Thank you for the wonderful reviews, they were very encouraging.

This is an extra long chapter, a Christmas present. Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas Day and Boxing Day (my favourite).

Language warning again, my Peter is a little tyke but lovable nonetheless.

Many chapters of this already written, a lot of twists and turns.

Reviews release chapters!

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''You'll get mad,'' Peter looked between his parents in consternation.

''No, we won't. We want to hear honestly what you feel. What you feel about this is important. It's your turn Bubba,'' Steve replied and Peter was confused.

''Kiddo, we didn't listen to you. You told us, with all the acting out and bad behaviour but we weren't listening so now we are listening,'' Tony encouraged.

''Really?'' Peter checked again, he was suspicious.

''Yes really,'' Tony nodded.

''Well I like Harley, you know I do but once he was here all the time, you ignored me; I became invisible and that really pissed me off. I hated it, I know that makes me sound like a baby but I did. Then, it kind of got better, Harley is fun; it's great to have a brother. He has my back and we do stuff together, plus it's dope to have someone else to play video games and catch with. So Harley is good, I am cool with Harley,'' Peter stopped talking and bit his lip.

''So we get to keep Harley then?'' Tony quipped and Peter rolled his eyes. Steve bit his tongue; the eye rolling pushed his buttons big time but now was not the time.

''So we done then?'' Peter stood up.

''No Bubba, we're not. Sit down, you know we are not done don't you?'' Steve was gentle.

''I don't want to talk about the baby. The baby is your thing,'' Peter retorted stubbornly.

Steve and Tony exchanged looks; their daughter was a thing then?

''How about you use your sister's name kiddo?'' Steve suggested and Peter shrugged.

''If you wanted a girl, why didn't you get someone to adopt me when I was born? You don't like boys much,'' Peter left his fathers speechless for a few moments; the irony of his words lost on the child but hugely entertaining to them not that they could express that.

''I tried kiddo but no one wanted you so I was stuck with you. Them's the breaks,'' Tony couldn't help himself and he was not surprised when Steve glared at him. He shrugged stifling his mirth; Steve shook his head in loving despair.

''Nice dad, real nice,'' Peter retorted grumpily.

''Pete you are gonna have to help us out here because why would you think that?'' Steve was bemused by this train of thought.

''Cos she screams, never sleeps, throws up all the time and smells weird, everyone loves her, calls her a princess all the time; I've seen a lot of dumb Disney films and she is not a princess. She is so not a princess, she's more like a Mogwai that's been fed after midnight, so it's gotta be cos she's a girl right?'' Peter looked at them as if they should understand but neither man had any idea what a Mogwai was.

''Peter, she does those things because she's a baby not because she's a girl. Bubba, you were that way too,'' Steve responded, feeling very out of his depth. Children's logic was very different from adults and difficult to predict.

Although Steve and Tony had not been a couple when Peter was a baby, Steve was in his life right from the start and had babysat plenty. It explained why they bonded so easily when they officially became father and son; they already loved each other.

Peter had actually been a very easy baby but he had his moments like any baby.

''Why did you need another kid? Why weren't me and Harley enough? Gotta be cos you wanted a girl right?'' Peter was determined to make this point.

''It had nothing to do with the fact she was a girl, that was chance. It was because we like having kids, and do you know why we like having kids?'' Steve felt on much more stable ground here.

Tony was on his phone which was irritating.

''No, not really. You don't like me much and I'm one of your kids. So no, I don't know why,'' Peter shrugged.

''We don't like you much? Why would you think that?'' Tony looked up, his brow furrowed.

''Well you're always yelling at me, especially since Gizmo got here,'' Peter narrowed his eyes- challenging Tony to disagree.

''It is nothing to do with your sister why we have been yelling. It's because you have been misbehaving and you know that,'' Steve replied patiently.

''Do not call your sister Gizmo!'' Tony told him off, something Steve was too nervous to do.

''Why? I kinda like it- it suits her. Morgan's a dumb name. Anyways I thought I was allowed to say what I wanted?'' Peter smirked at Tony who was suddenly the villain of the piece.

''Can we get back on track here?'' Steve was floundering.

''Yes Pops of course, what were you saying?'' Peter smiled innocently.

''We like having kids because of you, because we loved being your parents, we learned to be parents with you and it was and is the most amazing experience of our lives. We love you so much- it was not replacing Bubba, it was just adding more love,'' Steve finally said what he wanted to.

