After debriefing Steve heads straight home. Still, it's late in the evening before he finally gets back to his floor of the tower and is able to shower and change.

'Jarvis, where's Tony?' he asks as he wraps a towel around his hips and starts rubbing his hair dry.

He's gotten used to being under constant surveillance, and at least with Jarvis he can be pretty sure the AI doesn't pay active attention when he isn't dressed unlike when he was still living under SHIELD's radar.

'Sir is in the living area of his penthouse, Captain. Would you like me to relay a message to him?'

'Can you ask if I can go up to see him?' Steve rubs himself down and finds some pants.

'Sir would be delighted to see you,' Jarvis is clearly partially quoting, 'in whatever state of dress you may find yourself.'

Steve just laughs and pulls on a shirt before getting on the lift,

'Penthouse please,' he smiles vaguely upwards, knowing Jarvis will know it's for him.

'Of course, Captain.'

'Cap,' Tony grins at him from over on the couch as soon at the doors open. He's shed his suit jacket but is still wearing the dress shirt and suit pants, his shoes have gone as well. 'Come in. You need a drink?'

'I'm good, thanks Tony,' Steve smiles. He glances around, 'where's your... son?'

'Peter Jarvis Stark,' Tony tells him with a grin, 'is asleep in my room. It's been quite a day for him and Jarvis told me seven thirty was a perfectly acceptable time for a three and a half year old to go to bed.'

'You named him,' Steve approves as he sits down across from Tony. A quick glance at the screen that is the coffee table shows a large number of pictures of brightly coloured children's toys.

'Yes,' Tony agrees and lounges back, 'and the other one.'

'Other one?' Steve finds himself looking around wildly as though a child might suddenly jump out from somewhere.

'James Steven Stark,' Tony tells him, watching him intently. 'He isn't born yet.'

Steve knows he's smiling goofily,

'Steven? Really?'

'I agreed the permitted names with Rhodey over a decade ago,' Tony makes his excuse, still watching Steve. 'I had a bit of a hero worship thing going on; you can blame Howard.'

'Yeah,' Steve scoots forwards a little in his seat, 'but you know me now and you still... I'm honoured, Tony.'

Tony flashes him a quick, but genuine, smile,

'Blame Rhodes,' he dismisses.

'Well, he gets to have the first name,' Steve smiles.

'Yeah, but I never actually call him James,' Tony screws up his face.

'You don't call me Steven,' Steve teases.

'Steven Stark?' Tony smirks suddenly, 'you like the sound of that?'

Steve might be blushing,

'When's he due?'

'Couple of months,' Tony flicks a hand.

'Is he another...?' is this a rude question?

'Clone?' Tony tips his head in the identical way to Peter earlier. 'No. I don't know who the other parent is.'

'Gosh,' Steve crosses his arms as he leans forwards. 'Will you be ok?'

'Ok?' Tony looks amused. 'I don't know. Probably not. You know me; I'll forget to feed them and wash them and even talk to them. It's very sad. Hey, you available to babysit? I can pay well... how's a couple of grand an hour?'

Steve laughs,

'I'd love to babysit if you're ok with that.'

'You'd like kids, Spangles?' Tony gets up and turns away as he heads over to his bar.

Steve is glad he's realised that the names are meant teasingly rather than maliciously.

'Yeah,' Steve nods as he watches Tony pour himself a scotch. 'Once I became...' he gestures to himself awkwardly, 'this... I figured kids were something I could hope for in my future. I still hope I can, one day. It's more daunting now though. Not that I was great at meeting people before,' he shrugs.

'Ah, well, borrow mine then,' Tony tells him as he comes back over and sits beside him. 'There are going to be times when I can't have them with me. I'm the only one around here actually holding down a job after all.'

'We're grateful,' Steve tells him earnestly, 'for everything you do for us. I'm sure we'll all do anything we can to help with your sons.'

Tony rolls his head against the back of the couch to look over at Steve,

'Look, doll,' he drawls, 'you and Bruce? Sure. I can get on board with that. But Clint? No. And something tells me Natasha would rather try her hand at running SI for me than looking after a baby.'

'Oh...' Steve shrugs, 'well. Umm. I'm sure they'll help in some way.'

'Sure, sweet pea,' Tony takes a sip of his drink. 'Now, what did you play with as a kid?' he gestures to the images on the table.

'Sticks?' Steve offers him a lopsided smile. 'I had a baseball and some toy soldiers.'

'Very wholesome,' Tony mocks.

'What did you play with then?' Steve challenges.

'I built things,' Tony shrugs. 'Basic machines, small weapons powered with elastic bands... I don't know.'

'Well,' Steve leans forwards too, 'there are blocks. If he's anything like you he might like the puzzle thing? Or would it be too simple for him?'

'Too simple,' Tony smirks.

'An Iron Man action figure?' Steve grins back.

'Avengers merchandise!' Tony grins suddenly and waves a hand across the table making all the images disappear and new ones form. 'Some of the things I authorised are brilliant!'

'You authorised? Not Fury?'

'He has rights to Hawkeye and Blackwidow but of course I have rights to Iron Man and Bruce made sure I had copyright on Hulk... I got the rights for Thor too but I make sure I funnel the money from there to Foster.'

'And Captain America?' Steve asks, curious.

'Howard owned the rights to you and he passed them to me,' Tony wrinkles his nose. 'I can sign them over?'

'No,' Steve shakes his head, 'it's fine.'

Steve watches as Tony flicks through the images and wonders that Tony is as clueless as him about appropriate toys.

'Did you just select a cuddly version of my shield?'

'Yeah, but that's totally for me because I feel neglected that you won't let me play with the real one.'

