Between Friends

You had chosen to quit your job to stay home with Connor once he was born and only a week after his arrival, it was Christmas Eve. The entire group, which now included "Gramma" Shirley by default, gathered at Tony and Pepper's along with nearly everyone who worked for them. There was a full bar, obviously. There was also a catered Christmas dinner buffet.

After mingling with Nat, Shirley and Pepper, you left them to find Chris. He was standing at the edge of the party area, talking to Thor and Sam. He had a beer in one hand, gesturing with it as he talked. He had a sleeping Connor cradled on his other forearm, against his ribs.

Connor was on his tummy, his small limbs hanging down over either side of Chris's arm. His tiny head was turned to the side and cupped in Chris's hand, smooshing his chubby cheek a bit. He was dressed in red footie pajamas with white fluffy trim and details making it looking a lot like Santa's suit. He was also wearing an itty bitty Santa hat.

You guessed the rumbling of Chris's voice through his body is what was keeping the little guy asleep through the noise of the crowd. His voice had always calmed Connor while in your belly, after an exchange of communication in the form of a kick or two, of course.

You put your hand to the small of Chris's back once you reached him.

He turned at your touch and wrinkled up his forehead, "Oh, hey, baby." He kissed your lips, grinning. He was so happy to be a dad. He often couldn't wipe that smile off his face. It always made you happy to see it.

"Has he woken up at all?"

He shook his head as Sam and Thor watched your exchage, "Nope. Happy as a passed out clam."

You gently rubbed Chris's back, "Why are you always carrying him like a football?" You giggled.

"He likes it.", he offered, matter of fact. Sam and Thor smiled.

You huffed, "Really? How do you know that?"

He raised his eyebrows and titled his head, lifting Connor slightly, "Do you see him complaining?"

Sam and Thor chuckled.

You chortled, smiling softly, "Fair enough." You reached for Connor and lifted him from Chris's arm as the infant started making little grunting and whimpering noises at being disturbed. "I know, sweet boy.", you cooed.

"Hey... where you taking him?", Chris pouted slightly.

"He's already slept through a feeding, honey. He needs to eat. He probably could use a change too." You positioned your son against your chest, his forehead head against your neck.

Chris pressed his mouth into a line in reluctance, "Okay, little mama. Don't be too long." He kissed your lips quickly, a hand to your back, "I'll miss you both." He put a hand over yours on Connor's back and leaned over to kiss his head.

Christmas was wonderful that year. You finally got to spend it with someone you were in love with... and received a tiny gift that was born from that love. Sebastian's small Christmas tree had earned a traditional place on the fireplace mantle in the living room during the holidays to come. You still teared up anytime you looked at it for longer than a glance. "I miss you so much.", you would whisper, often picturing what life might be like if he had never left your side.

Almost two years later, you had really gotten used to this 'stay at home mom' thing. You did random work for Pepper at home whenever you could; it was nice to still have some interaction with the outside world each day whenever you couldn't get to library story time or didn't have any play dates with the neighboring mothers. You were in love with your life and madly in love with the two most amazing men in your life; your husband and your son.

One summer evening, you and Chris had gone on a date while Nat and Bruce babysat Connor at your house. They were all in the kitchen when you returned.

Bruce was doing up the dinner dishes as Nat sat on the floor and played with Connor, allowing him to run around with a chocolate sandwich cookie. He was making a complete mess of himself, the few toys they were playing with and the walls around the kitchen and the island with his little hands.

Connor was squatted down playing with a toy along with Nat, when the front door opened. Connor looked up at her, surprised at the noise. She asked him in an excited tone, her eyes wide, gasping first, "What's that?"

"Ma-ma-" He then heard Chris's voice as the door shut. "Dah-dee!" He straightened and toddled as fast as he could towards the front door, cookie still in hand as Nat got up quickly and followed him.

Chris had just entered the dining room on the way to the kitchen ahead of you when he met up with Connor, "Heyyy, buddy!" Chris bent over and swiftly swooped the boy up in his arms, curling him against his face and pretending to eat his belly loudly as the child giggled and shrieked. Connor was pushing at one side of Chris's face with both his hands, leaving a bit of cookie mess on his father as well.

You kissed Connor's head and said low to Chris as you wiped smeared cookie off his cheek with your thumb, "You're all chocolaty now, babe."

