Come Home

“Wolfie?” Bucky tried not to jump at Peter’s voice, but he and Natasha were the only ones who could sneak up on him, and the two of them often forgot it. Well, more Peter forgot about it, Natalia loved to use it to her advantage. “Sorry, I thought you could hear me.”

“It’s okay bud I just lost my focus. What do you need?”

“Could we make a meal for Tasha? I mean I’d make it on my own, but I think she’d kill me if she saw me in the kitchen on my own with a knife.” Bucky couldn’t help but laugh at how true that was, Natasha was protective of Peter already, but after he’d gotten back she’d been even worse. Or maybe not worse, seeing as it was proving to Peter that they cared about him, and it’s not like Bucky could talk, he knows he’s gotten a little overprotective himself.

“Sure kid, any specific reason why you want to make her a meal? Or do you just want to improve your cooking skills?”

“I just wanted to do something for her, I don’t really know? But I know she’s out today, and I know she really didn’t want to leave, despite the fact she tried to hide it and so I thought it would be nice if she came home to a meal we cooked. Is that a dumb idea? I just remember Ned talking about how his Dad used to cook for his Mom when she was going to be late home from work, not that I’m trying to compare us to Ned’s family I know that –“

“Peter, breathe buddy. I think that’s a wonderful idea and Nat will love it. Any idea on what you want to make?”

“I think she mentioned something about wanting Solyanka soup, said she hasn’t had it in years. Could we try and make that? Oh! And can we also try and make what she called Medovik? She made it months ago and it’s the best dessert I have ever had in my life!” Bucky wondered if Peter knew that the Russian links would mean so much to Natasha, or if he was just simply unaware and knew Natasha liked these foods. Knowing Peter, it was most likely the latter, he never realised how much his actions meant to people, never knew how much of an impact he had, he just liked to make people smile.

“That sounds perfect Pete, do you want to start making it now?”

“Can we?”

Peter had been practically jumping to start since he asked Bucky the question, Bucky saw that, but Natasha had put forward the idea that they should make sure he was doing what he wanted and when. Not enough that he was doing whatever he wanted and not listening to them, not that Peter ever would, but to ensure Peter knew they meant what they told him, that they wanted to be his family, and by making sure he was comfortable was one of the ways to do this. As well as the fact that Peter had permanently moved onto Natalia’s floor, so had Bucky himself, but the two of them still had their own just in case, but they wanted to ensure that Peter settled into his new routine comfortably, and after everything that had happened the entire team knew that Peter wouldn’t say something if he thought it was a burden.

“Of course we can, come on lets get started.” Bucky wasn’t exactly sure how to actually make these dishes, but he was certainly going to do his best.

Bucky understood where Peter was coming from and his idea of cooking a meal for when Natalia came back was certainly a good one, knew it would make her happy, which is what Peter wanted. All Peter wanted was for those around him to be happy.

“I think we should make the dessert first, she should be home by six but if we cook the soup last then even if she’s a little late we can keep it hot enough for when she comes back. That alright bud?”

“Yeah Wolfie you’re the chief out of the two of us.” Peter followed each of his directions perfectly, Bucky knew Peter had a love for cooking, also knew that May couldn’t cook and now he knew even if she was able to cook she would have never cared enough to have shown him, now Bucky thought about that could May cook? Was that another lie Peter had used to explain his eating habits?

“Pete?” He only received an acknowledging sound for that, turning to see as Peter was in deep concentration while weighing his ingredients, but aware enough to listen to Bucky. “Remember when we used to ask why you weren’t eating enough, and you’d tell us every time that May had burnt the food again, was that a lie?”

The wide-eyed expression he got in response to that was enough of an answer in its own. “Bud, I understand why you didn’t tell us what she was doing but you could have asked for help with that without giving it away.”

“You really think that? You do realise I only just got away with the whole burning the food lie with Tasha, there was no way I could have tried bringing up me needing more food from you guys without her going to find out why. And anyway, I was already using a bunch of Tony’s money, I didn’t want to be more of a problem.”

“You were never a problem kiddo, and you never will be.” He moved over to ruffle Peter’s curls, pulling him in by his shoulders for a short hug before getting on with things, sensing Peter’s discomfort. “Now then, you measured everything out?”

Natasha was frustrated by the time she was arriving at her floor; the meeting had gone on for much longer than was necessary. What angered her even more was that she wasn’t even needed, if Steve and Tony could stop being children for just five minutes that is. They’d wasted so much of her day on something that she honestly paid no attention to, too distracted with the idea of going back up to her floor, she was aware that the three of them couldn’t just stay up there forever but she wasn’t ready for it to end just yet.

The moment the elevator opened the anger just seeped out of her body as she was tackled into a hug by Peter. “I’m assuming you missed me?” She couldn’t help but chuckle at him.

