After the War

Part 6

"Tony?" Steve snapped his fingers in front of the entranced man's face. "Tony?" He shared a look with the others, knowing that whatever was going on in the genius's head was no good.

Tony's head buzzed with thoughts of the daughter, who's existence had been unknown to him until moments before. He missed 17 years of her life all because; well because SHIELD decided that he didn't deserve to know. Didn't deserve to know that one of his fleeting one night stands that apparently happened with some sort of alien, produced a child. He'd known Fury for what? Ten years? Maybe more? And he knew that Tony tried and tried to help people, to get better and he chose not to tell him in spite of all his efforts. He'd talked to Pepper about how he wanted a kid while there was one living right under his nose. Fury had no right to keep this from him, no matter his reasons. And how had he not noticed that her mother wasn't human? Was he so intoxicated that his senses were par to none or did she have some sort of shape shifting capabilities or was there an easier explanation and it happened to be an especially rowdy Halloween party.

"Tony?" A muffled voice pulled at him, but he just faintly shook his head refusing to let himself out of his guilt and anger filled state. "Get the kid," the voice commanded but Tony barely registered it this time, burying himself deeper and deeper.

————————

"Peter?" His Aunt couldn't believe her eyes as her nephew stepped through the threshold of their apartment.

"May."

A sob rips through her throat as they throw their arms around each other, the weight of just how long it had been since they'd seen the other finally hitting. May tries her hardest to stay strong but tears manage to escape her eyes, the same action mirrored in Peter.

After composing herself and attempting to slyly wipe her eyes, May holds him at arms length, giving him a once over. Peter melts at her concern but the moment is cut short when she slaps his arm.

"Do you know what you put me through?"

"Ma-" Peter starts.

"No, you don't get to 'May' me. Do you know what you put me through?" Peter looks away. Aunt May hadn't been crazy about the idea of him being Spider-Man when she'd found out and this is exactly why. "You told me that you said to Tony that you were going to 'stay on the ground.' Is this what you call staying on the ground?" Peter just shakes his head no, head dropped in shame because he knows what she must have put herself through when he disappeared. "Pete you have to be careful. You are just a kid." Peter's head whips up when she refers to him as a kid but she raises a finger and continues, "Yes a kid that can stop a bus with his bare hands but that doesn't mean that you can be taking on aliens every time that they decide to waltz into New York. The Avengers will deal with it."

"Um, well technically I am a part of the Avengers now, by the way," He mumbles.

May gives him a look and Peter braces himself for another twenty years of lecture but he's brought back into a hug. Sighing, he buries his head in her shoulder, remembering just how much he missed her hugs.

"Peter you have to be careful. When you're older I'll understand but for now you have your whole life ahead of you and I'd like you to be able to experience it," May says without letting him go.

He just nods his head, a silent promise to do his best.

The two just stand there for what seems like hours until the phone rings. They exchange a look, wondering who it could be. May answers it, "Who is it?"

"Ste..T..tack..need...kid." Peter just hears faint words spoken form the other side.

May's eyes narrow, "You wouldn't happen to be from Brooklyn would you?" Peter's eyes widen at his aunt's accusatory time and remembers the conversation that they had two years ago after Berlin.