Chapter 10
Steve spends the rest of the evening in Morgan’s room, hoping rearranging it will keep his mind occupied, but both her and Tony are still on it. He tried reaching out to Tony, only to have his calls go straight to voicemail. He figures Tony needs some space to process some things, so that’s exactly what he gives him.
He focuses on adding more details to the scene of Wakanda. Morgan had absolutely loved it, and Steve wished she could see the real thing. The painting didn’t do the place justice. He remembers taking her outside the palace walls when she would cry, letting the natural ambience around them soothe her cries. Sometimes he used to envision raising her there; she would be safe and able to grow up in a wonderful place. But in the end, Steve knew he made the right decision. She belonged with Tony.
Tears gather in his eyes, his hand gripping the paint brush tightly. He pulls away when he nearly smudges the scenery, and he decides to stop for the night and find other ways to occupy his mind. The first thing he thinks of doing is tracking down Sam or maybe Natasha for a distraction, but that idea leaves his mind the moment he’s alerted of a text message.
It’s from Tony. And he’s waiting outside.
Steve immediately opens the front gate, then he rushes outside, stopping just outside the main entrance doors when Tony’s sleek car pulls up. Steve holds his breath, unsure of what to expect. His heart rate begins to pick up, his stomach twists into uncomfortable knots. For all he knew Tony could be here to tell him that Morgan was never coming back and for him to stay away. Steve would understand if it came down to that, but he doesn’t want that to happen. He loves his daughter. She’s his entire world.
Tony eventually steps out of the car, his face unreadable. Steve can’t take the tension between them anymore, and he speaks up first. “She’s not coming back, is she?”
“Who? Morgan?” Tony replies, his brows knitting together.
Steve nods. “You’ve made up your mind.”
“I have,” Tony says, and he shoves his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “She’s not here because she’s asleep.”
“Tony—”
Tony holds up a hand to silence him. “Me first. Please? I talked to Pepper and it’s not going to work out between us. I thought once you disappeared that I would be able to forget about you and move on. But that never happened. I guess what I’m trying to say is…I’m still in love with you.”
Steve feels the ground beneath him shift, as if the air he breathes suddenly feels heavier. Tony’s confession hangs in the air, lingering with an intensity Steve isn’t sure how to handle.
“Say something,” Tony urges. “I feel like an idiot just standing here.”
“Well don’t, because I love you too,” Steve replies.
A small smile breaks across Tony’s face, then it falters and he sighs. “I know things aren’t going to go back to how they were. I wish they could but we’ve changed and now we have Morgan and…God, I had this all planned out on the way over here.”
Steve grows braver and steps closer, drawn to Tony, the pull between them undeniable. Tony’s breath gets caught in his throat when Steve places a hand over his chest. Their eyes lock, for a moment neither one speaks. There’s too much at stake, too much pain buried, but at this moment, it all seems to melt away, leaving only the love they have for each other.
Without a word, Steve leans in, closing the gap between them. His lips meet Tony's in a soft kiss–-almost tentative, as if testing the waters after everything. Tony responds without hesitation, resting his hand on Steve’s back, pulling him closer as the kiss deepens. The taste of Tony’s lips, the warmth of his touch, feels like coming home after a long time away.
There’s no urgency, both just wanting to take their time and reconnect after so many years of not having each other. Tony claimed he wasn’t sure if they could go back to where they left off, but right now, kissing him again, feels like they never separated. That spark is still there. When they finally pull apart, their foreheads rest together, both trying to catch their breath. Steve’s heart is still racing, but this time it feels different. It’s not fear or uncertainty; it's hope.
“I don’t know what this means for us,” Steve says, his voice hushed between them. “But I want to find out. Together.”
Tony smiles, a faint, hopeful glint in his eyes. “Me, too.”
And in that moment, for the first time in years, Steve believes that they can start over.
It’s late by the time they arrive at the lake house. The front porch light is on, illuminating the path and steps for them. Tony unlocks the door and gestures for Steve to head in first, but Steve hesitates, suddenly feeling unsure all over again.
“It’s alright,” Tony assures. “She’ll want to see you.”
Steve nods, then takes a deep breath to calm himself, then he steps inside. He notices Pepper in the living room. She’s sitting on the couch with her nose buried in a book, but when she spots him, she smiles softly and sets it aside. She rises to her feet and makes her way toward him.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says, and Steve can hear the sincerity in her voice. “She’s asleep, but this will make her happy. She deserves that.”
“She does.” Steve agrees. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for her. Thank you for being a mother when I couldn’t.”
Pepper’s eyes glisten with tears and she wraps Steve in a warm embrace. “You can now. And I know you’ll be the best mother to her.”
Steve holds her tight, overcome with emotion. When they break apart, Steve makes his way up the stairs toward Morgan’s room. He slowly pushes open the door, the wood creaking softly. He smiles when he sees her, his heart bursting with love at the sight of her.
At first Morgan doesn’t stir when Steve sits down beside her, but then she begins to wake once he softly plays with her hair. Her dark eyes flutter open; Steve will never get tired of seeing so much of Tony in her.
“Mama?” she asks, still groggy from sleep.
Steve smiles down at her. “Hey, sweetheart,” he says, his voice hushed. “I missed you.”
Morgan smiles back, now beginning to wake up. “I missed you a lot. Are we having a sleepover?”
“Actually, I have something to tell you. Daddy and I talked, and you get to live with us both.”
Morgan gasps. “Forever!”
Steve nods, still smiling. “Forever.”
“But what about Mommy? Do I still get to see her?”
“All the time. We’re going to be a big family, sweetheart.”
Morgan quickly sits up and throws her arms around Steve’s neck, hugging him tight. Steve wraps his arms around her.
“I love you, Mama.”
“I love you more.”