"i want to take care of you, give you a home"
Natasha Romanoff sifted through the rubble, her catsuit ripped and singed from the battle. All around her was devastation - buildings reduced to rubble, cars overturned, broken glass littering the streets. The Battle of New York was over, but the wreckage remained.
As she climbed over a collapsed wall, she heard a soft sound. Turning, she spotted a small figure huddled amidst the debris. It was a boy, no more than ten years old, curled into a ball and sobbing quietly.
Natasha approached slowly, not wanting to startle him. "Hey," she said gently. "Are you okay?"
The boy's head jerked up, eyes wide with fear. Natasha stopped, holding up her hands. "It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm...I'm one of the good guys." She gestured to the frayed Black Widow emblem on her suit.
The boy relaxed slightly but his lip trembled. "No, I'm not okay," he whimpered. "My aunt and uncle...they're..." His breath hitched in a sob.
Natasha's heart constricted. She moved closer, kneeling beside the boy. "What happened?" she asked softly.
Tears leaked down the boy's smudged cheeks. "There was a building and it collapsed and they were inside and now they're gone and I don't have anyone left!" He dissolved into sobs again.
Natasha instinctively put her arms around him, letting him cry into her shoulder. She stroked his hair gently. "Shhh, it's alright," she murmured. But inside, her heart was breaking for this child. He was all alone now, just one of the many victims of this senseless battle.
After a few moments, the boy pulled back, sniffling. "Sorry," he mumbled.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Natasha said. She peered at him closely. "What's your name?"
"Peter. Peter Parker."
"It's nice to meet you Peter. I'm Natasha." She offered a small smile.
Peter's eyes widened. "I know you - you're Black Widow!"
Natasha chuckled. "That's right. One of the good guys, remember?"
Peter nodded, but his face fell again. "My aunt and uncle are really gone. I don't...I don't have any family now." His voice broke on the last word.
Natasha felt that pang in her heart again. This poor child, left orphaned and alone after today's events. She knew then that she couldn't just walk away, leaving him to fate. No, she would make sure this boy was taken care of.
"Peter," she began gently. "Why don't you come with me? We'll get you somewhere safe, get you something to eat..."
But Peter scrambled back, fear returning to his eyes. "No, no, I can't!" he cried. "Just leave me alone!" He turned and fled, clambering over the rubble.
"Peter, wait!" Natasha called, rising to go after him. But the boy disappeared around a corner. Natasha stood there, sighing. Her instincts were screaming at her to go find him, take him under her protection. But she knew she had to tread carefully. The child was clearly traumatized and frightened.
She glanced around. The other Avengers were regrouping nearby. She headed over to them, her mind spinning.
Tony looked up as she approached. "There you are. You okay?"
Natasha nodded. "Yeah. But listen, I just ran into this kid. He can't be more than ten years old. His aunt and uncle were killed in the battle."
The group fell silent, faces growing somber.
"Poor kid," Clint muttered.
Steve shook his head. "So much tragedy today."
"He's out there all alone now," Natasha went on. "No family to take care of him."
"That is grave news indeed," said Thor, brow furrowed in concern.
"What are you thinking, Nat?" Bruce asked quietly.
Natasha took a deep breath. "I want to find him, make sure he's okay. Maybe...take him in."
Tony raised his eyebrows. "You mean like adopt him?"
"I don't know...maybe. I just feel this instinct to protect him. He shouldn't be alone after everything he's been through." She looked around at them. "I've never felt this way before. But I want to help this child."
Steve stepped forward and squeezed her shoulder. "Then we'll help you, Nat. If this is what you want to do, we support you."
The others murmured their agreement. Natasha managed a small, grateful smile. This team had become the closest thing she had to a family. It heartened her to know they would help with this unusual new mission.
"Alright," she said with a sharp nod. "Let's start tracking this kid down."
Over the next few weeks, Natasha and the Avengers searched every orphanage, shelter and social services office in the city. Facial recognition software and security footage eventually led them to a group home in Queens.
The day Natasha went to meet Peter, she was uncharacteristically nervous. Doubt crept in as she made her way to the shelter. What did she know about caring for a child? Her life had been spent training as an assassin and spy; she wasn't meant for domesticity. And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that this boy needed her. She had to try.
The staff brought Peter into the visiting room. He looked skinny and pale, dark circles under his eyes. Natasha's heart constricted. She managed a smile. "Hi Peter. Do you remember me?"
Peter nodded silently. Natasha pulled out a chair and sat down across from him.
