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Thank you Randomskycolor and Prongs100 for pre-reading.

25. Peter and Morgan

Tony was woken on his second morning at home with forty pounds of little girl landing on his stomach and smacking kisses to his cheeks.

His breath grunted out of him, and his eyes flew open to see her beaming face inches from his, her eyes alight with happiness.

"Daddy! You're still here!" she squealed.

"I am," he said, trying to draw a breath. "Can you maybe get off Daddy since he can't breathe."

She giggled and rolled over, landing between him a Pepper, and wriggling under the covers then kissing her mother with loud smacking sounds.

Pepper groaned and opened her eyes and then smiled as he saw her daughter.

"Momma, Daddy's still here!"

"I know," Pepper said. "I noticed when he spent the whole night snoring up a storm and hogging on the covers.

Morgan giggled and made a theatrical snorting sound, which was apparently her impression of Tony snoring.

"I don't snore," Tony said.

Both Pepper and Morgan laughed, and Morgan said, "Daddy, you do. You sound like a hungry pig."

Tony sat up and looked down at two of the loves of his life. "Do I really? Peter and Rhodey said something about it, but I thought they were just screwing with me."

"Language," Pepper chided.

Morgan muttered, "Screwing with you. Nope."

Pepper narrowed her eyes and said, "Nice work, Tony. You taught her a new word."

"Sorry," Tony said repentantly. "But do I really?"

Pepper sat up and stretched. "You really do, honey, but it's not so bad. I'm used to it now. I had a hard time sleeping when you weren't here without your noise in my ear." She grinned. "It's like nature sounds to me now."

Tony huffed. "Maybe I need one of those nose strip things."

Pepper leaned over Morgan, who was now sitting up with her fingers tangling in the cotton of Pepper's nightgown. "You don't need to do that for me," she said.

"Why are you still here? I thought you needed to go back to Peter," Morgan said, and then brightened. "Is he here, too?"

"Afraid not, Maguna. But Uncle Rhodey called and said, and I quote, 'you need a break with your family, and Peter needs one with us. Don't come back until we call'." He couldn't help but pout as he finished.

Pepper patted his hand. She had already talked him through it when Rhodey had called the evening before to pass on the instructions. Tony felt torn. He was happy at the idea of another night with his family, sharing another breakfast, but he felt bad that Peter apparently needed a break from him.

"Great," Morgan said. "Can we go play in the garage today?"

"We can," Tony said. "I've got something I want to work on in there." Pepper raised an eyebrow, and he went on. "Pete's suit was trashed after he snapped, so I want to set him up with a new one. We've got some pretty good stuff back there in the workshop that SHIELD left behind, but nothing I can use with nanites. I'm going to get it started here and take it back so we can work on it together with some of the stuff Shuri gave me."

"Is he going to be using a suit?" Pepper asked curiously.

Tony sighed. "Not for a while, at least, and not at all according to him. I know better, though. The thing with Ross won't last forever, and I want the suit ready for him." He crossed his arms over his chest. "This is just a delay. He will get back to school, he will see his friends, he will patrol again."

Pepper stared at him a moment, a doubtful look on her face, and then said, "We better get breakfast then." She patted Morgan's head and said, "You need to jump in the bath first, though, madam."

"Pancakes again?" she asked hopefully.

"Nope, Lucky Charms," she said. "Just because Daddy is here, it doesn't mean we're going to have all the breakfast foods every day."

Morgan shrugged, climbed over Tony, and bounced out of the room, singing, "Lucky Charms! They're Magically Delicious!"

Tony kissed Pepper and then swung his legs around the bed and wandered into their bathroom to clean up himself.

When he got downstairs fifteen minutes later, the kitchen was empty, Pepper still helping Morgan clean up, he guessed, so he started the coffee and took the cereal and bowls from the cupboard and set them on the table then leaned his hip against the counter and looked out of the window at the lake. He wondered what Peter was doing that morning. Was he awake yet, or still sleeping? What had he spent the night doing? Had he slept or spent the night with the Stones?

The coffee burbled and spat its last, and he poured mugs for himself and Pepper, then sipped at his. It was good, on the right side of bitter, and the caffeine seeped into his veins, banishing the last of his tiredness.

"Boss," Friday announced. "You've got a call coming through to your cell."

