The Best Baby Sister
Pepper Stark goes into labour on a Saturday morning. It was a cold day, in the middle of April. It might have even been raining, but neither of them cared. Tony held her hand the entire way, as a frantic Happy Hogan drove them to closest private hospital.
Morgan Stark was born at 2.33pm. As the midwife set her down on her mother’s chest, she cried. So did her father, who couldn’t believe that they had a baby.
She was so fragile, so precious. When they passed her over to Tony, so that Pepper could heal, he was hesitant to hold her (just in case he hurt her).
Tony’s hand had caused destruction, in the past. Before Afghanistan, things he made caused deaths across the globe. But, since Iron Man... he’s saved countless of lives. So, he allowed himself to have this, to hold his daughter without guilt.
She was beautiful. A layer of black hair, not too much. A cute little button nose, that scrunched up whenever she’d yawn. Her arms and legs were so small, wailing about whenever they set her down to sleep.
“She’s beautiful, boss,” Happy said, coming into the room after the delivery. He held balloons (where he got those, Tony wasn’t sure).
“She is, isn’t she?” Tony whispered, rocking her back and forth. “I can’t believe she’s here.”
“I know. You’ve waited a long time for this, Tony. I’m happy for you,” Happy said, taking a seat beside Pepper.
“Is Pete with you?” Tony asked, looking over at the door. “I need a photo of my two babies, as soon as possible.”
“I dropped him off at the lake house for when you’re ready to go back,” Happy explained, “He said he had something to do, very important business.”
“If he tries to make another cake, god help us,” Tony said, with a laugh. As much as he teased, his heart would break if Peter was there making something for the family. He was just so good.
Something about him not being here hurt, but he knew it was, technically, for the best. After all, the kid wasn’t a huge fan of hospitals and babies are, surprisingly, not a fan of germs.
Tony spent hours looking down at his little baby girl, so tiny and beautiful and she was all his (and Pepper’s, but he didn’t mind sharing with her). Tony looked down at the five different outfits he had spread across the bed, trying to chose which one she liked. When she made a tiny noise at the third outfit, Tony decided that should be the one.
Morgan was dressed in a red and gold little onesie, a colour Tony liked to chose for him and his family (there was a reason why Peter’s Spider-man suit matched his). She looked as gorgeous as her mother, with his eyes.
They went home a day later, after all of Morgan’s (and Pepper’s) scans and check-ups. Everything was perfect.
When they walked into the door, Tony and Pepper were met with the smell of burnt bacon. When they walked into the kitchen, Morgan in her car seat, Peter was there holding two plates. To the side of him was a cake that looked as if it had gone wrong.
“I made you, uh, some bacon sandwiches! I just thought that you’d be hungry,” He said, putting the plates down onto the dining table. “I hope I’m not overstepping.”
“That’s very kind of you, kid,” Tony said, setting Morgan’s car seat down somewhere safe. His heart melted at how worried Peter looked, presumably scared that Tony wouldn’t want him here for his daughter’s homecoming “Come here, I want a hug from my son.”
Peter’s face lit up, as before it was full with worry. He stepped forward, holding Tony for a few seconds. When he finally spotted Morgan, the hug was abandoned.
“Can I hold her?” He asked.
Ever since the day Pepper announced her pregnancy, Tony had been waiting for this moment. To see both of his kids, together. It would be like a dream come true.
“Of course you can. Come on, go sit on the sofa and I’ll bring her over,” Tony said, gesturing over to their sofa (the comfiest one in the world, in the kid’s opinion).
Pepper sat beside Peter, helping him hold Morgan so that her head would be supported. Both of the parents assumed that she’d cry, as she had with everyone who held her (who wasn’t Pepper or Tony), but all she did was stare up at Peter’s face as he rambled about being the best brother.
Her tiny fingers wrapped around Peter’s index finger, holding on. Peter’s smile beamed down at her, as he rocked her side to side.
Tony tried to pretend as if he wasn’t crying, but he couldn’t help it. He just figured that he’d never get something like this. He grabbed his digital camera, alongside his phone, and started to take a load of different photos.
“She’s so cute!” Peter whimpered, “Look at her.”
“I think she loves you, Pete,” Pepper smiled, giving their son a side hug as he held their daughter.
“She does?” He asked (as if was possible for someone to dislike the web-slinging teenager).
