Post-Post Credit Scene-Happily Ever After
"Hey little miss." Tony said softly to the infant staring up at him with wide eyes. He picked her up gently and walked her out into the living room, the house silent.
"You wanna help Daddy with his chores? Let Mama get a few more hours of sleep?" Tony murmured quietly, smiling when Maria let out a tiny giggle. He buckled her into the baby carrier on his stomach and made sure she was secure, before slipping outside quietly. He took in a deep breath, feeling content as he watched the sun slowly start to rise, turning the sky a pale pink.
"Come on M." he said, squeezing her onesie covered foot, earning a kick in return. He walked over to the alpaca enclosure, where Gerald was waiting, no doubt for his food. But before Tony could start feeding him, he noticed a ring of red around the animals mouth. He groaned, walking up to Gerald.
"You look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't eat Tasha and Pepper's berries. Tell me you didn't." Tony groaned again as the animal just stared at him seemingly innocent.
"Should I be worried you're talking to an alpaca?" a soft voice came from behind him. He jumped a little, turning around as Steve approached him an eyebrow raised in question.
"Warn a guy, Cap." Tony muttered, turning back to glare at his pet. Steve chuckled before stopping beside him, letting Maria grab one of his large fingers in her small hands.
"I was on my morning run. Wanna tell me why you're out so early...yelling at innocent animals?" he asked then, and Tony scoffed.
"His name is Gerald. And he's not innocent. He keeps eating the berries that Pep and Tasha planted. He knows he's not supposed to eat them." Tony said, pointing an accusing finger at Gerald.
"He's an alpaca, Tony. I don't think he knows." Steve replied with a laugh, attention still on the smiling Maria.
"Oh, he knows. He's evil. And if he's not careful, I'm going to donate him to one of those petting zoos. The ones where children get all handsy and pull his hair." Tony said bitterly, rubbing his thumb along Maria's toes. Steve let out another laugh.
"How much sleep did you get last night, Tony?" Steve asked instead, walking over to the hay and easily picking up the right amount and throwing it over the fence to Gerald. Tony scowled.
"That's not important." he replied, turning around to head back to the house, Steve falling in step with him.
"Yes it is. You sleeping okay?" Steve asked, pure concern in his voice. Tony stopped on the porch and sat down on the swing Clint had built them, Steve joining him.
"Yeah. I was just up working on the designs for the guest cabin. That way if you guys decide you don't want to head back to the city, you'll have your own place." Tony said, avoiding looking at Steve, who was staring at him thoughtfully.
"That sounds great, Tony." Steve said softly, and Tony just sniffed and sent him a nod. They were silent for a moment, letting the sun rise, Maria making soft cooing sounds as she chewed on his finger.
"Why don't I make us some breakfast? I'm sure this little munchkin is ready to eat." Steve broke the silence, standing up and offering a scarred hand to Tony. They all had matching scars somewhere on their hands, because of the stones. Tony smiled.
"Sounds great, Cap. How about waffles? Pete loves waffles." Tony said, following Steve into the house.
"Well if Peter loves waffles, then waffles there will be." Steve answered with a laugh, helping Tony settle Maria into her high chair.
"Go sit. I can manage feeding her some mushed bananas." Steve said with a wink, and Tony shrugged sitting down at the island, watching Steve handle his daughter with the utmost care.
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Natasha woke up, on her own for the first time in a while. Normally there was a certain little girl who was screaming for breakfast around this time. She got up, looking into the nursery to find it empty, but knowing she was probably with Tony. She walked out into the kitchen, unable to hide her snort at the scene.
Peter was sitting on the island, happily munching on a huge tower of waffles. Bucky was perched on the stool next to him spraying an obscene amount of whipped cream on his on his waffles, his tongue poking out in determination. Peter was watching in awe. Steve was cleaning up a messy Maria, while Tony was...Tony was dead asleep on the other side of the island, his face resting on his arms.
She leaned up against the wall and watched the scene play out. Steve had finished cleaning up the baby, and had got her out of her chair, her small figure now resting on his hip, when he finally turned around. His face quickly turned exasperated as he took in Bucky's whipped cream tower and he let out a tired sigh.
"Buck. What have I told you about drowning your food in sugar?" he asked, his voice strained with fondness under the reprimand. Bucky looked up, his expression flat, and shrugged.
"I was used as a Hydra weapon for 70 years Steve. I think I have earned my right to eat as much sugar as I want." he said deadpan, before turning back to his food. Steve let out a strangled groan, rolling his eyes. Peter just snorted.
"How many times have you used that one?" he asked, swallowing his last bite of waffle before hopping off the counter and placing his plate in the sink.
"Never." Bucky claimed and at Steve's glare he rolled his eyes, "Every time he makes waffles." he says instead with a shrug and Peter lets out a snort, before giving the soldier a high five. She chose this moment to finally make her presence known.
"Now Barnes. You better not be teaching my kid bad manners." she said, softly waking Tony up, pressing a kiss to his forehead as he blinked tiredly, before moving to take Maria from Steve.
"I would never teach Maria bad manners. Peter however...is too far gone." Bucky said with a smirk, earning a slap on his arm from Steve and Peter both. She rolled her eyes at the bickering that started, before turning her attention to her daughter.
"Hey, peanut. How'd you sleep last night?" she asked, directing the last question mostly to Tony, who was still waking up. He blinked blearily over at her before shaking his head a bit with a yawn.
"She slept mostly through the night. Was awake when I had to feed Gerald, so I took her with me. Wanted to let you sleep." he said, biting back another yawn. She hummed thoughtfully, swaying back and forth to please the baby in her arms.
"Looks like you're the one who needed some sleep." she said instead, and Tony rolled his eyes.
"I was coerced. By the Popsicle over there." Tony replied with a glare sent over his shoulder at Steve. He moved to the coffee machine, and she sent a grateful look over to the super soldier, who nodded at her with a smile.
She sat back and listened to her family, Peter and Bucky bickering over what the best pizza topping was, both trying to get Steve on their side. She smiled when "Come on, Uncle Steve, you know I'm right!" slipped out of Peter's mouth, because Steve let out the brightest smile. She knew Bucky had lost the second that name came out of Peter's mouth. Bucky seemed to realize it too because he groaned, and let his head fall to the table, but Steve had his hand open to cushion the fall.
"This is nice." Tony whispered, coming to stand beside her, smiling over at the chaos.
"Yeah. It is." she replied, smiling when a kiss was pressed softly to her cheek, then repeated on Maria's.