Chapter 23

As soon as Tony got into the kitchen he ran a shaky hand over his face. He was spiralling, on the verge of a panic attack himself. He wanted to do something, anything to help Peter but he didn't know what.

"FRIDAY. Keep an eye on Pep and Peter for me. Let me know if they need me."

"Affirmative boss. They are currently watching TV. Mrs Stark is trying to soothe Peter, but he still seems to be in some distress. I fear his nightmare has shaken him more than it appears."

That's what Tony feared.

"Thanks FRI." He whispered before pulling out his phone and instantly scrolling down for May's number. He didn't hesitate before calling her. It may be the middle of the night, but Peter came first. May would get that.

The phone rung and rung for a few moments, and Tony feared she wasn't going to answer.

Then there was a click and a gruff voice; ".ello?"

"Happy?" Tony frowned, wondering for a second why he was answering her phone.

"Tony?" There was a pause and rustling; "It's 3 in the morning."

"I need to speak to May. It's urgent. It's about Peter."

"Is he ok?" Happy's voice changed to concern instantly; "Did something happen?"

"Please Happy." Tony begged; "Just...let me speak to May."

"Ok ok boss. One sec..." There was more rustling, some hushed voices, and then May was on the phone.

"Tony? What's going on? Is Peter hurt? Do I need to come over?" May's frantic rambling echoed down the phone.

He held up a hand before remembering she couldn't see him; "He's not hurt but...he had a nightmare. A bad one." Tony said utterly serious with emphasis; "He woke up screaming, and now..." Tony looked towards the living room gulping; "He's really shook up. We're trying to calm him down, to reassure him, but...I'm worried May."

"Oh no...my poor baby." May cooed gasping; "Was it a clown nightmare?"

"I don't know. He hasn't said anything. He's barely speaking. But that would be my guess...I just...please May I don't know what to do. He seems utterly petrified. He doesn't want to be left alone. We came down to the living room and that seems to help. But what do we do? How do I reassure him that he's safe?" Knowing that this was probably deep rooted in Peter's loss of his uncle Ben didn't exactly help Tony in knowing what to do now. The kid was probably still upset over losing him, and so young. After losing his parents as well. Then to develop a clown phobia out of it, well that royally sucked.

May sighed worriedly; "I wish I could offer an easy fix Tony, but there isn't one. Not with this. Before he woke up screaming many times, and I could never get him back to sleep. He refused to go back in his bedroom, was terrified. The only thing I could do was sit with him either in the living room watching TV, or in my bedroom and wait for him to fall asleep. He always claimed the next morning he did, but I think I fell asleep before he did. I'm pretty sure he never actually slept. Too scared too, always looking around for a clown to jump out at him." May paused before her voice cracked; "He was just too scared Tony. He didn't feel safe. No matter what I did, nothing helped. That's why he ended up falling asleep in class. A couple of times Ned's parents called in panic because Peter had woken up screaming and couldn't calm down. The school got worried and almost called Child Protective Services, assuming I wasn't caring for him properly." Anger registering in her tone.

God this was more serious than he thought.

"How did it finally stop?"

May paused thinking; "Honestly, I don't know. It just did. He would have the nightmares a couple of times a week, but they started to dwindle down to once a week, then every couple of weeks, once a month and then they just stopped. I think his lack of sleep just finally hit him, he was too exhausted not to sleep. When they went away I was so relieved, I almost took him to see some doctors to try and help him. I hope this isn't coming back again. I know he's a teenager now but he's not a strong as he appears to be Tony. He hides it, not wanting anyone to worry."

"Yeah I noted that." Tony grumbled in sadness. That could have been what caused his clown phobia, Peter bottling up his grief over losing Ben to not worry May. It caused Tony's worry to escalate. Peter supressed so much. How was he going to help Peter get over these nightmares?

"Guess it didn't help that I let him eat a bunch of sweets and chocolate before bed did it?"

