Epilogue
Approximately one year later...
Tony announced his retirement only a week after the conversation he had with Pepper. The team took it well, as most of America did too. Peter was incredibly proud of him, acting as one of his biggest supporters. He still had a place at the tower, to spend the time with the rest of the team. He was just no longer an official Avenger.
Peter was beside Ned, both of their eyes focused too much onto their laptop screens. Neither of them said a word to the other, refreshing their emails every few seconds.
In the other room, Tony, Pepper and May were stood, just waiting for any news about the boy’s college applications. It was terrifying, not knowing if they got in or not (Tony was sure that they would, and he already had two scholarship programs set up). But, they decided not to be in the room when they found out. They wanted to let the boy’s experience it, without any peering eyes making them more anxious.
Ned’s email came through first, Peter’s next. They glanced at each other, taking the other’s hand in a comforting way. With one deep breath each, they opened the email and waited for it to load.
And then, like a scene in a coming of age movie, they both jumped up with two excited shouts/screams. Across both of their screens, was a big piece of text that said ‘accepted’.
The adults rushed in, eyes wide and asking what the news was. When Tony saw his kid’s screen, he ran towards him and scooped him up into a massive hug. Lifting him up, he spun him around with a giant smile.
Ned gave May and Pepper a hug, holding him tight with a smile on each of their faces (tears welling up in each of their eyes). May couldn’t believe that her Nephew, and his best friend he had known for all his life, were off to their dream college.
Tony set Peter down, not bothering to let go. He held him there, putting a hand into his hair as he comforted the, now, eighteen-year-old. “I’m so proud of you,” he said, his own words shaking as he tried not to cry.
“I-I can’t believe it,” Peter whimpered, as Tony squeezed him just a little bit tighter.
“You’ll love it there, Pete,” He whispered, rubbing his back to keep him calm. “Just don’t get in too much trouble.”
As Tony finally let go, he pushed some hair out of the boy’s face with a wet, breathy, laugh. He let the boy go and hug May and Pepper, as he gave Ned a small embrace.
Hours later, Tony got a text from MJ’s father that let him know their third best friend also got into college, as the boy’s got a message from her. She decided that MIT wasn’t right for her, applying for art colleges instead. Tony knew that her and Pete would get through long distance (their young love reminded Tony of how he was with Pepper).
Tony and Peter sat together on their couch later the day, as May went back to the apartment (taking Ned home as she did) and Pepper put Morgan to bed. It was their tradition, to relax back together and watch a movie as they cuddled up together.
Peter’s head was on Tony’s lap, his legs learnt over the back of the sofa. Tony’s hand was in his longer hair, twirling around it to keep him calm. “I move in August,” He whispered.
It was March. There was a month or two before graduation. They only had the time after that to pretend as if he wasn’t moving away, as if nothing was changing.
Tony sighed, ruffling his hair, before turning to grab the remote. Pausing the movie, he turned to the kid. They needed this conversation, otherwise they’d both be broken by the time the kid actually had to go. “I know,” Tony said, seriousness evident in how he spoke (which happened rarely, with Tony), “I’ll come and visit you.”
“Yeah, you will,” Peter grumbled, sitting up. He tucked himself underneath Tony’s arm, tucking his head against the man’s chest. He listened to his heart, letting him know that Tony was here (that he’d always be there). “It’ll just be weird.”
Tony sat there, not knowing how to reply. He wanted to tell the kid that’d be fine, that everything would be okay. But he wasn’t sure if it would be. The part of Tony’s heart that Peter held, he didn’t want that to be ripped out of his chest. He didn’t want to say goodbye. He knew it was selfish of him, but it was just how he felt.
“I’m excited,” Peter said, after a few minutes of silence. “To be like you. To study in the same college that you did. It’s like.. I don’t know, like I’m following in your legacy? Being there... I think that it’ll be like you’re there with me, in a way. Maybe I won’t miss home as much.”
Tony smiled, “Yeah,” He nodded, placing his hand on the top of Peter’s shoulder. His thumb traced across the kid’s shirt, slowly stroking the fabric to distract himself from the painful feeling of loss in his heart (which was weird, as the boy hadn’t even left yet). “You make me so, so, proud, you know? You’re going to do so good there. Couldn’t think of a better son to be my legacy.”
