In the morning, I woke up to MJ grumbling about the sun, as she turned around and shoved her face into my chest.
"Morning to you too." I said.
"Shut the hell up." She muttered but I could feel her smile, which made me smirk before I kissed the top of her head, making her breath in deeply.
"Besides your ever constant and adorable cursing of the sun. How are you?"
"I'm fine. A bit sore, but nothing that won't go away after a hot shower. You didn't hurt me, I promise." She said and I let out a slow breath but nodded. We shared a few lazy kisses before getting up. Michelle heading to the shower while I went to go fix us something to eat, that's when I noticed my phone was going off like crazy, with several calls from Ned, Tony, Pepper and Aunt May. I sighed but put my phone on speaker, for Tony where he started to cuss and yell at me in Italian, where I heard one of the bots sadly beep in the background.
"Tony, stop. I'm not hurt or dying or any of that." I said just as Michelle walked in with a t-shirt wrapped around her hair, and her in my clothes which was really hot.
"Then why the hell weren't you answering your phone?!" He yelled and Michelle slapped a hand over her mouth to stop from laughing out loud.
"He was busy!" She said as she accepted the cup of tea from me.
"Peter. Chi era quello? Sei in pericolo? Impegnato con cosa?" Tony asked and I rolled my eyes.
"I'm not in danger Tony. And it's someone special. I'll see you at the tower soon." I said and hung up ignoring his sputtered waits, which made Michelle start to laugh.
"Oh god. He's going to go into helicoptor dad mode isn't he?"
"Yep." I said as I called Pepper back.
"Peter. Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Are you safe?"
"Yes."
"Were you injuried?"
"Nothing that hasn't healed." I said and she let out a slow breath.
"Alright. When will you be at the tower?"
"Soon."
"Okay. Shall I send car?"
"As long as it's not Happy, since he should be spending time with his mom." I said.
"It's not. I'm sending Allen."
"Okay. Oh, sto portando qualcuno di speciale con me. Ti piacerà." I said.
"Okay. I'll see you two then, Peter. Bundle up please."
"We will." I said and Pepper hung up.
"Now for the fun converstaion." I muttered much to Michelle's amusement as I called Aunt May.
"PETER BENJAMIN PARKER! WHY WEREN'T YOU ANSWERING YOUR PHONE?! DO NOT MAKE ME GO TO YOUR DORM AND GROUND YOU, YOUNG MAN!" She yelled.
"Oh, I like her." Michelle whispered over her cup and I twitched my lip at that.
"I was busy." I said as I smirked over at Michelle who was bright red.
"With what?"
"Whom." Michelle muttered into her cup, making me wink.
"You'll see later. Anyway. I'm alive. I'm not harmed, dying in alley way, beaten to death or any of that. All my injuries are healed." I said as I turned around, grabbing the whisk.
"Minus your back." Michelle muttered and I sent her a smirk with a raised eyebrow making her face turn an even brighter shade of red, before she flipped me off.
"Peter."
"I promise I'm fine. May. In fact, I'm more than fine." I said as I sent a soft smile over to Michelle who rolled her eyes, muttering about being gross which made me wink at her.
"Alright. I believe you."
"Thanks, Aunt May."
"I larb you."
"I larb you too, Aunt May. I'm bringing someone special with me to the tower." I siad.
"I don't believe Ned counts as someone special, sweetie." Aunt May said and Michelle choked on her tea.
"Peter. Who was that?"
"The someone special, I'm bringing with me. Be patient." I said.
"PETER! WHAT?!"
"Pepper's sending Allen to pick us up. We'll be there shortly after breakfast. Promise." i said and she sighed.
"FIne, but I want answers. Larb you."
"Larb you too." I said before Aunt May hung up.
"Larb?!"
"It's something Aunt May and I have done for years, since we first started to eat Thai food." I said.
"It's cute. Also, she called you by your full name."
"You should have heard the yelling she gave Tony and I when she first found out I was Spider-Man." I said then shivered which made her laugh. We ate, and I got out of the shower just as I got a text from Allen saying he was fixing to pull up.
"Got your bag ready?" i asked.
"Yep. Hey, what's this?" She asked and I looked to see that she was holding up my wedding invetation.
"Oh, that's for a friends wedding. Would you care to go with me?" I asked.
"Leah Jackson and Nicole Ashton?"
"Ya. Leah is a security guard at Stark Industires, she's that one person you can talk to about anything and everything without being judged." I said.
"She sounds cool. And it's in the Spring, right after our finals."
"Ya, Leah proposed while I was still in high school but Nikki was still in college." I said.
"What's Nikki's major?"
"Ah, high school english I believe. You can ask is Leah's working." I said as I grabbed my phone and wallet.
"What, no bag for you?"
"No. The tower is my other home. I have my dorm, Aunt May's apartment and the tower. Speaking of the tower."
"I'm not going into a guest bedroom."
"That answer my question. Anyway. Everyone that has acess to the penthouse besides Ned's family and Morgan knows about the other dude." I said as I pulled on my thick jacket. I grabbed my other one and held it out for Michelle.
"Why do you have so many jackets?"
"I tend to lose them a lot and every now and then. I have trouble controling my body tempature, so I have a lot of long sleeves."
"That sucks."
"A bit, but those days are extremly rare." I said before I went into my room and then grabbed a two bags full of presents, threw my sheets into another then we headed out.
"Hey Allen." I said as I opened the back door for Michelle.
"Hey, punk. Who's your lady friend?"
"Allen meet Michelle, my girlfriend. Michelle meet Allen." I said.
"Nice to meet you, sir."
