Part Six: Peter Parker

Pepper turned on the stove, the gas lighting up as she set the pan down, grabbing the cooking oil in front of her. She rubbed her eyes as she tied an apron over her shirt and sweatpants, tying the back into a loose knot. With ease, she corralled her hair into a ponytail grabbing the ingredients from the counter, setting them on the counter. She felt strong, lean arms wrap around her waist, holding her securely as she began to crack eggs she got from the fridge.

She smiled as her husband lightly kissed her neck. "Morning." She whispered into the silence.

Tony grunted tiredly as he grabbed a mug from the shelf reaching around her shoulders, his chin buried into the crook of her neck, stealing another kiss from her. His wife shoved him away with a shake of her head. His coffee machine slowly churned to life as he placed his mug under the machine, watching as fresh brew slowly poured into his mug. The man was tired, his head still a bowl of cotton balls stuffed deep into his exhausted, sluggish brain. He wiped a hand over his face as Pepper turned around in his arms, giving him a box of pancake mix and a whisk. He took it blindly, content with his fate and set himself to ripping open the box with a tired sigh.

Pepper gave him a loving look, a layered smug smirk hidden. "Surprised to see you up this early, honey."

Tony only leaned against the counter with a groan. "First day of school for the Heathens." Pouring the powder mix into a bowl as he deadpanned. "You really think I was going to let you have all the fun?

She pursed her lips, grabbing the milk as she snickered. "Aww, and yet I'm stuck with you." She grabbed his steaming cup of coffee taking a sip before handing it to him. "I have three meetings today and I want you at one of them. No exceptions."

She poked his chest emphasizing her point.

Tony nodded with a grim smile at the mention of meetings, taking another sip of his coffee. "When you say exceptions…"

Pepper gave him a heated glare and he quickly raised his hand in surrender, making sure his grip on his coffee mug was tight. "Got it. Message received."

"Are the kids up?" She asked, grabbing some bread, slipping it in the toaster. She placed a hand on her hip as her husband went to bring down the cereal boxes and some bowls from the shelves above. The milk was pulled out of the fridge already set up and waiting as she got to work on the fruits, cleaning them in a bowl, draining the water and cutting them up into even slices.

Tony smirked, stealing a strawberry, knowing she couldn't eat one. She scoffed at the petty action. "Was that really necessary?"

"No, but I think it's an exception, Mrs. Stark." He said, looking down at her eyes gently, pulling her to his side. "You know what would be a nice-"

He was cut off when the elevator opened and Harley ran out the door, his hair dripping wet in a gray t-shirt and shorts he wore to bed.

"Morning, Harley." Pepper greeted as the boy glanced around frantically left and right, while her husband sighed at the interruption.

"And there went the mood." He muttered into his coffee. Pepper lightly swatted his shoulder in response.

"I can't find my pants!" He said, looking under the cushions, tossing the pillows in random directions.

"You mean the wardrobe of jeans, colored Khakis, Cargo, and other pants you kids think is stylish?" Tony asked, grabbing the orange juice from the fridge. He turned, crossing his arms.

Harley dropped the cushion giving him a glare. "No, I mean the bunny onesie I have under my bed, yes all of THEM! Hence plural!"

Pepper raised an eyebrow, glancing at the ceiling. "Friday."

"Harley's clothes are placed throughout the house. The closest pair of jeans are under the sink."

Pepper kicked open the counter door with her foot, a pair of folded jeans packed under in a nice, folded square. She grabbed them, throwing them to Harley who gave her a grateful look. She sighed. "Names. Now."

"I'm afraid I cannot disclose that information to you."

Tony looked up from his bowl of pancake mix that he was intensely focused on, placing the whisk down. "What do you mean can't disclose. Why not?" Harley slipped on his jeans, finding a brown jacket hanging on the chair, pulling it over his thin shoulders. Pepper slid a plate of toast toward him as he sat at the table.

"The protocol Smart Snitches don't get Stitches is active, sir." Tony did not miss the scoff Harley made at the name as he spread jam on his toast, exasperated.

Tony pinched his nose. "And who made that protocol?"

"Due to protocol, I Cannot Tell a Lie, I am unable to answer."

