They'd spent a long time in that waiting room. Just hoping for news on Tony's condition. When no news came, they'd wait some more. When finally, just as Peter's eyes were struggling to stay open, a doctor stepped into the room.
"Pepper, I-" spoke the doctor. Ms. Potts stood up passing Morgan to War Machine and everyone watched with weary eyes.
"He's stable."
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"You can see him now, one at a time," he said to the group. "He's in room 10. I'll advise you though, it's not a pretty sight." He said cryptically before leaving. Ms. Potts, no, Ms. Stark now, turned back to everyone.
"You go see him, Pep, we'll wait here." Spoke War Machine, the woman nodded that was all the reassurance she needed before rushing through the double doors to see her husband.
Then they were waiting again. Morgan hadn't moved since she'd fallen asleep earlier, but Peter was wide awake. The room was silent save Morgan's soft breathing. Suddenly, War Machine's phone buzzed in the quiet room, he pulled it out.
"Can you take her?" He spoke softly to the teen. Peter hesitated, before nodding. The man gave a grateful smile before handing over the sleeping little girl.
"Ill be just a sec." he said, then left the room.
"Okay…" spoke Peter, shifting the heavy toddler in his lap so she was lying against his chest.
But soon, a second turned out to be longer and ten minutes had passed and Morgan was stirring. She blinked her heavy eyes open. Someone was holding her and it wasn't her Mommy. No, this person was too boney. She shifted and the person holding her almost lost their grasp on her. She finally looked up to see who it was and to her horror, Peter was holding her. Her eyes widened and he looked apologetic but she didn't care. She did not want to be held by this boy. No way, no how. Not buts about it. She wanted to get down. So, she pushed and shoved and when that didn't work, she resorted to kicking and scratching.
Peter had no idea what was happening. In his shock, he just held tighter, not wanting the little girl to fall onto the floor. But this was the wrong thing to do, she breathed in a large breath and started wailing. People in the hallways started looking and Peter was just trying to keep her on his lap but she was wiggling so hard, it was extremely difficult to get a grip. Of course, he could have used his powers to hold her down, but he wasn't gonna risk hurting a toddler. So, he fought with her, and she was kicking and screaming and crying.
"I want daddy!" she howled.
It broke Peter's heart a little bit when she said that, but he didn't let go. So, Morgan doubled her efforts and elbowed him in the chest. That got him to let go and she tumbled to the floor in a heap. Peter doubled over, when she connected with his broken ribs almost letting out a pained scream. But he held it in hissing and holding his arms to his chest to protect it. The little girl cried louder on the floor, her knees hitting the tile when she fell. Peter's eyes dripping with quiet pained tears as he tried to pull himself together. It had just hurt really badly. That's how War Machine had found them.
"Oh my God. What happened?" War Machine asked in shock, he rushed over to the pair. He helped Morgan to her feet and rested his hand on Peter's shoulder, holding the little girl's hand in the other.
"I want daddy." She sobbed.
Her Uncle Rhodey gave her a hug.
"You'll see him soon, I promise."
Morgan just sobbed in response. Rhodey pulled out of the hug and turned his attention to the boy next to him.
"Peter what's wrong?" he asked.
The teen hesitated, looking at the crying girl. She gave him a watery glare.
"It's nothing, Mr. War Machine. I'm okay." He said looking at the floor.
"You can call me Rhodey, Pete."
Peter nodded without looking up.
"You're sure you're okay?"
This time, Peter did look up, his wet eyes meeting the man's. He nodded seriously.
"Okay." Spoke Mr. Rhodey, before bringing the two children into a hug.
Morgan didn't like this situation; Peter was taking her time away from her Uncle. She pushed herself out of the hug and everyone broke apart. Peter sat up in his chair rubbing his bloodshot eyes and Morgan crossed her arms moodily. Mr. Rhodey sighed. And then Mrs. Stark walked back in the room. She took one look around the room and went straight to her daughter. The girl reached her arms out for her and Pepper picked her up before sitting in the chair next to Peter. She wrapped her free arm around the boy and pulled him to her side. He leaned into the embrace with his arms still crossed protectively around his chest.
