"There was unusual brain activity, they still want to do some tests to see what it was but it wasn't a hemorrhage and there's no sign of a seizure," The doctor was saying, though Tony barely heard a word.

"He's…he's gonna be okay?" he asked, his throat dry as he sat at Steve's beside and held his hand.

The doctor frowned. "Mister Stark, with a body like Steve Rogers's, he should be okay already. We're not sure as to the cause of why he's not awake yet but he doesn't seem to be in pain any longer and the symptoms you described would indicate a fatal attack but as you can see he's alive and his brain seems to be working fine…more than fine, actually."

Tony frowned, squeezing Steve's hand. "So he's okay, just not waking up."

The doctor nodded, swallowing. "Yes. We…we will be doing further testing in an hour, if you wish to observe again."

Tony nodded and the woman left. He'd been involved in every single test they'd done on Steve since his arrival at Mercy General and refused to be more than two feet from him at all times. Nick had arrived shortly after Steve had been admitted and wanted to move him to a SHIELD facility but Tony had argued, so the SHIELD doctors were here instead.

He leaned back in his chair, sighing.

There was a knock and he turned, smiling as Bruce came inside. "Hey," he said, holding a cup of coffee.

Tony took it and whispered, "Thanks," taking a sip.

Bruce looked at Steve sadly. "No change, huh? I've been looking at the notes. It's…weird, right? I mean, you weren't doing anything that would have caused a seizure, so why…"

"It wasn't a seizure, the doctor has no idea what it was. We were just," he put down his cup and mumbled, "Talking."

Bruce smiled. "Talking loudly or just, " he made air quotes, "Talking?"

Tony smiled. "Talking loudly, kind of, but I was…it was," he sighed, "I wanted to make it work, Bruce. I…I understood it, he wants me and I want him why shouldn't we TRY? I didn't even get to tell him."

Tony wiped his eyes and Bruce put a hand on his shoulder. "Tony, it'll be okay. He's gonna wake up."

Tony brought Steve's hand to his lips and kissed it. "Any word from Skeletor?"

Bruce sighed. "No. He seemed kinda pissed when we told him Steve had an attack."

Tony stood then, stretching. "Well at least Steve got to piss him off, I'm sure he'll be thrilled."

Bruce smiled and looked at the clock. "It's getting late, you should go h…"

Tony glared at him. "I'm staying."

Bruce sighed. "Tony it's been twelve hours and he hasn't…I don't think he'd wake up without you here."

Tony leaned back in the chair and still held Steve's hand tightly. "I'm staying, Banner. You can go."

Nick and the others had gone several hours before with promises to return, and Bruce had been getting Tony food and interacting with the other doctors. He sighed, rubbing his temple. "You're killing me here, Stark."

Tony laughed. "What else is new?"

Bruce yawned. "I'm gonna go sleep downstairs. I'll have them bring up a cot or something for you. Good night."

Tony nodded once to him and said, "Thanks Bruce."

Bruce smiled and left him alone again. He laid his head on Steve's chest, closing his eyes as he listened to his heart beating. It sounded steadier now, faster, and it was the only reassuring thing that had happened in the past twelve hours he had to cling to.

He pulled his chair up to the bed and sat back down, not moving his head or opening his eyes.

Before long he was lulled to sleep by the sound of Steve's heart and the hope that it would keep on beating.

Tony woke to someone shaking his shoulder and he moaned, mumbling, "M'tired, leave me alone."

"Tony, wake up," Bruce said softly.

He opened his eyes and glared. "I'm comfortable here."

Bruce smiled sadly. "I thought you might want to sleep in a bed," he whispered, indicating a cot by the wall.

Tony groaned, letting go of Steve's hand and standing up to stretch. He stumbled over to the cot and lay down, sighing. "Thanks, Banner."

Bruce put a blanket over him and whispered, "Goodnight, Stark."

