Hi friends! Back with next chapter. Thanks a million for reading this story.

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Steve pressed his lips as he clicked pages after pages on the laptop. He needed to be sure before he took any action. According to the computer, the bottle contained anti-anger pills. A person who took these medicine has no control over his anger. But why did Peter send him this pic? Who was taking these pills? Tony? No no that's not possible. Even though Tony was little hot headed, his actions never harmed anyone.

Then who?

Steve's mind jumped to the conversation he had with Peter. John! His son did ask him to check his background. Was it possible John was taking these pills? If yes then why? Does Tony know about them? There were so many questions bubbling inside his head, demanding answers but he had none. The only way to find out was to research on John's history. He had to know why was the man taking these meds.

Steve typed John's name on the Google page but didn't get much information, except that he was married once and his husband, Charles died in a car accident "Dammit! None of this is helpful. What should I do?"

An idea then struck into Steve's mind and he typed Charles's name. Maybe he could find something that would support Peter's suspicion. It took an hour but he finally found an address and decided to meet Charles's father who was still alive. Steve checked the time. It was already seven in the morning so he did a quick shower and drove to the address.

OTHER SIDE

Tony's hands shook as he looked at the papers again and again. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes but he stubbornly refused to let go. So Steve actually had a heart to send him divorce and custody papers. But Why did it feel so wrong? Why did he wanted to tear these papers into tiny pieces or burn them to crisp. Why did it feel like it was his fault that they are getting separated? He left someone who loved him despite of his many seemingly faults. It was because of his fear, he was going to loose Steve. Why did it feel like Steve was leaving him all over again. It felt like...

"Tony? Hey are you okay?"

Tony blinked back and composed himself when he saw John standing next to him "Yeah..." he cleared his heavy throat "Yeah I'm good"

John wrapped his arms around Tony's waist and pulled him closer "Don't lie to me Tony. I can see you are upset. C'mon talk to me"

Peter hid outside their room and was listening to their conversation

Tony sighed and placed his head on John's shoulder "Steve has send me divorce papers"

Peter's eyes widened. He was about to come inside but John held his hand out and glared at the boy, silently daring him to step in

Peter didn't know why but his legs felt glued to the floor. Tony's back was facing him so his father had no idea about his presence

John smirked and rubbed his hand on Tony's back "Oh I'm so sorry babe but you knew this was suppose to happen. Maybe it's for the best"

Tony remained silent. Was it really for the best that he and Steve were getting separated. Then why did it hurt so much?

Peter clenched his hands at glared at John. His heart pounded at his father's next words

"He's even asked for Peter's custody"

John shared a cunning look with Peter followed by a winner's smile "It's alright Tony. You'll get through this.. I'm always here for you" he gazed hard into Peter's eyes "I'm not going anywhere"

OTHER SIDE

It was five hour drive to Charles's house. Steve gently knocked at the door hoping this wasn't a waste of time. When no one answered the door after knocking for five minutes, Steve sighed and turned around to leave.

Click

Steve turned back around and thought the ground shifted beneath his legs. There right infront of him stood none other than Charles himself "What the hell? You're alive?"

Charles narrowed his brows as if trying to hide his shocked expression. He was about to close the door but Steve held the door "Wait!"

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Steve was still baffled "I... I don't understand. He.. John said that you were dead" he saw Charles visibly flinch at the mention of John's name and it just confirmed his doubts. Something was definitely wrong. Why did John say Charles was dead? What was he playing? Why lie to Tony?

"Please leave" Charles turned around and walked inside his house. Steve followed him "No! I won't leave. You have to tell me what's going on? Why did John say you're dead? Is this some kind of sick combined plan?"

Charles snapped at Steve "I've nothing to do with him anymore! Just leave okay... he's not my husband.. just please leave"

Steve wasn't going to let go that easily. He could see Charles was very upset but he needed to know the truth. His voice softened "Listen to me.. John is living with my husband. They are together"

"What?"

Steve nodded "My son thinks there is something wrong with John. He doesn't like the man and I think he even saw him taking anti-anger pills. He says..."

Charles crossed the distance and grabbed Steve's arm and spoke in desperate voice "You've to get your son out of there!"

"What? But wh..."

Charles shook his head "You don't understand! He'll hurt him! Your son's life is in danger!"

OTHER SIDE

The day passed as quickly as it had risen. Peter was forced to go to school by John even though he wanted to stay with his father who was feeling awful and heartbroken after getting Steve's papers. John again pretended to be the good guy and hogged his father for the rest of the day. He even took a day off from work and together they spend whole day making sure Peter was nowhere near them.

