Lucky Thirteen

Tony stood in the doorway of Bruce's office for a moment, just watching him scribble notes on whatever it was he was working on. He hummed every now and then.

"Tell me, professor. Is there anything I can do to get you to change my grade on that last exam?" He finally asked as he took several steps into the room.

He saw the quirk of Bruce's lips which told him the physicist knew it was him, but Bruce kept his head down and eyes fixed on whatever he was working on. "Well, it has been two weeks since I last saw my boyfriend. I might be desperate enough to negotiate something." Bruce looked up at him with a troll-like gleam in his eyes.

Tony smirked and leaned across the desk, palms against the top of it. "In that case…" He kissed Bruce with a teasing sense of promise.

"Hmm," Bruce hummed as they broke apart, keeping his lips lingering close to Tony's for a moment before sitting back and shaking his head. "Nope, sorry. I'm just too crazy about my boyfriend to take any substitutes. Next time, study harder."

Tony grinned, probably a bit madly, at their little game and how easy their banter was as he straightened up only to perch his hip against the desk instead. "It was worth a shot. So this boyfriend of yours…"

"Should have called me to let me know he was coming," Bruce completed the sentence.

"And where's the fun in that?" Tony pouted melodramatically and Bruce gave a small huff of a laugh. "Seriously, though. This morning we were going over the tentative SI schedule for next month and it's such a downer that the only thing that got me through it was promising myself I'd pop in on you for a visit. Want to have dinner tonight?"

Bruce winced. "My daughter's boyfriend is coming over for dinner," he said. "And even though he's been over to dinner several times as Steve's friend, this is the first time since they started dating and I don't know, apparently that makes it a big deal." He shrugged as if at a loss when it came to his teen daughter's mind. "She begged me to make James' favorite dish, which," he looked down at his watch, "I have to leave here soon if I'm going to get to the store and home in time to make it."

"Ouch, guess I should have called," Tony said with a shake of his head.

Bruce looked at him with an expression that seemed just as sorry before turning thoughtful. "Well, Steve's going to be working and Thor has a class at the Y! tonight…" He held up his finger then and pulled out his phone.

"You know, all SI employees get free Starkphones and Starkpads for themselves and their families as an incentive. That and because we make a million of them and it looks good for employees and their families to promote the brand," Tony explained quickly as Bruce held the phone up to his ear and looked at him.

"Read about it in the packet," Bruce said evenly. "Needless to say, the kids are looking forward to that particular perk," he added with a chuckle. "Hey, Red. Having a meltdown yet?" Bruce asked with amusement and given the nickname Tony guessed it was Natasha he had called. "What do you mean Peter…?" He paused and then sighed. "Look, no, threatening him isn't the appropriate response to that." Bruce rolled his eyes and Tony barked out a laugh before slapping a hand over his mouth, feeling a little comical as he did. Bruce scrunched his face in amusement, looking at him. "What? Yes, somebody's here with me. Look, I promise you Peter will not go anywhere near the blackmail box."

"Blackmail box?" Tony mouthed in confusion and Bruce held up another finger to let him know he would explain.

"I swear I will lock it in my room as soon as I get home. You know what, let's compromise. You promise to calm down and stop threatening your brothers and sisters and I'll trust you to go get the blackmail box and lock it in your room. Deal?" There was a long silence and Tony honestly couldn't wait to hear more about this mysterious box. "Alright. Look, Tasha, Tony is here. Came down for a visit. Do you mind if he has dinner with us… If he wants?" Bruce looked at him with a raised eyebrow in offer. Tony nodded. "No, we won't be gross in front of James," Bruce promised with a laugh and shake of his head. "Okay, well, I'll see you and the others in a little bit. Love you. Tell the others. Bye." Bruce set down his phone. "Well, that's reassuring. She said yes which means she trusts you."

"That's very reassuring since I kind of got the impression she could easily kill me if she wanted."

"Aha, yeah. That's my little princess," Bruce deadpanned. "My very confusing little princess. Tonight should be a blast."