Peter hummed, clearly content with Tony’s answer. He leant over to the other side of the sofa to grab the remote, deciding to press play on their movie again. He decided to watch the film instead of continuing their conversation, as he knew that it just would end up with tears.
They had months for a proper goodbye, it didn’t have to be today. For now, they’d just have to enjoy the other’s company as they watched a film (Peter, of course, chose which one they watched).
The other students of Midtown Tech definitely didn’t expect Tony Stark to show up at their graduation. In fact, they all thought Peter Parker was a liar to even insinuate that they knew each other. So to find out that they were close enough for the man to attend, most of them were freaking out.
When the new, sleek black, Aldi pulled up into the school’s car park, most of people’s eyes were set upon the vehicle (each person confused as to who had this much money). When Peter stepped out, a charismatic smile playing at his lips, clearly engaged in conversation with someone, more and more people started to stare. His Aunt got out of the back followed by... Pepper Stark, who was holding a small child in her hands. And, then, Tony Stark stepped outside the drivers seat.
When another car pulled up next to it, Happy Hogan, Captain America, War Machine, Black Widow and the Winter Soldier stepped out (all of them dressed in formal clothing, far from the costumes people were used to seeing them in).
Tony wrapped an arm around Peter’s shoulders, as they walked up to the front desk to sign in. The lady looked up at them, wide eyed, but did her job nonetheless.
And when Thor, a literal god, flew in a little later, the surprise had lifted by then. The God scooped Peter up into his arms, squeezing him tight as a welcoming hug. Peter didn’t look too surprised. In fact, he looked as if he was used to it.
And just like that, the Avengers were sat on some plastic chairs as their class graduated. All because of Peter Parker. Well, that sure was a story they could tell in the future (if anyone would believe them).
When he went up to collect his diploma, all that people could hear was the excited, clearly proud, shouts of Tony Stark (followed by Steve Roger’s embarrassed whisper, which wasn’t quite a whisper, telling him to be quiet). Peter’s smile was different to what they remembered. He was confident, clearly aware of how confused everyone was to his friendship with the richest man in the world. Really, it was admirable.
When he shook the principal’s hand, he walked straight to his family. Tony Stark pulled him into an embrace, pressing a fatherly kiss to the man’s temple. He wiped his face, as if tears had been falling down his face (although nobody was too sure, he was able to hide it quickly).
The rest of the team cuddled into him, each one whispering something in his ear as they did. The poor person that followed Peter was ignored, as too many people couldn’t keep their eyes away from the sight before them.
That night, Tony did allow Peter to have a few drinks within the confides of the tower to celebrate moving on from High School. All of the Avengers were there, as well as Ned and MJ. Before Tony could regulate Peter’s drinking, the boy had metabolised the drink in the opposite way to which Steve did (getting drunk faster than possible).
Well, he couldn’t be too surprised that Parker was a lightweight.
Drunk Peter Parker was, amusing. That was definitely one word to describe it. He was all over MJ, telling her how beautiful she was. He was a loving drunk, an emotional drunk, and giving Tony grey hairs as he climbed the walls of the tower.
“Peter! Get down!” Tony said, laughing as the boy giggled (simultaneously climbing higher). “Peter Parker!”
“Trust fall!” The teenager slurred, dropping his hands from the painted-white ceilings to fall down to the kitchen floor. Tony’s eyes widened at the sight, rushing towards Peter to make sure he caught him.
Peter landed into Tony’s arms, managing to giggle more as he did. When he realised Tony’s face looked stressed, as if he was worried for Peter’s safety, the giggling slowed down. He looked up at Tony’s face, putting a hand up to his mentor’s cheek as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “I love you, I loveeeee you,” he sang.
“Peter,” Tony said, sternly. A little bit of him regretted letting the kid have a drink, like he started a lifestyle he wouldn’t be able to get out. Maybe he’d even become like Tony before Afghanistan, drunk pretty much every day of the week. “Come on, bud. Let’s go get you a glass of water to drink.”
Peter nodded, sticking to Tony like he did to the walls he had just been climbing. As the billionaire tried to put him down, the younger book shook his head and kept him close. “Mmm, not letting go- because- if I d-do- you’re gone and-and I’m not here anymore.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Pete,” Tony told him, walking with the kid towards the kitchen where Thor and Steve were stood. He grabbed a glass from his cupboard, filling it up with some water. “Come on, drink up.”