"Likewise." Allen said before he shut the divider and I got in after Michelle.
"He's not a people person. He mainly drives around important board members." I said.
"Oh." Michelle said and I hummed some, before I talked about the residents of the tower, until she was laughing at some of the stories as we got out into the cold New York Weather. We quickly jogged into the building and I shook off the extra snow, making it land on Michelle's face.
"PETER!" She said and I laughed at her before I placed my hand on the scanner.
"Welcome back, Peter. Boss LADY has told me that you've brought a special guest." FRIDAY said.
"FRIDAY, meet Michelle Jones. Michelle meet FRIDAY." I said.
"Cool. What do I need to do?"
"Just place your hand on the scanner, and I'll handle the rest." FRIDAY said and I waited as she did just that before the scanner flashed green.
"All done. I hope you have a good time, Miss Jones. If you ever need help, just ask and I'll do everything in my power to help you." FRIDAY said.
"Okay. Thanks FRIDAY." Michelle said and I held out my hand.
"How techy is this place?" she asked me as she slipped her hand into mine.
"Techy, but still childs play compared to Wakanda." I said we walked.
"Huh."
"Oh my." I heard and I turned some to see Leah.
"Morning, Leah!" I said.
"Ya, morning. Pete, who's your friend?"
"Leah this is Michelle, my girlfriend. Michelle this is Leah." I said and the two took each other in before Leah nodded, with her own small smile as she held out her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Michelle."
"Likewise, Leah. Congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you. I suspect, you'll be going with Pete?"
"Yes." Michelle said and Lean nodded.
"Alright. Have fun with the family. Merry Christmas, you two."
"Merry Christmas, Leah." We both said before entering the private elevator.
"Leah's cool." Michelle said and I softly smiled at that before we go to the common room of the penthouse in no time. A moment later, I held up the two bags higher than what Morgan could reach, as she tackled into my leg.
"PETER!"
"Hello to you too, Morgan."
"Presents?"
"Yes, but you and everyone else can't open them until Christmas morning." I said.
"Why?"
"Because, it's the rules Morgan." I said and she puffed out her cheeks before she let go of my leg. A moment later she gasped.
"Hello, Morgan. Merry Christmas." Michelle said with a smile.
"You brought Michelle! Merry Christmas, Michelle!" Morgan said before she all but tackled her into a hug, and I chuckled some.
"Morgan, baby where'd you go? Peter will be-Oh." I heard and I smiled at Pepper.
"Morning, Pepper. Merry Christmas." I said and she smiled as well.
"Merry Christmas, Peter." She said before Morgan let go of Michelle.
"Look mommy! It's Michelle! The really nice friend of Peter's I told you and daddy about."
"I see that. Speaking of your father. Can you pull him out of his lab for me?"
"Yes mommy!" Morgan said before she ran off and I shook my head some at her enthusiam before i heard it, and I looked directly at Pepper's stomach for a moment.
"Pepper meet Michelle, my girlfriend. Michelle, well I don't have to introduce her." I said.
"It's an honor to meet you, ma'am. Peter's told me a lot about you. Well everyone really." Michelle said.
"Oh drop the ma'am. Call me Pepper. I hope it was all good things about us." Pepper siad as she looked at me.
"Oh definatly." I said as Michelle nodded before I took her bag from her.
"I'll be back. Why don't you two get to know each other before Tony and everyone else arrived." I said.
"That's a lovely idea, Peter." Pepper said and I nodded before kissing Michelle's cheek, then hugging Pepper.
"Are you pregnant?" I whispered.
"Yes. Tell anyone else, and I'll ground you." She said and I snorted before I let her go.
"Why would I do that? I'm taking photos though." I said.
"I expect you to. You almost didn't last time." Pepper said.
"To be fair, i wasn't expect you to drop a bomb on me like, so I'm sorry my photos weren't the greatest!" I said anf she laughed before she looked at Michelle.
"So, tell me about yourself and how you met, Pete." Pepper said as they started walking to the common room. I dropped the presents off at the tree, and then her bag off in my room, before dumping my sheets into my laundry basket. I walked back out to see Pepper and Michelle talking and smiling in the kitchen each holding a cup. Both of them having tea.
"Peter, your girlfriend is lovely and brilliant." Pepper said and I smiled at that.
"I know. She's the best." I said as I looked at Michelle who had a light blush on her face.
"PETER BENJAMIN PARKER!" I heard Tony yell and I jumped slightly at that, before he rounded the corner.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU- oh. Hello and you might be?" Tony asked and I wrapped my arm around Michelle's waist, and she leaned into my side some.
"Tony this is my girlfriend, Michelle." I said.
"Oh. Nice to meet you. Pete, can I have a word with you?"
"If your gonna yell at me? No." I said making Michelle laugh into her cup.
"I ain't going to yell."
"If your lying, I'll hack your stuff so your called Stank instead of Stark." I said making Pepper and Michelle laugh into their cups.
"Alright, alright." Tony said and we left the woman alone in the kitchen, and to the lab.
"Peter, does she know?"
"Know I'm Spider-Man? Yes."
"Peter!"
"Look. Just shut up and let me explain." I said and I explained everything from the start. From how we met to last night, minus some details to this morning.
"There's still a large gap in the story kid." Tony said as I looked over Vulture's wing. I grunted letting him know I heard him, before I reached over and grabbed the socket wrench.
"Kid. I thought you said all your injuries healed." Tony said.
"They are healed, Tony." I said as i fought off a smirk and some blushing as i worked.
"Then what the hell is wrong with your back?" He asked and I shot him a look but didn't say anything as I mentally started to count until I heard him drop his own socket wrench.
