bakerstreet | Dating and all that

Dating and all that

The (Possibly Awkward) Dating Meme

Dating is, when you think about, really weird. It's a totally different thing for different people. Some are friends for years before they date; others start dating on the same day they met. Sometimes, there's a lot mushy stuff involved; other times, the couple acts just like friends. None of this is necessarily right or wrong.

Whatever it is, your character and the character you reply to are now dating. How? That's up to you. Whether it be awkward or not, the relationship will be uniquely theirs.

How to Play
-Comment with your character and preferences.
-Reply to others.
-Have fun.

Prompts

1. Best Friends to More: Oh, wow, you've been this person's friend forever! But then you realize you have feelings for them, and they for you. Will things change when you change your status?

2. The Sudden Decision: Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here I am, date me maybe?

3. Confession: You've had feelings for this person for, like, ages, and you want to ask them to date you. Or maybe the confession just slips out...
4. Hate Date: You really don't like this person; actually, you hate them. But you don't want them to be with anyone else!
5. I Guess We're Dating: Huh. We are dating, aren't we? Everyone else knew before us...
6. Slow Decision: For the more mature and seasoned, they might fall into something sweet without needing to rush.
7. Been Burned Before: One of you has had a bad relationship, and now both of you have to bear that brunt if you want to date now.
8. Innocence: This is your first real relationship, so you have to figure it out together. That's harder than it looks.
9. Courting: You're from an old-fashioned world or are old-fashioned yourself, so it's courting, not dating. Still, maybe you can sneak away from the chaperon.
10. First Date: Your first true date. What's it like? What would happen if...I don't know...it went bad?
11. First Kiss: Of course.
12. First Time: Together or in general.
13. The Perfect Couple: The couple that never argues and is more like best friends than a couple.
14. The Not-So-Perfect Couple: Ugh, these guys always argue and seem to despise each other. Why are they even together?
15. Comfortable: You can do anything around or in front of your honey.
16. Not Cut Out for Dating: One of you is anti-social, a jerk, a stoic badass, whatever. You're not dating material...yet here you are.
17. Getting on Each Others' Nerves: Spending too much time together can get even the most patient people annoyed with the person they're dating.
18. Know What You Like: It's almost like they can read your mind, whether it be in the kitchen, at the store, or in the bedroom.
19. Trouble in Paradise: Maybe it's external factors, or perhaps internal, but whatever the case may be, things aren't looking so sunny.

20. Test the Strength: Someone else has an obvious crush on the person you're dating. What do you do?
21. Pregnancy Scare: Hey, it happens. So, how do you feel when the period turns up missing?
22. Getting Serious: Things are getting way deep with this person. They may be the one...or maybe they think they are, while you're not too sure.
23. Old Hat: This relationship is dull. Can you get back the spark?
24. End It: You don't want to date them anymore. You want to see other people.
25. Taking It to the Next Level: You don't want to date them anymore. You want to marry them.
26. FREE SPACE

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tony's life was complete.

At least it felt that way.

Business was going incredibly smoothly, Pepper had the reins and was happy to keep tight hold of them. The Avengers had overcome their biggest obstacles, and news of new recruit poured in almost daily, leaving him with plenty of free time. All the contracts and projects that Pepper thought he'd find interesting were usually sent his way, and he and Darcy had their own place, in their own little corner of the world to themselves.

They still had issues. Like any superhero and his girlfriend would, but they worked through each and every one and he felt more like part of a team with her than he'd ever done with anyone else. The chemistry was definitely still there, and he found himself thinking about her more frequently than anything else that flittered in and out of his head.

What could possibly go wrong for them?

Okay - that was a bad question to ask - but he'd gone to great lengths to protect the both of them, from various threats that might crop up and from the looks of things he'd clearly done a good job of it too. Protecting them from outside uncertainties anyway.

Tony Stark's home without a workshop was like a car without wheels - and that was exactly where he was as he started to wrap things up on one of his latest gadgets - putting a few last minute things together. It wasn't unusual for him to call her at any time during the day, so he'd hoped she'd see nothing wrong with a call now. Whether she was upstairs somewhere, or out doing something else.

As soon as the ringing stopped he piped up.

