The morning light spread across the bedroom giving every surface a glowing gold appearance. The two figures in the bed started to ster. The smaller of the two, the burnet, shielded his eyes from the bright light. He groaned a bit in frustration at not remembering to draw the heavy, sun blocking curtains last night. He buried his face further into his pillow. The other man in the bed, a muscular blond, greeted the morning by fluttering open his baby blue eyes and quickly adjusting to the sunshine.

"Good morning Tony," greeted the blond.

"Too early, Steve," grumbled the dark haired man.

Steve laughed a bit to himself. "Tony were you up again all night in your lab?" asked Steve.

"Mmmm… only past three," replied Tony.

"Tony," said Steve in an almost scolding voice. "Days are for working and nights are for sleeping."

"Yes mom," sighed Tony sarcastically.

Steve sighed. He and Tony often disagreed on many things. They were just such opposites. Yet, at the end of the day, each of their virtues filled in for each other's faults and the two were still madly in love with one another. Each had in mind that they were the alpha male and needed to protect or be in charge of the other. But what else is to be expected of superheroes.

Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, would always do what he felt was morally right and would stand up for anyone who could not stand up for themselves. Those who do not know him well would say that he does everything by the book. However, that is not the case. If Captain America was given orders to stop a runaway train with some crazed super villain at the controls, his first priority was not to capture the bad guy, but save everyone on board the train first and if there were still time he would pursue the villain. Once he set his mind on a particular course of action, there was no swaying him.

Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, was a man of action. He didn't take orders because, while in the midst of battle, he always seemed to make the better call himself. His genius mind created his numerous, high-tech suits, but there was only one Iron Man. Tony may seem overly obnoxious at first impressions but underneath that metal shell of his was a heart of gold (and an arc reactor powering it) that cared very much about his fellow man.

With much coaxing of Tony by Steve, the two super husbands eventually got up to start another morning. They had been married for just over a year now and lived in the Avengers Tower at the heart of New York. There was a whole floor of the sleek, modern tower devoted just to their living space. This seemed a like a bit too much room to Steve who had grown up in a small apartment in Brooklyn seventy years ago before being frozen in the ice. However, Tony, being an egotistical genius billionaire, would have it no other way. The tower also came equipped with a state of the art gym, pool, medical center, the best lab money could buy, living spaces for the other Avengers team mates, (though seldom used), and much more.

Tony prepared coffee for both him and his husband while Steve fried up some eggs and bacon. Tony loved Steve and Steve loved Tony. It had taken a while for both their pigheadedness to dissipate and reveal their true feeling for one another. They both never got over that interesting moment when Steve had given CPR to Tony after Tony had shot a missile into space at the battle of New York. The pieces seemed to fall into place after that. Now, Steve and Tony were now a happily married couple. They both went on the occasional Avengers missions whenever the world was in peril but for the most part lived domestically. Tony was CEO of Stark Industries and would occasionally be dragged to a meeting by Pepper. His main function within the company, though, was coming up with several new inventions in his lab whenever he wasn't busy tinkering on his Iron Man suits. Steve sometimes went on SHEILD missions when he wasn't going on Avengers missions with Tony. To them it was a perfect life. Well, almost.

Steve thought there was still something missing from their life. For over a month now Steve has been trying to convince Tony for them to adopt a child together. Tony's first response had been "hell no" and "I'm not exactly a kid person." But after weeks of being worn down, Tony had confessed to Steve that he just didn't want to be the same kind of father his dad had been.

"Steve, listen." Tony had said, finally opening that shell he often put around himself. "I know you knew Howard Stark as a friend but he was a complete ass of a father. He didn't give a fuck about me and nothing I did ever impressed him. When he was drunk he would beat me, OK. If we get a kid I… I'll just mess everything up. I just know it."

Steve put both his hands atop Tony's shoulders and stared down at the shorter man. "Tony, look at me," he had said, trying to catch the chocolate brown eyes of his husband. Once Tony made eye contact, Steve said with much sincerity, "You are not the same man your father was. I know you and I can tell you are going to be a great dad. The fact that you're worried about messing things up means that you care. I love you, Tony Stark, and I want to share that love with a child. I'm sure the child will love you too, Tony."