"No way." I heard Tony mutter and I bit back a laugh as I kept working.
"Kid?"
"Hm?"
"Did you at least, use protection?"
"Yes and I'm not going into details."
"I don't need you to, judging from your back. Jesus, it looks like you were attacked by that crazy cat again."
"Do not talk about that cat." I muttered as I took out all the screws, bolts and other crap undone so I could pry the wing open.
"Does it hurt?"
"No but it does feel weird since I can feel my healing factor kicking in." I said as I grabbed a scan card, then flicked what FRIDAY scanned to show around Tony and I. We talked about the data from both the wing and Shocker's guantlets before we decided to head on up.
"Hey, Tony."
"Ya, kid?"
"Don't make her uncomfterable about questions about her family. She'll act like it doesn't bother her, by making dry and probably rude comments, but it hurts her a lot." I said.
"Why?"
"Her daid bailed after her mom died. She's been in and out of foster homes ever since. Actually, she was one of the ones that got the schoolorship you and Pepper helped me give to someone else who needed it." I said.
"Well shit."
"Ya, so don't ask." I said heading back up where I saw Michelle talking to Pepper and Morgan.
"Hope you three weren't having to much fun without us." I said as I sat down next to Michelle.
"And what if we were?" Michelle asked and I shrugged.
"Thought so, loser."
"You wound me." I said dryly which made her snort before she went back to her conversation when I heard Aunt May come up.
"Oh." I heard Aunt May softly and I stood up.
"Merry Christmas, Aunt May." I said.
"At least, tell me she's not pregnant." She whispered as we hugged.
"She's not but she is my girlfriend." I said and I felt her instantly relax at that before she shoved her bags into my arms.
"Go put those under the tree, while I get to go know your lovely girlfriend." Aunt May said and I just chuckled slightly at her reaction before I did just as told. We were all sitting in the common room when the elevator opened up once more.
"Where's my grandchildren?" I heard and I smiled with Morgan, before she took off. I followed Morgan, and saw Momma Rhodes, and Rhodney.
"Grandma! Uncle Rhodney!" Morgan said as she hugged them both.
"How's college going, Pete?" Rhodney asked.
"Great." I said with a large smile.
"Oh no. What'd you do?"
"Why do you always assume I did something?"
"Because your a mini Tony, that's why!" Rhodney said.
"I'm offended." I said before I hugged Momma Rhodes.
"How are you?" I asked her.
"I'm doing great. Is that coffee I'm smelling?"
"Naturally. You still drink it the same way?"
"Of course, boy." She said as she pinched my cheeks. I finally got away from that, and put a hand to the back of my neck.
"What's with you?" Rhodney asked.
"I. Um. I didn't come alone this year. I brought my girlfriend." I said and Rhodney went to open his mouth.
"No, she's not pregnant. May already asked me that." I said and he shut his mouth, and he nodded.
"Well as long as she's nothing like Ally." Rhodney said and I clenched my jaw at that.
"Michelle's nothing like her. She's better. Pepper and Morgan already love her." I said before I took their gifts.
"Just wait until she gets comfterable. She'll sass the hell out of Tony." I said before I went to the tree. I dropped the presents off and then started to fix everyone another cup of coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
"I'm back with more tea, coffee and hot cocoa." I said as I held the tray one handed and passed out the cups.
"Alright. I'll be in the kitchen, if you need me." I said.
"Doing what?" Michelle asked.
"Cooking, baking and eating." I said and Momma Rhodes gasped loudly.
"Are you going to make your Carellata Cookies?"
"Yes. Whatever I don't use to cook who wants some?" I asked, causing Pepper, Aunt May, Momma Rhodes to raise their hands, while Michelle looked tempted. I shot a look to Pepper already deciding to give her sparkingly cide instead of wine.
"Nope, nada. None for the kiddies." Tony said as he made a point to look at Morgan, while Pepper leaned over.
"You can have a glass when Morgan goes to bed. It's so she doesn't think underage drinking is a good thing at a young age." Pepper whispered and Michelle nodded. I winked at her before I headed to the kitchen, quickly ducking the throw pillow that was aimed at me.
"Keep your disgusting flirting to yourself!" Tony yelled at me.
"Imagine how I felt to be around you and Pepper before you proposed." I said dryly making Rhodney, Momma Rhodes, Aunt May laugh loudly while Michelle let out tiny laughs, which made me smile before I went into the kitchen. I took off my long sleeves, leaving me just in my science pun t-shirt.
"Shall I play your cooking playlist, Peter?" FRIDAY asked and I smiled.
"Of course and keep it interesting." I said as I started to gather ingrediants. By the time lunch came around, I had our soup done, and majority Cartellata Cookies done.
"FRIDAY, call everyone in for lunch." I said as I sat the last bowl down on the table.
"Pete, is that Mixed Vegetable and Farro Soup?" Pepper asked as she came in sniffing the air.
"Indeed it is. With freshly made breadsticks." I said.
"Oh this is perfect. Thank you, Peter." Momma Rhodes said as she patted my cheek.
"Smells great, Pete." Tony said as he sat down
"Which means it'll taste great as well." Aunt May said as she kissed my cheek.
"Peter's food is on par with mommy's." Morgan said as she hugged me. I patted her head before Michelle just smiled, pecked my lips then sat down. I sat down as well, and we all started talking. I laughed at a story Aunt May was telling from her work at the hospital before we all sat back in our chairs happy, warm and full. Aunt May and Pepper did the dishes while I sat on the couch next to a sleepy Morgan who was cuddeling up to Michelle, who was also really sleepy. I struck up a conversation with Momma Rhodes when Morgan and Michelle finally fell asleep.
