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Tony’s eyes widen when Steve releases another agonizing scream. Steve has only been pushing for an hour and a half and every passing minute seems to cause him more pain. He remains by Steve’s side, gripping his hand tight and encouraging him to keep going. Pretty soon their little boy would be born and it would all be over.
Steve pushes as hard as he can, his skin sweaty and flushed from the strain. The grip he has on Tony increases and Tony has to fight back the urge not to complain. Steve was dealing with worse. Giving birth was no joke.
“Almost there, baby,” Tony soothes, leaning in close to kiss Steve’s sweaty temple. “You’re doing so good. Our little Pete will be here soon.”
“I can’t!” Steve cries out and throws his head back against the pillow. “I can’t do it. It hurts!”
“You’re doing good, Steve,” Doctor Cho praises between Steve’s spread legs. “I’m starting to see a head.”
Tony decides to peek despite his better judgment and he winces when he sees their son’s protruding head and blood. “Oh God. That’s his head!”
Steve lifts his head to try and get a look. “What’s wrong? Is he okay?”
“He’s okay,” Helen assures. “Just give me a big push. One. Two. Three. Push!”
Steve brings his chin down to his chest and pushes long and hard, his efforts paying off when the baby’s head finally emerges. Tony looks again, growing queasy at the sight of more blood and Steve being stretched open wide. He’s glad he doesn’t have to do this.
“His head is out. Rest for a moment and then work on delivering the shoulders, okay? That’s the hardest part,” Helen says as she cleans up the baby’s face and clears his airways.
“Is he okay?” Steve asks, panting harshly.
“He’s…he’s got a big head. How much did I piss you off?” Tony chuckles.
Steve huffs out a laugh. “He probably has a big brain like you.”
The next contraction hits, forcing Steve to push again. He screams through it, the sounds painful for Tony to hear. He’s glad the only obstacle so far was getting their son’s head out. Helen had assured them for their last appointment that their son was measuring good.
“Tony!” Steve screams, turning his upper half toward his husband when the pain becomes too much.
Tony can only hold him and whisper sweet things in his ear. “Almost, honey. One more push and it’s over.”
“I can’t do it anymore. I can’t. I can’t.” Steve sobs.
“Yes, you can, Steve,” Helen says. “Just give me one more big push and your baby will be here.”
Steve pushes hard, screaming his throat raw. Then finally the baby is pulled from his body and he collapses backwards, exhausted but thankful it’s over.
“Holy shit!” Tony’s outburst causes Steve to lift his head in alarm.
“What!” Steve immediately begins to fear the worst. Was his son sick? Did his past health conditions interfere with their son’s health? So many thoughts and fears begin to go through his mind.
“He’s huge!” Tony exclaims.
Helen carefully lays their son over Steve’s chest, the weight of the baby noticeable. Steve glances down in shock at the chubby baby he just birthed. He had expected a smaller kid, maybe not as small as he was when he was born, but still small. Even Tony only measured seven pounds when he was born. They had been told their son was measuring between seven to eight pounds. That was not the case.
“We’re going to weigh him,” Helen says and she gathers the newborn in her arms. “He appears a little bigger than I expected.”
“Maybe he had a growth spurt?” Steve asks.
“Maybe!” Tony cries.
Steve reaches for Tony’s hand, this time being the one to offer comfort. “Tony, it’s okay. He’s okay. He’s just…big.”
“Oh shit. I can’t believe he came out of you. How are you not dead!”
“Dad, do you want to be near baby? I have to stitch Steve up,” Helen says.
“Oh God.” Tony winces. “Is Steve okay? He’ll live, right?”
Helen gives Tony her best ‘are-you-kidding-me’ look. “He’ll be fine. Larger babies have been born.”
“Bigger than him!”
“It’s fine,” Steve assures, squeezing Tony’s hand. “Can you be with him? He’s probably scared.”
Tony nods. “Yeah, honey, I’ll be with him. I love you. God, I love you so much. I’m sorry I put you through that...”
Steve smiles weakly. “It was worth it.”
A few hours later the rest of the team is allowed to finally meet the baby. Natasha pushes her way through first, making sure to give Steve a hug before taking her turn to hold Peter.
“Where is he?” She asks, looking at Steve for the answer.
“The nurse is bringing him in any minute. He’s getting looked over,” Steve replies.
“Is he okay?” Sam asks.
“He’s totally fine,” Tony says. “Ten fingers, ten toes. Rolls on rolls.”
Steve rolls his eyes. “Why do you have to say that? He’s perfect the way he is.”
“I’m confused…” Bruce trails off.
“So was I,” Tony says and pats Bruce’s shoulder.
The door opens and one of the nurses comes in, wheeling the bassinet over to Steve’s bedside. “Here he is. Little Peter is doing just fine and ready for some more bonding.”
“Interesting choice of words,” Tony mutters and this time Steve smacks him across the shoulder.