"Yes, well don't worry. Dad's boyfriend will be on his best behavior and not embarrass her," he joked and Bruce laughed. "Kids already out of school?" He asked curiously, looking at his own watch.

"Last day was last Thursday," he said as he stood up and began gathering up his papers.

"Huh. My kids don't get out until this Friday. But S.H.I.E.L.D. runs the same as the New York public school system and doesn't start until Labor Day."

"That will be immensely helpful for when we move," Bruce said conversationally as he bustled about putting things into his brown messenger bag. "Less of a time crunch to get them into a school before the year starts back up."

"Right," Tony agreed. "So, blackmail box?"

Bruce snorted. "Yeah, it's one of my weirder parenting strategies," he said. "Essentially, it's a collection of embarrassing things of each of us. It's both a trust exercise and my way of making sure my kids aren't hoarding embarrassing things about one another for blackmail purposes. All embarrassing photos, old school projects, that sort of thing are collected in a tub for safekeeping and as a reminder that we all have things that are embarrassing. And if need be, it's used as a consequence when appropriate."

"Takes the power out of blackmailing your sibling when dad can punish you with your own embarrassing past, am I right?" Tony guessed.

"Pretty much," he replied. "I would never be cruel about it, but there have been a few times we've had to break it out." He sighed then. "Well, sorry it's not going to be the hot date you were probably hoping for. You know you really don't have to stay if you don't want to," Bruce said.

"I haven't seen you for two weeks, Bruce," Tony replied to that, and he couldn't help but wonder a little when it had started to get to the point that a mere two weeks was an eternity. "Even grocery shopping with you is good enough for me right now," he said genuinely.

"Oh, I managed to get next Thursday off," Bruce said to Tony as he picked through the zucchini looking for one that would work for the dish. "Was going to call you about it actually. And talk to the kids tonight or tomorrow."

"That's good," Tony said, "because I already had the yacht prepared."

Tony was referring to an idea they had bounced around, once Tony had brought it up, about taking Tony's yacht out for the July Fourth fireworks and having a big, combined birthday celebration for Skye and Steve since their birthdays were only two days apart.

"A yacht. Can't get over that concept." Bruce shook his head. "I think Steve will be on board for it, but I can't always tell with him."

"It would probably be easier if he could actually invite some of his friends," Tony pointed out. "Skye will have some of her friends there so it wouldn't seem very fair otherwise."

"I know," Bruce said and then bit the inside of his cheek. "I was thinking about asking if James could tag along, but I don't know if his parents would be okay with him coming along for four days. I'd have to ask them. I—"

"Hey, you." He was interrupted by Betty's voice and they both turned to see her coming toward them. Leo was perched on the back of the cart as she pushed. "I… Oh my god, I can finally meet him," she derailed enthusiastically as her eyes settled on Tony.

"Tony," Bruce started the introductions, "this is my best friend Dr. Betty Ross. And her son, Leo. Betty, this is Tony Stark. Though clearly you don't need an introduction," he said with a small smirk.

"Hello, Dr. Ross," Tony said with a wide, friendly smile as he extended his hand out to her. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Bruce couldn't help but smile a little as well at them finally meeting and he could tell by Tony's tone that he meant it; he'd heard his fake tone a lot at his birthday gala.

"That goes double for me," Betty said in response with her own warm smile.

"And, hello there, Leo," Tony then said moving his attention to the boy.

"Is it true you're dating Jemma's dad?" Leo asked precociously. "Because she said you are, but you're Tony Stark." He tilted his head incredulously.

Tony's eyebrows shot up. "Yes, I am Tony Stark. And according to that magazine," Tony looked over at the front of Betty's cart and Bruce followed his gaze in surprise, "I am indeed dating Jemma's dad."

"Are you going to take Jemma away?" Leo asked with a pout then.

"Oh, so that's it," Tony said knowingly and looked back and forth between Bruce and Betty.

