"We're really happy you came by today. Damien has had really bad reactions to all the treatments lately and he needs a pick-me-up."

"Well, that's why we're-I mean I, that's why I'm here." Peter stutters his reply and I roll my little mouse eyes from within his pocket. Can't lie worth a shit. "I, uh, I think I've got it from here. Thanks, doc." They shake hands and he leaves Pete alone. He pauses outside the door and looks down at me in his shirt pocket. "You know I hate this." He murmurs.

"Then why do you agree to do it?" I ask and he sighs.

"I know you'd find a more stupid way to do this." He says a little loudly and I swallow a laugh as I hear someone walk by.

"That's right, I would. Look, it's for the kids okay? This isn't that big a deal. Besides, you need a little sneaking around as Peter instead of your slick alter-ego." A little flick from his fingers tempts me to bite him, but I resist. Sighing, he walks in the room. A little gasp warms my heart nearly as much as the smile on the kids face. I know it does the same for Peter.

"Peter!" He shouts and both his parents look up, tired eyes waking up a bit at the excitement in their little boy's voice.

"Hey, Damien. Heard you were having a rough time?" Peter asks, walking over to him and rubbing a hand gently over his bald head. Kid used to have the coolest afro I'd ever seen, but the cancer took that away too. Glad Peter decided to wear a thin shirt today so I can see the outline of stuff.

"A little." He coughs and Peter takes the moment to talk to his parents.

"Ms. Johnson, hey. This must be Mr. Johnson?" He asks. Haven't met that guy yet. She nods, but when Pete offers his hand the guy doesn't take it. Something's off about the guy. I can sense it. Peter drops his hand.

"You know what? I'm sick and tired of these stories you've been telling my wife and kid." The guy suddenly speaks and it's hostile. I'm tempted to shift when I feel Peter tense.

"Trey, please-"

"No, D. He's been lying to you this whole time and I've had enough!" He whisper shouts at her and I do my best not to wiggle. Peter turns towards Damien instead.

"Damien, what would you like to see today?" He asks nicely and the boy lights up.

"Could it be a fox today?" He asks while Denise continues trying to control her husband.

"Sure, hold on." Pete and I duck into the bathroom so I can shift without the cameras. He scoops me out of his pocket and onto the floor as I shift. Peter shakes his head at me and opens the door so I can trot out and hop on the bed with Damien. I'm gentle as possible when I lay down next to him, giving a speechless Trey a pointed look.

"I told you! I don't know how he does it but look at your son! How happy he is!" Denise scolds Trey as Damien's little hands pat my head gently and feels my big, fluffy ears. Trey's firm shoulders relax and he rubs Damien's shoulder.

"I...okay. Whatever. I need a cup of coffee." He shakes his head and walks out. I stay until Damien falls asleep and disappear back into Peter's pocket before we leave. We visit the worst of the children before we've got to get to Tony's, so Pete takes me to the first-floor bathroom to change. I come out of the stall and shoot him a smile.

"Still don't know why you have me do this." He says with a pout and I toss my arm around his shoulders.

"Can't fool me, Pete. You live for the looks on the kids and parent's faces. Gives you that warm fuzzy feeling spider guy gives you." I tell him factually and straddle my baby. He rolls his eyes and hops on behind me, sliding close because of the slope of the seat. It may or may not have been a contributing factor when I bought it. "And I like my anonymity, so it's a win-win."

"You really don't realize what a hero is, do you? You're just in denial, or something." He tells me and I hand him his helmet. I shrug and put mine on.

"Hero just doesn't sit right, Pete." I reply and shoot down the road with a happy whoop as his arms wrap around me.

The way I drive, it doesn't take too long to get to the facility. Since Bucky and Li-li moved to the mountains, Steve and Victory followed. Tony's working on making a small village up there for gifted people, but until it's finished the rest of the group is still at the facility. I skid to a stop just outside and toss my keys to the waiting valet.

"Take care of her man." He nods instantly and takes Pete and I's helmets too. At least, after I've peeled Peter off the leather seat.

"You're fine. I didn't even go that fast. In fact, I thought you clinging to me was your surrender to the fact that I'm 100% boyfriend material." When he doesn't blush or clap back with how I'm made of multiple strands of DNA, I examine him a bit closer. Eyes ahead, hands wringing themselves out, ah, he's nervous. "Look, the only thing hurt on you is your lip and if you really want me to, I'll tell T that I sucker punched you." I tease and his shoulders relax slightly under my arm. He's afraid every time he gets punched that Tony'll take away the suit because he isn't worthy. Bullshit, of course, but I've yet to convince him of that. Tony's waiting for us just inside and I only release Peter to embrace him. "Damn, have you shrunken, Uncle T?" I joke and he shoves me away with a laugh.

