Updated 6/28/2018

Disclaimer: If I owned then Tony would be officially tagged Dad.

Numb, the buzz the that signaled the void of nothingness. He felt completely empty.

It felt a little cold too, but that was all Peter could register at the moment. Actually, that was all he had felt since the initial panic and adrenaline wore off about an hour ago. At least, Peter thought it had been an hour. If he were an outsider in this situation trying to set his watch, he certainly wouldn't set it by any time that Peter guessed. Wouldn't even trust Peter to give the approximate time of day. It certainly felt like an eternity had gone by since the ambulance ride over to the hospital. An eternity since he was told there was nothing the doctors could do. Nothing Peter could do.

Aunt May was gone, passed away peacefully in her sleep, or so he was told. How can someone pass on peacefully and leave such emotional destruction and chaos in the wake of their death?

He was currently sitting in one of the private offices at the hospital where they had attempted to restart May's heart, but it had been too late. Far too late. Did Peter really think that a rushed ride to a building full of dying people would revive a person that was so closely connected to Peter Parker, the epicenter for the mothership of all Parker Luck?

His last living relative was dead. He was completely alone.

At least it felt like that to Peter. In reality, several people had come and gone from the room since he'd been placed in it. The doctor, one or two nurses coming to check up on him (No, I don't want to talk about it with a stranger. Thanks for the offer), and the most recent addition to the otherwise empty room, a woman from child's services. The woman had probably introduced herself upon entering the room, but Peter honestly couldn't even remember when she had arrived. There wasn't much chance that Peter was going to remember what the social worker had said to him, let alone the lady's name. The only thing he vaguely remembers her asking if there was anyone she could call someone for him, "a relative or close family friend, anyone that you can think of that you want to come help you?"

While he couldn't bring himself to answer the woman verbally, he had somehow forced himself to pull his phone out of his pocket to do as she suggested. Peter wordlessly dialed the only living person that he knew he wanted, who he needed at that exact moment. Putting the speaker up to his ear, he waited silently as it rang. He only heard the dial tone twice before the other side of the line was answered.

"Hey Underoos! What's up?" the up-beat voice of his mentor sounded through the phone. "I thought you had geek group today." He sounded distracted. Peter noted absentmindedly that he must be working on something. (I'm always interrupting his life). "I mean, I don't blame you for ditching; it sounded boring to me too."

And with the familiar voice of his father-figure, the dam burst. At first Peter let the tears fall silently while he tried to take in enough air to talk to his mentor. (Hey Mr. Stark! Sorry to bother you, but my Aunt May died, so I'm kind of alone and now I'm going to be barging in on your life even more than I have already and I'm so so sorry Mr. Stark) Only a strangled noise made it past his lips.

"Whoa, kiddo!" Tony sounded on the verge of panic, but Peter could still hear the strained smile he was trying to plaster on (Tony doesn't need this right now). "If you really want to be a social outcast, that is completely your decision, and I'll completely support you," Mr. Stark teased, trying to diffuse whatever was making Peter cry (he doesn't need a crying teen. I'm so sorry Mr. Stark). "Will I make fun of you for it? Of course, but support will be mixed in there somewhere." Tony chuckled uncomfortably, obviously not sure what was going on with his "intern."

Peter couldn't stop himself from sobbing. Loud and uncontrollable sobs left him as he was no longer able to keep his feelings bottled up inside. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, I'm so so sorry. I-I can't—I-I n-need— Please, Mr. Stark, I c-can't."

"Peter! What's wrong, buddy? Are you hurt?" and now Mr. Stark was full out panicking, no longer putting in the effort to hide his concern. "Pete, I need you to answer me kiddo!"

"Co-come, come— n-n-need ne-ed come, p-please?" He tried to get out what he wanted, needed from his mentor, but it sounded more like gasping and choking even to Peter's ears.

Through his tears, Peter was able to make out the blurry picture of the social worker holding out her hand and gently coaxing him to give her the device. If he had been a little more coherent, he might have felt insulted by the obvious babying, but considering the situation, he actually appreciated the kid gloves even if he barely recognized them for what they were.

Handing over the phone, Peter could still make out some of Tony's hysterics over the line. Peter didn't really pay attention though after the woman's initial, "I'm going to need you to calm down a minute, sir…" as he found he was a little preoccupied with the task of breathing. (Why am I always such a problem for Mr. Stark? I should call him back and tell him to go back to his work. But I really need to see him. Why do I feel the need to drag him into this?)He tried to calm his breathing by pulling his knees up to his chest which seemed to help if only because he now had somewhere to rest his head which felt stuffy and weighed down.

Peter wasn't even sure how much time had passed with him sitting there, body trembling as he cried, before there was suddenly a pair of calloused hands resting on his shoulders. He couldn't help but violently flinch back at the unexpected touch.

"Hey, hey kiddo, it's okay. Kiddo it's just me, it's just Tony," Mr. Stark said in a calming whisper.

With the blurry confirmation that Mr. Stark really was kneeling in front of him, Peter rushed into his arms.

"Don't leave me please... Please, stay… Don't leave, please don't leave me," Peter begged over and over as Tony brushed a soothing hand through his hair.

Peter felt better and worse all at the same time being in the arms of someone he loved. Better because he knew he still had someone. He knew that Tony was here and that he cared. Better because he could share his hurt with someone who would understand, with someone who knew every aspect of his life.

But it was also worse. Mr. Stark had his own life; he didn't need Peter's problems. Peter didn't want to lose Tony to his dumb Parker luck too. What was the alternative though? Mr. Stark leaving him alone. It was all too much to take in.

Peter knew one thing for sure: May was gone and Tony was here. Tony would hold him together while everything else fell apart. For that, Peter was thankful. Grateful that Tony wouldn't tell him that everything was okay, wouldn't shush him to stop the tears. So Peter cried while Tony was simply there, rubbing comforting patterns into his back.

Hey, guys! Sorry for disappearing for almost two months (I had a family emergency). I know I promised a new chapter but I think you'll like this better.

Big shout out to lilyblaney for all her help! You guys would not be getting this as soon if it wasn't for her help.

BTW: Go check out her story "Pyotr, Petya, Peter" especially if you are a Black Widow fan. She actually has full blown chapters (unlike my short pieces of fluff and angst)

Important: In this Peter is 15 like in Homecoming, but May is older like in the original films.

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