Chapter 8

Kneeling on the floor, Pepper gently and tenderly pulled out the small pieces of glass in Peter's feet. Tony pulled Peter into a sideways hug, rubbing his back in comfort as he hissed and whimpered in pain. Peter closed his eyes, clinging onto his did in desperation. He buried his head into his dad's chest, crying in pain, wanting him to make him feel better.

"It's ok bud." Tony cooed, caressing the back of his head; "It will be over soon."

Tony gulped, nodding gratefully at Pepper, as his grip on Peter tightened. He was glad that Pepper volunteered to treat Peter, he wasn't sure he had the stomach for it. It may just be a few cuts, but he couldn't bare seeing Peter hurt. It made him physically ill, and if he hurt Peter even more by trying to help, well Tony couldn't do that. Thankfully, Pepper was stronger than he was.

Pulling out the antiseptic wipes, she grimaced in preparation. Pausing as she looked at Peter, his head buried in Tony's chest shaking terribly.

"This may sting a little ok?" Pepper murmured softly, hating to do it but had to.

Tony just rubbed Peter's back more to reassure him he wasn't alone.

As Pepper grabbed Peter's leg to steady him so he didn't accidentally kick her , she quickly rubbed the wipes across the sole of his feet. He flinched, and let out moans that cut right through Pepper and Tony.

"I'm sorry honey." Pepper sighed, making quick work of doing the other foot.

Peter just moaned, digging his fingers into his dad's shirts, pleading for him to take the pain away. To make it better. He didn't know what was happening, his fever filled brain was confused. He just felt terrible, and in pain. But knowing his dad was there, was enough for Peter to keep it together.

Once she cleaned the wounds, she was relived to see they weren't that deep, and wouldn't need stitches. And she knew he would heal pretty quick which was really good, because these would be painful for Peter to walk on. Grabbing some padded bandages she put one of each foot, taping them up.

"There we go sweetie." Pepper said patting his legs, smiling up at her boys. Wishing she could do more; "They might hurt for a while, but thankfully should heal pretty quick." She said as she stood, and Tony gripped her hand in overwhelming gratitude and love.

"See bud. You're ok." Tony murmured peering down to try and look at Peter's face, but he wouldn't release his grip on his dad even a little.

"You're going to be just fine spider baby." Tony said in a gentle voice, ruffling his son's hair to try and coax him to look at him; "I got you. I got you Underoos."

Finally, Peter sniffled, loosing his grasp as he lifted his head shyly. Coming face to face with his parents smiling faces.

"There he is." Tony said grinning, pushing some hair from his face.

"How are you feeling honey?" Pepper said worriedly.

Peter shrugged shyly, rubbing his eyes with his sleeve. It was all just starting to hit him, and he felt really tired all of a sudden.

"You ready to tell us what happened bud?" Tony murmured, edging back to properly face Peter, but kept an arm around him in support.

"I...couldn't sleep. I just wanted a drink, and a snack. But I didn't want to wake you, so I tried...tried to be quiet." Peter said his throat catching on some words, still upset, and it made his throat hurt more. He coughed a few times, and Tony rubbed his back to help.

"We were up anyway honey." Pepper reassured him; "Wanting to be around for you."

"Even if we were asleep, we wouldn't mind you coming to wake us." Tony insisted, looking him in the eye to make sure Peter saw he meant it; "For whatever you wanted or needed, it's what we're here for Peter. Ok?"

Peter bobbed his head weakly. Feeling very stupid and embarrassed.

"I got scared of the storm...the lightning, and rain...it made me jump. And I broke the fridge. I'm really sorry...I'll clean it up. I swear."

"Hey stop it." Tony said fiercely; "Don't apologise. You have nothing to apologise for. I told you I don't care." He frowned; "Why do you think we'd be mad? What are you scared of buddy? Me?" He said fearfully, his face dropping in terror at the possibility.

"Thought you'd be mad about me getting sick." Peter mumbled quietly, playing with the sleeves of the hoodie, avoiding looking at either of their gazes. Fearing what he might see.

"What?" Freezing, Tony looked at Pepper utterly confused.

"Why would we think that honey?" Pepper asked gently seeing Peter was really upset about this; "It's not your fault you're sick."

"It is." Peter countered swallowing and wincing at the soreness of his throat, and letting out a small sneeze; "You told me not to go on patrol in the rain. But I didn't listen...now I'm sick." He paused briefly looking up at his dad, about to cry again; "I'm sorry dad. You were right. You can yell if you...you want. I know you're mad."

Tony just sighed. This kid!

