Author's Note: Hey, hey, my fellow readers! Welcome back to another chapter of Raise Me Up! We are at CHAPTER 12! So…I know a lot of people have been telling me that this story has been sad so far…this gets really sad. It's May's wake and funeral! I put it into one chapter to make things easier, and it ended up being one of the longest chapters in this fic. Just a heads up, I'm Catholic, so I based this on how wakes/funerals are viewed in my religion…since that's what I know…if that makes sense. Plus…there's never really an indication as to whether Peter is religious or not. Either way, if you have any questions, feel free to ask! I hope you enjoy the chapter! But before we get to that…REVIEW REPLIES!

Peacockgirl: Yeah, he's slowly getting there! It will take time, but he will get there, both in terms of the loss and how much Tony cares.

Konoewpl: Who knows? You'll have to wait and see what happens next! I hope you continue to enjoy it!

xSapphirexRosesxFanx: Thanks, friend! I hope you like what comes next!

Megan844: Thank you so so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

CaptainMarvel123875: LOL, the power of fanfic, my friend! I'm glad you loved this chapter, and I hope you continue to love what happens next! Ahhhh! Thank you so much! I know this one took a little longer, but I'm glad you love this story!

PastaShark000: Mmmm…you'll have to wait and see! I don't want to spoil too much, but let's just say that more will happen later in the story.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.


Chapter 12

Wednesday finally came, and Peter dreaded it more than anything. As soon as he woke up that morning, he knew it was going to be the hardest thing he would ever do in his life. He would have to say goodbye to May…for a long time. The grief weighed down on him. Today was the wake, and tomorrow would be the funeral. May and Ben told him he was too young to remember the wake and funeral for his parents, but…he remembered Ben's. He remembered friends, distant relatives, and even complete strangers coming up to him giving their condolences. He couldn't help but wonder if Tony and Pepper were going to leave him to stand at the front by himself or it they would be there with him. Usually, the family of the deceased stood at the front of the room, but…Peter had no family left. Tony was legally charged with taking care of him, but would he feel obligated to stand up there with Peter?

He didn't have much time to think about that as he and Tony spent the entire morning with watching some movies. The wake wasn't until later in the day, so they had time to relax. Although, Peter found himself wishing that this could be over and done with. As much as he wished they could get all the arrangements over with, Peter also wished that they didn't have to do this…to say goodbye to May. There was a part of him that wished she would come into the penthouse ready to live with them, but that was never going to happen…all because someone ran a red light.

The more hours and minutes ticked by until it was time for Tony, Pepper, and Peter to get ready…the more Peter didn't want to go through with this. He wished with all his might that this was some twisted illusion…that some villain simply trapped him in an alternate reality, but it wasn't. It was all too real…painfully real. The whole time he was getting dressed he wished that something…anything would wake him up from this nightmare, but nothing was happening. It was all still happening, and he couldn't do anything to stop it. Even when he, Pepper, and Tony were driving to the funeral home, he wanted something to stop them from getting anywhere near that place. He wanted nothing more than to scream at the top of his lungs for Tony to stop the car…that he didn't want to see his aunt like this…in a coffin…not moving…the complete opposite of who she was, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He never fully understood why…just that he had to do it. Perhaps, it was because he needed closure. Who knew?

"Okay…here we are," Tony quietly announced jolting Peter out of his thoughts.

The boy looked up, and sure enough, they were pulling into the parking lot of the funeral home. He took a deep, shaky breath seeing the building looming over them as his heart pounded.

Pepper looked at him and held out a hand to him, and Peter quickly grabbed it with his while making sure not to hurt her with his super strength. "It's okay, Peter," Pepper whispered.

It immediately reminded Peter of when May held his hand before they walked into the exact same funeral home for Ben's wake and funeral.

"Do you want to sit in the car for a few minutes, kid?" Tony asked. "We can do that. They won't do anything without us, and everybody is supposed to come later in an hour."

