AN
Well, I have been writing on the next few chapters for a while and kept writing on this one, too. You and up getting to chapters because I somehow managed to write over 10k words for what was supposed to be a chapter around 2k to 3k words. Enjoy the chapter split in two!
Over the next few days, Rhodey promised himself to watch the interactions with Peter, May, and Tony more closely, not missing any moment in their lives. Rhodey will not allow himself to be blindsided or lied to, he wants to know what is going on in the life of his loved ones and help them! Rhodey would do anything for Tony, Peter, Pepper, and May no matter what they need! Therefore, Rhodey spend a lot of time in the Compound watching them interact and seeing Tony react to them or any information related to them. He would see something relevant eventually and get to the bottom of this, make Tony tell the truth, finally. And then he could be the uncle to his nephew he was meant to be.
Sure enough, every time Peter was around, Tony's demeanour changed. He became more protective, more nurturing, and more paternal. Rhodey watched Tony and Peter interact with a newfound sense of awareness. He saw the way Tony doted on Peter, making sure he had everything he needed and offering advice when he asked for it. Rhodey loved every minute of it, though the crippling self-doubt never truly left. The more Rhodey observed the two of them, the more convinced he became that Peter was Tony's biological son, making Rhodey smile in immeasurable happiness and huge worry at the same time. Every time May was around, Tony became expressive and open and soft. This was more confusing for Rhodey. He surely enjoyed May's company, but he did not think that Tony was ever interested in anyone but Pepper. Not truthfully.
Regardless, Rhodey knew his friend had a child and a girlfriend that he hid from him. Rhodey could see it every second of the day, at every last look he gave, at every situation, in every moment. Peter was Tony's son, there is no denying it. And May must be Tony's girlfriend, though the romance aspect seemed to be rather new. They were close, though. The relationship between the three was abundantly clear. May was Peter's mom and Tony's girlfriend. Peter was Tony's son. It was clear in every interaction they shared. In the way Tony cooked health food in vast abundance, the way Tony took the time multiple times a day to chat with them even if they are visiting the Compound that same day, the arms thrown around shoulders, the cuddling, the love and care, the movie night on Saturday, and wherever Tony and Peter are leaving to for hours when Peter is staying over, making it impossible for Rhodey to spy on them.
If it were just Tony, Rhodey would have a suspicion about where he is going. But with Peter? No, it is impossible! Rhodey could not even enter the lab most of the time, and he graduated from MIT with Tony, known Tony for decades! No, Tony would never let a child in there. There were labs in the Compound Peter might be able to enter, but certainly not Tony's personal lab. There were all the company's secrets, all the Iron Man suits, all the Avengers' equipment, even material for the newest recruit, Spider-Man. Tony has probably started working on things for Ant-Man now, too. He definitely is in contact with T'Challa working on new options. Rhodey has already heard some of it when Tony was visiting. The king's sister also was in contact with Tony, designing some things together. And they expect the highest security for any material or ideas given to them. They would not let him take it to a different lab than the one with the highest security, and that would only be Tony's personal lab or the locked, unused, empty lab of Bruce that was planned long before Bruce disappeared. And Tony never even set foot in there since it finished, It was just after his disappearance. Aside from Rhodey, Bruce was the closest to Tony, and he was there from the start. Technically speaking, Rhodey only entered the Avengers after Bruce was basically gone already. So throughout most of Tony's time as an Avenger, Bruce was the closest in there. Sometimes Rhodey wondered whether he might have been the only friend in there whatsoever. Considering how fast they broke apart, what kind of things were not spoken about, …
Rhodey forced his thoughts back to the riddle of Tony and his family. He enjoyed thinking about this far more than the thought of all his supposed friends fighting to death. The relationships between the different individuals fascinated Rhodey and caused some degree of happiness to course through him.