“Of course I did! Come with me, me and Wolfie got you a surprise!”

“Stop being so selfless Pete, this was all him.” Was all James said the moment she walked into the kitchen, her favourite dinner and desert in front of her on the table, she couldn’t stop the shock from showing on her face.

“Why did you do all this?” Natasha directed that question at Peter, James isn’t a liar, and well she knows Peter. She’s seen him bring gifts and surprises that none of them knew of and passed it off as if they did for whoever they were for. Part of her didn’t understand it, still doesn’t, why doesn’t he want them to know it’s all him?

“You just looked a little sad earlier, and I knew you weren’t happy about having to leave so I thought of how to put a smile on your face, and I remembered you mentioning these, so I thought ‘hey why not?’ Also I remembered how Ned’s dad used to cook dinner for his mum when she had those awful shifts she would often get, Ned was so happy when she got a new job.” What good act had she done to end up with this boy, this boy who was so sweet, so caring, somehow so innocent despite everything and he had chosen her to lead him.

“I love it Peter, thank you. Now come on lets eat I know you’ve probably being dying to just eat the dessert haven’t you?” Smirking at him she knew he was right when a smirk grew on his own face.

“Maybe.”

The table was enveloped in laughter after that, the frustration she had felt early feeling nothing more than a distant memory. As long as she had her boys with her she knew all would be fine.

It was a couple of days later that it was James’ turn to leave the floor, but unlike Natasha he had to leave the actual tower overnight, he’d been given a mission alongside Steve. He wanted to say no, was going to say no, but then he was told what the mission entailed, they were trying to remove any trace of Peter from Hydra that they could, and they were also trying to find out how they’d gotten to him in the first place, and how they hadn’t noticed it. Natasha knew that that piece of information was most likely only going to come from one person, Peter, but they didn’t want to have him go through it all if they could gather the information some other way.

Natasha knew Peter was trying to act as if he wasn’t bothered by this, as if James’ leaving for the night didn’t make him anxious, but the two adults could see it, saw the way he kept looking back at James every couple of minutes for the entire day before he had to leave. The moment it was time to go the smile etched onto Peter’s face would have convinced the rest of the team if they had seen it, would have believed him, but Natasha and James knew him better than that, could see the fear in him.

“I’ll be back soon, okay bud? You don’t have to worry.” James ruffled Peter’s hair before he pulled him into a hug.

“Promise me you’ll come back.”

“I promise you.”

“Now Natalia, make sure the boys don’t burn anything down while Stevie and I are gone please. We all know what they’re like and I would really like to come home to a building that’s not just rubble.” The idea of that made her laugh, walking forwards to kiss him on the cheek.

“We’ll do our best, won’t we Peter, but you know what they’re like. I bet Steve’s waiting for you so you should get off, we’ll be okay. Be safe!” James smiled at them as he waited for the elevator doors closed, waving to them just before.

The moment he disappeared from view she watched as Peter tensed, grabbing his hand to try and calm him a little.

“So, what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know? MJ once told me about the game nights she has with her family, she claims to hate it, but I know her better than that, could we play some kind of game? Wait do we even have any games?”

“I think Clint has Jenga, I mean I know that’s not the most interesting game ever, but we have it on hand if you don’t want to wait for a delivery.”

“I’ve never played Jenga, I always wanted to but Aunt May always used to say that it was too loud, that I was loud enough without tumbling bricks.”

“Then that settles it, I’ll go grab it.” How many things had that woman taken from Peter? Natasha had been beating herself up over it since she had found out the truth about May Parker, how had she not realised what was going on? She had met the woman, multiple times, but had never once thought something was off with her.

After playing the game for a good hour or so, Peter started to get restless, he’d clearly been enjoying the game, but Natasha knew that boy couldn’t sit still on one thing for the life of him.

“Do you want to do something else?”

“I – kind of but I don’t know what. Could we maybe just talk? Not that I really have anything interesting to say I just have no idea what else to do. We could watch a movie instead if you want. The movie doesn’t matter, you could choose it or I could choose it, or we could even watch one of Bucky’s favourite since he’s away and everything. Sorry I shouldn’t be telling you the choices you know them and this is your floor and everything and well - ”

“Well, there’s my rambling boy, I’ve missed this.” Natasha walked over to him to ruffle his hair as she went past to get them some snacks for a movie. “I’ll watch whatever you want to watch, and Petya, it’s our floor not mine. This can be your safe place, that is if you want it to be that is.” Coming back in from the kitchen Peter was just stood there in the middle of the room, looking back at her. “Petya?”

That seemed to shake him out of it, a look of confusion settling on his face. “Sorry, I just you used that name when you got me out didn’t you?”

