Okay peeps.

So you might- just a little- hate me for the ending of the first chapter of my deaf Peter book?

So here's the fluffy alternative?

Let me explain.

I originally started out with newborn Peter, and it was a fluffy reunion after Afghanistan.

I decided not to do it because plot reasons.

Anyway, here is about 2,500 words of pure fluff with a sprinkling of angst.

Yeet.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, without fail, Tony visited the orphanage.

It had been that way for three years, since he had been wandering the streets of New York in a daze on the anniversary of his parents death.

He wasn't drunk, contrary to popular belief, but in a haze of grief.

An older woman found him leaning against a building by the side of the road, eyes wet, but face dry and closed off.

She had gotten the story out of him, and let him finally break down against her shoulder.

Then she pulled him to his feet, putting her arm around his shoulders, and leading him inside. 

He couldn't find it in himself to care where he was.

But it was warm.

Cozy.

The lights were out, with only candles flickering, and casting shadows on the walls.

Christmas carols filtered tinnily through the air, mingling with the sound of flames crackling, and people talking in hushed voices.

Men and women of all ages, sitting on couches and armchairs around the large room, all holding children, from newborns to toddlers.

Tony turned to the older woman. "What-?"

She smiled sweetly. "My name is Gloria, but everyone calls me Nonna. Welcome to my children's home. People volunteer here to take care of my kiddos whenever they want to. Feed them, play with them. Sometimes just hold them. Might do you some good. I've got a little boy over here, his name is Harley. Why don't you sit down, dear?"

He followed dumbly, eyeing the sleepy baby as she showed him how to hold his arms, then let him cradle the tiny body.

"Hey Harley," he whispered. "I'm Tony."

Now, three years later, he was a regular.

He went, according to his official schedule, once a week.

In reality, it was every day.

Harley had been adopted by a married couple in Tennessee, and the toddler had cried when he hugged Tony for the last time.

Things were getting worse with the company.

Not the actual company, per se, but the way Obadiah wanted to run it.

Pepper, bless her, was at her wits end these days, and Tony didn't blame her.

He couldn't stand himself either.

"We've got a new little man here today," Gloria whispered lightly. "Premature, a bit sickly, and deaf. His mama couldn't keep him, so they sent him to me. His name is Peter. Let's go see him, hm?"

The instant he laid eyes on the tiny baby, he fell in love.

"Hey Petey-pie." The endearment slipped out without anyone acknowledging it, except for Gloria, whose eyes twinkled as she smiled knowingly, backing away slowly.

Tony slipped his hands under the fragile back and neck, cradling the newborn, and lifting him against his chest.

The tiny nose scrunched before sky blue eyes opened to search his face. A tiny mouth opened in the most adorable yawn he'd ever seen.

"Hey kiddo," Tony whispered affectionately, brushing his thumb over Peter's soft cheek, smiling as the baby seemed to lean into the touch. "You're pretty cute, you know? Did you know that? I bet you did. What with those baby blue peepers and all. I know you can't hear me, little man. That's gotta be tough."

Peter cooed, making grabby hands towards Tony's face.

"You're gonna make me soft, kiddo." The corner of his mouth lifted. "Too late I guess. You're the cutest baby I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of babies."

And so Peter became Tony's baby.

Well, he was the only one Tony held anymore.

The other kids got plenty of attention, but no one could seem to see past Peter's 'impairment', as they put it.

So naturally Tony came every day to see him.

Peter had graduated to laughing, which was even cuter than the yawning and/or sleeping.

Well.

Maybe not more than sleeping.

But he would light up whenever he saw the older man.

Three years passed this way.

Then came Afghanistan. 

He thought about Peter every day of his captivity.

When Yinsen asked if he had a family, he had glanced at the camera. "Can they hear us?"

"No." The other man glanced up. "Even if they could, they wouldn't understand what we're saying."

Tony stared at his hands. "I have a kid. He's four. Not mine biologically, but- he's still mine."

"I would not have thought you to be a father." The statement wasn't judgemental, merely curious.

"I'm going to adopt him."

The idea had been bouncing around his head for years, but now he realized that chances missed were the worst thing that could happen.

Yinsen looked up at the firm statement, eyes twinkling. "Well then. You treat that boy right."