'I have never said you couldn't have it,' Steve objects.

Tony looks suddenly so innocently surprised that Steve can't help but smile.

'Really?'

'Of course,' Steve tells him. 'Whenever you want just call and I'll bring it down to your workshop. '

Tony beams at him,

'I'll let you have the plush one then.'

'Give it to Peter,' Steve smiles 'I'll have a cuddly Iron Man instead.'

Tony laughs and puts down his finished drink,

'Sure, I can do that.'

'Where will he stay?' Steve doesn't really want to have to point out to Tony that his penthouse isn't exactly child proof.

'He'll sleep in my room until my second guest room is converted,' Tony misses the point. 'That should be finished in a couple of days.'

'We're...' Steve hesitates as Tony looks at him curiously, 'a long way up and there's no barrier on your balcony.'

'I hadn't admittedly thought of that,' Tony looks over at his glass wall. 'But Jarvis would never let him outside on his own and even if he did get out Jay can catch him with a suit.'

'That's the plan?' Steve finds himself unfortunately charmed but Tony's attitude. 'If your son falls off the edge of a skyscraper it's ok, because your AI butler will catch him with one of your robot suits?'

'Yes?' Tony just looks confused. 'No?'

'It's a fine plan, Tony,' Steve smiles at him. 'Though, of course, hopefully we'll never have to test the plan.'

'Right,' Tony agrees before scowling suddenly. 'Jarvis, get me one of those child-sized crash-test dummies.'

'Certainly, sir.'

'And when the baby is born?' Steve decides he doesn't want to ask after that request.

'There's a third guest room,' Tony tells him. 'Jim can have that. After that I'd have to convert the workshop downstairs into living quarters so I guess that'll be it for the Stark line.'

Steve laughs,

'What about the first guest room?'

'Where would Pepper sleep?' Tony sounds almost offended.

'You could make her her own floor,' Steve tries to repress his grin.

'I offered before,' Tony looks disgruntled, 'she said a room was fine.'

'Well, there's a spare room on my floor.'

Steve can see when Tony realises he's teasing.

'That's true,' Tony agrees with a sudden grin, 'I'll stay with you, and the three kids and Pepper can live up here!'

'What about if I have a kid?' Steve doesn't bother hiding his grin anymore.

'Alright,' Tony waves a hand, 'I keep the master room in the penthouse, Pepper has the guest suit, my third kid gets the second guest room, your kid gets the third, and Pete and Jim get your floor.'

'I seem to have lost out in this scenario,' Steve points out with a very fake pout.

'Oh?' Tony acts surprised. 'Well, you're bunking with me, of course, as we raise our scientifically generated family together,' he grins teasingly.

Steve hopes the sudden warmth he feels at the mere concept of having a family doesn't show on his face,

'Oh, that's quite a nice upgrade I'm getting.'

'And you haven't even seen my bed yet,' Tony's wearing a very smug smirk.

Steve feels himself blush,

'I hope it's big enough for the both of us.'

Tony very obviously looks him up and down,

'I think I can manage to fit you in, big boy.'

'Christ Tony,' Steve gives up and buries his red face in his hands with a laugh.

'I win!' Tony crows.

'I'm not sure I can afford to lose games against you,' Steve tries to get his expression under control before he looks up.

'Hah, you're lucky we didn't agree to a bet then,' Tony's still grinning at him. 'Rhodey strictly owes me a couple of million and don't let him tell you I owe him a plane, because it hit me not the other way around!'

'I'll make you breakfast,' Steve offers before his brain catches up with his mouth, 'I'm not a sore looser even if I didn't know we were competing.'

Tony considers him for a moment,

'Make it breakfast for three and you're on,' his expression is teasing but Steve thinks the invite is genuine.

'Alright,' Steve smiles, 'I'll make pancakes in the morning then; I'm sure little boys like pancakes.'

'We have a deal!' Tony sticks out a hand to shake on it. 'Jarvis make sure you let Cap in to cook for us tomorrow.'

'Of course, sir,' Jarvis agrees.

'Right,' Tony rubs his hands together and gets up. 'I should probably go to bed now then. You may not have heard, but I have a hot date with two gorgeous young men tomorrow morning.' Steve laughs. 'Goodnight, Captain.'

'Goodnight, Tony,' Steve smiles, 'sleep well.'


'That went well,' Tony comments after Steve leaves.

'Yes, sir,' Jarvis agrees.

Tony enters his bedroom and gazes for a minute at where his son is asleep on his bespoke bed, still clutching his suit jacket. He smiles and gets changed before climbing into the opposite side of the bed.

'Goodnight, Jay,' he lays down facing the sleeping boy.

'Goodnight, sir,' Jarvis replies quietly and turns off the light.

Tony waits for his eyes to adjust and then keeps watching his son,

'Jay?'

'Yes, sir?'

'I'm not going to fuck this up, right?'

'Ignoring your unfortunate tendency to swear,' Jarvis scolds, 'you have shown every indication so far of being a perfectly adequate father.'

'Good,' Tony relaxes, 'that's good.'

'You have always been better at caring for others than for yourself,' Jarvis adds.

'I know my limits,' Tony lets his eyes close.

'Yes, sir.'

'Steve won't hate me for lying, will he?' Tony asks, mostly asleep now.

'I do not believe so,' Jarvis replies gently.

'I will tell him,' Tony wants to make sure Jarvis knows. 'Make a reminder; I have to tell Steve by Jim's sixth birthday or you just send him a message the day after.'

'Reminder created,' Jarvis confirms quietly.

'You're my favourite,' Tony tells him and falls asleep.