AFTERWARDS

AFTERWORDS

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tony paces back and forth, as another scream ripples through the house, he winces and looks up worriedly, before he sits down bouncing his leg. Peter places a hand on his dancing leg consoling him.

Tony tries to smile at the boy but it comes out more like a grimace. “It’s going to be ok Dad, I promise.” Peter says.

“Yeah Daddy," she say’s in between a yawn, Petey’s right.” Morgan lays her head on her uncle’s shoulder, although he’s fairly certain the little girl has no clue what’s happening right now.

Tony sits up straighter, “what would I do without you guys.”

Rhodey smiles.

“Crash and burn I’d say,” Happy replies in a monotonous voice, Peter and Rhodey both stifle their laughter. Tony shakes his head at their antics, Before he looks across the room noticing that Sam and Bucky are watching the interaction.

He’s surprised when Bucky gives him a reassuring smile. “Are you- are you hoping for a boy or a girl?” He asks hesitantly, shyly.

Tony blows out air in thought, “Nah, he says, no I don’t care not really, I already have these two rascals.” He throws a thumb in Peter and Morgan’s direction.

“Hey!” Peter says laughing a little, his sister is knocked out cold.

Happy laughs, “Oh yeah? Try living with him all the time” He nudges Peter playfully no real heat to his words.

Peter gasps in mock offense “Uncle Happy!” He throws a hand over his chest dramatically. Bucky frowns in confusion.

Sam asks first, reading Bucky’s thoughts. “You mean he doesn’t live with you?” He gestures to Tony.

“No.” Peter speaks up. “I live with my Aunt May, I always have, I-I didn’t wanna leave her yet and after Uncle Ben.” the boy trails off sadly, Happy lays a hand on his shoulder, “But now that I can drive and I have a car, I can travel back and forth.”

Tony’s smiles at him, “That’s right Kiddo.” He ruffles the boy’s hair, Peter giggles and swats at the older man’s hand, Tony smiles fondly at the boy.

The mood however suddenly shifts as Steve walks back in from talking on the phone, “Alright!” he says shutting his burner phone with a click, I just got off with the rest of the team, I told them the news we’re all set to move back in on Thursday next week.”

He plops down next to Bucky who shifts so their shoulders don’t collide, sitting up straighter, it’s like any of the man’s talking confidence he had faded, and the former assassin goes back to being quiet.

Steve looks around the room, humming like nothing before now had happened at all, is this what he does? Tony wonders noticing how uncomfortable Bucky seems now, they might be best friends but Bucky seems upset with the blonde at the moment probably because of his behavior.

 The Captain’s eyes settle on Peter looking the boy up and down, accessing, “So, son.” he starts, Peter narrows his eyes, “What’s your name and how old are you.” He asks.

The air around the room is cold now, and nothing else is said for a long moment, thank the stars Morgan’s asleep now, Peter finally replies after staring the captain down with an icy gaze, “I am not your son, you do not get to call me that.”

The Captain tisks and shakes his head with a chuckle, thinking it a joke. “Youth these days, no manners, right Buck.” He says, shoving his shoulder into the other man’s in a joking manner. Bucky simply nods, not fully agreeing with Cap’s statement, while looking down at the floor.

The Captain sighs, seeming to notice the change in the air. The man is about to say something when Natasha shows up. A little bloody but not to much with a big happy smile on her face, one of the first times Tony’s ever really seen her like that.

Tony briefly notices the way Bucky smiles when he sees her smiling, he adjusts his posture and fixes his hair almost as if he wants to impress the woman.

They all stand up, she goes over and takes Tony’s hands in hers, “Congratulations Tony! she gives a laugh, after a minute she says, it’s a girl.”

Tony smiles to himself he looks over to see Rhodey tearing up, trying hard not to wake the sleeping girl and Happy pats Peter on the back in shared joy.

“Another girl, yes!” Peter says with a warm amount of happiness, fist pumping the air in excitement.

Tony breathes out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “And how’s Pep, How’s my wife?” He says suddenly the quiet worries in the back of his mind return.

 “Resting, she’ll be alright, it was a hard birth for her though, May said something about her having a slightly tilted pelvis, because of the last birth.”

Tony sighs, “Yeah that’s what the Doctor said about after Morgan.” He states calmly, Natasha nods in understanding.

Peter frowns, “But she’s ok right?” The boy said clearly worried for his mother, Natasha turns to him for the first time addressing him in a soothing way with a smile, “Yeah, as a matter of fact, she wants to see you and Tony.”

The boy doesn’t spare a second, rushing to the back rooms. Tony thanks Natasha and receives a clap on the back from Happy and a quiet Congratulations from Bucky as he follows suit, Steve remains seated but they make eye contact as he goes by, it looks like the Captain wants to say something but he doesn’t, he holds his tongue.

Tony looks at his son before he turns the knob to the spare bedroom, May is leaning over the bed, her long beautiful hair pulled back into a careless bun with a towel tucked into the front of her shirt, she leans in slightly farther as she smiles down at Pepper affectionately, both women tearing up as Pepper holds her new baby close to her heart. May laughs giddy with joy and wipes at the tears on her face with her elbow.

“Hey,” Pepper says exhaustion clear in her tone when she notices them in the room, come meet the newest member of our family.” She holds the blanket down a little so Peter and Tony can see.

Peter starts tearing up too like the day he found out he had a five year old sister, he turns away to hide his tears and laughs, his parents smile at him.

“Pep.” Tony says, “You outdid yourself-she’s gorgeous.” He lays a hand on Pepper’s hair and bends down to kiss her forehead.

“What’s her name, Mom?” They both look at her with anticipation.

“That’s the thing I have a surprise for you both.” They look at each other and May grins like a proud Mom herself as the two women exchange looks.

“Tell them Peppy.” May says before she sniffles from crying.

They look back at Pepper waiting to hear her answer with bated breath. “Meet, she pauses for dramatic effect.

"Maria May Stark.”

Tony clamps a hand over his mouth, Peter expresses joy hugging his aunt immediately and jumping up and down with her.

“Pep are you serious?” He caves over, sitting in the side chair slowly “Oh my God.” He says, “It’s perfect honey, Thank You, Thank You!” His mother would’ve loved that.

Everyone fights over looking at her first, Happy has been telling his wife that she did a good job even after, telling her what a good nurse she is.

When the excitement dies down a little Natasha comes up to Tony, they smile at each other. “Well,” she says, “Now that that’s all over...” they share a small laugh, “We’re pretty tired so we’re about to head out.” She says calmly.

    Tony shoves his hands in his pockets and nods. “Ok.” He says simply,

“It really was good to see you, and not on a battlefield, domestic stuff suits you.” She hugs him.

“Later Nat- and thanks for everything with the baby,” she turns walking backwards to look at him again, “Yeah well that May lady handled it like a boss, really it was all her.” She smiles and waves turning to leave. Sam walks up as she goes by him and the two smile at each as they pass by.

“Hey man, congratulations, I’m happy for you!” He sticks out his hand for Tony to shake, Tony doesn’t know this man very well but he appreciates that he came up to congratulate him, the billionaire sets his hand in Sam’s.

 “Thanks.” Sam let’s go and turns to leave as well but stops for a moment, “Hey uh, Cap wanted to talk with you before we go,” he trails off for a moment, “He’s sitting out front on your porch.”

Tony rubs the side of his forehead with a sigh and stares after him as he goes, ‘Oh Great’ he thinks to himself.