44 | birthday present

Hope

I was kept in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters for a few more weeks to observe the baby's condition, not only to know if he or she is healthy but also to know if this baby is going to be more powerful than I am.

And also because Dr. Helen Cho doesn't want me wandering around during the early stages of my pregnancy considering she said that the baby's hold on me wasn't strong at all. That if I exert too much energy and power, I might lose it.

As for the baby's gender, well, it's still early to determine if it's a boy or a girl. I do hope it's a girl, though. The thought of a mini-Klaus-slash-Tony walking around my house terrifies me.

If it's a girl, should I name her after our moms? At least not exactly, because the last thing I want is to pull a Bella Swan and name her Marayley. Who names their kid Renesmee anyway? It's like they're expecting her to be beyond weird.

Yes, I read all the Twilight books.

Maria Stark and Hayley Marshall slash Andrea Labonair. Should I name her Andrea Marie? Most people already call me Andrea. That would be too confusing. How about Halle Marie Mikaelson-Stark?

"'Big Book of Baby Names'?" I lifted my head to see Natasha standing by the doorway of my room in her 'Natalie' attire. I'm guessing she's on her way to Pepper and Tony.

"Dr. Cho gave it to me to pass the time." I said as I flipped through the pages of the book. "How does Halle Marie Mikaelson-Stark sound?"

"A mouthful, but beautiful." She answered.

Natasha and I...we're not friends yet. But it is good to have someone to talk to while I'm stuck here in this room. She would come by once a day to check on me. And truth be told, I have no idea why she's being this nice to me when from the looks of it, she doesn't look like someone who would show care to anyone easily.

"And if it's a boy?" Natasha asked.

I scoffed before looking back at the book and closing it as I rested my hands on the arms of the single couch I'm sitting comfortably on.

"It's not going to be a boy." I assured her.

It's not going to be a boy. I'm already calling it. I've already prepared a girl's name. It's going to be a girl.

"If you say so." Natasha said. "This child comes from three powerful families. If that's not royalty, then I don't know what is." she added before she turned around to walk out of the room.

A Mikaelson, a family filled with stength and power. A Stark, brilliance and confidence. And a Labonair, bravery and compassion...Royalty, indeed.

Before Natasha could completely walk away, I spoke again, earning her attention once more.

"Can you do me a favor?" I said, carefully standing up from the couch. Dr. Cho's reminders got me all paranoid that the slightest bit of sudden movements scare me.

"Of course." Natasha answered.

I fiddled with my fingers as I spoke. "Will you ask Fury and Dr. Cho to let me out tomorrow? It's Tony's birthday. We weren't together on mine and I've been gone long enough. I want to be there for him tomorrow."

Natasha stared at me for a little while longer before a small smile stretched on her face.

"Sure." She answered then she finally walked out of the room.

Tony and I talk through the phone. He doesn't like hearing about me through Agent Hill or Phil. He said that he wouldn't believe any of them unless he talked to me directly. Phone calls are the most contact we had these past few weeks. Of course, it sucked. I feel like we're in a long distance relationship. But all of this time apart is going to be worth it when nine months from now, we'll finally have a family of our own.

—

"I have no idea how this happened." Natasha defended through the phone when she called me as the car I'm in is approaching the house. The outside was packed with a number of cars and it wasn't entirely a surprise.

Thanks to my enhanced hearing, I could already hear the noise of Tony's birthday bash from far away. Nearing that said noise was a struggle considering I could feel my eardrums throbbing from the loud music.

What a way to spoil my plans. I was going to ask him to have dinner with me so that I could tell him then that I'm having his baby. I even have a simple dress and heels on for the occasion.

"I'm right outside." I told Natasha before I hung up the phone and stepped out of the vehicle.

"I'll be here when you need me." said Phil. I glanced at him after climbing out of the car and gave him a grateful smile.

"Thanks, Phil." I responded before averting my gaze back to the house. I draw a deep breath, closing my eyes and gathering enough self-control to overcome this nuisance without losing control. As I go further into the pregnancy, the worse my mood swings are. So, stepping into this house of hell.