He knew that Tony was right. Everyone was coming in an hour, and the funeral director wanted the three of them to get there before everyone to have some private time.

"Uhh…y-yeah…m-maybe for…five minutes? I-I'm not—"

"That's okay, sweetheart," Pepper said gently. "That's totally okay."

Without saying another word, Tony quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car moving to the back passenger door and opening it. Then he immediately got back in sitting in the seat next to Peter wrapping an arm around him hugging him close. None of them dared to say another word for the next five minutes.


Those five minutes were up sooner than Peter expected, and next thing he knew, Tony and Pepper were leading him into the funeral home. It was the same funeral home they went to a few days ago to make all the arrangements. It was sort of like a house, and Peter couldn't help but feel uneasy. Being someone who saved lives and stopped the bad guys, he couldn't understand how anyone could work in a place like a funeral home. How did they feel about it? Did it ever get to them? If that was the case, the funeral director didn't let anyone see it as he greeted the three of them and showed them to the room where May was.

The funeral director stepped aside at the doorway, and sure enough, at the front of the room, there was May…at the front of the room in the mahogany coffin. As soon as Peter laid his eyes on her and gasped, tears brimmed in his eyes as his knees shook threatening to let him fall to the floor, but two pairs of hands on either side of him caught him before he could even touch the floor.

"It's okay, buddy," Tony said. "We got you."

"We got you, sweetheart," Pepper whispered as they each held onto him tightly.

Peter tried to speak, but all that came out was sobs at the sight of his beloved aunt. This was another reminder that she was dead…that she was never going to be around anymore…that Peter was truly alone…the last Parker. Pepper and Tony must've guided him to a seat in the back because next thing he knew…he was sitting down in a chair in the back corner of the room.

"I-I'm sorry…" Peter somehow managed to say as his guardian and his guardian's fiancée sat down on either side of him.

"No, no, don't apologize, Pete," Tony quickly said as he rubbed the boy's back. "This is all perfectly normal."

"Y-You're just saying that," Peter said through his sobs.

"No, no, we're not," Pepper said firmly. "It's okay to be upset, Peter."

Peter tried to say something else but could only let out sobs as he buried his face in his hands. He could hear someone—he didn't see if it was Tony or Pepper—gently shushing him. Tony and Pepper weren't saying anything else though, so Peter figured that they were waiting for him to calm down. He was wasting time.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry, guys," he finally said after a minute. "I know I'm wasting—"

"No, buddy, no, you're not," Tony said as he moved from Peter's left so that he was kneeling in front of the teen and getting Peter to look up at him. 'This is all warranted. You're allowed to be upset. She's your aunt, a loved one who has been there through thick and thin for you."

Peter nodded sobbing even more as he reached forward wrapping his arms around Tony's neck hugging him tightly, and Tony quickly returned the gesture.

Tony looked over Peter's shoulder at Pepper, who had tears forming in her eyes as she rubbed the kid's back. Their hearts broke watching Peter go through this.

"Please don't leave me alone, Tony," Peter pleaded. "I-I can't…I…can't do this a—"

"You don't need to ask, sweetheart," Pepper quickly said. "We're not leaving you."

"We're right here with you…no matter what," Tony said rubbing his back as well. "Okay? No matter what. I told you, you call the shots, but you're not doing any of this alone."

Peter nodded. He believed Tony and Pepper as he tried to calm himself down in Tony's arms. He felt safe and secure in this embrace, and he didn't want it to stop. May was no longer around to do that, but…Tony could continue to do that…and Pepper, too. They could never replace May, Ben, or his parents, but Tony was his new guardian. That was his job now.

"Hey, kid, listen to me," Tony finally said as he pulled away so that he was looking right at the teen, "if it gets to be too much, just tell us, and we'll take you home, okay?"

