December 24th, 2018

Christmas Eve had dawned, the sky overcast and snow drifting down lazily, the brush and reeds in the sands covered even more than before. The roll of the waves was stirred further by the light winds, and the cold air carried the tang of salt along with the chill. Both Rogers and Stark families awoke convened on the main floor for breakfast, the sense of what—and who—was coming hanging over the adults. The children, thankfully, were ignorant of it all, Grant instead chattering about leaving out cookies and milk for Santa Claus later that evening, and wanting to go outside in the snow and play. Secreted presents had found their way under the tree, Steve and Holly's batch joining the offerings made by Pepper and Tony. Evie had slept longer than been expected, and Pepper feared that meant she wouldn't nap well during the day, but it couldn't be helped.

As promised, the catering company arrived in the early afternoon, commandeering the kitchen to prepare everything for the coming dinner. Holly did eventually take Grant outside, along with Bonnie, the corgi bounding along as the toddler tried to get ahead of his mother once they were out the door. Expending his energy could only be a good thing, Tony thought, his nerves and preemptive irritation surfacing as the hour for the Potts' arrival drew nearer.

Though casual was preferable those days, Stark had no wish to give his in-laws (or more specifically his father-in-law), anything to pick at or disparage. Semi-formal wear, therefore, had become required for the evening. His layered tee had been traded for deep red button down, capped with a black jacket and pants. His father's watch was perched upon his wrist, and he would rub at it and the center of his chest on and off. Sometime between dressing and returning to the living room to wait, he'd found his way to the bar, one of the bottles of wine snatched up and a healthy amount poured out for him to sip.

Soon enough, the text came in on his handheld, and he sighed softly as he read out the message.

"They're on their way," Tony mumbled, fidgeting with the glass of wine in his hand. Glancing down into the nearly empty glass, he groaned, "God, I need something stronger."

From his spot on the couch, feeding Iris her bottle of formula, Steve didn't bother to hide a joking scoff. As per the request, he too was dressed well, a jacket pulled over a dark blue sweater and good slacks. He shifted, a little discomfited with the get-up (dressing like that for church or a gathering that dictated it didn't really bother him, but it seemed at odds with what should be happening at home), but he settled before long.

"You go any stronger, you'll pass out in the turkey," he remarked lightly, trying to coax a smile from his friend. The best Tony could manage was a halfhearted smirk, fingers twitching the stem of the glass again. Before he could answer back, Pepper appeared, a flush in her cheeks and Evie in her arms. She had changed from her bathrobe into a dress of deep green tartan, her hair loose around her shoulders. She looked beautiful, glowing despite the tiredness that made up her days. Making a beeline for him, she darted a glance to the empty glass in his hand. Shaking her head, she moved closer to her husband.

"I'll take that, you take her," she negotiated, passing their infant into his arms before plucking the glass away. The nonchalant air she had around her made him pause, since he had seen the charge of energy in her irises. Glancing down at his daughter—now bedecked in a romper and attached skirt that had "My First Christmas" stitched into it—he snickered.

"I see what you're doing," he told his wife, Pepper lifting a shoulder as she went towards the kitchen.

"As planned, honey," she called back to him, disappearing through the swinging door. Tony chuckled, letting out a few more of his nerves, cradling his little girl a bit closer.

"Alright, Evie, you ready for this?" he asked his infant daughter. Dark eyes blinked up at him, and she thumped her fists against the sparkly skirt of her dress, and he sighed. Reaching up and adjusting the bright red bow on the headband she wore, he muttered, "Of course you are. You'll get swarmed with grandparent love."

The sliding glass door leading out the back patio slid open then, Holly and Grant hustling inside. Quickly, the young woman stomped off her boots, hastening to get her son out of his winter wear and bring him downstairs to change. Bonnie was likewise released from her bonds, shaking off the snow before hurtling away through the house, yipping as she went. The little guy pouted a bit, sad that he couldn't play outside any longer, but he went with his mother, Steve getting up and following with Iris. An encouraging look was shot to his friend before he disappeared down the steps, and the billionaire could only accept it.

The rental car was creeping up the drive by the time the Rogers clan had come back upstairs, taking Pepper's direction to stand and wait with them in good humor. Steve was still holding Iris, the baby's white dress and leggings encumbered by the glittery gold tutu skirt standing out. Holly had gotten changed, having donned a light blue dress sporting a snowflake design. Their boy had been wrestled into a white sweater, blue reindeer stitched into it across the shoulders and hem, and little khaki pants encompassed his legs.

"I feel like I'm a doll on display," Holly muttered, hoisting Grant up a little higher while trying to brush down the skirt of her dress and remain standing still. Steve snickered, inching closer to her.

"Well, I have been calling you doll for years," he riposted, trying to keep the moment as light as possible. The mild teasing earned him an eye roll and a smile from her. Grant, however, shook his head hard.

"Not a doll, you my mama," he proclaimed, arms going around his mother's neck while smushing his cheek against hers. That got her to laugh, and she noisily smacked a kiss in the boy's hair.

"Thank you, sweetie."

Tony and Pepper, of course, had heard all of the exchange, but neither of them could do more than give their friends watery grins as thumping steps came up to the door. Three hard knocks rebounded on the outside (the automatic controls had been turned off for the day), and Pepper, taking a deep breath, strode up to it and opened it.

