The Soldier's Goddess

"Oh. My. God. I'm so hot."
"Pepper, it's December sweetheart," said Tony.
"Don't you even think about starting on me, sweetheart," she growled at him. She was nearly eight months pregnant with the girls now, and was going to the hospital the next day for a Caesarean. Her doctors had been examining her each week, and the girls were at a stable weight and stage now, so they were happy for them to arrive. Pepper had been happy for them to arrive a few weeks ago, seeing as she was a big as a house, very sore and uncomfortable, and was wandering around the house in shorts and vest tops, while everyone else was wrapped in layers upon layers.
"Tony, why don't we go and see if the nursery is ready," offered Bruce. Getting the hint, Tony left with him, leaving Pepper to glare at her fiance's back.
"Want a drink, hun?" Natasha asked. Pepper snapped her head round.
"Oh my god, Nat, don't anger it," hissed Clint. "Oof." Natasha elbowed him in the ribs.
"Yeah that would be great, thanks," sighed Pepper, laying back on the sofa, and falling back to sleep.
*****
Tony was pacing up and down the hall when the surgeons called him in.
"We're ready for you now, Mr Stark." He half ran towards the door, to get ready to scrub up and to be with Pepper while they brought their daughters into the world. Everyone else had stayed behind at Stark Tower, waiting almost patiently for the phone call to say the girls were here. Two hours later, they got what they were waiting for, and rushed down to the hospital. Bruce stayed behind, because he had something to sort in the lab, but Steve, Kari, Clint, and Natasha went down. They entered Pepper's room gently, and were half surprised to see Tony curled up on the edge of the bed with one of his daughters, while Pepper was under the sheets, holding the other.
"Where's Bruce?" asked Pepper.
"Oh he had something to catch up on," said Kari.
"Ah ok. Right guys, we would like to introduce you to our daughters; Amilie Daisy Stark and Astrid Penelope Stark."
"Oh they are so beautiful," cried Natasha, holding her arms out. "So which one do I have?" she asked Pepper.
"Um, that's Amilie," she replied, thinking. "Yes, that's definitely Amilie."
"And here is Astrid," said Tony, placing his daughter in Kari's arms. She gasped, as she tucked the tiny little girl's head into the crook of her arm and curled her in tight.
"Hello sweetheart, I'm your Aunty Kari," she whispered, stroking Astrid's face, while tears forming in her eyes. Happy tears. They were each so engrossed in the tiny, new lives they were holding, that none of them saw Tony and Pepper kissing. It had been a long time since they could be tender with each other, so they relished the moment, just laying there in each others arms. Content.
"She's so beautiful," whispered Steve, as he came up behind Kari.
"She is, isn't she," Kari said, turning her head round to see her boyfriend, who had his face tucked into her shoulder, to see Astrid better. Astrid was trying to chew on her tiny little fist in her sleep, making them both chuckle a little.
"I want one," Steve said, absent-mindlessly. Kari took a slightly sharp breath in, but didn't say anything else. She tucked her head into Steve's, and they both just stood like that, staring down at Astrid, until it was time to swap. Clint took Astrid, while Steve took Amilie from Natasha. She was so small, that Steve could hold her in just one of his large, toned arms; he wrapped the other round Kari, who stood there, tucked into the love of her life, watching this identical, but completely separate new life interact with her new world. She opened her eyes for a moment, and Kari saw how beautifully blue her eyes were. Teamed with that jet black hair, they were going to be absolute stunners.
"Ok folks, it's time for the little Starks to go back to the nursery," said the midwife, as she bustled into the room. Steve and Clint placed the girls back in their cribs and the six of them watched as they were wheeled away.
"So how does it feel to be a mommy now," Natasha asked Pepper.
"I don't think it has sunk in yet," she said, smiling, "but I'm sure it will do very soon. I still can't believe they are mine. They already have parts of their father's traits slinking out," she giggled.
"Oh babes, we're so proud of you," said Kari, wrapping her arms round her. Tony was at the end of the bed, talking to Steve and Clint.
"I don't think I'm ready to be a father yet," he was saying, trying not to bite his nails.
"Tony, it's going to be fine," said Clint, "you look after us lot ok don't you?!" The three men burst out laughing, then looked in mild horror and surprise at the three women, who were back to sobbing again.
*****
Later that night, curled up in Steve's arms and half asleep, Kari turned to him.
"Babe, did you mean what you said?"
"Said what?"
"That you wanted one?" There was a pause as Steve tried to process what was being said.
"Yes," he said, finally. "I just couldn't think of anything else this afternoon. You had Astrid in your arms and you both looked so perfect, that all I saw was a family of my own. A family with you." Kari moved up so she was face to face with Steve.
"I love you," she murmured, kissing him on the forehead, down his cheek and caught his lip gently between her teeth, grinning.
"I take it that's a yes," he murmured back, pushing Kari against the bed. She moved and ended up sat on top of his chest, his arms pinned lightly above his head. She ran her fingernails up and down his toned abs, kissing his chest, gently, and nibbling on the crook of his neck.
"Oh we're going there," he chuckled, throwing the duvet over the both of them.

Notes