It had only been a week since Peter and Tony's conversation about therapy but Peter did already feel a little better, it had been decided he would go each day for the first week and he thought it was helping him, at least a bit anyway. It turned out they didn't need to 'shop around' for the right therapist because Emily was great, Peter felt immediately at ease around her and she had helped him immensely.

Tony was relieved and frankly shocked at the change in Peter since he started seeing Emily. The boy was no longer terrified to be left alone, sure he still needed reassurance he wasn't being left or forgotten but in the past few days a simple text seemed to be enough for him, it was a far cry from Peter's impression of a human limpet just the week before. Also, thankfully, Peter was talking again, he wasn't back to his usual excitable self but he was finally talking and aware of what was going on around him and that was enough for Tony. The man had just come in from a meeting and couldn't see Peter, his boy was usually on the couch when he came home watching the TV so it was slightly bizarre to come in to an empty lounge. "Fri where's Peter?"

"In his room boss"

Tony nodded to himself, he knew should have known that, Peter would have told him had he been planning on leaving the penthouse so he could only be in his own bedroom or the lab he supposed but he wasn't supposed to go there alone so hopefully not. Slipping his shoes off and draping his jacket over the back of the couch he walked down the hall towards his son's bedroom. He knocked and waited for Peter's response but when none came on his second knock he walked in, he supposed he should have maybe called or something to make sure his son was decent but to be honest the teen was probably having a nap or something. He stopped in his tracks just inside the door and blinked at what he saw. Peter was lying on his stomach on his bed with his laptop in front of him surrounded by books and papers with his headphones on. He had to admit it wasn't what he had been expecting, what was the kid even doing? He hadn't been at school since before May's death after all. "Peter" he called, he didn't want to startle him by touching him if he didn't have to, sometimes it made him attach himself to the roof which was quite frankly slightly creepy, when he got no reply from the boy who still hadn't noticed his entrance he tried again louder, sighing he walked over to the bed and lightly tapped the teen on the shoulder.

Peter jumped when he felt someone tap his shoulder, why didn't his spidey sense warn him? Rolling over he realised it was just his dad who never set off his spidey sense even when he was about to punish him. Which was totally uncool by the way, because his ass was often in danger when his dad punished him. He removed his headphones and dropped them down beside him bringing his legs up to his chest so Tony could perch on the end of the bed.

"Peter I knocked and called your name twice, you don't need your music that loud, it's bad for your ears."

Peter barely refrained from rolling his eyes at the incredibly dadlike comment, it would just end with a scolding. "Sorry, it helps me focus."

"What are you doing anyway, this doesn't look like internship work." Tony asked gesturing at the papers on the bed deciding just to leave the music thing alone for now.

"Oh…ummm. I asked Ned to take it yesterday, it's my school work. I want to catch up on everything I missed before I go back."

"There's no need to rush Pete, you can take as long as you want, you know that right?" Tony told the kid making sure to maintain eye contact so he knew he was serious. He didn't want to force his son to go back to school it would only do more harm than good, you couldn't calculate how long someone would grieve, it wouldn't be fair to put him back too early.

"Yeah but…I want to go back dad. I need to get back into the swing of things. And I miss seeing my friend's every day. I spoke to Emily about it and I want to go back on Monday."

Tony nodded, he supposed the boy was right and Monday was still six days away so there wasn't a huge rush to get things organised. "Okay, I'll set up a meeting with the Principal for Monday then."

"That's not really necessary dad." Peter started nervously, why would his dad need to see the principal?

"It wasn't a question Pete." Tony replied ruffling the sulking teen's hair as he left the room.

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"Do you not think it's maybe a bit soon to ask him?"

"No I don't think so Pep, it's better to do it now than leave him thinking and worrying about us not mentioning anything about it."

When Peter entered the kitchen the next day for breakfast he noticed his parents stopped speaking as soon as they noticed him, what was that about? If he had realised they were discussing him he probably would have hung around in the hallway a little longer.

"What don't you want me worrying about?" He asked as he sat in his usual place and dug into his pancakes almost immediately.

"It's nothing Pete forget about it. And you shouldn't listen in to other people's conversations it's rude." When he saw the boy open his mouth to argue the point he simply held up a hand, "no. If you needed to know right now we would tell you but you don't so we won't."

