Sixteen

Peter felt the warmth of the hug and he felt his tired arms relax. So this is what a hug felt like. Not that he hadn't ever been hugged before, but unless he was somehow involved in a near death experience those were few and far between. Besides this hug felt different maybe because May was family.

Peter knew that they weren't biologically related, but still Peter could feel a connection and May was looking at him as if he were a long lost puppy so that had to be a good sign right? The two of them stood and smile at each other like a couple of dorks for a few minutes, until May wiped a few stray tears that were threatening to fall. "Where are my manners? Come in, Peter you must be freezing."

Peter went inside the small apartment, his room was no doubt bigger than May's apartment, but Peter liked it. It had a warm, cozy feel that a private bathroom and a walk in closet didn't necessarily provide. The apartment smelled like vanilla and Peter noticed that May wasn't the most organize person as she put a bunch of sweaters and old scrubs into the clothes hamper.

She shrugged slightly embarrassed. "Sorry for the mess, I'm not used to having company. Do you want tea? I can make you tea." Peter nodded as he looked around the room that was covered with photographs. He recognized the one that Tony had showed him a couple of time of Mary, Richard, and baby Peter. There were a couple of others on May's wall and coffee table. There was his mother and father drinking coffee and wearing party hats for New Year's, a picture of his father graduating from college, his mom looking very pregnant and holding a stuffed rabbit at a baby shower. Peter's heart ached and he didn't know why he felt sad. He had never even meet them and yet-he sighed was it weird that he was sad over a life he had never had?

If his parents hadn't died and he hadn't been adopted by Tony Stark what could have his life had been? He probably would be living in Queens and living in a small apartment. His mom would help him with his science experiments and his dad would offer to tour colleges with him. They would have dinner every night and-

"Earth to Peter," May said gently as she handed him some tea. "What are you thinking about sweetheart?"

"Nothing," Peter said suddenly feeling shy. "I was just thinking how different it would have been, if my mom and dad hadn't died. If I would have grown up normal instead of-"

"Instead of the son of a very rich man?" May tried to hide the bitterness in her tone, but she wasn't successful. She took a sip of tea as Peter looked down at his lap. "Oh, Peter honey I'm sorry sometimes my temper gets the best of me. It's just to think about all the time that we have lost together. Ben and I never knew why Mary would pass you along to Tony Stark of all people-of course Mary wasn't planning on dying so young."

"Ben?" Peter questioned. He had always been terrible at names, but right now he was trying to get all of the names together. "Who is he?"

"My husband. Was my husband." May corrected sadly as she went towards the coffee table and picked up a photo of a smiling, older man. "He died a few years ago, armed robbery. Oh, Peter you would have loved him."

Peter's throat felt tight, he wanted to feel sad. But how could you feel sad over people you had never meet? "Why did my dad-why did Tony even take me in the first place? Even if my mom signed over my rights, you and Ben were my family not him."

May shook her head, she was still a pretty woman though she looked exhausted and sad. "I wish I had more answers for you Peter. I know that Mary and Tony meet in college and they had some weird relationship for a while, but then your mom married Richard and had you. No one expected him to come out of the blue and act all fatherly." She paused and said tensely. "Peter, does your father know you're here? How did you even find out about me?"

Peter shook his head. "He doesn't. I had a biology project due for school and I had to do a family tree. Dad always told me that I didn't have any living relatives, but I thought I would check and there you were." Peter smiled shyly, but May looked panicked as she stood up.

"Peter you need to leave," May said tensely. "If your father finds out that I even breathed in your direction he will find a way to destroy me. You don't know this, but when you were a baby Ben and I fought like hell to get you back or at the very least get visitation rights, but Tony refused. He threatened to sue us and we would have never been able to pay it back. Peter, honey I am beging you please leave if he finds out that you are here, I don't know what he will do."

Peter's skin started feeling prickly and it took all of his strength not to explode in anger. Did Tony ruined everything he touched? Was this how it was going to be for the rest of his life, letting him agree with whatever he wanted as he slowly drove Peter insane? He might not be 18 yet, but he was certainly not a child.

"When can I see you again?" Peter asked as he grabbed his coat. "I have so many questions."

"Soon, soon." May said, but Peter had a feeling that she was probably lying. She seemed to be so afraid of Tony that he wouldn't be surprised if May decided to leave the country as dramatic as that sounded.

Peter was about to hug her goodbye when he heard such a loud knock on the door that Peter was surprised that whoever was at the other side hadn't broken the door. "MAY!" Peter stiffed, he recognized that voice. He was all too familiar with it and when he heard that voice he usually duck and covered. How had he found him so fast?

How do you think dummy? He had a Stark phone, a Stark watch, a wallet stuffed with credit cards. Tony would have been a complete imbecile if he didn't know where Peter was 24/7. Not to mention a few well place questions and Friday would spill because her job was to act like a nanny. "MAY!" Peter threw May an apologetic look and her smile wobbled.

Peter opened the door and saw Tony standing there with a pissed off expression on his face. His face was flushed as if he had been running and the vein on the side of his neck that usually popped when he was upset was there at full speed.

"Who the hell gave you permission to leave the house?"

-End of Chapter Sixteen-

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