#uncle!steve

everyone filed into the auditorium loudly. parents, babies, friends and teachers were jammed into their seats. y/n and eddie were sat in one of the middle rows, more off to the edge.

“when did it say it started?” eddie looks at the pamphlet for what seemed like the 100th time that evening. “about five minutes to, honey, dont worry.”

the couple sat in silence for a second, looking around the room as more people filled into their row. “i hope you’re excited. i’m excited. y/n, are you excited?” she flipped her head over to her left to see a steve harrington, still in his button-up from work. did he fucking speed to get over here?

“d’you think he’s excited?” another head popped out. robin. gosh, she looks good. her hair is slightly curled and put in a ponytail, a ribbon to hold it in place. vicky must’ve forced her. or nancy.

“hey, robi, how’s it goin?” eddie leans forward to see her. “pretty good, pretty good. excited to see some kids as per usual.” she joked sarcaatically, but obviously the couple in the row ahead didn’t appreciate it, because they grimaced at her. “m- no- i’m a babysitt-“

the lights dimmed as everyone settled down, robin huffing because her point wasn’t clear yet.

the red curtains opened, revealing a small set, probably made by the children (LMFOA). there was a tower to the left and a tree just below, a well in the centre and an apple tree to the far right.

a small girl dressed as a farmer ran out to the well. “is that love? love’s in this?” steve questioned to the couple. “steve, why do you think we’re here?”

love, more affectionately known as lovely, was eddie and y/n’s daughter. infact, she’d just turned six a week ago!

“well well well, what do we have here? what’re you doin on this side of the green, gerald? thought you were banned from this side.”

another farmer, dressed in blue, came onto the stage, smirking. “yeah, donny, but you’ve stolen something from me. and i want it back.”

both the children were speaking in thick, country accents, making the whole ordeal funnier than it really was.

“is that so, gerald?” gerald nods. “well, you’re gonna have to leave. or you’ll be leavin’ this side o’ town with something different from what you want.”

gerald’s eyes widened. “you dare threaten me? my pappy will haunt you, how dare you threaten me?!”

this’ll be a long play.

after the play was finished, the friends waited in the lobby for love. steve had a bouquet of flowers he didn’t have at the start of the show and robin had a look on her face she didn’t have at the start of the show, either.

“-oh, and the cow? i didn’t think they’d be fighting over a cow!” steve exclaimed, robins frown reaching furthermore into the ground.

the four heard little footsteps behind them, robin’s face contorting into a neutral, smiley face as they turn to look at the kid.

“daddy!” love exclaimed at eddie, running to her dad as she jumped into his arms, eddie picking her off the ground and kissing all over her face. “hey, bug! you did so good! oh, we’re so proud of you, lovely.” he smiled at his daughter, the carbon copy of eddie.

she had eddie’s dark curls and his brown eyes. when she was born, everyone said she looked like him, but eddie grimaced. of course, he loves his daughter and would die for her, but in that moment in time, she “looked like a piece of chewed-up wood,” according to eddie.

“did’ja see me, daddy? di’ja?!” she squirmed around in his arms. “yes, bug! you were amazing!”

y/n walks over to her family, cupping her daughters face and kissing it all around. “awesome job, my love, you were amazing!” she looked up at her husband, who was still holding the child, and smiled at him with a small glimmer in her eyes. eddie’s heart skipped a beat.

see, its hard for eddie to find someone who treats him normally, but luckily he scored y/n, who treats him like a human, and hes so glad he did.

so yeah, she may treat her husband like a normal human being, bare minimum. but the way she looks at him?

like he’s the only human on earth.

masterlist :: inaramisview

“Yeah?”

“What do you usually do with her if she's being a little.. troublesome?” Steve didn't want to get her punished; he just wanted a way to deal with her behavior.

Steve obviously knew he could punish her the small punishments, like no screen time for a day or a timeout, but he didn't want to. She already seemed to dislike him enough, he wasn't about to make it worse. He didn't want to punish her but he also couldn't take all the brattiness and backtalk.

He was a kind uncle and he actually enjoyed being around her. But her behavior has been driving him crazy this time and it needed to stop. He knew she didn't want Bucky to leave this time and was most likely punishing Steve for telling him he could take care of her while he was gone. She probably thought Bucky would've stayed if there was no one to tend to her during his absence, and she had Steve to blame for it.