Peter looked at Tony through bloodshot eyes. He wanted Tony to know that it wasn't too much for him. He'd dealt with this before, so he was…unfortunately…used to it. However, he didn't have it in him to protest, and he just nodded. "Okay, Tony," he said. "Umm…can you come up with me to see her?"

"Absolutely," Tony replied.


Peter stayed close to Tony and Pepper throughout the wake in the front row. People came over to him to express their condolences, and he tried his best to muster up a sad smile as he thanked people for coming. They were mostly May's co-workers and May and Ben's friends; Peter wasn't sure if he expected Tony and Pepper's friends to come. However, Happy, Vision, and Rhodey eventually showed up, and Ned and MJ came with their respective parents. They each hugged him tightly before their parents silently reassuring him that they were there for him if he needed anything.

"Thank you, guys," Peter whispered as they found themselves in a group hug. He peeked over MJ and Ned's shoulders over at May's still body. He wished more than ever that she would be there with them. He wished more than ever that this was a nightmare that he would wake up from…in his apartment, and tears welled up in his eyes again.

Tony looked out of the corner of his eye and saw the three friends hugging each other closely. He could see the tears falling down his face, and his heart broke for the millionth time in the last few days. He wanted to go over to Peter and comfort him, but with Ned and MJ holding him in a group hug, he didn't want to risk overwhelming the kid. Plus, Ned's mother and MJ's parents were talking to him and Pepper.

"It's all just so awful," Mrs. Leeds said wiping her tears. "May was such a good person, and she loved Peter. Ned always loved going over there."

She was right. It was awful…It wasn't fair…at all to May or to Peter. Neither of them did anything to deserve being separated so cruelly and so suddenly.

"Ned and Michelle told us how close you and Peter are," Mrs. Jones suddenly said. "Thank you for not sending him into the system…for taking him in. I don't know how the three of them would handle being separated, especially after Peter just lost his aunt."

"Well, we're not…completely out of the woods yet," Tony replied. "They still need to grant me full custody, and a social worker is going to check in from time to time."

"If there's anything you need," Mrs. Leeds quickly said as she took out a piece of paper and a pen writing down her contact information and the Jones' information, "you let us know. We love Peter, and we want to help him in any way we can."

She was about to hand the paper to Tony when Pepper swiftly stepped in and gently took it before her fiancé could say anything.

"Thank you, Mrs. Leeds," Pepper said smiling.

"You're welcome, Ms. Potts," Ned's mother replied. "I can see why May thought so highly of you two. She always talked about how Mr. Stark took Peter under his wing with the internship. I can certainly tell that he's in good hands."

"I'm going to do what I can," Tony replied with a small smile. He was trying his hardest to maintain his composure, but on the inside, he was so overwhelmed with the further evidence that May trusted him and held him in the highest regard when it came to Peter.


"Peter was right," Tony said later that night. "This was probably the hardest day ever, and the funeral is tomorrow." He finished brushing his teeth and walked out of the bathroom finding Pepper looking at her Stark Pad in bed.

She sighed. "I know," she said, "and then comes after the fact." She watched her fiancé climb into bed next to her.

Tony knew that she was right as always. He thought back on those long hours at the funeral home today for May's wake…how Peter was barely able to stay standing when he first saw his aunt's body. When they got home back at the tower, both he and Pepper saw how drained the teenager was and immediately convinced him to go to bed and get some sleep. It was around 10:00, so Peter didn't protest how early it was and went right to bed with some enhanced Tylenol—made by Tony—and some water. The billionaire sighed as the mere thought of Peter's grief made his heart break again.

"I feel so helpless, Pep," he finally said out loud. "I mean, for the past 10 months, I've been giving him all these upgrades in his suit…I helped him get out of bad situations…" His mind went back to the ferry incident, the kidnapping incident…keeping him from ending up on Ross' radar… "but with this…I mean what Mrs. Leeds said about May trusting me with Peter…I-I feel like I'm letting him down. I can't save him from this grief. I can't bring May back…I can't go back in time and stop the accident…" He sighed as a tear escaped his eye as he gripped his left arm.

