Chapter 6
Lily and Sage
The gilded script looked up at Stephen with a quiet ‘what were you thinking?’
It was the flowers all over again. Once more, Stephen had not considered Peter’s littleness in selecting a gift. The white box in his hands was filled with artisanal treats; mascarpone puff pastries, rosemary and lemon macarons and rich, dark chocolate eclairs with blood orange cream.
Would it have killed you to stop at Dunkin?
But it was too late now. Stephen was standing in front of Tony’s door; box in his hand and a finger hoovering over the doorbell.
With a long exhale, Stephen hit the button. Chimes went off inside the house.
His stomach dropped at the sound of the locks being undone.
“Hello?” A redheaded woman with an elegantly lean frame answered the door.
“Pepper?” Stephen had no doubt. He had never seen the woman before, but she a very executive assistant air about her. A perfect, detail-oriented, low-bullshit-tolerating sort of air.
Plus, he had heard her voice in Tony’s videos.
“Wait a minute!” Pepper’s pale eyes suddenly went wide, “You’re the boyfriend, aren’t you? Dr. Strangelove?”
“It’s just Dr. Strange,” Stephen sighed, “well, Stephen; you can call me Stephen. Anyway,” he then attempted a friendly smile, “I guess Tony’s told you about me?”
“He told me you went to Columbia and have a taste for the finer things in life, so,” she gestured to the pastry box and Stephen’s sky blue Columbia hoodie, “felt like the odds were in my favor.”
“Right, right,” Stephen nodded, “so, is there a password to get inside? A riddle I have to answer?”
Pepper rolled her eyes as she pushed the door open.
“Come on in, Strangelove. I’ll go put on another pot of coffee.”
“Nah-dah, an’ dah-dee go pah!”
Stephen felt his heart skip and actual at the sound of Peter’s voice.
Is that normal? Does your heart actually skip a beat when it’s excited? I should have been a cardiologist…
The brownstone was flooded with morning light and the air was sweet and savory. Hints of fresh brewed coffee were woven in between. Sumptuous autumnal colors from the trees and shrubs filled all the windows.
But the best part was the sight of Peter at the kitchen table, sitting in the highchair and still dressed in his pajamas from the night before. He was pulling apart large, gooey pieces of French toast and shoving them into this mouth. The infamous tractor sippy cup, full of fresh milk, was waiting on his tray.
Beside him was Tony…looking like an adorable (and slightly hungover) mess.
“Hey,” Stephen smiled at him, “how’s it going?”
“Stee-ben!” Peter decided to answer the question with a high-pitched screech that seemed to shake Tony from his daze. “Dah-dee! Stee-ben! I go!”
“Yeah, I hear you,” Tony quickly moved to unbuckle Peter from his highchair. “Okay baby, calm down – I can’t…”
“Need some help?” Stephen asked, setting the pastry box down on the table.
“Stee-ben!” Stephen’s approach did little to help. The closer he got, the more rambunctious Peter became.
“Peter,” Stephen laughed, “if you wiggle too much, daddy can’t get you out of your seat.”
“Remarkably, he has not learned that lesson yet – ah-hah!” Tony managed to slide the arm restraints down. “Okay, caregiving 101,” Tony nodded to a pack of wet wipes on the table, “if you value that sweatshirt, I would grab some of those and get his hands cleaned off.”
“Good idea,” Stephen grabbed the pack.
Together they worked getting Peter clean and untangled so he could properly meet his guest.
“There, I think he’s finally decontaminated!” Tony said triumphantly as he removed Peter’s bib
“Stee-ben!” Peter launched himself into Stephen’s arms.
“Hey, Peter!” And Stephen reciprocated the gesture. “It’s nice to see you again, too.”
It was the best feeling in the world. Peter’s arms were gripping him with all their strength, his curly dark hair was tickling the crook of Stephen’s neck. Happy hums and coos filled that doctor’s ear.
“How do you like your coffee?” Pepper called from the kitchen.
“He likes with a splash of almond milk with two packs of sugar-in-the-raw,” Tony said flatly before looking at Stephen, “but he’ll have to settle for Splenda; sorry.”
