Maybe it had only been a couple of days since Tony had last seen Steve, he wasn't entirely sure. He's locked himself in his lab, working on his suit, going over the plan that he's been involved in with Nick Fury, whatever it takes to keep him from thinking about Steve Rogers. Amazingly, he's stayed away from the liquor which is practically a milestone for him. What Steve had said about being like his father has gotten to him more than any other negative thing said about him?

He's sitting in a rolling chair in front of the desk, a good old fashioned manila folder sitting on the top. There are bold block letters on the front of the folder that reads "Superhuman Registration Act". When Nick Fury first presented the idea to Tony, he'd laughed at it, insisting that it was ridiculous and the government couldn't force them to register. Nick had not found it so humorous, having caught so much flak from the nation's leaders about the destruction they had caused along the way. Even if they had helped to save the world, it wasn't without hiccups. Too many lives had been lost and the government had presented the Registration Act in hopes that it would bring cooperation between super humans and the government. It was proposed that the superhuman would be given proper training that could eliminate any collateral damage that had occurred. At first, Tony was against the act, knowing that some of her colleagues wanted to remain discreet about their alter egos. Not all of them wanted to live in the spotlight as he did.

After many weeks of weighing the pros and cons of the Registration Act, even talking about it with Pepper, he'd made a decision. Tony was in favor of the Registration Act and that is what he has been hiding from Steve. He knows that Steve will think differently, thinking it would be an invasion of privacy and their rights. Maybe it would be but it is a risk that Tony is willing to take. He's not ready to tell Steve. Not yet, not when they're relationship is so rocky.

The sound of the door to his lab sliding open jolts him from his thoughts and he spins in his chair to see Pepper entering the room. She is back early and Tony is surprised to see her. She smiles at him softly, moving across the room to pull up another rolling chair towards him.

"Hi," Tony says. "You're back early."

"The matter was resolved quicker than I had expected." Pepper says, reaching to take a hand. "Are you all right? You look like you haven't slept in days."

Tony shifts uncomfortably. "I'm fine. Just have a lot on my mind."

"About the Registration Act?"

Tony nods, slowly but he can see that Pepper doesn't believe him. She's way too intuitive for her own good.

She frowns at him. "Tell me the truth."

The idea of hurting Pepper kills him a little inside and he hates what he's about to tell her but he's in love with Steve. He can't just cut the Captain out of his life and he doesn't want to but he also knows that he can't have his cake and eat it too. He only hopes that Pepper will understand even if he's about to break her heart.

"There's something you don't know," Tony begins. "While you were gone, I had a visitor and...things happened. I didn't expect this to happen, I had no idea that this person was coming back."

Pepper holds up a hand to stop him from speaking. "Tony, please. I was waiting for this to happen. I've been expecting it for a while now and actually I'm surprised that it's taken this long. You weren't the same when you came back from the Avengers Initiative and I knew something had happened. That someone had happened." She smiles faintly. "Tony, I know you love me but you were never in love with me and quite frankly, I'm not sure I was ever in love with you. I've just been around all this time and we got comfortable with each other. I'm not angry; I don't regret anything but I want you to be happy. I've always wanted you to be happy and if Steve Rogers is what is going to make you happy, then go."

Tony is shocked and his jaw goes slack. How could Pepper have known? "How...?"

She smiles. "I have eyes and ears in places you don't know about. Things get back to me."

"I really am sorry about this, Pepper."

Pepper shakes her head, leaning forwards and pressing a soft kiss to Tony's lips. "Don't be, Tony, this might be the best opportunity for both of us. I've been so wrapped up in Stark Industries and you that I never bothered to worry about me. I love you, I don't blame you for that but it's time to take care of myself."

Tony smiles and nods. He reaches up to play with a bit of Pepper's hair and sighs softly. "Just don't forget about me, okay?"

"That's impossible."

It's only a few hours since his talk with Pepper and Tony is standing outside of SHIELD, hoping that Steve is there. He feels relieved that Pepper had been understanding and even more relieved to know that he was no longer holding her back from finding true happiness. Now, it was his turn to be happy and Steve was just a few floors away. At least for a little while, they can be happy. It's chilly outside and the blazer that he's chosen to wear does little to keep the cold off of him but he doesn't care. He's still working up the nerve to actually enter the building. Finally, he puts one foot in front of the other and that's all it takes.

He's running into the building.

