Chapter 12
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September 2nd 2016. Parker Apartment.
Night.
It has been an hour since Tony and Peter arrived at the apartment to find May, thirty minutes since Peter collapsed to his knees and cried before locking himself in his room as he realised that his last family member has died and in that time paramedics have come, officially declared May dead, taken her body, and the police and child services, who Tony is still talking to, have also arrived.
"Look, I understand that there are procedures, but Peter won't even leave his room right now, I don't know if forcing him to leave this apartment would be good for him right now." Tony says to the officer and child services.
"We have these procedures for a reason Mr Stark. Mr Parker cannot stay alone." The Social Worker informs him.
"He won't be alone; I'll stay with him." Tony says, not even needing to think about it, "After what's just happened Peter should get to spend one more night in his bed, in his room, before everything is changed on him. Plus, I know there aren't a lot of spaces in emergency care, allowing Peter to stay in his home, with me, is what's best for everyone." Tony says, being pretty sure he can arrange something long term with enough time, but he needs to be given this one night first.
"It might be for the best." The Officer says, looking at the social worker, and Tony is pretty sure that, judging by the looks she was giving him earlier she's a fan, which may just play in his favour.
"Okay, but you will bring Mr Parker to Child Services first thing tomorrow." The Social worker says "Ask for me." He says, handing over his card.
"Of course." Tony says, being sure that by then he should be able to put in motion what he needs.
"Good. Good evening Mr Stark." The Social Worker says before leaving.
"Here's my card, if you or Mr Parker need anything please don't hesitate to call." The Officer tells Tony.
"I won't." Tony responds and the office leaves. After she does Tony walks over and closes, and locks, the door behind them before heading to Peter's room, "Peter, it's Tony." He says, knocking on the door, "Can I come in?" he asks and he gets a muffled response back which Tony takes as a yes and so he pushes open the door, and as he walks inside he isn't at all surprised to find Peter crying into his pillow and so Tony just walks over and sits down on the edge of Peter's bed.
For about a minute Tony just watches the young boy cry, honestly hating that he is in so much pain, but not having many ideas about what to do to help, but then, realising that he has to do something, Tony reaches out and puts his hand on Peter's shoulder and squeezes it a way he hopes shows sympathy.
"It's not fair, Tony." Peter says, rolling over to look up at the person who has become his mentor, his eyes red and his pillow tear stained, "I want her back! She shouldn't be dead! It's not fair!" he says, his voice barely understandable through all the tears.
"I know you do, and it's not fair." Tony says, trying to remember what would have helped him to hear when he lost his parents as he doesn't want to make things worse for Peter.
"I want her back! I want her back now." Peter says throwing himself into Tony's arm and starting to cry into his chest.
Knowing what he has to do Tony wraps his arms around the young boy, just like Jarvis and Peggy, and Melinda and Hope, did to him when he lost his parents and just holds him,
"I know; I know you want her back." Tony says, having no other idea what to say as he knows there is pretty much nothing that Peter would want to hear right now, and as he holds Peter Tony knows that the young boy is saying things but between the tears and the fact that he is muffled in Tony's chest he can't make out single word.
Half an hour has passed since Tony went to see how Peter was doing and as the boy has exhausted him so much by crying that he has fallen asleep Tony, who made sure to cover Peter with his blanket, is leaving the young boys room, purposely leaving the door open a little so that he can hear what's going on, just in case.
Once he is in the living room Tony looks around, honestly at a lost for what he should do, but then he realises exactly what he has to do and so he pulls out his phone from his pocket and calls one of his most frequently called numbers.
"Hello." Natasha's voice answers after a few rings.
"Nat…" Tony starts to say.
"What's wrong?" Natasha's voice asks, being able to tell, right away, that something's wrong.
"May Parker's dead." Tony says, not overly surprised that Natasha could tell there was a problem without him saying anything.
"How?" Natasha asks, there being surprise in his voice.
"I don't know yet, it doesn't look like foul play, but I don't know for sure. Peter and I found her." Tony reveals.
"Damn it. How's the kid doing?" Natasha asks, there being worry in her voice.
"About as well as you would expect. He cried himself to sleep." Tony explains, "Luckily I managed to get the social worker to agree to him staying at the apartment with me for one more night, so he's not being forced to go somewhere new, not yet anyway."
"That's something." Natasha admits, "What can I do?"
"If I warn them you are coming, and make sure someone's there, can you go to the legal department at Stark and find out just what I have to do to get guardianship of Peter, and start the process if you can." Tony requests.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Natasha asks, keeping the surprise out of her voice.