"Leo, we've been through this," Betty said gently. "Jemma is moving. That doesn't have anything to do with Mr. Stark. She would have moved anyway." Then she looked at Tony apologetically. "Sorry, he's going to miss Jemma a lot."

Then, being the somewhat impulsive man that Bruce had come to learn he was, Tony said, "If you're not busy next Saturday, we're having a yacht party for my daughter and Steve and watching the Macy's fireworks show. At least that's the tentative plan. The more the merrier."

Betty blinked several times and Bruce had to admit it probably mirrored his own expression. "Wow, I'd… I'd have to talk to my husband. Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I'm sure Leo here would have a blast. And I wouldn't mind getting to know Bruce's friends better," Tony said breezily. "May I?" He pointed to the magazine and Betty nodded.

"I'll tell you more once we iron out the details," Bruce hedged for the time being.

Tony had already told him to extend the invitation to his cousin Jennifer as well since she'd called in absolute disbelief over seeing him with Tony on a magazine cover. It felt like little by little his world was starting to meld with Tony's and it was strangely thrilling. It made it feel more like a normal relationship and not like he'd been swept into a magical world where his old life couldn't follow.

He looked over at Tony as he still skimmed the magazine. "So, what are they saying this time?" It was weird that he was getting used to that type of dialogue.

"Looks like they finally got wind of the fact that we've got thirteen kids between us," Tony answered with a grimace and held up the cover for him to see it.

The cover had a photo of them from the gala and thirteen black squares around them with the tacky headline Unlucky 13? Tony closed it, pulled out his Starkphone and snapped a photo before handing the magazine back to Betty.

"I'm going to send this to PR just to make sure they're aware that it's public knowledge now. They probably do, but still." He sighed. "Sorry, Bruce."

Bruce also sighed. "It's okay. We always knew it was inevitable. I knew. Doesn't change anything."

Betty smiled softly. "I'm sure you two can handle it, but best of luck. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Stark. And thank you for the invitation," she said before bowing out gracefully.

After that, Bruce hurried with the rest of his shopping not having expected the delay. When they made it to the check out there was another magazine with his and Tony's faces on it. He was getting used to the dialogue, sure, but he wondered if he would ever get used to seeing his face everywhere. He shook his head and focused his attention on Tony instead, the real one of course and not the picture.

"So, I was wondering if I could go ahead and finalize everything for my employment at SI next Thursday," Bruce started. "I mean, if it's too early, I understand. But I just know I won't be able to until after the end of July. In fact, probably won't have time to do much of anything next month what with the second half of the interim and packing for when we do move," he explained.

"I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem," Tony replied. "In fact, I was thinking about going ahead and getting you and yours set up with your phones and tablets next weekend. I know you might protest when it comes to Peter and Jemma and ultimately that's your call, but I can kidlock them like Harley's. Until he's 10, he can only use it to make emergency calls or calls to the contacts I preset for him. And he can use it for the camera and mp3s and whatnot. But no apps without my permission," Tony rambled and Bruce decided they could discuss it later. He might not mind letting Peter have one since he already swiped his phone to take a million pictures anyway, but he wasn't sold on letting Jemma have one.

"Eager are we?" Bruce asked in amusement, keeping his other thoughts to himself. "Or do our budget phones offend you?" He raised a playful eyebrow.

"If I say yes?" Tony asked earnestly and Bruce laughed. "But it's maybe a little bit of both. Also, you're not the only one that'll be busy next month so finalizing everything next week makes sense to me. Speaking of, if I don't pop in on you at random like this, you'll know why."

"Yeah? Is Pepper actually putting you to work?" He asked, marveling at how easy that question came having only spoken with the COO twice, once at the gala and another time over the phone. But Tony did complain enough via text about Pepper nagging him about something or another.

Tony laughed. "Yeah, I've got to head to Japan for a week to meet with one of our subsidiaries. And then when I get back I have to do my annual goodwill check in on all of my major factories. Inspire morale and whatnot." He sighed. "Then I've got some press things in between there somewhere. They'll probably ask all about you so we'll have to go over what's okay and not okay for me to say. I'll have PR cc you the questions when they send them to me."

