A/N: Thanx for the reviews everyone! One person wanted me to go back to the old way with how I wrote my dialogues so I'll try to remember to do it now. It is harder for me that way for some weird reason but I'll try. I'll do my best! And I have the honor to finally tell you guys that I now have a Beta reader: Jasper's Mom, please check her out, her stories are amazing!

"Timmy! I'm home!" Tony shouted as he walked through the door. He had walked home. It had been a bit of a long walk but he had needed the time to think. Looking back, he shouldn't have run out of school but he had had a long day and just needed some air. "Timmy!" He tried again this time louder.

"Jeez Tony, you don't have to yell. I'm doing my homework. Something you should try for a change"

"Okay."

"Okay?! No jokes, nothing?! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Timmy-the little worrier." At least until Dad gets a hold of me, that is. Or uncle Steve.

"You sure? You don't seem that okay"

"I'm fine" His short answer made his brother disappear upstairs again, muttering. Tony sat down at the kitchen table and took out his phone. No missed calls yet but then again, he had as soon as he had calmed down a bit, texted both his dad and his uncle: "On my way home Don't worry". He knew he'd have a 2-month grounding handed to him without a doubt if he really had gone AWOL. Sighing he typed "I'm home and safe. Don't worry." to send to both Dad and Uncle Steve, letting them know he was safely at home. He had barely hit send when his phone beeped twice.

DAD: You start on your homework and better be finished when I get home. We'll discuss this then.

UNCLE STEVE: You, boy, better be at home or I swear I'll ground you for the rest of your life.

Tony winced at the texts but didn't have time to answer any of them before he heard someone unlock the door.

"Dad?!" He called out wondering why his dad was home so early especially after just getting a text from him indicating he's be home later. Walking towards the door frowning he froze. Coming through the door was his uncle Steve. And he looked furious even though the worry soon shone through.

"Tony Thank God! If you ever do that to me again I don't know what I'll do. Those two minutes I didn't know where you were I almost had a panic attack!" His uncle hugged him tightly before giving him a swift head slap and ordering him into the kitchen. There Steve pointed to his backpack and the table.

"Homework. Now" With those words his uncle retrieved his phone from his jacket and called his dad. Not that he told Tony who he was calling, but it wasn't that hard to guess.

"He's at home."

"What do you mean he sent a text?! I haven't seen one."

"I'll check, hold on." The curse word that followed wasn't meant for Tony's ears so he wisely kept quiet.

"Yeah, he sent one to me as well. How do you want to handle this? I gave the kid a direct order to stay and he took off worrying us both."

"Okay, when can we expect you?"

"I'll make some dinner while we wait. That should calm me down a bit."

"Yes, I know I'm not on duty anymore and no I don't do house calls but he is my nephew first and foremost. My principal duties come second."

"Just had to make sure you remembered. Do you want to speak to the kid?"

"Yeah, I have him doing homework at the kitchen table. I doubt he'll run but you never know."

"Okay, I'll tell him. See you later." With that he snapped the phone shut. Uncle Steve then studied him for the longest time and Tony couldn't help but squirm in his seat.

"Me and your dad decided to handle this together but he asked me to remind you to behave for me or he won't be happy. AND he also wanted me to remind you that he loves you no matter what."

"Thanks for telling me." The room fell silent and Tony eyed his uncle for a few seconds before deciding that his uncle had said everything he needed to at the moment and went back to his homework. Neither one said anything for the rest of the time it took for uncle Steve to prep dinner and put it in the oven.

"Do you need any help?" The question started Tony who had been focusing intently on his homework.

"Eeeehhh…" Tony took a quick look at the tabletop around him and bit his lip when his eyes focused on the French worksheets and a surprise quiz that needed his dad's signature., quickly shaking it off though he shook his head. No, but thanks for the offer.

"You don't sound sure. "With that he grabbed the French worksheets and the quiz, making Tony curse silently under his breath. Eyeing his uncle while said uncle went through his half-finished worksheets as well as the C- quiz Tony could see his uncle put on the neutral face he always used when he didn't want his nephew knowing something. "So, how is French going?" Uncle Steve questioned casually and put down the papers.

"I don't want to talk about it" Tony said stubbornly and kept working on his history assignment. It was the only thing except French he had left to finish since he wouldn't be able to turn in his math homework. His uncle didn't press the issue and a few minutes later Tony tried to grab the papers from his uncle but was pushed back into his chair. Pouting he glared at his uncle. The day had been too long for this.

"How much did you use your textbook when you did these?"

"Not at all, why?" Tony answered confused.

"Because I can't understand how you got an F and then a C- when all your answers here are correct."

"They aren't finished." Tony muttered without looking at his uncle. He really didn't want to deal with this right now. He knew his uncle would get involved and it would only make matters worse.

"Something you'd like to tell me kiddo?" His uncle reached over the table and lifted Tony's chin so he was looking him in the eyes. His grandpa's words from yesterday run through his head. "Come on kid, I'm not the enemy, we both know you know that."

"She doesn't like me okay?! Mrs. Lewis, she's out to get me and keeps calling dad about the smallest things she never yells about anybody else for. She's gotten it into her head that I'm a bad kid okay?!"

"Calm down. First of all kid you don't yell at me, not for any reason. I might not be your principal right now but I still deserve your respect. You got me?"

"Yes sir"

"Good. Now I guessed that, but I kept thinking back on our understanding that we have been having and we renewed just yesterday, this understanding of you coming to me if you don't want to go to your father. So why is it I never heard as much as a peep about it?" He sounded hurt and Tony swallowed hard. Having hurt his uncle by not telling him about the issue wasn't something Tony had counted on. He felt a lump starting to form in his throat but tried to ignore it, needing to explain himself.

"I didn't want to worry you guys. It wasn't anything big until now. Sure, she seemed to be out to get me, but what could you have done?! Nothing."

"Kid, it's not about what I could have done, it's what I could have taken into consideration every time I got updates on you, it's also about you trusting me and coming to me with information like this."

"Oh"

"Kid you need to start stop about worrying us. Especially me, okay?"

"Okay." Tony agreed quietly.

"Good, now do you actually need help with that French?"

"A little bit would be great." Tony answered shyly.

"Sure kiddo." Uncle Steve answered easily.

"Thanks Uncle Steve. For everything. And sorry for worrying you"

"We'll talk about that later kid, but no thanx needed, now where do you want to start?" That same instant, Tim made it down the stairs stopping dead in his tracks as he saw his uncle Steve. Tony laughed out loud at the expression on Tim's face while their uncle got up and drew the kid into a tight hug.

"Hey kid. You know I've missed you. You should take after your brother sometime and get sent to my office. You might be my student, but I never see you, I just hear your teachers brag about you. About you both." he said with a meaningful look at Tony. Tony blushed and looked down instead of meeting his uncle's gaze. Letting go of the still baffled kid Uncle Steve gently pushed Tim down into a seat at the kitchen table. "Oh, and on a more serious note kid; never repeat what I just said. Your dad would definitely kill me if he knew."