“Being what? What did she do?” Bucky's angry voice asked from the other side of the phone, and Steve could picture him narrowing his eyes.

“It's nothing major, Buck-”

“What did she do, Steve?”

“Well, uh, for starters she says no to almost everything even if she's eventually gonna do it anyway. She knocks stuff over when I don't do what she wants and pretends it was an accident,” Steve stopped and sighed, “she's giving me a hard time and it all goes away when you call!” Steve almost whined.

He sighed again when Bucky went silent, knowing she'd really get it now but she didn't exactly leave him much of a choice.

“I'm gonna handle it. I'm sorry, Steve,” Bucky said, sounding pissed.

“Hey, it's all good. Hold on, I'll give her the phone.”

“Yeah, please do.” Bucky wasn't as excited to talk to her anymore.

He could hear Steve softly calling out for her to come talk to Daddy and her feet hitting the wooden floor as she came to the phone. What he didn't hear though was a thank you to Steve.

“Dada!” Her happy voice spoke and Bucky couldn't help but smile a little.

“Hey, doll! How've you been?”

“Been good, dada. Missed you,” she sighed, pouting.

“I missed you too, baby. Are you behaving for Uncle Steve?”

“Yes, daddy,” she lied all too quickly and Bucky clenched his jaw.

“Good girl.”

~

“Sweetheart, please get in your skirt,” Steve sighed again, holding the item of clothing low for her to step into.

“No.” Her naked leg kicked the mini skirt from Steve's hands before she crossed her legs and leaned on her bed.

“Don't make this hard now!” Steve rubbed his face in frustration.

“I'll do what I want. You're not my daddy,” she said stubbornly before snatching the skirt off the floor and slipping it up her legs to her waist. If she looked messy, she didn't care.

When she turned around to leave the unorganized room, Bucky was standing there with the biggest scowl on his face. Her heart stopped and her world froze. How come they didn't know he was arriving today? How come they didn't hear him come in?

“Dada,” she whispered in mixed fear and shame, making Steve look up, a look of utter relief washing over him when he saw his best friend.

Everything was about to get better now that Bucky was here, including her temper.

“Is that what I taught you, little one?” Bucky's tone dripped of disappointment.

“Dada.” Tears quickly came to her eyes as she saw the letdown look in Bucky's.

“And here I was thinking you were my good girl, returning home early to see you.” Bucky shook his head at her.

“Dada, I am your good girl. I am,” she begged, walking closer to him, but Bucky didn't reciprocate.

“Dada, I missed you.” She went to hug Bucky but he stepped away. She tried to hold his hand and he slipped his fingers out of her grab.

“You don't get to welcome daddy home after you've disrespected Uncle Steve like that, little girl,” Bucky told her, his frown not disappearing, only deepening.

“Dada, I'm sorry.” Her lower lip trembled.

She’s missed Bucky so much. She was touch-starved because she hadn't given Steve a chance to come anywhere near her all weekend. She refused to let him hug her, kiss her, or carry her. She was distant and bratty and rude. She needed Bucky's warm touch but he was far too mad at her.

“I'm not the one you should be apologizing to.” Bucky crossed his arms, looking at Steve behind her.

“Uncle Steve, I'm s-sorry,” she mumbled quickly, without even looking at the blond man, moving to hug Bucky again but he still wouldn't let her.

“Dada,” she called, tears leaving her eyes.

“You have to mean it, little one.”

“Daddy, I mean it,” she whined. It frustrated her little heart that Bucky kept calling her little one. He only did that when he was mad at her; too angry to use a pet name.

“Enough lying already!” Bucky raised his voice and she flinched.

“I'm not going to talk to you or touch you until you've made it up to Uncle Steve. Until then I'm gonna pretend I haven't come home and saw what I just saw.” Bucky left her room, walking over to his and slamming the door behind him.

He didn't normally choose to be hard on her; she was his baby doll, but what she did with Steve was just unacceptable. Bucky couldn't let her get away with disrespecting anyone, especially Steve, not after witnessing it all himself.

He'd thought it over on his way home. If he spanked her or took her favourite things away, she'd dislike Steve even more, if not hate him. Bucky couldn't give her more things to blame Steve for or more reasons to refuse him.

~

“Sweetheart,” Steve called, feeling bad after Bucky left and she stood by the door frame and started crying.

