Chapter 3
When Tony woke up, he still felt stressed and worried, but atleast had gotten in a few hours sleep. So he felt a little better.
He rubbed his face, before turning to Pepper. Not surprised when he saw her sitting up in bed on her tablet.
"Morning." Tony said with a smile as he sat up to kiss her; "What time is it?"
"Morning." Pepper replied; "About 9 am. I wanted to let you sleep in. Thought it might be good for all of us."
"Good morning." FRIDAY spoke, and Tony sighed with a smile, rolling his eyes. Pepper just chuckled.
"How did you sleep in the end?" Pepper asked concerned.
"Better I guess I don't know."
"Your vitals have returned to normal," FRIDAY offered; "If not a little elevated stress levels, and lacking in enough REM sleep boss."
"Yes thank you FRIDAY." Tony huffed in frustration; "Already knew that. Can we keep it down a little? I don't want to wake up the kid up."
"If you are referring to Peter, he is already up." FRIDAY replied.
Tony frowned, glancing at Pepper, but she seemed just as shocked.
"I haven't heard him get up." She murmured; "And when I checked on him a little while ago he was still asleep."
"Peter woke up approximately fifteen minutes ago, and is currently cooking in the kitchen."
"Cooking?" Tony repeated, before his eyes widened; "Oh god what if he burns himself?" He may be overreacting and acting irrational but after the dream he just had, he didn't care. Jumping out of bed, he raced from the room.
With a sigh, Pepper slowly followed.
Tony skidded into the kitchen, coming to a stop in shock.
It was like something from a movie or catalogue. The dining table was set up with plates of pancakes, orange juice, coffee, and even a vase of flowers. Then there was Peter standing at the kitchen island finishing buttering some slices of toast, before putting them on a plate. Still in his PJ's. Not even noticing Tony was there, as he hummed along to the radio.
Tony just watched him for a moment, fearing for a moment he was still dreaming. Peter was cooking breakfast, Peter was ok.
"Wow!" Pepper murmured as she came up behind Tony, gasping.
Peter lifted his head startled and grinned; "Oh um morning! Surprise!" He said dramatically waving his hand. Then he quickly held up the plate of multiple toast slices, as he rounded the island; "Toast? Pancakes? I wasn't sure what you liked, but this is all I know how to make. Now a few of them may be a little burnt, but I can always eat those. I don't mind." Peter rambled as he quickly set the plate of toast on the table, continuing to speak before they could cut in, scared for what they might say. After hearing everything they said last night, Peter wanted to do something nice for them, so he woke up this morning with an idea.
Now as they just stared at him, Peter was suddenly anxious he made a mistake; "I um made coffee, and orange juice. I'm not that good at making coffee so it may not be how you have it. May likes lots of sugar, and I've made it for her before once or twice, when she's worked late the night before, but I don't drink it, so I'm not totally sure if it's right. There's also some syrup for the pancakes, and some jam, but I also got some strawberries and berries and stuff so there's some healthy stuff. In case you get worried about that sort of thing. I hope this is ok..." Peter stilled as he looked fearfully at them; "Or have you got a thing about people touching your kitchen. I promise I'll clean everything up after. May doesn't mind me cooking but..."
"Stop, stop. Oh Peter it's ok." Pepper said chuckling as she rushed forward to hug him for such a kind gesture; "We don't mind at all honey. This is..." She looked around in awe; "It's really sweet of you. Thank you. But you didn't have to. You're a guest here. This is your home. You don't have to cook for us."
"I know." Peter said smiling up at her; "I wanted to." Then he turned to Tony, who was just staring at him.
Tony loved it when Peter rambled. It was one of his little quirks, he did it all the time, and atleast now Tony was adept in Peter-rambling, so he able to keep track of everything he was saying. More than that, he knew Peter did it when he was nervous or excited. He did this for them. A nice gesture for them. God he was the sweetest kid ever. His kid. He just couldn't stop staring at him.
Then before he knew what was happening, Peter had rushed forward and hugged him.
"Aw buddy!" Tony grinned automatically wrapping his arms around him. He was surprised that it was Peter who hugged him first, he had wanted to hug the kid to make sure he was real, but he couldn't help but wonder why Peter was suddenly hugging him.
"I love you dad." Peter mumbled against him chest, and Tony stilled his heart literally stopping in shock. He tightened his hold of Peter. Those were the four best words in the English language.
"I love you too buddy." Tony replied as he covered the back of Peter's head. Never ever wanting to let him go again.
But as Peter stepped back staring at him with a sloppy grin, Tony just chuckled and ruffled his hair; "Come on Underoos. I'm dying to taste this breakfast of yours."
As they sat down to eat, with Peter beside Tony, and Pepper opposite them. Peter waited, watching in apprehension as Tony and Pepper tried the food, and coffee.
