The Lake House…

/Warning/: This Chapter contains, cursing, sadness, fluff, horror elements, poor Tony, and finally, the baby is here! All reviews are appreciated.

"Character talking"

"Character thinking"

…Flashbacks…

Chapter 7

Pain, that's what Tony was able to register as he came back to consciousness, pain that caused his breath to hitch. In the back of his mind, Tony was relieved when the pain went down after a few seconds, allowing Tony to breathe comfortably without feeling like his lungs were about to burst. Taking a few hitches breath, Tony tried to open his eyes as best as he can; only managing to open his eyes by sheer stubbornness.

Looking around the room he was in, Tony furrowed his brows when he saw that he was in what looked like a hospital room; the beeping and the tubes attached to him informed Tony that he was indeed in a hospital. The thought of him being in a hospital when he doesn't need one, made Tony frown as he tried to remember what happened before waking up.

It took a few moments before the memories resurfaced, making Tony choke on his scream of terror as he remembered what Stane did to him. With choked breath, Tony's hand flowed toward his belly, letting out an agonizing cry when he didn't feel anything under his hand.

The beeping sound increased with the beating of his heart, not that Tony was paying any attention to the shrill sound that deafened the whole room, the terror was clawing its way to Tony's heart and mind… he can't feel his baby… thrashing in his place, Tony ripped all the tubes attached to him, ignoring the pain that increased with every tug.

"… Down… Tony, calm down!" Tony was stopped from thrashing out by a weight holding him from ripping the I.V. whirling around, Tony let out a snarl as he tried to tug his hands, free from the person who was holding him. "Tony!" The person called his name causing Tony to freeze in his place and raise his head, a sob leaving him when the person holding him back was Bucky.

"My baby…" Tony sobbed over and over again, his body started shaking without his consent, pain and hurt taking over his heart as he remembered the pain that overcame him when Stane shot him. "Give her back!" Tony screamed, pushing Bucky away from him; Tony wanted his baby back, he wanted to push Bucky and shake him, ordering him to give him his baby back. It was Peggy and Bucky's fault that Stane found him, it was only fair that they give him his baby back; after all, everyone in this goddammit town promised him that he was safe, only for them to let Stane find him.

"Tony, calm down…" Bucky murmured in his ear, holding him as he starts rocking him back and forth causing Tony to choke on his next sob. "It's OK, it's OK. You are fine; the baby is fine. It's OK; your baby is fine…" Bucky cooed, his words freezing Tony in his place, causing the air to be punched out of his lungs.

"Fine…?" Tony mutters, feeling dizzy and unbalanced at the admission that his baby not only survived, but she was fine. "Where is she? Where is my baby? Give her back please!" Tony begged as he tried to wiggle out of Bucky's hold, uncaring that he was probably annoying the older man, not when it will bring his baby back. If there was a chance that his begging will bring his baby back to him this second, Tony will do it over and over again.

"It's OK, she is with Peggy; it's OK." Bucky stated, his words causing Tony to let out a shaky sigh; his baby was OK, his baby was with Peggy, his baby was safe. "Bruce, can you call Peggy?" Bucky asked, causing Tony to blink his eyes and turn his sight from Bucky. It was then that Tony realized that Bucky and him weren't the only ones in his hospital room, Bruce and Jane were there with them, while Natasha, Clint, and Fury were waiting outside.

"W-what happened?" Tony asked shakily, as much as Tony wanted to tell his friends about Stane, the older man's last words still haunted him. 'Barnes and Carter's word are a law if they say something happened than it did; if they deny it ever happened then it didn't. If someone disappears and they said they didn't exist, then they didn't.' it seems so far-fetching, but Tony had to make sure that at least, these last words were true.

Bucky gazed at him for what seemed like days before he let out a sigh and leaned back; seeming to have found something that pleased him which made Tony try and suppress his flinch. "It was a break and enter, Tony." Bucky whispered gently causing Tony to nod his head because he already knows that. "We didn't know who he was, someone out of town probably…" Bucky trailed off, and Tony wondered which kind of a lie he will bring inside this sliver of truth.