"Hey beautiful. Guess who's finished up down here. You busy?"

Darcy stared at the slim piece of plastic on her hand and wondered where she'd gone wrong in her life. It wasn't that she was disappointed, per se, or scared, or anxious, except she was all of the above and she was deeply concerned with how Tony was going to react. She couldn't keep this from him, even though she really should stay silent until a blood test could confirm or deny. She'd read that high stress levels could affect at home tests, and she'd certainly been stressed the last three times she'd taken it.

The phone startled her. She grabbed it without looking, accepted the call, feel her entire world narrow when she heard Tony's voice.

He had the worst timing in the universe.

"Hey," she greeted, trying to sound normal. Casual. Calm. Everything was great. Nothing amiss in the world. She rose to her feet, discarding the plastic device in the trash as if trying to cover up a crime scene. "Not at all. You coming home?"

There was a catch to her voice she couldn't quite hide. Darcy had never been an especially talented actress.

Hm.

Tony paused in the middle of tightening up and fastening off one last bolt as he listened to her reply, but there certainly wasn't enough about her tone to make him think there might have been something wrong straight away.

No, that would take some more digging.

"Heading up in a minute. Everything okay?"

"Yup. Everything's peachy." It would probably remain that way until she broke the news. Would Tony be angry? Upset? Would he tell her to leave? Her mind feverishly conjured up an endless parade of terrible outcomes, all of which left her on Jane's doorstep in tears.

Tony had never once mentioned a desire for children. Hell, it had taken practically an eon for them to make their relationship official, and marriage certainly didn't seem to be in the cards anytime soon. Given Tony's previous near-perpetual bachelor reputation, she wasn't surprised.

A bit anxious, though. More than a bit.

Trying for casual, she added, "I made brownies this morning. They should be cool by now."

"Great!"

No it wasn't.

"Alright guys, get this mess cleared up." He calls out across the workshop, moving through toward the stairs that would take him up to the rest of the house and maybe he could try to get to the bottom of what it was bothering Darcy.

"Brownies. Chocolate? Thought you'd given up on baking for me?" Taking the stairs two at a time is no trouble for him, and not unusual either - but he's in the kitchen a few moments later - idly hunting for this elusive tray, or plate or whatever.

"I don't see you, and I don't see food. This is a new low."

Despite her worries, Darcy found herself laughing delightedly. "Far corner. They're covered by that ugly, bright pink cloth. And I'd never give up on you."

Not exactly what he'd said, but close enough.

"I'm in the bedroom." Well, she would be. She quickly scanned the bathroom, making sure that all evidence had been disposed of. After timidly tossing several tissues into the trash can, Darcy padded out to the bedroom, bare feet silent on the thick carpet.

"Bring me a brownie?"

"Ugly... pink... gotcha."

He's taking one, and taking a bite out of it there and then, making no bones about the way he groans around his mouthful because that is one good brownie. She was getting better at this every time.

"Glad to hear it." Another mouthful, another sound. More like a hum this time. He's opening the fridge though, tucking a carton of juice under his arm and piling a few more slices of this brownie into one hand.

"If I don't eat them before I get there."

He's on his way though - knocking on the door twice before he opens it and wanders right in - just to make sure she knew. "There's are amazing. Here." It's the one he'd already taken a few bites out of, like it matters - but he's offering it to her, as in... holding it right there by her mouth.

Darcy was silent as Tony made his way upstairs, ending the call when he finally strode through the door. Tossing the phone haphazardly onto the bed, she turned to greet him and found herself facing a partially eaten brownie.

If she'd moved forward, she would have collided with the damn thing.

"Uh. Glad you like them?" Her gaze flicked uncertainly from the brownie to his face, trying to discern if he was teasing or telling the truth. He was holding additional brownies, so he must have just been in the mood to share.

Worries momentarily forgotten, she opened her mouth, taking a bite. "It's the caramel chips I put in," she said thoughtfully. "I'll do that again next batch. How are you?" She finally smiled, slipping an arm around him in an awkward hug.

Please. He wouldn't have let her walk into the thing. Still, he won't stop wiggling it in front of her until she takes a bite, and suddenly it's his eyebrow arching as it to find out whether she likes them or not.

