Chapter 39
They spent the rest of the day just hanging out, watching movies and playing some board games.
Before Peter left for May's house with May and Happy for their last night, Tony and Pepper worked on the press statement and checked it with Peter for his approval. Tony in fact wrote it himself, which was a first, because he didn't want the lawyers or board getting their claws in to try and manipulate this for their benefit. Tony wanted this to only be about Peter. Pepper was very proud of him. And once Peter said he was happy with, Tony was overjoyed. This was finally happening.
Currently sitting on the sofa, with the TV on but not really watching it, Tony just couldn't stop smiling.
Hearing footsteps, he turned to see the love of his life approaching with two glasses of wine.
As she handed one to him, she sat down with her own. Huddling against his side, she sighed contently, tucking her feet underneath her. Then she looked around; "I never realised how quiet this house is without Peter."
"Hmm." Tony murmured in agreement, looking around for a moment suddenly realising how true that was. They sat in silence for a moment, and Tony realised it was too quiet; "It won't be quiet much longer. Last chance to change your mind." He jeered.
Pepper just snorted; "Not a chance in the world. He's my son too now." She sipped her wine, and snuggled further into him, he easily pulled her tighter; "It's not how I imagined having a kid, but it's far better than I ever could have imagined. He is like the perfect kid."
"I'll second that. And just imagine one day, we could have some more little Peter's running around."
Pepper chuckled turning to face him; "Let's just focus on the one kid we do have. And we'll talk about having more."
"Fair enough." Tony said with a sloppy grin at the idea of having some more kids. Before he couldn't imagine being a dad, hated the idea. But now...it was the best thing ever. He'd love to have some more with Pepper one day. A mini Pepper would be sweet. And he could see Peter as a big brother. Then he took the glasses from their hands setting them on the coffee table, before turning back to her.
Brushing some hair from her face, he leant in to kiss her.
"You know I'm going to hold you to that." He whispered against her lips.
"Uh huh." Pepper agreed smiling as she deepened the kiss. She too couldn't help but picture some more like Starks running around. When she first met Tony, hell when they were first dating, she wasn't sure he was dad material. But now, after being a dad to Peter. He was a completely different man. She loved him more and more every day.
"Want to celebrate?" Tony said waggling his eyebrows at her.
Simply laughing, and rolling her eyes, she climbed into his lap; "Very smooth line there Mr Stark."
Grinning her kissed her and he picked her up, carrying her up to their bedroom.
0o0o0oSPIDERMAN0o0o0o0o0
At May's house, Peter, May and Happy had dinner, and spent some of the evening watching a movie. Then Happy kindly left them alone for a little while, so they could spend some time together.
They sat together on the sofa eating some ice cream. May opened her arms to Peter, and smiled when he crawled over to hug her.
"I'm going to miss you." Peter mumbled a little scared as he clung to her. Yes he would still see her, but it wasn't the same as living with her. And after 16 years living with her, to not live with her was going to be a big adjustment.
"Oh baby." May rubbed his arm as she combed a hand through his hair; "I'll miss you too. You know I will. It's always been just the two of us, I guess it's still a little new to accept that our families got bigger now. But I'll always be here for you. You'll always have a room here, and you will always be my son too. I want you to remember that ok? Even if Happy and I do get married and have kids, which I'm not saying that we will, but if we do, you are not going to get pushed out. You're my kid and you always will be. Ok?"
"Ok." Peter understood that now.
"Good because if you ever want to talk, I'm just a phone call or drive, or web-swing away."
"I know." Peter grinned scooping another spoonful into his mouth; "It won't be the same though."
"No it won't. But I know that you belong with your dad right now. That's ok."
"It's really nice to have a dad now, but a small part of me is going to miss when it was just the two of us. And that apartment. We had some great fun didn't we?"
"We did honey." May chuckled; "And in truth, a small part of me feels the same way. I'll always have very special memories of that apartment and watching you grow up. It doesn't mean we can't create new memories of just the two of us."
May could see Peter wasn't having second thoughts, but like her, he was a little sad about his life changing.
"Yeah that's true."
"Hey...do you mind if I go on patrol for a little bit? Just...seeing as it's probably going to be the last time I'm going to be able to for a while."
May paused appearing to ponder that for a moment, then she blew out a breath; "Alright. Only for a little bit though. Because just because you're feeling better doesn't mean you don't need sleep. So I expect you back by 12."
"12? But May!" Peter whined shifting to face her.
"12. Or I'm calling your dad." May said with a smug smirk.
Peter just closed his mouth letting his head drop back with a huff; "Ok fine 12." It was funny before it used to be his dad pulling the 'I'll call aunt May' card, but now May was pulling the 'dad' card on him. It was funny how things changed.
May just chuckled, pulling him back in for a hug, ruffling his hair; "Come on let's finish the movie before you take off to save the world."
0o0oo0SPIDERMAN0o0o0o0
Peter swung between the buildings grinning, finally letting off some steam. He felt so much better after admitting the truth about everything, and now he was finally getting what he wanted. To be with his dad. It was kinda surreal though. That this was actually happening.
Landing on the roof of a building, he crouched and looked out over the city.
"Anything to report Karen?"
"Surprisingly, I am not detecting any crimes at the moment."
"Really?" Peter blinked; "Oh. Must be a slow night."
"Will you be returning home? Or would you like something to entertain yourself with whilst you wait?"
"Actually...I'm going to just swing for a bit if that's ok Karen."
"Of course. Have fun."
Jumping off the building roof, Peter swung through the buildings, before he suddenly found himself landing on the roof of his old apartment building in Queens. Crawling down to his old bedroom window he paused before going inside. He knew that the apartment had yet to be sold, so it wasn't like he was breaking and entering into someone's home.
