The Pregnancy
Tony’s still floating from glee. He’s going to have a baby, a little one to call his own. He’s still holding the pregnancy test, closed into his fist in a tight grip. He can’t believe it. After all this time.
Pepper’s glowing. Tony wasn’t sure how didn’t clock on already. She’s been lethargic lately, refusing to get up from bed before Tony. He couldn’t believe he thought that Pepper Stark was finally taking a break. Nope, it was just because she was pregnant.
They came up with a plan to tell their family. So, Tony invited over the Avengers, Pete, May and whoever else they deemed to be close enough to know.
Tony wasn’t sure how Pete was going to take it. He knew the kid would be happy for them, there was no doubt. It wasn’t in Peter Parker’s vocabulary to be anything but. A part of him is scared, however. Scared that Pete was going to think that he was being replaced.
Tony knew his heart wasn’t going to be split in two, it was going to grow. Grow large enough to accommodate the love he felt for both of his kids, alongside Pep and the rest of his family.
He couldn’t believe that he got so lucky. So much of his childhood was surrounded by those who wanted something, or teased him for being so smart. Howard wanted nothing to do with him and Maria was to scared of him to do anything about it. At least he had Jarvis.
He hoped he was like Jarvis to his kids. Jarvis loved him unconditionally, like he was his own son. He’d encourage Tony to be himself, to express his emotions without judgement... he allowed him to be the person he was today. Without Jarvis, his life wouldn’t be the same.
As soon as all of the team came in, they noticed the banner across the living room. Pepper had chosen a ‘new baby’ sign for them to see. Simple, but effective.
Peter was the last to walk in, May by his side. He heard the cheering immediately, freezing up from the sight/sounds. When he stepped inside, the first things the he saw wasn’t the banner... no, it was Tony’s smile. Carefree, happy... in fact, he had never seen him this happy.
“Oh my gosh!” May said, grinning wide.
Peter looked up at his Aunt as she rushed over to Pepper, taking her into a gentle hug. Pepper took her hands and puts it on her stomach and Peter finally catches on. Oh.
He sees the banner. A baby. Wow, Tony was finally going to be a father. But, he already was... wasn’t he? So when he heard Clint say something about being ‘a new father’... Peter was only human when the bubbling feeling of envy started down in his gut.
A sudden realisation comes to him. So that was the third heartbeat he heard when he was sat with Pepper the other day. He was sure that someone was staring at them...
That wasn’t who he was, however. So he plastered on the biggest smile and pretended as if the clogs in his brain were shut down.
“So, big brother,” Sam Wilson said to him, when the two of them were sat in the corner of the room. “How’s that hitting?”
Sam didn’t really ‘like’ Peter. Well, he did. But it was a weird kind of like. The kid was annoying, but he just so pure that it was hard not to fall for the kid’s charms. But still wouldn’t be besties with the mutant. That was for sure.
“I’m- I don’t think Tony wants me to be the kid’s big brother,” Peter explained, taking a bite of the cupcake that was stuck to his hands. “I bet he’s excited to finally he a dad, though. I’m really, really, happy for them.”
“Uh, you’re not Stark’s son? That’s what he said,” Sam said, “In fact, I’ve heard you call him dad? What’s going on here? Are you trying to prank me?”
“What? No! Of course not,” Peter mumbled (and he took another, bigger, bite). “I’m kind of Tony’s son... in, uh, a way? He’s not actually my dad, but he’s someone like that. I don’t want to, uh, take away his attention, though. Being a first time parent-,”
“Will people stop saying that?” A voice said from behind. When Peter turned around, the billionaire was stood there (the opposite of that smile he had in the beginning. This time it’s a harsh frown). “Especially you, Mr Parker. Am I not your father?”
“I’ll head out. I ain’t coming to be part of a family dispute,” Sam said, quickly standing up and crossing the room, poking the side of Bucky’s stomach (Peter watched for a few minutes as Steve tried to separate the two).
“Thanks Birdbrain the second,” Tony said, flashing the ‘media smile’ he had, before dropping it as soon as Peter refuses to look back at him.
