Because He Loves Me

Chapter 10: She's Going To Russia?

Less than two hours later, Nat came back to Tony.

"They can take us in six days. It's going to be a three-week program. They need you to sign this." Nat said, handing Tony a packet of blue paper and a pen. Tony scanned the first page, but it was basically the terms and conditions of setting up a google account in war form. Plus they didn't want Tony to sue them if Kassidy broke her arm or something. Tony barely looked at the rest of the pages, but signed his name and handed it back to Nat.

"If you bring her home in three weeks and one day, I will be absolutely furious." Tony said in his warning voice. 

"Mmhm." Nat said with a smirk. 

Later that night

"How could you not tell me, your wife, her mother? Sending our baby to Russia?" Pepper was furious, pacing the couples bedroom.

"I'm so sorry honey, I thought I told you!" Tony said. 

"What about Peter? He's going to be heartbroken, you're sending his sister to a whole other continent!" Pepper's voice was softened, now she seemed very empathetic to Peter. 

"You're sending my sister to a whole other continent?" The door flew open and Peter was standing there in his pajamas. 

"Peter..." Peppers voice was sad now. "I didn't mean for you to hear..." 

"Peter Benjamin Parker Stark, why are you eavesdropping on our private conversation at ten o'clock at night?!" Tony asked. Peter froze in fear. Then he seemed to melt, his bottom lip started trembling and his eyes watered. 

"I-I'm sorry dad, I-I was thirsty, I heard my name...I'm sorry, I didn't - I-I don't...." Peters voice broke into cries and he seemed to be trying not to cry in front of his parents. 

"Awh, Peter, no, don't cry baby we weren't trying to hurt you." Pepper said, gathering her son from the hall and Tony lifted Peter into a sort of air-hug. Then he set Peter down on the bed, where he and Pepper sat on either side of the boy, who was still trying not to cry. 

"It's okay Peter, you can cry, it's just us now. No one is going to laugh at you." Pepper said soothingly. Tony lifted the boy from his seat on the bed so that he was sitting in Tony's lap. Peter seemed to be calmer there. Peter always felt more safe when he was next to his dad, and on his lap was no exception. Pepper moved closer to the two, and Peter laid his head on her shoulder. Pepper reached up and stroked her son's hair. 

"I-Is  Kassidy really going to Russia?" Peter asked. 

"Yes sweetheart, Kassidy needs to complete her training in Russia before she can become a spy, or an Avenger." Pepper said. 

"Why can't she train here?" Peter asked. 

"Steve got really strong in the army, and with the serum. You and I have suits. Dr. Banner can use the Hulk. But Nat is special because she was trained to be. She is talented, and so is Kassidy. But Kassy doesn't know how to use her talent, so Nat is taking her to a special training place in Russia that is specifically designed to help her." Tony said, trying to make it easy for Peter to understand, even though it was far more complex. 

"H-how long?" asked Peter. 

"Three weeks." Tony replied. 

'T-three weeks?" Peter instantly let a new wave of tears come, and Tony bounced Peter on his lap gently, much like someone might with a baby. Peter didn't seem to care that a baby calming technique was being used on him, because he liked it. When Peter had caught his breath and his tears were quieter, Tony stopped bouncing and Peter nuzzled his face into Tony's chest, wrapping his arms around Tony's neck. Tony rubbed Peter's back and whispered 'it's okay' and 'I'm here' to him. Pepper trailed her hand down Peters back and whispered, "Shhh, it's okay Petey, we won't laugh." About fifteen minutes later, Peter lifted his head and both the parents' hearts broke. Their son's eyes where red and there were still tears running down his face. He was breathing shaky breaths through his mouth, and he kept sniffling through his red nose. 

"Shh, Peter, it's okay." Tony said as Peter began to hiccup too. "Aw, Peter you're going to make yourself sick with all the crying." Peter nodded and leaned back into Tony, now trying to stop the flow of tears. There was a knock on the bedroom door. Peter stared at Tony, terrified someone was about to walk into the bedroom and see Peter crying like a baby on his fathers lap. It was Rhodey, and Peter saw him and instantly turned away in a ball on Tony's lap. 

"Oh, sorry folks, didn't know you were having a-" Rhodey backed out the room and shut the doors. The trio heard his footsteps disappear. Peter whimpered. 

"Peter, Rhodey is not going to tell everyone that you're upset." Tony told the boy. Pepper nodded. 

"Peter, we love you so much, and yes your sister is going to Russia, but you're going to be okay." Pepper said. 

"I wanna go to Russia with her." Peter said. 

"Peter, you have school. Besides,  Kassidy wouldn't even be able to see you in person anyway." Tony said. Peter sniffled. 

"I wanna...I want...." Peter seemed to be having difficulty telling his parents what he wanted to do, and in frustration he brought down two fists of rage on the sides of Tony's lap, landing on the bed. Pepper had moved when she saw his firsts in the air, but now she moved back over to him chuckling and stroking his hair to calm him down. 

"I know you want to go to Russia, baby, believe me I know. But we need you to stay here, to stay in school, and we need you to support your sister." Pepper said. 

 "This is scary for her too, she's the one flying away for a ton of tests that she can't fail. I love you so much Peter, please understand why you have to stay." Tony said. Peter nodded. 

"I-I love you too, Dad. I understand why I can't leave, I'm sorry." Peter said. 

"Sorry for what?" asked Tony, confused. Peter hadn't done anything wrong, and "sorry" was only usually used when he was in trouble. 

"F-for pestering you about going to Russia." Peter said. 

"Oh, Peter it's okay." Pepper said. 

"An-and for...." Peter let his voice  fade out. 

"For what?" Tony asked. 

"F-for wasting your time....and for crying like a baby." Peter said, his face getting very red. 

"Aw, Peter, you never have to apologize for crying, especially in a situation like this."" Tony told his son. "How about we go have lunch?" Tony asked, and Pepper nodded. 

"W-wait, Dad?" Peter asked. Tony turned around. "Do I look like I've been..." Tony's first thought was "yes." But he didn't want the boy to be upset that he had some tear marks on his face. Instead, Tony sat down on the bed again and wiped Peter's tears away. His eyes were still red from crying, and he was softly hiccuping, but ultimately he looked a lot better. 

"Remember Peter, no one will think it's weird for a little boy to cry." Tony said. Peter nodded. 

When Peter went to the dining room, he could feel eyes on him, so he refused to meet the eyes and instead hid behind Tony, which was embarrassing to have to do but it was the only way Peter felt safe.