So I had time on my hand today and I was so motivated by all your comments, so I whipped up a quick chapter. Sorry, I get excited easily. Honestly I haven't proof-read any of this, so I apologize.
To say that Tony was tired was an understatement. He had only gotten a few hours of sleep before Steve had called him, and there was no way he could get sleep with all the events that had occurred since. All Tony could do was numbly stare out the window from the medical wing of the compound.
They had arrived back in New York about two hours ago. And while that meant rest for the others, Tony had work to do. The inventor was quick to get the two mothers-to-be settled. He made sure they were comfortable and had sent up appointments with the on-call doctor to get a report on the girls and their children. From there Tony had collected the girls family information. He was going to make the call to the parents, but Steve stopped him.
"You should get some rest Cap. Your room is still where you left it," Tony said as he tried to wave the blonde off. If he was tired, he couldn't imagine how Steve felt.
"You look like you could use some help," Steve said with a tired smile that only pulled up on the left side of his face. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Why don't you let me call their families," Steve suggested. Tony couldn't say no to that face, even if he did have mixed feelings towards Steve. So he let him.
Of course Tony left a laundry list of things to do. "Make sure you call the authorities and tell them you've found the girls, but don't tell them who you are. You're are wanted criminal afterall.", "Make sure you let the parents know that I will be sending down a private jet so that they can see their girls." and " Don't give them too much information though. We don't want to freak them out. We can get them caught up when they get here. Just let them know their daughters are alive." There was of course more, but Steve had to stop the brunet.
"I got it Tony. Don't worry," he said as he set a hand on Tony's shoulder. The entire time Tony was running around, though, he was still holding Peter. The man had tried to hand him off to Rita after they landed, just for a bit, but the boy went absolutely ballistic. In the end all Tony could do was carry the boy around with him.
To Peter's credit, he was quiet after that. He didn't squirm around in Tony's arms, he didn't make a lot of noise, and he didn't complain. He just sat there and watched the world around him move as Tony did his thing.
Once the girls were taken care of, he made sure that the younger kids were doing okay. They were in another part of the wing, and it seemed like Rita and her team were taking care of everything. Tony was quick to make a call to Xavier's school for gifted youngsters about the children, and he was told that they would send a representative to him in the following days.
Now all that was left was Peter.
"Hey bud, you still with me?" Tony asked as he leaned against a counter in a private room in the wig, bouncing Peter gently in his arms.
"Yes," A quiet voice sounded, muffled by the burnett's shoulder as Peter leaned into Tony.
"We're at my place now. I mean, this isn't where I live...but this is where I bring people when they're sick or hurt." Tony began as he continued to look out of the panel of windows.
"But I'm not sick...or hurt," Peter mumbled into Tony's shoulder.
"I know," Tony said, figuring out how to phrase what he was trying to say. "But you were staying in a really bad environment, and those people didn't treat you right. You might not feel sick or hurt...but I need to make sure that everything is doing okay on the inside of you, where I can't see. Okay?" There was silence for a moment and Tony was afraid Peter wasn't going to replay but a small "okay" seeped out of his shoulder.
Tony tried to set Peter down on the bed but the Boy stuck to him like glue.
"C'mon Peter, just for a minute. I can't do anything when you're taking up half of my side," Tony sighed heavily as he gently tried to shake Peter off.
"No!" the boy cried. "No, m' scared! Don't let me go, please," the little boy pleaded.
"Peter-"
"No!" Peter screamed this time as he began to crawl up Tony's side so he was now almost sitting on his shoulder. "No, No, No,No, No!"
"Need help?" A baritone voice called from the once closed door. And there was Steve, standing there with that lopsided grin and messy hair. Tony felt his heart flutter for a moment as he thought about the old days, but he quickly suppressed those thoughts. He couldn't think like that.
"My savior has arrived," Tony proclaimed as he tried to pull Peter back to his earlier position. "Mind holding the kiddie?" he asked as he turned to face Steve. The blonde strode into the room, closing the door behind him and in a moment he was in front of Tony with open arms.
"Hey Peter. Is it okay if I hold you?" Steve asked, putting a large hand on the boy's arm. "Just for a little bit."
Peter suddenly stopped squirming and turned his head to look up at Steve with his big doe-eyes. His breath hitched in his throat for a moment and Steve was afraid he might have another attack, but the boy just stared at him.
"Okay," The boy finally said in a shaky voice as he held out his arms so that Steve could take him. As Steve pulled Peter out of Tony's arms, the inventor felt his slightly damp shirt being peeled off his his body. The material followed Peter for a brief moment before falling onto Tony's cool skin and the sensation sent a shiver up Tony's spine. The inventor shifted for a moment, but tried not to make a big deal out of it.
Now that Peter was out of his arms, Tony moved quickly, not knowing how long Peter would be compliant. He first washed his hands and then slipped on blue medical gloves before opening up a cabinet.