Bruce could only nod, feeling a little overwhelmed for Tony's sake. And maybe a little bit for himself.

Skye tried to sit as still as possible as Steve painted her portrait. Her dad had bought him an art easel and paints for his birthday and hadn't been able to wait to give them to him so they had exchanged gifts the night before instead of doing presents on the yacht. Steve's dad had gotten her a charm bracelet and let each of his kids pick out a charm for it which Skye thought was incredibly sentimental and it made her hopeful for this insane thing their dads had started.

"You're okay with this, right?" Skye asked as she looked down at the bracelet thoughtfully.

"With…?" Steve prompted without stopping what he was doing.

"I don't know. With sharing our birthday party for one, I guess," she started haphazardly. She had really meant with their dads, but decided maybe that was a silly question in the grand scheme of things.

She saw one shoulder shrug from the portion of him she could see beyond the easel. "It's not really a big deal. I mean, it's weird enough sharing my birthday with America," he said jokingly and she laughed. She couldn't imagine that since she'd always found it weird enough having a birthday two days before. "And, you know, I've never gotten to celebrate on a yacht so that's pretty cool. Excessive, but cool."

She snorted. "Yeah, 'excessive, but cool' is like the Stark tagline. But I'm glad you're okay with it. And that your friend Bucky could come along. He seems pretty neat."

"He is," Steve replied. "Well, when he's not with Natasha."

"Are you jealous?" She blurted out before she could stop herself.

"Uh, maybe a little. Not like… I don't know." He paused and then sighed. "Not like as in I want to date him myself or anything. It's just we were really close and then one day he's into my little sister which is weird enough in itself. Not that Tasha's not great, but… We're just not as close as we used to be because half of his time goes to her now. It's that kind of jealousy I guess."

Skye considered it for a moment. "Well, what if it was the other way around and you had someone and he didn't? He might feel the same. Or if you both had someone you might feel differently."

Steve nodded. "Yeah, I know. Which is why I hate that I'm jealous," he said. "Like right now. It bugs me that my dad and your dad let them go out to dinner with them, Aunt Betty and Uncle Leonard. I don't know why it does, it just does."

Skye pursed her lips, not sure what to say to that. She thought it was sweet that Dr. Banner had wanted to give his daughter a chance to have a fancy date with her boyfriend at a fancy restaurant while she had the chance. She thought it was sweet that her dad had agreed, especially since one of these days she might be in the same position and want the same treatment Natasha was getting.

Suddenly a thought occurred to her. "Maybe you're jealous that you don't have anyone to have that kind of thing with," she suggested. "Like maybe it's the concept you're jealous of. Do you like somebody?"

Steve still his hand and his face went slightly red. "I, uh… Well, there's… There is this girl back home," he stammered. Then he jumped off of his stool and grabbed his sketchpad from behind him. He brought it over to her and to her surprise let her look. The last time he'd been there he'd kept it as close to his chest as possible whenever he was sketching. "Her name's Peggy. She's on the second page and a few others," he admitted sheepishly as he walked back over to the easel. "Oh, and I'm really just about finished so you can move," he added.

"She seems really pretty," Skye said as she looked over the sketches, some in color pencil that showed off the girl's auburn hair and bright red lips. She almost looked like a glamour girl from the forties, Skye mused. "So what's the deal with her? Just friends or what?"

"I don't know. I'm just not good with the feelings thing I guess," he answered. "I like her a lot, but I guess maybe not enough to do anything about it? Or maybe I'm just scared she'll freak out and it'll ruin our friendship." He sighed. "Guess it doesn't matter much now since we're moving to New York. And she's been hanging out with this new group a lot this year so we haven't even been that close lately anyway." He shrugged.

"Can I look at some more of your sketches?" Skye asked rather than commenting on his story. She really wasn't in much of a position to give him any advice.

"Sure," he said.