When the night came John made Tony his favourite food for dinner and asked Peter to complete his homework and go back to bed. Peter argued that he wanted to stay with Tony but John again was ready with an answer "Peter I know you love your father but right now he needs someone more emotionally strong. So don't worry about him. I'll take good care of Tony"

Peter looked at Tony, eyes desperately begging to let him stay by his side but his father silently got up from the table and walked inside his room "Dad wait..."

John caught Peter's arm effectively stopping him "I thought you were smart bug. The message is loud and clear... Tony doesn't want to be with you"

Peter wrenched his hand away "Overconfident is the most dangerous form of carelessness" he headed straight towards his room and slammed the door shut

OTHER SIDE

"Everything was going perfect between us" Charles started his story after Steve calmed him down and made him sit on the couch "We got married after staying in relationship for two years...oh God... Why didn't I see the signs? John never use to like childrens... infact he hates them"

Steve cringed inwardly. How can anybody hate childrens. He carefully listened to Charles as he spoke further "...he always refused to come with me to the parks.. he use to shout at our building childrens for whenever they played or made noise.. if I remember correctly.. he even tried to hit one boy who broke his car window while playing"

"Oh my God" whispered Steve in shock

"That resulted in big issue and we were asked to leave the building. I knew he had anger issues so requested him to see a doctor. That time didn't know he had problems with the childrens. When he started taking anti-anger pills, things were again normal for us"

Steve knew the bad part was about to begin

"It was..." Charles swallowed hard "...It was our second year anniversary when I asked John if we could adopt a kid and just like that something snapped inside him. He started yelling and talking all sorts of nonsense. He said kids are nothing but waste of time and they are noisy, naughty and will divert our attention"

"What happened after that?"

Charles sighed "Next day we went into a grocery store where I found a girl who was lost. John was two sections away from me so I helped the girl find her mother. It took twenty minutes of my time and John was furious when I came back to him. He again started yelling... telling me how right he was about not adopting a child. I couldn't control myself and we had a huge fight infront of everyone. The store manager threatened to call the cops if we didn't stop fighting. On the way back he... his anger had taken control of his mind... he spoke so many harsh words. I tried to calm him down but nothing was working. We again got into another argument and in his rage John said he would die before sharing my love with someone... and.. and just like that he took a sharp turn to his left and it was too late to stop our car getting collided with an oncoming truck"

Steve's eyes widened

Charles's eyes filled with tears "He tried to kill me.. it was a horrible accident. I woke up after two days in hospital and found out John was still in coma. I couldn't stay with the man anymore. I didn't want the cops to get involved, thinking he was husband after all but he was dangerous so I then made a decision to leave him once and for all. The doctor who was treating me was a close friend of mine so he helped me fake my death. I left John and started a new life. I've even changed my identity... I don't live in this city. It's a pure coincidence that I was visiting my father and you came here.. maybe it was God's way to warn you. I'm telling you John is dangerous man. He doesn't like to share his love with anyone. You said you've a kid... it's not safe for him. I'm afraid he will harm him and..."

Steve jumped from the couch "If he touches one hair on my baby, I swear I'll rip his head off with my bare hands"

OTHER SIDE

The clock struck one at night when Peter knocked on his father's bedroom "Dad" he called out in his sleepy voice. It took few more knocks before John opened the door with a deep frown "What do you want?"

Peter was about to reply when Tony spoke from inside "Pete is that you?"

Peter pushed John and ran towards his father. He jumped on the bed and laid down next to Tony, wrapping his arms around the man as his body shook lightly. Tony instantly tightened his hold, worry lines forming on his forehead "Kid? Hey what happened baby?"

Peter sniffed and mumbled into Tony's chest "Bad dream Daddy" Tony rubbed his hand up and down over Peter's back and kissed his head "It's okay Pete. It was just a dream. You're okay now... You're safe with me"

"Can... can I stay with you Daddy... please" Peter's small voice broke Tony's heart. He knew the boy suffered nightmares quite frequently and would then ask him to stay with him the whole night. He smiled adjusting himself so Peter could sleep properly "Ofcourse baby. You can always come to me anytime"

John was wide awake now and with that his anger at the boy increased by tenfold

Tony looked back to see John "There's still plenty of space for you. I hope you don't mind to join" John faught hard not to glare at his partner "Ah.. you know what I'll go sleep on the couch"

"But..."

"No it's okay. I'll be fine. Peter needs you more" John smiled and went to grab his pillow. Just when he was about to walk out, he saw the kid raise a thumps up at him only to reverse his action (thumps down) It didn't take a genius to know that the boy had won again. John's red rimmed eyes chased the boy's black ones until he stepped out of the room. Peter snuggled closer to his father and closed his eyes feeling content of his success

John threw the pillow on the couch and let out a low growl. The boy had crossed all his limits. He hated him with all his heart and soul. He so badly wanted to grab the boy's neck and squeeze the life out of him "It's time to show where you truly belong"

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