Steve tries to stay calm and collected as they drive towards the Starks. He's been warring within himself about the decision for days. Last night was the first night he'd addressed it with Peggy and… he was surprised at how she didn't want him to get rid of them.

But… He had to try.

—

The door opens and Jarvis smiles, "Mr. Rogers!" Then he looks down at Isaac, "and young Mr. Rogers!"

Isaac smiles, "Hello, Mr. Jarvis!"

"Come in," the butler waves at them, "are you here for Mr. Stark or Anthony?"

Steve blinks in surprise, "Tony is here?"

"Uncle Tony!" Isaac cries out, running forward. Steve looks around Jarvis to see the young man walking towards them.

"Isaac!" Steve watches as they hug and Tony ruffles his son's hair affectionately.

"How are you?" He asks, walking forward to shake Tony's hand.

"I'm doing well." Tony responds, "almost finished with classes, so that's nice."

Steve nods appreciatively, "and what will you do after that?"

Tony gives him awry grin, "I don't know. I want to invent, dad wants me teaching courses at the university, and mom wants me close by. So it's all up in the air right now."

"Well, it would be nice to have you back around." Steve admits with a smile, "the kids love seeing you. And I know Peggy would love to torment you about your ever changing hairstyles."

Tony laughs and they continue chatting as they move through the house.

They arrive at Howard's study and are greeted with warm hellos. Mrs. Stark gives him a kiss on the cheek and then walks out to attend to other things.

"She never does that to anyone else." Tony comments with an eyebrow raised. He looks to his dad, "that doesn't worry you at all? Mom kissing this guy?"

Howard laughs, his salt and pepper hair glinting in the streaming sunlight, "not at all, Tony. Not at all. She's got a good reason." Tony's brow furrows briefly before Howard claps his hands, "so, how can I be of assistance?" He turns to Isaac, "is it a book you're after perhaps?"

"Yes, please." Isaac responds politely, "I wondered if I could look at your library?"

This is his chance. "Hey," Steve smiles, trying to seem at ease, "Tony, could you take Isaac to the library?"

Immediately Tony looks at him with curiosity, "uh… okay."

Isaac is eyeing him too, way too observant for his young age. But he doesn't question it. Tony steers him to the door and right as Tony's about to exit, he gently grasps the door frame, eyeing him and Howard before then walking out.

Howard turns to him, "something you need kept a surprise?"

"Not exactly." Steve sighs, "I'm here because… You know the scars I have?"

A shift in Howard's expression happens immediately, "from the procedure?"

Steve nods, "yes."

"They haven't faded at all?"

"No."

Howard frowns, "I see."

"I was wondering… If you might be able to figure out a way to remove them?"

"Might I look?" Howard asks, rolling up his sleeve. Steve is grateful there's no questioning or hesitancy. Howard will try. Howard always tries.

He pulls at his shirt, untucking it and then unbuttoning it. Usually he's more apprehensive about his body in front of others. But Howard has seen him at his worst. He pulls his shirt off and the undershirt beneath it.

Howard's eyes widen and then he tries to hide it valiantly. "I see."

"You don't have to pretend." Steve comments softly. "I know they look hideous."

Affront is Howard's main expression. "They do not look hideous." He says firmly, "what they are is much more apparent than I thought they would be. I had briefly wondered if they had faded since you never mentioned them. But I did notice your lack of short sleeves in the summer. So I had thoughts about that. What I'm most surprised by is how fresh and dark they look compared to your light skin."

"Can't get tan if i never show skin." Steve says with a huff.

"True." Howard taps his shoulder, "turn around."

Howard is examining one on his back when Tony appears in the doorway.

Wide eyes meet his and he immediately reaches for his shirt.

"Hey—" Howard huffs, unaware of his son's presence.

"What the hell are those?"

Steve's shoving his arms in his shirt and pulling it closed.

"Tony." Howard says in irritation, "why aren't you in the library with Isaac?"

"Mr. Jarvis is with Isaac. I could tell I was being dismissed." He steps closer and Steve is working quickly to get the buttons back up. "What happened?" He points to Steve's chest, "those look surgical."

