No reviews on last chapter but that's okay. Plenty of people reading which is good enough for me.
Last update for a while. A very full on week coming up so will not have time.
Enjoy
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''He's gone, Peter is gone!'' Steve was panicking as he tore into the family room.
The Avengers were drinking coffee at the table whilst Pepper cooked pancakes.
Harley stood up immediately- panic in his eyes. This was his fault; he should not have told Peter about his accident- why had he thought it was okay to do that?
He saw his brother's upset, his guilt- despite Harley's protestations he knew Peter blamed himself.
Morgan, who was sitting on the counter beside Pepper, looked over at Steve quizzically; disturbed that her normally cool, collected father was so agitated.
''It's alright honey,'' Pepper reassured her and she nodded solemnly, still feeling unsettled despite Aunt Pepper's words.
''Captain Rogers, Peter is with Mr Stark,'' FRIDAY said.
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''Does it hurt?'' Peter poked Tony's injured arm then collapsed into the crook of his father's good arm.
''It does if you do that Smalls,'' Tony laughed; he was still reeling from waking up to find the son he had grieved, mourned, and pined after for years curled up in his arms.
He was delirious with joy so was rolling with it, afraid his baby may disappear in an instant. Tony was struggling to comprehend his current reality but he was facing it with fortitude- maybe it was the drugs although Peter appeared real?
He had a dim memory of an encounter on the battle field but it was fuzzy and dreamlike. Plus Steve had told him Peter was home, but he hadn't believed him although his living, breathing son was now in his arms; yet somehow he still doubted it.
''Daddy, I should be eighteen. I should be grown up,'' Peter sat up from his father's side and looked at him with serious eyes and mushed up hair.
With a sudden moment of clarity Tony knew this was real, his, their boy had returned. He suppressed a slightly hysterical laugh- knowing that would frighten Peter and might make him run.
His youngest son was as adorable as ever and Tony melted, but he restrained himself; Peter was understandably confused as was Tony although he was trying to rationalise it.
''We will agree to differ kiddo cos eighteen is not a grown up but no you are not eighteen,'' Tony replied, he was very happy that Peter had not aged in the interim; at least they had not been robbed of the rest of his childhood.
''I missed so many birthdays,'' Peter was grumpy about that fact.
''Well I think you may have to wait but one will come back around soon,'' Tony chucked a still chubby cheek getting comfortable with this dream come true.
''But how old will I be then? This is so nuts,'' Peter collapsed next to him with his very familiar melodrama which Tony found reassuring and very amusing.
''I am sorry to break this to you but I think you will be thirteen.'' Tony smiled indulgently as he stroked a comforting hand down his little boy's back. He was delirious that Peter was still only twelve but he was very aware that his boy wouldn't share his happiness.
''What? So I have to be twelve for even longer? That sucks, that really frigging sucks!'' Peter exclaimed as he sat up abruptly.
''Hey language!'' Steve's voice echoed around the room.
''So that's the same then,'' Peter retorted cheekily and Tony gasped as his ribs protested at his laughter.
''You young man scared me, everyone is looking for you! What do you have to say for yourself?'' Steve pointed at Peter as he walked over to the bed.
''I'm eighteen Pops. I'm an adult now so I am pleading the fifth,'' Peter poked his tongue out and hid his face in Tony's side who threw a protective arm around his no longer lost boy as he tried not to laugh- it hurt too much.
Steve rolled his eyes as he gave a goofy grin.
The two men spoke without words, both jubilant their son was the same little hellion they knew- their elation knew no bounds.
''How are you feeling babes?'' Steve kissed Tony and he smiled.
''Good I feel good, the best actually,'' Tony glanced at Peter who was now fiddling with the bed controls, clearly considering mischief.
''It is, it really is,'' Steve winked- oh how he had missed being the parent of a naughty little rascal.
''Bubba you need to come have some breakfast and whatever you are thinking about doing. Don't!'' Steve picked Peter off the bed, he wriggled to get away but Steve held on.
''Pops, let me down! I'm not a baby!''
''No! It's time for breakfast. I will be back later,'' Steve smiled at Tony who mouthed 'I love you' at him; he reciprocated as he carried Peter from the room.
Tony lay back with a contented sigh, his equilibrium restored- all was right in his world again- the agonising waiting and hoping finally rewarded.
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''You cannot run off Bubba,'' Steve scolded Peter who was now by his side reluctantly holding his hand.
