Thank you so much Prongs100 for pre-reading. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. It means so much to me to hear from you. Story IV is coming along. I'm on Chapter Three and I just wrote a fun scene that I think you'll enjoy.

I know the last chapter was an angst fest, but this one comes a little lighter. I hope you enjoy xxx

Chapter Twelve

Bucky leaned against the counter as Rhodey opened the oven door and peeked in at the dish he'd prepared.

"It's ready," he said. "You want to go get Pete?"

Bucky raised an eyebrow. "You think I should?"

"I do. Why not?"

Bucky shrugged. "He's not going to trust me. Everything I built with us happened while he was gone. He hardly knows me."

Rhodey set the potholder down and considered. "You know, that's true, but I think there will still be a connection there. When Mind and Power spoke to us, it was because he'd connected with you. I don't know what it was like for him when he was gone, not really, but I'm willing to bet there's some residual awareness of it. And if there isn't, now's the time to create it."

Bucky smiled. He wanted a chance to build something of what he felt for Peter on both sides. Maybe there would be nothing there when he went to him, but they had time to create a connection again.

"I'll be right back," he said.

He went through to Peter's room and hesitated outside the door. He took a breath, knocked, and said, "Peter, it's me, Bucky. Can I come talk to you?"

He heard a sigh beyond the door and then footsteps padding across the room and the click of the lock being disengaged. There was a pause, and then the door opened.

Peter looked terrible. His rainbow eyes were red and swollen from tears. He looked rumpled and tired, and his hair was tousled as if he'd been running his hands through it. Bucky had combed it for him that morning. He remembered sitting Peter on the bed to do it, talking to him about what they could do together that day. That was the last time he'd ever need to do something like that for him. It was a strange feeling. It was almost a loss, that need and purpose for his care.

"Hey," Peter said quietly.

Bucky smiled. "Hey, bud."

Peter blinked. "Bud…"

Bucky felt awkward at the slip, remembering that was a name for Peter before, not now. "Yeah, sorry," he said. "It's just a habit."

He felt the need to embrace Peter as he once would have, but pinned his hands at his sides.

Peter gave him a piercing look and then rubbed his chest, right over his breastbone. "It means something," he stated. "I can feel it."

"It was just something I called you when you were… you know."

Peter nodded. "I think I need to thank you for a lot."

"No," Bucky said quickly. "You don't need to thank me for anything. I was happy to do everything I did for you. You're a special kid."

Peter's lips quirked into a small smile.

A silence fell between them, and then Bucky got himself together. "So, Rhodey's made something for you to eat. It's just the three of us," he added quickly when Peter looked anxious. "The others are giving us space. We were tube feeding you before, and we can again if you prefer, but we thought you'd like something real."

Peter touched the spot on his hoodie above where the feeding port was placed, and he said, "Yeah. I found the tube." He ran a hand through his hair. "I would like something to eat though. I guess it's been a while."

"It has. You were lost for three weeks. We got you back five weeks ago."

Peter's eyes widened. "Two months. Wow. I didn't know. It felt different to me. I didn't feel time passing at all after I was rescued. Before that, I lost track."

Bucky could relate to that, and he could see the haunting memories on Peter's face, so he acted without thought. He put his arm around Peter's shoulders, just as he would before, and said, "Let's get you fed."

He felt a slight hesitation in Peter's steps before he allowed himself to be guided into the kitchen, where Rhodey was placing three bowls of mac and cheese on the table.

"Peter!" he said happily when they appeared. "You hungry?"

Peter smiled, though it looked a little forced, and said, "Yeah. Thanks."

He moved out from under Bucky's arm and sat down at one of the set places. Bucky filled a jug with water and grabbed three glasses. He set them at each place, and Peter picked his up and took a sip.

His eyes widened and he said, "Whoa! That feels so weird."

"We've not been able to get you to drink anything," Bucky said. "We brushed your teeth and used these swab things in your mouth, but we couldn't connect with you enough to get you to drink anything."

Peter's face fell, and he muttered. "I'm sorry you had to do all that."