"Anthony." Howard snaps, "please."

Steve's gut turns.

"They look fresh." Tony comments, eyeing him curiously, "were you hurt?"

"I'm fine!" Steve says easily, clearing his throat, "nothing to worry about." He gets the last button up and grabs his undershirt, wringing it in his hands.

Confusion and a little bit of hurt crosses Tony's face, "why won't you tell me? I saw them. I can't pretend that I didn't. Are you sick?"

"No." Steve says in a hurry, "no, I'm not sick. And—" Isaac appears in the doorway. He can tell Isaac got nervous and felt like he was missing something. His mother gets the same way.

But he definitely can't be having this conversation in front of Isaac. Not with something as volatile as his history with the scars. "Come on." Steve says with a smile, looking around Tony and at Isaac, "got your books? Ready to go?"

"Steve—" Howard starts, but he silences him with a look. The same looks he's been using everytime Howard tries to get him to tell the truth about what happened.

"Thank you, Howard." He says, "we will return the books soon."

He starts walking when Tony grabs his arm, "Steve, what is it? What are the scars from?"

"Tony." He says a tad sharply. "It was nice to see you again. Come by and visit. Peggy would love that." Then he's pulling his arm gently from Tony's grasp and walking towards the door. He smiles at Isaac, "ready?"

Now he can see that only one book rests in Isaac's hands. And he knows had he not been worried he would have picked out multiple. But that can't be helped. Isaac walks silently beside him as they exit the house. Steve berates himself. The minute he saw Tony he should have switched plans and waited till a different day.

The carriage ride is relatively quiet and Isaac fidgets with the book.

Steve is looking out the window, trying to figure out something to say to put his son at ease.

He always seems to be screwing up as a father.

He looks over to see Isaac's eyes trained on something. He looks down to see the undershirt, gripped tightly in his hands.

Isaac's eyes look up to meet his and there's hesitation there. Like he's afraid to ask.

"Yes?" He prompts, knowing he'll be mad at himself later if he ignores the worried and curious look in his son's eyes.

"Are you…" Isaac's eyes dip down to the shirt and back up, "alright?"

The question softens his tension and he smiles, "yes, I promise I'm alright."

"Are they hurting you?"

Steve shakes his head, "no. The scars do not hurt me."

"Where are they from?"

The question makes his stomach lurch. No way is he telling his son the actual full truth about that. "An accident I had when I was younger." He responds. It's mostly the truth anyways, "Howard helped fix me up. But these were left over."

"Then why wouldn't you tell Tony that?"

The words, a slight accusation and also part clever questioning, tell Steve that Isaac was there at the doorway longer than he knew. Another moment where Steve is reminded that Isaac takes much more after his mother. Observant, questioning, never satisfied until they have the truth.

"I—" Steve starts, unsure how to answer the pointed question. "I have my reasons." He finally responds, "and they're for the betterment of everyone."

"What kind of accident?" He asks, now more curious than ever, "was Tony there?"

Steve sighs, "Isaac…"

"Am I not allowed to know?"

His son looks at him, his brown eyes truly curious and wondering, "It's a long story. And I don't like telling it. It was a difficult day for me and your grandma."

"Then… how come you were showing Mr. Stark?"

Here he can tell the truth. "I'm asking to see if he can get them removed."

His son seems stunned, "why?" He asks in a quiet voice.

Steve leans forward, resting a hand on his son's, "I know you dislike how they look. I know they scared you as a child. I was always so sorry about that. And you saw how Dalia reacted, and how Tony reacted just now. I would like to not frighten people anymore."

"I'm not afraid of them." Isaac says in a hurry, "not anymore."

His chest warms at the worried look on Isaac's face, "and I know that. And I'm so glad. But I don't want to live my life worried that someone else might be scared of me because of them."

Isaac's expression turns sad, "was I the first to be afraid of them?"

Steve's throat catches, "that doesn't matter." He snags the book off his son's lap, changing the conversation, "what did you grab?"

