Adoption

Flicking through another file on his desk, Tony sighed and let his head hit the table in despair. He loved his job and taking over the company had been one of the best opportunities he had been given, it was the only good thing to ever come from his father, but although he loved his job on a whole, he mainly loved the part where he got to design, where he got to make things and change the world and make a difference. What he didn't enjoy was desk work, going through agreements and plans that Pepper needed his input on too which is why he's currently on hour six sat behind his desk, surrounded by mountains of paperwork he needs to get through by the end of the day instead of spending it down in his lab or tinkering with sometime in his house. He was bored, he was so bored and all he wanted to do was to go back to his husband who would probably be painting in his studio right now; the evening sun hitting him so that the warm tones would make his hair glow and his eyes sparkle like the sea, there would be paint on his clothes and smudged onto his face, music will be softly playing in the background and maybe Steve would be humming along, a smile on his lips more beautiful than Tony could describe.
Tony sighed, he missed his husband and resented his job for making him be so far away from him. His phone rang on his desk and he reached out blindly to answer it, knocking a couple things onto the floor as he did so. He didn't even bother lifting his head as he put the phone to his ear; "You've reached Tony Stark-Rogers."
"Hello, this is Lily, is this a good time to talk?"
"Sorry, who is this?"
"Lily, from the adoption agency?" Tony's head snapped up so fast he got a little dizzy, "I'm ever so sorry it's been so long since I last called."
"No need to apologise, I'm sorry for not recognising you, it's been a long day at work."
"I can imagine, I hope I'm not being an inconvenience," She said, "I tried to call both your mobile and your husbands, I even tried your landline but nobody was answering, in the end I had to look up the number for Stark Industries and pray you were working." Her laugh was sweet and Tony found himself smiling.
"Not an inconvenience at all, if anything we sound like the inconvenience," Tony said, feeling a little guilty at the trouble he put Lily through, "I turn my phone off to try and get work done and I think my husband will be in his studio, he gets a little lost in there sometimes and won't realise his phone or the landline is ringing."
"Oh it's no problem, I reached you in the end," She said, "I'm just calling in regards of your adoption, we have a Mrs. Parker who we'd like to introduce you to and arrange a meeting with."
"What is this about?"
"She is currently in care of a young child who we think would be a suitable match for your family, due to personal reasons Mrs. Parker is no longer able to care for the her," Tony didn't know what to say, "Mr Stark-Rogers?"
"I... I'm sorry, you've caught me a little off guard."
"I can understand, it must be a lot to take in."
"It's only been six months, I thought it would take much longer."
"Circumstances change and sometimes the process can take a long time and other times it can take a few months, since you chose to go private we are often able to speed up the process," Lily explained, "Would you like to hear more about the child?"
"Please."
"Her name is Penny Parker and she's just turned five, her parents passed when she was four and she's been with her Aunt ever since, due to personal reasons, that Mrs. Parker said she would rather explain to you in person, Mrs. Parker has found herself unable to care for her young niece," Tony's heart was racing, "Penny is a small child, she's only just three foot three but I've already met with her several times and she's so full of life Mr Stark-Rogers, she's a lively young girl who just thrives to learn, I think she'd be very good with you and your husband and if you sound interested would you like to set up a meeting?"
"Honestly, I would love to set one up right here, right now but I think this is something I should talk with my husband about."
"Certainly, take your time to talk things through and give me a call on the number I gave you and you can tell me your answer and we can take the correct course of action dependent upon your answer."
"Thank you so much."
"No problem, I look forward to hearing from you soon, have a good evening Mr Stark-Rogers."
"Please, just call me Tony."
"Okay, in that case, have a good evening Tony."
"You too Lily." Tony hung up and placed his phone back on the charging station. Looking at the work in front of him, he tried to think how he could possibly continue with paperwork when he has a husband at home who is completely clueless about the fact they might possibly have a child? He tapped his fingers on the desk, next to the file he was looking through and he knew he wasn't going to complete it, instead he grabbed as many as he could carry and ran out of his office; he needed to get to Steve.

Opening the door with arms full of paperwork was a task and a half but Tony managed to do it and kick it closed behind him, he ran through different rooms until he realised that Steve must still be in his studio. Tony ran down the hall and pushed open the door that was left ajar causing Steve to jump and turn to face him, hand over his chest, "Tony?" Steve's face was confused, "I thought you were supposed to still be at work?"
"I am." Tony said, dumping his paperwork on a clean surface.
"Then what are you doing home?"
"More pressing matters."
"What's happened?" Steve stood up from his chair and walked over to Tony, taking his hands in his own, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, the complete opposite actually," Tony said, "I had a phone call from Lily today."
"As in Lily from the agency?"
"The very same, she told me she thinks she might have found us a suitable child."
"What."
"My words exactly, there's a woman, Mrs. Parker, who has a five year old niece who she can no longer care for, apparently she's lovely and smart and Lily thinks she would be perfect with us," Tony felt the tears in his eyes, saying it outloud really made it feel all the more real, "Mrs. Parker would like to arrange a meeting so we can understand the circumstance and get to know them."
"And what did you say?"
"That I would talk it through with you, this will impact us both and I can't make these sort of decisions by myself." Steve just nodded, he let go of Tony's hand and started pacing.
"So, you get a phone call at work?"
"I did."
"And it was Lily telling you we may possibly have a child?"
"If the meeting goes well."
"A little girl..." Steve whispered, hand running over his face, "Did Lily tell you a name?"
"Penny Parker."
"And she's five?"
"She is."
"How do you feel about this?"
"I'd feel better if you stopped pacing and just faced me," Steve stopped and looked at Tony, "Thank you, I think we should go for it though."
"Me too."
"Really?"
"If we don't we'd spend the rest of our lives wondering 'what if' and I don't want that, I want to meet her." Tony smiled widely and hugged Steve tightly; his husband pressing his lips to the top of his head.
"Let's go call her back and set up this meeting."