Tony set down his mug and rushed up the stairs to take his phone from where it was charging beside the bed and connected the call. The hologram appeared, and Tony was surprised to see Sam's face displayed.

"Is Peter okay?" he asked at once.

"He's fine," Sam said easily. "He's got an invite for you. We had a talk last night, and he said he was ready for you to bring your little girl over here."

Tony's heart skipped. "He's ready to meet Morgan?"

Sam smiled. "Yeah. He's feeling a little more confident now. He said the Stones explained he's the one in control now. He won't be throwing anyone around unless he wants to. That's how he was attacked before; he scared himself and wouldn't let them do it again."

Tony nodded slowly. He'd wondered how W'Kebe had been able to dose him when he was capable of defending himself, but it made sense that he would have taken over control of that power, even at the cost of getting hurt. Stupid kid.

"That leaves him vulnerable," he said quietly.

Sam's eyes became grave. "It does, but he seems happier that way. The thing he's happy about now is that Morgan will be safe if she comes here." He frowned slightly. "Do you feel safe with her here?"

Tony waved a hand. "I always did. I wish he'd told me sooner. I've got a very impatient four-year-old here waiting to meet him."

"He wasn't ready sooner," Sam said. "He is now. Shall I tell him you're coming?"

"Yes," Tony said. "We'll be there soon."

"No rush," Sam said. "Steve's making breakfast right now, and you know that's quite a process for Peter to get through since he needs to eat more than us."

"It's his metabolism," Tony said. "He's got to keep his energy up." He ran a hand through his hair. "Okay, we'll leave in an hour, so you've got a couple hours until we arrive." An idea occurred to him. "Actually, we'll be there after lunch. I've got someone else I think would like to come."

"I'll let him know," Sam said, giving him a nod and then disconnecting the call.

Tony quickly dialed again and waited for it to connect, his smile wide and not falling when it was met by Happy's scowl as he answered, "Yes," belligerently.

"I've got good news," he said. "How do you feel about coming on a trip upstate with us? I've got a kid that'd like to see you."

Happy's scowl faded, and he smiled. "Sure, I'd like to spend some time with your girl."

"What about my boy?" Tony asked.

Happy's eyes widened slightly. "Peter's with you?"

"Not right now, but he and the others are set up in a place an hour away from mine. I'm taking Pepper and Morgan over today, and I figured you'd like to see him."

Happy's smile grew, and he said, "Damn. Yeah, definitely. I mean—" He gave his head a quick shake and said gruffly, "Yeah. I'll come. I guess it'd be good to see him. It's been five years since the kid talked my ear off."

Tony chuckled. "Okay, hurry your ass up. We'll leave when you get here."

"See you," Happy said curtly, cutting the call.

Tony set his phone down and went to Morgan's room, where Pepper was braiding her hair as Morgan fumbled with the buttons of her dress. "So, Maguna, what do you think about taking a trip to go see Peter today?" he asked.

Morgan's hands dropped, and her mouth curled into a huge smile. "I can see Peter?"

"We all can," he said.

"Will he be rescuing cats?"

Tony chuckled. "There are no cats where he's living, but if you ask nicely, he might show you some of his special flips."

"Will he fly?"

Pepper raised an eyebrow. "Fly?"

Tony shook his head, smiling slightly. "He won't be web-swinging, which is what you meant, I'm sure, unless…" He grinned. "I might be able to persuade him to."

Morgan bounced in her seat. "Yes! Persuade him."

Tony crossed the room, kissed her cheek, and then rushed down the stairs and into the garage where he had some of the stuff he'd brought from the compound when he and Pepper had moved into the lake house.

He found the box he was looking for hidden under three more where he would have been unlikely to come across it before, saving himself the painful reminder of what he'd had and lost. He lifted the lid and found, among the other stuff he'd had of Peter's, the pair of web-shooters they'd been working on in the workshop the last day they'd spent there together

"Welcome back, Spider-Man," he muttered, lifting them up and weighing them in his hand. "It's time for you to swing again."

"Okay, honey, you need to close your eyes," Tony said. "It's going to be a little scary for a moment."

Morgan frowned. "Why scary?"

Tony considered for a moment and then said, "Where Peter lives is a little different. It's on an island."

