Hello!

Thank you all so much for all your wonderful responses to the last fic! I can't thank you enough for your support! Sorry for the delay in updating. Last week was my last week with my job and I had a lot I needed to wrap up! Thank you all so much for your patience with this series :)

This prompt is from Delena_Stark on A03 - How about it's Peter's birthday and everyone except Tony forget. Of course he's not going to abandon his spiderbaby on his special day. So he organizes everything to be with him and celebrate it. But everyone is pissed Tony spent the day with Peter instead of doing things with them calling them selfish or something. Even though Tony told them it was Peter's birthday they had of course forgotten. And they are talking about them without realizing they have arrived Maybe Peter starts crying and Tony gets pissed and defends both of them reminding them it was his birthday. Cue everyone feeling guilty and... the rest you could do like your own twist of something.

I've had a few birthday prompts so I hope there is enough variety in this one for you all.

I hope you all enjoy and my apologies for any mistakes :)

A Hero's Day Off

Tony. Where are you?

You can't avoid us forever.

This is childish. Answer your phone.

Tony scowled at the messages coming through the group chat and pocketed his phone without replying to them. He had told the Avenger's that today was Peter's birthday, and they would be spending the day with the kid doing whatever he wanted to do. Tony was furious that they seemed to have forgotten this when none of them had shown up to the carnival that Peter had chosen as his activity for the day.

"Is it them again?" May asked, shooting a glare to Tony's phone.

"Yes," Tony said shortly, glancing at May.

May made a clicking noise with her tongue, her face darkening.

Quickly schooling the ange he felt deep inside him, Tony grinned as Peter and Ned came racing towards them, a large stuffed toy cradled in Peter's arms. He recognised the little robot figure from one of the many Star War's marathon the kid had forced him to sit through ("You don't know Star Wars!? This is, this is, this is so wrong!" "Kid, I don't have time for movies." "We have to educate you, stat! Sit down Mr. Stark.")

"I won!" Peter's smile was so big, his cheeks practically splitting. "I did it!"

"Good job, kiddo," Tony beamed, eyes softening behind his glasses. "Knew you could do it."

Peter's cheeks were flushed pink, eyes sparkling with joy. "Thanks!"

"I'll hold it," May said, taking the stuffed toy from his hands. "Oof. Where are we going to put this?"

"The top bunk," Peter and Ned responded automatically.

"Where to next?" Tony asked, looking around the carnival.

It was streaming with people; teenagers, couples on dates, families with young children (some of which were screaming and running around as their parents tried to wrangle them). It was chaotic, loud and full of energy. Everyone was too busy to notice Tony among them all and he was glad for that. He really wanted Peter to enjoy his birthday without people swarming them.

"Ned wants to try the strength test," Peter bounced on his toes, looking to his best friend "Is that okay?"

"Whatever you guys want," May beamed. "It's your day today."

"Thanks!" Peter beamed. "Let's go Ned."

Ned and Peter took off, weaving through the crowd as they headed over to the next game.

Tony's phone buzzed again in his pocket and he gritted his teeth. He didn't need to check to see who it was from. Ignoring it, he walked with May towards the strength test where Ned and Peter were lined up, waiting for their turn.

Tony managed to set aside his anger and allowed himself to be swept up in Peter's joy. Over the course of the day, Peter had continued to thank Tony over and over again for coming and for spending the whole day with him.

"I know you must be busy," Peter said as May and Ned waited in the line to get some cotton candy. "Thank you."

"Alright, kid, that's your last thank you," Tony chuckled. "I wouldn't want to spend your birthday any other way."

Tony was wrapped up in a quick hug before Peter was pulling away and accepting the giant stick of cotton candy from Ned.

"Thank god for your fast metabolism," May said as she got out of the car, squinting at her nephew. "I'm getting too old to deal with sugar rushes."

"You're getting old," Tony snorted. "Where are your grey hairs."

May winked at Tony.

"You're not old," Peter pouted at May.

"Thanks sweetie," May patted his arm.

"I hope you've still got room, kiddo's," Tony said, looking between Ned and Peter. "Pepper's got a special birthday dinner planned for you."