"I plan to," Tony said softly.

"I was wrong about you, Stark." Yinsen clapped his hands on his thighs. "It seems you are a man who has everything."

When Tony escaped, leaving Yinsen behind, it nearly broke his already shattered heart into smaller pieces.

But he had to get out.

Had to get back to Peter.

Yinsen had grabbed his hand, lips turning up at the corners as he gasped for breath that wouldn't come."Your boy- don't waste your life."

When Tony stepped onto American soil for the first time in three months, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

When they left the conference, Tony had one thought on his mind.

When he pulled up to the children's home, he smiled for the first time in three months.

He knocked on the door.

It was opened by a familiar wrinkled face.

"Tony!" Gloria pulled him into a strangling hug, face creased into a blinding smile. "I was so worried! Baiatul meu I saw the news- are you okay?"

He didn't paste on a smile.

He didn't brush it off.

He didn't lie to her, and say he was fine.

He looked her in the face, and told the truth.

"No. No, Nonna. I'm not. But I'll be better when I can hug my kid."

Her smile softened. "Of course. Near broke his tiny heart when you didn't come back."

Tony nodded sharply, closing his eyes and inhaling slowly. "I want to adopt him."

He waited for her to argue, but what he got was a loving smile. "Took you long enough. We had a betting pool that you'd adopt him by Christmas. I won."

Tony shook his head, laughing softly. "Took me a while to get my head out of where it's been. Where is he?"

Gloria pointed to the stairs. "In the boy's room. But you'll never believe what he learned."

Before he could inquire further, there were thudding footsteps on the stairs, and a brown eyed, brown haired four year old (who had been all he could think about) appeared.

His eyes were red, his cheeks flushed, his lip was trembling, and he was hugging a red and gold stuffed bear- that Tony had gotten him- which he called his Tony-bear.

He hadn't noticed Tony yet, and went directly to Gloria's waiting arms.

When she pulled back to see his face, she signed slowly, letting him follow along. 'Why are you crying?'

His eyes got wider, and more tearful. His tiny hands lifted to painstakingly spell out words. 'T-o-n-y  n-o-t c-o-m-i-n-g  b-a-c-k?'

Gloria smiled softly, hands moving fluidly. 'Why?'

He shook his head, sniffling quietly. 'H-a-d  d-r-e-a-m.'

'He's going to come back, Peter.' She signed. 'Look behind you.'

Peter turned around.

Tony had crouched down, holding his arms out, eyes wet.

The four year old's eyes opened impossibly wide, and he burst into tears, running forward into Tony's waiting arms.

Tony folded the tiny boy into his embrace, both of them crying.

He had been waiting for this for so long.

Peter's sobs shook both of them, but Tony just held him.

Rocking back and forth, pressing sporadic kisses to the side of his face, eyes wet.

When they finally separated, Peter searched Tony's face with eyes still bright with unshed tears. 'Y-o-u  h-e-r-e?' His hands moved hesitantly, immediately coming back to rest on each side of Tony's face.

His heart melted.

'Yeah bud. I'm here.' His hands moved with unforgotten ease. 'I'm sorry I left you for so long.'

Peter shook his head, moving back to bury his face in the crook of Tony's neck, clinging tightly.

Gloria moved closer, resting her hand on Peter's shoulder.

He looked up, giving a tiny smile which she returned. 

'Show Tony what you learned.' She signed, giving a reassuring nod.

The tiny boy beamed toothily up at her, pulling back slightly to face Tony. 'W-a-t-c-h.' He signed.

Tony kissed his forehead, smiling softly. "Go for it kiddo."

Peter bounced on his toes, grinning widely. "Tony!" He chirped.

Tony stared at him in shock.

The boy's voice was loud, squeaky, and absolutely adorable.

"Did he just-" he looked to Gloria for confirmation. "Did he-?"

She nodded. "That's not all he learned."

He brushed his thumb over Peter's cheek, pressing another kiss to his temple. "Oh yeah?"

Watch, she mouthed. 'Peter,' she signed. 'Who is Tony?'

Tony's heart stopped when Peter beamed again. "My daddy!"

Gloria laughed at the expression on his face, standing back up. "I'll go get your papers ready."

