Hello!

Thank you all so much for the love you are giving this story! and thank you so much for bearing with me and my slow updates! I have been having a great time with my family but found some time to write you all this chapter!

My apologies for any mistakes and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 7 – Home Sweet Home

It had been two weeks since Peter had moved into the tower, and he had learnt three things:

It was the nicest place that Peter had ever stayed in. There was a little voice in the back of his head that said that this wouldn't last, but he was trying his best to relax and enjoy living with Mr. Stark while he had the chance. He wanted to make memories he could hold on to. It was so much easier to go patrolling when your foster parent knew you were a secret vigilante. Peter did now have a curfew but rather than being annoyed, Peter was glad to know that someone had his back. Mr. Stark and Doctor Strange were always there when he came home to check on him and make sure his patrols went well and that he wasn't hiding any injuries. Stark and Doctor Strange were totally in love with each other but for some reason were not together.

Doctor Strange had been a frequent visitor to the Tower, but since Peter had moved in, the doctor was there almost every night. He made sure that Peter had done his homework and had eaten something other than take away.

"I feed him food," Tony had protested when the doctor had commented on it one night.

"Takeaway doesn't count," Stephen had countered. "He needs home cooked meals."

"Then you should stay and help us cook," Tony had grinned.

Stephen's eyes had narrowed, and a smirk tugged at his lips. "If you insist." And then the two of them had made dinner together.

Peter wasn't sure if the two of them had flirted so heavily before he had moved into the tower but since he had, Peter was more aware of it. It was obvious the two had feelings for each other and how happy they made on another. Peter wanted them to be happy, but there a selfish part of him that wanted them to be together so that they could both become Peter's dad.

"Peter."

Jolted from his thoughts, Peter looked up from the homework he had been doing. "Yes, FRIDAY?"

"Mr. Stark would like me to inform you that the wizard is on his way for dinner," FRIDAY said.

Peter grinned and threw down his pen. "Tell him I'm on my way."

He bounded out of his room (his room!) and headed towards to the kitchen. Mr. Stark's personal floor was bigger than Peter could ever dream off. Peter had yet to meet any of the other Avengers as himself and Tony wasn't pushing him to tell the others his identity. He knew he would have to eventually, but he was putting it off for as long as possible.

Tony was at the oven when Peter hurried into the kitchen. There was a delicious scent wafting through the room and Peter's stomach rumbled.

"Hey kiddo." Tony flashed a grin over his shoulder at Peter. "Dinner is nearly ready."

"What are we eating?" Peter asked as he slid onto a stool at the kitchen island.

"Lasagne," Tony said. "My mum's recipe."

"Smells good," Peter beamed.

"Which is very surprising."

Peter whipped around at the deep voice, his smile widening at he watched Stephen stepped through a portal. The Doctor was in his usual robes and brought a scent of tea and incense that Peter had come to associate with the man. Stephen came over to Peter, brushing his hand against the base of Peter's neck. Peter leaned into the touch, finding himself relaxing even further now that Stephen was home.

"Rude," Tony said, turning to lightly glare at Stephen over his shoulder. "I'm a fantastic cook."

Stephen let out a deep hum the same time the oven timer went off.

Peter jumped up off the stool and quickly set the table while Tony served up dinner. Stephen grabbed them all a drink and when they were all seated around the table, Peter dug into his meal.

"See, it's good," Tony said smugly as Peter gobbled down his meal.

Peter tried to agree but all it came out that came out of his mouth was a garbled noise.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Stephen reprimanded gently, and Peter gave him a sheepish grin. "But you're right, Tony. This is good."

"Ha!" Tony beamed. "Did you hear that Underoos! The Wizard said I was right! FRIDAY, sweetheart, tell me you recorded that."

"I got it," FRIDAY said.

Peter sniggered, warmth blooming through his chest at the happy feeling that spread throughout his body. Dinners were like this were becoming a regular occurrence and Peter never wanted them to end.

When they had finished eating, Peter saw Tony give Stephen a significant look across the table. Stephen gave a small nod and both men turned to Peter.

"Peter," Stephen said.

Peter's heart plummeted in his chest, ice spreading through his veins. Panic started to build in his chest. They were going to send him back. They didn't want him to live here anymore. Had he been patrolling too much? Eating too much? Maybe they didn't like him as much as they thought they did? Was he getting in the way of them getting together? The thoughts moved rapidly through Peter's mind, each sending a shooting pain through his temples.

"I can do better," Peter blurted out, his breath starting to come in pants. He looked widely between Tony and Stephen. "I promise. I – I'll do whatever you want. I promise. Please. I don't want to go."

"Whoa, whoa!" Tony was up and out of his chair, spinning Peter around to face him. "Breathe, Underoos. You're not going anywhere."

"We want you to stay, Peter," Stephen's voice came from behind Peter, and he felt long fingers threading through his curls, gently massaging the scalp.

Peter vision blurred as he struggled to push the panic aside.

"Deep breathes," Stephen coached. "Breathe in. Hold it. And out. Good job, Peter."

Peter breathed as Stephen instructed and finally the ache in his chest lessened. "Sorry."

"Don't apologise," Tony said softly. "Are you feeling better now?"

Peter nodded, embarrassment flooding through him at his reaction. He shrunk down in his seat, feeling small. Why did he have to do that?

"Ah, no blaming yourself," Tony said, cupping Peter's chin and lifting his gaze. Tony smiled at Peter. "Happens to the best of us."

Stephen moved around Peter, his fingers leaving Peter's curls, to come and stand beside Tony. The two leaned into each other, both looking down at Peter with soft expressions.