When he woke the second time it was because something was licking him. He moaned, trying to move it away but it protested, and when a hand went to the front of his jeans his eyes opened and he sat up so fast the other person in his bed fell off the cot tumbling to the floor.

"Ow," Steve mumbled from the ground, not moving.

Tony sat up, staring at him wide eyed. "You're awake."

Steve frowned at him. "And you're not a morning person."

Tony jumped on him then, attacking Steve's mouth vigorously and the tears on his face made Steve push him back. "Hey, hey, I'm okay," he whispered, touching Tony's face with a smile.

Tony shook his head. "I thought you were dying and I wanted to tell you I don't care that you can't remember me, I'll make new memories with you, I'll experiment till you get the others back, I don't give a flying FUCK anymore as long as we're together. Okay?"

Steve smiled, running his hand down Tony's cheek. "Okay…but is it okay that I do remember?"

Tony's mouth hung open and he froze.

Steve frowned. "Tony?"

Tony threw himself at him again and Steve moaned, their tongues licking and relearning each other's mouths until Tony had to pull back to breathe. He rested his forehead against Steve's and whispered, "You're not joking?"

Steve shook his head. "No, Tony, I don't do jokes very well. Remember? I'd never joke about this."

He pressed his lips to Tony's temple and Tony shuddered, closing his eyes. "I didn't think you ever would."

Steve pulled back then, kissing him softly. "It was all you. I don't know what you did, but when you did it I felt everything trying to come back at once and I couldn't even tell you but it hurt so badly I could only scream. I'm sorry I scared you."

Tony laughed. "Yeah, just a little."

Steve sighed, pulling him close and breathing him in. "Did you miss me?"

"Jesus, Steve, I couldn't even breathe without you."

Steve whispered, "I remember everything, even the things that happened when I couldn't remember," he laughed, "It's strange, like a movie I saw or something."

Tony lifted his head and frowned. "You remember all that stuff? When I…"

Steve put his hand on Tony's face. "You did what you could, Tony, I don't know that I could have survived losing you after I'd just finally had you. I'm so sorry you had to go through it all alone, I wish…"

Tony kissed him again and Steve moved his hips, rubbing them together through the fabric of Steve's hospital gown and Tony's jeans. Both men groaned and just when Tony was about to reach underneath Steve's gown a cough interrupted them.

"I see Steve's awake," Bruce said, amused.

Tony laughed and felt Steve blushing hot against his skin. He stood and held up his hand for Steve to do the same. They held hands and Tony leaned against him. "He's more than awake," he whispered.

Bruce's eyes widened. "You remember?"

Steve nodded. "The good and the bad. I remember getting kidnapped by the Red Skull and then the pain as the machine tore into my brain it…"

Tony squeezed his hand. "It's over now," he said with a sigh.

Bruce looked at the two of them and went to Steve, clapping him on the shoulder. "I'm so happy for the both of you, I…I know how hard it's been for Tony, how hard I've been on you and I…"

Steve shook his head. "No need to apologize. I fought trying to remember and then fought to remember, it…I never want to go through something like that again."

Tony mumbled, "You never will," making Steve smile.

"The doctor's going to want a look at you, but after that you look good enough to go home."

Steve went over to the hospital bed and lay back down, not surprised when Tony lay in front of him. He wrapped his arms around Tony and held him tightly. "I missed you," he whispered, kissing Tony's neck.

"I've been here the whole time."

Steve sighed. "I missed this, like it was that morning, it…I didn't even remember that morning but the whole time I kept feeling like something was missing and I know it was you."

Tony smiled, leaning his head back to look at him. "I know. I…I tried to have sex with another guy. Didn't work out."

Steve glared. "It better not have. Harold better…"

"Hank, actually," Tony said with a smile, "He's working in the robotic division of Stark Industries now. Nice kid."

Steve leaned in and bit his ear, making him yelp. "Any reason you chose to bring this up NOW? I was being really romantic."

Tony grinned back at him. "I know," he whispered, leaning up to catch Steve's lips, "I missed YOU so much."

