"Jude?" Chris and Tony turned and saw an older woman standing at the end of the pier with a camera. Chris gave Tony a look before turning his back to the water and giving his full attention to the woman.
"Can we help you, ma'am?"
"You look… I'm so sorry. I thought you were someone else." She stared at them and frowned. "You look so much like him. Even with that frown."
"My name is Chris," Chris said. "We don't know 'Jude.' Are you looking for him? We can ask security to-"
"Not you," the woman said. "Him." Tony looked slightly amused.
"I'm Tony. Again, not Jude."
"Tony," she said before looking away in embarrassment. "I- I apologize for the interruption. Clearly I need to schedule an appointment with my eye doctor when I return to London." Chris squeezed Tony's hand before he made a snarky comment.
"It's getting dark out and mistakes happen. We'll leave you to your pictures. Come on, Stark," Chris said, his last sentence quiet.
"Stark?" Tony glared at Chris for a brief moment and looked at the woman.
"What, now you knew a Jude Stark?"
"No, but I did know Howard Stark."
"Good for you," Tony said, now pulling at Chris to leave.
"He founded a group I used to work for," the woman continued. "Where Jude and I met."
"Are you talking about SHIELD?" Chris asked, standing firm so Tony couldn't pull him.
"Yes," she said, staring at Tony again. "You look…"
"Like my dad. Yeah, I get that-"
"Nothing like Howard. Not the Howard I knew."
"And that's one of the greatest compliments you could have given me, but we need to get going. Chris?"
"And your name, ma'am?" Chris said, still not letting Tony move him.
"Amanda," she said. "Amanda Armstrong."
"It was nice meeting you," Chris said. "I'd love to hear more about Mr. Stark, if you have the opportunity."
"Of course. You know, his wife and I were pregnant at the same time. There was a rumor around SHIELD that her baby was unwell before birth, but I'm happy to see-" Amanda stopped. "Anthony?"
"I prefer Tony. Chris, we really need to get going." Chris saw something cross Amanda's face.
"We're in the villa down the beach this way," Chris told her. "You're welcome to stop by any time." Chris wrapped an arm around Tony's waist and the two left the pier. Once they were far enough away from Amanda, Tony stopped and pushed Chris' hand off of him.
"Did you not hear me say we had to leave?" Chris raised his brow.
"I was unaware you could tell me what I could and couldn't do."
"We aren't supposed to be telling people who were are-"
"Oh, please. Who's going to believe a batty old woman?"
"She can't be that batty if she-" Tony stopped and took a breath. "I don't want her at the villa. I don't want to hear stories about my dad. He was a bastard and I'd rather just let his memory rot with him."
"Ok, Tony. I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget that you and your dad never reconciled like…"
"Yeah, well… Not every family can be as perfect as yours, Summers." Tony started walking off, leaving Chris standing the sand, slightly bewildered.
Scott and Peter felt the tension as soon as they woke up the next morning. Scott looked down from the top bunk and saw Peter staring at the wall. Alex was asleep on the trundle beside Peter and the spare bed held a fitfully sleeping Chris. Peter and Scott made eye contact and Scott quietly climbed down to the floor.
"When did he come in?" he asked Peter.
"No idea." Chris rolled over and Scott and Peter left the room as silently as possible.
"Morning, boys," Rhodey greeted as he drank from a coffee mug.
"Morning, Rhodey."
"Scott. Peter." Scott and Peter looked at Tony, who had dark circles under his eyes, as he held his own cup of coffee to him.
"You and Dad had a fight," Scott said. Tony frowned.
"One, it's none of your business. Two, how could you tell?"
"He's asleep in our room. Mom always made him sleep somewhere else when they had a bad enough fight. Did you tell him he could sleep in the room with you?" Tony closed his eyes.
"Scott-"
"Not my business," he said, holding his hands up. "I'm just trying to help you out, Tony. Outside of my grandparents, I know my dad the best. I can give you tips and whatever to deal with him."
"I'll keep that in mind. Is Alex still asleep?"
"He was stirring when we were coming out," Peter said. Tony nodded and put his coffee cup down on the breakfast bar and headed back towards the room the three boys were sharing.