He didn't really want Bucky to punish her; he just wanted to know how to deal with her bratty behavior. He just wanted a way to communicate better. Steve never intended on making her cry. Bucky surprised him with that punishment.

“'S all because of you. I hate you!” She cried harder, throwing herself on her bed to hide her face in the mattress as she sobbed.

Her words broke Steve's heart to tiny pieces and he felt even worse now that Bucky was here. His mouth opened but no words came to him so he closed it again. He gathered her clothes from the floor and hung them back in her closet before leaving her to cry it out, giving her some time.

~

“I'm so sorry, Steve.” Bucky shook his head, embarrassed by her behavior towards his best friend.

“Hey, it's alright. I know she's a good girl; she just missed you.”

“You know I missed her too but she can't just get away with such stuff,” Bucky sighed, taking another sip from his beer.

“I know.”

“Dada.” She entered the room after a good crying session, rubbing her puffy eyes.

True to his previous words, Bucky didn't answer her, swallowing the lump in his throat with his beer. He couldn't give in.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Steve responded instead, not wanting to leave her hanging, which made her pout in annoyance.

Like him and Bucky had agreed, if she wanted anything she'd have to go to Uncle Steve for it and relearn to use her manners.

“Dada,” she called again and got the same reaction. Bucky pretended he wasn't there.

Tears gathered in her eyes again and she hid her face in her hands and began crying. The sound shook Bucky's heart and he almost broke and forgave her.

“Hey, hey, no, it's alright,” Steve cooed, immediately coming to her side.

He hated this. Once he got her to stop crying he was going to talk to Bucky about calling it off. He didn't care if she was bratty or bad-mannered, he just wanted her happy again.

Steve led her back to her room and sat down on the bed beside her.

“Daddy's never gonna speak to me again!” She sobbed and Steve's heart ached for her.

“Sweetheart, please don't cry.” He gently patted her back.

“Can't you just tell him I said sorry and I mean it?” A pair of teary eyes implored Steve's blue ones.

“I will, but no more tears, okay?” Steve quickly agreed, wanting her to calm down.

“You will?” She wiped at her cheeks and Steve nodded with half a smile, his thumb catching her new tears.

“You'd lie to daddy for me?” Her red eyes widened.

“I'd do lots of stuff for you.” Steve chuckled.

“Like what?” She mumbled, sniffing and wiping her nose before Steve grabbed her a tissue off the bedside table.

“Like let you pour your milk on me and pretend it was an accident.” Steve smiled fondly, dabbing the tissue on her wet cheeks and under her nose.

In that moment as she looked up at the man with tear-filled eyes, her little mind seemed to recall all the ways she'd tortured him all week. She'd disobeyed nearly everything he'd told her and he still didn't hurt her or even raise his voice at her. She'd 'accidently' dumped all the salt in the salt shaker on his dinner. She'd dropped his phone on the kitchen counter multiple times after talking to Bucky, adding to the cracks on its screen. She'd wet him and got soap in his eyes during shower time. She'd constantly knocked stuff out of his hands whenever he held them out for her. She's been a real demon. If it was Bucky he would've punished her in every way in the book. But Steve didn't. He didn't make her pay for any of it and he was ready to lie to Bucky to save her bratty, ungrateful ass from having to endure his silent treatment.

“And then you leave?” She wondered.

She saw Steve's face fall at her question. She really did hate him, didn't she?

“And then I leave.” He still nodded with a kind smile.

“But could you not though?” She whispered, playing with the ends of her mini skirt.

“What?” Steve looked at her in surprise; he must've heard her wrong.

“Don't leave,” she told him, clearer this time, awkwardly extending her hand to touch his.

“Sweetheart-”

“I'm sorry, Uncle Steve,” she started tearing up again in regret, “I didn't mean to be so bad.” She shook her head and cried.

“Aw, sweetheart, it's okay.” Steve hugged her to his side, smoothing a hand on her head.

That was all he needed to hear.

“You know I like you, right?” She asked, sniffing in his shirt and Steve chuckled.

“Yeah?” He asked cheekily and she nodded, silently crying.

“Yeah, you make the best cookies, but don't tell daddy,” she said and Steve chuckled, “I'm sorry.” She cried more.

“I like you too, darling. Don't cry now, we're good.” He assured her, holding her closer to him and gently patting her back.