He paused on the ceiling of his old room and pulled the mask off. It was almost pitch black inside, and there were layers of dust everywhere. It was completely empty. But not to Peter. He could see moments, and memories all over the apartment. His whole life had been here.
As he crawled into the living room he paused, instantly flashing back to when he first saw his dad that day. The day that changed his life forever. And now here he was. If someone had told him that day that Tony Stark was his father, he would have thought they were insane. But now it was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Peter returned home at exactly 11:59, earning a simple eye roll and a kiss on the head from May.
0o0ooSPIDERMAN0o0o0oo0
The press conference was that afternoon. So they spent the morning packing. Although it didn't take as long as they thought it would. As Peter was already travelling between houses he had a lot of stuff at his dad's place already. And he was still going to visit May, so he wasn't going to take everything over to his dad's.
Closing the last box, Peter turned to look at his room. It didn't really look much different. His posters were still on the walls, a computer, some books were all this here. It just looked a bit sparse but still his room. He smiled at that.
"Hey bud this the last one?" Tony said as he walked into the room, but stopped at Peter's face. He set a hand on his shoulder; "You ok?"
Peter hugged his dad; "I'm good."
Ruffling his hair, Tony nodded; "I'll give you a minute ok? Take your time." Then he picked up the box and took it down to the car.
Peter had one last look, when he felt May wrapping her arms around him; "You ok baby?"
Peter just smiled at how everyone kept asking him that. Turning he smiled at her, but paused seeing her wet eyes. She was going to miss him too.
"Yeah. Are you?"
May shrugged; "I will be. Come on. Let's get going."
0o0o0oSPIDERMAN0o0o0o0
They all helped him set his stuff up at his dad's place, and had lunch together. The more the day dragged on, the more nervous Peter got. For what was coming this afternoon.
An hour before the press conference. Peter found himself sitting on his dad's bed, crossed legged with some different colour ties in his lap. He was watching his dad putting some cufflinks on, as he was wearing some black suit pants and a white shirt.
"I feel like I should be going with you." Peter mumbled quietly. Not that he wanted to go really, it sounded scary. But he felt bad for not going. It kind of felt wrong he wasn't. A bit like he was still hiding.
Tony paused turning to him, and just smiled; "I know. And I wish you could come to. But considering you are meant to be injured, it's going to look a little suspicious that you're suddenly not hurt. Don't want to reveal your secret identity do we?"
"I guess."
"Hey." Tony stopped and sat down beside him; "What's up bud?"
"Just nervous I guess. This is going to change everything. And it feels weird not doing this with you."
"Having second thoughts?" Tony really hoped not.
"No." Peter smiled at him, helping him fix one of his cufflinks; "Not at all."
"Good." Tony stood and ruffled his hair; "And I'll be back before you know it ok? It's just a quick statement, then we'll be back. And we'll just have some fun ok? Now. Help me pick a tie. What colour?"
"Why are you wearing a suit anyway? You hate suits. In fact, I don't think I've ever really seen you wear one."
Tony made a face nodding; "I do hate them. But your mom insisted. Something about looking professional. I would much rather be wearing normal dad clothes believes me."
Peter smirked at that. And then held up an Iron Man tie; "Wear this one."
Taking it, Tony raised an eyebrow; "Why this one?"
"I like it. It makes me smile." Peter shrugged, with a sloppy grin, and well damn that was a good enough reason for Tony.
"Alright bud. Iron Man it is." As he was pulling it around his neck, he asked; "You know how to tie one of these?"
Peter snorted; "Not well. May and I watched a youtube video before homecoming, and we managed to figure it out, but yeah I'm not really a tie person."
"Neither am I." Tony paused and gestured; "Do you want me to show you?" He was desperate to have these father son moments. Adamant about not missing anymore.
Peter's eyes lit up; "Really?"
"Yeah come here." Tony grinned, tugging him to stand up. He positioned him in front of the mirror; "Ok...so." He draped the tie around Peter's necks to demonstrate; "It goes like this." He showed Peter a few times before he let Peter have a go. It took a few tries but Peter finally go it.
"I did it dad!"
"Yeah you did bud. Way to go." Tony couldn't have been prouder.
Taking the tie off Peter, Tony pulled it over his own head and tightened it up. Then he slipped on his jacket and stood back raising his arms.
"How do I look?"
"Good. Really good." Peter nodded.
"Very handsome." A voice from the doorway startled them and they turned seeing Pepper standing there. In a knee length, sleeveless red dress.
"How long have you been there?" Tony asked tilting his head.
"Long enough." Pepper said with a knowing look; "You clean up well Mr Stark."
"For you my love anything."
Pepper just rolled her eyes as she walked in, and placed her hand on Peter's head softening; "We have to go now honey. You going to be ok?"
Peter wavered for a second but then composed himself and nodded, with a smile.
"Come here spider baby." Tony stepped forward and opened his arms, which Peter easily fell into. Then Tony tugged Pepper into the hug.
"It will be ok bud." Tony was going to make sure it was; "We'll be back before you know it."
Peter walked with them to the door, and then said goodbye. Happy left with them to drive them there, and it left Peter alone with May.
She silently wrapped an arm around him, and closed the door. Leading him to the sofa, they put on the TV and waited for the press conference.
May kept Peter tight against her for support. She could feel the nervousness waving off him. She was pretty nervous too.
0o0oo0SPIDERMAN0o0o0o0o
Meanwhile, during the drive to SI, Tony was reading over the statement again when he felt Pepper take his hand. He glanced at her, as she sent him a warm loving look; "You're going to do great."
"As long as you're beside me."
When they pulled up at the Tower, Tony took a deep breath seeing the place was already swarming with press. Desperate to know what he was going to announce. Well he was sure they weren't expecting this.