Chapter Text
Mary Parker stared down at the pink lines on the pregnancy test, tempted to rub her eyes to check if she were hallucinating. She ran out into the kitchen where her husband was making dinner and showed him to test. “Richard! We’re having a baby!”
He gasped, eyes starting to shine as he hugged her with all his strength. He pulled back, staring at her stomach as if he could see their baby already. “I can’t believe it. We did it, we finally did it!” He laughed joyously. “When do you want to tell everyone?”
“Well, we have to tell Coulson. You know he’d be upset if we ignored procedure and I went out on the field expecting.” SHIELD agents who were pregnant had to report it to their superiors so they knew not to put them into possibly harmful environments. As callous as the organisation could be, they did care about their agents.
“Have you seen that man? I’m pretty sure it’s impossible for him to get upset. May, too. They’re awfully cheerful for agents as good as them—not that I’m complaining.”
Mary laughed. “I’ve seen him angry and it’s a sight, for sure. Never want to see it again, so we better tell him.” She sniffed the air, it almost smelled like something was—“Richard. The dinner!”
He startled, rushing to turn the stove off. He frowned, looking at their charred food. “Take-out?”
“Take-out.”
“You know just because he’s a boy, it doesn’t mean that everything has to be blue, you know.” Richard said, looking over her shoulder. They already had a room set aside for their child when they bought their apartment and were now decorating it. Mary was looking at paint and was looking through some nice shades of blue to paint his room.
“I know, I know. Would you feel better if I put red in the cart as well?” She smirked.
“Yes, in fact, I would.” Richard replied faux haughtily.
They returned Home from the store and Richard painted the baby’s room a mix of blue and red, keeping Mary far away so she didn’t inhale any harmful fumes.
“Chemistry isn’t even your field, Richard. You’re a geneticist and an engineer, not a chemist. How would you know if it would harm me or the baby? You didn’t even read the can.”
“I don’t have to read the can to know that pregnant women shouldn’t be inhaling anything but clean air.”
“…We live in Queens, Richard.” She levelled a flat stare at him.
“Even so.” He stated, sure of himself.
She laughed. “The baby isn’t even born yet and you’re already such an overprotective father.”
“I’m not being overprotective, merely… concerned. And, if he turns out anything like you, he’ll know how to fight anything off himself, miss field agent.”
“And if he’s anything like you, he’ll have the brains to back him up, mister scientist.” They shared a smile, excited to see their son turn into the brilliant man they know he’ll be.
“Mary… what in God’s name are you eating?”
Mary looked up, too tired to even be embarrassed. “Pregnancy cravings.”
“That can’t be good for you.” He looked truly appalled.
“But it tastes good.” She wasn’t whining, she was being perfectly sensible.
Richard sighed. “Okay.”
“Richard?” Mary asked, voice eerily calm.
“Hmm?” He responded, distracted.
“I think my water broke.”