Pepper reached over and gently wrapped an arm around him pulling him close to her side kissing him on the cheek. "I know it feels like that," she said, "but you're not. You're doing a lot more than you think for him. You heard him today. He asked us to stick by him during the wake, and not once did we leave his side. We gave him space with his two friends, but you were ready to jump in when you needed to." She rubbed his shoulder. "You're great with him, and more importantly, he sees that."

"Well, I'm not doing it alone," he said after a moment of silence looking at the blonde woman next to him. "You've been great, too, Pep, and I couldn't do this without you."

Pepper smiled before leaning over kissing him on the cheek. "He's going to be okay," she whispered. "We'll get him through this."


Peter could've sworn he was on autopilot from the minute he woke up the next morning. His eyes felt puffy from yesterday, and he couldn't bring himself to cry again when he woke up. Sleep didn't do much to help him last night despite what Tony and Pepper said, but the teen knew they meant well, especially Tony. They had been great the past few days, especially the wake yesterday. He asked them to stick by him, and that was exactly what they did…despite how childish that might've sounded.

After showering and getting dressed in the same suit, Peter found himself struggling to put his necktie on in front of the mirror. He didn't even bother to put on a video tutorial as it would've been yet another painful reminder of May not being here to help him. After trying three times, he groaned in exasperation and fell back on his bed with his face in his hands.

A knock came at his door. "Peter…?" Tony said through the door. "Can I come in, buddy?"

Peter sniffled and wiped his face. "Yeah, I guess…" he said solemnly. He didn't even bother to look up as the door opened.

"I just wanted to see if…" Tony stopped as soon as he saw the kid. "You okay, buddy?"

The teen looked up at Tony allowing the man to see the tears in his eyes.

"Sorry, bud, bad questions, I—"

"No, it's okay, Tony, I just—" He looked down at his necktie in his hands.

"You need help?"

"Yeah…I-I know you've tried to help me before, but I just got frustrated…I guess."

Tony knelt down in front of Peter lightly gripping the boy's arms. "It's okay, Peter," he said softly. "I know. You need some help?"

Peter nodded, and then the two of them stood up allowing Tony to fix his tie. "Thanks, Tony," he said as soon as the billionaire finished tying his tie.

"No problem, buddy," Tony replied. "Remember what we said a few months ago…when we were…you know…kidnapped? We're a team, we got each other's backs, right?"

Peter nodded remembering that conversation just a few months ago…when May was alive. He and Tony were a team, and May saw it that day. "Y-You…You're not going to leave me, right? Today…I mean…?"

Tony smiled sadly before pulling his mentee into a hug. "Of course, buddy," he said. "I'm not going anywhere today, and neither is Pepper. We're right here with you, kid."

Peter buried his face into Tony's shoulder while trying not to hug him too tightly with his super strength. "Thank you," he said, "again."

The veteran superhero chuckled as he hugged the boy just a little tighter. "No problem, kid," he said.


Peter once again found himself on autopilot as Pepper and Tony took him back to the funeral home…where May was. Rhodey, Happy, and Vision followed them in another car and stuck with them as they waited for more people to arrive to give his aunt one last farewell. As soon as people including Ned, MJ, and their parents arrived, the funeral director came in and gave his instructions…how they were going to go to the church for May's funeral mass…then drive to the apartment building…and then to the cemetery. Then he started calling for people to pay their respects to May before they went to their cars. Peter watched as Happy, Rhodey, Vision, Ned, MJ, and their parents each went up to May silently telling her goodbye. He looked at Tony and Pepper out of the corner of his eye and noticed that they hadn't gone up yet to say goodbye to May. They were still standing right next to him, and he couldn't help but feel relief wash over him. When he and May did the same thing for Ben's funeral, they were the only ones who went up when the funeral director called the family, and there was a part of him that wondered if he would've had to go up alone. No…Tony and Pepper would be there…just as Tony promised…just like…family? Was it family? Tony was going to be his guardian in a matter of days…and they spent a lot of time together over the past 10 months…was it family? He liked to think so, but was that weird?

