Chapter Text
Tony Stark slowly awakened from sleep to hear Jarvis with his daily morning ritual of the temperature, weather, day and time.
Why did he wake up so early? Too early to be awake right now.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon and painting the dark sky bright pink. It cast its light onto Tony, as J had not dimmed the windows. Stark scrunched his eyes tight, rolling over and away from the sun's direction and it promoted Jarvis to dim the windows.
"J, make a coffee please." He mumbles into the big, soft pillow. His eyes are heavy with sleep, and every fiber of his body is fighting to stay away.
'Of course sir. Anything else I can assist with?'
"No. It is early inhumane hours and I cannot function without coffee."
'Very well sir.'
There was silence in the room once again, and Tony almost slips into a light doze. Key word being almost. A sharp screech triggers him to jerk awake from the much needed sleep path.
A groan escapes the billionaire's lips as his senses half kick in; They kick in good enough to acknowledge his daughter was screaming. Yep, that's right. His daughter. His daughter that cries for her mama in a bassinet.
And she cries loud.
Tony rolls to his back, rubbing whatever leftover sleep that he had out of his eyes then sitting up. The covers were tossed off and he stood, stretching with a yawn and back popping. Walking over to a pink and yellow bird decorated bassinet, he rubs his face once more then looks down at his daughter, reaching down to brush his fingers against her small, smooth cheek. She quickly calmed at the sight of him.
Desiree Lily-Jocey Stark.Or LJ as he calls her. Energetic, banshee fireball. Desiree was his idea, and Lily was Pep's, while Jocey was chosen by Rhodes. She was born just four months ago yet she was so curious and bubbly.
Little wisps of chestnut hair swirled across the top of her head like a chocolate crown, oh so blue eyes that held the sky in them and tan skin that was soft to touch. And most importantly, she got Tony's nose.
The infant was quick to voice how she was feeling and stretched her tiny limbs as two hands were slipped under her, hauling her up carefully. "Shh, shh, I know you're not a morning girl - Heck, I'm not a morning person myself - But you're going to go see Aunt Pepper and Uncle Rhodey today! Isn't that fun?" Tony gently rocked his little spawn, yes it was an appropriate nickname, sleep still laced in his face.
By the tiny scrunch of her face, he must've had morning breath.
With a quick change of diapers, he walked to the kitchen with LJ in his arms.
'Sir, Miss Potts is calling.'
"Answer it."
Pepper's face came up on a holographic screen, automatically catching LJ's attention. "Talk to me, just do it in a way us non early wakers can understand." Tony tiredly address her. "Nice to see you too Tony." She replies with a roll of her eyes and a soft laugh. Tony gives her an innocent look. "What?" He asks. "We come back from the sleeping dead, and we're tired." His back is turned toward Pepper as he is placing LJ in a nearby rocker.
"You're something else, Tony."
"Thanks for the update."
"Update, huh? Tony 2.0?"
"As if the world needs another Tony Stark."
The engineer could feel his ex's stern stare at the back of his neck when he turned to grab his fresh cup of coffee - bless Jarvis - and then to grab one of LJ's bottles from the fridge. He didn't feel like looking at her right now.
If you haven't guessed, Pepper and Tony used to date back a long time ago, but Pepper thought they would be best as friends. He was heart broken of course- especially when she got with his other best friend Rhodey. It crushed his fucking heart and soul, but he was happy for them. Very, very happy.
"Anyways," Pepper cleared her throat very loudly, prompting Tony to look at her. "I'm coming over there to pick her up?"
"Correct. Fury needs me at the tower and something else.... J?"
'I believe his correct words were, "Urgent matters to be discussed." You're needed at the tower to meet with the rest of the Avengers and come to the helicarrier.'
"Perfect. Just like that." Tony had already began feeding LJ having fixed the formula and smiled at the hologram.
"Alright, I'll be over soon."
"Don't take long, baby."