"Mom, Dad, it's good to see you," she said, smiling broadly as she stepped back and allowed her parents inside. In their late sixties, William and Barbara Potts looked well for their age. Barbara's once red-gold locks had faded to white by then, laugh lines by her mouth cutting deep into her skin. A few freckles were scattered over her nose, and she stood proudly in a powder blue pantsuit. The older man had thick rimmed glasses perched upon his face, fogging up a bit and sliding down an aquiline nose. Washed-out green eyes glinted hard over the rims, the creases in his brow standing out. He was of a height with Steve, but the slight hunch to his shoulders spoke of him once standing taller. He was soberly dressed in suit and tie, the quality of both only a few steps lower than his son-in-law's. The Potts family wasn't outrageously wealthy, but had done well enough. It was only in the last two years that Mr. Potts had retired, selling his successful consulting firm to his younger partner, and Mrs. Potts had left her position as marketing director for a local theater. Now they had the time to see their second-oldest daughter, to share in her life.

And stick their noses in Tony's, he mused glumly, cuddling his baby girl closer at the thought.

Barbara smiled, stepping up and hugging her daughter. "It's good to see you, too, Pepper."

The older couple shed their coats, a large bag of presents stored beside the credenza. As their coats were slung over the banister of the stairs, William removed his glasses and wiped them clean. Once the were back on his face, he squinted through them to the others gathered nearby. Steve felt Holly sidle closer to him, the coolness in the older man's gaze chilling them both.

"I thought this was going to be a family affair, Virginia," William intoned, a modicum of irritation in his reedy voice. A wave of tenseness ran through them all, but Pepper seemed to experience the brunt of it. The use of her given name raised her hackles, but she tried to maintain her pleasant attitude. It had always been like that with her father. She could deal with it, like she had done in the past.

"It is," Pepper said, gesturing for their friends to step forward. Pointing to each of them individually, she introduced them all. "This is Steve and Holly Rogers, and their kids, Grant and Iris. Their family is joining ours this year. Technically a family affair, still."

Barbara's eyebrows inclined, a look on her face that should have been concern, but still seemed to more put out than anything else.

"Nowhere to go?" she asked, sotto voce. Catching her deliberate tone, Holly flinched, but otherwise maintained a pleasant expression. Steve, cradling Iris in one arm, slid the other around her waist, silently supporting her.

Pepper's smile dimmed further, but she managed to hang onto it and shake her head.

"Taking it easy on air travel, since Iris is seven months old," she informed them. Dipping her chin in the other family's direction, she stated, "Her parents either come to New York or they all go to Minnesota, but not this year."

"Hmm," the older man grunted, his wife giving him a tired look.

Grant began to squirm, trying to escape from his mother's hold as he was becoming bored with the proceedings.

"It's nice to meet you both," Holly said, putting her boy down. Right away he ran, heading directly for the tree. Following after him, she threw over her shoulder, "Excuse us."

The older couple nodded, the woman pasting a bland smile on her face while the man let a slow breath out his nose. Steve dipped his chin as well, sauntering after his wife and son while patting his daughter's back. As they took refuge by the tree—where Holly admonished Grant to only pet the presents, not open them—Pepper began to steer her parents over to where Tony was standing.

"Come on over and meet Evie," she bade them, her smile becoming genuine again as she looked upon her husband and child. Tony flinched almost imperceptibly when William Potts was within a couple feet of his little girl, but the billionaire hid it well.

"Not sure why you went with that name," the older man groused, shooting his daughter a hard look. Barbara rolled her eyes, nudging him slightly with her elbow.

"William," she chided halfheartedly, her gaze focused on the baby. Pepper, however, was not about to let the comment slide.

"Considering we named her after her Great-Granny Potts and her paternal grandmother, it's not so bad," she told her father, eyebrows inclining the barest fraction. The older man sighed and dipped his chin, as if conceding an argument rather than understanding the sentimental value in Evie's given name. Tony stepped forward then, flashing a brilliant (yet obviously fake) smile.

"Hello, Mr. Potts," he greeted his father-in-law, almost daring him to ignore his presence. Before the older man could make a choice, the brunet fellow turned his grin on his mother-in-law. "Merry Christmas, Barbara."

The older woman smiled back, not immune to the Stark charm. William rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth at the blatant move.

"Mr. Stark," he ground out, as if doing so was equivalent to having his teeth pulled out.

"Anthony," Barbara gushed at him. Opening her arms, she waited as Tony passed Evie into her care. People could say whatever they wanted about his in-laws, but at least he knew they wouldn't actively harm his child, and so letting the girl's grandmother hold her was no real issue. The older woman cooed at the babe, finger tracing over the tiny Christmas tree sewn onto the fabric of her dress, and grinned wider. "What a precious darling. Isn't she, William?"

For the first time, William Potts actually looked at his granddaughter, his sour expression lessening somewhat.

"Yes, Barbara. I can see how she takes after her mother." His gaze flicked up, the corner of his mouth quirking and telling Tony the insult was intentional.

The billionaire snorted, unable to resist the urge to snark. "Yeah, must be the brown hair. Or maybe the dark eyes."

"Tony," Pepper whispered, fingers closing around his wrist to prevent him from saying more. Looking down at her, at the pleading glint to her gaze, he clenched his jaw, stemming the thousands of retorts roiling through his mind for her sake. He just had to get through dinner, and presents, and then they would be done for the night.

And repeat the process the next day, but he would have the time to refill his liquor stores in that time.

One of the swinging doors to the kitchen opened, a woman in her thirties and with pinned back black hair approached Tony and Pepper. She was the head caterer, responsible for dinner in its entirety.

"Everything's ready, sir, ma'am," the caterer intoned, melting away again as soon as the announcement was made. Taking the prompt, Pepper opened her palm, holding it out to her parents and beckoning them further into her home.

"Let's go eat," she told them, leading them towards the dining room. Barbara nodding, rocking her granddaughter as she followed Pepper.

"Sure," William said, following close behind. "Catered, huh? None of that fancy, frou-frou stuff?"

