After breakfast Steve loads the dishwasher as Pete plays with his zoo animals. Tony goes to get dressed and then reappears tapping away on a tablet.
'You have work to do?' he asks.
'I always have work to do,' Tony replies.
He can't quite decide if he's forgiven the other man or not; on the one hand it would be so easy to just let it go and to fall into this little routine they seem to be setting up, but on the other hand... On the other hand Tony was apparently willing to lie to him about the existence of his son.
But then there was the startled look on Tony's face when he called them a family; a look that became a mild freak out. That was a little heartbreaking.
And the way Tony declared he wanted him as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, even if he didn't mean it like that.
So it's pretty clear that he's going to forgive Tony sooner rather than later.
He just needs to get Tony to clarify his role in this.
'What are you working on?' he joins Tony on the couch.
'Just running the numbers on an idea I had for the Quinjets,' Tony tips the screen towards him as if any of it will mean anything to him.
'Right,' he can see Tony smirking at him before returning to what he was doing. They sit in silence for a couple of minutes before he tries again, 'Tony?'
'Something I can do for you?' Tony doesn't look up.
'Can we talk about our son?' he asks quietly.
Tony's eyes flick quickly from Pete to Steve and then back to his tablet,
'Yeah, sure,' is the response.
'Tony, you know I don't want to take him away from you, right?' He tries a smile, 'you're his Dada.'
'I never thought you'd want to take him,' Tony fidgets before putting down the tablet.
'So what did you think?' he fights to keep his expression friendly.
Tony still looks like he's been backed into a corner.
'Tony,' he fights the impulse to reach out, 'please tell me?'
'I didn't think you'd want this,' Tony is suddenly looking him in the eye. 'Come on, Cap, none of this is fair on you.'
'Tony, I've told you before that I want kids.'
'With me?' Tony laughs with a pure amusement that only breaks Steve's heart more.
'It's not exactly perfect for either of us,' he tries, 'but I thought we were friends, Tony. If we're nothing else we're teammates; we're Avengers,' he pauses as he gages Tony's response, 'I just want you to believe that I want to be involved.'
'You want to know your son,' Tony nods, 'I get that.'
'Good,' he nods encouragingly.
'Alright,' Tony shoots another look at Pete, who isn't paying them any attention.
God, he still looks like he's expecting Steve to say something terrible...
'The basics first,' that's Tony's PR smile, 'do you want to change his name?'
'His name?' his mind blanks.
'Yeah,' Tony shrugs, 'I figured James was a name we'd agree on seeing as it's the name of both of our best friends, but if you want to...'
'Bucky?' he blurts in surprise.
'Is that an alternative suggestion? I'm not naming my son 'Bucky',' Tony's smile looks more honest.
'Christ, Tony...' he can only stare in surprise.
'Veto on those as well,' the smile gains confidence.
Tony named their son after him and Bucky?
It's things like this that'll make him forget not to forgive this man.
'No,' he manages to shake his head and smile at his friend, 'the name... his name is fine.'
'Good, because Anthony is a pretty terrible name,' Tony smirks.
'One of my very favourite people is called Anthony,' he replies.
Great, now Tony looks pole-axed. Good work Rogers.
'Pretend I didn't say that.'
How does he continuously find idiotic things to say to Tony?
'You want me to pretend I'm not one of your favourite people?' the PR smile is back. 'I'm Tony Fucking Stark; I'm everyone's favourite.'
'You should be,' he agrees and wonders how hard he'd have to slam his own head into the coffee table to make himself stop talking.
Tony just looks confused.
'Were you really going to give me that bike for Thanksgiving?' he changes the subject.
'Sure,' Tony shrugs.
'Thanksgiving isn't really a gift giving occasion,' he smiles.
'I can't cook,' is the reply.
'I know that,' he agrees perhaps a little too readily; Tony shoots him a bemused look.
'I can't help cook,' Tony tries again, 'but I can give presents.'
'Thanksgiving is about being together and being thankful for it,' he scolds mildly.
'Well, now you can be thankful for a new bike,' Tony shrugs.
'I'll be thankful for having you as a friend,' he corrects. 'I don't need a new bike for that, or lots of muffins, or an original Da Vinci.'
'They were to apologise,' Tony replies quietly, 'for not trusting you.'
'I know,' he sighs.
'Tell me how to fix it?' Tony requests suddenly. 'I don't know how to fix this; I want to trust you.'
'It's fine,' he gives in and goes with his instincts, 'I understand why you don't. Let's just... Let's go from here.'
Tony doesn't seem convinced.
'You don't trust me to' love you 'stand by you,' he stutters, 'but I will. For as long as you'll let me, I'll be here for you and the boys. I just need to know what you'll let me do; I need to know how not to overstep.'
'I don't understand,' Tony scowls.
'Ok,' he takes a breath as he turns to face Tony on the couch. 'Will he know I'm his father?'
Tony stares at him.
'Alright,' he'll have to accept that as a negative. 'How often can I see him? Do you want to... supervise my visits?'
Tony is a sudden flurry of motion as he grabs Steve's wrist as he shakes his head rapidly,
'Of course he'll know you're his father. You can...' Tony just seems bewildered. 'As much as you want, Cap; Jarvis will always let you up.'
It feels as if a sudden burst of warmth has arrived in his chest and before he realises what he's doing he's pulled Tony into a hug,
'Thank you,' he whispers as he presses his face between Tony's neck and shoulder.
Tony is rigid in his arms but just as he's about to let go he feels arms slip around his waist and Tony melts against him.
'Thank you,' he repeats as tries not to enjoy the feel of Tony in his arms too much.
'You're... really pleased?' Tony sits back.
'I'm going to be a dad,' he can't repress his smile.
'Yeah,' Tony grins back. 'Yeah, you are.'
