The Hamptons' House

2003: Part 3

"I still can't believe you didn't name your kid after me," Rhodey teased.

He'd arrived in the late afternoon the day after the orgy and the three of you had been spending the week just as you always did. The time spent between the beach, pool, and Tony's sheets was like putting on a comfortable t-shirt. You had been a completely different person when you first started doing this. Young and burdened with all the troubles that youth seemed to pile on. Yet, the week in the Hamptons had just been a chance to forget about all of that, and ever since it was the same. You slid back into the past like a warm bath.

There was always so much happening in everyone's lives outside of the mansion by the Atlantic Ocean. Rhodey had been made Major. He and Tony were working together regularly thanks to the defense contract Stark Industries held. Yet you had your own path you were traveling. Working for the Smithsonian and raising a family. None of that mattered here. The rest of the world didn't exist here. Just the three of you.

The three of you had gone out on Thursday for Tony's birthday. It was just to a sports bar but it was the first time any of you had ventured out in the week. You all ate burgers and drank beer. A lot of beer. The more beer that was consumed the fewer topics seemed to be off the table, and there weren't that many that had been off the table in the first place.

"I'm really sorry, Rhodey," you said, patting his leg. "But James is the most boring name in the whole world."

"How dare you?" Rhodey teased, feigning offense. "It might be boring, but what the hell kind of name is Brody?"

You shrugged. "I don't know. It was a family name."

"We'll the next one better be named after me," he teased.

"Next one? Jesus, I only feel like I've started getting sleep after Brody," you said. "Already booking in more kids."

"Do you want to have more?" Tony asked.

You took a long drink of your beer and nodded. "Yeah, I do. I kinda love being a mom. Is that lame?"

"No," Rhodey asked. "Why would it be lame?"

"I don't know," you said. "I spent so much time on my degrees. I feel like I'm a traitor to feminism sometimes."

Rhodey and Tony both started laughing. "Damn, that's a lot of pressure," Rhodey said.

"I kinda want shots," you said, nodding and looking around for the waiter. "And it is. I don't know ... do you get that? Like I don't want to let people down because I like something traditional. I don't want to be a bad parent because I still like work."

Rhodey patted your back. "I get it. And I know you well enough that no one is ever going to accuse you of being too traditional. Just live your life."

"And I know you well enough to know you're not going to be a bad parent. I know bad parents, that's not you," Tony said, rubbing your thigh.

You felt tears prick your eyes and you leaned in against Tony. He wrapped his arm around your shoulder and rubbed your arms. "Aww, thanks, you guys."

"Alright, alright don't get all sappy," Tony teased, as he flagged down the waiter.

"Hey, how is everything?" the guy asked.

"Great thanks. Can we get like... nine shots of tequila? Whatever is top shelf," Tony said.

"You've got it," he said and grabbed the empty water pitcher. "I'll get you some more water too. Anything else?"

"Oh... more loaded fries," you said. "And nachos."

"Can do," he said.

"I'll get another IPA," Rhodey said, tapping his glass.