"No," Rhodey said firmly, taking his seat beside Peter. "You don't have to apologize for anything that happened or what we had to do. None of us minded for a minute."

Peter's cheeks colored, and he said, "Was it a team effort?"

Bucky knew what he was thinking—how much of his life had been exposed to others, who had taken him to the bathroom.

"Me and Tony, Bucky and Steve," Rhodey said.

Peter lowered his eyes. "Okay."

Bucky took his seat and started to fork up the food. It was good, and he told Rhodey who looked pleased and then watched Peter as he tried his own.

Peter smiled and said, "It really is, Rhodey. Thank you."

Rhodey beamed. "I'm glad you like it. It's my specialty."

They ate in silence for a while, and then Rhodey cleared his throat and said, "So, you want to watch a movie later."

Bucky raised an eyebrow and gave Peter a pointed look, indicating that everyone at once might be a bad idea.

Rhodey shook his head and went on. "Sam, Steve, Bruce, and Wanda have claimed the kitchen for poker night, so I thought we could chill together."

"Sure," Bucky said. "Whatever you want. We could continue the Star Wars movies."

A small smile tugged at Peter's lips. "You've been watching Star Wars, and I missed it? Damn."

Rhodey's eyes shone with triumph. "We can start over, Pete. We don't mind."

Peter nodded and took another bite. He chewed slowly and then set down his fork and picked up his water. He sipped at it and then said, seeming to be forcing the words out, "Is Tony coming back soon?"

"Tomorrow," Rhodey said. "But he'll come now if you want him to."

Peter shook his head jerkily. "No. I don't want him back yet. If he's here… I don't want to hurt him."

Bucky set down his fork and said, "You're not going to hurt anyone, bud. Do you know I was programmed, too?"

"Yeah," Peter muttered. "The Stones said something about it."

"Well, I was programmed much deeper than you, and it lasted decades. My programming was broken by Steve, and I was clear of it for two years. The only reason I slipped back again was because someone used the words on me." He reached out and patted Peter's tense arm. "I am the only one that knows even some of the words for you, and I will never say them. You're safe until we can get the words out of your head. And we're going to find a way."

Peter stared at him a moment, seeming to be staring deep into him. "Really?"

Bucky nodded firmly. "Yes. I guarantee it. You're safe."

Peter stared down at his plate for a moment, his brow furrowed, and then he said, "Do you think Tony would mind if I called him?"

Rhodey chuckled. "I don't think anything could make him happier right now than talking to you. He'd be here already, but I persuaded him to stay another night at home. Morgan needs him, and I thought you might need space."

"Morgan…" Peter bit his lip. "I'd like to talk to her, too. I think I must have freaked her out. She was on the phone, wasn't she? That's how I heard her voice."

"Yes," Bucky said, squeezing his arm again. "We needed a way to connect with you, and it had come close when you heard her voice before."

Rhodey leaned forward. "We didn't know what Wanda was going to do, Pete. It wasn't the plan. We'd never have done that to you."

Peter shrugged. "I guess it wasn't fair on you for me to be gone so long, not if you had to take care of me."

"None of us minded what we had to do," Bucky said. "We were just worried about you. We all wanted you back, but it shouldn't have happened like that. It should have been your choice."

Peter stared down at his hands, which were fumbling restlessly with the front of his hoodie. It was strange to see that familiar gesture in Peter again. Bucky had thought it would disappear when he came back.

"I don't think I would ever have come back otherwise," Peter said, his voice so quiet they had to lean forward to hear him. "I was so scared. I still am in a way. The Stones said they won't let me use them if I'm programmed again, but even without them, just as Spider-Man, I'm strong. I don't want to hurt anyone." He swallowed. "I know you said I won't, and it was a long time for you, but it's not something you can really promise. I just feel… It was safer for you when I was gone."

Bucky opened his mouth to answer, but Rhodey held up a hand, and he fell silent.

"Maybe it was safer," Rhodey said. "But it wasn't better. Seeing you like that, Pete, it hurt us. You weren't you. We were all trying so hard to help you. When you connected with Morgan the first time, it was like… I can't even say how happy it made me."