“Pete,” Tony said, “Kid, look at me,” He said, grabbing his hand. “You can look at Wilson and Barnes’ arguing another day. I’m sure it’ll happen this afternoon, if not in an hour or two.”
“Look- I, uh- I just-,”
“Nu-uh,” Tony said, wiggling his finger in front of Peter’s face. “Do you we seriously need to go through this same conversation again? Didn’t I tell you that you’re my son? I did, right? Because I sure remember that conversation, you know. I might not have changed your diapers, or been there for your first day of school... but, Pete- come on, we know that doesn’t mean shit. I’m your dad, unless you don’t want that anymore.”
“Dad...,” Peter said, looking down to his shoes.
“There it is,” Tony said, wrapping his arm around Peter’s shoulders to bring him in. “I don’t want you to be upset, okay? I’m going to love you and the baby exactly the same, okay? Just because the little one is my blood, that does not make a difference.”
Peter sighed, clenching his fists. He was embarrassed at himself. How could he let himself act like that? It was not him, to be angry at a child who hasn’t taken one breath yet.
“I’m sorry for ruining the party,” Peter whispered into Tony’s shirt, smelling the cologne he always used (Peter asked for the same one for his birthday, which Tony gave him).
“It’s only been a hour,” Tony said, looking around. “Plus.. you hear that? People are laughing, chatting and having fun. I wouldn’t say it’s been ruined, at all. So that’s enough of that, Petey-Pie. Lets go and get you some food. I don’t want my kiddo passing out on me-,”
When Peter goes over to speak to Pepper, alone, Tony notices. Pepper said something, making Peter’s smile light up. The billionaire wanted to run over and join the conversation, but he loved the way his favourite people interacted. The second Peter puts a hand on her stomach, seemingly speaking to the bump, Tony grabs his phone and takes a lot of photos from the sidelines.
Looking down to the photos he took, a huge smile spread across his lips. His family...
“It’s a good look on you, you know,” Natasha said, coming out of nowhere.
Tony jumped, but refused to swear. He knew that she loved it whenever she scared him so much, that he’d lose control of what came out of his mouth. This time, however, he had the upper hand. She just didn’t have it in her anymore... well, she probably did. Just not this time.
“What is?” Tony asked, putting his phone away.
“Happiness.”
And with that, the super spy walked away and started to speak with Steve. She was right, though. He did like how happy felt on him.
The tower was not a place to raise a baby, Tony determined. So for weeks, he had been looking for a new house. The perfect retirement house.
And yeah, that was development. Soon, Tony was going to announce to the world that Iron Man was going down. He had a family to take care of, and being an Avenger wasn’t apart of that vision.
“Can I fill the vacant Avenger spot?” Peter asked one day, as Peter laid across Tony’s lab, as the man scrolled through an estate agent’s website. “You know, when you leave.”
“Already trying to get rid of me?” Tony quipped, raising an eyebrow as he used his hand (that’s not holding his phone) to thread through Peter’s curls.
Peter’s eyes go wide, letting out a fake gasp. “How did you figure out my plan? Oh, no! My plan has been disclosed!”
“I knew it,” Tony said, shaking his head softly. “I can’t believe my own son- my baby- has actually been evil this entire time-,”
Peter giggled, watching the scene on the movie for a minute or so. He listened to Tony’s heart, the sound of his comforting. It lets him know that the man’s here and that he’s not going anywhere.
“You didn’t answer, though,” Peter added, after they remained in silence.
Tony sighed. He put his phone down on the coffee table and hoisted Peter up, so that his kid was sat up and by his side. “Listen-,”
“Well- I’m guessing it’s a no, then,” Peter mumbled, glancing away.
“Don’t get grumpy, Parker,” Tony said, ruffling his hair. He laughed at Peter tried to pull away, giggling. “Not yet. I’m not letting you join that team whilst you’re still a minor, okay?”
“So... you’re saying that I can when on my eighteenth party?!” Peter asked, with that wide smile on display. Tony loved that smile.
“How about... after you graduate college?” Tony said, “I don’t want you to throw away your education.. because of all of this.”
“But that’s so long away!” Peter groaned, flopping back onto the opposite side of the sofa, his legs landing on Tony. “Do I have to?” He questioned, lifting only his head so that they made eye-contact.
