All The Stars Align

Peter laid on the couch, drinking from his water bottle as his show finished up. 

He was tired and ready for bed even though it was only half past eight. Tony could see that he was tired too. To be honest, Tony was ready for bed as well. 

He shut the lights off in the kitchen and walked over to Peter. “Hey, sleepy head. Let’s go up.” He patted his butt but Peter made no move to get up. “Come. Let’s go shower and get pyjamas on. Up up.” 

Peter moaned. “M‘tired.” 

“Yeah.” Tony held his hand out for him. “That’s why we’re going up.” 

Reluctantly, Peter pushed his tired body to his feet and stood up, dragging himself towards the stairs. He was so tired from today and it made sense why. 

He and his dad walked upstairs but Peter beat him to the top so he sat on the top step and looked back at him. “Hurry up, dad.” 

“I’m trying. I’m tired after chasing after you all day.” It was true. Tony was exhausted. Peter had so much energy at the park today and so Tony had to keep up with him but that included running to keep up with him. Then, Peter had a bit of a meltdown when Tony told them they had to leave so he had to physically pick him up and carry him across the field and to the sidewalk while people passed by and stared. 

He was tired. 

Peter waited for him then jumped to his feet and ran past his bedroom, straight for Tony’s. Tony didn’t even give it a second thought. When he walked inside his bedroom, he shut the door and locked it like he did every night. “You know the drill. Shower. Brush those pearly whites. Pyjamas. In bed.” Tony walked into the closet while Peter went into the bathroom. 

The closet door was still broken. He meant to get it fixed today but he didn’t. He honestly forgot with everything going on. Plus it required someone to come into his bedroom to fix it and he didn’t feel comfortable doing that so he would probably install it himself with the help from Steve and Bucky. 

Tony walked into the bathroom to brush his teeth while Peter showered. He turned to look at the foggy glass door but something was suspicious so he walked over and opened it up, finding Peter sitting on the shower floor with his back to him. “What’re you doing?” 

Peter snapped his head over at him. “Uh… I’m just playing.” He turned over and held up two of his bath toys. 

Tony cooed. “Baby. It’s not time to play. Finish up and come to bed.” 

Peter stood up and placed them on the shower bench then sat down on it. “I wanna play.” 

Tony walked over to the sink to spit. “Wash yourself because it’s getting late.” He rinsed his mouth and walked back over to the shower. “Then we can cuddle in the bed.” He knew Peter couldn’t resist cuddling. He hated cuddling before Peter came along. He just wanted to have his own personal space but then he met Peter and invited him over to the lab and occasionally when Tony would show him something, Peter would causally move to sit on Tony’s thigh. At first, Tony stayed silent and didn’t touch him but as they got closer, he’d wrap an arm around his stomach and pull him closer against him, holding him tightly and safely in his arms. 

That was when Tony changed his mind, he definitely loved cuddling Peter. 

Peter grinned and finished up then wrapped himself in a towel and ran into the bedroom, climbing onto the bed. “Cuddle now.” Tony was still in the bathroom so Peter kicked his legs out. “Dad! Cuddle now!” 

“One second, Peter.” Tony shut the bathroom door so he could quickly get ready for bed then walked out. “Okay. I’m all yours. Can you put your pyjamas on?” He already got them ready so he laid them on the bed for him but Peter didn’t make any move to put them on. 

“Cuddle first.” Peter crawled over to his dad and lifted his arms up for a hug. 

Tony didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around him, pressing a kiss against his temple then placing him back on the bed. “Pyjama time. It’s cold out so you need to dress warm.” 

Peter tossed his towel across the room and slid off the bed. “It’s not cold in here. Because you have the heat on, right?” 

“Yep.” 

Peter squatted in front of his pull-up box and pulled one out, walking over to Tony who was sitting on the edge of the bed. Usually Tony grabbed it but he was planning on stopping the pull-up wearing tonight. 

