Thanks for all the really encouraging reviews.

This chapter is pretty angsty, a little bitty. Action is not really my strength but I try my best.

I am posting early as I may not be able to later on this week and I know it's frustrating when a writer misses a scheduled update.

You may even get an additional update this week, I am not sure.

Salutations!

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''Harley honey, what are you doing here?'' his mother was wasted and slurred her words as she spotted him instantly.

She was standing at the back of the couch, a large, bald man, his huge belly straining to escape a stained white T- shirt on the other side- their fight had clearly turned physical in the moments it took Harley to walk around the side of the house.

Harley froze; suddenly back in his former life, nasty memories assaulted him- memories of a revolving door of unsavoury and sometimes violent men.

His mother came towards him, her arms out and Harley flinched with disgust as she hugged him.

''You came home; I knew you would come back. I missed you kiddo,'' she said softly. Harley almost believed she was glad to see him- almost.

''Don't call me that,'' Harley snapped, that was his parents' nickname and hearing it from her besmirched the endearment.

She blinked; confusion on her face- hurt by his rejection.

What the hell? She was the one who rejected him, abandoned him into the foster care system- Tony had come for him within days.

Harley couldn't process this.

Maybe he should have left it to his dads?

It was too late now- he was here in this hovel and he had to deal.

''Don't talk to your mom like that,'' the man spoke and Harley turned to him, his eyes narrowed.

He was a big guy, but out of shape and as wasted as his mom; Harley assessed quickly whether he could take him.

''Who the fuck are you?'' he decided he could.

The man laughed and before Harley could move, he backhanded the boy across the face.

Harley's ears rang, his vision blurred- it was a hefty blow. The boy shook his head, trying to regain his composure- he put his hand to his nose wiping away the blood that was flowing freely from both nostrils.

''I'm your new daddy and you show some respect or I will teach you some,'' the man put his hand to his belt. Harley realised that he had seriously misjudged the situation.

''Chip! Don't! Stop! Oh honey, are you okay? Here, let me clean you up,'' his mom grabbed what appeared to be a dirty towel from the back of the couch and started to wipe her son's face.

He recoiled in horror at the stench; the rag stank of stale sweat and booze. He pushed her away and she stumbled, falling onto the greasy carpet. She sat with her hands over her face, unable to get up, her drunken stupor over whelming. Harley heard her begin to cry and pity rose in his throat; his mom had always been a train wreck but this was another level.

''You shouldn't have done that son,'' Chip was unbuckling the belt and Harley knew he had to run; he was no match for this man. He looked around in panic, the only way out was through the kitchen but Chip was blocking the way.

The boy backed up; he was cornered, completely cornered. Chip grinned at him revealing misshapen, pointed teeth, he looked like a monster about to eat him and Harley's stomach dropped, a shiver of fear running through his body.

Then, he saw movement in the shadows and his eyes widened as he watched his younger brother walk up behind Chip and smash him over the head with a heavy, glass jug.

The expression on Chip's face was strangely comical- shock causing his mouth to drop open- there was a moment when it appeared he would stay standing; then he fell to his knees and face planted into the floor.

''Shit!'' Harley whispered- Peter was staring at his hands in disbelief, he jumped dropping the remnants of broken glass.

''Do you think I killed him?'' Peter was white with shock.

Harley glanced at his mother who was still slumped on the floor, -she had passed out which was a lucky break. He stepped forward and knelt down beside the bleeding, prone man, placing two fingers on his neck.

He sighed in relief, the monster was still alive but the wound on his head wasn't that bad, they didn't have much time.

''We need to get out of here,'' Harley went into flight mode- the fighting part hadn't gone so well, so that was their only option.

''What, just leave them?'' Peter hesitated.

''They will wake up Pete and think this happened during their fight. They are so loaded they won't remember but we have to go now!'' Harley pulled his brother after him- the decision made.

Harley threw his brother into the car- Peter was crying, distraught at what he had done. Harley didn't see the problem- it had been him or Chip. In his eyes, his brother had little choice and had in fact saved him.

Harley backed the car up, wheels spinning in the soft ground and sped off down the track that led to his former home.

Well that went well- he laughed hysterically.

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Tony surveyed the scene, puffing out a loud sigh of despair as he rubbed his hands over his face. This was a disaster- two passed out adults, one bleeding and no kids, definitely a worst case scenario.

''Right, damage limitation then,'' he tapped the comm.

''You got them?'' Steve's panicked voice answered immediately.

''No, and we are going to need some Wanda magic here,'' Tony replied grimly.

There was silence.

''We're five minutes out,'' Steve composed himself.

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Steve crouched down next to the deep tracks by the gate.

''They left at speed,'' he stood up and Tony nodded.

Both men were staying calm but it was a challenge- there had obviously been an altercation and there was no sign of their children- there were several possibilities and none were comforting.

'' I have wiped their memories- they won't recall anything. They will sleep for a few more hours,'' Wanda said as she walked over with Sam.

Wanda then gave a brief synopsis of what happened.

''The man was threatening Harley then after a sharp pain on the back of his head, it went black. There was no memory of Peter so it must have been him who hit him- defending his brother. The only injury on Harley was a bloody nose, he was hit across the face but he seemed okay.''

''Thank you Wanda,'' Steve smiled his gratitude, his nausea easing now it was clear both boys were alive. Tony felt the knot of tension in his stomach loosen slightly although hot rage rose- that piece of shit hit his kid!

