Always Be My Baby

Tony wanted to make sure they had everything. He was double checking his and Peter’s overnight bag when Pepper walked in with a stack of diapers. 

“Remember, diapers at night, pull-ups during the day.” She placed some on the bed next to the bag but Tony already had a ton packed. 

“I know. But I think we’re good. I have like thirty packed. Definitely way too much but… you never know.” He chuckled. When Alice suggested they go on a small trip together to spend time with each parent separately, Tony almost had a heart attack, thinking she was suggesting Pepper take Peter. 

He was glad Alice meant a boys and girls trip. Although Tony would miss his girls, he was excited to be getting some away time with Harley and Peter. 

He packed two extra bottles into the bag and zipped it up. “You know almost everything in this bag is for Peter. He’s high maintenance.” He teased and lifted the bag off the bed. “Are you guys packed?” 

“Yeah. I’m excited for some girl time. We’re going to go to the spa, get our nails done, then we’ll go to our room and order a lot of yummy food. Morgan already told me she wants me to put makeup on her so it seems we’re getting to that phase.” 

“She can put makeup on all she wants for fun but she’s not wearing it outside the house.” Tony didn’t even think about it but he didn’t think he would allow that until at least age sixteen. God. Then Peter would be nineteen. Tony didn’t want to think about that. 

“Dad.” Peter ran over to him once he saw him and began tugging on his hand. “Morgan keeps looking at me. I told her to stop.” 

Tony looked at Pepper. This would be good for them. 

They might just need a break from each other. 

“Tell her not to.” Tony grabbed shorts from the floor that Peter had taken off. “Come put these on cause we’re going now.” 

“I have to tell Morgan not to first.” Peter ran back into the living room and stuck his finger in his sister's face. “Not to!” He ran back to his dad, totally oblivious to Tony’s amused smirk as he stepped into his shorts. 

“Do you need to pee before we get in the car?” 

Peter tried to feel. “No.” 

“Are you sure? Because it’s about a thirty minute car ride.” Peter chewed on his finger. “Remember that your pull-ups are just for accidents.” 

“Yeah.” 

“So do you need to go pee pee before we go?” 

“No.” 

Tony eyed him. “Okay… let’s go. Give mommy a big kiss.” 

Peter jumped into his mom's arms. “Bye. Have fun at a different hotel.” 

Tony wanted to go to the same hotel but Pepper told him it wouldn’t feel like that much of a boys and girls trip if they were just in different rooms, so they were going to different hotels but about ten minutes apart. 

“Bye, baby. Have a fun boys trip. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Be good and remember to go pee in the potty and tell your dad if you need to go.” 

Peter nodded, fully intending to not do that. He pulled away from her and turned to Morgan. “Have a fun girls trip. I’m going with my daddy.” 

Morgan got her flip flops on. “He’s my daddy too.” 

Peter stuck his tongue out at her. 

“Dad! Peter stuck his tongue out at me!” 

They were almost out the door. Tony grabbed Peter’s hand. “Peter. Don’t do that. Alright, let’s go guys.” 

Alice grabbed Peter before Tony could get him buckled into the truck. “Let me say goodbye to my baby first.” 

“Hey. That’s my baby.” He pointed at Pepper. “That’s your baby.” 

Alice hugged him too. “Bye, Tony. Don’t let them drive you too crazy.” 

Tony knew if he had Peter and Morgan then they would drive him insane but thankfully Harley was old enough to actually talk to Tony without demanding something from him every minute. 

“I won’t. Thanks for giving us this idea.” He pulled away from her to go give his wife a goodbye hug and kiss. They were used to spending time apart since Tony often spent weeks at a time away from his family while he chased endless leads to find his boy. But he hated being apart from her now. “You guys have fun. Send pictures.” 

“You too.” She pulled him in for a kiss before he could even do it. “I love you. Have fun. Make sure Peter pees in the toilet. Please follow through.” 

Tony would try his best. “I know. I will.” 

He got into the truck after buckling Peter in and started it. “Everyone ready?” 

“Can I drive, dad?” Asked Harley. 

“No.” 

“Can I drive, daddy?” 

“No.” 

Peter crossed his arms over his chest with a pout and looked over at his older brother who decided to sit in the passenger seat and leave him in the back by himself. 

Tony backed out of the driveway and turned the music up to a low level so they could still talk and listen to it. 

“Look what Jake is doing this weekend?” Harley handed the phone over to show his dad the picture his friend sent him of him in a car, looking like he was racing. 

“Cool. Does he do that professionally?” 

“I wanna see.” 

“No. This is his first time.” 

“Let me see.” 

“I raced a car once when your mom and I went to Monaco.” 

“Sick. You never told me that.” 

“I need to pee. Daddy. I need to pee.” 

Tony looked in the rearview mirror. “Can you hold it until we can pull over at an exit?” 

Peter pushed himself down on the buckle between his legs. “No. I need to go badly.” 

Tony put his turning signal on and pulled the truck over to the side of the highway. Thankfully it wasn’t that busy. He put the truck in park and got out to unbuckle Peter, lifting him out and carrying him around the side of the truck, opening up The back door and Harley’s door to have privacy from both sides. 

“There’s no potty here.” 

“We’re on the side of the highway, bud. Just go in the grass.” Tony pulled down his pants and pull-up. “Just go.” 

“I don’t know how.” 

Tony turned Peter so he didn’t pee on the truck. “Hold yourself and aim anywhere in this direction.” 

“I want a toilet.” 

“Buddy, I don’t have one. Just go here.” 

Harley laughed at his younger brother's behaviour. “I wanna get to the hotel. Just pee, Peter.” 

Peter stomped his foot. “I can’t. I need a diaper.” 

“No. No diapers anymore. Do you really need to go?” 

Peter looked down at himself. “I did.” 

Tony felt his pull-up, feeling that it was fuller than when they left the house. Tony sighed. “Peter. Why is your pull-up full?” 

Peter shrugged. 

“Baby, you know I’ll always pull over for you to go. You didn’t tell me you needed to go.” 

“I did! Now I did!” 

“And you’re just standing here with your pants down not going.” 

Peter crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t want to go standing up. It’s scary.” 

Tony didn’t know how that worked since he’s wet himself multiple times standing up. He placed his hand on Peter’s lower back. “Okay. Then how about you squat down? Want to try it?” 

“I have to take off my pants first. And my pull-up.” 