"Mr. Stark," Peter half wined, cheeks flushing. "You've already done so much for me. I don't need anything else."

"Sorry, kiddo," Tony shrugged with a smile. "Pepper's always celebrated birthdays whether you wanted to or not."

"Dude, this is the coolest birthday ever," Ned gaped with awe.

Tony led them into the Compound, directing them towards his personal space he shared with Pepper.

"Wait! I left R2-D2 in the car!" Peter quickly whirled around, racing back out the door before May, Ned or Tony could blink.

"Are we sure he's not on a sugar rush?" Tony asked May as he stared at the door Peter had disappeared through.

"Stark."

Tony spun around, May and Ned doing the same. May and Tony scowled as they took in Fury approaching them with Steve, Natasha and Clint trailing behind him while Ned openly gaped at them all.

"Nice of you to finally show up," Fury said coolly.

"Oh my god," Ned whispered with awe.

"We can't say the same for you," May scoffed, glaring at the men before her.

"May," Tony said gently. "I've got this."

"Do you?" Steve asked. "Where were you, Tony? You knew this was an important meeting."

"What could have been so important that you couldn't even respond to our messages?" Natasha asked, her eyes darting to May, Ned and then back to Tony.

"Why don't you have a think," Tony said. "Have a good real, long hard think as to why maybe I wasn't at the meeting."

Fury clicked his tongue. "Peter's birthday is not an excuse to not show up."

Behind him, Steve and Clint's eyes widened with realisation while Natasha's eyes briefly closed before opening again.

"Shit. Peter's birthday," Clint's jaw clenched. "We forget about the carnival."

"He'll have other birthday's," Fury huffed. "Today was important and this just proves that Peter's is not Avenger material."

"Fury," Steve frowned.

"Peter is the best of all of us," Tony growled. "We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him."

"And you would have been at the meeting if it weren't for him," Fury pointed out coolly. "This is not playing dress ups. This is life and death. He's a child and we are not babysitters."

"Say that again, I dare you," May growled. "You think I won't come over there and snap that eye patch on your face?"

"Like I said," Fury drawled, giving May a flat look. "This is not a place where parental supervision is needed." His eyes flickered to Ned who cowered back.

May glared, wrapping an arm around Ned's shoulder, pulling him close.

"It's the kid's birthday," Clint said. "Cut them some slack. We're sorry, Tony. Really."

"You think the threats surrounding us every day give a damn that it's his birthday?" Fury demanded. "Are you willing to die for the kids' birthday? For anyone's birthday? It doesn't matter."

"Hey!" Tony snapped.

"Enough," Steve said firmly, his eyes dark. "Enough, Fury. You've done your damage."

"What the hell does that mean?" May demanded.

"Peter," Steve said, his voice never raising. "Why don't you come back inside."

Horror filled Tony as he remembered that Peter would have heard every single word that was said thanks to his super hearing. He whirled around, his heart thumping in his chest. He heard the door opened and a moment later Peter shuffled in, R2-D2 nowhere to be seen.

Peter swiped his arm across his face, but it was enough to conceal the fact that his eyes were red and wet.

"Don't you dare apologise," Tony said when Peter opened his mouth to speak.

Peter let out a little hiccup.

Tony whirled around on Fury. "You are a real piece of work, you know that? How dare you come here and tell him that his birthday isn't worth it. It is. Peter is worth everything and I will not have you come here and say otherwise." He turned back around and placed both hands on Peter's shoulders, squeezing them tightly. "Don't listen to the grumpy eyepatch. You are important Peter. Your birthday is important."

"Tony's right," Steve said. "Your birthday is important, and we are sorry that we forgot it. It won't happen again."

"We will make it up to you," Natasha nodded. "Starting now."

"You utter one more word," May said, jabbing her finger at Fury. "and super spy or not, you'll wish you never crossed me."

"Impressive," Natasha murmured as Fury didn't say a word.

Tony wrapped his arm around Peter and started propelling him towards his personal space. "Come on. Let's go wash your face and get ready for Pep's surprise."

"K," Peter whispered. He leaned into Tony's side. "Thank you."

"You're important kiddo. Don't ever think that you are not," Tony said firmly, pulling Peter closer.

Happy reading :)