"Caramel chips, huh?" The last of that slice gets popped into his mouth, and he hums in loud approval. "I'm gonna get fat."

He shifts to toss the carton onto the bed, freeing up his hand so that he can slip it around her and lift the brownies out of their space, giving him plenty of room to press a kiss to the side of her head.

"Your metabolism slows down as you age, you know." Darcy settled into his embrace easily, though there was a tenseness to her shoulders she could not hide. She'd never been especially adept at concealing her emotions, and she'd ceased even trying with Tony. He could read her like a book no matter how hard she tried.

But that didn't mean she was eager to dive right into the inevitable conversation. She knew better than to think the problem would go away if only she ignored it long enough, but delaying it seemed like a good idea.

Could she possibly drop hints? Gauge his interest in kids in general, then zero in on whether he wanted any of his own? Mention that adorable baby they'd seen at the museum the other day who'd just stared around with the biggest blue eyes and laughed at everything?

No way. Darcy wasn't exactly capable of subtlety. She'd tip her hand sooner rather than later.

"What were you working on?" she asked, changing the subject because getting fat was in her future.

He leant back enough to give her a look in response to a comment like that, and even if she wasn't looking, he purposely bit a large chunk out of another slice of another brownie. Defiant. Always. He certainly wouldn't be getting fat any time soon, either.

Okay, that was something he needed to stop thinking about.

After all - there was something wrong with Darcy.

"Couple of upgrades to the security systems, actually." He confessed, pulling away from her to set the brownies down on the dressing table that tended to fill up with Darcy's things, turning back to her and reaching out to set his hands on her shoulders, pulling a face instantly.

"Tense."

Okay. Time to think back. What could he have possibly done to upset her? Honestly? The last few weeks had been... perfect. Enough of everything, and too much of nothing. He tries to keep his fears down as he speaks up.

"What's bothering you?"

That hadn't taken long.

Darcy considered lying, or at least ducking the question, but immediately decided it was a terrible idea. For one, she didn't want to lie to Tony period, and for another, well, it would just lead to more stress in the long run.

Perhaps it was better to just get it over with. Yank the band-aid off as fast as possible.

Yet the words caught in her throat. She dropped her gaze, eyes burning with sudden tears. Now that she had to confront Tony and tell him, all of her fears crashed down on her like a crippled helicopter from a Resident Evil game, only a few scant seconds away from exploding.

She clenched her fists, relaxed them. Affected a casual air that was transparent.

Time to drop the bomb.

"I'm pregnant."

Tony liked to think that there was nothing Darcy couldn't talk to him about, even if it would break his heart. Everything about her was important to him, from the things she thought about in her most isolated moments, to the stuff she'd seen on amazon that she quite fancied. Even if she turned around and told him she wasn't happy - he liked to think he'd be able to handle it. They were adults, and this was a relationship. He'd do anything to make it work.

Living with her, in this house had been a step in the right direction and although he was aware that perhaps the next thing on the cards was marriage he'd been sort of holding off on the idea. If only because it was such a big deal and he wasn't sure it was even a thing for the both of them.

This had always been something he'd thought would come later. A lot later.

His hands stop where they'd started to move against her shoulders - and it's like he'd forgotten how to breathe. Pregnant. Darcy had just said she was pregnant.

He can't help the way his gaze drops to her stomach, and then up again - looking her dead in the eye. Sure, they sometimes played the occasional trick on each other but this was not one of those times. This was too serious a topic for either of them to toy with.

The question was, how did he feel about this?

"That's--" What was it?

Darcy tensed further, almost stepping away. It wasn't often that she was able to rob Tony of the words he was so fond of, but it seemed this was something serious enough to take his breath away. It wasn't the response she wanted, but neither was it the one she feared.

It wasn't much of anything at all.

Was he going to say it was impossible? Darcy refused to give him an impromptu biology lesson. Dude was a genius; he certainly understood the birds and the bees, and it wasn't like either of them had tried to be careful. Consequences had seemed so far away, unimportant, like they couldn't touch them.

The silence was thick and left her uneasy. Seconds ticked by as she desperately waited for him to finish his thought, to say that it was a blessing and he didn't hate her and wouldn't kick her out and make her figure out what to do about this alone.