“No. You don’t. Just… hold yourself, Pete.” 

“No. I don’t know how.” 

“I taught you, Peter. Remember?” Tony stood behind Peter and grabbed his hand, leading it down to do hand over hand but Peter pulled away. 

“I don’t want to go anymore. It’s scary.” 

“What's so scary?” Tony was trying so hard to make Peter stay calm and explain to him but Tony really didn’t understand what the big deal was. He really didn’t. “Just tell me so I can help you.” 

Peter opened his mouth to speak but slammed it shut again. He sighed then tried again. “I just don’t like it… I just wanna go pee pee in my diaper. Or my pull-up.” 

Tony rose to his feet and pulled up the wet pull-up back onto Peter, hoping he would get uncomfortable and want it off and decided to put underwear on instead. “But that’s only for accidents, baby. Do you need to go now?” Peter shook his head so Tony guided him back into his car seat. “Alright. Please don’t-” He could see the fabric rising and he sighed. “Are you going now?” A nod. “Then it’s going to be an uncomfortable twenty minutes now because I’m not changing you.” 

Peter looked away from him, a pout on his lips. 

The door shut and as soon as they were driving again, Peter began to try and take off his seatbelt but he couldn’t so he settled on whining. 

“What’s wrong, Peter?” 

“I… I need to poop.” 

Tony looked at the time. They still had twenty two minutes until they arrived at their destination and Tony really didn’t want to have to stop every five minutes. He really didn’t know what this phase Peter was in was all about and why he had to act this way. 

“No you don’t. We’re almost there anyways.” 

Harley turned in his seat. “Have you ever heard of the boy who cried wolf?” 

“No.” 

“Well… basically this boy kept saying there was a wolf and there wasn’t, so everyone would come to his rescue but he was just doing it to get attention, so when there actually was a wolf, no one believed him and the wolf ate him.” 

Tony rolled his eyes at the explanation. 

“I’m not crying wolf. I never even saw a wolf.” 

“It’s just a saying. I’m saying that if you keep saying you need to pee when you don’t, no one will believe you.” 

Tony shook his head. Technically every time Peter told him he needed to pee, even if he didn’t, Tony had to take him. That’s what all the websites and potty training for stubborn children book Pepper got said. “How about we talk about something else. What’s the first thing you guys want to do when we get there?” 

Peter farted. “I’m pooping.” 

They would never get there at this rate. 

Tony pulled the truck over again and unbuckled Peter from his car seat, lying him on the driver's seat this time. “Don’t move.” 

He got a pull-up and wipes from the bag then removed Peter’s pants and pull-up. “You didn’t go.” 

“Oh.” Peter looked behind him at Harley. “Hi.” 

“We literally stopped two times on a thirty minute car ride. I could walk there faster.”

“Then start walking.” 

Tony pushed Peter’s knees to his chest and wiped his butt. “Stop you two. And Peter, no more stopping. I mean it. You can’t be telling me you need to pee or poo if you don’t actually need to.” 

Peter ignored him and was reaching above his head to try and grab Harley’s phone. “Can I please play on it? Please? I won’t ask to go pee again.” 

Tony secured a new pull-up onto him, patting the front. “Hey you. Did you hear me?” 

“Huh?” 

“I said- hey. Look at me.” 

Peter turned to look at Tony. 

“I said no more stopping unless you actually need to go. Understand?” 

“Yep.” 

Tony knew he didn’t but hopefully they would get there in the next fifteen minutes. 

Surprisingly they actually made it. 

Tony had Harley watch Peter while he went to check in and get their keys and when he turned around to look in their direction, Peter was standing on the couch, looking at him so Tony raised a finger at him, silently telling him to get off and thankfully Peter got the hint. 

He got two key cards and walked over to the sitting area, holding the key card out for Peter since he knew he liked to be the one to open it. “Here you go. We’re on floor eight. You ready?” 

“How many floors are there?” 

“Eight.” 

Peter jumped to his feet and ran over to the elevator, stopping just in front of it to wait for his dad and brother. “Hurry! We gotta get there now.” He jumped from foot to foot, waiting impatiently for them to get there so he could press the button and feel the elevator go up. 

“I wished we lived in an apartment building.” Peter told them. “Actually I wish we lived in your tower. It’s cool up there.” 

“It says Stark on the front. It’s your tower too.” Tony ruffled his messy curls. “Are you gonna come work there with daddy one day?” 

Peter thought about that. He didn’t know what he wanted to be when he was older. “Maybe. I wanna work with mom.” 

“Mom works there too.” 

“And Harley?” 

“He doesn’t work there but he comes sometimes.” 

“And Morgan?” 

“She’s too young. So are you.” 

The elevator doors opened and Peter walked out, done with the conversation now. “Okay.” He looked down both hallways. “Which way?” 

“Well, what’s our number?” 

“Um… 812.” 

“So… which way do you think?” Tony pointed at the sign that told them which rooms were on each side. 

“This way?” 

“Good job. Take us there.” 

Peter ran down the hallway, looking for their room number and when he found it, he squealed. “This one.” Once sliding the card into the door, Peter pushed the door open, holding it for the two of them. “It’s heavy.” 

“I got it.” Tony placed his hand on the door so it didn’t come closing on Peter or him. It wasn’t actually heavy of course. “Go have a look around and then you need to sit on the potty.” 

Tony watched him run off, probably looking for the best hiding place where he wouldn’t have to go to the bathroom every twenty minutes. He placed the bag on the bed and opened it up, grabbing wipes and a new pull-up. 

“I wish Morgan was here. Then we could explore together. Harley’s boring.” 

“Don’t say that.” 

Harley didn’t care. “I’m not boring. You are.” He teased him, playfully picking him up and tossing him onto the bed then climbing on it to play fight with him. 

Even though Tony wanted Peter sitting on the toilet to keep him dry, he let the two of them play fight, not wanting to break them up. While they were doing that, Tony unpacked a few things that they would need and took a few pictures of Harley pinning Peter down and Peter wiggling his way out and getting on top of Harley. 

Tony took that opportunity to pick Peter up and toss him back onto the bed, pinning his arms above his head and attacking him with tickles on his exposed stomach. 

“Ahhhhhh!” Peter screamed, unable to catch his breath from laughing so hard so Tony took pity on him and released his hold on him. This allowed for Peter to roll onto his stomach and try to crawl away but Tony grabbed his ankle, pulling him back down. “Ahhhh! Daddy!” 

