"Ironic, isn't it?" Peter uttered as he eats his favorite ice-cream - cookies and cream, while happily watching his Dad and Uncle Rhodes being given the Medal of Honor by Senator Stern. The man has been the number one politician who is against his Dad having the Iron Man suit and now he's the one presenting a medal to Dad for saving the expo, the people and the military from a lot of crap. It has now been a week since the catastrophe and the Expo has already been closed since then.
"Well, Director Fury certainly has a sense of humor." Natasha chuckled as she watched with Peter. They're sitting at the couch of the Malibu house that has recently been fully renovated. Nothing seemed to have changed except for the new luxurious furniture. She went by their mansion today to visit the Stark's and bid farewell to them, she's off to another mission tomorrow. But since Tony's going to DC, he asked her to take care of Peter after school while he's gone for a few hours. Pepper's still in New York with Happy as her bodyguard and Mrs. Eleanor is out of town. Peter has at some point grown onto her; the kid is not hard to like, so she didn't hesitate to babysit for a while.
They just finished a self-defense lesson at the Gym earlier. Peter won't stop giving her those puppy dog eyed look, so she finally gave in and taught him some defense moves which are totally safe for kids, ones that Peter haven't already knew. He quickly picked up what she's teaching since Peter has a background already of basic self-defense and a few martial arts, he still has a session every week at the house. They're now relaxing at the living room where the awarding was replayed in the news.
"He's the head of SHIELD, right? Dad said he looks like a member of a secret boy band. But if he has a patch on one eye, then it's more like a Pirate."
They both laughed. "Yes. He does, but don't tell him that."
The awarding ceremony ended soon after.
"Let's watch a movie. What's your favorite, Agent Romanoff?" Peter excitedly searched for a movie at their database.
"I told you, you can call me Natasha, Peter. Don't you have homework?"
"It's movie night since it's a Friday and we just finished our last exams. It's our vacation already."
"Oh, that's great. I don't have, actually. Let's just pick what you like." Natasha doesn't really have much time for entertainment because she's always out on missions. Her childhood hasn't really been that fabulous either for those kinds of things. It was the complete opposite of what Peter's experiencing. Being raised from the Red Room opened her eyes early on the cruelty of the world.
They agreed to watch Harry Potter and ordered Pizza which arrived thirty minutes after.
"So, I heard you're now all moving to New York." Natasha looked at Peter before she took a bite of the pizza. After the incident at the Expo, Pepper announced at a Press Conference that after all the damage has been repaired; the relationship between Stark Industries and New York would make another step towards the future, through the construction of the Stark Tower.
Peter swallowed his pizza first before answering. "Not really. We haven't decided yet. Dad doesn't seem to wanna let go of this house since we have a lot of memories in here."
"Do you want to?"
Peter looked down sheepishly thinking. "I don't know. It's like half and half. I miss New York and I would want to study there, but I don't want to leave Malibu either, this house is really special for us."
Natasha smiled and he looked at her. "You know, this house will always be here even if you are in New York, Peter. And I think even if the house is gone, the memories live with the one's you love. Home is where your family is, isn't that right?"
Peter slowly smiled; his eyes sparkled admiring her wisdom. Is there anything this lady can't do? "You're absolutely right. Thanks, Natasha."
They spent the next two hours watching the wizards and witches of Harry Potter and Natasha have unexpectedly enjoyed it. It has been years since she watched a movie out of enjoyment rather than just for a mission. A few minutes later, Tony arrived. Peter immediately went to hug him and he carried his son, hugged and kissed his head.
Tony smiled as he saw the movie. "I see you're enjoying watching wizards with Agent Romanoff while I'm gone."
"She's great, Dad. I love her!" Peter whispered to him. He knew Peter adore Natasha, got a little kiddie crush perhaps.
"Oh you love her now, huh." Tony loudly said smirking while Peter's face turned crimson. "Dad! Not like that!"
Natasha chuckled and went to pick up her bag, "You're just in time, Tony. I better get going now."
"Thank you for babysitting my little kid, Agent Romanoff. Anything I can do to repay you, let me know."
"It's no problem. You got a good kid, Tony. You sure he's yours? The difference is uncanny." Natasha teased.
"Hey, I'm a changed man." Tony retorted in defense and she just laughed patting his arm. "I'm kidding."
