Chapter One:
* 7 years ago... *
"Steve?"
"Yeah boo?"
"I need to ask you something. It's really important."
Steve turned to see Tony standing in the doorway to the living room, a serious expression on his uniquely bearded face. Putting down the pencil he was previously sketching with, he turned and patted his lap gently in invitation.
Tony took the hint immediately and went and sat on the younger man's lap, curling up as best he could and pressing his face into the juncture of Steve's neck, breathing in the scent there.
"Now what did you want to talk to me about?"
He received a muffled reply and a look of confusion crossed his face.
"I'm sorry but I didn't get a word of that."
"I said, I want a baby. But not a 'baby' baby because that is way too much work."
"So you want to have a child?"
"Yeah, with you, but only if you want one as well, otherwise what's the point? We don't have to get one if you don't want one, but I've been looking into adoption agencies for a while now but I didn't want to tell you in case you freaked out, which you don't seem to be doing which is a good sign, but seriously Stevo it's up to you. And can we even afford to look after one? And I don't mean money wise, because hello! Billionaire here. But we're Iron Man and Captain America, our lives aren't safe and I don't think Fury would appreciate having to keep a kid at SHIELD while we try to save the world and-"
Steve cut off the mass of rambling with a chaste kiss to Tony's lips.
"I'd love one. With you. I'm glad you told me because I've been thinking about it too."
"You have?"
"Yeah, I want to start a family with you Tony. I have for a while now."
"So we're actually gonna do this? We're gonna adopt and become parents?"
"Yes we are."
Tony beamed and planted a much firmer kiss onto Steve's cheek before squeezing him tightly in a hug.
"I love you." were the three words Tony whispered into Steve's neck.
"I love you too."