"Super genes don't count in my book, so you know what? Naturally, I'm probably taller than you." He rebuts as I push Peter into his arms. "What happened here, Pete?" He asks immediately, holding Peter's chin tenderly between his fingers. His cheeks turn a bit pink from self-consciousness.

"I, uh, it was when, uh..."

"The other night when he was kicking ass, he only got this one mark on him. Not bad, right?" I answer for Peter and pat his shoulder in reassurance. Tony looks between the two of us before releasing him.

"Not bad, but I like it better when you're both unmarked. Come on, the team misses you." He turns and Peter shoots me a grateful look. Nodding, I follow Tony and Pete is quick to do the same. "Wanda and Vision are heading up a base in Europe, so they aren't here, but I know someone in particular who's excited to see you." Tony continues as we enter the gathering room. A redhead catches my eye and a grin immediately splits my face in half.

"Is that my favorite aunt?" I ask loud enough for her to hear and she doesn't even turn around.

"Better be, I've put up with you for long enough." She returns and I walk in front of her, bowing with a hand over my heart.

"You hurt me, Tasha. I'm the one that used to tell you where Tony hid all his snacks, wasn't I?"

"I knew that was you!" Tony exclaims and she just can't keep herself from smiling.

"Now, I think outing myself deserves the smallest of hugs." I propose and she stands while shaking her head. My big arms envelope her and I hug her while she lets me. "Just don't tell Li-li." I whisper and hear a quiet laugh as she pulls away.

"Deal. Peter, how are you?" She turns away from me and asks while I sit.

"Good, good. Nice to see you." He says politely and comes to sit by me with Tony on the end of the couch.

"Where's Pep and Morgan?" I ask and Tony waves a hand.

"Business. She'll be here later, took Morgan to work today." He assures me and we quiet.

"So...is it just us?"

"Hell, no. Think I'd miss someone else cooking me dinner?" Sam walks in with a wide grin on his face, Rhodes just behind him. I'm on my feet in a second, accepting his warm hug.

"Thank god, I was worried there weren't enough people here to bust my chops." Sam laughs and pats my back before we separate.

"Never worry about that, kid." He says before moving on to Peter. Rhodey and I clasp hands before we pull each other in for a hug.

"Good to see you, Grant. Been too long." He says and claps an affectionate hand on my shoulder.

"Your fault. You're too busy these days, Rhodey." I joke and he smiles, the white of his teeth a stark relief against his dark skin.

"Well, you know the man behind you is a twenty-four seven job." He returns and I nod with a smile on my face.

"That's it. God, this place is getting empty." Tony mutters as we all settle down in seats once again. "You know, you two could always just stay here." He gestures at Peter and I, eliciting a sigh from me. I don't bother answering and Pete is a bit too shy to answer, besides, I don't think he wants to leave me out of it. "Since everyone's here and has seen the unicorns, I want to just talk to my boys. Come on, you two slackers." Tony stands and puts his arm around Peter since he's still within reach while I smirk and wrap an arm around Tony as he passes. We walk down to Tony's workshop and the younger generation instantly goes to whatever Tony's working on now. I snatch it up before Peter can and hold it up to the light. "Careful. That'll put you flat on your ass." Tony warns and sits in his chair while Pete and I examine it.

"An addition to the suit? Not a weapon, no exit points. Defense?" I ask and hand it to Pete while I head over with my favorite little stool. Tony nods while Peter continues looking at it.

"There's an electrical current in it. Will this conduct it throughout the outside?"

"No one could touch you while it's activated." I finish, nodding. "Not bad Uncle T."

"Thanks. Both of you get a cookie. Now, come over here Pete so I can talk to both of you." Peter grabs a stool and walks over into our little circle. Tony leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. For a second, I feel fourteen again. "How are the two of you? Staying out of trouble? Mostly?" He asks and we both smile and nod.

"More so than Pete, anyways." I poke fun and he shoves my shoulder lightly.

"Hey. I'm alright! I stay out of trouble." He reassures Tony and T smirks.

"Mmhmm, sure. And your trips to the hospital?" My poker face is years more advanced than Peter's, but Tony's surprised me.