—

Peggy hears the carriage return much earlier than she expects as she and Ivy are out in the garden. "Papa's home!" Ivy cries.

"Let's go greet them." Peggy says with a smile, worry curling in her stomach.

They race around to the front and Peggy is immediatly drawn the expression that Isaac is wearing. Something like guilt and hesitancy. Steve kisses her on the cheek and smiles a bit tightly, "how's the house."

She smiles, "still standing, no thanks to this one." She teases Ivy and runs her fingers through the girls' soft curls.

Steve lifts Ivy and the girl smiles at him. He gives a mock frown, "I thought I told you to be helpful."

Ivy laughs, "I was, I was! I helped mama wrap the presents and then we cleaned up your studio and then we went flower picking!"

He looks over at Peggy who winces, "you cleaned up my studio?"

"Well," Ivy fake pouts with half a grin, "I was cleaning, Mama was just snooping."

"Traitor!" Peggy cries in a dramatic tone, then reaching forward and tickling her daughter, making her squeal with laughter, "you promised!"

Ivy giggles, sticking out her tongue and wiggling out of her father's arms. She runs over to Isaac, "did you get your books?"

Isaac raises the one and then swallows nervously, "yeah, I got it."

Peggy raises an eyebrow, "just one?"

He nods, "yeah, just one." Then he practically bolts into the house after excusing himself. Ivy seems puzzled for a second before turning back to them, "Papa, guess what?"

"What?"

"I wrapped Wanda's present all by myself?"

He gasps, "you did? How fantastic! You'll have to show me."

"I will, come on!" She tugs at her father's hand and then takes off into the house.

Peggy starts to walk before she feels a hand stage hers, "you're not getting off that easy."

She groans, "I specifically told her not to mention the snooping."

"Which you know is exactly why she did. That girl can't keep a secret to save her life."

Peggy laughs, "she's just like you."

"Ouch!"

Peggy grins and then tugs him along towards the house.

"So?"

She feigns innocence, "so?"

"Are you going to tell me what you were snooping for?"

"No."

He pulls her back, quickly wrapping his arms around her and holding her back to his chest, "and why not?"

She tries mildly to extricate herself but to no avail, "because."

"Because why?"

"Because because."

"That's Ivy's line."

"Well, she is my daughter."

Steve leans down, laying a whisper of a kiss along the skin of her neck and then whispers in her ear, "you know I don't like you keeping secrets from me."

The words, meant to tease her, make her smile, "you'll either figure it out by noticing what's missing, or you won't." She answers simply. "It's up to you."

"I could probably get it out of you."

She twists her head to look at him in his serious and smoldering expression, "oh yeah? And how would you manage that?"

His fingers tighten on her waist and he blinks slowly, keeping her gaze locked on his as he bends down and kisses her so thoroughly she forgets her own name for a second. "I'm quite adept at getting you to make noise." He says softly into her ear, making heat rise in her chest, "don't test me."

Thoroughly enjoying the return of his confidence she bends her neck back, exposing more skin and challenging him.

A soft pair of lips find her favorite spot and she feels her eyes flutter close—

"He—llo!" She looks up to see Ivy looking at them, a wrinkled nose, "come on!" She huffs, putting her hands on her hips, "you said you were coming!"

Steve laughs, releasing her and tugging her along. "We are, we're coming."

—

Later that night, they lay in bed and Peggy watches Steve as Steve watches the ceiling.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?"

THere's a long moment of silence before he sighs, "I did ask him. But Tony was home. And he surprised me. He saw them."

She sits up, "the scars?"

He nods, his voice sad, "yeah.'

"And he knew?"

"Knew what?"

"What they were from?"

"No."

"Oh… what did he say about them?"

"He, of course, wanted to know what they were from, if I was sick or had been hurt."

"And what did you say?"

"That I was fine, and then I basically fled the house."

"Steve—"

"Yes I was a coward."

"He deserves the truth!"

"Why?"