In hindsight, he should have stopped it a long time ago. Peter didn’t need them anymore and only wanted to wear them for comfort and it was starting a bad habit so Tony wanted to stop it before he unintentionally unpotty trained Peter at night, if that was even possible, he didn’t know. He just wanted to stop the bad habit. 

Peter placed it in Tony’s hands and stood in front of him. “Put it on.” 

“Peter. You don’t need to wear them anymore.” 

Peter stomped his feet and grabbed the pull-up, trying to get Tony to put it on him. “No. I do. Cause-cause then you’ll stay here. Put it on me.” 

“Baby.” Tony grabbed his hands. This was going to be hard. This was why he held off on doing it for so long. “You’re not sick anymore. You’re all healed. The only reason why you had to wear them was because your body was hurt.” 

Peter’s eyes filled with tears. “Daddy. Put it on. I want to wear my pull-up!” He sank to the floor and cried against Tony’s foot. Tony’s heart broke. He was really struggling. This wasn’t in any of the parenting books. 

He leaned down to rub his back as he cried but Tony didn’t want to listen to it, it was breaking his heart. So he grabbed Peter and lifted him onto his lap. “Peter. Shhh. You don’t need to cry. You don’t need pull-ups anymore. You haven’t in a few weeks now.” He wiped the tears off his cheeks. “You’re dry all night then you go pee in them in the morning. I know. So I also know that you don’t need them anymore.” 

Peter rubbed his eyes then tried to grab the pull-up out of Tony’s hands so Tony let him have it. What he didn’t expect was for Peter to lift his legs up and try to get them into the holes to get it on. “No. No, Peter.” Tony pulled it out of his hands so Peter screamed and threw his head back. 

Tony had to make sure he didn’t drop him. He stood up and laid him on the bed to finish his temper tantrum and just watched him, wondering if he would ever be embarrassed about his behaviour later on when he’s older. He chuckled to himself. He was definitely going to tell Peter about this when he was twenty and mature. 

Tony wondered what he would be like then. He knew he would be such a handsome young man. His features were already so good looking but he had such a baby face, he didn’t want his baby face to fade away but he knew it would happen one day. 

He sat on the bed. At least not anytime soon. Now, he got to listen to Peter scream and cry over something so ridiculous. 

Briefly, Tony debated on just giving in and putting a pull-up on him but then he had to deal with this tomorrow night and he didn’t want to deal with that. So he may as well get it over with now. 

After a few more minutes, it didn’t look like Peter was going to stop anytime soon and he kept looking at Tony with sad eyes so Tony grabbed him and pulled him into his arms then stood up to walk around the room. “Shh. Shh. You’re okay. You’re okay, Peter. You don’t need to wear a pull-up to bed. Not anymore.” He rubbed his boney back and bounced him a bit. “Remember when you wore them all day? Day and night. Then you didn’t need to wear them during the day anymore, remember?” 

Peter calmed down almost immediately after Tony picked him up. “Uh huh.” 

Tony continued. “Remember we were at a restaurant and you told me you needed to pee. But I just told you to go in your pull-up. Silly me. You stayed dry all day for many days. And I was so proud of you.” He sat down on the bed and got Peter comfortable on his lap so he was facing him with each leg on the side of him. Tony smiled at his boy. “And now, you’re staying dry at night. All night. You just go pee in your pull-up in the morning when you’re awake.” 

Peter looked down. 

“And I’m so proud that you’re all better now. It’s time for you to stop wearing pull-ups at night time too. So let’s go to bed with just pyjama pants. No pull-up.” 

Peter looked unsure. “But… but what if I go pee pee in the bed?” 

“Then I’ll clean it up and we’ll try again.” 

“No pull-up?” 

“Nope.” 

Peter looked away, deep in thought. “Well… what if I pee pee again? And tomorrow night too?” 