Stark gritted his teeth hard, hands going deep into his pockets as they walked away. From across the room, Holly had Iris in her hold, instructing Grant to keep a grip on her skirt and go with her as well. Steve lagged behind, tucking his own hands into his pockets and heading over to his friend.

"No, Dad, pretty traditional fare," Pepper was saying as they went, Holly shutting the door behind them all with her heel. Left in the momentary quiet, the billionaire and the former commander let out twin sighs of exhaustion. The darker-haired man turned to his companion, clearing his throat after a second or two.

"Did Thor leave some of that super-strong ale with you, by any chance?" he asked, the desperation deep within outlining the humorous undertone of his words. The god has recently come back to Earth for a brief visit, to apprise the team of the situation back on Asgard. Upon discovering that the holidays, or specifically Yol, were so close at hand, he'd eagerly prolonged his trip, securing gifts for his friends after traveling back and forth multiple times. Tony himself had been mailed—thanks to Maria Hill—a gift of a necklace tooled with runes for Pepper, a single protective charm for Evie, and a translated manual of war machines from the Learning Halls for himself. However, he'd heard tell that the special ale had been brought back, too, and given to a select few secretly. The blond man before him frowned and shook his head.

"Normally, I'd say that it would be a bad idea…" Steve trailed off, before reaching into his suit jacket and withdrawing a small flask from an inner pocket. Wiggling it between his fingers, he muttered, "But I feel like I need a drink, now, myself."

Tony smirked, nodding at the bar set off to the side. Quickly, the men went about assembling glasses of scotch to take into dinner, each of them glancing over their shoulders to watch out for being caught. Which they inevitably were, as Holly had come back into the room to find them after situating her children at the table. Finding them at the extensive set-up along the far wall, she crossed over to them and let out a weary sigh. The indulgent grin she gave them lessened when she noticed the flask in her husband's hand.

"Please, not too much, fellas," she begged, glancing between the two of them. Her hands began to curl around the ends of her sleeves, the nervous habit still strong as ever. "We've got two babies and a rambunctious toddler to take care of."

"Just a drop, hon," Steve told her, pursing his lips and shaking his head to reassure her.

"Yes, dear," Tony remarked, giving her a mocking smile. When she merely stared at him, he dropped the smirk, a tired breath exhaled. Sincerely, he stated, "Holl, really, I don't want to be drunk. But they're just so…so…no."

He groaned that last word, and Holly could stop a nervous giggle from getting through. She took the point, then, and just sighed. They were adult men; she could not and would not forbid them. Still, she knew the stuff in the flask had the power to even get Steve a little buzzed, and if Tony had any…well, who knew what could happen?

"Be careful, that's all I'm saying," she iterated, giving them each a look before she stretched up on her toes and gave Steve a kiss on the cheek. True to his word, he only tipped a dribble of the stuff into Tony's glass, and doubled the amount for himself. It would not be enough to get anyone drunk, but it could get them some calmed nerves. When she stepped back to head towards the dining room again, William's voice could be heard asking about whether the host and his guests would be joining them soon. The sneer in his tone was unmistakable, and was not aided by Barbara's croon to sit and wait patiently. Holly bit her lip, and swiftly pivoted on her heel to walk back to the room. When she was out of sight and earshot, Steve took in a deep breath, gaze focused on the bottle of scotch still sitting on the bar.

"Huh," he muttered. Before the brunet man beside him could ask what he was thinking, he wiggling the flask again and tapped the scotch bottle with a finger. Deliberately sliding his gaze from it to the dining room door, he murmured, "Maybe we should share the wealth. After all, it is Christmas."

Understanding immediately, Tony's lips stretched into a wicked grin.

"Devious, Rogers. Let's do it."

Approval given, another glass of scotch was poured, and Steve was generous enough to add a drop more than what was given to Tony. The two men nodded in commiseration, and then they went to the dining room, Steve holding the extra glass still. The table was set with a pristine white cloth, a crimson runner going down the length of the table. A centerpiece of holly and mistletoe (Steve nudging his wife with his elbow and smirking while she rolled her eyes) surrounded a couple of fat, sturdy candles. The china was clean, as well as the cutlery, crystal wine glasses placed for the adults.

The meal had been set out by the hired catering staff, the black-garbed bunch fading into the background (the kitchen and the gaming room were their domain, so they at least had a place to break before having to pack up leftovers and then head out). As Pepper had promised, it was mostly traditional food set out: turkey and ham were sliced, cheesy potatoes joining the mashed and sweet varieties placed in the bowls. The sideboard held different wines to go with the meal, one white and one red to start with already on the table. Stark took the place at the head of the table, Pepper sitting adjacent on the right side. The table itself was long enough to seat at least ten people comfortably, so Holly and Steve sat on Pepper's side with the children, and Barbara and William sat on the other. With the two baby girls in bouncers on the floor (Evie napping, and Iris gurgling while swatting at the dangling toys on hers), and Grant in a high chair next to his father, the adults all took their seats.

At Barbara's insistence, grace was said before they ate (Tony rolling his eyes but zipping his lip to keep the peace), and once the plates were passed around to dish up, Steve passed the glass of scotch to William. The older man nearly fell upon the offering, though not a word of thanks was given before he started slurping it down.

A brief flash of alarm went through the blond man, but since Mr. Potts settled in to eat with an almost dazed and dopey look on his features—and Stark had visibly relaxed at the head of the table—he let it go.

