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“PAPADADDYPAPADADDYPAPADADDY-"
“I'm awake!” Tony yelled as he sat straight up on the mattress.
“Is the house on fire?” Steve grumbled next to him, propping himself on his elbows.
Peter giggled as he jumped up and down on their mattress.
“The house isn’t on fire, silly,” Peter answered, the jumping not slowing down, and being accompanied by little boing sounds from Peter, the echo in the very empty room making the noise reverberate more and more.
Tony let himself fall back against his pillow, pulling the cover over his head in the process.
“Pete, why aren’t you in bed? It's-" Steve reached for his phone on the ground by the mattress next to him. “Jesus Christ, it's 5am, bud.”
Steve hooked his arm around Peter's legs, forcing him to fall onto his knees on the mattress to an extra loud fit of giggles. Steve tried to pull him into a hug to calm him down and maybe, just maybe, get a couple more hours of sleep in the process.
“But paaapaaaa! The sky's awake!”
“So you're awake,” his parents finished with the same drab tone, Tony mumbling something Steve was willing to bet sounded suspiciously like fucking Disney into his pillow.
“It's still too early to be up, no matter the state of the sky. We need more sleep,” Steve tried to explain to his very reluctant 5-year-old.
“Fine,” Peter acquiesced begrudgingly, as he wiggled himself under the covers between Steve and Tony.
It lasted all of 5 minutes.
Steve held him close, feeling his own tired body slowly slipping right back into blissful sleep. Then he felt Peter’s fingers drawing his brows, then his nose, followed by his lips. He tried to poke a finger in Steve's mouth, then used both hands to make his beloved Papa frown then smile. He started squirming in Steve’s grip, then making impatient noises that were growing louder and whinier, and just as he started singing Lost in the Woods, Steve knew Tony was about to snap.
“Okay, bub. Go to the kitchen, I’ll be down in 2 minutes,” Steve told his son as quietly as he could. This proved futile, as Peter cheered, gave Tony a big kiss and stood on the mattress, propelling himself off to get a running start into the hallway.
“This is your fault,” Tony mumbled as Steve was making his own unintentional sounds of protest besides him.
Steve chuckled between groans. “I don’t love 5am either, you know.”
“You’re still more a morning person than me. He takes it from you.”
“Good thing he got your looks and brains at least,” Steve replied with a smirk. He leaned over to kiss Tony. “Sleep, I’ll try and entertain him. After I order blackout blinds for his room.”
“Oh smart. I knew I married you for a reason.”
“Love you too, baby.”
Steve pushed himself off the mattress after grabbing his phone and glasses from the floor, and he followed the sound of the small tornado running around the empty main floor. Peter was pretending to be a plane (or a race car, it could go either way, truly), and talking to himself a mile a minute. At the bottom of the stairs, on his doggy bed, their English Bulldog was staring up at Steve with the most discouraged expression.
“He woke you too, huh, big guy?” Steve stopped and crouched in front of the dog to pet his head. “Do you want food or sleep?” The dog just let out an unimpressed sigh, still looking at Steve as if to make him stop the madness. “Come on, go sleep with Tony, Pudge.”
The dog wasted no time, running up the stairs before Steve changed his mind. Steve had never been so jealous of their dog in his life.
“Petey pie, I love you with my whole heart, but I need you to calm down, please,” Steve asked as gently as he could. He truly was exhausted and it was going to be another long day. “Can you sit and eat breakfast quietly please?”
“Yes, Papa. I sorry.” Peter ran up to Steve and wrapped his arms around his legs in a hug.
“You don’t have to apologize. I just don’t have your energy today, that's all.”
Steve grabbed them each a bowl of cereal and went to sit with Peter on the only piece of furniture on the main floor, an old couch they'd be moving to the play room once the rest of their furniture arrived.
“Papa, can I watch a movie?”
Steve didn’t fight the request. He was the first to admit his stance on electronics had changed as Peter grew older, and he was not above using it as a distraction or bribe.
He grabbed Peter's tablet and queued up the movie he was requesting, something about a pirate fairy and Tinkerbell. Steve went through his emails while he ate, replying to anything that didn’t require any brain power, and sorting other items he'd need to get back to once he was more awake or when he had his proper computer set up. He got up to start the coffee machine when he was done eating, scrolling through black out blind options, and messaging Natasha and Pepper to ask for suggestions, when a new text came in. Then another. And another. He read through them as they came and he wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or cry.
The movers' truck had apparently crapped out overnight in the tower's garage and they couldn’t get a new one in and loaded on time to do the move today after all. They'd be there first thing the next day.
