Have you ever had an experience that you anticipated, worried over, scared it might actually happen, but once it did, you were over the moon about it?

That was how Tony felt the first time Peter called him Dad. And after the first time, every instance where Peter addressed him as that made the man swell up in pride, heart slightly fluttering. Especially after learning that was his contact ID already.

Time is a funny thing. Tony had claimed he didn't want kids some time ago, and yet...here he was.

Of course, there were some other things that needed to get resolved, first.

Having to tell May what happened was heartbreaking for many reasons. Her expression, her words seemed to stab the billionaire with an invisible knife. But, after some calming down and explanation, the woman was convinced to let Peter stay with him, at least until the teen got his memories back.

Apparently, according to some scans and calls from the group, this amnesia was only temporary, but had a slow recovery. When he had heard this, Stark took a deep breath. In some time, everything would be normal again. For the most part.

"Hey, Dad?", Peter asked after ending a Facetime with Ned; who had been surprisingly understanding of the situation. Tony had wondered why, but didn't ponder too much on it. "Yeah kid?", he responded casually, calming down again. He was hoping he could get used to the title before it went away.

"My head hurts.", he grogged, walking towards the man from the workshop. Tony quickly walked towards the boy and gave him an arm to lean on. "Breathe in, breathe out. Just like last time, ok?", Tony instructed, guiding the teen to a chair. Peter did as instructed, taking steady breaths as he watched the man with steady, trusting eyes. Staying by his side, the man ran a hair through Parker's hair gently before getting up. "I'm gonna get you some of the medicine, alright?", he asked in a caring tone. The boy slowly nodded, watching Stark get up.

He had been dealing with some major headaches lately, but there had been a routine developed. Tony pulled out some Advil, pouring a couple of pills into his hand. Peter looked away from the sunlight in the window, staring at the floor. He didn't look up when he got the pills and water either. He simply took them and walked to the couch.

Tony walked over him, looking down at the boy, who was beginning to fall asleep. His boy. His boy that he made a promise to protect. Smiling to himself, the man kissed Peter's temple and whispered, "I love you."

The boy's eyes squeezed a little, seemingly too far into the dream to process it. "Ben.", he moaned, sounding in pain. "Ben, no."

Proud expression became concerned as he stayed by Peter, waiting to wake him up. Under any other circumstance, he would have done it already, but it needed to be processed. These headaches were what brought back his memories; including the unfortunate ones.

Eventually, the boy started crying and twitching in his sleep. Stark started to gently shake him awake, walking to his side. He sat down and continued to gently wake Peter up. The teen jolted awake, clinging to the man. "Hey, hey.", Tony coaxed, rocking Peter back and forth. "Deep breaths, Pete."

Waking from the shock, the boy finished his tears. "How you feeling?", Tony asked the kid, listening to his steadying breaths. "...Better.", he finally answered with a mutter. Peter let go and started pacing again. Knowing what the teen was doing, he got up and started to make them something to eat.

"My name is Peter Benjamin Parker. I'm 17 years old. I go to Midtown High; I'm gonna be a junior this year. I go there with my friends Ned and MJ. I live in a small apartment with Aunt May in Queens. I have been ever since my...parents died when I was four.", he whispered, pacing through the floor, ceiling and walls. Tony froze.

He didn't tell him that part yet.

"I lived with Uncle Ben, too, until he...", Peter trailed off, wiping some loose tears. "I got my powers over a year ago from a radioactive spider bite, and since then have been going out as Spider-Man to stop crime.", he finished, leaping from the ceiling.

Tony wrapped an arm around him, muttering gently, "You're getting better." Peter just shook his head. "Kinda. A lot is still just a blur to me.", the teen admitted, leaning into the touch.

Tony sighed. Was it... selfish to ask that some of Peter's memories never came back? The bad ones that made Peter have anxiety attacks and night terrors? Because if it was...Stark already knew he was a little selfish. Of course, it was just wishful thinking. Some of them had already come back.

"Well, I'm busy making supper, but maybe later, we can pull up your favorite Star Wars movie? That sound good?", the adult offered the teen in a stable, caring voice. Peter nodded.

"Sounds great."