Tony put his son down and she turned to Peter. "I had a great time, Peter. We'll do it again next time, okay?" She winked at him and opened her arms up for a hug.
Peter hugged her back. "See you soon, Natasha. Good luck on you mission. Say Hi to Agent Coulson for me."
"I will." She then gave a quick hug to Tony and walked herself out at the car waiting for her.
"So what did you and your crush do all day?" Tony teased his son grinning as they watched Natalie walked out.
"Dad! She's not my crush!" Peter objected but his face is completely saying the opposite. Tony just laughed carrying his son as they talked and headed upstairs for a good night.
The sound of gentle waves crashed into her senses as she opened her eyes. Pepper takes in the glistening blue ocean and shimmering sunlight, making the white sand sparkle like thousand tiny jewels. The vacation she's been longing for a year since Tony's abduction finally came. The gorgeous clear blue silhouette of the sky and the ocean relaxed her whole well-being. Tony's frame came into view and she lovingly smiled. He has maintained his physique over the years; muscles are still intact bulging with a few abs to spare. He looked fresh in his usual sunglasses and has been a whole lot better now since the new prismatic reactor in his chest. Tony walked over and stopped in front of her.
"Like what you see, Honey?" He grinned coming to her taking off his sunglasses.
"Looking good Mr. Stark, and I sure like it a lot." She smirked and Tony closes the distance between them and leaned in for a kiss.
The company has been doing better than ever now with Tony's help. After a week of the ground breaking of The Stark Tower, Tony surprises her with a vacation to the Maldives.
He laid beside her as they take in the view. "This is paradise, Tony. I love it. Thank you."
They're staying at the luxurious Conrad Maldives. The private villa and the island have given them the most exquisite view and accommodation. Clear aquamarine waters and white sand. A Paradise on Earth.
"About time I gave you a vacation after all these years." Tony kissed her forehead. True enough, the man has been doing right to her and to Peter ever since the whole dying drama and Expo disaster. He has set his priorities straight becoming a changed and better man. He helps her with the company and is mainly in charge of the construction of the Tower. No more stupid surprises and decisions.
They took in the sight of a handsome little boy moments later who's running to them; they smiled at each other with knowing looks. "We got incoming."
Peter jumped into Tony's lap. "Ow! That hurts." He winced while Peter laughed.
"Dad, let's go build a sand castle!" Peter excitedly exclaimed.
"Alright, let's go!"
They were about to come up when Pepper cut in. "Hold down your horses boys. Come on Peter, let's give you first a sunblock and you too Mister." She put in the lotion all over Peter's, while Tony puts in his own.
"Thank you, Pepper." Peter kissed her cheeks and hugged her while Tony kissed her lips then they hurried down the beach. She took pictures of them and later joined in to swim into the lovely ocean.
They spent the next day swimming with Whale Sharks. Peter was amazed the whole time as he got close in contact with the gentle giants. The underwater truly feels like a different world. They were so happy the whole time that they didn't want to leave the place anymore. They dined in the underwater restaurant of the island and the whole time they felt like inside an aquarium having the best dining experience. They watched as the different species of sharks and underwater creatures came into view and Peter was delighted the whole time. Tony looks over at Peter and Pepper with heartfelt eyes, mentally taking a picture to remember forever. Happiness and gratefulness enveloped him to have these moments with the one's he loved.
They came home to New York after their vacation, where they were once again welcomed by work. Tony bought a lavish New York Penthouse Apartment in Midtown East to have a place to stay, since he'll be taking more trips to New York taking care of the Tower. It has a panoramic view of Manhattan and a clear view of Stark Tower being constructed. It is still Peter's summer vacation before the school year stars again in two months. The Tower was set to be done in less than a year. His whole team of contractors and engineers are the most reliable and smartest people. With his guidance and tech, it will be the most advanced self-sustaining building in the world.
Tony glanced over to Peter in the studio as they were being prepped for the photo-shoot.
"You ready, buddy?" He asked Peter who looks up at him and gave a half-smile. "Dad, I'm nervous."
He leveled with his son and he held his hand and kissed it. He smiled while caressing the kid's face. "Hey, don't worry, you'll do great."
