You hadn't been sleeping very well, ever since Tony vanished. A few days passed, then weeks and finally, a month. You spent your time between the hospital and the Avengers Tower. No matter how many times you were told to go home, you refused. If you were kicked out of one place, you went to the other. Every day you prayed for good news.

...

The Avengers just learned to work around you, as you paced the Tower. You jumped out of the way as Captain America rushed to the monitors.

"We've got news on Stark." You heart leapt to your throat.

"Tony..." you muttered. You overheard the team making strategies, before standing up to leave. You placed your hand on the captain's arm before he ran off.

"Cap... bring my husband back to me," you pleaded. He offered you a gentle smile.

"He'll be back to annoy you soon enough." You couldn't help but grin.

...

You sat on the couch, fighting sleep. This is what you had been waiting for all this time and you weren't about to drop off if he came home. Eventually, you couldn't hold back any further and fell asleep.

...

When you finally woke, you found someone had covered you with a blanket. You looked out the window to see that the sun was beginning to set. Taking a deep breath, you rose to your feet. You really hoped that it was all over by now.

"Hey, ____." You spun around to the sound of a man's voice. There, in the middle of the room stood the one and only Tony Stark. Your eyes filled with tears and you trembled. He was covered in cuts and bruises (you figured his armour protected him from the worst damage) but he was better than you thought he'd be. You ran up to him and slapped his face.

"You complete idiot! Did you even think of your wife?! How could you do something so stupid!?" He just smirked and took the abuse. Tony thought he might come home to a scene like this. You wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, before running your nails down his shirt.

"I am going to rip you to pieces tonight," you purred in his ear. Your clawed hands turned into fists and pounded on his chest.

"I am going to rip you to pieces tonight!" Tony held you close to him.

"I missed you so much," you murmured.

"I know."

"I hate you." Your voice didn't have any bite to it.

"No, you don't," he said kissing your forehead.

"Didn't you even think of us?"

"Of course, babe. You were all I could think about when I was gone.  I didn't want to leave you but there wasn't much time. I had to act fast. I'm just glad to be back with both of you." Tony went to place his hand on your unborn child but it wasn't there. His eyes widened with shock. You sighed and tried to keep your voice even.

"The day you disappeared, I went into premature labour. I was watching you on the monitors one minute, and lost you the next. Everything cut out and I just imagined the worst possible scenarios. The stress of everything forced the baby to come early," you explained. Tony dropped to his knees and embraced you, tears running down his face.

"I'm so sorry, ____. I know I shouldn't have left you, and I made you go through everything alone. Did our child..." He was unable finish his sentence before burying his face in your tummy. You ran your fingers through his soft, dark hair, making him look at you.

"He's alright Tony. He's strong, just like his father."

"He? I have son?" You nodded and leant down to kiss him.

...

Little did you know that you were being watched. Steve Rogers had first ordered the others to give you some privacy. Clint made a cheeky comment about it being a "Tactical Retreat", which lead to Natasha smacking him upside the head. Steve had only come back to retrieve the newspaper he had left on the table.

"Well I'll be," he commented to himself as he looked upon the two of you. "I'd never thought I'd see the day when the great and powerful Tony Stark would kneel before anyone."