"Bless her heart." Momma Rhodes said as she grabbed the blanket that was behind her. I carefully and silently got off the couch, where I laid the girls down. I waited with baited breath but they never woke up, and I wrapped them up in the blanket.
"She strikes me as one who's normally not falling asleep after lunch." Pepper said and I averted my eyes, making her gasp.
"Peter! You didn't!"
"She's not pregnant, if that's what your applying." I said.
"I was, but at least that's good to know." Pepper said as she sat down next to Tony, while Aunt May sat next to Momma Rhodes.
"I can think of one reason, why she's tired." Tony said with a smirk and I shot him a glare while Aunt May all but gave herself whiplash to look at me.
"Peter!"
"We were safe." I said as I threw my hands up in the air in defeat.
"Glad you were, because of what I saw of your back." Tony muttered and I shot him another glare.
"NOT HELPING!" I hissed at him and he started to laugh into his cup.
"Peter!" Aunt May hissed and I managed not to sigh out loud before May dragged me out of the room to the kitchen.
"Peter."
"May, I love you and I know you have a right to be worried, but stop. It's our choice to be in this relationship, and it's our choices for what we do in our relationship. I want what's best for her, and if she sees that in me, than I'm going to do my damned best to keep it that way. She's not Allison and I know she'll never be Allison. Allison wanted me to chose her or Morgan after she called Morgan a brat and all but made her cry, because she thought it was her fault. The first time Morgan met Michelle, she didn't stop talking my ear off the next time we went out. Michelle adores Morgan almost as much as I do, and she all but clawed this dude's eye out for trying to bribe Morgan to talk to him." I said and I smiled softly.
"Michelle she outs herself as this hardass person, but she's really not. She's just got a lot of opinions and wants to empower little girls like Morgan to voice their own opinion. I've watched her take on people who made slurs about her, and shut them down with facts that Pepper would be proud. She's shut down someone with just a look." I said and I looked at May.
"If she ever wishes to take over the world, I'd gladly step aside and let her, only helping her when I know she can't handle anything else herself, because she's just that strong of a person, because I know at least in her hands, everything would be alright." I said.
"Peter. THat's not what I'm worried about. Does she know?" Aunt May asked.
"Yes but I told her myself because I trust her." I said and Aunt May just looked at me, and I kept my gaze even.
"If I didn't trust her or care deeply about her. I would never have brought her to meet my family. Trusting Ned with my secret is one thing. He's my best friend, but Michelle? It's different. She's different and I don't want to let her go." I said and it was silent between us for a moment.
"Alright." Aunt May said softly before she hugged me.
"I have a right to worry as you said, but be safe."
"We will." I said softly before she backed off and cupped my face.
"Larb you."
"Larb you too, Aunt May." I said and she let me go, grabbed the tray, filled the wine glasses up once more and left with a wink, that left me shaking my head.
"FRIDAY." I said.
"Starting playlist." She said and I got to work on making dinner as well as more desserts. I got the deserts made, and most of dinner before my phone rang. I quickly dusted off my hands and pulled it out to see that it was Nathan, my inside informant in the Bugel.
"Nathan, you got something for me?" I asked.
"Ya. Remember how Triple J-man hired that private investigator Mac Gargan, to follow you to see how you were getting those epic photos of Spider-Man?"
"Ya. What's up?"
"Well, Jameson decided to pay $10,000 to Gargan to be the subject of an experiment. It's already happened, but it's fucked up his mind. I would have called sooner, but I got found out. Fired, and now I'm pretty sure Gargan's after me." He said.
"What?"
"Ya. I'll text you my address, but Gargan has gone off and started to call himself the Scorpion. I'm unclear of what his capabilities are. I tried but I got found out."
"No. You've done more than enough. Go ahead and text me your location. I'll be there as quick as I can." I said and hung up. I cleaned up the kitchen some, and then headed out to the common room, looking at my phone since Nathan sent me his location.
"Something up, Pete?" Tony asked.
"Uh, ya. My inside informant at the Bugel has been compromised, and has gone into hiding. Remember how Triple J hired that PI?"
"Ya."
"Well he payed that PI ten grand to under human experimentation. Whatever they did, messed up his mind, and now he's going over my informant." I said.
"What!" Tony all but yelled and I nodded.
"I'll be back soon."
"Peter."
"I can handle this. He's my responsiblitiy, not yours." I said and Tony sighed.
"Alright. Fine." Tony said and I ran down the hall. I jumped into my suit, and then leaped out of my bedroom window. KAREN quickly turned my suit heater on and I swung through the city until I dropped down on top of the roof a street across from Nathan's location.
"Peter, it would appear that MacDonald Gargan just snuck in through the other side. I suggest we hurry." KAREN said and I cursed before quickly swinging through the unglassed window, just as Gargan landed in front of Nathan, who was trying to merge with the wall.
"MacDonald Gargan, leave the man alone." I said.
"Aw why would I do that? After all, I'm being paid to take him out, with you, Spider-Man?" he asked.
"Who's paying you?"
"Oh, he's closer than you think, Spider!" Gargan spat before his suit's tail shot out and stabbed Nathan in his right arm.
"NO!" I yelled and shot forward. I ducked and dodged the tail as well as everything else before I ripped the suit of the tail off, webbing Gargan to the ground with two web bombs. I did the same for the tail of the suit.
"Police, an Ambulance and Damage control are pulling up now. I am detecting an unknown neurotoxin in Nathan's bloodstream. I suggest bringing him to the medbay." KAREN said.