Conversation had started off slightly stilted, but when Holly asked Barbara about the rest of the family, it allowed for things to flow. Pepper's two sisters were doing well, the grandchildren having grouped together to send them a family photo. William muttered something about how it was a shame the whole family couldn't do so, but his comment was lost when the brunette woman merely stated how lovely it was and how cute the matching sweaters were. Able to jump off her own point about her own family's tradition with ugly sweaters, she and Pepper were able to keep the back forth light enough. With each passing second, Tony looked a little happier and less drawn, and Steve could feel a bit of the tension in his own shoulders dissipate. Work became a topic of discussion eventually, and was thought to be relatively safe.

"And you, Holly, are you…" Barbara trailed off, glancing in Steve's direction and struggling to find the right words, "in the same line of work as your husband?"

The blond man grinned as he stared down at his plate, taking a fast bite of food before his son crowed for a dinner roll.

Holly snickered, and shook her head. "I'd be retired, if I were. No, I work in archives. I also write."

Barbara smiled and nodded pleasantly, while William shrugged a shoulder.

"Well, that's alright. Not every woman can run a massive corporation," he murmured, his words slurred slightly as he poked at his serving of ham. Peering at her over the rims of his glasses, he croaked, "I'm sure you like it where you are."

The tenor of his phrasing struck Holly, the feeling that he was being subtly disparaging digging into her as she looked over at him. Reaching for her glass of wine, she took a sip to fortify herself.

"I, I find the projects that I'm assigned stimulating," she remarked, a little more subdued than earlier and mentally kicking herself for the verbal stumble when she spoke. The corners of Steve's mouth turned down in a fast frown, though he banished it as he laid a palm between his wife's shoulders.

"She's helped us a few times directly in the past," he reported plainly, a measure of pride in his voice. "She has a knack for finding the devil in the details."

Barbara's eyebrows inclined, and curiosity bloomed in her irises. However, before she could inquire further about how the younger woman had helped the Avengers in the past, her husband let out a hard snort.

"Though with two small children, I would think your priorities would change. For the better," he said, patronizing even in the grin he directed at her. Her spine stiffened under Steve's hand, and he began to silently pray that she wouldn't string the man up from the rafters due to the implications. He had also bristled—after all, he was familiar with working mothers, his own being one of his first examples—but he was biting the inside of his cheek to keep the peace.

He had promised to be there for Tony and Pepper, and he would see his promise through. Even if it meant bleeding from the mouth to stop himself from making the other fellow do so, too.

(At the head of the table, Stark had taken Pepper's hand in his, squeezing hard after she'd flinched at the remark, too.)

Holly took in a few deep breaths before giving a strained smile. "Well, one of us has to work while somebody gets his bachelor's degree."

Steve blinked at how fast she passed the buck onto him, but merely nodded in confirmation when the older couple looked at him again.

"Oh, you're working on your degree?" Barbara cut in again, concentrating on the blond fellow. "What for?"

With the focus of the conversation shifted, the brunette woman nudged her glass over towards Tony without seeing.

"Pass the pinot noir, Tony," Holly requested in a low tone, using the ongoing discussion as a cover. Without looking at her, he gestured to her glass.

"Way ahead of you, sister," he replied, and when she glanced down, she blinked. It had been filled without her noticing, and she grinned at him gratefully. Pepper winked and smirked at her, her own glass topped off with chardonnay.

Picking up the glass, Holly tipped it in a subtle salute to her friend, the two women indulging in the strong taste and tannins before a hard sigh cut through the air.

"Should you be drinking that?" William wondered, staring around his wife to his daughter and folding his arms over his chest. Raising his eyebrows, he continued, "What with a newborn and all?"

Pepper tilted her head away from him, ostensibly to check on the baby nearby. Holly, however, caught the eye-roll she indulged in since her father couldn't see it.

"Dad, I have some stored already for Evie tonight," she remarked lightly, looking up again before glancing down at her chest. William glanced away, squirming in his seat and grumbling uncomfortably. Letting a slow breath out through her nose, she continued, "One glass won't hurt."

The older man snorted, taking a long sip from his scotch glass, and then from the white wine in front of him as well. Holly shifted in her seat, her shoulder pressing against Steve's arm, and he could practically hear her brain screaming for freedom. Barbara's attention went to Pepper, telling her about the last visit they had taken to her youngest sister's home, and William sank back into his seat, shoveling more food down and grunting occasionally. Glimpsing his wife out the corner of his eye, Steve sighed softly and leaned closer.

"I'm booking you a spa day, I promise," he whispered to her, feeling all the more guilty for convincing her to agree to come. She slid one hand under the table, patting his leg and let out a sigh of her own. It wasn't his fault that Pepper's dad was a tool; she had expected tension, but the level it was at was not something any of her family could prepare for. She felt bad for the Stark family, and how much worse it could be if he or Pepper did not have form of support with the guy.

Holly cut her gaze from him to William Potts, the fellow draining the last of his scotch and setting the tumbler down. Barely looking in Steve's direction, he shoved the glass across the table at him, gesturing for a fill-up at the blond. Icy blue eyes shunted from the glass to the older man, and Steve's lips set into a thin line. Not breaking the eye contact, the former commander of the Avengers palmed the glass and pointedly set it in the center of the table, refusing to play into the power move the man was trying to engage him in. William inclined his eyebrows, sipping from his half-filled wine glass and turned in his chair to face his wife, cold shoulder engaged.

Taking the opportunity to hold Steve's hand, she squeezed his palm gently.

"And you're gonna get the motorcycle jacket you've been eyeing up online for the last few weeks," she swore to him, the feeling of being affronted not dissipating quickly. He may have convinced her to agree, but he was participating in the trip just as much, and it wouldn't be any easier on him to sit with such a snide man. Especially since he basically just treated him like he was less than. "My treat."

Steve dipped his chin, squeezing her fingers back. "Deal."

