By the time they made it home, the pizza and dessert had arrived and both boys were waiting in Steve and Tony's suite.
"Hey Dad, Pop!" Peter greeted them from the kitchen. He looked like he was washing out a glass but neither of them could be sure.
"Hi Dad! Pop, your dessert is here!" Johnny greeted Steve and Tony with a smile.
Tony grinned as he walked into the suite, pulling off his jacket and tie. "Hey, hey guys. How's it going?" He leaned over the couch and gave Johnny a kiss on top of his head. "Hiya squirt?" Then headed towards Peter. "Whatcha' got there champ?"
Peter grinned at Tony, "Just a little something from chem lab. Not sure if it was going to work but I had JARVIS scan it and it's safe."
Tony leaned over his shoulder to see what he was holding. When it bubbled up, he stepped back then glanced at Steve. "Uh, you may not want to let your father see that. You know, with the whole almost blowing up Johnny's room situation."
Peter frowned then turned to look at Tony. "That wasn't my fault dad, I swear! If Dum-E had been paying attention to where he set the beaker..."
"You know he doesn't always do that Pete that's why we don't let him near the beakers unless they're empty." Tony ruffled Peter's hair then walked out of the kitchen. "Just make sure to clean up before we eat." He couldn't help the grin that curved his lips at his son's nod.
Steve looked between Peter and Tony, a worried frown on his face. He wasn't sure what they were talking about but Tony appeared worried about whatever it was Peter had shown him.
"Pop?" Johnny was looking up at Steve, a confused look on his face.
"Hey squirt, sorry. Just making sure your dad and brother aren't planning anything." He looked down at his youngest son and grinned. "Tell me how was your day, hmm? Did you do anything fun and interesting?" Steve leaned down to pick Johnny up despite his protests and headed to the kitchen, listening while he talked about his day. He noticed the look Tony gave him then the matching look on Peter's face. He tried to bite back a sigh as he watched his two mad scientists. "What are you two plotting in here?" He asked Tony as he headed out of the kitchen.
Johnny looked over Steve's shoulder and frowned. "It stinks, what ever you're doing?"
Steve nodded his head in agreement. "It smells like a dead body." He put Johnny down then slowly moved towards Peter and the kitchen sink. When he looked over his son's shoulder he flinched back at the odor and sight coming from the glass. "Geezus Pete, just what the heck is that?" Steve fanned his hand across his face. He looked from Peter to Tony then back, the smell making him frown in distaste. "That's the worst smell ever."
Tony shook his head, "I don't smell it but that could be because I don't have heightened senses and all that." He winked at Steve as he turned and headed to the bedroom, whistling a soft tune on the way.
Steve grinned at Tony, shaking his head he looked at Peter. "Pete, I have no idea just what that is or why it smells so bad but either take it down to your Uncle Bruce's lab or your dad's, I don't care just...please, get it out of here." He looked at his oldest son and smiled. "And hello to both of you as well." He ruffled Peter's hair and laughed at his protests. Turning back towards the doorway, Steve noticed Johnny was pale and sweating. "Johnny? Hey buddy, you feeling ok?" He moved towards his youngest son, worry creasing his brow. When he reached him, Steve placed a hand against his forehead to check his temperature, frowning at how warm he was.
"Hey Johnny, you ok?" Peter looked at his brother over Steve's shoulder, concern lacing his words. He frowned at the flush rising on his brother's face.
Johnny nodded his head at both Steve and Peter. Looking back at the sink he turned then left the kitchen. He crossed one arm over his chest while rubbing at the other arm. Johnny glanced back once, looking at his brother and dad then headed to the living room.
Steve frowned as the blond head of his youngest son disappeared into the living room. "Did he eat anything today, Pete?"
"As far as I know he ate breakfast and lunch, we were waiting on you and dad to get here to start the pizza."
Before Steve could respond, Tony had walked out of the bedroom. "Well now, what time is it?!" He was grinning as he rubbed his hands together. It wasn't until he looked at Steve's face did he pause. "Steve, babe, what's wrong?"
"I think Johnny may be sick. He was pale and sweating and when I felt his forehead it was a little warmer than usual." Steve rushed out breathlessly. He stared at Tony with eyes full of worry. "Tony, y-you don't think that he may have caught something do you?"
Despite both boys having Steve and Tony's DNA, Johnny didn't heal as fast as Peter or Steve. He seemed to have more of Steve ailments before the serum and it worried Steve constantly.
Tony frowned, looking over at Peter who was washing his hands and putting his science instruments away, Tony tilted his head. "Pete..."
Peter looked up at Tony, "He ate dad, I swear. Like I told Pop, he ate breakfast and lunch."
"Did he take his meds? You know if he misses one day..." Steve started towards the living room until Tony grabbed his wrist gently.