"I'm going to murder some kids." Tony muttered as the stair's door opened. Peter ran into the kitchen, his sneakers squeaking on the floor as he slid to a stop.

"Morning! Hey, Mr. Stark, where's the super glue?" He asked, bouncing on his feet, his shirt on backwards.

"Lab, my desk, third draw." Peter sped off, shoes screeching from the tile floor. "Wait! Why do you need super glue?! Peter! Turn your shirt around!"

The elevator door pinged opened as MJ, Ned, and Shuri came out with MJ trying to fix Shuri's hair into a high bun, hairpins clamped between her lips. "Will you quit moving! I'm not your personal honor guard hair stylist!"

"I said you could've waited until after breakfast!" Shuri grunted as her hair was pulled. "And you would never succeed as a hairstylist. You're too grumpy."

Ned was frantically looking inside his backpack as he exited the elevator, ignoring the girls bickering. "Guys! I can't find my pencil bag!"

Harley poured himself a bowl of Cheerios, giving him a glance. "Why is that so important? We can get another one after school."

"Because it isn't just a pencil bag. It has all my hard drives in it!" Ned answered, dumping his bag on the living room table, his notebooks scattered chaotically across the glass table.

Pepper took over in fixing Shuri's hair, leading her to the couch as she sat down, Shuri sitting on the ground. "Ned, honey, why are all of your hard drives in a pencil bag?"

Ned shrugged. "You never know when you're going to need one and if you happen to have something fishy on one and I'm not saying I do, plus my projects, a pencil bag is the last place I would look."

MJ scoffed, smacking Harley's head as a greeting, taking a seat next to him. "First place an adult would. Morning Johnny Cash." She said at Harley's country look, his hair still cool and damp from his morning shower.

"Ha-ha, hilarious." Harley grunted out, pulling his leather jacket closer around his lean frame.

Peter reentered the kitchen with his backpack as he applied super glue to his bottom shoe, resealing the flapping sole back to the shoe. Tony watched in suffering silence, ready to hit his head on the fridge as the kid slipped on his faded shoes. "What did I tell you about going MacGyver on your shoes! I just bought you new one's last week!"

"Yeah, but these are my lucky ones…" Peter defended, looking down at his shoes. "They're still in good shape, Mr. Stark."

Tony groaned, slapping the kid on the head with his rag that was draped over his shoulder. "A second ago, you didn't even have the bottom of the shoe!"

"Peter, go put on your new shoes, please." Pepper ordered as she placed a hairpin in Shuri's hair.

The boy sighed, nodding his head. "Yes'mam." And left the room.

Harley took a bite of his cereal. "So, are you excited about your first day as an exchange student, Shuri?"

The princess nodded her head, careful not to pull away from Pepper, the woman carefully brushing her hair back. "Yes, I am. Never thought Mother or T'Challa would ever consider placing me here." She answered honestly. Pepper whispered that she was done. "Thank you, Mrs. Stark."

"No problem. And remember, you are not forced to attend an American school. You are our guest. If you get uncomfortable about anything, call me or Tony and we'll pick you up. Diving into a new culture can be extremely overwhelming."

"I believe I can manage," Shuri smiled at the motherly tone. "But I appreciate the gesture. I have my friends and I think today will be fun."

Tony patted her on the shoulder. "Just remember. You cannot have anyone low, spoiled, brat…"

"Tony…" Pepper warned him.

"…be executed, but if they hurt you then I happily give you permission."

"Tony! No! You will not in any circumstances execute anyone no matter how awful or disrespectful they are nor beat them into a pulp...call us and we'll take care of it." Pepper lectured, sliding a plate of fresh strawberries to the middle of the table once she made her way into the kitchen. The kids immediately dived toward them. "That goes for all of you and make sure you save some for Peter."

Harley spread Nutella on his strawberry, taking a bite out of it. "My advice, if you get angry find Peter. You want quiet go to MJ. Need to leave the school system of overbearing crap and work on your project go to Ned. And if you wanna ditch school, come to me."

"Harley Keener…"

The boy smiled. "I'm just giving her options, Pep. We'll stay and be good citizens to the government education system, right MJ?"

