Summary:

Howard discusses Law and the Media with his Lawyer, Tony get angry, and Steve doesn't know what to do.

Notes:

I'm honestly not very happy with how this turned out, but I hit all the points I wanted to make. Also, I'm sorry if there are any grammar errors, I'm working without a beta.

Also, I don't know a thing about Law so any of the information or how I went about setting up this scenario was all for the purpose of the story so please forgive any and all errors I have made.

Enjoy

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter 4: Documents, Pregnancy & You've Been Served

The shuffling of paper and the scratch of an expensive fountain pen upon it were the only sounds in the otherwise concentrated quiet of the office.

The television made not a sound as the current Stock Market data scrolled across the bottom of the screen. The reporting journalist droning on and on about the big story of the day behind the screen, but remaining voiceless as they had been muted some time ago.

Howard Stark had barked at his secretary not to be disturbed for any reason before he held himself up in his office upon arrival at StarkTower. He had cancelled that morning's focus group meeting, on the grounds that he was to discontented and exasperated to deal with being locked up in a room full of blithering idiots for hours on end. All of whom would be no doubt begging for his insight as to the validity of their next big Stark Industries money making idea.

His lawyer had arrived after an hour, Jarvis having retrieved him from the Stark Jet that had just flown in from California. Howard had called the man the moment he had sat down in his study after discovering his son was pregnant. They had talked for a short while before arranging to meet in person as soon as possible.

The two men had spent the entire morning going over laws and orders. Making plans for documents to be filled out, signed, and notarized. It had taken several bickering matches, cups of coffee, glasses of whiskey, and balled up pieces of paper - some of which had been thrown at the others head -, but it seemed as if they had finally settled on a course of action.

Howard was currently leaning forward in his office chair behind his desk, his elbow propped upon the wooden surface, his chin resting in the palm of his hand. The screen saver on his computer going unnoticed as it scrolled through pictures of cars the man either owned or had interest in, as his eyes were locked on one of only two frames that sat upon the otherwise uncluttered surface.

The Lawyer's hand flew across the paper as the pen quickly jotted down notes, checked boxes, and filled in the appropriate lines as he made the last finishing touches to the documents he was working on. Looking up, he eyed Howard with a slightly sad expression as the man sat seemingly lost in front of him. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

The words seemed to pull the CEO out of whatever head space he happened to be in, and he tore his eyes away from the picture of a four year old Tony smiling absurdly over having built his first circuit board. Sitting up Howard shrugged as he met the other man's gaze. "Yes, I think that this will be for the best."

"You know the Law is there for a reason." The Lawyer breathed out. He was still a little exasperated, the two men had been going back and forth about the matter all morning. He just couldn't wrap his head around why Howard wasn't making a bigger deal over this, and why he was still refusing to take more drastic steps against Mr. Rogers then he was.

"Yes, Coulson. As I've already told you, I'm well aware of that."

"Well, then I guess I'm still a little confused here Howard." Phil bit back. If Tony was his son– Well you could be damn sure he wouldn't be as cool and level headed as the other man appeared to be. "I've known you for how many years now, and I've been your legal council for just about as long, and in all that time I've never know you to be this calm about anything that was upsetting you as much as this."

Usually the man would be raging, writhing, practically foaming at the mouth, and Phil would normally be the one to pacify him until he was settled enough to think rationally again. So for the man to be so placid - especially about something like this -, just seemed so strange, and out of the ordinary.

Howard leaned back in his chair, squeezing his eyes shut while rubbing at the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. "Coulson, as angry about all this as I am, I already explained to you why I don't want to go down that road if I don't have too."

"But we could go after him." The Lawyer threw his pen down onto the desk and leaned back in his own chair. "We could really hit him with some big charges. The Law is on your side here Howard. Not only for the fact that Tony is sixteen, but under the Law, even if he did give his consent, the fact that he was in heat at the time makes it void. You know that."

"From what Tony said last night they obviously never interned for this to happen, and Steven is a good kid who–"

Phil cut him off, "I can't believe you aren't going to go after him because, 'he's a good kid'."

Howard glared at he man opposite. "I want to keep this quite." He hissed in a low voice. "If we start pressing charges what do you think is going to happen?"

The CEO was starting to get annoyed now, and pressed on before the Lawyer could respond. "We'll have to go to court, and if we go to court the media is going to get wind of it, and if the media starts sticking their grubby noses into our business then the whole world is going to think that the son and heir of Stark Industries is just another teenage screw up who messes around and got pregnant.