He might have needed a moment or two to properly digest the news. The truth was, of course - that they hadn't really been actively taking precautions, and honestly... he'd suspected she might be on some kind of birth control and how conceited was that?

His hands moved before he found himself again, sweeping across her shoulders until he had hold of each side of her. A slow blink, and he caught himself staring at her, still unsure of what it was that he felt about it, but this was how things were, wasn't it?

Darcy was pregnant. They were going to have a baby.

"... Is this what you want?"

No, no that wouldn't do.

He's shaking his head again in a second, squeezing her shoulders and breaking out into a grin, which he tries desperately to school because he still couldn't be sure... what if she didn't want to have a baby?

"You look scared."

Darcy watched him uncertainly, since it wasn't readily apparent if he was thrilled or on the verge of cracking. While Tony was skilled at reading her, she was lousy at reading him and thus actively fought against jumping to conclusions because she was wrong often enough when she actually thought things through.

His question took her by surprise, because he still hadn't expressed his own opinion one way or the other. She could make assumptions based on that idiotic grin, but again, he could have been borderline hysterical.

"I..."

Was it what she wanted? Darcy was so concerned with Tony's reaction that she hadn't taken the time to really let it sink in and determine whether or not she was ready for this. Not that she had much of a choice. She couldn't imagine giving the child up for adoption, or the other options she realistically had.

But the worst would have been Tony's rejection, and the longest he grinned at her, the less worried she became.

"I didn't know how you'd react," she admitted finally, dropping her gaze to the floor.

How worried had she been?

His gaze flicks up toward the ceiling, a heavy sigh leaving him - just... a release of tension because this was all so much to take in. Those hands move as soon as he looks back, catching her cheeks, tipping her head to look up at him - eyes on hers, grin still incredibly prominent there, stuck.

"Hey."

It's hard - that she worries this much about what he might or might not say to her. Absently, one of his hands moves to brush hair away from her face, fingers shifting somewhere behind her ear to tuck stray strands behind it.

"I love you. I'm here. For you, for both-- all of us. I just never thought--" He's looking down again. There's a baby in there, and it's hard for him to come to terms with it fully right now.

"If this is what you want. I'm with you. All the way. Always."

Darcy went very still inside, almost afraid to breathe. This was the first time Tony had actually said, out loud, that he loved her, and she wanted to memorize the moment, cherish it, tuck it away so she could drag it back whenever she had a bad day.

But he continued talking about what she wanted, and while he professed a desire to stay by her side, he still had yet to tell her what he wanted.

If he was happy about this, or disappointed, or afraid, or...

"I love you, too." For several moments, it was all she could say, those damn tears threatening to scorch their way down her cheeks until she melted. Despite her lingering concerns, the fact that he would support her no matter what meant the world to her.

Too many had chosen to walk away for much less legitimate reasons.

"What about you?" She bit her lower lip. "What do you want?"

He knew the significance of the moment. He might not have said it out loud, but it had been true for a long time now. He'd been able to admit it to himself easily, but saying the words out loud?

It was a shame it had taken this long, taken something so significant for him to come out and say it because in the end, saying it wouldn't change a thing.

A soft sigh escapes him as he pulls her in, arms wrapping around her shoulders to hold her close enough that he can press his lips against her forehead.

"I want you. This. A family. Our family." No sooner had he said the words, he's leaning back again, hand dropping so he can nudge her chin up with a single finger.

"This is it. Me and you. Whatever you choose... but..." He pauses, clearly struggling for a minute. "I can't stop you, whatever you choose. Even if this isn't what you want. Don't you dare do something because I want you to."

"When have I ever done something because someone else wanted me to?" Her smile was tremulous, eyes bright with unshed tears, but Tony had effectively eased the worst of her fears, outright erased others she hadn't consciously been aware of.

A family. It tasted foreign to her, having grown up without much attachment to either parent, never understanding what it meant to actually have a loving family, and now she was presented with what appeared to be a fairy tale come to life. Twisted, with ugly bumps in the road, but a fairy tale all the same.

She didn't even know how to properly express what it meant to hear Tony say those words. Before she knew it, she was crying, like the idiot she was, clinging to him and laughing at the same time because she must have boarded the crazy train without quite realizing where it was taking her.