"I'd rather go and protest at the City Hall than be a stick up." She answered, opening her novel, shoving a strawberry in her mouth. Harley grinned at her answer, pleased, while Pepper sighed.

Peter slid back into the room, skiing on the floor into his seat between Ned and Shuri, grabbing the Fruit Loops. "Mr. Stark, can I borrow ten dollars?"

Tony raised an eyebrow taking a sip of his coffee, leaning against the counter. "Just ten?" He ignored the slap on his shoulder from his wife as she stirred the eggs. He handed her the bowl of pancake mix properly blended, as he prepped another pan on the stove for the batter. Even pulling out a package of bacon out of the fridge.

Peter sheepishly grinned as he focused on his breakfast. "I was going to buy a sandwich from Delmar's after school and maybe a couple of snacks."

MJ poked her head out of her book. "What he means is so that he can feed the dog he adopted."

"You promised you wouldn't say anything!" Peter groaned, throwing his head back, his neck hitting the back of the chair uncomfortably.

Tony sighed, pointing his ladle at the boy, ignoring his wife's laughter beside him. "Alright, what did we say about this kid?"

Peter flicked a Fruit Loop over in the bowl as he slouched. "I can only deal with one stray a month, but Bronco is so little! He's like one breeze away from being blown away to Nebraska or something!"

"And what about the kitten you found last week." Tony reminded him.

Harley looked up. "The squirrel you hid in your jacket during school last year."

"The robin that broke her wing you found on patrol." Ned pipped up.

MJ rolled her eyes. "Don't forget the raccoon you found when you went dumpster diving."

"You're still doing that?!" Tony exclaimed, rubbing his hand down his face hard. "You know retirement is sounding like Heaven right now. Can I retire? I'm retiring. Pep, you wanna join me? Give another Honeymoon a go?"

"Tempting, but no." His wife quipped back with a flick of her ponytail as she flipped the eggs.

Peter was crimson red as everyone listed every stray he took in. "Okay, so it's a lot, I get it. It's not my fault mother nature is so cruel."

Pepper smiled as she sipped her cup of orange juice. She handed the spatula to Tony as she walked over, running a hand through Peter's hair, gleaming internally when we leaned into it ever so slightly. "You have a good heart and never lose it, but if I see another Raccoon in my sink cleaning a plastic bowl or a Robin nesting in my silk sheets you and I are going to have another talk. Clear?"

Peter nodded with a bright smile, too bright for seven-thirty in the morning. "Clear, so about Bronco…?"

Everyone groaned at the table as Peter blushed harder. The elevator dinged, the doors opening wide.

Thor smiled widely, dressed in a tight-fitting gray t-shirt with his sweatpants with his hammer embroidered on the pockets. "We have come for our meals!" Loki rolled his eyes next to his brother wearing a long sleeve, forest green shirt, with his black pajamas. Thor rubbed his hands together. "I am starving. Pepper, do you still have any of those Pop Tarts left?"

The woman smiled as she flipped the scrambled eggs, adding in a little milk and black pepper to the mix. "The shelf next to you. Peter and Harley picked out some new choices they thought you might like."

"Ah, yes!" Thor said, targeting the box of pop tarts. "Thank you, boys!"

"You're welcome." Peter and Harley said back with grins.

Loki grabbed Shuri's seat, scooting her away from Peter, before grabbing a seat of his own, placing it next to the boy. Shuri rolled her eyes at the man leaving it be for the moment and continued eating her breakfast, tapping away on her Stark phone. Loki could refute every testament admitting to care about Peter, but as Shuri glanced over at how relaxed the man is next to Peter, Shuri was prepared to hold this over the stone-hearted man's head for a long, long, time, smugly.

Peter slid an empty plate to the man. "Here you go."

"Thank you." Loki replied, grabbing the bowl of fruit, grabbing just the blueberries.

"No problem. Hey! I found another show last night. Thought we could give it a try. You in?" Peter asked, taking a bite of his cereal, tilting his head toward Loki, who nodded, picking out the least buttered toast on the table.

