Steve still isn't home, but Tony doesn't know that. Tony isn't home, either. He gets a hotel room and shuts himself in it until he builds up the courage to call Steve.

Two days later and Tony finally builds up that courage. He's sitting at the edge of the bed and it's late afternoon. It's an awkward time for such a call, he knows that, but he knows there's never really a good time for this. He exhales slowly and listens to the rings before Steve finally picks up.

"Tony?"

"Yeah."

"Hi." It's simple enough, but somehow Steve still manages to sound hopeful and apprehensive, but mostly he's just relieved to hear that Tony is alive. "Where are you?"

"I'm back in town in a hotel room. I didn't think it'd be a good idea for us to see each other for a while."

"Well, I—I'm not even home. I've been staying with Natasha since you left."

Tony can hear the sounds that Steve makes when he's trying not to cry, but he does his best to ignore them. "Look, I don't know what's gonna happen, but for now I think we should just… stay separated. Just take some time to figure some stuff out, and I guess if you're staying with Natasha, I can go home."

"I didn't really ask if I could stay semi-permanently," Steve mutters.

"Then go home and I'll stay where I'm at."

"Does it really matter if either one of us goes home?"

Tony sighs heavily because Steve just doesn't get it. "On that note, I'm gonna go. Is there anything else you're going to need for a while?"

"I think I've brought enough with me," Steve answers. "But you don't have to go."

"Yeah, actually, I do. Bye, Steve."

Tony's next appointment with Miranda isn't like the others. They talk about Tony's childhood and the neglect and their sudden death. Miranda quickly equates that to be the exact root of Tony's problems, not that anyone else would suspect differently.

Near the end of the session, Tony mentions Steve. He tells Miranda that they had a civil conversation over the phone and he tells her that he and Bucky have had a little bit of closure, but he's not really sure what to do next. He still doesn't know if things are worth fixing, or if he wants to fix them, and so for now Miranda tells him to focus on fixing himself.

Tony's back living in the tower and he's hired a housekeeper to do the things that are Steve's responsibility. Without the distraction of a lover, he delves back into research and development. It gives him a familiar sense of comfort and it's good for him to work with his hands again. It helps him with the guilt. If he's working, he's certainly not focusing on the immense feeling of guilt that's weighing on his heart.

The days go by and Tony is able to abstain from alcohol. He doesn't really try to, but he doesn't really see the need for it because his mind is so busy with other things where he's usually dwelling on his mistakes and failed relationships. He doesn't think about Steve. He doesn't think about Bucky. He thinks about himself, and for once, it isn't seen as him being selfish.

Tony eats more than once a day and he gets a minimum of 4 hours of sleep every night. When he reports this to Miranda, she seems pleased. He asks her about what's next and she tells him that perhaps he and Steve should arrange a meeting to see where they stand.

With a little encouraging, Tony agrees.

It's nearing eleven o'clock the following morning and Tony waits in the café. He likes to think he's somewhat presentable and he hopes the atmosphere helps them both relax and takes things easier.

Steve walks in and the bell on the door jingles and Steve pretends that he hasn't been crying. He gives his husband a weak smile and slides into the opposite side of their booth in the corner. He likes to think he's as pulled together as Tony looks, but he's not.

Tony is beginning to think it's a bad idea because Steve is sniffling and Tony feels awkward because he hasn't prepared for this.

"Are you alright?" Tony finally asks.

Steve wipes at his eyes with the back of his hand and nods. "I'm sorry, I've just been—I'm sorry." He apologizes profusely but he's still crying a little.

Tony sits back and he doesn't say anything and he doesn't even touch Steve. He waits for Steve to calm down and when he does, Tony asks him, "How have you been?"

"I've been better. Have you been taking care of yourself?"

Tony shrugs. "Somewhat. I just— Are you even ready to have this conversation? I don't want you to be crying."

"Are you serious right now?" Steve replies. "It's normal to cry when you're feeling emotional, Tony. Not that you'd know anything about thats."

Tony looks at his hands that are folded on top of the table. "I don't know if our relationship can be salvaged at this point."

A few more tears fall and Steve nods. He's known this was coming. He's seen it coming since Tony admitted the affair. Some hopeful part of him somewhere actually believed they could fix things, and maybe they could have if Tony had kept the affair secret, but it's out now and there's really nothing they can do but try to divorce civilly.

Tony isn't expecting what Steve says next. "So because I hit you and you're requesting a divorce, you don't have to own up to cheating on me with my best friend?"

"I never said—"

"You're doing it, though," Steve interjects. "I've been so worried about apologizing for hitting you that I never really even thought about what you've done."

"It's over now. It doesn't matter anymore. What matters—"

"It does too matter. Of course it matters!" Steve snaps in hushed tones. "Why the hell are you trying to make it out like you're innocent?"

"Why does it matter? If we can't even fix what went wrong, then why does it matter?"

"Because I think I could," Steve admits. "I think that I could eventually forgive you for what you did if you were really set on fixing things, but I think that you're gonna do what you always do; you're going to throw away something that's slightly damaged."

"That's a beautiful analogy, but I don't think our marriage is only 'slightly damaged'," Tony says with air quotes. "I'm not sure if I can get over the guilt. I don't even know if I can forgive myself for what I did. At first I told myself that you drove me away, but I'm starting to realize that that was just another excuse."

"Oh, you're just starting to realize that it's an excuse. What brought on that revelation?"

Tony allows himself to roll his eyes. "Miranda and I discussed it last week."

"Miranda?" Steve echoes. He seems surprised at the mention of her name. They haven't been to a session since the huge blow-up and Steve isn't aware that Tony has still been making himself appointments.

"Yeah, I've been seeing her every week."

"For how long?"

Tony shrugs and refuses to look at his husband. "Not long."

"Is it helping?"

"Yeah," Tony nods. "It is."

Steve sighs and rests his head in his hand. "I—I don't even know what to say."

"Neither do I."

Steve begins to cry softly again and Tony hesitates to reach out for his hand, but he finally does. He sets his own hand on top of Steve's and Steve doesn't pull it back. He just sits and realizes that their past months of trying have been in vain.