Beside You

Harry was at OSCORP finishing up signing some documents giving permission to scientists to conduct their experiments. It wasn't a hard task, if it said anything about animals and genetics in the same sentence it was denied. Everything else was pretty much accepted. It was a tedious task. He was able to lose himself in his work, finding this to be what he was best at. He couldn't screw this up because this was easy. Reading, stamping it if got denied or signing if it was approved. Simple. Easy task. Relaxing even. So being that he was completely lost in his work, the gentle hands that touched his shoulders and moved to his chest startled him considerable.

"Shhhh," the soft and quiet voice said, hushing him.

Harry instantly relaxed. These hands were familiar and warm. They were safe. He could find solace within the owner of these hands. These hands held lanky and long fingers, bordering on the bony side. They were strong and capable, confident in their movements. They were a bit rough from continued use. Nonetheless, they were still home. Harry looked up to see familiar doe eyes curtained with long and thick eyelashes. He smiled at the man.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. Harry pushed his chair away from his desk to turn to face the man he so dearly loved.

"I thought it was time I apologized for what happened this morning. I don't like it when we're not talking. It's unsettling," Peter said softly. Harry took hold of the hands from his beloved and pulled him closer, the other melting into him easily. With Peter in his lap and curling into his body Harry felt like himself.

"You don't need to apologize, darling. I was in the wrong, I should never get so angry with you when it comes to…that." Harry said, looking at the other male.

"I shouldn't have pushed you though," Peter rebutted.

"I am meant to be pushed, and if you're right, then you shouldn't back down. I need to be put back in my place," Harry said kindly. Peter smiled at that.

Harry took Peter's left hand and lifted it up. He stared at the silver band adorning his ring love's ring finger. He had a matching one on his own hand. "I made a vow to you because I love you, all of you."

Peter nodded in understanding, looking at his husband with an affectionate look. "I love you too, you know."

"I know, I never doubt it," Harry replied, leaning in to silence the other with a gentle kiss. Lips on lips pressed against each other in a warm and familiar rhythm.

"Can you come home early?" Peter asked once they had pulled away.

"Can I come home early? Psh, Peter Osborn-Parker, you bet your ass I can. I'm the boss, remember?" He said teasingly.

Peter grinned, untangling himself from his husband. He watched as Harry began filing the documents that were once scattered over his large desk. His husband was a bit OCD.

When the other seemed to be finished up, Peter took Harry's hand and led him out of the office, elevator, and building to the car idling in front. The driver opened the door for them and Peter slid in first, Harry behind him. Once the door was shut, he cuddled up to his husbands' side. "I'll be beside you through thick and thin," he promised.

Harry chuckled, "You've stuck with me longer than anyone ever expected, so I believe it. The same applies to you, my love."

Peter smiled and sat up, before hesitating. He bit his lower lip and took Harry's hand to play with his wedding band.

"Pete?" Harry questioned softly.

"I know this is crazy, and maybe a bit out of the blue, and we're probably still young and with both of our jobs it might not work out—"

"What is it Pete? Say it, it's okay," Harry said kindly.

"Harry, I want to be a dad," he told him softly.

"You want to…adopt?" He asked.

Peter nodded his head.

Harry lifted Peter's chin to force his love to look at him, "I would give you the world if I could. Adopting children is just fine, I want to be a father as well. More importantly, I want you to be the father of my kids. Never hesitate to ask anything of me, okay?"

Peter smiled, and looked down at their interlaced fingers, hesitating.

"You already have a child in mind," Harry stated, knowing his husband all too well. Peter looked up and nodded.

"She's perfect, Harry. She's beautiful. She has the prettiest green eyes with light brown hair and such a delicate little frame. Her smile…her smile is the most innocent and wonderful thing to see. She's one, but Harry…she's the one, I know she is," Peter insisted.

"Why don't we go visit her then," Harry said, "To the orphanage please," he told the driver.

"I do need to warn you about something though. She was abused by her mother and is terrified of being alone and in the dark. Her mother used to lock her up in the closet, sometimes for days. This means if we commit…I may have to hang up the suit," he said quietly.

Harry looked horrified at the revelation of what happened to the little girl. "Of course, she'll never have to be alone. Maybe I could work something out with work. Most of it I can take home anyways…you shouldn't have to hang up the suit. You're needed. We'll work it out, darling."

The car stopped, and the door opened. Harry stepped out first and offered his hand to help Peter out. Peter took the hand and they walked up to the center and through the doors. The lady behind the counter smiled at Peter, "Mr. and Mr. Osborn-Parker, welcome," she smiled, "Are you here for Skylar?"

Peter nodded, "Yes, yes. We're actually wanting to see if we could adopt her…for good."

The lady looked pleased, "Of course, we can draw some paperwork up while you take our husband to meet her."

"Thank you," he said, leading Harry down the hallway to the center of the building where most of the children played. He made his way to the area where the children under three were at. His eyes looked for the delicate little girl eagerly. He beamed when she saw him and entered the enclosed area to gather her. Harry watched as his husband bent down to smile at her and gently lift her into his arms. Harry loved this man. This beautiful and sensitive man. When Peter was standing in front of him with the tiny and adorable girl in his arms, Harry smiled softly.

"Skylar, this is Harry," Peter said.

"Hi Harry," she said.

Harry waved, taking in the appearance of the girl. She was beautiful, truly beautiful. "Hi darling," he cooed, taking her baby-like hands and bring them up to his lips to kiss them. This managed to get the little girl to smile at him and reach out for him to hold her. Peter transferred her over and Harry easily situated the girl so she was resting her little head on his shoulders.

