Tony & Peggy
"Smile, honey... Come on, so I can take a picture of my favorite nephew," Peggy urged little Tony. She watched over him, as she had several times before, as the Starks went out to the party.
"But Aunt Peggy, I'm your only nephew," Tony said as he groped the hem of his sweater and frowned a little. Peggy had to smile at him. He was the cuteness itself. She set the camera on the table and walked over to little Anthony. She knelt in front of him to compare his sweater with a reindeer, then smiled and combed the hair that fell to his forehead.
"You know you are, and that's why you're my favorite. But even if you weren't the only one, I'd still like you the most," she told him, and Tony chuckled. " So, will you take a picture for Aunt Peggy by the tree? "
Peggy was very close to Tony. She often looked after him even when he was a little baby, helping Mary with his upbringing, and occasionally, when perhaps arguing with Howard, she took Tony in so the Starks could settle it, and Anthony didn't have to be present. Peggy was actually a bit like Tony's second mother. She had no children herself, so she gave all the care and love to Tony, whom she simply adored. In her opinion - and of course the Starks - he was the cutest little boy in the world.
"Okay, yeah. And you're going to tell me about Captain America again, Auntie?" Tony asked eagerly. He asked about a World War II superhero almost every time he saw Peggy. Sometimes it didn't go without tears, but over time she was able to get over the pain and talk about it with a smile. And Tony loved it. He claimed that when he grew up, he wanted to be like Captain America, and he even wanted his shield for Christmas. And he believed that Santa would bring him one, and if not Santa, then his dad, especially when Peggy once told him that it was his father who had made the shield for Captain America. Then Tony didn't give peace about Cap even to Howard.
"You know I will. But now stand nicely by the tree and smile at me," she urged him and took a few steps back. Tony obeyed her and stood proudly beside the beautiful and richly decorated tree they had decorating with Aunt Peggy all afternoon. Peggy picked up the camera, waited for Tony's smile, and took a picture of him. He was charming. Tony immediately ran to her and wanted to see what he looked like. Peggy sat on the edge of the couch, sat Tony on her lap, and they looked at the photo the little boy was gnashing together.
"What are we going to do now, Aunt Peggy? Will you tell me?" The little impatient. Peggy had to smile. She ruffled Tony's dark hair and kissed him on the cheek.
"What if you danced with me?" She asked teasingly and laughed when she saw Tony's expression. She got up and held him in her arms. Tony grabbed her arms around her neck, but he didn't look too excited. "You know, Captain America even danced? He even promised me a dance," she told him, knowing it would work. Tony immediately expressed his interest. "What if you danced with me instead of Captain America, huh?"
"Captain America must have danced the best of all," Tony nodded emphatically, and Peggy agreed. He'd imagined so many times what it would have been like if Steve had survived then... and would she have lived with him?" She was interested in so many things! Everything would be different.
Peggy and Tony in her arms danced to the radio, which she turned up to hear the Christmas songs they were playing. Tony laughed with a cheerful and clear childish laugh as Peggy began to sway to his rhythm.
"You're my favorite aunt, Peggy!"
"Well, I am better to be when I'm your only aunt!" They both laughed.
Rockin' around the Christmas tree,
let the Christmas spirit ring.
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie,
and we'll do some caroling...
"I miss her too, Cap," Tony told him as he and Steve stood on the balcony, remembering the wonderful woman, Peggy Carter.
"You never told me you knew her," Steve said, looking away into the lighted New York.
"Did I know her? She practically raised me. She paid more attention to me than Howard," Tony sighed.
Steve chuckled and looked at him with a strange gleam in his eye. "You know, if I didn't end up in the ice, you'd probably be my nephew, too," he told him softly.
Tony turned his head on him and stared at him. Although he looked a little scared, he laughed. "Steve, that's probably the scariest thing you've ever told me."
Captain America laughed. "But please. Admit it, you've always wanted it in secret. "
"As a little boy, maybe, but definitely not now. Yeah, that would be really scary," he said as he glanced at Steve, then shook his head. He thrust his elbow into him and then smiled. Rogers looked at him. "If she had you, she would be the happiest person under the sun. And I would be the only kid who would have such a cool uncle."
Steve smiled. "We would be her favorite boys."
Tony nodded and gave the thought to Peggy. "I have no doubt about that."