Peter just sighed at his dad's words, he knew there was little point arguing he didn't think it was even possible to beat Tony Stark in an argument…well his mom could but she was the only exception. Grumbling to himself he finished up his breakfast before going back to his bedroom to get ready for his therapist appointment.

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Tony couldn't help but worry despite what he had said to Pepper earlier, was it too soon to ask Peter if he wanted to be adopted? Would it be an insult to May? Those questions had been running through his mind for the last few days, he just wanted his son to feel secure, he knew how Peter could worry at times and by adopting him he felt the boy would be less stressed. As it was he was Peter's legal guardian and had been since May's death three weeks before but adoption seemed like the next step. It didn't make any difference in how he felt about Peter of course and he knew it wouldn't for his wife either but he wanted Peter to have the option.

Pepper smiled as she walked into the penthouse to see her husband pacing the room nervously. "Sit down Tony, Peter will be up in a moment, he just wanted to stop by the intern labs for a second before we came home. I think we should ask him now before you wear a hole in the carpet."

Tony nodded reluctantly and tried to push down the nerves bubbling up inside him, he couldn't help but smile though when Pep told him Peter was stopping by the intern labs, the boy hadn't been there at all since before May's death and he was relieved the teen was attempting to get back into his routine, even if he was only going to be stopping by for a few minutes.

When Peter walked into the penthouse suite he noticed his parents sitting together on the couch and immediately tensed. The last time they had been sitting like that waiting for him was when they confronted him about his nightmares, was that what was about to happen? Were they fed up of him? Did they decide letting him live with them fulltime until he was at least eighteen was too much?

Tony looked at Peter the moment he walked into the room and could see his worry immediately. When the boy's breathing began to speed up he almost jumped to his feet and made his way over to his son. He bent his knees slightly so he would be at eye level with Peter and placed his hands reassuringly on the boy's shoulders. "Look at me Pete…that's it…now I want you to breathe with me okay. There's no need to worry just copy what I'm doing," he told him taking exaggerated breaths as he did so. "That's it good boy….are you okay now? Come and sit down we want to speak to you but it's nothing to worry about okay." At the boy's shaky nod he offered a small smile and led his son to the couches while making a mental note to bring up the incident with Peter's therapist as soon as possible.

Peter took several deep breaths once he had sat down and took few moments to centre himself before he looked up at his parents.

"Peter, myself and Pep have been talking and we were wondering if you would like to make this more official?"

Peter opened his mouth to say something then closed it again. Official? What did that mean? He lived here and he was supposed to live here what did official mean? His parents were his legal guardians, Tony had been for months now as a secondary guardian and Pepper had officially become the same on paper once they had got married. With May's death he had just assumed they became his primary guardians, was that not the case? Would he have to leave while it became official? Would he go into foster care? He didn't think he could cope with that? What if Tony and Pepper weren't allowed to become his primary guardians?

Tony could see Peter was getting lost in his own mind and immediately moved to sit down next to him pulling him into his side as he did so. "Pete, Pete, calm down for me. Please Peter, take some deep breaths okay."

Pepper perched on the edge of the coffee table so she was at eye level with her son and reached out to grip his hand in her own, when the teen looked up she started to speak. "What Tony was trying to ask Peter is would you like us to adopt you? It's okay if you don't want to it won't change anything about our relationship, we are your parents regardless."

Peter's mouth dropped open at his mom's words, well…he certainly hadn't been expecting this. He didn't even have to think about it. "Yes." He burst out then realising how rushed it sounded he continued, "yes, I…I would like that."

Tony smiled at his son's words but still wanted to be sure Peter was agreeing for the right reasons. "Peter are you sure, I want you to be sure you are saying yes for you and not because that's what you think we want. Of course we would be thrilled to become your adoptive parents but if you say no we won't love you any less as Pep said you are still our son." At Peter's nod he grinned and pulled the boy in tight for a hug as he pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"When can we do it? Can we do it before I go back to school?"

"I'll call our lawyers and get straight onto it, it will probably take a few days though to get everything sorted." Pepper answered him before joining the two most important people in her life on the couch for a hug. "I think we should order in tonight." She told them earning nods from her two boys.