"Oh my god." Pepper murmured as took a bite of the pancakes, looking in awe at Peter.
"Bad?" Peter winced.
"No amazing." Pepper corrected with a broad smile; "These are probably the best pancakes I've ever had."
"Hey!" Tony objected feigning a fake hurt puppy look. He'd made pancakes for Pepper before. They weren't great but he tried his best. For her.
"Sorry honey. Yours are great too." Pepper laughed tucking into her breakfast; "But you have to try these."
He was curious, so shrugging, Tony took a few bites. Then he looked in surprise at Peter; "Damn kid where did you learn to cook like this?"
"Cooking show." Peter replied smiling shyly; "May and I watch them together. You pick up quite a bit. And well when May's working really early, or double shifts I gotta fend for myself so. Need to learn to make something. And I do love pancakes." As he finished he starting eating his own large stack of pancakes.
Watching as Peter was shoving them all into his mouth, Tony rolled his eyes amused. Boy the kid could eat. He couldn't help but feel a pang hearing Peter say he had to fend for himself when May wasn't there. Of course he wasn't judging May, she was a good single mom to Peter, and a dedicate nurse who had to work hard hours. But it was just another reminder that Tony should have been there for Peter. When he needed a dad.
Pepper must have seen his face, or read his mind. Because she reached a hand across the table to take his. And sent her a reassuring smile. He smiled back at her gratefully. Already feeling a little better. He was with his family.
0o0o0o0o0oSPIDERMAN0o0o00o0o0o
The rest of the weekend, Tony tried to push away his worries and fears about losing Peter, and just enjoy his time with his son.
After breakfast, they hung out in the lab for a bit in the morning, tinkering again with some projects. And then Tony decided to work some more on one of their LEGO projects they were building, which Peter was overjoyed about. It was the Death Star this time. They were bantering when Tony's phone went off.
He ignored it when it rang again.
"You can get it you know. I don't mind." Peter offered quietly.
"No it's the weekend. Whatever it is can wait. Right now, I'm with my son."
Peter blushed at that, and smiled as he picked up some more pieces. Relieved that Tony didn't chose work over him.
"Boss. I am receiving multiple warnings from the SI office." Tony huffed annoyed; "It seem there has been an accident in one of the labs."
"Was anyone hurt?" Tony asked instantly, looking hesitantly at Peter, already sensing where this was going.
"Negative. However, a lab was severely damaged."
Sighing, Tony rubbed his face; "Dammit."
"It's ok go." Peter murmured forcing a smile to hide his disappointment.
"Peter..." Tony objected, hating have to leave. He felt terrible. He didn't want to be one of those parents who dropped everything to go to work. Peter was more important; "FRIDAY. Is everything being handled?"
"Teams and security are securing the area, and there are no injuries."
"See it's fine." Tony nodded firmly at Peter; "I'm not going anywhere."
It warmed Peter's heart that Tony really didn't want to go.
"Tony." Pepper suddenly appeared in the doorway, breathing fast; "I'm getting multiple calls from the office..."
"I know there was an accident." Tony replied as he turned to her, sending her a pleading look not to ask him to go; "FRIDAY says no one was hurt."
"Yeah I know, but well one of us has got to show our face." Pepper smirked as she walked over to Tony, and kissed the top of his head; "I know you hate this stuff. Which is why I'm CEO. Besides we both know I couldn't get you to go unless I dragged Peter along." She finished winking as she moved to kiss Peter's cheek.
"You are the boss." Tony grinned at her, and Peter enjoyed the loving exchange.
Sighing, Pepper just shook her head, and ruffled Peter's hair; "Keep an eye on him for me will you?"
"Will do." Peter and Tony said at the same time, looking at each other in shock before smiling.
As she left, Pepper called out; "FRIDAY, look after my boys whilst I'm gone."
"Yes Mrs Stark I will make sure they don't do anything dangerous or stupid."
Peter hesitated a moment after Pepper had gone, glancing at his dad a few times trying to bring up the courage to ask.
"Out with it kid." Making Peter jump, and he looked at his dad panicked.
"Come on. What's wrong?" Tony said softly knowing that unless Peter said what was on his mind it would drive him crazy.
"It's nothing." Peter said quickly.
"Try again buddy." Tony didn't believe him for a second.
Slowly, Peter looked at his dad shyly; "Well...it's just...you would rather stay with me, than go into work." He shrugged and looked away; "It's nice."
Tony just reached over and patted Peter's arm; "No where I would rather be than with my son."
And that brought such a huge smile to Peter's face, Tony was sure he could use it for a power source.