"Positive." Tony says.
"Okay." Natasha says, not asking anymore which is partly why Tony called her rather than Rhodey or Hope, as he knew that Natasha wouldn't try to talk him out of it once she was sure he was sure, "I take it you want me to bring anything you need to sign or see to the apartment." She assumes.
"Please." Tony requests, "And…. Tell the others what happened to May." He requests.
"Sure." Natasha responds, "Do you want them to know what you're doing for Peter?"
"No, not yet." Tony answers.
"Okay." Natasha responds, "I'll let you know as soon as I talk to your lawyer."
"Thanks Nat."
"Not a problem." Natasha responds before they both hang up.
After Tony hangs up with Natasha he places a call to Stark Industries to call the best company lawyer in New York back in and warns him that Natasha Romanoff is coming to see him. Once he does that Tony walks over to the dining table and starts to use his phone to do some of the paperwork he has to do, listening for signs of trouble from Peter's room as he does.
It has been almost two hours since Tony talked to Natasha and ever since he hasn't heard a sound from Peter's room and so Tony has just been sitting at the table, working on whatever he can do with just his phone, which is actually a lot.
As he works Tony hears a gentle knock on the door and so Tony gets up heads over there. Once he gets there Tony look through the peep hole and sees Natasha so he opens the door and lets her in.
"Hey." Tony says as she walks in, noticing that she is holding a bag and a garment bag.
"Hey." Natasha responds, "How's the Kid doing?" she asks as Tony closes the door behind them.
"He's still sleeping; I haven't heard anything." Tony reveals, "What the Lawyer say?" he asks as they head over to the table.
"There is a process, that he can start tonight." Natasha reveals, "It will start with you applying for temporary guardianship, and that can be granted immediately tomorrow when you meet with Social Services, as long as you sign these forms and get your Lawyer to file them."
"But it's Friday night." Tony says, looking concerned.
"Which is part of the reason why you lawyer thinks your chances of getting temporary guardianship is high, because it would mean that social services won't have to find him a home for the entire weekend." Natasha explains, and Tony nods, "Now, there is a process that you will need to undertake to get permanent guardianship and that will involve a hearing, probably petty soon, as well as some assessments." She explains.
"Will I have temporary guardianship of Peter until then?" Tony asks, wanting to know everything.
"If you get it, yes." Natasha informs him and Tony nods.
"What do I need to fill out?" Tony asks.
"Your lawyer and I filled out most of the forms they just require your signatures." Natasha says, opening the bag that she has with her to pull out a folder which she hands over to Tony, "I also brought your Stark Pad, I figured you'd need that." Natasha says, pulling out a table and handing it to Tony, "And here, clean clothes for tomorrow, you're gonna want to make a good impression."
"Thanks Nat." Tony says, sounding incredible grateful as he signs everything he needs to sign, "I know the others, and maybe you, won't understand, but this is something I've got to do."
"Explain it to me." Natasha requests, "If you can explain it to me then you can explain it when you're asked the exact question tomorrow."
"He has no one." Tony says, as he finishes signing and looks up, "I remember what that feels like. He's lost his parents, and his Uncle and now his Aunt, he needs someone to look out for him, someone to care, and I want to be that person, I need to be that person." Tony reveals, "I know that I might not be the best person, but I do care about Peter, and I do everything I can to help. I don't want him to feel how alone I felt, I don't want him to ever think that there is no one in the world who cares." Tony explains, but then, realising what he said he becomes uncomfortable, "So um, yeah." Tony says, turning back to what he was doing.
"For the record, the fact that you just said that, that you feel that way makes me think you're the perfect person." Natasha reveals, "You, Hope and Mel formed a family when you were eight years old, when you had no one, and you're still a family today." She reminds Tony, "Do you remember what I remember most of when you were kidnapped?" Natasha asks, bringing up what they don't talk about much.
"No." Tony answers, sounding confused.
"You more worried about Mel and Hope than yourself. The first thing you did when you woke up was check on them, and you ate the food first to make sure it was poisoned and wouldn't drink until they had both already had more than enough water." Natasha reminds him, "You always care about others, I was a complete monster and even I realised that."
"You weren't a complete monster Nat." Tony says and she looks at him and goes to say something, "No, let me speak. A complete monster would have let the people who kidnapped us do whatever they wanted to us, but you didn't you helped us escape, and payed the price." Tony reminds her, "There was always good in you, you just buried it so you could survive." He reveals.
