With me till the end
Peter woke up to the pacifier falling out of his mouth.
He looked around but was unable to see anything in the dark room so he rolled onto his stomach and patted around on the bed, trying to search for his pacifier but he’s unable to find it.
With a sigh, he rolled onto his back and shoved his thumb past his lips, giving it a few sucks to comfort himself and attempt to fall back to sleep but now he feels wide awake.
Peter rolled onto his side and sat up, poking Morgan on the back. “Morgan. Wake up. I’m bored. Morgan.” He whispered, shaking her a bit more.
Morgan rolled over, rubbing her eyes. “Huh?”
“I’m awake. Wake up and play with me.” He said, sitting up and kicking the blankets off his sweaty body.
“Dads awake?”
Peter looked back at him. He was sleeping on his side, facing Peter, but was still asleep. “No. He’s sleeping.” He sat up on his knees to see if his mom was asleep as well. “We have to quietly go into the other room.”
“Why?”
“To play.” Peter paused to look at her like it was obvious what he wanted. He started crawling out of the bed and landed on his feet. “Come quietly like I did. Don’t wake them up or they won’t let us play.”
Morgan hesitated at the edge of the bed. “I don’t know… I’m really tired. And… dad will be mad if he finds out we got out of bed.”
Peter simply shrugged. “That’s okay. Come on. Be quiet.” He opened the bedroom door but it creaked so Peter froze and immediately turned to watch their dad shift on the bed. He was a light sleeper, just like Peter was, any sound usually woke them up.
“We should stay here.” Morgan whispered, not making any move to leave the bed. Peter walked towards her and with the light from the hallway, he could see his pacifier on the bed so he grabbed it and took Morgan’s hand in his.
“Let’s go. Stop acting like a baby.” Peter said with an annoyed tone as he pulled Morgan into the hallway and quietly shut the door behind them. He walked over to the balcony and opened the door, walking out. The warm night air hit him so he took a deep breath and smiled.
“Dad doesn’t like us on the balcony without an adult, Peter. You’re going to get us in trouble and we won’t be able to see the castle tomorrow.”
Peter rolled his eyes and turned towards her. “Look down there. There’s people at the pool. We could sneak out and go swimming for a few minutes. Mom and dad are asleep, they won’t know.”
Morgan shifted from foot to foot. “We’ll get in trouble. That’s bad behaviour, Peter. Let’s go back to bed.” She tried to grab his hand but Peter yanked it back.
“No. It’s not bad. As long as we don’t talk to any strangers then it’s okay. Alright?” He walked back into the hotel and looked around for his bathing suit. His mom brought it somewhere in here to dry…
“No. We can’t leave.”
“I want to go swimming. And you can’t stop me!” Peter ran to the hotel door and tried to figure out the locks but somebody, probably their dad, put a special lock on the door to keep him in. He kicked it with a groan. “This is stupid!”
Morgan walked into their parent’s bedroom and went to their dads side, shaking him awake. “Dad. Dad. Wake up.”
As always, Tony was up immediately. He turned to look at Morgan standing over him then looked back at Peter but he didn’t see him in bed so he sat up, looking around. “Where’s Peter? Why are you awake?”
“Peter woke me up.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s trying to go swimming. I told him he isn’t allowed but he won’t listen to me.”
Tony was already getting out of bed and walking into the hallway. He looked towards the front door and saw that the Peter proof lock was still on. Tony bought it so no one could break into their hotel rooms but mainly so Peter couldn’t try to wander. Like now.
“Peter. Where are you?”
“He’s hiding.” Morgan made note, appearing next to Tony. “Is he in trouble?”
“If he doesn’t come out then he is.”
“Will you spank his bum?”
Tony turned to look down at her. “No. When have I ever spanked you guys?”
Morgan shrugged. “Well…”
“Don’t act like you’re thinking about it. I’ve never hit you guys.” He walked further into their hotel room and looked behind the couch, spotting Peter sitting on the ground with his legs pulled up to his chest. “Peter.”
Peter gasped and turned to start crawling in the other direction but Tony was quick to reach down and grab the back of his diaper so he couldn’t get anywhere else.
“Stop it. What do you think you’re doing?”
“Go away.”
Tony leaned down and lifted him up but Peter went all squirmy so Tony had no choice but to put him down on the couch. “Enough. You know better than to leave this hotel room alone. What do you think you’re doing?”
Peter put his head in his hands, trying not to look at his dad. So Tony removed his hands and pulled the pacifier out of his mouth.
“Hey. Noooo!”
“You’ll get this back once you start talking.” He kneeled down in front of Peter, grabbing his ankle when Peter tried to kick him away. “Do you need to stay in this hotel all day tomorrow and miss out on the fun?”
“No.”
“Then tell me why you not only tried to leave but also went out on the balcony.”
Peter tugged on the front of his diaper so Tony moved his hands away. “Peter.”
“I’m allowed. I-I just wanted to go swimming. That’s all.” He pointed towards the window. “The pools still open. People are there.”
“Peter, it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. You need to tell me and have a grownup leave with you. Especially in a place like this. It’s way too busy.” The thought of Peter having left the hotel room sent shivers down Tony’s spine and created a bunch of what ifs playing in his mind.
Peter just looked at him, blinking slowly.
“I love you too much for anything to happen to you.” Again.
Peter looked away and sat up on his knees, his finger going into his mouth to chew on so Tony presented him with his pacifier to give his poor finger a break. Peter took it immediately.
“Let’s go back to bed. You guys need sleep so you aren’t cranky tomorrow.” He stood up and held his hand out for Peter. “Let’s go. Come on.”
Peter let Tony pull his full weight up, refusing to use his feet to walk to the bedroom so Tony ended up half dragging him by his arm into the bedroom. He lifted him onto the bed after and felt his diaper was full. He sighed. He really didn’t feel like changing a diaper but he had to so he grabbed a clean one from the bag and the wipes from the nightstand table.
“I can help, dad.” Morgan crawled beside her brother and untapped one of the sides of his diaper but Tony stopped her from doing the other one.
“Thank you but I’m going to change him quickly. Please lie down and try to sleep.”
“I’m not tired anymore.”
Tony sighed again. He pulled the dirty diaper out from underneath him and used the wipes to clean his skin.
