Between Friends

Halloween evening had arrived. You and Chris invited your friends over for a fire, music and booze. Shirley would even be joining. You dressed as a pregnant nun and tended to the steady flow of trick-or-treaters as you watched Hocus Pocus in the living room. Chris was out back, getting the fire started. Tony and Pepper were the first to arrive.

When you opened the door you hooted with laughter as Tony stepped in, dressed as a woman... a woman with facial hair, spaghetti strap top, short skirt and a loudly painted face... who looked like a street-walker from the 80s. He even had a horrible blond, curly wig.

"Oh my God, Tony! You look awesome!", you put your hand over your mouth, still laughing as he hugged you.

"Hey, watch your mouth. A woman of the Lord shouldn't use his name in vain!", he stepped back, adjusted his fake breasts and flipped his hair back with a hand.

You rubbed your belly, smirking, "Well, I don't really follow the rules, do I?"

"Ha! Guess not.", he huffed and teetered in his heels towards the entry from the living room to the dining room. He bent over, placed a hand on the wall and took his shoes off as Pepper came to hug you, dressed as a pimp.

You chuckled and nodded, "Ah. Makes perfect sense now. I love it."

You smiled as she rubbed your belly. "Ooh, getting close.", she beamed.

While you and Pepper talked, Tony was rubbing his foot and yelling back through the house at Chris, "Hey, Lumberjack! Bring the lady a drink, will ya?!"

You quirked an eyebrow at Pepper, taking a deep breath and nodding, responding to her observance, "Yeah, I'm getting nervous.", you let out a weak chuckle.

She gave your a reassuring grin, "You'll do great, (Y/N)."

"Thank you."

Just then Chris headed from the kitchen, dressed as a very sophisticated and handsome devil; red high collar cape, black silk dress shirt, red velvet vest, black slacks and dress shoes. He wore a black, lacy, layered collar hanging down the front of his chest, complete with small, realistic horns sticking out through his hair. He shouted back, "The lady isn't going to be drink-", his statement turned into a howl of amusement as he spotted Tony and doubled over. He then continued towards Tony, barely managing to talk through his laughter, then spotted Pepper, who was grinning. "Ah-ha! Tony... You guys... that's so great!" He slapped Tony on his bare upper back.

"OW! Easy, Lucifer.", Tony titled his head back and shook it to get his wig hair out of his face. "I'm a delicate flower."

Chris laughed loudly once more, smacking his own chest.

The doorbell rang again and kids could be heard shouting, "Trick or treat!" You went to answer it and Tony pointed between you and Chris.

"So...", he looked at Chris.

Chris just raised an eyebrow and nodded confidently, "That's right. I cannot be denied."

Tony laughed, "Perfect."

Everyone else showed up soon after. Shirley came as the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood who ate grandma and wore her nightgown and cap, mask and all. She didn't where the mask for long though. Nat and Bruce were Sonny and Cher, Thor and Jane came as a hunter and a deer, Jane was the cutest deer. Sam came as Elvis and Maria was a clown. The Bartons were taking their kids trick or treating and would come by later, Clint as a pirate and Laura as Snow White a after they left the kids with their Grandparents for the night.

Everyone had filtered into the back yard as they arrived, Chris seeing everyone back and then coming to the living room again to sit with you. He did so until everyone had arrived. When
Shirley, Nat and Bruce showed, they sat in the living room watching the movie and chatting with you, eating some mini pretzels and chocolate candies you had in a big bowl on the coffee table.

Once everyone had shown up, Chris sat on the couch once more as the others were talking amongst themselves and he leaned into you, "Hey, foxy mama.", he said softly. He kissed your temple, his hand resting just inside your knee, which he stroked with a thumb as he grinned at you.

You wrapped both your arms around his one and smiled back, scrunching your nose at him. You spoke close to his ear, in a quiet seductive tone, "Hey, sexy daddy." You actually managed to make your own nether-regions twitch at that.

You gave him a gentle kiss below the ear and when you pulled back, he was quirking an eyebrow, his expression mischievous. He didn't have say anything for you to know that you were going to get it later.

Sam peaked his head around the wall, beer in hand and squinted an eye at you, "Hey, where's them sugar cookie bars, girl? If you're hidin' 'em from me, I'll tear this house apart to find 'em."

"Oh,", you chuckled, scooting forward in your seat to prepare to get up.

"I got it, sweetheart.", Chris kissed your cheek quickly and got up.

"Ooh. I need to get some of those.", Bruce said quietly and stood.

"They're in the fridge. Thank you, babe.", you said as Chris rounded the furniture and winked before he disappeared with Sam, Bruce following.

Just as you sat back, the doorbell rang again, followed with shouts of more mature voices, "Trick or treat! Smell my feet! Give me something good to eat!" You guessed it was teenagers this far into the evening.

You, Nat and Shirley chuckled.