“Where do you think you’re going?” He lifted his shirt up to expose his chest and started poking it. “Typewriter!” 

Peter screamed and Tony was smacked in the face with a pillow so he turned to Harley and grabbed him, struggling a lot more to get Harley onto his back and pinned down but he did manage it and then Peter was free to attack his older brother with tickles and accidentally kneed Harley in the crotch. 

Tony felt that pain. 

Harley’s face scrunched up and he closed in on himself just as Peter was going to jump on him again but Tony grabbed him in time. “Hey hey. You hurt, Harley. Look.” 

Peter wiggled out of Tony’s arms and patted his brother on the head. “I hurt you? Where does it hurt? Need a bandage?” 

“Nope. I’m good.” Harley forced out. 

“I think play fighting is over. Pete, you need to go sit on the potty now.” 

Peter got off the bed and ran to hide under the table. “I don’t! I don’t need to go!” 

“You need to try. Come. Let’s go together.” He pulled his leg then lifted him up once he was out. “You can watch a YouTube video and play on my phone if you want but you need to try.” 

He placed Peter on his feet once he was sure Peter wasn’t going to run away then Tony placed the toilet seat on top, kneeling down in front of the toilet. “Pull down your shorts and pull-up.” 

“You do it.” 

“Nope. You have to.” 

Peter threw his head back but he grabbed onto his shorts and tugged them down then did the same with his pull-up before sitting on the toilet and pointing himself down. “I don’t need to go.” 

“You still need to try.” 

“I-I want the-the toilet that goes outside.” 

“A portapotty?” 

“Nooo. The one that goes in the bedroom. Or-or in the living room.” He kicked his legs back and forth, annoyed already. He hated sitting on toilets. 

Tony tried to think what he was talking about. “A training potty?” 

“Yeah.” He whined. “I want that.” 

“This toilet will work for now.”  

“Get it. Please, daddy. I don’t like this one.” 

Tony pulled out his phone and clicked on a YouTube video that Peter usually watched. “You watch this. If you still haven’t gone in a bit, you can come off. But you need to try.” 

Once Harley managed to regain his composure, he joined the two of them in the bathroom. “What are you doing after he’s done?” 

“I was thinking we can go down to the game room. There’s even a bowling alley here we can check out. He just needs to pee first.” 

Peter was getting really frustrated. “I can’t go. My bladder is empty.” 

Tony felt his pull-up that was dry. “You need to try for a bit longer.” 

“Noooaaaa.” 

Tony didn’t comment on that and simply waited a few more minutes but even after fifteen minutes on the toilet, Peter still didn’t go so Tony decided to get him off. “Alright. I guess you don’t need to go. But if you do, you need to tell me.” He lifted Peter off and squatting down in front of him to get him re dressed but Peter decided then to start peeing all over Tony’s shirt. 

“Uh, Peter.” Tony turned him away and stood up. “You were literally just sitting on the toilet, Peter.” Now the floor and Tony was covered in pee. “That’s not good, Peter. Why did you do that?” 

Peter shrugged. “I dunno. It just came out.” 

With an annoyed sigh, Tony took off his shirt and grabbed one of the towels to wipe up the pee. “Peter. You need to be peeing in the toilet. This is getting out of hand now. Do you understand that?” 

Peter tried to pull his pull-up back up but Tony stopped him. “I want it on.” 

“No. I’m going to put cream on first. You’re all red.” He grabbed his hand and tugged him into the bedroom, grabbing the rash cream and sitting on the bed, pulling Peter to stand in front of him. “Turn around.” 

“I peed on dad.” Peter told Harley while the cream was applied to his bottom. 

“Why doesn’t that surprise me.” His brother laughed, at what he did or at him, Peter didn’t know. 

“On accident.” 

“Turn around.” Tony spun him around again to start applying the cream onto his front. “Are you going to tell me when you need to pee next time?” Peter giggled. “What?” 

“It tickles.” 

“You need to tell me when you need to go pee. Do you understand? Otherwise I’m going to have to put you in underwear to see if you went pee.” 

“Okay. No underwear.” He waited for his dad to pull his pull-up and pants back up then Peter climbed onto the bed with Harley. “I’m gonna stay dry today.” 

“Wow. Me too.” He teased him. 

“You’re not wearing a diaper.” Peter went to feel but Harley moved his hand away. 

“You can’t just touch people there.” He said while laughing, probably showing Peter that he wasn’t actually being serious even though he was. 

Peter shrugged. “Dad does.” 

Now it was Tony’s turn to join the conversation. “Because I change you and I’m your dad. No one else should be. Got that?” 

“Mom does. And grandma did.” Peter pointed out but his dad was his favourite person to do the job. Maybe because he was a boy too. He turned to his brother. “And Harley will!” 

“Never.” 

“But then when you have a baby then you will.” 

“Yeah in like ten years. I don’t want kids right now. Maybe at thirty five even.” 

Peter turned to Tony. “How old were you when I was born?” 

“I was 29.” 

“Was it the best day of your life ever?” 

That was a really big question. Tony sat down on the bed to pull Peter onto his lap. “All three of my beautiful children were the best days of my life because I got to meet you guys all for the first time.” 

“Oh. What did I do?” 

Tony remembered that day clearly. “Well, I caught you when you came out then I held you in my hands and you started crying. I looked at your perfect little face and your tiny little body and I knew we were going to be best friends. Then I placed you on your mother’s chest so you could drink milk like a champ.” 

Peter loved hearing stories about his birth. He always felt so warm and cuddly inside knowing it was the day he got to meet his dad. “It was my favourite day too.” 

“Oh yeah. You remember it?” He poked him. 

Peter giggled. 

“Nooo. But it’s the day I met you. So it’s my favourite day.” 

Tony had so many favourites with Peter. He loved him so much. He pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I love you.” 

“But-but when I was born, I couldn’t talk yet. Just cry.” 

That was random. Tony nodded. “That’s true. You cried a lot.” 

“Oh. Cause I was hungry a lot.” 

Tony smiled. That was true. He was born almost four weeks early so he was on the smaller side, always has been. But within a month, he drank so much and gained so much baby chub that seemed to never leave his body. 

Tony knew it would once he started puberty but part of him was holding onto the hope that it never would. 

“But then you caught me like a football?” Peter asked, curiously. 

Harley laughed and so did Tony. 

