"Why the long face?" Jess rubbed Miles' shoulder as he sulked past her, "What's wrong with him? Doesn't want to go?"

"The store was out of his pull ups so I had to get him regular diapers instead," Rio explained, shaking her head, "He's very upset with me, but I told him that we would probably be through the pack soon and that I only got him one, for in case. You know how hard it is for him to potty when he's distracted."

"Aw, baby," Jess tsked, "Don't worry, I'll see if I can find him some while he's here."

"I'd appreciate that. He's been so pouty since I bought them," she laughed quietly. He did this same thing when he was going through potty training a decade and a half ago, "Can I have a goodbye hug, Papa? Or are you too mad at mami?"

He mumbled something, turning back to hug her.

"Have a good time, baby. We'll see you on Sunday, ok?" Rio covered his cheek in smooches, "Love you."

"Love you too," he leaned into the kisses before letting go and taking Jess' hand.

"Don't pout kiddo. Aren't you excited to hang out with Virgil? He has a fun plan for you," she squeezed his hand.

"What are we doing?"

"It's a surprise, but knowing him, I bet it's gonna be super fun," she tapped his nose, "And I heard that you have been having fun sharing recipes with your parents."

"Yeah, mami and dad really liked the knots and cake. And I remember last time Virgil taught me how to make the pumpkin doughnuts and the…uhm…uhm…berry french toast."

"Virgil makes really yummy french toast and I love his pumpkin doughnuts. They are so very yummy! They're better than the ones at the orchard."

He nodded, a smile spreading across his face, "Are we going to make something new this weekend?"

Jess thought about it, "Tell you what, you let me think about it. I think I know what we can cook together that your mommy and daddy will enjoy too."

Miles hopped excitedly, "I want to learn something new, I want to learn something new."

She smiled at him, his previous sulking forgotten, "Ok, we'll teach you something new. Let's get home right now. Are you hungry?" It was just after dinner time when she grabbed him for the weekend and these boys tended to stay hungry.

"Uhm…not really. I already ate. But am I on time for dessert?"

"I'm sure we have something for you to snack on. Did you patrol today?"

"Everyday. Of every week, of every month of every year just about," there was a flat tiredness in that statement. Not of a forlorn nature necessarily, more of a lack of enthusiasm. A state of acceptance.

Jess nodded, "Well, it's nice when you have help to take care of it. I'm happy you get to come and stay weekends with us. It's important to have breaks. Even your dad gets an off day."

"You don't get off days," he shook his head, "You have to be a mom, and wife, and Spider-woman, and a mentor, and help with the spiderverse. Why don't you ever seem tired?"

She tilted her head, brows furrowed at the question.

"Even when you were pregnant, everyone said you slowed down some, but not that much from what I've seen. How long does it take you to get used to it?"

"Comparing yourself to others is really gonna put you down, kiddo. Most days I love being all those things, some days I don't. I've always been a super busy person, it's just how I kinda function," she explained, "Unlike you, I wasn't a kid when I started being a hero. And before I was spider-woman, I had other tough jobs. That's how I learned so much that helped me with what I do."

Miles shifted some, "What don't you like?"

"Some days I don't like being spider-woman. I think we all have days we don't particularly care to be heroes. It seems thankless at times," Jess admitted, "Some days I don't want to do it because I just want to pretend I have a normal life. And some days I just don't do it, because the reality is that there will always, ALWAYS be something happening that I could help with. But you need to have you days."

She smiled, scratching his back some, "Whose gonna help if you get burned out? That's why I do take breaks. I go have fun with my friends and get facials and block everything out to be with my family when I can. And you need to take them too. You can't always have the weight of the world on your shoulder, honey. But let's do dessert first."

Miles gave her an appreciative smile. He knew he shouldn't compare himself but it was hard not to, "Is Miguel home?"

"Nah, he's doing something or other with HQ, so he'll probably be there for the night. So it's just you, me, Virgil and Gunner. At least tonight."

X

"No! No, it's mine!" Miles playfully ran away from the toddler as he attempted to steal a sip of his root beer float.

Virgil bobbed his head, singing to himself as he cycled through the movies, "What do you want to watch?"

"Uhm…Spongebob Movie!" he hurried away again when Gunner got too close.

"You got it," he clicked, walking to the couch, "Ready when you are."

"GG is trying to steal my dessert! He already had his!" Miles rushed over, crawling on the couch behind Virgil.

"Little thief," he grabbed his son's arm and tossed him into his wife, "Here, take that."

"Wow, just what I wanted," Jess easily caught him and sat, cradling him to her chest, "It is time for you to go to bed, little boy."

"Nu uh, it's too early," Miles sipped his drink.

"Not you, the other little boy," she playfully pushed his forehead.

"Well good, because I'm not sleepy," he poked her back, a grin on his face.

"Well excuse me," Jess tossed the couch blanket over his head.

By the halfway point of the movie, Mr. Not Sleepy had nodded off and was laying against Virgil.

They let the kids sleep like that and finished watching the movie themselves before carrying both little ones off to bed. Gunner to his crib and Miles to Miguel's bed. Of course they remembered to lay Bodega in his arms before making their way off to their bedroom.

In reality Miles hadn't really fallen asleep. Well, he had, but it had been such a light sleep that he had woken as Virgil carried him to bed. By the time he was tucked in he was fully awake with his eyes shut. He laid in bed for a while, struggling to get comfortable. Even the dancing lights from the nightlight weren't really helping him.

X

"I think we have a little watcher," Static commented, not looking up from his tablet.

"Are you hiding out there?" Jess called, "You don't have to hide. The door is open, you can come in."

Miles awkwardly peeked his head out from the hall, slowly emerging into their doorway, "Uh…Bodega woke up and I couldn't find my paci"

"That nice bear one?"

"No, I got one with a star. It was in my bag," he waved his custom paci at them before putting it back in his mouth. He shuffled in place, "Can Bodega have another blanket? It's a little cold."

"Maybe he's just lonely," V suggested, "Want to get in this king sized with us?"

Miles nodded, inching into their room. Climbing over Jess, he found himself nestled under the covers in between his surrogate aunt and uncle.

"You comfy?" Jess glanced down at him, "Warmer?"

A quiet nod, "What are you reading?"

"We tend to do a little book club before bed," she explained the plot of the story, "Do you want to be read to?"

He agreed, leaning into Virgil's side and sucking quietly at the pacifier as Jess began to read. Soon, he managed to fall into a much heavier, more restful sleep.