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Tony had gotten his family back, but they weren't the same.

Steve and Peter barely spoke on the ride home. They stayed curled against each other like they had in the cell and would only respond with monosyllable answers whenever Tony or Nat asked a question. Occasionally, they managed a whole sentence. The silence continued as they were taken to the med bay and treated by Drs. Cho and Strange.

As they ate dinner, Peter asked "Can you pass the salt, please? Thank you" and stayed silence once again. Steve didn't say anything.

Tony said "Goodnight. I love you both."

They just smiled and muttered "I love you, too," almost inaudibly.

Tony was scared. Peter was usually chatty and would rarely stop talking. Steve wasn't as talkative as his son, but was only this quiet when sleeping.

Every time Tony or anyone of the Avengers tried to touch them, they flinched. If someone other than close family tried to touch Peter or Steve, they would fall to the ground crying. It took a week for Peter to hug Tony again. Even then, it lasted for less than a second. Tony didn't even have time to return the embrace. He cried himself to sleep that night, all alone in bed while Steve and Peter slept in a different room down the hall.

After two weeks, he hired a therapist. Not just any therapist. The best therapist money could buy. Dr. Barden was flown in from Germany and housed in Stark Tower. Tony didn't know how long it would take to get his family back, but he would do anything he could to save them.

He wasn't allowed in during the first five weeks of sessions. Dr. Barden refused to reveal anything said either, leaving Tony in the dark about his family. But it seemed to be working. After three days, Peter hugged Tony again and held on long enough for Tony to hug back. Five days and Steve had a conversation with him about painting. Ten days and Steve kissed him.

After every milestone, Tony cried. While he usually did it alone in the comfort of the guest room he was staying in, he couldn't help himself when Steve kissed him. The billionaire broke down in tears the second Steve's lips touched his. In a surprising turn of events, Steve wiped the tears away with his thumbs and consoled him with a hug and more kisses and sweet words of comfort.

Dr. Barden allowed Tony to sit it during the eighteenth session, over a month since therapy had started.

"I'm only allowing it because I believe this will be the last session." she had said.

It had been a good day even before Tony heard the news about therapy. Steve had given him a morning kiss and initiated conversation with Tony and Bruce about seeing them working in the lab sometime. Unlike most days, Steve didn't clam up when his husband tried asking questions; instead, he answered them and asked some of his own. Peter had run into the kitchen with a loud 'good morning' and began chatting about a funny meme he had seen.

Both Peter and Steve were smiling and talking and hugging again and Tony couldn't have been happier. Even if it was just a 'good night' or a light touch on the shoulder or a small chuckle after a joke, it was progress.

And that progress was why Tony was sitting in a small, unused conference room around a circular table. Steve was on his right with Dr. Barden on his left. When Tony reached his hand out, Steve grabbed it and held it. The billionaire turned his face to hide the large grin spreading across his face.

"So, let's begin." Dr. Barden announced with a smile. "You two have probably noticed I don't have my yellow notepad with me," she said in her light German accent, "it's because this will be your last therapy session if all goes well."

"Finally!" Peter shouted in excitement, causing the adults around him to laugh.

"First question. Any nightmares in the past two days?"

Peter and Steve shook their heads.

"Good. You've made real progress then" the therapist said.

Tony spoke up, "I didn't know you two were having nightmares."

"Well," Steve began "we did in the beginning but we haven't for over a week. That's why Peter and I were sleeping together- to help with the nightmares. I had him override Jarvis so that you wouldn't get constant alerts about us."

"Still, you should have told me, honey."

Steve used his free hand to gently cup Tony's cheek, effectively forcing the billionaire to maintain eye contact. "We're okay. We weren't in the beginning, but we are now, thanks to you. I doubt we would be here right now if it wasn't for Dr. Barden and she's only here because you hired her. So thank you, Tony."

