Chapter 1
When Tony held Peter Stark for the first time, the only thing he could feel was dread. Dread that he'd screw up that little boy the same way his dad screwed him up. So he did the only thing that he could think to do.
He pushed Peter away.
He stayed away.
He made sure that sweet little boy didn't spend more time with him in necessary. No him at birthday parties, no him at school science fairs. No way for him to damage the little doe eyed boy. Amidst Stark Industries and Iron Man and the Avengers, it was easy to do.
He thought that was what he wanted.
He thought he was okay with that.
Until he sent Peter out.
And Peter didn't come back.
Harry and Norman Osborne had came to him and told him they were going to check out a "business venture" somewhere near the Galapagos, and . He knew they were just going on vacation and were inviting Peter along. He said yes either way. Peter with the Osbornes meant Peter away from him.
He didn't even show up to say goodbye.
Two days later, Mrs. Osborne had called him. There was a storm. No survivors.
He didn't even get a body to bury.
He kept a straight face until he got home. He stumbled to Peter's room, feeling the numbness fade. The room was filled with monogrammed bedroom things. A bed and a desk. No posters on the walls, no picture frames.
He never took his boy out to shop. Tony collapsed on the bed. Peter still had the newborn scent he had as a baby.
The same one he had the first and last time Tony ever held him.
Tony sobbed out, clutching the sheets to his chest, the only thing he had to remember his Peter by. He didn't even have any pictures of his son.
He thought he'd never get to see his son again.
He didn't get his hopes up for six years.
At least not until Harry Osborne came back.