"This is MY ROOM!" they heard Alex yell. "Don't make out in my room!" A door slammed and Alex hurried out, rubbing his eyes and running into a wall.
"You good, Lex?" Scott asked, amused.
"Tony woke Dad up and started making out with him. It was gross and I don't want to see my dad doing that." Peter gave him a look and Alex rolled his eyes. "Do you want to see your parents making out in your room?"
"No," he said, looking green. "Aunt May and Uncle Ben didn't do more than kiss in front of me."
"That you can remember," Scott said.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means parents get away with a lot more when they think their kids are too young to understand what they're saying and doing. I remember seeing my dad and mom and in the kitchen when I was Gabe's age and…" Scott shook. "After that, they were more careful with what they did when I was in the room." Rhodey cleared his throat and the boys fell silent as Tony and Chris walked into the room, both sporting slightly swollen lips.
"Morning," Chris said tiredly. Rhodey snorted and handed him an empty mug.
"Your parents went to the beach earlier to see the sunrise." Chris nodded and looked at the time.
"It's only 6:30?"
"Can we go explore on the beach today, Dad? You promised-"
"Wear sunscreen and keep your phone nearby. Who all is planning on going?" he asked as he poured coffee into his mug.
"Us and Alex," Peter answered.
"I'll keep an eye on them," Rhodey said.
"Thanks, platypus."
"Why do you call him that?" Scott asked. Tony shrugged.
"Because he looks cuddly but is dangerous."
"Tones," Rhodey said, rolling his eyes. "Nothing about me says cuddly."
"Probably why you're still single," Tony muttered.
"I'm still single because you're a big baby and take up most of my free time."
"I didn't know you cared so much, platypus." Rhodey shook his head.
"Come on, kids. You need to eat something before we head out."
"And I want you boys back for lunch," Chris ordered.
"Yes sir," they said as they went to see what the personal chef had put out to eat. Chris cleared his throat and Tony looked at him.
"Can we rewind until we're at the point before that woman showed up?"
"I thought you'd never ask, Bear," Tony said, pulling Chris back to their room. They had just reached the door when they heard a toilet flush and then a different door open.
"Hurry," Chris whispered. "If they see us, it's o-"
"Daddy," Gabe said, rubbing his eyes. "I'm hungry."
"Scott and Peter are outside with Alex and Rhodey," Tony said. "Go join them and get something to eat."
"Ok. Aren't you coming, Daddy?"
"I'll be there in a minute, son."
"A minute, huh?" Chris slapped Tony's chest.
"Ooooh. Are you gonna wrestle before breakfast?" Chris felt his face burn.
"Nope. I just wanted to get dressed."
"Ok. I'll help you find clothes." Gabe took Chris' hand and went into Chris and Tony's room.
"Gabe-" Gabe turned and looked at Chris.
"You don't want my help, Daddy?" Chris took in the wide eyes of his son and his resolve broke.
"Of course I do. But Tony needs help finding clothes, too, so I was hoping you could help both of us." He heard Tony make a noise and he looked at him.
"I mean- I'd love your help, Shortstuff." Gabe grinned and reached his hand out to Tony, too. Tony took it with a small smile.
Chris looked over on the beach as Tony helped Gabe and Annie build a sandcastle, showing no frustration when they'd bring dry sand or accidentally knock a tower over. He smiled at the sight and then took a step to the left, hearing a splash beside him.
"How'd you know I was coming?" Peter asked, spitting out water.
"Spiders aren't as graceful in the water as they are on land. Haven't you heard of the Itsy Bitsy Spider?" Peter rolled his eyes.
"I was being really quiet-"
"There were more ripples in the water than the waves were causing," Chris explained. "I had no idea who was coming, but I knew someone was."
"Oh."
"How are you doing, Pete?"
"I'm good. It's a pretty place here. And some time away from… school has been nice, but I do miss Ned and MJ."
"And how are you handling-?"
"I'm fine, Major Summers," Peter said, losing the carefree look. "Stop asking me how I'm feeling about it, alright? I'm not your kid." Peter hurried back in the sea towards Scott and Rhodey. Chris shook his head.
