Yes, it's another Monday update. Yes, I have no self-control and am putting more pressure on myself to write so we don't run out of updates to post, but there we go. I am going to blame rjcarreno77 as they're an enabler that encouraged this. My other excuse is that Mondays suck, I am feeling a bit low, and figured sharing this with you would give you and me a boost.

I noticed a few less names in my inbox after the last chapter. I hope that's not because you didn't enjoy the chapter or that you've stopped reading because I've loved sharing this experience with you.

Story IV is coming along slowly but well. I had yet another change to the planned plot, but I think this new idea is ever better than what I had before. This story is all about family, Story III is about family and also Peter exploring and embracing the power he holds, and Story IV takes us back to family with a new threat to work with. I'm excited about it.

Chapter Thirteen

Tony parked beside the Quinjet and threw open the door. As much as he'd enjoyed being home with Morgan and Pepper, and how he'd made sure his attention was on them while he was, now he was back, his focus was Peter. He wanted to be with his son, to help him as much as he could. More than anything, he just wanted to hold him and see Peter looking back at him with real awareness.

He got out of the car and rushed towards the door. Inside, he saw Steve, Rhodey, Sam, and Bucky were on the couches, but Bruce and Wanda were absent.

"Hey, Tone," Rhodey said with a knowing smile. "How are you doing?"

Tony ran a hand through his hair and spoke in a rush. "Good. Yeah, good. Great. Where's Pete?"

"In his bedroom," Rhodey said. "He's been in there most of the day. Only came out to eat."

Tony frowned. "Is he talking?"

"Not to us," Steve said with obvious regret. "We did what you wanted and stayed away."

Tony accepted that with a nod; it was what he'd wanted, after all. "Is he talking to you, Rhodey?"

Rhodey ran a hand over his hair. "Sometimes. I think he's having a hard day. According to Friday, he's spent a lot of time with the Stones. I don't know if that's some kind of defense mechanism, hiding, or if he's actually doing something."

Tony didn't want Peter focusing on the Stones yet. He wanted him to take care of himself and ignore them until he was in a better place.

He ran his hand through his hair and said, "Someone needs to call Helen. I want that tube out of him. We're not going back to that again."

"I'll make the call," Rhodey said. "Go see him."

Tony thanked him, raised a hand, and then left them, heading to Peter's room. He paused outside the door, knocked, and said, "Pete, it's me."

There was no response for a moment, and then Peter replied, "The door's not locked."

Tony turned the handle, eased it open, and went in. Peter was sitting in the bed, his legs crossed in front of him and his fingers moving over the blanket on his lap in a way that reminded him so viscerally of before, when he was gone, that his breath caught and he felt tears welling in his eyes.

Peter stared at him a moment, clearly seeing his weakness, and then forced a smile and said, "I'm okay."

Tony was furious at himself for reacting like this, crying in front of his kid when he should be celebrating his return, but he couldn't seem to stop it. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and his breaths came fast. He kept some modicum of calm, though, managing to seat himself on the bed beside Peter and not yanking him into his arms the way he wanted.

Peter stared at him a moment, his bottom lip caught between his teeth, and then he ducked his head and said, "I'm sorry."

"No," Tony rasped and then drew a shaky breath. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

Peter looked up, still too thin face flushed with color, and said, "I left you."

"You did," Tony agreed. "You left me twice, and it tore me apart both times, but I understand why you had to do it."

"They would have killed her," Peter said, his breath catching. "They told me and showed me the video of her playing with the sniper's sights on her. I had to do it. I wanted to tell you, I really did, but I was so scared they'd hurt her, even if I did what they said, that I couldn't." He sucked in a quick breath and rushed on. "I tried to tell you to go home, I hoped that would be enough, but they kept showing me videos of her and you weren't there, so all I could do was obey and let them— I had to let them do it, Tony. I couldn't fight."

A sob bubbled up Tony's throat, and his hands came to his face. He thought he knew what had happened to Peter, at least some of it, but now he saw the depth of it. They had shown him Morgan more than once, keeping the threat fresh. How often had his little girl been in the sights of a sniper rifle to keep his son in line?

"I'm sorry," Peter said weakly. "I'm so sorry. I should have made you understand so you could have protected her."

"No!" Tony said, his voice coming louder than he intended as his hands dropped to his lap in fists. "No, Pete!"

Peter flinched back against the headboard, his hands clenching and relaxing in his lap.

Tony realized with a pang of horror that he'd scared him. As if he'd not been through enough, now Tony was scaring him.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath then exhaled slowly. When that failed to calm him, he did it three more times until his heart had slowed slightly and he felt he was in control. He opened his eyes and brought his hands to Peter's face, trying not to cry again when Peter's eyes widened with obvious fear.