When she left, Peter's smile fell when Tony couldn't seem to say anything.

'Y-o-u  m-a-d?' He signed it hesitantly.

Tony finally snapped out of his daze, reaching out to brush his thumbs under Peter's eyes, where the tears had finally started to dry. 

"No." He kissed Peter's forehead again, then released him to sign. 'No. I could never be mad at you.'

Peter tilted his head, lip poking out. 'Y-o-u  d-o-n-'-t  l-i-k-e i-t? N-o-n-n-a  s-a-i-d y-o-u w-o-u-l-d.'

'No, baby." Tony shook his head quickly, signing along to his words. "No, I love it. I love you. I love you so much."

The tiny shoulders slumped in relief, and Peter pushed himself back into Tony's arms.

"There we go," Tony soothed, rubbing his hand over Peter's tiny back. "There we go."

Peter wouldn't let go.

Even when Pepper called Tony, and demanded that he come back, Peter wouldn't let him leave.

So Gloria shoved a bag in the hand not occupied by a crying four year old. "Take him. I trust you, and he obviously doesn't want to stay."

Peter stopped crying as hard when Tony climbed into the car, and set the boy on his lap. "Drive, Happy."

The bodyguard sighed. "Should I even ask?"

"Nope."

He still wouldn't let go when they reached the Tower.

Tony didn't mind.

He didn't want to let go either.

So he held Peter tighter, went in the side door to escape the paparazzi, and took the elevator up to avoid Pepper and Obadiah.

When they got to the penthouse, it was empty, which wasn't unwelcomed.

They made themselves at home on the couch, Peter staring at everything wide eyed, with his fingers in his mouth.

"Jarvis?"

"If I may, sir. It is good to hear your voice. What can I do for you and the young sir?"

"Uh… play a cartoon. One without words. Pete can't hear."

The TV flickered to life, showing a lanky pink cat, along with the words 'Pink Panther'.

He was surprisingly engrossed in it when Jarvis paused it, tone apologetic.

"Sir, Ms Potts is in the elevator. She seems to be in considerable distress."

"Meaning she's furious."

"...yes sir."

"Nope. Not doing this right now. Don't let her in."

"Sorry sir, but my protocols are being overridden by the 'Pepper knows best' protocol."

"Of course they are. Why I ever made that protocol-"

His words were cut off by Pepper storming in, and throwing a folder on the table. "Anthony Edward Stark!"

"Fantastic. Middle names. Virginia what's-your-middle-name Potts. There we go. Everyone's happy."

He could feel her death glare on the back of his head. "Care to explain the abrupt disappearance right after you dropped a bombshell and made me clean it up?"

"Shhh. He's sleeping."

"He-?" She rounded the couch, exasperation evident in every corner that melted when she saw the tiny boy on his lap. "This is Peter?"

He nodded softly, brushing back a loose curl on Peter's forehead. "Yeah. This is the little man himself."

She practically cooed, toeing off her heels and dropping to the cushion beside him. "So that's where you went."

"Yeah. I'd already waited long enough. No one else holds him, or visits him. Because he's 'impaired'." He said it like it was the most disgusting word he had ever spoken. "They're impaired if they think he's any less valuable because he can't hear!"

Pepper rested her hand on his shoulder. "He's good for you. And you're good for him. You two need each other. So- just focus on him for right now. I'll handle Obie and the press."

"You're a lifesaver, Pep." He smiled gratefully up at her. "You're the best."

"I know." She winked, grabbing her heels. "I put a folder on the table. If nothing else, the least you can do is look those over. I'll see you later."

"Thank you."

Silence descended once more, but not uncomfortable.

Then…

"Daddy?"

The soft word startled him out of his reverie, and he glanced down to see his four year olds big brown eyes staring up at him.

"Hey kiddo." He brushed his thumb over the curve of Peter's cheek. "What's up, bug?"

He repeated it in sign, using one hand to finger spell. 

Peter shook his head, tugging himself closer. 'T-h-o-u-g-h-t  d-r-e-a-m-e-d y-o-u  c-a-m-e.'

Tony shook his head, bringing his arms up to cradle the tiny boy in his arms. 'No. I'm here.'

He kissed the top of Peter's head, making a silent promise.

I'll always be here.