Unable to come up with a counterargument, Tony had agreed at that point and Steve couldn't have been happier. They told their teammates that they were thinking of adopting and that had called for a fresh bottle of champagne. Steve spent most of his time now days reading books on child care and trying to get Tony to research as well.

They sat at the breakfast table that day, chowing on eggs and bacon and sipping down coffee. Steve was reading a parenting book while he ate. "Tony, you should learn some of this stuff as well," said Steve.

"I've already read about the basics. Besides, we don't have a kid just yet," replied Tony.

"Well you shouldn't wait until we have one before you know what to do with it," said Steve.

"Cap, it's too early for this. I'm only on my second cup…" there was a ringing from Tony's starkphone. It was Colson. "I'm gonna take this," he said to Steve. "Hey there Agent."

Steve rolled his eyes. Tony may have found a momentary distraction but they weren't done talking about this. Steve was about to continue reading his book before he noticed just how anxiously Tony was sounding on the phone.

"Wait, Colson, I'm gonna put you on speakerphone so Steve can hear too." Tony pressed a button and laid the phone down on the table. "Now what did you say again?"

Phil Colson's voice came on the other line. "I was just saying that I have an opportunity for the two of you. Unfortunately, a SHEILD mission went terribly wrong. We lost a few agents on that mission including a Richard Parker and his wife Mary Parker. I'm telling you this is because a month before they got called out for that mission they had a child." Steve couldn't believe he was hearing this. He drew a shaky breath and his eyes widened. "As sad as this turn of events is, it does leave an infant without a home. We would have sent the child to a foster home but some of our agents recalled that you both were looking into the possibility of adoption. More specifically, agents Romanoff and Barton... persuaded Fury to offer you the opportunity to take the child in. I'm sure you two would make excellent parents. All of your friends have faith in you guys, even Fury agreed that you two would be better for the kid then a foster home. Now if you want to proceed with the adoption process—"

"Yes," Steve yelled out a little too loudly. Regaining his composure, he repeated, "Yes, we would like to adopt the child." Steve looked up at Tony with hopeful eyes. "Tony?"

Tony stared into his husbands pleading, baby blue eyes. Perhaps for the first time he saw just how much Steve wanted this. Tony wanted this too, but he was scared. He was so afraid he'd mess this up. Remembering what Steve had said to him earlier that month, he finally mustered up the courage and said, "Yeah, babe, I do."

Steve's smile conveyed all the joy in the world. "Alright," said Colson's voice. "I'll start processing the paper work. It should all go smoothly and hopefully you to can pick him up in a week."

"It's a boy!" exclaimed Steve excitedly. He honestly would have been happy had it been a boy or a girl but just knowing made it all the more real. "What's his name?" he asked Colson.

"His name is Peter Parker," replied Colson over the phone. "But I assume his last name will be changing."

Peter, thought Steve, Our baby's name is Peter. He liked that name.

Realizing that his husband was off in a daydream, Tony thanked Colson and promised him that they'd be over to social services in exactly a week to pick up baby Peter.

Once Tony hung up, Steve rushed to embrace his husband. "Oh, Tony!" he gasped. "It's finally happening. Oh, God, I love you." Steve planted a long and passionate kiss on his lover then whispered in his ear, "We're gonna be parents."

"Whose gonna be the mommy?" joked Tony.

"Tony," said Steve, a bit annoyed.

"Well actually, what are we going to want him to call each of us? I want to be called Daddy, but what do you want him to call you?" asked Tony.

Honestly, Steve had not thought of that yet. He had been so fixated on caring for a baby that he didn't even think about what his own child would call him. After thinking for a few moments he said, "Papa, I want to be called Papa."

"Yeah I guess that's what they called dads back in the day," said Tony smiling.

"Yeah, back in the day…" Steve seemed to trail off into thought for a moment.

"Well hey, Stevie," said Tony, pulling Steve out of his daze, "We still have a lot of work to do before this baby comes home."