By now Tony was wondering if Peter was afraid of settings like these. He had been raised in a lab. He couldn't blame this kid if a trip to the doctor set him a little on edge. It was something that he would keep in mind. In fact, Tony might have to get creative with other doctor visits, but for now, he would try to do his best with what he had.
When Tony turned around with what he needed he saw Steve sitting on the edge of the bed with Peter sitting on his knee. Peter was looking up at the soldier as he spoke and suddenly Tony noticed that Steve was holding a Captain America plushie.
Where in God's name did he even get that?
"-And you can take him anywhere you want. When you get scared you just need to hug him and he will keep you safe with his shield," Steve explained.
"This is you...isn't it?" Peter said as he looked between the plush and Steve. "Mr. America, right?" Peter asked, the stress easing from his voice.
"Uh...it's...his name- my name is Captain America," Steve said with a nervous laugh.
"I like Mr. America better," Peter said as he took the plushie from Steve. "But I like it. Thank you." And with that he tucked the stuffed version of Steve under his arm securely.
"Peter, I'm going to need to see your finger for a minute okay? There will be a little poke and then it will be all over. You can handle that, right?" Tony asked as he crouched down so that he and Peter were the same height.
"Will it hurt?" Peter asked, his voice wobbling slightly as he pulled his free arm away from his body and held it out for Tony to take.
"It might. But remember, you're brave. You got this," Tony said as he securely took Peter's wrist in his hand before spreading out his fingers. Tony could feel the tremors that began to shake through the boy's body but before he could say anything, Steve was already doing so.
"Remember, just hug Mr. America tight. He'll make sure nothing bad happens to you. And since I'm here I'll protect you to. If Tony hurts you, I'll beat him up." Steve said, holding Peter tight so that he couldn't squirm away from Tony.
"Hey! Don't tell the kid that," Tony whined as he took the lancet he was holding and held it over Peter's small ring finger before pressing down.
It was if time had stopped for a moment because Peter just stared at his hand with large eyes. He didn't move. Hell, he didn't even breath. And when Tony thought everything might be okay, Peter let out a high pitched scream as he squirmed in Steve's grasp.
"Beat him up Mr. America! Beat him up," He cried as tears fell down his cheeks.
"See! Look what you did," Tony grumbled as he dabbed Peter's finger with a cotton ball a few times before squeezing the finger so that he could get a good blood sample.
"Tony didn't hurt you Peter," Steve soothed. "He's just trying to help you. He even told you it might hurt," Steve hummed. "C'mon, just hold on to me and it won't hurt in a minute," Steve prompted.
And Steve was right. Peter calmed down quickly, and by the time he was finished with his fit, Tony had collected a blood sample and had put a plain band aid on the wound. Well, if this was how Peter acted towards a finger prick, Tony wasn't sure how he was going to do anything else.
Baby steps.
They would cross that bridge when they got there.
For now Tony put the blood sample in the system so FRIDAY to process it. He may be tired, but he was eager to see if Peter was actually his son or not. It would be a bit of a wait, and all Tony wanted to do was change out of his clothes and take a nap.
"Friday, order some diapers and baby formula. And get a list from Rita about what the younger kids need. And ask Bailey and Samantha if they need anything. If they do, get it for them. And tell Rita to get a bed ready for Peter, he still needs to be evaluated." Tony said as he scrubbed his face with his hand. With that he turned back to Steve and Peter. The super soldier was just quietly looking down at Peter as the boy leaned into the side of his arm, holding the plushie tightly to his chest. "I'll take it from here Cap," Tony then said as he discarded the gloves.
In all honesty, Tony was afraid that Peter might not want anything to do with him after the finger prick, but the boy eagerly turned around in Steve's grasp and held out his arms. Steve gently lifted Peter up and the boy was glued to Tony's hip once more.
"We're going to go see Rita now, okay? She's going to give you a bath and change your clothes and make sure you're insides are all okay. And when she's done I'll see you again. Deal?" Tony said as he walked out of the room with Peter and down the hall.
"You're not going to stay with me?" Peter asked in a hurt voice.
"You need a bath and and a change of clothes, and so do I. Once I'm cleaned up I'll be back to stay with you," Tony explained as he turned the corner and into the wig with the other children.
"No," Peter whined as he clung to Tony like a vice. "Stay with me please. Don't leave me alone," Peter howled.
"Peter! It's good to see you again," Rita suddenly said as she approached the two. "It seems like Steve gave you the plush I gave him," Rita said as she stopped and looked over Tony's shoulder. "Thanks Cap," the black haired woman said with a smile.
"Not a problem ma'am," Steve's voice sounded from behind Tony. The shorter man almost jumped out of his skin and he turned on his heel to see that Steve had followed them out of the room.
