Chapter Text
Tony had been unusually quiet ever since Peter had gotten into the car after school. It wasn’t a bad sort of quiet. There had been no rambling about what sort of new projects Tony had started or how many meetings he’d been dragged into. But he’d asked all the routine questions and had hummed happily along with the radio as they drove through Manhattan. Contentedly, Peter leaned against the window and watched the buildings rush by.
It wasn’t until they reached the underground garage that he really started to question his foster father’s unusual behavior. The second the car was in park, Tony hopped out first and started to the elevator with a skip in his step. He was starting to think that perhaps it had been an exceedingly good day rather than a boring one. Maybe there had been a particularly successful business venture? Or maybe there had been some major headway on the nano-technology project that they had been working on? But that didn’t actually make any sense. He was certain if something spectacular had taken place during the day, Tony would have told him.
The elevator was quick, leaving him insufficient time to contemplate things any further. Within seconds the doors slid open and Pepper was there waiting for him. He noticed instantly that she too looked a little more giddy than usual.
“Peter!” She smiled broadly as she hauled him into a right hug. “How was school?”
Peter shot her a quick thumbs up and signed, ‘Good.’ He wasn't convinced she noticed. Tony was already nudging her and raising his eyebrows in a commutative manner he didn't understand. It was like they had their own secret non-verbal language that they intentionally prevented him from figuring out. His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of the subtle gestures and facial expressions.
Pepper’s hand fell gently onto his shoulder. “That's a great sweetheart.” She looked over her shoulder at Tony. Whatever she’d silently conveyed had him grinning ear to ear. “I’m glad you had a good day because we have some news to share with you.”
Despite the smiles, giggles and affection, Peter’s body suddenly went rigid with trepidation. Any variety of the words ‘we have news’ tended to dig beneath his skin until his anxiety was raw and open. As his breath hitched, he looked at Tony. The smile had yet to leave his foster father’s face and his eyes were still shining with elation. He focused on that until he felt some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
“You okay, Buddy?” Tony asked. Peter inclined his head, feigning nonchalance. Tony didn’t seem to buy it. He immediately arched a questioning brow.
Peter ducked his head and started typing into his phone. He hesitated for a full thirty seconds before sending the message. It sounded stupid. Even to himself. ‘I don’t like it when people say they have news.’
Tony nodded and peeked up at Pepper. “Well, we can absolutely avoid using that phrasing in the future.” He looked back at Peter and smiled softly. “But for now, I assure you this is all good stuff, okay?”
‘I know’ Peter sighed. He pulled his lip between his teeth and diverted his eyes to the floor. ‘stupid’
“No…” Tony raised his brows and lowered his chin to gain eye contact. “It’s not stupid. It’s trauma. And that’s okay. We can work with that.”
With a nod of his head, Peter drew in a calming breath. As he released it he raised his hands to sign, ‘What?’ He thought he might have to expand on what he was asking but, as he often did, Tony seemed to already know. He grinned broadly and grabbed an envelope from off of the counter.
“Here. Take a look at these.”
Slowly, Peter read the letter. It was a court date for his adoption to be finalized. In less than two week's time, his last name would shift to the middle and a new surname tacked to the end. He’d be Peter Benjamin Parker Stark. A frisson of excitement zipped up his spine. At the same time, a twinge of sadness made itself at home in his chest. The adoption would make Tony and Pepper his official forever family. At the same time, the connotation of the proceeding wasn’t lost on him. It was a vivid reminder of his first family, all of whom were laid to rest: his mother, his father, his aunt and uncle. His eyes watered without his permission; a bizarre combination of elation and grief.
“Those are happy tears and not devastated ones, I hope.”
Pepper smacked Tony in the arm while declaring his name. Tony giggled in response, asking “What?” while simultaneously signing the word. “That feels like an important question!”
With a wet laugh, Peter pushed the sadness aside and signed, ‘Happy’ and ‘Promise’ one after the other. His soon-to-be parents pulled him into a hug and he melted against them. It really was good news.
That night they celebrated the mere notion that they were one step removed from being a forever family. They went out for a huge Italian dinner. While they were there, promises were made about an even bigger celebration following the actual court date. One that included Happy, Tony’s best friend Rhodey, and the entire Leeds family.