Peter tried to roll onto his stomach and crawl away but Tony was not in the mood for that today. It was 1am and he knew no matter what, Peter would be up for the day in four hours. Then Peter would put himself down for a nap around noon and Tony will be awake until he goes to sleep tonight. So he needed sleep.
“Stop. Peter.” He warned and flipped him back onto his back, sliding the clean diaper underneath him. He didn’t feel like grabbing the rash cream so he squirted some baby oil onto his skin then tapped the diaper onto him tightly. “Go lie down now over there.”
Peter turned to do as he’s told and got comfortable right next to Morgan, stretching his legs out right beside her.
Tony stopped to look at them, taking a mental picture.
As hard as it is sometimes raising kids and as tired as Peter makes him, he sometimes needs to stop and see how perfect his life is. He truly wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Seeing Morgan and Peter lying right beside each other and the little grin on their faces. He loves being a father so fucking much. And a mental picture isn’t enough so he grabbed his phone off his nightstand table and took a few pictures of them.
“You guys are too cute.” He said, sitting next to his little boy and placing a hand on his bare stomach. “But close your eyes and sleep or no Disney Castle tomorrow.”
Peter giggled and rolled onto his stomach, sitting up. “We’re not tired. We want to go to the Castle now.”
Tony looked up at him. “Lie down or I’m going to call Mickey Mouse and tell him not to visit you tomorrow.”
Peter shook his head. “You don’t have Mickeys number.”
“No. But the hotel does. All I have to do is call down to reception and tell them that my son isn’t behaving and not to have Mickey come visit him tomorrow.” He lied straight through his teeth and didn’t regret it one bit.
“Are you being serious?”
“Yep. So lie down.”
Peter threw his head into his pillow and that was enough for Tony. He rolled the other way and tried to fall asleep.
It had to have been about forty minutes later and Peter was still awake. He was tossing and turning, making noises and sitting up occasionally then tossing and turning some more. Tony tried to fall asleep and ignore it but it was like his body didn’t let him sleep unless Peter was.
Tony rolled over to face him. “Pete. What’s going on?”
“Can’t sleep.”
Obviously. Tony sighed.
“Do you want milk?”
Peter shook his head. “Want to play.”
“It’s… 2:12am. You need to sleep first or you’ll be a cranky boy.”
Peter sat up on his knees and looked around. “Play in the other room?”
“No. Sleep in here.”
“No.”
Tony rubbed an exhausted hand over his face. “Do you want me to pat your bum?”
“Mmhm.” Peter laid on his stomach, switching the pacifier out for his thumb and facing his dad.
“Close your eyes.” He told him, happy that he listened. Tony continued patting his bum for over twenty minutes. He was sure Peter was asleep but was too scared to stop just in case it woke him up.
Tony ended up falling asleep patting his butt, not the first time.
.
.
.
To everyone’s surprise, Tony and Peter were the last ones to wake up.
It was seven in the morning when Morgan came into the bedroom and started shaking Peter awake. He woke up in an instant, his bed head making his curls extremely vibrant.
He smiled behind his paci once he remembered where they were.
“Petey! Mom told me to wake you up. I wanted to wake you up earlier but she said I had to let you guys sleep until seven. But now it’s seven! So wake up! Breakfast is coming, then we’re going to the Castle!”
Peter grinned. He looked over at his dad and shook him awake.
“Dad. Wake up, we’re going to the castle!” Morgan screeched, waking Tony up.
“Oh.” He looked over at Peter, wondering what time he woke up at but his eyes still looked sleepy and his hair was a curly mess.
“Good morning you two. I let you sleep in. It’s seven.” Pepper said, walking over to the bed and sitting down next to Tony’s legs. “Hey.” She smiled at him.
“What time did Pete wake up?”
“Just now. Don’t worry.”
He closed his eyes, letting himself feel entirely grateful for that. “Oh thank god.”
“Alright you two, let’s go wait for the food to arrive and let daddy get dressed.” Pepper stood up and grabbed a diaper and wipes from the suitcase. “I’ll change his diaper this morning and get him dressed.”
Tony didn’t mind doing those things, but it was nice to not have to change a diaper before he even had his morning coffee. And it’s not like Pepper just doesn’t help out, he’s always the one up with Peter and he’s usually the first one to change any diapers throughout the day anyways.
So Tony went into the bathroom and locked the door behind him, looking in the mirror.
He actually looked presentable and not like he just crawled out from under a rock. Sure, he has bags but that’s no surprise.
So he striped naked and turned the shower on, stepping into the hot stream of water.
It was only 7am yet Tony can already feel how hot it’s going to be today. It also felt good to wash off all the sweat from sleeping with three other people in a bed, one having been cuddled against him all night.
After his shower, Tony got out and dried off, brushing his teeth then getting dressed in shorts and a black AC/DC T-shirt.
When he walked out of the bathroom, he followed the loud sounds his family were making and felt so warm. He loved his life so much and that feeling wasn’t something he felt for a very long time.
His eyes landed on Peter. He obviously had a diaper change but that’s all he’s wearing. His hair is brushed back so there’s no curls hanging in his eyes, and Tony could see that Pepper most likely wet the comb so his curls are slicked back.
Tony went over to the mini kitchen to make himself a coffee. He wrapped his arms around Pepper from behind, kissing her neck like he knew she loved. “Hey. You smell good.”
She laughed, turning so she’s facing him, their bodies pressed together. “Hi. You smell good too, too bad I couldn’t join you in that shower. Otherwise the kids would have turned this place into a zoo.”
Tony laughed then pulled away, opening up the fridge to pour some milk into his coffee. “Did you know that the two monkeys woke up last night and tried to go swimming?”
“Morgan told me this morning. Good thing we have that lock.”
Tony hummed and took a sip, burning his throat. “We’ll need to get one for the balcony. Peter is a menace, I swear.”
“Middle children, what can I say.”
Both of them laughed then there was a knock on the front door.
“That’s our breakfast. Can you get it?”
“Yep.” Tony unlocked and opened the door, greeting the man standing there.
“Good morning, Mr. Stark. Your breakfast is here. We’ve got freshly made Belgian waffles with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Eggs, hash browns and bacon, pancakes with extra bananas, French toast with eggs and more fresh fruit and açai bowls. And as requested, a new carton of milk.”