She began flipping through the pages and found sketches of random objects, his family, a lot of a dog she guessed was theirs, and even fan art which totally surprised her. "You're really, really good," she said impressed. "And you draw fan art? You don't even know how much I want to commission you right now. Wait, are you on Deviantart?"

"Uh… Maybe," he answered hesitantly.

"That's awesome," she said. She wouldn't prod him for his username since she knew well enough how sacred privacy could be. If he wanted to share, he would.

"Hey, how's it coming?" Sam said, coming into the room at that moment. He leaned over the armchair Skye was in and tilted his head looking at the page of sketches she was on which happened to be sketches of Tony and Bruce together. There were some in a realistic style and then some in a more fun, cartoony style. "Damn," Sam said and then moved to stand beside Steve. "Damn."

"Thanks," Steve said with a smile.

"That's a nice touch," Sam said, pointing at something on the painting. "He's making you look even prettier than usual, Skye," he said with a nod in her direction.

"Well, that's good to hear," Skye said, though she hadn't had any doubt. She looked back down at the sketchbook and flipped to the next page. Her eyes widened and she looked back up again.

"Seriously, man. This kind of talent would be wasted in the army," Sam said to Steve.

Steve smiled sheepishly, but then shrugged humbly. "Yeah, well, art's pretty competitive. Talent like mine is a dime a dozen. It's not always enough. I don't know if I want to go to art school and then end up with nothing to show for it like a lot of other very talented people."

"I guess I can understand that. Well, hey, when you're done I was wondering if you wanted to go a few rounds in the ring?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," Steve answered as Skye flipped to the next page of the sketchbook to see more of the same as the page before. "This won't be much longer. Just a few finishing touches."

"Cool. I'm heading there now. Clint thinks he can out bench Thor," Sam said with an incredulous laugh as he walked away.

"Not a chance," Steve called after him. When they were alone again Skye looked at Steve long and hard and with a wide smile. "What?" He asked when he noticed her.

"You like him," she said knowingly.

His face colored, but he shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about you. liking. him." Skye held up the sketchbook and his face reddened further.

"Oh, that? I… You'll all end up in there eventually if we know each other long enough." He attempted to shrug it off, but she wasn't having it.

"Sure, only we're not yet and he already is. And you only met him once, but these sketches are scary good," she pointed out.

"Look, I… I don't know if that's what this is," Steve said with a sigh. He stood up from the stool and started studying the painting from different angles. "I like him. He's cool. But I don't know if it's that. So you really don't have to worry."

Skye's eyebrows shot up and she carefully closed the sketchbook. "Why would I worry?"

Steve's brow furrowed and he looked at her with a cocked head and his blue eyes more piercing than usual. "Don't you like him? I got the impression that you and him are… Maybe a thing or want to be," he said.

Skye couldn't hold back the bark of laughter at the conclusion he'd drawn. "No, definitely not. At least, not on my end. If he's not like my brother then he's at least like my cousin. I've known him forever. I've never once thought about him that way. And… I'm fairly certain he's never thought of me that way. I'm not sure he's thought of anyone that way. He's never dated anyone that I know of. I think there might have been this Riley boy he was interested in a few years ago, but he was a military brat and moved."

"It's finished. Just needs to dry," Steve said casually, but then looked at her uncertainly. "So, really? You just seemed close."

She shrugged as she got up and came over to look at the finished product. "We are. He's chill. We just get along. Doesn’t mean I want to date him. And I hope he doesn't want to date me, honestly. Because I don't think I could deal with that." She looked at the painting then and her eyes widened. "This is amazing."

"I'm glad you like it," Steve said as he put away his supplies.

"I do. The daisy is a nice touch."

"That's what Sam thought."

Skye smirked crookedly. "Maybe you should paint Sam next," she nudged him and he turned red again. That was enough to convince her that that was exactly what this was.

"Say cheese," Steve said with a wide smile of his own as he held up his new Starkphone to take a picture of Jemma and Leo.

"Cheese!" they exclaimed in unison and he snapped the photo. "Let's see!" Jemma cheered and Steve showed it to them.