"The media frenzy that would cause would be catastrophic. Tony doesn't need that. To be hounded my paparazzi everywhere he goes, trying in the next few months to get a picture of his baby bump when he starts to show.

"Nor do I want them turning on Steven, poking and prodding at him like a piece of meat. Trying to dug up whatever dirt they can on the poor man who knocked up the son of Stark.

"And lastly, I don't want them asking what kind of responsible parents Maria and I are. They would spin this around into it being our fault. They'll find out that Maria and I were on vacation when it happened, like we let Tony get pregnant because, what kind of parents abandon their child at Christmas for a privet vacation. They aren't going to investigate that it was all planned out, that doesn't make a good story. No, they're going to chastise us for it. Say we aren't good enough parents, like we should be watching over our son twenty-four seven.

"Then as if that weren't enough they'll start to question how good of a business man can I be, or how can Maria run her foundation if we can't even control our own son." Howard sighed, rubbing at his forehead trying to stave off a headache. "Coulson, you know that they'll tear SI, and the Maria Stark Foundation to pieces over this. The best thing we can do is keep all of it as quiet as possible. Tony and I will discuss the timeline of the pregnancy while he's in school tonight, and if he is discreet, then with a bit of wardrobe adjustment at the end of the school year, we can all get through these next nine months without anyone having to know."

Phil sank down in his chair slightly exhausted. Howard was completely right of course, and it was all completely true. The Lawyer had witnessed first hand the kind of devastation and destruction the media could cause.

He'd had an old colleague from law school, Jasper Sitwell, who'd been the Lawyer of a well respected company that had gone belly up and lost everything due to media propaganda. There was no way Phil was going to let that happen to Howard and SI, even if that meant slapping a court order on each and every media outlet that existed across the globe, banning them from publishing any ludicrous, or fictitious stories involving anything to do with the Stark name.

"But what if he's not?" Phil asked, a look of concern crossing his haughty features. "What if he doesn't care if the whole world knows, let alone Mr. Rogers?"

Howard considered the question for several long moments before answering, "Well, if it comes to that then I guess I will allow you to draw up the papers we'll need. We'll still have to come up with a way to keep all of it under wraps of course, but we'll cross that bridge when and if we get there. For now, even if Tony gives me any trouble with this–" He waved at the papers Phil had just finished writing. "I can always threaten to go that route. I highly doubt Tony's going to risk Steven going to jail, so he'll agree to this, even if he throws the temper tantrum of the century." He was starting to get a migraine just thinking about it.

Phil nodded, sighing in resignation. He really wished he could just hit Rogers with the charges now and be done with it, not have to play referee to this stupid game of chicken between father and son.

Who knows, Howard might be right, Tony and Steve might see that Howard is doing this all for the best and not draw it out into something ugly... but then again, when have teenagers ever been reasonable.

Phil decided to let the matter drop for now. It was Howard's decision after all, and if this was what he wanted to do, then he would do it. He only hoped that it wouldn't come back to bite them all in the ass. "Then I guess you just need to read through, and sign these." He reached out, handing over the stack of papers, "And I'll get them notarized, and filed this afternoon. So as long as the Judge isn't to busy, I should be able to get the copies around two."

Howard quickly glanced over the paper work, signing and initialing on the appropriate pages. "Alright, that sounds fine. After everything has been approved will you be delivering the copies yourself?" He asked, handing the documents back to the Lawyer.

"Of course," Phil replied, tucking the papers into his briefcase before standing. He offered Howard a small smile. "I'm going to find a place in the city to stay for a while. It would make everything a lot easier throughout Tony's pregnancy if I were closer and more accessible in case you need me. I've got a hotel already set up while I look for an apartment, but you can always reach me on my cell so... Howard, call me if you needanything."

"I will." The man behind the desk replied as he stared at the picture of Tony as if lost in thought again.

"Then if that will be all Mr. Stark, I'll take care on this right away." Phil turned, crossing the length of the room in quick, purposeful strides.

Howard looked up as the Lawyer crossed the room. "Oh, Phil–" He called as the other man reached the office door.

The Lawyer stopped, hand on the doorknob, and looked back over his shoulder.

"Thanks."