"As much as I love seeing you two finally talking, I still have other things to go over before you two can be released from therapy. If you want to continue talking, we can get you two couples therapy, but that's not my specialty."

"We're fine." Steve said "Thank you"

"Alright, question two. Did you both complete your homework?'

Peter answered. "Yep! I talked with Ned, MJ, Nat, and Bruce."

Steve said "Sam, Bucky, Nat, Thor"

"Good", the therapist smiled. "Did talking about the attack help?"

The two nodded.

"Good. Now I have a new assignment for you. Both of you will need to talk to Tony about the incident."

Tony could've sensed the nerves over a mile away. While it didn't show on their faces, their nervousness was clearly shown in the actions. Steve was running his hand up and down his jeans, drawing something invisible on the denim, while Peter was tapping his fingers on the wooden table in a steady, almost inaudible rhythm. If Tony hadn't known his family so well, he never would've noticed.

It appeared Dr. Barden had noticed their nervous habits as well. While Tony had decided to stay quiet about it, the therapist choose to mention and discuss it.

"What are you nervous about?"

Peter answered, shakily. "Telling dad."

"Telling him what?"

"About the attack" The teenager almost whispered.

"Why? Why are you nervous?" She pressed.

"I don't know." He shook his head. Across the table, Tony reached his hand to gently rub circles on Peter's. It seemed to slightly relax the teenager. "I don't know" He repeated, his eyes beginning to fill with tears.

Steve grabbed Peter's other hand, the one Tony wasn't holding, and spoke up. "I'm nervous" he began, "because I don't know how Tony will react. I know, deep down, he won't leave me, but I'm worried he'll look at me differently or- or treat me differently."

Dr. Barden didn't seem satisfied with his answer and continued asking questions. "That would be anxiety, likely caused by PTSD. Pos-"

"Post traumatic stress disorder" Steve and Peter finished in unison. It made sense they both knew as the two were both heroes. Even more so for Steve since he was a soldier in World War II.

The therapist smiled. "Good. But Steve, have you ever had these concerns before? The worry that Tony will leave you?"

Steve laughed. "All the time"

Tony was shocked. Partly that Steve laughed and partly that his concerns were not new. This time, Tony asked the question instead of Dr. Barden. "Why? And since when?"

His husband turned to face him with a sad expression on his face. "I've been worried ever since I met you. Worried you wouldn't go out with me or accept my proposal or agree to an adoption or that you'd find someone better than me." Steve gave a weak attempt at a smile, one that clearly showed his sadness and every other emotion he had buried deep within.

"Honey," Tony cupped his face gently with one hand, the other still holding onto Peter. "I could never find someone better than you. Partly because there's no one better than you," He smiled and Steve returned it. "And partly because I love you waaaay too much to leave you. Okay?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah," he responded, his voice a little shaky from tears. "I love you"

"I love you, too." Tony replied without hesitation.

Dr. Barden smiled. "I'm glad we've made some progress with that but I still need you two to talk to Tony about the attack." She glanced towards Peter. "Would you like to go first?" Seeing his hesitant expression, she quickly spoke. "If you're not ready we can try again another time."

Peter quickly shook his head, a determined gaze settling upon his face. "No, I need to do this." He shifted slightly in his seat to face his dad and wiped all fear and nervousness off his face. He could do this. "I was...afraid during the attack. Not that much because we were attacked but mostly because I didn't know if you would find us. And the longer it took for you to show up, the more afraid I got that you wouldn't show up. I didn't know if you were hurt or captured too or if you just couldn't find us or if you didn't want to find us." Peter paused to quickly and not very discreetly wipe the tears from his eyes, either not seeing or just ignoring the heartbroken look on Tony's face. "Ever since you and pops adopted me, I've always been afraid that you didn't love me or want me. I wasn't worried about pops too much during the attack because he was right there with me and he was consoling me and stuff, but you weren't."

Tears began flowing down his face as he continued. "By the time you showed up, I had almost given up hope that you would ever come for me."