As they exuberantly went back and forth hashing out the details, Peter grinned and signed, ‘Ice cream? Big ice cream?’’
Pepper giggled while Tony barked a pleasant laugh. He leaned back in his seat and tossed his napkin onto his empty plate. “All the ice cream you want, kiddo.”
Peter looked between his two favorite adults, popped the last bite of garlic bread into his mouth and signed, ‘Awesome.’
And it was awesome. Everything about the entire situation was nothing short of awesome. Aside from the earlier moment of grief, he couldn’t think of any one thing that would make him happier than being adopted by Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. Not because of the money, the gadgets, or notoriety. Not because Tony Stark and Pepper Potts were one of the most recognizable and powerful couples in the world, either. It was because he felt at home with them. They appreciated him, accepted him, and advocated for him. They loved him. And he loved them in return. There was no doubt in his mind. He was meant to be with them.
That night, as he lay in bed exhausted and content, his mind wandered to his first family. He wondered how they would react to him being adopted into such a high-profile family. He thought of his mother and father first. But he’d been so young when he’d lost them that he wasn’t exactly sure what they would think. But he knew from every story he’d ever been told that they would want him to be loved and taken care of. He smiled to himself. Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts definitely had that covered.
His mind then drifted towards his Aunt and Uncle. When he thought about it, he could practically hear them cheering him on. ‘Find your place, Peter. Find your people and hold them close.’ Peter sighed and pulled his old stuffed dog out from under his pillow and held it up above his head. Tony and Pepper were his people. His mom, dad, aunt, and uncle were his people too. Except he carried them in his heart instead of hands. Tears sprang to his eyes. Warmth filled his chest as he came to the realization that they would be right there inside of him as he entered the courtroom. They would become Starks right alongside him. Collectively they would become a part of one big blended family and Peter would be the glue that held them together.
He fell asleep with that thought still resting peacefully in his head.
In the week following the arrival of the letter, Peter spent a lot of time reminiscing about the past and reflecting on the future. He’d sit in the living room between Tony and Pepper, and look at the frames across the mantel. The pictures weren’t arranged in any specific order. There was no visual timeline or obvious grouping. There were pictures of Tony as a child with his parents, his Aunt Peggy, and his butler, Jarvis. There were pictures of Tony and Pepper together. There were also pictures of himself. Not all of them were from his time living in the penthouse. Tony and Pepper had been kind enough to add pictures of his childhood pictures as well. It had started with one from his first birthday. Eventually, others had been added. Including one of his younger self and his best friend- his brother, Ned. The best part was, all of those images were intermingled with all the others. He loved that Tony and Pepper fully embraced his first family, rather than simply acknowledging their existence. It made him feel good; like they cared about him as a whole person.
“Peter?” Pepper questioned. Peter startled slightly. He turned from the mantle and tilted his head curiously to the side. “Tony’s going to be picking you up early today, okay?”
Peter raised a brow. He couldn’t think of anything that would require him to be pulled out of school for the afternoon. He wasn’t due for a check up, there had been no mention of any surprises, and the court date was still a week away. ‘Why?’ he signed.
“We have a meeting with Mrs. Braswell at one thirty.”
Still confused, Peter once again signed, ‘Why?’ Because it didn’t quite make sense. His social worker usually did conference calls with Tony and Pepper or met up with them while he was out. Every one once in a while she would come to see him at school or pick him up for one thing or another. Although those kinds of things had slowed down once he’d entered the Stark-Potts’ household. It seemed odd that Mrs. Braswell wanted to sit down to have a meeting with all of them together. His stomach churned with anxiety, wondering if the visit was a bad sign.
“It’s our exit meeting,” Pepper gently explained. ”Your adoption is in six days. She’s going to go over some paperwork and talk to us about post-adoption resources.”