“You remember? I didn’t think you would you were pretty out of it.” Natasha said, placing the snacks down on the table before walking to stand in front of him.

“I didn’t until now. I remember feeling pain but that nickname somehow made me know I was safe; I think it’s because no one else has ever called me that before. They called me every nickname I’ve ever been called but they didn’t know that one. When I heard it, I just knew here’s my ma- my Tasha.” Peter chuckled as he said it, trying to hide what he was going to say but Natasha knew. She smiled him but she decided against calling him out on it, if he wanted to call her his mother, she wouldn’t rush him.

“I’ll always be there, no matter what I’ll always find you when you need me. That’s what families do Petya.” The smile that got her was worth it as he pulled her down onto the sofa with her, draping the blanket over the two of them and resting his head on her shoulder as the movie played, Star Wars of course. Natasha loved it.

They were about half way through the movie when Peter started to get twitchy, something he had never done before while they watched movies, well unless he had something to say and so Natasha paused the movie, turning to him and gently lifting his chin so he’ll look her in the eyes.

“What’s going on in that head of yours Petya?”

“I was there for a week, I think. In that place. I kept thinking I was going to die. Kept thinking this was it. They kept singing that stupid Itsy Bitsy nursery rhyme while they cut me open, I think that was the most horrifying part, other than the pain they were putting me through, seeing that they were enjoying it. They were having fun.” Peter wasn’t looking at her, despite his eyes staring into hers, no he was looking through her, Natasha knew what that felt like, going back to that place mentally.

“Hey,” Natasha ran a hand through his hair trying to gently bring him back to her. “The people that were there, they’re all gone now. You’ll never see those people again, we made sure of that.”

“They kept telling me that none of you were ever going to come for me, that you were going to leave me there.”

“Did you believe them?”

“No. I mean eventually I began to doubt it as they kept going on and on about it and the longer that I was there it helped me start to wonder if their words were true, but no. I don’t know why but I just knew eventually you’d be there and then you were.” Peter moved away at this point, not too far, but enough to angle his body forward and staring at the paused movie on the screen. “You tend to do that don’t you?”

“Do what?” Normally Natasha found it quite easy to read people, she was trained for it so of course she was, but in this moment looking at Peter she had no idea what he was feeling.

“Show up.”

“Petya I don’t understand.”

“No one ever showed up before you. I mean Tony tried and MJ and Ned did what they could, but they can’t be there the way I need, I thought I’d just always have that feeling of being on the outside, that I’d always be that person that people liked but didn’t want. Then I met you. I mean when we actually bonded, from then on out you always showed up, without fail. Even when I thought you were on a mission and it would be impossible you were still always there, and I don’t get it.”

“Don’t get what?”

“Why? Why do you always show up? I’m nothing important, you missed or left more important things to babysit me, this isn’t what you signed up for, so why’d you do it?”

Peter finally turned back around to her at that, finally Natasha could see the confusion on his face and knew without a doubt he could see the same on hers.

“The full truth? The full story?”

“Please.” His confusion turned to desperation with that, with fear also shining through and Natasha just wanted to pull him back into a hug but also knew he didn’t want any kind of physical contact yet.

“The choice of being a mother was torn from me when I was young, from that moment out I thought that was it, with the removal of my ability to have a child I thought for certain that the maternal instincts were also torn from me. I mean of course I love Clint’s children, I’m their Aunt Nat of course I love them, but I thought that’s all I could ever be, an Aunt. Then you walked in with your bambi eyes and your innocence and well first of all I had a long conversation with Stark.” Hearing that Peter gave her a small chuckle, the entire tower knew about that conversation seeing as she wasn’t trying to be discreet about her anger at Tony’s actions. “Then I got closer with you and for some reason I dreaded the day someone would suggest you call me Aunt Nat, I mean I know Sam and Clint have been trying to get you to call them Uncle for a while now, and I didn’t understand why. Until one night on the roof, a few months after the night you and James met in the middle of the night, and you fell asleep against me and I realised what was going on, you became my son Peter and no matter what if you need me to or want me to show up I will, because that’s what a mother does.”

There was silence for a short while after that, shock seemingly taking over Peter if the surprised look on his face was anything to go from and for that moment Natasha thought maybe she’d gone too far. Said too much way too soon and freaked Peter out, they were trying to help him recover not make him uncomfortable, what had he wanted her to say? She was pulled out of her panic by Peter barrelling into her, pulling her into the tightest hug she thinks she has ever experienced, and all Natasha could do was hug him back as she felt his tears falling onto her shoulder as she tried to prevent her own from falling. She felt the moment Peter drifted off to sleep and choosing to do the same the two of them simply slept in the soundless room and for the first night since coming back Peter slept peacefully, safely wrapped in his mothers arms.