“So you’ll stay?”

“If that's what you want.” Steve's thumb wiped her tears away as she nodded again.

She wanted to make things up to Uncle Steve like Daddy wanted and Uncle Steve deserved. She wanted to show him she truly was a good girl.

“On one condition though,” Steve said playfully, slipping her hair behind her ear.

She looked up at him, waiting for his next words.

“You let me take care of you like I was supposed to.” Steve's face was serious. It was all he wanted all weekend.

“Okay.” She nodded, smiling tearfully.

How kind was Uncle Steve and how blind was she to not see it!

Steve kissed her forehead and smiled down at her, wiping the rest of her tears away. He adjusted her skirt before they walked back out hand in hand and he sat her down on the couch beside Bucky, who on his turn pretended she wasn't there.

Was Bucky curious about what happened in there? Yeah, he was. But he wasn't about to ask her. He was just glad Steve has got her to stop crying because nothing hurt more than seeing her pretty face all sad and teary.

Steve prepared her snack and came back. He lifted her on his lap and handed her the plate before grabbing the remote to turn on her favourite afternoon show.

“Thank you, Uncle Steve,” she whispered shyly, kissing the man's cheek.

Steve smiled and kissed her temple, rubbing her back as he encouraged her to eat, even feeding her a couple of times and she let him, thanking him every time.

Bucky raised an eyebrow at the scene unfolding beside him but still held back from interfering or interacting with her. He was still mad and she needed to prove herself good again. He bit back a smile, pressing the beer bottle to his lips instead.

~

As the day came to an end and Steve put her to bed, she was keeping her 'please' and 'thank you's up, using her manners just right and Bucky would secretly, proudly grin every time she did.

“Would you please tell daddy I said goodnight?” She asked Steve, trying not to cry again before bed. She'd wished he'd forgive her by bedtime but he clearly didn't.

“I will, sweetheart. And I'm sure he wishes you a good night too,” Steve pecked her forehead and she smiled.

“Goodnight, Uncle Steve.” She pecked his cheek before resting back, pulling the covers to her chin.

If Bucky was listening, he made no effort to let any of them know.

~

The next morning Bucky was the same, still giving her a taste of her own medicine. She wanted to cry again but didn't, focusing on fixing things with Uncle Steve, whom she'd been awful to.

“Uncle Steve, please come with me?” She held onto Steve's wrist while he stood with Bucky in the kitchen.

Steve mumbled a 'sure', tilting his head in confusion as he followed the shorter girl.

She sat him on her bed and stood on her tiptoes till she reached her pink piggy bank on the upper shelf on her wall.

She walked to Steve and put the small safe in his lap, “I thought all morning long,”

“What's this, sweetheart?” Steve eyed the object before looking at her.

She smiled sheepishly before shaking the safe left and right in his lap, “to fix Uncle Steve's phone.”

Steve's heart soared in his chest and he remained speechless. She waited for him to take the money but he didn't.

“'S a lot of money. Dada gave me some to keep with piggy every day,” she assured Steve, taking his big hands and wrapping them around the pink safe, wanting him to accept it.

“Sweetheart,” Steve mumbled, setting the piggy bank on the bed before holding her to his chest.

She let herself be squished in his embrace as she stood between his legs, not really understanding what was happening, but at least he wasn't mad at her.

“You don't have to do that.” Steve shook his head before kissing her head.

“But I wanna make it up to you, Uncle Steve. I can't take away the salt in your food or the soap in your eyes or the milk on your pants-” She stopped and pulled back and her smaller hand cupped Steve's cheek, “do you wamme to wash your pants?”

Oh, how precious! She spent her morning thinking about ways to fix what she'd done to him. And she wanted to give him all of her savings to fix his phone. She was even ready to try and clean his pants. She was such a kind little one.

He’d done it. She finally likes him. Steve was beside himself at the progress. This kind of connection with her was all he ever wanted and it made him forget about whatever evil things she'd done during that weekend.

And on the other side of the wall stood a very pleased Bucky.

~

When they walked back out to the living room, Steve was beaming as he helped her up on his lap. Her body was facing Bucky’s as she leaned onto Steve’s chest. She looked at Bucky and when he looked back she cast her eyes down in shame.

“Come here, doll.” Bucky beckoned, opening his arms for her.