"DADDY! LOOK!" Chris looked back at his youngest children and saw a poorly constructed sandcastle.
"I love it!" he called back.
"Come and see!" Gabe said, waving his hands. Chris chuckled and waded out of the water towards the three to check out the castle.
"It's wonderful, kids. You must have been able to teach Tony a thing or-" Chris stopped when he saw the one free standing section of the castle. Etched on it was TS & CS surrounded by a heart. He looked at Tony, who was standing and looking out to sea and watching the older children.
"Do you like it Daddy?" Annie asked in a poor whisper. "Tony said he drew it cuz he loves you. And he said he loves us! Do you love him, Daddy?"
"I do, Annie," Chris said, watching Tony's reaction. "Is it ok with you that I love him?"
"Mmhm! Is he my daddy now, too?"
"Well… Not exactly. But he can act like a daddy to you."
"Can I call him 'Daddy?'"
"I think that'd get too confusing since I'm Daddy. But I'm sure he wouldn't be opposed to being called a different name for dad."
"Like what?" Gabe asked.
"There's papa, or pop, or father-"
"Not father," Tony requested,proving he was listening in. "Too formal. Do I seem like I'm formal?"
"What would you recommend, then, T?"
"I could handle 'papa' from these two," he said. "I'm sure the others will still just want to call me Tony."
"Are you sure this is a step you're ready for?" Chris asked seriously. "You can't take it back."
"Long haul, Bear." Tony walked to Gabe and Annie and kneeled down. "I'd be very happy to be your papa, if that's what you want."
"Forever?" Annie asked. "Mommy was s'posed to be with us forever. Are you gonna leave us, too?"
"Well, I'll have to take business trips occasionally, and you know I'm Iron Man and have to help keep people safe, but I promise I'll do everything I can to come home to you guys." Annie thought about it and nodded.
"Ok, Papa." Tony grinned and hugged her.
"Can I have a hug too, Papa Tony?" Tony reached his other arm out and hugged Gabe as well.
"What's going on?" Scott asked, coming over to them and pulling a shirt over his burning skin.
"Tony's our Papa now!" Annie said excitedly.
"O….k. Dad? Are you guys getting-?"
"No," Chris said quickly. "But neither of us are planning on going anywhere, so-"
"And you don't think this'll confuse them?"
"I think I'm their dad and can make this choice with the man I'm planning on spending my life with."
"Well I'm not calling him that."
"And that's fine," Chris said patiently. "But Annie and Gabe want to, and that's the end of it."
"Only because they don't understand-" Chris reached out and swatted his son.
"I said, that's the end."
"Yes sir."
"Get rid of the excess and then go to the villa," Chris ordered. "You're inside for the rest of the day."
"Because I think you're moving too fast?!"
"Because I don't like the attitude you have," Chris said, his face getting redder with anger. "And if you don't want a sore ass, you'll get in the house now!"
"Fine! You guys play big happy family while I go live in the real world!" Scott spat over his shoulder as he headed up to the villa. Chris moved to follow after him, but Tony stopped him.
"Let me talk to him," he offered.
"Tony-"
"I need to show him I'm here to stay, Bear." Chris nodded and sat down with Annie and Gabe in the sand.
Scott walked into the villa and to the room he shared with Alex and Peter, slamming the door behind him.
"Scott Christopher!" his grandparents scolded loud enough for him to hear. The door opened seconds later and Phil entered the room, arms crossed.
"I don't know where you think you are, boy, but-"
"I think he's in a house on a private island that I'm paying for," Tony said. Phil took a step to the side and allowed Tony entrance.
"No one asked you to flash your money," Scott said angrily. "You're just trying to buy your way into the family. It might be working for the kids, but-"
"Scott!" Phil said, both embarrassed and angry. Tony nodded.
"Captain Summers, I think I need a minute with Scott."
"I don't know if I'm comfortable with that," Phil admitted.
"Chris has given me full authority where the kids are involved. If it makes you feel better, he's on the beach. You can discuss it with him." Phil hesitated and looked at Scott.
