Chapter 24

The next morning Tony awoke slowly, his eyes blinking open at a stream of sunlight hitting his face. He winced at the sunlight and turned the other way, taking a moment to full awake before he opened his eyes again.

What he saw made his heart swell with love, Pepper and Peter were fast asleep. She was laying sideways facing him, an arm draped over Peter protectively as Peter lay on his front, facing him with his mouth parted open slightly, and some loud snores escaping.

It was downright adorable.

Smiling he just looked at his family for a moment and sighed contently. Then he shifted to grab his phone from the beside table. He looked at the time first. It read 7:44 am. And he had a few messages. One from May from last night in response to his message about Peter asleep. That she was relieved and sent her love, asking for an update in the morning. There was a couple more messages this morning, one from Happy asking how Peter was, and another from May saying she was going to start her shift at 8 and asked he send her an update when he was up.

Tony made quick work texting them back, assuring them Peter was fine and still asleep. Given what happened last night, Tony suggested Peter stay home from school today. He wasn't sure Peter was going to be up for it, and Tony wanted to stay with him today make sure he was ok. Maybe talk to Peter about what caused it, help him get over it. So this didn't happen again.

Thankfully, May agreed immediately, voicing that she would rather Peter be with him than at school alone. And she promised to call the school and let them Peter was off sick. They weren't too worried, he was such a smart kid, missing a day wasn't going to be a big deal. And well Tony suspected Peter's best friend Ned would fill him in on anything. Then Happy offered his assistance if he was needed which Tony appreciated and agreed to check in later.

Then he checked his schedule for the day. Pepper had some meetings later on today, and he was supposed to be doing some lab work for the new Stark Phone. But he could do it at home. They could have a lie in.

Telling FRIDAY not to disturb them unless it was an emergency, and to set Pepper's alarm so she could go to her meetings, set his phone back down. Snuggled back in the bed with his family, Tony soon fell back asleep.

0o0o0oSPIDERMAN0o0o0o0o0o

The next time Tony woke up, it was to the smell of fresh coffee, and the feeling of something heavy on top of him.

He blinked open, looking down seeing Peter's head now on his chest, an arm stuck across his chest, and a leg thrown over him. Much like a koalo. Tony just grinned, putting an arm around him and kissing his head. He was pleased to see Peter was still asleep. He needed it.

Then he turned and found Pepper staring back at him with amusement. She was sitting up against the headboard, still in her pyjamas, with a Stark pad in her lap, and a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Morning." She murmured quietly.

"Morning. What time is it?"

"Just gone 10."

He nodded, and then frowned at her; "You're still here. Don't you have meetings to go to?"

"Not today. I cancelled them. Rescheduled them for next week."

"Pep...Are you sure?" Tony felt bad, she was CEO she had a responsibility to SI. He'd shirked his responsibilities and that's why Pepper was CEO. He knew how much she loved being CEO, he didn't want to be the cause of her becoming like him; "The meetings are important aren't they?"

Pepper simply shook her head; "No more than Peter is. Those meetings are just status updates on projects, they can wait another week. Besides I hear some have hit a snag and some people could do with the holiday period off for their families. Like us. So I've given them all some extended time off. Our son needs us right now. There's no where else I need to be but here with our family."

Tony looked at Pepper in adoration; "I love you Pep. So much."

Full of love and devotion, she tilted her head at him and smiled softly; "I love you too Tony. With all my heart." She reached out to caress his cheek, and leant over to kiss him, careful not to disturb Peter.

As she sat up she looked at Peter chuckling; "I did make you some coffee, but I don't think that's going to be possible now. Not with a spider baby attached to you."

Tony looked down at Peter and grumbled; "Yeah this kid seems to stick to everything." To demonstrate Tony tried to lift Peter's arm around his waist, but couldn't even lift his hand. It was like he was glued to him. He sighed realising his fate.

Pepper just laughed; "As if you want to push him off you."

Well she had him there.

"I also called May." Pepper murmured softer this time; "Assured her Peter was fine. She explained what you agreed about keeping Peter home. She called the school to explain so it's fine. Besides I think we could all do with a day playing hooky."

"Can't argue with you there." Tony murmured combing a hand through Peter's hair, scoffing as the kid murmured and automatically leant into his touch, even in his sleep; "How long do you think he'll sleep for?" He didn't dare want to wake him, the kid needed his sleep. But he wasn't sure how long he was going to be stuck here like this. And eventually he would need to get up.

Pepper looked fondly at Peter; "Knowing him. He could sleep all day." Then she smirked at him and turned back to her pad.