On the one hand, it meant he didn’t have to worry about how tired and sore he still was from all the last-minute packing and moving the few items they had brought the day before. Plus, the weather looked rainy and drab, which would have sucked for moving. But on the other, it meant still having an empty house and sleeping on a mattress on the floor again that night.
He texted Natasha and Pepper again, letting them know about the change of plans, so no one had to rush over. He let Happy know the truck was still at the tower and another was on the way – no point causing security issues if he could avoid them. Once he assured the movers all was fine and to keep him posted, he refilled his coffee tumbler and went back to the couch with Peter, who was singing along with the various fairies on the screen.
Steve let himself rest his eyes while Peter was quiet and content just a few minutes before he got up and started on the few tasks he could do without any of their stuff here. Before he knew it, his husband was kissing his forehead while the end credits of Peter's movie rolled on the discarded tablet next to him. He could hear Peter scooping up food to help feed Pudge his breakfast.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” Tony teased softly.
“Shit, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Did he go wake you?” Steve stretched, feeling the aches in his limbs from falling asleep so awkwardly on the couch.
“No, the dog did. It was breakfast time. Came down and Peter was still watching his movie.” Tony held out his phone, showing Steve the picture he'd taken of the two of them, Steve sleeping away with Peter curled up into his side as he watched his movie.
“He's gotten so big,” Steve sighed out fondly before a yawn overtook him.
Tony let out a soft laugh, kissing Steve once more. “Go sleep a bit more upstairs. I saw the messages about the movers being delayed.”
“There's still tons to do though-" Steve protested before Tony's lips landed on his.
“There's going to be tons to do for the next 20 years. Go sleep. Or shower. Just, take a breather. I have to go grab a few groceries, I can bring the munchkin along. You can rest those muscles a bit before tomorrow.”
Steve nodded, knowing his husband wasn’t wrong.
“Hey,” Tony nudged him. “I’m happy we did this.”
Steve smiled brightly. “Me too. Love you.”
“Love you too,” Tony replied against his lips.
“Stop being gross,” Peter giggled as he jumped on Steve's lap, pushing them apart with as much strength as he could muster.
“Uncle Bucky taught you that, didn’t he?” Tony grunted as he easily pulled Peter over his shoulder, planting a kiss to Steve's lips – loud and dramatic – to Peter's loud protests.
“Nah, it was Auntie Nat.”
“Bad influences, the lot of them.” Tony stood straighter, still hauling Peter over his shoulder. “Alright, we are off. Text me if you think of something we need.”
“Daddy! Stop!” Tony froze in place, looking at Peter over his shoulder. “I didn’t get my g'bye kiss.”
Steve laughed as he stood to catch up with Tony.
“Oh, so me kissing Papa is gross, but it’s fine when you do it?”
Peter couldn’t answer, too busy laughing hysterically as Steve covered his face with noisy kisses until Tony finally got them out the door to the garage. He vaguely registered Peter exclaiming something about the boxes that took up most of the space in the spot beside their SUV before he headed back to the bedroom.
It had been almost a year since they’d started talking about moving out of the city, settling their family in a quieter neighborhood, a bit closer to their friends, who'd all made the move in the past few years themselves. Their work – or more so Tony's – had reached a point where they could afford to move away from the city, meetings requiring them to be in the office being less frequent.
He’d loved growing up in the city, they both had, and hadn’t thought of doing things any different with their own family, but they could see Peter needed something different. And once they saw how he thrived after being out of the city, playing with his cousins outside, chasing frogs out in the rain, camping in their backyard, it was a no brainer. Peter was their number one priority now and seeing him run around and play in Natasha and Bucky's backyard or using Pepper and Maria's pool for whole weekends at time had helped make the decision easier.
When they'd first visited the house they now called home, Steve had seen just that. A future filled with pool parties and play structures and building snowmen under the glow of Christmas lights. He could see Peter – and any future additions to their brood – learning to ride his bike down the quiet street, how to skate at the outdoor rink at a nearby park, walking Pudge around the neighbourhood, and chasing after the ice cream truck. Tony had wrapped his arms around him while he imagined their friends, their family, gathered in the large dining room for Thanksgiving dinner and whispered in his ear how it felt perfect, and it had confirmed what Steve felt: this would be home for them.
They’d kept the apartment they had in Stark Tower so they had a familiar place when they had to go in the city, at least for now. But this already felt so right that Steve couldn’t help but smile every time he walked into a room.
He stepped out of a very long and indulgent shower – after taking a bit of time check through more emails and make a list of things to accomplish around the house while it was still empty – to see a number of notifications on his phone. He expected to have progress updates from the movers, maybe an answer about the blinds he'd asked recommendations on. Instead, he found a confusing string of messages from his husband.