Suddenly Peter’s brain misfired and his heart dropped down into his stomach. It suddenly occurred that he would never see Mrs. Braswell again; a consequence of the adoption he’d not yet considered. He didn’t know why hadn’t thought about it. It made sense that once he was adopted his social worker would step out of his life. He didn’t even know why it bothered him so much. It wasn’t like he saw her often, and when he did it wasn’t usually for very long. But she’d been a constant fixture in his life since the passing of his aunt. She’d been the one unmoving adult in his life for the past six and a half years. Thinking about never seeing her again felt strange. He glanced up. Pepper was looking at him with a pinch of worry. He swallowed and slowly bobbed his head.
Rather than part ways, Pepper placed a hand on Peter’s bicep. “You okay, sweetheart?
Peter nodded again and forced a smile. He sighed, ‘I’m okay.’ He gave her a hug and whispered a soft, “Love you,” before gathering his things. They both knew Happy was waiting for him in the garage. He waved goodbye and stepped into the elevator.
For the entire ride to school, Peter continued to contemplate the meeting, he would be attending later in the day. His brain flip-flopped in several directions as he thought it through. At the end of the day, being adopted by Tony and Pepper was an ideal situation for him. Not seeing Mrs. Braswell anymore after was sad but it wasn’t like she was leaving the country or- dying. She just wouldn’t be checking in with him anymore. She’d still be around the city, shuffling kids around, inspecting homes, and whatever else she did when she was on the clock. Probably off the clock too. It had taken a few years for him to realize that Mrs. Braswell had a home and life outside of being a social worker because she seemed to always be available.
He sighed profoundly and leaned his head against the window. He didn’t want to think about it like it was trading people. He didn’t want to imagine himself removing Mrs. Braswell from his life in exchange for a permanent place with Tony and Pepper. It didn’t seem fair.
When the car stopped just inside of Midtown’s gate, Peter climbed out of the car and hurried to his locker. He’d hoped to run into Ned on the way there. Although his friend was nowhere to be found. He shot him a text inquiring of his whereabouts. The message he received in return made him frown. ‘Running late. Be there soon.’
With a deep sigh, Peter shuffled down the hall toward his first class of the day.
When the lunch bell finally rang, Peter sprang off his chair and darted across the school in record time. Ned was outside the cafeteria waiting for him.
“Hey, Dude sorry about this morning. My alarm didn’t go off and my lola-”
Peter wasn’t really listening. He’d had exactly two and a half classes to stew on what he wanted to talk to Ned about. He was so ready to get it out, that his fingers were itching to sign or type: anything to get his question out in the open. He grabbed a tray and filled it with overly salty, yet somehow flavorless loaded nachos and picked up a carton of milk. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Ned was following before plowing out the door and into the courtyard.
The moment both he and his friend were plopped down on the grass, Peter pulled his phone out. ‘I won’t see Mrs Braswell anymore.’
Ned’s brows furrowed.“No. But you’ll have Mr. Stark and Ms.Potts.”
Peter flinched and tightened his shoulders as he typed, ‘It’s not a trade off!'
“I mean, it kind of is.” When Peter glowered, Ned sighed. “Once you've been placed in a permanent home, you don’t need a social worker anymore.”
‘But She’s-’ Peter starts to type. When he isn't sure how to proceed, he deletes the entire message and starts over. ’I’ve known her since I was little. She’s always been there and now she won’t be.’
“But you won’t need her,” Ned continued to insist. Peter understood where he was coming from, of course. But that didn’t make it any less frustrating. His hands went up to the sides of his head where he tightly gripped his hair.
‘I know!’ he aggressively signed. It was unusual for Ned to not immediately understand where he was coming from. Notably when it was foster care related. Although he understood the disconnect. While he's only had one social worker for his entire stint in foster care, his friend had gone through three. He’d not had any kind of relationship with any of them. He didn’t even particularly like the first two. ‘Ms. Patel is okay, I guess. Better than Mr. Perkins. He smelled like cigarettes. And Ms. Holbrook was always complaining.’ Peter pressed his lips together and sighed at the thought. He supposed it was an experience they simply didn’t share. ‘I don’t want to have to give up one to have the other.’
Ned swayed his head. “You’re not giving Mrs. Braswell up. You’re- outgrowing her? Kind of? Like- speech therapy. Eventually, you didn’t need it anymore.”