"This is it," she repeated, the words heavy. "Me and you."

It had bothered him. Concerned and worried him that perhaps she would do something like continue this even if she didn't want a baby for his sake. He supposed it was likely she might think he would do the same, and honestly he didn't know what he would have said if he'd been so against the idea.

It's difficult to think of a life where he wouldn't want this. They'd come so far from their escape to the safety of a cold cave in the middle of the night.

He felt the tears before he heard her laughter, and couldn't help but laugh at her, shaking his head as he pulled his arms around Darcy again, tugging her flush against his chest and pressing his mouth against the side of her head.

"Me and you." He repeated, happy to stay like that for as long as it might take for all of this to sink in. Not that it was doing a very good job of sinking in at all.

"... You get to paint, again."

Darcy's laughter turned a tinge more hysterical before it cut off. Pressed close to Tony, she gradually relaxed in his arms, allowing herself to feel hope.

This was a beginning. Not their first, and hopefully not their last.

"I'm not sure if inhaling paint fumes right now would be a good idea." The notion intrigued her though. The baby's room would have to be perfect, after all, and that would include proper color on the walls. Choosing the room would be difficult - there were so many in the house, she didn't know what they would do with half of them, though turning one or two into libraries was an attractive option - since while she wanted the baby to be close to their bedroom, she didn't want their child to feel stifled in the future.

And she was getting ahead of herself.

"Are you sure you're not mad?"

Oh.

There was suddenly a world of information that he needed to access, and he needed access to it yesterday. Paint fumes were one thing, he guessed. No alcohol either. She didn't smoke, so they were all good on that front, but was there anything else they needed to avoid?

Thankfully, Darcy was right there at the rescue once his thoughts had started racing, and very carefully he pulled back from her, glancing down and offering another amused look. Okay. He couldn't be mad at her for this. Not in the slightest.

'Wasn't like you did it on your own." He muttered after a moment's hesitation, shifting his entire body so he could loop an arm around her waist, the other hand sinking slowly down from her side until it was pressed over her stomach. He couldn't feel anything, sure... but it was still in there.

"We need to find medical people."

"Medical people," she said flatly, staring down at the hand over her belly. Something she would have to get used to, and oh hey, she could still see her feet.

Darcy neither protested nor insisted that she would find a physician. She knew Tony. He would not be at ease until he had vetted dozens of physicians and chosen what he considered to be the most qualified. She was content to leave that up to him. It would help him feel useful.

Still.

"So you're okay with this? Totally okay?"

"Medical people." He parroted, still staring at her belly until she went ahead and questioned him one more time. Laughter is the only medicine for this, surely? It's why he reaches up to catch her cheeks in both hands, pulling her up toward him whilst he bent in for a kiss.

"I am so totally and utterly okay with this."

Darcy returned the kiss fiercely, finally relaxing against him entirely, fears effectively assuaged. Tony was completely on board, he wasn't going to boot her ass to the curb, and they were going to have a family. So what if she would technically be an unmarried mother.

Babies.

Speaking of babies, Tony had enough money that they could hire someone to deal with changing diapers and midnight feedings so she wouldn't want to kill herself after a week and a half.

Things were looking up.

"You have no idea how relieved I am," she admitted when she pulled away for breath.

Between then and now - they were going to end up having a lot of discussions about future plans and decisions that needed made.

And maybe she wouldn't be an unmarried mother! This was pretty serious, after all.

His own breath is caught quickly, because he's taking another to press a kiss against her forehead as soon as she pulls away, hands dropping back to loop around her waist, holding her there against him. Brownies and juice cartons forgotten.

"I don't want to know what you thought I'd say or do." He mumbled, pulling back to look down at her with a half-frown.

The trouble with falling back on the familiar was that Darcy, more often than not, expected the worst from people. She was still getting used to being handed a good thing and not immediately managing to fuck everything up. The fact that Tony seemed well suited towards putting up with her meant they were likely in this for the long haul, and part of her was genuinely frightened of that.

It was completely out of her comfort zone. Experience dictated one thing, but reality decided to throw her for a loop and launch her straight into space.