"Ya, thanks Karen." I said as I somewhat and carefully bandaged Nathan's arm, just as the police stormed in.
"Spider-Man, let's us through." I heard and I backed off allowing the paramedics to do their job.
"Their's an unknown neurotoxin in his bloodstream. Take him to Stark Tower, there's a whole team ready to synthesis the toxin, and send out to the hospitals as precaution. One of the best is on that team." I said.
"Right away, Spider-Man." They said before they started to push the stretcher out.
"We'll send the tail straight to the lab." Damage control said.
"Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I apologize if I had to pull you out of anything family related." I said.
"Oh, you didn't. We all agreed to work the holidays, as we do not celebrate Christmas." they all said and my mask showed my shock, which caused them to let out a few laughs.
"Oh. Well, I hope you had good holiday, or holidays."
"We did. Thank you Spider-Man. Happy Holidays. THank you for everything you've done for the city."
"Ya. Happy Holidays. And just doing what I can to help. Thank you for always being hardworkers. Anyway, gotta swing, give my report to Stark and more." I said with a wave before I carefully jumped back out the window, swinging my way to the tower, with KAREN already calling Tony.
"Sup, kid?"
"Don't ever talk like that again. Anyway, I'mm going to need the whole medbay, and chem team ready."
"Are you hurt?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Nathan's the one with an unknown neurotoxin running in his blood stream."
"Alright. Where are you?"
"Ah, swinging above Brooklyn bridge. Should be there soon." I said.
"Alright. The medbay is being prepped and the chem team is getting ready for you."
"Alright, thanks." I said before I hung up. A few moments later, Michelle's face popped up in my mask.
"How was your nap, sweetie?" I asked.
"Ew, for the nickname. And my nap was great until you called Tony."
"Noted. Also, sorry. I'll be back at the tower, soon, but I'm heading straight to the medbay. I've got to fix up a friend of mine. Neurotoxins are nasty bastards to deal with." I said.
"Your saying this from experience?"
"Story for another time. That antidope is already mass prodouced for hospitals, as precuation, and I'm going to do that same thing with this new one. Anyway, you can go ahead and grab a couple of my Carellata cookies if you haven't already. I want your opinion when I'm back in the common room."
"I will. Oh, and about the ones in the fridge?"
"Not ready yet. Also, achololic so."
"Morgan goes to bed."
"Yes. Sorry."
"Don't be. It's actually really smart. Also, do you always make food like this?"
"I make certain ones on campus, due to the ingrediants they call for."
"Makes sense. Alright, go get them Tiger." She said before she hung up. Ii smiled before I let go of the web I was holding, free falling to the ground for a short while, before I quickly shot out another web, swing over the cars, then shooting up into the air. I quickly got back to the tower, and FRIDAY, opened up a window to my room, allowing me to quickly swing in. I jumped out of my suit, and pulled my clothes back on before I ran to the labs just as Nathan was brought in.
"Hey, College Boy. Let's see what you got." I heard and I nodded before I washed my hands, already giving out orders. Two hours later, we had the neurotoxin cured, and was already making more to ship out to the hospitals, Nathan was passed out in the medbay bed, and was going to be kept under close supervision at the hospital, where I headed back down to the common room.
"Peter!" Morgan said as she jumped into my arms.
"Hey, M." I said as I hugged her back, before I sat her down, where I plopped down onto the couch, placing my head into Michelle's lap.
"How'd it go, Tiger?"
"Neurotoxin is cured, antiserum is being mass produced for the hospitals, and Nathan will be taken to the hospital, for closer observbation. I'll talk to him when's he coheritant, but now I'm going to take a nap myself." I said and did just that since Michelle ran her fingers through my hair. I only came to after Ned tried to sit on me.
"Your a dick." I said loud enough for Morgan to gasp.
"Mommy! Peter said a bad word!"
"Peter." Pepper said.
"Ya, ya. I'll put a dollar in the jar later." I said as i unwillingly sat up, shooting a glare at Ned that he just ignored as he started talking a mile a minute. I listened to him talk as the two of us headed to the kitche.
"Dude, you okay?"
"Uh? Oh ya. Just waking up from my nap."
"Why something up?" Ned asked and I told him as I started to fix the last of the deserts as well as dinner.
"Huh."
"So you and Michelle. You two are closer than ever."
"We are dating, Ned." I said.
"Ya, that's besides the point. Also, does she know?"
"Yes, she knows. Hey, are you just going to stand there, or are you going to help me?" I asked him.
"Last time I tried cooking with you, you yelled at me in straight Italian for ten minutes because I didn't count the egg to flour, so I'm going to go sit down, but I'm snagging a Carellata cookie."
"You deserved it. Also, don't let Morgan see it." I said and he waved it off as he shoved one into his mouth, which made me snort when he became a chipmunk. Dinner came and went without a hitch leaving Michelle tired once more.
"I'm going to get fat because of you."
"Oh good you can't run away from me." I said as I threw my arm around her shoulders bringing her closer, which made Pepper snort softly as she braided her hair. We all sat and around and watched movies, before it turned into a debate ono whether Die Hard was a Christmas movie or not. Michelle, Ned and I were saying it was while Tony and Aunt May denied it. Pepper, Rhodney, Momma Rhodes and Morgan were to busy giggling to give an input.
"FRIDAY? Give us a list of Christmas movies." I said as I grabbed a STARKPad, and she pulled them all up.
"Let's see. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, both forms. All forms of A Christmas Carol. Nightmare before Christmas." I said.
"Perfect from Halloween until Christmas." Michelle said with a nod.