He almost forgets that he can't just barge in and groans in frustration as he waits for the retinal scanner to allow him access. Once the air-locked doors are open, he's flying past them an into the control room. Natasha and Clint are leaning over a computer, looking at something and they look up startled.

"Where's Steve?" He asks, his breath coming hard and fast from not only the running but the excitement.

Natasha and Clint don't have a chance to answer because a voice reaches his ears. "Tony?" It's Steve's voice.

Tony whirls around the face his lover and he smiles. "Steve...I need to talk to you." In his peripheral, he can see Clint nudging Natasha away from the computer and they leave the control room together. He doesn't know why because he certainly isn't planning on having this conversation here.

Steve's expression is blank. "What do you want, Tony?"

"Not here," Tony says, looking around the room. "It's not private."

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what you're doing here," Steve crosses his arms over his chest, staring at Tony.

Tony knows that Steve isn't going to budge and he lets his hands fall to his sides, almost defeated. "Fine, I'll tell you." He clears his throat, taking a breath to mentally prepare himself for what he's about to say. "I love you, Steve. I have for a long time but I couldn't say it until now. I couldn't say it until I knew for sure that I wouldn't become vulnerable to hurt again."

Steve tilts his head to one side, surprise registering on his face. For a long time, they stand there and stare at each other and Tony can feel his heart drop into his stomach. He wonders if Steve has changed his mind, if he'll tell Tony that it's too late and he had his chance. The thought of Steve turning his back on him is unbearable to Tony and he's preparing to meet this heartbreak head on.

"What about Pepper?" Steve finally asks.

Tony shakes his head. "She knew. I don't know how she knew but she did."

Steve runs his tongue over his bottom lip. "This isn't a game, Tony. I can't play this game of hot and cold with you anymore. It's all or nothing."

At first, Tony doesn't say anything and he steps forwards until he's a mere three inches from Steve. "Then I want it all." He kisses him. It's hard, fast and desperate.

Tony can't even remember what happened between the points that they'd left SHIELD and when they got back to his penthouse. It had been a whirlwind of kisses, touching, clothes flying and Tony found himself straddling Steve, his lover buried deep inside of him and heat running through him. He didn't even care if anyone had seen them. None of that mattered as long as Steve was with him.

When it was over and the two lay next to each other, panting and exhausted, Tony laughs softly. "In all the times my father used to tell me about you when I was a kid, never once did I ever imagine this happening."

Steve laughs along with him and his lover shifts to turn on his side, fingers moving to play over Tony's chest, tracing the arc reactor. "How could you have? You were a kid and I was in a coma."

Tony shrugs. "I suppose that's true. I hated you at first, you know."

"The feeling was mutual." Steve smiles and presses a soft kiss to Tony's neck. It causes him to shiver and moves closer to the Captain. "When did you change your mind?"

"That time when you came into my room and nothing happened. You had just lain next to me and we held each other." Tony says softly. He knows it sounds like a bad romantic comedy but it's true. "That was when I knew I was in love with you. I just didn't know how to be in love with you. I've never been in love with anyone before."

"It isn't your fault, you know." Steve says gently. "You weren't exactly raised in the most loving home."

"Eh, it's all water under a bridge now." He replies. "Who did you love before me?"

Steve frowns for a moment and Tony thinks that maybe this isn't the best time to ask that question but since they're being honest, he figures why the hell not?

"Once," Steve says. "Her name was Peggy and she was a British agent that was part of the special soldier experiment. The last thing I remember is making a date with her before crashing the plane into the ocean. Obviously, I never made that date. I don't know what happened to her. I don't know if she died in the war or if she's still alive somewhere. I don't want to know."

Tony nods. He can't understand what it's like to feel as empty and confused as Steve does so he doesn't say anything.

"Anyways, it doesn't matter now. That was the past and there's nothing I can do to change that." Steve fingers play along Tony's stomach. "I don't want to change anything. I'm here with you. I love you, Tony"

"I know," Tony smiles, tilting his head up to kiss his lover gently.

Steve's breathing is even Tony can tell his lover is asleep by the rhythmic rise and falls of Steve's chest against his back. He's tired but he doesn't want to sleep, he wants to stay curled up in Steve's arms because there's the possibility that this could have all been a dream. His fingers are running up and down the length of the arm around his waist, the tangibility of the Captain reminding him that he loves someone and that someone loves him back.