Tony looked at the trays of food with the silver lids covering it. “Thank you. It smells delicious.”
“You are very welcome. If you are requesting anything else, please don’t hesitate to call down. Enjoy your breakfast and your day.”
Tony wheeled the cart of food into the room after thanking the man once more then he locked the door behind him and wheeled it over to the table. “Food is here. Come and sit down.”
“Aiser, water and breakfast for you. Come here, boy.” Pepper placed the bowl of food on the ground for him then joined everyone at the table. Well, everyone besides Peter. “Peter, come join us for breakfast.”
Peter crawled over, climbing onto a chair beside Morgan. “What is it?”
“I got you pancakes, baby. Let daddy take the plate for you.”
Peter reached over and grabbed a whole banana off the tray and began to eat it. He stopped halfway through and made grabby hands.
“I’ll get you a bottle in a second.” Tony told him, already knowing what Peter wanted without him having to speak.
Peter put his hand down to continue eating his banana.
Once everyone had their plate in front of them and Peter had his milk, they all began eating, besides for Peter. Every morning when they woke up at 5am, Tony would take him downstairs then give him a bottle and by the time everyone else woke up, he’d be hungry for breakfast.
So their routine was off.
Tony cut up his pancakes for him. “Can you take a few bites?”
Peter shook his head, still drinking his bottle.
“Don’t push him.” Pepper mouthed to him and Tony backed down but started feeling a bit anxious since Peter wasn’t eating.
Conversation started, mostly Harley, Pepper and Morgan talking with Tony adding in a few words here and there but he was mainly focused on Peter.
He offered him some of his hash browns and Peter took it, eating some. He then climbed onto Tony’s lap and picked at Tony’s plate. At least he was eating, Tony didn’t care.
Thirty minutes later, everyone was done besides Peter. He was finished with his bottle but was still sucking on the nipple as if more milk would magically appear.
“Mm?” He hummed, holding a piece of pancake to Tony’s mouth.
Tony ate it. “Wow. So yummy. You try some.”
Peter took a piece and nibbled on it. “Are there-is there fish in it?”
Tony was so happy he was aware of his deathly allergy. It was so hard to get Peter to understand that eating fish can kill him and as much as Tony hates it, Peter eating fish at school and having his throat close up then being rushed to the hospital, definitely helped Peter learn the hard way how serious this is.
“No, my sweet boy. Pancakes don’t have fish. Mommy made sure nothing contained fish when she ordered our food.” He kissed his soft cheek. “But I’m so happy that you’re making sure.” It was after Peter ate it, but progress.
Peter took another bite, speaking with his mouth full. “Oh. And yours don’t have fish?”
“Yeah. Mine doesn’t either.”
“Oh. Cause then I’ll get sick.”
Tony nodded then hesitated. “Well, fish doesn’t make you sick like a stomach ache or diarrhea. You have a serious allergy to fish. So if you eat it, your throat closes up and you can’t breathe, right?”
Peter nodded. “Yeah. Cause I’m allergic.”
“Right. Good job, baby. So if you’re somewhere and someone gives you food and you don’t know what’s in it, what do you say?”
“I say no fish. I’m allergic.”
“Yeah. And you can ask, ‘is there fish in this’.”
Peter nodded then slid off his lap. “I’m full.” He then ran away, going into Harley’s bedroom where both his siblings were. He climbed onto the bed and got comfortable. “I’m gonna sleep in here with you tonight.”
“Me too.”
Peter sat up to glare at Morgan. “No. Just boys.”
“I can too.”
“No you can’t!” Peter insisted. “You don’t have a pee pee. Only me and Harley do. And daddy.”
Morgan pushed Peter over but he got up and onto his knees. “I do too! I’m telling on you!”
Harley rolled his eyes. Peter’s immaturity rubbed off on Morgan at times and although it was funny at times like right now, sometimes it irritated Harley.
Peter turned to his older brother. “She doesn’t even know.”
Harley would let his parents educate them both.
“So, what are you most excited about doing today?”
Peter shrugged. “Eating churros. I want chocolate syrup on it. Or Nutella. Probably both.”
Tony walked in with Morgan holding his hand. “What’s going on?”
Peter stood up on the bed. “Morgan can’t sleep in here with us. It’s just boys.”
“He said I don’t have a pee pee but I do! How else do I pee.” Morgan pointed her finger at Peter, frustrated with him.
Tony tried not to laugh. This wasn’t an argument he wanted to have at 8am but he’s had stranger ones. “Peter, a pee pee is just a silly name for genitals.”
Peter jumped onto his bum. “No.” He looked over at Morgan, sticking his tongue out at her.
Tony sat on the bed. “No. Boys have penises and girls have vaginas.”
Peter was still persistent. “No. Boys also have pee pees but girls don’t.”
This wasn’t an argument Tony felt like he was going to win and he didn’t want to drain his energy on this but also Peter needed to know basic anatomy. “Peter, listen to me, girls have a vagina but the silly name for it can be pee pee. Boys have a penis, and you can also call it a pee pee, okay? Do you understand that?”
Peter laid down and covered the pillow over his face. “You’re a liar.”
“Okay. Can you go get your clothes on so we can go?”
Peter tossed the pillow and slid off the bed, running into the living space.
“He’s ridiculous.” Harley laughed.
Tony found it amusing too but it was his responsibility to teach Peter these things. He honestly thought Peter knew but now, Tony doesn’t know what Peter does and doesn’t know at this point.
He walked out into the living space and thankfully Peter was getting on his clothes for the day. Something he didn’t have to worry about fighting with him over. “That’s a bold outfit choice, Pete.”
Peter looked down at the red shorts and baby blue top he had on then shrugged, sitting down to get his shoes on. “It’s comfy. I like it.”
“You look cute. I like it too.” Tony just untucked his shirt from his pants so his diaper wasn’t sticking out but other than that, Peter got dressed on his own and Tony couldn’t be prouder. “Alright. Is everyone ready to go?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Morgan cheered, jumping by the front door where she had been waiting so patiently.
“Tony, we need to get the stroller from the car first. Don’t forget.” Pepper handed Tony the keys and two packed bags. One for Peter and the other with waters and some snacks.