"Sure, what time, so I can devise a plan to get Thor out of my chambers." He said, popping a blueberry in his mouth. "He insists on 'bonding time' before he leaves for Asgard once again."

The boy tapped his chin, thinking about the busy week it will be. School will be slow the first week, so it shouldn't be to bad on the weekends either. "Friday night after I'm done with patrol, so around nine."

"I will be there."

"Awesome!"

The elevator opened as the Barton family walked out, Cooper and Lila racing out with Nate not far behind them, giggling. Laura immediately gravitated toward the kitchen, grabbing a spare apron hanging up next to the stove, helping Pepper and Tony out with breakfast, pushing past Thor who leaned against the counter happily eating his pop tarts with a polite smile. "Barton's wife, how are you this morning?"

"I'm doing good, how about you?" Laura grinned, tying her hair back.

"Good. Heard it was the children's first day of this school. Wanted to wish them farewell and good luck."

Laura grinned at the man. "I'm sure they will greatly appreciate it." She turned to Pepper who gave her a knowing smile from the brief exchange. She took the spatula from Tony, who startled from his laser focus on the bacon. The last thing he needed to do was burn the meat…again. He glanced at Laura with a questionable gaze. "Let the ladies take over, Stark. You go sit down and eat." Tony rolled his eyes, but obeyed, quickly seizing the seat Clint was heading toward. Laura flipped the bacon, the thin sliced meat sizzling loud and hot, the grease cooking the raw side nicely.

"Seriously, Stark?" Clint asked, with an eyebrow raised as Tony snatched the seat he was gravitating toward.

"Yes. Find your own seat." The man gave Clint a smirk, clearly smug, pouring himself a glass of orange juice.

Laura laughed, dividing her attention between flipping the pancakes and placing cooked bacon onto a serving plate with a paper towel placed on top, absorbing the high amount of bacon grease. "Busy morning?"

"Oh, you have no idea. When are you and the rest of the family heading back to the farm?" Pepper asked, switching off the heat under the pan, grabbing a large glass bowl before scraping the large pan full of eggs into the bowl for serving.

Laura tilted her head, focusing on the puddle of batter cooking on the pan. "Mostly likely tomorrow. Kids wanted to stay here for the first day of school." She flipped another one, grabbing a potholder hanging on the counter from a hook. "How many more do you want?"

"We do anymore, and the plate will topple over. This should be enough." Pepper spoke with light humor, the girls sharing a smile.

The kitchen became overcrowded with voices getting louder and louder from the extra capacity. Thor who snacked on his Pop Tarts ventured into the living room lifting the couch with one hand, the sight making everyone scream in protest.

"Thor put my couch down!" Tony ordered from his seat as Thor rolled his eyes, placing it back down…before dragging it into the kitchen near the dining table where everyone was seated. "No! I mean- never mind."

"Woah!" Harley and Peter said together as the rest of the kids laughed and cheered Thor on. The God of Lightning dusted off his hands.

"There! Now there is room." He announced happily, flopping down on the couch, the furniture creaking slightly under his weight.

Peter laughed as Tony and Thor started an argument about the placement of the couch, looking down when he felt a tug on his pant leg seeing Nate looking at him with those doe eyes, hands up asking to be picked up. "Oh fine, I guess you can sit with me." He picked the boy who giggled, setting him on his lap. "Ned, can you pass me another plate?"

"Sure thing." His buddy answered, sliding an empty plate for the little guy.

"Alright, who wants eggs and pancakes!" Pepper called out, holding the large bowl of eggs and Laura with the platter of pancakes. The CEO grinned as everyone whooped in excitement. She set it down, her husband and Clint immediately grabbing the hot pancakes on top, steaming. Tony passed the plate to MJ, who stabbed two fluffy pancakes dragging them to her plate with a quiet thanks, her eyes never straying away from her book.

Tony nodded in return, facing the table. "Hey, who has the syrup?"

"I do!" Cooper said, sliding it across the table over to Tony.

"Petey! Can I have strawberries on my pancakes, too?" Nate asked, bouncing on the teenager's lap.

"Duh! What's pancakes without strawberries." Peter lightly elbowed Loki's. "Can you pass me the berries, please?"