Steve turned him on his back and their kiss progressed, both men grunting and rubbing against each other as their mouths moved. They were just about to get closer when another cough made Tony curse.

"Forgot you were in a hospital?" the doctor joked.

Tony sighed before turning to smile at her. "Kinda. Can he go now, doc?"

She smiled. "We just need to run some preliminary…"

Steve sighed. "I'm fine, my mind was just recalibrating and the pain was so intense that…"

The doctor folded her arms. "I wasn't aware you had a medical degree, Captain Rogers."

Steve blushed. "I don't, I just…we've been waiting so long," he mumbled.

She laughed. "I know. It won't be much longer. Come," she said.

Steve let go of Tony and went to stand, but the other man took his hand and grasped it firmly. "Just because you're YOU now doesn't mean I'm letting you out of my sight," Tony mumbled as they went off to do more tests.

The doctor didn't say a word, only smiled as she watched the two men walking hand in hand towards the testing area.

Steve frowned when they pulled up to his apartment. "Why are we here?"

Tony grinned, parking the car and hopping out. "I've barely been in your apartment, plus I really, really want to have sex in your bed. I think it's a territorial thing."

Steve laughed, opening his door and stepping out slowly, deliberately taking his time.

"COME ON! I don't have all day!" Tony pouted, crossing his arms.

Steve closed the door and stretched. "Sorry, being in the hospital makes me stiff."

Tony grinned. "Me too," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Steve laughed. "Jesus, you're relentless."

Tony grabbed his hand and pulled, "You love it," he said, kissing him softly before running ahead.

Steve sighed. "Yeah, I do."

Tony ran inside and Steve stopped, staring at the bike. Tony groaned. "C'mon Steve, I don't have all day!"

He ran his hand over the body and whispered, "It's beautiful Tony, I…"

Tony was quiet. "It got me through," he said simply, making Steve turn with tears in his eyes.

He grabbed him then, pulling Tony close and kissing him possessively, his hands digging in to Tony's arms hard enough to bruise. Tony groaned, pressing his lips against Steve's and whispering, "Want you inside of me, please," making Steve whimper and lift him suddenly into his arms, nearly breaking the door to get inside. He pressed Tony against the door and pulled on his jeans, ripping the seam and growling as they slid to the floor.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The scene I wrote as was is against the site's guidelines so I've posted it to my LJ and the editor for the site will not allow me to post a link though there is one in my author profile. My LJ name is kinneytaylor. There will be MANY scenes in this story I will have to do the same to, but I don't want to try and censor them into something more tame so this will have to do. Sorry.

Both men were breathing heavily and neither moved.

"I love you," Tony whispered, not opening his eyes.

Steve kissed the top of his head and said, "I love you too."

Tony pulled out and rolled onto his back, sighing contentedly. He opened his eyes and Steve smiled at him. "Everything you thought it would be?"

Tony kissed him. "More," he whispered, before pinching Steve.

"Ow! What'd I do?"

"You should have told me you haven't been fucked in seventy years. Kind of important, don't you think?" he said, glaring.

Steve blushed. "You didn't hurt me, and it…was kind of embarrassing."

Tony pressed his lips to Steve's shoulder. "No, it's not. It's hot as hell. I took away your twentieth century virginity."

Steve laughed. "You should be so proud."

He threw his arms around Steve and grinned down at him.

"I am. I have the most handsome boyfriend in the whole wide world and…"

"Boyfriend?" Steve said.

Tony frowned. "Well I just…I didn't mean…"

Steve kissed him, grinning. "It's good, Tony. I'm Tony Stark's boyfriend. Hmm. I should get business cards made so I can pass them out when we go to hostage situations."

Tony laughed. "Keep them bitches off my tail, huh?"

Steve glared, pinching him again. "Not just bitches. The bastards too apparently. What was his name again? Hugh?"

"Hank," Tony said, laying his head on Steve's chest and listening to his heart.

