Sharon and Peter


"Everyone'd thought she'd died right along with him. Night after night, she stayed with the river. Howard Stark was the only soul she'd let near her. He watched over her night and day." Sharon paused, as if deep in thought, then added, "Y'know, a heart can be broken, but it keeps beating just the same."

Peter tilted his head with childish curiosity. "Where are you from, Miss Sharon?"

Smiling at the child with bright blue eyes, she replied, "I'm from Virginia. My Aunt Peggy was, too. But she moved to Europe with her job during the war. Where are you from, Peter?"

The boy grinned, wide brown eyes lighting up. "I'm from Queens!" he announced proudly.

"You're from Queens?" Sharon asked with the feigned excitement that one speaks to a small child with. Her smile was bright as she lifted him to sit on her knees. "ThatMs an awfully big area for a little guy like you. Is that why Daddy Tony brought you out here to his house?"

"No, ma'am. Mr. Fury brought me here to live after my aunt and uncle went away. He said they went up north and couldn't come back." The child's eyes fell as he finished his tale. Then, remembering what Sharon had said, his head popped back up, frowning in indignation. "I'm not a little guy! Mama Tasha's teaching me how to fight. And Uncle Clint gave me one of his knives so that I'd be safe. Daddy Tony's even making me a suit like his so that I can fight with them!"

"Is he, now? That's mighty sweet of him."

Both woman and child looked up, wide-eyed, as Steve Rogers entered the room. At his bewildered expression, both Sharon and Peter grinned from ear to ear.

"Evening, Captain," Sharon grinned.

Peter mimicked, "Evenin', Cap'n!"

"My two favorite people!" Steve laughed, scooping up the toddler from his friend's lap. Then, squealing child in one arm, he scooped Sharon up as well and planted a chaste kiss on the corner of her mouth. "Thank you for watching him, Sharon. We owe you one."

"You owe me more than one, Steve Rogers," the woman laughed, poking an accusing finger into his chest. "But a dinner date with you and Mister Stark would settle your debts just fine."

"With both of us? That's a bit ambitious of you," Steve chuckled. He sat down the toddler, who scuttled off into the next room. "Dis you tell him about Peggy?"

"He's too young, Steve," Sharon sighed. "He doesn't understand. But he will in time. Just be patient."

"I worry about him, Sharon, that's all. He doesn't know what happened to his aunt and uncle and I don't want someone like Loki to be the one to tell him."

"Then maybe you and the other guys need to sit down and talk to him," she suggested in barely a whisper. "Have Thor tell him about Valhalla or something. But let it be someone he knows."

Steve let out a heavy sigh and nodded. "I know. Thanks anyway, Sharon. I'll let you know about that dinner date."

"Any time, Cap," Sharon assured him, smiling. She watched as the spider child caught hold of the super soldier's hand and led him from her apartment. With the erratic schedule the Avengers kept, she didn't hold out much hope for dinner.


A/N: The quote at the very beginning is from Fried Green Tomatoes, in case anyone caught that. And this apparently came about while I watched it. Such a good movie...Anyway, I couldn't figure out a way to use it unless I did it with Sharon. So...Sharon Carter, Peter Parker, and Stevw Rogers, everyone!