The silence was deafening.

Tony had told Aunt May about what he had learned, and needless to say, she was taken aback. Sure Peter didn't seem like himself recently, but she just figured it was adjusting to school, and the internship, and all without Ben. He always seemed so full of joy and was always bouncing around like a child, gesturing animatedly whenever he got excited about something. Now that she was thinking back to those moments, she realized that even though he may have appeared that way, his smile never quite reached his dull, worn eyes. Looking at the broken boy in bed, her broken boy, she couldn't help but feel a surge of overwhelming guilt and shame for not seeing anything sooner.

Ned was at his home, updating his mom about everything, and temporarily banned from visiting Peter for the time being with the claim that it was "for Peter's health". It partially was, in all honesty. Peter wasn't sure if he could handle Ned, on top of Aunt May and Tony, know what was going on with him. It would have seriously stressed him out, something he definitely did not need at the moment.

"Peter," Aunt May started, causing the boy to look away, tears springing to his eyes as guilt flooded his system.

"I'm sorry," came the small reply, causing the only female in the room to stare, surprised, at the speaker.

"What are you sorry for hon? You have nothing to be sorry for. If anyone should be sorry, it should be me. I should have noticed you weren't yourself; I should have noticed." Peter's head whipped back to face Aunt May with wide eyes.

"It's not your fault May," Tony said, causing both other pairs of eyes to stare at him. "Peter's pretty good at keeping secrets when he wants to." Aunt May scoffed.

"He's always been such a terrible liar though. I mean, he couldn't lie to save his life," she exclaimed, the abundance of emotions clogging her verbal filter. She was a bit hysterical, but she was not going to admit that; it would only make Peter freak out even more.

"I thought so too, but apparently, he has some talents that neither of us were aware of, though I wish acting wasn't one of them."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tense silence fell over the trio with one single question, one simple question. Peter looked down at his hands.

"I don't know."

"Peter, you know you can trust me, I though we told each other everything."

"We do, I just, I could never make myself tell you. I didn't know how to tell you. It's hard to admit that you're broken okay? I didn't know how to tell you, and I couldn't make myself tell you." Aunt May sighed, giving Tony a look. The billionaire nodded, standing from his chair.

"I'm going to get some coffee, anyone want anything?" Soft mutters of no tumbled off the lips of the other inhabitants and Tony took that as his cue to leave. The door shut with a soft click behind the man, leaving May and Peter alone.

"I guess I just don't understand how hard it is for you to tell me you're struggling Peter. How long?"

"I dunno."

"I think you do mister. How long have you been feeling this way?" Peter still wasn't making eye contact. "Peter Benjamin Parker, you tell me this instance how long I have been failing to notice how much you were struggling. You tell me how long I've been failing you." May felt tears running down her cheeks, but she didn't move to wipe them away. A soft sniff drew her attention to the bowed head of her boy, whose tears were falling against the blanket before a hand was drawn across his face.

"I don't know, a while, maybe a year, more? It's hard to figure out when everything went downhill." May was openly crying, face scrunched up in pain.

"Oh hon, why couldn't you tell me? Why didn't I notice?"

"I'm sorry Aunt May, I'm so so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I don't mean to hurt you. I'm a mess, you don't need to deal with me right now. You can leave if you want, need time to process this stuff and everything," Peter said, finally looking her in the eyes, pain radiating off his form and eyes shining with unshed tears. Aunt May stood from her chair and sat on Peter's bed, grasping his hands in hers, tightly.

"I am not ever going to leave you. You are not a problem to be shoved aside, you are my boy, and we will figure this out, together. We are in this together Peter, you hear me? Your problems are mine, and we will get through this, you will make it through this, and I will be here every step of the way."

"Thanks Aunt May," Peter said with a sniff and a small smile before he was pulled into a tight embrace. Forgetting that he was supposed to be acting injured still, he didn't flinch away, only nuzzling closer to May, not wanting her to ever let go. He didn't realize how much he needed a hug. When they finally pulled apart, Peter let out a soft whimper at the loss of body heat, but it was near silent so, thankfully, May didn't hear. She was still clasping his hands in her's though, so that was comforting all on it's own.

"I promise you, Peter, I am always here for you. You have to promise me one thing as well though."

"What?"

"You have to at least give me some sign when you aren't feeling like your usual self, or your having trouble keeping your head above water. I don't care if you give me a look, or say some sort of code word, or do a weird handshake, or whatever. Just please let me know when you're struggling so I can help, okay?" Peter nodded with a small, thankful smile on his lips.

"Yeah, got it, though I won't be doing some sort of elaborate handshake, I can promise you that," Peter chuckled, causing May to smirk and give a short laugh as well.

"How are you Peter?"

"What do you mean?" Peter was thrown slightly off balance by the sudden mood and subject change.