Sighing, Tony let his head fall back and stared up at the ceiling smirking.

"Go back to sleep hun." Pepper murmured; "Not much else you can do. It might do you some good to. I know you've been pulling some all-nighters lately in the lab. FRIDAY told me."

"Traitor." Tony murmured under his breath glaring at the ceiling. Then he smiled at Pepped, and looked down at Peter with acceptance. Closing his eyes, he soon found himself drifting back to sleep.

0o0ooo0oSPIDERMAN0oo0o0o0o

It was Peter who woke up next.

It happened slowly. Awareness creeping into him in the form of him feeling really warm and safe. He found himself stretching, and snuggling deeper into his soft cocoon. His stomach grumbled announcing itself, forcing him to wake up. He felt incredibly well rested, like he had slept for a week.

As he was blinking his eyes open, his mind finally registered everything that happened last night. The nightmare and ending up in his parents bedroom. Oh no...

Peter found himself looking at the ceiling first, and a duvet pulled up to his chin. Then he looked to his right seeing Pepper fast asleep beside him.

"Morning spider baby."

Peter snapped his head to the left seeing his dad sitting up beside him on a pad, and sipping a cup of coffee. He smiled broadly at Peter, and searching his face, Peter was relieved to see nothing but warmth in his eyes.

"Morning dad." Peter yawned loudly making Tony chuckle.

"What time is it?"

"Hmm about 12:45."

"PM?" Peter's eyes widened as he moved to sit up rubbing his face; "I'm really late for school!"

"Oh no don't worry about school. You're playing hooky today. We all are."

"Really?" Peter turned to his dad surprised.

"Yeah thought it might be fun for us to hang out together today. Just the three of us. Have a lie in, have some fun."

Peter wasn't stupid, he knew it was more about him and what happened last night. They wanted to talk to him, and that made him anxious.

"How long was I out?"

"About 8 hours or so. Did you sleep ok? Anymore nightmares?" Tony asked concerned setting his phone aside, to turn his full attention to Peter.

Sheepishly Peter looked down his cheeks flushing; "Um no...no more nightmares." He didn't have any dreams last night which was a relief. He opened his mouth to continue but Tony cut him off with a raised hand.

"I hope you're not about to apologise buddy. Because you have nothing to apologise for. I told you everyone gets nightmares. I'm just glad you got some sleep, I was really worried for a moment there." Tony murmured reaching over to ruffle his hair.

"I was going to say thank you." Peter murmured softly, shifting to curl up to his side, Tony immediately wrapping an arm around him; "For what you did for me last night. Letting me sleep in here. It really helped me feel safe."

"Of course buddy. I'd do anything for you."

At that Peter's stomach grumbled very loudly. Peter stilled grimacing, but Tony just laughed.

"Well that answers my question if you're hungry. I'll go get you some breakfast, I was getting hungry myself." Tony said moving to get up.

"I'll come help." Peter went to follow as Tony stood.

"No kid you stay here in the warm, and keep Pep company." Tony looked at his wife with a smile; "I don't want her to wake up alone." It was partly true, but also Tony was still worried about Peter's state of mind at the moment. He feared if Peter got downstairs he might close up, and after breakfast might escape and hide in his room, refusing to talk about it. They needed to talk, and here Peter felt safe. That was the most important thing.

Peter looked at her and nodded at him firmly in understanding.

"Here bud. Maybe you'd like to read this whilst I'm gone." Tony handed Peter the pad. Hesitantly, Peter furrowed his brow as he took it scanning the screen.

"What is this?"

"I've been doing some research for you. Coulrophobia. Fear of clowns. It's a very real phobia which a lot of people suffer from. I just thought...you might want to know that you aren't alone in it. It's perfectly normal actually."

"Oh." Peter blinked utterly amazed, and smiled at his dad really touched he did this research for him; "Thanks dad."

Peter looked down scanning the webpage curiously. Tony just leant over to kiss the top of his head; "I'll be back soon bud. Look after your mom for me." He winked as he left. Peter watched him go a little anxious about him leaving, but as he looked at his mom he felt reassurance. He wasn't alone.

Turning back to the webpage, Peter found himself reading all the information. Surprised and reassured that everything he had been feeling was normal. And pretty common. Most of all that it could be treated. Peter had always been scared his clown phase would return, and now that it had it wasn't so daunting. His parents were here to help him, and May and Happy. Maybe with their support he could find a way to get rid of the damn nightmares.

After a little while, he had finished reading and his dad hadn't returned. But thanks to the Stark Pad linked to FRIDAY and the house he was able to access the cameras and could see his dad cooking breakfast. That helped.