She grinned happily, jumping into them as he lifted her to straddle him. She wrapped her arms around Bucky's neck, burying her face in his shoulders and smelling his scent. Steve smiled, satisfied with their reunion.

Bucky wrapped her up tightly in his arms, pressing a longing kiss to the side of her head, “I missed you too, doll. I missed you so bad.”

“I’m sorry, dada,” she sniffled, clutching Bucky’s shirt.

“I know, doll.” Bucky pressed his lips to her forehead and let the kiss linger there.

That all changed when Thanos snapped his fingers, he was gone and you were left alone. If it wasn't for the help of Steve and Nat I don't think I would have made it. After a few months I named them Becca's godparents, I saw how much love they had for your little girl and that's how I knew they would protect her if anything ever was to happen to me.

"Becca, honey come downstairs. Someone is here to you see you" I called up and shortly I heard the sound of tiny feet running across the hall and down the stairs.

"Auntie Nat" she yelled as soon as she saw her godmother standing in the living room, jumping into her arms.

"Hey princess" Nat said as she wrapped her arms round Becca.

"Uncle Steve! Hey kiddo, nice to see you too" Steve joked at the face that Becca completely ignored his presence.

"Love you" Becca said putting the cheekiest, sweetest grin on her face.

"Love you too" Steve said pressing a kiss onto her forehead.

"Right, little missy when your done pretending to be a sweet and innocent you can go back and play in your room. Mummy, auntie Nat and uncle Steve need to have a grown up chat okay"

"Okay Mumma" She said as she ran up the stairs to her room.

"We might have found a way to bring them back" Steve said as soon Rebecca was out of earshot.

"Steve, as much as I would love to have everyone back, I'm not going to get my hopes up because everytime I do it feels like I've lost him again"

"I get that Y/N but we all think this will actually work this time" Steve said.

"Y/N we promised we wouldn't come to you about this anymore unless we are 100% sure, we could see how much it hurt you when they didn't work we wouldn't do that to you again" Nat said, I could see in her face she meant every word, they had found a way to bring them back. To bring Bucky back.

We had done it, we had brought them back. But it came at a cost we had lost Nat and Tony. They sacrificed themselves for the world. I felt guilty I was heading to meet my husband, the love of your life whilst Pepper had just said goodbye to hers.

It almost felt like a dream holding him in your arms again as the familiar scent of him filled your nostrils. I felt safe again.

"Doll, oh my gosh, are you okay?" Bucky said as he gripped me close to his chest.

"Yeah I'm fine now. Oh Buck, I've missed you so much"

"I've missed you too" He said as he pressed a deep kiss onto my lips, then he pulled away and just looked into my eyes for a minute when suddenly his eyes widen slightly "Wait, where's Becca? Is she okay"

"She's at home, she's absolutely fine but I know she misses her daddy"

"Well then what are we waiting for. I need to go see my little princess, she's been waiting long enough "

Once we arrived home I thanked our babysitter for watching her and then she left after shouting up to Becca that she was leaving.

"Becca, sweetheart, can you come downstairs for a minute there's someone here to see you" I said calling up the stairs.

"Coming mumma" She called back to me and then I could hear her feet collide with the floor as she ran to me.

As soon as she came landed after jumping from the second too last step she span and looked in my direction. She looked at me and then her blue eyes caught sight of her fathers and she quickly ran to him. Bucky drooped to his knees and held his arms open, wobbling slightly from the impact of Rebecca hitting him..

A few tears began to fall from his eyes and he stroked her hair.

"Daddy, I missed you"

"I missed you too princess but I promise I'll never leave you again"

You were twelve then, the only kid running around with the team. Since Dad was a single parent that meant you got dragged to SHIELD HQ a lot for meetings and events. You tried to keep yourself busy by reading books or playing handheld games. You wanted to make things as easy on Dad as possible. Eventually you got to know the team and they’d offer to watch you any time Bruce needed it.

Sometimes it was something small like taking you out for ice cream while Dad worked in the lab or helping you with your homework by explaining long division just one more time. Other times it was letting you stay over for the weekend while he was away on a mission. They weren’t blood relatives, but they were family. You weren’t ready for all of that to just disappear. There was a knock on the door. You moved away from the window and sighed. Here we go.

“I was beginning to worry my date was standing me up!” Steve Rogers commented when you opened the door.

“Sorry Uncle Steve. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.” You apologized.