Happy was a particular surprise for Rhodey. Rhodey had known the man almost as long as Tony knew him. The usually grumpy man was a constant in the tower and Compound, always around, for years. Now, if Pepper and Tony were not with Peter and May, he would be notified immediately and make it to them himself. He was still quite grumpy, but not as much as Rhodey remembered him. He was getting closer to the lovable big softy Rhodey used to only see on rare occasions. And he was as protective as Rhodey has never seen before, and that was saying something. Happy always was an intelligent protector, caring and always ready to jump in front of a bullet if needed be. He would be checking on the boy every time Peter arrived by means other than Happy's driving. He would ask FRIDAY to make a body check for injuries and not let Peter go until he got the "all clear", as if expecting Peter to hide a broken bone or something under his clothes. The boy rarely even had a scrap. He would use SAD on every room May and Peter were about to enter, leaving no stone untouched, as if expecting bombs in every corner laid out just for them. Happy never left Peter or May anywhere alone.
SAD's existence had been news to Rhodey, too. The security of any Stark or Avenger facility was always top-notch already just because of FRIDAY's constant watch. But SAD added even more security than Rhodey ever thought possible. SAD, security adaptive device, was a small gadget put into every high-profile room and onto every high-profile person to check for any source of danger, whether it is to check on small paper stacks about to fall over, food about to expire, or more serious things like toxins and threats. FRIDAY alone would have been enough to keep any serious threat away, but SAD was going beyond that by far. According to the workers at the Avengers Compound, this programme has been specifically designed by an intern after FRIDAY needing to be partially shut down for an update ended with Pepper staying in the Med-Bay overnight. At least according to the rumour mill, though nobody seems to have real answers. And Rhodey was sure Tony deliberately chose this acronym. Knowing Tony, there is no way SAD was not purposely made for teasing.
But the combination of FRIDAY, one of the most sufficient AIs in the universe, able to think and feel like humans, able to protect and operate many computers and security systems, offer witty comebacks, or a nice philosophical conversation alike, able to explain anything and help in anything, hardly less human than Vision or Wanda, and SAD, an AI of similar strength whose entire power goes solely into assessing potential dangers and threats, able to compute the human factor to a degree... This combination was unbeatable. Rhodey seriously wanted to know the intern that designed the raw structure of it. There was no doubt in Rhodey's mind that this intern was a genius to be, probably making a PHD in programming at MIT, Harvard, or Columbia or something right now, constructing the bare bones of the programme before Tony took over. It was an impressive piece of technology that hardly anyone could do, certainly not an intern. And Tony would not let anyone see this deep into the security system of SI, the Avengers, or his family. Especially not his family. He is protective, it was guaranteed that Tony took over. He always took over when someone designed something with a potential security threat. FRIDAY always knew when that would be the case, and then Tony was there immediately. That was what happened when an intern first proposed ULTRON, what happened with BARF, what Rhodey knew must have happened with SAD. Rhodey did not know the hackability of it, but he knew once Tony was sure the safety was sufficient that way and that SI and the Avengers facilities had sufficient back-up, he would bring SAD on the market. The security threat was far less significant for a general safety system. Tony would just make sure to make safety checks with every buyer. Well, at least most likely. It depended on how much causes for danger Tony could find long-term speaking. He was always careful that way, rarely making decisions that would endanger others. If he only gave his own safety that curtesy. When Tony did something dangerous, like he did with ULTRON, there was big emotions and PTSD intermingled. He could not blame Tony for these things. He should have entered the Avengers earlier, maybe he would have noticed Tony's struggle. Maybe he could have been the voice of reason here. Before, he thought he could trust Bruce to be. Then, ULTRON happened and Rhodey knew there was no use, he needed to be an Avenger to keep an eye on Tony. He could not let his best friend suffer alone.