"And now, will the family please come up?" the funeral director suddenly said unknowingly interrupting Peter's thoughts.

The teenaged vigilante let out a shaky breath as he looked at Tony, who was walking over to him with a sad smile on his face. He could only nod and stand up allowing the billionaire to put his arm around him.

"Come on, buddy," Tony whispered as he gently guided Peter toward May with Pepper behind them.

Peter looked up and noticed that everyone had cleared the room to go to their cars leaving him alone with Tony, Pepper, Happy, Rhodey, Vision, and the funeral director. Then…he looked back at May…lying in the coffin…so still, and it was at that moment that Peter realized that he was never going to see May…again aside from pictures and videos… Tears formed in his eyes as he reached out resting his hand on May's hand feeling how cold it was. He sniffled as he bent down kissing her forehead. "I love you so much, May," he whispered sniffling.

"We'll take care of him, May," Tony whispered. "I promise, we won't let you down."

More tears flowed down his cheeks as Peter turned around hugging Tony yet again, and the man wasted no time in returning the gesture. He figured Tony and Pepper must've agreed to leave because they started moving away from the coffin, and Peter quickly looked over his shoulder still holding onto Tony trying to get one last look at May. He felt like he was leaving her behind, and he couldn't bring himself to go back. He just wanted to stay close to Tony and Pepper. He wasn't sure if it was a family…or friends…whatever it was called, but one thing was for sure…Tony and Pepper were his source of comfort. He didn't want to lose that. It kept him grounded in the midst of the overwhelming grief.

The five of them walked out of the funeral home with the funeral director to the cars. Tony and Pepper guided him into a limo—a little black car—that was right in front. He forgot that they had set that up instead of Tony driving them. Perhaps, they wanted to be able to comfort Peter just in case, but he barely had time to think about that as he followed Tony into the limo with Pepper right behind him. When he got in, he saw Rhodey, Vision, and Happy getting into Happy's car, and he figured that they were going to follow the limo…with the hearse in the lead.

As soon as he remembered the hearse, the black vehicle suddenly drove up from behind to get in front of the limo, and he knew instantly that May was already inside. As he stared at the vehicle in front of them, he felt Tony wrap his arm around him allowing him to rest his head on the billionaire's shoulder. This was getting harder and harder…but with Tony and Pepper, Peter felt like he had the strength to push through…slowly but surely.


"And now, May's nephew Peter will come up here and say a few words," the priest said.

Peter looked up at the priest sitting in the presider's chair on the altar, and then he looked at Tony, who was sitting right next to him.

The billionaire smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "You got this, kid," he whispered.

The teenaged vigilante smiled and nodded, and then he took a folded paper out of his suit pocket and stood up. He then walked out of the pew and made his way up to the pulpit, and then he unfolded the paper to read the eulogy he wrote for May. Peter looked up and saw Tony and Pepper sitting in the front row with May's coffin in the middle aisle and with 20=30 people sitting behind them. He could easily make out Ned, MJ, Happy, Vision, and Rhodey. Then with one last look at Tony, he took a deep breath and began to read his eulogy.

"If someone had asked me…what a mom or a parent was like to me…" he began, "May Parker is the one I think of. I don't remember much of my parents…they passed away when I was young…too young to understand what this all meant…the concept of losing a loved one…someone who has been there for you through thick and thin for me…" The eulogy continued from there as Peter slowly found the strength to keep going. There was a part of him that thought May's spirit was right behind him running a hand through his hair reading it along with him.

Time seemed to pass agonizingly slow as he continued to read his speech, and finally, he reached the last sentence of the speech.

