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Ted knew something was up when it was already dark outside and Pete still hadn't come home, or at least texted him to let him know he was staying with Richie or Ruth. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but Pete never stayed out past dark and his concerned texts had remained unread for the last hour and he was starting to get worried.
Ted waited in the living room for what felt like hours, looking out the window every few minutes in the hope that eventually his baby brother would show up, safe and unharmed. He shot up when he heard a soft knock at the door, running to unlock it.
When he opened the door, Pete immediately ran to him, holding onto him and sobbing uncontrollably.
“Woah Petey, what happened?” Ted looked down at his little brother with a mix of concern and relief that he was finally home.
Pete looked up at him with teary eyes, choking out soft apologies while Ted held him, hugging him tightly and trying to calm him down.
Eventually Peter's breathing gradually went back to normal, his sobs turning into occasional sniffles. Ted led him over to the couch and sat beside him. He could tell now that Pete was regressed- at some point he had brought his fingers to his mouth, a dead giveaway that he was feeling small.
Ted softened his voice, nearly whispering to the younger “Hey buddy, can you tell me how old you're feeling?”
Pete thought for a moment before shakily holding up three fingers. Ted seems to take the hint that Pete had gone nonverbal, deciding he would ask what happened later even though he was still concerned for his little brother. Ted gets up to grab an ice pack for Pete’s eye “I'll be right back, okay Petey? I'm just going to get something to make your eye feel better, can you be brave and wait here while I'm gone?”
Pete looked a little worried at the prospect of his brother leaving but tried his best to look brave, nodding and sitting patiently while Ted retrieved the ice pack.
Ted came back a few moments later, carrying an ice pack and a stuffed bear Ted had gotten for Pete when he was younger that Pete had simply named bear, because he “Already has a Teddy”. Peter's eyes lit up at the sight of his brother and his bear, stretching his arms out to reach towards them. Ted handed the bear to him and sat down beside him, offering Pete the ice pack “You have to hold this on your eye to make it feel better, can you do that for me?”
Pete nods and puts it on his eye before laying down in Ted's lap “Teddy, can we watch spiderman?” Pete asks softly, slurring his words slightly.
Ted runs his hand through Peter's hair while he turns on the tv with the remote “Of course, Petey.”