Chapter 8

"This place looks great," Pepper gushed when she came to visit a full three weeks after Tony left the Tower. The Avengers hadn't gone on any missions in that time, in fact, no one had heard from them. There was beginning to be murmurings in the press about the team ditching Tony, but nothing substantial. Aside from the pending lawsuit to determine custody of the pups, there hadn't been any contact with anyone inside the Tower.

Tony was both glad and depressed for a multitude of reasons.

"Thanks," Tony preened at the praise. He hugged his friends and kissed Cassandra on the cheek before inviting them into the living room.

"How's being a pregnant Omega?" Tony asked when they were all settled, "Any cravings?"

"Goddess, don't talk to me about food," Cassandra moaned, looking a little green.

Tony grimaced in sympathy. "Morning sickness?"

"All day sickness."

"Sorry."

"What are you apologising for? You didn't get me knocked up."

"You're right," Tony pointed at Pepper and Happy, "Apologise to your Omega."

"We do. Constantly," Happy winced, "Last time she threw a towel at my head."

"Well, at least you're good for target practice," Tony quipped then turned to Cassandra, "Are you okay? Is there something I can get you? Wanna lie down?"

"I'd love a lie down after that long trip," Cassandra gratefully rose to her feet and went upstairs to the room Tony had made up for the Pride.

When she was gone, Tony turned to the Alphas and glared at them, "You shouldn't have come if she was so sick. I would have understood."

"She insisted," Happy defended, "Then she threw a pillow at us when we tried to argue."

Tony snickered, "Hormones. Glad I didn't have to live through that. It's bad enough I got these." He gestured to his chest. It was slowly shrinking as his body moved past the phase of needing to supply milk to the pups. They were almost exclusively on soft food things now.

"They'll be gone before you know it," Pepper waved it away.

Tony sniffed at the glib response then they sat in a companionable silence. The only sounds were the occasional muttering coming through on the baby monitor and the whir of the electronics in the room.

"How are things in New York?" Tony hadn't meant to ask the question, but it had somehow slipped out and he discovered he was desperate to know.

Pepper and Happy glanced at each other then leant closer to Tony. Happy spoke first, "Actually, we have some news." He looked to Pepper to continue and moved to sit on Tony's other side, as if protecting him.

"Yesterday, Dr Strange contacted us," Pepper stated, "He took Maximoff into custody. He said her magical talents weren't natural, it was engineered. We're assuming Hydra, considering where she was found. Her magic has been stripped from her or compressed maybe, Strange was a bit unclear. He's holding her in some phantom prison for magic wielders."

Tony blew out a sharp breath, realising he'd been holding his breath. "She can't use her powers anymore?" He decided to skip over the whole "phantom prison" thing for the moment.

"No. Strange has her completely cut off from her bastardised magic," Pepper paused. "Maximoff is in a cell, awaiting interrogation. Strange will get her to spill her secrets when he gets back. He took the Avengers away to wherever it is the sorcerers all live. He said something about how they needed cleansing."

Tony swallowed at the mention of his former courting Alphas. He pushed the anxiety away and focused on what he could handle, "She can't escape?"

"From what I understand, her prison isn't even in this world. There's no way she can get out and try to hurt you again," Pepper's eyes were soft and compassionate. She squeezed his hand and Tony gripped onto it like a lifeline.

Should he feel glad? He was in a way. Glad that Maximoff was no longer a threat. That she would pay for her crimes. He was also pissed, because just thinking about her brought back all the horror of missing time and wondering what had happened during those weeks he still couldn't remember.

About the Avengers? He wasn't sure what was real. Had Maximoff truly forced them to turn on him? Or had that been their true selves, forced to the surface? Were the words they spouted truth or lies? He didn't want to know for sure, didn't think he could handle it if they truly thought of him that way.

So, maybe he did know what he was feeling. But it was a whole mess of things he didn't know how to untangle or deal with.

"There's something else." Pepper eyed him warily as if unsure she should continue but when Tony arched a brow she took that as a sign to continue. "SHIELD took James Barnes into custody last week."