“She’s got brilliant taste, Peter. She is a Stark, after all,” Tony said, taking a seat on the opposite side of the kid.
“Well... I love her too,” Peter nodded, not taking his eyes away from the baby in his arms. “I promise that I’ll always protect you, little sis. I’d do anything for you.”
Tony might as well have melted over his wooden floors. He sniffled, wiping his face with a tissue Happy slipped into his blazer pocket. The sight was just killing him. He didn’t know how he’d handle it when they got older, but he just had to.
The camera went off again. Peter looked up at Tony, who was wiping his tears away with his sleeve. Peter’s grin was soft on his face.
“Dad? Are you crying?”
Pepper chuckled at her husband as he let out a fake gasp, putting his hand slightly above the arc reactor. “I have no idea what you’re saying, Mr Parker. I’m definitely not crying. Just sweating out my eyes.”
“Sure,” Peter said, returning his attention down to the little baby in his arms.
Morgan made a little noise, like a yawn, and Peter chuckled. She was so sweet and already so attentive to the world around her. She was Tony Stark’s daughter, after all, so she was most likely gifted with the smart gene too.
Tony Stark was a genius. He knew that, people knew that. So he thought that taking care of a baby would be easy.
It wasn’t.
The sleep part wasn’t too bad. He was used to that. Tony was infamous with bad sleep, it was pretty much the description of his personality. However, this was different.
Very, very, different.
As soon as he fell asleep (which, even now... was rare) Morgan would start crying and disturb him. He’d get up, tired from manufacturing parts of the Spider-man suit, and hold his baby girl close to his chest; he wanted to allow Pepper time to sleep (she did have to run a company, after all).
Peter hadn’t been around in a while. He had asked, but each time he would be interrupted by something else. And when Tony asked him to continue, he’d lose the confidence to ask. He’d chose a different conversation topic instead.
Tony noticed, because of course he did. But he was far too busy to do something about it, so he suffered without the presence of Peter Parker in his life.
Peter wasn’t mad. Of course he wasn’t. He got it. When people had babies, they didn’t have a lot of time for other things; they didn’t have time for the first child/weird teenager that imposed themselves into their family dynamic. So, he let the Stark’s have their space (as much as he missed them).
Weirdly enough, Peter started to hang out with Steve and Bucky a lot more. Whenever he texted, or called, Peter was down at the tower with group (far away from him). Tony wasn’t jealous.
But, he was. He was very jealous.
Peter Parker was his son, not Steve Rodger’s or anyone else’s. Nobody else’s.
The fact that the, frankly perfect, Mr Captain America was taking him away from him was not sitting very well with the billionaire. So, as he held Morgan to his chest, he came up with a plan to visit his son the next day and the capsicle wouldn’t have a word to say about it (in the perfect world).
Steve and Bucky first invited Peter down to the tower a week after Morgan’s birth. They must’ve known he was feeling down, as they happened to invite him on a day where he was feeling down.
Sitting the two super soldiers, Clint, Nat, Bruce and Thor was weird (especially without Tony by his side), but it was pretty awesome too. He totally took a whole load of selfies with them. Ned’s reaction to each one definitely made it worthwhile.
But, that evening, when Peter went into the kitchen to grab a glass of water, he just felt a painful guilt hit him. Tony was the one that made him laugh, that made him happy. He should be here.
Intrusive thoughts filled his head. He doesn’t need you, Peter, he doesn’t need you anymore. He’s got Morgan, his real kid. You were temporary, only there until he got his own. What were you thinking?
The thoughts only stopped when Natasha put a hand on his shoulder, coming in to see wether or not he okay. He wasn’t.
That night, he cried into her shoulder. He explained that it wasn’t his fault, that he was just being ridiculous. But she understood him, she made him feel better...
A few weeks after that night, Peter was back in the tower with the Avengers. He was about to go out for dinner with Bucky and Steve. Steve had insisted, although Peter did feel like he was beginning to impose.
Peter was moments away from inviting Clint to a game of Mario kart, when the elevator dinged. All of their head’s turned to the noise, not expecting anybody else. Suddenly, Tony walked in (looking nothing like a man who hadn’t slept in days).
“Dad?” Peter asked, the moment the man walked into the tower unexpected. He thought that the man would, at least, give him a call first. He also thought that he’d be back at home with Morgan.
“Anthony!” Thor called, from Peter’s left side. “I’ve heard of your daughter’s birth! What a wonderful achievement!”