Tony knew what he was trying to do and he wasn’t going to let it happen. “Then I’ll clean it up and we’ll try again.” 

Peter sighed. “No pull-up?” 

“Nope. And FRIDAY will make sure if you do wet the bed, she’ll tell me if you were awake or asleep when you did it.” If Peter continued to wet the bed while he was asleep, Tony would put him back in the pull-ups but he was almost positive Peter was ready to be out of them. “Right, FRIDAY?” 

“Of course, boss. For the past six nights, Peter has been awake when he has wet the pull-up.” 

Peter’s eyes went wide and it would have been hilarious if Tony weren’t trying to have a serious conversation with him. 

“Just don’t do it again. So let’s say bye bye to the pull-ups. Say I don’t need you anymore.” 

Peter wrapped an arm around Tony’s neck and picked up the tossed pull-up on the bed. “Bye bye. I don’t need you anymore.” 

Tony was so proud of him. He knew they were a comfort item to Peter at this point. So he was so proud of him for giving them up, even after his big tantrum. 

Tony stood up and placed Peter on the bed then handed him his pyjamas. “Put that on.” While Peter was getting it on, Tony shut all the lights off besides the lamp. When he got into bed, Peter tossed his pyjama pants and threw his head back, whimpering. “I want my pull-up.” 

“I know. But you don’t need it.” He knew it was hard and he felt so bad. “Come.” He helped him get his pyjama pants on and quickly pulled him under the blankets, holding him close. It was so different for Tony too. He was used to Peter wearing one at night and didn’t have to worry about getting peed on, which he was slightly worried about now. 

He was also slightly going to miss those bonding moments with Peter and now that he laid in bed, not hearing the pull-up crinkle every time Peter moved, he missed it because his boy was growing up too fast. 

It was Tony’s choice to make and to make sure that Peter didn’t depend on the habit so he had to stop the habit now, and not any later. Although he didn’t like the thought that Peter was growing up too quickly on him. 

He pulled him against his chest. “I love you. And I’m so proud of you.” 

It was all worth it to hear that. “I love you too.” Peter held Tony’s hands on his stomach and moved back against him, wanting to be impossibly closer to him. 

.

.

.

Peter hated this. 

He decided that he didn’t want to do this and so he wouldn’t. 

He didn’t think it was even fair. 

He even told his dad that he didn’t want to start school and Tony totally ignored his wishes and now he had to start online school. 

To say Peter was in a bad mood was an understatement. 

Tony was scared to go near him because Peter was going to rip his head off it seemed like. He poured his third cup of coffee for the day and reluctantly walked into the living room where Peter was set up with his computer and a notebook that had yet to be opened. 

“I know you don’t want to do school, Peter, but it’s important. You missed a lot already and I don’t want you to miss anymore and fall behind.” 

Peter pushed him away with his hand but Tony didn’t budge. “I don’t care. I’m already behind.” 

Tony sighed and sat down beside his miserable child. “You aren’t behind. Your new teacher is going to help you move at your own pace. She’s going to give you work to see where you are.” Tony got it all set up with the best online institute that money could buy, he understood Peter’s frustration though. 

He had mentioned school to him a few days ago then Tony set it all up in an afternoon and now, today was Peter’s first day back and it was a struggle for him. And for Tony. “Let’s just take it one day at a time, baby.” He opened the notebook and wrote down the date. “What subject do you have today?” Tony already knew but he wanted Peter to say it. 

Peter sighed and collapsed onto the couch, tucking his knees under his chest. “I don’t want to do it!” 

“Peter,” Tony rubbed his boney back. 

“Don’t touch me!” 

Tony pulled his hand away and put his face in his hands instead, thinking about whether or not this was the right decision. He knew Peter had to finish school, it wasn’t like he could just take a year off, plus going back to the actual school wasn’t an option. 

So this was the only way. It was only two hours a day. A forty minute class and then the rest of the time was spent doing the homework given, if there was any homework given that day. 

