"Ahh," Pete held the spoon near his mouth, "Here comes the plane."
Miguel leaned forward, bouncing some in excitement as he bit into his yogurt.
"Don't bite so hard, it's not something you need to chew," he pulled the spoon away, scooping up more of the snack.
"Gotta chew the granola and berries," Miguel corrected.
"Ok, true."
"I want to do it!" May pulled at her dad's shirt.
"You need to eat your breakfast too, Maybug," MJ sipped her coffee, reading through the headlines and weather on her phone.
"So does dad," she pulled at him again, reaching for the spoon, successfully plucking it from his hand, "I can do both."
Pete leaned back, May climbing on him to feed the giant.
"Come on Miggy, choo choo," she smiled, taking a large scoop and bringing it to his mouth.
Miguel's eyes creased as he smiled down to her.
The five year old made chugging noises as she drove the food into his mouth, "Good baby! Eat all your breakfast and we can watch cartoons!"
The older man sighed, glancing to his wife. It was nice having an enthusiastic member to tag in.
"Hey, kiddo," Pete started, "If you and Miggy promise not to make a mess, you can take your breakfast with you and go watch cartoons now."
"Ok! Come on, we can watch Oswald and Maggie" She hurried from the table, Miguel grabbing their bowls and following her closely.
"I like Maggie," he agreed, letting her lead him by the pant leg.
As soon as they were out of earshot Pete admitted to MJ, "I wasn't expecting this."
She shrugged her right shoulder, whispering back, "This is better than a foul mood, right?"
"Much better, I just…" he cringed.
Miguel had been practically attached to him and MJ at the waist when he wasn't working. Even when he was doing his little secular work he started leaning against Mary Jane's chair or leg. He just needed to have physical contact with them.
Today was a day off for the whole house and MJ had decided that everyone was relaxing. No Spider-man work, none of it. Just a day for them all to rest and chill. Peter didn't agree at first, but he probably needed it more than anyone.
May was having the time of her life. She loved when Miggy played baby almost as much as when he was an adult.
Mig leaned down, eating the raspberries the actual toddler kept passing him, "How is Beast gonna get his spots back?"
"Maggie has to help find them," the redhead pointed to the screen.
"Are you Maggie?" he played with her wild hair, "If you get a hat you would look like her."
She gasped, running back to the kitchen, "Mommy! Mommy, mommy! Can I get a hat and be Maggie!?"
"Maybe later, kiddo," MJ smiled down to her daughter, "Why don't you and Miggy go finish playing?"
She slumped off, pouting.
"Think we should take them to the park?"
"I'm not sure how it'll play out with Miguel," Pete marked. This wasn't Jess' dimension, so trying to allow him to be little in a public space might not have been the best idea. But even Peter admitted they should probably try to get out and at least take a walk or something. Get rid of some of the cabin fever.
She tapped her cheek with the pen, thinking hard on where they could go where Miguel wouldn't get any odd looks.
"Mommy, we're going to go play with chalk," the toddler ran back in, putting their empty dishes on the table.
"Ok, stay in the front," she reminded, "Miguel?"
The giant peeked into the kitchen, looking between both his sitters.
"Do not leave the front sidewalk. You or May," Peter told him, receiving a nod before being dragged out by the toddler.
This gave the two more time to come up with an idea of where to go.
X
"Mayday, Miggy, do you want to go to the library?" Peter walked out, "What are you guys drawing?"
"I drew a hamster," Miguel pointed, not noticing the immediate drop in Peter's face, "I drew a hamster and he's eating a piece of pineapple and I drew Mayday as Maggie," he pointed to a little redheaded figure in a hat.
"I made beast and I made a bunny in space!" May pointed to her drawings, "And this is the alien of the planet they have to save," she started pointing out.
"Great, May, that's super cool. Why is Miguel covered in red?"
"I'm Maggie, so he's Beast. And Beast is big with red spots, so we gave him red spots," she said proudly.
"Oh. Yeah, that makes sense," he rubbed his neck, watching both kids continue to color on the ground completely unbothered. To be young and mentally young, "Ok, well, we're going to go to the library, let's get Miggy cleaned up and changed into something that wont leave red stains everywhere."
"But he's supposed to be beast!"
"He can be Beast, but his spots will be invisible," he threw his daughter over his shoulder and guided Miguel back in the house by the hand.
X
Library was a major success. Mayday talked her dad's ear off about a book about a black cat with ice cream, then another about fall leaves, and even one that had, who she thought was, Miles on the cover. It wasn't Miles, but it was a book she enjoyed. Miguel was having just as much fun reading a book about sharks, when he was done listening to Mary Jane read both him and Mayday a book about a lion.
