Short chapter but big stuff happening.

Chapter 9

Tony looked at his phone when it pinged a fourth time in as many minutes. Although everyone was annoyed, Tony won't ignore a message from Pepper who was traveling so he checked to see who was trying to reach him. Tony read the name of the texter… 'Peter.'

'Mr. Stark'

'Mr. Stark, why aren't you answering?'

'I need you, Mr. Stark.'

'Please Mr. Stark'

With the urgency in his words, Tony excused himself from the group, ignoring Clint's scoff on the way out.

"Peter, what's going on?"

"It's May, she's…she's gone"

"'Gone,' what do you mean?"

"Please come to the hospital. It's May, she's gone. She's…She's…"

"Alright, calm down, Peter. I'm on my way. Which hospital?"

"Elmhurst"

Tony checked in with the team. "I think Peter's aunt died. I need to go. Can we finish this later?"

Everyone nodded, the anger drained from them with the news. They looked at each other for a few moments then returned to the living quarters. Jamie was still curled up against Bruce, asleep with dried up tear streaks caked on her cheeks and sucking her thumb.

Seeing the position Jamie was in, Clint commented, "I was going to ask how she was but I don't think I need to."

"Her sensitivities to our feelings are getting stronger," Bruce noted. "She has a pretty good idea of what Tony's feeling…wait, where's Tony?"

"Sounds like Peter's aunt may have died, Tony's on his way to the hospital."

Bruce nodded, taking in the news just as the rest of the team had.

"So, what did she say about how Tony feels?" Steve asked.

"She said Tony enjoys being around Peter more, that she can't compete with him. She also mentioned that Pepper avoids her by being out of town when she's around."

Clint shook his head, "Why didn't Jamie tell us this before?"

"She's afraid of losing us," Steve responded, understanding the answer was much easier than guarding against it. "I'll talk to Tony. I don't think we're going to get anywhere if he feels like we're all ganging up on him. I'll try to set something up with Tony and Pepper to discuss all of this."


Several hours later, Tony contacted Steve, letting him know what was going on with Peter.

"Hi Steve. Peter's aunt passed away, car accident. I have Peter with me at the tower."

"How's he doing?"

"He's a mess but who wouldn't be."

"So, now what? He doesn't have any family, right?"

"I'm going to take him," Tony said definitively. "I'm all he has. Besides, he's Spiderman. Who else could take him?"

"I get it, it's really great that you're willing to jump into the father role with Peter. He needs you right now."

"Yes, he does."

Steve remained quiet for a few moments, prompting Tony to speak, "I won't forget about her. I need time to figure everything out but I want to, I want her. Six months ago, I was a bachelor, now I'm a father of soon to be two teens and am engaged. I'm trying."

"I know you are. We should meet, talk about things, Pepper too. Maybe in a few days when things settle for Peter."

"Thanks, Cap. I need to go. Peter's in bed but he's a mess right now, I don't want to stay away too long. Tomorrow, I have to meet with my lawyer and a social worker. I'll try to call or stop in to see Jamie afterward to talk to her about everything."

"I'll hold off telling her any specifics until you talk to her."

"Thanks, Cap."

Steve hung up the phone then addressed the team, "Peter's aunt died. Tony will be taking guardianship."

"I'm glad Tony is going to help Peter but what about Jamie," Bruce asked. "She already feels left out. Now Peter will be living at the tower full-time and she will just visit from time to time. That's going to make things worse for her."

"Maybe, but he has to do this for Peter. I believe Tony will figure out a way to be there for both of them."