Disclaimer: I do not own the original canon nor am I making any profit from writing this piece. All works are accredited to their original authors, performers, and producers while this piece is mine. No copyright infringement is intended. I acknowledge that all views and opinions expressed herein are merely my interpretations of the characters and situations found within the original canon and may not reflect the views and opinions of the original author(s), producer(s), and/or other people.
Warnings: This story may contain material that is not suitable for all audiences and may offend some readers. Please exercise understanding of personal sensitivities before and during reading.
Author's Note(s): I've been hard at work on my theses while trying to survive a plague among other things. The way I figure it, I don't need an excuse for pointless fluffiness.
Challenge/Competition Block:
Stacked with: MC4A (Generic Circle; Games/SE Circle)
Individual Challenges: Tastebuds; Neurodivergent; Rian-Russo Inversion; Ethnic & Present; Small Fry; Claimed; Ship Sails; Gwen's MCU Bribery; Lunar Era; Old Shoes (Y); Marvelous Cinema; Iron Fam Checklist [Souffle]; In a Flash; The Story Goes On (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y)
Other MC4A Challenges (Prompt): SpB [5A](Plant Pot); TrB [2C](The Mother); Ship (Worth Dishonor)[Bingo](1E - Quality Time); Chim [Fish](Family/Friendship; Coffee/Tea; Cuddling/Snuggling); Hunt [Sp WD](Judaism);
Representation: Jewish Ana Jarvis/Edwin Jarvis; Autistic Tony Stark; Adopted Family
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenge(s): Nontraditional; Fizzy Lemonade; Machismo; Peddling Pots; Second Verse (Not a Lamp); Chorus (Wabi Sabi)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Terse; Tether); SN (Rail; Negate)
Word Count: 765 words
-= LP =-
Loved Son
-= LP =-
"Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children."
– William Makepeace Thackeray
-= LP =-
Ana wrapped her hands around Anthony's smaller ones as she guided him in placing the fragile seedling in the hole they had created for it. Bashiremen leaning against the decorative planter that Anthony had propped the stuffed golem with before they had started transplanting. Anthony squirmed where he was kneeling between her own spread knees, never content with sitting still not even for a short moment, not even with the cuddles that came with the position.
Together, they gently pressed the soil around the root ball. Anthony laughed, carefree and without restraint as only toddlers could be. Already, he was pulling their combined hands towards the flat of seedlings for the next one. At just a few weeks after his fourth birthday, the boy still didn't have any patience, always rushing forward to complete things.
But he was learning so quickly, every day faster than the one before. Her little bug was so, so smart. She had given up trying to keep track of all the languages he knew. With at least three different people teaching him, it would have been difficult to know entirely, but when Mr. Falsworth had introduced young Anthony to the concept of code languages, it had become impossible to keep up. The tiny genius had taken to sneaking into Howard's office and workshop to access the computers there.
Ana wasn't certain but she suspected that it was Agent Carter who had taught the boy how to pick locks. The British woman might have also been the source of Anthony's new habit of trying to use everyday objects as weapons, but since Anthony had certainly seen Ana use a candlestick as a weapon, that could just as easily been herself instead. The toy palm-pistol definitely was Carter, though, even if Mr. Jones had been the one to actually deliver it. Gabriel Jones had a habit of giving the boy spy gadgets, but none of them had actually been weapons so far.
The man had grandchildren the same age as Anthony, after all, and knew better. Theoretically, the same thing could be applied to Peggy Carter, given the ages of both her grandchildren and her various nieces and nephews. But Ana had known the woman for decades now and knew that she would never be able to let go of the need to participate in every confrontation that came her way. She was a fighter, that one, and would never settle for peace.
Anthony set the new seedling down in front of their knees to dig a little hole the perfect distance from the last seedling. Ana would have said it was an accident if she didn't already know better. The boy's spatial recognition was better than quite a few of the adults she had met. As soon as his coordination caught up, Ana just knew his aim on things would be impressive.
"Who's ready for a break?" Edwin announced as he entered the garden holding a wooden serving tray in both hands.
On the tray, there was a carafe (of coffee, no doubt, because her husband knew her well), a pitcher of purple liquid, a few cups (including a small lidded cup with a straw), and a plate of snacks. The tiny fruit tarts, jam-filled cookies, and crackers smeared with nut butters would be great for filling Anthony's empty stomach while not risking his appetite for lunch. Because her husband was nothing if not prepared for everything, there was even a small bowl with a couple of hand towels to clean up before eating.
With all the eagerness and energy of the very young, Anthony squirmed free from Ana and ran to patio table where Edwin was setting down his tray. The small boy climbed into one of the chairs gathered around the table with only minor difficulties and immediately held out his hands for Edwin to wipe. Not for the first time, Ana thought of introducing Anthony to the training course set up in the converted stables. He might not be able to do every section, since it was designed for adults, but he was finally getting coordinated enough that he would do more than a few sections.
Cleaned, Anthony snagged one of the fruit tarts and one of the crackers while Edwin poured some of the blueberry lemonade into the cup that had the lid and straw. He shoved the entire tart in his mouth, grinning around the mouthful. Setting down the pitcher after he had finished pouring, Edwin ruffled Anthony's light brown curls. Ana felt her heart swell with how much she loved them both, her stolen family.
-= LP =-
An Ending
-= LP =-