"Because it was his life—"

"No." He says sharply, sitting up, his bare skin reflecting the moonlight and she sees the tension in his muscles, "it was mine. It was my life. And I gave it willingly. But I can't have Tony look at me the way Howard does. Or now I have Isaac—" he cuts his words of and sighs, resting his chin on his chest. She sits up further, resting her head against his shoulder and running her fingers through his hair.

"Isaac, what?"

"He's smart."

"Takes after me."

And at this Steve nods, "I know."

She huffs, "I was teasing, he takes after both of us."

He rolls his eyes, and gives her a soft grin, "it's fine Peggy, you are definitely smarter than me."

She pulls away and glares at him, "I am not arguing with you about this. Don't you dare put yourself down."

He raises an eyebrow, "I'm just stating the truth."

She lightly smacks him, the sound resounding in the room. He laughs, "that's rude."

Peggy slides around to his front, pushing him back and making him land softly against the bed. Then she straddles him and glares at him, "I can show you what being rude really looks like."

He grins, "you make that sound like something I'd actually enjoy." She wiggles her hips on. Top of him and he laughs.

She gently lowers herself, resting her head on his chest, "what about Isaac?"

"He was smart enough to know I'm not telling the truth about whta happened. I told him it was an accident but he was listening when I told Tony it was nothing. So now he knows or assumes it has something to do with Tony. And… I told him I am trying to get them removed.a nd he figured out it was because of him."

She gasps, looking up at him, "he what?"

"I didn't say it that way at all." Steve assures, "he just asked if he was the first person to ever be afraid of them. I didn't answer that question but of course he guessed. And I don't know what to do about this."

"What did Howard say about removing them?"

"We didn't get to discuss much. He was examining me when Tony walked in and then we left. But he knows, so I assume he'll be thinking about it."

Peggy's quiet while she processes that. Steve brings his arms around, resting his hands on her bare back, "are you really not going to tell me what you took from my studio? I'm assuming it's a drawing or a painting?" She kisses his collarbone and then starts to shimmy lower. He looks at her with a raised eyebrow, "are you trying to distract me?"

She kisses the bottom of his ribs and he sighs, mock annoyance at her avoidance.

She's just placed a kiss on his hip bone when she feels hands under her arms pull her up and twist her around, plopping her on the bed and he's suddenly standing, shorts pushed tantalizingly low.

She blinks.

He crosses his arms.

Peggy starts to move towards him, and he takes a step back.

Her mouth gapes, "Steven Rogers, you get back here this instant."

He decidedly does not get back there this instant. He takes another step further away.

She stands, glaring at him, "I've given you an order."

His grin, flickering in the firelight, is devilish and makes her want to pounce on him. His eyes trail her skin and then he takes a very deliberate step back.

She does pounce then, almost grabbing his arm as he slips backwards, barely avoiding her. She tries again, but he uses her vanity chair to keep space between them.

"You'll be punished severely for your insolence." She threatens, mirth bubbling in her voice.

"Only if you can catch me." She's about to yank the chair away when he abandons it and heads for the adjoining bathroom.

She follows him, and gasps as he shuts the door. She bangs on it, but then chastises herself for the noise. The last thing she needs is her children barging in at the moment. "Come out here this instant!" She hisses, a grin threatening to appear.

The door swings open, and she's about to verbally admonish him for his bad behavior when her voice dies in her throat.

A trail of rose petals, leads her eyes to Steve who is lighting the last of a dozen large candles. Then she sees what makes her gasp, a large porcelain tub, humongous in size, resides where their old smaller tub used to be.

"What is this?" She gasps out, walking over and dragging her fingers along the smooth surface. It's filled to the brim with hot water that's steaming and her mind reels in how he would have managed it. She can see oils swirling at the top and she looks up. Steve kneels beside her, kissing her thigh, "Happy anniversary."

Peggy blinks, "but our anniversary is in two months?"

"Yes, but we will be at a wedding during it, and I wanted to make it special, and—" he gestures to the tub, "it was ready early." She looks at him and he smiles, kissing her thigh again, "hop in, I told the man exactly how it should be made. It should cover both your bent knees—" he kisses one of her knees, "and up to your shoulders—" he rises, kissing her shoulder and then lifting her with ease, gently slipping her into the warm but not too hot water. She can smell lavender and lemon. The hot water makes her sigh.

