Baby and sweetheart. Little terms of endearment that go straight to the center of Steve's heart. Every time he hears them, it feels surreal, like how could Tony possibly think of him that way? As his baby. His sweetheart. But here they are, together in ways Steve could have never imagined before this place, and he can't help the soft coat of emotion in his eyes where he hears Tony call him sweetheart again this morning.

And he's happy — too happy — to know that Tony slept well, and that even if he's a little sore, he's fine. God, not only that. Tony's happy.

A hand comes up to cradle Tony's cheek, and Steve delivers his own soft kiss on his forehead. "I feel the same," he whispers back, lingering there because he can. But there's more than happiest brewing inside him now. He also feels a warmth that's stronger than anything he's ever felt before, and he knows that every bit of it belongs to Tony.

Every bit of that love belongs to Tony.

He nearly tells him as much, but Steve remembers the way Tony reacted all those weeks ago, when he first brought up falling in love, and Steve holds back. Instead, he just keeps holding him, his thumbs occasionally brushing against Tony's skin, back and forth.

It's early still, and Steve knows that eventually, he'll want to make them breakfast and Tony will need to report to work, but right now? He just wants to stay here a little longer.