"What?" Tony wasn't sure if he should be relieved the brainwashed former-assassin was safe under lock and key or outraged that dear old Nick Fury hadn't told him.

It's the Captain America thing all over again! They didn't tell me when they found and dethawed Steve now they haven't told me about Barnes.

"Barnes was spotted loitering around the Tower. Coulson took him in before the Avengers could spot him and they've had him in recovery since then. He was malnourished and confused but otherwise okay. He's getting care for his…mental injuries but Director Fury wants you to come up with something to help him if you can."

"Why didn't Nick ask me himself?"

"Because he's a drama queen who likes cloak and dagger stuff," Pepper replied breezily. She winked at Tony's startled laugh, "He's going to call tomorrow and talk to you about it."

Tony nodded slowly, staring through his friends for several long minutes. They stared back, waiting.

"I'm going to go up and check on the pups," Tony murmured and fled to the nursery without looking at his friends.

He sat in the rocking chair, watching his slumbering pups. They would wake soon, demand food, and he would have to set up all the highchairs and bibs. He did a lot of cleaning. He was also considering moving the nursery downstairs until the pups could climb the stairs on their own.

Handling ten growing pups on his own had been so much easier when they were little.

When the first pup began to stir, Tony stood and picked them up. It was Aaron. He swallowed at the familiar blue eyes and blonde hair. The pup smiled up at him, gummy and happy. He smiled back, "How's my sweet boy?" Aaron flung his hands up and squealed, waking several of his siblings who grumbled at the sudden awakening. "You're very loud. That's good. It means you'll always be heard."

*** Page Break ***

Tony used the extra hands he had around the house to score some alone time. The pups were in the living room with Pepper and her mates. They would be well entertained for a while, so Tony snuck up to his room and flopped onto his unmade bed.

He stared up at the ceiling and tried to sort out everything in his head. He'd always dealt best with numbers and facts. They were a cold comfort but at least they didn't lie. He started to list everything:

Fact 1: Maximoff was locked up where she could never hurt anyone. She was powerless according to the Sorcerer Supreme. Even after such a short meeting, Tony knew Strange could match him for arrogance, so he was inclined to believe the man.

Tony wished her a slow roast in Hell for all that he knew she'd done. And he was filled with a sick certainty that she had done much more than he knew about. Bringing him to Fact 2: The Avengers were now free of her influence and receiving care with the sorcerers.

This second certainty led to more questions than answers though. How much of their last encounter had been Maximoff's influence? All of it? Just some of it? Did they even remember what had happened?

More importantly, could they ever get back to what they had?

Tony scrubbed his hands over his face with a deep sigh. He needed to focus on what he knew for now. Guessing was just making his head hurt. He would eventually find closure to all his questions, he would just have to wait. No matter how much he hated waiting.

Fact 3: Barnes was in custody. He would receive care and hopefully get better.

The man had murdered his parents. The hunt for the assassin had led to Hydra bases and information dumps. It was a complicated mess and Tony was still untangling all the knots. And that was just about Tony's feelings towards the man. There was a whole other tangled web where Steve was concerned.

He wasn't sure if he could ever face the man himself. Could have any sort of positive relationship with him. But they shared a child together, a fact Barnes didn't know about. Tony had to decide if he was going to tell Barnes, and what they would do after.

Problems for another day.

Fact 4: His pups were happy and growing well. Tony and his pups were flourishing in their new home.

Tony would eventually be found by the press. Not his address because he knew better now. But he would have to resurface for Stark Industries business. Or Avengers business. Or any number of things. He couldn't stay hidden forever.

Fact 5: The lawsuit was still pending. Though the Avengers were tucked away in their little corner of the world, the lawyers they'd hired were working in their stead. Tony had received contact from his own lawyers about how things were progressing. It was another issue with the Avengers that raised more questions than answers.

Was the lawsuit a Maximoff-inspired thing, or their true intent? Would it go away when the Avengers came back? Did they even realise what was going on? What damage would be done before the dust settled?

Fact 6: He still had T'Challa and Thor.