"Do we go on a boat," she said. "I like boats. Uncle Rhodey said he wants to get a little boat for fishing, but we've got to wait until Momma says he can, and she says I'm not old enough yet." She pouted. "When do I get old enough?"

"You'll have to ask your Momma," Tony said. "Now, close your eyes, cover them with your hands, too. It's going to be bumpy, like a wobbly road, and then we'll be there."

He checked she'd obeyed, and then he stopped outside the gated entrance to the base road, punched in the code, and drove through, watching Happy following in his car with Pepper in the passenger seat. He'd warned them about what had to happen, too, and Happy had seemed a bit put out about the idea of driving out of a lake—and then back into one when he left. His eagerness to see Peter—though he did his best to hide it—was more pressing than his fear, though.

When they were through, and the gate had closed behind them, Tony drove into the heat haze that showed the place Peter had connected them to the base's new location, and the strange sensation of turbulence rushed over him.

"Daddy," Morgan whimpered.

Tony placed a hand on her chest, keeping the other on the wheel, and said, "We're almost there. Just be brave a little longer. There, you can open your eyes now."

He eased the car to a stop in the lot outside the base and patted Morgan's chest as she opened her eyes and looked around.

"He lives here?" she asked. "It looks like a place they make machines."

"It's not a factory," he said. "It belonged to some people Daddy used to work for. It's much nicer inside."

Morgan unsnapped her seatbelt and tried to open the door, but it was too heavy for her.

"Hang on," he said.

He took off his seatbelt, climbed out, and went around to the side to open her door, Happy and Pepper climbing out beside.

"That was certainly different," Pepper said a little shakily. "And we have to actually drive into the lake to get out."

"Yeah, but it's over quick," Tony assured her.

"Great," Happy grunted.

Tony opened the door, and Morgan practically jumped out. She looked around and said, "Where is he?"

"I'm sure he'll be here soon," Pepper said, patting her head. "Give him a moment."

Morgan sighed.

"I'll go root him out," Tony said.

He strode to the building through the front door and saw Peter standing just inside the lobby. His lip was clamped between his teeth, and he looked pale.

Tony looked at him a moment then took two steps forward and hugged him. Peter melted against him and said, "I'm sorry."

"You can handle this, Pete," Tony said. "She's not going to bite, and you won't hurt her."

Peter pulled back, his eyes wide and desperate. "I won't, I swear. I won't let them hurt anyone else."

"I know," Tony said, smoothing back Peter's hair and then patting his cheek. "Come on, you got this. Come meet your sister."

Peter's cheeks colored, and he took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, let's do this."

Peter stepped out into the warm sunshine, his heart racing in his chest and hands clammy. Tony was beside him, hand on his shoulder, and he murmured, "Brace yourself, Pete."

Peter heard a squeal of excitement as a little girl barreled towards them, her braid bouncing on her back and her hands outstretched. It was the little girl from the picture Tony had shown him, though the image on the phone screen hadn't captured her fully. Perhaps it was the sun on her face or her wide smile, but she was much prettier in person.

Peter expected her to fly at Tony, her dad, but she slammed into him with a force that made him rock back.

Her small arms wrapped around him, and her face buried in his stomach as she squealed. "Peter!"

Tony laughed and said, "Easy, Morgan, you're going to knock him over!"

Morgan pulled back, tucking her hands behind her back, and looked up at him. "Sorry, Petey. Did I hurt you?"

"No," Peter said, hand coming to her head automatically and stroking her hair. "You're not too heavy."

She beamed at him, and then a crease furrowed her brow. "What happened to your eyes?"

"My eyes?" Peter asked. "Oh, uh…"

"They weren't like that in the pictures daddy showed me. They were brown. How did you make them those colors?"

She didn't seem upset by them, more confused, which surprised Peter as he wasn't used to them himself. They made him a little uneasy when he saw them in the mirror, the stark evidence of the Stones and their role in his life.

"They're part of what makes Peter special," Tony said. "When he saved us, he got those eyes."

Peter's eyes widened. He didn't think Tony would have told her what he'd done. He glanced up at him, and Tony gave him a confident nod and a small smile.

"Wow," Morgan said. "Momma said you were a hero, and Daddy was, too. And Daddy says Momma was."

