The next morning, Tony woke up more determined than ever. He wolfed down a bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar and maple syrup drizzled on top and one of his new vitamins, and then went back to work scouring the internet for new ideas.

He settled on a picture of a baby wearing a bright red and yellow superhero costume, complete with cape and mask. "Every superhero needs a sidekick," he captioned it.

"Nice try," Bucky responded. "But I'm not your sidekick. And I wouldn't be caught dead in something like that."

Tony groaned. Why did Bucky have to make this so difficult?

Steve wandered into the kitchen in a pair of sweats. "Good morning, Tony," he said, reaching into the fridge for his usual post-run water bottle.

Tony sighed. "It's not a good morning. Your best friend is an idiot."

"Uhhh," Steve said, looking a little wary. "Who are we talking about?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "Bucky, of course. He's a fucking moron."

"What did he do now?"

He shoved his phone into Steve's hands. "I sent him all these pictures and he still doesn't fucking get it."

Steve frowned and started scrolling through the pictures. After a few seconds, his eyes went wide and he looked up from the screen. "Tony, are you...?" He put a hand over his stomach.

Tony nodded.

Steve's face split into a wide smile. "Congratulations. I'm so happy for you both. I know you'll make great parents."

"Yep," Tony said cheerfully. "So you can stop worrying about me now. It was only morning sickness."

"Are you kidding?" Steve said with a playful grin. "I have to worry even more." He gently rubbed Tony's stomach. "Because I'm worrying about two people now."

Tony closed his eyes and hummed with contentment. "That feels really nice. Can't wait till Bucky gets a clue so he can do this for me, too." And he couldn't wait until he was actually showing so everyone would want to rub his stomach.

"Bucky still doesn't know?" Steve said with surprise. "Oh, that's right. After all those pictures, he still doesn't get it." He shook his head. "I'll have a talk with him."

"No, no, no," Tony said. "I have to tell him myself."

"Relax," Steve said. "I'm not going to tell him. I'll just suggest to him that he needs to pay a little more attention to what you're trying to tell him with all these texts. See if he gets the idea when he considers all the photos at once, not just as separate images, but as part of one big message."

Tony exhaled noisily. "Yeah, okay. That might work. Thanks, Steve."

Steve patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Tony. He'll get it eventually. But since he's coming home in a few days, you might want to tell him in person. I've learned that you can't read a person's tone very well through a text."

"I sent him pictures," Tony growled. "A picture doesn't have a tone."

Steve shrugged. "I guess Buck's interpreting all these texts as random observations you're sharing with him instead of important news. But you corner him in person, make sure he knows you're about to tell him something big, and then he'll get it. Trust me."

Tony smiled weakly. Loki had said the same thing. He was beginning to think that was code for someone not knowing what the hell they were talking about.

Still, it couldn't hurt to wait a little and try it Steve's way.

On Monday, Bucky returned from his mission and Tony was there to greet him as he walked in the door.

He wrapped his arms around Bucky's neck and breathed in his scent. The man was infuriating sometimes, but he was still his mate and Tony was happy to have him home again.

"You missed me, didn't you?" Bucky murmured, nuzzling against his ear.

"Duh. Do you even have to ask?"

Bucky chuckled. "Of course not. Steve already told me."

"Steve told you I missed you," Tony said, fighting to keep his voice and expression neutral. If this kept up, he was going to have to kill somebody.

"Oh, don't be like that," Bucky said. "I knew you missed me. But Steve told me to really think about all the texts you've been sending me. And I did. And I realized this is the longest we've been apart since I claimed you."

"You're right," Tony said. Now that he thought about it, he and Bucky had been pretty inseparable since they became mates. He had gone on a couple minor business trips and Bucky had been on a three-day mission. But they hadn't spent weeks apart since they began dating.

Bucky nipped at his earlobe. "I think I understand now. All those little texts throughout the day was your way of involving me in your day since I couldn't be there myself. And I'm really grateful. It felt just like I was there with you. And now I wish I had sent you more about what I was doing."

"Not necessary," Tony murmured. "You were working on top secret stuff and I know you can't just stop in the middle of a fight to-"

Bucky cupped his face and stroked a thumb over his cheek. "I'm still sorry I couldn't do more. Let me make it up to you, babe."

It was a tempting offer. After a long week of frustration, it would be nice to just lay back and let Bucky give him a massage followed by a few rounds of sex. But first, he had to break the news to Bucky. Because once his mate realized there was something to really celebrate, the sex would be ten times better.

Tony rested his hands on Bucky's shoulders."There are some things you just can't tell people in a text message. And this is one of them." He lowered his voice. "I've got some very exciting news and I want you to hear it from me first." He paused for a moment to make sure Bucky looked suitably curious. "Our team is going to gain a new member in a few months."

"Awesome," Bucky said. "Finally talked Rhodey into becoming a permanent member?"

Tony frowned. "What? No, I'm talking about someone a lot smaller."

"Really? I thought Ant-Man was already in talks with...oh, wait, I know who you're talking about. Ant-Man's girlfriend, Whatshername. Uh, Wasp. Yeah, that's it. Awesome." He pulled Tony into a hug. "I'm so glad you're getting more people to join us, but shouldn't you be telling Steve about this?"

"Should I be telling Steve?" Tony spluttered. "Should I be...you know what, never mind." He pushed Bucky away and stalked down the hall.

"I'm proud of you, babe," Bucky called after him.

"Fucking stupid dumbass," Tony muttered under his breath. "Fucking idiot. How can anybody be this dense?"

The hallway vent creaked and then Clint dropped down onto the floor in front of him."We're not really recruiting Wasp, are we?" he asked.

"Nope," Tony said through gritted teeth.

"So, who is it? Anybody we know?"

Tony squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "You'll meet them in about seven months."

"I see." Clint nodded knowingly. "If the rest of us don't know them, must be a relative of yours."

"Let's cut the bullshit, Barton. Tell me you know what's happening."

Clint shrugged. "You're either knocked up or you're looking up a long-lost sibling."

Tony sighed. "The first option."

"Yes!" Clint said delightedly. "No more gross heat cycles for the rest of the year."

Tony raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, not that it's gross for you," Clint clarified hastily. "I'm sure for you and Bucky it's great and I'm happy for you two, really. But you realize the rest of us have to smell your stink all over the Tower and I mean, all over the Tower."

Tony smirked. "I know."

Since he was claimed, his pheromones would only arouse Bucky. Everyone else would be repulsed by the scent. It was just a natural defense to make sure no one took someone's mate when they were helpless in the throes of heat. Tony had never paid much attention in biology class so he wasn't exactly sure how he smelled to everyone else and he was a little curious how another omega would smell to him now that he was mated. But at the moment, he had more important things on his mind.

He gave Clint a sidelong look. "You don't have any ideas, do you?" He doubted it, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

Clint shrugged. "Ask Steve. He's our tactician, after all."

Tony sighed. "I already talked to Steve."

"And he didn't have any ideas, either? Wow."

"Oh, he had an idea. But it was a stupid idea and it didn't work."

"Plan B, then?"

"Which means?"

"Try something else. Come on, Tony, you're good at adapting the plan on the fly. If it didn't work, you need to change your approach."

"I did change my approach," Tony growled. "I've changed my fucking approach more times than I can count. And he still doesn't get it."

Clint shrugged. "Then I don't know what to tell you. Ask Steve."

Tony groaned. "Goddamnit, Barton. You're useless."