"Andrea, thank God." I heard Pepper's cry of relief as soon as we spotted each other. Beside her was a pissed-off looking Rhodey who didn't even spare me a glance as he was too busy glaring ahead. "I don't know what to do."

I furrowed my eyebrows as I walked towards them, as soon as I reached them, my eyes followed the direction Rhodey is glaring at and there I saw Tony in his Iron Man suit, his mask up, and his veins most definitely corrupted with alcohol–it's even possible that his blood is being outmatched by the amount of liquor he has drunk seeing as he can't even stand up straight or walk without falling over every three seconds.

"What the hell is he doing?" The question that I ask myself the most for over a decade. I feel sorry for my baby that she had to hear his dad like this.

"That's it." Rhodey said before turning around and attempted to walk away until I grabbed him by the arm and stopped him.

"Wait, where are you going?" I asked.

"I'm gonna make a call." He answered and I immediately shook my head.

"No, please, don't call anyone." If they know what Tony's doing right now, they'll have more reason to take the suits away from him. I'm not sure what Tony's going through right now, but I am sure that if his suits are taken away from him, he'll go off the rails even more.

"This is ridiculous. I just stuck my neck out for this guy!" Rhodey ranted as he pointed his finger at the ticking time bomb that is my fiancé. How the tables have turned. I thought I was the bomb.

"Let me handle this." I said before turning towards Pepper, gesturing for her to stay with Rhodey.

"Handle it. Or I'm gonna have to." I heard Rhodey say as I walked away.

Stay calm, Hope. No need to stress out. You're only eight weeks pregnant. If you feel too much stress, it's going to affect the baby. If you let your emotions control you, you'll lose control and you'll lose your daughter. So keep calm.

"You know, the question I get asked most often is, 'Tony, how do you go to the bathroom in the suit?'" Tony said through the microphone, his voice echoing in the speakers before I just witnessed one of the most horrifying things Tony has ever done in front of everyone. "Just like that."

Remember, Hope. Stay calm. You don't have to snap at him. Just talk to him.

"Tony." I called out when I approached him.

His head whipped towards me and his ridiculously drunken expression vanished and was turned into a shocked one before shoving the microphone that he's holding against the DJ's chest then tipsily made his way towards me.

"You made it!" He said in such relief before he pulled me into a hug. This was not the reunion I pictured. I expected to be hugged, but not by a drunken metal man whose embrace is colder than the air conditioning in my hospital room back at the headquarters.

I pulled away from him and tried my best not to glare at him. Because once I do, it's already going to be followed by a series of rants.

"I missed you." He said, slightly slurring after recovering from the shock he felt seeing me.

"Happy Birthday. I missed you, too, so much. So how about we send these people home? It's getting really late." I told him, making sure that my voice is as persuading as possible and soft to get him to listen to me.

"No, no, no, we can't ... Wait, wait, wait. We didn't have the cake. We didn't blow out the candles–" Tony whined, like a child at a children's birthday party. What has gotten him so worked up that he got himself this drunk and threw this ridiculous party? I know Tony's spontaneous and stubborn, but he's never this out of control.

"You're out of control, okay? Trust me on this, okay?" I told him as I subtly patted his chest, or rather, the suit's chest.

"You're out of control, Spunky." He retorted.

"Let's send them home."

"Give me a smooch first."

"No. Not in front of them."

"Come on, you know you want to."

Deep breaths, Hope. You don't have to yell or get angry. But I can't deny the rage that is slowly bubbling inside me and the frustrated screams in the back of my head. I don't know how much longer I can control my emotions.

"You just peed in the suit." I reminded him, and it wasn't fun to watch.

"I know. It has a filtration system." He reasoned out. That's not exactly the answer I'm looking for.

"It's not sexy." I argued.

"You could drink that water." He said and in that moment, I had a slip up. I showed a little bit of my anger as I grabbed the microphone from the DJ and glanced at the equally out of control crowd in front of me.

"Party's over. Go home." I said with a smile forced on my lips.