“Well, I saw your head coming out and when your whole body was out, I lifted you into my hands to look at your beautiful little face.” He squeezed Peter’s cheeks together for good measure. “You’re just so adorable I could eat you up.” 

“No!” Peter jumped off the bed. “Don’t eat me or there’ll be nothing left for you to love.” 

“I’ll try to restrain myself.” 

.

.

.

Tony was having a fun time with his boys. 

He spent a lot of one on one time with Peter so it was nice to have some time with Harley too. Once Peter went to bed, Tony was hoping to get at least some one on one time with his oldest son. 

Peter had way too much energy right now though. 

He was jumping on one of the beds, landing on his butt and then doing a somersault. 

“Are you ready to go in a bath, mr? I’ll add a lot of bubbles.” 

Peter grabbed onto his brother's hand. “Can you come in with me, Harley? Please.” 

“That’s weird. No.” 

Peter pouted. He saw pictures of them in the bath together when he was a baby and Harley was younger. “But… we did before. Please.” 

“Before? You when when I was like seven?” Peter nodded, giving Harley his best puppy dog face. “Fine. But I’m wearing a bathing suit.” 

Peter looked at his dad. “I’m not. I want to be naked. I hate clothes.” 

Tony already knew that. “I know you do. If you go sit on the toilet now and try to go pee then you can join Harley in the bath while he puts his bathing suit on.” 

Peter didn’t protest having to sit on the toilet this time. He pulled down his pants and full pull-up himself then sat down. “Dad?” 

“Hmm?” 

“I already went pee in my pull-up.” 

“When?” 

“Like… five seconds ago.” 

Tony took both things off of him. “Arms up.” He pulled his shirt off and tossed it into a pile. “I thought you did. Tomorrow, I want you to try harder. Because remember, we’re filling up the potty chart still and you still didn’t get a sticker.” 

Peter got off the toilet. “Oh. But I’ve been good. Right?” 

“You have been very good but it isn’t about that. It’s about you going pee pee in the toilet. Not in your pull-up.” Tony felt like a broken record. 

He made sure the bath was the right temperature then he added bubbles. It was a jacuzzi rather than a bath and Tony could probably fit in there if he wanted but he decided to just watch his two boys instead. 

While he was watching Peter in the bath and waiting for Harley to walk in, Tony scrolled on his phone for an old picture of the two of them when Peter was about two years old and Harley was eight. 

He wanted to recreate it and send both to Pepper. She would die. 

“Harley!” Peter cheered. “I made room for you.” 

“I’m kinda scared to get in. I’m definitely gonna need to shower after this.” 

Tony agreed with that. 

He continued looking for the picture while Peter tried to dump bath water on Harley’s head. “Pretend it’s raining.” 

“Ew. Please don’t.” 

“I do it.” Peter dumped it on his own head, laughing. 

“I mean, you do you.” 

Peter sat up on his knees and tried to do it again to his brother but Harley took the cup from his hands, accidentally spilling it on Tony’s leg but Tony didn’t even react. 

“Damn, Harley. I was expecting Peter to be the one to get me soaked this bath time. Not you.” 

“How do you even know that was me? You’re not even looking.” 

Tony still didn’t look up from his phone. “I see everything. Just like how I know Peter is picking his nose right now.” He looked up to confirm his suspicions. He was always right. 

“Daddy.” Peter giggled. 

“Baby. You’re too silly.” Tony turned the phone around to show them the picture. “I want to recreate this picture.” 

Peter cooed at himself. “That’s me! I’m so little. I’m so cute!” 

“You are. You were two years old.” 

“Aww, that’s cute.” Harley looked at Peter in the picture. “Wow. He literally looks the exact same.” The only difference was obviously the size. 

Tony agreed. “He’s my baby. He better not change.” He placed his phone down and dipped his hands into the water to make Peter’s hair stick up. It was obviously a lot longer than in the picture but it was definitely just as cute. 

Tony finished and pulled away to look at his cute face and couldn’t contain himself. “Oh my god, you are just too cute. Look at that face.” He pitched his cheeks together, literally wanting to squeeze him way too hard from cuteness aggression. 

He pulled out his phone and snapped the cutest picture that was definitely going as his new screen saver. “You are so adorable. Look at this face.” He turned Peter to Harley. “Just look at him.” 

“I can see. He definitely got his looks from mom.” Harley teased. 

Tony kissed Peter’s puckered lips. “Definitely not. He’s definitely my twin.” 

Tony grabbed his phone again to look at the picture. Harley was sitting on his knees and holding a rubber ducky and Peter was squatting down and grinning into the camera, only he had a pacifier in his mouth in the picture which was because it never left his mouth. 

“Harley, get into the same position and Peter, sit up. No, like the picture. Here,” He moved Peter’s legs apart and placed his hands on the tub. “Stay like that.” 

“But my paci. I have one in the picture.” 

Tony did bring one. Just in case. He didn’t know what the just in case would be but he decided to pack one, worried about feeling really overwhelmed with Peter alone here. 

But he didn’t want Peter to know he packed one. 

“But that was because you were a baby. All you have to do now is smile.” 

Peter got out of position and turned his back to Tony. “Then I’m not doing it.” 

“Peter.” Tony sighed. He looked towards the door and debated on getting it but he knew that would make it more difficult for him later on so he looked back at Peter. “Pete, no baby. I’ll give you a chocolate after. Do you want that?” 

The boy turned a bit so Tony could see his furrowed eyebrow. He then fully turned and smiled. “Okay! One picture?” 

“Yes. We’re re-creating this one. Now get back into position.” 

“I forgot it.” 

Tony ended up getting the perfect picture after five minutes of trying. He thought it was adorable and even after Harley got out of the bath to go shower in the other bathroom, Tony continued taking a bunch of pictures of his kid, wanting to remember this night forever. 

He gave Peter a shower after and carried his cuddly little body wrapped in a towel into his and Peter’s bedroom, laying him on the bed and opening the towel so he could air dry before he got him ready for bed. 

“My chocolate?” 

“Yes. I’ll get you whatever one you want tomorrow.” 

“I want one tonight.” Peter pouted. 

“Baby. It’s getting late. Not tonight.” 

Peter tried to roll away and Tony let him while he grabbed a diaper and rash cream. “Lie back down then we can go watch a movie with Harley. Or play a game.” 

“I wanna play a game.” 

“Then you gotta lie down.” 

