Watch me!
Peter age 4
Peter ran down the hallway, jumping onto his fathers legs. “Hi, daddy! Guess what I made with mommy today!”
Tony picked his four year old up and set him on his knee. He had been working non stop in his office all day so all he wanted to do was hold Peter and play with him.
He stretched his back, standing up with Peter in his arms. “What did you make with her, baby?”
Peter wiggled out of his arms to grab his hand and lead him into the playroom which was covered in paint. Tony cringed.
“I made you my hand prints and my footprints. See?” The four year old picked up a paper that had all four prints on it with the date underneath.
Tony’s heart melted. He carefully took the paper from Peter and looked at it. He wanted to frame it, it was so beautiful. “Oh, baby. I love it so much. Did you have a fun time making it?”
Peter nodded aggressively. “Uh huh. Loads of fun. Mommy did too. I think.” He shrugged and grabbed onto his dad’s hand again. “Can I have milk? I’m thirsty.”
Tony was about to say yes but his phone was ringing and he had to get back to work so he quickly rushed out of the messy playroom, calling back to Peter. “Ask mommy. I’ll be right back.”
Peter frowned. He hated when his daddy had to work. He was never around to play with him and now he didn’t know where his mommy was so he walked down the hallway. “Mommy. I want milk. Mommy?!”
He sighed when there was no answer so he decided to go into the kitchen and help himself. He grabbed a chair and dragged it in front of the fridge then climbed on it, opening it up.
He spotted his milk container on the top shelf so he had to step onto the bottom shelf to grab it and hop off.
Now, he had to grab his bottle but he didn’t know where the giant stash was. He looked around, trying to remember where mommy or daddy always grabbed it from before nap times or bed time then he remembered it was in the shelf next to the fridge, so he dragged the chair over there to climb onto the counter and reach for one of his bottles.
After getting both items, he placed them on the floor and attempted to pour the milk inside but it kept spilling over. “Uh oh. Oopsie mess.”
He grabbed the dish rag and attempted to clean it up but it only made it worse. He was going to walk away and pretend like he didn’t do anything but Pepper walked into the kitchen.
“What happened in here, baby?” She asked, more amused than anything.
Peter looked up at her with wide eyes. “It’s accident, mommy. I didn’ mean ‘o.”
Pepper cooed. Peter always stumbled over his words when he was nervous. “It’s okay, let’s clean it up together. Did you just want your milk?”
Peter nodded, still staring up at his mom with wide eyes. “Uh huh. But-but daddy said he’s busy with working.”
“I’ll get it for you. Do you want it in your cup or bottle?” Tony beat Pepper on that. She wanted to get rid of the bottle before Peter turned four but now he was four and a half and still having at least two bottles a day. She didn’t mind so much anymore because if Peter didn’t want it, he would simply refuse them instead of trying to get one himself.
The four year old grabbed his bottle from his mom and took it into the living room to watch tv and drink it just as Tony was walking into the living room, cracking jus back out.
“I’m so tired. That was a lot of work and now I just want to cuddle with my baby.” Tony made a beeline for his growing four year old on the couch and was determined to get as many cuddles with him as possible.
He knew one day he was going to pull Peter in for a hug and Peter was going to pull away, thinking he’s too cool for hugs from his dad.
So Tony was taking full advantage of his four year old and getting all the cuddles he could get.
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.
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Peter age 7
Tony helped Peter wash all the syrup out of his hair.
He used to picture life with an older Peter back when he had a toddler and he always pictured Peter getting his food all over his face and clothing, it was exactly like that.
It wasn’t like Tony minded, he actually found it quite cute unless they were in a rush like now. He was trying to get the sticky syrup from Peter’s hair and get him ready in time for him to make it to his dance class.
Dance class was something new they signed Peter up for and it was the best decision ever made for Peter because he was able to let go of himself and put everything into the dance.
Plus, he was a natural.
Peter whined, trying to move his head away from his dad’s hand. “Ow! You’re hurting me!”
“Sorry. I’m trying to hurry.” Tony attempted to brush the knot out for the tenth time but it wasn’t making a difference, if anything, he was making it worse.
