It was Saturday evening and a 'tower weekend' as May had dubbed them so Peter was seated on the couch watching TV with Mr Stark as Pepper moved around the kitchen making dinner for the three of them. Peter really liked Pepper she was pretty badass, slightly terrifying when angry but badass all the same. He had never seen Tony afraid of anything until he walked in on Pepper shouting at him for not having signed some documents for SI. She was amazing, she was funny, cool, intelligent, caring and for some reason she didn't seem to mind the random kid her fiancé had allowed into their lives and home, in fact she doted on him and was always very welcoming. It baffled him to be honest, why would she be welcoming to some kid she had been dumped with?

Tony reflected on the last few weeks, since himself and May had spoken to Peter's principal the boy was happier, back to his normal hyperactive self, even once Flash's suspension ended. And it seemed to have done the trick in getting the boy to stop calling him Mr Stark at last, although that could just be a result of Pepper making him use her given name. He looked over at the teen lying on the other end of the couch his feet resting on Tony's lap and couldn't help but smile at him.

"Do I have something on my face?" The boy asked confusion clear on his face, huh…seems he was maybe staring at the kid a bit too long. Good one.

"No nothing underoos, just thinking," he replied quickly, "I'm going to check how long dinner will be, do you need anything?"

"Emm…yeah could you grab my phone charger from the guest room please?"

Pepper had been walking into the room as Peter spoke and stopped dead in her tracks when she registered the boy's words. "The guest room! The guest room!" She turned furiously to look at Tony who paled as her sharp eyes seemed to bore into his skull. "Peter that's your room, it's not a guest room or a spare room, it's your room." Turning once again to look at her fiancé she continued "how could you just ignore this Tony! What is wrong with you."

Peter opened his mouth to say something, he wasn't sure what but a look from Tony had him shutting it again. "Dinner will be ten minutes" Pepper continued, "and I'll grab your charger Pete" she told him fondly ruffling his hair as she left the room.

"She wouldn't have got anything for me" Tony mumbled under his breath.

"Sorry do you want to say that again Tony?" Came Pepper's voice from the next room.

"No...no nothing darling" he backtracked frantically as Peter laughed at him from the other end of the couch. He stuck his tongue out at the boy like the adult he is in retaliation earning himself an eyeroll and a small grin.

A minute later Pepper returned throwing Peter his charger, her phone in her hand as she skimmed through her appointments for the following day deep in thought. "Go and wash up for dinner Peter once you've plugged that in, remember no phones at the table so not in the kitchen kid."

"Yes Pepper"

"Wait, you never told me why she got to be Pepper straight away and I put up with Mr Stark for a year." The man called after the retreating boy.

"She's much scarier than you Mr Stark, I had no choice." Came the cheeky response before he hears the boy enter the bathroom

Tony laughed softly but one look at Pepper puts a stop to it.

"How could you not tell him that room was his Tony? Have you been in it recently? It doesn't look like anyone lives there. I don't care what you and the boy have planned we are all going shopping tomorrow for his room, no arguments. No wonder he questions his place in your life you haven't given him solid proof he is here for the long run!"

Suitably cowed Tony nodded face full of realisation as her words sunk in, how could he have overlooked that? He was practically co-parenting the boy at this point how could he have missed it? He had never really thought about it, when Peter was here it wasn't like he spent a lot of time in his room they were usually in the lab or watching TV together or something so it just slipped past him.

When Peter entered the large kitchen he immediately took his usual seat to the left of Tony and let Pepper serve him. After the first time they ate together she has insisted herself or Tony would serve him as he apparently didn't put enough on his plate for a growing, teenage spider. To be fair what he did serve himself was the amount he had at home, it maybe wasn't enough but it was okay, it was all they had.

He loved these dinners, they were a highlight of his week, at home he often had to eat alone because of May's shifts and his Spiderman patrols but Tony insisted they sit down when he was at the tower and eat together. It was a time they spent discussing what was happening in their lives and joking around, he loved it. It was so domestic he never could have imagined something like this happening to him in his wildest dreams.

Tony loved these dinners, as a child Howard rarely ate with him, his mother did more frequently but even that was only once or twice a month, he resented them for that, they may have been busy people but what was half an hour in the evening to eat as a family? He would be damned if Peter felt like that, he knew he didn't always eat with May and he wanted the boy to experience family dinners at least once a week. Theres that word again he thought…family, he had been using it a lot, at least in his head when thinking about Peter and Pep.

"We are going shopping tomorrow Peter for your bedroom is there anything in particular you want?" Pepper asked lightly halfway through the meal as if she was simply asking about the weather.

"You don't have to Pepper, it's really no problem I don't need anything. You don't need to spend money on me." Peter said immediately uncomfortable with the thought, his room was fine, what else did he need there? There was a bed, desk, wardrobe, what else went in bedrooms?