"All the Home Alones, gross Christmas romantic movies, comendies." I said and then smirked before swiping up.
"And Die Hard." I said and Tony just looked so done, while Aunt May sputtered. Ned and I fist bumped in victory, while Michelle started to laugh into my shoulder. Once, Morgan was in bed, Pepper brought out more wine, but i raised an eyebrow at Pepper's. Sparking cider, calm down spiderling. She mouthed and I nodded, while Michelle slowly sipped her's. I held Michelle's hand as I nodded and talked to Ned, as he showed me pictures of what he was getting Betty.
In the morning, I woke up to a few of Michelle's curls in my nose which almost made me sneeze. I carefully patted them down as I used my other hand to rubbed my nose which caused Michelle to laugh.
"Good morning, beautiful." I said and she scoffed.
"What?"
"It's to early for you to be sappy, you jerk." She said and I chuckled as she got out of bed. I followed suit, pulling on a shirt before leaving the room to find something to eat, where I found Pepper dressed cooking breakfast.
"Good morning, Peter. I have coffee ready, and I'm making pancakes. Sit down." She said and I nodded before I pulled out the tea for Michelle.
"Ladies, we're going last minute shopping for gifts." Pepper said.
"Alright. Just let me change." Michelle said as she placed her plate in the dish washer.
"Boys?" Pepper asked.
"Lab." Tony said.
"I need to see where all this tech is coming from, and who's providing for those three." I said.
"Lab." Ned said.
"I can go with you as extra hands or stay here so they don't blow up the lab. Again." Rhodney said.
"That's such a rude thing to say, Platypus. I haven't blown up the lab in a long time." Tony said.
"Daddy. You blew up the lab last week." Morgan said and I just lost it at Tony's face. Once I calmed down, I had a few tears going down my face.
"You done?" Tony asked.
"Yes, but I'm saving that footage. FRIDAY!"
"Already done, Peter." She said.
"Thanks FRIDAY!" I said before Michelle walked back in wearing a sweater that said, "Persist like Elizabeth. Insipre like Malala. Speak like Maya. Influence like Sonia. Defy like Rosa. Fight like Hillary. Empower like Gloria. Focus like Michelle. Rule like Ruth."
"That list needs to be longer." I said.
"Now that's the truth." Pepper said as she nodded in approval, before she kissed Tony on the cheek.
"Try and not blow up the lab."
"That goes for you too, Tiger." Michelle said.
"I don't recall blowing up the lab. FRIDAY?"
"I have no record of you blowing up the lab either. But I do have records of you being stuck to the tables due to you trying to turn Spider-Man's web fluid into a type of glue for construction workers."
"Right, that was fun." I said dryly making Michelle laugh.
"Oh, I need to hear that story."
"I'll tell it to you." Pepper said before Michelle quickly kissed me, then the girls all left leaving Rhodney to babysit us. We spent hours going over data and the neurotoxin before I went out as Spider-Man. After dinner, the girls all went to spend some time together leaving us guys alone.
"So, Pete. What'd you buy Michelle for Christmas?" Tony asked.
"Ah, she really likes having shirts on women empowerment, so I got her a couple of those. Everything else you'll just have to wait and see." I said.
"Oh, come on! Ned?"
"I've got no idea." Ned said and I smirked as I kicked my feet up, ignoring all their questions as I turned my attention to the t.v. That what I did as the days passed. Lab, Spider-Man, spend time with my family, watch as Michelle won battles of Wit against Tony, and ignored all their questions about Michelle's gifts until it was finally Christmas eve. I was sitting with my back against my headboard, with Michelle leaning on my stomach as she read through our business text out loud.
"Peter. I must inform you that Morgan is running to your room. I'm uncertain about what." FRIDAY said.
"Thanks, FRIDAY." Michelle said before going back to reading, just as my door was all but thrown up.
"PETER!"
"Yes, Morgan?"
"We need to make cookies for Santa! Mommy said you need to help us." Morgan said as she put her hands onto her hips.
"Alright. Alright. I'll be in the kitchen in a minute, mini Pepper." I said making her squak before she all but slammed my door shut making me and Michelle burst out laughing.
"Why'd she do that?"
"She hates being called mini Pepper. She's a strawberry blonde haired clone of Tony but Pepper through and through." I said once I could breath.
"I can see that. Better get going, before your dragged out by your ear." Michelle said and I grumbled about that which made her giggle some, before silencing me with a kiss. After a few moments, I begrudgingly got off my bed, and headed out, where I got ready to make cookies with Pepper and Morgan. We were almost done when I heard Michelle start muttering in a pissed off why which made me frown. I looked over at Pepper and she nodded allowing me to slip out of the kitchen, back to my room, where Michelle was glaring down at her phone.
"Michelle, what's wrong?" I asked her.
"When was the last time you slept with your ex?" She snapped at me.
"Never, because she didn't want to get pregnant by accident in high school." I said.
"Then, when was the last time you saw her?"
"When Ned and I graduated high school, but I stopped talking to her the day she cheated on me. Blocked her number, and would walk away from her when she come up to me. Why?"
"Because she's claiming the child she has is yours."
"That wouldn't be right, because it doesn't fit my timelime. Tony tracks every single one of my movements. She also say it's because I got drunk from a party, because one I don't go to them and two, I can't get drunk easily. FRIDAY, pull up my timeline movement from the day, Allison cheated on me until today." I said as I grabbed my STARKPad off my dresser.
"It'll take a few moments before it's completed. If you wish I can go ahead do a DNA test as Allison's records won't take me long to get a hold of."
