Chilly Boulder, Monday Afternoon

[heroic_jawline]

Steve could feel the time ticking away like a clock in the back of his head and he was determined to squeeze in as much fun as he could with the two little girls who'd paid them a visit this weekend. So they went on a hike (James loved it, Morgan not so much) and then for ice cream.

Peer pressure from the ice cream staff got him ordering the Skywalker sundae, which he almost immediately regretted.

"Is this everything in the display?" he asked, eyes wide.

"Plus, like, half a thing of cherries," came the reply.

Well, sugared up kids would be someone else's problem soon, right?

Steve brought the massive thing over to the table where Tony and the girls were waiting.

Comments

[imafuturist]

"...how?" Tony asked even as he was drowned out by delighted shrieks from both girls at that much sugar.

[heroic_jawline]

"Well, we skipped lunch?" Steve said.

[imafuturist]

"Well. Maybe we can send them with an apology note for the sugar high," Tony ventured, pushing spoons at both of the girls to dig into the side of that mountain.

[heroic_jawline]

"It can't hurt," Steve said.

He was pretty sure Pepper still wasn't a huge fan of his.

[imafuturist]

Pepper was, at least, more aware of all the factors surrounding the decisions made that lead up to how things ended.

Though she might punch him for fucking off to the past like that.

"At least they're getting along now," he whispered over their heads.

[loveu3k]

"I can still hear you," Morgan said around a mouthful of chocolate slathered ice cream.

[heroic_jawline]

"We know," Steve said, smiling. "And you're being rewarded with ice cream for excellent behavior."

[imafuturist]

Morgan considered that before nodding in acceptance of the bribe. Because it was a bribe and she knew it.

"As only children, you two are adapting well," Tony added.

[mini_cap]

James nodded, then shifted closer to Tony. "I'm good at sharing!"

Mmmm, maybe.

[loveu3k]

Morgan narrowed her eyes and shifted closer to Steve out of spite. She was showing affection out of spite here.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve forgot to hide his surprise as Morgan moved in. "Hi there," he said with a smile.

[loveu3k]

Morgan sniffed like she'd seen her mother do and lifted her chin to be mature and grown up about it all. "I'm sorry for last time," she said like she was reciting something told to her.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve's smile softened. "Forgiven," he said immediately. "It must have been a shock to see me."

[loveu3k]

"You're gonna keep him safe this time, right?" Morgan asked, watching him out of the corner of her eye.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve nodded solemnly. "With my life, if I have to."

[loveu3k]

She nodded again, accepting that. "Good."

That was what she needed to know. Even if she wanted her father back, she could get little snippets on weekends like this.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve put his hands on the table, wedding ring gleaming on his finger. "We have a dangerous job," he said quietly, "and sometimes really terrible things happen, but he's the most important person in my life and we protect each other."

[loveu3k]

Morgan stared at him for a moment before seeming to accept that as good enough. "Can I get a Patriot when I go home?"

Yes, she'd shamelessly use your say-so against her mother.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve chuckled. "I don't know how he'd get along with llamas."

[loveu3k]

"But he could help Happy out in keeping them from jumping out of their enclosure!" She had a power-point presentation in mind about why a small dog was for the best. For everyone.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve took a bite of ice cream to hide his smile. He could just see the look on Happy's face to this new addition, and he wanted to encourage it.

"Patriot has certainly made Tony and my life more fun," he said, "but he also needs someone to watch him all the time. Do you have someone who can watch him all the time?"

[loveu3k]

"I could!" And then she'd have a dog to keep her from feeling sad that her mom had to work.

And also to dress up.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve gave her a grin. "You could. Is there also a grown-up that can help? Sometimes we ask Natasha or Sam."

Or Jan, but she wasn't really a factor in Steve's life yet where Morgan was from.

[loveu3k]

"Natasha went away too," Morgan said, excitement dimming again. "Who's Sam?"

[heroic_jawline]

Some of the light went out of Steve's face to hear that, too. A world without Natasha or Tony sounded awful.

"Sam's the Falcon," he said. "He can fly. But not with Patriot." He lowered his voice. "Your dad wants to give the dog a suit."

[loveu3k]

"Oh! The guy with your shield." That got the start of a smile out of her at least. "He does?"

She could probably make one for the llamas if she could just use her dad's lab without making her mom sad.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve blinked. "Sam's got my shield?"

[loveu3k]

Morgan nodded and took another bit of ice cream. "I saw him with it once."

[heroic_jawline]

"Huh," Steve said thoughtfully. "He'd be good with it."

[loveu3k]

"He seemed nicer than the other guy," Morgan added, digging for a cherry in the pile. "Mom says he's just imperialistic propaganda."

She pronounced it very, very carefully and completely in Pepper's tone of voice.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve burst out laughing. "You mean Bucky?"

[loveu3k]

"No, not him. The one the government picked." Morgan replied with a frown.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve felt his heart drop near his stomach. "But I gave the shield to Sam. Someone overruled me?"

[loveu3k]

"I think?" She knew about as much as she heard from her mom or on TV, really.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve frowned hard around his now-comforting spoonful of ice cream.

"Huh."

He had a weird urge to go home and hug the shield.

"Thanks for telling me about it. Your mom's not a fan of the new guy, then. No one she knows?"

[loveu3k]

Morgan shook her head. "Someone asked her to endorse him for dad. She yelled a lot."

Only a child of Tony Stark's would know the word 'endorse' already.

[heroic_jawline]

"Oh, I'll bet," Steve said dryly. "I never want to be on the receiving end of Pepper Potts' displeasure."

[loveu3k]

Morgan nodded solemnly in agreement. "Sometimes she doesn't let me have dessert."

[heroic_jawline]

"I think this new guy probably shouldn't have dessert either," Steve decided. "No ice cream for him."