Tony had heard the cries of his son ring through the halls, 'Man, this kid literally never sleeps." Tony sighed as he slowly got up and trudged down the hall.

He walked to the room next door and went over to his 8 month year old son's crib. Tony bent down and gently picked up the baby. Tony walked around slowly swaying the young child in his arms in hopes of getting Peter back to sleep. His memory drifted off to when he first got Peter.

{•••}

"Sir? There seems to be something on the doorstep. I can't seem to identify what it is". Jarvis said.

Tony had looked up at Jarvis in confusion. It was 3am and he wanted nothing more than to work on his new suit. He thought it may be Rhodes, so he got up and went to the front door.

What he didn't expect was an infant. One that looked like him. The same big doe brown eyes, and the tiny wisps of brown hair that matched his own. "What..is this a joke. This better be a joke." Tony thought to himself. He quickly picked up the infant as carefully as he could and brought it inside.

Tony only did what he thought was a good idea. He had to make sure the baby was his. He took a bit of saliva from the baby's mouth(I don't know how these things work), and took some of his own. It would take about an hour before he got the results so he called Pepper.

"Tony? Why are you calling me?" She sounded exhausted.

"Um..see this baby was on my doorstep and it might be mine." He said quickly. He swore he felt his face getting red.

"Tony..please tell me your joking".

"Sorry hun. Can you come over? I don't know what to do with a kid."

"....yeah. I'll bring some stuff." And with that she hung up.

Tony sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. He waited 30 minutes until Pepper arrived. By this time the baby was screaming and crying and Tony had no idea what to do.

"Tony! Gods, you have to hold the poor thing. Don't leave him alone. He needs comfort!" Pepper scolded. She picked up the baby and changed him into little footie pajamas. She rocked him back and forth until he quieted. His eyes fluttered shut.

"He really has your eyes". She said quietly.

"That's why I'm worried." He replied.

"Sir, the results have come in. The child has a 99.9% match to you. He is indeed your son."

Tony slumped into his chair, starting to hyperventilate. He couldn't be a dad, he would end up like his father.

"..To...ny...Tony! Snap out of it. He's your son and that's that. What are you going to do about it?".

Tony pulled himself together and looked Pepper straight in the eyes.

"He's my son. I'm going to keep him."

Pepper looked shocked but quickly recovered. She smiled and looked down at the sleeping child. "What are you going to name him?" she asked.

"I don't know". He honestly hadn't thought about it.

" I like Peter. Peter James Stark. You know, after Rhodey?" She suggested.

"Yeah. Yeah! I like it. Ha, Rhodey is going to love it..oh my gods. What am I going to tell Rhodes?!?"

"I'll call him and see if he can come over. I'll also set up a room for Peter." Pepper walked over to Tony and set the baby in his arms and set off to her office.

Tony stared down at the sleeping child in his arms. 'His son.' he thought. Tony looked at the baby one more time before falling to sleep.

————————————————————————

Rhodey has been going back to sleep after a nightmare when his phone ringed.

"Helloooo?" He answered sleepily.

"Rhodey? It's Pepper. Do you mind coming down for a bit? Tony and I need some help."

"..wha..yeah. I guess. I'll be there in an hour. Bye". Rhodey groaned and grabbed his keys getting into his car. 'What in the name of Tartarus did Tony get himself into now?'

And he set off for the tower.

————————————————————————

Pepper flinched when she heard the doorbell ring. It was so quiet with Tony and the baby actually sleeping. Tony needed the sleep and maybe Peter was a way that Tony could mature more. She opened the door.

"Hey Rhodey. Do you mind being quiet?"

Rhodey gave her an odd look but nodded. They set off towards the lab. She ran the passcode through the door and stepped through, putting a finger to her lips to make sure Rhodey stayed quiet.

She had to hold in a laugh when she saw Rhodey's jaw drop when he saw Tony. She sat down gestured the seat for Rhodey to join her.

————————————————————————

Okay. This is not what Rhodey expected to see. He didn't expect to see Tony Stark, asleep. With a child. He was going to ask Pepper what the heck was going on, but he didn't want to wake his friend or the kid. He looked to Pepper for answers but she gestured him to sit down.

"Pepper. What the heck is going on?" he whispered.

"Tony found out he had a son. Showed up on the doorstep. He's been asleep for about an hour. I looked up about the kid when he fell asleep. Turns out Tony met the kid's mom when he went to a gala. You know what he did. Mary Fitzpatrick was her name. She was married to Richard Parker but he died last weak in a car crash. The hospital had got her in tonight, but she died from a gun shot wound. My guess, she knew she was being hunted. Parker's brother and his wife were also killed. That only left Tony, so that's what she did."

"Wow. Poor kid. What's his name?" He asked

"Peter James Stark". She looked at him with a small smile.

"Really!? You guys named him after me?" Rhodey asked. His heart warmed when he heard the kid's middle name.

Pepper just smiled. She saw Tony start to stir and quickly grabbed the baby gently, not wanting the baby to wake up. Tony opened his eyes and smiled at Rhodey when he saw him.

"So. You met Peter?" He asked with a yawn.

"Yeah. He's pretty cute. He's gonna be the best nephew I know."

Tony smiled and Pepper handed the baby to Rhodey who gladly accepted the child into his arms.

"Rhodes, he's gonna be your only nephew".

"Whatever".

This moment was the start of a new beginning.

{•••}

By this time, Peter had fallen back asleep. Tony stood up from the chair he had been sitting on and laid the baby back down. Rhodey, Pepper, and him had all decided that they would hide him from the press. He was safer that way. Tony smiled at his son and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

He turned around, walked out the door, into his own room and had the best sleep he had in years.

~fin