That's the thing about Peter, he didn't care about extravagant gifts. A second hand item, or a handcrafted object is what he loved the most, but what made Peter the happiest was praise. Tony learnt that early on. A simple praise for good work made his day, and from this, Tony was sure he'd just made Peter's year. That made Tony's day.
As Peter got back to putting the LEGO pieces together, Tony paused to watch him again for a second. Seeing a flash from his nightmares, of Peter as a baby, getting taken away, almost getting killed...his heart rate picked up and he gulped. Closing his eyes to shake the images away. And he was met with the same happy Peter as before. It was just a dream. Tony reminded himself. Pepper was right Peter wasn't going anywhere. And neither was he.
0o0o0o0SPIDERMAN0o0oo0o0o
When Pepper got home late that night, she was exhausted. It wasn't that big a situation at SI. But she had to coordinate with teams, make a press statement, sort out the insurance and what not. Everything Tony hated. But she didn't mind, it was what she was good at. Tony may joke about it, but it was true. They were a good team. A perfect match for running the company.
When she got home, she was excited to see her boys, but also just wanted to go to bed.
She knew Tony and Peter would probably be asleep anyway.
But when she walked in the house, she saw the kitchen was a mess. Dirty bowls and cutlery everywhere. Flour was even on the floor. And there was a large tray of cupcakes on the kitchen island.
"What the..." Pepper mumbled before scoffing as she picked one up; "FRIDAY? What happened here?"
"Boss and Peter spent the day baking cupcakes, and working in the lab. They are currently asleep in the living room."
Smiling, Pepper shook her head as she took a bite of the cupcake. Nodding; "Pretty good."
"They also left you a gift on the dining room table." FRIDAY added, and Pepper frowned at that.
Making an intrigued sound, Pepper slipped her heels off, which had been killing her all day, and padded towards the dining table.
There on the table lay a gift box, with a bow on top.
Curiously, she set her cupcake down, and lifted the lid, setting it aside.
"Oh." Pepper gasped covering her mouth, her eyes welling up.
Inside the box was a picture frame. But it was an unusual one. As she picked it up, she inspected it to see it was made of engineering parts. Screws, nuts and bolts, rings, metal wiring. It was beautiful. And inside the frame, was a photo. Of Tony and Peter, in the middle of a pillow fight in the living room. It had happened a couple of weeks ago, Pepper remembered she had never laughed so hard. It had started off with Tony making some offhanded jokes about Star Wars, and went downhill from there. In the picture, Tony and Peter were both hitting each other with pillows and clearly laughing, broad smiles on their faces. Pepper just sat on the sofa watching them, with an amused and exasperated look. Just like every day. And on the bottom of the frame, pieces were formed to make out the word FAMILY.
It was utterly perfect. And it had Peter and Tony written all over it.
Clutching it to her chest, she headed into the living room. And she paused to sigh lovingly. Resting her head against the doorframe as she looked at the sofa. Pillows were haphazardly on the floor, the TV still playing the movie Men in Black. Tony was sitting on the sofa, his head tipped back, eyes closed. An arm draped over the side, and one on Peter, who was laying across him. Head in his lap. One leg on the floor.
Bringing out her phone she snapped a few pictures eagerly.
Then she moved over behind the sofa, and leant over to gently kiss Tony.
"Hmmm." Tony murmured immediately kissing her back, and opening his eyes as he smiled; "Hi you."
"Hi." Pepper replied caressing his cheek; "Sorry I'm so late."
"It's ok." Tony shrugged as he sat up rubbing his face; "How did it go?" He asked as Pepper moved around to front of the sofa, and reached over to brush a stray curl of hair from Peter's face.
"Ah you know." Pepper shrugged; "Nothing major. It's all handed now. I see you two have been busy today." Her eyes sparkling with delight.
Tony tipped his head, eyeing the photo frame clutched to her chest; "Do you like it?"
Pepper just grinned; "Oh Tony I love it." She looked between her and Peter; "Wha...when...who...?"
Tony looked down at Peter fondly; "He felt guilty that you had to go in to the office, and I stayed. He wanted to do something nice for you. I helped out."
"Hmm so let me guess the cupcakes were your idea?" Pepper said amused.
"Who doesn't like cupcakes?" Tony replied with a sloppy grin, before softening as he put his arm to Peter's shoulder; "He was so happy about the picture frame, imagining your face when you saw it. He tried to stay awake. We both did but..." He shrugged helplessly.
"Well I'm going to put it on my desk at work and look at it every day when I'm working." Pepper said adamantly, before she looked at the photo frame, running her hand over it; "My first present from my son." She murmured in awe.
Tony just grinned broadly at that.
"They surprise you every day in ways you wouldn't expect." Tony commented seeing the same look on her as he had every day.
"Yeah." Pepper said in agreement. Peter was certainly full of surprises.