“I get it.” Steve nodded. “A lot’s going to change after today. It’s okay if you need to take a minute.”

“Dad needs everything to run smoothly.” You told him. “I promised him we wouldn’t be late.”

“Then we’d better get a move on.” Uncle Steve offered you his elbow and you walked downstairs together. He led you into the kitchen where your Dad, Tony Stark, Thor and Clint Barton where waiting.

They were all practically talking over each other when you and Steve entered the room. Uncle Tony’s tie was still undone, though he’d at least tossed the piece of fabric over his neck. Thor wasn’t wearing a tie, or his jacket and his sleeves were rolled up past his elbows. Only Uncle Clint seemed to be fully dressed for the occasion. His shoes were shined, his tie tied and his jacket fastened at the waist.

“Does this look crooked to you?” Your dad asked Clint. He tugged nervously at his own tie.

“Young Lady Banner!” Thor was the first to notice you. He greeted you with his booming voice before encircling you in his arms. “You look beautiful [Y/N]!” He appraised when he released his hold on you. “You shall make a fine bride yourself, soon!”

“Thor, she’s fifteen!” Clint commented as he straightened your father’s tie. "Give her at least another year before you try to trade our girl off for some goats.”

“Barton our [Y/N] is worth far more than a few puny goats!” Thor huffed.

“You’re both out of your mind.” Uncle Tony laughed. “[Y/N] and I already agreed that she’s never getting married. She’s dedicating her life to science and the pursuit of knowledge.”

“I don’t remember ever agreeing to this…” You disagreed.

“Well you did.” He assured you. “You were seven at the time, but I haven’t forgotten.”

“Tony the ceremony is supposed to start in fifteen minutes. Do you need help with your tie?” Uncle Steve offered, diverting the attention away from you.

“Well, how do I look?” Dad asked you. You thought about telling him that he looked awful and that everything looked awful, but that wouldn’t stop the day from happening. It would only hurt his feelings.

“Handsome as ever.” You told him. Tony swatted Steve’s hand away and began tying his tie. Steve and Clint both turned their attention to Thor, who seemed adamant that a jacket was not necessary. While everyone else was distracted your dad moved to stand beside you.

“So the big day is finally here.” He said.

“Yup.” You nodded, still watching Clint and Steve struggle with Thor.

“I just wanted to say thank you, for being so good about everything.” He commented. You looked away from the show in front of you and up at your dad. “Things have never been easy for us, but I know it’s been really hard the last few months. I was away on that month-long mission, then all the wedding planning stuff was taking up a lot of time…” He paused to sigh.

“It’s okay, Dad.” You touched his arm, trying to assure him. “You’ve always been there when it was important. This was just an adjustment period. It was temporary.”

“Sometimes I feel like you’re the parent and I’m the kid.” He laughed. “I wanted to get you something anyway. Just something small to say thanks for hanging in there with me.” From his suit jacket pocket, he removed a small purple velvet box. He handed it to you. “Go on, open it.”

You accepted the small box and opened it. Inside was a necklace. The chain was silver, and the pendant was a series of small amethysts set in a silver crescent moon. It was beautiful. With his help you put the necklace on immediately.

“You like it then?” He asked worriedly.

“I love it, Dad!” You promised before hugging him.

“I’m glad.” He hugged you back. “I’m sorry we have to leave you to stay with Uncle Tony for two weeks while Betty and I are on our honeymoon, but the good news is once we’re back, we’ll be able to spend lots of time together and you’ll get a well-deserved break from your uncles.”

You wanted to tell him that you didn’t want a break from your uncles. That over the years you’d grown used to the sort of organized chaos they seemed to always bring with them. Sure, they were rowdy, and a little unpolished, but they loved you and you loved them. You didn’t want the fact that your dad was married to impact your ability to be with the rest of your family.

“You boys ready to get this show on the road?” Everyone looked upwards to see Natasha Romanoff calling down impatiently from a nearby staircase. She sauntered down the stairs and was followed by two more Bridesmaids; Betty’s sister and her childhood best friend.

“Why the long face, Lil’ Banner?” An hour had passed since your father was officially married. They were now legally Dr. Bruce and Mrs. Betty Banner.

