Iron Man

Black Sabbath

"Where on Earth did she get those things?" Tony asked, watching his daughter play in the next room. She sitting cross legged in her newest pink dress talking animatedly with Thor.

"Thor found them in some toy store, he thought they were hilarious," Steve said also looking over at Maggie playing with her Uncle Thor. In one hand Maggie held a plush Captain America and in the other a plush Iron Man, both nearly as big as her.

"Well I don't think it's very funny," said Bruce taking a long swig of his coffee looking woefully where the two played amongst a wooden block city.

"HULK SMASH!" Thor said in a deepened voice before knocking over the tallest tower with a plush Hulk. A piece of paper that had the word "Stark" crayoned on it still clung to one of the blocks now laying on the floor.

"We'll save the day!" Maggie said in a silly attempt to sound like a man while holding up Captain America and Iron Man and running all over the room with them. "Whooshh! Whooshh! Pow!" Thor ran around the living room with Maggie close behind while Clint and Natasha laughed from the couch.

"Mm yes, very accurate," Clint said wiping away a tear. Thor was laughing heartily while he waved the big green Hulk around in the air.

"Honey, only I can fly," Tony said, almost exasperated by his child's poor rendition of their powers.

"That's right, Daddy can't fly, and Uncle Bruce isn't a bad guy," said Steve in a similar tone, though he was smiling.

"Well that's no fun, Cap," Maggie pouted.

"Cap?" Steve asked disbelievingly, but he was cutoff by Bruce.

"Oh yes, me turning into a big green monster who destroys half the city is real fun," said Bruce waving his arm in the direction of the blocks strewn all over the living room floor.

"Uncle Bruce, I know what sarcasm is now," Maggie said flatly with a slight glare.

"Aw come on guys, I like this version better," said Natasha with a smirk.

"Yes, this is indeed very fun!" Thor said beaming. He sat himself down on the chair across from Natasha and Clint and continued knocking blocks over with the legs of the plush Hulk.

"Just because there's no toy versions of you!" Bruce retorted. Tony suddenly looked at Bruce, hoping for more, but Steve placed a gentle hand on Bruce's shoulder, who laughed nervously.

"Maybe I should go back to the lab," Bruce said running a hand through his hair.

"No, not until we have Maggie's cake, it's getting late anyway," Steve said firmly. It was extremely rare for all of them to be together like that, especially with Clint and Natasha traveling the world and Thor living on a different planet. They all sang 'Happy Birthday' to Maggie, which further reminded each of the Avengers just how mundane their lives had become since they last worked under SHIELD, and she blew out all eight candles in one blow.

Later that evening Steve tucked Maggie into bed.

"Did you have a good Birthday?" he asked as he handed Maggie her plush heroes. She nodded sleepily as she pulled Captain America in close to her, the Hulk laying on her other side.

"Where's Iron Man?" Maggie asked with a streak of panic in her voice. Steve glanced around the room.

"I've got him!" called Tony from the doorway. He tossed the red and gold doll to Steve, who handed it to Maggie. Just like Captain America she wrapped her arm around the Iron Man and squeezed tight. Suddenly a familiar riff began to play.

"Is that? Is it playing Iron Man?" Tony asked excitedly.

"Yep! And this one plays the National Anthem!" Maggie responded, giving Captain America a squeeze. Suddenly the bars of the National Anthem mixed in with the melody of Iron Man.

"That's certainly interesting," Steve said with a curious look at the dolls.

"Well, Uncle Bruce is waiting for me in the lab. Happy Birthday, Maggie May," Tony said ruffling her hair.

"Not too late," Steve yelled out the door as Tony left. Steve awkwardly smoothed out the comforter on top of Maggie's legs and looked around the room for something to nitpick, but the maid had just cleaned everything this morning. Finally, Steve turned to Maggie with the thing that had been bothering him all night.

"Since when did you start calling me Cap?"

"Well, I guess just today," responded Maggie as she picked at a loose thread on her sheets. "Dad always calls you that and I realized, 'Dad' and 'Daddy' isn't enough difference."

"Dad calls me 'Steve' too. Are you going to start calling me 'Steve'?" Steve asked, suddenly feeling hurt. The thought of his little girl, the child he had wanted all along, calling him simply Steve while Tony kept the distinction of 'Dad' hurt more than anything he had experienced in a while. How strange it was that he had gone from fighting Nazis, demonic dictators, gods, and blood thirsty aliens. Now the only terror looming was the inevitable distance that would come between him and his only daughter. He just never expected it to come so soon.

"No!" Maggie snapped back, trying to save face. "Captain is still a title, like 'Dad.' I like calling you 'Cap,' it reminds me that my daddy is a war hero, he's Captain America. I'm proud of both of you so much. Besides, Iron Man doesn't really roll off the tongue." Maggie finally turned those big blue eyes on her father and all his anger and sadness melted away. He pulled Maggie into a tight hug. "When did you get so smart?" he whispered into her hair. And she just smiled. And when Steve turned out the light and closed the door, Maggie pulled Captain America and Iron Man into a tight hug, but not tight enough to make the music play again.

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mayzie