In response, he just pulled Peter into a hug, kissing the top of his head. Closing his eyes to get a grip on his own emotions. Hating that fact that his own son was scared of him because he thought he was mad at him for getting sick. He knew this had to have started when he took Peter's suit away after the Ferry incident. The kid had been terrified about him taking away his suit every since. He had to fix this.

"Peter. I'm not mad at you. I don't care how you got sick, just that you are, and all I want is for you to get better." He pulled back peering down to catch Peter's eyes; "When I tell you not to do stuff on patrol, I'm only doing it to keep you safe. You can hate me for it, but I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe bud. That's all I care about, that you're safe and unharmed." Tony shook his head reaching to ruffle his hair for reassurance Peter was there and ok; "I'm selfish kid. I can't handle seeing you hurt or sick like this. I just want you safe, so I may come across harshly at times. But I don't mean it, like with the Ferry..." He hesitated; "God kid I thought I was going to lose you that day. Almost gave me a heart attack. I was trying to protect you when I took the suit. I was disappointed at the time, but then you made up for your mistake and made me so proud. I could never truly be mad at you. I love you too much kid. Just know that everything I do is for you, to protect you, to keep you safe, and right now I just want to help you get better. Ok?" He finished pausing to search Peter's eyes, waiting to see if the message got through.

Peter blinked at his dad shocked, and Tony feared the kid was too sick to resister all this, or he had gone too far. But Peter felt relief, like a weight had been lifted, and so so happy. Hearing his dad say how much he cared for him. He felt really silly over the whole thing now.

His lips turned up into a small smile as he looked at his dad in awe, and love; "Ok. Thanks dad."

Tony smiled, exhaling in relief. Pleased to see Peter smile again.

Then Peter let you a big yawn, and Tony and Pepper chuckled.

"Ok spider baby. Bed time."

Peter frowned, looking down. Hating the idea of trying to go back to sleep in his room with the storm raging.

"Want me to carry you?" Tony asked, thinking Peter was frowning before of his hurt feet, and was too tired to move.

Usually Peter would have objected, he wasn't a baby. But right now, he was too tired to get up himself, and his head was pounding something fierce. He wasn't sure he could make it by himself.

Hesitating, he nodded shyly at his dad; "Can I...can I have a piggyback?"

Tony's heart skipped a beat, especially when Peter held his arms up at Tony expectantly. Just like a little kid. God Peter was adorable.

Chuckling in joy, Tony nodded, turning around; "Alright bud. Hop on up."

Peter wrapped his arms around his dad's neck, and then wrapped his legs around him. Tony grabbed onto his legs to keep him steady, as Peter moved his arms over his dad's chest, burying his head in his neck. Closing his eyes for a moment.

Tony was about to set off for the stairs when he caught Pepper staring adoringly at them. He smiled at her before heading off for the stairs.

"Alright buddy. Hope you enjoy the ride." Tony quipped, grinning. Imagining, that he might have done this a few times for Peter when he was a little kid. It hurt to think that, but having Peter here now, being able to care for him like this, it made it hurt less. Getting a glimpse of a baby, and child Peter. Being there for him. It made a real difference to his anger over all of it. More than that, it made him love Peter more. He thought Peter was cute before, but as a kid and baby he had to be downright adorable.

Pepper followed Tony upstairs to Peter's bedroom a little while later. Wanting to help if Peter needed anything. She brought a glass of water with her, just in case he was thirsty again. Along with some toast, realising he didn't get that snack he was after.

Peter was hopping off Tony's back when she walked in.

"Here you are honey." Pepper handed the plate and cup to Peter as he sat on the bed and crossed his legs.

Peter took them blushing and smiling gratefully, whilst Tony grabbed a blanket to put around his shoulders to make sure he didn't get too cold. Then as Peter was tucking into the toast, Tony put his hand to his forehead.

"Still warm buddy. You feeling bad?"

Peter nodded with a mouth full of toast; "Was sick again earlier." He murmured between bites.

Tony frowned at that, not liking it one bit.

"What else?" Pepper prompted.

Peter shrugged; "Sore throat, headache, tired."

"Are the pills helping at all?" Tony demanded.

Again Peter shrugged. He felt just as terrible as he did earlier.

"That's alright buddy you'll get better soon." Tony said squeezing his arm; "It's time for another one." He grabbed the bottle off the side and handed another one to Peter. Maybe he needed to take a few before they worked.

They were pleased when Peter managed to eat both slices of toast, and drink the water with his pill. More than that, that it stayed down.

"You want to try and get some sleep now?" Tony offered as he took the plate and cup and set them aside; "It's pretty late bud and you look tired." As he said it, Peter yawned again, making Tony smile.

Pepper stood, and Tony moved to tuck Peter in.

Sensing they were going to leave, Peter panicked.