"How are you doing?" she asked gently.
Peter shrugged listlessly. "Okay, I guess."
Natasha's throat tightened. This wasn't the cheerful, animated boy she had first encountered. She hesitantly reached across the table and laid a hand over his smaller one.
"Peter, I want to help you," she said earnestly. "I'd like for you to come live with me, if you want."
Peter looked up, disbelief mingling with the grief in his eyes. "You want to adopt me?" he asked tremulously.
Natasha exhaled. "Yes. I know we don't know each other very well yet. But I want to take care of you, give you a home." She paused, then said softly. "Be your family."
Tears shimmered in Peter's eyes. "But why would you do that for me?"
Natasha gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Because when I found you that day, I knew you were special. I want to help you, Peter. Will you let me?"
A tear escaped down Peter's cheek. "You were always my favorite Avenger, you know," he said in a small voice. "I had your poster on my wall. I used to pretend I had cool powers like you and fought bad guys." He looked up at her hopefully. "If I came with you, could I...could I call you Mom?"
A surge of emotion rose in Natasha's chest. Without thinking, she moved to the boy's side and gathered him in her arms. "Yes," she whispered fiercely, her voice thick with tears. "You can call me Mom."
Peter clung to her, finally letting the tears fall. Natasha held him tightly, stroking his hair and murmuring comforting words in Russian. She had found her purpose again in caring for this child. No matter what challenges lay ahead, she silently vowed to protect him with her life.
Eventually Peter's tears subsided. Natasha drew back and cupped his face in her hands, smiling through her own tears. "Ready to come home, маленький паук?"
Peter didn't know what the Russian nickname meant, but hearing it made him feel warm and loved. He managed a small smile. "Ready."
Natasha signed the adoption papers and took Peter back to Avengers Tower. The team was waiting anxiously to meet the newest addition to their unusual little family.
Thor approached first, grinning broadly. "Young Peter! We are pleased to officially welcome you to our clan." He held out a hand the size of a small ham.
Peter's eyes were huge as he shook Thor's hand. "Wow...you're the actual Thor!" he breathed.
Thor chuckled. "I am, indeed! And a finer lad I have never met." He clapped Peter on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over.
"Try not to smash him, Thor," Tony said wryly. He gave a lazy salute. "Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. Good to meet you, kid."
"Oh wow, Iron Man!" Peter shook his hand eagerly. "I've seen all your suits, the Mark I, II, III..." he babbled excitedly.
Tony raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Nice. A fan of my work."
Steve came forward next, offering his hand. "Steve Rogers. But you can call me Cap. Or Steve," he added kindly.
Peter's eyes grew impossibly wider. "You're...you're..."
Steve smiled. "That's right, son. Captain America, at your service."
Peter looked ready to faint. Natasha put a steadying hand on his shoulder, biting back a smile.
Bruce hung back a bit, giving a small wave. "Hi Peter. I'm Bruce."
"You're the Hulk!" Peter cried.
"Er, yeah but I'm not so big and green right now," Bruce said with an awkward chuckle.
"Dude, you're awesome!" Peter gushed. Bruce looked taken aback but pleased.
Clint sauntered over and crouched down to Peter's level. "Name's Clint. I'm the eyes in the sky for these yahoos." He gestured to the team. "Also known as Hawkeye. What do you think, wanna learn some archery from a pro?"
"Yes, please!" Peter was practically vibrating with excitement now.
Natasha tousled Peter's hair fondly. "I think someone's a little starstruck."
The boy ducked his head, blushing. "Sorry. It's just...you guys are the Avengers! Real life superheroes! This is the coolest thing ever."
Tony slung an arm around Peter's shoulders. "Kid, you haven't seen anything yet. Wait until we show you your room. Top of the line computers, tablets, tech toys..."
"Tony, he's a child, not one of your robots," chided Steve, although he was also smiling indulgently.
"Can I see the labs too?" Peter asked Tony eagerly. "And watch you build the Iron Man suits?"
"I like this kid!" laughed Tony. "C'mon, I'll give you the grand tour."
As the others dispersed, showing Peter around his new home, Natasha held back, watching. Her heart swelled at seeing Peter already bonding with the team. This ragtag group had accepted the boy as one of their own without question.
The road ahead would have challenges, she knew. Peter had been through trauma and would need time to heal. But Natasha would be there for him. And with the support of her makeshift family, she knew Peter would thrive again. This chance encounter had changed her life, fulfilling a longing she'd never realized she had.
