This story has taken on a life of its own, it has gone off on a tangent that I am helpless to stop.
It is now a story about a family, a complex and unique family, about relationships and dysfunction but most importantly love.
Sorry for those who want action, there will be some later on but its not really my strength. It seems I am all about drama and earnest conversations.
Hope you enjoy it. Thank you for the reviews.
Its a long one, sorry.
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Peter was having the best time; he had made some friends, other kids using the rocks as a playground.
They were tomb-stoning off the top of the cliff into the deeper aqua blue water- Peter was careful not to stand out.
He pulled himself out of the water, exhilarated by the freedom and independence; he sat catching his breath.
''Want some?'' Finn sat down beside him and held out a water bottle which he took gratefully.
''Do you know whose house that is?'' Finn nodded towards Peter's second home.
''No,'' Peter lied.
''It's Iron Man's but he doesn't live there anymore, not after it was destroyed. I remember seeing him flying in and out when I was little; it was phenomenal,'' Finn enlightened him.
''My sister says they're there now. She saw the cars, they have their kids with 'em,'' Jake joined them.
''It would be awesome to be their kid, having Iron Man and Captain America as your parents. Mine are totally lame, bet their kids don't have to clean their rooms or put the garbage out or obey dumb rules,'' Finn lamented and Peter had to stifle a laugh; he could not be more wrong.
''Yeah, they have someone to do all that stuff for them and they live in that tower with all the tech. Must be so dope,'' Jake was equally as star struck.
Peter chose to say nothing; it was interesting to hear what people from the outside thought about his family. It was more normal than they thought although Peter knew he was lucky to have the parents he did.
''What's your name? You didn't say,'' Finn asked him.
''James, my name's James,'' Peter thought quickly, aware he didn't want to ruin this; it was great to be an ordinary kid just like at the Skate Park in Queens.
''I'm gonna call you Jay, James is too long,'' Finn gave him a nickname and Peter really liked it.
''Do you think we'll see 'em? That would be epic,'' Jake was still fixated on the house.
''I dunno, let's get some ice cream. Race you to the top,'' Finn took off over the rocks.
Peter went with them; he was in trouble anyway so he might as well make it worth it.
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''Harls, have you seen your brother?'' Steve asked as he went to the kitchen to fetch the baby's lunch.
''Uuuum, he's asleep,'' Harley lied, he had not seen Peter but he was alert enough to know that he should cover for him. He closed his Physics book, all his schoolwork finally done for the day.
''Can you go get him? Its lunchtime,'' Tony asked and Harley nodded. Now what did he do?
Once Harley was in Peter's room, he immediately sent him a text message.
''Come home now''
A phone bleeped behind him and Harley cursed under his breath, they had only just got here and Peter had disappeared. Their parents were going to go crazy.
Just as Harley couldn't stall any longer, the window slid open and his little brother dropped into the middle of the room.
'' Are you nuts? Where did you go?''
''I was hanging with some kids,'' Peter shrugged. Harley looked at him, Peter had caught the sun; he was glowing and had a huge grin on his face. He hadn't appeared this happy and carefree for a long time.
''Just be careful dude and tell me if you're gonna bail so I can cover for you and take your phone with you next time,'' Harley pushed it into his hand.
''Thanks bro,'' Peter held out a fist and Harley blew it up.
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''Pete, you've gotta do your schoolwork after lunch okay?'' Tony reminded him as he prepared salad.
''Yeah I know,'' Peter agreed with no hint of dissent. He went to the fridge to get a drink, he was parched.
''You smell like the ocean,'' Steve looked suspiciously at his youngest son; he was not convinced by the sleeping explanation. Peter didn't look like he had been sleeping; he looked like a kid who had been in the sun all morning and having a great time.
'' I played in the water, I was hot. I didn't swim, honestly I didn't,'' Peter lied easily, he was an old hand.
''Just an hour of school then you can go in the pool,'' Tony didn't share Steve's concern.
''I know,'' Peter wasn't bothered.
They sat down to eat, Morgan was having her afternoon nap so it was calm and peaceful.
''So parents, I'm gonna ask you something and don't just say no okay?'' Peter decided nothing ventured, nothing gained.
''Well that really depends what it is doesn't it?'' Tony was not that easily duped.
''No-one knows who we are here, they know you cos the whole world knows you but they don't know us right?''
Harley realised what Peter was about to ask and he put his chances of success at less than zero- much less.
Tony looked at Steve who dipped his head, Peter was speaking the truth. Tony had a permanent legal team making sure photos of their children never made it into the public domain; it was surprisingly successful so as a result they were not widely recognised.
''Okay I will bite. Continue,'' Tony waved his fork.
''So there's a real nice town right by here, it's got an ice cream place, a few stores and a Skate Park,'' Peter got to the point.
''How do you know that?'' Steve had an epiphany.
''I just do, Googled it,'' Peter smiled innocently and Steve dropped it; he was home safe and sound and the adult didn't want a confrontation- spoil the pleasant atmosphere.
