"Umm, Tony, I'm pretty sure that Peter can't drive these right now and most definitely not two of them." Steve looked at the set of power wheels Tony had bought for Peter. "He's only nine months and just walking. These may be a bit much, don't you think?"

Tony grinned at Steve, pride showing in his eyes. "These are walkers not power wheels. The ad on the internet said it's supposed to help him move better, gain his motor skills as well as keep him entertained." Tony bent over the first walker, a bright red truck with gold trimming. "The radio even works, look Steve, I can have JARVIS put in some tunes for Pete to jam out to!" Tony looked up at Steve, his grin wide, sable eyes bright.

Steve chuckled, "So the blue one is going to do what, read him stories?" He laughed at the thoughtful expression that appeared on Tony's face.

"That's not a bad idea though, if I can program it right both can do the same thing..." Tony drifted off as he studied the walkers.

"No, Tony, leave them alone. With everything we have going on, Peter deserves as normal a childhood as possible." Steve looked at the pair of walkers and sighed. Tony had been buying everything he could think of for their son and he didn't see his husband slowing down any time soon. "Maybe we can pause with buying him anything else for awhile? We're running out of space on our floor and..."

Tony looked up at Steve, "We can work on expanding then and move the toys to the floor below us? We can't have the nursery to far from us." Peter was now nine months and toddling everywhere, which made Tony nervous. Especially when he couldn't see his son. He would sneak into the nursery and fall asleep in the chair next to the crib, all because he wanted to keep his son safe.

"That's why we have JARVIS, Tony. He can see anything faster than we can and alert us to all types of danger. He's the greatest because you're the greatest." Steve kissed Tony on the lips. "I worry just like you do and agree the nursery should remain near us but could we just, ummm, cut back with all of the toys? Peter will never be able to play with them all if you keep buying new ones."

Tony leaned his head against Steve's chest. "I just want him to have everything I didn't get, you know? Mom and Howard never thought about stuff like this, they were only worried about money and social status. I don't want Peter to go through what I went through growing up."

"And he won't, Tony. You and I won't let that happen. You think I don't have any concerns? I'm worried about his health, are we feeding him the right foods, is he getting enough sleep, do we pay him enough attention? I can't help but think that somehow things are going to fall apart and we need to protect him from that." Steve hugged Tony against him. "You're going to be a better father to your son than Howard was to you, Tony. You've already got him beat. You're taking the time to get to know Peter, to spend time with him. You're doing everything you wish had been done for you. You've already proven that you can and will do this, no matter what."

Tony held onto Steve as he tried to absorb what he was being told. "So you don't think he hates me for what's happened to him so far?"

Steve smiled, "No, Tony, I don't think Peter hates you, if anything he adores you. Do you see how his face lights up when he hears your voice? He's so alert when you're around and he tries to follow you everywhere. Remember when he met Dum-E and U?"

Tony chuckled, the bots had been so happy to see Peter that when he'd started crying, they had tried to give him anything to make him stop. "Dum-E make him a drink and almost spilled it all over him." Tony went silent, listening to the strong beat of Steve's heart. "I love you, Steve. More than anything and I'm really glad that you didn't leave. I've got so much shit weighing me down and I can be such an ass at times but I-I'm glad you're still here." Tony whispered softly. "I'm so fucking grateful to have you and Peter in my life."

Steve knew the brave front was for outsiders and only a few got to see the real Tony Stark. "I love you too, Tony. I'll always love you, no matter what. You and Peter, you're the most important people in my life and without you..."

"We'll never have to find out again." Tony cut in softly. Sighing, he listened as the sounds of their friends floated to them from the kitchen. "Maybe we should go help with the decorations?"

Steve frowned, "No, let's go get Peter, he is after all a Stark and needs to learn how to enter a party at the right time." Steve laughed at the look on Tony's face. "We also have to make sure that he is properly dressed for a Tony Stark party, especially since it is for his son."

Tony flushed, he knew Steve was teasing him but couldn't help feeling self conscious. "Peter doesn't have to dress up. I mean we can always put him in one of his new outfits, right? You think the jeans and blue onesie will work?" Tony walked into the makeshift nursery behind them, humming a tune in Italian. "Or maybe the little baseball outfit Bucky got him? He likes the hat, I think..."

"No, he pulls the hat off every time we put it on him. We can go with the jeans and onsie." Steve moved towards the crib, a smile on his face. He looked down into the bright sable eyes of his son and couldn't help but feel pride in the fact that he was his and Tony's. "I hope he's as smart as you and as brave too."

Tony snorted as he handed Steve the clothes. "God I hope not. I hope he's more like you because I've had the worst time growing up...until I met you...and Peter" Tony drifted off as Steve slid a hand down his back. "Steve..."

"I know, Tony." Steve and Tony stood in front of the floor to ceiling windows in the nursery. Tony holding Peter and Steve holding them both.

Tony pressed a soft kiss on the top of Peter's head. "I promise you that no matter what, I'll try my best to give you everything you could ask for. I know I'll fuck up but if you can forgive me for that in advance I'd really appreciate it. I'm not as cool as your dad but I swear I'm not all that bad." Tony whispered softly to Peter. He held the silent infant tighter as he gave him a small smile. "You are the best thing to happen to me since JARVIS and your dad."

Steve smiled as he hugged Tony and Peter closer. "Let's get Peter dressed and ready for the party. After all this time, it feels good to have a reason to celebrate."

Tony nodded, looking down into a matching pair of sable eyes. "He's the best reason to celebrate. Peter and..." Tony looked up at Steve, "You."

Steve flushed with pleasure, after three years and eight months, he could finally put an end to the nightmares and replace them with something much better. He kissed Tony and Peter, tears welling in his eyes. No matter what the future would bring, they would face it together...Tony, Peter, and Steve...as a family.