"A lot of things ran through my mind." There was no reason to deny any of it, or lie to him, or even just say nothing.

"I'm sorry."

"Stop saying sorry."

It's the first thing out of him, but he can understand - in some ways. Hands closed around her, he takes his time turning the both of them around, until he's walking backward toward the bed.

"Not sure how I'd feel if I had to tell you I was pregnant."

Darcy's eyes widened. "That's not biologically possible," she pointed out, "and I'd have someone test you for drugs if you confessed something like that. So really, you'd probably be feeling pretty damn good, all hopped up on illegal substances and rude enough not to share."

Her own offhand comment made her realize that she would no longer be able to drink. Far from an alcoholic, Darcy still enjoyed going out and having a few drinks, with Tony or with her friends, and now that was not an option. There would be no coming home from a terrible day and popping a beer.

What else would she need to avoid? She knew next to nothing about pregnancy itself, never having bothered looking into it because, to be honest, she hadn't seen herself as the type to get knocked up outside of wedlock. It was exactly the sort of thing her mother would berate her about.

Darcy shut down that line of thought immediately.

"Is there anything you need to confess, while we're having such a deep moment?"

He can't help but chuckle at her, ducking his head but not quite able to give up what had to be the perfect opportunity really. Looking back up, eyebrow arched he pauses - stops before he'll drop back against the bed, but he holds her still, tipping his head forward against hers.

"Science is doing all kinds of wonders these days."

Confessions? That's what they were moving onto? He doesn't quite manage to laugh again, but he does hang on, glancing behind him, and back again. Maybe his hands slide higher, he'll try to wiggle them under her shirt.

"Yeah. I have a confession." He started, leaning in closer toward her, lips hovering close to hers.

"In that case, you can carry the baby." Darcy would have been totally cool with that. Not having to gain so much weight, deal with all the aches and pains, and being unable to see her feet? If she could make someone else go through that ordeal for her, and yet still have the baby in the end, everything would be golden.

She was so not looking forward to mood swings.

"Yeah?" Darcy drew away just enough to give him room to speak, because she wanted to hear this.

Carrying the baby probably wouldn't be the best thing for him to attempt until after it turned up in their lives, kicking and screaming - but if he thought he could. If there was a way to alleviate some of the pains of pregnancy for her, he would.

He would be doing his damnedest to make her life as comfortable as possible anyway.

"You're dating the luckiest man in the world."

"That's a pretty lame confession."

Darcy made a face, clearly having expected something juicy like some scandal he had been involved in, or a more emotional baring of his heart. Maybe with something hilarious thrown in because this was Tony, and he lived and breathed snark.

"Try again."

"It's a confession all the same." He added, with a smirk - because they both knew the truth, and he was glad to know she was still prepared to challenge him. Even more now than ever, although he couldn't think to recall a time when Darcy had settled for one of his mediocre replies.

"I cannot wait to start this family with you."

Still nothing juicy, but this one, at least, she couldn't dismiss. It meant the world to hear him say that, and she started grinning like a complete moron, almost overwhelmed with emotion. Tears burned in the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, still grinning.

"You're going to be the best dad."

Mostly because he had never grown up, but she'd seen him with young fans, watched the interactions with more interest than she let on. When Tony mustered the patience to deal with others, he became a truly beautiful person, one she normally only saw in private.

"No stupid names though."

Hearing that is alarming to him in a way he both hadn't expected and wasn't sure he knew how to cope with. His own feelings about whether or not he could 'perform' as a Father were perhaps jaded by his feelings about his own. She's so happy though, and he ought to be too.

He was. Happy enough to catch her face in his hands and brush his thumbs against the corners of her eyes, hanging on to the hope that she won't start crying.

"That depends on what is stupid, doesn't it?"

Darcy was completely unaware of the extent of his daddy issues. She doesn't have even the slightest inkling that her words affected him in a negative manner. He was acting so sweet, so caring, that she couldn't seem to stop crying.

God, she was such a girl sometimes. She'd have to go brutally murder things in Fallout for a few hours to make up for it.

"Anything spelled ridiculously, or too off-the-wall. I can't stand it when parents try to be edgy and unique and they don't stop and think that hey, their kid has to live with it. And, you know, learn to spell it."