"I need to say something to you, Pete, and I need you to hear me," he said. "I've said this a lot these past five weeks, but I don't think you heard me a single time."

Peter nodded jerkily. "I'm listening. You can say anything."

"I love you," Tony said emphatically. "I love you so much. You are my son. I am not trying to take your father's or uncle's place, and nothing at all has to change for you if you don't want it to, but I have to be clear. To me, you're my son, and I couldn't love you any more than I do now if we shared blood, do you understand?"

Peter's eyes filled with tears, and he licked dry lips. "I love you, too."

Tony closed his eyes for a moment, absorbed the feeling, and then opened them and lowered his hands to his lap.

"You don't ever need to apologize for me for what happened after we rescued you because none of it was your fault. It was what you needed to do for yourself. I hate that it happened, and these weeks with you like that were hell, but I never once forgot why it happened." He cupped Peter's cheek and was glad when he leaned into the touch. "You went to Ross to protect Morgan."

Peter nodded. "When Strange was here, after I walked out, I got a call, and they had a video. They told me I had to go to them, or they'd kill her. It…" He gave a small shrug. "It wasn't even a choice. I had to go." His lip quivered. "I love her so much, Tony, and I was so scared they'd do it. The Stones wanted me to fight. They said if I really accepted and embraced them I'd be able to do anything I wanted, I wouldn't get tired anymore, but they couldn't guarantee that I'd get to her in time." He wiped at the tears falling down his cheeks. "I didn't dare. And then they left me because I wasn't worthy anymore."

"They were wrong," Tony stated. "You were always worthy. The fact you were willing to suffer to protect your sister is part of what makes you worthy, understand?"

Peter sniffed. "They'd disagree. I was relieved when they left me, though, because it meant I wouldn't be as big a threat when they controlled me. I'd just be Peter, Spider-Man, and I could be stopped by you."

Tony sucked in a breath and wordlessly shook his head at the thought of what could have happened if Peter was not as strong-willed and brave as he had been. He could have become something they needed to hunt down to protect others. The thought that Peter, his son, would have been a target was abhorrent, and he knew they would all feel the same.

Peter misunderstood his reaction as he said, "You could. Steve and Bucky are stronger than me, and you and Rhodey have the suits. Bruce and Wanda could…" He shook his head. "You could have stopped me, and I knew it."

Tony pressed his fisted hands to his head and said, his voice heavy with sadness, "You weren't expecting to be rescued? You thought we wouldn't see you until we were coming to stop you?"

Peter lifted one shoulder and let it drop. "It was hard to think of good things there, Tony. They would drill the words into me all the time I was awake, then I'd be knocked out, and I'd wake up in my cell until they came for me again. There wasn't time to think about much apart from what was happening apart from when they showed me Morgan, and then all I could think was that I had to behave." He tugged Tony's hand towards him and uncurled his tightly curled fingers. "When I saw you on the video in the suit, when I realized you would come for me, it was amazing. I knew I just had to be strong a little longer."

He sighed, and his fingers tightened around Tony's to the point that it was almost painful.

Tony touched his chin and lifted his face. "What?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"I wasn't strong enough," Peter said quietly, an admission. "They hadn't broken me all the way when we saw you, I was still strong in my mind most of the time, but after they knew you were coming, Thuri didn't stop. He drilled the words into me without a break, and it hurt so much as I just…" He winced. "He broke me."

Tony shifted on the bed, so he was sitting beside Peter, and he wrapped his arms around him, holding him as he had when Peter was an empty shell beside him, and it was the only way he could find a connection to him. He held him close, and after a moment, Peter relaxed against him, his fingers clutching the front of his shirt and his tears wetting the fabric.

"He didn't break you, Pete," Tony said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "If he had, you would have pulled the trigger on Steve and Bucky. You turned the gun around on yourself. You broke free."

"I did," Peter said, his voice sounding weaker than ever. "And Bucky says he's the only one that knows the words, and he'll never use them, but he's not the only one."

Tony frowned. "Who else was there? Who knows the words?"

Peter pulled back and fixed bloodshot eyes on Tony. "Ross."

Tony's heart skipped, and he felt a wave of nausea at the realization. When he'd gone to Peter, he'd been decided and committed to killing Ross, but he'd done nothing to achieve it because he could think of nothing he could do and get away with it. Ross was the best-protected man on the planet, perhaps.

"I won't let Ross come near you again," he promised. "He will never be near you to say the words. And I will get their power out of your head. I'll find a way."

Peter pulled back and looked at him. "How, though? Bucky said it was Thuri that took them from him, and he's dead now."

"I don't know yet," Tony admitted. "But I will. There is always a way. You just have to be strong until then. Can you do that for me?"

Peter nodded. "Yeah. I think I can."

