An AU in which Stephen and Tony have been together since before the Avengers, but have kept their relationship a secret. However, now that they have to deal with a baby girl, it's harder to stay down. Set between AOU and CACW.

Tony woke up whimpering. It's just a nightmare, it's not real. He repeated this mantra almost every night. He heard soft crying from the crib next to the bed and got up. His six month old daughter sniffled as he leaned over her.

"Da?" Her syllable dissolved into tears.

"Hey baby girl, Daddy didn't mean to upset you. Aww, it's alright sweetie. Daddy's got you." Tony carefully picked her up, bouncing her lightly in his arms. Her crying lessened a little as he reached to wipe small bits of drool from the corners of her mouth. Stephen sat up in bed.

"Nightmare?"

"Yeah. I didn't mean to wake Samantha up, but I did."

"Come here, sweetie," Stephen said, holding his arms out. Tony smiled as he went to sit next to Stephen on the bed.

"Look, Sammy girl, it's Papa. You want Papa to rock you?" Tony softly cooed to his daughter as he passed her to Stephen. Stephen smiled at the small girl in his arms.

"Did Daddy wake you up? Hmm? Or are you hungry? Huh?" Samantha gurgled softly.

"Aww, my little girl's hungry? Let's go get a bottle for my little girl, okay?" Stephen stood up, kissing Tony on the forehead.

"I'll be right back."

"Of course." Tony smiled as he watched his husband walk to the kitchen, talking to Samantha all the way. Stephen came back a few minutes later with a small, quiet bundle in his arms. He set her in the crib and slid back under the covers.

"Don't forget, you're on babysitting duty tomorrow."

"But I can't take her to the meeting! Steve's seen her with you, he'll definitely connect the dots! He's not stupid!"

"You can stay home. I'll fill you in afterwards, okay?"

"Okay."

"Now sleep. You need rest," Stephen said as he snuggled against Tony. Tony smiled as he put his arms around Stephen, relaxing into the peace of his family.

Stephen walked through the portal, blowing a kiss back to Tony and Samantha. Tony waved back with one hand, holding Samantha in his other.

"Papa's off at work, so what does my baby girl wanna do?" Tony asked Samantha, who giggled and batted at Tony's nose. Tony smiled at the small girl as he carried her to her playpen.

When Stephen got home, he found Samantha asleep in her playpen and Tony reading a magazine on the couch.

"Apparently since I haven't been seen in the Compound recently, a Miss Jakayla Eris has doubts that Iron Man is still an Avenger. She's saying that I've gone into hiding, overwhelmed with the knowledge that something I made was responsible for killing people. I call BS. Last time I found what my stuff was doing, I BECAME Iron Man. Why would I stop this time?" Stephen shrugged, falling onto the couch next to Tony.

"Steve was a total b*tch about you not being here. He decided you probably had someone over and lost track of time."

"Well, I am popular, but I've put that kind of stuff behind me. You're the only man, or woman, I want," Tony said seriously, setting down his magazine to pet Stephen's hair.

"I know. Steve's words, not mine." Stephen laid his head on Tony's leg. Tony's phone buzzed and he checked it, then groaned.

"Steve wants to talk to me. In person. Can you watch Sam while I go talk to him?"

"Of course." Tony got up, pecked Stephen on the cheek, and summoned his suit to fly out the window.

Tony landed in front of Steve at the compound. "Yes, Captain?" He said, his tone so cool it was a glacier.

"Tony. You missed a meeting."

"I'm fully aware."

"So... did you skip it because your lover was over? Did you find a pretty woman and bring her home? Strange is a single father with a six month old daughter, but he managed to make it. You can't miss meetings for that stuff anymore, I won't let you." Steve glared at Tony. Tony stared at him.

"You think I would cheat AND miss a meeting at the same time? You're many things, Captain, but I didn't think you were a foolish man."

"Oh, then where were you?" Steve asked harshly.

"I was with my daughter, which I didn't know was a crime." Confusion washed over Steve's features as Tony realized what he'd said.

"I didn't know you—"

"Look, forget I said that. I'm still a cheating, underhanded, dirty man who skipped an important meeting and doesn't have children."

"I didn't know you were married or had kids. Why would you rather be considered a scandal than a husband and parent?"

"It's complicated. You're a straight man who grew up in the forties, you wouldn't understand. You don't have to deal with the hate people throw at you for loving both men and women. You don't have to know your father thought you were a disappointment. You aren't so afraid of rejection you and your husband can't come out to the people who are supposed to be your family." Tony looked down at his hands, small tears on his cheeks. Steve gently set a hand on Tony's shoulder.

"Tony, that's not a reason for us to hate you. There are a few, but homosexuality is not one of them. Who's the lucky guy?"

"...Stephen. I was babysitting Samantha for him so he could come to the meeting." Steve made a small noise.

"You mean the baby he brought to the meeting that time was yours? You guys...?"

"Steve, you're very innocent. We adopted her because she did look like she could be our biological child." Tony sighed.

"Oh."

"Now I gotta go check on my daughter, if this is all cleared up. I'll bring her to the next meeting if you want, so everyone can squeal over her." Tony changed the bottom part of his suit into a rocket and took off.

"Stephen, Steve found us out. He's not mad, but we have to bring Sammy to the next meeting so everyone can coo over how cute she is and how they never thought I would go the family type," Tony yelled as he walked in. Stephen walked over with Samantha in his arms.

"Oh, is my little Sammy girl gonna meet all of Papa and Daddy's friends? Huh?" Stephen said, cuddling the sleepy little girl.

"She is indeed."

I'll make a part two if you want.

Have a good night.

Five days later, I have no idea what next ship will be. Send ideas.