At that point, their young son was squirming in his chair, having finished with his meal and wanting to get down. Seizing the opportunity to distract himself, the blond man extracted Grant from his high chair. Holly also glanced over at Iris, the baby cooing and making spit bubbles in her bouncer. Since she had also finished eating, she decided to get the baby, the remaining adults at the table ready for after-dinner treats and such.

A few plates of cookies and other goodies were set along the sideboard in the living room, the catering company taking it upon themselves to have hot cider and hot chocolate carafes placed upon the bar along with the remaining liquor. As the small party found their way into the room, Tony broke off from the pack, palming a handful of bills and giving them to the head caterer, telling them to come back in the morning and to have a happy holiday. The black-garbed staff melted away then, and after doing a check on a nearby digital display (the Iron Legionnaires on the property holding firm in their places), the billionaire went over to the bar. Rather than indulge in another—and most likely disastrous—glass of liquor, he tipped out a helping of the cider before heading over to one the couches near the center of the room.

With it being Christmas Eve, the presents around the bottom of the tree were not yet labeled for Santa, but it was clear to his eyes that the toddler did not care at that moment. Instead, with permission given by his parents, the young boy went ham on the first box his dad pulled out for him. Dropping into an armchair, Tony watched as Grant hastily ripped at the wrapping paper, the glittering candy canes forgotten as his big blue eyes went wide. Holly, seated on the far end of one couch, raised her eyebrows at the wooden-block train set as she sat the baby up in her lap. Her son began to hop from one foot to another as his father passed his thanks along to the Starks. Once the paper was completely off the box, the little guy ran towards it, grabbing it up and lifting it high.

The brunet man blinked rapidly. The kid definitely was taking after his dad, no question about it.

"Daddy, look!" Grant cried, giggling as he continued to toddle around with the heavy box lifted over his head. Steve's eyes widened, the tremor of fear in his gut slowly overtaken by pride. He truly smiled then, getting down onto the floor and watching the boy wander with his prize.

"Holy cow, bud, you got that all by yourself!" he crowed, putting his hands to his cheeks and feigning astonishment. Holly shook her head, cuddling her baby girl closer and a corner of her mouth rising.

"It was bad enough when he dragged your shield," she told her husband, the pair of them merely smirking at one another while the other adults in the room had mild shock or amusement on their faces (depending on who one looked at). Clicking her tongue, she chuckled and said, "I dread the day he starts deadlifting the furniture."

"Don't worry," Steve remarked over his shoulder, crawling after his boy. "He'll have a spotter."

The brunette woman chuckled, planting a peck in the baby's hair.

"Both you little munchkins will," she said, recalling how Iris had the same strength hidden in her genetics as well. Kissing the baby's cheek, she cradled Iris close and stood up, following her family over to the tree. Grant had set down the box, clapping happily as his father ripped open the lids and helped him extract a few of the toy trains inside. Holly knelt beside her husband, and the picture they painted was enough to make Tony grin to himself.

Maybe the night would end better than it had begun.

William Potts, seated on the opposite couch, snorted into his drink before throwing the remaining contents down his throat. He was well and truly buzzed at that point, swimming in the good food and the less-than-pleasant atmosphere surrounding him. There was no way he could have kept silent, even if he would have liked to pretend otherwise.

"Pfft. Little mutants, more like," he mumbled.

Across the room, Steve froze, his advanced hearing catching every acidic syllable, but Tony whipped his head around, glaring outright at his father-in-law.

"What did you say?" he pressed, setting his cider to one side and daring the older man to repeat his mean-spirited words. Under normal circumstances, the guilty party would have just grumbled and backed down, but Williams Potts had been fortified by the scotch and the wine. As well as that, he was sitting on years of suppressed resentment and anger at the dark-haired man on the other couch. Shutting his mouth was literally impossible at that point.

"It's bad enough Virginia married and had her child with you," he groused, nodding to the open entry to the living room. Pepper was standing there, rocking Evie and conversing quietly with her mother. Purposefully keeping his voice low, but no less venomous, he grunted, "Now you're exposing our granddaughter to a couple of abnormal kids from a human experiment. Thought you were a genius, but I suppose that has its limits." Letting the point hit home, William sat back against the cushions, and scoffed derisively. "Then again, it's not like you had the best example growing up. Or really any example after eighteen."

It was at that moment that Tony was seeing red. The constant undertones of disapproval, the comments, the sidestepping and the eye-rolling, and now this? Insulting children, insulting his friend and even going after the memory of his deceased father and mother? His blood boiled as Mr. Potts languidly lounged, the smug look on his face making the itch to punch it squarely rise from his gut. However, he'd only gotten far enough to stare daggers and ball one hand into a fist before rapid movement pulled him up short. The former commander of the Avengers proved himself as fast and lithe as ever, positioning himself less than three feet away from Mr. Potts and crossing his arms.

"Excuse me," Steve almost growled, his tone absolutely fraught with repressed anger. William painted on an aghast expression, but the blond fellow was not having it. Spiking an eyebrow, he pressed the issue, "Whenever you'd like to stop badmouthing our families and shut the hell up, we'd all appreciate it."

From the other side of the room, Holly was outright grimacing, Iris held closer in one arm and the other wrapping around Grant protectively. The little guy, sensing the palpable tension ratcheting higher, had his wobbly lip going, and Tony frowned in sympathy. Realizing he'd been caught out, the faux look of shock on William's face slid away, the older man sinking back into the grumpy expression he'd sported all evening. Now, though, came the red of embarrassment in his cheeks.

