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"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No, Morgan."
"...are we there yet?"
"Morgan!"
Peter and MJ chuckled as Pepper and Tony grew tired of having a five year old in their caravan. It was Tony's idea to have a family road trip, half because it would be fun, and half because he wanted to get Peter out of the house. The boy didn't want to go at first, but then Tony said he could bring Michelle.
"Where are we even going?" He asked his Dad.
"Various places." Was the response he got, which earnt a groan from Peter.
MJ had placed her hand on his, a small gesture of comfort. She knew he had been having a difficult time adjusting after he 'woke up' after five years. He was so used to living in the city with his Dad, either in the tower or the compound. He was used to the busy streets and the crowds of people outside. The noise outside his bedroom window when he was trying to sleep. Now, he lived in a lake house, where the only thing you could hear was the rustling of the trees in the wind, or the birds chirping in the sky. Oh, and sometimes the babbling of a five year old girl.
Yeah, he had a little sister now, which was...a lot to take in. He had a hard time adjusting to that the most. That was part of the reason he was glad he had MJ with him, because she understood. She blipped too, and sure, she didn't come back to extreme and drastic changes like Peter did, but she understood on some level. She would always let Peter know that she was there for him, whenever he needed it.
And it wasn't like Tony and Pepper didn't care, because they did. It was just that Peter didn't tell them how difficult he was adjusting to everything. He only told Ned and MJ. He just didn't want to upset his parents, because they were so happy now. He also didn't want to make them feel like he didn't like Morgan, because he did. She was his little sister after all, it was impossible not to love her.
Soon, the caravan came to a stop and Tony lifted Morgan onto his hip.
"Prepare to be amazed you guys." The man said, pointing at the two teenagers. The door opened and they all filed out, and Peter's eyes widened as he took in his surroundings. There stood a cozy and warm looking cabin, a contrast the Winter weather they were experiencing. Next to the cabin was an ice rink, and Peter caught the grin on MJ's face when she noticed it. And last but not least, stood next to the ice rink, was a sauna.
"You're right. This is pretty amazing." Peter said, nodding to himself.
"Okay, let's get these bags in before we all freeze to death." Pepper said, going to grab some suitcases before Peter cut in.
"It's okay, I can take them all." He said, grabbing three in one hand and two in the other. He heard choruses of 'no, you don't have to' and 'that's okay, Peter'.
"Are you implying that I need a man to help carry my bags?" MJ asked with crossed arms. The old Peter would've become flustered and start stuttering if MJ ever asked him something like that, but he was used to it by now.
"Nope, it's just more practical this way." He chuckled. They were soon all inside the cabin and Peter placed the suitcases by the stairs.
"Okay, folks. We're here for three days so make the most of it." Tony said, placing Morgan down and carrying his suitcases up the stairs.
"Wait - Dad, we don't know where we're sleeping." Peter called after him.
"Gee, maybe if you followed me, then you would know. But that's a crazy idea." His Dad replied, sarcasm laced in his voice. Peter scoffed but did as he said, MJ following behind him.
They soon came to a bedroom at the top of the stairs. It had a double bed, two sets of drawers, a bathroom and a window that looked out onto the ice rink.
"This is pretty nice, actually." Peter said, placing their bags and suitcases down.
"Yep. I'm letting you two share a room, which I don't usually do, so no funny business. Got it?" He warned, making his way out of the room.
Peter could feel his face turn red. "Oh my God, get out of here." He whined. He heard his Dad laugh from down the hallway.
”You wanna unpack now or later?” Peter asked her, desperate to change the subject.
”Is there even any point? We’re only gonna be here for three days.” MJ said, flopping on the bed and laying on her back.
Peter shrugged “Your decision.” The boy then heard tiny feet running into the room.
”Petey! Do you like the house? Do you like it?” Morgan asked excitedly, jumping around the room.
Peter chuckled. “Yeah, Morgs. Do you like it?”
”Yeah! There’s ice outside! Let’s go, let’s go!” She said, tugging on her brother’s arm.
”Woah, M. Maybe we should ask Mom and Dad first?”
Morgan stopped tugging on Peter’s arm and whined. “But they always say no!”
Peter laughed at that comment. “Don’t be silly, Morgan. You’re spoilt rotten. Mom and Dad find it very hard to say no to you.”
Morgan pouted and crossed her arms. “M not spoilt!”
Peter chuckled, placing a bag on the bed. “Sure you aren’t. Now go ask Mom and Dad.” He said. Morgan groaned but rushed out of the room regardless. Peter turned back to MJ, who was still laying on the bed with her arm covering her eyes.
Peter snorted. “I’m guessing that’s a ‘No’ on the unpacking, then?”
He caught the small grin that appeared on his girlfriend’s face.
”Not right now. Come on, let’s go explore.”
Surprise, surprise, not ten minutes later, Morgan was outside on the ice rink. With adult supervision, of course. And because Morgan wanted to, that meant that she also wanted everyone else out there too.
”Are you all wrapped up? Don’t feel cold at all? Did you remember to pack those gloves I got for you?” Tony bombarded Peter with questions, knowing that his son can’t thermoregulate.
”Dad, I’m fine. I’m nice and warm, don’t worry.” Peter said, swatting his father’s hand away when he tried to adjust his coat for him.
”Just making sure.” Tony said in defense.
”Petey! MJ! Look, I’m on the ice!” Morgan shouted excitedly. She was stood near the edge on her ice skates, Pepper holding her steady.
”I think that’s our cue.” MJ told Peter, who smiled. They walked over and joined Morgan on the ice rink.
It was late at night on the third day of staying at the cabin. Peter couldn’t sleep. There was way too much on his mind. He rolled over to see if MJ was awake, but she wasn’t.
Peter took a minute to look at her. Her beautiful features. To listen to her breathing and her heartbeat. It comforted him, knowing that his loved ones were alive and safe.
He kissed her on the forehead before slowly getting out of bed, being careful not to wake her up.
He then felt MJ stirring and cursed to himself.
”Mm, Pete?” MJ said tiredly, stretching her arms out.
”Didn’t mean to wake you. I’m sorry.” Peter whispered back.
MJ squinted her eyes open to look at her boyfriend. “S okay. What time is it?”
Peter glanced at the clock for, what felt like, the 35th that night.
”2:47.”
MJ hummed and let her eyes close again. “Whaddya’ doin up?” She asked. Peter almost couldn’t understand her because of the exhaustion in her voice.
”Couldn’t sleep. I’m okay, though.” He reassured, running a hand up and down her arm to soothe her. “Go back to sleep.”
”You sure you’re okay?” She asked, shuffling closer to him.
Peter smiled, his heart warming. “I’m sure. I love you.”
MJ smiled before letting out a very tired, “I love you too.”
Peter kissed her head again and wrapped his arms around her. Knowing that he had his family with him, and that he was loved, was enough to comfort him to sleep.
Using his super hearing to listen to Tony’s heartbeat also helped. He did that a lot, just to make sure his Dad was okay. He did it a few times before The Snap. But now that Tony had practically died before his very eyes, he did it almost every night.
He smiled to himself. He loved his family. He could never ask for a better one.
He started thinking that he would love this road trip after all.