"She's the one," Harry agreed.

Peter had taken her back, so she would have someone through her physical evaluation. Harry stayed out in the center to watch the kids who were parentless. Some were laughing and playing, others were working on homework, while others were alone. His eyes caught sight of a little boy sitting at a plastic bench looking longingly at the kids in front of him play.

He walked over to the boy. The boy looked up, a bit nervous. "Hi there, buddy. I'm Harry, what's your name?"

The boy hesitated, staring at him, before smiling shyly and answering, "My name is Charles."

Harry smiled, "I'm Harry. How old are you?"

"I'm six," he answered.

"Why won't they let you play with them?" Harry asked, observing the kids in front of the table.

Charles hesitated, "They say I'm a freak."

"Why?" He asked, concerned for the other.

"I'm not supposed to say," Charles said quietly.

"That's okay. You don't look like one though, you look just like the others," he commented.

The six year old smiled, before he looked thoughtful for a moment.

I can read your mind, and I can talk to you in your mind, the little boy's voice said in his mind. Harry's eyes were wide open, before smiling wide.

"You're a telepath," Harry said gently.

Charles nodded, I am.

"Well, that doesn't make you a freak at all. That just means you're special." Harry said.

Charles smiled, "Would you play with me?"

Harry nodded, "Of course. What would you like to play?"

Peter came back to look for Harry with Skylar in his arms, wiping away the stray tears. The doctor had drawn blood and the little girl was not fond of the experience. He panicked just a bit when he didn't see his husband, but hearing his laughter in the distance calmed him. He followed the noise and was met with the endearing sight of his husband being tackled by a small boy who looked like he was four. He watched as Harry brought the other boy to lay on his chest and held him tight. His incredible hearing could make out, "Why are you here, Charles?"

The boy didn't reply, but Harry answered after a few seconds.

"I'm sorry, buddy," he said.

Again the boy had no answer, but Harry replied. Confused, he cleared his throat. Harry looked up and smiled. Charles moved off of Harry's chest and hid behind his husband's legs after he stood up. Harry chuckled, before leaning down and picking him up. "Pete, this Charles, Charles, this is Pete."

Charles smiled, "Hello. It's nice to meet you."

Peter smiled, confused as to why he couldn't hear Charles reply to Harry if he could talk.

Charles giggled, and Harry rolled his eyes.

"Charles is six, and is very special." Harry led in, before walking closer to Peter and whispering, "He's a telepath."

Peter's eyes widened and looked at the little boy. Charles nodded, before speaking in his mind, Will you adopt me?

Peter looked at Skylar and Charles, and then at him and Peter, and realized they looked like a family.

"I guess we're going home with two kids, Harry." Peter said, affectionately.

Harry grinned wide, and Charles seemed to beam.

Both men carried their children to the front office to express their want for Charles as well. The lady looked hesitant, before seeing Harry wrap him close in his arms and rub the boys back comfortingly.

After the paperwork was drawn and Charles went through his physical evaluation (Harry upset that the needle had made the little boy shed tears and he made sure to cuddle the boy and keep him close after that, glaring at anyone who tried to take him away from him) they were able to take the kids home. Peter had Skylar in his lap, and Harry had Charles in his lap. Both kids were fast asleep.

When they reached the Osborn mansion, they carried the children up to their room and realized just how unprepared they were to have the little tykes living with them. Harry immediately enlisted their butler to go to the store to get clothes for a twelve month old, a four year old (because Charles was really quite petite for his age), food, toys, car seats, an anything else he thought they would need for the two kiddos.

Harry and Peter set the kids down on their bed, watching as they slept. "They're perfect," Harry said.

Peter smiled, "Yeah, yeah, they're beautiful." Peter took Harry's hand and squeezed it. Harry rand his fingers through Charles' brunette locks. "He looks like you," Peter said.

Harry smiled, "She looks like you, too," he said, watching as Peters hand combed through the little girls hair.

Charles was the first to wake up and balled his hands into fists to rub at eyes. Harry cooed at the boy, and immediately went to pick him up and hold him close. Charles rested his head on the warm and kind chest, projecting to Harry and Peter how happy he felt. The couple smiled at each other, before Harry took Charles downstairs to get him a snack. He hoped he could find something child-friendly.

Harry managed to scrounge up ritz crackers and sliced up some apples for the boy. The boy looked at the food eagerly. Harry sat down at the dining room table and kept the boy in his lap, holding the bowl with his snack. Charles looked at Harry before tentatively taking a cracked out and nibbling on it. "It's okay, it's all for you. There is plenty of food here, so if you are ever hungry you can always ask me and Peter for something to eat. Okay?"

Charles nodded and became a bit more confident with the food in front of him. He devoured the snacks, and murmured a quiet "Thank you" to him. Harry kissed the boys forehead, and stood up, refusing to put the boy down to explore. The butler returned, carrying in large bags and making a couple of trips before everything was brought in. Charles looked at Harry nervously, before Harry gave him a gentle nod. The butler smiled at Charles, before reaching into a bag to pull out a container of Lego's and handed it to Harry. "Would you like to play?" Harry asked.

"Yes, please," he said eagerly. Harry took Charles into the sitting room to open up the package of blocks so he could play with Charles, his son.

Charles and Harry lost themselves in a world of Lego buildings and monsters knocking them all over for what seemed like hours. Peter passed the room with a content smile on his face, holding his precious little girl in his arm. He asked if there was any milk, and the Osborn butler easily poured some milk into a bottle and handed it to Peter. He took it and went into the room to feed Skylar, while watching Harry play with their new, gifted son.