"We just wanted to ask you about your school," Stephen said.

Peter's brows scrunched. "My school?"

"Yeah. Do you like it there?" Tony asked.

"It's okay," Peter said slowly, confused by the line of questioning.

"How do you find your classes?" Stephen asked.

Peter shrugged. "They're okay."

"You find them easy," Stephen stated with a smile. "It's okay. We know that you are the top of your classes."

"By a lot," Tony added with a grin.

"We were wondering how you would feel about attending a school that would challenge you a little more," Stephen continued. "A STEM school."

Peter's hands trembled in his lap. "You mean like Midtown High School of Science and Technology?"

Tony and Stephen both chuckled.

"I see you've looked into it before," Tony grinned. "But yes, a school exactly like that."

Peter's mouth dropped open. "You'd let me go there?"

"Only if you want to," Tony said. "If you're happy where you are, then we won't move you but if you'd like to –"

"I do," Peter interrupted quickly. He flushed at his own eagerness and shrunk back in his seat. "Sorry, Mr. Stark. I – I just meant, I would like to go."

Stephen and Tony both smiled widely.

"We'll speak with Midtown in the morning then," Tony said.

"Umm, Mr. Stark," Peter said, his excitement fading quickly. "I, uh, I can't afford a school like that."

"Kid, I'm a billionaire," Tony said. "I've got you covered."

"I can get a job to help pay," Peter said quickly. "I promise I will pay you back for everything."

"Pete." Tony reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "You don't have to worry about any of that. I'm your guardian. And even if I wasn't, I would still do this for you."

"We both would," Stephen added.

Peter swallowed thickly. Before he could second guess himself, Peter launched out of his chair and hugged the two men tightly. Both stumbled at his weight but kept up right. They hugged Peter back just as tightly.

"Thank you," Peter murmured into their shoulder's.

In the two weeks that Peter had been living in the tower, this was the first time he had hugged Tony and Stephen. It had been an adjustment for Tony and at first, he had been scared. He could ruin Peter easily and that was the last think Tony wanted to do to Peter. As the days turned into a week, Tony found looking after Peter easy. The kid was a joy to have around, and Tony wanted to make it permanent. Peter had missed out on so much already in his short life and Tony intended to give him everything.

Peter pulled out of the hug, flashing them an embarrassed smile.

"You're welcome, kid," Tony said, reaching out to ruffle Peter's hair. "Now, do you want anything else to eat?"

"I'm good," Peter said. "I'll clean up."

Before Tony could protest, Peter was running around the table, collecting all the dishes. He balanced them in only a way Peter could and hurried into the kitchen. Tony shook his head, chuckling at his kid. He turned his head to look at Stephen and paused at the look of concern on his face.

Tony reached out, brushing his fingers against Stephen's. The Doctor turned to Tony, glancing down at their fingers, before brushing them back against Tony's. Swallowing, Tony arched a brow at Stephen in a silent question.

"Later," Stephen murmured, his fingers sliding against Tony's one last time before pulling away.

Later turned out to be half an hour later. Peter had disappeared to his room to finish up his homework before going out for patrol. After a quick goodbye and a promise to call if he needed anything, Stephen and Tony watched Peter swing away from the tower. When he was out of sight, Tony turned to Stephen.

"What had you so concerned before?"

Stephen turned away from the window. "Peter's reaction. Thinking that we wanted him to leave."

Tony was silent as he suddenly felt sick again. Peter thinking that he was going to be sent back had been the worst that Tony had ever felt in his life. Listening to Peter beg, promising that he would do better had been painful. Tony only wanted Peter to feel safe, wanted and loved.

"Tony."

Stephen's voice interrupted Tony's thoughts. He looked up and found Stephen right in front of him.

"Peter's reaction has nothing to do with how you have been treating him," Stephen continued. "You have provided him with a very welcoming home. It's natural for him not to want to lose it."

"What we have provided him," Tony corrected, looking Stephen in the eye.

"We," Stephen agreed, eyes shining. "It has only been two weeks, Tony. There will be ups and downs. Peter may not even fully believe that this will be his home from now own."

"What do we do?" Tony asked.

"I think it would be good for Peter to speak to a therapist," Stephen said. "These are big changes he is going through and while he is mature than most children his age, he is still only fifteen years old."

Tony nodded. There were only two people who knew that Tony had been seeing a therapist. It was part of the reason as to why he was sober and choosing much healthier options. "Do you know a good one?"

Stephen nodded. "I have someone who owes me a favour. I will get in touch with them tomorrow."

"Thanks," Tony said.

"You're a good dad, Tony," Stephen said.

"I've been a dad for two weeks," Tony snorted. "Not sure I am doing that great."

Stephen shook his head. "You are. Don't doubt that. Peter adores you."

"He adores you too," Tony said. He reached out, snagging Stephen's hand in his as the Doctor turned away. "You're a good dad too."

Stephen eyes darted down to their hands before lifting back up to Tony's gaze. He opened his mouth to speak –

"Boss, Steve is requesting your presence." FRIDAY broke the spell between them.

Stephen took his hand away, stepping back. "I'll monitor Spiderman while you speak with Rogers."

"Thanks," Tony said, disappointment flooding through him. "Hopefully this won't take long."

"With Rogers, I doubt it will be short," Stephen smirked.

"I expect you to call me with an emergency if I'm not back in an hour," Tony warned, turning to head towards the elevator.

"I'll be sure to do that." Stephen's deep voice followed Tony to the elevator.

As the doors closed on Tony, a wave of anger flashed through him. Rogers really did have the worst timing.

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