AN: SOOOOOO sorry about the long wait for this chapter. In fact it isn't even really a next chapter because it's basically the action on the other side of the phone conversation that Darcy had in the last chap. And I'm the worst at planning out stories, b/c while I was trying to write this, I ended up writing not the next chap but the chap after that one... (sigh) whatever.

EDIT 2/9/2014: Story's the same just going through and adjusting things. Proofreading and all that.

Chapter 5: Up In the Air

"Tony! You didn't think we should know that you have a daughter?" Steve's hovering over Tony. He knows that. But, dammit, he can't help it.

"Not that it's really any of your business, but that's not it," And Tony's just scoffing and slouching into the kitchen counter, trying to edge away. "It's just we've kept Darcy a secret for so long! I didn't know how to bring it up. I've never told anyone but Darcy. We had a talk when she was nine or ten."

"She didn't know?" Steve's taken aback. Tony's a liar but not like that. He never hides the important things unless he's making a point. But there is no point to be made to a little girl in that way.

"When she was a baby -" Tony's interrupted by his phone ringing. He checks it and sighs. "Sorry, Steve. This is her. I'll explain better in a minute."

Steve nods absently as Tony walks away. Tony has a daughter. As weird as it seems, or would seem, Steve can picture Tony being a great friend to a little girl.

"Hey, Cap." Steve jumps a little when Clint pokes him.

"Uh, hi, Clint."

There must be something in his greeting that's not quite right because Clint stares at him and circles closer to evaluate his posture. "So, what's going on with Stark?"

"Nothing. Tony's fine." Don't engage. Stall, Rogers.

"Cap... You were yelling at him a minute ago, and now he's on the phone, but not really talking. This is not a good sign, Steve. Tony does not break away from fights to talk to his stockbrokers."

"Clint." It's not his secret. He can't say. And Tony's about to tell everyone else anyway. Clint can wait ten minutes for Tony to talk to his, wow, daughter and gather himself.

The archer leans into Steve's space. He's a smaller man, but he's not small. He glares up and hisses, "The tower's still kind of fitting together after the Mandarin crap and that thing Thor did in Greenwich. Peter's adding more variables because he and Tony are crazy people. If there're more variables coming into this situation I wanna know."

Steve sighs. "Thor's bringing Dr. Foster and Miss Lewis to the tower to stay for a couple of months."

Clint grins and backs off. He doesn't know, well, at least there's that. "Okay. No big thing, right. They're both already under NDA and pretty great people. Met them in the land of enchantment when the big guy first crash landed." His grin takes an odd turn. "Played some pool with Darcy. Hustled her a little."

Steve pretty much skips over that last part because whatever Clint did, Steve has too many balls in the air to try and juggle that fact. "Yeah, but Tony apparently has some history with Miss Lewis."

Clint's face goes blank. The face Tony always calls his 'assassin face.' "Oh, well, that's awkward. What kind of history because she's like, what, twenty-four?"

"Actually," Tony interrupts, avoiding looking at either of them, "She's twenty-five. And for the moment plans have been diverted. Darce's heading to her apartment. She says she'll come over for lunch tomorrow, but for now, she refuses to see me."

"Huh," Clint narrows his eyes, "So, what kind of history are we talking?"

Tony rolls his eyes, but still doesn't make eye-contact. He's huddling like he does when he thinks that he's alone and that he's disappointed Pepper or one of the team. "The kind where she's the secret fruit of my loins." And there's the joking to avoid actually talking about the situation. The kind of joking he employs to avoid medical after severe injuries.

Clint misses that and just laughs. "Yeah, right, pull the other one."

Tony hunches further into himself. And he almost never does that people are around. "Not a joke. When I was twenty-one, I was less than careful with one of my 'dalliances'," He snorts and makes finger quotes around the word, "She got pregnant. And the rest isn't any of your business."

"So, you've hidden her for twenty-five years?" Clint asks.

"With her help."

"Yeah, but whose decision was it?" And Steve doesn't know how to parse the dark accusing note to Clint's voice.

