Family Secrets

Aftermath

Peter woke up Friday morning late. He had slept through his alarm, and apparently, his family was okay with him missing school since they hadn't woken him up. He made his way into the kitchen, not bothering to shower or get dressed first.

Pepper sat at the table, coffee mug between her hands, watching Tony. The older man was sitting at the other end of the table, staring at the wood in front of him.

"Morning," Peter said. "Where is everyone?"

"Out," his father said. Natasha had actually forced everyone out that morning in order to give Pepper the space she needed to tell Tony about yesterday.

"Peter," she said, her voice rasping from crying. "Can you come sit with me for a minute?"

Peter took his normal seat in the middle of the table.

"Peter, I... I don't want you to mute your senses anymore. You won't need to."

Peter stared at her, not yet comprehending.

"Yesterday, I had my own kind of accident. That's why I came home later than I meant to, I had to stop at the doctor. Peter, I had a miscarriage."

Peter was silent. The room felt heavy with sadness and longing.

The teen heard Pepper's slight change in breathing and looked up, only to see his mother crying. He got up and went to her, holding her hand in his and pulling her in for a hug.

"I'm sorry, Mommy."

He hadn't called her that in nearly 4 years, but it felt right to at that moment. Pepper pushed her hands through Peter's hair, smiling through her tears.

"It's okay sweet heart, it wasn't anyone's fault."

"You could always try again if you wanted," he said, looking for something to give his parents, a hope they could hold onto.

"No," Tony spoke up. "We can't. We've tried and tried, but... Peter, all we need is you."

The family of three spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon curled up on the couch, a big pile of cuddling and the occasional laugh. It was important for them to all mourn what they felt they had lost, an idea of what another kid might be. No, it wasn't like losing a child after knowing them, but they still mourned. They all knew they'd never get the chance to know that kid at all.

It was the early evening when the rest of the family returned from wherever they had gone earlier. Natasha crept through the living room, checking to make sure the house wasn't destroyed. Instead, she found Tony stroking Peter's head while the teen slept in his lap, Pepper curled up on his other side, her head resting on their son's.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi," Natasha said back.

"Hi," Peter mumbled, blinking a few times.

"Do you mind if we have company? Some friends dropped by without telling us."

"Not, at all," Pepper said, getting up and stretching. "Who is it?"

"Hello, Pepper Potts Stark, Man of Iron, and Spider Peter, son of Tony!"

**A/N: Hey guys, I know it's a short one. I wanted to give some closure after last chapter as well as give you all some happy to look forward to! I'll update tomorrow!**