T'Challa had been in contact every day and Tony had finally agreed to let the Wakandan visit him. The king would be flying in the day after next. Thor was still incommunicado, but Tony was hopeful this visit would sort out everything once and for all.

Fact 7: No matter what happened, Tony still had Pepper and Rhodey. Pepper had her Pride of Happy and Cassandra and their unborn pup, or pups. Rhodey was seeing someone new, an Omega male named Sam. Tony had heard about this younger man over the past few months and finally Rhodey was giving in and letting him meet the family.

Tony was family whether this newcomer liked it or not. And he would make sure Sam knew it and accepted it. Also, it was his duty as Rhodey's brother to check that the prospective partner was good enough. Rhodey had done that every time Tony brought a date home, and Tony was now relishing the opportunity for some payback. Bring on the awkward stories, Tony would have his revenge.

"Tony, Vanessa, or maybe Alexis, is trying to climb the curtains again."

With a sigh, Tony returned to his full-time job of keeping his munchkins in line…and on the floor. Natasha's ninja gene must have been hereditary. This was the third time they'd tried out their climbing skills. If he didn't know better, he'd wonder if they were Clint's.

*** Page Break ***

T'Challa came by helicopter and landed on the back lawn. Well, technically, it was the back lawn of the property behind Tony's house but seeing as he'd bought it to expand, that was mere semantics.

The Wakandan arrived without his sister which Tony was grateful for. The less people he had to entertain the better.

As soon as he saw Tony, T'Challa's face lit up in a mushy grin. He held his arms open and Tony couldn't help leaping into the Alpha's strong embrace.

"It's good to see you, Tony," the Alpha murmured into Tony's hair.

Tony tried to reply in kind, but his throat closed and made talking difficult. He settled for burying his face in the Alpha's neck and inhaling the king's unique musk.

As if sensing Tony's turmoil, T'Challa carried him back to the house without another word. Pepper and Happy slipped out to grab T'Challa's belongings and place them in the room next to Tony's, giving them some privacy while Cassandra watched over the pups.

Without prompting, Tony started to tell T'Challa everything. All about Maximoff and the Avengers, his decision to move and finished with Barnes' confinement with SHIELD.

"I am sorry you are hurting," T'Challa murmured softly. That was it but somehow it was enough. Tony relaxed and let go of a fear he hadn't even realised he'd harboured. That T'Challa would follow the others and relinquish his courtship.

"I'm sorry you've stumbled into this mess," Tony mumbled into the king's shirt.

"I am not sorry about that," T'Challa denied, "I am proud to be here by your side. Whatever mess you may be in."

A weak chuckle burst from Tony. "So, what made you go home, anyway?"

"I had some business to sort out with my sister and our mother."

"I didn't know you had a mom."

"How do you think babies are made?"

"Ha-ha. Not what I meant."

"I'm sure you will meet her one day. She does not leave Wakanda and is still in mourning for my father. But she looks forward to meeting you and Matthew. Perhaps when he is better suited to travel we will go there."

"Until then there's always Skype."

"Of course."

"So, did you sort out your business?"

"I did."

"Are you going to tell me about it?"

A pause. "Very well." T'Challa cleared his throat. "I have forfeited my right to the crown and relinquished my duties as king to my sister who is now queen of Wakanda."

A much longer pause while Tony silently tried to figure out what his lover had just said. Slowly he leant back and gazed up at T'Challa who stared back calmly.

"You're no longer the king?"

"No."

"But you love being king!"

"I love my people. But I also love my son, and you."

Tony was silent, though not for lack of trying. There was a lot of sputtering and aborted sentences while T'Challa waited for him to gather his thoughts.

"You're not the king?"

"We have already established that."

"Why?"

"We have established that as well. My people may be advanced in some ways, but they are archaic in others. They will not welcome a foreigner on the throne beside the king. However, beside the prince, they will not mind so much. I will not expose you to their disdain by making you live there. Nor could I with a Pride as large as the one courting you. We would not be happy there. Thus, it was clear I had to leave if I wanted to make a life with you work."

