Chapter 1
"A holiday?" Steve said, his voice filling Tony's workshop through the loudspeaker.
"A holiday, yeah," Tony said through the speakers as he continued to work on his latest plans, "We all need one."
"I have work, I can't just drop this and - wait - did you say we all need one?"
"Oh babe, I'm pretty sure if you ask your boss, me, nicely he'll let you have the time off," Tony said, avoiding the last half of his question.
"Technically Tony, you're my bosses boss, not really mine."
"Eh, potato, potato," Tony scribbled down some more ideas, "I'm sure I can get it approved regardless."
"Fine, you can get me off Stark Industries but I have all my paintings to get on with."
"Thought of that too, it's the Bahamas Steve, private island, you can paint your commissions by the ocean all day, eat exotic foods and then go back to our room for some sweet, sweet love making and then repeat, like doesn't that sound great?" Steve laughed.
"Yeah, okay, that does sound pretty spectacular."
"Come on, Steve, we could use this break..." Tony stopped working and sat down, "I could really use this." Steve was quiet for a moment.
"Okay, if you can get Craig to give me the time off then yeah, we'll go." Tony smiled.
"Thank you, I'll let everyone know you're in."
"Who is everyone?"
"Oh you know; Nat, Clint, Bucky, Sam and Thor," Tony said, "Tried to get Pepper and Rhodey to come but Peps apparently has some super important meeting to attend to that I've already postponed twice and Rhodey is overseas."
"So, am I just a last minute invite?" Tony could hear the teasing tone in Steve's voice.
"Most definitely, to be honest I forgot about you completely until Tasha said something," Steve laughed, "No, I was at the gym..."
"Working out?"
"No, I have my own gym for that, they were having troubles with some stuff so I said I'd go check it out and anyway, they were all there and Clint had come back from training with a client and mentioned needing a holiday and that was it; I was sold."
"When are we planning this?"
"Oh, no need, I've planned it all since I already own the island and the jet there's no bookings needed so we're going Saturday."
"That's in three days, how has everyone got time off in three days notice?"
"It's not what you know, but who you know," Tony said, "Actually, it's amazing how much holiday our friends save up."
"Okay, well, you best go sort out Craig for me or you really will have to go without me," Steve laughed, "I have to go though babe, got some more stuff to work on but I'll see you tonight and I love you loads."
"Love you too." Steve made kissy noises down the phone before hanging up, Tony's heart swelled with happiness because how on earth did he bag the the most amazing man as his boyfriend?
Tony leaned back, thinking of his life so far; twenty-three and already in charge of Stark Industries. The death of his parents had been tragic and took him to a dark place, his dad died a hero in everyone else's eyes instead of the monster that he was and his mother... She died in his shadow, so close to being accepting and now Tony never got to know what she really thought because she never came home.
He ran his fingers through his short hair that he was begrudgingly growing back out since the media threw the notion that he'd cut it all off during a breakdown and since he hasn't come out to the whole world he couldn't explain that he did it to make himself feel happy and wasn't going all 2008 Britney. Who knew that a hair could drastically affect stocks? Not Tony but when Pepper pointed out that the rumours were affecting the business he knew Tony had to keep on being Antoinette in the public eye despite Steve almost begging him to keep his hair short.
Tony sighed, this holiday would do him good and it would be nice to spend some time away from civilisation with his makeshift family. He looked at the photo on his desk, behind the hologram of his latest project. He shut the plans down and leant forward to grab the frame; a picture of his mom, Steve and himself looking happy and smiley and Tony felt the heartache knowing his was so close to being her son.
"I love you, mom."