Chapter 4
Things at the Avengers Tower were quite hectic. Steve had always thought pregnancy was supposed to be a very peaceful and awe-inspiring moment in a person's life. But with Thor and Bruce involved, it was more of a loud joyous chaos. They had all gotten used to seeing in the hallways several robots (some specialized in obstetrics, some specialized in cleaning) running around a barfing Thor followed by a stressed-out Bruce Banner, followed himself by what was supposed to be a relaxing robot, followed himself by a mumbling Tony Stark.
There had been a few hulking-rampage moments too, when Bruce was worrying in his own corner without telling anyone anything and reading books probably titled “Everything Bad That Could Happen To Your Baby and Spouse”. There had been several occasions where the Hulk was very intent on beating up long-retired obstetricians who were rumoured to have mistreated their patients. They all tried to keep him as calm as possible. There had even been a day - based on a “Parks and Recreation” episod one of them had recently watched - where they all tried speaking in low monotonous even voices and not say anything upsetting. But it had driven Bruce up the wall so instead they tried to check on him often enough and to share his readings to help him focus on the positive and the nuances.
And then the second term of the pregnancy had started and that was another can of worms but less barfing was involved. Running, flying and fighting were still very not advised for Thor, who was getting antsy. Lucky for everyone's sanity, the internet was full of videos with exercizing advice for pregnant people. As for Hulk, he couldn't play wrestle with Thor these days so Tony had had to get the anti-Hulk armor out a few times for exercice and play. Both these programs led the two men to have long naps where they both snore a lot and everyone else blinked at each other wondering if their lives would ever go back to a peaceful time. Clint had snickered and told them that no, it wouldn't happen ever again, once a child was in the picture, it was chaos forever, trust him. They had all looked at him dumbfounded : what did he know about kids ? He had giggled sheepishly and took Natasha in another room for a conversation and that had been it.
There was also the matter of the superpowered teens who were still in their custody. Steve, Natasha and Clint each took turns discussing with them, trying to figure out what their intentions were, if they still wanted to fight them, if they still were a threat. But also, getting to know them, earning their trust, building a relationship with them. They had been given a special room where they couldn't use their powers but could live fairly normally.
One day, someone had forgotten to close the door of their quarters one day and... Well nothing much had happened really. They had found Tony, in the penthouse of the tower, busy ordering around the robots remodeling the floor. He still intended to make it into a flat for him and Steve to share, with communicating bedrooms but he hadn't made much progress since he was busy with project green bean. Steve had learned of the project alsmot by accident but he still had found a way to tell Tony he'd love for them to live together forever. Steve had thought that would led to a conversation about marriage but instead Tony had handed him plans and now they spent their together-time in the construction site. So that was where the teens had found them, looking for the infamous Tony Stark. They had expected an evil villain-like person, abusing employees on the phone and sending out orders to bomb random places, despite everything Steve had told them. Instead, they had found a man affectionately patting a robot, hair sticking in all directions, paint on his clothes, dust on his nose, wearing a sweat-shirt with the picture of a half-naked man ironing his pants under the words “the amazing ironing man”. Pietro and Wanda had been so startled they had both stopped dead in their tracks, lowering their guard, doubting this was the man responsible for the war in their country. Tony had started to panic, however, but now his first instinct was to call Steve instead of a suit. While the robots kept working in the adjacent rooms, the four of them had sat down in the rubble, sunset light pouring on them through the bay windows, and had a long conversation about the consequences of Tony's actions. He had apologized, a lot, and he had let them know about the amends he was trying to make. The twins had promised to not attack anyone and as they went back to their quarters to think things over, Steve had blurted out :
-Tony, I want to start a family.
-Oh sure, let me phone my lawyer.
-What ?
-They'll make you adoption papers for Pietro and Wanda, they've done harder things than that.
-No, I meant... Tony !
-What ?
-Don't phone your lawyer, get off your phone, I didn't meant... I don't even know if the twins would want that !
-Oh right. I just thought... You know, after that talk, I'd like to provide them with everything I took from them with my.... actions. So I thought that's what you were thinking too.
-Well of course, but for one I don't have to legally adopt them to give them a roof and a loving family, not at first, at least, we could just let them live normally here, provide them with...an education and support and entertainement, and let them go out and have normal teenagers lives... But what I meant was...
-DINNER, boomed Thor from three stories below.
-Shit, muttered Tony.
-Language ! Scolded Steve.
These days, Thor baked a lot, from bread to cake and pies. And missing dinner, as they had discovered in a painful way, was a major offence to his person. On their way tho the dining quarters, they agreed to go pick Pietro and Wanda, for their first family meal, if they wanted. Thoughts of what Steve had really meant were forgotten in profit of Tony making fun of him for having retorted “language”...