"Dad!" Tate called as he rolled slowly across the white floors of the avengers complex lobby. His skateboard underneath his feet as Peter walked at his side. The two boy's hands were linked as Peter pulled Tate along with him. Ahead, near a set of double doors, Tony was waiting for them. The man dressed in his customary smart dark grey suit that he wore for interviews and media coverage. He turned as Tate and Peter approached, Happy tailing a few feet behind.

"Tate. Peter", Tony strode forwards to greet them. A smile crinkling his eyes behind the wire framed glasses. "Good. You're here". He wormed his way between them, forcing their hands to let go, and there his arms around each of their shoulders. Tate winced slightly at the sudden weight and he felt his dad lift his arm up so that there was less pressure on Tate's ribs. It had been couple of weeks since the plane crash but Tate's ribs were still a bit fragile.

Tony patted Peter on the arm and kept walking, Tate and Peter walking along (or in Tate's case, rolling along). "I'm sorry I took your suit", Tony said, then immediately continued. "But you had it coming. Actually, it was the prefect sort of tough love moment that you needed right? I've never had to do tough love before, it was not too much was it? Don't you think?"

"Dad", Tate interrupted, giving the man a pointed look. Tony sighed heavily.

"Okay. Okay. Sorry I took the suit. There! Happy?" Tony scowled at Tate as the boy grinned. The man huffed. "Whatever. Anyway", he turned back to Peter, who was watching the whole thing with wide eyes. "I was wrong about you. Perhaps with a little more mentoring, you'll be a real asset to the team". They had been walking across the room to where a round steel wall emblazoned with the light up avengers sign was waiting. Tony removed his arms as the boys both stopped as he wandered closer.

Tate gave his skateboard a little push and rolled slowly after his other, leaving Peter to stand and watch curiously. "To -to -to the team?" His voice was hopeful and surprised. Tate grinned at him as the brown haired boy gaped.

"Alright. There's about fifty reporters behind that door", Tony gestured to the double metal doors to the side. "Real ones, not bloggers".

"Charley would take offence to that", Tate laughed.

"Yeah well Charley can suck it", Tony wrinkled his nose at his son. "As I was saying. When you are ready Peter, why don't you try that on?" He pressed a button on his watch and the round metal door slid back to reveal a shiny metal Spiderman suit. It shone under the lights, metal painted blue, red and black. "And I'll introduce to the world the newest avenger, Spiderman", Tony waved at the suit.

Tate watched as Peter took a few steps forwards. His face lighting up in a awed wide mouthed smile, like a kid at Christmas. A few breathy chuckles escaped his mouth as he continued to gape. Tony grinned. "Yeah, get a load of that. Now once I've introduced you to the world, Happy will get you set up in your new quarters. Is he next to Vision?" Behind Peter, Happy nodded.

Tate watched as Peter's face fell into a frown. The brown haired boy glancing at him, then back at the suit, then back to Tate again. The other boy smiled slightly. He knew that this would be a tough decision to make. Peter was being offered a chance to be an avenger but he would have to leave New York and all their friends behind. Tate could still visit him but it wouldn't be the same. But it was still a great opportunity that Peter deserved. Here he would have an education and chances others could only dream of, but there would be danger too. Tate wasn't going to hold him back, nor was he going to encourage him. This was Peter's decision to make.

Peter gave him another look, big brown eyes questioning. Tate shrugged and offered another sight smile. Then something in Peter's face set and he turned back to Tony. "Thank you Mr Stark", He took a deep breath. "But I'm good".

Tony froze in surprise. "You're good? How are you good?"

Peter glanced at Tate again for a second and a smile tugged on his lips. "I mean, I'd rather just stay on the ground for a littler while. Friendly neighbourhood Spiderman. Someone's always got to look after the little guy right?"

Tony took off his glasses and met Peter's gaze. "You're turning me down? You've thought about this? Look at that. Look at me. Last chance, yes or no?"

Peter glanced at the suit then back at Tony. "No", he shook his head. "No. I'd much rather keep it low at the moment. Stay with my friends and Tate. The avengers can wait".