"He is dead, right?" Tony asked, glaring at Bucky daring him to lie; what Tony really wanted to say was, 'Rogers got him, didn't he?' but he knows if those words made their way past his lips, bad things will happen, so Tony made sure to shut his mouth and wait.

"Yes, he is, Fury shot him when he saw you fall down." Bucky stated, staring into Tony's eyes, daring him to think otherwise, daring him to say he was wrong and that his words were lies. 'If they say something happened then it did…' These words left a bone-freezing coldness inside Tony.

In the end, Tony couldn't help but relax, all things considered, at least Stane was finally out of the way, leaving Tony to live his life in peace. "But my baby is OK, right?" Tony asked, gazing at the door now and then as he waited for Peggy to come back with his baby.

Bucky's eyes seemed to soften, causing Tony to relax; as long as his baby was safe and happy, Tony can stay and live in ignorance, it wasn't like Tony didn't live that life when he was with his parents. "Yeah, she is fine; a little fussy, just like someone I know." Bucky tried to joke, causing Tony to snort and turn to the door when he heard Peggy's voice.

"Oh, Tony…" Peggy whispered, her breath hitching as she rushed toward Tony, being careful with the baby in her arms. Tony's breath left his lungs when his eyes fell on the tiny bundle in Peggy's arms, he wanted to stand up and run to his baby, holding her in his arms and never let go; the only thing that was stopping Tony from doing just that was his weak legs.

"Give me…" Tony ordered, his words coming out more of a plea than order, but Tony didn't care, he just raised his arms and waited for his baby to be dropped in his arms. Peggy seemed to have taken pity on him, because as soon as she reached him, Peggy put his baby in his arms, being gentle with her, as she taught Tony how to hold her correctly.

Finally, with his baby in his arms, Tony's breath left him as he gazed at his baby, taking her in. His baby was so beautiful; taking his breath away with just one tiny noise. His baby was a little pale, but Tony thought it was because his baby was born earlier than Tony thought she would. She has his hair color and his nose, causing Tony to let out a chuckle, being thankful that his baby looks like him more than her Sire. It was when his baby opened her eyes that Tony froze in his place, instead of his brown ones, or her Sire's green ones, his baby had deep blue eyes; eyes that were familiar.

A part of Tony was horrified, wondering how in the name of everything holy that his baby has this eye color. Part of Tony wanted to rage, he wanted to scream and cry and order the people around him to bring his real baby back, because this child wasn't his, this wasn't his daughter. 'S-save her… save… m-my M-Morgan.' Tony remembered pleading only to be ordered to sleep '… I will…' Tony gasped when he remembered the faint words, promising him something that Tony knows was impossible because when Tony was shot, he knew that it was impossible to save the baby in his belly.

"So what's her name, Tony?" Peggy asked, snapping Tony out of his daze. Blinking his eyes Tony turned his eyes from his baby to Peggy, giving her a tired smile, ignoring how his mind starts processing and making sense of everything and coming out with unpleasant answers. But in the end, Tony got what he wanted, his baby was safe and in his arms… alive.

"Morgan… her name is Morgan." Tony lowered his face, kissing his baby's forehead as he started humming, trying to ignore the shocked and horrified look on both Peggy and Bucky's face. "Hi there Miss Morgan, did you miss me?" Tony cooed causing his baby to let out noises as if confirming Tony's words. "I love you, baby… no matter what…" Tony whispered in his baby's ear, ignoring the looks that Bucky and Peggy send each other…

Tony will figure this out… He always does…

It was a week later that Tony got a pleasant surprise. A week after being forced to stay in the hospital/clinic Tony was finally granted permission to go home; something that Tony was grateful for because he can't handle staying in the hospital any longer. So with his baby in his arms sleeping, and him being wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair; Tony resigned himself to return to his empty house that no doubt still holds the traces of Stane and what he did to him.

