"So that's it," Papa says at last. "That's the end of the story."
It's not, Peter knows. That's just the end of that section of the story. The real end of the story happened fifteen years later, which was two days ago, when Peter said, "You're a crappy dad," and kinda meant it.
"I should go apologize," he says, after thinking about it for a while.
Papa nods, looking pleased. "I think that's a great idea, Peter. Your father's in the lab right now. Why don't you go see him?"
"Okay," Peter says, and stands. "Thanks for telling me the story. I didn't know any of that."
"Not many people do," Papa says. "Here, I'll walk you to the elevator."
He does, but lets Peter ride down by himself to the lab. Peter uses the time to psych himself up. He hates apologizing, which is something he knows he got from his dad. It's no wonder this fight's lasted so long, with the two of them like they are. Once he gets to the lab, he taps in his code to open the door. The codes still work and the door swings open, which Peter thinks means his dad can't be too mad.
Dad looks up when he enters the room, has JARVIS turn off the music. He says, "Hey, Pete." He's still wearing that wounded, guilty look, though, the one he's had on for days, so Peter knows he's going to have to apologize, after all.
"Can we talk?" he asks tentatively.
"Sure," Dad says, and pats the lab stool next to his, the one Peter usually sits in when they work on projects together.
Peter walks slowly over and sits down. He watches his knees as he starts to speak, because he can't look Dad in the face for this, not with that expression he's still wearing. "Papa told me a story," Peter starts. "About, um, about your dad dying and what happened after that. And I just wanted to say I- I'm sorry about those things I said before. I didn't mean them. I was just mad, is all."
His dad's quiet when Peter finishes for so long that Peter has to look up at his face to see what's going on. His mouth is drawn, like he's thinking about something and his eyes are darker than usual. Finally, he looks right at Peter and says, "The last thing I ever told my father was that I hated him."
"Did you mean it?" Peter asks before he can stop himself. He knows it's none of his business, but he got his curiosity from his dad, too.
"Yes," Dad says immediately. "I meant it when I said it. He was so overprotective and never let me do anything fun, which might have been worth it if he actually ever spent any time with me. He was a busy man, you know, but I always felt like he ignored me."
"You don't ignore me," Peter says, because his dad should know. "And I don't hate you."
"I'm glad to hear it," Dad says and he smiles. "And I feel like in the light of this argument we can make some sort of compromise. You know I don't approve of this Wade kid, and I've got good reason, Pete. He's shady and he's got a criminal record. So I don't want you going out with him just yet. But how about you invite him over here for Family Night so your Papa and I can meet him. If he seems okay, we'll see about letting you out with him next week."
"Yeah?" Peter asks, hardly daring to believe it. He'd about given up hope of ever getting to go out with Wade after his Dad caught him trying to sneak out to see him the other day and they got into this big fight.
"Sure," his dad says, and pats him on the shoulder. "Want to help me with this design while you're down here?"
"Yeah," Peter agrees at once. "I love you, Dad."
Dad turns his face away, but Peter can still see his pleased smile. "Love you, too, Pete."
