Chapter 1
“Peter! Are you nearly ready?” Aunt May called from down the hallway. Peter had just run back to his room to get his favourite hat before leaving for school. Today was an important day.
“Coming May!” He called, swiping his Iron Man beanie from the table and rushing back out of the room, down the hall to where May was putting his snacks and thermos of milk in his backpack for the day. May looked up when he came into the room.
“Did you get your special hat?” Peter held it up like a trophy, grinning at her. “Great! Happy just texted me. He’s on his way up so let’s get your coat and hat on.”
May already had his coat on the kitchen table beside his Avengers themed backpack and picked it up, holding it open for Peter to put his arms into it, zipping it up so that it would keep him warm.
Peter handed her the hat silently after, and she placed it on his head, fixing his curls underneath his hat so that they sat nicely.
“Now, all toasty for your ride to school! Are you ready for today?” She asked, smiling down at him.
“Uhm, I’m a bit nervous.” He knew today would define the rest of his life, and that was nerve-wracking.
“I know you are, honey, but there’s no reason to be nervous. Remember, no matter what, I’ll love you unconditionally, and so will your mom and dad, okay?” May pulled him in for a hug when he didn’t look convinced.
“What if I’m not like all of you?” He asked quietly; he didn’t want to be the odd one out.
May pulled back so that she could look into his eyes, “You don’t need to be like all of us, you just need to be you, and we’ll be happy.” May got a playful look in her eyes that had Peter automatically smiling.
“Want to make a bet?” Trust May to bring a bit of gambling into it.
“Uh-huh.”
“I bet when you get your results, your Dad is going to cry!”
Peter gasped. His dad wouldn’t cry! “No way! I think Uncle Happy will cry but not daddy.”
May looked like she was trying to hold back a laugh, “I think both of them will. So what do you say? Want to take the bet?”
Peter eyed her, “what are we betting?”
May pretended to think about it, “Hmm, the winner gets to pick the next movie and treats?”
Peter nodded easily. It was his turn to pick next, but even if he lost, May had good taste. That did beg the question of where they would watch it, though. “Aunt May, are we moving to the tower soon?”
Peter asked this question at least once a week, and May always avoided answering. Peter loved spending time with his aunt May in Queens, but most nights, both of his parents had to come to put him to bed because he got such bad separation anxiety.
May got a twinkle in her eye again but just gave him a little boop on his nose. “Let’s see what happens, okay? You’ll be in the tower tonight, and all of us will be at your school for your test results!”
Peter gasped again, “All of you?!” He had way too many aunts and uncles for them all to be at his school today.
May laughed, “No, silly, I mean I will be there along with your Mom, Dad, and Harley.”
“Oh”, Peter giggled, that was better. “Uncle Happy is outside the door trying to catch his breath.” His super hearing was great sometimes.
“We really should get that lift fixed,” May commented, opening the door for a still out of breath Happy.
“May,” He said between breaths, trying not to look tired.
“Happy,” she grinned back. “Peter is all ready to go; just let me get his backpack.”
Peter had waited for May to open the door before running into his uncles' arms. “Hi, uncle Happy!” He said, squeezing the man and getting a pat on his back in return.
“Hey kid, you all set for today?” He asked, taking Peter’s bag from May.
“Yep!” He tried to inject more confidence into his voice than he felt at the moment.
Happy didn’t seem to buy it but didn’t say anything, instead asking, “Do you need a change before we make a move on?”
Peter blushed slightly but shook his head, “I’m dry.” He responded while May elaborated.
“He was changed a half hour ago, so he should be good to go for another little while. He has had a lot of milk this morning, though; he was a hungry little bug, weren’t you?” Peter grinned at his aunt and nodded; he was hungry this morning. He drank so much because of the comfort rather than hunger, though.
“Great, say bye-bye to aunt May. You’ll see her later on.”
Peter turned back to give May one last hug before leaving. “Love you.”
“Love you more, remember no matter what, we’re all very proud of you,” May responded, giving him an extra squeeze before letting him go.
Peter took Happy’s outstretched hand and nodded at his aunt, letting Happy steer him down the stairwell and onto the street.
“Guess what, kid, I have a surprise in the car for you.” Happy said as they approached his car.
Peter began to jump up and down in excitement, “What is it, uncle Happy? Is it chocolate?” Peter loved chocolate, but it was only given to him on rare occasions.
Happy huffed, “I want to keep my job, kid.” Instead of telling him what it was, he opened the back door, and Peter’s eyes fell on them instantly.
“You have my baby and blankie!” He all bus screeched. Peter had been sick a few days before, and nothing had been spared, including his puppy teddie, who he referred to as baby and his favourite comfort blanket. He had let his dad take them to be washed, but it meant he didn’t sleep as well at night.
“Let’s get you buckled in, and you can cuddle with them until school.” Happy smiled at his excited nephew. It was the little things that made Peter happy.
Peter let Happy pick him up and buckle him into his seat with the five-point harness, making grabby hands until his baby and blankie were handed to him. To top it off, Happy placed a pacifier in his mouth and heard Peter give a little happy sigh and wiggle. “Now we’re ready to go.”
Peter ignored him in favour of cuddling his baby, catching him up on all he missed the past few days he was being washed. The car journey seemed shorter than ever today, and Peter was sad to see his baby having to stay in the car without him. He looked a bit teary-eyed at Happy.
“It’s okay, Petey, baby and blankie will be waiting for you after your results. Are you excited?” He asked, trying to pour enthusiasm into his voice, but Peter just shrugged.
“Suppose.” He mumbled, taking Happy’s hand up the school steps. All of Peter’s family insisted that he was to be walked up into the school and handed off to an adult when he got there. Peter didn’t mind because it wasn’t just him. A few others in his class had to do it as well.
“Ah, Peter! Just in time!” Mr Harrington smiled down at the boy when his uncle walked him in, holding his backpack in his other hand.
“Hi, Mr Harrington!” Peter beamed back, forgetting his earlier upset.
“Are you ready for today? Because it’s classification results, we get to have a day full of games, fun, and maybe some sweets.” He winked at Peter, who let out a little gasp and gave his uncle a side-eye.
“Mr Harrington, I’m not supposed to have too many sweeties.” He whispered to his teacher loudly, “But maybe we can not tell mommy or daddy or aunt May?” He asked.
Happy and Harrington looked over Peter’s head and tried not to laugh, Roger whispering loudly back, “I’ll see what I can do for my favourite student.” He said, winking, and Peter jumped in happiness.
“Yes! Bye, uncle Happy, love you.” He said, quickly hugging the man before letting go and running over to Roger’s outstretched hand.
“Love you too, kid. Be good. Can’t wait to see what results you get.” He handed Roger Peter’s bag and, with a nod, was gone. Realistically everyone knew what Peter was going to get besides Peter. They didn’t want to upset him and tell him beforehand, though, because the boy was convinced he would be like his parents and a caregiver.
Roger looked down at Peter and grinned again, “Let’s go into homeroom, and you can catch up with Ned and MJ while I take roll call, then we can get to the fun, okay?”
“Uh-huh.” Peter let Roger lead him into his homeroom, where MJ and Ned were already at the back, saving the middle seat of Peter. Peter let go of his teacher's hand and ran straight into MJ’s open arms for his morning hug. Today was going to be a good day.