From what Rhodey could see now, May and Peter were doing what Rhodey was afraid nobody was doing while he was away: They were taking care of Tony, helping him with his PTSD more than Rhodey ever managed, they had fun, and kept him from bathing in self-pity or self-hatred depending on the mood. They kept him away from guilt trips, showed him they cared, and where always there for him. They were Tony's safety net as much as Tony was theirs. And Rhodey loved every minute of seeing them cuddled on the sofa, all three of them together, often joined by Happy, while Star Wars or Harry Potter or something was playing in the background. Rhodey knew one thing for sure: Peter and May were as good for Tony as Tony was for them, and he would not want them to ever get separated. It almost looked like Peter and May were healing the things broken within Tony, healing the trauma if his past, protecting his mind and repaired what is already harmed. Tony's father, Sokovia, Siberia, the wormhole, Obadiah, everything was shortly going away...And Rhodey saw Tony open up. He saw him speak openly, saw him pay attention, saw him care and love, saw him hug and kiss and smile.
One day, Rhodey was sitting in the Avenger living room, flipping through a magazine, asking FRIDAY the ETA every few minutes, when, finally, Peter walked in. The teenager looked dazed and exhausted, his eyes red and puffy. Tony immediately walked over to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, holding Peter's cheek with the other hand. A gesture Rhodey knew by now was Tony checking for injuries.
"What's going on, Pete?" he asked softly, worry overpowering his face.
Peter shook his head, his voice cracking. "It's just... everything, you know? School, afterschool stress, a fight with Ned, Aunt May, stuff ..."
Tony pulled Peter into a tight hug, holding him close. "I'm sorry you had such a bad day, kiddo! I'm here for you, Pete. You don't have to go through this alone."
Tony put a single kiss onto Peter's forehead while slowly pulling him towards the sofa, changing positions to a side hug instead of a frontal one while doing so… Tony pulled the boy onto the sofa, smiling softly at him. "Do you wonna talk about it?", Tony asked while pulling Peter's head onto Tony's shoulder and wrapping a blanket over them both. Peter pulled his knees in and wrapped both arms around Tony's chest, snuggling in tightly.
Rhodey watched in silence, feeling like he was intruding on something deeply personal. It was clear to him now that Tony and Peter had a bond that transcended anything he had ever experienced, and it made him feel both envious and grateful. He excused himself, offering to prepare Peter's "snack" for once (he still considered it more of a full meal considering its size, but he would not get any explanation, so he just went along with it). May would be arriving after work in the morning, until then Tony was responsible for Peter.
The picture of Tony carrying Peter to bed after movie night the next night was quite the sight. May had told FRIDAY to make pictures and save them into the "You cannot get out of this" folder and Rhodey immediately instructed FRIDAY to give him a link, which weirdly was not denied, his phone directly making thepingof a notification. When Rhodey was in his room, he went through the picture and videos one by one. Some of them needed an access code that FRIDAY was not willing to give, but most were just of May, Happy, Tony and Peter, some even Vision in between. Videos of food fights between Happy and May versus Tony and Peter, photos of Tony kissing Peter's forehead or May's cheek. Photos of cuddle piles and people sleeping on top of each other, videos of teasing, and photos of affections and discussions and enjoyment. Photos of events Tony invited May and Peter to, ... Photos of anything and everything, making Rhodey believe 100% that Tony had been lying to him. There were even some baby photos, school photos and childhood videos, even though Tony was not in any of them, nor was Happy. It was always only May and Peter. At least Tony did not seem to hide him long, then. Only maybe a year according to this? Probably around the time Tony was dealing with the accords. As if Tony had not had enough reasons for stress during that time, he learned he had a son. Certainly not ideal. At least it was a good surprise, seeing how well they are together. But it is still never easy to adjust to something this big.
Every meal together seemed to work pretty identical to that first breakfast. The food was prepared by Tony while he has easy conversation with his guests, showing vast and detailed knowledge about May's and Peter's life. He would talk about anything and everything to them, friends, school, trips, food, movies, science and engineering, sports, superhero-ing for some reason, and Legos. The last two subjects of interest Rhodey did not quite get. Sure, Iron Man is part of Tony's life, but they cannot talk about that infinitively, and what does Iron Man have to do with bedtime? Or the Lego thing. Peter builds robots and Lego sculptures? Tony and May would discuss something parenting related, they would love together, Tony or May would admonish Peter to eat his fruits and vegetables, to drink his smoothie, or his protein drink. Sometimes, Peter would complain or ask for Pizza or Burgers, but May and Tony were unrelenting. There seemed to be a clear rule: fast-food only once a week. It looked like a picture-perfect family.