"Steve—" She starts, still holding his hand as he kneels beside the tub again, "this is…" she pulls him closer, kissing him, "so thoughtful, and—" she kisses him again, "perfect."

He grins, nudging her nose with his, "I hope so. I've been hearing you complain about how poorly designed our tub was for years. It finally struck me that I could do something about it." He smiles, "I hope you love it. You deserve it."

She looks around the room, at the effort and time spent to make this special for her. Her eyes lock on to his and she sees his pupils dilate in the candlelight. She raises a salacious eyebrow and tilts her head, "there was one other specification I always mentioned…" She watches his throat bob as he swallows, her fingers sliding up his arm, "did you include that in your instructions?"

He nods, slowly, still held in her intense gaze.

The thought almost breaks the spell, she internally chuckles at how embarrassed Steve must have been asking for a tub that was large enough to fit two people. Let alone one large enough to fit his enormous size. He must have been red in the face.

But she can't care. There indeed is room in here for him.

She grins, "Then get in this tub right this instant."

He grins, "yes, ma'am."

—

Her hair is still damp the next morning and Angie will not stop teasing her about it.

"I told him you'd love it." She says in a whisper, "you wild thing."

Peggy laughs, wiping a smudge from her eyes, "you were right." She grins, "the things we did? It would make even you blush."

Angie laughs, feigning disbelief. "He's such a polite and shy gentleman around others." She teases again, "but the way you describe him being alone? It's like he's two different men."

Peggy processes that. It's true. Steve behind closed doors alone with her is someone entirely different then in public, but she cherishes that so much. Loves how only she is privy to that ferocious and unquestionably passionate side of him.

"—but then I keep finding compromising pictures of you so I guess I shouldn't be surprised." Angie is still speaking as Peggy comes out of her thoughts.

She laughs, "I can't help that he starts them and then I start to distract him. It's just the way it is."

Angie laughs, rolls her eyes, and grabs the laundry.

—-

Steve has a hard time focusing as he saddles his horse.

"Need help, sir?" He turns to find Coulson there, staring at him strangely.

He looks down to see the saddle blanket has gone askew and he sighs, "sorry, my brain seems to be in a different place."

Coulson chuckles, "we all have those days, sir. Here—" Coulson helps straighten the saddle blanket and get the girth on the right notch. "Anything I can help with?" Coulson asks innocently.

Steve's face almost heats at the memory of Peggy in the tub from last night that has him so distracted. "NO," he clears his throat, "no, I'm fine. But thank you. I'll be back soon."

Coulson nods and he mounts up, leading the horse out of the stable.

—

"Are you sure we can't bring anything else?" Steve asks, eyeing the small list he's gathered.

Natasha shakes her head, "no I think we have everything else for the party. Just bring the kids. Wanda and Pietro will not stop talking about them coming over."

"Trust me—" Steve says with a hand wave, "our kids have not stopped talking about it either."

"Then we will see you all in a few hours." She says as she bustles around.

"You sure I can't help?"

She smiles a deadly grin, "you can be helpful by leaving me be."

Steve nods, "loud and clear." He waves and is out the door about to get back on his horse when Bucky appears.

"Steve!"

Hey Buck, I thought you were—"

"Don't—" Bucky says with a snap, "don't mention the sink."

Steve purses his lips in amusement, "still no word?"

"It should have been done by now! And Natasha is worried about the way ours is rusting."

"Have you tried asking the new shop at the far end of town by Erskine's? His work is excellent. And I know you have metal but the porcelain sink is a nice look."

Bucky looks at him, "when did you go to a new shop? Did you get new porcelain sinks? What happened to your old ones?"

The memory of Peggy in the tub arises again and he blinks, "just stopped by to see."

Bucky narrows his eyes, "you just stopped by… to see… sinks?"

Steve clears his throat, "uh-huh. I should get going."

Bucky tilts his head, suspicion in his expression, "why are you acting strange?"