They ended up bringing a small tower of books home for the two to continue their reading. It lead to a mostly quiet day, except when they both ran outside to decide to reenact some silly scenes in their books.
X
"Stop dancing around, silly billy," Peter sprayed Miguel down, "Mommy and daddy are going to be back for you tomorrow. Are you excited?"
"Yes, yes, yes," he sang, clapping happily, "They're coming back, they're coming. I can tell them I saw a new movie and got to draw with chalk and got to be Beast."
Pete nodded, finishing off his bath as his ward listed off all the things he got to do and the fun he had. Most of which Peter was present for, but enjoyed the recap. At least it reaffirmed to him that he was a good caretaker.
"Alright, all nice and comfy womfy in our jammies, right? Ready for the movie?"
Mig nodded, still dancing excitedly, "They gonna call soon. Mami and daddy gonna call."
As if summoned, his watch alerted him to a call.
"Hello, hello?!"
"Hi baby," Jess' hologram waved to him, "Are you getting ready for bed?"
"Yes, I got my bath and I have my new pjs on, see," he pulled at the shirt so she could get a better look.
Virgil leaned over, "Nice. Are those the ones Richie got you?" he grinned as his boy nodded, "We're gonna have to have Peter take a picture so we can send him another thank you."
"When are you coming back tomorrow? Are we going to be able to have breakfast together?"
"We probably won't be there that early," Jess told him, "But maybe by lunch or early dinner. Is that ok?"
He nodded, eager at their return no matter what time, "Did you have fun?"
"Oh man, let me tell you, Bubs," V waved his arms, "I had so much fun! We're gonna have to come back soon, but we're gonna bring you and your brothers."
Mig almost had a stroke until he heard that he would be coming too, "Oh, ok. I think I would like to go to the carnival too," they had told him about that being their plan for their last vacay day, "Did you have fun there?"
"Yes, we had a lot of fun. We had funnel cake, and rode the ferris wheel. Just like when we took you and the others. We'll have to go again when we come home. I'm sure everyone would have fun again."
They spoke for about five minutes with Miguel before bidding him good night and reassuring him, for the fourth time, they would see him tomorrow and that they loved him.
He was practically on cloud nine the rest of the night. He enjoyed the couple of shows they watched with Mayday. Hardly noticed when she fussed about him having a later bedtime than her.
"Ok," Pete looked at the clock, "Bedtime, Miguel. We're gonna go put Mayday in bed and then we'll put you to bed. Go on to your room," Pete picked his sleeping, little wild child up, carrying her to her room as his wife followed and Miguel made his way to his
"How is it fair that you get to relax and be babied, but I have to still work and help out with everything. Matter of fact, everyone seems to have gotten a vacation this week but me," Lyla fussed as Miguel climbed in bed, "Make sure you grab Invernio and Alfredo."
"I won't forget them," he held both his bed mates up, "Mami and daddy are coming back tomorrow," he covered a yawn.
"Duh, I told you they would! Who would abandon such a cute, sweet, defenseless baby?" she floated near his head, still teasing him a bit.
"'M not defenseless," he hugged the toys tight, grabbing his pacifier, "Look it."
"Sweet, that's that bear show, right? Not Little Bear," The sprite exaggeratedly pretended to think.
"Carebears," he slipped it in his mouth, "Kent got it for me. He's so nice."
"He has to be to get you something so pretty."
"Mm…"
"Alrighty," Pete stepped into the room and immediately quieted himself, "Uh oh. Someone was really tired," he put a finger to his lips as MJ stepped in.
"Not sleepy," he muttered.
"Of course not," Pete ruffled his hair , "Did you have fun?"
"Uh huh," he nodded, rubbing his eyes, "Mami says you can go apple picking with us. I like apple picking, and daddy gets the pumpkins and makes doughnuts. They said we're gonna go again and you can come. We might go with the others."
"That sounds real fun," Mary cut the nightlight on, "I know I can't wait."
Mig grinned tiredly around his paci.
"Look at that big baby smile," Pete teased him, pinching his cheek, "You can almost forget he knows how to do that when he's all stone faced at work."
He grabbed Peter's hand, "I'm sorry I was mean."
"It's ok, honey. You just go to sleep now, ok?" MJ kissed his forehead.
"Night night," he turned on his side as he was tucked in, "Love you."
"Love you too bud," Pete pat his back, "Keep flashing that big smile and you're gonna break something," he chuckled as he walked out.