I stared at them as they shared glances with each other, as if reluctant to do as I say, like they were expecting something more. Just the mere silence in the room while they contemplated whether or not they should leave irritated me to the core. This pregnancy is really making me a lot more annoyed than I already am on a daily basis.

"Don't make me repeat myself." I said through gritted teeth as my forced, friendly smile slowly decreased until it disappeared completely.

The crowd started to move and for a moment, I felt a rush of relief flow through me. That is until Tony grabbed the mic from me and spoke up.

"Andrea Mikaelson, everyone. My lovely fiancée ." He began. "She's right. The party's over. Then again, the party was over for me, like, an hour and a half ago. The after-party starts...in 15 minutes!"

I have to get out of here or else I'll turn each and everyone in here into roasted humans and eat them as my birthday feast...That was a disgusting thought but it only came out because of my anger slowly escaping from its cage.

"And if anybody–Andrea–doesn't like it, there's the door." said Tony as he pointed his palm towards the door and accidentally blasted the glass wall, shattering it and startling me.

"Andrea." I heard Natasha's voice amidst the cheers of the crowd as she made her way towards me. "Come on. This isn't the stress-free environment you want to be in."

She placed her hands gently on my arms to drag me out of here but I didn't move.

"That's my baby's father and if he doesn't get his shit together in the next three minutes, I'm going to be a single mom." I told her.

One of the women in the crowd threw a bottle of liquor in the air and Tony blasted it with his repulsors, letting the shattered pieces of the bottle rain down on us in a rather harsh way, causing me to look and move away.

"Let's go." Natasha insisted before I let her tug me out of this room, my gaze stuck on Tony as she did.

"I'm only going to say this once." Rhodey's voice cutting through the shouts of the people in the room made me dart my eyes toward him, seeing him clad in one of Tony's suits. "Get out."

That's all he needed to say before the crowd started running towards the exit. Well, that's another way to get them to leave. And it's more effective.

"Pepper, is Uncle Finn in town?" I asked her. Uncle Finn is always in town while the rest of the family is in New Orleans, like Fury told them to. They don't like being told what to do, especially my dad, but when it's for me, they do it.

"Yeah." Pepper answered.

"Call him and tell him to get over here. I can't stop Tony."

"Why not?"

"Just call him!"

Pepper took her phone out and started dialing a number on her phone as we tried to make our way out of the house with Natasha guiding me through the panicking people also running out of the premises.

I could hear the two suits clashing against one another as Tony and Rhodey fought from upstairs. I could hear the ceiling crashing, tables breaking, windows shattering, walls crumbling. They're destroying the house and my patience with it.

Natasha abruptly pulled me away when Tony and Rhodey fell through the ceiling, emitting a wave of screams and gasps from the people around before they stupidly stayed to watch what was happening.

"Pepper, Andrea!" Happy shouted as he ran towards us, grabbing Pepper's arm and dragging her out as Natasha and I followed.

"You want it? Take it!" Tony said as he continued to fight Rhodey.

I stood in front of the crowd outside that had their phones out, filming the entire thing instead of already running to prevent themselves from getting hurt. And I know I should get out of here also, but this is my home and Tony's my responsibility.

The two of them fought for a little while longer, the sound of metal hitting metal pounding in my ears until Tony finally knocked Rhodey down.

I feel the heaviness of the silence that swallowed the venue in my chest as I watch Tony slowly turn around and face us, his head slightly turning from side to side as if scanning the people and for a moment, I know he was looking at me. And I know he feels guilty. He just doesn't want to show it yet.

He then growled at everyone in the crowd, scaring them off. Frantic screams erupted from them as they finally ran away, the sound of their hurried footsteps against the concrete ground creating a string of pain in my ears. Is pregnancy also making my senses this sensitive? The cons of my current condition just keep piling up.

"Let's get you to the car." Natasha told me as she tugged on my arm.

"I'm not leaving them like this." I said as I cast Natasha a worried look before glancing back at Rhodey and Tony.

But I should've left. I should've let Natasha drag me away from this mess. Because the next thing I know, my feet could no longer find the ground as I was flown into the air. My hearing wasn't working properly. Instead of the explosion from the house echoing in my ears, there was an evident ringing coming from the back of my head.