Looking around, Peter bit his lip before sidling back under the covers and closer to his mom.

She stirred and reached out an arm to cover him; "Morning honey." Pepper murmured blinking her eyes open, and she smiled at him; "How'd you sleep?"

"Ok." Peter replied slowly offering a small smile in return; "Dad's making breakfast."

"That's nice sweetie. I'm quite hungry myself."

As Pepper was more awake she studied Peter's face before pulling him into a hug, staying silent. Just being there for Peter. And it worked, Peter smiled as he snuggled into her.

"I come bearing food!" Tony's voice suddenly announced dramatically; "Who feels like breakfast in bed?"

Peter and Pepper lifted their heads, and were amazed to see Tony bring in a tray of food stacked with numerous plates, set it down on the make up table before bringing in another tray from the hallway, also lined with plates and drinks.

"Wow." Peter said eyeing it all hungrily as he sat up; "It all looks really good. Thanks dad."

Pepper just looked at Tony fondly pushing the hair from her face as she sat up.

Tony waited and then set the trays on the bed, quickly giving Pepper a kiss before getting back into bed beside Peter. The kid already tucking into some toast.

"This is really nice. Thanks." Peter murmured to Tony shyly; "I've never had breakfast in bed before."

"Really? Well that's going to change." Tony announced crunching on some bacon.

"Tony and I sometimes have breakfast in bed when we're having a lie in. It's a nice way to decompress. Just take a moment to ourselves."

"I read the information you found." Peter lowered the piece of toast looking at his hands.

"Did it help?"

"Yeah it did. Make everything seem not so scary. And knowing I have you two, and May and Happy. That helps too. I just...I didn't expect last night to happen. I thought I was finally over the clown thing." He finished sheepishly.

"We're all scared of something bud." Tony pulled Peter into a side hug; "I'm scared of the dark sometimes. After Afghanistan and the invasion, being in the dark brings back some bad memories." He shuddered slightly, and had to close his eyes to stop some flashbacks. Peter snuggled up to him to bring him comfort, which Tony appreciated; "The only way I can get over it is by having your mom beside me. Or you nearby. My family."

Peter looked at him in a new light; "I had no idea." He'd read the news stories when his dad had been kidnapped all those years ago, and what he went through, and then the invasion...but he had no idea it affected him so much. He was a hero, Peter thought nothing could affect heroes. It was a comfort to know this, if not a little sad for what his dad went through; "I'm sorry."

"Oh no bud it's ok." Hugging him tighter he continued; "It sucks, and sometimes it hits me more than others, but I mainly focus on the fact that if it hadn't happened I wouldn't be Iron Man right now. And I may not have you or your mom. Even in dark times there's always some good. You're never alone buddy."

"Oh." Peter had never thought of it like that.

"I can't sleep without Tony." Pepper suddenly murmured and Peter shifted to face her as Tony peered at her over his head with a loving expression; "When I'm on a business trip, in the hotel room I just can't sleep when he's not beside me. Sometimes the only thing that helps is listening to his voice. I don't like being alone Peter."

"I guess...everyone gets scared. Even heroes." Peter murmured in realisation as he extended a hand to her, which she took gratefully leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah kid. Even heroes are afraid of something. Even the Avengers. I have it on good authority that Cap is afraid of the water, understandably, Bruce is claustrophic, Nat doesn't like big crowds, and Clint is afraid of needles. Hell, Thor is a god and he doesn't like planes. No one's perfect."

Peter munched on some more toast thinking. He always thought the Avengers were these perfect Superheroes. Never afraid of anything. Invincible. As a kid that gave him hope that they would protect him and the world, but now...it was nice to know that they were still human, with faults too. Now he was a hero too, he had some more understanding that it came with some consequences. He was claustrophobic too after the building came down on him. He understood now what the Avengers had to be dealing with. And he had some new respect for them, and his dad. Comforted in knowing he and his dad were more alike than he thought.

"I love you dad. I love you mom."

"We love you too honey." Pepper replied as Tony kissed his head.

They all snuggled on the bed eating breakfast, as the TV came on. A Disney movie, Wall-E playing. To Peter's great surprise and happiness. He had no idea they watched Disney films. Sometimes Peter liked to watch them when he needed cheering up. And it turns out so did his parents. They liked this film a lot apparently. Peter made some educated cases, because it had robots, because of the love between Wall-E and Eve, but they just said it was because it was about family. A family forming between the unlikeliest of people and robots. Peter liked that. He felt better already.