"Mr. Stark! I'm sorry..."

Tony blinks, he wants to tell Peter its okay, but he can't seem to form the words.

"Tony"

It's Pepper

"We'll be alright, you can rest now"

She smiles at him. Gods , he loves that smile - he loves her and Morgan. He closes his eyes.

"Daddy"

"Shh, he's sleeping. We should probably go back now.."

"But I wanna stay with Daddy"

"I know... But Mrs. Stark would kill me if she knew I brought you down here.."

Tony tries to open his eyes, those voices sound familiar. He could place them if only that incessant beeping would stop. He tries to lift his arm but it feels like lead, he can't move it. The beeping increases. It's louder now. More annoying and Tony clenched his jaw. The voices stop.

"Daddy!"

He knows that voice. He has got to open his eyes. The beeping seems even louder now.

"Oh my god. Mr. Stark!" It's the kid, he sounds stressed.

"DADDY!" That's his kid, she sounds near frantic.

"Morgs don't yell. Oh my god Mr. Stark Iamgonnabeinso much trouble. Mrs. Stark is..."

Tony focusus on Peter's face as he manages to open his eyes and hears the kid's frantic monologue die off.

"Hey kid", at least that's what he means to say. What comes out is more like a groan which dissolves into a dry, painful cough.

"Mr. Stark, wait don't say anythingletmegetyousomewater. Ehh Morgs waithereonesecond" Peter runs off.

"Daddy, you're awake"

Tony turns his head and sees her standing there. He can see the tears almost falling, and feels like he could cry. She takes a step closer. Tony tries to move his arms again. They're starting to feel less like lead. She's crying now.

"Morgan"

"Mr. Stark I've got water!"

Peter puts the water down on a table next to the bed and starts looking for around. He evidently finds it, as the bed starts rising so Tony is almost sitting up. Tony can see him practically vibrating.

"Peter, slow down" his voice sounds awful, but at least he can get the words out.

"Mr. Stark? Yeah, uh, okay, I can do that"

He picks Morgan up and puts her on the bed. She promptly curls into his side and Peter holds the glass to his mouth. Water feels amazing and his throat hurts less. Peter puts the glass down and there comes the sound of footsteps. A lot of footsteps? No, one person. Running. Morgan pulls his arm around her.

"Harley" They say it at the same time.

"Well that's not at all creepy" he stops next to the bed "Mr. Stark..."

"Hey kid"

He doesn't answer and Tony realises it's because Harley is crying.

"It's okay. I'm fine" he tries to laugh but just manages a cough. Peter immediately presents him with a glass of water and Tony realises that he is also crying.

"HEY KID!"

Tony immediately opens his eyes to see Harley and Peter fall off the bed.

"You're not supposed to be in here! What do you think you're doing?"

Peter tries to stand up, but falls again, having reccieved a rather rude awakening. Harley fares better and helps him up.

"We..."

"Mr. Stark.."

Peter and Harley start trying to explain at the same time and trail off, still not fully functioning.

"My daddy's awake now, so he can come home"

"Your what... He's not supposed... I mean.."

"I'm not supposed to what?"

Peter and Harley sit near the foot of the bed and Tony sees the doctor. He is staring at them, mouth opening and closing as he tries to think of something, anything to say.

"Daddy? "

"Yeah baby?" Morgan's face is dead serious.

"He looks like a fish."

"He does doesn't he" Tony keeps a straight face while the boys try to follow suit.

"I'll inform Mrs. Stark right away... Sir"

And the doctor dashes out of the room.