Chapter 14
The alpha couple didn't stay in the waiting room very long after that. Rushing through the halls they returned to Peter one last time, hoping they'd have a solution for next time. They didn't plan or think ahead to what might happen next. All they knew was that they had to get that omega, whatever the price may be.
It was starting to get dark out by the time they left the hospital. The street lights began to flicker as they made their way to the train. The city bustled around them like normal. If they were lucky they just might be able to slip through unnoticed. Though there was no telling what kind of security was monitoring the Stark mansion. They'd have to be quick if they wanted to get any information at all.
The streets of Manhattan were even more crowded than sweet ole Brooklyn. It was far too easy to get swept up between people, following the crowd as they moved. Even after night had fallen, they managed to blend in just so. That was until they were stopped by security, right outside of one of the cities biggest and most expensive buildings. Purchased after World War II by the world-renowned inventor Howard Stark. It was more intimidating than anything, to get so close only to be pushed back once more.
"Excuse me gentlemen, but this area is blocked off." The guard said.
"We need to speak with Mr. Stark." Steve demanded. "It's important."
"Listen, I'm sure it is. But the area is closed, I can't let you through unless you have an appointment."
Bucky the quick thinker, tried a different approach then. "We do have an appointment, it was earlier but we had an emergency. I tried calling but there was no answer. We're here for Tony, actually. He's a friend."
"Right," The man said, weighing his words. "Well, I'll see if you can be seen. Name?"
"Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes."
They had expected a bit of a fight in the beginning. It was going a lot smoother than either of them thought it would. Still, Steve's patience was wearing thin. He could barely keep the growl from vibrating through him as the security guard chatted on the phone. He felt Bucky's hand slip into his as they waited, it grounded him for the moment. He had to remember to stay calm, just long enough to get the job done.
Inside the mansion, the other alphas were panicking. Right after they finished drafting their game plan, the intercom buzzed. Neither expected Tony to have made friends in the city, or to give them the address to his home. It was such bad timing, they had no idea what to do. Peggy was smart enough to check if Tony would respond to their names. He had whined like usual, the only difference being his change of scent. He was embarrassed and rightfully so. The last time he had seen the couple he was practically crying his heart out. His aunt didn't know that and he was too tired to even tell her but his omega got the point across. They were let in.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Howard greeted them with a glass of scotch in his hand. He hadn't cared much to question his son, he didn't know them. But Peggy overruled them all and Maria wasn't worth bothering at this time of night.
"Sir, I'm Steve Rogers and this is my mate James Barnes." The blonde one explained. "Your son babysat for us almost a month ago, but before that, he was supplying us with food for our pup. We haven't been able to feed him properly since he went missing. I need his help and figured I could find him here."
Howard inwardly rolled his eyes, he could tell this guy was just Anthony's type. "You just figured you could find him here, huh? What do you need his help with anyway?"
"Our pup is starving, he's got a bad case of bond sickness. Tony's milk is all that helps." Barnes said.
And boy did that pique his interest. "Bond sickness, really? That's horrible, my pup has it too."
Peggy his righthand gal showed up in just time for the party to start. Making her way down the staircase she said, "Can I interest you two in any refreshments? Water, liquor, maybe an NDA or two?"
"We're not here for business. We just need to talk to Tony and maybe see if he can give us some milk."
"You can have the milk but you can't speak with Tony until you sign an NDA." Howard offered not daring to mention that his boy was in no way going to be speaking with them. He was far too sick to be in the company of a bunch of knotheads. If they didn't realize their pup was his, then they were in for a world of trouble. "My lawyers will be just a moment if you don't mind waiting in the sitting room until then."
Though Steve and Bucky had managed to make it through security they still felt dismissed. Shuffling over to the side room they sat on an overpriced couch, most likely lined in the finest silk. The material rubbed them the wrong way, just as this situation had. They had come in far too strong, ready to pounce. Howard stopped them short of doing so, they barely could reason with him on the account that they needed to feed their child above all else.
With the papers signed they were shown to an upstairs room, another living room of sorts. The woman told them they had more to discuss before they could see Tony. And once again they complied, having no real choice in the matter.
"Are you aware of your pup's true parentage?" Peggy asked them.
"Yes," Steve said. "We just found out, actually."
"Good, so you know that this can not continue." Howard said gesturing between them. "You'll have to give up your rights to the baby."
Steve shot up out of his seat ready to raise hell, but Bucky held him tight anchoring him to his side. "We're not giving up our son." He shouted.
"He's not your son. Not by blood anyway. And biology never lies. He needs his mother more than he'll ever need either of you."
"Now now Howard." Peggy said trying to defuse the tension. "I'm sure we can figure something out between the two. In the meantime, why don't we work on a way to get the pup here so they can start healing. There's no reason they have to be separated any longer."
"I'll make some calls." Bucky said agreeing with the woman. It wasn't a permanent solution but it was a start. Anything was better than nothing at this point.
By morning Howard had sent their private doctor to retrieve the pup from the hospital. He handled the transition a lot better than the couple did when they tried to call in earlier. Apparently, money does talk, especially for the Starks. The little one was just as sick as before but he had a little more color in his cheeks now that he had some of his mother's milk. The alphas were happy to see him doing better but they dreaded the way things were beginning to change.
"I'm sorry dear." The older alpha, Peggy said to them. "It's about time Anthony gets to hold his pup, don't you think."
Howard hadn't had a change of heart but he knew they wouldn't have handed the baby off to him. "I'll show you to his room, it's just down the hall."
The room was gorgeous, bigger than anything they've ever seen. It had since been cleaned and prepped for the arrival of Peter, a bassinet in the corner and a changing table on the side. Tony was curled up in his nest, his nightgown hanging loosely from his deteriorating figure. Had he not scented so sickly the alphas could have almost seen the appeal of the young omega.
With a heavy heart Bucky placed Peter in the omega's arms. He was cold to the touch, clearly unresponsive. But the weight of his baby was enough to trigger something deep inside of him. For the first time in days, Tony cried. His eyes fluttered through the stream of tears as he scented his pup properly for the first time.