Steve was quiet. "I'm gonna break his hand if he touches you again."

Tony smiled, closing his eyes. "Okay."

They were quiet for a while when Steve whispered, "Is your new love affair with my heartbeat gonna be like mine with your arc?"

Tony nodded.

Steve smiled. "Okay."

They fell asleep in each other's arms and woke up hours later tangled together under Steve's blankets.

Tony held on to him tightly and Steve pulled him closer, kissing his forehead. "Wake up, sleepyhead."

Tony mumbled, "It's gotta be ten o'clock at night and if it is, I'm gonna gut you."

Steve laughed. "It's only four. We can't sleep all day, you promised me a ride and I promised Nick we'd be there when he questions Schmidt."

Tony froze against him. "No."

"Tony, it's perfectly safe," Steve assured him.

He sat up, staring at Steve angrily. "Like the LAST TIME? No way, nuh uh. You will not go anywhere NEAR that asshole again."

Steve rubbed his arm, frowning. "Okay, but I still need to question him."

Tony visibly relaxed. "Thank you for not throwing a tantrum and threatening to leave."

Steve pulled him close and kissed him. "Not gonna do that anymore. Not after everything."

Tony sighed. "I'll think of something with Schmidt. First I want to go for that ride."

Steve grinned. "Okay."

Tony rolled off of him and stood, looking down at the remainder of his clothes. "Uh…problem."

Steve smiled at the ceiling, fighting back laughter. "What's wrong?"

Tony mumbled, "You ripped my pants down the side."

Steve laughed and Tony threw a shoe at him, which he dodged easily. "I have clothes that might fit you," he said, standing and walking over to stare down at Tony's tattered clothes.

Tony glared at him. "Yeah, right. I'm gonna have to roll them up or something."

Steve kissed his cheek and whispered, "I'll make it up to you."

Tony frowned. "People are gonna make fun of me."

Steve whispered close to his ear, "I'll make it up to you…in the shower."

Tony smiled. "Okay."

Steve took his hand and let him to the bathroom, where Tony frowned again. "How the fuck am I gonna fit in THAT?"

Steve's shower was smaller than he'd imagined.

"I fit in there, I don't see why you couldn't too."

Tony glared at him. "How, magic?"

Steve walked over and turned on the water before wrapping his arms around Tony, kissing him deeply.

"Try."

Tony sighed, leaning his head back against Steve's chest. "If I break something, you're going to have to wait on me hand and foot for a month," he mumbled, stepping inside the shower and wincing at the temperature.

He leaned down and changed it, closing his eyes and sighing.

When Steve didn't join him he frowned, turning to look at the other man and found Steve staring at him like he'd been hypnotized. Tony smiled. "See somethin' you like, Captain Rogers?"

Steve's eyes were glazed over and when he looked into Tony's eyes he let out a breath slowly before looking down Tony's body again, and when Tony was happy to notice the rest of Steve's body was responding in the same fashion. He held out his hand and Steve took it, stepping into the shower and closing the door behind him.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The scene I wrote as was is against the site's guidelines so I've posted it to my LJ and the editor for the site will not allow me to post a link though there is one in my author profile. My LJ name is kinneytaylor. There will be MANY scenes in this story I will have to do the same to, but I don't want to try and censor them into something more tame so this will have to do. Sorry.

His entire body was tingling and he had never felt dirtier.

"This is the best shower I ever had," he declared, opening his eyes and staring down at Steve with a grin.

Steve kissed the inside of his thigh and stood, laughing as Tony began sucking on his throat.

"Mmm…trying to give me a love bite? Cuz it's impossible, I'll heal before it sets in."

Tony lifted his mouth from Steve's neck and grinned. "No harm in tryin' right?"

Steve kissed him again and reached across his back, grabbing some shampoo and squirting the bottle into his hand. He pressed it into Tony's head and worked his fingers through. Tony sighed, closing his eyes.

"New fetish?" he asked breathlessly.