Peter turned and saw the diaper in his dad’s hand, knowing that meant he didn’t have to sit on the toilet every other minute. He crawled over and laid down, pulling his knees to his chest. “Yay!” He looked at the ceiling and waved at himself. “Dad. Why’s there a mirror on the ceiling?” 

Tony looked up and there was in fact a mirror there. Wow. Maybe he would take Pepper here… 

“Oh. It’s just so people can watch themselves sleep.” 

Peter nodded. That made sense. “I’m gonna watch me sleep tonight. And you!” 

“You do that.” 

“And I’m watching you put cream on me!” 

Tony laughed at how excited he was over a mirror designed for something children should have nothing to do with. And yet Peter was so young and innocent and Tony wanted to keep him that way forever. 

He finished up and grabbed his pyjama shirt from the bed. “Put this on and then we can go play a game with Harley.” 

Peter quickly put it on and jumped off the bed, running into the main room and jumping onto Harley’s bed. “I’m gonna sleep with you tonight.” 

“I don’t think so.” Harley ruffled the boys curly hair. “You kick too much. Plus you wake up like twenty times a night.” 

“No. I don’t. Only…” He held up five fingers. “This many times a night.” 

Tony playfully pushed Peter down on the bed. “I wish it was only five times. Then I could actually get some sleep.” 

Peter woke up about every two hours. Whether he woke up and wanted a bottle or just needed someone to cuddle with and reassure him that everything’s okay or he woke up from a dream. Not necessarily a nightmare but a weird dream. 

Or he woke Tony up from kicking him and pressing up right against him all night long. 

But Tony couldn’t sleep without him so he accepted the fact that he wouldn’t ever get a good night's rest. 

He actually hasn’t had a full night's rest in… how old was Peter again? 

“So I was thinking we could play President.” Harley placed a deck of cards on the bed that he found in one of the hotel drawers. 

“That might be too complicated for Peter.” 

“How about… Jenga?” 

“Yeah! I wanna play it?” 

While they set it up, Tony made himself a tea and his two boys a hot chocolate. Then he settled on the bed, leaning against the headboard where Peter decided to sit next to him. Harley set the blocks up on a tray on the bed and pulled out the instructions. 

“Okay. So. You have to pull a block out without making the whole tower fall. Then you get to ask one player the question on the block you pulled out.” 

Tony was excited about this. It was such a teenage girl sleepover game but he was still excited. 

“Me first!” Peter carefully pulled a block out and read the question. “What is… your… favourite vacation… memory?” 

“Who are you asking?” Tony asked him and Peter grinned, pointing at him. “Oh wow. I have so many. Ummm… I’d have to say when we went to Bali for your eleventh birthday and we spent the whole day swimming then we all went into the outdoor bathroom and you and Morgan were goofing around. The picture of you two in the bath is framed in the hallway at home. I love that picture.” 

Peter was bouncing on his knees. He knew exactly what his dad was talking about. 

He also wanted milk. “I remember. Can I have milk?” 

“Yeah. You guys keep playing.” 

It was Harley’s turn to pull one out. He looked at Peter, knowing this question would be way too much for their dad. “Do you have any regrets?” 

Tony returned and handed Peter the bottle which immediately went into his mouth. “Mmmm…” He pulled it out to answer. “One time… at school there was a pizza party and the pizza was really good. I regret not getting two slices.” 

Tony laughed. He wished he had those regrets. 

“Alright. My turn.” He pulled one out and laughed at what the question was. “Peter. What was your first kiss like?” Harley laughed, knowing his brother hadn’t experienced that yet. 

Peter leaned against Tony. “You.” 

“Me?” 

“Yes.” 

“Me what?” 

“You’re mine.” 

Tony loved his innocence. “I love you, cutie. Your turn.” 

Peter pulled a block out way too fast, both were surprised it didn’t come crashing down. “Umm… do you… hold any… what’s that word say?” He turned it to his dad. 

“Grudges.” 

“Oh. Do you hold any… gudge… gru… against anyone.” 

“What’s the question?” Harley asked, not understanding what his brother was saying. 

Tony repeated it. “Do you hold any grudges against anyone.” 

“What’s that word mean?” 

“It means like do you resent anyone. Like… do you have lasting hatred for anyone.” 

Peter nodded then looked at Harley. “You.” 

“What? Me?” 

“He’s asking you.” Tony chuckled. Peter should have been clearer but Tony understood. 

“Oh. Oh. Ummm…” Harley looked at Tony. They were both thinking of the same person but he didn’t want to say that in front of Peter. “I had a teacher once in grade eleven who used to pick on me for knowing the right answers. She was awful.” 

Tony remembered that. 

Peter nodded. “Oh. That sucks. You should have kicked her in the face.” 

Harley laughed but Tony didn’t want to encourage that. “No. He shouldn’t have. If that ever happens, then you should tell a different adult or your parents. Then they can fix it. You never hit.” Or bite. 

Peter sucked on his bottle. “Your turn.” 

Tony eyed him as Harley pulled a block out. “Ouu. What’s the best and worst piece of advice you’ve ever received from someone, dad?” 

Tony had to think strongly about that. “Wow. Umm… I’d say the worst advice was to have as much fun in my early twenties as I can before I have kids. Definitely not good advice. And the best… when your mother was pregnant with you,” He tickled Peter’s thigh, someone came up to us and told us that nothing stays the same so enjoy every milestone and don’t stress too much on the difficult times.” Definitely something I still think about when Peter is crying in my ear and refuses to sleep at nights. Although he didn’t say that. 

“I want to have fun in my twenties! Lots of fun.” 

Tony squeezed his cheeks. “Not that kind of fun.” 

Peter giggled, not even understanding what Tony meant. 

He pulled a block out, reading it. “If you could invite anyone, living or dead, to dinner, who would it be and why? Peter?” 

Tony was really curious to hear what Peter was going to say. 

Peter’s smile fell from his face as he thought about his answer. He didn’t really have to give it much thought. “I’d invite Steve.” 

Tony’s heart skipped a beat but he didn’t show it. He could see Harley looking at him but he kept his eyes on Peter. “Okay. Why?” 

Peter shrugged, chewing on the nipple of the bottle. “Cause I want to ask him why he chose me out of all the other toddler boys in the park.” He shrugged again. “I’m just curious. Are you mad?” 

Tony caressed his cheek. “Never, baby. It’s a valid question and I’m sorry I don’t have the answer for you.” 

“It’s fine.” He stared at Tony for a few moments then he pulled a block out. “What’s your biggest fear? Dad?” 