The doctor looked towards the teenager, silently asking if he had anything left to say. Meanwhile, both Steve and Tony wiped away their tears. Tony leaned over to his husband and mouthed, 'Is it true?"

Steve just nodded.

Tony turned back to face his son. Letting go of his husband, Tony used both of his hands to cup Peter's while maintaining strong eye contact. "Peter. I am so so sorry I wasn't there sooner. I don't have any excuse other than I just couldn't find you. But I promise you, I wanted to find you so badly Peter. I really did. And I'm sorry you went through this and I'm sorry I ever made you doubt my love for you because I really do love you" A tear streamed down his cheek, followed shortly by another. Tony paused to wipe them away before continuing. He took a deep breath, trying to stop the crying, but his voice cracked from the tears anyway as he begged his son, "Please don't hate me"

Peter sobbed. "I could never hate you, dad" He quickly stood from his seat before running around the table to barrel into his dad's arms. The teenager instantly felt better as he felt the strong and steady arms of his father wrap around him protectively. He soon felt his other father joining the embrace and nearly cried from the immense feeling of love he felt in that moment. "I love you both" He choked out, being strangled partially from tears and partially from the tight hold his dads had on him.

"We love you, too" Tony and Steve replied in unison, sharing a smile over Peter's head.

Dr. Barden let the family have their moment but stopped them after a few minutes, claiming they needed to continue with the session. As they all detached themselves from one another and returned to their appropriate seats, she asked "Alright, Peter, thank you. Anything else you'd like to add?" Her accent barely penetrating her words. After the teenager shook his head, she turned to face Steve. "Are you ready?"

With a nod, the super soldier wiped his tears and began. "I feel like Peter already covered most of it, but I know I need to use my own words. Umm, I mostly felt weak and powerless. Yeah, I was worried, too, but I had to stay strong for Peter so I kinda just ignored it. But I really felt powerless. Normally, if I was captured, I would do some self- sacrificing shit to try and escape but I didn't- couldn't because of Peter." Steve took a steadying breath and ran his fingers through his hair, another nervous habit.

The billionaire (probably only a millionaire after the costly therapy sessions) gently reached for his husband's hand to once again hold. Noticing Steve's slightly confused but still grateful expression, Tony joked, "I don't want you to mess up you perfect hair."

The joke certainly lightened the mood as the family and therapist both laughed before Steve continued.

Steve's smile disappeared instantly as he once again remembered the attack. "Like I said earlier, I couldn't try anything risky because of Peter. I- I couldn't. If I died, he would be all alone or even worse they would hurt him to punish me and neither of those options sounded appealing so I just stayed silent. I wasn't going to risk anything. I have never felt so powerless, Tony. Never. Not even when I was a small midget before the serum. Not even then."

It was only as Tony lightly brushed a thumb across his cheek that Steve realized he had started to cry. While he wished he wasn't crying, Steve was grateful for both the touch and the gesture. He subconsciously leaned into the caress, almost instinctively. That action, that feeling, felt ingrained in his DNA. It was natural and visceral, practically second- nature. Steve loved it.

Like usual, it was Dr. Barden who interrupted the moment. "Steve, anything else to add?"

He shook his head.

"Peter?"

Another head shake.

"Tony?"

"Nope"

With a large smile on her face, Dr. Barden said "Session's over. That'll be the last session and hopefully we won't have to meet again under these circumstances."

"Oh, I agree. And hopefully next time I won't have to pay you over $30 an hour" Tony joked. He stood from his seat to shake her hand while Peter and Steve gasped over the price. "Thank you."

She didn't respond. Instead, she gave a nod and a smile and a wave and left the room without another word. Tony knew though. He knew she knew just how grateful he was. Maybe he'd buy her a car to show his gratitude. Or maybe a house?

Tony was pulled from his thoughts as Peter asked "Shawarma?"