Natasha comes over to get a look and she gasps, cupping her mouth at the sight of her nephew. “Oh my God he’s…”
Peter is placed over Steve’s chest and he emits a tiny whimper. Steve shushes him softly and gently strokes his back. “Hi, baby. You ready to meet everyone?”
“Let me know if you need anything,” the nurse says on her way out.
Steve thanks her, then he turns back to his son. “Everyone, this is Peter.”
The team gathers around the bed to meet their newest member.
“Damn, Cap, he’s…he’s a big dude!” Sam is the first to comment.
“I thought you were smaller.” Bucky frowns.
“Told you! He’s a lot bigger than we expected,” Tony says.
“What did you expect?” Natasha raises a brow. “Steve is a super soldier. It makes sense.”
Bruce nods in agreement. “The serum probably interfered.”
“It had to,” Bucky says. “Steve was not this big.”
“How do you know that?” Sam asks. “You were a baby.”
“His mother told me stories,” Bucky shoots back.
“I think he’s beautiful.” Natasha smiles and lays a hand over Steve’s shoulder. “Congratulations.”
Steve smiles up at her. “Thank you. He’s something, huh?”
“How was the birth? No complications?” Bruce asked.
“It was—” Steve begins but Tony cuts him off.
“Awful! Blood everywhere! Steve was screaming bloody-murder! I thought he was gonna be torn in half!”
“I don’t think we’re having kids…” Bucky frowns to himself and Sam just laughs.
“Okay,” Steve says quickly. “So it wasn’t perfect. But he’s perfect to me. It was worth it.”
Tony smiles and carefully lowers himself on the bed beside Steve, his eyes landing on their sleeping bundle of joy. “He is perfect. I love this kid to death and he just got here. I love you both.”
Steve rests his head over Tony’s shoulder. “I love you, too.”
“Wait, wait,” Peter says, interrupting the story. “So you’re telling me that I was this monster of a kid? Have you seen me! I can’t even reach the top shelf!”
Steve chuckles and moves toward the bookshelf where he remembers keeping Peter’s baby book. “I have the proof.”
“Oh this should be good.” Tony grins behind his coffee cup. He gets comfortable in his armchair. “I love telling more of this story.”
Peter frowns at his dad. “You said I was splitting Papa in half and I had rolls on rolls.”
“You did! He got stitches because you tore his—”
“Okay!” Peter cries. “Please stop talking!”
Steve returns to his son’s side and begins flipping through the book, making sure to avoid the first few pages of ultrasound and bump updates. He does pause to point out his baby bump during his last month.
“I should’ve known. I was a little bigger here.”
“Maybe you thought it was twins or something.” Peter shrugs.
“If that’s the case then you ate your twin in the womb,” Tony says.
“Dad!”
“Tony, be nice,” Steve scolds. “He couldn’t help how chubby he was.”
“I still don’t believe you,” Peter says, watching as his father flips through more pages.
“Here we go.” Steve points at one of the pictures saved in the book. “This is when you first came out. One of the nurses was kind enough to take pictures.”
“Holy shit!” Peter cries and grabs the book for a closer look.
Steve clicks his tongue disapprovingly. “Language.”
“That’s really me? No Cap?”
“No Cap?” Steve frowns. “No, that's you. Not me. What are you saying?”
“It means you’re not lying,” Peter explains with a roll of his eyes.
“Then just say that!”
Tony chuckles. “You gotta get with the times, honey.”
“Anyway,” Steve takes the book back and shows Peter another picture. “You weighed a little over ten pounds. Look at your chubby cheeks.”
Peter flushes. “You’re so embarrassing. Please don’t show these to Ned and MJ.”
“Peter, we’d never do that,” Steve assures.
Tony laughs. “Are you joking! Guess what picture we’re using for his graduation.”
Peter groans and covers his face. “You guys are the worst.”
“Says the guy who split Captain America in half. He’s never been the same since then,” Tony says with a shake of his head.
“Enough! Please!” Peter cries. “I don’t need the details! It’s bad enough you told me where and when I was conceived.”
“Oh I love that story!” Tony says.
“Pete, we love you. So you were a little chunky. It doesn’t matter. You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen,” Steve says with a smile.
“Really? You didn’t think I was a freak?” Peter asks.
“Hell no!” Tony adds. “You were just a big super baby. We still loved you. But you’re kind of a freak. You’re sticky and climb walls!”
Steve frowns at Tony, then turns to Peter. “We love you. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“Thanks.” Peter smiles shyly. “I did have cute little cheeks.
“Not little…”
This time Steve throws a pillow at Tony to shut him up.
Steve wraps his arms around his son’s shoulders. “You were absolutely perfect. The best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Really?” Peter glances over at his father. “I’m sorry I cut you in half.”
Steve chuckles and hugs him close. “It was worth it.”
Peter smiles and curls up closer to his father. Then his smile falters. “Wait…so I did cut you in half!”
Steve just sighs loudly.