Tony was panicking. Panicking. He paced the floor while Happy or Rhodey stood there and watched him most days. Happy made a list of books to go buy so they could figure out how to raise a child. Not to mention all the prenatal stuff — the vitamins, the diet, all of it. He had to get money together to pay her for all that. Doctor visits. He had to make a college fund, build a nursery, decorate it. But he couldn't do that until he knew what gender the baby would be, unless he went more gender neutral.

Or maybe it'd be fine to have a boy in a pink nursery. Or a girl in a blue one. What did it matter? It was difficult because he wished he could ask somebody. The baby obviously couldn't answer him, the mom didn't care. Although, he hoped she would grow to. He didn't know how to do any of it. But he would have to plan for the mom not being in the baby's life, just like she said. He wasn't going to make her stay or anything. He was just grateful she agreed to have the baby. All he would do was quietly hope. And plan for the worst.

How was he going to do it? Why did he decide it was a good idea?

No, he knew the reason for that. He knew the moment he heard. He almost needed the baby more than the baby needed him. But the baby did need him, and he needed to be the best father he possibly could. He needed to prepare.

He needed expert advice.

Obviously, he knew who to turn to. Someone who he always thought knew everything, could do anything. It had been a while, but she was just who he should turn to. He found her number and called, waiting anxiously as the phone rang.

She picked up. "Hello?"

Tony smiled a bit. "Hey, Aunt Peg."

There was a pause. "Who is this?"

"Tony," he replied. It really had been a while. "Tony Stark."

"Of course — of course, I knew that. I just haven't heard your voice in a while, seeing as you never call me," she said pointedly.

Even as he felt guilty, Tony chuckled. "Sorry, Aunt Peg."

She sighed. "Well, no matter. What is it you need?"

"Why do you assume I need something? Can I not call to say hi?"

"Are you calling to say hi?"

"No; I need some advice."

"Mhmm. About what?"

"Well..." Tony started, not realizing how difficult it was to word it "... I'm having a baby."

"So one of your little science experiments worked and you need help fixing it?"

Tony shook his head a bit. "No, Aunt Peg, I'm serious. There is a woman currently in this world who is pregnant with my child."

"Oh, help us all," she muttered. "You don't want the baby, is that it?"

"No, actually, it's the opposite. I want the baby. She doesn't."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"So... you want advice on how to... convince her to have your baby?" Aunt Peg asked carefully.

"No, I've already done that."

"I... Tony, explain to me exactly what the situation is, please."

"Okay, so, I'm at a party, I meet this woman. Um..." He trailed off, pausing for a few moments. "Anyway, two weeks later, she comes to my door, tells me she's pregnant with my kid, and it just... it hits me. My DNA has made... My kid is currently growing and- and developing, and I'm gonna be a father. And I want to be. I'm already ready to assume responsibility, to change, to turn my whole life back around for this kid, to be a better father than my ole' man ever was, and then she tells me she doesn't want the baby and she's just here to tell me to pay for the abortion and black mail me for some money so she won't tell the press."

"Wow."

"I know. But then I tell her, I'm like, 'I don't know if this matters to you at all, but... I want the baby.' And she was like, 'You want the baby?' And I said, 'Yeah, I really do. I just... I couldn't not say anything about it and then regret it for the rest of my life.' And she thinks for a second, and then she tells me she'll have the baby as long as I pay for everything, she blackmails me for more money, and then — kinda what I'm calling you about — says that she doesn't want to be involved in the kid's life. Like at all."

"Wow," Aunt Peg repeated.

"Yeah. And, Aunt Peg... I'm scared." It was very reminiscent of how he sounded as a child, talking to his mom and Aunt Peg about monsters in the dark. His dad wouldn't listen to that, wouldn't comfort. Only told him to man up, get over it. What sort of example was that for him to follow? "I don't know how to raise a child. I-I hardly know what a child is."

Aunt Peg paused, then asked, "You want this baby, right?"

"With my whole heart."

"There you go. You're going to be a great father."

Tony eyes widened. "But Aunt Peg-"

"You called me — after how many years? — to ask for my advice. That in itself indicates what a great father you'll be."