Tony could only gape at the king – former king! – who had just declared his love for him by giving up ruling a country.

"That's a big commitment. Staking all your hopes and dreams on me."

"I believe it to be a wise move. My happiness and love already lie with you."

Aww!

Tony giggled helplessly and buried his face in T'Challa's chest again. "You're staying."

"Yes."

"Forever".

"Yes."

"Wow."

"Appropriate."

Another giggle, this one giddy. He threw his arms around T'Challa and drew the bigger man in for a kiss. The royal had certainly earned a lot of brownie points with this stunt.

*** Page Break ***

The court date Tony had been dreading arrived far too quickly and went as horribly as he'd thought it would.

Thankfully, it hadn't been leaked to the press that four of the Avengers were suing their Omega teammate for full custody of the pups they shared. Tony had paid everyone a healthy amount to keep it quiet and deleted all digital footprints. He didn't touch the original documents, but he made sure only the correct people could view them.

The Avengers still weren't back from their siesta with the magic people, so Tony was left to face the lawyers instead of his former lovers. It was a cold, frustrating meeting full of sharks. By the time it was over, Tony was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep as soon as T'Challa got him back to the hotel they'd booked. Pepper and her Pride were babysitting the pups until Tony returned which had been a huge relief. He didn't want his pups anywhere near this mess.

In the morning, Tony sat by the window and stared at the Tower. Of course, he'd been given a room with that view. It was like it was haunting him.

"Good morning," T'Challa curled in behind him.

"They're going to take my pups," Tony whispered, feeling numb.

"No. We will fight them, and we will win." T'Challa sounded so confident. Tony wished he felt the same.

They sat in silence for several minutes. It started to rain, fitting Tony's mood.

"I was happy here, once." He murmured, more to himself, "I was happy with them."

T'Challa tightened his arms.

"Now, I just want to leave as soon as possible. Keep my kids from this place."

"Our flight leaves soon. We will be home soon enough."

"But I'll have to come back."

"There are always things we must do that we do not wish to."

Tony sighed, "Damn the logic."

T'Challa kissed his head. "We'll pack, have breakfast, and leave. We will go home."

"Home," Tony rolled the word around in his mouth, "That sounds fantastic.

Just as they were leaving the hotel lobby, a news item appeared on the TV. Tony saw their faces and he froze. The Avengers looked haggard, but they put on their usual press smiles and made it past the horde of reporters surrounding the Tower.

He heard the questions being thrown at the team and wanted to be sick. They were asking about Tony and the pups, if their relationship was still on, where they had been for the past month or so. The list went on and on. Speculation was beginning to run riot. Tony checked his phone and found a missed call from Pepper. As he was wondering if he should call her back, it rang again. Swallowing his apprehension, he answered.

"Tony, have you seen the news?" Pepper's voice sounded concerned rather than panicked which was a good sign.

"Yeah, I just saw them return to the Tower."

"Are you still coming home?"

"Yes." No deliberation. He was not staying in New York.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Pepper sighed. "Okay. That footage you're watching is actually from yesterday morning. Strange just contacted me and let me know. He's been trying to locate me but as I was out of town he had to track me down here."

"So now the magician knows where I live."

"He's not a magician and yes, he does."

"Fine. I'll see you in a few hours. Gotta go, Pep."

Without waiting for an answer, Tony hung up then turned and left the hotel. He sensed T'Challa at his back and was confident in the Alpha's ability to keep up. He didn't look at the Tower as he left New York once again. Unlike the last time he'd fled the city, he wasn't worried about being too weak to leave it behind.

*** Page Break ***

Things with T'Challa were going well. He was an attentive mate, a very generous lover, and someone Tony was quickly falling in love with. It wasn't just Matthew holding them together anymore. The prince had admitted on the plane from New York how he had designed some jewellery for Tony as a courting gift.

As the Alpha, T'Challa was traditionally required to supply the Omega he was courting with a gift that demonstrated his ability to provide. Once, that would have meant an extravagant feast or perhaps a home, now it usually meant a significant gift that showcased how much the Alpha had paid attention to the Omega's tastes.