''So this town,'' Peter continued.
''You want to go there, on your own,'' Steve finished for him and Peter nodded.
'' We will go together, stay together,'' Harley joined in, some freedom in sight.
Tony and Steve looked at each other, their natural inclination was to keep their children away from the public eye but that wasn't fair on them, it would be safe for them to go out here. Safer than most places. Plus it would give them alone time and a chance to bond further with Morgan- it was tempting.
Steve nodded, despite the horrible weight of worry that had already settled in his stomach he agreed. The boys should have some independence and this was a good opportunity.
''Yes okay,'' Tony said and Peter stared at him in disbelief.
''Yes, you're saying yes?'' he couldn't believe it.
''Wow!'' Harley was equally as dumbfounded.
''There will be rules,'' Steve felt the need to say.
''Shocker!'' Peter rolled his eyes at Harley who laughed.
''If you break the rules then your freedom will be revoked,'' Tony warned and both boys nodded.
''Okay so what are the rules?'' Peter asked.
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Harley was in love, completely and utterly smitten.
Jake's sister Ellie was a goddess; she had an amazing smile, a cute button nose and long golden hair, which she flicked when she laughed, causing butterflies in Harley's stomach.
''Quit staring and close your mouth bro, you look dumb,'' Peter sat down next to him at the top of the half pipe.
''I wasn't staring. Put your helmet on, if you fall and hurt yourself and wreck this sweet deal, I will kill you,'' Harley came out of his trance.
''Oh I forgot to tell you. Ellie likes you too so ask her to go for ice-cream,'' Peter smirked at his brother's incredulous face.
''She does?''
''Yeah, she thinks you're cute which is nuts but hey whatever. So go ask her,'' Peter got up and dropped in, leaving his helmet lying on the ground.
''Be cool, be cool. Don't say anything stupid,'' Harley stood up and ran his hand through his unruly hair.
''You'll do good dude, just be chill,'' Miles, who was the same age as Harley and a really nice kid, slapped him on the back.
''Does everyone know?'' Harley groaned and Miles laughed.
''Harry, you stare at her like all the time, so yes everyone knows. Go on, man up!'' Miles pushed him.
Harley took a deep breath, pulled back his shoulders and walked as casually as he could manage towards the girl of his dreams.
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''This is bliss,'' Tony was lying back encircled by Steve's arms in the hot tub watching the stars.
''Yeah it is, I have not felt this relaxed… for… well ever,'' Steve laughed, then sipped his champagne.
''This has been good right? It's been amazing for us and I know the boys have hardly been here but it's been good for them as well right?'' Tony checked.
''It's been great. Stop worrying, they are healthy, happy and Harley asked me how you know if you are in love yesterday so I think there's a girl in the mix. Which is good and bad,'' Steve replied and Tony whistled.
''Great, a love sick teenager, so that's gonna be fun when we get home.''
They were leaving in a few days and the boys were returning to school for the last couple of weeks before they broke for Summer.
''It's part of growing up Tones. Vacation romances are necessary, better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all,'' Steve was calm as he misquoted Tennyson.
''You hopeless romantic you,'' Tony chuckled.
''Takes one to know one,'' Steve nipped the curve of Tony's neck with gentle teeth making him groan with desire.
''It is a girl right?''
''Yes, it's a girl, her name is Ellie,'' Steve laughed.
''How do you know that?''
''I have my methods,'' Steve winked as Tony looked up at him.
''Peter told you, little snitch,'' Tony rolled his eyes.
'' Don't embarrass Harley. I'm telling you, just don't,'' Steve warned.
''Or what?'' Tony asked with a mischievous glint.
''Or I will make you suffer,'' Steve turned him around.
''Promise?'' Tony stopped the reply with his lips.
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The front door crashed open making Steve cringe, he froze waiting for the sound of a crying baby. They got lucky, Morgan slept well here exhausted by days on the beach and playing in the pool so there was silence.
''Hey guys, keep it down okay?'' Tony scolded his boys as they walked in.
''You need to talk to Harls about safe sex Dad, '' Peter threw himself down on the couch next to them; he was filthy and had a fresh graze on his cheek.
''Shut up Peter,'' Harley cuffed his brother's head then collapsed on a nearby arm chair.
''What? Well he does although maybe you should talk to Pops. I exist so Dad might not give you real good advice,'' Peter shocked his parents with that statement.
'' What do you mean by that Pete?'' Steve was the one that asked, Tony too cowardly.
''Well I figure that Dad got landed with me so he's maybe not great at that stuff is all,'' Peter shrugged.
'' I did not get landed with you,'' Tony found his voice.
''You didn't plan to have me though did you?'' Peter retorted.
Tony hesitated, this was a minefield; he had drunk too much champagne and was still high on endorphins after a very pleasurable evening with his husband to handle this conversation well.
''What happened to your face Bubba?'' Steve rescued Tony and he smiled gratefully at him.
''Good save Pops. Nothing, just took a fall. I'm gonna take a shower,'' Peter scampered away, his work was done here.