“Splenda’s fine,” Stephen said before calling over his shoulder, “and thank you, Pepper.”
“You’re welcome, Strangelove.”
“So, Lily and Sage,” Tony began with a teasing tone as he pulled the box over to him, “I don’t think I’ve even seen that place without a line around the block. How long did you have to wait for all this?”
“Not bad, maybe forty minutes.”
“’Ookies?” Peter, now aware of the possibility of more sugary delights, broke his hold on Stephen, “Es ‘ookie?”
“Looks like Stephen brought you lots of yummy treats; want to see?”
“Yeah! I see!” Peter toddled over to his caregiver, “See, dah-dee!”
“Okay, let’s look…Ohh,” Tony smiled to Stephen, “look how f-a-a-a-ncy!”
“’Ookie!” Peter grabbed one of the macarons and held it up like a long-sought treasure. His eyes were alight with excitement for his finding.
“Yeah, it’s a French cookie called a macaron,” said Stephen. “Can you say that? Macaron?”
“Mah-cah-ron?” Tony slowly sounded it out.
“Mah-mah-mon!” Peter chirruped.
“Good enough,” Pepper came swooping in with two cups of coffee. “Where are you sitting, Stephen?”
“Oh, here is fine,” he gestured to the seat to his left. Pepper sat down a mug that politely asked, ‘Please Keep The Dumbfuckery To a Minimum Today’. “Oh, darn Pepper; I think you gave me your mug.”
This elicited a barking laugh from the woman.
“No, no, I have this,” she turned her mug to show that it featured a more succinct, ‘Well, Fuck.” “Plus, I like my coffee with hazelnut creamer.”
“Mah-mon,” Peter gurgled once more before shoving the entire macaron into his mouth. His sophisticated palate did not care for the combination of rosemary and lemon. The moment he bit down on the macaron, he was spitting it out. “Yuckie!”
“Peter!” Tony cried in exasperation, “No, baby, we don’t spit.”
“Guessing he didn’t like that one,” Stephen chuckled.
“He still shouldn’t spit it out…”
Peter though was not deterred by the failed first cookie tasting and was once more looking through the box.
“Snail!” He pulled out a croissant, “Dah-Dah! Snail!”
“Yes, I see.”
“Is that what he calls croissants?” Stephen asked as he made himself comfortable in his seat.
“Stee-ben,” Peter wasted no time toddling over and sat himself down right on Stephen’s lap, “snail!”
“Oh; hello there…”
A wave of nervousness crashed over Stephen. His hands, his beautiful surgeon’s hands, suddenly felt so awkward; he had no idea where to place them. But holding Peter around the waist felt like too bold of a gesture. There was an implication of ownership – at least, that was how Stephen felt.
You’re overthinking it. Peter sat on your lap, he’s clearly comfortable with you.
Slowly, Stephen let his arms circle Peter. Wherever his hands landed, they landed.
Peter was wholly unaware of the moral dilemma plaguing the doctor. He continued to take large bits from his croissant and humming some nonsense song to himself.
The three adults chatted idly for some time; superficial topics like local events and the weather made up the bulk of the conversation. Tony encouraged Peter to tell Pepper about his recital, and in turn Peter went on and on about playing with Stephen in the McDonalds.
“Mah-donnah ‘s Stee-ben! ‘N bah-go! I go!”
“Wow, sounds like you all had a crazy night last night,” said Pepper.
“Yeah!”
“Dinner and a show; what could be better?” Stephen smiled.
“Stee-ben,” Peter put his thumb in his mouth and laid his head against Stephen’s. He could hear some whispered conversations between Tony and Peter, most of it centering on how impressed each of them were with Peter’s near instantaneous connection with the new boyfriend.
I’m so lucky. I don’t know why this kiddo likes me so much, but I’m glad he does…
The sweet moment though did not last.
Peter began to shift uncomfortably in Stephen’s lap and making small whimpers behind his thumb. Before Stephen could as if he was okay, he realized that the padded diaper under Peter’s bottom had grown soft.
“Oh no,” Stephen began, “I think Peter might be wet.”
Peter confirmed this by letting out a needy cry.
“Does someone need a change?” Pepper began to stand.
