2019

warning: mentions of vomit, pregnancy, hospital and cancer treatment inaccuracies (does that count ?) please read with caution.
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A year after one of the Earth's most terrible tragedy, a lot of things had happened in the midst of all the chaos. The cabin was officiated as their new home one peaceful Saturday afternoon, and (Y/N) had invited Natasha and Tony invited Rhodey for dinner just for an excuse to show off the house and to catch up. Tony continued his regular duties, although now he had a warm welcome waiting for him at home and not a cold mansion like in his old days. (Y/N) kept her promise to Maria and visited her at every check up, always holding her hand for comfort. In just a blink of an eye, one year passed and hopefully things were starting to turn for the better.

"You're quite lucky, Ms. Rambeau," Doctor Highland spoke as she stepped back from the computer on her desk with a polite smile. "Everything seems to be in order."

Maria let out a relieved breath, and the tension flooded out of her eyes. (Y/N) was still holding onto her friend's hand tightly, even though they just told her the news she wanted to hear.

It was just another regular check-up, followed up by rehabilitation therapy. Maria looked healthier than the first time (Y/N) saw her, and it was honestly such a relief. She had been sat in this chair for the last 1 and a half hour watching how physiotherapist guided Maria through her sessions, along with new information brought in by Doctor Highland. (Y/N) didn't mind just casually sitting and paying attention to her surroundings, but it was hard to do so when she felt her head throbbing and nausea often.

"How much longer am I gonna have to come for checkups, Doctor?" Maria asked with furrowed eyebrows. She looked eager to jump back into her regular routine. "Since everything's fine now."

Doctor Highland flashed an apologetic smile before speaking. "Approximately one more month, Ms. Rambeau. Almost done."

Maria offered a laugh and looked behind her shoulder to talk to (Y/N). "It looks like you're still stuck with me for one more month, huh?"

(Y/N) had drifted off with closed eyes after Doctor Highland's first words, trying to ease the pounding in her head. Her body felt like she was dragging a heavy weight and she didn't know why. Maybe she caught a bug due to the hospital cafeteria food or because of Tony's breakfast this morning. Either way, it was starting to get on her nerves. She was supposed to be Maria's rock in all this and here she was with this unknown pain.

"(Y/N)?"

"Ms. Vaughn?"

A light tap on her shoulder made (Y/N) jump awake, snapping her head in both directions to see who had distracted her. When she saw both Doctor Highland's frown and Maria's worried eyes, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed at their intense gazes.

"You all right?" Maria questioned, starting to stand up from her chair to move closer.

"I'm fine," (Y/N) shrugged the worry off, gesturing her to sit back down with a hand. "My head is killing me, 'is all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Mm-hmm."

Maria wasn't that convinced, but she didn't pry. She wouldn't want to talk if she was the one in that situation. (Y/N) was relieved that she dropped it, but then her eyes trailed to Doctor Highland's suspicious look. It made her grow uneasy and somewhat nervous to what her thought process might be. They were in a hospital after all.

"Ms. Rambeau, is it okay if I talk to Ms. Vaughn outside to schedule our next session?" Doctor Highland broke the short silence, her typical smile plastered on her face.

"Sure, take your time," Maria nodded.

Doctor Highland gave a curtesy nod before heading toward the door, and (Y/N) took this as a sign to trail behind her. Once she was fully on the hospital hallway, the doctor closed the door behind her and stuffed her hands on her coat's pockets. (Y/N) didn't want to be in a position where Maria's own doctor made a diagnosis on her; it made her feel awkward.

"This morning, did you wake up to throw up in the bathroom?" Doctor Highland asked straightforward, her eyes firm on the woman.

(Y/N) scoffed at the sudden question and crossed her arms defensively. "No! I mean, maybe. Did you?"

Doctor Highland let out a huff through her nose, and she could tell that this was serious matter. She eyed her up and down before continuing. "How long have you had this headache?"

"Since this morning, why?"

The doctor paused and lowered her volume, not wanting to draw any attention to themselves. She even eyed Maria back inside the room before speaking.

"Are you sure you're not pregnant?"

This made (Y/N) freeze in her spot. Her jaw slacked as if the question insulted her in some way. She wrapped her arms around her own body to protect herself. "Pregnant? Me?"

"If there's a possibility, you should consider it."

"I don't think so, Doctor. I can't be pregnant."