"Made all of us," Bucky interjected. "When they started telling us what we needed to do from…" He snapped his teeth together. He'd almost told Peter about the Stones talking though him.

He hoped the moment would pass unnoticed, but Peter frowned and said, "Who told you?"

Rhodey sighed. "The Stones. Mind spoke to Tony once when he was sleeping, and he came back with Power one time through you."

Bucky expected a negative reaction from Peter—perhaps anger at being violated or fear that it would happen again—but Peter merely looked embarrassed. "You spoke to Power? How did that go?"

Rhodey chuckled. "He tore into us. Told us we were stupid for not working out what you needed ourselves."

"He wasn't that helpful either," Bucky added. "He didn't give us any answers, though that was my fault in the end." He grimaced. "I lost my temper and freaked you out, which lost his hold on you."

Peter frowned, his hand moving to his chest again, touching that same spot. "I think I remember that," he said. "I remember being feeling scared, like I was losing my control over where I was." He sighed. "It was hard."

"I'm sorry," Bucky said repentantly. "I shouldn't have lost my temper, but we were desperate, and he had the answers but wasn't giving them."

Peter's hand moved back to his hoodie, fingers stroking, and he said, "Power's like that. He's the most…"

"Confrontational asshole?" Rhodey suggested.

Peter nodded. "Pretty much. They all have their own ways, personalities. They're so different, but I don't know the others like I knew Quill and Doctor Strange. Time isn't as talkative as Power."

"No, I imagine Power's the talker," Bucky said.

Peter smiled. "Definitely." He pushed his bowl away and said, "It's really good, but I think I'm full. I'm going to go call Tony."

"Of course," Rhodey said. "Take your time. We'll have Friday line up the movie."

"Friday is here?" Peter said.

"Yeah, Tony hooked her up after you were gone."

"Huh. I guess that's good." He got to his feet and made his way out of the room.

Bucky heard his door close behind him, and he looked to Rhodey, who was smiling slightly. "That went better than I hoped."

Rhodey nodded. "It did. He's not himself, he can't be, but he's doing better than I dared believe he would be. And he's going to call Tony. That's huge. We should give him a head's up. I'll text him.

Bucky stood, collected the dishes, and carried them to the sink to clean up. He was feeling good, positive, and Tony was about to get something great.

For all the stress and pain of the day, he felt truly happy for the first time in weeks.

"Got any…" Morgan bit her lip, her eyes darting between the cards in her hand and Tony's face, "Fives?"

"Go fish," Tony said.

She sighed and picked up a card. Tony's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked the screen, his heart skipping as he read Rhodey's message and he realized what was coming.

Placing a hand over his racing heart, Tony set down his cards and said, "Maguna, Peter's going to call in a minute."

Her eyes widened. "He's going to call and talk?"

"He is. He might still be a little sad, a little tired, but he'll talk this time. Do you think you can talk to him?"

"Yes!" She clapped her hands. "I want to, Daddy, I do!"

Tony smiled and kissed her. "Okay. You want to go get Albert to show him?"

She nodded eagerly and ran out of the room. He could hear her chattering to Pepper in the kitchen, telling her what was coming. A moment later, Pepper came back in, brow furrowed, but before she could voice her obvious concerns, Friday was announcing an incoming call from Peter.

"Connect," Tony said, setting his phone down in front of him on the table.

He braced himself, and a moment later, Peter's face filled the screen.

Tony couldn't hide the wide smile that spread over his face, and his heart seemed to be trying to break from his chest as his breaths quickened. But his voice was calm, natural, as he said, "Hey, kid."

Peter smiled. "Hey, Tony."

"How are you doing?"

Peter shrugged. "I ate dinner with Bucky and Rhodey. That was good."

Before Tony could ask another question, Morgan was running to him, her teddy clutched in her hand. She dropped onto Tony's lap and beamed up at the hologram displaying Peter's face. "Petey!" she said excitedly. "Hi!"

Peter smiled, and it looked genuine. "Hey, Mo."