"They both were," Peter assured her. "Everyone there was."

Morgan beamed. "And you saved the whole world!"

Peter blushed, overwhelmed by her evident admiration and the frank way she said it.

'She's reaching," Soul said. 'Can you feel it?'

He could. She was the warmest and strongest he'd felt, perhaps because she was so young and innocent and had no fear of him.

'Would you like to show her something?' Reality asked.

Peter nodded slightly. "Would you like to see something special, Morgan?"

She looked up at him. "Yes! What is it?"

"Come sit down," Peter said.

He led her to the rocks by the lake and helpfully boosted her up when he held her hands up to him. "Close your eyes a moment, and hold out your hand."

She obeyed, her small hand extended.

Peter could feel eyes on them, but he didn't look around. He was sure he was under close scrutiny, but he wasn't uneasy. This felt important to do, something to both show and do for Morgan, so he couched in front of her and closed his eyes.

'Butterflies?' Reality asked.

"Yes," Peter whispered. "More colors."

He fixed in his mind what he wanted them to be, a variety of colors, and then felt the smallest rush from him and a whisper of. 'Open your eyes.'

He obeyed and grinned as he saw the butterflies. They were fluttering around him and Morgan, the light making their wings seem almost transparent.

"Open your eyes, Morgan," he instructed.

She did, and they widened with glee. "Look!" she whispered. "There's so many." A yellow one landed on her hand, and she gasped. "I can feel it. It's so light, but it tickles, too." She fixed enchanted eyes on him and said, "How did you do it?"

Peter lowered his voice and said, "It's magic. But you can't tell anyone. It's a secret. They think I just smell so good the butterflies come."

"What else can you do?" she whispered.

"Oh, I… Uh…"

'Birds?' Reality suggested. "A rainbow? It's really all within your command. If you can imagine it, you can create it.'

Before Peter could answer, there was a throat cleared behind him. He straightened up and spun around to see Happy scrutinizing him.

"Oh. Hey, Happy," he said.

Happy stared at him a moment, and then caught Peter completely off guard by pulling him into a tight hug, breathing shakily. He clung to him for a moment, and then pushed him away, held him at arm's length and said, "I hear you saved the world. Nice work, kid." He ruffled Peter's hair and then, blinking rapidly and swiping a hand over his wet face, walked away.

Peter stared after him, completely taken aback. He loved Happy, but he'd always thought it was pretty much a one-sided thing. Sure, Happy had been grateful that Peter had saved his job with the Toomes thing, and he'd definitely been more easygoing after, taking Peter for burgers and to pick up slushies on the way to the compound for his visits, but he'd not expected any kind of emotional reunion. But Happy had been crying…

Morgan tugged on his hand. "Petey, the butterflies are gone," she whined.

Peter turned back to her and smiled. "Sorry, I lost focus for a moment. I'll get them back. Or do you want birds? What's your favorite kind of bird?"

She clapped her hands. "Eagles!"

Peter chuckled. "Okay, that might be a bit much. How about a hummingbird? Do you like them?"

"Sure. Okay."

Peter knelt down in front of her again and fixed the small bird in his mind, the lightning-fast wings and long beak, and then he saw it come to life in front of him, darting around Morgan's head as she followed it with wide eyes.

"Wow," she whispered, then stared at him and stated, "Petey, you're the best brother in the world."

Peter felt warmth in his chest that was different from how it felt when someone was reaching for him; he thought it was Soul telling him he was reaching for Morgan this time. He liked the sensation, and his smile was wide as he said, "And I think you're the best sister in the world, Mo."

She abandoned her scrutiny of the hummingbird and thrust herself off the rock and into his arms. She clung to him with surprising strength for someone so little, and he buried his face into her hair.

He had been worried about this, scared he would hurt her accidentally, but he knew now, with her in his arms, that she was perfectly safe. He would destroy himself and the Stones themselves before he would let anyone in the world hurt her, including him.

So… Morgan at last! What did you think? I have been eager to write this scene for so long, but I had to wait until Peter was in the right headspace. We've got more time with them in the next chapter before the finale build-up begins. Also, a little Happy time, which I know was eagerly awaited by some of you. We'll have some more of that in the next chapter.

Until next time…

Clowns or Midgets xxx