Chapter 7
Whenever an opportunity to finish Morgan’s room arises, Steve jumps and takes it, spending most of his time organizing and cleaning the space for his daughter. He’s not held back much anymore now that he doesn’t have a team to lead and a world to save. The world still needs saving, but he wasn’t Captain America anymore, and if he even made an attempt to be that hero again, he’d risk losing everything.
Morgan was his priority now. She meant more to him than his shield and the legacy he created by wielding it. All he cared about was her happiness and safety. She was all that mattered to him.
Every day he has to live with the regret of leaving her when she needed him most. He had always assumed he made the right call in leaving her with Tony. He was still considered a criminal and he couldn’t risk being hunted down and losing his daughter for good. Maybe they would have been better off in Wakanda. T’challa promised they would be safe if Steve decided to live there for the rest of his life. It had been tempting, but he wanted Morgan to know Tony and live a normal life. She has and she’s incredibly happy and loved. It’s all he’s ever wanted for her.
Maybe one day Steve wouldn’t have to worry about constantly looking over his shoulder and he could finally live the simple life he’s been wanting. He had his daughter back, his friends by his side and Tony back in his life. They weren’t on the greatest of terms but Steve would take what he could get. He’d rather have Tony like this than not at all.
The weeks pass and there’s been nothing from Ross. Steve knew better than to believe that he was in the clear. Ross could still be searching for him and conducting a plan to find and bring him in. Steve needed to be one step ahead if he wanted to avoid being captured.
He feels safer back in the compound, but he’s quickly become comfortable somewhere else. Tony’s lake house has become a place of tranquility for Steve. It’s quiet and offers both security and serenity. He understands why Tony chose to move and settle down here.
Morgan is over the moon with excitement when Steve pulls up to the house. It’s his turn to see her again, and it’s obvious she’s been missing him as much as he’s missed her. He and Tony haven’t spoken much about meeting arrangements. All he’s learned so far is that both Pepper and Tony prefer it if Steve visited them. At least for the time being.
The second Steve gets out of the car, Morgan rushes over to him, throwing her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. “Mama, I missed you!” She exclaims, eyes lighting up. He’ll never get over how much she resembles Tony.
Steve smiles down at her and then lifts her into his arms with ease. “I missed you too, baby.”
“I missed you more!”
Steve chuckles. “I think that’s up for debate. Where’s Daddy?”
“He’s with Mommy. They’re making lunch for us!”
“Good because I’m starving. Oh guess what! Your room is all done.”
Morgan gasps. “Really! Can I see it now?”
“Let’s ask Daddy, okay?”
Steve carries her toward the house and up the front steps of the porch. It’s not until they reach the door does she want to walk by herself, and he sets her down, watching as she runs inside. Steve follows after her, spotting Pepper and Tony preparing lunch. They’re laughing and smiling about something Steve doesn’t know. They’re happy. Good. Steve wanted Tony to be happy.
“Hey,” Tony greets when he catches Steve lingering in the entrance. “Lunch will be ready in a few minutes. Do you want something to drink? I think I have beer.”
Pepper frowns. “You can have water, Tony. I don’t need old habits showing back up just because he’s—never mind. I’m going to check on Morgan.”
She wipes her hands with a dish towel then sets it down on the island and leaves in search of Morgan. Tony says nothing, no doubt refusing to acknowledge her behavior, and he continues to cut up some carrots for a salad.
“Is she ever going to forgive me?” Steve asks, sighing sadly. If it weren’t for his daughter he’d turn around and leave.
“She doesn’t hate you,” Tony says, his head still cast down.
“I never said she hated me. Does she? Tony, I’m not trying to come between you and her. I swear. I’m just here for Morgan.”
Tony lifts his head. “We know that. I wouldn’t stress about it. This is new for everyone.”
Steve nods but doesn’t push. He wants the rest of the day to go as civil as possible. He’d hate for another fight to break out just when things seemed like they were getting better.
Pepper returns a few minutes later with Morgan. As soon as Morgan sees Steve hanging out in the kitchen, she runs over to him and grabs his hand, wanting to drag him away so that she can show him the picture she drew.
There’s a mess of crayons and markers and various colors of construction paper on the coffee table. Steve smiles, wondering if she was going to create the same mess in his living space. He’d probably join her and together they could draw and create beautiful things.
“It’s you and me.” Morgan smiles, handing Steve a drawing of him in his Captain America suit and her wearing a purple Iron Man helmet. He wonders where she saw pictures of him as Cap. “Do you like it?”
It’s then he realizes he hasn’t said anything since she first handed him the picture. He glances at her and smiles. “I love it so much. You’ve got a knack for drawing.”
“Maybe it’s from you! Daddy always said I’m smart like him so maybe I’m good at drawing like you!”
“You’re so smart and talented, sweetheart. I know exactly where I’m going to put this. I still have the other picture you gave me.” Steve sits down on the sofa, the drawing still in his hand.
“Really!” Morgan sits down beside him and curls up close. “Mama? Will I ever get to see you more?”
“I hope so. I love getting to spend time with you. Being with you makes me so happy.”
“Me too. I just wish you could live here with us. My room is pretty big!”
Steve chuckles. “I don’t think your bed can hold us both.”
“Oh.” Morgan’s face falls. “Then where can you sleep? On the couch? Or you can get your own house! There’s a lot of space for you!”
“One step at a time, sweetheart. Daddy and I will figure it out, okay?”
Morgan huffs and lays her head against his shoulder. “Okay.”
After lunch Morgan wants to show Steve the lake. He’s walked the property with her before but she’s never shown him the body of water just a few feet away from the house. Tony surprisingly tags along, though he remains a few feet behind them as they follow the trail that will lead them to the lake. Morgan is holding Steve’s hand and telling him about all of the times she’s gone swimming and the pretty rocks she’s found.
When they reach the lake, Morgan lets go of his hand and runs toward the water. She kicks off her shoes and dips her feet into the water, squealing from the cold.
“Don’t go too far!” Tony calls out to her. He moves to stand beside Steve, their arms brushing against each other for a moment before Tony realizes how close they are and he puts a bit of space between them. “Are you okay?” He asks, his eyes still staring straight ahead to make sure Morgan doesn’t hurt herself.
Steve nods and glances over at Tony for a moment before directing his attention back to Morgan. “I understand the tension. What I did—”
“Can you stop blaming yourself? The point of us reconnecting was to move on, remember? I don’t want Morgan in the middle. Lord knows we could never get along.”
Steve’s lips curve into a small smile. “Yeah. We did have our good moments, though. I wish she could’ve seen those.”
Tony grows silent and Steve fears he’s overstepped somehow. Was it so wrong for them to converse about the past? Tony may have moved on but Steve wasn’t there yet. The feelings he had for Tony never fizzled out, and he had hoped that when he returned that he and Tony could rekindle their love and raise their daughter together.
It doesn’t seem like that now.