If he could stop focusing on how surreal all of this felt, perhaps he'd be about as close to tears as Darcy. A few months ago the notion of a baby, a child, his child would likely have given him a heart attack rather than prompted him to consider things like names and rooms and baby-related purchases but he's a very different man to the one he was even last month.

"Dave, then?" He offered with a smile, unable to help the laughter that followed the suggestion.

Tony's laughter was infectious, and Darcy found herself giggling right along with him. "You're assuming it's a boy," she pointed out needlessly. She didn't bother mentioning that she knew a few Davids and they were generally good people, since it wasn't relevant.

He'd just pulled a name out of his proverbial hat.

Reaching up, she wiped at her cheeks furiously, hoping she could keep further tears at bay. She'd never understood, previously, how anyone could cry during a happy event like a wedding. Now? Now it made sense.

Wait, no it didn't. It just happened. Her body betrayed her.

"And no, we're not naming the child after you."

So, maybe he had assumed they would have a boy - which might have been why his gaze dropped back down to her stomach and up again eyes slightly wider than they were. A girl. He could just as easily be Father to a little girl.

"No Tony Stark Jr.? I feel sad."

Letting her tend to the tears, Tony gently dropped his hands to her sides, pulling her close against him.

"Did you have something in mind?"

Darcy had a feeling she'd go absolutely bonkers if she had to yell at two Tony's.

"No. I kind of haven't thought about it that far." She rested against him, closing her eyes, trying to absorb his confidence. Pregnancy was a heavy thing to deal with, but at least she wouldn't have to face it alone.

A family. Who would have thought? And with Tony Stark of all people.

She started laughing, quietly, hit with the sudden, delightful image of Tony teaching a teenager how to drive.

"This is going to be amazing."

There was no force on Earth that would stop him being a part of this. His feelings for Darcy were more than enough that he didn't stop to question his loyalties and even whether this was something he wanted. He just wanted it without needing to give it a second thought.

Whatever it is she's laughing at, he's not sure he wants to know because as deeply involved and sure about this that he feels, there's an anxiety in him that bubbles whenever he thinks about the practicalities of actually having a baby. Changing nappies, dealing with how stubborn their child was undoubtedly going to turn out.

Darcy was upbeat though - and he said nothing as he nodded once and tipped his head forward against hers.

For what felt like an eternity, Darcy said nothing, simply breathed and let herself relax. She could pretend that the rest of the world didn't exist; nothing was real except for them, in that moment, sharing the next great step in their lives.

Of course, Darcy being Darcy, there was no way that silence would last very long.

She itched to tell her friends the news, but she was hesitant to spread it around. She didn't like the paranoia that came with being Tony's girlfriend, but there was a lot she had to take into account that had never even registered on her radar before. An unborn child was the perfect weapon to use against him.

She would take every caution, and knew he would, too.

And maybe now, with a baby on the way, he would be less reckless while out with his Avengers buddies.

"I love you," she murmured, the words seeming right.

Living in a bubble was never good for anyone, but he'd make sure to be in touch with a few people before he felt safe letting anyone else know about this. Her thoughts had taken her to a place that he'd ended up in too, once the silence had stretched on.

Of course, Darcy always had a way of surprising him, and although the truth of those words are no surprise any more, it does stop all those other thoughts from stealing away his focus.

It's not out of a desire to make her wait that he stays quiet for some time after those words leave her - there's a smile, easy on his lips as he looks at her, drinking in the way she looks, the light in her eyes, the slight flush of her skin, the shape of her face. Kissing her feels as right as the words, but his hands catch her face before he can say a word, and he presses his lips against hers carefully - eyes dropping closed for only a moment.

"I love you, too."

[No 21 or 24, or smut in general, 4 only with Oikawa, tyvm.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Dating and all that

Makoto Kino | Sailor Moon | F/M

Darcy Lewis | MCU | OTA

21!!!!!!!!11111oneoneoneone

awww hell

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just gonna hit random icon from now on

GOOD PLAN Let's do it.

IT WILL BE GREAT

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Shimizu Kiyoko || Haikyuu!!

Kent | Amnesia: Memories | OTA