Tony knew what Peter was waiting for and he wasn’t going to dance around it. Everyone who knew him knew what his biggest fear was anyways. Even Peter. “My biggest fear would be losing you again.” 

“Oh. It’s okay, I won’t get taken again unless I do.” 

Wow, way to make me feel better, Pete. 

“You’ll never get taken again. I can promise you that.” 

Peter gave a weak smile and turned to Harley. “Your turn.” 

Harley pulled one out, happy it was a good one to get the tension away. “How many kids do you want, dad?” 

Tony barked out a laugh. “Oh god. Well, three is the perfect amount. All three fit in the backseat of a car. Two car seats. Perfect.” 

Peter bounced to his knees. “I want a baby brother.” 

“Nope. No more babies. After you, I’m done changing diapers.” He truly didn’t mind changing Peter’s diapers because he enjoyed the bonding time between the two and the obvious trust Peter had in him. 

“But I want a baby brother.” 

“Then you wouldn’t be the baby of the family anymore, Peter.” Harley pointed out. 

“Oh. Then I think three is a good amount.” 

Tony laughed hard. “Yeah. I’d say so.” He pulled a block out. “Oh.” He directed this question at Harley, curious of what he was going to say. “Would you ever want to start a family of your own? Harley?” 

Harley honestly didn’t know. He wasn’t ready at all yet but he also couldn’t imagine going through what his parents went through with Peter, seeing the way his dad looked half dead and the way his mom sobbed inconsolably during that time. 

“I don’t know yet. I mean, I don’t want to have to wake up every night to crying. And I really don’t want to change a diaper.” 

Tony felt so guilty because he knew why Harley didn’t want kids. 

“Hey. It’s the best thing ever. I know you’ll be a great dad. And changing diapers isn’t hard. You’ll change Peter before he goes to sleep and then you’ll see.” 

“Ew. I’m not doing that.” 

“Harley. Don’t let parenthood scare you just because of this little monkey.” He teased Peter but he was actually being serious. “I know you’ll be a great dad.” 

“Well… I’m only twenty and I don’t want kids yet… or ever. Soooo…” 

Tony sighed while looking at Harley. 

Peter pulled out the next block but the whole tower came crumbling down. “Uh oh.” 

“Oh no.” Tony threw his arms up in the air. “That was fun. Did you like it?” 

“I want to ask more questions.” Peter dug in the pile but he didn’t find anything interesting so he sighed and fell back on the bed. “I can’t think of anything.” 

“Okay. How about I ask you.” Peter grinned at him. “Do you want to watch a movie before bed in here or in our bed?” 

“Ummmm… I want to go swimming.” 

“Nope. We can’t.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because it’s closed.” 

Peter gasped and got off the bed, taking his bottle with him. “Can we watch a movie in the bathroom?” 

“Do you need to pee?” A shake. “Then no. How about we watch it in our bed. Harley, let’s go in here.” 

He also wanted to allow Harley to leave if he wanted to since he knew they would likely be watching a childish movie that Harley wasn’t fond of. 

“Okay. Let me just take a dump first.” 

Peter started laughing and Tony rolled his eyes. Boys will be boys. 

He caught Peter when he jumped into his arms then carried the boy into the other room, tossing him on the bed and grabbing wipes, cream and a diaper. “Harley will change you. Okay?” 

“Why?” 

“Because I want him to see that it isn’t so bad. So go easy on him. No trying to roll away.” 

Peter gave Tony a mischievous grin. 

When Harley walked into the bedroom ten minutes later with a bag of chips, Tony took the chips from him and handed him a diaper. “Change him.” 

“What? No. That’s your job.” 

“No. I don’t want you to think it’s bad and not want to become a dad because of this. I promise it isn’t bad. Just try it.” Tony sat on the bed and patted the spot next to him. “Pete, come lie down.” 

Peter jumped next to Tony, laying down on his stomach. “This is how daddy changes my diaper!” 

“Pete,” Tony flipped him onto his stomach and grabbed his bottle to make him stay still. “Stay still.” 

“I literally have no idea how to do this.” 

Tony laughed. “Undo the straps and pull down the front.” He instructed and honestly expected Peter to pee just for fun but he either didn’t need to judging by how full it was or he just didn’t think of it. 

“Now what?” 

“Put a new one on him?” 

“No.” Tony grabbed the package of wipes. “Make sure to wipe everywhere or else he’ll get a rash.” 

“That’s a lot of pressure. How about I just watch you do it?” 

Tony pushed Peter’s knees to his chest so it would be easier for Harley. “It’s not hard. It’ll eventually come easy to you.” 

“I’m definitely never doing this again.” 

Tony laughed. “I know. I will. Just this once. Start wiping or he will get bored and try to get away.” 

Harley began wiping him from back to front so Tony stopped him. “No. I should have told you that. Never from back to front.” 

“Then how?” 

“Front to back. Or two different wipes.” 

Harley groaned. “I’m not doing this.” 

Tony looked at Peter and saw that he was getting annoyed too, having to lie still for so long. “Harls, I just want you to not be scared of parenthood. You saw a lot of… difficult things. And I want to change your views on being a dad. It’s literally the best thing in the entire world.” 

Peter took that opportunity to roll onto his stomach and crawl away so Tony grabbed his leg and laid him back down but this time he grabbed the wipes to get the job done before someone got sprayed down. 

Peter tried to roll away so Tony had to hold one of his ankles while he wiped him clean. “Okay. Stay still now because I gotta put cream on you.” 

“No cream.” 

“Do you want to be sore?” Peter shook his head. “Then stay still for two minutes.” 

“One two!” 

“Minutes. Not seconds.” 

Peter began counting while Tony applied a thick layer of cream on and diapered him up, patting his bum for good measure. “Do you want more milk before the movie?” 

“Yes!” 

“Okay. I’m also gonna go shower so you guys get comfortable while I’m gone.” He returned with the milk then he left, telling Harley to keep an eye on him. 

Once the bathroom door shut, Peter turned to his brother. “Want to play hide and seek?” 

“Definitely not.” 

“Please. Please please please-” 

“No.” 

Peter sat up on his knees and then pulled on Harley’s hand. “Let’s go. One game. You’re it.” 

Harley looked towards the bathroom door and decided to just play one game with him. “Fine. But no going outside.” 

