'Tony,' Pepper greets him at the lift as he steps onto the conference room floor.

'Hey, Pep,' Tony fixes the cuff links on the shirt he threw on after dropping off Pete; it is best to wear a suit to Board Meetings.

'Where's Pete?' she asks. 'With Steve?'

'With Thor and Clint,' he corrects as they start walking. 'I haven't heard from Cap.'

'Did you apologise?'

'I gave him the Da Vinci,' he admits.

'Tony...' she sounds a little strangled. 'Didn't we talk about not giving overly excessive gifts?'

'Yeah, but this was different,' Tony tells her. 'I thought this through.'

'You gave one of the most modest people I know a multi million dollar painting!'

'But he does like art!' Tony points out. He's a little proud of himself. 'And I didn't buy it, Howard did, so it's different.'

'That's true,' Pepper wrinkles her nose. 'But...'

'If anything happens to me then Jim will be Steve's,' he adds.

Pepper's gaze sharpens.

'I need to be sure my kids are cared for,' he tells her with a self conscious shrug. 'The last time I thought about what would happen if I died I gave Rhodey a suit and you SI; this wasn't that excessive.'

'Tony, Steve doesn't need that much money.'

Tony shrugs,

'Obe resented looking after me when I was so much richer than him.'

'Don't pretend you think Steve is anything like Stane.'

'I don't,' he agrees quickly, 'no, Steve is... But this is my kid, Pep; aren't I supposed to do everything I can to provide for him?'

Pepper sighs,

'Steve is going to think you're trying to buy his forgiveness if you don't talk to him.'

'I'm not going to make him talk to me if he doesn't want to.'

'Did you at least leave him a note?'

'There was an image of Jim with the muffin basket?' Tony tries.

'What muffin basket?' Pepper groans.

'The basket of a hundred muffins I gave him yesterday when I told him about... our son.'

'Of course,' Pepper shakes her head.

'You think I should leave a note with his next present?'

'There's a next present,' she doesn't even make it a question. 'Yes, Tony; if you aren't going to speak to him, you at least have to write to the man.'

'Ok,' Tony agrees, 'I can do that.'

'Good,' she stops at the door to the conference room. 'Ready?'

'For the Board?' Tony rolls his eyes. 'I know what I'm doing, Ms Potts.'

'Of course, Mr Stark,' she smiles at him and they enter the room together.


Steve has very gingerly carried the painting, he can't quite think of it is his painting, into his lounge.

He was going to ignore it and leave it where it was, but then he realised he was just being spiteful and, if nothing else, he needs to treat such a valuable piece of art history better than that.

Could he seriously just accept it and hang it on the wall? It is lovely.

He really needs to move these damn muffins or even with his incredible metabolism he's going to get fat.

He sighs and moves the muffins to his kitchen island and the painting, very carefully, to his spare room.

Out of sight out of mind, right?

If he's going to think this thing with Tony through logically then he can't let himself be distracted by his gifts.

Of course now he can settle down and feel bad about skipping out on making breakfast this morning.

Way to prove that you are fatherhood material, Rogers, just walk out when things get tough.

No, he tells himself, if Tony can take four days to tell him, then he is at least due the same.

Right, like he'd ever let this stand that long. He knows he'll be fighting for a resolution long before four days.

That said he still can't quite bring himself to ask Jarvis where he can find Tony.

He pulls out his picture of Jim,

'Jarvis?'

'Yes, Captain?'

'How long until Jim is born?'

'Approximately two months,' Jarvis tells him. 'Doctor Banner will have a better idea of when it will be best to open the incubator closer to the time.'

Steve nods,

'Would you... If anything happens to...'

'I shall inform you of any developments to James Stark's situation, Captain,' he assures.

He quirks a smile,

'Thanks.'

He smiles at the photo and runs his thumb over where his son's name is printed neatly at the bottom.

STARK, James Steven.

'He meant to name him after me, didn't he?'

'I expect so, Captain,' Jarvis agrees. 'He knew you were the child's father when he chose the name.'

He sits in silence for a moment as he considers that,

'He hasn't given his name to either of the boys.'

'They have his surname,' Jarvis points out. 'Besides, I suspect sir intended to honour those whose names he gave to his children. And he is not a fan of the name Anthony.'

Steve can't help his sudden smile,

'No; he's not.'

'Captain,' Jarvis breaks the silence again, 'sir would never want to keep you from your son.'

'No?' he sighs. 'But Jim will be living with Tony, won't he?'

'Do you wish to fight sir for custody?'

Steve feels himself blanch,

'No! I just... Does he even really need me? That's what Tony meant, isn't it? Jim doesn't really need me as a father if he has Tony.'

'Quite the opposite, Captain,' Jarvis disagrees. 'Sir believes your presence will be beneficial in whatever form.'

Steve sighs,

'This is all about trust for Tony?' he asks as he rubs his eyes. 'But how am I supposed to trust him?'

'It is not sir's fault that he doesn't trust you, Captain,' Jarvis retorts loyally.

'No,' Steve sighs, 'I guess not.'

'It is not yours either,' the AI adds after a small pause. 'If sir were to add another person to the very small list of those he trusts, it will undoubtedly be you.'

'That's something, I suppose,' Steve tries a smile.

He is just going to have to speak to Tony...