--
Finally, Sunday afternoon arrived. May and Peter had been staying at the Avengers Compound the entire weekend, Peter arriving on Friday afternoon, and May coming on Saturday morning. It was the day Pepper was coming back from Thailand. Rhodey hoped she would swing by for a moment before going to her place. Rhodey would love to see her again and he really wanted to confront her about what she knew. She must know something, her messages implied quite a bit! Rhodey could not stop being excited for this opportunity. He might finally get to understand what is going on, and that is something he deeply wanted.
When Pepper arrived, May was gone for a few hours at a shift for the hospital and Tony was at an SI meeting. Therefore, only Rhodey and Peter were there to greet her. As Pepper Potts walked through the door,Rhodey could tell by the way she was carrying herself that she was exhausted.She entered the room, gave Rhodey a quick hug. He could hardly believe his eyes or any of his senses when seeing her. There was something different about her, something that made her seem more … soft? Caring? Something Rhodey wanted to describe as maternal, and he could not put his finger on why he saw her that way. He was alone with her right now, Peter still upstairs, and he could not seem to find how she was different to how he saw her last.
"Rhodey, it's so good to see you! Come on, let's catch up over lunch.", Pepper cheered excitedly, a giant smile on her face.
"Welcome home," Rhodey said, offering Pepper a warm hug. She smiled at him, her eyes lighting up with excitement. When they split from the hug, they made their way to the elevator to get towards the Avengers living room.
"Hey there, Rhodey," Pepper said when she noticed his presence. "Welcome back to you, too."
"How was your trip?"
Rhodey had missed her a lot. She was rarer to visit him at PT, being busy with the company and not feeling guilty about Rhodey being there in the first place, unlike Tony. Video calls could only bring you so much. It did nothing for the craving of her hugs or a good old fashioned movie night, a day playing some stupid insipid games, or eating something she had cooked. Having her here was what he truly needed, not just a conversation every now and then. A hug, a smile, a hand on the shoulder, a quick "I missed you". The ability to touch her just like that. To really have his best friend in front of him.
"It was fantastic," Pepper said, beaming. "I got a lot done, and I even managed to get back a day earlier than last expected."
Rhodey nodded, impressed as always by Pepper's efficiency. He couldn't imagine how Tony managed without her. She had always been the wind behind his sails, bringing him forth no matter the circumstances. She was what Tony needed in any moment of darkness his life kept throwing at him. And she was just as much a little light in Rhodey's life. She was his best friend not just for Tony but because she added value to his life he cannot imagine ever losing. Just as for Tony, Rhodey would do anything in his power to keep the light shining in her eyes, though with her it needed far less. She had her own struggles, sure, but the universe did not seem out to get her, and she had the ability to just stay the right amount of positive and serious at all times.
Though Rhodey was nervous how Pepper and Tony would react towards each other. It was the first and only time that the two of them were ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend, and such an interaction could be really awkward or even dangerous. And with both of them working together for SI now, it could only lead to problems. He could not imagine it going well with Pepper meeting Tony's son and loving a different woman.
When the elevator finally stopped and opened, Rhodey saw a new shock in his life.As soon as she saw Peter, Pepper's face lit up like firecrackers into the biggest smile Rhodey ever saw on her face when looking at the teenager scrambling to stand from the sofa, running to her. And she ran over to him, wrapping her arms in a vice like grip around Peter's small frame in a motherly embrace. Within a second, the both of them lay in each other's arms. Rhodey's mind was racing, trying to connect the dots.
"God, two weeks without you, sweetheart! I missed you sooooo much, honey!" Pepper exclaimed, kissing Peter's forehead affectionately.