"Jesus! You followed us? Can't you take an order and get some sleep?" Tony whined before catching what Rita said. "Wait. You gave Steve the Plush?" He said in a accusatory tone.
"I put in an order when we were on the Jet. I figured our younger guests would like some comfort," She said and then looked at the other two children. Both were holding dolls. The boy held what looked to be a hulk plushie, and the younger girl was curled around an Ironman doll that was almost as big as her.
"Oh," Tony said, deflating slightly at the sight. "Well...thanks...I guess," He said, shifting a still whining Peter in his arms.
"Alright, well, I'll just give you him then," Tony said as he began to peel Peter away from him. "Let me know if you find anything serious, or if you need me. I'll be back when I can," Tony said.
"Will do Mr. Stark," Rita said, taking Peter and walking him back to a waiting bed. Tony watched silently as the woman and her team did their best to calm Peter down. It seemed like forever, but once Peter compliant, the inventor moved towards the exit.
Now that Peter wasn't latched on to him, and Tony knew that everyone was safe, he felt absolutely drained. He wasn't even sure if he could make it to a shower. Sure he smelt like piss...but he was willing to sacrifice his sheets for a nap.
"Steve," Tony muttered as he approached the blonde. "Get some rest. Everyone is safe, you've done enough for now." With that Tony walked out of the med wing and made his way to his private suite.
Now that Tony was alone he could feel how tired he was in his bones. Everything hurt and once he had his door closed behind him he began to srtip articles of clothing one by one, leaving a trail to his bedroom. By the time he collapsed in his bed he was down to his boxers and socks. Normally he hated sleeping with socks, but today he would make an exception.
The inventor pulled the sheets over his shoulders and rested his head in the pillow. As he closed his eyes, though, a voice came over the speakers.
"Congratulations Boss," FRIDAY said in her cool voice. "You're the proud father of a bouncing baby boy. Peter and you are a match."
"Well shit," Tony huffed as he fell into a deep sleep.
When Tony awoke, Friday's message was the first thing on his mind. He was a dad. No. he wasn't a dad. He was the father to Peter. Honestly he had never doubted it, but hearing it confirmed was just a little unsettling.
The conversation that he and Steve had had on the Jet came rushing back to him, and all Tony could do was think about what they had discussed. Tony was a father, but he couldn't be a dad. He wasn't sure about where to go from there, but he concluded that Peter would stay with him for the time being. He would set up a room for him, and get him settled. He would take him to the doctors he needed to see, and make sure that he was healthy. But if something came up, he needed to have a backup plan ready.
Tony wracked his brain for people who could take care of a child, but he was coming up empty handed. Peter was enhanced. He wasn't sure how much, but maybe Xavier's school could take him in with the other children. It was an option. But Peter was smart, and very aware of his surroundings. Tony wasn't sure if he could stomach hearing Peter cry as he was taken away to another location. But what if Peter came to hate Tony? What if he would be eager to leave?
Tony tried not to think about that and continued thinking of a solution. Peter would need someone a bit closer that could nurture him. For some reason Tony thought of Pepper, but that thought instantly went away. One, because he knew Pepper couldn't handle a child (especially his) and two because Holy shit he still had to tell Pepper!
It wasn't like they were in a relationship anymore. But they were close friends, and Pepper had been there for him through thick and thin. She would be livid if she found out Tony had kept this from her.
"Friday, call Pepper," Tony muttered as he sat up in bed. There was a short wait and then suddenly Pepper's voice came over the system.
"And to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?" Pepper asked. She didn't seem annoyed, but maybe a little amused. The last time they had talked was last week about a deal with the company, and things had ended a bit heated.
"Pep," Tony greeted , his voice coming out hoarse.
"What's wrong Tony?" Pepper suddenly asked, her voice easing in it's sharpness.
"Pepper...I-I have a son," Tony blurted out. It was quiet for a moment before the woman spoke.
"Tony, we've dealt with woman who claim to have your children before. You can't just fall for-"
"No Pepper," Tony interrupted. "Steve...He-he called me...he said he found a HYDRA base where they were doing a breeding program and he found a kid with my DNA. I just got the results back and. God. Pepper, he's my kid," Tony said, his breathing picking up in speed.
"Tony where are you?" Pepper asked, worry now in her voice.
"We're back at the compound upstate. But...I went there. Pepper, they were doing human experiments. There were so many dead woman and children and...I took some back with me and...Pepper," Tony stammered. "I can't do this alone. Steve is here with me but I can't...I can hardly look at him and-"
"Tony, you need to calm down. Please," Pepper cooed. It was clear that the Inventor was on the edge of a panic attack.
"I'm calm. I'm calm," Tony said as he took a few deep breaths. "Pepper, I'm sorry to ask you this, but would you please come over. I know you're busy with the new deal but-"
"Don't say another word, I'm already on my way," Pepper reassured. "I'll be there."