He swung one onto his shoulder so he could hold the other one. “Yeah. Let’s go now. Come, guys.”
Peter sped ahead with Morgan so he could get to the elevator first and press the button. “I got here first.”
“By like a split second. And your legs are longer than mine so that’s only why.”
Peter placed his skinny leg next to his sisters. “That’s cause my shoes are taller. See?”
“Barely.”
“It is.”
“…makes sense right. That way we can go straight from the castle to the park with the rides.” Pepper suggested to her husband.
“Dad. Tell Morgan my shoes are tall.”
“But if we go to the water park first, it’s going to be a hassle to get everyone changed after then go back to the other rides.” He could just picture sweating and trying to change Peter in a busy change room.
“Dad? Dad?”
“Yes, buddy.” He asked, pushing him into the elevator once it opened up.
“Tell Morgan my shoes are tall cause she said my legs are longer but they only are cause of my tall shoes. Cause it’s not.”
Tony watched the elevator stop on the floor under them and cringed. He hated having other people in an elevator with them.
“Alright. You’re right. We should go to the rides first. It’ll make more sense that way.”
Tony nodded, he knew he was right.
Two men walked on, one carrying a folded up stroller and the other holding a sleeping baby in his arms. Tony knew they were harmless but he still pulled Peter to stand on his other side.
“Daaaaddd!” He squealed, getting annoyed.
“What?”
“You aren’t listening to me.”
“I am. I am. Okay, yes, Morgan. Peter’s shoes are very high. Can you stop pressing the door closed button, Morgan. Once is enough.”
She stopped but instead turned around to face Peter, poking him in the stomach.
“Hey. Stop it.”
Morgan poked him again.
“Stop!”
“Okay. Guys. We aren’t even out of the elevator yet and you’re already fighting. Stop it or we’ll turn around and stay in the hotel room all day.”
Peter grabbed Tony’s arms, hugging it.
When the elevator let them out in the underground parking, Tony took Peter’s hand and they all walked to the car so Tony could get the stroller out of the trunk, unfolding it and putting all the bags in the bottom.
Peter got into his seat and tried to put the buckles on properly. “Daddy. Buckle me in.”
“You don’t need it, baby.” Tony hated the buckling and unbuckling because Peter never actually stayed in the stroller. He was in and out, in and out.
“I do. I don’t want to fall out.”
Tony sighed and went around to buckle him in, making sure it was secured. “Comfy?”
“Yeah.”
“Morgan, are you getting in?”
“No. I’m not a baby.”
Tony knew she wouldn’t be saying that when she’s exhausted after five hours of constant standing and walking.
“I’m not a baby.” Peter shot back with no real anger. Just like he was simply stating a fact.
“But you suck your thumb. Only babies do that.”
“Morgan. Watch it.”
Peter crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s a naughty thing. Put her on time out.”
“Okay. Let’s just go. Please.” Harley complained. He was excited to go on the rides but he was never going to get there with his little brother and sister arguing like this.
Tony agreed and started pushing the stroller. Probably the best purchase they ever made for going to a place like this. With Peter’s naps and how tired the younger ones get. Plus to carry all their stuff.
It was a genius buy.
.
.
.
Tony loved roller coasters. He always had as a kid. And now he got to experience them with his own kids. He was loving it.
To his surprise, Morgan wasn’t afraid of any of the rides, but not to his surprise, Peter was afraid of almost every single one and enjoyed looking at the people in costumes walking by and seeing all the fake dinosaurs in the bushes.
They pulled over to sit in a semi shaded area where Peter was almost fascinated by the Dino eggs in the bushes. “Daddy! Look. Baby eggs.”
“I can see that. Have some water.” He handed him his water bottle and brushed his sweaty curls off his forehead.
“Dad, can you come with me on the Tower of Terror?” Harley said down next to their dad, taking a gulp of his water.
“That’s the one that drops straight down right?”
“Yeah. It’s sick.”
“We can go. But I don’t think your siblings will want to come.” Tony took the water bottle that Peter handed him.
Morgan appeared on his other side and jumped onto the ledge he was sitting on. “I want to come too.”
“It’s really scary, Morgan.”
Morgan flared up at her brother. “So? I’m not scared. I want to come.”
Tony reached over to feel Peter’s diaper. He hadn’t had a diaper change yet and it’s been about three hours already. It was full.
“He needs a change?” Pepper asked.
“Yep. Desperately.”
“Dad. So can we go?”
“Yeah. Sure, Harls. I need to give your brother a diaper change then mom will stay with Pete?” He turned that question to Pepper and she nodded.
“Sweet! Change him fast.”
Tony tapped on Peter’s shoulder. “Mr. Come lie down in the stroller so I can change your bum.” No one was behind them but a mini forest with a fake giant tree in the middle and if they put a blanket up on either side of the stroller, no one would be able to see in except Tony. Another reason the stroller came in handy.
Peter did as he was told. “I don’t go poo.”
“I know. But you still went pee so it’s full.” Peter watched his dad pull down his shorts and untap his diaper straps, pulling down the front of the diaper then pushed his knees to his chest. “Hold your legs up.
“Dad. I’m coming on the Tower of Terror. I’m big enough and I’m not scared.” Morgan appeared next to him, sounding annoyed that Harley said she’d be too scared.
“If you want to come, then that’s your decision.” Tony opened a new package of wipes and wiped Peter’s skin from front to back. “You can put your legs down, Pete. Pep, where’s the diaper cream?”
“Is it not in the bag?”
“No.” Tony checked again but found it. “Wait. It’s here.”
Peter flinched at the cold cream but didn’t complain since he was too distracted trying to tighten one of the straps on the stroller he found.
It wasn’t ideal having to do diaper changes in a stroller but it was better than a public bathroom so Tony would take the win.
He put a clean diaper on him and got his shorts pulled back up. “All done.”
“All done.” Peter repeated and sat up.
“Daddy’s going to go on a scary ride with your siblings but you’re going to stay here with mommy.”
“Why can’t I come?”
“Because I know you’re going to be scared and you won’t like it.”
Peter didn’t seem to care all that much. He got out of the stroller and walked over to Pepper to take her hand. “I stay with you.”
“Yeah, my sweet boy. We’ll go do something fun.” She leaned down to kiss his forehead then had to brush the curls away.
