Family Secrets

Slow Saturdays Speed Up

Pepper and Tony had taken some time to be sad, but ultimately, the family was back to its joking, shouting, goofing around self by the following weekend. Loki and Thor had only stayed one night, just for a monthly movie night the family hosted with the 2 Asgardians (and had forgotten about). Peter had been having a great time at school, the shock of being the Stark heir had worn off, and the Spiderman thing had even been dying down lately.

It was a slow Saturday. Tony, Bruce, and Rhodey were all working on a surprise gift for Peter's birthday, which was coming in 2 months, and they wanted to do something special. Clint and Natasha had been watching movies with Steve, Sam, and Bucky all day, each one clad in matching pajamas (a gift from Peter 2 Christmas's ago) and occasionally nodding off, only to be poked by the others during the climax of the movie.

Pepper and Peter had set out to get some new clothes and shoes, both of them were in need of some essentials.

"How about this?" Pepper held up a pair of black heels.

"That isn't really an essential, is it?"

"It is if you're a CEO," she quipped. "What are you getting?"

Peter looked at the two pairs of shoes he had been looking at. His black vans were still good, but the red converse and his blue Nikes had both worn out now. He'd gravitated to the blue sneakers in front of him when they had first gotten to the shoe shop, but these red and white Adidas were pretty cool, too.

"I can't decide," he whined.

"Get them both," Pepper smiled. Even nearly 7 years later, Peter still struggled with the idea that he could get both. He could get 6 pairs if he really wanted!

Pepper and Tony both found it a little amusing, that their son still went shopping frugally and waited to get new shoes until his old ones were fully worn out.

Pepper paid for their shoes, Peter getting the 2 pairs and Pepper getting the black heels, a pair of red heels, black flats, and a pair of boots. It was a rare occasion when you would see Pepper in a pair of simple trainers, something Pepper thought was quite extraordinary.

After shoes, the two made their way across the mall so Peter could get new jeans. Steve, in a fit of housekeeping, had accidentally shrunk his favorite pair, much to the teen's despair. Pepper was also getting some jeans, seeing as she had ruined her last pair a few weeks ago while helping Tony in the garage on something.

Jeans were easy, 2 pairs for Peter and 1 for Pepper.

"Wanna help me find a new pair of slacks?"

"Yeah, okay," Peter said, picking at his pretzel.

The two walked in quiet for a moment.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Pepper used a joking like tone, hoping to make Peter smile a little. It worked.

"Just... school stuff. I had this girl ask me out on Friday and she was all like 'You're so cute and that carrrr' but she didn't like ME she just liked my name and me being a Superhero..."

Pepper was quiet for a moment, then pulled Peter in for a hug.

"What about MJ? She's so sweet and nice and she likes your for your brain!"

"She's too cool for me, I'll just ruin our friendship if I ask her out," Peter scoffed.

"Too cool? For you? Peter, you're the coolest person I know. You are kind and smart and talented in ways no one can even imagine! You built part of the Ironman suit!"

"I guess," Peter shrugged.

"I just think you're being overly critical, Bambi," Pepper said.

The two picked out some new slacks for the CEO, then headed back to the car. Peter got a sudden twinge of spider sense and pushed Pepper to the side. She hit the pavement right as a car came around the corner, hitting Peter head on. The teen rolled over the top and off the back of the black vehicle. Who ever it was, they were aiming for the two Starks, and the driver quickly reversed over Peter.

"Karen, call Dad!"

Peter, with adrenaline pumping, scurried from underneath the car and got up to the sidewalk with his mom. The whole ordeal had caused a scene, and people were running from every direction to help. The driver sped off.

"Mom! Are you okay? I'm so sorry I pushed you, did you bump your head? Are you hurt?" Peter berated him mother while looking her over. She'd ripped her skirt and blouse when she hit the ground, and her hair was messy. She had scrapes on her palms and a small cut on her head from hitting the sidewalk. She was quick to brush it off, grabbing Peter's hands. He winced, realizing now how much pain he was in.

He was trying to hold onto consciousness long enough for his father to show up, but he was starting to feel his head get foggy.

"Peter, look at me," Pepper was trying to get a good look at Peter's eyes, but it was hard since he was blinking wildly.

"Aren't you Mrs. Stark?" Someone in the mass of people asked. Pepper looked up.

"Yes, I am. Can someone please-"

Pepper was cut off by the sound of thrusters. She looked up, still holding Peter, to her husband, who had just shown up in his suit.

"What the hell happened?" He stepped out of the suit, sounding livid and scared and worried and all the things a husband and father should sound like after someone tried to kill his wife and son.

"I don't know, we came out and Peter pushed me down right before that car-"

"Dad?" Peter's voice was faint, he was starting to slip into sleep.

"Hey, Bambi, it's me. I'm gonna take you home, to Uncle Bruce. We're going to get you cleaned up."

"Okay, Daddy. Can someone call... Ned?"

With that, Peter finally succumbed to sleep. His father was tearing slightly to see his son like this, all bruised, bleeding, and broken. The teen hadn't called Tony 'daddy' since he was 10.

Pepper was pulled into a tight hug, a whimper escaping her lips as she realized how much her hands hurt. Tony put Peter into the car before getting Pepper into the passenger seat.

"Thanks, all," he said, waving at the crowd. He just wanted them out of his way.

"FRIDAY, please tell the family to gather in the family room and be ready for a family meeting. Tell Bruce to be waiting in the Med Bay for Peter and Pepper."

**A/N: Sorry this took me longer than usual, I got behind on some work and school stuff! Hope you like it, as always, comment if you have suggestions or feedback and vote if you like it! Thank you!!!**