Chapter Text
--4 Months Later--
It was finally Christmas break! As much as Peter loved MIT, loved rooming with MJ and Ned, and absolutely loved all the scientific minds he was surrounded with, he was starting to miss his family. Sure, he came and visited now and then. But it was finally Christmas! All the Avengers were coming over to his mom’s apartment, and they were planning a big family holiday party.
Ned and MJ went home to their respective families, even though both wanted to be at Peter’s. He assured them that it was okay. Everyone needs some time with their own families, after all.
Peter was the first one to make it to Natasha’s excitedly opening the door and rushing in. “Mom, I’m home!”
“маленький паук, I’ve missed you! I’m in the kitchen!”
Peter rushed into the kitchen, quickly hugging Natasha a little too tightly. She didn’t mind at all. “I’ve got an important task for you.”
“Mamá araña, you know I’m not very trustworthy in the kitchen.”
“No, silly. You’re going to let the Avengers in once they start showing up. I would never willingly let you hang out in the kitchen.”
With that, Peter rushed back towards the door, impatiently waiting for more people to show up. Of course, Clint and his family were the first to show up. Laura and the kids came this year, wanting to see their Auntie Nat and cousin Peter. It didn’t take much convincing for Clint to bring them.
Next, Sam showed up. Peter immediately teased him about not having a plus one, which resulted in a sharp kick to the ankle.
After Sam, Bucky and Steve showed up with more food than needed. Peter didn’t say anything; the two had lived through a war, they weren’t quite used to how things ran nowadays. The effort is all that really mattered.
Thor and Bruce rolled up next, with Bruce sporting an Avengers-themed Christmas sweater. Peter didn’t seem to notice a certain Avenger was missing from it, but did realize that Spider-Man was on it.
“Uncle Bruce, where did you find that?”
“It’s a secret, Spidey.”
Next, Wanda and Vision had shown up. This was a bit surprising to everyone, as they were always invited to things but never came. In fact, Peter didn’t think he had seen them since before May died.
Finally, Mrs. Potts and Happy showed up. Peter ran to give Happy a hug, even though he wasn’t much of a hugger. Little did Peter know, Happy actually adored his hugs.
Once everyone had caught up, they sat down to enjoy their Christmas feast. Food from many countries and eras littered the table, making a perfect Christmas dinner for this group of people. Laughter and joy filled the room, spilling around all the Avengers.
Once dinner had been finished, they gathered around for gifts. Right after the final gift had been opened, a knock sounded throughout the apartment.
“Mamá araña, was anyone else coming?” Peter asked, unsure about the knock.
“Not that I am aware of. Everyone I invited is right here.”
Peter’s spider-sense was tingling, just slightly. He approached the door slowly, getting ready to fight off an intruder if necessary. Making sure his web shooters were ready for an attack, he unlocked the door and opened it.
He almost passed out from the shock of who was standing there, and slammed the door in their face.
All the Avengers turned to look at Peter. A chorus of “who’s that” and “what happened” filled the room.
Natasha went to open the door, which she slammed again in the face of whoever was out there.
“Nat, what is it?” Bruce calmly asked.
‘Stark.” She barked in response. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Woah, Natasha, all of us dislike Stark. I know you and Peter really dislike him. Can’t we just wait for him to leave? No need for violence.” Steve, ever the peaceful one, reasoned.
His reasoning was quickly washed away when another knock sounded on the door. “Natasha, let me handle it.”
Steve walked to the door, opened it, and quickly stepped outside.
“Stark, what are you doing here?”
“I came to visit Peter, it’s the holidays after all. I wanted to see how he was doing.”
“Well, as you saw, Peter is doing just fine.”
“Rogers, I deserve more than that! I’m his legal-”
“You are nothing to him, Stark. You gave that up. Natasha’s agreement with you was that Peter can be in contact with you only by his own terms. That doesn’t mean just crashing Christmas.”
“Rogers, everyone is here. I deserve to be here!”
“You deserve nothing, Stark. Nothing! You aren’t a part of the Avengers, you haven’t even gone on any missions with us. You aren’t a family member to Peter or Natasha, who are so nicely hosting this. You need to leave. Pepper and Happy and celebrate with you later. I’m sure Rhodey is already over at your place.”
“Rhodey is with his mom this holiday. He was originally planning on coming here.”
“Maybe if you hadn’t made such a bad choice, more of us would be celebrating Christmas with you this year. We all prefer to celebrate with Peter, though.”
“Rogers, you know damn well I was only trying to protect my son!”
“Stark, Peter was your son! Are you still so blinded that you are unable to realize that Peter was your son, and Harley was the one misbehaving? The one trying to create problems in your life? Peter was just excited to have a home, to have somewhere to belong. He has that now, but no thanks to you.”
“Rogers, please just let me in the apartment.”
“No.”
“Rogers, this isn’t fair!”
“Stark, if you don’t leave I’m going to have to make you leave. Peter doesn’t need you in his life. I know Natasha already told you that he will reach out if, not when, he is ready. So it is in your best interest to leave, right now.”
With that, Steve stepped back inside and shut the door in Stark’s face.
Stark spent a solid minute just staring at the door, shocked that someone would just turn him away like that. He deserved better! After grasping the idea that he wouldn’t be let in today, he finally walked away.
Inside the apartment, Steve was happy to see that Peter had quickly moved past the interruption. It seemed that he was now in a very competitive MarioKart battle with Sam and Clint. Steve was grateful that the two had distracted him so quickly.
Natasha gestured for him to go over to her, no doubt wanting to know what occurred between him and Stark.
“Nat, he still thinks that Peter owes him something, or that he still has some sort of guardianship over the kid. I know court would prove that wrong real quick, but we still have to protect Peter. I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the last time that Stark shows up.”
“He’d be a fool to show up again.” is all that Natasha replied with.
So, Christmas continued. Peter sent the night having an absolute blast with his family, enjoying the presents, and eating great food!
Tony Stark, however, sat in his empty lab, a lab he used to share with Peter, and was drinking bottle after bottle of strong alcohol. Waiting for the day where Peter might, no, would, call him back.
The End.