May chuckled lightly; "Maybe not, but I think this would have happened anyway." There was a beat and then; "Do you want me to come over?" May rushed out; "See if I can help?"

"No no Pep and I got this. I just wanted your advice." He felt bad for waking them, he didn't want to drag them over to his house in the middle of the night. More than that, he was Peter's dad, if he couldn't comfort his own son he wasn't much of a dad. He had to do this. Peter needed him.

"Ok well if you change your mind just let me know. All I can suggest is just sit with him. Reassure him and stay with him. Hopefully he'll eventually fall asleep. Although..."

"Although what?" Tony said catching her tone.

"Now that I think about it. There was one night, when he had woken up screaming. I brought him into my room. He was scared, refused to even lay down. Just sat there staring at the door in fear. I had to barricade the door with a chair and some pillows and blankets to reassure him nothing could get in. I left a lamp on, and he finally fell asleep hugging one of my sweaters. I guess after that was when the dreams finally started to trail off."

Tony nodded thinking; "So that worked? That got him back to sleep and he was ok after that? He felt safe? Do you think that would work now?"

"You can give it a try. It might. At this point I would say try anything."

"Thanks May. Sorry for waking you."

"Nonsense, I'm glad you called me. Keep me updated ok?"

"I will. Try to get some sleep yourself."

"You too."

Tony hung up, staring and thinking for a moment. Then he bustled about to make some cocoa a plan in mind.

When Tony strolled into the living room ten minutes later with three steaming cups, he eyed the TV, before looking at Pepper and Peter. She turned to face him first, worry on her face, and relief to see him. Then as he got closer he noticed he could barely see Peter, but from the top of his head he could see the kid was shaking again.

"Here we are spider baby." Tony murmured moving around to sit down the other side of Peter, setting the cups down on the coffee table. He was relieved when the kid moved to sit up so he could see his face. Some fresh tears in his eyes.

Tony just smiled wiping the tears away as he handed him the cup, hoping it would help.

"Thanks dad." Peter whispered giving Tony the first genuine smile this night as he sipped the drink.

After he drunk half of it, Peter set the cup down and immediately curled up to Tony's side, burrowing into his chest.

"You feel a little better bud?" Tony murmured wrapping his arms around him, glancing at Pepper as she wrapped her hands around her cup watching them anxiously; "You want to talk about your dream?"

Peter shook his head and let out a whimper instantly seeing flashes of it that had him flinching.

"Ok ok bud. You don't have to. No one's going to force you to do anything you don't want. I just usually find talking about my nightmares with your mom helps. Saying it aloud, reminding myself it's not real. It helps."

Peter lifted his head eyeing his dad sceptically, clinging to him as he looked around fearfully. His senses were on overdrive. The slightest noise was having him jumping and looking for a clown to jump out.

He just wanted it to stop.

Having his dad brushing a hand through his hair helped ground him.

"I...I was back in the hay maze." Peter said finally finding his voice, but it sounded more shaky that Tony would have liked. He hugged Peter tighter to reassure him; "T-there was a c-clown with...with a..." Peter closed his eyes and shuddered before he could get out the rest, speaking about it just felt like he was relieving it; "a chainsaw. A real one. Covered in blood..."

Tony inhaled sharply, his gut clenching at hearing that. He looked at Pepper seeing the same worry on her face.

"H-h-h-e was c-chasing me." Peter stuttered; "I was so s-scared. I kept calling f-for y-you. B-but you nnever came."

"Oh bud." Tony's voice cracked as he pulled Peter's head into his chest, as if he could shield him from the world; "I'm sorry that happened. But I'm right here. That wasn't real. I'll always be here for you."

Hearing that gave Peter the confidence to go on.