Steve didn’t have time to reply before he heard the garage door open and Peter's excited voice filled the space. He finished getting dressed at a quick pace before making his way down just as Tony was walking in with a ridiculous number of bags hooked through his arms.
“Why does it look like you bought out a craft store?” Steve asked as he bounced down the stairs to meet him and relieve him of some of the bags. “And why is our dog wearing a pirate hat?” Pudge looked at him with the same exasperated look he’d had that morning, this time with Peter sitting next to him, smiling brightly up at Steve.
“So, funny story, that I promise I will explain in great detail as soon as I put away the groceries,” Tony answered back with a boyish smile that he knew Steve could barely resist, even after all those years of being together.
“Pretty sure you can multi-task.” Steve grabbed most of the bags and set out for the kitchen, Tony following closely behind, and Peter off to run in the yard with Pudge before the rain started.
“Pete saw the boxes stacked in the garage when we were getting in the car and he was asking about them,” Tony started explaining, which reminded Steve to add figuring out the recycling to his to-do list.
“The packed boxes we brought from the apartment or the empty ones from all the new appliances?”
“The empty ones. The way they were stacked they kinda looked like the pirate ship from Pirate Fairy this morning. Which got us talking about him making a boat and would cardboard float and what if he wanted it to fly, does the new house have a pixie dust tree since there’s more trees here than back in the city. Anyways, long story short, we’re building a pirate ship.”
Steve popped his head out from behind the refrigerator door. “You’re serious? Please tell me you aren’t going to try and make it float.”
“I did say long story short, didn’t I? There was a lengthy conversation about material densities and a reminder that Pixie Hollow is too far for us to visit, and the one in Florida is fake.”
Steve finished putting away items that needed to be cooled, leaving most of the other items on the counter until they decided how to organize their various storage options. He soon felt Tony’s hands on his waist, nudging gently until he turned and looked at him.
“I know this wasn’t what we were supposed to do today, or even what I’m sure you’d planned to do since then,” Tony reasoned with him gently. “I know you just want this place to be perfect for us, and I love you for that. But there’s nothing on that list that can’t wait a few hours while we help Pete build something to entertain himself for the afternoon. He’s really excited about you helping him paint the boxes.” Steve let himself be kissed by Tony, knowing full well his husband had a point, as always. “What do you say, Captain?” Tony asked with a large smile when he pulled back.
“Shiver me timbers?” Steve replied skeptically, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips.
“With that enthusiasm, I might have to appoint myself as the leader of this rag tag team.”
Steve pulled Tony in for a hug. “You’re sure he doesn’t need me to be setting up his things? Making things more familiar-"
“He doesn’t. He is feeling a bit… not quite confused or upset, but the change is sinking in. That this is a permanent thing. It'll be a good distraction until we're more settled in and he can articulate what his brain feels.”
Steve nodded against Tony's shoulder, not for the first time wishing their son had come with an instruction manual. Tony seemed to understand Peter in a way Steve couldn’t quite grasp sometimes. Which was a good thing, but also frustrated him. Like in moments like this, when Tony just knew what Peter needed, while Steve's instincts told him he should be being productive, making things like their old home had been so it felt familiar. Taking care of his husband and son was always top priority, but the how of it all sometimes wasn’t how their minds needed it to be. Letting go of preconceived ideas on how parenting would or should be was still something he was working on, which Natasha had assured him was normal.
“What kind of paint did you get?” Steve finally asked, making Tony grin wildly.
They set out the paint supplies and stencils and stickers Tony had acquired over some newspapers in the empty living room before Steve went to get the large boxes in the garage. Peter ran in the house, pup in tow, when he saw Steve bringing in the boxes, eagerly recounting his shopping trip from that morning and the colours he picked – and why – and the colours he didn’t pick – and why. Steve listened attentively, Peter's rapid fire, excited words getting him just as fired up about the project.
Tony grabbed a tablet and sketched out the boxes while sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch, Pudge curled up at his side. He started digitally assembling them with Peter sitting in the nook of his crossed legs asking for increasingly difficult additions that Tony had to convince him wouldn’t work and why, while Steve made them a quick snack. He took in the scene before him from the kitchen, love and pride swelling in his chest at seeing his family curled up together to work on Peter's requested pirate ship.
“What are we looking at?” Steve asked, settling down next to his husband, coffee and snacks at their feet.
Tony started explaining which box went where, the taller refrigerator one being used as the main hull of the ship, then the one from the dishwasher going over top in the back, while various other smaller ones would be used for additional components, at Peter's request.