Rhodey could not ask any questions before Pepper embraced the boy with all her might. Rhodey watched in awe as Pepper hugged Peter tightly, Peter welcoming her back home after her business trip. Both of them seemed inseparable.Rhodey could see the excitement in Peter's eyes as he hugged Pepper tightly, not wanting to let her go.The kid looked delighted to have her back, and Rhodey couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. He had always thought of himself as Pepper's and Tony's closest friend, but seeing how much Pepper cared for Peter made him realize he had missed a lot. He knew them far less than he thought he did. He thought he knew everything about them, yet it seemed useless. He knew nothing. All the years of getting to know them, and here he was, standing back at zero in an unbearable moment of truth: he knew nothing about them.
Peter, for his part, seemed to be soaking in the attention from Pepper. If Rhodey had to guess, he would say he had always been close to her, but her absence had made him realize just how much he relied on her presence in his life. It was obvious that there was nothing to worry about, Pepper loved Tony's son as much as Tony loved the boy.
Rhodey was surprised to see how much she cares for Peter as well. The two of them seemed to have a strong bond, and Rhodey couldn't help feeling a little envious. When had Tony and Pepper gotten so close to Peter? Well, Tony made sense considering he was the father, but Pepper was not as straightforward. And the question always remained. What had Rhodey missed in the lives of the people he cared for the most? Rhodey watched in awe as Pepper hugged Peter tightly, welcoming him back home after a business trip. The kid looked delighted to have her back, and Rhodey couldn't help but feel a pang of … something. He had always thought of himself as Tony's and Pepper's closest friend but seeing how much Pepper and Tony cared for Peter, a boy they haven't even bothered to introduce Rhodey to, made him realize he had missed a lot and that maybe he did not belong in this group. Maybe he was intruding. He had always thought that he and Tony were inseparable, but it seemed like there was a whole part of his friend's life that he had missed.
Rhodey had seen a lot of things in his time as Iron Man's best friend and right-hand man. He had seen Tony Stark create innovative technology, take down dangerous villains and save the world countless times. But what he had never seen before was Pepper Potts being affectionate towards anyone in a mother-son kind of way. So, when Rhodey walked into the Avengers Tower and saw Pepper hugging a teenage boy, he was taken aback.
When Peter and Pepper separated from the hug, the young boy looked shyly between Rhodey and Pepper. He gave her a small, grateful smile. Her face was set softly at the boy standing beside them, love in her eyes.
"Peter, my angel, how have you been?" Pepper asked, cupping his face in her hands and looking at him with the most loving smile Rhodey had ever seen aside from the smiles Tony and May gave this boy. A smile so soft and caring and motherly, he felt like his mother was back, looking at him, Beck, and Sammy all over again. Nobody has really directed such a smile at or around Rhodey since his parents died, but now there was Peter and everybody around seemed to have this smile as if it was always existing. As if it had always been around Rhodey. He loved it. It was beautiful. He had not realized that he missed the smile. And he was in love with it. It was beautiful and perfect and loving. It was the best look he ever saw. Peter blushed, looking slightly embarrassed, but Rhodey saw the way his eyes lit up at the attention. It was clear that he adored Pepper, and she felt the same way. It was like watching a mother and son reunited after a long separation.
"Peter! Oh, how I've missed you!" Pepper exclaimed, holding Peter at arm's length and inspecting him from head to toe. "Have you been eating well? Are you getting enough sleep? How's school?"
"I've been good, Miss Potts. It's so good to see you again," Peter replied, grinning from ear to ear. Pepper immediately kissed the boy's cheek, the child leaning close. Pepper pulled him close again, one arm around the boy, letting his head fall onto her shoulder. Rhodey watched as Pepper ruffled Peter's hair and chatted with him about his day at school. He couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion wash over him. Was May aware of Pepper's role in Peter's life? Was she okay with it? Or was this some kind of secret arrangement between Pepper and Tony?
Rhodey couldn't help but smile at the scene in front of him. It was clear that Pepper meant a lot to Peter and he to her, and he was happy to see that they had such a close relationship.