Peter stared up at Tony with sparkling eyes, before he started to giggle again. “Dad,” He whispered (or he tried to, it came out as a shout into the man’s ear instead). “Mr Thor looks really pretty in a suit.”
The whole room laughed as Peter said it (as the kid’s face flushed a deep red). However, the kid wasn’t ‘too’ bothered. In fact, he gave the man an over exaggerated wink. “If I wasn’t taken, Mr Thor. Hit me up.”
Thor, as much as he wasn’t used to human’s social cues, looked embarrassed and honoured at the same time. He raised an eyebrow at Peter’s face, flashing a loving smile at the boy he cared for.
“He’s too old for you,” Tony laughed, managing to finally break free from the little Spider’s grip. He made sure he drank some liquid, hoping that he’d sober up as quick as he got drunk. “Also, no more drinking until you’re 21. I don’t want you scaring your roommates by climbing on your ceilings at college.”
“Not too old, mmm eighteen,” Peter mumbled. More water dripped into his shirt rather than into his mouth as he drank. “I would. Don’t you- wouldn’t you... want, that? Only if I didn’t have MJ, of course.” He completely ignored Tony’s other point (he would, probably, drink in college. He just had to hide it, of course). He walked over to Thor, just looking at him. He was obviously gaping at his muscles.
“Hello, Spider,” Thor smirked, patting him on his head. “I am most honoured that you find me attractive! If only you were older, young one!”
“I’ll find a way, Mr Thor,” Peter grinned, returning back to Tony to find him laughing his head off at him. He pouted, trying to grab another drink from the counter. His dad’s hand stopped him from doing so. “Daaaaad!”
“Nu-uh, Parker,” Tony crossed his arms, after wiggling his finger at him. “You’re at your limit, kid. No more.”
“Fine!” Peter shook his head. He tried to get back into Tony’s arms, trying to jump up. When Tony’s arms didn’t outstretch to grab him, he just looked like he was trying to do some star jumps. “Dad, lift me! Carry me, please.”
Tony rolled his eyes, but complied. Of course he’d carry his kid if he wanted to. Tony would do anything for him if he just said please. And he didn’t care that everyone called him a push-over, because he’d be the first one to admit that he was.
“Guess what, dad,” Peter said, as Tony walked him into one of the spare bedrooms of the tower (his bedroom was back at the lake-house, but the boy needed to have a nap).
“What, kid?” Tony smiled, opening the door to the bedroom with his hip as his hands were occupied (full-up with his son).
“I’m bisexual,” He admitted, as he landed back onto the mattress. His eyes were wide and full with worry, most likely scared that the man would be disappointed. “I ho-hope that’s okay.”
Tony tucked Peter into his bed, making sure he had enough pillows to keep his head steady. He smiled down at Pete, putting a hand on his cheek to ensure he was looking up at him. They made eye contact, Tony’s smile not wavering.
“How could I be upset with you being who you are?” Tony whispered, stroking his cheek with his thumb. “I love you, Pete. Who you love is none of my business, is it?”
Peter nodded, his eyes glazing over with wet liquid. Tony hushed him, putting a hand in is hair. He didn’t want him to cry, as there was nothing to he upset for. He was who he was. Love was love and nobody had a right to judge those who loved in a different way to which the majority did.
He did sort of figure it out when the kid started to flirt with Thor, as well.
Also, how could Tony judge? He remembered nights in which he’d wake up to another man in his bed. Also, he was actually bisexual himself (which meant, of course he couldn’t judge his kid for being the same. Perhaps it would just make them even closer).
“So am I, kid,” Tony said, “So don’t you ever feel bad for being who you are.”
“R-Really?” Peter asked, his bottom lip trembling (Tony knew this was the first sign of the kid crying, so he tried his best to stop it).
“Yeah, sweetheart. I’ll tell you a secret, that you’ve got to promise not to tell anyone else. Can you do that?” Tony offered, sitting down on the side of Peter’s bed. He turned to face him, smiling when the kid looked very intrigued to what he was about to say. When he gave him an enthusiastic nod, Tony continued. “Once, when Pepper and I were on a break and Steve hadn’t found Bucky, Steve and I had a fling.”