Tony hesitated. “Okay… keep your phone on you. Where do you think you’ll go?”
Pepper could tell Tony’s anxiety was starting up. “Go give daddy a hug, Petey, and say I’ll see you after your ride.”
She didn’t have to tell Peter twice. Tony lifted him into his arms once Peter walked over to him and he pressed a kiss on his lips.
Peter giggled. “I’ll see you after your ride, daddy.”
“Yes you will. Be a good boy. I love you.”
“I love you too.” He wiggled out of Tony’s arms.
“One more kiss.” Tony told him, not letting Peter go until he gave him one more kiss. God, Tony was a mess when it came to leaving Peter. How the hell was he going to send his baby to college.
Pepper took Peter’s hand and started walking towards some stands with drinks and desserts. “Let’s get something special to eat. What would you like?”
Peter looked around excitedly. It was all desserts and he loved it. “Ummmm… ummm… oh! Ice cream! That-that looks like Mickey Mouse!”
Pepper let Peter lead her over and ten minutes later they were sitting and waiting by the exit of the ride with Mickey Mouse ice cream and milk in a Mickey Mouse bottle as per Peter’s request.
“It’s so yummy.” Peter licked the ice cream that dripped down his hands. “It’s drippy.”
“Yeah. It is, isn’t it.”
Peter brushed his curls out of his eyes and smeared ice cream on his forehead in the process. “Honey, would you like me to pin your hair up?”
“Uh huh.”
Laughing at his messy face, Pepper grabbed an elastic off her wrist and pinned the front of Peter’s hair up in a tiny ponytail at the top of his head. She cooed at his adorable face.
“Wait until daddy sees you. He’s not going to be able to handle it.”
Peter kicked his legs back and forth, watching the ice cream drip onto his pants.
“Yeah, cause daddy says I’m his best friend in the whole wide world.”
“You definitely are.”
Peter took another lick but was distracted at someone approaching them.
“Excuse me, is he your son?” The older woman asked Pepper. She had on Mickey Mouse ears and was carrying a bag that looked to be filled with Mickey Mouse’s and something else in a box.
Pepper immediately grew concerned. “Yes. He is. Can I help you?”
She smiled at Peter and reached out to pinch his cheeks but Pepper grabbed her hand before she could, feeling completely off guard. “Don’t touch my child without even asking. I have no idea who you are, lady.”
Peter blinked up at her.
“Oh. You’re right. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself.” She turned her attention back to Peter. “You’re just so cute. Look at that adorable looking face. And those eyes.”
“Thank you. But I’m going to ask you to leave us alone now.”
The woman didn’t move. “Alright. I understand. He’s just such a cute kid. Is it just you two here?”
Pepper knew she couldn’t call Tony since he was currently being dropped in the roller coaster in front of them. “No. I’m here with my husband, and his brothers.”
Peter scrunched his nose up. Brothers? His daddy doesn’t have any brothers.
The woman looked over at Peter, giving him a smile that he didn’t return. “Alright then. I hope you two have a fun time. Hey, would you like a Mickey Mouse, sweetheart?”
Peter nodded.
She reached into her bag and held out a Mickey Mouse toy, holding it in front of Peter but not giving it to him. “How old are you, sweetheart?”
Pepper placed an arm in front of Peter. “You can leave. I’m not going to be telling nicely again.”
The woman stood up but not before handing Peter the Mickey Mouse. “Have a nice day, you two.”
Pepper watched her walk away and looked around, trying to spot anyone watching them but no one was there. Not like she could really see anyone anyways.
Peter hugged the Mickey Mouse against his chest, completely oblivious to what just happened and not finding it strange in the slightest. Meanwhile Peppers hands were shaking and her heart was racing.
She wanted to immediately tell Tony but she also wanted to see if Peter would without prompting.
“Who was that?” Peter asked, wiping his hands on his pants.
“I don’t know, Peter. Did she make you uncomfortable?”
Peter looked at his teddy bear. “She’s a friend?”
“No. I don’t know her. Do you?” Peter shook his head. “She’s a stranger. Why do you think she gave you a toy?”
Peter hugged it again. “Maybe… maybe cause I’m a good boy. I’ve been listening and didn’t cry today.”
Pepper patted his knee and watched the exit gate open then he jumped to his feet and stood eagerly waiting for a certain familiar face to walk out. Peter bounced on the heels of his feet while he waited, hugging his Mickey Mouse against his chest.
A few people walked out then Morgan ran out, looking both terrified and excited. Peter squeaked and looked behind her, seeing Harley and then his dad walk out. He ran past his siblings and straight into his fathers arms.
Tony didn’t even see Peter running up to him at first.
He was looking over at Pepper, not seeing Peter and thinking that he possibly was in the stroller. But with all the people walking everywhere, he didn’t see Peter running up to him until he was literally right in front of him, trying to get picked up.
“Hey, baby. Did you have fun? I can see that you ate chocolate ice cream.” Tony observed, lifting Peter onto his hip, not caring that Peter’s shorts and shirt were covered in ice cream. And his face.
“Uh huh. It was Mickey Mouse.”
Tony kissed his forehead, looking at his hair in a small bun on the top of his head. “You look so cute. Look at you.”
“Yeah. Did you go on the scary roller coaster?”
Tony noticed the Mickey Mouse in his arms and was a bit confused and disappointed in Pepper for buying him one when they discussed that they would buy him and Morgan one at the same time. “I did. It was very fun. I see you got a Mickey Mouse.”
Peter hugged it. “Yeah. I love it. He even has underwear on.”
“Wow.” Tony joined his family by the stroller and placed Peter on his feet, letting him go talk to Morgan who was chugging water. “I thought we decided we’d buy them a toy at the same time. That way they don’t fight.” He made sure to say quietly to Pepper.
Pepper's hands were still shaking a bit. She looked around to see if she could spot the woman again but didn’t. Tony noticed her acting nervous, maybe even stressed. He sighed. “Was Peter acting up?”
She shook her head and grabbed Tony’s arm. He had to know but Pepper still needed to see if Peter told Tony himself. It scared Pepper that Peter wasn’t freaked out by what happened.
“Pepper. What’s wrong?”