Tony had hoped for some small amount of time alone so he could mentally prepare himself for the talk concerning the pregnancy his father had wanted to have. He had been thinking about it all day, and everything from how he and Steve would be living Happily Ever After with their pup, to having to get an abortion ran rampant through his mind.

More then once he found himself asking to be excused from class to dry his face, calm his shaking, or take deep breaths. He had wanted to tell Steve several times throughout the day, but held himself back from doing so. Going against his father's wishes had landed him in the situation he currently found himself in and he wasn't in a hurry to repeat the experience, so he kept it to himself just like he was told too.

After all, the marking was a big enough issue in and of itself that he didn't need to throw the pregnancy on top of it. He figured he would give it a little time, perhaps a month or so, let Howard's scent have a chance to fade, and become a somewhat distant memory before dropping that bomb shell.

It seemed like the right decision, especially since Clint had been somewhat right in his prediction that Steve would be more worried about him and how upset his Dad was about the heat, then he would be about the marking. In reality being worried had been a gross understatement. He had been down right distraught.

Steve had berated himself tirelessly after Tony explained what had happened the other night with the marking. The Omega had tried to tell him that he was just as much to blame for what happened as the Alpha - perhaps even more so -, but Steve wouldn't hear anything to the contrary, and spent every moment the two had had together that day between classes and during lunch doting on him heedlessly.

Tony had barely had a chance to set down his school bag, and shrug out of his jacket before he found himself sitting on the loveseat in his father's study. Howard sitting across from him in his favorite armchair, while a variety of pregnancy, and early child care books lay spread out across the coffee table between them.

They had been sitting in silence for five minutes now, and Tony had read, and reread the titles of the books in front of him while Howard downed two classes of scotch. Finally the Omega couldn't stand it any longer and broke the silence first.

"I'm guessing that since there are about fifteen of these," He held up a pregnancy book. "That you're not going to make me get an abortion."

Howard set his empty glass on the side table next to his chair and leveled a serious gaze upon him. "I can't have you running around thinking that it's okay to sleep around and get pregnant. I'm not going to be one of those parents who goes and lets their child get an abortion when they screw up. So, you're not going to do anything other then keep yourself healthy, and carry that pup."

Tony nodded, letting out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Even with the presence of the books, the possibility that Howard would make him terminate the pregnancy still weighed heavy on his mind. It was the reason he'd found himself running out of his mathematics class after lunch to throw up - even though he couldn't be completely sure that that hadn't been morning sickness either -, but knowing that there was no way Howard was going to let him do anything other then carry the pup lifted a huge weight off his shoulders and the Omega hunched over in his revelry, taking a few steadying breaths.

Keeping his head down, but looking up through his lashes Tony met his father's eyes once again, "So, what's going to happen now?"

"Well, for now your going to go to the doctor's appointment your Mother has set up for you next week. She was also the one who put together all these reference books for you so that you can educate yourself on what's going to be happening over the next several months, and also get an idea of what it's going to be like taking care of a newborn. She says that there's some really good material here, but the doctor's, and of course your Mother will be able to answer any questions you may have as well."

Tony picked up a book at random and started flipping through the contents. He was feeling a bit better about this unplanned pregnancy now that he knew for certain that he was going to be keeping the pup. An image of himself and Steve happy with their newborn all swaddled up with an adorable little knit hat on its head appeared in his minds eye. It was sweet, and cuddly, and all so very domestic and the Omega couldn't help himself, he ate it up.

Leaning back in the love seat with his book, Tony began to make himself comfortable. "Then I guess I should probably tell Steve he's going to be a Daddy then, huh?" Which brought him back to his plan of telling the Alpha in another month or so. He could do that, wait a bit before telling him. He could pretend he hadn't find out right away. Say it was just as big of a surprise to him as it was to Steve. Yeah, that would work–

"No. You're not going to tell him, you're not going to tell anyone, and you're not going to see him anymore either."

"Wait, what?" Tony looked up from his book in shock, he was sure he hadn't heard correctly.

"You're not going to tell anyone about the pregnancy Anthony. It's no one's business but our own and you're not aloud to see Steven anymore."

Tony was instantly on his feet, book cast aside, all placidity he had just had vanishing as he jumped up in outrage from his previous laid back position. "What! That's bull-shit! He's my boyfriend, the father of my pup, he deserves to know, and you can't stop me from seeing him!"