Peter gasped, “No way!” He laughed, “You did?”
“Got to get the tension out somehow,” Tony winked, happy when it made Peter laugh.
“Ewww, don’t! I don’t want to have that image in my head,” Peter said, unable to keep the wince from showing. “I can’t believe that.”
“Yeah, don’t go spilling that secret. Only Pep, Steve, Bucky and I know about it. Well, and you too now,” Tony laughed, “I gotta say, that serum did wonders for that ma-,”
“Stop!” Peter laughed, putting a hand over Tony’s mouth to stop him from talking.
The day Peter left, a month or so after his graduation, was a day of sorrow. Peter gave Morgan a goodbye hug, as she babbled his name (it was her third word, after dada and mama). She couldn’t quite say Peter, so, for now, he was ‘Petey’.
With three suitcases, and a few bags, packed into the car, Tony was just luckily that he got to go with him to the college campus. He held the pain in as he watched Pepper say good luck, knowing he still had a few hours left with Peter before they separated.
May came along with them, sitting in the front of the car with Happy (who decided to drive). There was definitely something between those two, Peter and Tony gossiped (when the two adults went to grab a drink at a ‘pit stop’). But, for now, they’d let them take it at their own pace.
As they parked the car up at the parent’s car park, Tony helped the kid take his stuff up to his dorm room. Peter’s roommate’s, who’s name was Johnny Storm, eyes went wide as soon as Tony Stark wondered in.
Peter wondered in after him, happily introducing himself to the person he was sharing a room with for the next year. He shook his hand, enthusiastically.
They spoke for a while, setting up their sides of the room to what they wanted it to look like. Tony helped, answering questions that Johnny had. When he heard Johnny ask Peter if Tony was his father, he grinned wider than he ever had before when the kid said yes. As much as they said it, his heart always melted whenever he heard Peter confirm it (when he thought Tony wasn’t around to hear him).
“Dad,” Peter said, coming down to the car when they finished unpacking. He had already said goodbye to Happy and May, who were waiting in the car for the billionaire to say goodbye. Tony was stood with his back against the door, fists clenched. “I think it’s time.”
“I don’t want to,” Tony said, stubbornly. “I’ll buy a house near the campus and you can stay there.”
“Dad...,”
“I know, kid,” Tony sighed, putting his hands on the boy’s shoulders. He smiled, sadly, at the teenager and took one deep breath. “Jesus, kid. You’re killing me here.”
Peter smiled, “Johnny seems nice. Also, I’ve got Ned with me. I’ll be fine.”
“I won’t be,” Tony told him, moving his hand down to the boy’s hands. “How could I be? My baby’s leaving the nest.”
“You’ve got Morgan and I’ll be back in the holidays,” Peter chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “And if you don’t stop looking at me like you’re about to cry, it’ll start me off and I’ll gain a reputation of the person that cried on the first day.”
“And we can’t have that, can we?” Tony chuckled, bringing his kid into one last hug (for a while).
And it wasn’t even for that long that they were apart. Tony was back in only two weeks, visiting Peter with food, new clothes, and materials he might need for his course. Seeing Peter, he already looked like a new person. He wore what looked like a new pair of jeans, with his hair styled differently to what he used to do. Also, it looked like there was a faint bit of hair over his upper lip.
And it didn’t end like that. Tony showed up every fortnight. Sometimes, it would be every week. By November, Tony visited him 12 times and stayed for the weekend each time.
He was about to jump in the car to drive over to the campus, again, when he got a call from Peter.
“Pete? I’m just on my way, kid,” He said into the phone.
“Dad... As much as I love seeing you, you’ve got to stay home. Spend some time with mum and Morg, please. I love you, so much, but everyone here calls me Stark’s baby as you show up so much. Before you worry, it’s not in a bad way. I’m having the best time and everyone’s lovely.”
“You are my baby, though,” Tony pouted, although the kid couldn’t see it, “My baby who had a little bit of moustache growing the last time I saw him. Also, I saw the look you gave Johnny. I need to be there to protect your virtue.”
