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“It’ll be okay,” Tony reassured Steve.
"I can't believe they're making you work on Christmas," Steve said.
"I'm not working," said Tony. "I'm just traveling out… to work…"
Steve stared at him.
"Okay, yeah, they're making me work on Christmas. But all the kids are asleep and we actually got to spend Christmas together!"
“It was horrifying,” Steve whispered. “I was expecting it to be, you know, happy.”
Tony shrugged. “Anthony and Carl were happy. Most of them were happy! It was just the babies who were unhappy because, y’know, they're babies and they don't get it.”
“And Beth,” Steve said. “Beth was…”
Tony sighed. “I'm gonna leave. I'm gonna Skype you guys every day. JARVIS and our teammates will be there to help you. When I get back, we’re all going to Disney World. And after that, we can worry about getting Beth evaluated.”
“What do you think it is?” Steve asked.
“I am not an expert in any way shape or form,” Tony said slowly, “but I think she might be autistic.”
“I've literally never heard of that.”
“Of course you haven't. You can look it up, but don't freak out. It's not fatal or anything, and we can figure out the rest along the way.”
“You're a good dad, Tony,” Steve told him.
Tony froze and turned to Steve. “Don't say that,” he said. “I am an international playboy –”
“My long-term boyfriend.”
“- billionaire –”
“You just started taking cooking classes because because, and I quote, ‘I don't want the kids eating that processed shit, even if it's organic’.”
“- engineer –”
“You just taught Anthony to code last week.”
“- and I don't have time to be a dad, good or bad.”
“You're taking us on a family trip to DisneyWorld, Tony. I think you dive headfirst into this father thing and you haven't looked back since.”
Tony’s face was red. “Take it back.”
Steve kissed his forehead. “No.”
“I'm gonna skype the kids and not you. Make sure Lottie gets enough tummy time, she's just starting to crawl. I think she'll be really moving once I get back.”
“I love you,” Steve told him.
“I love you too, jackass,” Tony muttered.