It was going to be hard to get into the routine of it all but it was necessary. 

.

.

.

Peter finally finished with his school. His eyes were still red from crying so hard and he was exhausted. Crying took a lot out of him. 

Tony gave him some juice and cookies which he was happily snacking on as he watched Tony put the dishes into the dishwasher. “What a cookie?” He held a half bitten one out towards his dad. 

“No thanks. You eat.” He put the last dish inside just as the elevator doors opened up. Peter slid off the counter and went to go see who was there. 

“Steve.” He ran over to him. “Why are you here?” 

“Your dad asked if I could help fix a door that you broke.” He ruffled his hair and walked past Peter, meeting Tony in the kitchen. “Hey Tony.” 

“Thanks for helping. I didn’t want to have to call maintenance to come up.” Tony wanted as little people on his floor as possible with Peter around and all their private stuff so Steve was the next best thing. He just needed someone to lift the heavy door while he put the new one in and he supposed he could have had Peter lift it but he didn’t want him to. 

He started walking upstairs so Steve followed him up with Peter chasing after them with his juice and cookies. “Can you stay to play with me after, Steve?” 

Steve walked into the bedroom and looked around. It was a mess. There were dirty clothes everywhere and a stack of folded clothes that looked like it hadn’t been moved in weeks. “You know, I’m always here if you need an extra hand, Tony. This room looks… messy.” 

Tony chuckled. Messy was an understatement. It would take at least two hours to clean the room and Tony simply didn’t have an extra two hours in the day. He looked around. It wasn’t actually that bad. It’s been worse. “Thanks. I just need help with the door.” 

Peter climbed onto the bed and ate, effectively getting crumbs all over it. “Guess what, Steve?” 

“What?” 

“I didn’t wear a pull-up to bed last night. And I stayed dry!” Peter was proud of himself. The pep talk he got from his dad last night made him feel good and he wanted to make his dad proud so he tried his best to stay dry all night. 

“Wow. That’s amazing, Peter.” 

Tony was so proud of him. He kept feeling Peter’s pyjama pants all night and was relieved to feel that they were dry every time. “Yeah. Isn’t that so amazing. I’m so proud of him.” 

Steve lifted the door up for Tony to drill the bolts in. “So are you done with pull-ups for good, Peter?” Steve asked, only because he thought Peter was done for good with them but then every time he saw him, he could see that he was wearing one. 

Peter nodded, a bit too proud of himself. “Yeah. Right, dad?” 

“Right, Pete.” Tony finished up with the last bolt and put the drill down. “Okay. Done.” He pointed a finger at Peter. “Don’t break this one.” 

“Okay.” Peter shyly moved down on the bed. 

“This is a pretty strong door. You broke this, Peter?” Asked Steve as he felt the old door that was now leaning against the wall. 

Peter shrugged and stood up and grabbed onto his dad’s arm. “I did on accident. I was just mad.” 

That was an understatement, Tony thought. He wrapped an arm around Peter’s chest. “It’s fine. We’re gonna work on it. Thanks, Steve-o. Wanna thank Steve, Pete. You and I are going to go in the hot tub until our skin turns into raisins.” 

Peter loved the sounds of that. He had an extremely stressful day. Between going to bed and trying to stay dry, then starting online school and the whole thing with his dad yesterday, he definitely wouldn’t mind a hot tub night with his favourite person in the world. “Yes! I’m gonna put my bathing suit on.” 

While Peter runs into his bedroom to do that, Tony goes to grab his bathing suit but hesitated. “You know, I like you Cap, but I’m in love with Pepper so I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to stand around to see my junk.” He teased him. 

Steve rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to see your man parts, Tony. I’m just curious… are you going to train Peter?” 

Tony’s expression grew serious. “I… I don’t know. He doesn’t want to. He’s only fourteen. I hate that he’s Spider-Man.” 