Tony abruptly turns and straightens, meeting Clint's glare with one of his own. "I've asked her. Repeatedly since she's reached majority. It was only in the last few months that she's wanted to be outed to anyone. And she only wanted to tell the six of you."

"Because she knew she'd be outed by this trip?"

"Yep."

Steve snorts. "So, even with Peter, you weren't going to tell us."

"Ah well, there's been so much going on."

"Tony."

"Look, we found out about him less than a week ago." He fidgets with his shirt hem. "I haven't exactly told either kid about the other."

Steve bites his lips and shoots a glance at Clint who is rolling his eyes. Clint is very seldomly helpful. "Tony, Darcy doesn't know that Peter is technically your son?"

"No." And here comes the defensive posture back again.

"Oh, my god. Tony, you need to call her before Thor tells her."

"Oh, fuck!" Tony fumbles for his phone, scurrying out of the room.

Steve sighs and casts his gaze to the ceiling. "Jarvis?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Is this why you've been so quiet lately?" Because JARVIS has been almost absent ever since Tony pulled Steve out to kidnap a teenage vigilante.

There is definite hesitation in the AI's voice before he finally deigns to reply, "I don't believe I know what you're talking about, Captain."

Clint snorts, and Steve sighs. "Jarvis, please don't lie to me." Steve had thought they had already worked through this. The last time JARVIS lied to him, there was almost property damage and excessive IEDs involved. IEDs in toasters. Steve was never going to get used to Tony's bad habits. Because they were always the worst.

"I have known Miss Lewis almost my entire life. She was nurturing influence on me. I promised to protect her and her secret with all I am. I have made no such promises regarding Master Parker. I have been working to remedy this oversight."

"Oh, so you weren't hiding from us, so that Tony would have to explain about Darcy?" Clint snarks at the ceiling.

"Even if I had spoken to you with my regular frequency," And now JARIVS isn't hesitant. His modulated tones and stiff and almost arch. "I have barred my programing from speaking of Miss Lewis with those who do not know her secret. So you would have received no input from me if you had asked about her in any capacity other than Dr. Foster's assistant and friend."

Steve nods at that and shares a glance with Clint who shrugs. "So you didn't want us noticing that. To give you and Tony more time to tell us."

"To be frank, Captain, I didn't give a fuck, to borrow a phrase from Sir. Miss Lewis is Sir's daughter, and I am his creation. Throughout the years she has come to mean almost as much to me as is possible considering my limitations." There is the faint impression that without these limitations JARVIS would've bodily gestured to himself.

Steve doesn't think he's ever heard the AI swear before and doesn't really know what to do with his response.

Clint on the other hand finds it hilarious. He doubles over with his mirth. Once he can breathe again, he gasps out, "That is just so great. So, Darce is like your little sister. Awesome."

"Indeed, Agent Barton. She is my second favorite person, above even Ms. Potts."

Clint smiles vaguely at that. "Yeah, she kinda gets under your skin."

Steve chuckles. "It must be another Stark family trait."

"You'd know, wouldn't you?" Clint says, rolling his eyes.

Steve glares, but the only heat is in his cheeks as he blushes furiously. And then he doesn't know why he's blushing. He's known Howard and Tony. He liked Peter even before he turned out to be his biological son. Steve's self-aware enough to know that Peter's most prominent traits could be attributed to Tony with minimal reach. Steve ducks his head at the thought of Peter. No matter that he was born in 1918, Steve still only feels like a thirty-year-old. And Peter is almost eighteen. The disconnect is just a really weird thing still.

"He'd know what?" Tony asks, walking back into the kitchen and frowning at his phone.

Steve smiles. "Nothing. What did Darcy say?"

Tony sighs. "She didn't answer. I left her a couple messages. She probably won't call me until tomorrow, because she's just as stubborn as I am." He runs a hand through his hair. "I'm kind of tired. I think I'm gonna go lie down."

Steve nods and grimaces at Clint.