"I….um…. thanks Tony…." Natasha says, sounding amazed, but she quickly feels the need to change the subject, "My point was that as a kid you cared about others, and put them before yourself and even though you've grown since then that hasn't changed. You're a good man Tony and I've seen how you've been with Peter, you'll be a good guardian too." Natasha assures him, saying what she knows Tony needs to hear the most at the moment.
"A good man who tore apart the Avengers? Who built a murder bot?" Tony asks, giving Natasha a look.
"Ultron was stupid, and reckless, and so irresponsible, you'll never hear me say otherwise, but you weren't the only one who made it, and you only made it because Wanda made you see all of us dead. It was born out of your fear and your desire to make sure what you saw never came true." Natasha reminds Tony.
"How do you know that?" Tony asks surprised, being confused as he never told anyone that, except Fury and he doubts that Fury would just tell Natasha that.
"When you and Pepper first took a break you got black out drunk. FRIDAY used the old protocol and called me. I dragged your ass to bed, you were saying a lot of thing." Natasha explains.
"Oh, that's how I ended up in bed, I did wonder." Tony admits, "I'm sorry, for anything I said or did."
"It's okay, it wasn't the first time I dealt with your drunk ass." Natasha says with a small smirk, "And we tore ourselves apart, all of us, it wasn't just on you." Natasha tells him.
"Yeah, maybe." Tony says as he continues to sign stuff, "Okay, that's the last one." Tony says, closing the folder and handing back to Natasha.
"Okay, I'll get them back to your Lawyer." Natasha says, taking the file and putting it back in his bag, "If you need anything else, I'm just a call away." Natasha says, getting up and heading to the door.
"Nat." Tony says and Natasha turns around, "I forgave you as soon as you came to me in Siberia, I was still mad, but I forgave you." He reveals, "And now I'm not mad anymore either." Tony says and Natasha gives a half smile, that is full of the warmth that Tony knows she doesn't show too often.
"Night Tone."
"Night Nat." Tony responds and Natasha heads out of the apartment, as she does Tony turns his attention to his Stark Pad, wanting to know if there is anything about May in the system yet.
September 3nd 2016. Parker Apartment.
Morning.
Having not gotten any sleep as he stayed up to make sure he could help Peter if he needed anything Tony paid close attention on the clock so that he could have some level of breakfast ready for when Peter woke up.
Not being able to do much Tony makes coffee, finds some bacon and eggs in the fridge which he cooks, figuring that he can't screw that up, not too badly anyway.
Managing to ruin the first couple of pieces of bacon he tried to cook and some eggs, Tony is pretty sure that his second attempt is a lot better.
"Aunt May?" A voice asks, just as Tony starts to serve everything up.
"Peter…" Tony starts to say, turning around.
"She's not here." Peter realises, a look of pain appearing on his face, "She'll never be here again." He says, tears coming to his eyes and so Tony puts down the pan and walks over to the young boy.
"No she won't, I'm sorry, Peter." Tony tells him.
"I thought it was a horrible dream." Peter admits.
"It's going to feel like that for a while." Tony says, remembering that that's how it felt when he lost his parents, his mother especially.
"Yeah." Peter says, looking lost.
"I made breakfast." Tony reveals, "You didn't eat last night, maybe you should try to eat something."
"Yeah, okay." Peter says, heading over to the kitchen table.
"Do you want some juice?" Tony asks.
"Sure." Peter says, sounding like he doesn't at all care, and so Tony heads over to the fridge and pulls out the juice before heading over to the table, "Did you make this?" Peter asks, a little surprised, as he knows Tony never, or hardly ever, cooks.
"Yeah." Tony says and Peter looks slightly surprised.
"Thanks." Peter mutters as he eats a small bit of the eggs while Tony puts the juice on the table before sitting down himself.
For a little while Tony and Peter just sit in silence as they eat, Tony noticing that Peter is just picking at his food, occasionally eating and even though he feels like he should say something to the teenager Tony isn't exactly sure what to say and so they just sit in silence.
"Tony…." Peter starts to say, staring at his plate.
"Yeah Kid?"
"What's going to happen to me now?" Peter asks, there being a vulnerability to his voice that makes him seem so much younger than he is.
"I've got to take you to social services, but I'm applying for temporary guardianship, and if it's okay with you I'd like to make it permanent." Tony admits, "If it's not then I figure something out with you, and no matter what I'll still be a part of your life." Tony promises.
"You'd let me live with you? At the compound?" Peter asks surprised.
"Without even needing to think about it." Tony tells the teenager, "I want to be here for you Peter, I want to take care of you, and I will help you, no matter what." Tony says, it being clear to Peter that even if he doesn't let Tony be his guardian then the billionaire will still be a part of his life.