“Ow ow owwww!” Peter screamed and forcefully pushed Tony’s hands away from himself. “You’re hurting me a lot. Leave my hair alone.”
“I’m sorry, bud, but you have a bird's nest in your hair and I have to get it out before a little birdy takes up residency in there.” Tony joked to lighten the mood but Peter wasn’t having it.
“Not funny.” Peter wiped at his eyes.
“Okay. Sorry, but you need to stop twirling your hair. You’re gonna go bald if this keeps up.” Tony and Pepper had been trying to stop the hair twirling habit that Peter always did when he was content. It was creating a bald spot in his hair.
Pepper walked in at that time, taking in Peter’s pouty face. “Can’t get the knot out?”
Tony threw his arms up. “No. You try. I give up.”
Peter gave his mom his best puppy dog eyes. “Don’t hurt me like daddy did.” He narrowed his eyes at his dad so Tony narrowed his back, he was the one who taught Peter the eye narrow.
Pepper rolled his eyes at the boys’ behaviour. She was used to it by now since she had been raising Peter with a goof as a dad for years. She wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.
She sat down in Tony’s spot and grabbed some conditioning. Usually Peter rarely needed conditioner in his hair since he didn’t have much of it and it was always so healthy and soft but it would help with the tangles.
She picked up the brush once the soap was in his hair and easily began brushing the knots out. Peter glared at his dad. “See? Mommy does it better than you.”
“That’s because mommy has practice. I don’t get knots in my hair because I have straight short hair. Unlike you, mr ‘I don’t wanna cut my long hair’.” Tony imitated Peter’s high pitch voice which had the seven year old sticking his tongue out at him.
“Enough boys.” Pepper warned, grabbing the cup to rinse Peter’s hair. “All done. Close your eyes tight tight tight.”
Peter did as he was told and in no time he was all clean and out of the bath, wrapped in a towel. He sat in the middle of his parents bed like he did every time he got out of the bath and dried off although this time, instead of getting his pyjamas on, he was going to be getting his dance outfit on and he was so excited.
It was his favourite thing to do, besides cuddles on the couch with his dad.
Tony helped him into his tights and his ballet tunic and couldn’t stop the coo that followed. He always got so beyond proud of Peter for everything that he’s accomplished and enjoyed.
He was one of the youngest and definitely the smallest on his dance team but he was also one of the best. Tony couldn’t have been more proud.
He picked his kid up, spinning him around, getting a bunch of giggles out of Peter before pressing a good luck kiss to his cheek. “I love you and I am so so proud of you, baby.”
Peter giggled harder. “I know and I love you too daddy but I wanna go to dance practice now. I wanna see my friends. Let’s go.”
The seven year old tugged on his father’s hand so Tony let him lead him out of his bedroom and down the stairs to leave the house.
Pepper was waiting for them by the door, holding Peter’s bag for him. “Remember that daddy and I are staying to watch you practice today.”
Peter grinned.
He loved it when his parents came to watch his practice but it wasn’t very often. He couldn’t see him through the window since it was a one way glass but he always knew they were there so he constantly looked towards it, hoping they saw his every move.
He loved making his parents proud of him.
By the time they arrived at the dance building, Tony unbuckled him from his car seat and held his hand as he jumped out of the car. “Here’s your water. Don’t drink it too fast but also still drink it.”
Peter took the water bottle with a groan. “I know, daddy. I do this so many days.”
Tony was just overprotective. That’s all.
“Peter!”
All heads snapped in the direction of the voice and then Peter was running up to the doors to greet his best dance friend. “Hi Tom!”
“I learned how to do a backflip over the weekend!” Peter’s friend exclaimed so Peter jumped up and down, cheering for him.
“Yay! Let’s go inside now!” Peter turned around to give a hug to each of his parents and then pulled his dance buddy’s hand and led him inside the building and onto the dance floor.
Peter changed his shoes and began doing his stretches on the floor. He had a gymnastics mat at home where he watched videos and practiced doing flips.
He always scared his dad but found it funny.
Once he was stretched and ready, he stood up and got into position.
After completing the perfect pirouette, he proudly turned to look at the window where he knew they were watching him.
Proudness blossomed within him. He wanted to make his parents proud with everything he did.