Steve smiled as he heard his husband groan in despair as the coffee mug was taken from him. He enveloped him into a lazy hug, not a care in the world for the chaos that was unfolding around him called breakfast.
"There's no place like home..." He mumbled into the shorter man's ear.
Tony shivered. "I need some Cheerio's to lower my cholesterol, because, babe, that was so cheesy I'm going to fall over."
"I'm going to school now!" Peter hugged and gave high fives to everyone as he ran out the door, Wanda tossing him his lunch. "Yes! You're the best big sis ever! Bye everyone!"
Wanda put her hand over her mouth and started crying.
"What's wrong?" Bruce consoled her.
"I'm fine...I'm sorry, it's just..." Peter had become another important boy in her life, and she could not be more thankful. "He's the sweetest little brother..."
"I'm happy for you...you and Peter are like two peas in a pod." Bruce said.
"Which equals catastrophe, mark my words." Tony mockingly warned. "Who knows what they can get into around here."
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Steve teased.
"Ok, I am so proud of you for understanding sayings and references, but let's try to keep it to a minimum, yeah?"
"ANOTHER!" Thor was caught in the moment and slammed his favorite coffee cup to pieces on the ground and screamed in agony. "What have I done?"
Carol patted him on the shoulder as she laughed so hard she almost fell over.
Wanda used her magic to pick up all of the pieces and Thor's sad puppy eyes stared at them.
"Is there a way you could...uh?"
"I'm not sure...I've only ripped things apart, but..." Wanda concentrated, biting her lip and frowning as everyone fell silent and watched in awe at the spectacle of dancing pieces of glass come together again. She squeezed her hands together, mentally pressing all to a solid cup form. There were barely traces of markings to show the cuts.
"FRIDAY, did you get that?"
"I get everything, Boss."
"Peter is going to lose it when he sees this." Tony shook his head in wonder.
Wanda curtsied to her audience. "I aim to please."
Thor applauded and boomed his many thanks and blessed this coffee mug once more, like he did the day Tony got it for him.
Just a typical day in the life of the Avengers.
That Saturday was the one-year anniversary of The Decimation.
Dinner was a little fancier, and hugs were a little longer that day as people remembered what had happened. Memorials sprouted up all over the world, and probably the galaxy, honoring the Avengers and especially Carol Danvers, the individual who brought them all back. Carol was completely against the idea of being singled out in press conferences, interviews, documentaries, and memorials, as she was just doing what she thought was right. But every other Avenger agreed that she deserved this...no ill will.
"I don't deserve this." Carol lowered her coffee mug some time after, looking out at the sun setting on the horizon.
"Yes, you do. We've all been over this." Thor grabbed her hands with his. "You brought half of the universe back to life. You made the choice. You helped us succeed, even before that moment. You saved Scott in that tiny realm. You saved me from myself. I've told you..."
"I'm just doing my job." She shook her head. "Happy I could help."
Thor gave up the argument for the time being, just to have yet another moment with her.
"Why are you so good to me?" She asked again.
"Because I love you."
"I love you too, more than anything."
Natasha and Clint could not wait to pick their children up from school. Clint had to do everything in his power to keep Natasha from sneaking in and just wait at home like most parents.
But he could not blame her, after all they had been through. It was hard enough being parents when duty calls every other day. Clint's sister had so many videos so they did not miss a thing in their lives, however now, they could finally experience these things without too much interruption. They hoped the next disaster would be after they graduated college, but that was just wishful thinking.
"Clint."
The archer looked over, lowering his sunglasses.
The ex-assassin smiled. So sentimental, she had become. She tilted her head over to his shoulder, resting right where she wanted to be as she waited for her little darlings to come back to her again.
"You too." Clint hugged her and kissed her red hair.
"Don't be gone long! Peter's going to miss you terribly." Tony called out after giving Bruce twelve different reasons why he should not leave and go to India.
"And you won't? I'm hurt, Tony. I thought you were my friend." Bruce grinned as he placed his hand over his heart jokingly.
"Friends don't leave each other!"
"I'll miss you too!" The door shut and Tony huffed in annoyance.
"If I'm so rich and have everything, then why does everyone still insist on working?"
"Because they would go crazy from never getting out for some fresh air." Steve leaned against the door, arms crossed, laughing.
"Damn, did I say all of that out loud? I must be losing it."
"You already did by the time I met you, so it's not my fault."
"No, cause you're perfect."
"I thought you were?"
Tony smiled, barely able to go on. I'm so proud of his sass. "You bet, I am." He fell back onto the couch, allowing Steve to hover on top. I am the luckiest man in the world.
They kissed and kissed and suddenly Steve pulled back and Tony did not appreciate that at all.
Those big, innocent eyes stared at him. "Tony...I love you so much..."
"I love you, Steve, more than anything..." He got all emotional again, and sniffed it away. "Promise me..."
"Anything..." Steve already promised.
Tony laughed, trying to keep it together. "No matter what happens, Accords, robots, aliens, the insurance company...we'll always be together...like you said..."
Steve blinked back tears. I will never do that to you again, I promise. He got up and got down on his knees, looking up to Tony, his husband, hopefully. "Tony. I will never leave you or Peter ever again. I swear to you on my life. Because I learned the hard way that I cannot live without you. You saved me from myself, and I know I do the same for you. Through thick and thin...I'm always going to be right here for you. You will never have to wonder where to find me." Steve choked out. "But only if you promise to do the same..."
Tony moved down onto the ground, where he was closer to eye level. "Steve. Everything I do, I do for you, and for Peter. You will always come first, and I gotta tell you, I'm going to screw up again, I'm going to make you angry, and we're going to fight..." He pushed back the horrible memories. "But I will not let that get in the way of my love for you. You are stuck with me forever..."
"Hey Dad! Hey Pops!"
"Hey son!" Steve hugged Peter tight, Tony joining in.
"How was school?"
"Boring as usual, Dad."
"That's why I'm the best teacher, with FRIDAY as an excellent substitute."
"You flatter me, Boss."
"We missed you, today." Tony ruffled Peter's hair.
Peter looked between his dads in confusion. "I was only gone, like eight hours..."
"Sorry, my age makes me very clingy." Steve joked.
"You're not as bad as Dad, though." Peter threw his thumb in Tony's direction, who took mock offense.
"That's it, you're grounded! Punishment is doing patrols with your old man."
"Seriously?" Peter whooped. "Thanks, Dad! I miss it so much! I can't wait! When are we going?"
"Not till tonight, ok. I just thought first, we could have some family time."
"Can we play hide and seek?" Peter begged.
Steve and Tony looked at each other, then Tony started counting.
Stephen stared out the window of the New York sanctum, taking a look back on this short time since his revival. A lot has changed. The universe is having growing pains after two shocking occurrences happening almost one after the other. But life always bounces back.
He graciously accepted a cup of tea from Wong as they silently admired the peaceful universe before them.
All was right for now, after being shrouded in darkness for so long.
"Everything is as it should be." Wong announced.
"Indeed, it is." Stephen smiled to himself, happy and content with how things turned out. It was nowhere near perfect, he noticed as he looked down to his scarred hands. Funny how things seem to fall into place and work out for the better.
For the first time in a long time, Stephen was thankful for his hands.
And they were all thankful they found each other again so the universe could finally rest for a moment. A moment where no one was lost, everyone had a home, and there was always hope for a future.