"I'm not going to fight you on this Tony." Howard replied coolly.

"Good," The Omega snapped, arms crossed over his chest. "Because I'm not going to fight you either! You can't stop me from seeing him, and you can't stop me from telling him!"

"Tony, you will do as I say."

Howard was using his intimidating 'You will obey me', Alpha voice that would make any self respecting Omega cower in fear, but Tony was to worked up to care. "Oh, Screw You Old Man! I'm not going to stop seeing him just because 'you say so', and I'm going to tell him!"

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am!"

"No. You're not!"

"YES! I! AM!"

"I'll put him away Tony!" Howard hadn't meant to say it. He had really hoped to avoid having to use that as a threat all together, but the Omega was giving him a spectacular migraine and it just slipped out.

Tony was taken aback by this sudden shift in their argument. He was not prepared for his father to say that, but once he had it was as if something inside him had snapped and he felt compelled to submit no matter how reluctantly. "What?" He asked hesitantly.

"You heard what I said Tony, I'll put him away." Now that he had said it Howard was actually slightly pleased with himself for having unbalanced his son so effortlessly. He had always been to outspoken, and impetuous for an Omega anyway. Of course, he was sure it was partially his own fault for encouraging him to push boundaries and to be an independent thinker.

"You can't–" Tony said warily. His hands now hanging limply at his sides, all the fight drained out of him.

"I can, and I will." Howard replied curtly, "You're sixteen years old, a minor, and my responsibility. Steve is eighteen, a legal adult, and I can very easily make the case that he took advantage of a minor in heat, and have him put away for Statutory Rape."

Tony stood gapping at his father.

"Now, you're going to sit your butt down, and you're going to do as I say."

The Omega complied unwillingly. He had a hard time getting his knees to bend at first, but once they did he all but collapsed onto the love seat.

Satisfied that Tony was at last listening to him Howard continued, "Now, you will not be telling anyone that you're pregnant. You will be able to hide it pretty easily these first few months seeing as you wont start to show until around the fourth or possibly even fifth month, which will be around March. Now, once that happens some bigger, looser clothes should be enough to hide whatever amount of bulge you get through the remainder of the school year."

Tony didn't respond. He didn't know what to say or do anymore.

Taking his silence for assent Howard went on, "As of this moment you are not to see Steven again. Unless of course you wish for him to go to prison." Howard picked up a file folder that had been sitting on the little table next to his chair. Flicking through the contents he pulled a group of papers out and held them out to Tony.

The Omega took them and when Howard didn't elaborate he skimmed through them. When he realized what he was reading he stopped and read the documents very carefully. "This is–"

It was a little after four when a pick up pulled into the Rogers' driveway. Phil had been able to get all the appropriate signatures, stamps, seals, and copies he had needed before two thirty. He had delivered Howard's copies to his home at three - just before Tony had gotten home from school - and was now sitting in his car outside of the Rogers residence where he had been waiting for the last thirty five minutes.

He had tried the doorbell when he had first arriving at the residence only to be greeted with no answer for five minutes as he stood on the doorstep. Retreating to the warmth of his car, Phil waited patently for his intended quarry to return home.

The Lawyer watched as a blonde boy emerged from the passenger side of the truck, proceeded to chat with the driver for a quick moment before closing the door, and turning to the house.

The truck backed out of the driveway as the young man who fit the description Howard had given him of Steven Rogers entered the house.

Once the truck had turned down the next street, and Mr. Rogers had pushed the door closed behind him, the Lawyer emerged from his vehicle, sunglasses firmly fixed upon his face along with a meaningful expression.

Phil knocked, waiting less then a minute before the door was pulled open again.

The Lawyer noted that the young Alpha was just slightly taller then he was himself and with far more muscle density. Of course, he had his trustily taser with him, locked and loaded, and at the ready just in case, which could drop a man twice his size. "Mr. Steven Rogers?" He asked sternly.

Steve had answered the door with a genuinely sweet smile that vanished almost instantly upon laying eyes on Phil. At the other man's question the young Alpha eyed the severe looking man before answering in the affirmative.

"I am Phil Coulson, representing The SHIELD Law Firm, I have some papers for you today." He held out the stack of documents he had been holding to Steve.

Not thinking, but responding on instinct Steve took the proffered papers from the intimidating man in front of him.

"You have been served." Phil quipped out, and before Steve had had a chance to register what had just happened the Lawyer turned on his heel and quickly walked down the shoveled drive back to his car.