"Reel in the attitude, Scott. If this talk doesn't do it, I'll make sure the next one does." Scott gave him a petulant look and crossed his arms. Phil clenched his jaw and left the room. Tony gently closed the door behind him and turned to look at Scott.
"Lay it on me, Scott," he said, gesturing with his hands. Scott looked away and glared at the wall, arms still crossed. "I'm waiting."
"I have nothing to say to you. You're not my dad or a parent or-"
"That may be," Tony said, "but I am in a relationship with your father. And that means, even if you don't see me as a parent, I'm still an authority figure in your life and I won't accept being treated as anything less."
"Great. You can go now." Tony sat on the spare bed across from the bunk beds.
"Come here, Scott."
"No," Scott said. "You're not-"
"If I have to come to you, then I'll repeat this tonight."
"No!" Tony stood and reached out to Scott, who yanked his arm away.
"I'm not playing this game, Scott. Come here." Scott shook his head and Tony sighed. He took a quick step forward and grabbed Scott's wrist, pulling him towards the bed.
"You can't do this!"
"I most certainly can," Tony said as he positioned Scott over his lap. "And because I had to get you, you've lost your pants and you'll be getting that reminder before bed on how you're supposed to act."
"No!" Scott protested as Tony pushed down his swimming trunks.
"Sorry, kid. It's not my fault you acted out without underwear on."
"Please. Please, Tony, don't- You shouldn't-" Scott gasped as Tony's hand fell on his unprotected backside.
"I'm tired of the attitude, Scott," Tony lectured as he spanked him. "Like it or not, I'm here to stay. That means the disrespect is over, got it?"
"Yes! Yes I got it! Please-!"
"And you're going to stop with the snide comments about me buying my way into your life!"
"Ow! Ok! I'm sorry! Ah! Stop!"
"And I'd better hear you apologize to your grandpa for how you acted in front of him!"
"Ok! I'll- Ow, Tony! Stop! Please! I'll apologize!" Tony readjusted Scott and began striking faster and harder. Scott went limp over his lap and cried. Tony stopped and pulled Scott's swimming trunks up, causing Scott to hiss as the cold from the water touched him.
"You ready to talk now?"
"Yes sir," Scott said, sniffing. Tony helped Scott stand and Scott quickly fixed the roll of the waistband of his trunks.
"You told your dad that you think we're moving too fast," Tony started.
"You are," Scott said, wiping his nose. Tony went into the bathroom connected to the room and brought out a box of tissues. Scott took one and blew his nose.
"It might look like we are to an outsider, but-"
"I'm not an outsider," Scott said angrily. "I'm his-" Tony yanked Scott back over his lap.
"I thought we were done with the attitude, Slim."
"We are! We are!" Tony helped him back on his feet.
"You are an outsider to the private conversations your dad and I have. I'm sorry if that's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth. And in these private conversations, your dad and I have agreed to move at a pace that is right for us. For some things, we'll ask for input. For others, it's none of your business."
"But-" Tony held up his hand.
"Annie asked to call me by a familial name. Your dad asked me if I was sure, and now she and Gabe want to call me 'Papa.' We are not going to ask you or Alex to call me that. I'm fine to stay Tony to you two if that's what makes you comfortable-"
"But what if you leave?" Scott asked. "You- You can have anyone and I know my dad is great, but-"
"Kid, I love your dad." Scott's eyes went wide. "And if I had my way, we'd be signing papers and getting married before New Year's. But he said he's not ready to take that step again so soon, and his reasons made sense. So when I say I'm here to stay, I mean I'm here to stay. So does it matter how fast or slow your dad and I move if we know how it's going to end up?"
"Nothing is for certain," Scott said. "You and Ms. Potts-"
"The issues she and I had… She couldn't accept my role as Iron Man. Your dad not only does, but he encourages it. We've discussed it, Slim. I love him, he loves me, I love the four of you, and he loves Peter-"
"You love us?" Scott asked.
"Yeah. You think I'd care how you acted if I didn't?"