"Peter we don't have to, we want to, I should have done this months ago, you've started staying over here up to three or four nights a week, you deserve a room just for you." Tony told the teen, looking him in the eye, he needed the boy to understand the importance of this.

Blushing Peter looks down at his plate and nodded still obviously uncomfortable. The table fell into silence, not an uncomfortable one just one where no one really had anything left to say as they all finished off their meals, Tony continuously filling Peter's plate until he had eaten three servings, it did make Peter feel a childish but he couldn't really find it within himself to complain, he sort of enjoyed the attention.

Once they were all finished Pepper stood and started collecting the plates…this was another rule implemented by Tony after eating together they all wash up together and no leaving the table until everyone is finished, Tony was very strict on being polite to each other and said leaving early and not pulling their weight was disrespectful. They quickly settled into their normal rhythm and the dishes were washed by Tony, dried by Peter and put away by Pepper.

Once they'd finished they made their way to the lounge where they would usually watch a movie after eating but Pepper held back, "I would much prefer to stay here with you two but I want to come shopping with you tomorrow so I need to go and do some work. Make sure you're in bed at a decent time, and I mean both of you." She said sternly "I want to be out of here by ten boys."

She didn't bother waiting for their responses knowing they know better than to try and argue when she states things like that. Grinning to herself she left for her own office which was just a few floors down calling on F.R.I.D.A.Y. to tell her to stop working at midnight. Tony had offered to turn one of the spare rooms into an office for her or move and extra desk into his own but she liked to keep home and work separate and it was hardly an inconvenience having to go down a few floors anyway.

Peter flopped back down onto the couch after retrieving his phone smiling as Tony does the same. He left Tony to choose what they're watching, it was pointless trying to choose himself, the man would change the channel if anything contained too much swearing or sex scenes. He had tried to argue once before that most teens were able to watch those sort of things but Tony shot him down telling him in his penthouse he would not be one of those teens. It was infuriating, he didn't watch much TV at home, it put up the electric bill too much so he had to go to Ned's to catch up on Game of Thrones. He was surprised Tony hadn't put child locks on the TV yet, but then again it probably just hadn't occurred to the man especially when FRIDAY probably had the ability to turn off the TV whenever anything inappropriate happened. He grinned as Tony put on Star Wars Episode IV, he knew the man wasn't a huge fan and that made it even better.

Tony smiled fondly sensing Peter's glee, he knew how much the kid loved Star Wars and the boy had been complaining he hadn't had time to watch it in a while just last week, also he knew there was no awkward bits, he had been through a lot, he did not want to add watching sex scenes with his kid to that list…not that Pete was his kid of course.

Twenty minutes into the film Peter turned to the billionaire, "Mr Stark…"

"Tony" the man interrupted immediately, Peter was getting better at using his name but he still reverted back to Mr Stark when he was nervous

.

"Tony….you don't have to buy me anything just because Pepper says so, I don't mind. You do enough for me as it is letting me stay over and giving me dinner all the time. Giving me the Spiderman suit."

"Peter I'll only say this once more, we want to do this for you. You aren't a burden on us, we enjoy having you here and want to show you by giving you your own room. We should have done it months ago, it just took Pepper to make me realise and I'm sorry about that."

The boy opened his mouth to argue again but a raised hand from Tony stopped him. "No more Pete" he says as moved over slightly throwing his arm around the kid pulling him close so the boy can rest his head against his shoulder.

Two hours later Pepper came back up from her office and opened her mouth to scold the two when she sees their movie is still on at half past midnight but hearing a light snoring from her fiancé she swallowed her words smiling.

"Have you snapped a photo F.R.I.D.A.Y?"

"Of course" the AI responds.

Smiling softly Pepper tiptoed across the room and shook Tony awake, he blearily looked up at her confused for a moment before he sensed the weight on his shoulder and warm breaths against his chest. Without prompting he lifted the teen up like a young child and followed Pepper to Peter's room delicately placing him into the bed as Pepper pulled back the duvet. The boy was worryingly easy to carry he noted, he would have to look into that. Was it a spider thing? Or something else?

Pepper watched with a smile as Tony put the boy in bed and tucked him in before pressing a light kiss to his forehead and stepping back throwing his arm around her waist. She leaned over and pecked him on the lips before stepping forward and copying Tony's actions from before.

The two stood and watched Peter for a moment, both thinking about how young he looked in the oversized bed before turning and leaving for their own. They really were lucky to have him in their lives.

Peter's sleep was interrupted by an insistent beeping courtesy of F.R.I.D.A.Y. He had decided after the first time he stayed over he hated the AI first thing in the morning. At home he would just snooze his alarm and would eventually be woken by May but at the tower there was no snooze option unfortunately and it drove him crazy.

