After giving the new mother some time with her son, the nurses took him to the nursery. There were tests, vaccines and paperwork to be given and completed, and Denise also needed her rest. They made sure to tie ID bans around hers and Chris' wrists, as well as Jack's ankle before they left with him so he wouldn't get lost amongst the other babies. That had been an irrational fear of Denise's. Even though she was sure she could pull her special little guy out from the rest of the ordinary crop, it didn't hurt to have extra precaution. Surprisingly Chris stayed with Denise instead of going with Jack, sending the grandparents so he could "have some alone time with my wife."
Though Denise found the basis of his notion incredibly sweet, she thought it to be unnecessary as she was just going to take a nap. She urged him to go see Jack, only to have him shake his head in response. He kissed the back of her hand and assured her that "I'm going to be here when you wake up," as she drifted off to sleep. And he was. He was still by her side when she woke after forty minutes of undisturbed sleep. It didn't seem like a lot, but it did wonders for her sanity.
"I'm surprised you're still here," she mirrored the smile he had on his face.
"Why's that?" He asked, rubbing his right eye with the side of his index finger.
"I just thought you'd be with Jack." She answered, glancing at the clock. It was 6:46PM, concluding their long, long twenty-four hours. Since yesterday, at exactly 6:46PM, she'd been suffering from what she'd thought were Braxton Hicks. She didn't sleep well, which meant Chris didn't either. So it was understandable he was now as exhausted as she was, probably needing his own forty minutes of undisturbed sleep. "You've waited your entire adulthood for him, I figured now that he's finally here you'd be glued to his side."
"And I figured I'd stay glued to your side, the girl I'd waited my entire life for." She smiled as he took her hand in his. "As I've told you a thousand times before, you are my priority. Nothing, nothing," he emphasized. "Nothing is going to change that, not even Jack's arrival." He squeezed her hand and she smiled. "It's you and me against the world, kid."
"Are you going to stop calling me 'kid' now that I have my own kid?"
"No chance, kid," he grinned and she chuckled with a shake of her head.
"Knock knock," a familiar voice interrupted their moment and drew their gazes to the door. They smiled when they saw Robert enter the room with a bouquet of hydrangeas, and a teddy bear dressed like Captain America hidden behind his back. "Sorry to disturb, but I couldn't help myself after getting Evans' text. I had to meet the newest addition to our Marvel family."
"No, not at all. We're very happy to see you," Denise told him and he smiled as he approached. "The Winter Soldier and the Falcon might be a little sore knowing you met Baby Cap before them, so let's not boast about it on the group chat." She joked. Somehow she already knew that was exactly what he was going to do, if he hadn't done it already.
"Got it," Robert winked, making her and Chris laugh. "Here," he passed Chris the bouquet, which he then placed on Denise's bedside. "Those are from Susan, she sends her regards. She would've loved to come along to meet your child, but she's caught up with our own."
"Don't even worry about it. Honestly, I didn't even expect you to drive all the way out here," Chris told him then laughed at Robert's expression of disbelief. It was needless to say Robert Downey Jr. was going to drive out to meet Chris Evans' son, he would've taken a plane from the other side of the world to meet Jack. "We'll bring him by one day, grab some dinner together."
"That sounds like a great plan," Robert nodded, smiling. "Anyway, this-" He moved the teddy bear out from behind his back and waved at the couple with the hand of the bear. Chris and Denise laughed because a Captain America bear was the last gift they'd expected from Iron Man himself. "This is from me. I wanted to get an Iron Man one," he explained as if he could read their minds, "but Susan said no."
"That's 'cause Susan knows I would've burned that at the stake," Chris joked.
"You're just upset 'cause you know Jack is going to be on Team Iron Man," Robert smirked.
"Over my dead body, Stark," Chris quipped, laughing when Robert did; Denise rolled her eyes. "Seriously. Thanks for coming, man." Chris rose to his feet and took the bear Robert held out, then shared a hug with him. "We really appreciate it." Denise nodded, smiling at Robert. "Jack's in the nursery at the moment, you can meet him in a bit."