"Of course." Loki lifted the plate with his magic, enjoying the little boy's wonder. With a snap, the plate settled in front of Peter who sent him a knowing look, as he spotted Loki's look of endearment toward Nate. The God answered him with a silent glare that went unnoticed by the little boy. "Not a word."

Nate just stared at the bowl of berries in amazement. "Woah."

Peter laughed, hugging the boy closer to him at the youthful sound. He glanced at the crowded table, never really focusing on one thing. Every inch of the large table was covered with plates of food, cups, silverware and deeply needed napkins. A pile of hot fluffy pancakes, large bowl of cleaned and freshly sliced fruits, and a large bowl homemade eggs take over the table. The voices, deep and high were overwhelming, too loud and overlapped as his friends argued across the table, the adults chatting loudly over the teens, but he didn't dare separate himself from reality to avoid the onslaught of noise, not this time. The sound level wasn't like the city, harsh and brutal, that always drove his senses to the brink of insanity, or the deafening silence of night. No, this was comforting no matter how loud it was and quite amusing too.

He felt his chest slowly tighten at the warm scene. Clint trying hard to snatch Tony's bacon as his mentor slapped his hand away with a glare. Lila and MJ speaking about books vs movies in different genres with intense background evidence that largely impressed him. He could almost roll his eyes as his sightline shifted over to the boys. Harley, Cooper, and Ned tried to stack their bacon on one plate discussing strategies like a game of messed up Jenga. Thor was speaking loudly to his aunt who walked into the living room tiredly, coming home from her late-night shift, her scrubs dirty from the hard, long night. He gave her a wave when she looked in his direction, the woman smiled tiredly, sending her own wave to him. Laura handed her a cup of coffee which May took graciously, sitting next to Thor on the couch. The God of Lightning immediately spoke about the time he accidentally left Jane in Arizona with a humorous, light tone; the women who were listening threw their heads back laughing loudly as Thor smiled sheepishly at his mistake.

Honestly, he thought scenes like these could only be found in a book, watching it play out in the crevices of his mind, or tv shows he would watch on late Saturday nights with Loki. The duo listing or debating a long list of theories that would last the whole night if it wasn't for Friday, who always shut down the tv, reminding the two that the show could wait until tomorrow before ushering the two back to bed. He felt a hand squeeze his knee under the table softly.

The action turned his attention to Loki catching the concerned gaze in the man's eyes. "Hey." Peter whispered.

"Are you… okay?" The man whispered, keeping the conversation between the two.

Peter blinked the water out of his eyes, smiling, looking back at the table. "Yeah…I…I just…didn't think or realized… that I would ever have a family again."

He saw understanding wash over Loki who slowly nodded, taking his own look at the table full of people who he once thought of as enemies, people who he would spit upon in disgust, now became people he could actually tolerate enough to live among them. Loki hummed in thought. "I…suppose that goes for the both of us, Peter."

"It's a nice feeling…to have one. Makes you feel less alone..." The boy whispered, thinking. "Like you belong."

Loki pursed his lips in acknowledgement, thinking about when his brother was banished from Asgard for his arrogant behavior. How he felt duirng the loss of his brother before the thought of power and nobility from the throne clouded his mind. The opportunity seized him, molding him into something that ruined his life…but he realized he never regretted it. Not once. He felt remorse, grief, loneliness, even depression, but never regret for the choices he's made. Because what if he didn't meet the Mad Titan, tried to take over Earth, hurt his brother over and over…

The man looked at his brother who laughed at the story Clint was telling at the table, but he stole glances at Peter who swiftly and unexpectedly became his best friend, or a little brother if he let himself admit it, but never did. Regret would mean he didn't wish to have ever met Peter or sewed back his relationship with Thor, slowly walking the path to reconcile with Stark and those left around the compound. Instead, he would be in a prison, motherless, hated, alone with no one but himself which is a punishment all on its own.

Loki slowly nodded in agreement, sipping his tea that he made with a wave of magic. "Yes. And I believe I have you to thank for that, Peter."

Peter looked at him confused, wiping Nate's face with a napkin. "…What did I ever do?"