Imagined Tony's surprise though when he got out of the hospital, only to be greeted by the sight of Rhodey and Pepper, waiting for him with Natasha and Clint; both looking like they were one second away from a meltdown. "Oh my God, Tony!" Pepper let out a sob as she rushed toward him, holding into him tightly while being mindful of the baby in his arms.

"Hi, Pep, Rhodey…" whispered Tony, giving a tired smile to his best friends and family, fighting hard not to cry and sob, even when he wants to. "I'm OK, Pep, stop crying; come on." Tony gave a chuckle when Pepper whined and held tightly into him refusing to let go. "Oh, I see, does that mean you don't want to see your Goddaughter?" Tony asked innocently, causing Pepper to sniff and let go of him, trying to stop herself from crying once more.

"She is beautiful…" Pepper whispered, letting out a laugh when the baby looked up and let out a coo when her eyes fell on Pepper. "My, what a big girl!" Pepper cooed as she lowered herself, caressing the baby's cheek, an action that made the little baby blink her eyes.

"Wow, she looks so big, is that because of Angie's food?" Rhodey asked when he finally dared to come and give Tony a hug, unlike Pepper, Rhodey was thankfully controlling himself, refusing to cry when everyone was looking. Rhodey's question made Tony bite the inside of his cheek and smile through his teeth; Tony already knows that his baby looks older than a baby born in their seventh month, Tony would have said his girl looked like what a full pregnancy term baby looks like.

"Who knows? I remember eating nothing but Angie's food since the two of you returned to New York, so it's a possibility." Tony replied cheekily, gaining a snort from Rhodey as the older man ruffled Tony's hair. The action made Tony feel warm inside, it had been so long; it was a month and a half since Pepper and Rhodey returned back to New York, but to Tony, it feels like years.

"You know, Pepper is an amazing name…" Pepper trailed off, her words causing Tony to laugh out loud, already realizing what Pepper meant by her words; it had been such a long time since Tony was able to laugh as carefree as he does at this moment.

"I will keep that in mind, but this little cutie already has a name. Pepper, Rhodey, say 'Hi' to Morgan." Tony smiled, chuckling at the pout that crossed Pepper's face, and the teasing grin Rhodey was sporting. "My little Morgan…" Tony whispered, kissing the little baby's forehead, gaining a squeal from the baby, when he continued giving her a kiss after kiss.

"You know, as much as this sight is cute as hell, I think it will be better to take this home, Tony still needs a lot of rest." Natasha stated, grinning at Tony behind her camera; the sight of the camera caused Tony's eyes to widen before he blinked, since when did Natasha start recording him? He is sure that Natasha didn't have a camera with her when he was attacked by Pepper.

"Yeah, yeah, master spy, we are going, just make sure to give me a copy of this tape, OK?" Tony sassed back, causing Natasha to giggle and nod, already shutting the camera down and giving it to Clint who was sitting in the driver seat. "You still haven't taught me how you always make things appear out of thin air, last week it was a cherry pie I was craving, and now the camera? Now that's scary." Tony scrunched his nose as he was wheeled toward Natasha's car, by Rhodey this time.

"If I told you, it meant I will have to kill you…" Natasha gave him a teasing smile causing Tony to roll his eyes as he stood up from his chair, and with the help of Pepper, managed to sit in the back seat of the car. "Bye Jane!" Natasha called out when everyone took their seats, it was a few seconds later the car started and they were driving toward Tony's house…

Tony couldn't help but hold his baby tightly…

Arriving at his house, Tony couldn't help but tense as he gazed around the place; Tony still remembers what it was the day Stane was here, how the lake raged, how the winds howled, how a shadow of a man appeared and disappeared… Tony still remembers those blue, blue eyes that took his breath away, the same eyes his child has, even when Tony nor her father have that color.