"Send it to me," Betty urged with a smile and he nodded. She then ushered the two kids away and he was left alone to navigate the party again.

It wasn't that he wasn't having fun. He really was. It was just that it was a lot of extravagance at once to adjust to. The Stark mansion had been mind blowing enough. Getting free Starkphones and Starkpads? That was super cool. The birthday gift from the Starks was one of the best he'd gotten and he knew it made his dad happy that he could finally have some more professional-grade art supplies.

But a party on a decked out yacht with the invitation extended to his best friend without so much as batting an eye?

He was starting to understand those characters in movies and books that got so overwhelmed by being thrust into high society or the spotlight that they wished for things to go back to being simple. Before he'd thought they were ungrateful. Now he understood it could throw anyone for a loop if they weren't born into it.

"Hello, my boy." Steve's thoughts were interrupted by a friendly and somewhat familiar voice. He turned to see Dr. Erskine, whom his dad had invited no doubt. "It has been a very long time."

Steve smiled and held out his hand to shake the aging gentleman's. "It has. I was… six? …seven? …the last time I got a check-up I think."

"And look at you now," Dr. Erskine said proudly as he gestured to him. "Am I a miracle worker or am I a miracle worker?"

"You are." Steve nodded. He only vaguely remembered being a sickly child, and he knew there was a time he couldn't recall when he was even more sickly, but he knew it was because of Dr. Erskine's medical care that he wasn't sickly today.

"Ah, but it is not all my doing," the elderly man recanted. "It was also your father's dedication to seeing you get better." Steve smiled fondly. He wouldn't contest that point. "But it was also you."

"Me?" Steve furrowed his brow.

"You're a fighter. I could tell right away when I delivered you that you were special. I'm proud that you were my first patient," he said in reference to his patented breakthrough drug. "It doesn't work for everyone. I wish it could, but I'm glad it worked for you."

Steve nodded somberly. "I'll try not to waste the opportunity you've given me, Dr. Erskine."

It was why, in spite of how strange everything had become in the past two months, or those times he wished things could go back to the way they were, he would support his dad and adapt. He would return the care that his dad and Dr. Erskine had given him.

"I have no worries about that, my boy. I'm certain you won't. Happy birthday," he said with a warm smile and a pat on his back before moving on. Steve watched him go before turning to look back at the water with a small sigh. He hoped Dr. Erskine was right.

"Hey, birthday punk." Steve's thoughts were interrupted again, this time by Bucky. "Don't tell me you're here moping by yourself when you're literally having a birthday on a yacht. Come on, man."

Steve laughed and shook his head. "Technically it's not just my birthday we're celebrating." He pointed at his friend. "There's also Skye."

"Yeah, so?" Bucky said with a broad shrug. "I'm pretty sure the yacht is big enough for you both. And all I'm hearing is double the party. Seriously, Steve. What's up?"

"Nothing…" He started, but Bucky looked at him dubiously. "It's just… Don't you think all of this is a lot just for a birthday? Even if it's technically two birthdays?"

"Oh don't tell me you're going to do the poor snob thing," Bucky said with a small grimace. "Because I will gladly volunteer to play prince and the pauper with you and take your place."

"Very funny, Buck. One, my family isn't poor. We get by fine enough. We're better off than a lot of people. Two, it's just a major adjustment. Is that a crime?"

"No, it's not." Bucky's face softened. "Look, you know I'm just giving you a hard time. And you know I'm going to miss your sorry ass when you move. But that's the thing, Steve. You're moving soon so you and I should be partying hard together while we can."

"Right, right," he started sarcastically, but then sighed. "Yeah, I know you're right," Steve said in concession. "I think Clint said he brought their laser tag so how about we go see if the others are interested in that?"

"Sounds great. I'll go get Natasha. Kind of left her to get her a drink," Bucky said with a guilty wince before hurrying off. Steve snorted softly and shook his head before going to find the others.

"Hey, almost birthday twin," Skye said snappily when he nearly ran into her below deck.