"I, uh..." he muttered, glancing away to his son-in-law. The animosity was still there, but he clearly was looking to him to bail him out of the problems he'd just created. Tony flicked his gaze up at his (rightfully) infuriated friend, and let out a long-suffering sigh before standing. Taking one step forward, Tony motioned for Steve to step back, and once he had, the brunet man met his father-in-law's gaze once more.

"Get out."

William blinked, looking nonplussed. "What?"

"I said, get out," Tony repeated, raising his voice so that the others in the room could hear. He'd had enough; there was only so much vitriol he was willing to tolerate for the sake of his family, and he refused to stomach any more of it. When William gaped at him, his wavering jowls making him look like a fish out of water, he squinted and tilted his head to the left. "What, are you having difficulty hearing, old man? Or are you unable to understand what that means?"

William Potts snapped his jaw shut, fire in his eyes and the liquor in his system pushing him on.

"Still a disrespectful degenerate," he spat, hatred dripping out little by little.

"Can't be any worse than being a malicious narcissist," Tony shot back, deliberately ignoring the irony of the statement. (He knew full well he had the tendencies; he was working on it with his therapist, among other things.) Raising his chin, he reiterated, "I told you to leave. Now."

Instead of doing as the owner of the property wished, the older man stayed put, a slow and evil grin stretching his lips.

"Go ahead, try to throw me out. Wouldn't it be a shame if somehow all those news networks you kiss up to knew that you tossed your in-laws out into the cold, just because you didn't like them?"

Tony smirked back. So he wanted to play that game, did he? Well, too bad, since he was choosing to play against an expert.

"Oh, I never said your wife had to leave," the brunet man remarked, flicking his gaze over to where Barbara was standing. She appeared to be stunned at what was happening, while Pepper cradled Evie closer, a mixture of sadness and pride in her features. Resolve stiffened, he met William's bitter gaze again. "Just you. You can get out of my home, and better still, out of my life."

"You arrogant pile of—" Mr. Potts tried to shout, but the brunet man before him spoke over his building diatribe.

"You forget—which is another thing you should probably get checked by your doctor, along with your hearing—that this 'degenerate' has dealt with the paparazzi and press since the age of one day old. I know how the tides rise and fall with them, and guess what? Even if I gave a damn anymore about what they think, it won't affect anything but your ego." Here Tony narrowed his eyes, each word striking hard and fast. "And that is what I would take down. All I would have to do is forward the recordings JJ has been making all night to show them what a liar you are."

The blood in William's face drained away so quickly, Tony was almost impressed. From behind him, he heard Steve inhale deeply, could practically hear the Boy Scout in him wonder if he would have to step in and administer some form of recovery if he fainted. Still, he kept his mouth shut as Mr. Potts struggled to get to his feet, stepping up to get directly in Tony's face.

"You can't do that," he snarled, deep loathing in his tone.

Tony spiked an eyebrow, practically nose to nose with him now. "New York is a one-party consent state. Try me."

"Virginia," Barbara hissed, discomfort and displeasure outlining her features as she looked at her daughter. Gesturing to the arguing men, she begged, "Please, make him stop."

Thinking she was referencing her father, Pepper paused when her mom shot a glare to Tony, and the truth of her blame clicked into place. Pepper, gobsmacked for a second or two, eventually narrowed her eyes and thinned her lips.

"Mom, what do you expect me to do?" she asked, her voice strengthening with each question as she continued speaking. "Not stand by my husband? Let Dad continue to abuse our friends—who, by the way, have shown more support and understanding than either of you have in the last few months?"

The real fury in her tone caught her mother by surprise, and she began to backpedal.

"Honey, it's not like that" the older woman crooned, trying to smooth things over. "It's just, this is just how he is. He's just worried about you."

"No, he's not," the redhead countered icily. Clutching her baby girl closer, she rubbed her palm against the little one's back as she continued, "I'll be forty-two in a month. I've been on my own for a long time, independent and head of one of the largest tech conglomerates in the world. Any right he had to worry about my welfare is long gone."

While Tony could not claim to have grown up with the best paternal relations, he did know for a fact that Howard Stark had never given him the glare of pure ire that William Potts was directing at Pepper. He was only stopped from striking him when Steve grabbed his elbow, forcibly holding him in place when the older man advanced a few steps towards his daughter.

"Look at what he's done to you," William pleaded, his whining tone at odds with the thunder in his person. "Let you be threatened, kidnapped, almost murdered, forced you to have surgery—"

"Saved my life, made me feel whole, loved me and still loves me," Pepper undercut him, the intense feeling in her soul felt in every utterance. Nodding past Tony to the blond man still seething behind him, she murmured, "Saved the world, too. A couple of times. Same as the other man in this room you insulted. Dad, I don't know what your intentions were for coming here, but it clearly isn't to be my father, or be part of the family." She stepped closer, and she shifted her baby girl in her arms, holding her out so that William could see the infant's face. When he averted his gaze, it was like a whipcrack against her heart. A mild shake creaked out with her words, and she crowed, "You haven't even held Evie. You have barely even looked at her. Are you that ashamed of your granddaughter? Or are you just upset that we're all happy?"

The dreadful silence that followed spoke volumes, Pepper's incredulous stare reflecting at the man she called her father. Tony felt a twinge of protectiveness spark in him, and all he wanted was to take her and Evie away, far away. He dared glance back at Steve and Holly, the pair of them sporting fractions of pity in their gazes. Eventually, William huffed out a breath, pointedly pivoting away from his daughter.

"I don't have to listen to this," he murmured, the layer of rage solidified atop resignation.

Tears started to rim Pepper's eyes, and Evie shifted in her arms, little gasps given that indicated a crying attack was imminent. Clutching her close again, Pepper stepped back, sniffing hard and refusing to look at her father anymore.