"If you allow me to take a test, you'll leave today without any doubts," Doctor Highland tried to reassure. Her tone much calmer. "It'll only take 1 or 2 minutes."

(Y/N) shook her head in denial. She didn't want to risk it, especially if the test came back positive. It wasn't the fact that she didn't want the baby, it was the fact that she'll probably ruin its life before it even starts. Her mind instantly remembered Yon-Rogg's blood transfusions, and her powers. What if any of these factors complicated the life of her baby? The mere thought of that formed a knot in her throat.

But a part of her irked to know the answer. And she knew that back home she might cower from testing it. What's the worst that can happen? she thought to herself.

"Fine," she accepted. "But it's gonna be negative, Doc. You'll see."

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The paper in her hands stared at her with a burning passion. (Y/N) felt that if she stared at it even longer, it might catch on fire. It was mocking, to say the least. Almost laughing in her face. Her eyes almost dried out from not blinking, feeling like her eyes might trick her if she got distracted.

The Positive answer never left the page, and (Y/N) had to hold her head high to avoid the tears from spilling down her cheeks. The silence in the house was almost haunting and she had no idea how she was going to tell Tony about the news. A part of her wanted to wait, wanting to process it and for the news to be hers for a moment, but she also knew that he had a right to be included.

As if the universe knew what she was thinking, she heard the familiar opening and closing of the front door, indicating the arrival of the second person that lived in the house. (Y/N) sniffled and brought the test result sheet close to her chest, treasuring it in her arms. She was sure she was going to frame it or something just as dramatic.

"(Y/N)! I'm home!" Tony's voice rang through the entire house, cheerful and oblivious to the news.

(Y/N) knew she had to answer him, but the words died on her throat. Tony's steps echoed through the house, as if he was searching for her.

"(Y/N)?"

(Y/N) cleared her throat before calling out to him. "I'm up here!"

She was able to hear how Tony moved up the stairs, but all she could concentrate in was the paper right in front of her and the person making his way to her. (Y/N) thought of hiding it and planning some other, better way of telling him the news, but she had no idea how.

Tony opened the bedroom door with one hand, an unusually large smile breaking through his lips. He held a brown paper bag in his other hand, eager to show off what he had inside.

"Look what I brought with me," he said, still too stuck in his own bubble to notice her state. "Our favorite! Cheeseburgers."

(Y/N) placed the paper beside her on the bed and lifted her gaze to stare at Tony. When he caught her eye, the smile dimmed from his eyes when he saw her red eyes, but immediately panicked when he saw (Y/N)'s eyes bundling up a new fresh set of tears. She, on the other hand, didn't know why she was crying; maybe because of what she was about to confess, or his nice gesture out of nowhere, or maybe the hormones.

Tony placed the bag of cheeseburgers on the nightstand as he advanced toward (Y/N), trying to figure out why she was reacting this way.

"Wow, wow — Hey!" he placed himself in front of her. "What's wrong? You don't like cheeseburgers anymore? I — "

"It's not that," (Y/N) shook her head.

"Then what is it?"

"I've been feeling sick since this morning."

He immediately feared the worst and his skin paled. "Is something wrong?"

(Y/N) couldn't utter any more words, since she didn't have enough strength to say them and thought it was still a dream she hadn't awoken from. She grabbed the paper from beside her and held it out for Tony to see. He frowned when he saw the paper in her hand, already fearing the worst when he saw the hospital headline of it.

"What — "

"Read it."

Tony swallowed the lump on his throat and skimmed through the page, eyes squinted together for anything that might need some worrying. But then, his eyes stopped on the words 'pregnancy' and 'positive'. His eyes widened like saucers and his jaw almost dropped to the floor.

"You're serious?" Tony lifted his head to look back at her.

(Y/N) nodded with her lips pressed in a thin line.

Tony let out a laugh that cracked near the end. His eyes were swelling up with tears, and the ones that were already gathering up in (Y/N)'s own eyes spilled down her cheeks. He jumped forward to embrace her in his arms, swaying from side to side as he tightened his arms around her.

"I can't believe it," he exclaimed once he pulled away to stare at her in awe. "This is amazing. You're amazing. I can't believe you're — "

"Pregnant, Tony," (Y/N) finally said it out loud. It was real. This was happening. "I'm pregnant."

finally a new chapter !!  i'm so excited for what's coming although i'm scared of how i write it.
i already have some ideas of what family moments to write, but i'd love to read what you guys have in mind :)

-see you soon, bex <3