"It's what you never did. You could've turned your head away like so many, wishing death or anger upon hundreds, upon me, but you never did, and I have spent nights wondering why you let others in, never knowing if in the end they will leave you in sorrow or pain." Loki answered, picking through his food deep in thought. "When did you decide to be a hero when you had the intelligence and drive to become a villain like I did. You certainly had the pain and sorrow to become one from what I gathered."

"Loki…you never were a villain, at least not in my book." Peter muttered honestly. Loki looked up at him, urging him to continue. "I thought about it too. When we first met, all I saw was New York, the news, the Chitauri, the screams as me and May hid in her closet that day. I didn't understand why it was happening. I just knew that whatever it was scared my aunt." He smiled softly. "I think because I didn't understand is why I understand you now. The past never did anything for me in the present, so I just ignore it as best as I can. Which is why when Mr. Stark warned me repeatedly about you. I didn't listen, because I know what it's like to be friendless, to have no one when your parental figures can't be there. If it wasn't for Ned, maybe I would've been cruel to some degree, but I'm not. I wanted you to have what I have because you deserve it. Consider it a gift, from me to you." Peter laughed. "Besides, if I ever did turn evil my family will put me back into my place and ground me for the rest of my life for scaring them to death."

Loki smirked at the comment, noting how furiously protective Stark and Peter's Aunt can be when it comes to Peter's well-being. "I would enjoy watching that."

Peter laughed at that. "Yeah, you would." He paused; the smile still pure and wide on his face. "So does that mean you consider yourself a member of this chaotic family?"

"If you will take me, then I suppose so, but I don't need you to blabber it to the others." Loki threatened. He still had a threatening demeanor to uphold. "My brother will never let me live it down."

Peter smiled, elbowing his friend. "...Welcome to the family."

"If I may interject, the children have foury-five minutes until class starts." Friday interjected, the dining table going silent.

The kid's eyes widened as Harley shot up like a bullet. "I gotta grab my books!"

Tony shot out of his seat. "I need to grab the kids credit cards!"

"Tony, they don't need credit cards!" Pepper shouted as her husband left the room. She shot out of her chair. "Kids, grab your bags and make sure you have everything you need."

"Yes'mam!" They all called out together. Thor pushed the couch back giving everyone more room to work with as May helped Peter stuff his notebooks into his bag as he slipped on his light gray jacket. She grabbed his head, pulling it close, giving him a kiss on the forehead.

"Have a good first day, okay."

He hugged her, kissing her cheek. "I will, May."

Tony pulled on a hoodie, car keys in hand, dumping a pile of credit cards onto the table. "Grab a credit card! Each has $500! Don't spend it on junk, it's for the month not a three-hour shopping spree. Yes, Harley, I'm looking right at you." Harley grumbled as he tossed a pair of shorts he found for athletics into his bag.

"My shopping sprees are essential to my mental well-being, Tony."

Peter rolled his eyes. "I hardly call Red Bulls, Pork Rinds and a week supply of Ramen noodle cups essential."

"Clearly you never lived a life." His brother snapped back.

"Boys, bags now!" Pepper cut in, handing the kids a packaged lunch she prepared the previous night. "Ned, search for your hard drives after school, okay?"

Ned nodded, Cooper handing him the rest of his spilled supplies to him. "Yes'mam."

"Thanks." She said gratefully. "Shuri, remember to contact your mother during lunch!"

"I will, Mrs. Stark!"

"Kids, I'm getting a hunchback waiting for you guys, let's go!" Tony said, waving his keys around. "Midtown Express leaving in ten seconds!"

Peter kissed May one last time, rushing to the elevator. "Bye May! Love you!"

"BYE!" Everyone yelled at the group of teens as the doors closed, leaving them in sudden silence.

Harley let out a breath, leaning against the handlebars. "Wow, talk about hectic."

The others nodded their heads in quiet agreement, but Peter smiled at his brother with a grin, content warm in his chest. "Yeah, but if you think about it…it suits us."

A/N: And that's a wrap on this book. Giving Peter the family he always wanted was in my opinion the best way for everyone to return the favor. Hope you share the sentiment.

Welp...see you in the sequel!

-PF2