"I hit a ddead end. I was t-trapped. Then...he grabbed me..I screamed...and I woke up in my bedroom...or atleast I-I thought I did. I was f-frozen in fear. Unable to move. I tried to call for FRIDAY but she didn't respond...I c-called for you and the..the door opened. But it..wasn't you...it was the clown again...he told me there was no where I could hide he wouldn't find me...right before he...he lunged at me...Then I woke up." Peter was trembling hard as he finished, immediately pushing his face into his dad's chest. Listening to his soothing heartbeat, and breathing in his comforting scent. It was the only thing keeping him together right now.

"You're safe now bud. No clowns here I promise." Tony murmured rubbing his back; "And I would never ever let anyone hurt you."

Peter wanted to believe him but he wasn't so sure it was safe. A clown could easily sneak in without them knowing.

As if reading his mind, Tony looked skywards; "FRIDAY? Show me the house lockdown will you?" He said pulling out his phone, and showing the screen to Peter as layout of the house appeared. Peter shifted his head to see it.

"Any clowns or threats FRI?"

"Negative boss. The house is completely safe. I assure you Peter. I will protect you."

That warmed his heart that FRIDAY would look out for him.

"See bud? FRIDAY has all the doors and windows locked. We have bulletproof glass, and a bombproof door. The perimeter has cameras and sensors all over with FRIDAY monitoring 24/7. And I wear my suit all the time. See." He held up his wristbands and gestured at the arc reactor strapped to his chest; "You are 100% safe here. I promise."

Peter thought that would make him feel better. It should have, under any other circumstance it would have. But Peter just couldn't get the fear to go away. As much as he wanted it to.

"Ok." He mumbled lying to his dad. Not wanting him to worry anymore than he clearly already was. He just wanted to sleep but was too scared too, his mind wouldn't shut off.

Tony didn't believe him for a second. Peter was a terrible liar. He sent Pepper a look and merely rested his cheek on Peter's head.

"Ok bud. What do you need? What can I do to make you feel safe?"

"Stay. Stay with me."

"Always spider baby."

They stayed on the sofa for a while just watching TV. Tony soon switched to one of the Star Wars movies, knowing it was Peter's favourites and hoped once Peter got into it he would relax.

Pepper moved closer, Peter wedged between them getting comfort from both of them.

But every time Peter felt his eyes drooping, he would panic, snap his eyes open and look around petrified. Clinging onto his dad to be sure it was real and he wasn't dreaming again. The last time he thought he was awake a clown attack him. He was struggling to determine what was real and what wasn't.

It scared the hell out of Tony. The kid was feeling upset. And nothing was working.

It was time for plan B.

"Ok time for bed spider baby." Tony announced clicking off the TV.

"No." Peter mumbled in panic, his eyes widening; "Please can we stay down here."

Tony would have relented if he thought Peter would actually go to sleep. But he was getting tired too, and Pepper was dozing herself. They couldn't go to sleep and leave Peter awake down here, scared. He refused to.

"You need sleep bud. And so do we. It's getting late now." It was getting on for 4 am. Soon there would be no point in going to bed.

"But..." Peter's lip trembled, terrified about going back upstairs.

"It's ok." Tony soothed offering a reassuring smile; "You're safe. It's safe." Before Peter could object again, Tony was standing up, and so was Pepper. And knowing that Peter wouldn't get up himself he raised an eyebrow smiling; "I'll even give you a piggyback ride. Come on doesn't that sound fun?"

Peter hesitated looking around nervously before finally nodding, if for no other reason he feared they might leave him here alone if he didn't agree.

"Ok good come on buddy." Tony turned and crouched down.

Slowly Peter wrapped his arms around his dad's neck and climbed onto his back. Tony picked him up and they started off upstairs.

Peter rested his cheek against his dad's head, closing his eyes. Trying to prepare himself for going back into his bedroom.

But when they got upstairs, Tony didn't go into his bedroom, but into the master bedroom. Pepper opened the door to lead them in and shut it behind them once they were inside.

"Wha...what are we doing in here?" Peter demanded looking around apprehensively.