"I love you so much, Aunt May," he said with a shaky breath. "I miss you like crazy, and I know that you, Uncle Ben, Mom and Dad will always be with me." There was no applause, but Peter's sensitive hearing could pick up some sniffling from the congregation as he walked down the stairs back to the pew where Tony and Pepper sat.

"Great job, kiddo," Tony whispered. "She would be so proud of you."

Peter gave another small smile and then looked at the coffin knowing that his aunt was in there, and then as they stood for the final blessing…Peter saw the pallbearers coming up on the side aisles of the church…ready to take his aunt away. His mind screamed to stop them because he knew what was to come after this, but…his body remained where it was as the pallbearers moved closer to his aunt's coffin.


Just as the funeral director said, they were stopping at the apartment building first…slowing May to say goodbye to her home before going to her final resting place. That was how May explained it to him when the exact same thing was done for Ben about a year or so ago. Although, Peter couldn't help but think as he watched the hearse and then looked up at the building though the window knowing that he would be saying goodbye to the apartment too. They still needed to move May's things, and then…that would be it. However, he shook his head; he couldn't think about that right now.

Without much warning, the funeral procession began to move again after that moment of silence and made its way to the cemetery. Peter sighed shakily as he rested his head on Tony's shoulder. This was only getting harder and harder, and Peter wanted nothing more than to wake up from this nightmare.

Soon enough, they arrived at the St. Mary Cemetery parking not too far from the grave. Peter immediately recognized it as he and May had gone there often to visit Ben after he passes away. May always made it a little…routine…tradition…something—he wasn't sure of the right word to use—to visit him on his birthday, his and May's anniversary, and holidays specifically Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Father's Day. Now, he was going to have to do it by himself…for both of them.

He, Tony, and Pepper stood off to the side of the grave with everyone gathered around it as the priest stood next to the headstone. Peter tried to listen, but he found himself staring at the headstone…that still only had Ben's name…and May's coffin. Then he looked at the rose in his hands. The funeral director had given one to him as soon as they arrived, and he looked at Tony and Pepper out of the corner of his eye. They were holding roses too…just like everyone else.

"Thank you, Fr. John," the funeral director finally said as soon as the priest finished the blessing. Peter really wished that he had taken a minute before speaking to slow this down, but…the teen knew that was wishful thinking. "And now, I would like to ask everyone to come up and say their final goodbye to May and place their rose on the coffin before returning to their cars and leaving the cemetery. Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts also ask for Peter to have some private time to grieve. First, we'll start with friends of May."

As soon as he heard that, Peter's head shot up, and he immediately looked up at Tony.

"Don't worry, we're not leaving you, bud," Tony whispered to him. "Pep and I are right here with you. We just didn't want anyone staring at you. It's up to you when you want to leave, okay?"

Peter let out a shaky breath as he nodded furiously feeling some relief wash over him. As much as he wanted some time to give his aunt a final goodbye, he wanted Tony. He really wanted Tony…and Pepper to be there with him…like they had been. Soon enough…everyone was slowly going up to May, placing their roses on the coffin, and leaving the grave making their way to their cars. He saw Ned and MJ do the same before leaving with their parents as he mentally promised to text or call them later as they hugged him goodbye.

Finally, Rhodey, Happy, and Vision did the same before shaking hands with Peter and walking back to the cars waiting for him, Tony, and Pepper.

"Pep and I are going next," Tony whispered to him, "but then we're going to be right there with you. You take your time, okay?"

"Okay," Peter said quietly.

Tony nodded patting Peter on the shoulder before walking up to the grave with Pepper. Both Tony and Pepper placed their roses on the coffin, and then Tony got down on a knee placing a hand on it sighing sadly. "I promise I'll take care of him," Tony whispered. "You and Ben can rest easy now, May. I won't let you down, and I know you'll still keep an eye on him from wherever you are. You always did." With one last pat on the coffin, he and Pepper moved away from the grave and looked at Peter.