“Okay. While you guys were gone, Peter and I were just sitting here eating ice cream and this woman comes up to us and is saying how cute and adorable Peter is. Asking us if we’re here alone, how old Peter is-”
“What the fuck.”
“-she kept saying how cute Peter is and wouldn’t let that go. She even tried to pinch his cheek. So I tell her to leave. Then she gives Peter that Mickey Mouse.”
Tony felt his heart speed up. It could just be a lonely woman walking through Disney telling parents how adorable their kids are and giving them Mickey’s but Tony’s been through too much to think it’s something innocent.
“Okay. Okay.” He looked back at Peter standing in front of Morgan, chatting to her about something while Harley’s looking at his siblings, thankfully, oblivious to Tonys and Peppers conversation. “Which way did she go?”
“You aren’t going to follow her.”
“No. But I’ll tell Disney security. Why the hell would she think it’s okay to do… all of that. What the fuck.”
Harley looked over at Tony, having heard him freak out. Great.
“I know. It’s scary, she took way too much of an interest in Peter. It was… creepy.” Pepper felt safer with Tony here. The unfortunate thing about this was that if it were Tony with Peter, the woman likely wouldn’t have approached them regardless. She put her hair into a ponytail, wanting it off her skin. “It scares me because what if he’s targeting for child trafficking. Unfortunately Disney is common for messed up monsters like that.”
That was the first thing Tony thought of when they decided to take their kids here. It was a scary reality.
Tony didn’t want to think about it but he had to to keep his kids safe.
Peter was a target. That much was obvious, Tony knew his kid was cute, Peter is his child, of course he’s cute. But he’s a cute kid to others, and he’s extremely vulnerable and naive and that scares Tony the most.
“I know. I know. Let’s…” He wanted to say to go back to the hotel but it wasn’t even noon yet. And they couldn’t spend their whole vacation in a hotel room. “Okay. Let’s go eat lunch. Leave the area. And I want that Mickey Mouse gone.”
Pepper grabbed Tony’s arm. “Wait. I want Peter to tell you what happened. He… it scares me that he doesn’t even seem phased by this woman.”
Tony ran a stressful hand through his hair. “Fuck. We talk to him all the time about this stuff. Fuck.”
He looked at Peter. His heart broke for him. Tony just didn’t know why Peter couldn’t grasp the concept of stranger danger after everything he’s been through.
“Alright. Let’s Uh, let’s walk to lunch. I’ll walk with him and see if he tells me.”
“I want him to tell you unprompt. This is scary. He should be telling us stuff like this.”
Tony obviously agreed.
Him and Pepper walked over to their kids and Tony reached in the bag to grab wipes to clean Peter’s face and hands. “Who’s hungry?”
“Me!”
“I can eat.”
Peter moved his face away as Tony cleaned it off. “So how about we go eat and then we’ll head to the water park.”
“Yeah! I wanna go on a big big water slide.” Peter smiled, his cheeks a bit rosy from the rubbing. Tony just loved him so much. If anything bad happened to him, it would surely kill Tony this time.
“We will. But lunch first.”
“Dad. Why did Peter get a Mickey Mouse? I want one. That’s not fair.”
Tony knew this would happen. He was going to take it away from Peter but first he wanted to talk to him to see if Peter would tell him.
Tony caressed her upset face. “I know. We’re going to get you a special one too. I promise you.”
Morgan sniffled, taking cues from Peter to get what she wanted. “But… but Petey got one before me.”
“I know, and we’re going to get you one today too, okay? I promise and do I ever break my promises?”
Morgan tried to think about it. Before Peter came around, her dad used to break his promises all the time until he stopped making them altogether. She shrugged. “I just want one.”
“I’ll get you one, honey.”
“Okay. Can I hold Petey’s?”
Peter hugged it tighter and shook his head.
Tony could see Morgan’s eyes watering so he hugged her instead. “Don’t be upset, princess. I’ll buy you anything you want from the Disney store. I promised you I would.”
“O-okay. I won’t be upset.”
Tony straightened up and looked at Pepper. He was definitely right for suggesting to get them a toy at the same time.
“Let’s start walking to the restaurant. There’s a nice one a ten minute walk from here.” Pepper held out her phone for directions, encouraging everyone to follow her but Tony and Peter lingered behind.
Tony held his hand tightly. “What did you and mommy do while we were gone?”
“Um… ate ice cream. And waited.”
“Wow. Was it fun?”
Peter nodded. “Yeah. Then-then someone from somewhere else gave me my Mickey. I love him.”
Tony was glad they were getting somewhere now. “Oh. Who gave it to you?”
“A girl.”
“A girl? Was she old or young?”
Peter kicked a rock he walked past. “Ummm… old like… my teacher.”
“Oh. Did she say anything to you?”
Peter nodded. “She says I’m cute. Mom doesn’t like her and says go away! Then I got Mickey.”
Tony knew Peter butchered the story telling but he always did. “I think that’s very strange, don’t you?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Um… cause I don’t know her. So she’s stranger danger.”
“But you still took a toy from her, buddy. Why?”
“Um… cause I know Mickey.”
That made no sense to Tony. “But Peter, sometimes bad people use friendly toys to try and get little boy’ and girls’ attentions to take them away from their mommies and daddies.”
Peter looked at his toy. “No. She looked nice. Not bad.”
“Did Steve look nice?” Tony hated how he said that. But he had to. He didn’t know how to make Peter understand.
Peter stopped walking so Tony did too. Tony watched him stare straight ahead then he began walking again.
“Who’s Steve?”
Tony hated when he pretended to not know his kidnapper. It was a dangerous tactic according to Karen and the child psychology books Tony’s read.
“Steve took you from me when you were three years old.”
Peter didn’t reply.
“And Bucky.”
“Buckys away too?”
Tony didn’t know what he meant by away. “Bucky is in prison.”
“Prison far away? Or prison close?”
“He’s in prison far away.” He answered simply.
Peter nodded and stuck his thumb in his mouth. Tony felt bad but at least Peter told him. Granted, with lots of prompting.
Pepper stopped walking and turned around to wait for them to catch up. “I just told Harley what happened and he made a good point. He said the reason she gave Peter a toy was because there could be an apple AirTag in it.”
Tony felt his heart skip a beat. “I didn’t even think of that. Why didn’t I think of that?” He was a tech genius. How the fuck didn’t he think of that.
