Fabulous reviews as always, thank you.
Another quick update.
Enjoy
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''Why did you leave?'' Peter stared at the sky- it was a deep azure blue, the sun hot; it must be summer. He had forgotten about seasons- he had existed in a beige world for so long.
The sun felt nice, warm and comforting; Peter raised his face to the hot rays.
Because we couldn't live with your ghost, the explanation he couldn't give echoed in Steve's head.
''The city was too chaotic, it was dangerous. We were worried about Morgan and Harley living here,'' he was partially honest.
''What happened?'' Peter braced himself- he had to know.
Steve explained slowly and patiently- he gave the basic details and as he spoke Peter's eyes grew wider and wider.
''Disappeared? How could so many people just disappear?'' he stuttered- it was unbelievable.
''The gauntlet, Thanos used the gauntlet. He changed our world forever,'' Steve admitted.
''But now we're back, we are all back!'' Peter frowned at the growing roar echoing in the distance, beyond the walls surrounding the tower.
''Yes, you all back,'' Steve smiled as he touched Peter's cheek softly.
''Right okay,'' Peter frowned then began to worry his lip; his tell he was stressed and upset.
''What year is it?'' Peter stared at Steve from beneath his bangs, daring him to lie.
''Its 2023 Bubba,'' he didn't.
Peter stilled, staring away into the distance.
''I think I would like to go back to sleep now,'' he proclaimed and Steve's heart skipped a beat.
He knelt down, took his son's arms and turned him so they were face to face. He lifted his child's bowed head with a gentle hand; Peter blinked rapidly- eyes shining with un-shed tears.
''Bubba, I know this is scary and you are confused. I remember; I felt just as you do when I was pulled from the ice but it gets better- you will adjust. I did and you will. I am here, Daddy is too. We will help you, it will take some time but you will feel better soon I promise,'' Steve put his hand on his baby's cheek; deep brown eyes stared back at him.
His father's eyes! Oh how Steve wished Tony was here to help him, what if he said the wrong thing and alienated Peter further?
''But everything is different, it's all changed. I don't belong here anymore,'' Peter broke his father's heart with those words- tears were now spilling from doe eyes.
''Yes you do belong here, you have always belonged here, you should never have been anywhere else. Sweetheart, home is not a place, its people, the people who are yours; you belong here because you belong with me, Daddy, your brother and your sister. Bubba, you are home because you are with us,'' he spoke from the heart as he wiped away his son's tears with a gentle thumb- overwhelmed by trying to explain something he didn't understand himself; but he believed wholeheartedly in what he said.
Peter noticed immediately that he didn't mention his mother- where was his mom? Suddenly, Peter was extremely fearful of asking that question- he had the uneasy feeling that he would not like the answer.
He reassured himself- she would be home soon- she would!
''But I don't know them! I don't know grown up Harley and Morgan was a baby last time I saw her. Now she's really big!'' Peter hiccupped, wiped his eyes on his sleeve then yawned. Steve's soul overflowed with protective love.
''Bubba, slow down okay? Your big brain is over thinking this. You look like you could use a nap. How about you take a nap? It was intense out there and you did real good, fought hard so you must be tired,'' Steve held out his arms and Peter hesitated. He was exhausted and really wanted to sleep.
Come on bubba, please stop fighting me and just let me take care of you. I have been dreaming of this moment for five years.
''I'm too old to take a nap Pops. I'm not a baby!'' Peter pouted and Steve laughed to himself.
''Hmmm, well just rest a bit then,'' Steve suggested, he knew this boy inside out. He was literally swaying on his feet but he would not give in until he passed out.
''Maybe,'' Peter didn't move.
''You are so stubborn, you little monster,'' Steve took matters in his own hands and swung Peter up into his embrace; instantly the boy wrapped himself around him just as he always had. Steve experienced total peace for the first time in a long while as he hugged his son fiercely against him.
At last, at last his world righted itself, after so many years of being tilted- it straightened up. The knot of pain he always carried loosened then melted away.
''Don't let go daddy,'' Peter whispered fearfully in his ear.
''Never, I will never let you go again. I promise,'' Steve replied as he rubbed his boy's back gently and Peter sighed; snuggled his face into his father's neck and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
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Steve came into a quiet room, the Avengers all sleeping on various couches; replete with food and refreshments, spent from the battle- finally able to rest having saved the world yet again. Properly this time!
Pepper was colouring with Morgan whilst Harley was fixated on his phone.
''Is he okay?'' Pepper came forward instantly placing her hand on the sleeping boy's back.
''He's confused and scared,'' Steve replied with troubled eyes and Pepper nodded.
