Chapter 37
"Can we talk now?"
Instantly Tony stilled, and whipped around wide eyed. Seeing Peter's trepidation he smiled rushing over, dropping his tools on a table; "Yeah yes of course."
He sat on his stool facing Peter, trying not to appear overeager to listen, in case he spooked Peter. Clearly the kid was nervous.
"So um do you want to talk here? Or do you want to go somewhere else in the house?"
"Here is ok." Peter mumbled looking down at his lap, and he sighed closing his eyes. His heart rate picked up and he started shaking a little. Then he started crying. All his emotions and thoughts finally coming to a head.
"Oh Peter..." Tony froze, and looked around before he stood, rushing to grab a blanket from the sofa. It was an Iron Man blanket Pepper had bought for him as a joke, she often put it over him when she found him sleeping in the lab. Returning to Peter, he wrapped it around him; "Come here spider baby." He picked him up and carried him to the sofa, setting him in his lap.
Wrapped like a burrito, Peter dropped his head to his dad's chest as he sobbed.
"Shh let it out. It's ok. I've got you."
When the sobs finally eased up, Peter took a shaky breath; "Sorry dad."
Tony just smiled; "I'm thinking about setting up a 'sorry jar', for every time you apologise you put a dollar in the jar."
"Sorry." Peter said again before grimacing, lifting his head sheepishly.
Tony just chuckled, making Peter grin. Then Peter stared at him for a moment exhaling; "I have something to talk to you about. But...can you please not interrupt me? If you do I might not be able to say it all."
Tony nodded seriously; "Of course bud. I'm just going to sit here and listen ok?" He rubbed a hand up Peter's back and settled back just waiting.
It took a moment for Peter to collect his thoughts. He pressed his head to his dad's chest, focusing on his dad's heartbeat and avoiding his face. It was easier that way. Then he started.
"I don't want to be a secret anymore dad."
Tony stiffened a little, not at what Peter said but how upset he sounded, and he opened his mouth to comfort him, when he stopped. Remembering what Peter said, and he listened. Reaching to take Peter's hand to atleast offer him some support.
Peter grasped his dad's hand, feeling the strength to go on.
"I know why you and May, and mom are doing it. To protect me from the press. Because you love me. I get that and I understand. That's what makes it so hard. I don't want to have the press swarming me all day every day either, it will make it difficult or impossible to be Spider Man. But I can't help how I feel. The idea of being a secret for two years, I just...I can't do it. Parent teacher day sort of clicked it for me. Having you there as just a family friend, and not my dad, not being able to call you dad. Having Flash say..." Peter trailed off looking down, and Tony pulled Peter tighter because he saw that clip from the bathrooms and knew exactly what Flash said to Peter. He really wanted to kick Flash's ass for that.
Peter took a shaky breath clearing his throat; "Then when the press separated us, and seeing Pepper's statement I was just an intern nothing more. It hurt. I know that's not how you both felt, but I can't help being afraid. Afraid of being rejected."
Tony opened his mouth to object because no way he was staying quiet after that.
"I know you wouldn't do it intentionally." Peter said quickly clinging to him tighter; "But I've been having nightmares ever since. They vary but there's a common theme...um..." Peter shivered a little afraid to continue but had to; "There's a clown chasing me. Trying to get me to see that I'm unloved. May and Happy are married, they have a baby, a real son, and they don't want me anymore."
Tony felt his eyes tearing up, wanting more than anything to interrupt and comfort him but had to restrain himself for Peter.
"Then I rush to your house and..."
Don't say it. Don't say it.
"You and Pepper have a little baby girl. And you don't know me."
Oh Peter.
Some tears fell down Peter's cheek, and Tony wiped them away with the pad of his thumb.
"You looked at me so cold and detached, it was horrible. Then the clown killed me. And I woke up. Before you say anything I know it was a nightmare and wasn't real. But I think deep down I fear that might happen. Being a secret, torn between two families and not really fitting in either, what's going to happen when I go off to college and you and mom, and May and Happy have your own children? You wouldn't do it intentionally, but I would get pushed out. Because why bother with me, a broken teenager, when you can have a do over and have a perfect baby and be there from the start."
"Peter..." Tony's voice broke, he couldn't listen to this anymore and not say anything.
"Dad...please..." Peter pleaded. He needed to get this out, now he started he couldn't stop.