"Hey," he said with a nod of his head. "Was just looking for you. Or well somebody. Bucky and I were talking about the laser tag."

"Yeah!" Skye exclaimed in agreement to the idea. "Yeah, we should get a game going. I just left Clint with Thor and Loki. I'll go round them up and the equipment and meet you above deck in like five?"

"Sounds good," he said with a nod. "I'll go tell Bucky and Natasha."

"Okay. Oh and if you see Sam, let him know too," she said with a wink.

"Alright, Skye," he said with an exasperated huff as he went back in the direction he'd came in order to find his friend and sister and maybe Sam.

He didn't find Sam, but he did find Bucky and Natasha making out against the railing. He rolled his eyes. He'd literally only just left his friend and already he'd been distracted? It was infuriating and he knew he was being ridiculous about it which only made it more infuriating.

"My dad calls it two seals fighting over a grape," Sam said, startling him.

Steve turned to see the boy standing beside him where he hadn't been before. He then looked back at Bucky and Natasha, feeling a little flustered that he'd been caught watching them, before turning around completely.

"Uh, yeah. It's, it's a little weird."

"I can imagine," Sam said with a snort and shake of his head. "I mean your best friend and your little sister? It would be like if I started dating Skye." Sam visibly shuddered and Steve cocked his head studiously even as his stomach flipped.

"Oh, uh, yeah? Yeah, I guess that would be weird. Unless you really liked her," he said it as casually as he could manage.

"True. Not that I do, but I get the point," Sam said, finally turning as well. "I mean your friend and sister seem happy together," he offered.

Steve looked back over his shoulder and shrugged. "I guess they are. Must be nice," he finally admitted.

"Maybe, maybe not," Sam said and Steve looked at him curiously. "They're going to be split up here soon. That's not so nice. And your friend, well, he's losing you and his girlfriend in one go," Sam pointed out. "That's pretty harsh."

Steve scrunched his face as he considered it. "You know, I've never really thought about it that way before. Honestly, I've been a little miffed at how things haven't been quite the same between us—"

"The jealous bro thing?" Sam asked in amusement.

Steve smiled in spite of the fact it was a pathetic admission of his character. "Yeah, pretty much. But I didn't think about how things are definitely not going to be the same for him soon. I must be a horrible friend." Steve shook his head.

"I don't know if I'd say horrible," Sam countered. "Selfish maybe," he said with a smirk.

"Thanks," Steve replied.

"Nah, it's normal. No need to beat yourself up about it." Sam paused. "I'm sure you're a great friend. I mean, this is our second weekend hanging out and I'm already very sure you're a great guy." Steve's brow rose at that. "You know, uh, to be friends with. I mean, sure, in general too. Of course I meant in general. And I mean, what does your friend got that you haven't got, huh? Uh, not… Wow, not that I meant that in regards to your sister." Sam shook his head quickly, eyes slightly wide as if begging for someone to come along and shut his mouth for him. Steve knew that feeling all too well.

Steve ignored the way his palms grew clammy and placed one hand on Sam's shoulder reassuringly. "I get what you mean and thank you."

"Good, that's good," Sam said in obvious relief before meeting his gaze. "I—"

"Hey!" Skye yelled and they both looked up at the same time to see her standing on the main deck, leaning over the railing. "Are you guys going to come play or not?"

Steve and Sam looked at each other and Steve quickly removed his hand. "Laser tag," he explained.

"Hell yeah, I wanna play," Sam responded enthusiastically and his smile was infectious. He then turned and looked at Bucky and Natasha. "Hey, seals. If you're ready to come up for air, laser tag on the main deck."

Steve couldn't fight the smile that threatened to split open his own face.

The fireworks lit up the night sky and reflected in the water in brilliant colors, but the sap in Tony thought they look best reflected in Bruce's eyes as they stood with arms entwined around each other while they watched. There was music blasting in accompaniment around the yacht and plenty of 'oohs' and 'ahhs' especially from Jemma and Leo, but he and Bruce were lost in quiet conversation that juxtaposed with the soundtrack around them.

