Chapter Two

Peter was in study hall, researching whatever important scientific discoveries that happened during the missing years, desperate to catch up. He was surprised to find there weren't as many as he expected. As best he could tell, the world was too busy grieving their losses for the first couple of years during the Decimation. Plus, a large number of scientists, engineers, and inventors were among the Snapped.

Those who were left focused on how to help with infrastructure, keeping utilities going such as water and power. They were also needing solutions to get food to the remaining population. It was difficult due to the loss of so many trained workers. Peter found there was a greater emphasis on robots and automated systems, particularly in the harvesting of food.

Roads were still being cleared of abandoned and crashed cars over two years after the Snap. Once the initial shock was over, people slowly reverted to normal, either helping others or taking advantage of them.

Although Peter tried to avoid any news on Tony Stark during those missing years, emotionally unable to deal with it, it was clear that Stark Industries had been instrumental in providing the critically needed A.I. programming and production.

Peter jumped when the speaker above him crackled to life.

"Peter Parker to the Principal's office. Peter Parker to the Principal's office."

Everyone in the library turned to stare at him. With a shrug, Peter repacked his laptop and binders back into his backpack, hurrying out into the empty hallway leading to the front offices.

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Peter opened the door to Principal Morita's outer office where Mrs. Chang sat, guarding the entrance to his inner sanctum.

"Um, I'm Peter Parker." When Mrs. Change simply stared at him, he tried again. "The intercom said to report here?"

With a word to Peter, Mrs. Chang rose, knocked on the inner door, opening it and gesturing Peter to enter. He nodded at her nervously as he slipped past her.

"Mr. Morita?"

"Mr. Parker…Peter, thank you for coming so quickly. Please have a seat."

Peter gingerly sat down, perched on the edge of the seat. "Did I do something wrong, sir? Oh, God, is it May? Did something happen to May?" He jumped back to his feet, panicked.

Morita held his hands up. "No, it is nothing like that. I'm sorry, Peter, as far as I'm aware your aunt is fine. I called you to speak about some school-related news. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Okay, okay." Peter slowly sat back down, his heart racing.

"I'm aware that you worked as an intern at Stark Industries before, well, before the Decimation." Morita looked down at papers on his desk. "Although there appears to be some confusion regarding when and where you disappeared. That is a subject for another time. What I wanted was to warn you that there will be a field trip to Stark Tower on this coming Friday.

Peter felt the blood drain from his face, panting as he fought to stay calm. "Mr. S-Stark sold the Tower."

"After people disappeared, the new owner, Oscorp, reneged on the deal. The Tower reverted to SI. Ms. Potts, excuse me, Mrs. Stark reopened the labs and offices for any remaining employees. The field trip had been planned before Doctors Stark and Banner managed to bring everyone back. We considered cancelling the trip, but Mrs. Stark insisted that the students not be penalized."

Peter nodded with a quick jerk of his head.

"She mentioned you by name, Peter, explained how close you were to Dr. Stark. She asked that you not be blindsided by the announcement. I agreed."

"Th-thank you, sir."

"Peter, I was aware of your internship due to the school gossip. There were some doubts, so we requested the appropriate paperwork from Stark Industries. I was mildly disappointed at how long it took to receive, but it did eventually arrive. I may now understand why there was a delay. Why didn't you tell anyone that you were Stark's personal intern?"

Shrugging, Peter tried to explain. "No one believed I was an intern, not even the teachers. I never planned to tell anyone at all, but Ned kinda let it slip during gym."

"Ah, yes, Mr. Leeds isn't known for his ability to be quiet about things that excite him. And you working at Stark would definitely excite him," Morita observed, chuckling.

Peter's answering smile was weak, but fond. "He means well."

"I know the field trip will be announced later today. Mrs. Stark was concerned about your reaction and felt that it would be better if I warned you first." Morita leaned over his desk, trying to catch Peter's gaze. "Are you struggling with everything that's happened?"