The happy couple sat at a small table for two surrounded by everyone else. All the other tables were large and round, seating no more than eight people per table. You were of course seated at the wedding party table. The seating arrangement of which had been carefully charted by Betty and the Wedding Planner. As Best Man and Maid of Honor, Uncle Tony and Betty’s sister sat together. Betty’s best friend and Uncle Thor were next to them. Followed by Aunt Nat and Uncle Clint. You were sat between Uncle Steve and Uncle Tony. It was the latter, who had leaned over to ask you what was wrong.

“No reason.” You lied. You continued to push potatoes around in your soup.

“C’mon, you think I can’t tell when you’re upset? You may have fooled your old man, but not me. Your Uncle Tony wrote the book on pent up teenage aggression.” He told you. “Are you upset about having to stay with me for two weeks?”

“No, that’s not it!” You assured him. “I love the tower and I love hanging out with you! You’re the only one who lets me have dessert for dinner.” You glared down at your soup, even less hungry than you were before. “Now that dad’s married, I won’t be around the tower as much.”

“Why not?” Tony asked. “Your dad getting married doesn’t mean that things have to change between us.”

“But it’s going to.” You huffed. “He already told me I’ll be spending less time with you guys and more time with Betty.”

“Did you tell him how you feel?” Tony asked.

“No. Team Banner has to stick together.” You mumbled. “I don’t want him to think I just don’t like her.” Tony looked like wanted to say more, but the wedding planner had come over and handed him a microphone to let him know it was time for his speech.

“Be right back.” He told you with a pat on the shoulder.

“Big surprise, there’s a party and I’ve got a microphone!” Was the first thing Tony said to the crowd. This of course earned a supportive laugh from everyone. “But for once, this speech is not about me. Today, we not just celebrating the marriage of Bruce and Betty. Today we also celebrate the joining of two families. As many of you know, Betty’s parents and sister are here, even her great grandmother was able to make the trip. Some of you may even recognize Bruce’s daughter, [Y/N].” You looked up at the mention of your name and gave an awkward half-wave to the other guests.

“But what you may not know,” Tony turned to look at Betty. “Is that you’re also gaining another sister and four brothers. Because they Avengers are a family too. We argue like families do, but we have each other’s backs like family too. There’s been plenty of family dinners around the long meeting table at the tower. Uncle Clint taught [Y/N] how to ride a bike, and she taught Uncle Steve how to send GIFs on his cellphone.” Tony paused for laugher, which the crowd easily offered up. “So let’s all raise a glass, and let me be the first to say, ‘Welcome to the family Betty’!”

The meal continued while Betty’s sister gave the next speech. Then your Dad and Betty each said a few words and before you knew it, they were doing their first dance. Waiters were clearing the dishes from tables while the DJ invited everyone else to join the newlyweds on the dance floor.

“I know you might not be feeling up to it, but you’d be doing me a great favor if you joined me in a dance.” Steve told you as he offered your hand out. “Can’t have people thinking that even my own date wont dance with me.” He smirked.

“You care too much about what other people think of you, Uncle Steve.” You told him, before accepting his hand and letting him lead you to the dance floor.

“You know, I heard what you were saying to Uncle Tony earlier.” He told you. “You should spend some time with Betty and give her a chance to get to know you. I’m sure that’s what your father meant by what he said. And making room for her in your life doesn’t mean you’re losing any of us. Who else would I get to watch movies with me on Saturday nights? Which reminds me, we’re still on to watch Jaws tonight when your dad drops you off at the tower right?”

“Hey, how is it going here?”

Peter looks away from Bucky’s phone where he was watching Youtube and up at the nurse. The boy doesn’t answer, and looks down at the phone again. Truth is, if he speaks, he will just cry again.

“He’s all right. He stopped coughing 15 minutes ago.” Steve informs the nurse. Peter watches from the corner of his eye how the nurse checks the monitors. The nurse had put a clip on Peter’s finger, and it is starting to irritate him for real.

“Yeah? How are you feeling, cutie?” The nurse asks, trying to catch Peter’s eyes without any luck.

Peter realises now that he must speak, or else he won’t be left alone.

“Am okay. When are Daddies coming?”

“Soon, sweetheart, soon.” Bucky says for perhaps the hundredth time.

Peter huffs softly, and repositions himself on the hospital bed to continue watching Youtube, but then his ears pick up on two familiar voices. The boy feels his heart swell in his chest, and his eyes burn with new tears.