"Wait." Peter reached up to grab his dad's arm; "Don't go."

Tony tilted his head, surprised to see fear in Peter's eyes. He looked worriedly at Pepper.

"Ok ok." He quickly sat back down on the edge of Peter's bed, covering his hand on his arm; "What's wrong Pete? Huh?"

Pepper edged back over to sit the other side of the bed, leaning forward; "Come on honey talk to us."

"The storm." Peter started anxiously; "I...can't sleep."

Tony finally caught on; "You're scared of storms?" He clarified. He got that, what with his senses, they had to be pretty overwhelming.

Peter ducked his head, clearly embarrassed.

"Hey it's ok." Tony said quickly trying to catch his eye; "It's nothing to be ashamed of Peter. What with your enhanced senses, I understand."

"It's not that...well not just that..." Peter mumbled frowning as he struggled to explain it; "I've been scared since I was a kid...They're just all too loud, chaotic, and make me feel alone. I never told May..."

"Why not?" Pepper said gently; "She would want to know. She could have helped."

"I didn't want to bother her. She was busy a lot, worked a lot." Peter mumbled under his breath; "Then it was just a habit. Now I'm not a kid anymore. It's embarrassing."

"Don't talk like that buddy." Tony said softly; "You're not a bother to any of us, you hear me? Whatever problem you have, or worry, you come to us. We're not here to judge you but help you. And as for being embarrassed, we all have things we're afraid of. Me especially. You're not alone buddy."

"What can we do to help?" Pepper said after a moment, when Peter kept silent.

"Can you...do you mind...will you stay?" Peter said nervously; "I don't want to be alone."

"Of course." Tony had spoken even before Peter had finished. He didn't plan on going anywhere right now. His place was with his son; "We can stay as long as you need us to."

Pepper nodded in agreement, reaching to touch Peter's arm in comfort.

Peter smiled gratefully, pleased they weren't criticising him for being a baby, and wanting to help.

"Alright come on bud." Tony said standing to held tuck Peter in. As Peter laid down, he sniffled, feeling utterly exhausted. His eyes were already closing, but he resisted going to sleep, he was too scared. Looking fearfully at his dad, in case he suddenly left.

"It's alright." Tony reassured him, as he sat down beside Peter, laying down against the headboard; "I'm not going anywhere."

In response, Peter immediately shifted up to snuggle against his dad. Laying his head on his chest, wrapping his arm around his torso.

Smiling fondly, Tony put his arm around Peter, rubbing his back, as he used his other hand to reach across to ruffle his hair.

Pepper laid down the other side of Peter, reaching over to lay a hand on his shoulder.

"FRIDAY dim the lights." Tony murmured quietly, making a soothing motion of carding through Peter's hair, as he made circle motions on his back, hoping it would help calm him. He could feel the kid's body still trembling. Not knowing if it was the illness or him being scared, but either way, he wanted to help Peter feel better.

Peter tried to close his eyes to go to sleep, but he could still hear the tip tapping of the rain on the window, and the hissing of the wind. And it was all he could think about. He couldn't shut his brain off.

"Shhh." Tony cooed, laying a kiss to his head sensing Peter tense; "It's ok my spider baby. I'm here. You're safe. I got you. Just focus on my breathing, and heart rate."

Pepper also squeezed his shoulder in reassurance.

And Peter focused on them. Their breathing, and heart rate, the feeling of their comforting touch, their familiar scent. It all helpful in making him relax. Soon the rain and wind was blocked out. The storm forgotten.

He snuggled further into his dad's chest, his ear resting over his heart. The gentle thump thump, and rise and fall of his chest, along with the soothing motions his dad was making in his hair and back, lulled Peter to sleep.

Soon Tony felt Peter's cling to him go lax, and his breathing evened out. Peering down, Tony was pleased to see Peter's eyes, and his facial features relaxing. He was finally asleep.

Blowing out a breath, he continued his soothing motions for Peter fearing if he stopped Peter would wake up. He peered over Peter's head at Pepper, her head on the other pillow looking up at him with a small smile. Tony was glad he had the good sense to buy Peter a large double bed now.

Tony was stuck, a spider baby attached to him, and he wasn't going anywhere for the foreseeable future, but he gestured his head towards the door, in case Pepper wanted to go to their bed to get some sleep.

She simply shook her head, and tightened her hold on Peter telling him she wasn't going anywhere.

He looked at in awe, she continued to surprise him, and make him fall more in love with her every day. He mouthed I love you to her, and she mouthed it back winking.

Then she closed her eyes snuggling down to sleep.

Tony looked at his family adoringly, a smile on his own face as he closed his eyes. Leaning his cheek against Peter's head, keeping a tight arm around him.