He quirked an eyebrow, "Mm, just how you like me." He winked, leaned over and kissed your lips quickly, leaving you smiling, before resuming his assault on his son's ticklish belly.

"Nat, why are you letting him run around the house with cookies?", you inquired as you all headed into the kitchen. "Hey, Bruce.", you smiled and he greeted you in return while loading dishes.

"Because,", she stopped and grinned, "he wanted more, but didn't wanna stay in his high chair."

"How many has he had?", your eyes were wide, looking at the dark brown smudges that spotted the kitchen walls about two feet from the ground.

"Like, three maybe.", she answered.

"Maybe? You don't know how many? And this...", you looked around again, gesturing.

She scoffed, "Chill, mom. I'll clean it up."

Bruce looked at Nat, smirking, "I told you she wouldn't appreciate it."

Nat sneered at him playfully.

Chris put down Connor, hunched over quickly and jutted out his hands, wiggling the fingers of his clawed hands while he exclaimed, "I'm gonna get ya!"

Connor shrieked with laughter and turned to run, but lost his balance and plopped down on his diaper-clad bottom. He caught himself against the floor with the hand that was holding what little was left of his cookie, which broke into pieces. "Uh-oh. Kee-kee.", he looked up at Chris, bewildered.

Chris chuckled and crouched next to him pick up the pieces, "It's okay, Little Man, we'll get you another one."

You turned, "Chris, if you're getting him all hyper with playing and feeding him another cookie this late, you get to put him to bed tonight."

Chris stood to take the cookie pieces he had cupped in his hand to the trash, huffing out a quiet laugh, "Deal." He then got the broom and dust pan to get the cookie crumbs off the floor. Nat had returned from getting a spray bottle and rag. She started to clean up the spots on the kitchen walls and furniture as you talked to Bruce about the movie you and Chris had gone to see before dinner.

Connor had intently watched Chris moving around for a beat before shoving his bottom up in the air to stand. He then walked up behind you near the island, placing his hand on the back of your leg to steady himself. "Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma...", he babbled quietly, barely reaching the bottom of your butt with his other hand and patting it in time with his syllables.

You addressed Chris as he dumped the crumbs in the trash, "Do you see what you're teaching him?" You all chuckled as you turned and picked up Connor, beaming, "Hi, my baby boy." You propped him on your hip and assaulted his chubby cheek with a litany of humming kisses. Connor grabbed your face, giggling loudly.

Chris came to you and handed Connor another cookie, then kissed his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about...", he smacked your ass and squeezed it, leaning closer to you and started talking softly near your ear, his facial hair and breath tickling you, "Sexy little ma-ma-ma-ma..." You giggled and pulled up your shoulder before he kissed your ear quickly, pulling back. "And now you're all chocolaty, sweetheart.", he chuckled, wiping his thumb over a smear on your chin, then kissing your forehead.

He took Connor from you gently, who was now happily gnawing on his new cookie, "Come on, dude, let's go play in the back yard for a bit before bath." He continued as he headed for the back door, "That way we don't make anymore cookie mess in mama's house."

You smiled watching them. God, your heart was so full.

Once Bruce and Nat were done cleaning what had gotten messy on their shift, they got ready to leave.

Chris had wiped Connor's hands and face after coming back in so he wouldn't get anything or anyone else soiled again. He set down Connor once he reached the living room. You were hugging Nat when Connor walked to her and held onto her leg with both hands, looking up at her, "Ah-Na."

She pulled back and bent down to pick him up, "You wanna say g'bye to Aunt Nat?" She hugged him to her while he was distracted by playing with her necklace. She kissed his head, "Love you, little dude." She handed Connor to you and hugged Chris.

Bruce said good-bye, gave hugs to you all and they headed home as Chris took Connor to get ready for bed.

Once Connor was in bed and asleep, Chris joined you on the couch, while you watched TV in the living room.

You looked over at Chris sitting on your couch a slight bit away from you. You had one foot pulled up on the couch, your chin resting on your hands on top of your knee. His face was glowing in the light of the TV in the dark as he stared at it, beer in one hand between his relaxed legs, which he sipped from every few minutes. You felt the knot coming up in your stomach. 'How am I going to say it?', you thought to yourself, feeling your breath quicken.

"I'm pregnant.", you blurted out.