With a shake of his head, Peter scoffed. He picked up his phone and resumed texting. ‘I was removed from services due to my lack of progress.’
With a deep sigh, Ned transferred his attention to his tray. He used a fork to scoop up a heap of nachos and then dump it back down onto the pile. “You have her number memorized. You could probably text her sometimes.”
Defeatedly, Peter typed, ‘She’ll be busy with other kids.’ She was already busy with other kids. They didn’t actually see that much of each other. But that wasn’t the point. The point was, she had been his- adult since his aunt died. She was kind, familiar, and constant. Just knowing she was available if he needed anything had been his most significant security. His rampant thoughts were disturbed when Ned nudged his arm.
“Maybe you could ask her about it. If you can text her, I mean.”
Peter swallowed with difficulty and nodded his head. “Yeah,” he whispered. Although he was absolutely sure. “Maybe”
Later that afternoon, Peter sat in fifth period class waiting to be called to the office. Tony had already messaged to let him know he was leaving the tower. Less than half an hour later the announcement came over the intercom that he was required in the office for check-out. Sighing heavily, he scooped up his bag and wandered toward the front of the school where Tony was waiting by the car.
“Hey, Kid. How was school?” Tony rounded the car to get into the driver's seat. Once he was inside and the engine had been started he turned to Peter and grinned. “Glad to have the opportunity to bail early?”
Peter frowned and jerked his head from side to side. But not for the reasons his foster father assumed.
“Whatever you’re missing, I’m convinced you can make it up.” Tony shrugged and hit the gas to pull out of the parking lot. “This should be an excused absence.”
The first half of the ride home was silent. Tony hummed to the radio and Peter looked out the window. He both did and did not want to get home. He wanted to see Mrs. Braswell. He always liked seeing her. He just didn’t want it to be the last time. Then it occurred to him that perhaps it wouldn’t be. Maybe, just maybe there would be one more chance. ‘Will Mrs. Braswell be at the court date?”
With his face twisted in thought, Tony glanced to the side. “I don’t know, Buddy. Probably not?” His eyes turned briefly to the road before sweeping back over to Peter. “We could ask her.”
Peter sighed and tapped a finger against his leg. He had more questions. But if Tony couldn’t answer the first one, he wasn’t likely to be able to satisfy the others either. Yet he found himself unable to stop the inquiries. The next one flew off of his fingertips. ‘Will I still be able to see her after the adoption?’
Tony’s device buzzed within the hands-free mount. He looked at it, sighed and smiled sympathetically in Peter’s direction.“I’m sorry, Bud but I genuinely don’t know. Believe it or not; this is my first rodeo.”
A faint smile twitched across Peter’s lips at the phrasing. At the same time he was acutely aware there were very few instances where Tony would openly admit he was inept or uninformed. Even in a teasing manner. He was inclined to stop pestering. His lip went between his teeth as he tucked his phone into his pocket. It was fine. He would be seeing Mrs. Braswell in less than an hour, and she would have all the answers he could possibly want on the subject. Ned and Tony were both right, all he had to do was ask.
Peter carried himself into the penthouse with a ball of anxiety settled deeply in his stomach. Pepper tried to insist on him getting a snack while they waited for Mrs. Braswell’s arrival but he adamantly declined. There was no way he would be able to keep anything down until after the meeting. And thankfully he didn’t have to wait long for it to start. Within fifteen minutes FRIDAY was announcing her arrival.
The elevator doors opened and Mrs. Braswell came into the room with a cheery smile and a spring in her step. She nodded towards Tony and Pepper, but her eyes remained on Peter. “Peter!” she exclaimed, her arms outstretched to offer a hug. Peter didn’t hesitate to accept it. “It’s been a while.” Mrs. Braswell pulled back, held him at arm’s length, and looked him over with a grin. “I think you’ve grown.”
Tony chuckled in the background. “From the looks of those jeans. I would have to agree.”
Peter looked down at his pants and frowned. ‘Stop,’ he signed even though he knew it was an accurate assessment. Instead of spilling over the tops of his shoes, his jeans hovered right at his ankles. He frowned and attempted to use his left foot to tug his right pant leg down just a bit lower.