“Okay!” Peter jumped off the bed. “Count to one minute out loud!” He waited for Harley to start counting then he took off running towards the bathroom but stopped and decided to go somewhere else. 

He looked towards the front door and decided to hide just on the other side. No one would know he would be there. 

So he opened the door and sat down outside of it, watching an older man walk by, looking at him a bit too long. 

“57, 58, 59, 60. Ready or not. Here I come!” Harley looked quickly in the bedroom first but he didn’t hear him hide in there so he made his way into the other bedroom and began looking around. “I’m gonna find you.” 

Tony walked out wearing only his pyjama pants. “Where’s Pete?” 

“We’re playing hide and seek.” 

Tony hated that game. “Okay. Find him quickly so we can watch the movie.” Tony looked on the bed and saw the forgotten bottle sitting there so he walked back into the kitchen to make himself another tea, half looking around for where he would be. 

When Harley made his second lap, Tony was starting to get a bit nervous. “How long have you been looking for?” 

“Ten minutes.” 

Tony left his mug. “This place isn’t very big.” 

“Well he's tiny. He can fit literally anywhere.” 

Tony began to look. “Peter? Peter? Okay. You won the game. Come out now. Peter?!” He turned to Harley. “Did he leave the room?” 

“No. I told him not to.” 

Tony gave Harley a look. “Well that’s gonna make him do it just because he knows he can’t.” Tony opened the hotel door and saw Peter sitting on the floor, grinning to himself. 

“Did I win?” 

“Come inside right now.” 

Tony locked the door behind him then kneeled down to be at Peter’s height level. “That was very dangerous and naughty. I didn’t like that. If no adult is with you, you are not allowed to leave this hotel room.” 

Peter’s eyes filled with tears. 

“Someone could have taken you or you could have gotten hurt and I would have no idea where you are. We have rules for a reason.” 

Peter sniffled. “I wanted to win.” 

“But it doesn’t matter. You can’t do dangerous stuff like that.” He stood up, lifting Peter into his arms. “I’m not mad at you. You just scared me, that’s all. I don’t want you leaving this hotel room. Do you understand me?” 

“Yes.” Peter sniffled into Tony’s shoulder. “And Harley, you can't allow that to open. You’re old enough to know better.” 

“Dad. He’s literally a runner.” 

“No. You can’t tell him not to do something then just trust that he won’t do it. Because he will and you gave him that idea. You know he’s testing everyone to see what he can get away with.” 

Harley groaned. “He’s way too much. I don’t know.” 

Tony set Peter on the bed. “He’s in a testing boundaries phase.” Tony repeated, not caring if Peter heard which he knew he did. 

“I’m not.” 

Tony sat down on the bed with Peter. “You are. And that’s perfectly normal that you are. It’s all part of childhood.” Only Peter should have experienced this at a younger age and was only experiencing it now because Steve prevented him from doing it. “But you have to make sure that you don’t do dangerous things like what you did. Do you understand that?” 

Peter had to think about it. “I didn’t talk to anyone.” 

“I know, baby. But you left the room without telling anyone where you were going and without adult supervision.” 

Peter sighed. “Fine. I just want milk.” He grabbed his bottle and patted the spot next to him. “Cuddle, daddy.” 

So the three of them began watching some cartoon movie that was boring in Tony’s opinion but Peter liked it and eventually fell asleep about half way through it. 

The whole movie though all Tony was thinking about was what happened and how badly that could have ended. 

It scared him. 

Harley rolled over to face Tony. “Why does he act like this?” 

Tony was running his fingers through Peter’s curls and looked down at him. He had a thumb in his mouth and was holding the bottle just in case he needed it. Tony knew he woke up a few times throughout the night, took a few sips then put himself back to bed. 

Tony sometimes couldn’t sleep so he simply watched Peter instead, witnessing this. 

Another reason why he didn’t want to drop the bottles. 

“He… Steve didn’t allow him to go through these essential phases in a child’s life. So he’s going through it now.” 

Harley didn’t really understand. “But why?” 

“Because… every kid, you did, even me, your mom, the man down the street, we have to go through phases where we test boundaries, test our parents, do dangerous things we know we shouldn’t do. But Steve didn’t let Peter do that when he should have been at the right age, so he is now. Unconsciously. So he doesn’t know he’s being a terror. You just have to be careful with him. Okay?” 

Harley already knew that. 

“He’s definitely a terror.” Harley agreed. “Now imagine puberty, hormones and girls.” 

Tony did not want to think about that one bit. He needed Peter to stay this young forever so he was going to enjoy every second. 

“Don’t even bring that up, I’m so not ready.” 

Harley picked up the bottle on the bed. “Doesn’t Look like it’ll happen anytime soon. I think you’re good.” For some reason that made Tony feel better, selfishly. “Although I am looking forward to the day he and I can go out for a drive together and actually talk. Maybe go on a road trip or something sick.” 

“Yeah. That’ll be nice to see you boys grow up together. I want to take a trip to Europe when he’s out of this… phase.” 

“Which part?” 

Tony didn’t even know. “The waking up every two hours a night. Wanting a bottle at every second of the day. Oh, being in diapers day and night. Night I can handle but travelling Europe with a kid in diapers probably isn’t the most fun.” 

Harley gave a small laugh. “I really wanna go to Europe. How about you get him in underwear during the day and we go.” 

Tony automatically ran a hand through Peter’s hair. “It’s not that easy. And he needs to be a bit older to go.” Tony can’t take him like this. “That would be very stressful for him. And me.” 

Harley took some time to think about that. “Do you think that if Steve never kidnapped him again, that he’d be like this?” 

“I know he wouldn’t be. There were no bottles, Steve got him hooked on that, he had stopped bedwetting and was just starting to sleep in his own beds at night. He wouldn’t stay in it all night but it was a start. That… man took him from us for four days and now this…” Tony was grateful for the closeness between him and Peter but he felt bad for Peter, knowing how hard he was struggling with this recovery. 

Harley nodded, not knowing what to say. 

“But he’s fine. Everything will be okay. Stressful at times but okay.” 

Harley leaned over to hug his dad. “I hope so. It’s hard sometimes.” 

“I know, Harls. You’re such an amazing big brother to him. Just be a bit more patient sometimes, I know it’s hard but he’s young and he doesn’t understand when he does something wrong like you or I may see.” 

Harley nodded. “I know. I’m gonna head to my bed. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” 

Tony kissed his cheek. “I love you. Sleep good.” 