"Strange?" He chuckles nervously, grabbing his saddle horn and getting ready to mount, "I'm not. I'm just saying. Porcelain sinks could be nice."

A hand grabs his stirrup, lifting it so he can't put his foot in it. "Spill."

Steve groans, "please don't."

Bucky grins, "oh, this is your embarrassed face! What did you do?" He blinks, "did you accidentally break the sink doing dishes with your intense strength?"

Steve groans again, "Buck! I don't have intense strength!"

Bucky laughs, "come on, I've seen you tear logs in half. That's intense."

"Alright, nice talking to you." Steve tries, "see you at the party—"

Bucky grabs the reins and shakes his head, "uh-uh, you're not leaving until you tell."

"There's nothing to tell." Steve says a bit hurriedly, "will you stop acting like an annoying older brother?"

"I am your annoying older brother." Bucky teases, "and you have your 'I don't want anyone to know' face on, which means it's something good, or it's something embarrassing, and I want to know which."

Steve swats at his hands but Bucky snaps at him with the ends of the reins. "Spill!"

"Buck, stop!"

"If you don't, you know Carter will. She's not shy to embarrass you."

Steve thinks briefly about how she was wrapped around him like a majestic and mythical sea creature last night and this time he can't stop the blush from rising.

Bucky crows, "oh hell, you have to tell me now! This has to be good!"

Natasha appears at the doorway, flour in her hair, "what are you shouting about?"

"Steve is blushing like a new bride and he won't tell me why!"

Natasha eyes him, then sighs, "James, don't be a menace. And I need your help. Let him be."

"But—" Bucky frowns.

"Come on." She waves Bucky forward and then winks at him. "See you tonight, Steve."

He mounts the horse and waves. "See you tonight."

—-

The kids bounce excitedly as the carriage rolls closer to town. Ivy is wearing her new dress that is white with light blue stripes and thick black stitching. Isaac is in a light green linen button down and keeps shuffling his hair to the side. Just like Steve does.

Peggy grins and keeps the packages from falling off the seats.

"Make sure we behave." Peggy says, with a side eye towards Ivy, "we're in another person's home. We do not jump, bounce, or throw things."

"Yes, mama." Isaac says easily.

When Ivy is too busy excitedly looking out the window, Steve taps her shoulder, "right Ivy?"

She nods, "right." Her smile makes Peggy think she has no idea what she's agreeing to.

—-

The house is full. Children run and scream and they do indeed jump and bounce about. But Natasha is always near and seems to enjoy the ruckus and the chaos. James brings a child down from where they're about to leap off a wooden stool.

"So," James says to her, child safely back on the ground and scampering off, "Steve was saying you guys got new porcelain sinks?"

She tilts her head, "new sinks?" Then it hits her, "oh, no, he actually got me a new porcelain bathtub for our anniversary—" she laughs, "well, actually it's for our early anniversary I—" she stops, "why are you smiling like a fool?"

He grins, "no reason, tell me about this tub, is it nice? We're looking at new sinks and are considering using the same shop."

"It's beautiful," she says slowly, suddenly sure something's afoot although she can't fathom what. "It's claw footed, and so deep. I always thought our tub was too small. Now it can—" Her eyes narrow, something striking her, "Steve told you about our new tub?"

His eyes are alight as he kisses her h Gheek and laughs, "thank you. I'll be right back!"

"What are you thanking me for!?" She shouts at his disappearing form into the crowd.

"What are you yelling at him about?" Natasha asks, appearing as quickly as James left, "although I'm sure it's deserved."

"He was being strange and asking about our new tub."

Natasha quickly takes a stick out of a running child's hands, snaps it in half, and tosses it into the garbage before turning back to her, "you got a new tub?"

Peggy grins, "did I." She leans on conspiratorially and lowers her voice. "I've always complained about how our tub was too short you know? You could never straighten your legs all the way out or if you did then your top half was in the cold—"

"Oh I hate that." Natasha commiserates.

"So did I," she grins again, "and I was always so annoyed because Steve and I didn't fit in the tub together either." She raises an eyebrow and Natasha laughs out loud.