As Peter turned and flashed her a happy grin, the one she'd been longing to see ever since that fateful first meeting, Natasha knew she had made the right choice. This boy was her purpose now. And she would move heaven and earth to give him the life he deserved.
Over the next five years, Natasha settled into her new role as Peter's mother. There were challenges, of course - nightmares from his trauma, difficulties at school as he struggled to catch up after missing so much. But with patience and love, Natasha helped Peter heal.
Having the other Avengers around gave Peter a patchwork quilt of support. Clint taught him archery on the range built for training. Bruce would help explain Peter's advanced science homework, patiently answering his endless questions. Steve regaled him with stories of World War II battles over dinner, while Thor taught him sword fighting with harmless foam weapons. Tony set Peter up in his own lab space, guiding him through engineering projects. The team loved sparking the boy's brilliance and curiosity, treating and doting on him like the nephew they never had.
Peter flourished under their care. His natural intellect and passion for science and technology emerged even more. The kid practically worshipped Tony, peppering him with questions about arc reactor technology and nanotech.
"Alright, that's enough for one day, kid," Tony said after hours in the lab one Saturday. "Time to give this old man a break."
Peter's face fell. "But I wanted to ask you about the propulsion systems on the Quinjet..."
"Nope, we're done. Go on, get outta here," Tony waved him off. As Peter scampered out, Tony shook his head with a wry smile. "Kid's gonna be smarter than all of us soon."
In the years following the Battle of New York, more enhanced individuals emerged, some becoming new recruits to the Avengers. Wanda Maximoff joined the team after the events in Sokovia. She and Peter developed an instant rapport, bonding over both having lost family tragically young.
"You remind me of my little brother," Wanda told Peter one day as they ate ice cream together on the couch. She ruffled his hair playfully. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here."
Peter's ears reddened at the attention but he smiled shyly. "Thanks, Wanda."
Natasha was glad Peter had another female presence in his life. She and Wanda became as close as sisters, parenting and mentoring the boy together.
One afternoon, Natasha entered the kitchen to find Peter helping Wanda make cookies, laughing as they threw chocolate chips at each other. She paused in the doorway, heart full at the sight. Her little spider was growing up, but still had that sweet innocence about him despite all he'd endured.
As she watched Peter decorate a lopsided cookie, brow furrowed in concentration, tongue sticking out, Natasha was struck by a fierce surge of love and protectiveness. This child was everything to her now. She would always be grateful fate had brought them together.
Peter entered his teens with his brilliance continuing to grow. Now a freshman at Midtown School of Science and Technology, he excelled in his classes, especially science where he left even the teacher in awe.
"I don't know how his brain holds so much information," she told Natasha at one parent-teacher conference. "Peter's grasping concepts I don't teach until senior year. A true gifted mind."
Natasha wasn't surprised. She and the team continued mentoring Peter in the lab, impressed by his intuitive understanding of complex systems.
"How's my protege today?" Tony greeted as Peter bounded into the lab after school one day.
"Great! We're dissecting frogs in bio. It's awesome." Peter showed Tony his advanced robotics project.
Tony whistled. "Kid, that's incredibly impressive work. Your skills are off the charts."
Peter beamed under the praise. "I learned from the best."
Despite his intelligence, Peter remained the sweet, unassuming boy he'd always been. He wore his brilliance lightly, preferring to talk tech with his equally gifted best friends Ned and MJ rather than show off.
One Friday, on the way home from school, Ned was raving to Peter and MJ about an upcoming field trip. "We're going to Oscorp Labs next week! Maybe we'll get to see theparticle accelerator..."
"Ned, we're just freshmen, I doubt they'll show us the top secret projects," Peter laughed. Still, he was thrilled about the trip too.
The following Friday found the class at Oscorp Laboratories, gawking over cutting edge tech and listening to scientists discuss their research. As the students moved down rows of bio labs, Peter strayed from the group, drawn by a door labeled 'Genetic Research - Authorized Personnel Only'. Glancing around, he ducked inside.
The lab was empty, filled with equipment and specimens. Peter wandered the aisles curiously until something caught his eye - a sleek chamber labeled 'Genetically Enhanced Arachnids'. Heart racing, Peter opened the door.
Inside, several spiders skittered around a web. As Peter peered closer, one of the spiders dropped onto his hand. "Ow!" he yelped, shaking it off as the spider escaped. Two red puncture marks welled on his hand.
"Parker!" came the teacher's voice. Peter jumped guiltily and rejoined his class, head buzzing with questions. Had that spider been genetically modified? And if so, how?