Within a few seconds, Stephen and Tony show up from behind the curtain separating Peter’s bed spot from the others’ in the ER. The two Daddies rush over to Peter, hugging and kissing him while he starts to cry all over again. Tony goes to sit down with Peter, rocking him in his arms, while Stephen turns to Bucky, Steve, and eventually the nurse.

“I’m so sorry, Stephen- we-” Steve starts, looking pained and sorry. Bucky looks just the same.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault. I’m just glad we weren’t too far away.” Stephen says, looking at the nurse. “Has a doctor seen him yet?”

“Not yet, but we are working on it. He’s stable now, so he’ll be okay. We just have to follow the formalities and wait for the doctor.”

Half an hour later, all five walk out of the ER. Peter is half asleep in Tony’s arms, drapped over his Daddy’s shoulder like a rag doll. Stephen is close by, gazing at Peter lovingly. Bucky and Steve feel just a bit left out. Maybe a bit stupid too, even though both Stephen and Tony had assured many times that it wasn’t their fault. The guilt still lingered.

The four men stop in the parking lot, having realised their cars are in opposite directions. Tony gently stirs Peter awake from his dozing.

“Wanna say bye to Uncle Stevie and Bucky?”

Peter rubs at his eyes with a big yawn before fixing his gaze on his Uncles. He smiles at them sleepily, waving his hand at them. It makes Steve and Bucky’s heart ache even more.

“Buh-bye!”

“Bye, Peter! We’ll see you soon, yeah?” Steve waves.

“Make sure to sleep in tomorrow.” Bucky says with a grin.

They are just about to part ways, when suddenly Peter cries out.

“Wait! Wha-what ‘bout waffles for breakfast?”

Oh! Bucky and Steve had promised Peter waffles for breakfast earlier in the day. However, the two men had completely forgotten about it when Peter had his asthma attack, naturally. And now, Peter is obviously going home with Daddies, even though that wasn’t the plan originally. But, they had promised waffles…

“How about- would you three like to come for breakfast tomorrow?” Bucky asks.

In the darkness of the parking lot, Bucky and Steve can see Peter nodding eagerly at his Daddies.

“Please, Daddies!”

“Oh, okay. I think that sounds amazing in fact. Is 10 okay?” Tony asks.

“Perfect.” Steve replies.

Maybe he is over-excited, or over-tired. Or a combination of both. Because he loves his Uncles, and so it upsets him even more that they don’t put him to bed like Daddies do. Homesickness and missing his Daddies is hitting Peter hard.

Peter tries to hide his sadness and tears by brushing his teeth himself. His Uncle Bucky is with him, helping him get ready for bed. However, the boy might not be in the right headspace to handle brushing his teeth himself. He is distracted by his sadness and frustration over missing his Daddies, and so he accidentally pushes the toothbrush into the back of his mouth.

The motion makes Peter gag and cough, and he spits into the sink. Bucky is next to him within a second, patting his back.

“Oh, you all right, bud?”

No, Peter is not okay. The coughing triggers even more coughing, a worse kind. It’s the kind of coughing that makes it harder for him to breathe. The kind where his lungs cough out all the air, but don’t suck in more to replace it.

“Oh, sweetheart. You okay?” Bucky asks, but Peter cannot answer. He can only cough. Then, he starts wheezing. “Okay, I got you, bud. You need your inhaler. Where is it?”

Bucky fumbles for a bit, and it only makes Peter more distressed and upset. His Daddies always know where Peter’s inhaler is.

Finally, Bucky finds it. Stephen and Tony have shown both Steve and Bucky how to use the device in case something like this happened. Peter opens his mouth, and breathes in as much of the medicine as possible when Bucky pushes the button for him. It tastes gross, but Peter knows it will bring relief. But, not emotionally.

“B-Bub-ba…” Peter stutters out miserably.

“Oh, buddy, that was scary.” Bucky sighs, gathering Peter up into his arms. “For you, and me.”

Peter doesn’t want to cry, but he cannot help it. He also wants to cry out for his Daddies, for him to get to them, or for them to get to him. Either one is good, as long as it happens quick.

“What happened?” Steve asks, walking into the bathroom where he sees Bucky sitting on the floor with Peter crying on his lap.

“I think we should call Stephen and Tony.” Bucky says sadly, rubbing Peter’s back.

Peter couldn’t agree more.