"I'm up, Fri. I'm up" he groaned running his hand through his unruly hair as he swung his legs out of bed. He knew that would make no difference to the beeping though as the alarm was programmed to continue until he pressed his finger on a touchpad on the opposite side of the room. Cursing under his breath he dragged himself across the room hitting the panel with more force than was probably necessary. Looking across his room to the giant clock on the wall he wondered why exactly he had been awoken at eight thirty in the morning, on a Sunday no less! Suddenly the night before came rushing back to him. I don't need anything! He thought to himself sourly as he contemplated simply going back to bed.

Tony had been waiting in the kitchen for the last ten minutes for Peter to come through for breakfast. He had heard his alarm go off and the boy hitting the panel with enough force to smash glass if it hadn't been specially reinforced, what could he possibly be doing? If he had gone back to sleep after being specifically told they were to be leaving at ten he was going to kill the kid.

"Peter, you better be up" he called, "if you aren't in here in the next five minutes I'll be buying you iron man bed sheets."

"Coming" Peter almost shouted, Tony could hear the boy scrambling across his room.

Peter came into the kitchen giving Tony a half-hearted glare for his threat and slumped down at the table after grabbing himself some cereal. The two ate their breakfasts in comfortable silence both still in their pyjamas, Peter in some Hello Kitty bottoms and a t-shirt Tony had bought him to walk home in after he got grounded from his suit one time. Tony somehow managed to look cool in anything he wore though and was pulling off his Iron Man pyjama pants rather well, maybe it was a rich person thing? He was 100% certain Harry Styles could wear a bin bag and still look cool or Thor. Thor could wear literally anything, he was the coolest.

Peter stood to rinse his bowl in the sink but was met with a raised eyebrow from Tony as soon as his bum left his seat. "You better not be about to wash that after only one bowl Peter. You know you need to eat something else or you'll be hungry again in an hour."

Tony watched with a smirk as the boy slumped back down into his seat sighing as he poured himself a second bowl of cornflakes. The older man was just having the last sip of his coffee when Pepper walked in already dressed for the day.

"Right you two, I want you dressed and ready to go in half an hour, I've got us a reservation for dinner so wear a good shirt, we can grab something as we go for lunch. Sound good?"

Both men knew there was no question there. Peter nodded thinking furiously on what to wear as he went back to the guest bedroom….his bedroom sorry. He opened his wardrobe to have a look at what to wear but a quick look in the mirror at his slightly greasy hair led him into his ensuite.

He loved the bathroom in his room, it was the coolest bathroom he had ever used to be honest and he tried to shower at the tower every Sunday anyway so he wouldn't have to at home. May and him swapped who showered first every day because they wouldn't afford the hot water for two showers so one of them had to have a quick cold wash.

Ten minutes later Peter had washed his hair and dried off so was now standing looking at his clothes in despair. Deciding he didn't really have a choice he threw on his nicest t-shirt and his least frayed pair of jeans with his usual ratty trainers wincing slightly as he caught a look at his reflection.

When Peter walked into the room Tony stood immediately anger coming forward. "Peter I don't know what you are trying to do but turn yourself straight back around and get dressed properly, Pepper told you we have dinner reservations." He watched as the boy blushesd looking at his shoes as he shifted foot to foot mumbling something. "What was that Peter?" He asked impatiently, seriously they had asked one thing of the kid and he did this.

"I don't have anything nicer" the boy repeated eyes still glued to the floor.

Tony rans a hand through his hair sighing, "right well we will stop at your apartment and grab something from there on the way, I'll tell Pepper." He noticed Peter still looked uncomfortable and it suddenly hit him. "Do you have anything suitable at home Peter?" he questioned all traces of anger gone. His swore his heart broke a little as the boy did a sort of half shrug and he sees a tear run down his cheek. Oh god. This was new territory for him, sure he had noticed Peter didn't wear the nicest clothes but he thought it was just a Peter thing or some sort of style, it had never occurred to him that the boy didn't have a choice.

Peter was surprised when Tony pulled him forward into his chest, "ssshh it's okay Peter, don't worry we will get you some clothes while we are out. No need to be embarrassed, I'm sorry for snapping at you."

Blushing furiously Peter stepped back "no! You don't need to get me anything, its fine Mr Stark really!"

"Peter we aren't arguing on this, I want to buy you new clothes, it's my responsibility. Don't worry about it."

Pulling himself together the boy nodded unhappily feeling guilty about Mr Stark offering to buy him even more things.

Pepper entered the room taking in Tony dressed in a slightly more casual suit than usual while Peter…while Peter looks like his clothes are as old as he is. She opened her mouth to tell him to go and change but a frantic shake of the head from Tony stopped her. Sighing she beckoned the boy forward and combed his hair with her fingers instead trying to get it into something resembling tidy, noticing as she did so that the boy leant into the touch somewhat.