That was how Bucky found them the next morning, surprised that the elevator hadn’t awoken the two of them, but he was also grateful that he was able to witness this moment. He doesn’t remember a time when he’d seen the two of them looking so peaceful. It didn’t take long for Natasha to open her eyes and look at him, smiling but Peter continued to sleep soundly wrapped up in her arms.

“Comfy?” He asked her softly, making sure not to disturb Peter.

“Very, he’s still really light.” Peter had always been lighter than he should have been from the moment they met him, part of the spider DNA in his, but he knew that they still needed to make sure he got more food into his system after having so little for over a month.

“We’ll get him back to his normal weight soon, probably even healthier now that he’s going to be staying with us, he won’t go hungry like he did with May. On that note I’ll make breakfast for us all, want anything in particular?” Natasha shook her head in response, going back to running her hand through Peter’s hair, not wanting to wake him just yet. Not that Bucky could blame her, he’s never seen him look so peaceful.

It wasn’t until Bucky had finished making breakfast that Natasha finally woke him up, whispering to him gently as he steered. Bucky couldn’t help but chuckle at the way Peter shot up after realising why he was being woken up, clearly happy about the prospect of food, starting to shovel it into his mouth.

“Woah bud, you can slow down it isn’t going anywhere. If you’re still hungry when you’re finished then I can make more, all you have to do is ask.” With that Bucky walked back into the kitchen, making coffee for both Natasha and himself. Natasha smiling at him as he passed hers to her.

“Did the two of you have fun without me last night?” The two of them looked at each other at his comment, Peter obviously being the first one to break and start laughing and Natasha just smiled at him fondly. “Oh, I see I leave the house and it’s party central is it? I’m wounded. I’ll just go sit in my room all by myself, shall I?” Bucky began to stand from the seat he had taken opposite them before Peter practically threw himself at Bucky.

“No! Wolfie, we don’t want you to go! Right Tasha?” Peter turned his attention back to Natalia while he clung onto Bucky’s arm.

“Oh of course we don’t. Who would cook us breakfast?” Natalia’s laughter was infectious, causing Peter to fall back into him chuckling and eventually Bucky couldn’t help but join them. Peter pulling him to sit next to him while he plops himself back down next to Natalia. “We played some games, watched part of a movie and had some conversations. We’ve decided we’re going to take over the world, I mean hey, spiders got to stick together, right Peter?”

“Right! Do you think we’d be good world leaders Wolfie?”

“I think you’d both be amazing, just don’t let Natalia over there get too close to any big red buttons got it?”

“Hey!”

The laughter which filled the room that morning reminded all three of them of a time before Peter left, reminded them of the past but at the same time opened them up to a much brighter, happier future for the three of them.

Peter had gone down to see Wanda when Bucky finally questioned her.

“Were any of those conversations something I need to know? Is there anything I need to be concerned about? He’s okay right?” He couldn’t help but rattle off the questions, if something was up with Peter he wanted to know.

“Woah slow down there Papa-bear. He’s okay, I mean he’s not perfect yet there’s still things we need to do to ensure he fully heals, if he ever will, but he’s not in any kind of danger. We talked a little bit about his kidnapping, he thinks he was there for a week, which is longer than we thought so either he doesn’t remember it correctly or the video we got sent was a recording. For that time of captivity, they kept trying to tell him that no one cared for him, said he didn’t believe it or at least completely believe them anyway, so there’s a chance those doubts will crop up again. We also spoke about me showing up, about the fact I saw him as my son, I mean he didn’t say anything else after that, but he hugged me.”

“Do you think he’ll ever actually call us his parents? I mean I know he said he thought about us as his parents Nat but what if that’s changed, or what if after what he learned about Mary and Richard he’s decided not to trust people anymore?” Bucky knew this wasn’t the most important part of Peter’s recovery, knew that only Peter could decided if he still saw them as his parents, if he wanted to call them mother and father. But Bucky hopes that one day he will, he’s never been great with children but somehow Peter just wormed his way into his heart, that boy is something special and Bucky just hopes he can be part of his life in some way.

“I’m not sure.” Natasha spoke to him softly, her eyes looking into hers with much more content shining through than Bucky thinks he had ever seen. “That’s all up to him, if he ever wants to call us his parents then I know the two of us will love it, but even if he doesn’t, we’re the only two of the team he ever felt comfortable giving nicknames to, that means a lot too.”

“We’re going to be okay, aren’t we?”

“Yeah, we’re going to be great.”

Bucky knew she was telling the truth; things may still be unsure for now and Peter may not be okay yet but he knew the two of them would fight tooth and nail to ensure Peter had a home to come back to. No matter what happened, no matter how Peter decided to feel about them, parents or something else they would stand by him and love him for always.

They would always be a family, no matter what happened.