"And now you do?"

She nods, "and he surprised me with this giant claw footed porcelain monstrosity that's so gorgeous and fits both of us with room to spare." She winks and Natasha looks positively amused, "no wonder he was blushing this morning. I just didn't know why! Neither did James. But—" she laughs, "I never would have guessed that of Steve, what a rascal."

Peggy laughs and leans closer, "oh you have no idea. The things we did last night—" She shakes her head, "he's positively marvelous."

Natasha looks as close to blushing as she's probably physically able as she pauses and then lowers her voice, "wouldn't the water…" she wrinkles her nose, "make it… difficult?"

Peggy laughs. "Coconut oil, my darling. You need coconut oil."

Natasha's eyes widen and then she grins, "good to know." Her eyes trail to where James is dishing out heaping slices of cake. "Good to know."

Peggy just laughs.

—-

Steve's just about to burst from embarrassment.

"I'm just so proud." Bucky crows again, spinning on the small gravel sidewalk that leads up to the house.

"I have children, Buck." He groans, "you know this."

His friend laughs, "yes, but this is such a suave thing to do. I'm sure you're going to reap the benefits."

Steve blushes but he grins. And Bucky's about to start laughing again when a figure appears in the distance. Steve looks, seeing that they're riding up on a horse. "Any late guests who haven't arrived?"

Bucky looks at the house, lights on, music playing and full of people, "not that I know of. Maybe Natasha invited someone?"

It only takes about a minute for the figure to become recognizable.

Worry curls as Tony jumps off the horse and lands with a thud. He strides straight towards Steve.

"Tell me what happened." He demands, getting right up in Steve's face. "Tell me the truth!"

Steve takes a step back, "Tony—"

"No!" The man shouts, "no! I begged my father, argued with him and bartered with him and he's been silent! Silent! My father has never been silent in his life. And yet now? He won't say a word!"

"Tony—" Steve tries again, "please—"

"Do you know?" Tony asks accusingly, spinning around towards Bucky, "do you know about them?"

Bucky looks at Steve, "know about what?"

Tony turns back to him, "if they're no big deal then why does nobody know!" He huffs, seeming a bit manic, "and if it's a big deal, why is it a secret!"

Bucky looks confused, "wait, what are we talking about?"

"Please don't do this." Steve hears himself plead, "not now. Can we talk another time?"

"When?" Tony asks, "you've apparently been hiding them for years!"

"Hiding what?" Bucky asks, looking between them sharply.

"Don't—" Steve starts but Tony ignores him.

"The scars!"

Bucky blinks, "what scars?"

"The ones that cover his whole upper half!" Tony accuses, not even knowing more than that.

Steve's mind races, "Tony, they're just old scars!"

"If they're just old scars, then tell me what the hell they're from!"

"An accident!" Steve snaps back, "that's it! From an accident!"

"They're surgical!" Tony accuses, "don't lie! Those are all in surgical order!"

Bucky steps between them, pushing the younger man out of Steve's face, and the moonlight hits Tony's expression. And the mix of guilt and dread tell Steve he's fighting a losing battle. Tony already knows something.

"Tony." Steve's firm voice cuts through the night. He looks at Steve, wondering, waiting. "Yes. They're from that day."

Tony slowly covers the top half of his face with his hand.

He can feel Bucky watching them closely. Everyone knows he saved Tony that day. Everyone knows he was at the Starks the next few days.

Only Erskine, the Starks, his mother, and then Peggy know why he was at the Starks for that long.

Everyone else just thought he was recovering from the incident since he was a sickly teenager to begin with.

That's how he had wanted it to stay.

"I remember falling in." Tony whispers. "I just remember being cold. I remember hands grabbing me, carrying me. I don't remember you getting cut."

Steve nods, "yes. But you remember how I was sick and thin, right?"

"Sort of."

"Well, the cold really affected me. Those scars are from a procedure your dad used to help get me better."

Bucky looks at him, "what procedure?"

"Just one that helped me heal. You know. You saw me, that's when I started to grow and everything."