They discussed tools they’d need to cut out portholes, and if Tony had actually bought enough tape, both in quantity and variety. Time passed by much too quickly, and before they knew it Peter was getting grumpy and Steve's stomach rumbled loudly.
“I’ll go make lunch,” Tony offered when Steve started putting away his paint brush. “Finish painting so it can dry while we eat.”
Steve returned to painting the logo Peter had decided on for the makeshift flag that would be hung (read: taped) to the mast (read: broomstick) of his ship.
“Why'd you pick a spider, kiddo?” Steve asked in an attempt to distract Peter as he went back to painting over the lines he'd drawn on top of the red and blue background Peter had painted earlier.
“Spiders are awesome!” He proceeded to recall a number of facts he'd learned on a science show he'd watched about all the very neat things spiders could do. Steve once again marvelled at Peter's ability to memorize facts about things he loved – currently all things related to bugs – and yet forget where his clothing got discarded before a bath.
After lunch was over and the ship was assembled, Peter ran back to the entranceway.
“Don’t put the flag up yet, Papa,” he exclaimed as he ran back with a bag Steve hadn’t noticed.
“What's in here?” Steve asked, shooting a puzzled glance over his shoulder to Tony.
“They had a few Halloween decorations and things out. Pete wanted some to decorate the ship. And-" Tony pointed back to Peter, “-we all needed proper hats.”
Steve burst out in a bright, bubbly laugh at the sight of Peter with an eye patch and a pirate hat. Peter beamed as he struck a pose, Pudge wobbling over to him and getting his own hat back.
“I has one for you and Daddy too,” Peter remembered as he fished out two more hats from the bag.
“Thanks so much, bub,” Steve told him as he crouched down for Peter to place a hat on his head, little arms wrapping around his neck in a hug. “Love you, Peter.”
“Love you too, Papa.”
Peter went and did the same to Tony, and then declared they could officially raise the flag on his ship. Peter and Pudge – thanks to the last-minute addition of a special doggy door – went in to start exploring their new ship. Tony wrapped his arms around Steve's narrow waist and kissed his shoulder.
“You're looking real good there, Cap.”
“Oh am I now?” Steve wrapped an arm around Tony's shoulder and leaned in for a kiss.
“Ew! No kissing on the ship,” Peter declared, with an overly scrunched face of disgust.
“Oh yeah?” Steve answered playfully before scooping Tony up in his arms and going for the couch. “I have kidnapped your precious Dad, and brought him to my ship so I can kiss him and hug him as much as I want.”
Peter erupted in giggles, trying to object to Steve's current hostage taking situation while Steve managed to throw the cushions and pillows on the couch to the ground and build a fort-ship of sorts. Peter and Pudge devised a plan to take back the hostage, while Tony tried and failed to escape Steve's incessant cuddles.
They laughed and played until Peter had outwitted Steve with a tickle attack that saw Tony escape back to the ship, and Steve brought back as well.
“You make Captain Daddy happy, so you should stay with him. But you have to be nice on the ship,” Peter explained sternly, forcing Steve to bite down hard on his smile.
“I’ve learned my lesson, I’ll be good,” Steve vowed.
He joined Tony inside the ship, until they all agreed it was much too cramped for the four of them. They moved Pudge's doggy bed inside, and one of Peter's pillows so he could watch a show on his tablet for a bit, completely exhausted by his day so far.
“Pepper and Nat have been going back and forth on the group chat, they found some blackout blinds for Pete's room, and Bucky decided we were still having pizza from that place he kept raving about for dinner, so they've all agreed to be here in an hour or two, depending when our goddaughter wakes up from her nap,” Tony told Steve when they sat on the pile of cushions, destroyed remnants of Steve's fort-ship.
Steve wrapped his arm around Tony and pulled him into his side tighter. He couldn’t wait to hear his nephews and Peter playing together in the pirate ship while the adults and smallest humans hung out in the kitchen together.
“Think we'll be okay without a proper dining set?” Tony asked looking over Steve's shoulder at their barren dining room.
“I’ll just tell Buck to bring the folding tables and they can all bring those backyard chairs they have. It’ll be fine.” Steve smiled at him, bringing their lips together again.
When no protests came from the ship across from them, Steve peered through a porthole and saw Peter fast asleep alongside their dog. He took the opportunity to kiss his husband again, deep and slow, pouring in every ounce of the happiness and pure joy he was feeling into it.
To-do lists would wait, but nothing would beat the feeling of knowing his family was here and happy. No matter how different it looked than what he'd ever imagined it could be, this version of it all was absolutely perfect.