"Knock yourself out, FRIDAY." I said as I handed Michelle my STARKPad, and she started to look over it, where I sat patiently.
"Your life outside of Spider-Man is almost boring. Gym, class, class, cafe where we met, class, lab, library, whatever place you want to eat, walk back to your dorm. Stay there for a couple hours, then out you go. Pretty much the same thing over and over again."
"I can also comfirm, that Peter's not the father, but I have lawyers ready to call when necessary." FRIDAY said.
"Thanks, FRIDAY." I said.
"Anytime, Peter." She said before she went silent and I looked at Michelle, who looked ashamed.
"I'm sorry. I just. I saw what she posted and I didn't think rationally like I always do and I just got so angry that you would play me or something. It's stupid, I know but I was scared. No. I am scared to lose you. That you'll find someone better than me." She said as she hugged her legs. I reached towards, her carefully unprying her fingers from her legs, and then picked her up, sitting her in my lap, making her look down at me.
"You don't have to apologize. You have a right to be angry for thinking that. I'm angry she's even trying something like this, when I'm finally happy outside of my family. I woudn't be able to find someone else because I would be constantly compairing them to you. Your beautiful, your strong, and fierce. Your willpower alone has blown me away, mulitple times. I get complete and utter joy when I watch you fact check someone or stop them with a glare. You don't take shit from anyone, especially not mine which I know my Aunt is more than happy about." I said making her lips twitch some.
"Besides, this is what I want in a relationship. Both of us, being completly honest with each other. Asking questions if your unsure, just like you did now. That's all I'm asking. Honesty, trust and you ask if your unsure." I said
"Why are you afriad of tight and small places?" She asked and I told her everything from the Avenger's Civil War to homecoming, and that Liz's dad never found out who I was, to how Aunt May found out, which caused that last part to make her giggle.
"What about your experience with Neurotoxins?" She asked and I griminced at that, but pulled my sleeve up some, being careful to not knock her off my lap, to show to small scar that ran on my upper arm, where I told her the story of my run in with Rhino when he got a hold of some neurotoxins.
"The neurotoxin made me believe I was dying, but it was only nightmares. It took the whole chem team and I all day, with me still thinking I was dying to create the antiserum. Took me awhile to not have nightmares." I said.
"Jesus Christ, Peter!"
"Hey, I'm fine now." I said as I cupped her face with one hand.
"I'm fine, I promise. My suit has an AI, and she helps me contact the proper people, whether it be the police and first responders, to damage control. She contacts the medbay here, and I have the best team to look after me, and I have Iron Man on speed dial for extreme cases." I said and she let out a snort.
"I wonder why you have him on speed dial." She said dryly and I smiled some before giving her a soft kiss.
"Marcus. We broke up because he got really drunk once and tried to force himself on me. When I kept refusing he. He hit me, and that's when he almost broke my leg. He only backed off when he got a phone call so I bolted as fast as I could. Next time I saw him, I broke up with him and did my best to avoid him, untli the day we met. Which I'm behind happy for." She said and I hugged her just a bit tighter.
"Is it wrong for me to say, I've already thought up of four different ways to ruin his life that doesn't involve me murdering him?" I asked her.
"No, but you can have those as back up."
"Oh good. Last name?"
"Smith. June twenty, two thousand." She said.
"FRIDAY, you got that?"
"Already started my search." She said.
"Thanks, FRI." I said and Michelle started to kiss me.
"I'm sorry to interupt, but BOSS wishes to speak to you in the lab, Peter." FRIDAY said and I reluctantly pulled away from the kiss, to glare up at the ceiling.
"He also says if you don't hurry up, he'll force you and Michelle to sleep in two different rooms." FRIDAY said and I twitched at that, but sighed.
"Tell the old man, I'll be down in a few moments." I said making a soft laugh bubble out of her lips, before she pecked my lips once more, and got off my lap. I walked into the lab, and gave Tony a bored look.
"Did you really tell FRIDAY to call me old man?"
"Yes." I said and he flipped me off before he handed me a STARKPad. We talked over the data, before we put the project to the side.
"Oh, ya. About what Pepper, you and I talked about back in October."
"Yes. What about it?"
"It's been approved."
"Really?!"
"Ya, it got approved yesterday, and they've already started." Tony said and then he handed me a file. I took it and carefully flipped through it, before I saw the name.
"Michelle Jones Foundation." I said.
"Pepper's already thinking about hiring her like I have for you. It'll start out in Michelle's area, and we'll spread it throughout the rest of the city. Schools get better supplies, foster homes and the like get better funding, food, etc." Tony said and I smiled.
"Go on." Tony said as he gave me a push towards the door.
"Thanks, Tony."
"Anytime kid. It's bought time we go from just clean energy and the like to this." Tony said and I nodded before going back to my room where Michelle was reading her business text book again.
"Hey, close the book. I've got something for you." I said and she gave me a weird look, but did and I handed her the file.
"What's this?"
"Open it and find out." I said as I sat down. I watched as she read through the file, each thing shocking her more and more until she started crying when she saw the name.
"Babe?" I asked and she threw herself at me, crying.
"Oh my god! I. Since when? How?"
"Halloween. You mentioned how when you were younger you didn't go trick or treating because not everyone could afford candy, so you stayed behind and sat with high schoolers for lessons. You mentioned how a couple of your foster homes were cramped, so not much food was there, and how you'd catch the bus from school to a better part of New York to study every day, coming back late, then helping everyone else with their work. Playgrounds filled with glass bottles and trash. I've been talking about this for awhile with Tony and Pepper, but haven't gotten much ground with the Board, then you told me some stories, and I knew we had to get on this. Seems fiting to name it after you, since that's where your from anyway." I said as I hugged her.