"And it's not just that. It's what would happen if we did tell the world. Hearing you say you want me to live with you, it made me so happy. But then to hear I have to be a secret and it can't happen. It felt like you were being taken away from me. I want to live here too. I never knew what it was like to have parents. May is like my mom, but it's different. It's special and I love her more than anything, but it's different. Having real parents is everything, and I don't want to miss anymore time with you. I've only got a couple more years with you and then I leave for college. I want to make the most of them. I want to live here with my dad, and be here for Christmas, and Fathers day and Halloween and all the holidays. But then I feel horrible, because I'm a horrible kid for wanting to leave May like that. May raised me and she's my parent too, how could I even think of leaving her? It's so hard, I love seeing you both every day, but travelling between both houses it's exhausting. And it's like I fit into both places but also I don't you know? Like two different worlds. I stay with May and Happy and we have fun, and it's normal and it fits, but then I come here and stay with you and mom, and we have so much fun too, and I'm so happy, and this fits too. But it also doesn't because I'm a secret with you and I'm May's nephew, not her kid. I just don't know what to do or what I want..." Peter sobs
"All this is stressing me out, and then there's Spider Man and school and everything...I have no idea if this is making any sense or I'm rambling nonsense. I just...I hate being a secret. Being a lie. It makes me feel unwanted, that I'm just an accident from a one night stand. And I know that sounds unfair because I know you don't feel that way about me, but clearly I have a lot of issues. Abandonment issues. That's kinda of why I haven't told you or May any of this before. I'm scared of letting people get close to me. Scared of loving you like I loved my parents, and Ben...and then losing you. I couldn't bare to lose you or May. I couldn't. So I guess I kept you at arms length, and May a little bit, trying to deal with all of this myself. That was a mistake. I see that now. I've been scared for so long, but I always feel safe with you. And I don't want to be scared anymore. I don't want to be afraid to fight for what I want. I deserve to be happy and I want to be with you."
Peter lifted his head to finally look at his dad a little shocked at seeing such raw emotion on his face, and tears in his own eyes; "I'm your son. I want to be your son. Officially. I want to be able to go in public with you without being afraid someone might see us. That's why I wish you weren't famous. Because if you weren't then all of this wouldn't be an issue, no one would care, but you are so here we are. And yes the press are an issue of course, and I'm terrified of them and what they might say about me, and us, but I think I could handle it. As long as I have you and mom, and May and Happy. So um yeah that's pretty much it." Peter looked down at his hands shyly; "I'm sorry I didn't tell you all of this before. I should have, I see that now. I guess I was afraid of saying it aloud. Afraid of hurting you, or May. I'm um done now." He finished looking a little nervously at his dad. He was trying to read his expression, but it was hard to decipher. And well he did just unload all this stuff on him.
For a moment Tony just stares, his brain short circuiting will all this information, and the guilt for Peter dealing with all this alone.
Then he's pulling Peter in for a bone crushing hug, and he's crying into Peter's hair, just rocking them. Trying to make Peter and himself feel better.
Peter buries his face into his dad's chest clinging to him, a little startled but relieved that his dad wasn't pushing him away.
"Spider baby I'm so sorry. Peter...you shouldn't have had to face all this alone." Tony finally murmured once he lifted his head, getting control of himself. He shifted Peter so they were face to face; "You're just a kid and you shouldn't have had to worry about any of this. That's my job."
"But dad..."
"Ah ah bud it's my turn to talk now ok." He said with a small smile. Then he sighed closing his eyes for a moment; "God bud you have no idea how much I hate you being a secret too. Turning up a the school and saying I was just a family friend killed me. It felt unfair, like you were getting taken away from me. But I would never ever, you listen to me ok?" He cupped Peter's face; "Never ever ever reject you or push you away. You mean the world to me Peter. The universe. I honestly didn't think I could love someone as much as I love you. I know exactly what you're feeling bud. I lost my parents too and it's affected me in relationships my whole life. I pushed people away, kept everyone at arms length until I met Pepper. And then you. But I get it. The fear of losing everyone you love is paralysing. And I can't promise that nothing it going to happen, but I am going to promise that I will fight like hell to make sure that nothing happens to me, or you, or mom, or any of us."
Peter felt hope welling up, and see the pure look of love on his dad's face, he could see he meant every word.
"I have nightmares about you too you know." Tony added moving to card through Peter's hair again, finding it soothing for himself too.
