Finding family

Tony sighed sadly when he woke up the next morning with Merlin curled against his arm. He decided to get up but let the boy sleep as long as he needed while he made breakfast. 

As he turned on the coffee machine he thought about Stephen again. If he knew his best friend correctly then the man hadn't slept during the night but was even more obsessed with fixing his hands, if only not to disappoint his son. 

They couldn't visit him today. Maybe not even tomorrow, Tony knew that but what was he supposed to tell Merlin? 

Would it be too soon to call for Peter again? Tony needed to talk to Stephen again that much was sure. He already debated offering his help to search for something that could help his hands heal. But he knew Stephen was too prideful to just accept his help. Especially since it hasn't even been two days since the accident.

He had talked to Christine yesterday and asked her what would await Stephen now, about complications and therapy. He wasn't quite sure if he could help Stephen but he already knew he would lose quite a bit of sleep to at least try. 

Tony knew it would take some time before the bandages would come off and he had a feeling he would have to find excuses for Merlin not to visit his dad. Hopefully it won't last more than a few days. How Stephen planned to hide all of this he wasn't sure. 

Just as he poured himself a cup of coffee he heard shuffling and turned to see Merlin, tightly wrapped in a blanket far too big for his little frame, slowly making his way over to the table. Tony hugged him tightly and lifted the boy onto one of the chairs, trying not to separate him from the blanket. 

"Can we visit dad today?" Tony's heart broke with Merlin's whispered plea. 

"Your dad is still recovering. He needs his rest." Tony refrained from promising anything knowing he couldn't hold it.

"Okay." Merlin accepted it now but he knew he'd have to dry his tears sooner or later.

Tony debated whether he should ask if he liked to spend the day with someone other than him but Tony didn't want Merlin to think he was leaving him.

The only thing he could do was to take both their minds off of what happened. Usually their Sundays were known for funny activities but Tony figured they should stay inside. He made Merlin breakfast and then carried him to the other room and they watched his favorite movies until the day was over.

A week passed like that with Merlin staying with Tony and Tony trying to find excuses why Merlin could only hear his father's voice or see little of his face during video calls. 

Stephen had confided in him that he wanted to have another surgery after he had seen his shaky hands during a change of bandages. However he hadn't told Tony how he financed all of that. Not that Stephen didn't have money but Tony could easily imagine Stephen to lose control. Another reason why Tony insisted on calling him twice a day so Merlin could talk to him.

Another week passed and Stephen started physical therapy after the failed second surgery and he couldn't find anyone willing to do another. Tony was Secretly glad especially that he finally managed to talk Stephen into looking past his insecurities to meet his son personally. 

They decided to meet in Stephen's flat and Merlin jumped into Stephen's arms as soon as Tony opened the door.

The former surgeon fell to his knees and buried his nose into Merlin's hair. Tony stood in the doorway and their eyes met shortly before Stephen's gaze fell onto his trembling hands. Tony knew he had made the right decision seeing father and son reunited again and the first smile on the little boy's face since weeks.

Since Merlin wouldn't part his fathers side again but Tony knew the man needed his help he decided to stay as well and pretty much moved in.

"You don't have to sleep on the couch." Merlin said as they ate dinner. "Dad's bed is big enough for two." He explained further.

"Oh, it's okay. You're couch is very comfy and your dad needs the space to recover." Merlin pouted but then smiled when Stephen spoke up.

"Merlin's right. You've done so much you should sleep in a real bed. And just because we're friends you don't have to pretend that that couch would be comfortable."

"If you're sure." Both Merlin and Stephen nodded, Merlin a bit too enthusiastic for his liking.

Tony didn't regret his decision to sleep in Stephen's bed. Their life turned into routine easily. Tony thought they looked like a little domestic family sometimes. To the outside world they seemed happy but for Tony it got harder and harder to see his friend silently suffering as he tried to hide the shaking of his hands. Especially when he would wake up in the middle of the night to an empty bed.

This time he found him at the kitchen table with pen and paper. Tony only stood there for a moment but he could see the forced movements of his hand were getting more violent. 

Silently he moved over and gently took the offending pen out of his hands before he could toss it on the floor. Just as gently he wrapped his arms around the sitting man and wrapped Stephen's hands in his own letting the other leaning against him to calm down.

"I might have found something." Tony barely heard his whisper but he tensed.

"Stephen," he began but the other immediately cut him off.

"It's not another surgery." He was still whispering and Tony decided to sit down to have a better look at his friend in the darkness.

"A man told me about this place. Kamar-Taj. He said they helped him elevate his mind. He was miraculously cured."

"Stephen, do you mean…"

"My mind is the only thing I've got left. Talking with those gurus or whatever and hoping for a miracle…..I can't live like this." Stephen dared to look up into Tony's eyes.

"If only you could see that you have so much more." One of his hands came up to stroke Stephen's cheeks. The man averted his gaze.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Tony sighed and his hand retreated. "I've known you so long. But if you truly want to do this I can't stop you."

"I'm asking too much of you."

"You'd do the same. Now come back to bed. We're talking about this tomorrow." When Tony stood up with his hand still on Stephen's the other man didn't struggle to follow.

When Stephen had explained his last resort the next day further Tony made a decision. 

"You can't come with me." Stephen said as he watched his friend and son packing their things.

"Of course we can." Merlin replied immediately. "But I promised Arthur to return quickly." He added when he remembered his own best friend.

Stephen wasn't sure what to reply to his stubborn son so he turned his attention to Tony.

"Nothing holds me here. Not after the Avengers broke apart. Just look at it like a vacation. You will recover and Merlin and I will have fun and spend lots of money."

"But." Stephen opened his mouth but then closed it when Tony walked over to stand before him.

"Stephen, Merlin will follow you one way or another"

"Yep!" Merlin confirmed with a shake of his head.

"And you… you are my best friend. I will not let you make this journey alone. Do you understand?" Slowly Stephen nodded and Tony smiled again.

"Good, the flight goes at eight."