"I'm dedicating every day to you
Domestic life was never quite my style
When you smile, you knock me out, I fall apart
And I thought I was so smart."
"I AM A GENUIS, SUGAR BEAR." Tony huffed in frustration as he fiddled with the tools by his side, eyeing the cot in front of him, before glancing at his life long friend. "I should be able to assemble a fucking crib."
"Easy Tones," Rhodey said holding up the directions. "We'll figure it out." Céilna let out a laugh, skin glowing as her eyes tracked the two who bantered back and forth.
"Something you'd like to share with the class, mmh?" Tony huffed glancing at the pregnant woman. She shook her head and chuckled. She leaned against the door, her hand protectively on her bump. The more she watched Tony, the more she was glad he'd agree to her crazy idea. Maybe he had some issues..okay, a lot of issues, but it was clear he was going to love this kid.
"You thought of names?" Rhodey asked, assembling the legs of the crib. Tony glanced at the woman in the doorway who nodded.
"We settled on Cindy," She said with a soft smile. "Meaning light."
"Cindy Anthea Stark." Tony told his friend who grinned.
"Mmh." Rhodey smiled, "After the goddess of wisdom? Who chose that?" Célina grinned to herself. Rhodey nodded, "She's definitely going to be something with the genes of you two." He told Célina who smiled and nodded. As much as Célina didn't want to be a mother, Tony didn't want to erase her from this process. He wasn't going to ignore that she was bringing the kid into the world.
"Cindy Anthea Stark," Rhodey said nodding. "That's a strong name." Tony smiled and nodded. He looked at the pregnant woman in the doorway who gave him a happy nod. She appreciated being included, even if she couldn't be a mother. She could tell that no matter what, that little girl was going to be loved.
A pain seized up in her and Célina hissed. Tony looked over to see her holding the bump in pain.
"You okay?" He asked, looking at her. She nodded pursing her lips. "Is that the first time this has happened today?" Célina shook her head.
"It's been happening every couple of hours since last night," Célina said. "The last one was an hour ago."
"Sounds like contractions," Rhodey said. "I think you're going into labor." Célina bit her lip. She knew that was very likely the case.
"Okay," Tony said, slowly standing up. "Let's just stay calm." Everyone nodded, Rhodey standing up as well. They were all calm, everything was going to be fine.
Until Célina doubled over again, hissing in pain.
"Shit," Tony said.
___
It was all a blur from there.
Tony rushing Célina to the hospital while Rhodey called Pepper and Happy. There were so many more things to do now that the baby was about to be born. Happy and Rhodey were in charge of finishing setting everything up, while Pepper went to the hospital. She also needed to keep the fact that Tony Stark was bringing a woman in labor to the hospital under wraps.
There were so many NDAs to be signed.
Tony's only focus was the baby about to be born. Célina was calm, weirdly calm for someone about to birth a child. She just breathed and attempted to fill the time with humor. She could tell Tony was slowly freaking out. All this planning and now the time was coming.
A few hours later, Cindy Anthea Stark came into the world. She was so small, but the doctors said that she was an extremely healthy baby. She still screamed as loud as any baby and Tony's heart filled with joy. Seeing that squirming little baby, his baby, he felt like his heart would burst with love.
The nurse asked Célina if she wanted to hold him and she shook her head and looked at Tony. The nurse walked over to him, holding the swaddled baby. She placed him in his arms and Tony stared down at the tiny baby in his arms.
The baby squirmed a little before settling. Tony stared wordlessly at the. child –his child. All he could think was this was his daughter, his little bambino. He could feel his eyes tearing up. He was holding the most precious thing in the world to him.
Letting the nurses take Cindy away was horrendously difficult for Tony. He didn't want to let her go now that he had them. But they assured him it was just to make sure the baby was 100 percent healthy. Tony quickly took a photo of the newborn baby (setting at as his lock screen) and left Célina to rest. He found Pepper and Rhodey waiting in the hallway. He took one last look behind him.
Unknown to him, that was the last time he would see Célina Martin.
"Well?" Pepper asked. Tony held up his phone. Pepper's eyes softened and her face melted into a smile.
"Oh," She said, gently taking the photo. "Tony, she's precious." Rhodey nodded glancing at the photo.
"When can her Uncle Rhodey meet her?" Rhodey asked with a smile. Tony smiled, his heart aching a little without having Cindy in his arms.
"Soon," Tony said. "She's just getting a check-up." He cleared his throat, feeling his eyes well up with tears. God, this kid was already wrecking his emotions. Tony tried to slyly wipe the tears away but Rhodey saw, not that he had said anything.
"Mr. Stark?" A nurse approached him. "Would you like to see your daughter ?" Tony nodded and the nurse looked at Rhodey, a little uncertainty in her eyes.
"He's my daughters godfather," Tony said. "He's family." The nurse nodded and led the way towards the nursery. They stood outside the window staring at the room full of newborn babies. Tony smiled widely when he saw Anthea. He pointed and Rhodey smiled.
"Damn Tony," Rhodey said. "That's your kid." The nurse was gone now and he turned to Tony. "Did you mean that? About me being the kid's godfather?" Tony nodded.
"You've been there for me, when most people weren't," Tony said. "And I know you'll be there for my kid, so yeah, I want you to be her godfather." Rhodey smiled and touched his chest.
"You got me right here Tones," Tony rolled his eyes and pushed Rhodey playfully. They heard a clicking of heels and they saw Pepper approaching.
"Where is she?" Tony pointed to Cindy, a giddy smile on his face. Pepper looked and her and cooed, something that made Tony smile. "She's so precious. Is it okay that she's so small?" Tony nodded. She put her hand on the window and smiled. Tony wanted to ask Pepper to be Cindys godmother, but he didn't know if it was appropriate. She was his PA after all. Sure, she'd seen him in some lousy situations, but at the end of the day, he was her boss.
The three of them stood at the window, just watching the youngest Stark, a smile on all their faces.
___
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