Stilling, Peter looked at him hesitantly wondering what his dad could possibly have nightmares about him.
"About not being there for you as a baby, and a kid, when you needed me." Tony's voice caught and he paused to look at Peter's face a moment finding comfort in having him right in front of him; "It still haunts me that I wasn't there for you bud, which is why I'm determined not to miss another second with you. I'm so sorry you have been having these nightmares spider baby. That has to be so scary, and it pains me that you had to go through all that alone. I should have been there for you bud. But they are only nightmares, and would never ever happen. You are my son and you will always be my son. There is nothing wrong with you, you are not broken, you are perfect Peter. I love everything about you. Being your dad, means I'm going to be your dad forever. And May, she may be your Aunt but you are her kid too. And you always will be. Being a parent doesn't have a time limit. And I fully intend to be there when you go to college, when you graduate, getting a car, getting a job, getting married one day, having grandkids..." Tony faltered at that imagining a little grandchild running around, he'd love that; "I want to be there for you for everything bud. I am not going anywhere. I'm going to be right here for you always. You can't get rid of me that easily." He finished in a quip, feeling his heart swell as Peter smiled at that.
"As for what you said about worrying what will happen when we tell everyone you're my son well you have nothing to feel guilty for. It's just how you feel. And there is nothing wrong with that. May will understand, she only wants you to be happy bud. That's why she moved closer. For you. I understand you feel torn in two, and you know I'm sorry. Maybe I never should told you in the first place about our decision to hold back the truth. You're just a kid and you shouldn't have been burdened with such a thing. But you're wrong if you think you don't fit in anywhere, it's not two families, but one family. We're one big family Peter. And that's because of you. You brought us all together. And we all love you. I am so so very proud of you for telling me the truth about how you've been feeling. It takes a lot of courage to admit this stuff, I should know, Pepper's told me for years I'm emotionally stunted." He chuckled and liked it when Peter scoffed; "Thank you for telling me the truth bud, because now I can help. I know I've said this before, but you can always talk to me about anything bud. I'm not going to get hurt by whatever it is, and neither will May, we only want you to be happy. So I'm going to tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to fix this. I'm going to make everything better ok? You won't be a secret anymore. I'm going to tell everyone you're my son. I want to be able to take my son out for days too, so I'm going to make this happen."
"You'd really do that?" Peter sniffled wiping his eyes
"Of course spider baby. I told you I'd do anything for you. I should have just asked you want you wanted in the first place, and that's on me. I guess I can be a little overprotective at times."
"A little?" Peter said smirking.
Tony grinned; "Ok fine a lot. But that's only because I care about you so much. I don't ever want to see you hurt, and I should have seen that keeping you a secret would hurt you. In truth, maybe I wanted to keep you to myself for a while. Because then no one would come after you. But that's not fair to you." Tony murmured squeezing Peter's hand; "You're stronger than I give you credit for. I know you can handle the press. You can handle anything."
Peter blushed at that and ducked his head. Could this really be happening?
"But...I have to ask? Are you sure? I know you say this is what you want, and I'll make it happen. But it will mean Spider Man will have to take a break for a little while a least. I know how much you love being Spider Man."
"I do love Spider Man. But I love you more dad."
Tony felt like his heart was going to explode from the love he felt for Peter in that moment. His face so honest and open. He truly was the luckiest dad in the world.
"Come here." Tony pulled him in for another hug; "You know you are perfect to me bud."
"But I'm not. I have issues. Flaws."
"Everyone does kid. Hell, I still have PTSD and panic attacks. It's not as bad as it was, but I still have bad days."
"Really?" Peter lifted his head and looked sadly at his dad, wishing he could do something to help. Tony noticed and just smiled.
"We're more alike than you think bud. Just because you suffer with anxiety and abandonment issues it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you. You've been through some horrible tragedies, I'd be more surprised if you weren't affected by that." Tony paused his heart rate picked up as he thought about Peter nearly running away.
"Dad?" Peter frowned as he detected his heart rate; "Are you ok? Your heart is racing."
"Peter I need you to know why you were going to run away?"
Peter froze and looked down his own heart picking up; "I...I wasn't really going to do it."
Tony hooked a finger under Peter's chin to lift his head back up so they were face to face; "You know I would never let you go right?"
"What?"
"If you ran I would track you down to the ends of the Earth to bring you back. You know that right?"
