can we see them?", Beth asked.

"Tomorrow. But we have to go home now."

Audrey tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a photo of just the guys and Natasha.

"Oh but before we go, this is Audrey Dunner, she's the midwife that helped Natasha with the birth. She wants everybody to autograph a photo for her son."

"No problem.", Tony said, digging into the inside pocket of his suit coat and producing a team photo that included the ladies. "This one is complete."

We all autographed it and handed it to Audrey before saying our goodbyes and leaving.

When we got back to the tower, Tony opened a bottle of champagne and he congratulated me on the birth of my first child, telling me that he had told Pepper about his fertility problem.

Pepper had been very understanding and she had promised that she would help him adjust his diet to increase their chances. She also decided to go off of her birth control and to stop using protection in two weeks.

I wished Tony good luck and then turned in for the night after taking Snowy outside to do her business.

When I got back to my apartment, I ate and showered before standing in the doorway to the nursery for a long time.

My thoughts never strayed from my baby girl.

Who would she grow up to be? Would she be a scientist like me? Would she be an assassin like Natasha? Did she even have my half? Would she like me? Would I be a good father?

I pushed all my doubts aside as I pulled my glasses off and switched out the lights.

I found that the bed seemed a lot bigger without Natasha by my side, but that didn't stop me from falling into a dreamless sleep the moment my head hit the pillow.


A/N: What did you think?

The little bit about the students observing the birth was actually what happened to my mother when I was born… I quoted her reply word for word :)

There are two more chapters to go before I write the epilogue and then I'll begin working on the sequel which WILL be rated M.