By the time Peter returned to the Tower that afternoon, he had dismissed the incident from his mind. But over the next few days, he felt...strange. A creeping sense of unwellness, headaches, fatigue.
One morning, a metallic clang jolted Peter awake. Blearily he looked down to see his alarm clock crumpled on the floor. Had he done that? As he sat up, a wave of nausea and dizziness hit hard.
"Ugh Mom, I don't feel good," he groaned when Natasha came to get him up for school.
She pressed a hand to his forehead, frowning. "No fever. But you're clearly unwell. Back to bed, I'll let your teachers know you won't be in."
Peter spent the day sleeping fitfully. His body ached all over. At one point, crawling out of bed, his hand stuck fast to the headboard. "What the hell?" he muttered. After a few hard tugs he pried it free, staring at his hand in confusion.
By evening Peter felt well enough to join the team for dinner. Slumping onto a stool at the kitchen island where Wanda was tossing a salad, he dropped his head onto his folded arms.
"Rough day, little spider?" Wanda asked gently, using her special nickname for him.
"Yeah, I've felt weird all day," he mumbled into his arms. "Like really sick and achy."
Wanda smoothed back his hair, concerned. "Hopefully it's just a bug and you'll feel better tomorrow."
Natasha wandered in. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"
Peter lifted his head with a weak smile. "A little better I guess."
Natasha eyed him for a moment before turning to help Clint at the stove. Peter fiddled with his napkin, hesitating. "Actually, something weird did happen. At Oscorp last week."
Wanda and Natasha looked over, listening intently as Peter described the incident with the spider.
"And now I'm randomly sticking to stuff and I swear I crushed my alarm clock..." He trailed off at their uneasy expressions. "Do...do you think maybe that spider did something to me?"
Wanda and Natasha exchanged a glance. Natasha put a comforting hand on Peter's shoulder. "It's hard to say for sure, but it does seem possible. We'll have Bruce run some tests, see if we can get to the bottom of this." Peter looked relieved, making her smile. "Try not to worry. Whatever's going on, we'll figure it out together."
True to her word, the next day Bruce ran a battery of tests on Peter's blood, DNA, reflexes and more. After hours of analysis, he found definitively enhanced characteristics - strength, senses, healing, agility.
"That spider's bite has altered your genetic code," he told Peter. "You now have abilities beyond normal humans."
Peter's head spun as he tried to process it all. "So you're saying...I have super powers now?"
"In essence, yes," Bruce said, unable to keep from grinning at Peter's obvious excitement.
The tests confirmed Peter could now lift immense weight, react with lightning speed, cling to surfaces, sense danger before it happened, and heal rapidly from injuries. He spent the next weeks coming to grips with these newfound talents, while Bruce and Tony helped him learn to control them. It was a bewildering but amazing time for Peter.
But it frightened Natasha. Peter was still so young, not even sixteen yet. As much as she was proud of the honorable, heroic young man he'd become, she still saw the vulnerable child she'd taken in all those years ago. She worried something could happen to him because of these new abilities he was still mastering.
Late one night after Peter had gone to bed, exhausted from training, Natasha wandered out to the moonlit balcony overlooking the city. The sound of footsteps behind her made her glance back.
"Can't sleep either, huh?" Steve asked, coming to lean on the railing beside her.
Natasha sighed. "Just thinking about Peter. I know he's excited but...I'm worried. He's gaining such immense power, and he's still just a kid."
Steve nodded thoughtfully. "That's true. But we both know Peter has a good heart. However these new abilities develop, I trust he'll use them responsibility." He gave her a reassuring smile. "And it's thanks to you, you know. The love and guidance you've given him."
Natasha managed a small smile in return. "I hope so."
They stood in companionable silence for a few moments before Steve spoke again. "For what it's worth, I think you've done wonderfully with him. I know being a parent was new territory. But Peter's grown into a fine young man. You should be proud."
Unexpected tears pricked Natasha's eyes. Steve's faith meant the world to her. "Thank you," she said thickly.
He squeezed her shoulder. "We're all here for both of you. Peter will be okay." With that, he headed back inside, leaving Natasha gazing over the city lights, heart full of love and trepidation.
The next night, worn out from testing his abilities, Peter dragged himself to the kitchen for a snack. Opening the fridge, his head spun and limbs suddenly felt like jelly. "Woah," he mumbled. Reaching for the counter to steady himself, his hand adhered again. But this time it was followed by a strange tingling sensation, like a warning. Gasping, Peter yanked his hand free just as the fridge door slammed shut of its own accord where his head had been a moment before.