Peter smiled broadly; "Yeah I do. That's why I would never do it. It would hurt you all too much, and I don't think I could bare not seeing you every day. I need you too much dad."
"I need you too bud. I can't live without you now. So please don't make me. Just..." he sighed brushing a hand across Peter's face; "Tell me why you were even considering it. Because it scared the hell out of me bud to hear it. Did I screw this up already? Is it because of me?"
"God no dad!" Peter's eyes widened and he grabbed Tony's shirt, fisting it; "It's nothing you did. I swear. I just...I thought for maybe a few seconds that maybe yours and moms, and May's and Happy's lives might have been better off without me. Less stress that way."
"Peter..."
"I know it was a stupid thought. I was just worried that you keeping me a secret was too much for you, and I thought it might be easier if I just left. But I wouldn't have actually done it. I'm really sorry I ran that morning. When I stopped crying I realised it had been a mistake, and all I wanted was to be with you. I should have waited for you, and maybe then I wouldn't have gotten into a fight with Flash."
"You were crying?" Tony breathed his face scrunching in pain; "Oh bud. My life wouldn't be better without you, it would be so much worse. You don't add stress Peter, you take it away. The most fun I've ever had in my life is when I'm with you. You are my life now, and Pepper. You two are my whole world. Do you understand now?" He paused searching Peter's face; "Because I don't know how else to tell you or show that I'm not going anywhere and I love you with my whole heart. If you need me to do anything else please tell me. Because I'll do whatever it takes."
"No dad." Peter said softly shaking his head smiling; "I don't need anything else. I see the truth now. I can get in my own head sometimes, and be insecure but I'm trying to be better. I know you love me, and being with you makes me happy and safe. I'm going to trust that now. I promise I'll never even think about running away again. I don't want to leave dad." He finished with some tears falling.
"Ok good." Tony nodded exhaling, wiping away Peter's tears so relived. Then he studied Peter for a moment; "You know if you want I can get you someone to talk to about all this."
Peter tilted his head; "Like a shrink?"
"A psychiatrist and yes. If you want. I can make it happen. It may help." Tony said searching his face seeing some hesitation there; "There's no shame in it you know. I saw one once, after New York. Bruce too actually but yeah."
"Bruce?" Peter straightened at that, because that sounded better than talking to some random stranger. It kind of surprised him though because his dad and Bruce argued sometimes.
"Yeah I mean it was only a few sessions, and mostly I would just ramble on the whole hour about everything I was feeling and thinking. He never really said much in return, think he even fell asleep once." Tony said smirking; "But the point is it didn't matter. Just having someone there to listen, to get it all out, it really helped. Supressing all this stuff inside is really bad for you Peter. It builds up, causes a lot of stress having to hold it all in, and well it reaches a breaking point and this happens." Tony finishes with a sad face; "It doesn't matter who you talk to, but I think you should talk to someone. I think it will help you bud. And I just want to help."
Tony brushed a hand through Peter's hair, and tugged Peter's head down to his chest, the other hand supporting Peter's legs hanging off his lap onto the sofa.
"Maybe...maybe I could talk to you."
Pausing, Tony tried not to latch onto that with too much hope.
"Me?"
"Well yeah I think I would prefer to talk to you. You understand me better than anyone else, and I always feel better when I'm with you. I like talking to you. I wish I had done it sooner."
Tony did too.
"Maybe we could talk more often? About stuff."
Wow. This was going better than expected. Peter was actually volunteering to talk to him. He felt like jumping for joy.
"Yeah bud of course. We could talk about stuff if you want. Whenever you want."
Peter closed his eyes snuggling further into his dad, smiling as he finally felt this huge weight lifted of him, now that he told his dad the truth. He didn't feel alone anymore.
"I don't want to keep secrets from you anymore dad."
"I'd like that too. So let's agree no more secrets yeah? And we're going to talk to each other more? That sound good bud?"
Peter grinned lifting his head and nodded firmly; "Yeah yes it does."
"Good."
"So can I ask you a question now?" Peter said hesitantly biting his lip.
"Sounds ominous." Tony quipped but nodded; "Go ahead."
"What did you do to Flash? Because Ned texted me and told me Flash was suspended and the whole school is talking about how you went there to talk to the principal."
"Ah." Tony had the decency to look a little sheepish; "Guess you were going to find out eventually." He held up a finger; "Just...don't be mad ok? I did it for you."