“He’s strong, Tony. Maybe even stronger than me. Not now, but one day. And he clearly doesn’t know just how strong he is. That’s dangerous.” 

“I already got Fury breathing down my ass ever since he found out my son is Spider-Man, I don’t need you to as well.” 

Steve backed off. “I’m sorry. I’m just saying.” 

Tony sighed. “I know. Just… he’s not ready yet. I want him to be a kid and not have to worry about saving lives.” 

Steve understood that better than anyone. He left after that and walked down the hallway, passing by Peter’s bedroom on his way down to his floor. “Bye, Peter. Have fun in the hot tub tonight.” 

Peter was sitting on his bed, attempting to get his bathing suit on but he got distracted with one of his lego men he forgot about. “Okay. Bye!” 

He left and a half a minute later, Tony walked in. Not surprised to see Peter not in his bathing suit yet. “Hey, naked butt. How about you spend more time getting your bathing suit on and less time playing.” 

Peter fell back on the bed with his legs hanging off. “I wanna bring him.” He held his lego man up to show his dad as Tony walked over to stand in front of him. 

“Oh yeah? Does he have a bathing suit?” He asked as he pulled Peter’s on properly and pulled him into a sitting position while Peter was too busy examining his long lost lego man. 

“He doesn’t. He’s just wearing a red top and blue pants.” 

“Did you dress him in that?” 

“No. It comes like that. I can only give him head.” 

Tony looked down at Peter. “Don’t say that.” 

“What?” 

“A head.” He corrected him as they walked downstairs to head outside. It was freezing out and Tony really just wanted to be inside the hot tub. Especially after that mission yesterday, it messed up his arm. 

“No. Head. He has multiple.” Peter waited for Tony to unlock the door but he didn’t want to step on the cold ground so he lifted his arms up. “Up.” 

Tony grabbed him with his good arm and awkwardly lifted him up. “You’re lucky I love you. This ground is cold.” 

Peter giggled and waited until Tony got the top off then he happily climbed into the water. “Hurry. I want to sit with you.” 

“I’m coming. I’m coming.” Tony relaxed at the heat. It was so relaxing. He could live in there for a week, he definitely needed it. “Come here, baby.” 

Peter threw himself into his dad’s arms way too aggressively, kneeing Tony in the crotch. “Urg! Ow. Watch those boney knees, child.” 

Peter got himself comfortable. “You’re adult.” Peter grinned. “Actually you’re grandpa.” 

Tony gasped. “I’m a grandpa? When did you have a baby?” 

Peter thought about it. “Ummm no I’m going to have one in twelve months.” 

“Wow. Twelve months, huh? Is the baby going to come out a teenager?” 

“It’s gonna come out a baby. Then a teenager.” 

Tony chuckled. “Who’s the mom?” 

“Ummm…” Peter grinned. “Pepper!” 

Tony gasped for real now. “Don’t you try and take my girl.” He pinched his butt. “You gotta find your own.” He thought better of that. “Actually, don’t. You’re not dating anyone ever because you gotta stay my little boy.” 

Peter grabbed his ring to play with it. “But I’m not little.” 

“Oh. Well in that case you can’t sit on my lap-” He went to lift him off but Peter screamed. “Just joking. I’m just messing with you.” He always forgot that sometimes certain jokes or sarcasm went right over Peter’s head. 

Peter gripped onto him tightly. “I wanna stay here. You’re comfy.” 

Tony moved his legs so they were on either side of him and not digging into his thighs. “You’re comfy too.” 

“Do you wanna play a game?” Peter asked, already getting excited over it. 

“Sure. What game do you wanna play?” 

“Truth or dare. I go first. I dare you to… do a handstand.” 

“What. You have to ask me if I pick truth or dare.” 

“Oh! Truth or dare?” 

“Well, after hearing that dare, I pick truth.” 

“Okay!” Peter thought of something. “Ummm… how old were you when… when you met Pepper?” 