“I can do it,” Tony offered, he too now getting to his feet, “I need to get him dressed for the day anyway.”
“I got him,” Pepper waved a dismissive hand at her boss, “just relax; enjoy your morning.”
“But-”
“Come here, Peter,” Pepper was sweetly cajoling as she helped Peter up from Stephen’s lap. “Awww, sweet pea; let’s get you into a clean diaper and then pick out some fun play clothes, okay?”
Peter nodded and allowed himself to be led away.
This now left Stephen and Tony alone, sitting on the same side of the dining table.
“Well, this all has certainly been…unexpected,” Tony broke the stillness with a nervous smile.
“Yeah…sorry,” Stephen sighed, “I didn’t sleep super great last night and, uh,” he looked up and shyly met Tony’s gaze, “and I couldn’t wait to see you and Peter again.”
“Stephen…”
Tony reached over had placed his hand over Stephen’s. A familiar gesture; it carried so much weight for the two men. Comfort and confidence, love and acceptance. Stephen turned his hand over and clasped it around Tony’s.
“Next time I promise I’ll do better with breakfast,” he then said with a small laugh, “especially now that I know Peter likes ‘snails’.”
“Chocolate snails, specifically.”
“And what does Tony Stark like for breakfast?”
Tony arched an eyebrow.
“Planning to come back tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, the next day and the day after,” said Stephen, “as long as you’ll have me.”
“Personally, I love a cheese Danish; maybe with a little layer of raspberry jam,” Tony looked at Stephen’s adoring expression. His eyes wide and dazzling and matched the blue of his sweater. “God, you really are smitten, aren’t you?”
“I don’t think I realized how bad until I got home,” Stephen let out a heavy sigh. “Lying in that big empty bed, wondering if Peter was sleeping well, if he had a bad dream. And then waking up without you beside me.” He shook his head. “I think my bachelor days are finally over.”
“Now dawns the era of being a step-father…”
“Yeah…wait!” Stephen sat back in his chair, “So, if you’re daddy; what do I get to be?”
“You’re Stee-ben; duh!”
“I guess I am.”
Stephen leaned in, a wordless invitation for Tony to join him for a kiss. Of course, Tony obliged him, pressing his pillowy soft lips into Stephen's. Tasting of fresh coffee and powdered sugar...and just a hint of sour morning breath.
“I love that you know how I like my coffee,” Stephen whispered when they broke.
“I love that you surprised me with breakfast,” Tony smirked.
“It’s almost like, I dunno,” Stephen shrugged, “we’re in love or something.”
“Ew, gross!” Tony laughed.
“Dah-Dee! Stee-ben!” Pepper walking Peter over. He was wearing shortalls over a long-sleeved onesie patterned in trees. “Go play!”
“Someone is in the middle of a very big sugar rush,” Pepper said, coming up behind the boy, “I don’t think he’s ever wiggled and squirmed so much for a diaper change!” She then reached out and tickled Peter around the belly, causing him to roar with laughter.
“Peppah!”
“Hey, Peter,” Stephen got to his feet, “Can you show me your sandbox? I saw it last night and it looked like a lot of fun.”
“Yeah!” Peter toddled over and took Stephen by the hand, “Hol’ on!”
“You know I am.”
He then led Stephen to the backdoor and waited patiently for Tony to open it and let them out.
“Joining us?” Stephen asked Tony as the excited boy tugged him out the door.
“In a moment."
Tony watched as Peter broke into a clumsy run, seeming to just enjoy being outside and feeling the grass under his bare feet. He cried excitedly for Stephen’s attention; attention the normally reserved doctor seemed happy to lavish upon him.
“Cute, charming, and good with Peter? I think you might have a winner.”
“And he’s a doctor,” Tony added with a smirk, “don’t forget that.”
“Oh, I didn’t forget.”
Together they watched as Peter got himself comfortable in the sandbox and Stephen talked to him from the bistro set. Though they could not hear the words, they could hear Peter’s laughter and his happy chirrups of ‘Stee-ben!’.
“I don’t want to jinx it, but,” Tony looked anxiously to his assistant, “I think he might be the one.”