A Second Chance

Tony decides to check on Morgan after Steve’s left. He pokes his head into her room, not surprised to find her wide awake and playing with one of her stuffed animals. She turns toward him and lets out a gasp before rolling over and pretending to be asleep. Tony chuckles and enters the room, moving over the stuffed puppy so that he can sit down.

“I know you’re awake,” Tony says as he absentmindedly inspects the toy. Morgan rolls over, a cheeky grin on her face. Tony smiles and offers her the toy. She gladly accepts it and cuddles it close. “Did you have fun tonight?”

Morgan nods and pets the stuffed dog as if it were real. “I like my other mommy.”

Tony scoots closer to his daughter and she curls up beside him, still hugging her toy. He wraps his arm around her and places a kiss on the top of her head.

“I’m glad you liked him. He’s not a bad guy.”

Morgan shakes her head and peers up at Tony. “Can I see him at his house?”

“Uh, let me talk to Mom, okay? And see if Steve—”

“He said it’s okay!” Morgan smiles and sits up. “He said I can come by tomorrow!”

“Something tells me you cornered him. Let Mommy and I talk it out, okay? Now go to sleep or your dog gets it.”

Morgan frowns and hugs the stuffed animal close to her chest. Tony smiles and kisses her head, then he leaves the room and shuts the door behind him.

Pepper is cleaning up the kitchen when Tony gets downstairs. She pauses the dishes to drink another glass of wine. It’s her fourth for the night.

“Bad night?” Tony asks, stepping into the kitchen to take over the dishes.

Pepper jumps slightly and rolls her eyes. “No,” she says and takes another big drink. “Maybe. It’s just…forget it.”

“Weird? I get it. He’s back and I don’t even know how to feel about it.”

“Really? It didn’t stir up old emotions?”

Tony shrugs in response and works on scrubbing a plate clean. “Maybe. But not the way you think. I love you, Pep. Him and I…we never would’ve worked out anyway. I want you and Morgan. That’s it.”

Pepper says nothing and takes another drink. Then after a moment of silence she says, “I’m happy that he’s here, Tony. I really am. I’m glad Morgan gets a chance to meet him.”

“But?” Tony presses for more, peering over his shoulder to meet her eyes.

Pepper shakes her head and sighs. “I just don’t want her to get hurt.”

“No one is going to hurt her. I know he’s a criminal now but—”

“It’s not that. She doesn’t know half of what’s going on.”

“Oh so this is my fault for not telling her?

“I never said that.”

“But it is, right? I know I should have told her the truth and I’m sorry I didn’t. I’m not trying to make this difficult for anyone.”

“I know. Just remember that Morgan is in the middle of all of this. I’d hate to see her hurt because we can’t get along.”

“And by we you mean me?”

Pepper sighs and moves closer to wrap her arms around Tony. “Stop being an idiot. Talk to Steve and see if we can come to an agreement. Morgan is going to want to see him again. It’s only fair that she does.”

“Okay.” Tony nods. “I’ll figure things out with him. I honestly never thought I’d have to co-parent with him. He left Morgan and that note and I never saw him again.”

“I know.” Pepper rubs her hand along Tony’s shoulder. “But he’s here now and trying to make up for lost time. We have to meet in the middle. Morgan deserves to know him.”

“It’s still weird, you know? I don’t even know how to be around him anymore.”

“Just don’t be a jealous idiot.” Pepper chuckles and kisses Tony on the cheek. “I’m going to check on her. Please try and talk to him.”

“I will.” Tony promises.

Steve gathers more of his old belongings and places them in the box, then he glances around the old space of his office, imagining the transformation he has planned for it. He’s considered turning other rooms into a space for Morgan, but he figures his office is best. It’s in his private quarters and at least he’ll be nearby if she ever needs him.

A soft knock on the doorframe of the room captures Steve's attention and he jumps in surprise, nearly dropping an old picture frame. He places it in the box and turns around to find Natasha.