“It’s okay, Tony. Let’s just get rid of it now.”
Tony knelt down to be at Peter’s height. “Peter. I’m going to take your toy but I’ll buy you another one with Morgan. Okay?”
Peter set his jaw, moving his teddy away. “No.”
“Peter, give me the toy. This one isn’t a good toy. I’ll get you a better one later.” Tony reached for it so Peter screamed and ran to the stroller to climb inside and hide. Tony followed him over and reached into the stroller to flip Peter onto his back instead.
“Noooo! Noo! Don’t take it!”
Tony yanked the teddy from his arms. “Peter, I promise I’m going to get you another one. But you’re not allowed to have this one because I don’t-”
Peter tried to kick him away. “Why?!”
“Because I don’t know who gave this to you.”
Tony walked over to a trash can that just so happened to be next to a restaurant with people eating outside. He tossed the toy in and went to walk away but a woman spoke to him.
“Such an awful parent. Your child is crying and you react by throwing his toy in the garbage.”
Tony stopped to look at her. “How about you focus on stuffing your gut instead of judging someone you don’t even know.” He tried not to let that bug him and walked back over to the stroller, pushing it away with Peter absolutely sobbing inside and causing heads to turn in their direction.
Tony pushed the stroller for a few minutes and when Peter’s cries hadn't died down, he stopped and walked to the seats, lifting Peter out and trying to get him to calm down. “I know you’re upset.” He said, walking to the other side of the stroller to grab his pacifier from the cup holder. He pushed it past Peter’s lips, cutting off his crying.
“I’m going to get you another Mickey but that stranger gave you this one so it isn’t safe. Do you understand that?”
Peter cried out then leaned his head against Tony’s shoulder, letting out a sigh.
“Let’s go find a shop now, Pepper. He won’t settle down without one.” Tony hoisted Peter up higher and grabbed the stroller with his other hand to push, searching for a freaking Disney shop which was a lot harder to find in Disney than he thought it’d be.
They had to walk past their restaurant to find the Disney shop but Tony could tell Peter was tired now, not only upset from him taking his toy away and throwing it in the garbage.
“Are you ready for a nap soon?”
Peter shook his head even as he closed his eyes, keeping his head rested on Tony’s shoulder.
“Want to pick out a new Mickey Mouse?”
Forcing his head up, Peter wiggled out of his dads arms and walked over to the teddy bear section, pulling out a Mickey Mouse, different from the one the woman gave him. He hugged it then went back to Tony, lifting his arms up.
“Dad! Dad! Can I get a princess dress?”
“Sure, Morg.”
“Yay!”
“Hello and welcome to our Disney store. I see you’ve got a special new toy.” The worker smiled at Peter, even though she got no response from him. “Would you like some help finding a pretty princess dress?” She turned to Morgan, using the most friendly and cheerful voice ever. Tony would be exhausted if he had to do that.
“Yes please. I want to be Anna!”
“Follow me this way and I’ll lead you to our special Frozen aisle.”
Tony took the stroller and walked with Morgan and the worker to another part of the store. Pepper and Harley were somewhere else, Tony didn’t know.
He waited while the worker helped Morgan pick out a dress, a cape and even an Anna doll.
“Morg, don’t you want a Minni Mouse too?”
“Yeah, I do. And I want to get Peter a prince outfit so we can play princesses later.”
Tony laid Peter down in the stroller now that he was asleep and thankfully he didn’t even stir at the movement.
“How about you get him a Peter Pan outfit?” He suggested, knowing it would both be hilarious and adorable to see Peter in that.
After they were done at the Disney store, the family of five headed into the restaurant that was pretty dark inside so at least it would help keep Peter asleep.
Tony requested a table with more privacy so they were seated at the far back near a fake jungle and a waterfall. It was relaxing. Tony parked the stroller next to him and sat down, making sure Peter was facing him and no one else could see him.
It was more of a quiet lunch without Peter awake. Tony missed his presence but he knew he needed some sleep.
“Can I wear my new dress now, mom?”
“Not now, honey. After lunch, we’re going to Disneys water rides.”
“Can I get a princess bathing suit?”
“I packed your Ariel swimsuit.”
“Yay! Thank you, mom. What did you pack for Petey?”
“A swim pull-up and his blue bathing suit.”
“Okay. When can I wake him up?”
“Not right now, Morgan. He needs to sleep for a few hours.” Tony explained then took a bite of his cheeseburger.
“But he’ll be so hungry.”
Tony already thought of that but he’ll wake up and want milk then Tony will order some food at the water park if he’s still hungry after.
“He will have some milk when he wakes up. We won’t let him go hungry, don’t worry.” He loved how much she cares for her brother.
And at least Tony got to actually finish a meal without someone climbing all over him and demanding his attention. It was nice but he would rather his baby be awake so he could join in on the family fun.
.
.
.
Pepper walked back over with the wrist bands and smiled when she saw that Peter was awake. “Hi baby. Did you have a nice nap?”
Tony spun the stroller around. “You’re awake? I didn’t even realize.” He reached into the bag and grabbed a bottle of milk from the thermal pocket, handing it to him. “Do you know where we are?”
Peter happily accepted the milk. “Wa’er pa’k.”
“Yeah. Finish your milk then we can go have some fun.”
Morgan crawled into the stroller with her water bottle. “Cheers.”
Watching them clink their bottles together, Tony smiled. That was pretty cute.
He began pushing the stroller towards the change rooms and stopped outside so they could sit down and chill for a bit while Peter drank. “Did you have a nice nap?”
Peter nodded. “And Morgan too.”
“I didn’t nap.” Morgan said from next to him. “Just you did. And we went out to eat t while you slept.”
Peter sat up, letting go of his bottle, a sign he was done. “I had a dream I was swinging in the trees then I eat a banana.”
Pepper handed Tony a bag with all their stuff. “We’ll meet you boys on the other side. Do you want to take the stroller, Tony?”
“Um… yeah. You know what, I think it’ll be easier for me to put Peter in there after.” He put the bag back in the stroller. “Out, princess. We’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Morgan hopped out so Tony took the stroller into the men’s change room. Thankfully it was Disney world so there were a lot of stroller areas to change.
“Do you need help, dad?”