"I think Steve really enjoyed himself," Bruce said. "Thank you. I've been a little worried about him lately."

"I hope he did," Tony said. "He deserves it I'm sure. And it seems like the kids were getting along even better this time than last. I think there were even exchanged phone numbers," he said with a soft laugh.

Bruce didn't reply and the silence stretched on between them for a few long moments.

"You okay?" He asked, suddenly nervous. A million different scenarios played through his mind, most of them horrible, as he wondered what about his statement could have made Bruce shut down. "Is it… too much? Are you breaking up with me?"

That startled Bruce from wherever inside his head he'd been and he turned and looked at him with wide eyes.

"Yes, it's too much," he said and Tony felt his heart rate pick up. "You're too much. God, I probably sound so juvenile. But I've never felt this before," he said with a sigh and Tony felt the fear in his stomach start to uncoil a little as it became clear he'd misread the silence. "I keep thinking about the next month and I hate it. I hate thinking about the distance. I know it's only temporary and there are couples and families that have it worse. I was thinking about how Sam must feel being separated from his father all the time and telling myself I'm being ridiculous. I… I feel ridiculous. It's just a month."

"Is it just a month?" Tony asked suddenly, feeling his chest grow warm with a deeper emotion he'd long forgotten in this context. "Because I think… I think maybe it's not about the time so much as it's about what's really happening here."

"That's crazy, Tony," Bruce countered, obviously guessing his meaning. "Sure, everything about this relationship has been crazy so far, but that… We can't really…" He sighed and shook his head. He kept it down as he said, "But it's no use. I keep telling myself it can't be that already, but it doesn't change it." Bruce looked up then and met Tony's eyes. "You might just be one of the best things to ever happen to me and it scares me a little. It scares me how much I already hate the idea of being away from you. This," he gestured all around, "this is too perfect. And other than my kids, good things don't last for me. I start to settle down and then the rug is pulled out from under my feet. The military job, Culver…" He sighed. "And it hurts my kids in the process. That scares me."

"There's no rug this time, Bruce," Tony said gently and gave him a soft smile. "And it's not just you. I mean, I couldn't even go two weeks without needing to see you," he reminded him. "I don't know how the hell I'm going to handle a month. If there's anything I've learned about you it's that you have way more fortitude than I do."

Tony sighed and looked back at the fireworks. Bruce followed suit and there was silence between them for several minutes as if they didn't know where to go from there, or maybe they did know and like Bruce had said they were both scared. Tony didn't want there to be a rug, but it was always a possibility.

Suddenly Jemma went running past them excitedly, Leo on her heels, and Tony watched them scurry toward another spot on deck to watch from. He saw Bruce's smile as he watched his daughter and he felt his chest tighten. Tony then looked around the deck and finally paid attention to the sights and sounds of their children all around, at least the ones on the same deck. He saw Peter taking photos with his Starkpad. He saw that someone, likely Skye he thought with a chuckle, had apparently started a group of them dancing to the pop anthem playing in accompaniment to the fireworks rather than watching the fireworks themselves. He saw Natasha sitting curled up against her boyfriend on one of the deck lounges.

As he took it all in and then looked back at Bruce to see him watching the fireworks again with a content smile on his face Tony realized with sudden clarity that all of his pain had led to this moment of overwhelming happiness and it felt like just the beginning. Damn the rug, he decided.

"I’m falling in love," he breathed out and Bruce looked at him suddenly, questioningly. "With this," Tony elaborated, nodding gently to the scene behind him. Bruce followed his gaze and Tony saw the clarity settle in his eyes as well. "I'm falling in love with this, Bruce. I'm… I'm falling in love with you. Maybe I already am. But I don't want this to end."

Bruce's eyes lit up on their own without any need for the fireworks in the sky above them and he smiled. "I don't want it to end either," he said in a vulnerable whisper.

When their lips met Tony knew there would have been fireworks no matter what day it was.