Peter leapt into the night and swung off towards Queens, so relieved to be free again. He was still grounded over the stealing a car incident although he was now suffocating so after a week he gave into the overwhelming temptation.

He had finally found his proper suit- after many hours of searching he found it in his dad's safe; Ned opened it for him. He was breaking the rules again but told himself that they would never find out- he had covered all the bases.

Ned had come through at the last minute so Friday was silent once again ( Ned was more careful this time), Karen temporarily disconnected from home, so only communicating with Peter. It was a routine night until Peter came across an ATM robbery; he enjoyed the fight, relishing the extra challenge.

Then it all went very wrong; Delmar's was destroyed, he had to rescue Mr Delmar and Murph, there was fire and destruction, it was not good; as Peter disappeared into the night he considered the weapons, they had been on another level- he shuddered.

He landed on his balcony, pulled off his mask, adrenaline coursing through his body. That had been so cool, then he felt a warm trickle running down his face; he put his hand up and it came back smeared with blood.

Oh no, he couldn't hide this, his dads would see it instantly.

Skateboarding, he would say he fell from his skateboard; they would be pissed at that as well (no helmet which Pops had threatened to glue to his head) but at least they wouldn't bust him Spidermanning.

Peter eased through his window, it was dark and he blinked to adjust his eyes. The trickling had stopped which was good but he should clean himself up.

He made his way towards the bathroom, then the light came on. He froze and was confronted by Steve leaning against the bathroom door frame with his arms crossed.

''Have fun?'' he asked with a quirked eyebrow

Peter stepped back; he bit his lip and searched desperately for an acceptable reply.

''So remind me, are you or aren't you grounded?'' Unsurprisingly, Pops was annoyed.

''I… I.. just..'' Peter stumbled over the words.

''So it looks like you have a boo-boo there?'' Steve came over and tipped his son's head, examining the large gash. He sighed.

''We need to clean that up, come on but you are still in big trouble! And we will be discussing this believe me?'' Steve took Peter's hand, he resisted.

''I can do it. I'll just wash the blood away,'' Peter knew there was a roomful of Avengers down the hallway-he hated his parents treating him like a baby in front of them.

''Yeah so that is not how this works. I am your father and you have hurt yourself, so I have to take care of you. It's in the job description,'' Steve shook his head; this kid was going to be the death of him.

''But I don't want to,'' Peter was suddenly very twelve.

''Yeah I guess you don't but you have no choice. Now come on,'' Steve pulled him but Peter stayed put.

''Fine, not a problem,'' Steve cut to the chase and picked him up bridal style.

''Pops!'' Peter was mortified and Steve laughed.

''Yeah, you should remember that I can do this. Gonna be a while until I can't,'' Steve ignored the outrage.

''Tones, get the First Aid kit,'' he said as he came into the family room.

Peter groaned as many eyes turned to him, his dad sprang up.

''What the hell?'' he virtually ran over.

''Peter went patrolling and he has cut his head,'' Steve sat Peter on the counter and the boy blushed scarlet as his father handled him like he was a toddler.

''Let me see,'' Tony clasped his chin and looked at the cut.

''That needs stitching,'' he said and Peter flinched away from him.

''No, it doesn't, it will heal. It'll be almost gone by the morning,'' Peter protested.

''And how exactly do you know that?'' Steve trapped him by placing his hands on either side of him.

Tony had gone to fetch the kit.

''I just do,'' Peter faltered, he could feel everyone watching this altercation and he was embarrassed; Super Heroes don't have their parents fuss over them.

''Mmmmmm,'' Steve was not born yesterday (obviously!), so injuries were an accepted hazard and regular occurrence then. They had to get Spiderman under control, establish some solid boundaries and restrict Peter's activities to the safe and mundane.

''I can take a look,'' Bruce came towards them and Peter stared at him in shock. Bruce had been delayed and arrived earlier.

''Oh God, another one!'' Peter muttered and Steve shook his head- what were they going to do with this boy? He was determined to save the world at the grand old age of twelve!

''I am totally and completely okay. It is a small cut; it will be gone in the morning. I should go to bed, it's a school night,'' Peter tried to duck under Steve's arm.

''Stay there!'' Steve's tone stopped Peter dead.

Natasha grimaced at Sam, who was not comfortable with this scenario. He was with Steve right down the line; Peter was a child and could not be allowed to do as he pleased- he was out of control and could be seriously hurt or worse.

''I'd kick my kid's ass if he defied me that way,'' Clint commented and there was a murmur of agreement.

''Yeah think that is what Steve has in mind, once he has Pete fixed up,'' Natasha replied wryly.

She forced herself to stay where she was, the urge to check on Peter difficult to control. Back in the day her involvement would have been acceptable but now… well now she was persona non grata which deeply hurt.