"You're going to sleep in here with us bud." Tony said with finality as he crouched down to let Peter jump off his back. As Peter did, he stood there for a moment shivering, looking between them warily and full of hope.

"Why?"

"So you'll be safe, and get some sleep." Pepper replied brushing a hand over his head to his shoulder and guiding him to the bed; "Come on sweetie." She pulled back the duvet and ushered him to get in.

As he climbed into the middle and Pepper got in beside him, Peter watched as his dad moved a chair to block the door, and piled some blankets and pillows around it.

"What are you doing?" Peter asked hesitantly as he shifted to lean against his mom's side. She wrapped an arm around him, resting her head on his.

"A barricade." Tony replied and stood back looking at Peter; "What do you think bud?"

Peter eyed it before breaking into a smile, so touched his dad did that for him. To make him feel safe. And funnily enough that did make him feel safe.

"It's perfect. Thanks dad."

Tony grinned, and looked at Pepper as she smiled in relief. Finally they were getting somewhere.

"Good. Ok. Sleepy time." Tony clapped his hands together and headed around the bed to get in the other side of Peter. Immediately, the kid sidled up to his side, reaching to grab his dad's arm to pull around him.

Chuckling he got the message and hugged Peter. The kid wedged in between Tony and Pepper. Both of them hugging him.

It felt strange for Peter to be in their bedroom. It was their space, not his. He felt guilty for being here, for waking them up and keeping them up. He wished he was a normal kid.

"So how about a bedtime story?" Tony murmured as Peter rested his head on his chest. He waited a beat for Peter's response.

"What kind of bedtime story?"

"A good one. A great one. Let's see shall we...ok so ummm once upon a time..."

Peter lightly chuckled at that and Tony couldn't help but grin pleased at the sound; "Once upon a time? Dad really?"

"Hey go with it buddy. Now where was I? Ah yes. Once upon a time, there was a baby spider,"

Peter smiled against snuggling into his dad, and Tony sent Pepper a smile.

"Spider baby was a special baby spider. He was kind, selfless and so very smart. His spider parents were so very proud of him. They loved to hang out together as a family."

Peter found himself closing his eyes as he listened to the story, a smile on his face. He wasn't going to sleep he was just resting his eyes.

"Spider baby also loved to go out and help people. He was a hero. Making sure other baby spiders got home safely, helping older ones, even helping other insects." Tony glanced at Pepper making a face, now having no idea where he was going with this. He looked at her pleadingly for her to carry on for him, but she just gestured with her eyes to look at Peter.

Frowning, Tony peered down and smiled, his eyes widening in shock. Peter's eyes were closed, his breathing was evened out. He was asleep. He was actually asleep. Tony couldn't believe that's all it took. He wished he had done this straight away. Thankfully, it worked. Peter needed sleep.

Yawning, Tony realised so did they. He looked at Pepper hesitating. They needed to lie down to sleep, but how were they going to do that without waking the kid?

Pepper just smiled and did a small little shrug. The life of being a parent, having a kid sleeping on you.

They waited a few moments to make sure Peter was in a deep sleep. Then they every so carefully shifted to lie down, careful not to jostle Peter.

Tony froze as Peter let out a murmur, but he just shifted, burrowing his face into Tony's chest and let out a sigh, laying still.

Relieved, Tony smiled kissing the top of his head; "Sleep well spider baby."

"FRIDAY." Tony whispered up to the ceiling; "Send a message to May and let her know Peter's finally asleep."

All he got in confirmation was a quiet beeping which Tony appreciated, followed by the lights going off.

The moonlight from outside and the lights from the hallway outside kept the room from being pitch black.

Tony turned his head to face Pepper, both of them craning slightly to kiss each other goodnight. Then they rested forehead together and closed their eyes. Peter fast asleep between them. For the first time in a long time, maybe forever, Tony felt at peace.