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Peter was amazed with how quickly his case had gone through, it was three days since his parents had asked if he wanted to be adopted and here he was already getting ready to head to the courthouse. Then again his dad had the best lawyers in New York on his payroll so he supposed it made sense that it had gone through so quickly, he was relieved though, after today he would officially be his parent's son.

Tony walked into his son's bedroom as the boy was just finishing tying his tie. "Good job Pete, I wasn't sure you knew how."

"May taught me…well Youtube taught both of us before Homecoming," Peter told him a sad smile on his face. "Do you…do you think she'd mind dad?" He asked quietly studiously avoiding eye contact as he did so.

Tony walked up to his son and lifted his chin so the boy could see the honesty on his face. "May loved you more than anything Peter, she would be thrilled for you. If she minded she would not have asked me to be your secondary guardian Pete. And remember she's always here, being adopted by Pep and I does not replace your Aunt May. She helped raise you to become the young man you are today. A bit of her is always with you in everything you do."

Peter threw his arms around his dad at the man's words "thanks dad."

"Always, I'll always be here for you Pete, anything that's bothering you or anything you want to know and you can come to me, I promise you." He gave the boy a squeeze and pressed a fond kiss to his head before leading him into the lounge where Pep was waiting for them both.

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Peter couldn't stop smiling when they walked out of the courthouse later that afternoon…well the backdoor of the courthouse, the press would have a field day if they saw Iron Man and his wife leaving court with a random child. "Can we go to Delmars?"

"Anything you want Pete, your Uncles and Nat and Bruce will be coming over later for dinner and a little celebration so don't go crazy."

Peter rolled his eyes at the man's words, he was fifteen he didn't need to be told not to go crazy!

"I saw that Peter Benjamin Parker Stark." Tony told the boy without turning around smiling to himself as the teen's name rolled off his tongue, he knew it was probably something he'd be saying frequently for the next few years at least.

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Peter was roused on Monday by his alarm at half seven and dragged himself across the room to turn it off then sleepily make his way to his bathroom to get ready for the day. His dad had arranged for them to meet Principal Morita at 9am so he would be missing his first class or maybe even first two. To be honest he was thankful, he hadn't woken up early since May's death and just the thought of going from his usual ten o'clock wake up time to the half past six he would have to get up to make it to school at eight made him shiver.

He had a quick shower to wake himself up then threw on a pair of jeans and a random jumper before walking through to the kitchen where his parents were already having breakfast. He sat himself down in his usual seat and smiled softly as Pepper kissed him on the forehead as she placed a huge stack of pancakes in front of him. "Thanks mom." He murmured as he dug into his breakfast. Ten minutes later he stood up and carried his plate to the sink giving it a quick wash before leaving it to dry. Washing their own dishes after breakfast had become an unspoken rule months ago and he couldn't say it bothered him. Although he was slightly baffled about why there wasn't a dishwasher, the penthouse had nearly everything so why wasn't there a dishwasher?

"When I lived in Malibu I put the wrong thing in the dishwasher and ruined the kitchen, it was decided I wasn't allowed to use one again." Tony told him making Peter who hadn't realised he had spoken aloud jump.

"What he means is, he messed up and the dishwasher exploded so now there isn't one as punishment." Pepper corrected as she washed her own plate.

Peter laughed at his dad's wounded expression then ran back to his room to brush his teeth, grab his school bag which he swung onto one shoulder and snatched up his shoes before dropping down onto the couch in the lounge.

"You really should untie your shoes you know, instead of slipping them on and off all the time."

Peter shrugged ignoring his dad's words as he pulled his converses onto his feet.

"Have you got everything? Lunch money? Books?" Peter nodded as he unlocked his phone and began texting Ned. "Where's your jacket? Peter are you even listening?"

"Huh." The teen looked up from his phone into the annoyed face of his dad. "Did you say something?"

"Jacket. Peter where's your jacket?"

"Pffft, I don't need a jacket dad it's summer."

"It's March. Go and get it."

Huffing slightly Peter walked away grumbling under his breath as we went to grab his jacket.

"And drop the attitude!" Tony shouted after the teen.