“Oh. We’re getting deep. I was… twenty three but we didn’t actually start really talking to each other until I was around twenty six.” It was more complicated than that. If he was going into detail, they met in passing one or two times but he was a playboy and didn’t give her the time of day. 

Peter nodded. “Your turn.” 

“Truth or dare?” 

“Truth.” 

“Oh. I’m surprised. I thought you would’ve gone for dare. Okay, let me think.” He knew every single aspect of Peter’s life, despite only knowing him since he had just turned thirteen, he knew everything about him. “Have you ever had a crush on anyone?” 

Peter blushed. Tony couldn’t tell if it was the heat from the hot tub turning his pale cheeks a rosy pink but he was going to go with the blushing. 

“Um… two times. One time when I was little, Aunt May had a friend and she had a daughter my age and I liked her.” 

“Wow, Pete. That’s the second time?” 

“When I was like maybe twelve and I liked a girl in my class. And we even hugged!” 

Tony gasped. “You guys hugged. Wow, Pete. Look at you go.” Gosh, Tony loved how innocent Peter was. 

Peter nodded then sighed. “Yeah. My turn. Truth or dare?” 

“Dare.” 

“Uhhhh… I dare you to… throw me into the water!” 

Tony didn’t know how that was going to go. “It’s not a pool, buddy. I can’t really throw you without you hurting yourself.” 

Peter crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you saying no? Your forfeit is to run naked in the streets.” 

Tony burst out laughing. “Oh. You seem like you got that answer planned out. No one is running naked anywhere.” 

“Then you have to throw me.” 

“Pete-” 

“You have to. Daddy. Please.” 

Tony looked at him seriously. “Don’t think I don’t notice that you only call me daddy when you want something.” 

Peter opened his mouth to speak then shut it. That wasn’t true, was it? He didn’t mean to. “Not true. I call you daddy all the time. Because I love you. And I can.” 

Tony tilted his head, waiting for Peter to continue. “So throw me!” 

“Okay. Fine.” He grabbed onto Peter’s chest and between his legs to get a better grip on him to lift him up and then gently tossed him into the water, waiting for Peter to swim back up. 

Peter came up giggling but then his head went under again so Tony grabbed his arm to pull him back onto his lap. “Do it again!” 

“No, we’re gonna continue. Your turn.” He pushed the wet curls out of Peter’s eyes and waited for him to continue it. 

“Ummmm truth or dare?” 

“Truth.” 

“No. You have to pick dare. You didn’t pick dare at all yet.” 

“So? It’s my decision so I pick truth.” Also because Tony was a tad afraid that Peter was going to dare him to do something too crazy. 

Peter sighed. “Fine then. Umm let me think. Do you-are you- can you stop being Iron Man?” 

Tony looked at Peter. He didn’t expect that question. “Well,” 

“I want you to. I stopped being Spider-Man for you.” 

Tony didn’t know Peter thought about it like that. “I didn’t tell you to stop being Spider-Man for me. I don’t want you being him because you’re a child and that responsibility doesn’t fall on you.” 

Peter slid off his lap to sit on his knees in the seat beside him. “Still. Now I’m asking you not to be Iron Man.” 

“Peter-” 

“No. Just say yes.” 

“I’m not… baby. I’m Iron Man. It’s who I am and it’s my responsibility, I’m an Avenger. I don’t go out as often as I used to since I had you but I can’t stop.” Partly because I don’t wanna stop. 

Peter crossed his arms over his chest and turned his back to him. “Then I don’t like you anymore.” 

Tony sighed. He couldn’t stop being Iron Man but if it came down to it, he would obviously pick Peter. Pepper tried to get him to stop for years. In fact, he chose his suits over her, causing them to break up. For the first time. 

“Stop, Peter. Just look at me.” 

Peter was giving him the silent treatment but still decided to speak. “I don’t wanna love you anymore.” 