“No, you don’t. I can’t control you, Pete. I can give you rules when you’re a minor, but once you turn eighteen then... you can do what you want. I just hope you make the right choice, kid.”
“I will!” Peter said, grabbing a bunch of pillows from Tony’s couch.
Tony found the perfect house that night, still scrolling away on his couch; Peter was still there, asleep.
It was a lake house. Beautiful, big, and surrounded by a river. It’s a closed off location, far away from any neighbours or civilians. Tony lets his eye close, imagining Peter and his unborn baby playing with toys on the open grass as the two adults watched from some swinging chairs on the porch.
He immediately emails the agent, just in case. He also sends the photos to Pepper, who’s up in their bed. She’s waiting for him to come up, surely. So, he picks Peter up and takes him to his own room.
“Night- Night,” Peter mumbled to himself, as Tony laid him down onto his sheets. “Don’t forget me, dad.”
Tony froze, leaving his hand over the pillow he was puffing up. He knew Peter was just sleep talking... it didn’t necessarily mean that he meant what he said. He might have been dreaming about his biological dad.. but, the way he gripped onto Tony’s hand as he said it... it broke his heart.
“I’d never forget you,” Tony whispered, littering some kisses all over his forehead. “You’re my kiddo.”
“Hmhmh-,” Peter mumbled in his sleep, fidgeting underneath the covers. “Okay- love you too.”
Tony softly smiled, putting over the kid’s body. He walks out of his bedroom, shutting the light off as he did. He walked down the dimly lit hallway, over to where Pepper and his bedroom was situated. Opening the door, he smiled at the sight of Pepper looking in the mirror with a hand over her bump.
“You’re beautiful,” Tony whispered, standing behind her to wrap his arms around her waist. “Look at your bump, that’s our baby in there.”
“Tony,” She smiled, blushing. “Do you really think so?”
Pepper was a lot of things. It was rare, however, for his wife to feel insecure. Of course she had her moments, but they’d usually be over in moments as soon as someone complimented her outfit, or the colour of her lips. This time Tony saw the doubt in her eyes.
“Of course I do,” Tony said, planting a kiss on her cheek. “How could I not? You’re the most stunning woman in the world.”
Pepper smiled at that, turning around to face him instead of the mirror. “Are we going to find out the gender? We can now, you know. I’m at 20 weeks.”
“Hmmm,” Tony thought about it, going through the pros and cons in his head. “I think we find out, but it’s mostly down to you. You’re the incubator, you get to throw the shots.”
“Yeah. I think that we should find out.”
A week later, Tony passes the envelope with the gender to Peter when he comes over one day. He trusts Peter to make a small cake, with Bruce to assist, with blue or pink inside.
Peter couldn’t believe that he was making a cake for his ‘father’, for their baby’s gender reveal. He couldn’t believe that Tony Stark trusted him that much. If someone told him that all of this was going to happen, Peter would’ve told them that they were mental.
But what he couldn’t believe the most, was that THE Bruce Banner was stood there in front of Peter, as if nothing was happening. He had met Bruce before, multiple times, but never alone. He couldn’t wait to talk the doctor’s ear off about his work, and how much it inspired him. But did Bruce want to hear that..? He didn’t want to be an annoyance when all he signed up for was baking a cake.
“Peter- I’ve never heard ‘quiet’ on you before. Usually you’re screaming with Barton about Mario kart, yelling at him when he called you a dirty cheater. I think you were right, by the way. The man is clearly a sore loser,” Bruce said, shifting awkwardly on his feet. “Is it me? Are you nervous that I’ll turn into the Hulk? Because, uh, I can, um- I can grab someone else.”
“No!” Peter said, as he folded the dry ingredients in a bowl. “Definitely not, sir. I’m just nervous- you’re such an academic legend that I feel a little out of depth here-,”
Bruce looked taken back, like he couldn’t believe those words came out of the boy’s mouth. “Peter... You hang with Tony Stark and chat with him daily. I think he’s the genius.”