"Well, you're Peggy Carter. You know everything."

She chuckled. "Actually, I don't. I know, it's surprising. But I do know what things a baby will need, and I'm perfectly prepared to give you a list. I'm sure Daniel will be a great help, too, if I can get him on the phone. Where he's gone to now I'll never know."

Tony's brows furrowed. "Daniel? Who's Daniel?"

"Did I say Daniel? I meant David. Anyway, we'll do without him; here are the basics. Write this down."

Tony scrambled for a note pad and pen. "Yes, ma'am."

She went on, giving him a list of everything he should need, advice on how to change diapers, what do when the baby is crying, preparing him for sleepless nights, getting up at 3am. Finally, she finished. "Now, I believe you're equipped as you'll ever be."

"Thanks, Aunt Peg. And I'll call more often now. Promise."

To his surprise, she sighed and said, "No."

"No?"

"There is only one payment that I will accept for my expert advice."

"Which is?"

"I will get to meet this child when he or she is born."

Tony smiled. "You can count on it, Aunt Peg."

"Good. Good luck, and goodbye."

"Goodbye."

~~~~

Two weeks after baby Grace was born, Tony got on a plane with her and flew to England, then managed to make his way to Aunt Peg's house.

When he knocked on the door, her son David answered. He seemed confused, and, what was more, so did Aunt Peg. Until she saw the baby in Tony's arms.

"Your baby!" she exclaimed. Tony had called her only twice after the first time — when he found out the baby was a girl and a few days before he flew over. It'd slipped her mind somehow.

Tony sat down next to her on the couch, Grace still in his arms. She was wearing one of the onesies Rhodey bought her — the yellow one — and she was awake. Her arm stretched up, hitting Tony on the nose. He laughed, and so did Aunt Peg.

"You wanna hold her?" he asked.

She nodded, and Tony passed Grace over to her. Grace seemed to look at her with wonder, and Aunt Peg smiled widely down at her.

She and Tony talked for a while, then David came in again and held Grace, too. Aunt Peg's daughter, Sarah, came in and held her, too. Tony got even more advice as he fed Grace, mentally noting all of it. The first two weeks had been a bit hard, but he was learning. He had a lot to face, though. He and Grace against the world. Happy and Rhodey, too, when they were there. And there was the company to worry about... It was a lot.

Finally, Tony had to leave, preparing to head back home on the jet. Happy was waiting for him, after all.

Sarah and David went to the kitchen, going to start dinner. Aunt Peg held Grace again. "Goodbye, Grace; you're going to grow into a wonderful woman someday, especially with your father's guidance."

Tony chuckled. "And hopefully yours."

Aunt Peg frowned, took her eyes off Grace. "No, Tony, I don't think so. I think it best if I don't see her anymore."

"But why-?"

"Tony... I don't know..." she turned to face him "... well, let's just say that one day I'm not going to know much of anything, and I fear that day may be soon. Best not let her get attached. She'll only be sad in the end..."

"But she'll have known you," Tony argued.

Aunt Peg shook her head. "No, Tony, that's alright. She'll probably be young, and I'll just keep forgetting her..." She mustered a smile. "Congratulations. Truly. You're a good man, and I believe she'll make you a great one."

Tony opened his mouth, went to argue again. But he knew arguing with Peggy Carter would be pointless. "Thank you, Aunt Peg... I... I love you."

She smiled. "I love you, too, Tony. And you, too, Grace, even if I've only known you a few hours. You're too precious."

Tony chuckled. "She really is."

~~~~

Tony never told Grace about Aunt Peg. He figured she wouldn't want him to; if Grace knew about her, she'd want to see her. And there was hardly arguing with Grace.

When Aunt Peg died, Tony didn't go to her funeral. Steve was there, and Tony didn't want it ruined by some senseless arguments between the two of them. He knew how important Steve was to her, and he had to stay with Grace anyway.

Nat said she was going before heading to the Accords signing. Tony asked her to let Peggy know that he loved her and Grace was growing up to be exactly who she'd said she'd be.