"Nah, I just think you're dirty," Steve whispered.

Tony grinned, opening his eyes. "I know I'm dirty. Now I can say I was properly cleaned for the first time. You gonna do my ass too?"

Steve's dick was hard against his leg and his eyes were full of lust. "Tony…we have to go to SHIELD, we can't spend the day in here."

Tony's eyes narrowed. "Who says we have to GO there? I told you there's no way I'm letting you near that asshole again."

Steve frowned. "Well I don't know how else…"

Tony leaned in close to his neck and whispered, "You said no more arguing, Rogers, and you promised me you wouldn't go near that psycho again…"

Steve closed his eyes, swallowing. "I did, I know."

Tony lifted his head, pressing his lips to Steve's softly before pulling back. "All it takes is a video camera and wireless technology," he smiled, "I'm sure SHIELD has both. They don't need us right now and we have a bike to ride."

Steve wrapped his arms around him tightly, lifting Tony off of his feet as they kissed again.

"Okay, but we still can't stay in here all day."

Tony frowned before leaning his head back to let the shampoo wash away with the water. "Spoilsport. You do need to wash my ass though."

Steve dropped him down, grabbing a wash cloth and tossing it to him. "Wash your own ass."

Tony wiggled his tongue and said, "If you do, I'll do something to yours later."

Steve snatched the wash cloth and Tony laughed. "You're so easy," he said, leaning back and shivering when Steve began cleaning down his back.

Steve slapped his ass and he yelped. "Look who's talking."

Tony grinned. "Touché."

The motorcycle ride was one of Tony's better ideas.

Tony pressed himself against Steve's back as they rode feeling the wind in his hair as the rumble of the engine vibrated through his body.

He could tell Steve was enjoying himself as well since the other man hadn't spoken a word but his body was practically humming the further they traveled.

They continued to ride till they got to Marvel Woods, slowing down and parking. There was no one around and Tony was happy to keep it that way.

He climbed off the back of the bike and stretched, groaning and rolling his shoulders back. "The vibration is awesome, but I'm not good at staying that bent over for that long. Ow."

Tony turned, frowning when he saw that Steve wasn't moving. "What's wrong?" he asked, putting a hand on his back.

Steve turned to look at him and Tony frowned seeing tears on the other man's face.

"Thank you," Steve whispered, grabbing the bottom of his shirt and pulling till they were kissing again.

Steve was becoming one of Tony's favorite things to taste. He ran his tongue along Steve's, moaning as the other man lifted him across his lap. They kissed for several minutes before Steve pulled back breathlessly and pressed his cheek to Tony's own. "It was…it was amazing, feeling you behind me and I…" he lifted his head again and Tony swallowed back tears of his own.

"Glad you enjoyed it."

Steve hugged him then, letting out a quivering breath. "Nothing can EVER…" his voice broke and Tony kissed him quiet.

"Ditto," he said simply, intertwining their fingers together.

He sighed, laying his head on Steve's shoulder. "I should feel like such a girl sitting like this, but nothing could feel wrong with you."

Steve smiled, squeezing him tightly and kissing Tony's forehead. He lifted Tony's chin and they were just about to begin kissing again when Tony's phone rang.

He sighed. "Duty calls."

Steve swallowed, nodding.

Tony took out two earpieces and put one in his ear, handing Steve the other.

He heard Fury's voice.

"I've set up the closed circuit camera. He can hear and see you both."

Tony pulled out his phone and pulled up the screen, his body stiffening when the Red Skull's face appeared on the screen.

"Captain, I was disappointed that we were not seeing each other again," Schmidt said, his smile sending chills down Tony's spine.

"Continue to be disappointed where I'm involved, Schmidt. I'll always find a way to stop you," Steve said, his body stiff and his face in what Tony knew to be 'Captain America mode.'