Peter blushed, for once not sure what to say.

''He's right kiddo, '' Tony said quietly as he exchanged a loving glance with his husband.

Peter was searching for a way to reply, it was affirming and stabilised his world, but he didn't have the words to express that.

He got up and hugged him Steve around the neck.

''Thanks Pops, love you too,'' he whispered in his ear and Steve sighed in relief. He was forgiven.

''Hey, what about me?'' Tony protested and Peter grinned at him- considering leaving him out but it was too mean.

''Love you too Dad,'' Peter kissed Tony's cheek.

''I'm okay with Harley and I suppose Gizmo can stay but just don't expect me to touch her or anything gross like that,'' Peter said cheekily then he ran off before they could reply.

''This is a Mogwai when you have fed it after midnight,'' Tony held up his phone and Steve grimaced.

''Oh, so that's not very reassuring.''

''Do you think?'' Tony raised his eyes to the heavens.

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Steve and Tony took a break from difficult conversations with Peter. Tony went to the lab, Steve to the gym, then Tony joined him and they sparred together. The afternoon passed peacefully, Peter and Harley played in the pool and spent time outside in the sunshine whilst the newly reconciled parents spent a few quality hours bonding with their daughter

They had to have another talk with Peter, the school issue not yet resolved. They couldn't put it off forever although they wanted to, the calm was pleasant.

They hijacked him at dinner, refusing his request to be excused. Morgan was sleeping and Harley was in his room so it was ideal.

"So this is not great is it?" Steve looked at the note that Tony had retrieved from the trash. Peter softened his eyes in an attempt to charm him, it didn't work.

"He made me angry, he's a bully. I don't like bullies," Peter did not see the problem.

"You can't hit out every time you get angry," Steve replied and Peter frowned.

"Why not? That's what you and Dad do all the time. You hit me, well dropped a walkway on me but whatever, cos I made you angry," Peter replied.

''That's different, you know it is,'' Steve replied uncertainly, this was a minefield.

''Is it? Why?'' Peter challenged and Steve hesitated, not yet confident enough to confront his son.

"You know what? Think it's time we get Harley in on this conversation cos there is way more we have to talk about," Tony interrupted, helped out.

Whilst Steve appreciated the save, he was mystified but went along with it-trusting Tony implicitly.

Friday summoned the older boy.

"Is there?" Peter feigned innocence but he had a dreadful feeling that what they had got up to in those weeks without any supervision was about to bite them in the butt, literally in Peter's case.

Harley sat down and looked anxiously at Tony.

"Do you have a license to drive Harley?" Tony asked and Harley went scarlet.

"Oh shit," Peter exclaimed.

"Language!" Steve said automatically- Tony's eyes sparkled with amusement.

''Yeah right, whatever,'' Peter sassed.

Steve didn't react to the rudeness so Tony flashed a warning at his youngest son, who threw a wide eyed glare back.

''Watch it!'' Tony pointed and Peter shrugged nonchalantly.

Tony had already decided how he was going to deal with Peter so he let it ride for now; he turned his attention back to his eldest son.

''Harley, I asked you a question so answer it.''

"Uuum no. I have to wait until I am sixteen," Harley mumbled.

"That's right, you do. So care to explain these and here's the bill, a total of just short of a thousand dollars in speeding citations," Tony spread the papers on the table. Peter pulled an Oops face at Harley, who appeared to have lost the ability to speak.

"That was a long time ago Dad," Peter came to his brother's assistance.

"No Smalls, you zip it! After your stunt at school you are already in big trouble, so now you keep quiet!" Tony retorted and Peter dropped his head with a huge huff.

Steve hid his smile and when he looked at Tony, he could see he was struggling not to laugh at their little guy's melodrama.

"So did these cars drive themselves or was there someone at the wheel? Someone who pushed them to speeds of, let me see, over 100 MPH?" Tony fixed Harley with a firm glare.

"No, it was me," Harley muttered miserably.

"With your little brother in the car? Kiddo, what were you thinking?" Steve was dismayed; this was supposed to be their sensible kid.

''I'm not little!'' Peter protested.

''Yes you are!'' Tony and Steve spoke as one. They exchanged a meaningful glance- this was their biggest problem- Peter refusing to accept the limitations of his tender years.

Peter did not argue further much to his fathers' relief.

"I don't know. I guess I wasn't really thinking much at all," Harley admitted.

