"Auntie Peg! Auntie Peg!" I hear the sound of small feet scurrying down the large hallway to greet me.
I crouch down so he could reach me easier. "Tony!" I smiled as the five year old launched himself into my waiting arms. Howard and Maria had asked me to watch him tonight and I happily obliged. I truly don't mind watching him, he is an absolute sweetheart. Especially when I realized what day it was. It's been about 6 years since Steve crashed the Valkyrie into the ocean and Howard still hasn't located him. I refrain from sighing so I don't upset little Tony.
Howard had met Maria shortly after I helped clear his name with the SSR and shortly after they married and had little Anthony Stark. They'd even named me the godmother, and though he wasn't here Steve as the godfather.
"You two have fun. Say goodbye to your parents Tony." They boy who is sitting on my hip in my arms waves his hand wildly, "Bye Mommy! Bye Daddy!"
Howard laughs, "We'll be back before you know it buddy."
"Emergency numbers are on the fridge, though Mr. Jarvis right out back should you need anything he'll be most helpful." Maria is still wary of leaving her son alone, although she trusts me- and Mr. Jarvis.
"Tell me again about Uncle Steve, Auntie Peg? Please? Pleeaaassse?" He begs and my chest tightens with sorrow and my sadness must flicker across my face because Howard immediately scolds him.
"No, no it's quite alright." I smile down at a guilty looking Tony. "I'll tell you more about Uncle Steve." He brightens up immediately and wiggles to be set down. The moment his little feet hit the floor he's off and running to retrieve something.
"If you don't get going you're going to be late." I raise my eyebrows at them.
"Oh of course." Maria steps outside as Howard holds the door for her- he's turned into quite the gentleman. I assume he has taken some points from Steve.
"Are you sure you're alright Peg?" His face full of concern for my well-being.
"Yes, I'll be alright. You go have fun with you're wife now Mr. Stark." I give him a slight push on his arm to get him going.
"You sure."
"Yes I'm sure, go." I urge and with one last concerned look he gets into the car. As soon as I close the door little Tony has come back and grabs my hand to pull me with him into the sitting room immediately off to the right of the door.
My eyes widen and I fight the urge to cry when I see what he's set up. There on the table are his action figures and some pictures he's no doubt drawn.
"What's all of this sweetie?"
"I know you're always sad today, and I wanted to cheer you up. So I made you a picture." For a five year old he is incredibly perceptive and intelligent.
"Oh Tony." I ease into the large armchair as he hands me one of the pictures; it's of Steve and me, he's dressed in his star spangled uniform and I'm wearing my military uniform. The next one he hands me has Steve, Tony, and me together with Howard and Maria. It's labeled 'My Family' and I nearly cry. In the last one it's clear that I'm in what can only be described as a wedding dress with Steve next to me in his army uniform. I finally break and begin to cry profusely. Tony climbs up into my lap and takes the pictures from me he gently sets them on the end table next to the lamp.
"It's okay Auntie Peg." he wraps his little arms around me and I wrap my own around him, holding him as I cried. Normally it would be the other way around; 'Auntie Peg' never cried around little Tony. I always reserved my grief for when I was alone, away from prying eyes.
After a few minutes he hands me a handkerchief and I dry my tears. Looking at it I realize he's carefully embroidered Steve's name with mine- though only my first name as if we had married and I'd taken his name.
"Oh thank you Tony." I hug the child again and kiss his cheek.
"I didn't mean to make you cry Auntie Peg."
"It's alright Tony, I really needed that. Now, which story do you want to hear?" I give him a soft smile.
"All of them!" He cried happily and I laugh with him. "Oh all right, I'll try."
I wait until he's done moving and is comfortable on my lap before I begin to tell the tale of Captain America and how he came to be.
"It all started with a small man who wished to join the military, but was constantly rejected due to his size and health..."