Tony wasn't ashamed to admit that he had a fondness for shiny things. His own armour was a testament to that. So, when T'Challa presented a necklace made of gold with a ruby inset within the centre, he was both amused and thrilled. Most people went with silver for a courting gift, saving gold for the actual mating ceremony. T'Challa wasn't most people though. He was a proud, able male who was quite happy to rebel against tradition.

A trait he clearly shared with Tony.

Tony now wore the necklace as often as he could. Around the babies it was impractical seeing as they were at the age where they made grabby hands for everything. But when he went out for dinner with the Alpha, he proudly displayed the jewellery. And it was on the front page the next day.

"Well, they found me," Tony groaned upon seeing the headlines over his morning coffee. Now that he wasn't breastfeeding, he could return to his supply of lifeblood.

"It was inevitable," T'Challa remarked. "At least they do not know your address. However, now that your general location has been announced, you can be sure the Avengers will be on their way."

"Well, I have the paperwork that says they're not allowed near me until the custody dispute is settled," Tony growled. Just the thought of the team arriving at his haven, his home, was enough to set his teeth on edge. His Omega was both livid at the threat and flattered by the thought of being pursued.

Slutty inner voice.

"Their lawyers do not know where you are, any correspondence goes through Stark Industries and JARVIS, so they will not discover your location that way," T'Challa tried to soothe.

"They'll probably go to the old place, if they come." Tony wasn't convinced they would. "Then maybe they'll be arrested for trespassing."

T'Challa snorted, "My vengeful Omega. Your spirit pleases me."

"Just remember that the next time I snap at you for dragging me from my coffee," Tony drawled as he sipped on his second mug of nirvana.

"I have learnt my lesson," T'Challa's eyes twinkled with humour. "Never will I dare to come between you and your caffeinated beverage. I have seen wild animals with less ferocity than you displayed."

Tony smirked and took another sip.

After cleaning up the pups and settling them all into the living room for some playtime, Tony was prepared to spend the day with his growing youngsters. Until a phone call ended that moment of contentment.

"Tony, I'm sorry," Pepper's voice sounded harried, immediately setting Tony's nerves on edge.

"Pepper, what's wrong?" Had something happened to Cassandra? Wait, she'd said sorry to him.

"Tony, they know where you are," Pepper sounded close to tears.

Tony's blood ran cold. "They know? How?"

"Thor returned last night. Apparently, he got into a rage when he found you were gone and why. He, pardon the pun, but he stormed out after coming here. He was really upset. I'm not sure if he was pissed at you, or me, or them. Before he left he said he knew how to find you, something about following you because he could track Storm, and the rest of the Avengers left with him. They're on their way to you."

As if Pepper's warning was a portent of doom told too late, the sky darkened rapidly outside. Thunder rumbled, and lightning slashed across the suddenly cloudy world outside. The pups shrieked at the loud noise. All but Storm who laughed merrily and kicked his feet, reaching his little hands up to the ceiling.

T'Challa joined Tony at the window. "They're here?"

"Yep."

"What do you want to do?"

Tony bit his lip. In truth, there wasn't much he could do. If the Avengers wanted to break down his door and snatch his pups away, they could. It was only T'Challa and Tony standing in their way and any fight could result in harm to the pups. Something Tony would not allow.

"They seem to want a conversation." Tony spoke calmly while inside he was shaking, "Might as well let them in."

In a bizarre moment of déjà vu, Tony went to the kitchen and prepared drinks. Unlike before, it was coffee instead of juice. His hands still shook though.

A loud knocking made his pulse jump. He took a deep fortifying breath and made his way to the front door. He sensed T'Challa behind him and was glad he was there. JARVIS murmured he would watch the pups.

Tony yanked open the door and his heart – that traitorous organ – leapt at the sight of his other five mates. Four of which were former and one of which was currently undetermined. They looked haggard. All wearing civilian clothes, except for Thor who looked like he hadn't gotten cleaned up from being spat out of the portal.