“Uh, what? Mr Banner- you’re SO smart! And trust me, Dad likes to pretend that he’s got the genius thing down, but I once saw him drink motor oil from the coffee that DUM-E made him. He might be smart, but he’s got no common sense. You do though, Mr Banner. You’re one of the best,” Peter ranted, but he meant every word of it.
Without Bruce Banner, Peter might not have loved science as much as he did now. If he didn’t, he would never have met most of his friends and family and he’d never have become Spiderman. Someone else would’ve.. somebody evil, probably. So, thanks Bruce, as you’re the reason that low level criminals are of the street and that there’s not an evil man in spandex terrorising the streets as ‘The Arachnid’. Now that was a scary timeline.
They finish the cake. It doesn’t look bad, but it doesn’t look... good. The two of them looked at it, for just a second, before letting out a little laugh. Wasn’t it the thought that counted?
Pepper’s gender reveal party was just for the Avengers, and Pete. They all wore ‘blue’ for a boy or ‘girl’ for a girl, all wanting to find out (only Bruce and Peter don’t wear a coloured outfit, as they already know the result).
They pay some games, sit around and speak for a while... until it was time for the reveal. Peter puts the cake on the table, feeling a little insecure of how it looks. That was until Tony’s face lit up, clearly proud of him (he figured Tony would’ve been proud if he had made one gram of cake. It was nice).
Tony and Pepper hold the knife together, cutting the cake as if it was their wedding all over again. The slice is pulled out, showing off the pink filling.
A baby girl! Tony couldn’t wait to spoil his little sister, who he’d care for... for the rest of his life. He suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to protect this baby, like nothing else before. It was weird.
They buy the lake house days after the gender reveal. A week after that, the Stark’s move out of the tower. They leave the Avengers behind and, unfortunately, they’ve moved further away from Peter.
Tony and Peter hadn’t seen each other in two weeks, the longest period of time since their sleepover. They do FaceTime every day, but it’s just not the same.
So when Pepper and Tony finally settle in, Tony immediately sends an invite over to the kid. Peter, of course, said yes. He wanted as much time with Tony before the baby (Peter remembered that Tony told him, in secrecy, that she’d be born as Morgan) came.
Peter swings over, asking Karen to set the route. He follows it, excited to see the new route. And if he saves a few people on the way, he’d just tell Tony there was traffic. In the air. You never knew how many superheroes were out there, he’d say.
Peter was late, in fact. By one whole hour. When he arrived at the door, Tony’s hair was wild, his hand squeezing his phone. When he realised he was looking straight at the kid, who he thought was missing, relief flooded his face.
“What?” Peter asked, as if face was squished up against Tony’s face. “I know- uh!- I know it’s been a long time- but- you’ve never hugged me this tight!”
Peter couldn’t breathe. His face went red. When he started coughing, Tony finally pulled away. “Peter! You said you’d be here at 4, it’s not NOT 4. In fact, it’s actually 5.12pm.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh,” Tony laughed, taking a deep breath. “Thought you went missing.”
“Sorry,” Peter mumbled, “There was... traffic.”
“Traffic?” Tony asked, titling his head. “Seriously, kid? Traffic,” He laughed, standing aside to pull the kid inside. “Whatever made you late, don’t do it again. This old heart cannot handle it, Pete.”
“I told you what happen-,” Peter pouted, walking inside.
“And I told you that you’re a terrible liar, once,” Tony said, “And it’s still true. Come on, let me show you around.”
They walked around the lake house, stopping in the (beautifully decorated) living room. They talked to Pepper, who’s bump had grown drastically since Peter had last seen her. Peter said hello to his little sister, before the tour restarted.
As they walked down the hallway, Peter stopped at one of the bedroom doors. Over the door, there was a name tag. Peter’s name.
“Oh? You found your room, huh? It’s not fully decorated yet. I’ve got some specialists to come in next week, we’ve been designing it for a while,” Tony said, putting his hands on his hips as if he was a proud father. “You still want to go look?”
Peter nodded, holding in most of his emotions. The door swung open. Tony said the room wasn’t finished, Peter wasn’t sure if that was true. Yes, some space was empty. But, there was a beautiful king sized bed in the middle of the room. There’s pictures of them all over the walls. Five, new, lego sets litter the surfaces. Everything Peter had mentioned he liked, was there. If it wasn’t, Peter guessed it would be there when it’s ‘finished’.