Tony frowned, eyes flickering to his son then back to Peter. There was a hint of pride on his features. "There's kind of a working class hero vibe that I dig. Alright, Happy will Take you home".

Tate kicked his foot so that his board rolled closer. "Can Happy take us to the skatepark instead? Peter and I were planning a date". He voiced as he came to a stop. Peter grinned at him and reached out to take his hand. Their fingers intertwining as Tate gave the warm hand a squeeze. He beamed at his boyfriend, joy in his stomach. He loved this boy so much that it felt like his heart was going to overflow.

Tony nodded. "Sure. He can do that".

"Can you go and wait in the car though?" Tate asked Peter. "I need to talk to my dad for a moment".

"Okay", Peter smiled then gave Tate's hand a squeeze before letting do and jogging back across the room. He got halfway before pausing and turning back to them. "That was a test right?" He asked. "There's nobody back there?" Tate chuckled fondly.

Tony looked back at him. "Yeah it was. Had to make sure you were right for my son. You passed!" Peter lit up with delight and he jogged out of the room.

"Dad", Tate sighed fondly as Peter disappeared. "Really? And you couldn't have told me that you were going to make my boyfriend an Avenger?"

Tony held his hands up. "Woah there kiddo, boyfriend? You guys have only been on like- one date!"

"And we are about to go on a another one. So yeah, Boyfriend".

Tony sighed. "Well he's a good kid".

"Could be worse", Happy offered.

"Could be worse". Tony echoed as behind them, the doors opened and the sounds of voices echoed through. Pepper strode out as the doors shut again behind her. Her red hair flying and her hands dusting down her plain black dress. She glanced over the room, eyes narrowing at Tate on his skateboard.

"Where's the kid?" She asked.

"He left", Happy offered. "Also he's Tate's boyfriend now too".

Pepper blinked. "Okay, well everybody's waiting".

"Actually the kid made a really mature choice, surprised the heck out of us", Tony replied.

Pepper sighed. "Did you guys screw this up?"

"Dad sort of threw it all at him", Tate voiced with a cheeky grin. "Ambushed us on the way to our date and just sort of blurted it out and made assumptions. Then when Peter turned him down, told him it was a test to see if he was worthy of dating me".

Pepper groaned. "Are you guys kidding me? I have a room full of people in there waiting for some big announcement. What am I going to tell them?" She turned to Tony.

"Think of something", Tony offered, obviously racking his brain.

Tate giggled. "Happy? Have you still got that ring?"

Happy jolted and began fumbling in his pockets. "Are you kidding me? I've been carrying this thing since they adopted you". He pulled out a gold and diamond ring and held it up.

Pepper glanced at it and then at Tate's encouraging face. "I think I can come with something better than that".

"Awww come on Pep", Tate whined. "You two need to get married already. Then I can finally call you my adopted mom".

Pepper looked at Tony's wide eyes then at Tate's pleading gaze. She sighed and walked around Tony to Tate, opening her arms so that they met in a hug. "Alright", she sighed, addressing the room with her chin resting on Tate's shoulder. "Only because your son is manipulating me". Tate grinned shamelessly as they parted and Pepper turned to stride back towards the doors.

"He's your son too!" Tony yelped as he followed her. "We technically raised him together. I would have killed the child by accident if it wasn't for you".

"And don't I know it", Pepper huffed as she grabbed the door handle. She turned back just before it opened to press a smiling kiss to Tony's lips. It lasted a good long second before they separated and she narrowed her eyes at Tate again. "Don't think I can't see your skateboard Baby Stark. You're not supposed to be skating for another week remember?"

"Pepper", Tate huffed. "It's just a date with Peter. I'm teaching him how to skate. I'll be careful".

Pepper gave him a look then nodded. "Okay. Have fun on your date. I'll see you at home".

"See you later", Tate waved as he watched his parents disappear into the press room. The doors shut with a click and the lobby was left silent.

"Finally", Happy sighed in relief. He turned to Tate. "Come on then Kiddo. Let's return you to your boyfriend. But no kissing in my car".

Tate grinned and kicked off, board rolling away across the floor. "No promises!"

unedited

just the epilogue left and then the book will be complete. as I do with all my books, I will be doing a Q&A so leave your questions in the comments!