Chapter Text
Tony pushed against the deck softly, setting the porch swing to rock lightly once more. Their deck was faintly lit, small LED lights strung around the awning flickering in a pattern, rather than the bright porch light that would cut through the dark. He took a deep breath, taking in the crisp night air, enjoying the sound of frogs croaking all around them. A train sounded its horn nearby, and Tony carefully placed a palm over his husband’s exposed ear.
Tony looked down at his lap where Steve rested his head, sighing in relief when he didn’t wake up from the sudden noise. A slight breeze rustled the blond hair, and Tony tucked Steve’s blanket up further around those big shoulders before he could get chilled. Tony was sitting on his own blanket, the top draped over his shoulders and the bottom half tucked around his legs. He slowly combed his fingers through his Alpha’s hair, taking in the long lashes that he’d counted numerous times before, and the soft pink lips that he loved to kiss.
A soft pit-pattering sound reached Tony’s ears, and he looked up to see that it had started sprinkling. A smile crossed his face and he took another deep breath, loving the way it smelled when it rained. He rested his head against the backrest, closing his eyes and relaxing with the ambience and the soft rocking of the swing.
Probably ten more minutes passed before Tony heard the screen door creak open, and he smiled knowingly. Opening his eyes, Tony looked over to see a pair of familiar blue eyes peering out at him. Tilting his head, their little girl Margaret squealed happily, covering her mouth to stifle more giggles when Tony raised a finger to his lips. She closed the door softly, then scurried over to sit beside Tony, who quickly placed the blanket around her too.
Mae cuddled up next to him, pushing her way under his arm until she could rest her head against his chest. Tony snuggled her close, kissing the top of her head and scenting happy Omega pup at the action. “Is Daddy sleeping, Mama?” She whispered loudly in that way that children do.
“Yes darling,” Tony said softly, keeping one hand in Steve’s hair and bringing the other up to brush a few strands of the same blond hair out of his daughter’s face. “He had a busy day at work, and we enjoy the fresh air when it’s not too cold.”
Tony huffed out a laugh when Mae leaned over to peer at her Daddy’s face, one small hand pushing against Steve’s shoulder to keep herself balanced. He was sure that a sappy smile crossed his face when she leaned down further to lay the softest kiss to his cheek. Tony heard Steve inhale more deeply, and peeked down to see his eyes flutter open.
Apparently Margaret hadn’t noticed, as she dropped back down to sit beside Tony. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, and Tony smiled at her content humming. A quick peek back down revealed Steve’s eyes were closed again, so Tony gently rubbed Steve’s back as the rain continued to fall.
More frogs had emerged with the rain, adding their voices to the night. As he set them rocking slowly again, Tony looked up and took in the moon and stars peeking from behind the rainclouds. The trees around their house rustled with a soft breeze, and Tony took another deep breath, feeling the day’s worries fall away. Underneath his hand, Steve’s back rose, the Alpha also inhaling deeply, finding peace in the nighttime.
“This is boring.” Tony bit back a grin, feeling Steve smile against his thigh as their daughter continued, “Can I have some chocolate milk?”
Tony felt Steve tense a second before he was moving onto his back, reaching up to grab Mae under her arms and pull her down lay on his chest. High giggles filled the air as Steve tickled her. “You want some chocolate milk? Huh?” Steve said, crying out playfully, “I wanted a nap!”
Tony watched gleefully as a glimmer of mischief went through Mae’s eyes, and she choked out around giggles, “Naps are boring!” A fresh peal of laughter came out of her as Steve gasped in mock-offense, and renewed his tickle attack. “Ah Daddy no! Please!” When he didn’t let up, she turned those blue blue eyes to Tony, saying, “Mama help!”
Steve growled playfully at him, but Tony ignored him and poked at his ribs, knowing they were sensitive and smiling when the big Alpha twitched away. He didn’t stop tickling their daughter though, so Tony went in for the kill. Digging his hands into the divots between Steve’s neck and collarbone, Tony couldn’t help giggling along as Steve burst into laughter.
Steve let go of Mae as expected, who quickly wriggled away, but then Tony saw where those hands were headed instead. He was only able to yell, “Don’t you d-” before shrieking with laughter as Steve dug his own fingers into Tony’s stomach and sides. He could see Mae trying to defend him, pushing at Steve’s chest, and he realized belatedly how much noise they were making.
“Steve, Steve, I give in!” Finally his husband stopped, cheeks red around a blinding smile, and Tony was sure his own face was red from laughing so much. “Let’s try not to wake up the whole neighborhood honey.”
Steve lifted his head to scan the houses around them, laying back down on Tony’s lap when he saw the coast was clear. “Shall we get the munchkin her chocolate milk and then back in bed? We can crash on the couch afterwards, put on a movie?”
“Sounds perfect,” Tony said, leaning down at the same time Steve lifted himself up again to meet his lips in a gentle kiss.