"I know you can," Tony said, pressing another kiss to his forehead. "You have been so strong already; you just have to hang on a little longer for me."

Peter sighed and sagged against him.

Tony stroked his back and said, "You hungry?"

"I am, but I don't feel like I can eat. I get so full so fast."

Tony puzzled a moment and then said, "Damn. I didn't think. When you were on the feeding tube, we fed you every few hours to counteract your metabolism and gain the weight you lost back. Your stomach probably shrunk and got used to little and often. We'll keep that going. Come eat something now, and we'll work out some small meals for you every few hours."

Peter nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "Okay. Sure. And then would it be okay if I go outside for a while?"

Tony laughed softly. "You can. You know, you liked that when you were gone, too. We spent a lot of time with you by the lake. Bucky was great about sitting out there with you. He loved it."

Peter rubbed his chest and said, "Bucky… I feel connected to him, like he's reaching all the time. It's just like how I feel about you and Rhodey, stronger than Steve and Wanda."

"I'm not surprised. He was there for you all the time after, taking care of you. And he was the one that connected when we spoke to Mind and Power. Honestly, kid, that man would move mountains for you."

Peter smiled slightly. "It's a good feeling, but I feel bad that I've missed so much. I would have liked to be around when it was formed."

Tony cupped his cheek. "You were in a way, and you're here now. Honestly, Pete, there's few moments in my life I've been purely happy: when Pepper and I got married; when Morgan was born; and now, here with you, I am happy. I am going to get those words out of your head, I promise, and then we'll find a way to deal with Ross."

Peter smiled and then leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Tony. "I'm glad I'm back, too," he said.

Tony hugged him close, absorbed the feeling, but his mind had doubts Peter was being honest. He had wondered if Peter was more happy that he was scared of what might happen.

When he released him, Peter stood, smoothed his rumpled clothing and looked tentatively at the door.

Tony saw his hesitation and said, "You don't have to go out past everyone. There's more than one way out of this place."

Peter considered a moment. "No, I think I've got to do it. It's time."

He took a deep breath, crossed the room, and opened the door. Tony followed him out, placing one hand on his shoulder as he walked into the living space where they had all gathered, Bruce and Wanda having returned with a bowl of popcorn a piece—Bruce's more like a barrel. They all looked around with surprised expressions that quickly morphed into smiles as they greeted Peter.

"Hey," Peter said tentatively.

"Hey, bud," Bucky said, getting to his feet and approaching them. "How are you doing?"

Peter shrugged. "I'm okay."

"We're going to get Pete something to eat and then head outside for a while," Tony explained.

"I'll fix you something," Bucky said. "What are you in the mood for?"

"Anything," Peter said.

Bucky grinned and moved to pass them to head into the kitchen, but Peter caught his arm to stop him. Bucky paused and frowned, and then his eyebrows flew up and his breath caught as Peter stepped towards him and put his arms around him, leaning his head on Bucky's shoulder.

The room was so silent Tony could hear his own heart beating fast at the huge step he was seeing in his son.

Bucky rubbed Peter's back and said, voice a little constricted, "It's good to have you back, bud."

Peter nodded and closed his eyes. "I feel it," he said enigmatically. "And I need to thank you. Tony told me…" He tightened his arms slightly. "Thank you."

Bucky ducked his cheek against Peter's hair and said, "I feel it, too, bud, and I always will."

He looked over Peter's shoulder at Tony and mouthed a word of thanks. Tony shrugged. This wasn't him; it was all Peter. Whatever connection it was the Stones gave him had informed him of the bond that had developed between Peter and Bucky while he was gone, and it meant something special to them both.

Peter pulled back, looking a little embarrassed.

Bucky patted his shoulder and said, "I'll make you some soup, and then we'll see if we can lure the geese back, shall we?"

"There were geese?" Peter asked.

Bucky grinned. "There were, and you liked them."

Peter smiled and nodded. "Sure. Geese are cool."

Bucky placed an arm around his shoulders, and they walked together into the kitchen. Tony looked around at the others and saw Steve staring after them, a strange look on his face. Tony wasn't sure, but he had a feeling it Steve was feeling a little torn. Up until now, he was the closest person in his best friend's world, the one Bucky connected to most of all, but that had changed a while ago. Peter had needed Bucky in a very different way to the way Bucky needed Steve, and now they shared the bond of the fate of being conditioned.

He was sure Steve didn't begrudge either of them, no more than Tony did the connection Peter had formed with him, but it was an adjustment.

It was going to take time for them all to get used to it.

So… Tony/Peter time! Finally! Honestly, I was so worried about this chapter when I wrote it, I wasn't sure it was what it should be after you waited so long for it, but Prongs100 said I shouldn't change a comma, so this is what it is. Hope you enjoyed it.

Until next time…

Clowns or Midgets xxx