2017

"Sir, Master Peter has made breakfast for the two of you. I would suggest you shower first."

"Dammit, FRIDAY." Tony mumbled. He closed his eyes for just a second, then bounced out of bed. "DAMMIT, FRIDAY!" He repeated, scurrying around his room, pulling clothes out of drawers and cabinets. "Where did I put it?"

"It's in the lab, Sir." FRIDAY calmly responded.

Tony smelled himself and decided enough spray could make the shower wait a few more hours. He bolted towards the lab, found it, then casually sauntered towards the kitchen.

Peter Parker was just finishing up some delicious-looking omelettes. He smiled.

"Good morning, Mr. Stark! I hope it's ok I let myself in this morning. Couldn't sleep, and I wanted to get started on those new web shooters with you...if that's ok..." Peter blushed.

Tony smiled. This Stark Internship started as a ruse just to get Spider-Man on Team Iron Man, but developed into a sweet relationship that made both participating parties so happy. He promised Peter that with this "internship" there would be a scholarship. He could go to whatever school he desired. Peter cried off and on for a week after he found out, he was so thankful.

Lately, though, Tony started to grow closer to the kid in other ways. For one, he gave him keys and passwords to the Tower and even the lab, his playground, his safespace. He would not let Peter leave after dark, and since there were so many spare rooms now...

Tony had to keep it together when Peter chose Steve's old room to sleep in.

Tony also knew that Peter was essentially on his own. The lady he spoke to the day he met Peter explained to him that he could not be officially adopted for months. It was a lengthy process, but Tony knew right then and there that he was not going to leave this kid to fend for himself out on the streets. He could be patient if it meant saving this kid's life and giving him the life he deserves.

He was approved right before Peter's 15th birthday...which was today.

They sat down together, eating their breakfast, chatting about the latest project Tony was working on. He was very impressed how much Peter knew and how eager he was to learn more about the things he did not understand.

"It's meant to be..." Tony thought out loud.

"Huh?" Peter looked confused.

"Uh...hang on." Tony ran to the living room, and pulled out the envelope. "Happy Birthday Peter..." He nervously handed it to the boy.

"Oh, Mr. Stark, you have done so much for me already, I couldn't possibly..."

"Just open it..." Tony could barely contain his joy.

"Ok...thanks!"

"You haven't even opened it yet..." Tony laughed. "What if it's just a gas card so you can drive one of my Ferraris?"

"I'm fifteen, not sixteen." Peter corrected. He opened it up to find a letter. Puzzled, he started to read it. He looked up scared. "What is this?"

"I know you're basically old enough to drive and take care of yourself...but...you don't have to be alone in this..." Tony took his hand. "These past months have made me realize how nice it is to have someone to talk to, to mess around in the lab with...I don't want you living on the streets...I want you safe...because...I really care about you, Peter..." He was tearing up, and changed courses. "Just, please don't call me dad. I'm not that old, I-"

Tony was mauled by a sobbing teenager in a bone-crushing hug. Muffled thank-yous and promises of being the best son in the world were barely heard through his skin. He started to cry too, hugging back soothingly.

"Happy birthday, son..." Tony whispered into his ear. "...Ok...I think we've cried enough for one day. Hey, hey look at me. You're ok, now. You can stay here, we'll fix up one of the rooms however you want...hell, not room, floors. Spider-Man is officially Iron Man's protege...I promise I will always be there for you..."

Tony did not hear the response from Peter's continued thanks and tears. He thought back to Steve's letter, realizing he meant the exact same thing.

One of these days I need to call him...

Less than a week later, Peter's floor was complete. Even Happy offered to help, well, not offered, but Tony made him help move furniture around. After all, Peter had to have room for his mini lab Tony installed into one of his rooms.

"Best birthday week ever, am I right, kid?" Tony threw his arm around Peter as he admired his work. The floor looked great.

"Thank-you so much Dad! I love it!" Peter hugged him just as tight as when he found out he was adopted.

Tony literally thought his arc reactor had quit on him and he was having a heart attack.

Even Happy whipped his head around, mouthing the word "dad?" to Tony.

"Seriously, this is too much! You guys are the best! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!" Peter jumped up to his loft, not even bothering with the ladder.

"Huh, the kid with super strength is tired." Happy slumped down into a chair, and gave a thumbs up to Tony.

Tony just stared off into space. Dad.

It all happened so fast...this year...

It was like a dream come true...

Speaking of which, Tony slept soundly that night until about 3:00 am when he began to think about how much Steve would love his son.

Steve Rogers-Stark woke up in a cold sweat. Scratching his rough, itchy beard, he looked all around him to make sure no one was there.

How he hated living on the run. The few times it happened before, Tony was always with him. Tony was always there to chase the nightmares away.

And now, it was almost a year of being alone.

This was worse than any dream of him freezing in that dreadful plane.

Grunting, he sat up, sore and dizzy from being constantly on the move. He had lost a lot of his muscle due to malnutrition.

He was so homesick. Ever since he woke up and defended Earth that first time with the Avengers, the Tower was the only home he ever knew.

How could he had been so stupid? Throwing his perfect life away over a disagreement he let get out of hand by not being up front and honest about everything.

Steve would never forgive himself.

And the nightmare that plagued him the most was turning around in Siberia to find that the final blow he gave killed Tony.