Our baby. My baby. I can't get hurt. I can't get hurt because she'll get hurt. I need to be safe. I need to take care of myself to take care of her. This cannot happen. I can't lose this baby right here, especially when the explosion involves two of the people I care about. They'll never forgive themselves if I lose this baby. I don't even know if I'll ever forgive them. But I sure as hell won't ever forgive myself.

I was suspended in mid-air, my body moving in slow motion as did everything around me. I couldn't hear properly until I heard something. First, it was the beating of my heart. Slow and steady. Then the gasp that left my lips. Then gradually, the noise from the house as it exploded finally pierced into this entrancing tranquility before everything went back to its normal pace.

"Hope?" A new voice appeared, but it was a familiar one.

I opened my eyes and saw Uncle Finn. He was carrying me. When did this happen? I looked at where we are and I saw that we're already a couple of feet away from the house. When did he get to me? Where's Natasha? My eyes darted behind Finn and saw Natasha with her widened eyes as she stared at Uncle Finn's back. Did he save her too? Is she okay? What is happening? Why didn't I feel him come to me? Was I too deep in my mind to notice?

"Are you alright?" He asked me.

I could not form a word. Instead, I swallowed hard and nodded.

"Can you stand up?" He asked again, and I simply nodded.

Uncle Finn gently placed me back down on the ground. I slightly lost my balance before I regained it, finally pulling away from him before he spoke again.

"I'm going to check up on the two imbeciles." Uncle Finn snarled before making his way towards our messed up house.

I stood there, unmoving and nailed to the ground as I watched my uncle disappear into the thick smoke surrounding the house. I felt weak and dizzy. As if at any moment I'll just faint. When am I ever this exhausted?

"Andrea, what is that?" Pepper's concerned voice caused me to slowly turn around to face her. She was looking down at my legs, her eyes glistening with worry. I followed her gaze and saw what worried her. There was thin blood running down my thigh to my leg. It isn't much, but it is blood. And it's scaring me.

My left hand unconsciously went to my thigh to wipe the blood, see if I'm not hallucinating. But I'm not. The blood is real and it's trickling down my leg.

Did I just lose my baby?

The only thing I remember after that was losing my balance before I was swallowed by darkness.

—

New Orleans | February 28, 1998

"What's your name?" I asked the little girl.

It's Mardi Gras in my hometown. The streets are packed with every color in existence. The music is lively and sinking into people's bodies, urging them to dance. The cheers are loud and upbeat, killing what's left of silence. The scents of all kinds of liquor flying in the air are so evident to the point that it's not impossible to get drunk just by smelling them.

"Chelsea." She answered.

She was sitting in front of me, her back facing me as I braided her red hair. I saw her having fun in the streets with bright red strands of hair sticking uncomfortably to her neck and face due to sweat. She needed a hair tie. But this feels much better.

"Well, then, Chelsea," I said after I finished with her hair and turned her around so she could see me. "Next time you go dancing, bring a scrunchie."

The cheerful little girl smiled at me and nodded before running off to dance with her friends again. Was I ever that happy when I was as young as her? Did I ever have friends and dance with them? Was there a time that I let myself have fun and not care about the world for once during my childhood?

I don't think so. And it wasn't my family's fault. I'm just simply not built for a normal childhood.

My smile widened when I averted my gaze from the little girl and saw Tony gazing at me with his arms crossed and his smile bright. What made him this happy?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, slightly creeped out by how he's looking at me. I'm used to him looking seductively at me as if trying to reel me in to have fun every time. But this one is different. This looks more wholesome.

"You and a little kid." Tony began as he untangled his arms and reached for me. "I didn't know such a sight would be that beautiful."

I'm not really good with kids. Not all the time. Sometimes they scare me because of how reckless they are. Some pisses me off with their attitude and it pisses me off more to know that I can't get back at them because they're just kids.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I approached him, letting his hands snake around my waist and pull me closer to him. "Really? Me and a kid?"

He casually shrugged.