“Thor?” Tony said, “Didn’t expect to see you, buddy,” He turned his attention onto the kid, glaring at the right side of him where Steve was sat. “Hi Petey- thought I’d come and grab you. I was hoping that we’d buy you some presents, then go get some dinner and-,”
“Well, um, Steve and Bucky are taking me for lunch this afternoon,” Peter said, with a sense of awkwardness surrounding him. “But, uh, we can go afterwards? I miss you.”
Tony’s face fell. “Oh. Okay, kiddo,” he said, with pursed lips to try and not show how upset he felt. “Sorry, kid. Pepper’s got to leave soon, so I gotta look after the baby. Now is the only time I got.”
“Oh,” Peter sighed.
Steve looked down at the kid, who wore a massive frown on his face. He glanced over at Bucky, who looked like he had the same amount of guilt evident on his face.
“Pete,” He started, noticing how Tony’s glare was on him at all times. “Why don’t you go with Tony for food? Bucky and I will be fine here.”
“Are you sure?”
They nodded at him, giving him an amused grin when he immediately jumped up to grab Tony’s hand. They watched the duo leave, already talking about their science project that had been sidelined. Steve was just happy that Tony looked so carefree, he deserved it. So, instead of going out to dinner, Steve got to sit there with his boyfriend. He wasn’t complaining.
Steve looked down at his phone, only moments later, as a text message came through from Tony. It said something like ‘the kid’s mine’. He laughed at it, knowing that the man was just overly protective. Weirdly enough, it was actually quite sweet.
He definitely wasn’t going to try and steal Peter away from Tony, as much as he got along with the boy. The billionaire was far too scary when he got possessive.
Tony took Peter around the mall, buying him everything he looked at (even if Peter complained). He took photos with people, but Peter could tell he wasn’t happy about it. He didn’t care, though, as it was what he got for hanging out with a billionaire avenger.
Peter’s just happy to come along with him. When Tony turns away, for just a second, Peter managed to buy his baby sister a gift, already too excited to give it to her. He hadn’t seen her for a while and he missed her. He also got him and Tony matching keyrings. It wasn’t much, but he knew that the man would love anything he gave him.
Walking back to the car, Peter admittedly felt a little insecure about the amount of bags. He knew people were staring, but he couldn’t blame them... as he knew that he’d do the same. He just felt exposed, as if he couldn’t get away. It was a little much.
Tony must’ve noticed. He took Peter’s hand and pulled him into a side hug, kissing the side of the boy’s forehead. He managed to block Peter from the crowd, getting him into the back of the car as Happy stood guard.
He really needed to give Happy a raise. The man himself would definitely agree.
As Happy drove to the lake house, Tony dropped an envelope into the boy’s lap. Peter looked down at it, giving it a confused look as he tore it open. When he saw what was inside, his jaw dropped. In his hand was a pair of car keys for a, presumably, expensive vehicle.
“I-what? I can’t accept this, dad!” Peter said, staring at them as if they didn’t exist. “It’s way too much. When did you even get time to get these?”
“I’m afraid the car is already in your name, my son. So... unfortunately it is legally yours. I can’t change it, so I’ll just have to teach you how to drive it.”
Peter let out a breath, grounding himself. For a second, the keys made him panic. Ben always promised to do this with him, as soon as he turned seventeen-years-old, but here he was... with someone else, not even two years after he died. It felt like betrayal, something he never felt with Tony. But the man was looking down at him, love in eyes. It made him realise that Ben was still there, looking down at him through the clouds alongside his other family members. Tony was there to keep him happy, to keep love in his heart.
If Peter believed in divine intervention, he’d believe that they sent Tony Stark down to him to help him heal.
“Thank you,” Peter smiled, putting the keys down to take Tony’s hand. “You do so much for me.”
“And I always will,” Tony said, squeezing the kid’s hand. “You’re never getting rid of me, young man. I’ll be there, in the shadows, whenever you need help, okay? Even if that sounds creepy, kid, you know what I mean.”
“That is creepy,” Peter replied, with a giggle. “But it means a lot. I love you.”
“I love you too,” Tony said.
Arriving back at the house, Peter made a bee-line for the front door. He wanted to hold his little sister and give her the gift that he had ready in his pocket.