Rhodey sat down onto the sofa, letting them have a moment to catch up, watching as Peter and Pepper interacted in a way that he had never seen before. It was like watching a mother and son bond, and it was heart-warming to see. Pepper obviously had missed Peter a lot in the time she was gone. Two weeks were more along the lines of short business trips for Pepper, but being a mother figure must make it feel far longer than she was used. And she definitely was not happy to have been gone for so long.
Pepper turned to Rhodey, seeing him sitting on the couch and watching them. "Rhodey, it's good to see you again, too.", she offered with a strained smile. Rhodey nodded.
"It's good to have you back, Pepper. We missed you a lot.", he answered awkwardly.
After a few polite exchanges, Rhodey watched as Pepper turned her attention back to Peter. "So, tell me, honey, how have you been? I wanna hear all about what's been going on while I was away.", she asked, her arm still around his shoulder. "How was school while I was away?"
Peter's face lit up as he began to talk about his classes and the things he had learned, his friends, his free time, his internship, and just about anything he could come up with. Rhodey watched as Pepper listened intently, nodding along, and interjecting with asking questions and commenting. She had pulled Peter towards the couch, hugging him tightly to her side, her hand mussing up his hair. It was clear that Pepper cared about Peter, and she wanted to know everything about his life. Rhodey observed as the two of them talked, feeling a sense of warmth in his chest. It was rare to see such a genuine and loving interaction between two people, and he couldn't help but admire the bond they shared.
"FRIDAY, call May! I am not waiting any longer to spend a nice night with my three favourite people!" Pepper pulled Peter closer, cuddling up to him and stroking his hair.
Rhodey had always known Pepper Potts to be a strict and stern, but caring woman. She was the CEO of Stark Industries, and she had to be strong-willed to keep the company running smoothly. But when he saw her interact with Peter, it was like he was seeing a whole new side of her. Pepper had her arms wrapped tightly around the boy, holding him close as she talked to him in a soothing voice. Rhodey had never seen her so gentle and loving before.
Rhodey couldn't help but feel a little envious of their relationship. There was openness and love. And while just a few minutes ago this nice rapport has existed between Pepper and Rhodey, too, it was clear that Peter stood in between them in a way that Rhodey did not understand yet. He seriously hoped that it was only the conversation Pepper owed him that made her feel this uncomfortable around them. He could not handle her keeping him from his nephew, either. It was bad enough that Tony was keeping him from them, he did not want Pepper to stop Rhodey from being the uncle he wanted to be, either.
As the conversation died down, Pepper turned to Peter again. "Well, I brought you something back from Thailand," she said, pulling out a small package from her bag. It was a beautifully wrapped gift inside of some Star Wars wrapping paper in midnight blue, looking sophisticated for Star Wars wrapping paper rather than childish it would usually appear. Peter's eyes widened as he took the package from her, eager to see what was inside. Rhodey watched as Peter tore open the wrapping paper, revealing a small statue of an elephant group. Three child elephants, four adult males and two adult females. They were colourful three-dimensional statues made of what Rhodey could only describe as mosaic. Each was coloured differently and had a single letter build into the front of the statue. The kids were in the middle, the centre building a red and blue baby elephant with a "P", next to it on the right a gold and red male with a "T", on the left a brown cream white female with an "M". in front of the female was a child elephant in rose-red and black with an "N", and in front of the male one there was a child elephant in black and grey with an "MJ". On the right of the gold-red elephant was a dark blue female one with a "P" and slightly to the back a silver one with an "R". On the other side was one male elephant in different red tones with a "B" next to the brown cream female, and behind this red male and the female was a male elephant in different tones of cream with an "H". the elephants were surrounded by trees and in front of the three child elephants was the word "family" written in colourful mosaic stones. Above the elephants were silvery clouds with eight tiny golden elephants on top, four females and four males, sitting in groups of two, watching over the group of elephants below. The statue was clearly made specifically for the child and was wrapped on top of multiple books. One book was about Thailand, its culture, history, and languages, one about Star Wars and one about engineering.The boy's eye was captivated by the gorgeous statue, holding it like it was the most precious thing in the universe. Rhodey wondered who was represented by it because this was what it was obviously.