''I don't need you to talk to me about safe sex, I really don't. I already know,'' Harley was mortified.
'' That's really good to hear Harley but you are only fifteen and you are way too young to be having sex; that is more the point here,'' Steve grasped the mettle and Harley blushed deep scarlet.
''I know, Ellie is not like that. Peter was being a little shit, you have nothing to worry about,'' Harley was very earnest.
''Hey language!'' Tony never missed an opportunity. Steve laughed not bothered by the teasing.
''Okay kiddo, go take a shower and you can have dinner. Go on, scoot,'' Steve waved his hand and Harley rushed away.
''So it appears we need to have a serious conversation with both kids about the birds and the bees,'' Tony remarked and Steve nodded.
''Sure looks that way.''
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The next morning after breakfast, Tony faced his responsibilities.
''What? Why? I was gonna take off; I am meeting Finn and Jake,'' Peter was not keen on taking a walk on the beach with his Dad.
''You know why Smalls. You can't say what you said for me to ignore it,'' Tony expected resistance.
''I was kidding. It's no big deal, I am not screwed up about it,'' Peter really did not want to have this discussion.
''It's non-negotiable, we are taking a walk. Go put on some sun screen, your face is a little red,'' Tony stuck to his guns.
''Pops, tell Dad. I know about sex, we talked about this when I was ten. You did a real good job; there is absolutely nothing else to say. Tell him please,'' Peter was begging and Steve smiled.
''No can do Bubba. Stop arguing and get the sun screen,'' Steve was as adamant as Tony.
Peter grumbled and mumbled his way out of the room.
''You gonna be okay doing this on your own. I know you find it hard to talk about,'' Steve asked, in his head he completed the sentence with; ' because you have never spoken to me about it.'
''Yeah, I'm good,'' Tony ignored the obvious implication.
Harley chose that moment to walk in; he stopped as they both looked intently at him.
''Oh no,'' he groaned.
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''So, is that what you think, that I was landed with you?'' Tony was brave; he took Peter's hand as he spoke.
The boy stopped walking, puffed and looked away.
''I dunno Dad, I guess. I've seen Teen Mom, I get it alright. I've Googled you, I've seen how you were, what you did. Playboy Tony Stark, that's you right?'' Peter scuffed the sand with his toe.
''Yeah that was me, it was me Pete. Note the past tense, it is not me now. Do you even know what a Play Boy is?'' Tony put his hand on his son's forehead and pushed his head gently up, making him look at him.
''No, not really,'' a small voice replied. Peter blinked confused doe eyes and Tony searched for the words to convince his little boy that far from being landed with him; that his birth turned his life around, saved him.
''Good cos you shouldn't,'' Tony ruffled his hair and let him go.
''No staring at the ground. You look people in the eye when you talk to them remember?'' Tony reminded.
''Okay,'' Peter kept his eyes level.
''So you are right, when you said that I did not plan to be a father, you are right, I didn't. The rest you have very wrong. I wanted you, as soon as I knew about you, I wanted you more than you could ever understand,'' Tony was telling the truth. He had actually begged for his child's life, literally begged on bended knee.
''You sure?'' Peter frowned.
''Hey yes I am sure. Very, very sure. Relationships and sex is complicated, people pretend it is simple but it's not. We talked about contraception, you know what that is, and I did use it but it doesn't always work. Nothing in life is ever without error, you know we always have to have a margin of error when we build something; so I used it and it didn't work. But and this is a big but,'' Tony paused, not at all sure Peter could handle such a mature conversation but he was listening intently so maybe he was wrong.
''But I am glad it didn't work, I got you and that was the best thing that could have ever happened. My life became so much better once you arrived, I fell in love with Pops, we got married. So now I have a family, for the first time in my life I have a family, a real family and that was because of you, all because of you. I love you Peter, I loved you when you were just a collection of cells and I will always love you Smalls. Please Honey, please never think of yourself as a mistake, you were not and never could be a mistake,'' Tony choked on the tears rising in his throat.
''I love you too Daddy,'' Peter wrapped his arms around Tony's waist and he picked up the boy clutching onto him for dear life.
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Harley laid out in the sun, trying to recover from the lecture he had just endured about responsibility, the meaning of consent and how sex was a serious commitment between two people in love. It had been excruciating although very comforting, he knew it must have been hard for his father and the fact he was prepared to do that for him was reassuring- he had amazing parents .
That didn't mean it wasn't deeply embarrassing.
''You wanna go skate?'' his brother's voice roused him.
''Oh God yes, lets skate and we are never to speak of this morning ever again,'' Harley leapt up making Peter laugh.
''Whoa dude, what's your problem? You okay?''
''This is all your fault, the only reason I am not kicking your ass is cos I know one day he will do that to you and I am gonna laugh my ass off when it happens. Let's get out of here,'' Harley snatched his deck from Peter's hand and ran off through the back gate.
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Tricky stuff, think it went okay. Let me know what you think.
Salutations.