No one seemed to be moving at all. Both parties staring at each other and the only sound in the room was of Peter babbling in his father's arms. Finally, Pepper gathered herself and cleared her throat.
"We thought your mission lasts for another month? " She tried smiling bit Natasha looked at her with a serious expression and gritted her teeth.
"Yeah. Come back after a month to give you enough time to tell us you both adopted a baby." Her glare shifted back to Stark who narrowed his eyes at her.
"Not adopted, Widow. He is mine." Tony, at another time, might have been passive about him saying so but he was just so proud to have Peter, he didn't care. He shifted Peter in his arms feeling that he was getting uncomfortable.
"Yours! Tony, you can't have a kid. You are Ironman and you would be putting his life in danger. There are people out there who want to kill you, you know that, Right?" Steve took a step forward trying to make the man understand but the heat of his gaze made him stop dead.
"Let's get one thing straight here because I am not going to repeat it ever. This is my son and he is not a dog I decide whether I get to keep or not. I will not be even considering the idea of giving him away because I don't want him to grow without a family. And before you ask, I can't give him back to his mother because-" Tony didn't realize his voice was raising until Peter let out a soft cry and hid his face in the crook of his neck making him take a deep breath and calm himself down.
Lowering his voice in mere whispers, but everyone could hear him clearly. "Mary worked for Oscorps, a front face for HYDRA, not knowing the actual deal. They had her and fellow scientists working on genetic mutations between animals and humans before they realized what was happening. By that time she was already 8 months pregnant. She came to the tower and she gave me my kid." Tony looked at his teams mates who were stunned into silence before continuing. "Last week she died in a 'plane crash'. She asked me to take care of him and I am going to. I don't need your permission to 'keep him'." Tony wanted to turn around and walk away dramatically but some part of him (definitely new part of him) made him stay back and finish the damn conversation.
It was Bruce who finally spoke. "Whats his name?" stepping closer to the father and son, smiling as the baby looked up after having chew on his father's expensive suit. Tony smiled at his kid and rubbed his back soothingly.
"This is Peter Benjamin Stark. He is 4 months old in a week." Tony caressed his cheek affectionately making Peter giggle before grabbing his tie and stuffing it into his mouth.
"No... No. That's dirty, and you will get sick." Tony tried to pry it out of his hands but it only made him whine. He looked at Pepper who looked much relieved that she had been when she got out of the elevator. Tony gave her a look and she snapped out of her daze.
"Ah! Yes, the medicines. I will have someone get them." She hurried towards the elevator once again making a face at Tony who smirked back at her.
"He is sick?" Clint finally spoke from where he sat and Tony sighed deeply before slogs towards the couches himself, sitting next to Sam.
"He is teething." Letting Peter chew on his tie and made him sit straight in his lap. Sam leaned in closer, a small smile on his face and hmmed. "He totally has your eyes and nose." Tony smiled a tired smile and groaned feeling his fatigue take over. "Tired, Stark?" Clint smirked at him making Tony glare back but not say anything.
"Spider-monkey's favorite playtime is midnight." Tony pulled his son's ears softly making him giggle. He looked at the remaining teammates who seemed to have settled close to him or more like settled close to Peter.
Thor, who sat next to Steve managed to lower his voice as he leaned forward a little. "Man of iron seems to have changed since young Stark came in his life?"
"Well... I don't want to go all Howard on my kid." Tony's eyes were focused on Peter who made a face before he started coughing and his breathing became a little heavy. He coughed a few more times and whimpers and whines started making way out of him. Tony tried to soothe him by rocking but Peter continued to cry.
He was half aware of Clint leaving before he came back and took Peter out of his hands and settling him in his lap. Clint handed Peter a spoon and as if that was what he wanted he put it in his mouth and started chewing.
"His gums are hurting, it makes babies cranky so you give them cold things but since he is coughing you don't want to agitate his throat so give him a cold spoon." Clint rubbed the baby's back and smiled at him when he clenched some shirt in his tiny hand to sit more stable.
"How was the mission?" Tony looked back at Natasha, who still looked not so sure about the baby but her features were softer than he has ever seen her with.
"A success. It was easy, the terrorists were untrained, HYDRA base was half secured and we got the files we needed. Really easy." Natasha was sitting the farthest from Peter who somehow had Thor's Cape in his hand and still chewing on the spoon. Peter looked at his dad and started squirming in Clint's hold, whining and raising one hand towards him as he let the spoon drop from his hands. Tony smiled at him and took him in his hands, the smile turning into a concerned frown when Peter coughed and buried his head in his fathers shoulders letting out a tired yet agitated whine.
Tony sighed and rubbed his back, getting up from the couch and took Peter to the kitchen with him. Dropping the spoon in the sink he took out his milk bottle before warming up the milk for him. He heard the team follow and saw them settle on the kitchen island while Rhodes came back with Peter's favorite blanket making Tony smirk at him.
"Hey, don't give me that look. Your son loves this blanket more than he loves you." He rolled his eyes and Tony scoffed. "No, he does not. Peter loves his Dada more than any thing in this world." Tony lifted Peter up above his head making his giggle and squeal in delight. The team smiled looking at the father and son but were still somewhat shocked about how different Tony was now. Pepper finally came back and Tony pointed in her direction making Peter's head turn to look. "Look buddy, mama is here with your medicines. Now you will be all better in no time." Tony smiled at Pepper who chuckled a little.
She grabbed the baby spoon and opened the bottle after shaking it, and giving Peter a spoon-full making sure he took it all in and kissed his cheek when he make a face at the taste. She took him from Tony's arms and smiled at the team before raising his chubby little arm and waving. "Say Bye bye to your uncles and aunts Pete." Peter just yawned in response but the smile on everyone's face being referred as uncle and aunt were worth it.
Tony sighed and shared a look with Rhodes before he spoke. "If anyone of you tries to steal Peter from me, I will kill you and I absolutely mean it."