"Yeah. I mean, nothing defeats the sight of you naked under me...or above me...or beside me—" He rambled.

"Okay, okay, I get it. Shut up before my dad hears you and kills you." I laughed before tiptoeing to catch his lips with mine.

—

A gasp left my lips at the same time my eyes jerked open. My eyesight was a bit blurry as I stared up at the ceiling. It took some time before they cleared and realized that the ceiling was familiar, as well as the smell, the cool feel of the air, and even the faint sounds of machinery in the room.

I glanced beside me and saw the IV drip, then the nightstand with a glass of blood in it.

Blood.

Memories of what happened last night started rushing in all at once and the first movement I made was my hand going to my stomach. What the hell happened to my baby?

"You're fine." My eyes darted to the doorway seeing Tony standing there, holding a brown paper bag. Based on the smell coming from inside that bag, I'd say they're cheeseburgers.

"That's not what I'm worried about." I said as I clutched onto the fabric over my stomach.

"The baby's fine, too." He answered.

My lips parted at his words as I stared at him in surprise. He knows.

"You were too stressed, it was affecting the baby."

Tony then pushed his lips into a thin line before lowering his head and approached the bed, pulling a chair beside it before sitting down and opening the bag to take out a burger.

"Here. You need to eat." He said, handing me one of the cheeseburgers. "You should savor that because that's going to be the last burger you'll ever eat until this nine-month-show is over."

Right. Healthy diet for the baby, that means junk foods are unfortunately off-limits. What am I supposed to eat now?

I reluctantly reached for the burger, not because I don't want it because I'm actually insanely starving, but because the atmosphere was heavy and I was choosing my actions carefully around Tony. He looks sad and guilty. But also relieved and happy. It's confusing.

"Jerry and the Totally Spies had to tell me after you were rushed here. One hell of a birthday present." Tony started explaining as he unwrapped his own cheeseburger. "Did you know that Natalie is not her real name?"

I too was unwrapping my burger when I simply nodded in response. This was not how I expected the reveal to be. I wanted us to sit and eat dinner, celebrate another year that was given to him before I tell him that we'll be spending the rest of our years tending to something a lot more beautiful. Not like this, sitting in an awkward ambiance while munching on cheeseburgers. But it did remind me of when we first shared a meal together back in 1994.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He finally asked. "You've known for weeks, right?"

He isn't mad. In fact, he looks careful and curious. He really wants to know.

"We were apart." I reasoned out.

"We talk everyday." He replied.

I raised my shoulders slightly as I answered. "It's too big of a thing to tell you over the phone."

He nodded before leaning back against the chair and wrapped his cheeseburger up again while I finally took a bite. I really need to savor them because I'm gonna miss eating junk foods.

"I'm dying."

I stopped eating and my gaze from the burger shifted towards Tony, avoiding eye contact. It scares me how serious he looks right now. It scares me how much he's trying to hold back showing any emotion on his face. I can see him visibly clenching his jaw, as if to suppress his feelings. I wish I could do the same.

"No, you're not." I said, but my eyes betrayed me as a tear slipped. I wanted to completely deny it. But now that I think about it, this was the answer to the question I've been asking for a while now. Why Tony is acting a lot more recklessly than ever. Why he feels different. Why he doesn't want to do some of the things we used to do.

I wish I could say it's not true, but it is.

"Yeah, I am." He said, finally turning his guilty, deep brown eyes to me. "Basically, the thing in my chest that's keeping me alive is also killing me."

I dropped my hand that's holding the burger down to my lap, feeling myself weaken once more.

"I haven't found a replacement for the palladium core. And I don't think I'll ever find one. Fury said I haven't tried everything and he's being cryptic about it. But I doubt that there's a solution." He elaborated.

My free left hand balled into a fist as my jaw clenched, swallowing hard while I stared at Tony with my glossy eyes. "How long have you known?"

"A while." He answered.

I took a deep breath without wavering my gaze on Tony. He's been inching towards death and he's only telling me now?

"I didn't tell you about the baby immediately because I was protecting it from other people. What's your excuse?" I said, my voice hinting the betrayal that I feel right now.