That was true. They had to baby proof the tower and purchase everything they needed to care for an infant and set up the baby's room in less than a week. The days that followed were hard work but the knowledge that the super husbands would soon be starting a family allowed things to proceed smoothly with a sense of joy in the air. Tony would only need to baby proof the floor that they lived on. Weight sensitive baby gates would bar Peter from any other floor. Steve and Tony picked the spare bedroom across the hall from their room to turn into a nursery for Peter. They painted the walls a light shade of baby blue and picked out a mahogany crib. They decorated the room with a red and blue color scheme and bought pillows with the letter P embroidered on it. Tony put all his full effort into creating an advanced baby monitoring system with Jarvis installed into the room. They would be able to pull up video feed from the nursery from any room in the tower.

The day finally came for Tony and Steve to adopt Peter and bring him home. Tony held Steve's hand while he drove the Lamborghini to the Social Services building.

"Hello Mr. Stark, Captain Rogers," greeted agent Phil Colson. "Are you two ready to meet him?"

"Are you kidding? Of course we're ready to meet him. Steve hasn't shut up about it all week," said Tony playfully.

"Then follow me please," said Colson as he led the two down a hall. "We'll let the three of you get acquainted first and then have each you sign some paperwork, just some official adoption records and one to change his last name. Have you come to an agreement on that?"

"His name will be Peter James Buchanan Stark-Rogers," replied Steve as he and Tony had already agreed. Steve had let Tony's last name come first and Tony had agreed to let Peter's middle name be named after Steve's best friend, Bucky.

"In hear please," Colson motioned for them to enter a small clinic room stocked with a few baby caring supplies. "You two wait here, I'll go get him," instructed Colson before leaving them with one last heartfelt smile.

"Oh Tony, I can't believe this. We are going to be fathers," said Steve once the couple was alone. He took Tony's hands and realized that the man was shaking. "Hey, Tony. Don't worry honey, we've got this," Steve assured his husband. Tony looked up at him and pressed his lips to Steve's, giving him one, long kiss.

A moment later, the door opened and a brunette woman who looked to be in her thirties came in. She held a tightly wrapped bundle of light blue blanket in her arms. Steve sucked in a long breath in an attempt to contain his excitement while Tony's shaking had stopped, as he stood frozen staring at the blue bundle. The reality of the situation seemed to hit him like a punch to the gut.

"Do you know how to hold an infant?" asked the woman softly, causing Steve's gaze to snap up from being locked on the bundle.

"Oh, yes I do," he informed her. All that research in his parenting books would now be put to the test. He opened his arms up as the woman stepped forward. She slowly and very carefully transferred the infant into Steve's awaiting arms. Steve gently pulled the little one to his chest and the woman slipped out of the room to give the couple some privacy.

Steve gazed down at the sleeping infant. Peter had a pudgy pink baby face and an adorable little button nose. His head was lightly covered with soft brown hair. Slowly, without looking up from Peter, Steve turned to his husband. "Look at him," Steve breathed. "He's beautiful." Finally Steve tore his gaze from the baby to look at his husband. "And he's ours." Tony took a cautious step closer to his lover and rested their foreheads together. Both their eye's fall to the now wriggling infant between them.

The baby's eyes fluttered open and Tony starts to fear that the child will start crying. Instead Peter simply looks up. His large hazel eyes gaze at them in amazement as his mouth opens and closes pointlessly. That was when Tony was finally able to crack a smile as the warm feeling in his chest over whelmed him. The thought, the image of his husband holding a baby, their baby, it was both terrifying and the most beautiful thing Tony had ever seen. For no real reason, Tony found himself chuckling a little. This was their son. Tony silently vowed to be the best father he could be and to protect this little guy from anything.

Steve and Tony finally brought Peter home to the Avengers Tower. Steve carried him in and he and Tony went to the nursery and gently placed the sleeping infant into his brand new crib. They paused a moment to watch the gentle rise and fall of the baby's chest as he slumbers. Taking each other by the hand, the two husbands slowly back out of the room.