''I didn't run off! I went to see dad,'' Peter replied as he tried to wriggle his hand free but Steve was not letting go- it was doubtful he would let Peter further than a few yards away from him ever again.
''Hmmm, well you need to ask before you go somewhere okay?'' Steve fell right back into it.
''I guess,'' Peter was less than convincing.
Steve frowned but he couldn't bring himself to be tougher- although he would need to keep an eye on his youngest son- his wandering spirit was clearly very much intact.
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''Why are there fires all over?'' Peter stood at the wall of glass and looked across the city.
''Bubba, come and eat something,'' Steve was helping Pepper- an awful lot of pancakes were required.
''Can you really climb walls?'' Morgan made Peter jump as she crept up on him - staring with appraising, judgemental eyes.
''Yeah course I can. I'm Spiderman!'' he replied indignantly.
''Prove it!'' she challenged him and Peter glanced at Steve- he was being fussy and over- protective. Peter didn't think he would appreciate him doing that right now.
''Pops will get mad, but come with me to the landing bay after breakfast and I will show you,'' Peter winked at her and Morgan giggled.
''Yeah, you're our Peter. Daddy said you were naughty, I'm naughty too,'' she nodded and took his hand.
''All the best people are,'' Peter made her giggle again.
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''Wow, this is real high. I forgot,'' Peter peeked over the edge.
''Can I see?'' Morgan ran towards him but he held his hand up.
''Stay there Morgs!''
She pouted at him but did stop as he tapped his chin, wondering about something.
''Let's go to Dad's lab. See what we can find,'' Peter came over to her and stooped down; she climbed on his back without a second thought.
Morgan finally had the brother she had heard so much about and he was not disappointing- in fact he was everything she hoped he would be and more.
''FRI, let us in,'' Peter called up when they arrived.
''I am not sure Captain Rogers would be happy if I did that Peter,'' a disapproving voice replied.
''Come on FRI, I just want to look around. I will be real careful, honest. It's been so long, I just want to see it again, remember how it was. I have missed so much; I want to feel close to dad. Please, I won't do anything wrong. I know dad's rules and I will be good. Honest I will,'' Peter charmed FRIDAY just as he had always done in the past.
The door slid open and Morgan looked at Peter with wide, amazed eyes; the boy shrugged, then smirked- smug that he still had FRIDAY wrapped around his little finger!
''I am not allowed in Daddy's lab. I will get a spanking if I go in there without a grown-up,'' she stepped back and looked uncertainly at Peter.
''Some things haven't changed then,'' Peter quipped to himself; he was pretty sure he was currently protected by his returned status from such retribution.
He had a sick feeling in his stomach- what had happened to Harley was his fault- all his fault! He wasn't ready to face that yet so he chose to lose himself in mischief.
''It's okay Morgs, I'll take the blame. Come on,'' Peter held his hand out and the little girl grasped it. She was already completely enchanted by this new brother and would follow him to the ends of the earth.
They stepped into Pandora's Box.
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''Seriously, how can I have lost the kids? It's been barely twelve hours and Peter has already gone missing twice? Now Morgan as well,'' Steve had a serious case of Deja-vu going on.
Pepper was trying her best not to laugh at him; the others weren't much better- it was such a familiar and very comforting situation.
Even Bucky was smiling.
Harley hid out on a couch watching the TV- he would have to tell Pops what he had done- he cringed, maybe it could wait awhile?
''The children are in Mr Stark's lab Captain Rogers. I believe Peter is looking for his web shooters so he can jump off the landing bay. Apparently, he has a need for speed,'' FRIDAY ratted Peter out completely.
''He's doing what?'' Steve was horrified and everyone gave into their laughter- Bucky included.
''This is not funny, how is this funny?'' Steve glared at them.
''FRI, close the landing bay right now. Steve go get your kids, scold them, put the fear of God in them about the lab and stop being weird. Kids smell weakness you know, '' Clint said what was needed.
''What the hell Steve? Man up, they're little kids,'' Sam added and Steve rolled his eyes.
He was kind of hoping to enjoy a bit more of a honeymoon period than less than a day.
''If you wanted compliant, well-behaved children then maybe you shouldn't have chosen to parent with Tony Stark?'' Pepper pointed out the obvious.
''Thank you everyone! Your input has been really helpful,'' Steve stormed from the room.
''Am I the only one who thinks this feels like home again?'' Clint said and they all nodded in agreement.
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That's it for a while. disappearing as I am very busy at the moment.
Comment and suggest and I will see you all soon.
Stay safe!