Peter stared, in disbelief. Tony had made him a room. He specifically brought a house with enough bedrooms, so that Peter could have his own. He began to well up, hiding his face from the man.
“Pete?”
Peter let a tear cry, cringing when an audible sniffle came from him.
Immediately Tony turned around, looking into Peter’s face. “Kid? Do you not like it? I can change it up, if you’d like.”
Peter shook his head, walking forward to look all around. There’s even a pull out bed, underneath his, just in case Ned ever wanted to stay. Of course, there was a spare room down the hallway he could sleep in... but, Tony’s like that. He knows that Peter slept better if he knew the people he cared about were safe.
“It’s just- perfect, Dad. I just thought, um, I-I thought that you wouldn’t want a space for me here,” Peter explained.
“Oh,” Tony said, “Well, duh. I’d find space for you anywhere. You’re stuck with me, Petey.”
“Guess I am,” Peter smiled, leaning into the man’s side.
The night, Peter sits and curls up on their new armchair as he pampered Pepper. She gets the best, damn, back massage from the best in the business. Not Peter or Tony, but the machine they mede in the lab in the tower (before they moved). She enjoyed it, very much, and tells Peter that she needed him to stay around for a long time.
Peter invited MJ to come over the day after, from Tony’s instructions. When she met Pepper, her eyes go and wide and she nervous. She mirrored Peter, from when he first met Tony. Peter had never, ever, seen his girlfriend like that. It was amusing. And sweet.
“Don’t speak of it,” MJ said, as they sit in his new bedroom, hip to hip on top of the memory-foam mattress. “That didn’t happen. And if it did, it’s because Pepper Stark is an icon, and one of the biggest female CEO’s in history.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Peter giggled, “If I did, I’d say that I thought it was adorable.”
“I’m not adorable, Parker,” MJ grinned.
“Sure,” Peter teased her, leaning over her. “I, for one, think you are. Really adorable.”
Peter put his leg over the other side of her, so that he was hovering on top. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her lips, to which she responded lovingly to. His hands roam her body, finding the curve of her waist. Her hands move to his hair, and he felt like he was in heaven. Their kiss gets heavier and they’ve never gone this far and it’s so good and-
Tony Starks walks into his bedroom, with a plate full of cookies. “Mr Parker!” He fake gasped. He put the plate down, putting his hands over his eyes. “I can’t believe it.”
“Dad- Oh my god-,” Peter said, jumping away from MJ’s body. MJ just laughed, waving at Tony from where she was laid on the bed (acting as if the most famous man in the world didn’t just catch her making out with her boyfriend).
“I have cookies,” Tony shrugged, “If this was what you were getting up to, put a sock on the door.”
“Dad, stop!” Peter blushed. “You’re so embarrassing.”
“Oh, Pete,” Tony joked, throwing a cookie at his head. Peter, of course, like the little mutant he was, sensed it and caught it before it hit him. One day, he’d get him. “When will you learn? That’s my job.”
Tony went to walk out of the door, but he decided that he hadn’t embarrassed the kid enough. He ran to his bedroom, grabbed a condom, and threw it onto the teenager’s bed.
“There’s already one pregnant lady here, we don’t need another!” He shouted, “And seriously, Pete! Either go with the classic and out a sock on the door or ask FRIDAY to lock it.”
“Get out!” Peter shouted, throwing a pillow of his head.
Tony just laughed, leaving the two lovebirds alone. Oh, he couldn’t wait to tell that story to May. She’d love it. Maybe he’d avoid telling MJ’s father that one.
The four of them go to the mall the next day. But it isn’t the mall that Peter and MJ recognise. It’s a high street shopping village and it’s definitely for those with a lot of money in the bank.
They shop for Morgan’s baby stuff, buying a lot more than needed. They pick some stuff up from charity too, as MJ complained (she thought that she whispered it) to Peter about how the bourgeoisie control the world.
Really, they couldn’t wait for Morgan to come into the world. Because she was really, really, going to be the most spoilt kid in the damn universe.