As soon as Pepper's face disappeared, Tony dropped his smile. He would have to face the other Avengers which he hasn't done in...forever really. He's seen them multiple times but the main reason he left was because he got pregnant.
Tony Stark. Pregnant. Knocked up. With child. All the phrases you could think off.
Yep, pregnant by Steve. Tony doesn't know if it was the serum or just some weird ass alien magic shit but he doesn't regret it at all. He managed to hide it with large shirts and other things. No one knew except Pepper, Rhodey, Jarvis of course and Happy. Pepper actually helped deliver the young Stark into the world and she's voiced multiple times about how she doesn't regret seeing Tony bond over his newborn in joy.
But he definitely did not want to see Steve...
Steve Rogers.
Captain fuckin' America.
The one who got Tony pregnant, and where is he? With Bruce.
No, literally with Bruce. As in a couple.
The soldier broke it off with Tony claiming "it wasn't going to work" and about two months after the break up he finds out about the baby but decided not to tell anyone. Steve looked really happy with Bruce, happier than he did with Tony. And what would he do with his ex's baby?! It would only male Tony feel like some desperate side bitch that wants the man to stay and help with the baby.
So he really didn't want to see his face again but life stinks. He could always quit the Avengers but that'd arise even more suspicion and just cause more drama.
After dressing LJ nice in a Sun dress, with sandals and a headband, Tony grabbed her baby bag and walked outside, after seeing Pepper's car already.
"Miss Pepper, fancy seeing you here. Do you have an appointment?" The brunet teased at his best friend once her windows were rolled down,
She only snorted. "Something else."
After securing the protesting baby in her car seat nd putting her things in the back seat, Tony kissed her forehead. "Alright LJ, daddy's gotta go. I'll be back and you be good for Auntie Pepper. Say hi to Rhodey for me, Pep."
"Will do. Have fun seeing Steve. Try and talk to him Tony. Work things out." She started the car and Tony chuckled, "There's nothing to work out, but I'll try."
The strawberry blonde drove off and Tony walked inside. "Let's get the packing, honey! We're headed to New York!"
-----
"Speak of the devil."
Tony snorted at Clint's statement as he walked in the Avengers Tower common floor. "Avengers, didja miss me? Of course you did, who wouldn't miss me?" He snickers and sits on the couch Thor resided on. Bad idea. He was immediately pulled into a bone crushing hug.
"Man of Iron! It has too long since the last of our meeting! Where have you his all this time?" The thunder god loudly announced.
Tony hesitated and wriggled out of Thor's strong grip. "Malibu. Needed that fresh Malibu air. Felt good." Tony grits out through clenched teeth. He pretended he didn't see Bruce but of course they're science bros and pfft, how the universe hated Tony.
"But you didn't visit us hardly. Shockingly we missed your annoying comments and antics." Bruce comments from another couch on his tablet.
The engineer snickered and looked up the scientist, putting on a fake smirk well played off. "Well Brucie Bear, sometimes you never know what I'm going to do next."
With some catching up, Tony felt his worries melt away little by little, because as long as Steve wasn't here, it wouldn't be awkward and ha, that would be em - bar - ras - si-
Oh what luck Tony has.
Steve walks in with all his Captain America hotness and places himself next to Bruce, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and kissing chocolate curls. By the looks of it he was in the gym. Sweat is running down his forehead and Lord almighty- his muscles. "Oh, hi Tony! I didn't know you came back so soon."
The mentioned lets out a strangled noise of acknowledgement and looks everywhere but the beefcake across from him.
Why today?
Tony tried to keep listening to Natasha and Clint argue back and forth about some shit that happened but his mind kept drifting to the super soldier. The same one that he fell in love with but got his heart crushed by. He felt like some teen girl in some love situation right now and was that mortifying. God, he felt like throwing up. He wanted to hold LJ, the light little bean she was.