"Look what I got!" she said, waving Albert in front of her. "He's Albert. He was my teddy, but now he's yours. Do you like his suit? It's just like your Spider-Peter one. Do you like it?"

"I love it," Peter said, and his enthusiasm seemed genuine.

"Can I come give it to you?" she asked, wriggling with excitement on Tony's lap.

Peter's face fell. "Not just yet, Mo. I am still a bit sick, and I don't want to make you sick, too. But I promise, as soon as I'm better, I'll tell you so you can come, and we'll do whatever you want."

"Can we play the Lego game on the computer?"

"We can."

"And can you show me your magic?"

Peter smiled again. "I can. I'll practice so I can do something really special for you. What would you like to see most?"

Morgan considered a long moment, and then she said, "Can you make a rainbow?"

Peter paused a moment, and Tony guessed he was listening to the Stones, but he nodded and said with obvious pleasure, "I can make a triple rainbow."

Morgan's breath caught. "Three whole rainbows just for me?"

"Just for you," Peter said.

Morgan nodded, pleased, and said, "Are you still sad and tired, Peter?"

Peter's face fell. "You know, I am a little, but I already feel much better now I can talk to you. Do you think I can call you again tomorrow?"

"Yes!" she said eagerly. "You can call all the time. It's okay if it's early because Friday will wake me, and I know how to make the phone work."

Peter chuckled. "I won't call too early since I'm very tired, and we don't want to wake Daddy up when he's having a really big snore."

Tony ducked his head and grinned. This felt so good, so normal. This was his kids talking, his son sounding like himself again. The only thing that could have made it better was if he could hold Peter at the same time, touch him, share the love he felt. Without being able to do that, he hugged Morgan a little tighter, taking comfort in the child he could reach and love.

Morgan giggled. "Yeah, he snores really loud."

"How about I call before lunch?" Peter suggested. "At eleven o'clock so you know to be ready. And Daddy will definitely be awake then."

"I'll make Friday tell me when it's time," Morgan said.

Peter yawned and covered his mouth, then apologized. "Sorry, Mo."

"You're tired," she stated. "You should have a nap."

"I should," he agreed. "I wanted to talk to you first, though. I missed you a lot."

"I missed you, too," she said, her voice a little sad now. "And I miss you now. I want to play."

"As soon as I can, we'll play," Peter said, his tone making it a promise.

"It won't take long," Tony interjected. "Daddy is looking for something to make Peter feel better."

"Like magic?" Morgan asked, and when Peter looked puzzled, she said, "Daddy said I had magic that might help you feel better."

Peter smiled, though his eyes looked a little glassy. "You did make me feel better, Mo," he said. "I felt very bad before, so tired and so sad, but talking to you makes me feel good. I think you have lots of magic."

Morgan hugged Albert against her chest and leaned back against Tony.

"You should get some sleep, Pete," Tony said, seeing the smallest tremble to Peter's lip. "I'll be back tomorrow before dinner. And call anytime."

Peter nodded and sat up straighter. "Okay. I will. See you tomorrow." He gave a small wave to Morgan, who waved back, and then the call ended.

"He's better," Morgan said with obvious happiness. "Isn't he?"

"Not all the way better, no, but he's better than he was." Tony kissed the top of her head. "And that's because of you, Maguna."

Morgan turned on his lap and put her arms around him. "I'm happy now," she said. "And you're happy. You were sad and tired, too, weren't you, Daddy?"

Tony stared at her, surprised she'd seen what he'd tried so hard to hide. "I was," he agreed. "But it's better now for me like it is for Peter. I've got you and your brother, and that makes me happy."

She hugged him again, and he buried his face in her hair. He did have both his children now, one in his arms, and one that he could hold tomorrow. There were still things for him to do, he had to find a way to get that programming out of Peter's head, but he would.

Things were better now, and more successes would follow.

So… A little Peter/Morgan time and a little of the Bucky/Peter connection. I particularly enjoyed writing this chapter—and the next—as it was good to show Peter being more himself.

Until next time…

Clowns or Midgets xxx