A/N: I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving (or other celebrated holidays)! I have a break from school, so this chapter is longer and I had more time to perfect it. :) I hope you enjoy!

Thursday, September 19

3:37pm

May was surprised. Peter didn't look very sick, just uncomfortable. Doctors flitted about him, feeling his head, checking his temperature and blood pressure. He was awake, sitting completely still in the hospital bed surrounded by wires. If anything, he looked awkward.

When he heard the door open, he began, "Really Mr. Stark, this isn't necessary, I was just tired and- May? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, honey. Tony called me. Why wouldn't I be here? You're my favorite neighbor." She walked to the end of the bed and smiled kindly at him.

Peter tried to hide his shock with a grin. "Oh… I mean, I guess I thought Mrs. Cavanaugh was your favorite."

She laughed and put a hand on his foot.

Tony went and sat down on the chair at Peter's bedside. He crossed his arms and leaned back. "So… you have a reasonable explanation for this, kid?"

"I guess I didn't realize how hungry I was," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "I forgot."

"Peter," Tony rubbed his temples. "Your body requires almost twice the amount of food than an average teenager needs. How did you... forget?"

Vaguely, May wondered what this meant. She figured Tony said that because Peter was a growing boy, and he was beginning to gain some lean muscles on his arms and legs.

Peter squirmed. He looked out the window, avoiding eye contact. "I don't know, it just happened… sorry, Mr. Stark, I didn't mean to-"

"No! Er, no. There's nothing to apologize for, Underoos. What matters most is that you're ok. Now, lets get some food in you."

Tony was harboring a silent anger. There's no way this superhuman child forgot to eat! No way. There had to be an alternative explanation, a different reason… something Peter was hiding. Or maybe- maybe there wasn't. Maybe he was thinking too much about this… and maybe he should just drop it and get on with his life. I mean, when did he start caring so much? It's not like he was Peter's father.

He stood and was about to exit when the doctor pulled him aside. "Mr. Stark." She looked at him earnestly.

"What?"

"This is a more dangerous situation than we thought, sir," she said in an aggressive whisper. "If this happens again, it could cause permanent damage! As you mentioned, his body needs energy, and without it… he could die. You need to keep an eye on him, Stark. Ok?"

Tony just nodded, feeling his heart pound faster and faster. Dead? Peter could… die? He couldn't image the kid-

Alright, he thought. I guess this is when I started caring so much.

Thursday, September 26

5:01pm

"What did you have for lunch today, Pete?" Peter couldn't help but rolling his eyes playfully.

"I'm fine, Mr. Stark. Really, I am."

Tony stared at him and narrowed his dark brown eyes. He supplied this look when he was trying to tell if someone was lying. Fortunately, Peter wasn't.

It had been a good week for him. Angela was gone for a business trip and wouldn't be back until Sunday, he got to spend more time with Mr. Stark, and he didn't have to worry when he was patrolling. Also, Happy was driving Peter (and sometimes Ned or MJ) around with Mr. Stark every evening to get dinner. It was awesome, but he couldn't help but feel cautious toward this spell of good luck… he had never had it before. In fact, Peter made the conclusion that everything good that happened to him would most likely disappear, so he might as well enjoy it while it lasted, but expect the worst. Never let anyone get close.

"Good, cause I don't want anymore passing out from lack of food on my watch," Tony said, returning to his work. Peter rolled his eyes again, smiling.

They were silent for awhile, but it wasn't awkward like it was with Angela. It was comfortable and nice. They both just sat and tinkered, thinking about everything. Peter was pondering how he was going to live without this strange routine they had fallen into. Once Angela came home, she would never let him go out to eat with Mr. Stark and his friends. She never went out to eat as it was. He grew sad at the prospect of losing his newfound closeness with his mentor.

Tony was thinking along the same tracks. How was he supposed to convince Angela to continue this? Going out with Peter began to become the bright spot of his day. After long, boring board meetings and calls from the Secretary complaining about how Captain America was still gone… he knew he could count on Peter to always be happy and slightly spastic. In truth, Tony loved their little outings. He didn't want it to end.

"Hey, Pete… you pick the next song," Tony said, tossing Peter his phone. If the kid was anyone else, he would not have caught it. The look of shock and wonder on his face was priceless.

He spoke softly."I get to pick?"

Tony nodded and grinned. "Yeah. Go for it. But nothing bad."

Peter was quiet, tapping on the phone excitedly. He finished and looked up, waiting for the song to play.

Piano chords banged into the room along with an 80's-sounding drum pattern.

"You know our love was meant to be..." Peter mouthed the words along, pumping his fist to the beat. "The kind of love that lasts forever!"

"What is this?" Tony asked. This was way different than the music he usually listened to. He wasn't sure that he liked it, but Peter seemed to, so that was enough for him.

"Come on, Mr. Stark! Tell me you know Chicago!"

His silence was answer enough. "Come on! You're the Inspiration is like one of the best songs ever written!" The chorus came around and Peter spun around in his rolling chair. "You're the meaning in my life, you're the inspiration! You bring feeling to my life, you're the inspiration!" He held out the last syllable of inspiration, spreading his arms out wide.

Tony laughed and began to sway a little. "I mean, it's no Night Moves, but it is good."

Peter didn't seem to listen, he was lost in the song.

It's amazing how a song can carry a person away, into a world of their own. Each human being has a song they use to escape, to let go, to hide anger or sadness. You're the Inspiration happened to be his. If only Peter could've played Chicago Sunday night.

Sunday, September 29

6:01pm

"Welcome home, mom." Peter opened the apartment door wide, stepping aside as she stormed past him. "Did you have a good trip?" Angela threw her suitcase on the couch.

