//Father\\

7

The Avengers emerged from all sides of the tower when Tony summoned them, each displaying a nervous but angry expression. Steve sends Tony a questioning but worried look.

"Cap, a word please?" Tony motions his head to the kitchen. Cap obediently followed Tony into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.

"Rogers, Lars, he's back. He was the one who sent the note to Pete. He killed May. Steve, he'll come after Peter." Tony was becoming short of breath, worrying about the kid he's come to love. "Stark it's gonna be ok," Steve patted his shoulder lovingly to calm him down. "We scared Lars once we can do it again."

Tony knew that this time it would be different. Lars is more powerful than ever and it matters most this time. His head was spinning as panic fled his body. He hadn't felt this way since his anxiety attacks years ago. His legs felt numb as they struggled to keep his body upright.

The world around him was going fuzzy and he could no longer hear Steve trying to communicate to him. All he could think about was Peter and what he would do if he lost him. All would be broken in his life and he would have nothing.

Eventually, Tony's numb legs couldn't take it and they gave out. He collapsed to the floor as the world around him grew darker. He thought he would be out for a while until he saw the boy's worried face.

Stark knew he couldn't leave the boy right now. He needed him. Peter grabbed the man's hand and tried to usher him back to conscience.

After a minute or two, Tony was brought back to full health and was steaming. He was ready to kill Lars and anyone who got in the way of that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Tony do I have to go into like hiding or something?" the young boy asked Stark. "For now, you can continue on with your normal life. If another sign, note, anything shows up then yes, you will."

Peter sighed and layed back down on the couch. He grabbed Wanda's chunky blanket and some popcorn and started to watch the Empire Strikes Back.

~~~time skip to the next day at school~~~

Peter pushed his way through the crowded halls of the place he calls a school. Swerving through the people in the corridor, he found himself push into MJ.

"Pete!" She smiled when she realized it was just him who bumped into her. "H-hey. Um sorry about that!" He returned the smile and gazed into her deep eyes.

MJ couldn't help herself and pulled the kid into a warm hug. "Listen Peter, I'm so sorry about May. I-I can't imagine how hard it must be right now. And shit! Are you living by yourself right now?" She exited the hug and watched the boy standing in front of her.

"E-erm thanks." Peter shifted his feet. "Actually, I found living arrangements."

"Oh okay, great!" She smiled at him and found herself falling into his deep chocolate eyes again.

Peter found himself in the same situation, feeling numb and not wanting to look away. The bell broke the stares and both blushed immensely when they realized what they were doing. Peter looked at his feet and awkwardly shifted them side to side.

"Well I guess I'll see you at lunch then. Bye Pete." She smiled at the boy and engulfed him in one more warm hug. She headed down the hall into the crowd of bustling students and left Parker in awe.

~~~time skip to lunch~~~

"Peter!" Ned saw his best friend sitting alone at their table. The only reason he was sitting alone was that he was the first of his friends to get to the table although it may have looked differently.

Ned ran over to the kid and plopped next to him. "Dude, I can't even begin with May. Oh God." he looked down at his tray and ran his hand against his forehead. Peter kept his head down and messed with the pile of who knows what that was thrown onto his plate from the cafeteria.

Ned pulled Peter into yet another hug and his face lit up. "Hey man, I got you something!" Ned dug through his bag and pulled out a wooden box.

"What's this?" Peter took the box and examined it. On the top, an engraving of the Spiderman symbol. The teen curiously turned the box to its side and flicked it open. Inside was Peter's first-ever web-shooters he made. He thought he lost them when Tony made him a new suit for Germany but Ned apparently had them.

An ear-to-ear smile spread across Peter's face as he turned to his best friend. "Ned I-I," he stuttered and found himself speechless, "thanks, man." Ned held his hand up and they recited their signature handshake.

MJ emerges from the crowd in the cafeteria and laughs at the sight of the two nerdy boys. "Some things never change I guess." She sat down with a laugh across from Peter. "This looks fucking disgusting." She played with the goop using her fork, not daring to touch it. The boys laughed and Peter again found himself staring at the beautiful girl in front of him

Ned noticed his friend and laughed. "Get a room, Pete." He burst into laughter at his own joke as Peter felt his cheeks go immensely red. He tried to hide his face from MJ so he leaned under the table to put the box in his bag from his lap. While doing so he didn't forget to punch Ned hard in the arm.

~~~~~~~~~~

That afternoon Happy picked Peter up from school in his usual black SUV.

While everyone, including Peter and Happy, knew this was not at all subtle, Tony insisted because of all the safety features he added to the car.

"Hey kiddo how was your day?" Wanda leaned over the couch. "It was actually a good day!"

Peter smiled and headed over to the couch. He squashed next to her and she covered him with the blanket.

"That's great! I'm so happy to hear that Pete. You deserve a good day after all the shit you've been through."

"Language." Steve added as he walked in and settled down on the couch. Peter giggled and looked down at his lap.

"I, myself had a pretty damn good day." Steve huffed and sipped his coffee.

Wanda and Peter looked at each other for a second until they burst out in laughter. Tears formed in the witches eyes from laughing too hard. Tony heard the laughter from the hall and decided to come greet the crew. He marched in and stood above the three on the back of the couch.

"And to think," he paused and looked at the now nervous boy, "I wasn't invited to... THE TICKLE FIGHT!"

He dove head first over the couch on top of Peter and the other two. He attacked the teen, tickling the kid until he begs for mercy.

"P-p-pl-eas-e!" Peter died laughing, "S-sp-ar-e m-m-e" he managed to spit out. Tony continued to torture the kid as Wanda and Steve joined in.

The group piled on the couch continued their fun until they heard a huge bang from the large windows across the room. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and cautiously watched the window. They repositioned themselves upright and they realized shots were being fired at the panes.

Jumping into action, Stark called FRIDAY a strike drone team to circle the tower and eliminate the threat.

He grabbed the teenager and threw him on the floor.

Tony covered the boy with his body just in time as the glass shattered and came rushing into the still room.

The firing stopped but Tony didn't dare to move. Wanda, protecting Steve with a force field a few yards away, inched towards the two.

She stood up, leaving Cap with Tony and Peter and scanned the room. "Nothing." She breathed. "Boys come on out." The three boys emerged off the ground and looked around at the damage.

"S-stark." Peter leaned over and clutched a letter that was addressed to him. He turned the envelope over as Tony and Steve found their way over his shoulders.

On the back was a seal with two letters; DL.