Chapter Text
Peter Parker had been 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 from five years. Wow, that was some getting used to.
Ignoring the fact Tony Stark almost died on a battlefield, Peter is now sitting in the backseat of Happy's car.
Speaking of Happy, the man had gotten a surprising beard in the said five years. So many changes, gosh.
"Your aunt is waiting for you at home. There's someone we'd like you to meet." Happy said, glancing at Peter from the rearview mirror.
"What do you mean, "We"?" Peter asked, dumbfounded.
"Oh, right, nobody's told you anything." Happy said with a sigh. "Your aunt and I are dating."
Peter's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. Sure, aunt May and Happy used to flirt fairly often, but the fact they had gotten together on the five years he was gone still hit him like a train.
"W-What?" He spluttered. It had only been two years for him since Ben died, but it had been seven for May. He knew she deserved someone good—someone like Happy. He knew Happy, he trusted him, but then what was this strange feeling in his stomach?
"Yeah, kid. She needed a support system after you were... gone, and I needed a distraction from everything that was happening. Soon after, that "Distraction" became love. I really do love her, Pete." Happy said, astonishing Peter.
Since when had Happy started talking about this kind of stuff to him? Last time he checked, Happy only ever used to hum and give short replies to whatever he would be rambling about.
It was kind of funny, Happy actually seemed happy.
—————
To say Peter was nervous and curious was an understatement. Happy had vaguely described a new 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, who had, apparently, joined their family during the five years he was gone.
"You'll love her." He had said. Who this 'her' was, Peter didn't know.
His knee shook, and his eyes fell on the glass of the car, his mind drifting elsewhere.
A new family member. Was this mystery person a replacement for him? How did May move on so easily after him? No, it couldn't be right. He knew how much May loved him, she must have missed him a lot. Hopefully.
How would he tell her what happened at Titan? How would he tell her how he 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 in Titan? How he had clinged on Mr. Stark, begging him to save him, telling him how scared he was. God, did Mr. Stark hate him now? He saw how vulnerable Peter was, he had to watch him die.
He couldn't lose Mr. Stark.
Mr. Stark was probably at the best medical facilities in Wakanda. He was so afraid he'd lose another parental figure.
"Peter? We're here." Happy said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Huh- Oh." He said, looking at the apartment complex.
"May's waiting." Happy reminded.
Peter nodded as he stepped out of the car. His spider senses weren't tingling, but his very 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 senses told him he had reason to be nervous.
He walked up the stairs, following closely behind Happy, as he fidgeted with his jacket.
He held his breath as Happy knocked on the door.
He let go of the breath when the door opened.
"Happy! Where's..." May said after she opened the door. She didn't complete the sentence, but the question hung in the air.
As a reply, Happy moved out of the way, revealing Peter.
May's eyes softened as soon as she laid her gaze on him. She bit her lower lip as tears welled in her eyes.
"Oh, baby." She finally whispered, and pulled him into a fierce hug immediately. Her body trembled as sobs made their way out of her throat. She pressed a kiss on Peter's temple, and Peter tightened his hold on her. "I'm here, May, I'm here." He whispered in her ear. She pulled back only to look at his face, and holding his face in her hands, pressed another kiss on his forehead.
His own eyes had tears in them, and he sniffed as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He was just going to say something, when–
"Mama?"
May instantly pulled back from their hug and turned around, facing a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, who had just called May "𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢." "Sweetie. There's someone I want you to meet." May said. Happy picked the little girl up and held her on his hip. "Who, mama?" The girl asked. May pushed Peter forward, as he stared at the girl in shock.
𝘔𝘢𝘮𝘢...
"Remember Peter? This is him, your cousin." May introduced him to the girl. Said girl's face immediately turned brighter, and a huge grin lit her face. "Hi! I'm Penny, and I'm 5!" 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘺 said, waving her little hand.
Peter turned to May, his whole body stiff. May and Happy had a kid. "You okay, honey?" May asked, a little concerned. "I- I- I have a cousin?" He finally managed to croak out. "Yeah, Pete." Happy said, like it was the most obvious thing. Like it wasn't tearing Peter apart. He supposed he was meant to be happy, be excited for having a cousin, but for some reason, all he felt was 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, and a little bit of 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘺, because of a five-year-old.
He forced a smile. "Hi, Penny. I'm, uh, Peter." He said to her. Penny laughed. On the bright side, atleast his cousin was cute.
—————
May showed Peter to his room—his room that seemed to be the only thing that hadn't changed in the past 5 years. It was exactly as he had left it, save for a little cleaner since May had taken the responsibility of cleaning it every now and then.
He told May he'd take a shower, and she told him to call her if he needed anything. He nodded, although he was pretty sure he wouldn't call her anytime soon. He loved her, and he wanted to spend time with her, but he just needed some alone time to deal with his thoughts.
He closed the door, and sat down on his bed. He took a deep breath, taking in his surroundings.
May and Happy had a kid.
A kid.
It would never be just him and May anymore. But May looked happy. She deserved this. She deserved a family. She would act strong and always smile in front of him after Ben died, but he heard her crying in her room every night. Sometimes, he wished he didn't have super hearing, just so he didn't have to face the truth.
He had already lost his uncle, he wouldn't lose his aunt too.
So, he had cooked her favourite dishes for her. He had taken a day off of school, just to spend time with her. He had included her sometimes when he and Mr. Stark had movie nights.
But now, he didn't have to do all that anymore. She had Happy, she had Penny. Who knew if she even needed him anymore? His body shuddered at the thought.
Maybe he was jumping to conclusions too soon. May needed him. He needed her. He knew her, she'd make room for him in her family. He was family too, he was her nephew. It had been just them for so long, he wouldn't let go of him now...
Right?