CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:
❝︎Nothing To Worry About❞︎

ELOISE GARDNER LAID THERE IN TONY'S ARMS, NEVER WANTING TO LEAVE THE COMFORT AND WARMTH IT BROUGHT HER. She looked at her soon-to-be husband. He was still fast asleep while she had been awake for an hour, just looking at him with a gentle smile plastered on her face. She wanted to stay in this moment forever, but Eloise knew that there was always going to be another monster, another villain, another person trying to take over the world. Eloise tried to not to think about it, she tried not to think about how it was their job to save the world from monsters. It was their job to save the world from monsters. . . like her.

Eloise carefully sat up, being sure not to wake Tony. She made it to the kitchen, making a pot of coffee. Eloise knew that she was an abomination. She wasn't supposed to exist. Eloise knew that. The sudden thought dawned on her. . . because of her condition, what if she couldn't have kids? What if she couldn't have the family she'd always wanted to have with Tony? The thought made tears spring to her eyes. She wanted a family, she wanted to have kids. But, did she want to possibly pass down her condition to her son or daughter? Was it even possible? So many thoughts suddenly filled her head, so many dark and negative thoughts. As she stood there, she slowly began spiraling, thinking all the negative things that her mind forced on her.

Tony woke from his sleep, the smell of coffee instantly filling his senses. He noticed Eloise was no longer laying beside of him, and that alone made him pull the covers off and go in search for her. He found her in the kitchen, but he found her with a deep frown on her lips and tears in her eyes. He acted immediately, gently grabbing her and looking at her with a silent question. Eloise just shook her head, Tony allowing her to bury her head into his chest as she tried to control her soft sobs. He didn't say anything, just quietly consoling her, rubbing a hand up and down her back and pressing a gentle kiss to the side of her head.

     When she calmed down, she pulled away from him. Tony placed a hand on both of her shoulders, wiping away her tears with his thumb. He looked at her with worry. "Talk to me, El. What's wrong?"

     Eloise bit the inside of her cheek, looking at him. She sighed, knowing she couldn't keep her thoughts from him even if she tried. Tony could read her like an open book and she hated it so much. "I know this isn't until far into the future, but I got into my head, like I always do, and I couldn't help but think. . . what if, because of what I am, what HYDRA did to me, what if I can't have kids? And if I can, what if I just pass this down to our children. I couldn't bare it, Tony. I just couldn't. I want to be able to have a family with you eventually, but I just don't. . ." She trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

     Tony knew what the rest of her sentence was though. He hadn't even thought about it, he hadn't even thought about having kids. Tony was such a wild card that the thought of ever having kids was terrifying to him, but with Eloise, he could have a family with her. He could see himself growing old by her side. He could see it all. He just didn't think about it from her perspective and that alone made him feel almost guilty. "Why don't you talk to Rosalynn? She can run some tests. Maybe give you some of the answers that you're searching for."

     Eloise nodded her head. "Yeah, that's a good idea."

     "I can come with you, or I can stay here and wait for your return."

     Eloise thought about it for a moment. "I think. . . I think I want to do this alone."

     Tony nodded in understanding. "Alright. I'll be right here when you get back."

     "Thank you." Eloise whispered. Tony gave her a small smile and Eloise gave him a quick peck before saying her goodbyes to him before leaving for the Compound. When she got there, her nerves seemed to spike, suddenly she wanted to turn on her heel and walk out and just forget about the whole thing. She clenched her fist for a moment, before releasing them. She had to do this for herself, she knew that she did.

She took a deep breath before walking up the steps and making her way up the steps, leading herself to the lab. She looked through the glass doors of the lab, spotting Rosalynn and Bruce working together, Rosalynn smiling at something Bruce had said to her. Eloise held the door handle and with another breath, she pulled it open and walked inside. The two scientists turned to look at her, Rosalynn immediately offering her a smile.

     "Eloise! What are you doing here?" Rosalynn asked, walking towards her.

     "Uh, I, uh, actually needed to talk to you about something." Eloise glanced towards Bruce. "In private."

     Rosalynn, without hesitation, turned to look at Bruce, nodding for him to leave. Bruce took the hint and walked out of the lab to occupy his mind somewhere else. "What's going on?"

     "I need you to run some tests." Eloise told her. "I. . . I need you to see. . . or find out. . . if I can still have kids. And if I can. . . I need to know the possibility of my condition being passed down to them."

     Rosalynn gave her a soft smile. "Of course, Eloise." Rosalynn led her to the examination table, ran some tests on her and put them into her computer. Eloise sat there buzzing with anxiety. She tapped anxiously on her stomach, waiting in anticipation. After what felt like hours, Rosalynn moved away from her computer and back over to Eloise.

     "Well?" Eloise asked, wincing at how aggressive it came out which wasn't her intent at all.

      Rosalynn offered her a smile. "Eloise, you have nothing to worry about."

     Eloise sat up, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Really? What about. . .?"

     "You have no need to worry about that. Whilst there is a 1% chance of it happening, I sincerely think that you are in the clear."

      There was still a chance though, Eloise thought. Eloise smiled and nodded her head. "Thank you, Rosalynn. For doing this."

     "It wasn't a problem." Eloise stood up and Rosalynn stood in front of her with a smile. "If there's anything I can help with, just give me a call." Eloise nodded and thanked her once more before walking out and heading back home.