''He is a very stubborn and disobedient child. It is correct that Captain Rogers disciplines him. Children only learn if corrected,'' Vision gave his input.

They all laughed, leave it to Vis to get to the point.

Meanwhile, Peter tolerated his dad cleaning his head, he figured the sooner it was done, the sooner he could leave.

Pops hadn't moved and Peter glanced up at him, trying to work out how much trouble he was in, was this a scolding or spanking offence? He was hurt, so….

''Yeah that much trouble, the smarting kind,'' Steve answered the unspoken question.

'' But I'm hurt,'' Peter argued.

''As soon as you are healed expect the worse, plus you are grounded for another week,'' Steve handed down sentence.

Peter frowned, at this rate he would be a hundred before he got to have any fun again.

''Did you hack a multi- million dollar suit?'' Tony was done cleaning the wound, so he tag teamed in.

''How much?'' Peter eyes went wide at that information.

''I said Peter James Rogers-Stark, did you hack your suit?'' Tony asked very slowly and Peter froze, not the full name, the full name was the worst.

''Technically, I didn't do it, and it has only been temporarily paused,'' Peter tried a charm smile, it failed miserably. Both his dads were now glaring at him.

The watching adults were amused although concerned, it was also very reassuring watching Cap and Stark working as a team; the Avengers were back- they were solid and back.

''So you did. You hacked the suit that I built to protect you,'' Tony snapped and Peter nodded hesitantly, then he got the full Tony Stark nail you to the floor blaze and he shrank away- butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

'' Bed time, you kiddo are going to learn to behave yourself if I have to tan your butt every day for a year. I told you this already, but you obviously didn't believe me,'' Steve pulled Peter off the counter.

''What do you have to say to Dad?'' he reminded.

''Sorry Dad. I didn't know it cost so much,'' Peter muttered.

''It is not about how much it cost. It is about what you did and the danger you keep putting yourself in,'' Tony was frustrated.

Peter bit his lip and dropped his head.

'' Night night Petey Pie,'' Tony shook his head in despair and kissed his son's head.

''By the way, not just Pops who's mad at you. You and I are gonna be having a discussion tomorrow as well,'' Tony warned Peter who baulked, what did that mean? Please don't let that mean what it might?

''Just talking this time, but a lot of talking. A nice, long lecture; your favourite kind. Now go to bed before I change my mind,'' Tony put him out of his misery.

Peter nodded.

''Night Dad,'' he said, hugging Tony.

Tony looked up to the heavens as he embraced his little boy, he couldn't lose this child, it would destroy him. So right now they had to be harsh however hard it was because Peter wasn't listening and he kept putting himself in harm's way.

Much to Peter's embarrassment, Steve swept him up in his arms and carried him to his room.

''So?'' Steve knelt beside Peter's bed after he had tucked him in, he brushed back auburn bangs.

''You're mad huh?'' Peter yawned and knuckled an eye.

Steve smiled, totally beguiled, Peter was so young, a baby, and they had to protect him; it was their duty. He was a child not a Super Hero whatever powers he had; more importantly he was their child.

''Yep Pete, I'm mad and tomorrow when you get home from school you are getting a spanking and that will keep happening until you stop disobeying us. Dad and I are trying to take care of you, we kind of like you and want to keep you around so Bubba, please start minding us. We are the grownups okay?'' Steve carded silken curls until Peter fell asleep.

Steve came into them all watching the TV; Tony was standing by the counter looking grim.

''Your kid made the news Cap,'' Sam told him nervously.

Steve watched with growing alarm as his child faced off against four grown men, all brandishing high tech deadly weapons.

He was in complete despair as Delmar's split in half; this was so much worse than he had imagined. He put a hand on the back on his neck trying to massage the tension away, that tension surged as Peter ran into a burning building; he appeared a minute later, leading a man to safety, a cat in his arms.

''Shit!'' Tony said softly next to him, his face tight and drawn.

''What are those weapons?'' Natasha asked in consternation.

''I believe those appear to be Chitauri in origin,'' Vision provided the information.

''Oh God,'' Steve covered his face with his hands- he couldn't watch anymore.

''Those kill instantly,'' Natasha cringed as she said it. No, absolutely not, this was not happening; Peter was not going up against those weapons ever again if she had anything to do with it.

''We have to find a way to control this,'' Tony groaned.

'' I know,'' Steve agreed.

''His suit won't protect him from those,'' Tony relayed an unpalatable truth.

Steve recovered himself.

''He's twelve- he's a child; it would be neglect if we allowed this so we just say no. Say no and mean it,'' Steve was adamant.

Tony blew out a sigh, he understood where Steve was coming from but it really wasn't that easy.

''No, no this is not happening. I am getting that damn suit and we just forbid him,'' Steve strode away.

''That won't work Tony,'' Natasha said reluctantly although she wished it would.

''I know.''