The Red Skull laughed. "You were lucky, Captain," his eyes looked to Tony and he glared, "You as well, Mister Stark. There are…ways around the machine as it has yet to be perfected. Memory is a tricky thing, though with time…"

Tony glared right back. "Which you'll have plenty of where you're going but I'm sure no time to make doomsday weapons or tinker toys of any kind, so…I did it, huh? That why you're shooting daggers at me?"

Schmidt's eyes narrowed some and then he smiled. "You'll never know, will you. It was nice to see you again, Captain America. Iron Man. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon….up close and personal."

He looked away, refusing to meet their eyes and then the screen went black. Tony put out his hand and Steve gave him the earpiece which he stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. He leaned back, closing his eyes and sighing. "Was it something I said?" Tony asked.

Steve put a hand through his hair. "He's always like that."

Tony shook his head. "No, I meant," he opened his eyes and sat up, climbing off of Steve's lap and beginning to pace, "What he said, 'Ways around the machine as it has yet to be perfected,' he kept glaring at me when he said it."

Steve frowned. "Tony, it's over now there's no reason to obsess over it."

Tony cocked his head, raising an eyebrow. "Have you never MET me?"

Steve smiled, standing and walking over to him. He put his hands on Tony's hips and wrapped his arms around him. They stood that way for a moment and Steve kissed his temple. "We know it was something you said. I don't remember, but it doesn't matter. You saved me, just like I know you always will."

Tony pushed him off and they stared at each other, Tony running his hand across Steve's cheek. Steve kissed his fingers and he sighed. "I will you know," he whispered, his voice thick.

Their lips touched slowly, taking time to savor every sensation as they moved, tongues licking and devouring, tasting and biting until Tony pulled back, laughing.

Steve looked confused. "Something funny?"

"No, I…I just never pictured this," he said with a grin, indicating the two of them.

Steve frowned. "Us?"

Tony nodded, the bottom of Steve's tank top bunching in hand, "I never expected to be happy. EVER," he laughed bitterly.

Steve pulled him close again, their kiss chaste and reassuring.

"It's all I ever wanted for you, even if it wasn't me," he whispered.

Tony nodded, looking down with watery eyes. "I know."

"Of course now if someone even LOOKS that way at you I'll…" Steve's voice was cut off when they heard a loud explosion.

Both men broke apart, eyes widening.

A giant man in a skintight leather suit stood up in the middle of the New York skyline. There were screams and more explosions. Almost instantly both of their comms went off.

Tony smiled. "Gimme a ride?" he asked.

Steve hopped on the bike and Tony climbed behind him, the both of them heading towards the destruction. Tony pulled out his phone and called Nick.

"What's going on?" he asked over the noise.

"Clint, Natasha, Bruce and Thor are in the middle of Times Square. Some huge…" Nick started but Tony cut him off.

"Guy wearing a skintight leather suit? We see him. Any idea…wait," he paused, squinting.

"Stark?"

Steve yelled out, "What's going on?"

Tony paused, staring at the giant man. "Oh my god, I know who that is."

Steve parked the bike and Tony tossed him an earpiece, yelling, "I KNOW WHO IT IS!"

Steve pressed his comm in and asked, "Who?"

"It's Hank!" he said, his eyes wide with wonder.

Steve's eyes narrowed. "Hank? I'm gonna kill him."

Tony grinned, taking out his phone and calling up his armor. "This is gonna be fun!"

Steve pulled out his uniform as Tony's arrived, attaching itself to the other man instantly as Steve began changing.

"We're in public, Steve," Tony frowned.

Steve grinned and pulled on the top of his uniform, zipping up his boots. "Now you know how I feel, Tony. Come on," he finished quickly with the minimum amount of attention.

"Gimme a sec," Tony muttered, playing with his fingers, "The configuration is off kilter."

Steve got onto his bike again, revving up the engine and grinning as Tony began to hover. "I'll race you there."

Tony called out, "Betcha can't get there before I offer him a spot on the team!"

"THE HELL YOU WILL!" Steve yelled, racing after him.

THE END. Or is it?