You huffed and started to sit up again and Nat jumped up, "I got it, (Y/N). Relax for a bit."

"Thanks, Nat."

As she answered the door, Shirley started, "How you doin', sugar? You okay?"

You smiled softly, "Yes, just a bit tired. Thank you, Miss Shirley." You sat back again and groaned a little, "Though my back is a bit sore. Gets a little more annoying every week."

"Oh, yeah. That's shitty. Make Chris rub your back every night. And sleep with a pillow... or your husband between your legs."

You chortled, "Sometimes I put my leg over him. I'll remember the pillow thing. He rubs my back already. And anytime during the day he can tell I'm uncomfortable. Bought me a heating pad too. He spoils me."

"Good. Thatta boy. Any woman going through carrying a baby deserves to be treated like royalty."

Nat returned and sat, smacking her thighs, "Welp! You're out of candy, so I turned off the porch light. All these kids should be getting in bed by now anyway. Should we head out back?"

"Yeah,", you shifted to get up again and Chris entered the room sans horns and cape.

"Honey, don't get up.", he rounded the coffee table and came to you and sat, "What do you need?"

You chuckled and scooted to the edge of the cushion, turning the TV off with the remote, "We're out of candy, so I need to go hang out with my friends..." You glanced at him and gently pinched his chin, smiling, "You're missing some of your costume, Daddy."

"My cape is annoying and my horns were itchy. Aaaand I still have adhesive in my hair.", he dropped his chin sharply and pressed his lips together, displeased. He stood offering you a hand as Nat and Shirley chuckled and stood as well.

You pulled off your headpiece, "Yeah, I can relate. We'll put some olive oil in your hair to get that stuff out after everyone leaves, love.", you smiled up at him.

He bent down and kissed you quickly and put a hand to your lower back as you all started for the back yard, "I love that you know all these little secrets for problems."

Nat turned her head, smiling as she walked ahead, holding Shirley's hand, "Yeah, she helped me a lot with little solutions like that when she stayed with us."

Once you all got outside, sat and settled, Chris stood before both you and Shirley and asked, "Can I get you ladies anything?"

You started, "Yeah, I-", you paused, your hand to your stomach, feeling a bit of cramping, brows furrowed.

Chris crouched down, placing his own hand over yours on your belly, the other on the chair arm, looking a bit worried, "Baby?"

You spoke low to him as he leaned in, "I think I need to go to the bathroom."

He chortled and helped you up, "Okay, let's go."

He took you to the bathroom and waited outside the door, leaning against the wall. Thor, Jane, Tony and Nat were in the kitchen. They were eating as they and Chris talked.

You hiked up your costume and sat to go, hearing all their voices and the Halloween music just outside the door. It made you happy to think about having so many great friends and good times with them often. You had to pee, but nothing else that you had suspected. You stood, put your clothes all back in order and turned to flush.

There was blood on the toilet paper in the bowl.

Your breath caught and a wave of panic swept over you. Now that you thought about it, you hadn't felt the baby move very much today... and hadn't felt anything the last couple hours. 'No. No. No, no, no.'

"Chris!", you cried out.

He rushed in, shutting the door behind him.

Everyone in the kitchen paused, all their faces concerned as they all looked at each other.

Chris stepped to you, brows pulled together. One hand went to your arm the other to your belly as he dipped his head, "What's wrong, honey?"

You had tears in your eyes and you were shaking. You pointed to the toilet.

He looked. His eyes got wide and his stomach twisted. 'Oh God. Please... no.' He took a deep breath and turned back to you, "Okay, let's not panic..." He was struggling with his own dread anyway, but he knew he needed to keep you calm. He kissed your head, "Let's get you to the hospital, sweetheart." He flushed the toilet, grabbed a towel off the shelf and started guiding you out of the bathroom.

Everyone had been waiting and when you both came out, Chris spoke, "We're going to the hospital." He grabbed his keys and continued guiding you towards the door while Nat ran to be by your side.

"Why?!", she called from behind you both before reaching you, taking your hand tightly, the others in tow.

"She's bleeding.", Chris answered, helping you into your jacket.

"I'm coming with you.", Nat stated.

"We'll put out the fire and meet you there.", Tony said as he jogged barefoot to get Pepper and the others in the back yard.

Chris shouted to Tony while putting on his own jacket, "Take (Y/N)'s keys to lock the house!"

"Got it!", Tony called back over his shoulder just before disappearing out the back door.

Chris pulled you into him snugly, stroking your hair as Nat rubbed your back. You had already started to cry quietly. He spoke softly, his cheek resting on your head, tears starting to fill his own eyes. His voice was thick with emotion as he tried to hold it together, "It's gonna be okay, baby." He released you and turned you toward the door, "Let's go."

You, Chris and Nat headed for the car.

He just kept repeating the words in this head in attempt to make himself believe it, 'It's gonna be okay, it's gonna be okay, it's gonna be okay... please... I hope it's gonna be okay...'