She whirled on him, seeming to snap. "What gives you the right to ask about my trip? If I want to tell you, I will." There was a tense silence. "What's for dinner?"

Peter's stomach sunk. She hadn't bought groceries, so there was no food. "I didn't… make anything, ma'am. There was no-" He fell quiet when Angela's hand rose.

"After all I do for you? I feed you, I clothe you… you live under my roof, free of charge. All I ask is for a meal to be made, Peter. That's all I ask!"

She grabbed a glass that was resting on the counter and threw it on the ground below his feet. It shattered and time seemed to slow down. The glass cracked into a thousand tiny lines on the delicate surface. It seemed like lightning… and then the shards came crashing toward him. Once large piece slid into him and pain sparked up his foot into his leg. A thought occurred to him: neurons were like little bolts of electricity. In a way, this moment, that glass… was like lightning.

Time sped up again and reality collided into his brain. Suddenly the pain was magnified, and he had to cry out. Blood pooled under his feet and Angela's rage doubled.

"Look at the mess you made! I want this spotless, you hear me? Spotless! And when you're done, we'll handle the matter of your punishment." She marched into her room and slammed the door.

Peter stepped carefully around the glass, heading for a broom. When he was done sweeping the shards into the trash, he grabbed a towel for the blood that was splashed on the ground. Shame crawled into his throat. He really had made a mess of things. Why did he have to ask her how it went? He knew better than that…

That night, after his… punishment, he curled into a ball in his bed. Tears dripped silently onto his pillow. He grabbed a blanket his mother, his real mother, had given him and held it to his aching chest.

If you were standing on the sidewalk, you might have heard it. A soft humming to the tune of a Chicago's second most popular song.

"You're the inspiration…"

August 10, 2011

9:03pm

8 years ago

Mary smiled and patted the bed beside her. "Come here, my little Inspiration."

Peter giggled and crawled up next to her, snuggling into her side. She stroked his hair and pulled the covers up.

"Did you have a good birthday, Peter?"

He nodded and grabbed his favorite blanket. "Yes, mommy." He grinned a toothy smile at her.

She laughed and ruffled his fluffy curls. "Well I sure hope so, I got you a cake and a present."

"Sing me the song! Sing it!" Peter pulled his blanket close and awaited her in anticipation.

"I don't know…"

"Please! Please, please, please, please!" He drew out the last please and widened his big, brown eyes.

"Alright, alright. But settle down." She reached out and clicked the lamp off. The only light was a yellow Iron Man night-light glowing in the corner. It cast a soft shadow on the wall that stretched up to the ceiling.

Mary took a breath and started to sing. "You know our love was meant to be, the kind of love to last forever." Her voice was beautiful and throaty, carrying the words in the air. "And I want you here with me, from tonight until the end of time. You should know, everywhere I go, always on my mind, in my heart, in my soul."

Peter's head began to droop down onto his pillow. "Baby, you're the meaning in my life, you're the inspiration. You bring feeling to my life, you're the inspiration. Want to have you near me, I want to have you hear me saying, 'No one needs you more than I need you'." With the final note, she stood as gently as she could and kissed him on his forehead.

"I love you, baby. My little Inspiration."

Monday, September 30

11:36am

Present Day

"Hey nerd, ready for lunch?" MJ swung into step beside Peter, thumping him lightly on the shoulder. She tried not to notice the slight flinch.

"Yeah! Where's Ned?" They headed in the direction of the cafeteria, shoulders touching.

She looked at him. "Didn't he tell you? Sick."

"Oh yeah… I got grounded from my phone this weekend…" He shrugged and walked a little faster.

"What? Why?"

"I broke a glass in the kitchen. Angela was pretty upset…" There was a silence as MJ pondered.

"Ok. I guess it's just us then." She hated that her heart fluttered a little at the idea. This never happened! Boys were idiots… but Peter was different. He was kind and funny and-

"Sounds awesome!" His brown eyes sparkled. "There's no one I'd rather dine with," he said gallantly, bowing before her in a dramatic gesture.

She shoved him gently. "Quit it loser." But she couldn't help but smile at his dorkiness. That was Peter for you. He stood up normally and offered an arm.

"M'lady?" He looked so silly that MJ snorted.

"Oh come on, Peter. I can find the cafeteria on my own." She pushed his hand down and marched forward, head high.

"I know, I know! Wait for me!"

She was worried that more was going on that he let on. He was flinching at everything today and was so… jumpy. This weekend had to have more of a story, but MJ wouldn't push it. Peter didn't like to talk about his step-mom. Which was fine by her.

She didn't even care anyway.

Or maybe she did.

She hadn't decided yet.

Peter didn't know what was going on with him. He was never nervous to eat alone with MJ before… but his palms were sweating and his heart was beating faster. Maybe it had to do with what happened last night… he didn't know. But he was almost sure it would pass.

Him and MJ were just friends. Best friends, in fact. And that's the way it would always be. Peter needed to appreciate what he had. His 'Parker Luck' could ruin everything. He didn't want their friendship to change.

Or maybe he did.

He hadn't decided yet.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it ;)

REVIEWS:

DarylDixon'sLover: I know. Part of me feels bad and the other part of me is a writer. :)

Belbelanne: Muhahahaha we shall see, my friend.

Beachgirl25: Yeah, I was super excited to write her in!

anyctophilian: So glad you like it! Thanks for reading!

xSapphirexRosesxFanx: Haha… yes. I can't too much away, but you're on the right track. :D

torigwilliams: I'm so glad I could inspire you! Let me know if you end up writing one! I'd love to read it. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

See you guys next time!

-katilange