Harley left and Tony went on his phone, turning off the tv and just having his phone light on. He wasn’t that tired and wanted to text Pepper for a bit before falling asleep. He sent a picture of Peter fast asleep next to him with his thumb lodged in his mouth, occasionally sucking on it in his sleep but Tony became used to the sounds by now. Peter has sucked his thumb for as long as Tony knew him, his whole life essentially. 

Suddenly, Peter woke up and lifted his head up, looking towards the door. 

“I’m right here.” 

Without saying anything, Peter turned to look at him then moved so he was pressed right up against Tony’s side. He looked up at Tony and without a word even said between the two, Tony already knew what Peter wanted so Tony grabbed the bottle and put it in his mouth, holding it there with one hand while still scrolling on his phone with his other hand. 

Eventually, Peter moved his head away so Tony placed the bottle in his reach and watched his thumb go back into his mouth. 

Tony sighed, patting Peter’s tummy. 

It was exactly like what Peter did as a toddler only then it was Pepper’s breast and now it was a bottle. 

He would wake up randomly throughout the night, pull her shirt down and latch on. He would only start crying if he couldn’t access the milk. Same thing he did now. 

Tony was really in for a struggle. 

The problem was that they never weaned Peter off breastfeeding. He was taken from them so Peter went cold turkey in the worst way possible. 

Maybe that was why he was so reluctant to give up his bottles. 

Tony didn’t know. He wasn’t a child therapist. 

.

.

.

Tony sat upright in bed when he heard the crying. 

He turned and tried to see Peter in the dark but he couldn’t so he turned the light on, both him and Peter squinting at the sudden bright light. 

“What’s wrong?” 

First, Tony could see that his diaper was extremely full. Most likely what woke him up. And he was lying with his head on the other side of the bed, looking extremely confused. 

Peter cried out. “Where am I?” 

“Baby.” Tony pulled him into his arms, kissing his forehead. “You’re with me. We’re at a hotel. Do you remember?” 

Peter was looking around the room, pointing to the wall. “Where… where is he?” 

“Who? Harley?” 

“Huh?” 

“He’s in the other room, baby. Did you have a bad dream?” Tony asked, standing up to grab a diaper, wipes and cream. “Hmm?” 

Peter was still looking around. “I… the fire alarm. Do we go?” 

Even though Peter was awake, he clearly had no idea what was going on so Tony kissed his cheek and laid him down on the bed, easily getting him changed. “Shh. You’re just tired. You can go back to sleep soon, baby.” 

Peter started crying once Tony was done so he wiped his hands clean with a wipe and lifted him up into his arms, rocking him side to side. “Shh shh. You just had a bad dream. Shhh.” 

Peter stopped crying to look towards the door, pointing at it and then he started sobbing into Tony’s ear. 

Tony grabbed the bottle from the bed and pushed it against Peter’s lips. “Drink your milk. Shh shh. You’re alright. You’re alright. I’m here.” Peter was refusing the bottle so Tony put it down on the nightstand table and went to stand by the window to look out. It was just past 11:30pm and Tony was now tired but of course Peter needed comfort. 

“Look. Can you see all the lights? Do you think we can see grandpa's and grandma's house?” 

Peter was hearing him because he stopped crying for about five seconds to look out the window then he turned to Tony and continued crying. 

Tony didn’t know what to do now. Usually the bottle worked. 

“What’s wrong? You need to tell me what’s wrong so I can help you, baby. Why are you so upset?” 

Peter laid his head on Tony’s shoulder. He was tired but he was too scared to go to sleep because he woke up thinking he was back at the cabin with Steve and Bucky again for some reason. 

Now he felt weird. 

“Do you want milk?” 

Peter shook his head so Tony sat down on the bed but Peter tried to push away. “No. Nooo.” 

“What? Baby, tell me what’s wrong so I can help you? You’re safe here, baby? Did you have a bad dream? Huh?” He asked, brushing his hair back with his fingers. 

“They…” He turned towards the door again. “Where are we?” 

“We’re in a hotel in Malibu. Do you remember coming here yesterday for our boys trip?” 

It wasn’t like Tony carried him here while he was asleep, Peter remembered coming here, he was awake and alert. 

“How about I put you back to sleep?” 

Peter cried harder and pulled away from him, getting off the bed and moving to stand by the door, standing in front of it and crying. Loudly. 

Tony just stared at him, not knowing what to do. 

Harley then opened the door and Peter screamed, falling to the floor. “Daddy!” 

“Peter. I’m here.” Tony was immediately on his feet, picking Peter up and holding the crying and shaking child in his arms. 

“What’s going on? He’s crying so loud.” 

Tony could tell that Peter’s crying woke Harley up. 

It was probably waking the whole hotel up. 

“I don’t know, I think he had a bad dream and now he’s getting himself worked up.” Tony rocked Peter side to side. “Try to go back to sleep, Harley. I’ve got him.” 

“When are you going to sleep?” 

Tony’s done this before. “After he’s asleep. Don’t worry. You go sleep.” 

Reluctantly, Harley left the bedroom, closing the door and leaving Tony with a sobbing child. 

Tony just let him cry it out. 

He held him for some time, rocking him side to side and walking around the room but Peter didn’t calm down. He kept looking towards the door as if waiting for someone to walk in so Tony expected that he had a nightmare. 

More or less about Steve. 

Tony grabbed his phone and held it up, taking a video of his face while Peter cried on his shoulder. Peter then lifted his head up and turned to look at the camera, crying into it then going back to laying his head on Tony’s shoulder to cry harder. 

Tony sent the video to Pepper. 

Tony 12:47am How my night is going so far… 

He put his phone back on the nightstand table but he couldn’t take the crying anymore so he walked over to his suitcase and dug in the side pocket for the pacifier that he packed just in case. 

He poked it at Peter’s lips and thankfully Peter accepted it, giving it a few sucks and his crying immediately quieted down besides for the occasional hiccups. 

Tony was so grateful he packed one. 

He held Peter until he fully stopped crying then he braved it for the bed, lying Peter down and getting in beside him, patting his belly gently. “Shhh. Just rest, you’re okay.” 

Peter spit the pacifier out and a loud cry was escaping his mouth so Tony pushed it back in. “You’re okay. Just rest.” 

He stayed awake for the next hour until Peter fell asleep and then he stayed awake to make sure Peter actually stayed asleep. 

Peter would be waking up two hours later and wouldn’t be going back to sleep after that.