"What was for me?"
"I spoke to your principal yes. I told him the truth. Because you know that asshat actually tried to place the blame of the fight on you?"
Peter stilled his eyes narrowing in anger; "He did?"
"Yeah you were going to get suspended too. And then to hear that he had been bullying you for years.."
"Wait how did you...Ned?" Peter gaped.
"He was looking out for you." Tony defended; "And really you should have been the one to tell me not him." He looked intently at Peter.
Peter just sighed looking away; "I wanted to. I really did. And May. But I was afraid if I did the two of you would overreact and tell the school, then it would just make things worse. Flash wasn't too bad before he never got physical. I don't know why he suddenly started the fight."
"Because he's a bully Peter. And you should have told someone, even if you didn't tell me or May. He was bullying you for years! That's unacceptable! All I wanted to do was take a suit and pay him a visit for hurting you like that."
"You didn't right?" Peter chuckled nervously.
"I didn't."
Peter didn't like the way he said that; "But...someone did?"
"I may have mentioned to the rest of the team about what that punk did to you. What they did after that is their business."
Peter gasped; "The Avengers! The Avengers paid a visit to Flash! That's...that's so cool."
"Cool?" Ok not what he was expecting; "So it's cool for them but not for me to go see him?"
"Well I guess I was afraid you might go full Iron Man on him, but actually I'm kinda touched you all stood up for me like that."
Tony grinned straightening up; "Well he won't be bothering you anymore." Tony assured him; "We made sure of that. Pepper too. You should have seen her, she went full mama bear. It was great. We showed the principal the footage FRIDAY recorded of what Flash did to, added to that some statements from the other students.."
"Wait other students? They...backed me up?"
"Yeah kid." Tony just looked at him fondly; "They didn't like what he did to you either. Once the principal read those and saw the injuries that asshat caused you, he realised the truth. So yeah he was suspended for three months, he's got detention for a month when he gets back. He's also going to apologise to you when he next sees you and then stay the hell away from you. Pepper and I may also be suing the asshat's parents, but that's another story."
"Suing?" Peter's voice rose in fear.
"Not for as much as I should be. Because I know you wouldn't want that. But he hurt you. If you didn't have super healing you would be off school for weeks, and it would impede your school work. And you could have had some serious long term injuries from that shove down the stairs, so yes I'm suing them for emotional, mental and physical injuries. They are jerks too and clearly aren't good parents if they're letting their kid be a bully."
"Wow. Thanks dad." Knowing that Flash won't be bothering him anymore, he didn't think it was possible. And he did kind of like the idea of Flash suffering a little.
Full of pride Tony kissed Peter's forehead; "Of course spider baby. No messes with my son."
"I like that."
"What?"
"You calling me your son." Peter blushed.
"Well you better get used to it."
They hugged and just stayed like that for a little one. Seeking comfort from each other after talking about so many issues.
"Do you feel better now bud?" Tony asked quietly after a moment, resting his cheek on the top of Peter's head; "Now that we've talked about what's bothering you and sorted it out. Is there anything else you want to talk about?"
"I'm good now. Really I am. I feel so much better. Thanks dad."
"You're very welcome."
Peter paused as he suddenly thought of something; "Um actually there is one thing..." Peter trailed off though hesitating.
"Ah ah no now come on, we said no more secrets and that you would talk to me. Go on. I'm all ears."
"Well it's not so much anything bothering me as more stuff about my past you might want to know."
Tony wasn't sure what to make of that, and he listened curiously as Peter went on to explain some difficulties Peter and May had with money. Getting mugged before his powers, having the heating turned off, low on food. Tony hated to hear about it, because he knew he hadn't been there through any of it. But he understood why Peter was telling him, so he could know more about Peter, and what he's gone through.
"You continue to amaze me kid." Tony said once Peter was done, surprising Peter; "Even through all the terrible things you've experienced, you are still so sweet, so kind, and selfless and smart and strong."
"Maybe I get that from you."
If only. But Tony appreciated him for saying that.
"Maybe. But I reckon that's more your mom and May."
Peter thought about his real mom and felt a little sad; "Do you think...do you think my real mom would be happy to know I'm here with you and mom? That I've found you?"
"I know she thought she was protecting you from me before, but maybe she would now yeah bud I'm sure she would."
"She wouldn't be upset would she? That I call Pepper mom. Do you think?"