Peter stared out the window as he sat in the back of one of Tony's larger cars, larger as in it actually has seats in the back. He hardly paid any attention as Tony and Pepper talked in the front seats about which shops to go to.

Much sooner than he would have liked the car came to a stop in a private parking garage and he followed Pepper and Tony out of the car walking in between them as Tony steered them towards a furniture store.

"Peter what do you want for your bedroom?" Pepper asked smiling down at him.

"Ummm I don't know just whatever…I guess…I really don't mind…"

"Yeah so clear underoos." Tony snorted. "Right we need a new desk, chair, sofa, bedside tables, bed and wardrobe"

"Woah, woah no!" Peter yelped "I don't need all that! I don't need a different bed! The bed I already have is great, it's the most comfortable bed I've ever slept on."

Tony had been tempted to comment that the bed Peter slept on was nothing compared to his own and clearly Peter had never slept on an even half decent bed before if he liked the one he currently had so much but a look from Pep kept him quiet. He didn't want Pete to be uncomfortable after all.

"Peter," Pepper said soothingly as she looked into his eyes, "wouldn't it be nice to have a room you actually love though than a room you just think is okay? And the bed what if you have someone stay over…"

"Ummm no he isn't dating until he is at least thirty Pepper! No just no!" Tony interrupted shaking his head.

Laughing lightly at the blushing Peter and outraged Tony she continued "I meant for Ned. At home you have the bunk bed, how about a bed with a pull out bed for him to sleep on?"

Nodding Peter allowed himself to be pulled over to look at beds and quickly choose one he liked and simply decided to also get the matching bedside tables. A bedside table is a bedside table after all no matter what Tony claimed. After an hour or so he genuinely started to enjoy himself once the furniture had all be chosen and organised to be delivered to the tower before they move onto more casual things. Pepper left them both so they could choose duvet covers and posters while she went to collect various miscellaneous items such as a washing basket and waste paper bin. Peter may have a bedroom but he was to keep it tidy after all.

Tony looked at Peter seeing how overwhelmed he is at the sheer number of duvet options and took pity on the kid. "Do you just want a pattern Peter? Or how about something themed...ooh look Iron Man, how about that?" He teased.

"How about no." Peter deadpanned looking at his mentor unimpressed. "A pattern is good, it's calming"

Nodding Tony began to look through their options "well the curtains you chose were blue with white circles so how about something similar?"

Grinning Peter quickly selected a set and threw them into the cart ignoring Tony's complaints about thread count whatever that was. Probably a rich person thing? They continued on to the posters section where he choose two science related ones and three Star Wars ones, once again ignoring the jibes from the older man.

Tony watched fondly as Peter seemed to forget about money for a moment and just choose things he liked for his bedroom. He couldn't help but feel guilty for not doing this months ago but swore to himself he would have it all set up for Peter by next weekend, he'll even paint…well hire someone to paint. He also made a quick note on his phone to arrange for some of the new stark tech to be set up in his room, the kid deserved an entertainment centre, and he would buy him a games console too. The games console was a great idea actually, mainly so he had some way to punish Peter if he was in trouble, he had been speaking to one of his heads of department who told him that was how he punished his son for misbehaviour, the man had claimed grounding his kid was useless if he would have just sat in on his Xbox regardless so grounding him and taking away the controllers was a suitable punishment.

An hour later they meet up with Pepper again and Tony swiped his card to pay for the mountain of items they purchased before they headed to the food court for a quick bite to eat for lunch.

Peter's stomach clenched as he stood in the fanciest clothes shop he has ever set foot in, he felt very out of place in his scruffy clothes and was currently being eyeballed by the security guard as if he might try to make a run for it with some fancy jeans. Ugh this was why he shouldn't shop in places like this, he didn't belong here.

He looked over at Tony who appeared like he couldn't be more at ease as he talked to one of the women that worked there gesturing wildly while he did so.

Tony looked over at Peter, who looked vulnerable and nervous stood by himself, so he quickly wrapped up his conversation as he organised for a new suit for himself to be ready to be collected by Happy tomorrow. Walking over to Peter he wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Right then Pete let's start with underwear. Boxers or briefs?" He said casually laughing lightly as the boy turned as red as one of his Iron Man suits.

Four torturous hours later they finally left the last clothing shop, Peter didn't think he had owned as much clothes in his entire life as they had bought today. He had new everything from winter hate and gloves to trainers to a pair of swimming trunks. In the final shop he had been sent away to change for dinner with a bag of clothes Tony handed to him in his hand. He grinned as he caught himself in the mirror dressed similarly to Tony in dress pants and a shirt.

Pepper smiled warmly at the pair walking slightly ahead of her. They looked like father and son was all she could think as she watched Tony throw a casual arm over the boys shoulder as they chatted.