That actually broke Tony’s heart. “What? Why are you saying that? Peter?” 

Peter still faced away from him but he couldn’t hold back the sob anymore. He put his head in his hands and cried. 

“Oh. Baby. C’mere.” Tony pulled Peter onto his lap and felt his heart break even more at having to listen to him cry. “What? What’s wrong?” 

“I-I-I don’t wan’ you to be Iron Man no more cause-cause you’re gonna d-d-d-die and I’m gonna have no one a-and I’ll be-be alone!” He sobbed out. 

Tony didn’t think his heart could break anymore. Peter was the only person who could break his heart so badly but he was also the only person who could put it back together again. 

“No. No, baby boy. I’m always going to come home to you again. My suit is there to protect me. As long as I’m in my suit, I’m okay. That’s why I built it.” He tried to get Peter to uncurl from himself but he wasn’t budging. 

Peter sobbed harder. “Wh-what if your suit falls off? Or-or it gets so damaged and-and you get hurt cause it-it-it can’t protect you no more?!”

Tony ran his fingers through Peter’s curls again and tried to force his arms to open so he wasn’t so curled in on himself. “Peter. My suit isn’t going to break. And if it did, which it never would because I’m a genius,” He tried to get a laugh out of him but it didn't work. “then I’ll fly away from the fight. I’m always going to come home to you, Peter.” 

Peter finally looked up at him. Tony couldn’t tell what was snot and tears and what was water. “Aunt May thought so too. And my parents… they probably thought they were going to come home to me too. Then they died in a plane crash.” 

Tony didn’t know that story from Peter. He had to look it up to find out what really happened. Engine failure. Seven people, including Mary and Richard Parker died on that plane when Peter was just two years old. It was awful. He couldn’t imagine how scared they must have been, knowing they were going to die and leave their child behind. 

“I’m not going to be like that, Peter. I promise you. Hey, look at me.” 

Peter looked up at him, his bottom lip sticking out and quivering. 

“I’m never going to leave you. I’m not going to die on you. I’m going to watch you grow up into the most handsome little man,” He poked his nose. “And then when you have kids, I’m gonna show them videos of you when you were this age and embarrass you.” 

Peter giggled. 

There it was. Tony’s favourite sound in the world. “But not yet. You’re not allowed to get married until you’re thirty. And kids after marriage. Not before.” 

Peter nodded. “You said thirty five last time.” 

“Even better. Works for me.” 

Peter laughed against his chest. The sound brought a smile to Tony’s face. Truthfully, he wouldn’t mind if Peter brought a girl or boy home, he didn’t know yet, he wasn’t even sure Peter knew who he liked yet. He just wanted him to save himself for marriage so that he would only sleep with one person his entire life and not sleep around like Tony did. 

Tony didn’t regret it but in a way, he wished he saved himself for Pepper, she was the only girl he’s ever loved, and ever will love. 

Peter wrapped his arms around his neck. “But I don’t wanna grow up. I wanna stay here with you forever.” 

“I don’t want you to grow up either, baby, but even when you do, I’ll always be here. And you can stay for as long as you want.” He thought of college and how in just four years, Peter would be starting college and potentially move away. He didn’t like that but he had to be okay with it. 

Peter nuzzled into him. “I’m sleepy.” 

“You wanna go in?” 

“Uh huh. Carry me.” 

“Of course.” Tony stood up and carried Peter over to the step for him to wait on while he got out and grabbed the towels from inside. “Come.” 

“Wait. I have to take my bathing suit off first. It’s gonna stick.” He pulled it off under the water and quickly stood up, reaching for Tony. “Cold cold cold.” 

Tony grabbed him and set him on his hip, wrapping the towel around him and walking inside the house, shivering. “FRIDAY, heat up.” 

“Yes, Boss.” 

Peter laid his head on Tony’s shoulder with a shiver. “FRIDAY! Turn the heat to one hundred.” 

