Author's Note: My apologies for how long it has taken me to get back to this story. Long story short, I lost a close family friend and I've only recently gotten back to writing. Still, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!

"My family comes first. Maybe that's what makes me different from other guys."

—Bobby Darin

The energy orbs had disappeared as soon as the group arrived. As easily as they had come, they had gone. No information on who sent them or what their purpose was. To say the team was frustrated was an understatement. Still, until they found more information—Bruce and Tony were on it—Peter found himself enjoying the peace, the lull in between their relatively easy missions. Sure, there were still bad guys to fight, but they weren't anything on the level of Loki or the Lizard.

"How's school going?" Bruce asked him one day, after he got home from his day of school. Peter shrugged, placing his book bag on the counter and then running a hand through his hair. The often-clueless scientist frowned, eyebrows knitting in concern. "Something wrong?" The teenager glanced up and met the scientist's gaze.

"No," Peter answered. "Not really." Peter grimaced and moved towards the fridge. He pulled out a sandwich and began to eat it, though half-heartedly. He sighed once more and then placed the sandwich on the counter. "It's just . . ." His voice faded away and Bruce put down his notebook and came over to the teenager. Peter had only been here for such a short time, yet everyone on the team cared for him. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he was the youngest or maybe it was because they all knew what this life was like and they all wanted to spare him the hardships. It didn't really matter though because they were a team. They protected each other and tried to help each other. They were friends, yes, but it ran deeper than that. No one else knew what it was like to live this life—not SHIELD or Fury—and that strengthened their bonds with each other.

"What is it, Peter?" Bruce asked again, softer this time, coming to stand by the teenager.

"You know that my aunt was in an accident, right?" The older scientist nodded; he remembered Tony telling him in that after the first day that Peter arrived. "They still haven't caught the guy who did it."

"They haven't?" Bruce echoed. Peter ripped a piece of lettuce off and tossed it in the sink.

"No," The teen snapped. "Which is ridiculous, because Fury said he was on it, but shouldn't he have found something by now? I mean, with all of their spy stuff and the billion cameras I'm sure they have everywhere!" His gaze downcast, Peter did his best not to appear like a petulant teen, but he found it hard to control his frustration. "I just . . ." He met Bruce's gaze, eyes wide and so childlike. How often they forgot that Spiderman wasn't truly a man at all. He was a teenager, not even 18 yet. He balanced schoolwork and the turbulence of adolescence on top of preventing cities from being destroyed and people getting hurt. He had so much on his plate. How did he handle it so well? "I can't lose her." There it was. It wasn't about the person who had hit the teen's aunt. It was about the fact that he had almost lost her. He was alone in this world, something Bruce understood all too well. After all, his own family was no longer alive and he had broken off his own relationship with Betty in order to keep her safe and avoid any more fallout with General Ross. Before he had joined the Avengers, Bruce had been drifting, too afraid to try and find a place in this world.

But, then he joined and now, he had someplace to call home and people who would lay down their lives on the line for him. He knew without a doubt that he would protect his team because he believed in them. For the first time since before the Hulk arrived, Bruce found himself caring about others. He had forged his own family. It wasn't perfect, but it was his.

He could see a lot of himself in Peter—the constant fear of hurting those he loved, the confusion over his newfound powers and the worry that one day, he would be alone. Yes, the teenager was similar to him, but Bruce would be damned if he allowed Peter to drift and feel that isolated. No, he would do his best to help. After all, Peter was part of his family now too.

"I know, Peter," He reached out a hand, almost hesitating, before decisively gripping the teen's shoulder, offering his own strength. "I know."

"Oh, Peter!" Aunt May sat up on the now super plush bed and were those designer sheets? Peter gaped as he took in the suite that his aunt was now currently residing in. There was a plasma TV in the corner, huge glass windows that led out onto a balcony with a beautiful view of the city and an army of private nurses waiting to tend to his aunt's every need. "Isn't this marvelous!" He had never seen May this thrilled since the time his uncle had won them a free trip to San Diego. He stumbled over to her, still confused by her sudden new surroundings and then wrapped his arms around her. She hugged him fiercely before letting go. "Thank you again, sweetie."

"For what?" His eyebrows knitted up, confusion setting on his expression.

"Oh, honey, you don't have to play coy with me," His aunt informed him with a tired grin. "I know you entered that contest." At Peter's head tilt, she added. "With Stark Industries!"

"Stark Industries?" He echoed. "But I didn't—"

"I know you wanted to tell her," A familiar suave voice filled the room as Peter craned his head to see Tony standing by the door, Pepper by his side. She waved and dumbfounded, he found himself mirroring her. "But your aunt simply wouldn't leave unless we explained what you did."

"Mr. Stark?" He wasn't exactly sure if he was supposed to know Tony or if he was supposed to play dumb.

"I must say, your story was quite interesting—"

"Peter." Pepper supplied, playing the role of Tony's overworked assistant marvelously.

"Yes, Peter," Tony echoed, smiling brightly. "And once I read it, I told Pepper that we had our winner and that his aunt needed to be upgraded to the finest hotel suite this city could offer." He moved to Aunt May's bedside. "And how are you, Mrs. Parker? Is everything to your liking?"

"Oh, it's wonderful!" May chirped, clearly thrilled by the pampering and the extra attention. "Thank you again, Mr. Stark." At that, Tony's expression softened and he simply turned to Peter.

"Don't thank me," He replied softly. "You've got on hell of a nephew."

"That I do." May whispered, nodding her head. Peter just stared, still perplexed as to what was going on. At his confusion, Pepper stifled a chuckle before mouthing that he should just go along with it.

"Tony, your ten o'clock—" Pepper interjected and Tony quickly snapped his fingers.

"Right!" He moved to the door. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Parker. You too, Peter." He winked before vanishing out of the room with Pepper right behind him.

"That Tony Stark certainly is something." May remarked.

"Yeah . . ." Peter mumbled. "That he is."

"Sir?"

"Agent Hill?" Fury turned around to face his second-in-command. Maria seemed down tonight, her expression tight and her eyes downcast. Immediately, the Director of SHIELD moved to her, waving off some other agents he had been talking to. "What is it?"

"It's about Parker, sir." She began softly. Her hands trembled as she held a file between her fingers. Fury could see some grainy photos, clearly from years earlier, slipping out.

"What about him?" Fury spat, impatient and not willing to wade through cryptic answers. At that, she met his gaze and he could see her fear and worry swimming within those hazel eyes. "Maria?"

"I think we're not the only ones interested in him." He took the folder and flipped through the pages, eyes quickly scanning the various classified memos.

"Hill."

"Sir?"

This couldn't be right. How could no one have flagged this file or put the pieces together before this? He knew that Peter's parents were doing classified work, but as far as he knew, the project had never come to fruition. He snapped the folder shut and faced his second-in-command.

"Get Barton and Romanoff here now!"

"Yes, sir!" Her footsteps echoed down the metal corridors as she sprinted away.

This was so much worse than he had originally thought.

Author's Note: Next time, more bonding and more info on what's going with Fury! Please review if you have a second! Thanks!