"What's happening?" Evie asked the others, they looked up each other hopelessly, not knowing what to say.

"I want to see mommy" Cecelia asked, sensing the anxiety in the room

"You can't right now sweetheart" Jane explained gently

"Is something wrong?" Henry asked from beside her, again no one knew what to say.

A short while later a nurse approached, asking if anyone wanted to see the baby. Pepper and Tony went down to the NICU to see baby Isaac while the others waited for an update. He was so tiny; his eyes were tightly shut and his little fists were clenched. He had flicks of blond hair on his head and he sighed slightly as he slept. There were tubes and monitors everywhere, but the nurse ensured them he was fine, perfectly healthy other than his lungs being a little under developed.

Pepper found herself silently crying, she didn't even notice herself until Tony wiped away the tears from her cheek.

"You okay Pepper?"

She nodded, not wanting to talk in case she could no long hold her herself together. She didn't want to breakdown in the middle of the NICU.

He took her into his arms knowing exactly how she felt. No one knew what was going on with Natasha; the doctors didn't even seem sure. The kids were scared and all the adults felt helpless; they had no answers for them.
Alexis and Cecelia were young and fairly easily reassured, but the elder three knew better. They were intelligent and knew there were questions not being answered.

Tony felt horrible to admit that he was glad he was here rather than with them; it broke his heart to see them look so lost.

They stood there, watching over Clint and Natasha's tiny son, hoping everything was alright with their friend, waiting for an update soon.

Clint followed the doctor back down the hallway

"What's going on?"

"Agent Romanoff isn't progressing how we'd expect"

"What- what does that mean?"

"Her contractions aren't slowing down, in fact they're increasing"

"Right... Okay..?"

"Did anyone ever discuss with you the possibility of twins?"

"What? No! Is that even possible? For it to be missed all this time?"

"It's incredibly rare, but yes it does happen. If one baby is hidden behind the others at scans and it's hard to differentiate between the babies movements if they're positioned the same way"

"Have you told Tasha yet?"

"No not yet, she's in quite a lot of distress and I wanted to confirm my suspicions before telling her. I'm going to go get the ultrasound, I'll be right back"

And with that, she left Clint outside his wife's room.

"Tasha"

"Clint, what's going on?" there was a slight hint of panic in her voice, if there was one thing Natasha didn't like; it was not knowing what was happening

Clint gripped her hand as another painful contraction ripped through her

"Clint?"

"Tasha, the doctor thinks it might be twins"

"What?! No! We agreed strongone/strong more baby. emOne!/em"

"I know Tash, but twins is something you don't really plan" he smiled at her reaction"

"Clint"

"What is it Tasha?"

"I hate you"

He smiled once more, leaning in to kiss her before the next contraction caused her to grip his hand so tightly he gasped in pain.

The doctor reappeared to perform the ultrasound

"Natasha, I really need you to hold still for a minute"

"Easier said than done" Natasha grimaced

"Yeah, there's definitely another baby in there. I'm going to go grab some supplies and then we should be ready"

"This is all your fault Clint Barton!"

"I'm sorry Tasha" he smiled once more