At first Peter considered denying it, but the Principal had always been kind to him. He found himself nodding. "I…some days it's just too much, you know? I was luckier than a lot of others since both May and I were snapped. But coming back to…" he bit his lower lip at the almost reveal. "Coming back to find so many of my classmates gone and already graduated from college, in classes with kids who were in middle school just yesterday. Well, what seems like yesterday to me. And now they're in my senior class. And…and losing Mr. Stark…I can't…"

Peter's breathing began to verge into hyperventilation.

Principal Morita moved around his desk, perching on the second visitor's chair. He gently patted his student's back.

"Easy, Peter. I want you to focus on being calm, can you do that? Take nice deep even breaths. Listen to my voice. Slow deep breaths. In and hold. Now, let it go. Wait a moment, then take another deep breath. That's it."

Morita continued coaching Peter, ignoring the sounds from outside his office. The blinds had already been drawn to give Peter his privacy. Not expecting any interruptions, he was startled when his office door flew open, an older black man pushing gently past Mrs. Chang.

"Excuse me," Morita protested. "As you can see, I'm in a private meeting. Please wait outside until I'm finished."

The man, casually dressed in tan khakis and a white polo shirt, his legs encased in metal braces, ignored him, dropping to his knees beside Peter Parker's chair. "Hey, Pete, I'm here. You're okay. How are your senses?"

"'kay."

He grabbed the young man's hand, placing it on his chest. "Feel my heart, match my breathing."

Peter's red-rimmed eyes finally focused on something, on the newcomer. His lips parted as if to speak, but no sound other than air was heard. Still the stranger seemed to understand.

Tapping Peter's watch, he smiled. "Tony's still looking after you, kiddo. Karen realized you were on the verge of a panic attack, told Friday who notified Pepper. Since I was already in Queens, she asked if I'd check on you."

"S-sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. I'm an old hand at this. Tones used to have panic attacks of his own."

"Y-yeah?" Peter's breathing was slowly evening out, his voice getting progressively stronger.

"Yep, long before he became Iron Man."

"I apologize, Colonel Rhodes. I didn't recognize you."

With a squeeze of Peter's shoulder, Rhodes got to his feet, a slight whirring coming from his braces as they straightened. "Not a problem. You were focused on Pete, as you should've been."

"May I ask who Karen is and how she was aware of Mr. Parker's difficulties? I don't recognize the name, but if a member of this school is sharing personal information about a student, it needs to be addressed."

"It's okay, sir. Karen is my A.I. She's in my watch and monitors my health."

"I…see. And who was it she told? Friday?"

"She's…she was Mr. Stark's A.I. She used to run the Tower before Mr. Stark moved her to the Compound." Peter turned to Rhodes. "She's okay? I thought…I was afraid she was destroyed along with the Compound, Colonel Rhodes, sir."

"Rhodey, remember? Or Uncle Rhodey would be fine. As to Friday, she's fine. Tony had her protected. It just took a while to dig down to the servers. He was taking no chances after losing Jarvis. She's now back at the Tower as well as at the Stark cabin. In charge again." He smiled softly at Peter. "I think she misses you."

Peter's chin trembled as he worked on swallowing the lump in his throat.

"I want you to know that I'll be at the Tower during your field trip as well Pepper and Happy. If you need us, if you get overwhelmed, Karen or Friday can call us." He tapped Peter's chest like he had the Stark watch.

The alarm blared throughout the school, announcing class change. Peter took a deep breath, getting to his feet and snagging his backpack, flinging it over his shoulder. "I have to get to Physics. Thank you, Principal Morita, for the warning. Mr. Rhodey, I'm sorry you were forced to come here."

"Hey, we talked about that. No more sorries. I have every intention of pushing my way into my nephew's life."

Peter's face flared bright red. "N-nephew?"

"Tony was my brother by another mother. You were his kid. I expect to be called Uncle Rhodey from now on."

A shy sweet smile spread across the teenager's face before he bolted form the room