Before they could say anything, Tony blurted out, "You're not supposed to be here. I have paperwork that says you're not to come within fifty feet of me until the court case is over."

They all looked shocked, taken aback. Thor looked confused.

"Tony…" Steve started, then stopped. He seemed to search Tony's face then glanced away.

"Why are you here?" Tony asked, cool and calm.

"We…um…it seems like we just came back from a mission and sometime during the night…everything went to shit!" Clint wasn't very articulate, but he seemed to sum it up for the others who bobbed their heads in agreement.

"Yes, you picked up a parasite on that last mission," Tony drawled. "Her name was Wanda Maximoff."

"She was Hydra, but she tricked us, played the victim until we were close, then she just…" Natasha looked shaken. Haunted. Tony felt a stirring of sympathy and wondered if she was reminded of her time from the Red Room.

"Yes, she fucked with your heads," Tony nodded once, "How much do you remember?"

"None of it," Steve admitted, "Our last memories are of approaching Wanda, then waking up with a sorcerer standing over us."

"That's it?" Tony was almost incredulous. Almost. Because he had lost two weeks, give or take. "You lost a month?"

They all nodded, except for Thor who was glancing between them all with intense concentration.

An awkward moment of silence then Tony reluctantly offered, "You might as well come in and have coffee."

"You can't -" Steve hesitated as if just remembering how much time he'd lost. What that meant.

Tony didn't respond, just led them inside to the kitchen where the coffee was still warm thanks to JARVIS. They all sat around the table, sipping at their coffee and Tony didn't fail to notice that T'Challa placed himself between Tony and the others. He wouldn't be surprised if the prince had a weapon on him somewhere.

"You hurt me." The words were out before Tony realised he was going to say them. Five sets of eyes flew to him. "You don't remember that."

They all shook their heads. Bruce looked a little green around the edges, but he somehow held himself in check. Steve looked gutted. Natasha closed herself off and Clint looked about to cry.

"You ignored me in favour of her. You criticised and belittled me or just plain ignored me." Tony's remembered rage and frustration was building. "Finally, you just outright hurt me. Relinquished your courtships and started the process of suing me for full custody of the pups."

If anything, Tony's words made them all look worse. A part of Tony hoped they were hurting as much as he had. Another part was just tired. He didn't want to fight them. His real anger was with Maximoff and she wasn't around to take his ire.

He sighed and rubbed his neck. T'Challa's hand cupped his cheek and he leant in to the contact.

They sat in depressing silence for long minutes.

"Are you still going to sue me for the pups?" Tony couldn't hold onto the question any more. He had to know.

"No." Absolutely no hesitation.

"Good, so that's one issue off the table," Tony felt wrung out and he'd only been sitting in silence for five minutes. "Now what?"

No one seemed to have an answer.

Tony looked to T'Challa and met the warm, gaze of his lover. The calm expression on the royal's face said it was all Tony's choice. They'd talked about what would happen when they finally confronted the Avengers. It hadn't taken as long as they'd thought to come face to face with them, but the conclusion of that conversation remained the same.

"I can't say I'll forgive you," Tony murmured, not looking at any of them, "Or that I'll forget. It's not something I can easily move past." He took a deep breath and finally looked up, he met their eyes, "But I'm willing to try. If you are."

Eager nods all around. Tony quirked his lips in a ghost of a smile. It was a start.

*** Page Break ***

If forgiveness was easy, the world would be a much better place. Tony came to this epiphany less than a day after allowing the Avengers to stay in his home.

He found himself flinching when they got too close, a fact he knew they noticed but hadn't yet commented on. He watched them closely whenever they interacted with the pups where before he had been more than happy to have them around. Overall, he was nervous with them being around at all and knew his stress pheromones were stinking up the place. The pups were picking up on it, being fussy and uncooperative.

No one said anything for two more days then Steve approached Tony after breakfast.

"I don't think this is working," he murmured, staring at Tony with sad eyes, "I know you're trying, we all are, but it's clear you're uncomfortable with us being here and it's starting to affect the pups."

"That's all true, much as a I wish it wasn't," Tony returned bluntly, "But going away isn't going to fix anything."