"No, you don't." Nodding to the door, she kept her tone hard and unwavering. "Please, leave. Don't come back or talk to either of us unless it's to apologize."

Barbara, shaken out of her stupor by her daughter's pronouncement, reached for the younger woman.

"Pepper..."

Red-gold hair swung as Pepper turned away and stepped back from her mother, refusing to give any quarter. Her bright eyes, still laced with tears, focused on her, and she stood a little taller. She would not give way to her father, and she would not allow her mother to enable and excuse his behavior.

"And if you can't either, Mom, that goes for you, too," she declared, adopting what Tony liked to call her 'no quarter given' expression. The law had been laid down, and she would not bend or break. Her mother's hand dropped and her own expression soured, oscillating between a sulk and a pout. William strode over to his wife, glaring hard at his daughter.

"I raised you better than this," he spat, a look of pure loathing directed over to Tony. "Raised you not to take up with people like him."

"You have no idea who he is, or who I am," Pepper shot back, metaphorically meeting her father toe to toe. Raising her chin, she announced, "You have fifteen minutes to get your things and leave, or I'll have the Legionnaires escort you out. Your choice."

The two older people stared at her, utterly baffled and irate that she had stood up to them, refused to give way to their brutish behavior and wills. Slowly, William cast his glance around the room, harrumphing loudly before pivoting on his heel.

"And if you break something on the way out, you bought it," Tony called out, forcing him to pause on the threshold. An ugly look was thrown over William's shoulder to him, but the billionaire was beyond caring at that point. "And don't think I won't have the video and audio evidence to prove it."

He gestured expansively, indicating the ever-present UI that had been an invisible presence all evening. The older man grumbled, and the clink of dog tags and nails clattered from the hall. The small corgi had reappeared, having gone off to nap elsewhere in the house during dinner. Sniffing the air, the little dog bristled visibly, staring at the older man and baring her teeth as she began to growl. Latching his focus onto her, the air in the room became that much thicker with tension.

"Get out of my way, you little beast," William snapped, taking a step towards the small animal. Fire ignited in Steve's eyes, but it was Holly's voice that cut across the room, cold and furious.

"You touch my dog, you will be answering for it," she told the older man, the little boy in her arm breaking free and running right to his father. He was scooped up quickly, crying about the 'mean man' and his father rubbing his back. Holly followed while still holding the baby, taking her cellphone out of her pocket and holding it up for emphasis. "I have no trouble calling the authorities myself."

Another flash of indignation flickered over the older man's face, but when the bigger and taller blond man glared at him, silently backing up his wife, he said nothing. Steve whistled, and Bonnie's throaty growls abated, heeding her master's command and trotting over to him. The older couple slowly made their way to the front entry, coats pulled on and disparaging looks giving to their daughter and the man they both saw as the interloper in their lives. They were out the door before the end of the time limit given, their car out the gates before much longer.

In the silence that followed, Pepper had bowed her head, pressing a kiss to her baby's cheek and rocking her through her cries. Tony went to her, taking both in his arms. A few stray tears hit his collar, and he knew at once that his wife was letting out the tears, years of frustration and disappointment in every drop.

Soon enough, Evie had calmed, and Pepper raised her head, looking over at their friends. Holly and Steve had seated themselves on one of the couches, Iris and Grant still in their arms and Bonnie sitting protectively at their feet.

"...I am so sorry," the older woman breathed, hiccuping once as she tried to calm herself further.

Holly shook her head, not wanting her to feel guilty in the slightest. "It's not your fault, Pepper. I didn't, I didn't know he was..."

She let the thought trail away, uncertain of how it would be received. Taking another deep breath, Pepper went to the opposite couch, Tony guiding her to sit safely with the baby before doing so himself.

"He didn't used to be," she was saying, sounding unsure even to her own ears. "Or maybe he was better at hiding it. I guess this does explain why I haven't really gone back to see them all that much for the last…ten years."

Memories of her childhood came to the fore of her mind: her father, always disapproving of her choices, never happy when she achieved anything outside of him or the family. Salutatorian, graduated with honors, becoming one of the top female CEOs in the world...none of it matter. Not when it wasn't "the norm" or up to his standards. And her mother, always pacifying, telling her that she was okay, that her dad was just like that, that he was her father and deserved her respect.

She snorted, the dawning realization hitting her hard and twisting her stomach.

Tony, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, squeezed a little, and she looked up. The sympathy, the empathy, in his irises buoyed her more than she could express. Coughing once, he attempted to smirk, lessen the burdens on her shoulders.

"I guess you're going to be joining me for therapy now, huh?" he tried to joke, but even as he did so, it fell a little flat.

Still, Pepper managed a wan grin for him, the ruefulness in her tone unmistakable.

"Yeah, I think I will."

They all sat in the silence, the Christmas playlist JJ had been running all day still playing in the background. As Nat King Cole switched to the Beatles, Tony cleared his throat again, shaking his head.

"Well…it's still Christmas, and I for one would rather take some cheery crap over the other stuff for the time being," he declared, kissing his wife's cheek before standing. Looking at Grant, he held out his hand to the little guy. "Let's get you some cookies, kiddo."

At once, the child perked up, wiggling to get out of his father's arms.

"Yeah, Unca Ton!" he cried, hopping down and taking the older man's hand.

The tension in the air was breaking, and Pepper finally relaxed in her seat, as if she had been holding her breath all day long. Steve and Holly smiled at their son's enthusiasm, silently nodded approval when Tony looked over their son's head and non-verbally asked permission to do so. Pepper looked at them for a moment longer, and sniffed once more.

She was glad they had come, all things considered. She was glad to be among the friends and the family that she had made.