Getting out of the car, Tony pressed his lips tightly as he gazed at the lake, wondering what will happen now that his baby was born. Tony sighed, turning his eyes away, Tony put a smile on his face as he turned to his friends, trying to show them that he was fine.

"OK, let's go, sorry if the place is messy." Tony tried to appear non-challenged, missing the mark by a mile, but he was thankful that no one commented on it. Walking toward his home, Tony tried to ignore how Pepper and Rhodey rushed toward him, trying to help him; Tony hated that, he hated how his friends treated him like he couldn't handle walking on his own.

Natasha thankfully didn't comment or make a big fuss like how Rhodey and Pepper did; she just opened the front door and let him through. Being careful not to jostle his baby too much; Tony went inside his home, trying to stop himself from tensing and flinching as the memories of Stane in his home assaulted him.

Looking around the place, Tony furrowed his brows when he noticed that the house was squeaky clean; it made Tony wonder if Rhodey and Pepper cleaned his house, or maybe Peggy and Bucky hired someone to do it. "Angie ordered that you come to the diner with the baby as soon as you are able, she is already planning a huge birthday party for the little gremlin." Clint jokes, his hands full of takeout bags, and if Tony has to wonder, he was sure the takeout bags are from Angie's.

"Yeah? Tell her I will come soon… as soon as I finish the mountain of food she sends my way." Tony stated, tilting his head in confusion when Natasha followed Clint with similar bags to the ones in Clint's hands. It made Tony wonder if Angie was planning on fattening him when he was already suffering from the after birth weight.

"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet, this is just the appetizers." Natasha started causing Tony to give a sigh, turning his sight to his baby who starts fussing and whining, informing Tony of her hunger. "Is the baby hungry?" Natasha called out from the kitchen, getting a confirmed noise from Tony who shushed the baby and started rocking her, wondering if he bought a formula when he bought Morgan's stuff.

"It's OK, it's OK, little Morgan, Daddy will make you some food, it's OK." Tony cooed as he walked to the kitchen, giving Natasha a grateful smile when the woman gave him the bottle she was working on. Tony cooed as he walked outside, shushing his baby girl gentle as he took a seat on the swing and gave her the bottle; Tony knows he can't handle going to the living room now, not when he can still feel Stane's shadow in his house.

"Surprisingly, the garden is well taken off and the house is clean… seemed like the town's people took good care of it, it's nice of them." Rhodey stated as he came to stand beside Tony, gaining a hum from Tony who was too busy gazing at his daughter who drank her milk like she was in a race.

Pressing his lips tightly Tony could only gaze at the lake, feeling like something was gazing at him studying him. "Yeah, probably Peggy hired someone to come and clean the house, she was still pretty upset that Morgan and I were put in danger." Tony whispered, turning back to his baby who was dozing off; the sight was too much that Tony couldn't help but lane down and kiss his baby's forehead, covering her in the blanket Rhodey brought so she wouldn't get cold.

"Was… was it Stane?" Rhodey asked in a low voice like he was suspecting someone was listening to their conversation; Tony didn't have it in him to tell his best friend and brother that someone was, but not the person Rhodey will imagine.

Yes, Tony wanted to say, he wanted to tell his friend that it was Stane who found him, he wanted to tell him about this strange town and their strange rules and strange everything. "No… I don't really know him." Tony ended up saying instead, no reason for Rhodey and Pepper to get in trouble because of Tony, not when they were the ones who had the chance to protect his baby…

"I see…" Rhodey mutters, sounding unconvinced and doubtful, something that Tony wouldn't blame the older man for feeling. "Well, let's go inside, Pepper is sitting the dining table." Rhodey guides Tony to the house, closing the door shut before the weather gets any colder than it was…

No one noticed the rippling waters of the lake…

So what do you think?

No spookiness in this chapter!

Also sorry for the short chapter, am busy as hell right now.

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And tell me what you think…

Nazaki-Sama