"Maybe there's nothing left to fix," Steve's face grew melancholier as he spoke, "Maybe we broke all the good that we had before, and this is the only thing that's left."

"Listen," Tony held up his hand to stop Steve from speaking, "I watched my parents be cold and distant to each other and me. I watched them fight or and ignore each other when they could. I watched them hate each other with the kind of silent resentment only the truly hateful can pull off."

If anything, Steve looked fixed in his depression. He bowed his head as Tony continued.

"But I never once saw them try to change, I never saw them try at all." Tony shrugged, "Maybe we won't work, maybe what we had is forever gone, but I'll be damned if I don't at least try because I never want to treat any of you the way Howard and Maria treated each other. I never want our pups to hide around corners wondering if the fight is over, feeling stretched between two opposing sides. I want the kind of mushy, loving family I never had, and most of us never had either. So, I'm going to try and salvage what I can, but I can't do it alone. That's almost worse then none of us trying."

Steve looked up and there were tears in his eyes. Tony reached out and wiped them away without hesitation. The first time he'd initiated contact without prompting or consideration.

"Thank you." Steve stood and brushed a kiss across Tony's cheek then left the kitchen.

T'Challa appeared from the other door and wrapped Tony in his arms. "I will keep you safe. You need not fear them. You can move past this."

Tony nodded, feeling maybe a little optimistic.

Later that day it was Clint who approached him while he was doing laundry. Tony didn't have time for lab projects with all the daily chores around. Having others help him was a godsend but there was still a lot to do. Besides, being in the laundry room was solitary and calm. He focused on folding and washing and drying instead of on his pups, being watched over by the Alphas he was still uncertain about.

Clint slotted himself into the room and started handing things to Tony to fold. They remained in silence for several minutes, listening to the washing machine slosh around behind them.

"Steve suggested we should spend time with you one on one," Clint finally spoke up. "Since you're scared of us when we're together, maybe one at a time might help you become more comfortable with us."

Tony nodded in silent agreement but didn't take his eyes off the clothes in his hands.

"We played rock, paper, scissors and I won," there was none of Clint's usual bragging in his tone. Instead he sounded wary, like he was afraid of saying the wrong thing. Hearing Clint so cowed and scared reminded Tony of when they first met, when Clint was coming out from under Loki's mind control.

The parallels between Loki and Maximoff made Tony's heart clench. How terrified Clint must have felt to realise it had happened again. To have his mind played with and be unaware of what he was doing.

Without thinking, Tony turned and flung himself at the archer who caught him without hesitation. Tony wrapped his arms firmly around the Alpha's body and snuggled his face into a broad shoulder.

"I missed you," he murmured into the warm fabric. Clint's arms tightened around him and Tony felt the muscles in the archer's chest tremble as the Alpha buried his face in Tony's own shoulder. They were roughly the same height, so Tony reached up and petted Clint's hair. The trembling increased as Tony felt a wet patch soak through his shirt. He didn't say anything, just let Clint hold him and cry. His Omega sang with happiness that their Alpha was around again. That instinct-driven inner voice might be finally useful for something if it could help him get back his happy family.

He heard something at the door and moved his eyes to see the others all gathered in the doorway, looking hesitant and longing to approach.

Tony smiled gently, suddenly aware he was tearing up as well. He waved a hand at them and that was all the encouragement they needed. Suddenly the laundry room was filled with Alphas each trying to hug their Omega. They scented him and allowed Tony to scent them. They touched each other, affirming Pride bonds.

Is it really that easy?

Tony answered his own question as he was sandwiched between all his Alphas: it really is that easy.

He might just have to rethink his perceptions on Mondays. This one was shaping out to be not so bad after all.

The End

A/N: So here is where I end it for now. I was getting lost in all the ideas I wanted to put into the story and decided to pull the plug before I ruined it. Never fear, there will be a sequel. I'm not sure when but I will get to it eventually. I'm busy right now job searching but in my spare time I will hopefully answer all the questions remaining from this story. I hope you enjoyed this story.