"It's beautiful, Miss Potts! Thank you so much," Peter said, holding the statue carefully in his hands, tears streaming down his eyes.
Pepper beamed at his reaction. "I'm glad you like it, Peter. It's a good luck charm. As long as you have, none of us on it will ever be in true danger."
Peter grinned at her, feeling grateful for the gift. He carefully placed the statue on the coffee table before wrapping her in the biggest hug Rhodey ever saw, tears dripping onto Pepper's blouse. "Thank you, Miss Potts. You didn't have to get me anything!"
Pepper shook her head. "Nonsense, Peter. You're my family. I had to bring something back for you!"
Rhodey watched as Peter beamed with happiness at her words. It did not take long for an enthusiastic conversation about Thailand to break out. Pepper's face lit up as she launched into a detailed description of her travels. She had been to Thailand to negotiate a new manufacturing merger she had to pacify to keep SI afloat, and she had been impressed by the efficiency and dedication of the workers there. Rhodey listened politely, but his attention kept drifting back to Peter's and Pepper's body movements rather than their words. They were sitting on the couch together, Peter leaning against her shoulder as she ruffled his hair and chatted animatedly about her trip. It was like watching a scene from a family sitcom, and Rhodey felt a pang of jealousy. He had always been close to Tony, but he had never had that kind of relationship with anyone else since his parents were gone. He had always thought of Pepper as a tough, no-nonsense businesswoman, but seeing her interact with Peter had shown him a whole new side of her. It was like watching a flower bloom, revealing hidden depths and layers of beauty.
As the conversation drew to a close, Pepper leaned over to give Peter another hug. "I'm so happy to be back, honey. I really missed you and May and of course, Tony."
Peter hugged her back, feeling a sense of contentment that he hadn't felt in weeks. "We missed you too, Pepper. It's good to have you back."
As the day went on, Rhodey watched as Pepper and Peter continued to bond. They played games together, watched movies, and even cooked lunch together that the three of them ate in the kitchen. Rhodey couldn't help but feel a little left out, but he was happy to see two people who cared about each other so much. Rhodey watched from across the room as Pepper Potts and Peter Parker talked and laughed together. There was something so endearing about the way they interacted, like a mother and son catching up after a long time apart. Rhodey couldn't help but smile at the way Pepper was affectionate and loving towards Peter. He had known Pepper for a long time, and he had always admired her strength and determination. But seeing her in this light, as a nurturing mother figure, gave him a newfound respect for her. It was clear that she cared deeply for Peter, and he couldn't help but feel a little envious of the relationship they shared. But the twitch of sadness in Rhodey was not disappearing. How much had he missed out on? And if the relationship was as new as Rhodey suspected, he knew his friends would need him because they were thinking the same right now. They missed out on Peter's life, too, and must feel horrible for it. They probably felt worse than Rhodey, considering Tony is the father and Pepper seemed to decide to be some sort of mother figure for him. He would definitely have to talk to her about that. He could not miss out on that. He wants to understand his friends and be there for them in any of their times of need. He loved them more than he could explain. He would be there for them first before looking at his own issues. But he needed to talk with Tony, too, if he wanted to get somewhere soon.
Then Peter caught his eye and grinned, waving him over to join in on their conversation. Rhodey smiled back, feeling a warmth spread throughout his chest. Maybe he didn't have a traditional family, but he had friends like Pepper and Peter who cared about him just as much. And Peter started to accept him as an uncle in his life. This is what Rhodey was here for. He would be Uncle Rhodey to his nephew Peter. As the three of them chatted and joked around, Rhodey felt a sense of belonging that he hadn't felt in a long time. It was a reminder that family comes in all shapes and sizes, and that sometimes the people you're closest to aren't related by blood. Pepper was not Peter's mother, yet she loved him like one. Rhodey was not Peter's uncle, yet Rhodey would be exactly that to his best friend's son. He loved the boy already. Pepper and Peter may have had a mother-son relationship, but Rhodey realized that he was just as much a part of their family. And for that, he was grateful.