He's dying and I didn't have any idea. When was he planning on telling me? On his deathbed? When he's lying on the floor of his workshop? Would he have told me if he hadn't found out that I'm pregnant?

"I don't want you trying to fix me." He stated, once again avoiding my gaze.

I creased my forehead at his statement. Fix him? What is he talking about? And what is that tone of his? He's acting as if I'm the mechanic in this relationship.

"What does that mean?" I asked, matching his tone.

Tony sighed deeply before leaning forward to place his arms on the bed. "This is not something that you can just spell away."

"Maybe it is." I answered immediately.

If I don't use my magic for the sake of my loved ones, then what's the point of having them? Aunt Freya was a force to be reckoned with when it comes to our family. She doesn't back down when she hits a wall. She breaks that wall. Nothing can stop her. While she's not here, I have to take over that position. I'm sure she would've wanted me to do everything I can for my own family.

I'm not letting this kid grow up without a father. And I'm sure as hell won't survive without him.

"It's not. Your blood and your magic is just a temporary solution." Tony said.

"Then I'll do it over and over again." I responded. Like I said, I'm not giving up. Especially not on him when he's one of the main reasons why I'm even in this timeline.

He tilted his head and squinted his eyes at me, as if what I said was the most absurd thing he has ever heard today. "Are you asking me to live my whole life on the constant verge of death?"

"That has been your life for the past sixteen years." Because of me, I know that. But that's the price for loving me. And he is willing to pay it no matter how high it becomes.

"And saving me repeatedly has been your life." He answered.

Because my life is worthless if I don't get to spend it with the one I love the most.

"It's a life worth living if I get to spend it with you! Why the hell are you fighting me on this?" I asked, getting frustrated. I'm trying to understand his intentions. But all I hear is him accepting that he's dying. And that's not something I'm ready to accept yet.

"I just want you to be prepared in case something bad happens to me."

"Nothing bad is gonna happen to you."

"You don't know that."

"I do know. You know how I know?" Tears continued to trickle down my cheeks as I grabbed his hand and placed it on my stomach. "Because it's not just the two of us anymore, Tony."

And there I finally saw the flicker of hope in his eyes. The promise of a family. The love of a father. The bliss of a real marriage. I saw him hope for all of those things. That's all I need to remain sane despite these hardships.

"I know you. You're not leaving, you wouldn't do that to me. Especially now." I whispered towards him. "Didn't you say you like the sight of me and a little kid?"

Tony swallowed hard and blinked away the tears forming in his eyes. God, who knew the stubborn playboy I met in 1994 would actually wish for something with such commitment.

"Then you have to live to see me with your own kid." I told him.

Just imagine, her adorable giggles, as well as her ear-piercing cries, her heartwarming smile, as well as her gloomy frowns. It will be a rollercoaster, having this kid, but it will be a ride that we'll forever cherish.

"Okay." He said.

I suddenly felt the heaviness lift from my chest. I could breathe properly again. For the past couple of minutes while Tony and I argued, it felt like my chest was tightening.

"Okay." He repeated, assuring me before he stood up from his seat and sat beside me on the bed. His left arm wrapped around me and pulled me closer to plant a kiss on my forehead. "As long as it's a boy."

I rolled my eyes and pulled away. "It's going to be a girl."

"How would you know? You're only eight weeks pregnant." He retorted.

I shrugged my shoulders casually. "I just know."

He shook his head, refusing to agree with me. See, ifour child inherit his stubbornness, I'm going to lose it. "It's a boy."

"It's a girl." I debated.

"Don't you want a boy?"

"A mini-you and Klaus? The idea scares me."

"It would be fun!"

It would be hell.

—

What's your guess? Will the baby be a boy or a girl? I'm so excited for you guys to meet the baby, you have no idea. I've already prepared everything about him/her. Literally everything, because I have so much planned for this adorable baby.

Plus, if you want to know the name of the baby, the hint is in this chapter. Let me know your guesses. If you can't guess it, I still want to know what you would name the baby.

To the ones I've told about this, DON'T SPOIL IT. I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN. Love you sksksksks.