"I mean, to look good for Dad-"
"I look good no matter what," Tony said arrogantly. Scott quietly laughed. "Like it or not, we're a family, Voldy. But between you and me, I'd really prefer if you liked it because that'll make our lives so much smoother."
"You won't leave?"
"You know I can't promise…" Tony sighed. "I give you my word that for as long as I'm able, I will be with your dad. I will always do my absolute best to come home to you guys after every business trip and every Avengers mission. But that's all I can guarantee. Is that enough for you?"
"I think so," Scott said softly.
"Alright. Then I think you have something to say to your grandfather."
"Yes sir. Are you…?"
"What was that?"
"Are you going to spank me again before bed?"
"I am," Tony said. "I gave you the chance to come to me on your own and-"
"But you didn't say you'd… that you'd take down my pants and you did. Shouldn't it cancel out?" Tony frowned.
"Fine," he agreed. "But now you know that me having to get you automatically means you've lost your pants. If there's a next time and I say bedtime spanking and I still have to get you, there's no getting out of it."
"Understood," Scott said. "Are you going to tell my dad that I was uncooperative?"
"Yep," Tony said, standing. "But I'm also going to say that we worked it out and it's been taken care of, and it won't happen again. Right?"
"Right," Scott said.
"Good. Now go apologize to your grandpa and find something to occupy your time in the house because I'm pretty sure your dad was serious about you not stepping foot out of it for the rest of the day."
"Yes Papa," Scott said with a smirk.
"Go on," Tony said, playfully pushing Scott out of the room. They reached the living room where Deborah and Phil were sitting. They looked up from their books and waited.
"Grandpa?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for how I was acting. I shouldn't have slammed the door, and I shouldn't have talked to you like I did."
"I appreciate the apology. It sounds like Mr. Stark got through to you pretty fast."
"Yes sir," Scott said, his cheeks red.
"Good. Go on, son." Scott nodded and went into the kitchen to find something to drink.
"You're dripping all over the floor, Scott!" Deborah chided. "Either go dry off outside or change your clothes."
"That'll be changing your clothes," Tony said. "Not a foot outside the house."
"Isn't that a little harsh, Mr. Stark?" Deborah asked.
"Tony, please," Tony said. "And that's per Chris' orders."
"The spanking wasn't enough?" Scott closed his eyes at the embarrassment of his punishment being overheard.
"I think that's between me, Scott, and Chris," Tony said.
"I don't-"
"Deb," Phil said. "Tony's got Chris' blessing to deal with the kids as he sees fit." Scott hurried away before there was more of an argument and pulled off his wet trunks. He put them in the bathroom and turned his head to see the damage Tony left in the mirror. He took off his glasses and groaned at a distinct handprint. He trudged back into the room and grabbed a pair of his underwear and some pajama bottoms and slid both of them on. He was just walking out of the room when he heard someone knocking on the main door. When the knock came again, Scott went to the door and opened it.
"Hello?" he greeted, seeing the older woman standing outside.
"Hello," the woman said. "I'm Amanda Armstrong. I was looking for Anthony."
"Uh…"
"Who's at the door, Voldy?"
"Amanda Armstrong," he said, turning to look at Tony. Tony's features darkened.
"Go." Scott moved from the door and Tony took his place. "Mrs. Armstrong, I do not want to hear your war stories about my father. I do not want my children to hear about him. I don't think it's a good idea for you to be here if-"
"I killed my husband," Amanda said. "I- he was HYDRA and-"
"Then it sounds like you need to go to the police or a psychiatrist."
"He was a spy within SHIELD. He was supposed to kill me and instead we fell in love. I was three weeks away from my due date with our child and he told me the truth. I killed him and went into labor almost immediately. But when our son was born, I couldn't bear to… I gave him to Howard Stark and Peggy Carter and asked them to please find him a home that was as far from SHIELD as they could get. My only request was that his parents keep his name. Anthony."
"Ms. Armstrong-"
"You look too much like my Jude to be a coincidence-"
"I am the son of Maria and Howard Stark," Tony said. "As unfortunate as it may be, that's the truth of it. Please leave." Tony slammed the door shut.