"I'd rather it be you who's my guardian, rather than someone new." Peter admits, "Okay." He says with a nod.
"Okay." Tony says, nodding too, "We've got to be at social services at nine."
"Okay." Peter says with a nod, "Do you know what happened to May?" he asks, unbelievable pain in his voice.
"Not yet, but as soon as I know I'll tell you." Tony assures the young boy as if he's learnt anything in the past few months it's that you cannot keep the way a love one died from someone, even if it will hurt to hear it will hurt more in the long run.
"Do you promise?" Peter asks.
"Yeah, I do kid." Tony assures him and the two of them once more drift into silence.
September 3nd 2016. Social Services.
Morning.
Over an hour after they had breakfast together Tony and Peter are walking into the social services building.
"Tony, what if they don't let you have temporary guardianship?" Peter asks concerned.
"Then I'll figure something out." Tony responds, "I won't stop fighting for you Peter." Tony assures him and honestly after everything that Peter has seen and heard in the past few months he believes that.
Not trusting his voice Peter just nods as they approach the welcome desk.
"How can I help you?" the person at the desk says, not looking up.
"I'm here to see Richard Books, he's expecting me." Tony says.
"And you are?" the person asks, still not looking up.
"Tony Stark." Tony answers, there being a small amount of amusement in his voice as he is never asked that question, and the second he says the name the person looks up and looks in complete shock.
"Ohh of course… Mr Stark, please follow me, I'll show you right in." the person behind the desk says and she leads Tony and Peter behind back to the desk and to an office.
"Mr Books, Mr Stark is here."
"Let him in." Books responds and Tony and Peter are allowed into the small office where they sit down across from him, "Please close the door Leslie." He requests as Tony and Peter sit down, "Mr Stark, I received an alert of your application this morning. You want to apply for guardianship of Mr. Parker."
"Yes, I do." Tony confirms.
"Why?" Brooks asks.
"Because I've gotten to know Peter in the past few months and I can't bear the thought of him being with people he doesn't know so soon after losing his Aunt. Peter matters to me and I remember what it feels when your think you're alone in the world, and I don't want Peter to feel like that, I am hare for him, and I do care. That's why I want to be his guardian." Tony explains and Brooks writes something down on a piece of paper.
"And Mr Parker, how do you feel like that?" Brooks asks as with Peter's age being what it is his opinion is taken into consideration.
"It's what I want." Peter answers, "I know Tony, I've been interning with him all summer, and I would rather him be my guardian, than anyone else." Peter admits, as after everything that's happened, everything he's lost he doesn't want to be forced to live with strangers and Tony, and the others at the compound, aren't strangers, in fact they are probably the closest thing to family he has left.
"Okay." Mr Brooks says, writing something down on the paper, "I am inclined to grant temporarily guardianship, I do believe it is the best decision, but before I do I need to make sure you understand what will come." Brooks says, looking at Tony, "There will be assessments, a home study to make sure where you live is suitable for a teenager, and a hearing, likely within the next month." Brooks explains to Tony, "It will not be easy for you to be granted custody and you'll have to be prepared to show that you will fight for Peter, for his best interests."
"I will." Tony says, without hesitation.
"I'm glad to hear that." Brooks admits.
"Will what I want be taken into consideration?" Peter asks, "I want to stay with Tony."
"Yes Peter, considering your age what you want will be taken into consideration, but so will other factors." Brooks answers, "There are factors that are in your favour, but there are also things that are against you." He explains, "As I said you've got a difficult fight ahead of you, but it's not impossible for things to go your way." He explains.
"Thanks for the warning, but I haven't changed my mind, I won't change my mind." Tony assures Brooks.
"Good." Brooks says with a nod, "I'll grant temporary guardianship. You'll have to complete paperwork and you'll be contacted soon." He reveals.
"Okay, tell me what I have to do." Tony requests and they get started on what they have to do to grant Tony temporary custody of Peter.
It takes well over an hour but finally Tony has done everything he needs to do to get temporary custody of Peter and the two of them are leaving the social services building.
"So, that was just step one, right?" Peter asks, feeling that he doesn't even really want to look forward anymore.
"Exactly." Tony says with a nod, "And hopefully the media won't find out until after the hearing." He reveals.
"Do you really think that's likely?" Peter asks curious.
"There's a chance, social services reports aren't made public" Tony says as his phone starts to ring, "Hello." Tony answers.
