Tony really has no idea what happened but he woke up from a nap and his head was resting in Steve's lap, tilting his head up he saw Steve watching him and smiling. There was something his face, the way he held his jaw and the fact the crease between his eyebrows wasn't there- disproving Tony's theory that it was permanent. The man so guarded that fate itself bestowed him an indestructible shield had let his guard. In these lingering moments in the stillness of late afternoon Tony was more comfortable than he thought himself capable. Holding his tiny, fragile, squirmy pride and joy in one arm while he ran his fingers through Tony's hair with the other, Steve gave him a lazy smile.

"Mr. Stark."

"Captain."

Their smiles grew a little.

"I can't ignore it forever can I?" Steve half groaned as he motioned to the TV remote.

"As a professional in the field of ignoring responsibility I can confidently say this one might not let you."

Steve pointed the remote at the TV and visibly winced as he turned it on. Sure enough there was some perfectly polished Fox News woman condemning the character of a man, a widower and father without ever bothering to have met him.

"Sources are indicating that Captain America aka Steve Rogers who used to be Steve Rogers-Barnes is already seeing someone new. Fellow Avenger and team mate Tony Stark, who also happens to be the now ex-partner of Tiberius Stone whom Captain Rogers brutally paralyzed with his bare hands. Its open to speculation exactly how long Steve Rogers' affair with his teammate has been going on but I'm willing to bet he didn't wait until after the funeral. As an American who stands proudly for the sanctity of marriage and traditional families, I for one am heartbroken for the baby girl that has now been confirmed as the infant daughter of Captain America and his now deceased husband The Winter Soldier. This photo was snapped early yesterday morning..."

Steve and Tony both stared in horror at the image took up the whole screen, a candid photo of Steve jogging with a stroller followed by another photo taken a few minutes later of Steve taking a break and lifting Sylvia out of the stroller, giving the photographer an unmistakably clear shot of Dad and baby.

The anchorwoman reappeared shaking her head.

"We can only hope that someone close to them can get this innocent child safely away from this bizarre love triangle and more importantly away from the Captain and his violent unpredictable tailspin."

Tony could feel Steve shaking besides him and he could practically taste the rage spilling off of the usually composed soldier.

"Steve-"

"They're saying that I cheated on my husband...they're saying that I cheated on my dead husband! Like Bucky didn't mean shit to me! Like I just go whoring around, mercilessly beating innocent people and neglecting my daughter!"

Tony had never heard Steve yelling like this.

"They have picture of her, Tony! They know what my baby looks like and they put her on TV for the fucking word to see!"

Fearing for Sylvia's little ears Tony took her from Steve's arms. Sylvia had most certainly noticed her father distress and was staring to hiccup- a sign that full blown bawling wasn't far behind.

"Steve!"

He was seeing red as he continued to radiate anger.

"STEVE!"

"What?!" The blond snapped.

"You're scaring her."

And that was all it took. Steve's body unraveled into defeat and his eyes brimmed with guilt. Being careful to not make any sound, Steve took Sylvia back from Tony and held her closer than usual, pressing kisses into her silky hair, apologizing and murmuring his love for her quietly. The brunette could only stand and watch Steve's back retreat slowly to Sylvia's room and Tony knew that Steve didn't want to be followed yet.

Tony ended up going down to his lab to give Steve some time alone before wandering back up to their floor. It was dark out now as he cautiously leaned on the door-frame of the nursery. Peering inside he saw Sylvia asleep in Steve's arms who was absentmindedly using his foot to gently sway the rocking chair back and forth. Tony was surprised to say the least as he hadn't seen Steve look so at ease in a long long time. Slouched comfortably the rocking chair with his other leg on the ottoman, entirely absorbed in Sylvie's light breathing and her angelic face absent of worry, fear, guilt and all the other things that wore Steve, Tony and so many of their friends down.

Tony noticed a frame on the wall above the baby's crib that he'd never paid any attention to, but now it looked like the room's most prominent feature and he was shocked this was the first time he actually noticed it. It was Bucky's dog tags with his wedding ring hanging on the chain with them.