“Me stop?” Tony ginned. “How about you stop? No more growing. I forbid it.”
Peter ducked his head and shuffled his feet. Pepper entered the room half a second later, already prepared to save him. She smiled at Mrs. Braswell and placed a gentle hand on his bicep. “Don’t listen to him, Sweetheart. He’s just mad because you’re going to be taller than him.” She waited for no reply before moving her attention to their guest. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Braswell. I don’t suppose either of them offered you a drink or a seat, did they?”
“They did not.” Mrs. Braswell grinned and followed Pepper into the kitchen. Peter and Tony followed suit. Shortly thereafter, everyone was seated around the kitchen table with a hot mug of tea in hand. All of the small talk, jokes, and banter ended there. Mrs. Braswell cleared her throat and asked, “So, you all understand what this visit is about right?”
Everyone nodded in unison, Peter included. They all knew why she was there; the elating and daunting exit meeting.
“Okay. In that case, I’ll get started.” Mrs. Braswell pulled a thick folder out of her bag, along with a tablet and clipboard. She lined up un infront of her and placed her hands on top of them. “I have a few pamphlets for us to look at. Then we’ll need to go over some paperwork and do one last check-in. Sounds good?”
The word ‘last’ bit at Peter’s emotions. His lips turned downward. He had to bite the bottom to prevent it from quivering. Although it didn’t stop the prickling in his eyes. He blinked a few times and breathed slowly in and out through his nose until he felt the tears recede. He swallowed and looked around the table. His attempts to keep himself together didn’t appear to have worked. Everyone was looking at him with varying levels of concern.
Tony spoke first. He outstretched his hand and placed it on top of Peter’s. “Hey, Kiddo. Is this about those things you were asking me in the car?”
Looking past Tony, Peter could see confusion crossing Pepper’s face. In front of him, Mrs. Braswell was looking at him, her face the picture of perfect patience. His eyes fell back to Tony before hesitantly nodding his head.
Mrs. Braswell seized the opportunity to step in. She smiled softly and gave Peter her utmost attention. “Do you have some questions for me, Peter? I’m happy to resolve them to the best of my ability.”
Peter looked pleadingly towards Tony. Tony smiled in return but didn’t offer to do any of the talking for him. He wished he would. It was one of the few times he would have instantly welcomed someone speaking on his behalf.
“Do you have concerns about the adoption process?” Mrs. Braswell kindly offered. “Because we can put things back on hold if we need to. Nothing will change about your living arrangement if you decide-”
Vigorously, Peter shook his head. He gestured between himself and his soon-to-be-parents. Then his fingers came together as he signed ‘family.’
“Okay.” Mrs Braswell pursed her lips and nodded slowly. “Well, why don’t you tell me what your questions are about, then? Hmm? That will be much faster than me trying to predict what you want to know.”
Peter sighed. He tapped one finger repeatedly against the side of his phone and eventually began to type. ‘Will I ever see you again?’ Once the message was delivered, he lowered his head and chewed at his bottom lip.
Mrs. Braswell smiled gently and drew in an extended breath. “Once the adoption is finalized, your case with Child Services will be concluded. You’ll no longer be assigned to mine or anyone else's caseload. You’ll be in the complete care of your adoptive family. Unless, of course, something happens and we believe you’re no longer receiving an appropriate amount of care.” Her smile broadened as she looked at Tony and Pepper, then back at Peter. “But I’m certain that’s something none of us will ever have to worry about. You’ll be in good hands.”
‘I know.’ Peter signed. He wasn’t five. He understood he wouldn’t require a social worker once he was adopted. That was the whole point of an exit meeting. He was exiting the system. He picked up his phone and began to rapidly type. ‘But will I get to see you again? Ever?”’
“Peter, you won’t need me anymore.” Mrs. Braswell waved her hand towards Tony and Pepper. “You’ll be with your forever family. My job will be done.”
Peter felt his eyes grow hot with renewed tears. He lowered his head and squeezed them shut. When he felt like he could reopen them without crying he picked up his phone. ‘But I’ll miss you.’ There was so much more to it. There was so much more he wanted to say, he couldn’t place any of it into words. Hence, he sent the message as it was. Short and honest.