"Oh no buddy of course not."
"How do you know? Wouldn't she be mad that I'm moving on without her. That I'm forgetting her. I mean I barely knew her. I was only a baby when she died. I don't really remember what she looks like. And then there's my step dad, he loved me too even if he wasn't my dad. Wouldn't he be upset that I'm like replacing him. Isn't that wrong? Am I bad kid?"
"No Peter! You are not a bad kid. Quite the opposite. It's not wrong to feel that way. It's not your fault you were only a baby when they died. They would want you to be happy. That's all a parent wants, for their kid to be loved and happy. I'm not saying that Pepper and I have replaced your mom and Richard. We can never replace the relationship you had with them, no matter how short it was. The relationship we have is different, it's just as special. We all love you and you love us, and them. You can never forget them Peter. I know what it's like to feel guilty about moving on with your life without your parents, it took me a while but I came to learn that my parents would want me to be happy. Well atleast my mom would. They'd want me to live my life to the fullest. You can still live you life and Pepper and I can be your parents, and you can still miss them Peter. It's ok."
"Oh ok. Thanks dad. This is nice. Talking to you. I like it."
"Me too."
"Will you tell me more about you? What you were like as a kid."
"Well," Tony chuckled; "I was probably the opposite of you. A little hell raiser. And it might help you to know that I was bullied to at one point for a little while."
"You were? But...you're Tony Stark."
"Ha yeah that's kinda the point. I was at boarding school. My dad had shipped me off. I was a lot younger than you are. And although it was a school for other rich kids no one really liked me, because no one liked my dad. They were jealous, envious, angry, thought I was spoilt. I don't know. It didn't really matter to me. I was arrogant. But there was this one kid who made it their mission to teach me a lesson. Called me names, picked fights with me...man I got into quite a few fights that year. My dad was furious, almost got kicked out actually."
"Why would your dad be mad? It wasn't your fault. Didn't he want to help stop you getting bullied?"
"Hmmm not really. He was more of the tough love kind of dad. Left me to fight my own battles. I guess that was a good lesson to learn, but not when I'm getting beat up every day and there's no one there to help me. The kid even framed me for putting graffiti on the school walls and breaking into the Dean's office. That was pretty rough for me. But I got through it. Toughened up, and got my own back on the kid. Made sure he didn't mess with me again."
"Oh...do you think I'm a wimp for not doing that with Flash?" Peter said shyly.
"No of course not bud! I'm really impressed with your restraint, I know it had to be really hard for you not to fight back. Because it would expose you as Spider Man. I understand, and I'm sorry you had to deal with that at all. It's not fair to you. Besides, it was a different for me then. I had to fight back because my dad didn't help, and I had no one else. I would have gotten help if I could. Besides, bullying is taken very seriously now what with cyber bullying, and how far some bullies can take it. And considering you were bullied for years, that's way too far Peter. That kid only messed with me for a few weeks, and lost interest after I stood up for myself. That asshat bullying you was seriously gunning for you, it would have kept going and maybe escalated even further if we hadnt stopped it. What my dad didn't accept then, which is wrong by the way, is that it's ok to ask for help when you need it. It actually takes a lot of courage to ask for help, and there's nothing wrong with it. It's like you with Spider Man, if someone needs help you give it. Well the same goes for you, you need help, I'm going to help you."
"I guess that makes sense. Dad...why do you keep calling Flash asshat?" He said smirking.
"Well I'm certainly not calling him Flash or Eugene. Both suckish names by the way. His parents did him no favours."
"You're a really good dad. The best. I want you to know that."
Tony's eyes watered as he cuddled Peter; "Thanks bud. That means a lot to me."
Peter yawned a few moments later and Tony chuckled; "You tired bud? Want to take a nap?"
"Can I?" Peter did feel pretty tired. All that talking had drained him.
"You can do whatever you want spider baby."
"Will you stay with me?"
"No where else I'd rather be." As Peter snuggled into Tony in a position so he could sleep, he ended up laying his head in Tony's lap, whilst Tony ran his fingers through Peter's hair.
"Just sleep buddy. I'll be right here. Everything's going to be ok. I promise. I'll fix everything."
"I love you dad. So much."
"I love you 3000 spider baby." It just popped into his head, but he grinned after her said it. Especially sensing the way Peter turned to bury his face in Tony's torso, smiling broadly.