Tony sighed as he mentally prepared himself for surgery. Stephen walked in frowning at the worried look in Tony's eyes. "Tones you know I'm not gonna let you die right?" The genius looked up at him, watching the doctor smirk a bit. "First and foremost I'm the best surgeon around and secondly, Peter needs you and I'll try my best to keep you with him. So don't worry, I'm not gonna let you die." Tony smiled, standing from the bed to walk to the talker man. He surprised the doctor by hugging him, and Stephen, for the first time in a long time, hugged back, praying he would do a good job and give Tony another day with his son.

"Alright, asshole, let's get ready for this." Stephen laughed and nodded, letting go of the smaller man. He left the room and got ready, walking into the room an hour later. Tony laid with his arms out and the other doctors in the room prepped him. "I trust your doc," Tony spoke before they gave him anesthesia.

Stephen smiled softly under his mask. "Don't worry Tony, I got you." Stephen was very focused during the whole thing, he was for once nervous but he didn't let it get to him. Stephen saved many lives and even though it never truly, truly mattered to him, he did care for Tony. Always had, what Christine called a crush, on Tony. And even now he had this crush and he was, in a way, honored to help Tony.

So an hour later, he was pulling out the last shard, and looking up to the window, pepper and Rhodey smiled, relieved. He closed Tony up, hoping to never see Tony in an operating room again.

He left and washed up, deciding to call it day and go see Tony, who was waking up from the anesthesia. Pepper and Rhodey we're already there, Rhodey holding Peter, who looked at his father worriedly. Tony smiled sleepily, stretching his arms out and taking his kid from his best friend. He turned to Stephen, who smiled at him. "Thank you."

"I'm happy I could help, I also hope we keep in touch?" Tony chuckled and nodded.

"I'd be disappointed if we didn't." Stephen then got up and grabbed a clipboard that was near him.

"Anyway, in order to recover you need to try and not do anything that can make your heartbeat father than normal if you start to feel any pain then please come back and talk to me. This is very serious Tony, we got all shards out but there is always a possibility that something else went wrong, so please just call me." Tony nodded.

Stephen was started by small arms wrapping around his leg, looking down he smiled when he saw Peter smiling up at him. "Thank you!" He giggled.

The tall man picked Peter up, hugging the child. He missed the blush and smile that spread across Tony's face.