Heart pounding, Peter backed away. Had he somehow sensed the door closing? Even more disconcerting was the way his hand kept sticking. He needed help making sense of all this.
Wandering out to the lounge, he found Wanda curled up reading. She glanced up with a smile. "Hey little spider. How was training today?"
Peter held up his hand ruefully. "My powers are acting really weird. I almost got my head smashed cause the fridge door shut by itself and I randomly got stuck to it again."
Wanda patted the couch next to her. "Come sit. We'll figure this out."
Peter dropped beside her with a heavy sigh. "I don't get it. First I'm sick, then I'm sticking to stuff and now I'm getting these weird tingles right before something bad happens?" He shook his head helplessly.
Wanda considered this, absently playing with strands of his hair. The familiar, soothing gesture helped calm Peter's racing mind.
"It sounds like you're developing a kind of sixth sense," Wanda mused. "Awareness before something occurs. That will be useful." She tilted his chin up. "I know it's a lot, little spider. But we'll help you make sense of these gifts."
Peter nodded, comforted by her confidence. If anyone could understand strange abilities, it was Wanda.
Just then Natasha entered the lounge, smiling when she saw them curled up on the couch. "How are my spiders doing?"
Peter relayed what he'd told Wanda. Natasha listened closely, then squeezed his shoulder. "We'll figure it out. For now, try to be patient with yourself. Your abilities are still developing."
"Your mom's right," added Wanda. "It will take time to gain control. But we'll be right here to help."
Peter nodded, feeling better. He was endlessly grateful for his two favorite women guiding him through this confusing but amazing change.
Natasha kissed his forehead before heading off to bed. Peter settled comfortably against Wanda as she resumed reading. He was luckier than most kids, he knew. Whatever life held next, he had the world's mightiest heroes looking out for him. With their help, he would learn to use these new gifts responsibly, just as Steve said.
Peter's eyelids soon grew heavy. As he drifted off, Wanda's soft voice reading aloud in Sokovian lulling him to sleep, his last thought was imagining web slinging through the city skyline with the Avengers by his side. Whatever adventures awaited, he knew he was home.
Nine Months Later
"Ugh, why is this so hard?" Peter groaned, dropping his head onto his folded arms.
He was sitting at the kitchen island, surrounded by discarded gift ideas - lopsided pottery attempts, a blanket singed from botched embroidery, a mechanized photo frame short-circuited by faulty wiring.
Mother's Day was fast approaching, and Peter desperately wanted to create something meaningful for Natasha's first Mother's Day since adopting him. But coming up with the perfect gift was proving trickier than anticipated.
"What's the problem, Pete?" Tony wandered in, fresh coffee in hand. He surveyed the wreckage of Peter's efforts, lifting an eyebrow.
Peter lifted his head with a sigh. "I want to make something really special for Mom for Mother's Day. But..." He gestured helplessly around him.
Tony nodded in understanding. "Not crafty, huh?"
"Apparently not," Peter said glumly.
Tony sat down beside him. "It doesn't have to be a homemade gift, you know. You could get her jewelry, take her to a spa..."
Peter shook his head. "No, I want it to be personal, to show her how much I appreciate everything she's done for me." He traced his finger along the countertop. "I was so lost and alone before she took me in. Now my life is better than I ever could've imagined." He looked earnestly at Tony. "I just want to give her a gift that truly expresses how grateful I am."
Tony smiled, ruffling Peter's hair. "Then we'll figure something out, kid. Your old aunts and uncles will help."
Peter laughed. "Uncle Tony, you're not that old."
"Hey, watch it," Tony said in mock affront. But his eyes were warm. "Don't you worry, kid. We've got your back."
Tony proved true to his word, gathering the team to brainstorm ideas for Peter. But none of them felt quite right either. Peter started to worry he'd never come up with anything good enough for the woman who had changed his life.
"This popcorn is burnt," Wanda said one movie night, nose crinkling at the bag Peter had just pulled from the microwave.
Peter's face fell. "What? No way, I followed the instructions..." He trailed off as inspiration struck. "Actually, that gives me an idea!"
Grabbing his notebook, Peter scribbled excitedly. Wanda peered over his shoulder. "A cookbook? That's perfect!"
Peter nodded enthusiastically. "Mom loves cooking. And she's always making traditional Russian dishes for me. So I thought I could make a cookbook with all our favorite recipes."
Wanda squeezed his shoulder. "I think she will love that. Want some help?"