Steve placed a gentle hand on his arm, immediately sensing his response.

''We have to concentrate on finding the boys Tones; anger is a distraction on a mission, you know that,'' he said quietly and Tony nodded then inhaled shakily to calm himself.

''He'll have a headache but he would have had one of those anyway so…'' Bruce shrugged; he had checked the guy out. He'd live unfortunately!

''So where do we start?'' Clint was anxious to search- time was of the essence.

''They will run for home,'' Natasha said and Tony nodded.

''Yeah, I agree but that is one fast car and God only knows what state they're in. Harley doesn't even have his license,'' Tony grated, the knot tightened again.

''We'll find them. You and Vision fly surveillance whilst we hide the jet and start searching on the ground. They can't have gotten far,'' Steve was the voice of reason and gave out commands.

Above them a loud clap of thunder echoed.

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''Are you bleeding?'' Harley was trying to see his way through heavy rain, it was coming down in sheets and he was driving virtually blind.

''What?'' Peter blinked drowsily at him, he was suddenly so tired.

''Shit Pete, you're bleeding. Fuck bro!'' Harley exclaimed as he saw that the front of Peter's shirt was crimson.

''It won't stop, it always stops!'' Peter was frightened; it was only a small gash but it was on his wrist and deep- he thought maybe he'd cut something important- something his super healing was struggling with. He couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten anything substantial, he felt fuzzy, as if he was under water.

''It's okay, we'll go to the hospital,'' Harley tried not to show his alarm and he was very alarmed.

Why did he do this? What was he thinking bringing his baby brother to this hell hole?

''We can't! I can't go to a normal hospital. They'll find out,'' Peter was sobbing now, his head lolled forward.

''Don't pass out on me, DO NOT fucking pass out on me!'' Harley yelled as he looked towards Peter who promptly did just that; the older boy shook his brother's arm desperately- trying to rouse him.

Disaster struck in a split second, the deer stepped out- Harley slammed his foot on the brakes and the car aquaplaned gracefully into a ditch. The front crumpling dramatically as a tree stopped the speeding vehicle in its tracks.

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Tony was struggling with the rain as well, there was a mighty storm blowing and he was being guided by technology.

''Two heat signatures to the left,'' Vision's voice came over the comm. Tony turned immediately- relieved the kids hadn't got far.

''We'll be there in 2 minutes,'' Steve said- the others were still in the jet.

Tony landed on the run and he looked around frantically as his mask slid back.

''Dad! Help me! Help me!'' Harley was screaming as he dragged an unconscious Peter onto the road.

''What the hell happened?'' Tony was beside him in a second, he swallowed back his terror; there was blood, a lot of blood. It was running in watery rivulets across the tarmac.

''I'm sorry! I'm sorry! He won't wake up!'' Harley was hysterical and Tony grasped his arms, shaking him.

''Stop it! Stop it! Where is the blood coming from? Harley, talk to me kid!'' Tony yelled through the rain and wind.

''His wrist, he cut his wrist when he smashed the glass,'' Harley managed to say. Tony nodded as he scooped up the small body.

''It's okay, he will be okay! I'm here now and Pops is bringing the jet- Bruce is with us. It will be okay,'' Tony was reassuring himself as much as his son.

''Blood, Peter needs blood. Set up a transfusion now,'' Tony said abruptly into the comm.

He could see the lights of the approaching jet and it was about the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life.

''Pops is here,'' he said to Harley who collapsed his head in his hands, thank God!

Tony's words had caused panic on the approaching plane and there was frantic activity.

''Why does Peter need blood?'' Natasha asked, her face drawn in anxiety.

''I don't know Nat but he does,'' Steve pushed her to one side so he could help Bruce.

They landed with a bump and the door opened immediately; Tony walking in still suited up, Peter flopped in his arms.

''He caught the artery in his right wrist; he hasn't eaten much for nearly twelve hours and his healing isn't working,'' Tony was efficient as he laid his boy on the bed.

Bruce nodded and went to work, slipping in fluids and starting the transfusion- Peter's blood pressure was very low, too low.

Harley was standing to one side, shivering, his arms wrapped around himself.

''Is he gonna die?'' he asked in a small voice.

''No kiddo, he is not going to die. He will be up and annoying you again before you know it. Come here,'' Steve wrapped his arms around Harley who sank into the warm embrace with a sigh, they were safe. His parents were here and they would fix this, they could fix anything.

''Sorry Pops,'' Harley started to cry again and his father shushed him, kissing his head.

''I know kiddo, I know,'' Steve spoke in a calm, quiet tone which comforted Harley instantly.

''Blood pressure is back up and I have stopped the bleeding; it will need proper suturing when we get to the compound but he's improving,'' Bruce said and there was a collective sigh of relief.

Harley was shaking; he was soaked to the skin and freezing cold.

''Let's get you into some dry clothes and warm you up Harls; one sick kid is enough,'' Tony suggested and Harley nodded as he stepped back from Steve.

''Aren't you mad?'' Harley asked nervously as he looked between his Dads; they exchanged a glance, speaking without words.

''Oh yeah, we're mad, mad as hell but I want you healthy when I kill you,'' Tony smirked and Harley rolled his eyes.

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So I have a dilemma which I require your input about, I am not sure how our heroes should react to their kids' latest little escapade.

I have an inclination but as my muse, your thoughts and ideas are most welcome.

Let me know.