"Clearly, now onto exhibit number two for the prosecution, these are your attendance records at school for that month. Peruse them gentlemen, they leave a lot to be desired, any comments?" Tony was in full flight and a sight to behold; these kids were quaking in their boots just as they should be.

"I made up everything I missed," Harley mumbled.

"Yeah so did I. Well kind of," Peter added nervously, his last report card making a liar of him.

"Peter, it is bedtime," Tony said suddenly and Peter frowned.

"But it's way too early, it's only eight," Peter exclaimed.

"Which is now your bedtime for the foreseeable future. Go now and do not even think about sassing me," Tony pointed at him and Peter opened his mouth.

"Don't, just don't! Scoot before I whip your scrawny little butt into oblivion, go to bed!" Tony raised his voice, not much but enough.

Peter stared at him but didn't move.

"Did I stutter? Go to bed Peter!" Tony glared at his son who slumped miserably away.

Steve was looking at Tony with ill-concealed admiration, where was this coming from? Little did he know that it was him, having Steve back supporting and loving him had restored Tony's mojo; so he was finally dealing with his disorderly children, the way he should have done a good while ago.

Steve couldn't do it, normally he would play this role but in the current climate, it was not appropriate. Tony stepped up just as he promised what felt like a lifetime ago.

"Harley, you are grounded for six weeks and in those six weeks you will be working, working off these citations. Now go to your room!" Tony barked and their fifteen year did not say a word, no backchat, no snits, he just got up and went to his room.

"Wow Tones, you scared me," Steve laughed.

Tony smiled, stretched and then stood up.

"Where are you going?" Steve was mystified.

"Smalls has a spanking coming his way. He thinks you are tough, he has no idea," Tony placed a kiss on Steve's lips and walked towards Peter's bedroom.

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Peter was glaring at his cereal whilst shifting in his seat, trying to get comfortable which was a lost cause. Dad had really worn him out and Peter was miserable.

Harley slouched in.

"Hey," he waved his arm at Peter who pulled a disgruntled face then pointed at a piece of paper on the fridge.

"Dad wrote you a list of chores, it's real long," Peter mumbled and Harley groaned as he pulled it down.

"This will take me forever," Harley read it in despair.

''Well you're lucky; I got grounded for two weeks and spanked, which I don't get. Why do I get grounded as well?'' Peter was feeling very sorry for himself.

Harley grimaced, that was harsh.

"So I am real glad Pops is home but cos he is being all weird Dad has gone all fucking hard ass, it's really shit," Peter proclaimed, verbalising his insecurity over the change in Steve.

Harley nodded, wasn't that the truth?

Then Friday spoke a second later.

"I have just informed your parents that you swore Peter. Twice!"

Peter collapsed his head in his arms, even the AI was giving him a hard time.

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"The boys don't know what's hit them. Oh and Peter just cussed twice," Steve informed Tony as he came out of the shower.

"Did he? Strike one and two," Tony smiled coyly at Steve as he towel dried his hair. They had spent most of the night making up for lost time and were basking in the after-glow.

"Oh okay! So he's on a warning, is it my turn then?" Steve pulled on a T Shirt.

"Yeah it's your turn; Petey Pie is all yours today,'' Tony watched Steve closely; uncertainty and insecurity sweeping his face.

''Steve sweetheart, you have to get back on the horse. If you don't then the rift will grow; Peter will interpret your reticence as you not loving him anymore. You know this, you told me this,'' Tony was frank and Steve nodded slowly.

''I know but I am scared. I broke his trust and I could make it worse if I come down too hard on him,'' Steve was stammering.

Tony sighed and sat on the bed next to him.

''He needs his Pops back, the Pops who makes him feel safe and protected, not some half-assed version,'' Tony placed a soft hand on the back of Steve's neck and stroked gently with his thumb.

''You don't have to go nuclear but just be more normal. If he misbehaves then scold him like you always have. It is making it worse how nervous you are around him,'' Tony imparted some wisdom.

''I know,'' Steve nodded, he took a deep breath and gave himself a mental shake- he was the adult it was down to him to make this right.

''I think we should take the boys out, bond a little, build bridges. Pepper is bringing Morgan home tomorrow, which is a whole other problem, as you now know," Tony shared awkwardly.

Steve puffed out a frustrated sigh but decided that could wait for now, they could not fight battles on multiple fronts; one thing at a time.

"But they are both being punished," Steve pointed out.

"They will see going out with us as a punishment, believe me?" Tony laughed and Steve smiled, that was true.

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