"How are you, mentally, physically, emotionally? It's a simple question that could provide a difficult and complicated answer."

"Yeah, I know."

"Seriously though Pete, are you feeling alright?" Peter thought for a moment, trying to gauge exactly how he felt and he noticed, for the first time in a long time, and strangely enough, he felt content with where he was.

"I'm good," he said genuinely. "I may be shot and injured, but I actually feel better in this moment, with you, and knowing that there are people who care so much about me, than I have in a long time." May smiled and clasped Peter's hands tighter.

"We are always here for you, and this is never going to change, promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"Well I will do my damnedest to keep this one," May said, determination in her eyes.

"I know you will, but fate is a cruel mistress." May scrunched up her face in confusion.

"Where'd you hear that oh profound one?" Peter shrugged with a half-smile.

"I dunno, MJ probably," he said with a laugh. May nodded.

"I could see that. Speaking of MJ, she's been awfully worried about you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, she kept swinging by the apartment, or Ned's, or calling Ned, or me, or Tony somehow. Pretty sure she probably hacked into Stark Industries purely to find out how you were doing. You have some caring friends Peter, they'll stick with you through thick and thin, no doubt."

"Yeah, they are pretty awesome. Why hasn't MJ come by the hospital?"

"She stated that she doesn't like hospitals because 'there's too many people meandering around, wailing about sickness or pain, and assholes being treated when so many more around the world are suffering from worse than a sprained ankle, and yet they don't complain'. She kept going on and on until something drew her attention away and I made my escape."

"That sounds like MJ."

"She does send her best, and asked for me to tell you that if you ever do something like this again, she will kill you herself."

"Definitely Michelle."

The two continued to talk for what felt like hours when Tony walked back in, a familiar face in tow.

"I think you both remember Dr. Orrow." May stood to shake the woman's hand.

"I can't thank you enough, and I know I thank you every time I see you, but you saved my boy's life."

"I was just doing my job," Rita said humbly before turning her attention to Peter, a smile gracing her lips.

"How are you feeling Peter? Any stiffness, soreness, pain, anything?"

"I feel pretty good right now, thanks."

"That's good. At the rate you're healing, I wouldn't be surprised if you'd be able to start some physical therapy in a few weeks."

"Really," May asked, eyes wide with joyous shock. "That's amazing!"

"I wanted to wait to see how you were healing, but Mr. Stark insisted that I make an appointment for you with one of the top physical therapists in New York, which I did. In a few weeks, you should be healed enough to start on some like therapy, mainly assessing your motor skills, and somewhat your stamina and endurance, but mainly seeing about your walking situation."

Peter had forgotten about that little fact. So many revelations had occurred recently that the fact that his legs remained limp and useless beneath the covers kind of slipped his mind. When Dr. Orrow mentioned them, pain shot through his body, but not the physical kind. It was a anxiety-filled, nervous shot of pain that caused cold fear trickle into every little corner of his being. He could kind of feel his legs, but the further down his leg you went, the less sensation he was getting. He tried twitching his feet, legs, anything, trying to see if they would cooperate at all, but all he got was worry filling his core when nothing happened. Rita must have noticed what he was trying to do, or had seen his worry, because she was quick to assure him.

"I want to tell you that it will only take a few days or weeks before you're back, 100%, but then I'd be lying. It will take a while for you to be at partial strength again, a lot of hard work and determination, blood, sweat, possibly tears, but you will be able to walk again Peter. The muscles around your spine are still somewhat swollen, which could be part of the problem, your nerves being pinched, but I have full confidence that you will be able to walk again. You're strong, you have determination, and you are the bravest kid I've ever had the pleasure to meet. If there's anyone with this kind of injury out there who could walk again, without assistance even, it'd be you Peter. I have faith in you." Peter gave her a grateful smile and the doctor bid her farewells and left the trio alone again.

"So, what'd I miss?"

"Nothing much."

"You know you don't have to pay for everything Tony," Peter said softly and May nodded in agreement.

"We appreciate it, we do, but you really don't have to do everything you've done, and have been doing. We'd figure something out."

"Let me just stop you right there. I want to help, and using my vast fortune to pay for hospital bills and therapy bills is about the only way I can think of helping."

"You're wrong."

"Sorry? Did I hear you correctly Peter, did you just say I was wrong?"

"Your money isn't the only way you've helped." Tony blinked in confusion, which caused Peter to groan in annoyance. "You've been there for me when I needed you. You helped me more than you think Tony, and you need to realize that who you are, and being who you are, being who you really are, is all I need from you. I don't need your money or fame or anything like that, I just need you, and May, and Ned, and MJ." Tony smiled at the kid before rolling his eyes.

"You've gone all soft on me kid."

"I think you're the one who's gone soft Mr. Stark." Tony was about to reply when Peter gave a soft sneeze.

"Awww it was like a little kitten."

"Oh shut up."