Peter's glue tech has already been patented in Peter's name and ever since the news came out, the media has been waiting for the presentation. But since the expo is no longer in the picture, they instead agreed to introduce the tech on a famous scientific journal- "Science" Magazine. Soon after, different famous media magazines asked for the Stark's to be on their cover. Tony asked Peter if he wants to, and surprisingly the kid agreed. Peter has now been on four different magazine covers with his Dad. They graced Time, WIRED, New Yorker, and Rolling Stone. They posed together in different locations for different magazines wearing their business outfits, suit and tie while Tony's hand in Peter's shoulder. There's a cover that they're in Tony's new Audi R8 model together smiling handsomely wearing their sunglasses and one with Peter Stark just alone in a cover looking charming and dashing in his natural brushed look and chiseled jaw.
Their powerful presence can be felt in the room that there's no question they're truly related as Father and Son. The headlines red, "Peter Stark: Boy Genius", "Wunderkid: Peter Stark Invents at Seven Years Old.", "The Heir of Stark Industries", "The Stark Legacy", and "The Stark Scion", which includes exclusive interviews with the Father and Son. While Tony Stark aka. Iron Man has been awarded again by the Time Magazine as Person of the Year. His revelations and courageous acts as Iron Man made him the most influential man in the world and Pepper Potts has been the Top 1 Most Influential Woman of the Year that graces the cover as well.
They were back again in the Malibu mansion after weeks of photo-shoots at New York. They're already moving to New York after another one last out of the country before Peter's first day of school at Midtown School of Science and Technology. Tony's going to miss the mansion since it is where he had his firsts with Peter; it is the house where Peter grew up, it is also where he grew up. They had so many special memories but it's not going to be gone, the memories are in their mind and hearts, and they decided to go to Malibu every summer and winter when it gets too cold in New York. He also knew that even though Peter loved Malibu, his eyes sparkled differently whenever he's in New York. The kid loved the city of concrete jungle.
Tony looked over the magazines that has just been launched and beamed proudly at it. They looked like a family that no one wants to mess around with. He came upon the solo cover of Peter and smiled. His kid gracing the cover following his footsteps. He has also been on the cover of various magazines when he was child because of his early inventions. Peter's features have been a mixture of him and Mary, but mostly Mary. The natural mixed brown and black curls, he got the color of his eyes, they got the same smile. Tony can't help but recall the conversation he had with Fury at the mansion after his fight with Rhodey.
"I'm surprised you're the one who knocked off Mary. I never thought you as the one who would be careless." Fury sneered laughing while Tony's eyebrows creased.
"You're not the only one who got surprised. Anyway, what do you know about their last mission?" Tony asked curious. He's been wondering for years what mission will be that dangerous that Mary came to him in jitters to let him know that he has a son.
Fury grimaced. "What mission?"
"Mary said she has a mission to take care of before the plane crash."
"I don't know what you're talking about Stark. They're just consultants of Shield. They are our scientists, not field agents."
Then why did Mary lied to him? He's now growing more curious as to what's going on. "Then what do you know about her death? Why is it so sudden?"
"It was an accident Stark." Fury stated but he can sense a lie in his tone.
He threateningly glared at Fury. "You're lying. What are you not telling me? This is the mother of my son we're talking about, Fury. My Son."
There was a short silence that came afterwards. "Look, all I know is that, Mary came to SHIELD in order to protect her son most of all. Apparently, she has this research that's been coveted by some of her former fellow scientist in CIA. She applied to SHIELD when she was still pregnant and asked for protection, in return I asked for her services and knowledge as a consultant for us. She met Richard Parker while working in SHIELD and he's the one who took over protecting her and your son, at least until both of them went dead."
"You think they were murdered?"
"That's not impossible."
"What kind of research is this?"
Fury widened his eye at him. "Hey, you tell me. Mary mentioned you helped her with this a long time ago."
He was pulled back into the present when Peter nudged his arm, looking curiously at him. "Dad, you were spacing out. Did you hear what I just said?"
"Sorry, bud. What? What did you just said?" Tony stood up from his chair at the lab and went to his son and patted his head.
"We're already packed for Thailand. Pepper's wondering if you're also already ready?"
"Oh right. Not yet. Come on, help me pack up." They headed upstairs, parking the questions filling his head for now.
Author's Note:
Guys, I love it when you give reviews. Thank you! I removed the years from Chapter one, cause the year the movies are released is hella confusing from the MCU timeline when the events happened. This story will follow the MCU timeline. Thank you for reading!