"Jarvis," Tony called out to the AI once they were both out of Peter's room. "I want to know everything that goes on in that room. Everything. If he so much as coughs I want to hear about it."

Steve and Tony went into the living room and sat down upon the couch. Steve rapped his muscular arm around Tony. "It all seems so surreal," said the captain. "It's just so perfect."

"Don't celebrate too soon," warned Tony. "I here babies tend to wear people out. Not to mention what it will do to our sex life—"

"Tony!" scolded Steve. "Don't ruin the moment."

"I'm just sayin'. If you think it's all so perfect then I'll let you change the first diaper, captain," replied Tony, snickering a bit.

Steve sighed. "It's just that… well, it's not just the two of us anymore. I love you Tony but now we can share our love with Peter. We're no longer just a couple. We're a family."

"Yeah," said Tony. "From superhusbands to superfamily. You think Peter might wanna continue into the family business?" joked Tony.

Steve's eyes widened at bit at those words. "Not on your life! There is no way I'm gonna let our baby into any kind of danger."

"Relax, hon. I was just kidding," said Tony, holding his hands up in surrender. Tony then stared at the far wall lost in thought. "Of course we'll protect him from anything."

Steve pulled Tony closer to him, pressing their bodies against one another on the couch. Tony rested his head on the supersoldier's shoulder. They passed the time in a moment in silence but between them the love could be felt. The deep-rooted love for one another and the newfound love for their child.

A crying sound could be heard from the direction of Peter's room and Jarvis pulled up a holographic screen in front of them showing a now fully awake baby Peter, squirming around in his blankets. "Sir, young master Peter is awake," informed Jarvis.

"Gee, ya think?" said Tony, rolling his eyes.

Steve hurried over to the nursery with Tony right behind him. Steve reached into the crib and lifted Peter out. Peter was now wailing and shifting around which made it difficult for Steve to hold him securely. He put the young baby to his chest and tried to calm him by rubbing gentle circles on his back. "Shhhh, It's Okay. You're okay. Papa's here." Peter continued bawling. "What do you think is wrong with him?" Steve asked Tony.

Jarvis answered. "Sirs," came the AI's automated voice. "My scans show that young master Peter is in need of a change in diapers."

"I'll let you take care of that," said Tony. "I told you that you could have first dibs."

"Tony, don't you dare leave me," warned Steve as he walked over to the changing table.

"I won't. Someone has to make sure you're doing it right," replied Tony.

Steve placed the squirming Peter onto the table. "Undo the latches. They're right there," said Tony.

"I know where they are." snapped Steve.

Tony began to take on a sort of backseat driver position only it was more like a background diaper changer. Steve knew what to do. He had studied for this but apparently Tony thought he new better. "Don't wipe. Dab."

"That's what I'm doing. Maybe you'd like to take over."

"No thanks." That seemed to shut him up.

In the end they we're successful and Steve decided to also change Peter out of the onesie he was already wearing and into a brand new red one they had bought for him. After putting little dark blue socks on him Steve lifted him off the changing table and cradled him in his arms. "There, now. I bet that feels better," cooed Steve. Peter looked up at Steve with wonder in his eyes and let out a satisfied little squeal and started to reach for the captain's face. "Let's go play with him," Steve said to Tony, offering his finger for the baby to grab.

Steve carried Peter over to the living room while Tony pulled Peter's rocker in front of the couch. Steve set Peter down into the baby rocker and strapped him in. The couple sat there and played little games of peekaboo and offered Peter their fingers to hold. Peter made happy little cooing sounds and gave them precious little baby smiles. Tony had Jarvis constantly taking pictures of their baby who was, according to him, "The goddamn most adorable little half-pint in the universe."

While they were playing, Peter suddenly started crying. Tony's stomach sank as he thought maybe he had done something wrong. Steve, taking Peter in his arms once more, noticed the look on Tony's face a simply reassured him, "Don't worry, Tony. It's not your fault. I bet he's just hungry. He hasn't eaten since we brought him home."

Tony, seeming to perk up a bit, sat up. "I'll go fix him a bottle," he declared, walking towards the kitchen. Steve lightly bounced the crying Peter and offered him soothing words.