"Yes…" Bucky responds, "that's because I thought you said Howard came up with some medicine. You never said anything about a surgery—"

"It doesn't matter." Steve says easily, "it wasn't a big deal, can we please talk about something else now?"

"If that's what it was." Tony starts, his eyes glinting, "then why not tell me? Why hide it? Why would my father not just say that?"

Steve winces, "I just didn't want you worrying about it."

"No." Tony says with a shake of his head. "No, you're still lying!"

"I already told you—" Steve starts, getting frustrated, backing a step away.

"No." Tony says, "I don't believe you!" He steps closer, "if that's all, swear to it. Swear on your kids' lives. On Peggy's life!"

Steve hesitates and Tony growls out in frustration and he stabs a finger, "see! He's still lying!"

"My son saves your life and this is how you treat him?"

They all turn. Sarah Rogers standing there in the door, illuminated by the light from the house. The sound now amplified with the door open.

They're all quiet as she descends the steps and walks towards them. She turns to Steve, "your son was looking for you."

She turns to Tony, "why does knowing matter so much to you?"

Tony's face drops, and Steve sees it again. That he's guessed some if not all, or perhaps he's not sure. But he knows the scars have to do with their incident. And it's eating at him.

"Because if I was the cause..." Tony starts. "I thought everything was fine—" his eyes flick to Steve, "then I walk in and see him looking like a…" he trails off, he shakes his head, "covered in those scars. Surgical straight lines. But thick. Like huge sections of skin were pried open for long periods of time."

Steve sees the way his mother stiffens.

"But Steve said it was nothing. And I wanted to believe that." He glares at Steve, "but the way he got all nervous and practically bolted from our house?" He shakes his head, "no. I can't. There's something wrong. It ate at me all yesterday. So after my dad went to bed…" he crosses his arms, "I started digging. In his lab, through his research, in the basement where his old machines are."

Steve's shoulders drop. "What do you want from me, Tony? It sounds like you already know how I got them."

Tony sucks in a sharp breath, "no."

"Know what!?" Bucky asks, "can someone please explain?"

His mother steps in front of him, "this is not the time or place. We should be enjoying the party."

"Admit it." Tony says sharply, "I need to hear you say it."

Steve turns, "I don't owe you any explanation."

"You died."

His whole body goes rigid, half in motion in a step.

He doesn't move. He doesn't turn. And he hears Tony say it again.

"You died."

He hears a "what?" Bucky is waving his hands, "he's right here."

Tony yanks on his arm, spinning him back around. "My dad thought he was clever. How he hid it. How he dispersed the papers. Dismantled the machines he used." He shakes his head, "but it's hard to miss Erskine's handwriting."

"Erskine?" Bucky asks.

"Anthony—" His ma starts

Tony turns to her, "do you deny it?"

His ma is quiet.

"I went around. I asked." Tony's shaking his head, "the shopkeeper remembers you buying rope."

Her face is a frown.

He turns back to Steve. "Do you deny it?"

Steve stays quiet.

Tony covers his face with his hands and Bucky lets out a choked sound before waving his hands and shaking his head, "none of this makes any sense. Steve's not dead. He's right here!" He turns to Steve, and then looks at his ma, "right? Steve didn't die that day. He's right here."

Neither of them say anything.

"What are you saying?" Bucky asks all three of them, "that Howard brought Steve back to life?"

"My father." Tony says in a grated voice, "and Erskine." He looks up, his face tight and hurt, "you died saving my life. So my dad saved yours."

"I died trying to tell your parents you'd been found." Steve clarifies, feeling the fight go out of him, "I did not die saving your life. And I didn't ask your dad to save my life. And neither did my ma."

Tony shakes his head, "why keep it from me?"

Steve gestures to the group, "do you feel better for knowing? Or do you feel guilt?"

Tony stays quiet and Steve nods, "exactly." He turns to go back to the house. To go stay beside his wife so he can pretend to focus on the party until they can go home.

Only to find Isaac standing in the doorway. Staring at him like he's seen a ghost.

—-