“Sorry,” she apologizes and steps into the room. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you would’ve heard me come in.”

“Guess I’m just occupied,” Steve says and continues his previous task, this time tossing old books into the box. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to check on you. You never told me how last night went.” Natasha leans against Steve’s desk and folds her arms over her chest.

Steve heaves out a sigh and shrugs. “Fine, I guess. Morgan was happy to see me. She showed me Gerald.”

“Her dog?”

“Alpaca.”

Natasha chuckles softly. “Oh. And Tony? How was he?”

“I don’t know. I think me being there disturbed what he and Pepper have going on. I never meant to throw everything off by coming back. I just wanted to see my daughter.”

“I know. I think you all need to sit down and talk. And I mean really talk. You and Tony love to talk with your fists.”

“I guess we do.” Steve sighs and plops down in the chair near his desk. “I’m not trying to be difficult. I feel awful for running away, but what choice did I have? It feels like whatever choice I made would never have been the right one.”

“That’s not true, Steve,” Natasha says and lays a hand over his shoulder. “You knew she would be safer with Tony. That was the best choice for her.”

“Yeah. I just want to be there for her now. I missed so much already.”

“And what does Tony think?”

“I don’t know. I think he’s being cautious. I can’t blame him. I disappeared and left our daughter with him. I should have come back sooner.”

“Stop blaming yourself, Steve. There wasn’t a lot you could do. Tony understands. Morgan will too.”

“I hope you’re right. I want her to live here with me. I don’t know. Is that stupid?”

Natasha smiles and reaches into the box, pulling out the photo Steve tried burying. “I think it’s sweet. Maybe leave this in here, though. She might want to see her parents.”

Steve accepts the photo of him and Tony. It feels like such a long time ago. “Maybe.”

“I’m here if you need anything. Try not to wallow in too much self pity.”

Steve huffs out a laugh and sets the photo down on his desk. “I’ll try.”

“Good.” Natasha grins and she pushes herself off the desk and heads towards the door. “It’s going to be fine.”

Steve nods and forces a smile, though deep down he’s finding it hard to believe that everything was going to be fine. How could it after everything? He was still a wanted man, and now he was trying to figure out how to be a parent after relinquishing his rights for so many years. But now that he was back, he wanted to do the right thing and be there for Morgan as much as he could.

He spends a few more hours organizing his things, but then he gets an alert from the front gate and he furrows his brows in confusion. His first thought is Ross figured out he was back in the states and was at the compound ready to arrest him, but then he recognizes the familiar car pulling up.

Steve drops what he’s doing and rushes downstairs as fast as he can, making it down on time to greet Tony at the bottom floor. Morgan is with him, her face lighting up the moment she spots him.

“Mama!” She cries and runs toward him, wrapping her arms around him the moment she’s close enough.

Steve hugs her back, his heart full of joy just from holding her again. He’d never get tired of it.

“What are you doing here?” he asks, brushing back a strand of hair that’s fallen in her face.

“Daddy said we could visit!” Morgan replies excitedly.

“Oh.” Steve glances over at Tony, getting a small shrug as confirmation.

“Can we talk?” Tony asks and Steve doesn’t even hesitate to agree.

They decide the common room is the best place. Morgan keeps herself occupied on the floor and colors quietly in her unicorn coloring book. Steve watches her for a moment, still trying to grasp the idea of her being in his space. The last time he had her in this room with him was the day he left her behind.

“So,” Tony begins, diverting Steve’s attention away from his daughter. He glances over at Tony. “There’s a lot we need to discuss.”

“I agree.” Steve nods. “I want to apologize first. I know I hurt you, and I’m so sorry. Leaving was the only thing I could do but I swear I hated being away from her. From you.”

“Don’t. I get it,” Tony says and he leans back in his seat. “I really do. I was angry for so long but Pepper knocked some sense into me. She always does.”