“Yeah. You go change then I’ll change him and you can watch him so I can change after.” Tony pushed the stroller into a change room and locked it behind them. “Alright, kid. Hop out.”
“Are you going to change my diaper?”
“Yeah. I need to put a swim pull-up on you.”
Peter looked suspicious.
“Oh.”
“Why?”
“Cause… I pooped…”
Tony grabbed the wipes. “Alright. Lie down. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I… forgot?”
Tony pulled his shoes and shorts off then untapped his diaper, having to close it again when he saw that it was diarrhoea. “Peter. You need to tell me so I can change you. You don’t want a rash.”
Harley knocked on the door. “I’m done, dad.”
Tony opened it up as he grabbed more wipes out. “We’ll be awhile.” He pulled the diaper from underneath Peter and Harley gagged.
“Urg. Gross. I’m never having kids because of that.”
Tony rolled his eyes. “I promise you it’s not gross when it’s your kid.”
“Still.”
“It’s not bad, Harley. You’ll see one day.” Tony tossed the dirty diaper into the garbage and used one last wipe to make sure he cleaned everywhere. “See? I’m already done.”
“Yeah. No.”
“Pass me the swim pull-up, would you?”
Harley looked in the stroller. “Where?”
“In the diaper bag?”
“Which bag is that?”
“The brown leather one.”
“Where?”
Tony sighed and straightened his back, getting up to grab it from the stroller. Although since he got up, Peter stood up on the bench and tried to peak over the other side.
“Peter. Stop. Come back over here.”
“I don’t want to wear a swimming diaper. It’s uncomfy.”
“Well… you can stop wearing one when you stop pooping in your pants.” He walked over to him and held the protection out, waiting for Peter to step into it. “Keep that on. And take off your shirt.”
Peter climbed back into the stroller. “Dad. Can you buckle me up?”
“Not right now.”
“Fine.” He grabbed his milk and climbed out of the stroller to stand up on the bench.
“Dad. He’s literally peeing right now. It’s dripping down his legs.” Harley pointed out, looking at Peter with disgust. Meanwhile Tony was sighing.
“Peter.”
“It’s broken.”
“What is?”
“My diaper.”
“It’s a swim diaper. It’s not supposed to absorb pee or water. Just poo.”
Tony laid a towel in the stroller and lifted him into it. “Please don’t move anywhere.”
Peter sat up on his knees to look over the handle bars of the stroller to see where his dad was going. “I wanna go in the wave pool.”
Not wanting him to move anymore, Tony grabbed the pacifier and held it out for him. “Sit on your bum and I’ll give you paci.”
As expected, Peter sat down on his bum so Tony placed it in his mouth.
He managed to get Harley to take the stroller just outside the stall so Tony could change, then fifteen minutes after they walked inside the change room, they were walking out, meeting Morgan and Pepper.
It was no surprise that they finished first.
“Peter had a diarrhea.” Tony told Pepper. “So let’s hope that’s the last one for today.”
“Oh no. Okay. Let’s hope. That’ll go straight through his pull-up.”
Pepper placed her bag into the bottom of the stroller and peeked inside, seeing Peter lying there contently as he sucked on his pacifier. “Are you excited?”
“Yeah. Wan’ go in ‘da wave pool fi’st.”
“Okay. We can do that. Let’s go find a seat.”
Tony also wanted at least Peter to wear a life jacket at all times, he’d prefer it if Morgan did too but that was wishful thinking.
Peter spit his pacifier out and sat up in the stroller so he could see better. The sun was beating down on his feet so he had to move them underneath the stroller shade, looking around with curious eyes.
He spotted the wave pool and pointed at it, despite Tony not being able to see him with the sun cover up. “Daddy, there!”
Tony unclipped the peep hole to look in. “We will. We need to find a spot to put the stroller first, bud.”
“How bout there?” Peter asked, pointing at a pool chair right in front of the wave pool. It was a perfect spot, meaning someone had to have just left it.
So Tony turned the stroller in that direction. He tossed a few towels on one of the chairs and put the locking break on the stroller. “Okay, Pete, let’s get your bathing suit on.”
Peter climbed out of the stroller so he could lie down on the pool chair, next to Morgan. “I need my sunglasses.” He pointed out, holding a hand out for his mom.
“Me too, mom.”
Once both kids had their sunglasses, Tony pulled out his phone to take a bunch of pictures, already knowing these would be printed out immediately and hung up on their wall. “Harley, go sit next to Peter. I want a new screen saver.”
And it was a perfect picture.
Tony couldn’t be happier. He was going to think back to this day, ten years from now and want to come back to it.
It was moments like these where it made all the crying, mood swings, and temper tantrums that much worth it.
Tony also wanted to remember every second of this moment so he put his phone on record and set it up on the stroller, facing Peter and Morgan, now that Harley walked away to spray himself with sunscreen.
“Here, Tony.”
Tony took the swimming briefs from Pepper and held his hand out for his boy. “Let’s get these on you.”
“Can we-are we gonna go in the wave pool now?”
“Yep. Morg, Peter’s going to wear a life jacket, are you going to wear one too?” Tony asked, already knowing she wouldn’t want to but hoping she’d say yes. It helped ease Tony’s anxiety.
She grabbed Peter’s from the bottom of the stroller and held it out. “No. It’s uncomfy. He’ll wear it. If I drown, I’ll pull him down with me.”
“Okay, that’s exactly what we’re not going to do.” He pulled up Peter’s swim briefs and grabbed the life jacket to get on him, thankful that Peter actually liked to wear it.
“And if I drown, then I’ll pull Morgan down with me.” Peter giggled, looking at Morgan to see if she was laughing too. She was. “And then we’ll both drown.”
“How about we stop talking about drowning because no one is drowning.” Tony looked at the phone recording still. So much for a cute video. He grabbed Peter and turned him around, pointing at the camera. “Look, I’m recording you.”
Peter walked over to the phone and squatted down to look at his reflection. “Hi Peter. I’m going swimming and-and me and daddy are going to go on the big big water slide.”
“And I am too.”
Peter nodded, putting a finger into his mouth to chew it. “You can come too.”
“Okay. Let’s go then.” Reaching down, Tony pulled Peter’s finger out of his mouth and grabbed his phone to shut the video off.