How was she? Was she hungry at the moment? Sleeping? Giggling? Being stubborn? She was small and so comfy to cuddle. Such soft, velvet, skin and soft, little wisp of hair. Bright blue eyes just like her father. Oh god, his mind kept rambling random things. He didn't need to ramble about it but he couldn't help it he was freaking out- Steve is like right there and he's talking and moving aND BREATHING-
Why was he here? Why did he leave Malibu? He felt vulnerable just sitting there. Was that normal?
Tony....... Tony, you need to calm down. Deep breaths, in....and out. Yeah, I'm ok. Jesus , leave him alone, he's human. And he's also the father of my little girl thAT DOUCHE-
A stinging pain brought Tony back to reality, snapping him out of his thoughts. Everyone is staring at him, and Natasha is in front of him, face blank.
"Ow, what the fuck?"
"First off, Steve said hi and you didn't say anything. Thor asked you a question and you still didn't respond. We called you like 18,000 times but you sat there just staring at some invisible wall. So I did the only thing that would awaken you from whatever trance you were in." Natasha looked a subtle smug and Tony sunk down in his seat. Shit.
"A-ah, sorry, I was just thinking about some things. Nothing you need to worry about." The Stark stood shakily and headed down to the lab, ignoring Steve and Thor's call for him. Fuck him.
After this was over, he was going back to Malibu, cuddling with LJ and pretending Steve didn't exist.
Until the next meeting.
----
"I miss you, baby girl."
Tony beams at his tablet screen as LJ babbled, giving a gummy smile. She put a chubby hand on the screen and Pepper adjusts her iPad so LJ could see her daddy better.
"Don't worry babes, I'll be back soon, and everything will be normal. Your life will be normal. I promise. Daddy promises..... he'll give you the best life....." Tony over placed her hand hir hearing her coo and stick out her tongue. He soon ended the call after giving Pepper her bedtime routine and sighed, placing the tablet on the nightstand. "OK Jarvis, you can turn back on cameras. But lock down this room."
"I didn't know you had a daughter, Stark."
Tony jumped and turned to face Loki. The god of mischief.
"When the hell did you get in here?!" Tony tried to calm his beating heart and Loki, the bastard, shrugged. "I was bored and decided to hang around a bit. I am no longer bored. Who is she?"
'Shall I call for Thor, sir?'
Loki watches Tony shake his head, and rub his face. "Please....Please...Please do not tell any of the Avengers, Loki. Please, I beg you." Tony wasn't supposed to be trusting the enemy, but it was late and he just wanted to get back to LJ. Especially since he was begging. Starks don't beg.
Loki raised his eyebrows at the plea but nodded slowly, suddenly intrigued. Tony sighed and looked down, not knowing why he was spilling to Loki. "Her name is Desiree Stark..... She's 4 months old, and yes, she's mine."
"Who's the father?"
"Pfft, I am of course."
Who the hell would lie right to the god of lies and get away with it? Obviously no one because Loki didn't take shit and rolled his eyes. "You conceived her, you had her in your womb, you gave birth to her. Did you not? What about....the captain?"
Wow, spot on.
Tony felt himself choke on air and stare at Loki liked he had grown a second head. "How did you....? Ok, nevermind. Fine, yes, I was pregnant with her. Yes, Steve is her father and I... I'm trying to give her the best life I never had. And it's hard because she won't have a father there." Tony tried to stop himself from crying and spilling himself all to Loki as he plopped himself back down on the bed. Because he didn't sign up for that when he left Malibu.
Tony felt the bed dip at his side and Loki who had a neutral face was looking at him. "Why won't you tell him?"
"Why the hell would I tell him he has a daughter?! I do not want to ruin his love life with Bruce, ok? I want them to be happy. It's the only way." The brunet stood and walked away from the bed not wanting to talk on the subject any longer. "Very well. I wish you a good night Man of Iron." The silence lingered in the air and Tony sighed. The 'you care for them' hung in the air.
Why him..?
What a nightmare.