"Babe, over reacting, remember? He could just be a little queasy from Peter's experiment. You both said the smell got to you, so what if he just needed some fresh air?" Tony looked up at the tall blond. Worry sliding through him as he tried to keep calm as well.
Steve looked back at Tony, he was torn between going to check on his youngest son and just standing there in the kitchen. "But, what if..."
"Then we will handle it then, ok? Come on honey, you know how he is. If we go all Avenger mode on him, he'll just leave and lock us out of his room for a week." Tony sighed, "Let's just see how he does during dinner and the movie."
Steve nodded his head, his eyes drifting back in the direction Johnny had left in. "Yeah, we, uh, we can see if that's it." He turned back to Tony, a frown curving his lips down. "D-do you really think that's all it is?" He asked softly. Steve worried about Johnny's health constantly, sometimes to the point that it would drive even Tony crazy.
"No but if it were anything else he'd tell us. So let's just try and act as normal as possible and go from there, ok?" He looked at both Peter and Steve.
Peter nodded then headed to the living room after cleaning up. "Hey squirt, scoot over I wanna be able to have some room to stretch out too." He grinned as he ran to the living room, jumping over the couch and landing on Johnny.
When the sounds of Johnny's laughter and Peter's teasing echoed around them, Steve relaxed slightly. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't worry so much but he was so sick when he was born a-and we almost lost him..."
"I know babe, don't apologize for that. You're going to worry about him that's what good parents do. I'm worried too, now that you mention it. Let's just keep an eye on him and if things change we'll have Bruce come check him out." Tony looked up at Steve, could see the worry in his eyes but hoped he believed him enough to let some of it go, just for tonight. "I promise, first sign of change..."
"We'll call Bruce." Steve whispered, nodding his head. He knew he shouldn't worry so much, both boys had his and Tony's genes. Giving them both intelligence and super human abilities, still, Johnny was his son and he couldn't do anything else but worry. "Ok, ok I...we can do this. Let's go watch a movie or something. I'm exhausted and would really just like some time with my favorite guys right now."
Tony grinned, "Now there's my husband." He walked into the kitchen and grabbed some plates and napkins, Steve grabbed the drinks and snack bowels. "Hey you two, make sure that you leave some for your father and me!" Tony yelled out towards the living room. Looking at Steve he grinned, "They got that appetite from you because we both know I hardly eat as it is."
Steve flushed as he grinned back at the brunette. "Well that may be but there are a number of things they got from you too."
"Yeah, like our smart mouths and lack of patience while waiting on our dads to stop being gross in the kitchen so we can eat!" Peter yelled at them.
"We can hear you guys and it's really, not very cool!" Johnny chimed in with his brother.
Steve frowned, "See, that's all you because I'd never..."
Tony started laughing as they headed towards the living room. "Yes you have, just not around them." Tony grinned as they walked back to the living room. "Hey guys how about throwing your pop and me a couple of pillows?" Tony set the plates and napkins on the coffee table and waited for Steve to join him.
Peter handed Tony some pillows and a blanket, his eyes glued to the television. "Here ya' go dad." He glanced over at his parents and smiled, his blue gaze turning back to the television. He knew that one of two things would happen. They would either fall asleep or end up going to their room early. He glanced over at Johnny to make sure he was doing ok and grinned as he noticed the smaller blond was fighting to stay awake. "Hey squirt," Peter whispered affectionately. "Come on, scoot over here so you don't get a crick in your neck. You know pop will fuss if you do." He pulled his younger brother closer to him, not missing the pale, sweating face or the tightness around his mouth "Y-you ok Johnny? Do you want me..." Peter whispered softly.
"No!" Johnny struggled to sit up. He looked up at Peter then glanced over to where Tony and Steve were sitting. He watched as Tony leaned forward to give Steve a kiss, and smiled. His dad's were sappy together but it was great. "T-they just got home Pete. I-I don't wanna..." Johnny started softly.
"Hey squirt, you doing alright? Looking a little pale there." Steve moved closer to the boys, concern in his sky blue eyes. He could hear the soft labored breathes coming from his youngest son. Noticed the pale face and bright ocean blue eyes. Moving closer to the pair, he reached over and placed a gentle hand against Johnny's face. "You're a little warmer than before but..."
"Then we need to get your medicine and stuff together, just in case?" Tony looked over Steve's shoulder at their youngest. Glancing up at Peter, he could see the concern written on his face. "Hey Pete, he'll be ok."
