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Tony looked up at the time again, wondering where Peter was. He usually wasn't this late, always eager to get started. So what was holding him up? He finally decided it was time to investigate.
FRIDAY had told him when Peter had made it in the building, so he knew that nothing could've happened on the way to the compound, but with Peter, who knows. That kid had worse luck than anybody else he knows.
Tony first decided to check with Morgan to see if maybe she had gotten ahold of him. It was the most likely option as no one, especially Peter, could resist Morgan. So when Tony found them in the field next to the compound, building snowmen that suspiciously looked like the Avengers he wasn't all that surprised. He just decided to put on his jacket and hat, and go out with them.
Peter noticed him first, "Hey, Mr Stark!" Morgan then looked up and ran to tackle him in a hug, "Hi Daddy!!" She said as Tony hugged her back.
He picked her up and walked over to where Peter was, "Hey kid, I was wondering where you got off to. I guess you like Morgan more than me." He said in faux offense.
Peter started to apologize, "Mr. Stark, I'm so sorry, it's just, Morgan asked me to-" Tony cut him off, "Don't worry about it, kid, I was joking. No one can resent Morgan, not even Pepper."
Peter smiled at that and got back to work on the snowman, adding two buttons for eyes. Morgan wiggled in his arms so he let her down, and, like the little Pepper she is, she started giving orders to him about what to do.
10 minutes later, they were standing looking at a completed snowman. Well…. almost. It was just missing one thing.
Morgan ran inside and came back out with a carrot for the nose. Tony picked her up and helped her put it on, then set her back on her feet, "There you go, Little Miss, what do you think?" Morgan nodded proudly, "It's perfect. Can we have hot chocolate now?" Tony laughed, "Yes, we can have hot chocolate now. Why don't you go inside and help mommy make some?" Morgan nodded and bounded off.
Tony looked over at Peter, "How are you holding up kid? I know this is a rough time of year for you, what with it being your uncle being shot on Christmas Eve." Peter nodded, "I'm fine. May is having a hard time though. Every time she tries to pull out any of his old ornaments she breaks down into tears."
Tony nodded, "And you?" Peter shrugged, "I just miss him, y'know? He was the only dad I remember, even if he wasn't my dad." Peter smiled slightly, "He used to take me to the soup kitchen on Christmas after we opened the presents. He would say, 'we may not have a lot, but they have less than us, so we gotta help them out.'" Peter looked Tony in the eye as he finished saying this.
Tony brought Peter into a hug, squeezing tightly. "He raised you well kid, I'm glad you had him."
Morgan ran out onto the porch, "Daddy!! Peter!! Mommy says that if you don't come in for hot chocolate, you don't get any marshmallows!!!" Peter gasped loudly and unattached himself from Tony, running inside, "She'd better put marshmallows in mine!!!"
Tony just smiled as he walked back slowly, thinking of how glad he was that Peter was bitten by that spider and became Spider-Man, bringing him into his life. Although he was fairly certain he would've met him either way, seeing how smart he was.
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Peter was vibrating in his seat so much Tony thought he'd fall out, but he parked just in time for Peter to get out, that he didn't.
By the time Tony got out Peter had already gathered all his and Harley's skates from the trunk, and both were already halfway to the lake, leaving Tony with Morgan and Pepper and their skates.
Harley had suggested going out to the lake for ice skating after the rough time Peter was having during the Christmas season. Though he was sad when he heard that May had to work and couldn't join, he had promised her that he'd take plenty of pictures.
By the time he had gotten Morgan out of the car and gathered his and her skates, and gotten down to the lake, Harley and Peter were already on the ice, Harley holding onto his boyfriend tightly as he tried not to slip. Peter, being the agile Spider-Boi he is, had perfect balance.
Harley yelped as he went down, taking Peter with him. Both giggling as they lay there on the ice, Peter pecked Harley on the lips briefly, causing Tony to yell out, "Hey!! No PDA on the ice!!" Which made both boys roll their eyes.
Peter helped Harley up, Harley having a bit more balance this time, but still holding on for dear life.
Peter giggled again at the sight of Harley. Harley looked up at him with furrowed eyebrows, "What's so funny, Darlin'?" Peter grinned as he answered, "You." Harley tried to tackle him, only to miss completely and fall head first onto the ice, Peter cackling above him.
Tony finished helping Morgan into her skates, taking her hand to help her keep balance as he expertly glided over to the two boys, Peter helping Harley up again.
Morgan squealed as they reached them, "Petey look at me, I'm skating!" Peter beamed at his pseudo sister, "You are!! And you're doing so good too! Even better than Harls over here." Peter gestured to Harley clinging onto his arm, who glared at him.
Later, as they all sat by the fire drinking hot chocolate and warming up from their ice adventures, Harley sporting a few bruises from all the tumbles he took, Peter regaling to May his tales, Morgan adding in her own comment now and then, and Pepper reading quietly beside him, Tony felt content.
This.
This was his family.
Family isn't blood. Family isn't living with someone just because you can.
Family is what you make it.