Did Steve Rogers want children?

Maybe.

Could Captain America have children?
Never.

The American people were Captain America's children. And that was enough. That was supposed to be enough.

oOo

Did Tony Stark want children?

Hell no.

Could Iron Man have children?

Fuck no.

Tony Stark was too selfish for children. Iron Man was too much of a target for children. That was enough reason for Tony.

oOo

Tony Stark would insist that he did not have a parental minded bone in his body, if this was a result of nature or nurture is up for questioning, of course. He never wanted children. When asked, he would scoff or laugh or make a witty remark and that was that. As a Playboy, he feared having that lifestyle taken away from him by some smaller human being under his care. As a Billionaire, he feared transferring that burden to a child who maybe wouldn't be ready or to have the child grown up spoiled and reckless like he did. As a Genius, he feared not having time for his kid and shutting them out when he had to work, which was almost always. As a Philanthropist, well, charity compensated for parenthood, right?

It wasn't even those identities that solidified Tony Stark's rejection of parenthood, it was something much more. As Iron Man, he feared for his child's life. How can the superhero protect and save countless lives as well as his own kid's? How can the superhero look at his kid after Iron Man had to take someone else's life or when Iron Man could not save everyone? How can the superhero live with himself when he knows that his child is in constant danger just for having Iron Man as a father? He couldn't.

So, Tony Stark did not want kids.

It was really quite a shock when Tony Stark adopted some stupid kid from Queens.

oOo

"Hey, papa."

Tony Stark whipped his head towards the only other person in the room and grimaced. Peter Parker was looking at him from his seat at Tony's work table. Homework was laid out in front of him, a contrast to the Spiderman helmet that Tony was currently tinkering with only ten feet away.

"Peter, you don't get to call me 'papa', we've talked about this." Tony scolded, but it lacked conviction.

"And yet you insist I call Steve 'pops', hypocrite much?" Peter retorted with a raised eyebrow.

"Steve is actually old." Tony defended. "Technically."

Peter rolled his eyes then pointed at one of the many papers before him. "Do you know anything about Algebra?"

The older man frowned. "You're asking a world famous engineer if he knows anything about Algebra? An actual genius?"

Peter shrugged.

Tony walked over and looked at the page in question. The equations were harder than he expected and he paused in thought for longer than he wished he had to. Tony ultimately crossed his arms and said, "Isn't it cheating to ask me for help?"

"Uh, no? I don't think so."

"You don't sound very sure so I'm going to say it is cheating." Tony concluded and walked back. He heard the kid sigh and pick up his pencil.

Tony would later confirm with Steve that Peter's homework was beyond either of their knowledge.

oOo

Steve leaned against his boyfriend in peaceful silence. His blonde head rested on the brunette's shoulder and they breathed in time with each other. It was a small moment that each of them treasured beyond words whenever they could find time to do so. Steve turned slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to his lover's neck, causing Tony to look down with a relaxed and content expression.

"Hey, papa." Steve whispered, smiling.

Tony rolled his eyes and groaned in annoyance. He smiled back at Steve nonetheless.

"If that's a thing for you we have to tell Peter to stop using it."

Steve shook his head and laughed quietly.

"It's something else, isn't it?" Tony remarked.

Steve nodded.

"Did you ever want kids of your own?" Tony asked tentatively. Steve knew what Tony thought, but he had never asked Steve.

Steve tensed slightly at the question, only noticeable by someone who watched him regularly. He looked off into space as he thought, taking long enough to make Tony regret his question.

Steve finally replied, "Maybe. It felt more like a forced feeling than anything. Like, at that time, you were supposed to get married to a nice girl and settle down and have some kids and then be a family. Sure, that sounded nice at times but…I guess I never really pictured it happening to me. I knew that I liked both women and men, though I would never dare say that out loud to anyone but Bucky." Steve pauses at that.

Tony carded his fingers through Steve's short hair and he continues, "I didn't expect any woman to want to settle down and have kids with me. I was small and weak and couldn't provide for a family even if I found someone. And I mean, I felt too young and reckless to be responsible enough to be…sometimes I think I still am. I know you, and the rest of the team, joke about how old I am. But, sometimes I feel like I'm still in my twenties."

Tony and Steve allowed the following silence sink in.