After reading the text, Mrs. Braswell looked up. Her eyes were shiny, as though she was fighting back tears of her own. “I’ll miss you too, Peter. And I’ll think about you all the time. The same way I think about all the kids I’ve placed with permanent families or have watched grow into adulthood.“ She reached across the table to squeeze Peter’s hand. “I will think about you, and I will be so happy knowing that I had a role in helping you find your place.”
None of that was what Peter wanted to hear. He needed someone to assure him he wasn’t losing one adult to gain another. He’d done too much of that already. He loved Tony. He loved Pepper. He trusted them and knew they would always be there for him. But he needed to know Mrs. Braswell would be there too. Even if it was just in the background. He couldn’t stop the tears that slipped down his cheeks as he typed out the next message. ‘Can I text you?’
“You can.’ Mrs. Braswell glanced at the other adults in the room. “If your parents allow it.”
Peter turned from one side to the other, looking pleadingly towards Tony and Pepper. Both of them instantly wrapped their arms around his shivering shoulders and bobbed their heads.
“Peter.” Pepper tightened her hold, pulling him further into her side. “We understand Mrs. Braswell has been a big part of your life. Of course, we’ll allow you to keep in contact with her.”
Tony leaned in after, thus sandwiching Peter between his body and Pepper’s. “She’s important to you. Therefore, she’s important to us.”
With a deep breath, Peter nodded. He wiped his face dry and squirmed out of Tony and Pepper's arms. He’d behaved childishly enough without requiring constant contact from his- parents.
“I would love to hear from you, Peter.” Mrs. Braswell smiled. “I would love to hear about all the exciting things happening in your life” Her expression morphed into a more serious one. “Even if it’s just from time to time. But I don’t ever want you to feel obligated, okay?”
Peter shook his head, his curls whipping back and forth across his forehead. He pointed at his own chest and signed the words ‘want’ and ‘speak’ before pointing to her. It was just enough to get his point across. Texting Mrs. Braswell would never be a chore.
Mrs. Braswell chuckled and ran a finger gently below her right eye. “It’s settled then. Anything else?”
There was really only one other question on Peter’s mind. ‘Will you be at the court date?’
“Unfortunately, no.” Mrs. Braswell sighed. “Since I’m not required to be at those hearings, the expectation will be for me to continue with my usual list of daily obligations for the day. But I’ll be cheering for you from across the city.”
“We’ll send you a picture,” Tony immediately assured. Peter was grateful for his swift response.
Mrs. Braswell pointed at him and grinned. “Good. Because I want to see it.” A beat passed. “Anything else I can answer for you, Peter?”
Peter’s first reaction was to shake his head. All of his most critical questions had been acknowledged. Mrs. Braswell wouldn’t be there to witness the adoption, but she wasn’t going to disappear from his life either. It wasn’t completely the outcome he would have chosen, but it was good. A balance. Suddenly, he did have another question. He shifted in his seat, twisted his mouth to the side and signed, ‘Hug?’
“Of course!” Mrs. Braswell said and was out of her seat in a flash. Peter followed suit, scooting his chair back and meeting her where was waiting by the table. He’d hugged Mrs. Braswell before. But never had it ever felt so relieving as it did right then. “I am so proud of you, Peter,” she whispered in his ear. “You are going to do wonderfully and I can’t wait to see all the remarkable things you do as you grow up.”
Tears of gratitude sprang to Peter’s eyes. Wanting to respond, he considered his options. He knew just enough sign language to get his message across. Or he could type out a heartfelt message. But for some reason, he was compelled to speak. He licked his lips and leaned in closely. “Thank you,” he whispered, “For everything.”
A wet laugh burst out of Mrs. Braswell’s mouth. “You are so welcome, Peter. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you.”
Peter nodded against her shoulder. He sniffed and pulled back. They both went back to their seats and the exit meeting continued as expected. Post-adoption resources were discussed, paperwork was filled out and signed, and Mrs. Braswell conducted one last official well-check with Peter. Then it was over. Mrs. Braswell hugged them all goodbye and walked out the door.