''Yes, that goes for the whole world- struggling to make sense of the madness. The press are crediting the Avengers with the miracle as they are dubbing it, the next few days could get a little crazy,'' Pepper told him quietly; he nodded, he had already realised that.
Whilst he had been out in the quad with Peter, he had heard the crowd gathering outside.
''Who is that? And why are you cuddling him?'' Morgan interrupted them; she had her hands on her hips and she was none too pleased that her father was holding some strange boy.
''That's Pete Morgs, our brother,'' Harley came over and took her hand.
''He's dead; Gracie told me that the vanished are all dead. So who is he?'' Morgan was as obstinate as her father and brother. If Steve was honest with himself, she could be very precocious as she was now proving.
''Hey young lady behave or I will warm your tushie, you hear me?'' Steve warned and Morgan pouted just as her brother had mere minutes ago.
It struck Steve that two mini Starks was going to be quite a challenge.
''Mean, you are being mean Pops!'' Morgan proved yet again she was a smaller version of the child asleep in his arms as she stamped her foot defiantly.
''Honey listen, that is Peter. Gracie was wrong, the vanished have come back. Daddy and Pops made them come back,'' Pepper crouched down next to her as she spoke quietly.
Morgan's eyes grew wide.
''That's really Peter. Peter who can climb walls and swing from buildings, our Peter? Peter in the picture with me?'' She was incredulous.
''Yes sweetheart, this is our Peter and he is home. Finish your dinner, then you can help Aunt Pepper choose a movie and I will make some popcorn so we can snuggle up,'' Steve could see the kids had been eating; plates of half-finished pizza littering the counter.
Pepper led Morgan away; the little girl kept looking back, wonder in her eyes.
''Is he alright Pops?'' Harley was concerned; he had seen his brother's distress.
''He will be but it could take a while kiddo,'' Steve replied with regret, subconsciously he rubbed Peter's back as he spoke.
''We will make sure he is Pops. I am so happy he's back, he didn't know who I was,'' Harley was upset; he had missed his brother immensely and it hurt him that they hadn't had the reunion he'd hoped for.
''It will be okay Harley, we need to give him some time is all,'' Steve reassured him and Harley nodded; hoping his father was right.
''I am going to put Pete to bed,'' Steve called to Pepper.
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Peter started awake, pain jolting through him, he felt his body breaking apart and he moaned at the agony.
It passed, leaving Peter gasping and panting- his heart beating out of his chest.
After a few minutes, he took in his surroundings.
Where was he? It looked like his bedroom in the tower but didn't feel right.
He remembered speaking to his parents, Pops kissing him goodnight; was it real? He wasn't sure. He had dreamed that very thing so many times- maybe it was another dream although it felt real.
The bed felt real too- the sheets soft and warm. He sat up and decided he had to find out for sure. He was wearing pyjamas, how was he wearing pyjamas? He couldn't remember the last time he was this comfortable and cosy.
He walked into a dark hallway- it was quiet but familiar. He was at the tower, he was really at the tower; it hadn't been a dream.
It was silent- clearly everyone was asleep.
He wandered into the living room.
''You should be asleep, Pops will give you hell for being out of bed. You should be sleeping little bro,'' a very familiar voice said from the darkness.
'' Harls?'' Peter asked uncertainly.
''Yeah little bro, it's me but I guess I look kind of different to you,'' Harley stood up and Peter sighed in relief then he smiled- it had been a long time since he had been called 'little bro.'
''You grew up!'' Peter said incredulously.
''Yep I did,'' Harley moved towards him and Peter frowned- Harley was limping!
''Its great to see you Pete, missed you. I lost my brother in arms,'' Harley smiled and held his arms out.
Peter went to him and they embraced, holding onto each other for a long time.
Peter pulled back; there was something different about his brother.
''What happened?'' he asked bluntly.
Harley laughed caustically.
''A lot. How about I make us some Hot Chocolate? Its gonna take a while to get you up to speed,'' Harley did as a big brother should and tried to soften the blow for his younger sibling.
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Peter waited impatiently for the elevator.
Eventually, it arrived and he looked upwards.
''FRIDAY, take me to Daddy,'' he said- very sure where he was going.
He sniffed and wiped his eyes- devastated by what his brother had told him. Harley was asleep on the couch, exhausted by the last hour which had been tumultuous to say the least.
''As you wish Peter,'' a voice replied.
Peter wandered along the hallways of the medical centre; he glanced into several empty rooms.
Then he found an occupied room, a blinking machine at his father's side.
''Hey Daddy,'' Peter whispered; he climbed up beside his injured father and snuggled into his side.
Tony sighed in his sleep wrapping his arms around the small figure beside him.
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Salutations.