Steve stood in the doorway dumbfounded. "Wait, what?" He called after the Lawyer, but it was to late, Phil was already in his car and pulling away.

Not knowing what else to do Steve stepped back inside, closing the door behind him. Once inside the warmth of the house he crossed to the kitchen and sat at the table where he had been spreading out his homework before Mr. Coulson had knocked.

Looking over the papers Steve found that they were defiantly legal documents, signed and stamped with a Judge's seal. As he read through the pages his eyes grew wide, his breath hitched in his throat, and his chest tightened unbearably as his pulse quickened, his heartbeat thudding loudly in his ears.

When he had reread each and every line three times he scrambled out of his chair, sending it crashing to the floor in his haste to throw on his riding jacket and gloves. Snatching up the keys from off the peg by the back door, Steve quickly crossed to the garage, hastily grabbing up his helmet and crammed it onto his head before ripping the cover off his motorcycle.

It started on the second try - after having sat for the last two months - and he took off down the drive and up the street, not realizing that he had left the garage door wide open.

The temperature was well below freezing, and the winter air cut at the small amounts of exposed flesh around his wrists and ankles. His legs felt as if they were being shredded by dull knives as the icy wind rushed across his khaki's which provided little protection, all because he hadn't taken the appropriate amount of time or consideration to cover himself up or put on the correct gear.

The normally ten minute trip to Bucky's house was made in five - as he broke every posted speed limit, wove recklessly in and out of traffic, and even ran a red light to get there as quickly as possible -, but felt like an eternity.

Bucky had heard the unmistakable sound of Steve's engine as it came down the street, and immediately knew something was wrong. The other Alpha never rode the motorcycle in the dead of winter, it was way to much of a risk in the cold.

Steve through himself off the bike and dove for the front door, he didn't even have enough time to reach for the bell before the door was ripped open. Bucky stood framed in the doorway as he hurled himself at his friend, clutching onto him desperately.

Bucky was nearly knocked off his feet as 200 lbs of solid muscle crashed into him. If he hadn't had as much or more muscle mass and an additional 20 lbs - as well as being the offensive tackle for the football team - on his friend, the quarter back could have very easily knocked him straight to the ground. As it was, the blonde caught him around his waist, but instead of throwing him to the ground he collapsed boneless against him.

"Steve?! What the hell man? I just dropped you off fifteen minutes ago. What the fuck were you doing coming over here on your bike? Do you know how cold it is out there? Did you wear gloves? Where are your riding pants? Let me look at you, did you get frost bite?"

The brunette only got unintelligible gibberish, and disconjointed pieces of sentences as a response through the blonde's helmet as it pressed his face into the other boys chest.

A cold breeze reminded Bucky that they where still standing in the open doorway and he pulled Steve up under his armpits and draped his arms over his shoulders so he could manipulate them around and close the door.

Once the cold was locked back outside Bucky was able to pry Steve off him and get the other boy to take his helmet off. He looked a wreck, his face was ashen, his eyes watery and on the verge of tears, and an unattractive red colored the sides of his cheeks down to his neck.

"What the– Steve what happened?"

The blonde lunged at him again, grabbing his upper arms in a vice like grip. "I was... and then... Bucky... there was... and now–"

"Steve! What the fuck, man?"

"BUCKY!" Steve shouted, "What am I gonna do?"

Bucky gave him a quizzical look, "Steve, I don't know what the fuck you're talking about."

Steve let go of his best friend before taking a step back, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a crumpled mess of paper. He had shoved the documents into the front pocket of his riding jacket none to carefully, and now they were an uneven, crinkly mess.

Thrusting them into the other Alpha's chest, Steve crossed to the living room where he proceeded to crumple into Bucky's favorite La-Z-Boy.

Bucky followed his friend and sat on the sofa next to the chair as he pondering his strange behavior. Smoothing out the wrinkled paper, he only got through the first page before he looked up flabbergasted, "This is–"

Steve nodded, he's eyes closed, arms hanging over either side of the arm rests, as he sat slumped in the chair, a single tear running down his pale cheek.

"A Restraining Order."

Notes:

I'm sorry, please don't kill me guys I love you all.

Chapter 5 will discuss a little bit more of the timeline of the pregnancy, as well as explore how Tony and Steve handle dealing with their forced separation.