"Rhodey, you go see now, we'll be okay." Pepper spoke confidently.
Rhodey hesitated, but then walked to the double doors, disappearing behind them. The kids and Pepper stayed silent. Peter was getting antsy, he wanted to know if Mr. Stark was okay.
"…Mrs. Stark?"
"Hmm?"
"Is Mr. Stark okay?"
She hesitated, and Morgan looked to her as well.
"He's um. He looks…hurt of course, but I think he's gonna be fine." She smiled. They were quiet again after that, content with her answer.
About half an hour late, it was Peter's turn to see the man he saw as a father figure. Rhodey sat back down in the uncomfortable waiting room chairs and Peter shot up out of his seat anxiously, walking through the double doors.
Though the doors was a hallway, and plenty of rooms. He found room ten and creaked the door open slowly. Mr. Stark was in a white hospital room, but the lights were dimmed. Peter could see out the large windows that it was night time. A tv glowed in the corner of the ceiling.
"Mr. Stark?" he whispered into the dark.
Tony's head swiveled around at the sound of his voice.
"Peter?"
People had been saying his name like they couldn't believe he was here for a while now and it was getting old. He supposed it had been five years since they saw him, a fact he couldn't quite wrap his head around.
"Come here, Pete, let me get a look at you."
Peter obliged, taking a few steps further into the room. Mr. Stark took his hand once he was within reaching distance. Then to Peter's utter surprise, he kissed his knuckles. The boy's eyes widened to the size of saucers. They hugged on the battle field when previously they weren't there yet, but this? This was really strange behavior.
"I missed you, Pete."
His eyes seemed to mist over. And suddenly, this was too much. Peter needed to sit down. He didn't see a chair so he sat on the edge of the bed.
"May said it's been five years." He said.
Tony nodded sadly. He didn't like the sad look on Tony's face. He tried for something happier.
"I met Morgan?"
"Did you?"
"Mmm-hm." He hummed.
"And?"
"And, what?"
"What did you think?" Mr. Stark looked at him imploringly and Peter knew right there and then, he wasn't gonna mention the fact that Morgan didn't like him.
"Um. She's great! Yeah, she's really great, Mr. Stark."
The man beamed.
"She's a lot like me, you know. Smart as a whip."
Then they delved into a long conversation about Morgan and Pepper and general life, boring things- avoiding any talk of the battle, Thanos or the snap.
"But, yeah." Peter looked at Mr. Stark's arm, or what used to be an arm.
"Do you think you'll be okay, Mr. Stark?" Peter asked suddenly.
"Me? Yeah, I'll be right as rain before you know it, kiddo."
That was another new thing. Mr. Stark peppered in even more nicknames into his vocabulary. These ones much more endearing than before. Before, it had been, Kid, Pete, Spiderling, Underoos ect, but now it was kiddo, and he'd sworn he'd heard something resembling "Baby" but he'd never live that one down so he pretended he didn't hear it.
"Good." Peter affirmed.
But now it was time for him to leave, Mr. Stark looked more and more exhausted with every passing second.
"Well, I'll see you later, Mr. Stark…" he said, going to stand.
Mr. Stark let go of his hand.
"I'll be seeing you, kid." He yawned.
He walked out of the room, heart light.
When he went into the waiting room, Pepper took his place, this time bringing Morgan to see her father.
Later, when they had come back, Morgan seemed to be in a much better mood than before.
"It's time to go home, guys." Announced Pepper. "I think it's bedtime. Rhodey, what are you gonna do?"
"I think I'll stay here. Watch Tony and all that." He replied. He stretched before getting up to go to Tony's room.
Peter wanted to stay too, but Pepper had already grabbed his hand and was leading him out of the room, Morgan in her arms.