"We haven't checked-"

"Ah, ah, ah..." Tony pulls up a hologram on the table of Peter and I in the hospital just today with little Damien. "Don't bother lying. Friday watches you both on whatever camera is closest." He arches an eyebrow and Peter and I glance at one another, caught and out of options.

"Sir, Miss Potts and Morgan are here." Friday announces and Tony nods.

"Thanks Friday. Pete, you head up and say hi. Grant. Stay seated." He points to me firmly and I lower myself back down. Peter shoots me an apologetic look before shooting out like a bullet.

"Uncle T, I-"

"Nope, I'm not done yet." My mouth shuts and I sigh. He rolls himself closer to me and I meet his eyes head on. Steve never spoke unless we were eye to eye and it's something that stuck with me. "First, I'm not even going to mention how dangerous this is. Putting him at risk of discovery. And you. Think I'm the only one watching these?" He asks and my shoulders sag.

"I'd never put Pete in danger, T." I can't resist interjecting.

"I know. But this isn't physical danger and you seem oblivious of any other kind. He likes being Spider-Man when he's him and Peter when he isn't. You've got to let him keep that." Reluctantly, I nod. "Now, about this hospital business. Seems you're doing a lot of hero stuff without the moniker." Tony poses and I huff.

"Hero doesn't sit right, T. Even if I'm doing hero things, it's not me." I insist and he examines me, leaning back in his chair.

"That's a shit excuse you know." He returns and I roll my eyes. "Hey, hey, come on. None of the attitude." My eyes meet his once again and he reaches out a hand to rest on my shoulder. "You know I'm proud of you and Peter. Whatever the hell you two get up to." We both smile. "I just want you safe and happy. Queen, too. And helping people, from what I've seen, is the thing that makes you happy. I just want to understand why you're not going for it." My hand lifts and squeezes his before we both let them drop.

"You know how it is, T. Victory's nickname is Queen for Christ's sake. Being in the spotlight after that just isn't...isn't in the cards for me."

"What? Because she's better than you?" He asks with disbelief and I wince at the words despite myself.

"She is. She was the one that got me out from under our parent's thumb, comforted me, made sure I ate, put up with my shit when I turned eighteen and decided I didn't want anyone's help anymore. It's not that she's the better hero, although she's actually doing something, so that's true too. She's a better person than I am." My shoulders lift and sag. Tony shakes his head.

"I know all about living under a big shadow, kid. And I never had a relationship with my old man that you have with Victoria. She isn't perfect. Stabbed Steve once."

"Under mind control." I interrupt and he ignores me.

"Took me a while to get into her head. And it took her a long time to get where she is now. Victoria's history shouldn't stop you from making whatever future you want. She'd be pissed if she heard you say that." He points out and I know he's right. "Besides, who says you have to be in the spotlight?" Tony continues and my eyebrows raise at the change of inflection in his voice. "Was saving this for me since I'm slowing down, but I think I can pass it to you and Peter." He rolls over to the desk and I walk over with my little stool, sitting down in front of a hologram that turns into a video.

"What is this, Uncle T?" I ask, my eyes roving over the screen with interest.

"That girl. The one in the red shirt and jean shorts." My eyes zero in on her in the busy street, dark skin a stark difference to the red of her shirt. Knowing something is about to happen, I keep quiet. African American with tiny curls springing off her head like a shaved lion's mane, her steps are confident and her stride short. Got to be about five feet and four inches. Short to me, anyways. I'm on the verge of asking Tony why the hell we're watching this when it happens. It's quick and barely noticeable, but her empty hands twist over one another and where there was once nothing appears a hunk of rock.

"Is that-"

"Gold. Pure fucking gold. Checked with the pawn shop she just walked into." He stops the video and turns to me. "I have a ton more video of this girl just making stuff appear in her hands out of thin air. So, either she's better than Houdini or-"

"She's gifted." I end, smile curving up my lips. "And what do you want Pete and I to do? Kidnap her?" Tony rolls his eyes at me.

"No. I want you to talk to her and convince her to come meet me. Girl like that would be a hell of an addition to the team." Tony explains and stands, I just after him. "Her name is Destiny Jones. Regular at that Pawnshop. You and Pete scout it out and see if she's up for it. Deal?" My eyes scan the girl's figure again before I nod once.

"Alright. You've got yourself a recruitment crew."

A/N

Better chapter length this time! Remember to tell me what you think as you read, I love hearing your feedback. :) What do you think of Grant's mindset? Do you like he and Peter's relationship? Do you like Grant? Tell me!

Keep reading, loves!