He and Pepper watched Peter move up to the coffin, and Tony was about to walk up to him. However, Pepper gently placed a hand on his arm silently telling him to give the kid some time alone for a moment.

Peter knelt down and placed the rose on the coffin before placing his hand on the coffin and placing a kiss on it. "I love you, Aunt May," he said as tears formed in his eyes. "I love both you and Ben so much, and I'll never forget you, I promise." Within seconds, he finally broke down sobbing placing his head on the coffin. "I promise, May."

Both Tony and Pepper felt their hearts break at the sight yet again, and Tony just couldn't take it anymore and quickly rushed over to Peter kneeling down next to him gently wrapping an arm around him rubbing his shoulder. "It's okay, buddy," Tony whispered. "It's okay."

"I'm…I'm…" Peter sobbed.

"No, no, no apologies, Peter," Tony quickly replied. "It's okay, alright? It's okay, buddy." He barely noticed that Pepper came up next to them following suit in rubbing Peter's back as the kid continued to sob.

"I miss her…I miss her so much," Peter said as he continued to cry turning and hugging Tony around his middle. "I want her back…I want Aunt May back."

"I know, buddy," Tony said burying his face into Peter's hair and gently pulling Pepper into the hug as well. "I know."

"We both know, sweetheart," Pepper whispered. "She's always with you…both her and Ben. They're always with you."

The three of them stayed like that for a few minutes in their group hug until Peter finally calmed down and finally mustered up the courage to leave. Pepper and Tony slowly helped him up and walked him back toward the car that would escort them back to the funeral home to get Tony's car. Thankfully, there was no luncheon, so Peter knew that Pepper and Tony would immediately take him back to the tower, which was exactly what they did. On the way back to the tower, Tony sat in the backseat with Peter while Pepper drove back.


Soon enough, they approached the tower when Pepper pulled into the parking garage. They pulled up to the valet, and when Pepper turned around, she found Tony with his arm around Peter, who appeared to have been staring off into space.

"She…she's really gone…" Peter suddenly said as tears formed in his eyes. It was a familiar sensation…a cold and cruel realization… He felt the same thing when his uncle was buried…when he and May came home after the funeral. Funerals and wakes…they were expected whenever someone died. Yes, it was hard to get through, but it was all part of a routine of some sort that everyone went through. Then…what came after that? It hit him even harder that May was…gone…dead. He was never going to see her again…never going to cuddle with her on the couch again…never going to eat Thai food with her again… All those plans they made for the future…like a trip for when he would graduate or her moving him into college…went down the drain in just a matter of seconds. He looked at Tony allowing the billionaire to see the helplessness…the anguish on his face. "She…May…She…She's never coming back…"

"Pete…" Tony said sadly before pulling him into a hug.

"I'm never going to see her again…" Peter said as tears formed in his eyes. "I-I-I…I don't…" He sobbed into Tony's chest. "Tony…I don't know…what to do now…"

"I know…I know…" Tony whispered into his hair. "Believe me, buddy, I know." Most of his time grieving his parents was a blur for…a number of reasons, but Tony knew that feeling of being lost and helpless after his parents were…killed…after their wake and funeral. He would never hear his father talking about Captain America again. It wasn't that he enjoyed listening to Howard talk about the super soldier. He hated it…despised it, but…it was odd in a sense when he realized that he was never going to have that life anymore.

For Peter, he knew it was worse. May was all he had left. She was his mother figure…father figure…aunt…support system…all rolled into one ever since Ben died. They were a team before Tony came along, and now that was just gone. The memories would be cherished, but that wasn't enough. It never was, and Peter was going to need all the support he could get to get through the grieving process.

"We'll get you through this, Peter," he whispered. "I promise."


Author's Note: Annnnnnd that's all for this chapter, boys and girls! I know that was a LONG chapter, but I'm sure you all enjoyed that immensely! Stay tuned to CHAPTER 13! Don't forget to read and review! Thanks again, guys, and I will see you in the next chapter!