Steve smiles softly. “You two seem happy. I’m glad you got with her.”

“I’m gonna pretend that you mean that. Wow. I can’t get over that you’re back. I’m happy you’re here by the way. She needed to finally meet you. I’m sorry that I took so damn long to tell her the truth.”

“I know why you did it, though. She doesn’t understand everything yet but she will. I just want to be there for her. Leaving her was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.”

Tony sighs. “Listen, Steve, I know you want to see her, and believe me I’m on board, but with Ross hunting you down—us being here is risky. I had to move my family away just to keep her out of the mess you created.”

Steve’s heart sinks down into his stomach. It was his fault that the team broke up and people got hurt. If he could go back he’d do things differently, but there was no point in worrying about the past and the what if’s. He might have a second chance and he was going to grip it tight.

“I could keep her safe here. The compound provides security,” Steve says.

“And for how long?” Tony asks. “Ross will come searching for you here first. Just lay low for a bit and let me figure this out. Maybe we can clear your name.”

Steve scoffs. “You really believe that?”

 “Sorry for trying to be optimistic.”

“How will I see her?”

“We can figure out visitations. I’d love for her to hang around here with you, but I’m not ready for that. You have to understand where I’m coming from, Steve. Even Pepper is worried about her being thrown in the middle of this.”

“It's a little late for that.”

Tony inhales sharply. “Just work with us. Please? We want her safe just as much as you do. I’m not trying to exclude you, I swear. She wants you in her life.”

Steve glances over at where Morgan is coloring. “I want her in mine, too. Whatever I have to do I’ll do it. Just don’t keep her away from me. Not anymore.”

“I won’t.”

“How long are you staying?”

Morgan perks up at those words and quickly jumps to her feet. “Can we stay forever!”

“No, sweetheart,” Steve answers, hating the way her face falls. “But maybe Daddy will let me give you a tour?”

Morgan’s face lights up. “Daddy, please! I want to see Mama’s house!”

“Yeah, I guess it won’t hurt. I’m curious to see what you’ve done with the place.” Tony rises to his feet and gestures for Steve to lead the way.

“Not much.” Steve chuckles and takes Morgan’s hand, leading her out of the room and toward the elevators.

His old apartment isn’t as tidy as he’d like, but he figures Tony understands. Steve’s only been back a few days and was trying to adjust to his old life. If it even existed anymore.

“Mama,” Morgan says, peering around the living room. “Your house is kind of…boring.”

Steve can’t help but laugh. Even Tony chuckles a little bit. “Sorry,” Steve apologizes. “I don’t have cool toys and alpacas.”

Morgan giggles and rushes off toward the hall, opening each door and poking her head through to inspect the rooms. “Still boring!”

“I told you she’s a little monster,” Tony says. “Well, sometimes. I see so much of you in her.”

“Really? She definitely inherited your looks.”

Tony chuckles. “Yeah. But her feisty attitude is all you.”

“Mama!” Morgan calls out and Steve and Tony follow after her. She’s in his office, curiously going through his packed up items. “Is this you and Daddy?” She asks, holding up the framed photo.

“Uh…” Steve quickly moves toward her and takes it in his hand. “Yeah.”

Tony grows curious and steps closer, peering over Steve’s shoulder. The picture is of them after they settled into the compound. Tony is holding the camera and kissing Steve’s cheek.

“I didn’t know you still had that,” Tony says, taking the picture from Steve’s hands. “Can’t believe how long ago this was.”

“Yeah. I kept everything. I’m packing it up now. Maybe turn this place into a space for her or something.”

“For me!” Morgan exclaims. “This is my room?”

“Maybe,” Steve answers. “I’m working on it.”

Morgan smiles and places the picture she had been coloring on Steve’s desk. “There. Now you have something from me.”

Steve smiles and picks up the picture, admiring the pink and purple unicorn. “It’s perfect. This place doesn’t seem so boring anymore.”