Tony eyed Peter as he followed him in, smiling sweetly to himself when he realised the young boy was chatting away to Pepper. He walked behind the boy, saying hello to his daughter as he did (who was in Pepper’s arms).
“I got her something,” Peter grinned, grabbing a small brown paper bag from his pockets.
Before either of the adults could say a word, Peter brought out a cute, tiny, onesie that said ‘best little sister’ in writing. Peter looked down at it, thinking about how it was the cutest thing in the world.
“It’s perfect, Pete. She’ll love it,” Pepper said, using one hand to take it from the boy’s hand.
When Pepper left for her meeting, Tony decides to cook dinner for him and Pete. So, as he focused on the food in the kitchen, Peter was on babysitting duties.
The teenager was sat on the sofa, with the best posture he ever had. He held Morgan in his arms, a firm hand supporting her head. He couldn’t move, not wanting to upset her. He stared down at her, as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
When she started to cry, Peter sang her a sweet lullaby to try and calm her down. It worked for a few moments, before she started to cry again. His eyes were wide as he rocked her, not knowing what to do. He was in over his head, unfortunately.
“Dad?” Peter called, “She’s crying and I-,”
“Don’t look so terrified,” Tony chuckled, stepping forward. “She probably just needs a change, kiddo. Throw me her new outfit, a sec, and I’ll just be a little while.”
Peter did as he was told, also passing Morgan over to her dad. As he went upstairs, Peter stepped outside to get some fresh air. Sitting down on the bench outside the front door, he sighed. He was having such a good time with Tony. He really didn’t want this to ever end.
But he was getting older. Soon, he’d be off to college and Tony would be too busy with Morgan to come and visit him. Their friendship would dwindle and he’d be a fleeting memory, only living on through pictures up on the wall.
“Kid?” Tony said, from the door. He noticed Peter’s stressed body language immediately, moving quickly over to sit beside him. Morgan wasn’t in his arms, presumably in a cot downstairs. “You okay?”
“Just thinking,” Peter said, eyes focused on the horizon rather than Tony’s concerned face. “It’s nothing, really. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“If you think I’m leaving you out here, you’re mistaken,” Tony said, sitting down on the bench beside him. “Now, you going to tell me what’s actually circulating in that head of yours?”
“I’m growing up,” Peter sighed, “It’s stupid, I don’t know why it made me upset. I-I just- I’ll go to college soon and I’m going to leave this all behind. You, May, Happy, Morgan and Pepper. All of you.”
“You’ve got a while yet, kiddo,” Tony told him, taking his hand to give it a little squeeze. He looked up too, watching the horizon as Peter did. “But, you know that I’d never leave you behind. Did you forget the conversation we had earlier?”
“It’s not that, really, dad,” Peter shook his head, leaning his shoulder against the man’s shoulder. “When I actually think about it, I know it’s stupid to think that we wouldn’t be close, but it won’t be like this. I just want to.. freeze time, keep it like it is.”
“Growing up is shit, kid. I’m not going to sugar-coat it. But that doesn’t mean that you’ll hate it. I know that it’s good now, that you can’t imagine life to be different- but- I promise, kid, it’ll all be okay. Things do change when you grow, but things come to you that you couldn’t imagine living without. Meeting you changed everything for me, kid, and that took like forty years.”
Peter leant into his side, almost as if he was begging Tony to move his arm around his shoulder. When the man did, he leant into him as if it was all he needed. He let his eyes close for a second. He just felt so exhausted, so tired of everything. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep without saying another word to his mentor.
Tony picked him up, holding him bridal style. He placed him down onto the sofa and put a blanket over him. Giving the kid a kiss on the forehead, he just looked at him for a second. He knew that his kid went out fighting crime on the weekend, but here... he was just Tony’s boy. Tony’s son who was intelligent, funny, kind and just... good. It was hard to imagine him as any different.
“God, I love you,” Tony whispered, pushing hair away from the boy’s face. “You and Morg, Pete. My kids. I’d do anything for you.”
Peter stirred in his sleep as a response, draping his hand over the sofa. Tony chuckled down at him, making sure he was safe before he returned to the kitchen to cook the rest of the food. They could eat the rest when he woke up.
When Peter woke up, it was only one hour later. He blinked, adjusting to the harsh light of the living room. He looked over at the cot, which Tony had brought downstairs, where Morgan had her eyes closed. Tony was stood beside it, rocking it back and forth.