Tony passed the warm milk over to Steve. Steve offed the bottle to Peter who latched onto it and began to greedily drain all of the bottle's contents. "I guess you were hungry. Weren't you buddy?" Steve commented. Once the milk was sucked dry, Steve set the empty bottle on the counter and proceeded to burp the baby. Peter made belch that sounded a little to loud for one so tiny. Steve and Tony laughed at that. After wiping the spilled milk off of the corners of Peter's mouth, Steve looked up at Tony who was eyeing the infant with a precious look in his eyes. Just then, Steve realized something. "You haven't held him yet, have you, Tony?" said Steve.

Tony looked up at his husband with a small amount of fear in his eyes. "No. No, it's Okay. I…"

"Come on, Iron Man. I'll show you how." Steve passed Peter over to Tony and instructed him on how to properly support his head while making the baby comfortable.

Once Tony had a good hold on the baby, Peter locked his hazel eyes onto Tony's brown ones and a look of quite contemplation set over the infant's face. Deciding that he liked his new holder, Peter grabbed onto Tony's shirt with his little baby fists and nuzzled himself closer into Tony's chest for warmth. Tony was instantly overcome by how cute Peter is. He kissed the top of Peter's head where his fuzzy brown hair was. Peter made an adorable little yawn and curled up even tighter as he nodded off to sleep once more.

Steve followed Tony into the nursery as Tony gently pried the sleeping infant off his chest and swaddled him tightly in the warm blankets. Tony watched over Peter for a long while. Steve watched the moods play across Tony's face. It was obvious Tony wanted this child. Though he had tried to hide it from him, Steve still knew Tony was afraid that this child might not like him. But this small demonstration of affection Peter had shown to Tony had just proved to him that he could, no, would be a good father.

"I got to go down to the lab," Tony announced. "I need to work on the security system… and the baby monitor… and maybe advanced scanning… I could make a teddy bear for Peter with Jarvis installed and…"

"Tony, just relax, okay. He's safe and we're going to make sure of that every day," said Steve calmingly. "Go to the lab if you must. I'll watch after him for a while." Steve knew Tony always created new projects whenever he was feeling anxious. No wonder he was already up to mark 53 on his Iron Man suits.

"Right. I'll do that," agreed Tony. He was about to leave the room before Steve pulled him in for one long kiss.

"Just no Iron Baby suits. Got it?" Joked Steve after they were done with their kiss.

Tony smiled. "No promises."

Once Tony had left the room, Steve found himself looking back at Peter. He was so peaceful just sleeping there. Steve didn't want to miss a moment of it. He left the room quickly to go retrieve one of his parenting books and come back into the nursery. Steve sat down in the rocking chair where he had a good view of Peter sleeping and began to read. Every now and then he would look up to find Peter still fast asleep.

Steve continued his reading until he heard a soft moan come from the crib. The little whimpers escaped Peter as he struggled within his tightly wrapped blankets. He was on the verge of crying when Steve put the book down and walked went to pick him up. "Shhh, it's alright. Papa's got you," Steve said soothingly, cradling the babe in his strong arms. He brought the child's head up to his shoulder and rubbed gentle circles into his back. "There, there. You're safe. I've got you little guy." Peter's crying subsided and Steve brought peter down against his chest in order to look at his son's face. He wiped away the tears left on Peter's cheeks and stroked his soft brown hair. Peter calmed down and looked up at Steve. He reached his chubby little hands out to Steve's face. Steve held Peter closer to him so that they were each at eye level. Peter felt both of Steve's cheeks with his tiny hands and Steve couldn't help but laugh a little. He then planted a kiss upon Peter's little button nose. Peter squealed in delight and made more grabby hands towards Steve. Steve offered Peter his fingers to hold as he sat down in the rocking chair with him. He rocked back and forth in a slow, soothing rhythm until Peter closed his eyes and fell back asleep, his hand still clutching Steve's finger. Steve didn't want to put Peter back in his crib. He just wanted to hold him like this for as long as he could.