Chris sat back down after pulling a chair over for Robert. "We're all so happy for the both of you," Robert said as he sat down, "this is amazing. You're a dad," he slapped Chris' shoulder with a wide grin, which Chris mirrored, chuckling. "Finally, man. You must be ecstatic. This is what you've been waiting for, right?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "I just- I'm nervous," he admitted then turned to Denise, the corner of his mouth quirked to showcase one of his adorable half-smiles. He had hoped to keep that little fact from her, but he could tell from the look on her face she already knew. "I've been trying to play it cool, but-" he turned back to Robert. "I am nervous about being a father, it's going to be a whole new ballgame. I mean the concept of being responsible for another human being- it's terrifying," he said and Robert chuckled. "You're a dad of many, have you got any advice for me?"
"Just be yourself," Robert replied with a shrug. "Don't try to be the perfect parent because they don't exist. Just be yourself," he repeated in a more assertive tone. "Don't be afraid to make mistakes because that's how you learn. Every kid is different, there is no handbook. The main idea is to love them and raise them to make good choices and be decent human beings. It's just- it's something you just gotta work at it. It's a lot of try and try again, and taking each day as it comes. You have to believe that things will work out in the end, and it will, trust me."
"That's the best you got?" Chris laughed.
"What do you want me to say, Evans?" Robert quizzed, smiling. "Parenthood- it's both the easiest and the toughest job on the planet. I can't tell you how to be a dad to Jack, that's something you've got to work out on your own." Robert told him and Chris managed a small smile, reaching for Denise's hand because she always provided him comfort. "Just relax, Dorito. You're made for this. And come on, that kid is equal parts you and Denise," Robert smiled at her and she smiled back, "whatever the two of you do or don't do, he's going to turn out great anyway."
"Thank you, that is so sweet," she cooed, pouting as her eyes welled with tears.
"Just stating facts here," Robert smiled, reaching for their joined hands to give it a light pat.
Chris drew his hand back and turned to the door when he heard his mom's voice. He smiled when he realized the grandparents had returned with Jack, Tina wheeling him in his little baby cot. "Look who's here," he glanced at Denise and tapped Robert's arm. Denise smiled, feeling a spark of excitement that ignited a want to hold her little boy. "Is everything okay with him?" He asked Tina as he walked over and carefully lifted Jack from his cot. "Hi, buddy." He smiled and cradled his son in his arms. "Hi," he cooed as he walked him over to Robert.
"Everything's perfect, the two of you should be able to go home tomorrow morning." Tina answered Chris, then looked over and smiled at Denise. "I'm proud of you, baby," she mouthed and Denise wiped the tears from her eyes, smiling. "Hey Robert, it's nice of you to join the party."
"I had to meet the next Captain America," Robert gently rubbed Jack's belly with the pads of his fingers, smiling. "Little one, you have no idea how long your dad has waited for you." He told Jack as Chris passed him over. "He's beautiful, you two." He smiled at both Chris and Denise before turning back to Jack. "You are going to be so loved by your mom and dad, and all your aunties and uncles at Marvel. So loved," he asserted, pressing a gentle kiss on Jack's forehead.
Chris rejoined Denise's side, sitting on the edge of her bed this time. He wrapped an arm around her as she leaned into him, watching Robert interact with Jack. Jack: their son. It still blew her mind that she and Chris were parents now. Even with her son in the world, she was still not ready for parenthood. Unlike her husband, who she knew would only need a few days to get into the swing of things. Chris was good at a lot of things, he was a natural with kids. She wasn't ashamed to admit she wasn't, but she was worried that she wasn't.
She was a mother now, it wasn't just about getting the nieces and nephews to like her- it was about taking care of her baby boy and giving him the life and love he deserved. She didn't want to fail that sweet creature, she couldn't. And the thought that she would surfaced when he started to cry. Her heart both ached and started to beat rapidly against her chest. Her son was crying and Robert was bringing him over to her. A mess of thoughts and emotions ran through her brain. She questioned her ability to soothe her child even before she had the opportunity to try. She was terrified, she feared she'd be labeled as a bad mother if her son did not stop crying at her touch. The closer Robert got, the faster her heart thumped against her chest.
"I think he wants his mom," Robert told Denise, transferring Jack into her arms. Chris helped as she took him, her eyes slightly narrowed with stress and anxiety. The second Jack nestled himself in her comfort, he stopped crying. Denise's heart skipped a beat and she looked at Chris with a great sense of pride and achievement. "And you said you weren't a natural," Robert teased.
Denise's facials softened and she released a breathless chuckle, smiling at Chris before turning to look back down at her son. Chris kissed the side of her head and whispered into her ear before he drew back, "looks like Jack's going to be just like his daddy, a big ol' mama's boy."