"I want her to always know that he's watching over her." Steve said, knowing what Tony was looking at.

Tony couldn't stop himself from wondering where Steve kept his ring as he no longer could bear wearing it.

"She's so much like him." Steve said softly after several minutes without looking away from Sylvia.

"She's so much like you too." Tony answered.

Steve was quiet for a few minutes after that before speaking up again.

"Y'know before she was born I was so terrified. I was afraid she would be like I was before the serum, sick all the time and too weak to go play with her friends. I was afraid to hold her because I was convinced that I'd drop her or crush her or something. Bucky was the first to hold her in the delivery room, he was always a lot braver than me."

Tony just gave a small smile.

"I never told anyone this but after we brought her home she was so quiet that I thought something was wrong. That first night when Bucky was asleep I couldn't even help myself, I had to get up and check on her. But I still didn't trust myself to pick her up without anyone else around. I looked into the bassinet and she was pale as ghost, her lips were this haunting bluish purple color. I swear to God I've never been more scared in my entire life. Without even thinking I picked her up and started clapping her back like a lunatic, she was so freezing cold and I couldn't stop screaming for Bucky to call 911. God, she was so cold. But then suddenly just as Buck finished dialing the paramedics she started coughing and her eyes finally opened. She coughed some more and her color came back she took a few breathes and started wailing. I could hear Bucky behind me, he was crying and mumbling "Thank God, thank God, Steve you saved her. Thank God you saved her." We still went to the Emergency Room right away, of course. Doctor said it was a sore throat from a bug she probably picked up before we ever even brought her home and it made her throat swell and close off her airway. They gave us some antibiotics and nothing like that ever happened again. But that night I realized that I would never be able to live my life without her. I cant...If they take her away I don't know what I'll do or if I'll even be able to keep going at all."

"You sound just like Bucky." Tony mused, making Steve look up at him.

"He took care of you every single time you got sick and from what I've heard you were never too far from death's door either. He protected you from every asshole who you picked a fight with and smiled while he did it. Now you know how he always must have felt before you went into that super-hero Easy Bake Oven. Now it's your turn, Steve."

Steve didn't move a muscle.

"Sylvia's the one who needs to be protected and taken care of now and you're the only one in the world who can do it. And he's watching over both of you you know. Bucky wasn't dumb, not even a little bit, he would never leave you with something you couldn't handle. Bucky left you the most precious and important thing he ever did with his life and you owe it to Buck to prove him right to everyone who doesn't think you can do this. Court is the day after tomorrow so put Sylvie to bed and if you aren't in our room in 2 minutes I'm coming for you in the suit."

A soldier always follows orders. No more than four minutes later Tony was kissing the blond up his neck and jawline. Steve started kissing Tony back passionately and with a criminal amount of heat. The two of them groped and clawed at each other like a couple of shameless teenagers, speeding up pace and finding rhythm. Tony abruptly broke away leaving Steve looking confused and a little offended.

"We're going out tomorrow. You and me and Sylvia, we'll go to lunch and take her to the park and you can freak out about whether you're putting enough sunscreen on her and whatever other family shit we can think of." Tony eyes had that spark of ambition they got whenever he started thinking up a new crazy idea.

"The paparazzi-"

"Fuck the paparazzi! Sylvia is a thousand times cuter than Suri Cruise or any one of Brangelina's twenty kids! She'll be with Daddy Cap and Iron Man, she couldn't be safer! Not to mention Uncle Thor is way more than enthusiastic about playing bodyguard to his favorite mini Midgaurdian."

Steve sat there thinking for a moment before sighing, he was a tactical genius and he knew there was no way Tony would be taking no for an answer here.

"Alright fine. We'll get up early tomorrow and go out for the day but I'm not going to tolerate any tantrum throwing." Steve said firmly.

"Steve, Sylvia's gonna love it, she hardly ever has a meltdown!"

"I wasn't talking about Sylvie."