That was a new development too. MJ and Peter were on a break. Tony figured that, eventually, they’d probably get back together. But, for now, the kid was experimenting and getting out there and, hopefully, acting careful. Tony had a hypothesis to which something was going on with Johnny and Pete, but the kid never admitted it (but his face did go red whenever he brought it up).
“Dad, I’m okay,” Peter said. “I’m doing good. I’ve been cooking from the recipes you gave me, I got an A in my first essay. I’ve made loads of new friends. Even went out as you-know-who, the other night. Honestly, I’m fine.”
Hearing that the kid was going out as Spider-Man near MIT, made his worry worse than it had already been. He imagined his kid getting shot, not having the correct equipment there to keep him safe.
“I shouldn’t he said that,” Peter said, as if he knew what the man was thinking. “I only went out for two hours. Also, uh, criminals around here don’t seem to be as aggressive as home. Plus, Ned knows what to do if it gets bad. He’s my guy in the chair.”
“Just be safe, kid,” Tony sighed, “Do you really want me not to come?”
“Of course I want you to come here, dad,” Peter sighed, “I just don’t want to take you away from home this much.”
Tony sighed, admitting to himself that he had become a little overbearing. He let Pete know that he’d stay behind, and that he’d stick to FaceTime for a while. Knowing Peter’s friends knew how deep he cared for his kid, was all he needed to take a step back.
And as he stepped downstairs, he brought Morgan into a hug and watched one of her favourite Disney films with her (as she cuddled into her side). Her little baby girl needed him now and Pete, his little Pete, had grown to be independent. As much as he felt empty without both of kid’s, he knew that he’d always be there (even if it was not physically).
And when Christmas finally came around, the Parker’s (and Happy) spent it in the lake-house. By now, Morgan was crawling around the place (almost up on her feet), enjoying every waking moment of the seasonal period.
Coming home, Peter didn’t stop talking about his time at college. Watching him, Tony was over the moon that they were all together.
Like Peter had wished to do before, Tony wanted to freeze time. He wanted to keep his family there, all of them sat around the large Christmas tree. Peter’s smile as he held Morgan to his chest, Pepper’s laughter as she babbled something to him. Happy and May flirting when they thought no-one noticed. It was just perfect.
Peter helped Tony put Morgan to bed on Christmas day, when she had got so exhausted and fell asleep on the rug. He lifted her up to her bedroom, and told her a bedtime story (Tony said there was no point, but Peter said that she could be faking it and she’d still like to listen into a story. Tony watched him, realising that college could never change Pete, the purest kid on planet earth).
And, one day, when he graduated college, Peter Parker would take over the world (pure intentions or not). Well, he’d at least take over Tony’s company. He already had that set up, ready to go whenever Peter said so.
He just really, really, loved this kid.
Ten years later...
Sometime since Peter’s first year of college, the kid got back together with MJ. On their fourth anniversary, they got married. Tony definitely wasn’t ashamed to admit that he cried (harshly) when he watched MJ walk down the aisle. They had both grown so much.
Peter had a few relationships with other men and woman, but none of the made him feel the way that MJ did. He even had a fling with Deadpool on his 23rd birthday (to which he’d never tell Tony).
Happy and May also got married eventually, telling the whole group of their relationship a little bit after Morgan’s first Christmas. Peter was happy to see her move on, as much as the both missed Ben.
On MJ’s 27th birthday, she found out that she was pregnant. When they went for their first scan, they figured out it was twins. Tony lost it when he found out, saying something about how he wasn’t ready to be a Grandad. They all knew that was a lie, however, as he really couldn’t wait for them to get there.
And when they did.. little Annie May and Ben Anthony graced the world with their presence. Tony loved his little grandchildren more than anything. Morgan did too, running over to them as soon as they got introduced.
And Peter? He had never felt love quite like it and, suddenly, he realised why Tony was so protective over him. Because if anyone touched his little babies, he’d do anything to them.
He wondered if his powers would transfer down to them, but... for now, he’d just enjoy them growing up without any worry.
And Tony was the best grandpa ever, spoiling the twins as soon as they took their first breath. Pete just looked so happy to be a father, too. He looked so different to the boy he first met.
All those years ago, he remembered the feeling of entering that coffee shop. To this day, the shop was still there (as Tony had funded them). Making that wish on a whim, was the best decision he had ever made.