Ten minutes later Peter found himself in the backseat of one of Tony's less flashy cars wearing his jacket. He played on his phone as his parents chatted in the front seat about SI. He began to get a little nervous as they got closer to his school, he still didn't know why Tony wanted a meeting with Principal Morita after all. Soon enough they pulled up in front of his school and the small family headed towards the reception. Peter was sure nine o'clock had been chosen because no students would be in the hallways to gawk at Penis Parker going to the Principals office with Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, technically it was Stark but professionally she still went by Potts in the same way many celebrities did…huh was his mom classed as a celebrity? Peter had never really thought about it she was just the badass and slightly terrifying at times Pepper Potts and now his badass and slightly terrifying at times mom.

Pepper scoffed internally as the secretary's jaw dropped upon seeing Tony and seemed to lose the ability to talk. Thankfully the Principal himself walked out of his office at that very moment and ushered them in apologising about the stunned reception they received. The office they were led into was modest but Pepper was impressed. The small family sat down on the comfortable chairs they were gestured towards as Morita sat on the opposite side of his desk. The wall behind the principal had several awards displayed which the school had won as well as what appeared to be a photo of the man and his extended family. It reminded her of her own office in a way.

The group sat in silence for a moment before Morita broke it by offering his condolences to Peter who nodded shyly in thanks. "So, why was it you wanted to meet with me Mr and Mrs Stark?"

"Peter's life has changed drastically recently Principal Morita, what with his Uncle's death, his internship and more recently May's passing. We are concerned about how this may affect his schooling."

Peter's jaw dropped, he didn't expect anything like this. He thought they were just here to sign some papers to update his details or change his emergency contacts.

"Okay, that's understandable Miss Potts." He turned to his computer as he spoke and pulled up Peter's file. "Well I don't see any issues grade wise, there was an understandable drop just after his uncle's death but it did pick up again and other than the incident in Washington with the Decathlon team and several write ups for using his phone in class his disciplinary record is fine."

At the man's words Tony's head whipped around to look at his son. "You've been using your phone in class?"

Peter blushed at the scrutiny he was suddenly under and mumbled "everyone does" back.

"I don't care about anyone else Peter, if I find out you're caught using your phone in class again I'll lock it during class time."

"Yes sir." Peter mumbled looking at his feet embarrassed at being scolded in front of his Principal.

"Sorry Principal Morita" Pepper said in order to get the attention off her blushing son.

"It's quite all right Miss Potts. We are able to email you a copy of Peter's file each week, several parents do this, it's a good way to keep an eye on how their kids are getting on. It's easier to catch issues before they become problems after all."

"We'd like that, thank you, I think you already have our contact details." Tony reached into his pocket and took out a sheet of paper handing it to the man opposite him. "This is the details of Peter's new emergency contacts, they're his uncles but I would recommend calling Happy first he's nearly always in the city."

Pepper picked up as soon as the Principal updated the details on his computer and put the papers into her son's file. "Also we adopted Peter a few days ago so legally he is now Parker Stark but we do not want this to be advertised, I'm sure you can understand that?" At the man's nod she continued, "with Tony's celebrity and his own experiences with the media at a young age we do not want our son to be under the same pressure at this point in his life so we would appreciate it if you could keep these details to yourself."

Ten minutes later the family left the office and Peter was sent to class with a ruffle of his hair and warning to behave and keep his phone in his bag from his dad.

Principal Morita watched from his window as arguably the most famous man in the world and his wife left his school and headed back towards their car deep in conversation. He had heard the rumour of Peter's internship, of course he had, it had been debated in the staff room after all but he never could have expected the boy to be so close to the superhero. He had been worried Peter may have to leave the school when he heard of May Parker's passing, he'd been anxious when his secretary told him Tony Stark wanted a meeting with him about the boy's future that it would be to pull the boy out of Midtown. As soon as the family walked into his office however all worries left him, he knew how much this school meant to Peter and it was obvious Tony and Pepper saw him as their own. He'd been shocked however when Mr Stark reprimanded the boy for using his phone in class. He'd never seen that coming, the man had in fact acted like any other parent worried about their child's future. He'd had his doubts but now he knew Peter was in good hands.