A plate of cookies was brought over, set upon one of the end tables for them all to indulge in. Grant had a few more presents left to open, and he happily set about his task. More toys, and a couple books, came to hand for him, followed by him opening his little sister's gifts. Evie also had a few things from her Uncle Steve and Aunt Holly, a warm afghan for when she was older and a couple of toys, too (a plastic tool kit to play with once she could, and Tony mimed wiping away a tear of joy). The baby girls were put in their bouncer seats near the end of the evening, already snoozing away. Likewise, Grant too was dropping off, snuggling against his father's leg and sighing in contentment. About to suggest they all head to bed for the evening, Pepper was stalled when Holly brought over a couple brightly colored gift bags.

"Here, we got you guys presents, too," she said, placing them on the couch beside the other couple.

"Oh, you absolutely didn't have to," Pepper intoned, blinking in total surprise.

Tony nodded, lifting his chin slightly. "Your presence is gift enough, believe me."

Steve chuckled at that, rolling his eyes, while Holly smirked and wrinkled her nose.

"Yeah, okay, but…" the brunette woman said, sitting herself down beside her husband again.

"We still wanted to thank you for inviting us," Steve supplied, the brittle edge to his smile gone, finally. Looking at one another, Tony and Pepper opened their gifts at the same time. For the mechanical billionaire, there was a framed print of the Buschi turbocharger patent and a novelty shirt sporting a kit car and the words "Car Junkie." And for the woman of all trades, they found a lavender spa bath set, the box tapping against the personalized leather datebook. It would be something she could use, Holly murmured, when she went back to work...less obvious than a pump, and both their husbands shared confused looks when they shared a laugh.

"Still a good gift," Pepper chuckled, the stress of the day finally melting away. Smiling, she nodded to Holly and Steve in turn. "Thank you, both."

Leaning back, Pepper cast a significant look to her husband, who inclined his chin and sat forward.

"And, I've gotta say thank you, too. Because otherwise giving you guys these would have been awkward without a prior exchange."

Reaching into his inner jacket pocket, he withdrew two envelopes, their names scrawled out individually. Innocuous as they seemed, Holly and Steve took them from him. Opening his, Steve felt his eyes widen substantially. Within was a note of promise, that Tony would fill out a check to match then next two semesters of his tuition and help reduce his student loans. Before he could utter a word of thanks though, he heard his wife's shocked gasp. Turning swiftly to look at her, he saw that her hand was shaking. Darting a look to the billionaire, he saw the suppressed smug pleasure in his eyes, and the former commander had to ask Holly multiple times what it was.

It also was a note of promise...that she would soon be forwarded paperwork to assume a lease for a particular storefront in the village near the base.

"Tony…" the younger woman started, her voice failing her. The brunet fellow shrugged, scratching at his goatee.

"It will take the lawyers a few days to reconcile the paperwork, but once it is, all you'll have to do is sign." He cocked his head to the left, and continued, "And then we can talk about inventory, hiring, all that jazz in the new year."

Holly was still moderately tongue-tied, but still tried. "…You bought the…how did you…"

Her dark eyes fastened onto Pepper then, and the older woman smiled serenely at her.

"Technically, we bought it, from our joint account," Tony explained, nodding to his wife. Turning his palms out and cupping the air, he proclaimed, "Kinda shocking who will and won't do business right before a holiday. Still, it will be an interesting endeavor; never had personal stock in a bookstore before."

The brunette woman was still gaping at them both, eventually turning to Steve with a broad smile and laughing with pure joy. Steve laughed, too, something in his gut loosening as she started to cry while still grinning. Reaching up, he swiped away her tears with his thumb, utter gratefulness in his own gaze as he looked at his friend.

"I think you broke my wife, Tony," he teased, softening his words with a nod of gratitude. "Thank you."

Holly got up then, bending and locking Tony in a full-on hug, stunning the billionaire briefly. After patting her back a few times, he coaxed her into letting go, turning her back to her husband. At once she sat beside Steve again, excitedly chattering about the changes that would be made in their lives, about what she would want to tackle first once all the paperwork was finalized.

On their couch, Pepper leaned closer to her husband, grinning broadly.

"That's more proof, you know," she whispered. Tony shot her a look, and clicked his tongue.

"That my ears work properly?" he retorted, the corner of his mouth curving up. The sincerity in her irises, though, caused him to nod. Noticing the heart pendant she was wearing, the shards of the shrapnel that had been in him morphed into something beautiful, he hushed his voice as well. "I know, Pep, I know."

His gaze focused on their little girl, snug in her bouncer seat, the smooth tone of Ella Fitzgerald filtering through as the baby shifted in her sleep. Proof wasn't needed anymore; his heart was on display in that room, in the joy of his friends and the comfort of his wife and daughter.

All told, the day had ended better than it had began, and it only made them hope it would continue on.

A/N:...Because who doesn't like Christmas in July?

Truth be told, I've been working on this idea for months, but it's only been in the past few weeks that I've gotten serious about it. I was just struck by the idea of Tony and Steve's families spending some time together, since they are now officially retired in the Of Time universe. And on top of that, Pepper Potts-Stark's parents would want to be part of that, too. I just can't shake the idea that Pepper's dad, in canon, probably doesn't like Tony very much. In this universe, it's quite clear to what level he doesn't like him, and how little he respects his daughter's choices. But they stand up for one another against him, and solidify their family.

And they have at least some physical support in their friends.

No matter what, I hope you all enjoyed it. Now that it's out of my system, I should probably head back to my other ongoing stories, huh?

I own nothing from the MCU, nor do I own any other pop culture references made in the text (Marvel comics, etc.).

Thanks for reading, please review, and I'll see you all for the next story!