“Dad?” Peter whispered, sitting up. “Sorry-,”
Tony turned, walking towards Peter. “No need, little Petey-Pie. What we do need, however, is to get some food in that stomach. I am well aware that little super-heroes have a bigger appetite than usual.”
“Do you have enough for you?” Peter said, rubbing his eyes as he yawned.
“That I do,” Tony said, secretly warmed by Peter’s constant loyalty/worry for him. He really loved having that presence in his life, it just made him a better person.
His life used to be dreary, filled with days in which he hated to get up out of bed. Before Pepper, it was a good week if he managed to go without a hangover for two days.
She helped him. She definitely made things better. He drank less, did more. But, still. He had an emptiness in his chest.
And then, Peter. Peter filled that hole in his chest. The web swinging, chatty, enthusiastic, boy. The first person to call him ‘dad’, to give him that parental feeling.
Peter, who he’d known for over a year. Peter, who he would defend for the rest of his life. He just loved this boy so much, that it was always on his head.
And then, Morgan. Morgan was his baby, his little girl. Seeing her face in the morning, it was the best thing. It made him feel all fuzzy and it gave him ammunition to retire, to let go of Iron Man for the last time.
“Okay then,” Peter nodded, getting up to go into the kitchen with Tony (and also interrupting Tony’s train of thought). They served some food on two plates, returning to sit with Morgan as they ate.
Dinner was great. Of course it was, Tony Stark was never bad at anything. Peter was in awe of the man.
When Pepper came home later that evening, she sat down on the sofa next to her husband. She held her daughter in her arms, as Peter sat down on Tony’s lap. They watched a movie together, as a little family. A family who had been through so much to get where they were now. A family who had been pulled together by love.
Peter was asleep in Tony’s arms, Morgan in Pepper’s. Both of the adults hardly managed to keep their eyes open, but they just wanted to stay awake to watch their kids, to make sure everything was okay with them. Having a family, it was just everything to them.
Tony hated to blink. When he did, he felt as if he missed every moment. And he hated that. As much as he preached to Pete about letting things change, he didn’t want it to. He wouldn’t admit that to the kid, however, as he knew that the boy would feel guilt.
“Isn’t this perfect?” Pepper whispered, “Our family, Tony. I never thought we’d ever have one.”
“I know,” Tony said, adjusting Peter on his lap to make sure he was comfortable. “I love you, Pepper. I love you and our family so, so, much.”
“I love you too, Tony.”
And Tony thought about how this all came about. That coffee shop, from the corner close to the tower, was the catalyst. He remembered the fear he felt when he dropped the cup over the boy’s torso, scared about hurting him. When the kid’s mouth first opened, he remembered this weird feeling in him. He didn’t know where that came from. But now he did. It was an immediate feeling of love, of wanting to be in the kid’s life.
“Pep?” Tony said, softly. “I think.. I think that it’s time.”
“For what?” She replied, tilting her head in a way that made Tony’s heart flutter.
“I think- it’s time to hang up the repulsers,” He said, “You know- for good. Time to look out for you guys.”
Pepper stared at him, eyes wide. She was clearly surprised, as if that was the last thing she expected him to say. “Seriously, Tony?” A smile spread over her face, tears welling up in her eyes. “You really think so?”
“Yeah,” He said, “I mean- I’d keep some, just in case this one is ever in a pickle, but I’d leave the Avengers. Leave this whole ‘hero’ thing behind. I’ve saved the world for a few times, it’s time for me to live life.” Tony looked down at the Spider-kid in his arms, squeezing him a little tight to make sure his breath was steady.
“You have no idea how happy that would make me, sweetheart,” Pepper replied. She got up, putting Morgan down. Returning to her husband, she shuffled down into his side and let out a few tears on her shoulder.
Holding his wife and his son, Tony had his own world to protect. He couldn’t be the hero the rest of the world needed anymore. He needed to be safe.
“I’ll do it, Pep. I’ll contact Fury and the team.. and then we’ll call a press conference,” Tony said, wrapping the free arm around Pepper’s shoulders. “It’s time.”
Tony Stark had been Iron Man since 2008. It had been so long. He’d been through dark moments, fights that caused PTSD and stress and near-death moments. But, now.. about ten years later, he decided that it was enough. Maybe it time for his best friend, his Rhodey-Bear, to take the spotlight. For him, it was over. Now, it was for time for him to be Tony. To be himself, for the first time in a long time.