[Third Person's PoV]
As Japan is 13 hours ahead of America Tony had texted his parents bright and earlier in the morning. Around 6 am where they would already be awake.
Tony flew through the different time zones and arrived bright and early by the front of the Stark residence.
"Heh, does this mean I technically traveled back in time?" Tony asked Friday smugly after thinking about it through his flight.
"...Boss… Shall I go ahead and fill out the paperwork for your admission into the psychiatric ward?"
Tony landed softly, lowering his curled leg and smoothly transitioning into a walk, "You're just so hilarious Friday" Tony replied sarcastically as the liquid metal suit melted from his skin and was absorbed back into his skin.
"Thank you boss, I was programmed that way"
Tony walked with his hands in his pockets, he nodded towards the two guards by the large front gates, "Jordan, Marcus, Morning"
"Morning to you too sir, but those Not our names sir…" They both said warily.
"When you're paid as handsomely as you are your names are whatever" Tony playfully teased them, patting their shoulders and entering through the gates.
They both had faint smiles as by this point they both knew Tony was completely messing with them.
Tony entered and called out, "Hello? Where are you guys?!"
"Tony? Is that you? We're in the Kitchen!" Howard called out.
"You guys seem to be in love with that place!" Tony retorted as he started to head towards the voice, however before he arrived he found his mother speed walking towards her, her belly now much bigger as she was in her second trimester of pregnancy, having been pregnant for 4 months now, close to 5.
"Tony!" Maria happily exclaimed, her arms stretched out with a bright smile.
"Mother…" Tony said hugging her back, "You've grown" He said patting her stomach.
The smile on Maria's face disappeared at the drop of a hat, replaced by a mask of indifference and coldness, "Do you perhaps have a death wish or something?"
Tony froze and cleared his throat, "I mean how has pregnancy made my gorgeous mother even more beautiful? Your skin is simply divine, how someone like Father manage to convince someone like you to marry him is one of the seven mysteries of the world"
"I asked myself that question everyday~" Howard said walking in with a large smile.
Maria simply held her cheeks and blushed swaying side to side, "Gosh, to think there will come a day were I would get pampered by the two most important men in life"
"Tony" Howard nodded in greeting.
"Father," Tony nodded back.
"Stop with the formal calling, that's weird"
"Yeah sorry about that, I don't know where that's coming from."
Maria went and grabbed Tony's hand, "Come, Come, you must be hungry, we were just about to have breakfast!"
Tony wasn't really someone that could say no to his mother and was soon the three of them were sitting by the marble table top in the kitchen as Baymax went ahead and cooked and presented them a five star course breakfast meal.
Maria helped set Tony's breakfast plate while she sighed, "It's a shame you didn't bring Melissa, but I understand that what you have to talk about has to do with her"
"Right but before we get into that, Tony what are you wearing?" Howard asked, looking at his training suit weird.
"I was in the middle of training everyone from my class for upcoming midterm exams. I left them in Melissa's hand in the meantime…" Tony said as he went on to explain what he was doing before heading out towards them.
"I see… so tell us, Tony—what's going on with your relationship with Melissa?" Maria asked, concern lacing her voice. "I thought you two were the last people to ever have relationship problems. Is everything alright between you two?"
Tony chewed thoughtfully on his breakfast before answering, "Between us? Everything's great. Fantastic, actually. We've never been closer…"
"Then what's the problem?" Howard asked, a bit confused. "Is it going too well?"
"No, it's just…" Tony sighed. "Melissa wants to add someone else to our relationship."
"WHAT?!" both Howard and Maria shouted, their expressions full of disbelief and alarm.
"Wait! Wait! Hold on!" Tony raised his hands quickly. "Before you jump to conclusions—it's not an open relationship thing or anything like that!"
"Huh?" They both looked at each other, now more confused than angry.
"Did she fall for someone else and wants to bring him into the relationship?" Maria asked with a skeptical frown.
"No, not that either…"
"Okay, now I'm completely lost," Howard said.
"Alright, but you have to promise not to laugh. Especially you," Tony added, glaring at Howard.
"Yeah, yeah, I promise," Howard replied, glancing at Maria, who just shrugged in equal confusion.
"It's for me. She wants to bring another girl into the relationship. Just for me. Specifically. And not just any girl—it's Momo."
"..."
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Tony shot his dad a withering glare. "Why even promise if you were just going to break it!?"
"I'm sorry!" Howard gasped through laughter. "But being told not to laugh just made it ten times funnier! So let me get this straight: Melissa wants you to date someone else—just you. Not some mutual poly thing where you're all dating each other, but more like… she's giving you a mistress?"
Tony nodded sheepishly, cheeks flushed as he pushed food around his plate.
Maria blinked. "Is… is she into that sort of thing?"
Tony paused, then shook his head. "No. Not that I know of. This isn't about her being into anything weird—this is about Momo. We're both really close to her, as you know."
"Ohhh!" Howard said, snapping his fingers. "Remember what I said when we visited during the Sports Festival? I knew it! I asked if you were pulling together a little harem with Melissa and Momo—I called it!"
"Cool. You want a prize or something?" Tony muttered.
Maria leaned forward slightly, curiosity in her expression. "If you don't mind me asking, how did this even come up?"
"Well…" Tony began, setting down his fork. "Last night I was just minding my business when I heard a knock on the door—oh, right, context. We were staying at Momo's place after a class study session… but anyway, that's not the point." He proceeded to explain everything that had led up to the situation, telling them what he knew and how it all unfolded.
Howard and Maria listened intently, completely absorbed in the unexpected breakfast drama.
"…And that's why I came here," Tony finished. "I don't know what to do, so I figured I'd ask for advice."
He looked down for a moment, then glanced at his dad—only to find Howard staring back at him with a proud smile.
"Seriously?" Tony asked, furrowing his brow. "I'm being real here, I don't need that weird proud look right now."
Howard chuckled. "Tony, I think you're misunderstanding why I'm looking at you like that."
Tony turned to Maria, who gave him a small nod and warm smile.
Howard placed a hand on Tony's shoulder. "First off, thank you, Tony."
"…Huh?" Tony blinked. "Now I'm really lost."
Howard smiled and continued, "The fact that you felt comfortable enough to come to us with this—it means more than you realize. It tells us that we've built the kind of relationship where you can actually come to us, no shame, no fear, and just ask for advice. Let me tell you—if I had been in your shoes at your age? No way would I have gone to my dad with something like this. So yeah, I guess I'm proud of the fact that we managed to raise you in a way where you can come to us. That's something special."
Maria set her fork down gently, her eyes softening as she joined in. "We're also proud of the man you've become, Tony."
Tony turned to her, clearly caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice.
"A lot of men in your position wouldn't have hesitated. They would've said yes to Melissa's proposal instantly—thinking only about their own desires, their pride, or the thrill of it all. But you? You're taking a step back. You're thinking about how your decision will affect everyone involved. You're considering Melissa's feelings… and the feelings of Momo, not to mention the type of principles you are trying to uphold. That shows heart. That shows maturity. And that tells me everything I need to know about the kind of man you are."
Maria leaned in and gently pinched his cheeks with a teasing smile. "You're the kind of man I'm proud to say I raised."
Tony groaned, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "You guys really love to embarrass me, don't you?"
Howard and Maria exchanged amused glances, while Tony sank just a little deeper into his seat.
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