His Protective Dad (Starker FF) Completed ✓

Anchored in Love

As the night settled down and the excitement around Tony's tweet began to fade, Peter found himself alone in the living room with his Pops, Steve. Everyone else had either gone to bed or was busy winding down in their rooms, giving Peter and Steve a rare moment of peace.

Peter looked over at Steve, who was quietly sipping tea, his gaze warm and thoughtful. It wasn't often they got these quiet moments together, and Peter cherished them.

Peter shifted closer, sensing this was one of those times when he could speak freely. "Pops... do you ever feel like you have to be someone else? Like, you know, putting on a mask around people?"

Steve put down his tea and looked at Peter thoughtfully. "All the time, kid. Especially back in my early days. People saw me as Captain America, the soldier, the hero... but they didn't always see Steve Rogers, just a guy trying to figure things out, too."

Peter smiled, appreciating the honesty. "I feel like that sometimes. With college, being Spider-Man, and now with everyone knowing we're family... it's a lot to balance. But you and Dad, you make it look so easy."

Steve chuckled, resting a hand on Peter's shoulder. "Trust me, Peter, it's not easy. But you know what makes it worth it? It's the people who know the real us, who love us as we are. You've got that, with all of us here. And you've got MJ too. You're doing great, even if it doesn't feel that way."

Peter nodded, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "Thanks, Pops. That... that really means a lot."

They sat there a while longer, Steve telling stories from his past, some serious, others funny enough to make Peter laugh until his sides hurt. Eventually, they both felt the pull of sleep, and Steve gave Peter one last, proud smile before heading off to bed. As Peter turned in, he felt more grounded than he had in a long time, reminded that with his family and MJ by his side, he could face whatever came next.

The next morning, Peter was up early, drawn to the kitchen by the smell of fresh coffee. He found Steve already there, flipping through the newspaper with his reading glasses perched on his nose. It was a quiet moment, the house still and calm before everyone else woke up.

"Morning, Pops," Peter greeted, reaching for a mug.

Steve glanced up, a warm smile breaking through. "Good morning, Pete. Early start?"

Peter shrugged, taking a sip. "Yeah, couldn't really sleep much. Just... thinking."

Steve set down the newspaper, giving Peter his full attention. "About yesterday?"

"Yeah," Peter admitted, a little hesitantly. "Everything just feels so... big. Like, it's a lot to live up to."

Steve nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I know it seems overwhelming, but remember, you're not in this alone. Every time life throws something at us, we face it together. That's what family is."

Peter took a deep breath, absorbing his words. "It helps, having you and Dad. I feel like, no matter what, you two have my back."

Steve reached out, squeezing Peter's shoulder. "We always will, son. You're stronger than you think, Peter. And even if you stumble, we're here to catch you."

Peter smiled, his heart swelling with gratitude. They stayed there for a while, just sipping coffee and sharing stories about their latest adventures. By the time the rest of the family started stirring, Peter felt ready to face whatever the day held. With his Pops and Dad by his side, he knew he was exactly where he belonged.

Just as they finished their coffee, Tony walked into the kitchen, still in his pajamas and with a half-sleepy grin. He ruffled Peter's hair in passing and gave Steve a quick kiss on the cheek before reaching for his own mug.

"Look at my two early birds," Tony said with a smirk, glancing between Steve and Peter. "What's got you two up so early?"

Peter shrugged, exchanging a glance with Steve. "Just... talking about life stuff."

Tony raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, so you're both getting all deep and philosophical before sunrise, huh?"

Steve chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Just reminding Peter that no matter what happens, we're here for him."

Tony nodded, his expression softening as he looked at Peter. "Exactly. Doesn't matter what the world thinks, kid. You're our son first. Everything else comes second."

Peter's heart swelled, feeling a rush of warmth and security. He couldn't help but grin as he looked between his dads. "You two... you're the best."

Tony and Steve exchanged a look, both of them smiling, and Tony pulled Peter into a hug. "We're a team, remember? Stark-Rogers team, unstoppable. We face everything together."

Just then, Morgan shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. She looked at them, a little confused but amused. "What's with the early morning family meeting?"

Peter pulled her into the group hug, chuckling. "Just some motivational pep talk."

Morgan grinned, squeezing them all. "Well, count me in!"

They stayed there for a moment, wrapped up in each other, a perfect reminder of how much love surrounded them. And as they broke apart, Peter couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of strength, knowing that whatever challenges came his way, he had his family right by his side.

As the morning went on, the kitchen filled with laughter and the sound of sizzling food as Tony decided to make breakfast-a rare but cherished occasion. Peter and Morgan watched in amusement as Tony tried to flip a pancake, only to have it land halfway off the pan.

"Need a hand there, Dad?" Peter offered, laughing as Tony scrambled to save the pancake.

"No, no, I've got this. I'm just... improvising," Tony replied with a determined grin, nudging Peter away. "You're looking at a Stark breakfast classic in the making."

Steve chuckled from his seat at the table. "If that pancake ends up being edible, I'll be impressed."

"Hey, I can cook more than you think, Steve," Tony shot back, playfully defensive. "I just don't want to steal the spotlight from our resident chef, Mr. Rogers."

Morgan leaned toward Peter, whispering, "Looks like we'll be testing Dad's cooking skills today."

Peter snickered, nodding. "Brace yourself."

After a few more "improvised" flips and some creative plating, Tony finally presented breakfast-a stack of slightly uneven pancakes with a generous topping of fruit. The family gathered around, and despite a few skeptical glances, they all dug in.

As they ate, Peter realized that these little moments-mornings filled with banter, laughter, and the occasional pancake disaster-were what made everything worth it. The challenges he faced, the expectations that weighed on him, all seemed lighter in the warmth of his family's love.

Just as they finished up, Tony reached over and tousled Peter's hair again. "No matter where life takes you, remember this: we're always here, and we're always proud of you. Got it?"

Peter looked around the table, his heart full. "Got it, Dad. Thanks... for everything."

They spent the rest of the morning together, sharing stories and laughs, knowing that no matter what lay ahead, they had each other. And with that unbreakable bond, Peter felt ready to take on the world.