"Mr Stark it's office Jenkins, we have the report on what happened to Mrs Parker, are you and Mr Parker able to come in to the station?" Officer Jenkins asks.
"Of course, we'll be there in the next half an hour." Tony answers.
"Thank you Mr Stark." The office says before Tony hangs up.
"What's happened?" Peter asks curious.
"It was the officer who came to the apartment last night, they know what happened to your Aunt." Tony reveals, "We've got to the station." He explains.
"Okay." Peter says with a nod and they head towards the car, both Peter and Tony worrying about what the officer is going to tell them.
September 3nd 2016. Queens Police Station.
Morning.
As he and Peter walk into the police station Tony isn't at all surprised when he and Peter get a few double looks, but as he's used to them he just keeps walking.
"Mr Stark… how can I help you?" the officer at the duty desk asks, sounding shocked.
"I'm here to see Officer Jenkins, she's expecting us." Tony reveals.
"Of course, please wait here." The Officer says before getting up and walking away.
A couple of minutes later the officer who was behind the desk as well as Officer Jenkins walk towards Tony and Peter.
"Mr Stark." Office Jenkins greats, sticking out her hand for Tony to shake.
"Officer Jenkins." Tony says, returning the handshake.
"Mr Parker."
"Officer." Peter responds.
"Please, follow me. The officer requests and she leads Peter and Tony back to some kind of conference room.
"What happened to my Aunt?" Peter asks as soon as they are in the room and the door is closed behind them.
"We've just got the report back, and there is no sign of foul play, it was a brain aneurysm." Officer Jenkins reveals as she, Tony and Peter sit down.
"Wasn't May a bit young for something like that?" Tony asks, wanting all the information.
"No. Mrs Parker was within the average age bracket for aneurysm and they are more common in females." Officer Jenkins explains, "According to the coroner there would have been no symptoms, no warning that this was coming." She explains.
"If I was home, could I have done something? Could I have helped her?" Peter asks and hearing that Tony makes a note to talk to Peter when they are alone.
"No. According to the coroner as soon as the aneurysm burst there was nothing anyone could have done." Officer Jenkins explains, and Peter nods and so Tony reaches out and squeezes Peter's knee in comfort, "Now Mr Stark I understand that you've been granted temporary custody of Mr Parker."
"Yes, that's true." Tony answers.
"Then I assume you'll be handling the funeral arrangements?" Officer Jenkins asks.
"Yes." Tony answers, not even needing to think about it.
"Then there are forms that you need to sign May's body can be realised to the funeral home of your choosing on Monday." Officer Jenkins explains.
"Okay." Tony says with a nod.
"Let's get started." Officer Jenkins says, pulling out the forms.
About half an hour later Tony and Peter are once more walking towards Tony's car, Tony having completed everything that he had to while Peter has been silent ever since Tony started to fill out forms.
"I know this probably won't help, but you heard what the coroner wrote in their report, there was nothing you could have done Peter, even if you were home." Tony tells the young boy.
"I know." Peter responds, though that doesn't help with the guilt he is feeling.
"So, we can go back to the apartment and stay there or to the compound, whichever you want." Tony offers.
"The Compound." Peter quickly answers, "I don't want stay at the apartment without May." He reveals.
"Okay, we'll quickly go back to the Apartment so that you can grab some of your stuff first, does that sound okay?" Tony asks.
"Yeah." Peter responds and the two of them drift into silence as they walk.
September 3nd 2016. Parker Apartment.
Lunchtime.
It has been about an hour since Tony and Peter walked out of the police station and Tony is sitting at the table in the Parker Apartment waiting for Peter to get ready to go.
"Tony, I'm ready." Peter's voice says and Tony turns around to see Peter holding a suitcase and two bags.
"You didn't have to pack everything. We'll come back whenever you want." Tony tells Peter.
"It's not everything, just most things." Peter explains, "I just…. It was easier." Peter explains.
"Okay, then let's head out." Tony responds as he stands up and Peter walks across the apartment as he looks around the apartment Peter can't help but stop in his track as he remembers all the time he spent with his Aunt, "Kid?" Tony asks concerned after about a minute as tears come to his eyes.
"Yeah." Peter says, turning to look at Tony, "We can go."
"Are you sure?" Tony asks, "We don't have to if you're not ready."
"No, I'm ready." Peter assure Tony, "I don't want to be here anymore." Peter responds before heading to the door, knowing that this will never feel like home again, it can't without May.
"Okay, let's go." Tony says as he follows Peter out of the apartment, knowing that he will do whatever he has to do to protect and look after Peter.