This part is when Tony was a three year old.

Christmas, a toddler's dream holiday, but the same can not be said for Anthony Stark. His father promised to home for the holiday, but that never really happened. He only ever gave Tony and Maria positive attention in public because of the media.

It was almost midnight and Howard still hasn't come home. Maria and Tony had already opened their presents. Maria had already gone to bed. Tony had insisted on staying up, waiting for his father; he had promised and Tony took it to heart.

However, Tony had fallen asleep. Howard doesn't come home that night, he comes home the night after, drunk. Tony knew from past experience not to go near his father when he acts like this. The three year old isn't old enough to understand why his father acts like this sometimes, but he doesn't think he wants to. Tony avoids Howard for the next two days, waiting for the alcohol and hangover to wear off. The toddler obviously doesn't know the terms.

"Mama, why did Daddy break his promise?" Tony asks his mother with a tearstained puppy face.

"I don't know, baby. He loves you vey much, though." Maria replies with a small, sad smile. Then Howard comes in the room before Tony could respond.

"Stand up, boy, you know I don't like someone greeting me by sitting down." Howard barks, harshly.

"Howard, he's eating. Let the poor boy eat." Maria says.

"Where's Jarvis?" Howard asks, "Jarvis!" He yells.

"It's still his week off. He's back on Monday." Howard leaves before anymore can be said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jarvis isn't a thing yet. In this part of the story Peter is the three year old. He has some devolvement issues. You'll see..

When Christmas rolls around the Stark mansion was fully decorated. Peter is three so of course there were also toys spewed around everywhere. While Peter was napping Tony is down in his workshop, reminiscing on Christmas when he was three. Tony runs up the stairs to the living room, where he knew Pepper would be.

"Pep, don't let me miss Christmas for anything, not even an Avenger's mission." The man-child says as he sits down next to his wife.

"Hun, what?" Pepper asks.

"When I was his age my dad promised he would be home, but he didn't come home until two days later. I remember staying up late, well, for a three year old. I don't want to do that to him."

"Aw...Tony, I'm so sorry. I know you wouldn't do that to Pete, I wouldn't let you. Do you want me to call Fury? Tell him your not available on Christmas?"

"Please?"

"I'll call him, don't worry. And you won't have any work from me. I know how hard you try for Pete and me, I don't have any doubt." The baby monitor goes off. Pepper goes to get up but tony stops her. (Yes, they still have a baby monitor even though he's three; they are overprotective helicopter parents)

"I got him. You just sit here and chill." Tony says, smiling softly, a real genuine smile. He walks up to Peter's room.

"Baby, it's ok, Daddy is on his way up. He'll be there very soon." Pepper says, reassuringly into the baby monitor. Peter is still so small that they had to keep his crib instead of getting him a normal, small bed.

Tony gets up to his son's room. He turns on a light to see his child having a nightmare. Tony picks the toddler up and sits down on the soft recliner that they put in there when Pepper was breastfeeding although; because nightmare's are oh so common in the Stark house, weather it be the three year old or the thirty year old, at this point the chair is really just a comfort. It's a place where the small family can all curl up together.

He cradles the child to his chest as if he were a baby and whispers soft reassurances.

The next morning Tony goes to get Peter while Pepper pretends to sleep so that Peter could 'wake' her up.

"Mewwy Chwiswmas!" Peter yells. (merry Christmas!)

"Good job, buddy!" The parents praise.

Later after they ate, the small family opens presents, well, Peter tries but he sadly can't so Tony and Pepper help him. They make sure to spend more time than usual (which on a normal day is a lot of time so like triple that) just playing with Peter and his new toys.

the end! merry Christmas guys!