"You've been working on this since Halloween?!"
"Yes, and it finally got approved yesterday, and they've already started to make the changes." I said and she let out a choked sob.
"It's filed with everything, I wanted to change, or do. Cooking classes for everyone, better schooling, everything. Peter, what the actual hell, how can you remember all this shit, on top of your own college classes, family and being Spider-Man?" she asked and I chuckled.
"I've always been told my mind was a scary thing. Besides two of my courses are easy compared to working at Stark Industries, business isn't that hard either after I spent a couple weeks with Pepper." I said then shivered slightly at a memory of one of the meetings.
"Sat in with a meeting with her once. I don't think I could handle the look on her face again when someone said we should stop the Maria Stark Foundation. It was terrifying." I said.
"I can imagine." Michelle said before she drew me into a kiss.
"Merry Christmas morning to me." I heard Michelle mutter and I looked up from my phone to see her taking a photo of me.
"Really, babe?" I asked and she sent me a coy smirk.
"But of course." She said before she leaned closer. I smiled softly.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, loser." She said before we shared a short kiss, before getting ready for our day. I was sitting on the couch with my arm around Michelle, as she leaned into my side as we all tiredly watched Morgan talk animatedly before Happy as Santa came in. I let out a cough to block my laugh, while Michelle just smuttered her own giggles into my arm at Morgan's gasp. Happy started to pass out the gifts and I took out my phone for the gift Pepper personally handed Tony. I watched as Tony opened it before stopping and looking up with the biggest smile on his face, and that's the picture I took.
"Well, what'd you get, Tony?" I asked with a smirk.
"Shut it, Kid. I know you already knew!" Tony said and I shrugged some, before Tony held up the small onsie up.
"Congrats, Tin Man." Michelle said with a smile.
"Yes! Another grandchild! Pater, don't go be making me a great grandmother, to soon!" Momma Rhodes said and I immediatly choked on my coffee. ONce I could breath, I sat my coffee down and looked at Momma Rhodes.
"What? I'm being honest." She said.
"I can assure you, kids won't be happening for awhile, grandma." Michelle said.
"Okay, let's move on!" I said and Santa Happy, passed out the next gift, which was to Michelle. I watched her open it and she smiled some at all the woman empowerment t-shirts and sweaters.
"Shirts, really Pete?" Aunt May asked and Michelle held up a sweater that said Empowered Women, Empower Women.'
"Nevermind, the shirts and sweaters are fine." Aunt May said with a nod.
"I know my girlfriend." I said after Michelle pecked my cheek. I opened one of my gifts, and had to bite the inside of my cheek so I wouldn't laugh. I looked over at Morgan, who was beaming at me.
"Thanks, Morgan. I love it." I said as I held up the Spider-Man hoodie, making MIchelle cover up her laugh with her own cough. We all watched movies until lunch, where we had soup. I was braiding Morgan's hair, as I saw Michelle and Rhodney talk while Tony happily talked to Pepper about the new baby. The days passed with Michelle and I going out to Bronx and helping the new foundation, me going over there not only as myself but as Spider-Man as well, until New Years Eve.
"Wait, how do I need to get dressed for the party?" Michelle asked.
"Ah, that's a question for Pepper not me." I said since I had no idea, making her groan but leave my room. It had been an hour when FRIDAY finally let me know that Pepper had kidnapped Michelle to go shopping, and that I wasn't allowed to see Michelle until the party. I shrugged it off and decided to go as Spider-Man for awhile before Tony called me back to get ready.
"You've seen Michelle, yet?" Rhodney asked as I started to button up my shirt.
"No, I'm not allowed to until the party according to Pepper." I said.
"I've seen picture updates."
"And?" I asked.
"Try not to pass out or eat any bugs, is all I can say." He said before he left me alone and I shook my head some. About an hour later, I was standing to the side with Tony smiling and talking to a donater for the Michelle Jones Foundation, while Momma Rhodes stayed home with Morgan, when my phone buzzed. I smiled and excused myself for a and looked to see that it waas Rhodney that had texted me.
"Get ready, your girl is here, and I have to say. Holy shit, she's beautiful. If she were my kid, I'd be terrifying all potential boyfriends away." I read and I put my phone away, and looked up just as the elevator opened to reveal Michelle and Pepper, and I sucked in a breathe.
"Holy shit." I said softly as she silenced the room as she walked in, like she owned the place.
I was still stunned into silence before Tony elbowed me in the ribs.
"Go to her, you love sick puppy." He muttered before he went back to smiling and talking. I walked over to Michelle and she smiled at me.
"Wow. You look beautiful." I managed to get out without looking like an idiot.
"You don't look to bad yourself, Tiger." She said and I held out my arm, which she looped through with hers, before we went around until it was time for the ball drop. I got Michelle and I closer to the winow, and FRIDAY quickly zoomed in onto the ball for us.
"I'm still in shock."
"About this? Or us?" I asked her.
"Both. Don't get me wrong, I'm beyond happy but."
"It's still quite shocking." I said.
"Ya, but I know one thing for sure."
"What is that?" I asked as everystarted to count down.
"I'm digging my claws into you, Tiger cause I'm not letting you go." She said and I turned so I could look at her, with a smile.
"Dig deep then, you're in for a rollercoaster relationship." I said.
"Wouldn't want it any other way." She said before we kissed, just as everyone stopped counting down. What a way to start the new year off right. I thought as Michelle sat her head on my shoulder as we watched the fireworks.