"Would you?" Peter asked hopefully.
"Of course, little spider."
Together they gathered recipes from all the Avengers - Steve's meatloaf, Bruce's vegetarian chili, Clint's grilled chicken. Peter carefully wrote each one out by hand, adding personal illustrations for a touch of whimsy.
For Natasha's Russian specialties like borscht and blini, Peter shyly asked Wanda for help with the Cyrillic lettering. She patiently coached him through forming the unfamiliar characters. Peter beamed proudly when he finally managed Natasha's name in Russian.
With Wanda's help, Peter decorated the cover in red and black, Natasha's signature colors. The final product was a patchwork of the family's treasured dishes, interspersed with Peter's drawings and handwritten notes about why each recipe was special. It embodied the love and warmth of their little found family.
The morning of Mother's Day dawned bright and sunny. While Natasha was out on her morning run, Peter and the team quickly decorated the lounge with streamers and balloons.
"Looking good, kid," Tony said, giving Peter an approving clap on the back. Just then the elevator dinged, signaling Natasha's return.
"Places, everyone!" Steve directed. The team scrambled into position, ready to shout surprise. Peter clutched his gift behind his back anxiously.
Natasha stepped out of the elevator, towel around her neck. "SURPRISE! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!" everyone cheered loudly.
Natasha jumped slightly, then broke into a grin. "You guys, you didn't have to do all this..." But she looked touched, eyes shining.
"We wanted to, Nat," Bruce said, giving her a hug. "No one deserves it more."
Thor enveloped her in a boisterous embrace next. "You are a fine maternal presence in young Peter's life!"
"What he said," Clint chuckled, kissing Natasha's cheek. "You're one badass mom."
"Language, Barton," Steve teased. He smiled fondly at Natasha. "You've done wonderfully with Peter. He's a great kid because of you."
Natasha glanced around at her unconventional family, heart swelling with love. "Thank you, all of you."
Peter shuffled forward then, holding out his gift shyly. "Happy Mother's Day, Mom."
Natasha accepted the package, eyes widening as she flipped through the pages of recipes and drawings. She looked up at Peter, touched. "Sweetheart, this is wonderful. You made this yourself?"
Peter nodded. "With help from Wanda. I wanted you to have something special from our family." He ducked his head. "You've given me so much happiness. I'm really grateful you found me that day."
Natasha's eyes glistened. Setting aside the book, she pulled Peter into a tight embrace. "You're the one who made my life special, Peter," she said thickly. She drew back, hands framing his face. "I'm the lucky one, маленький паук."
Peter hugged her fiercely. Around them, the team discreetly wiped away tears, deeply moved.
After presents, they enjoyed a delicious breakfast feast featuring dishes from the cookbook. Music played as the family chatted and laughed. Peter stayed close to Natasha the whole time.
When the day wound down, it was just Peter and Natasha left tidying up. Finishing the last of the dishes, Natasha wandered over to where Peter was straightening couch cushions and pulled him into another hug.
"This was the loveliest Mother's Day I could've asked for," she said softly. "Thank you, Peter."
"Anything for you, Mom," he replied, hugging her back tightly.
Natasha kept an arm around Peter as they curled up on the couch together. Sunlight slanted through the windows as afternoon faded to evening.
Peter rested his head on Natasha's shoulder. "Remember my twelfth birthday when you guys set up that crazy scavenger hunt all over the Tower?" he asked through a yawn.
Natasha chuckled. "How could I forget? Tony got so competitive he nearly short-circuited trying to sabotage Steve's clues."
Peter laughed drowsily at the memory. "Yeah, but Uncle Steve still won because his clues were so tricky..."
Natasha dropped a kiss to her son's forehead as his voice trailed off, his eyes drifting shut. She held him a little tighter, cherishing these quiet moments together as he hovered on the brink of manhood.
Watching Peter sleep, relaxed and content in her embrace, Natasha marveled again at the mysterious workings of fate. A chance encounter had brought this boy into her life, fulfilling a longing for family she'd never realized she harbored.
Natasha would never stop being grateful for that day she found young Peter amid the rubble left in an alien war's wake. Out of tragedy, they had gained one another. Now she couldn't imagine life without her bright, kindhearted spider son.
Peter would face new challenges ahead, she knew. His developing abilities would require guidance to wield responsibly. But Natasha would be there to steer him true, just as she had these past years.
Peter was her purpose now. No matter what uncertainties lay ahead for her intrepid boy, this unlikely little family would face it together.