Peter nodded his head as he looked down at his younger brother. He tried to remember if he was ever this sick and couldn't. He did remember his parents telling them about how Steve was before the serum, how he was constantly sick and allergic to almost everything he'd come into contact with. Glancing up at Tony then back down to Johnny, he nodded his head. "You hear that squirt? Both dad and pop say you're gonna be ok. So, you're gonna be ok." Peter hugged his brother close and smiled as it was returned. He was worried about his brother, could hear his breathing as it came in small gasps and his heart beat was faster than usual. Looking down into the ocean blue eyes, Peter frowned slightly but didn't say anything else. He looked over at both his father's. Saw the open worry and concern on Steve's face, took in the pinched look around Tony's mouth and the concern in his sable eyes. If both of his parent's were worried then he knew it could be serious. "M-maybe we should go ahead and turn in?" He looked down at Johnny when he asked the question, leaving the decision up to him.
"T-that sounds great Pete. We can, umm, we can always watch a movie later when Johnny feels better." Steve had moved closer to Johnny, fear beginning to settle along his nerves. He looked back at Tony and could see his face must have had the same look as his. "Tony..."
"It's up to you squirt, we can get your med kit and go from there or we can reschedule. Either way the med kit is coming out and JARVIS is monitoring you all night." Tony moved around Steve as he watched Johnny. "You're looking a little out of it though so..."
"No! I-I'm fine just tired, that's all. I swear dad, I'm ok." Johnny turned his gaze towards Tony, was aware that they could all get what they wanted from him that way. "It's just been really hot outside and I-I may have done to much. Dad, I swear I'm ok. Seriously you two stop worrying." Johnny said breathlessly.
Tony frowned, glancing over at Steve. He saw the fear in his eyes, could see the struggle it was taking for him not to pick Johnny up and carry him to his room. "Ok, if you say so but you're still taking your meds. You've got your poor father over here worried out of his mind." He grinned, trying to hide his worry from his youngest son. He scanned the small blond with a critical eye. "Hey J, monitor Johnny's vitals, anything change let us know."
"Yes Sir." Came the voice of Tony's AI.
He turned to Steve and took the med kit from under the table he handed it to Steve. Smiling in reassurance up at the taller blond, he made sure their fingers brushed as he turned back towards Johnny.
Steve watched as Tony gave Johnny his shot then helped him get comfortable on the couch. He could feel his pulse racing as he tried to calm down. He hated sitting by and watching when either of the boys got sick or were in pain. "Tony..." He scooted closer to the group, leaning over to look at Johnny.
"He's ok babe, just a little tired." Tony turned to look at his husband, understanding his fear and worry. "We'll have J monitor him either way. Just to be safe, ok?"
Steve nodded his head, his blue gaze still on Johnny. "Yeah, JARVIS will let us know if anything changes." He said softly. Glancing over at Peter, he noticed he was pale as well. "Hey champ, he's going to be ok."
"A-are you sure? M-maybe we should have come back early? Did I..." Peter looked down at Johnny then up at Steve and Tony. "Is this my fault, did I keep Johnny out to long?"
"No," Tony answered immediately. "This is not your fault buddy so don't think it is. It's been hot the past few weeks and we just need to get squirt's temperature down and he'll be ok." Tony tried to fight down the worry running through his system. Knew it would do no good if both he and Steve lost it and he could see his husband was seconds away from picking Johnny up and leaving the room.
"Maybe we should reschedule things, I mean, Johnny is kind of tired..." Steve began.
"No! Pop seriously stop worrying, I'm fine just tired." He looked between Tony and Steve. "I'll just lay here and we can eat pizza and watch whatever Peter picked out." Johnny leaned back against the couch, his head on Peter shoulder.
"You sure squirt, we can always do this when you're feeling better you know." Tony frowned but wasn't going to force him.
"I'm ok dad, promise." Johnny gave Tony a tired smile, then yawned. "Seriously, I'm just...a little tired."
Steve watched as Johnny struggled to sit up and hold the plate Peter handed him. "D-do you feel up to eating, squirt? If not don't force yourself, we can save it for later." He breathed a little easier when he was rewarded with a smile.
"No, that's ok Pop, I'm hungry too." Johnny bit into the slice of pizza on his plate and grinned.
Steve returned the grin and leaned over to ruffle his hair. "Love you Johnny." Steve said softly. He smiled at both the boys then pulled Tony closer towards him. "Thank you." He whispered into the dark, chestnut curls. He held onto the brunette as tight as possible, trying not to shake from fear or worry. "I-I know I shouldn't..."
Tony shushed his husband, turning to hug him as he shivered against him. "Yes you should because if you didn't I would and we both know how well that would go." Kissing Steve gently, Tony smiled at him. "We'll just have to be extra careful that's all." Tony turned worried sable eyes towards Peter and Johnny, General Ross' words floating through his mind."Just wait until you feel the loss and pain of knowing that you had the chance to fix this...make things right..." Shaking his head, Tony wrapped his arms around Steve and vowed that he wouldn't lose them. He would do everything he could to make sure his family stayed safe, no matter the cost.
