Michael was grabbing at the fabric of David's shirt when Tony woke with a groan. He had been asleep for over twelve hours, so the mid-morning sun certainly wouldn't be helping his hangover. Tony dry-retched a few times into the bucket before gulping down the water on the table beside him. David watched him squint and sit up slowly in the bed. He seemed disoriented, confused at how he'd gone from the kitchenette to his bedroom again. Tony tiredly ran a hand over his face. Michael babbled, and Tony looked up immediately, finding David sitting in the chair across from the bed, holding him.

"What…?" He murmured, looking quite pale.

Before David could respond, he moaned in pain again.

"You had a fair bit to drink last night, Tony."

He furrowed his brow, face deep in thought.

"Yeah, I figured." He replied hoarsely.

"How about I get you some breakfast and coffee first?"

Tony nodded.

Leaving Michael to play with his toys on a mat in his nursery, David was pleased to find Tony sitting with him when he returned, carrying a mug of coffee and a plate of bacon and eggs. As always, the smile Tony gave Michael seemed to be the biggest when nobody was around. When David looked down at him, Tony's expression faded into shame very quickly. Without making eye contact, he mumbled his appreciation to David as he took the food.

"I…I'm sorry about last night." He said solemnly. "I remember what I did and I…you didn't deserve to be put in that position."

To his surprise, he didn't feel the need to address it. "I'm less concerned about that and more concerned about why you were drinking in the first place."

Shutting his eyes, Tony shook his head. "Don't ever let me do that again, please. I-I know I can't ask you to get rid of all the alcohol, but if you could move it somewhere else, somewhere I won't find it, I….I would really appreciate that."

"Consider it done." He said with a small smile. "But you haven't answered my question. I understand that the situation isn't exactly simple and I know there's always so much on your mind, but I just…I worry about you."

The softness of David's voice brought up the very feelings that had caused him to spin out of control last night. Tony took in a shuddering breath. It wasn't like David didn't probably have some idea, given that he'd come onto him pretty directly. And yet he was still giving him the decency to lie if he wanted. Still…Tony wondered whether his initial assumption that David couldn't possibly feel the same way about him was wrong. He didn't seem upset, nor did he seem repulsed or offended. In fact, David was looking past it completely because he was more concerned if he was okay. But when Tony went to speak, the words died in his throat. He was terrified. He was sober now and utterly afraid to admit how he truly felt.

David could see the apprehension in his expression and realised that maybe the answer wasn't as simple as he thought. It only furthered his concern, making him wonder if Tony was struggling more than he let on. He felt guilty to think he'd claimed to care about Tony and yet had missed some kind of sign that he was headed for a relapse. Tony couldn't possibly feel the same way about him. David concluded that he was projecting and letting his own loneliness get the better of him. It would be better if they simply never mentioned last night ever again.

"I…I remember what you said."

David felt his breath catch in his throat.

That could mean anything.

He could just be talking about when they were in the kitchen.

It didn't mean he heard…

"You said…you said you cared about me. That you care about Michael." Tony met David's worried eyes. "And that being with me makes you feel happy."

Now David was the one who couldn't speak, couldn't understand how or why Tony wasn't reacting with shock or confusion or disgust or any of the things he expected him to.

"Is that true?"

"Yes." He whispered, still looking him in the eyes.

Tony could see just how scared he was. All this time, he had been the vulnerable one, he had been the one afraid to open up and talk about his feelings. But, right now, the reverse was true. He was sitting here asking David simply if he cared about him, without judgement, without wanting anything other than openness between them. And he was bravely telling Tony that he did, that he saw him as something more than a friend, more than just a person he'd recruited for his personal gain. Still, it took Tony aback a little to see such fear in his expression. Not just fear of rejection, but fear that he would react negatively in return, that they would lose what they had right now.

So Tony knew he had to convey in every possible way that that simply wasn't true.

David was sitting across from him cross-legged. Michael was beside the two of them, oblivious to what was happening. So, Tony slowly leaned in and cupped his cheek, giving plenty of time for David to resist, but pleased to see he didn't. David exhaled softly as his lips met Tony's. He started kissing him back gently, his hand on the back of Tony's neck, keeping him there. Tony smiled against him, seeing David's relief and sheer joy when he pulled away a little to take a breath and thumb at a tear under his eye.

"You make me happy too," Tony said softly. "I…I couldn't figure out a way to tell you. I felt so guilty and so wrong because all I could think about was Michelle. Which is why I did what I did last night. I spiralled into a place I hadn't been in in a very long time, and I don't ever want to be there again."

"We can still take things slow…I understand what you're working through. But I'm so glad you feel the same way, Tony."

"In any case…I want you to be there to raise Michael with me. I can't do it without you. And I know that Michael loves you. I see how happy he is when you're with him. I would never want to take that away from him. He deserves to see happiness. He deserves to have more than just me loving him." Tony reached over to let Michael grab his hand, sniffling. "But I also see how happy you are with him. I can't even imagine how hard it is for you to do this without thinking about what you've lost. So the fact is you are and it means a lot to me."

He shrugged, similarly looking over at Michael. "I'll admit it wasn't easy at the start. But I made a promise to be there for you and him, and I intend on keeping it."

Tony felt a clutch in his chest. He'd always known David as a man of his word, but the words carried so much more meaning now.

"Thank you." He said earnestly.

David grinned. "You're more than welcome."