Tony chuckled. 

“I’m afraid I can not do that, Young Peter.” 

Tony chuckled again and carried Peter upstairs. “I think FRIDAY likes me better.” He teased. 

“No. She likes me the most.” 

“If you say so.” A week after Tony met Peter, he changed it so that FRIDAY protected Peter first, if it came down to it. Peter wasn’t aware of that and Tony hoped he never had to be. 

He walked into his bedroom and dropped the towel on the floor then walked into the bathroom and turned the shower on, waiting for it to get to the right temperature. “Wanna shower together?” 

Peter nodded. “Yes!” 

“Then we can get into bed and sleep.” 

“Cause tomorrow I have school again. Right?” 

Tony stepped into the shower, feeling weird about being in there with his bathing suit on but it wasn’t the first time. “That’s right. So we gotta get a good night's rest.” 

Peter straightened his legs and slid down on Tony to be placed on his feet. “Okay. I don’t wanna wash my hair.” 

“I’ll wash it quickly. You have hot tub germs in it.” Tony grabbed the shower handle down and sprayed it over Peter. “Stop moving.” 

“I wanna sit on here.” He climbed onto the stone shower bench and got comfortable but when Tony grabbed the shampoo, Peter stood up. “Now you can’t reach me.” 

“Sit on your bum.” Peter turned around and grabbed onto the wall, starting to climb up it. “Peter. Get down. It’s wet and dangerous.” 

Peter listened and squatted down, letting Tony shampoo his hair. “Then I can wash your hair?” 

“No. I’m only doing it for you because you take too long and it’s easier this way.” Tony finished and grabbed the shower hose so Peter could rinse himself off while Tony grabbed the body wash. “Here.” 

“You do it too.” 

“No, you do it yourself. Hold out your hand.” Tony squeezed some out and waited for Peter to do that before they were getting out. 

Once they were done, Tony wrapped a towel around Peter and had to stop him from running into the bedroom. “Wait, let me blow dry your hair.” 

“Nooo.” 

“Yes. I’ll be so quick.” And he was. Within three minutes, Peter’s hair was dry and Tony was uncomfortable so he kicked Peter out of the bathroom so he could change into pyjamas and brush his teeth. 

When Tony walked out, he was tired and wasn’t thinking straight. Peter was lying on the bed so Tony grabbed a pull-up from the box that he had yet to put away and patted the edge of the bed. “Come. Let me put this on you.” 

Peter shook his head. 

“Yes. I’ll be quick then we can sleep.” 

“But,” Peter crawled over to the edge of the bed anyways. “But I don’t need it.” 

Tony opened up the side before he realized what he was doing then he stopped. “Oh. Oh, buddy, sorry. I’m just so used to it.” He tossed the pull-up onto the bed. “You’re right. You don’t need it anymore.” He picked the box up. “I’m going to put these away. My baby is growing up too fast on me.” That was the wrong choice of words to use. 

Tony put the half filled box on the top shelf of his closet and walked out to see the sad look on Peter’s face. “What?” 

“I want to wear one. I don’t wanna grow up.” Peter slid off the bed and went to walk into the closet but Tony grabbed his arm. “I want to wear one.” 

“No, you don’t need it anymore.” He picked him up and walked towards the window so they could look out and he could distract Peter a bit. 

“But you said I’m growing up too fast and I want to wear it-” 

Tony interrupted him. “How about tomorrow morning we have a big breakfast? I can order up pancakes, waffles, strawberries. You want that?” 

“Uh huh. Yeah.” He laid his head on his dad’s shoulder. “And whipped cream too.” 

“Oh. We can’t forget that.” Tony walked over to the bed and placed Peter on it. “How about you get your pyjamas on then we can cuddle and go to sleep.” 

He tossed them at Peter, not giving him an option. 

At least Tony got the end a stressful day with his boy in his arms.