TW: mentions of death, mentions of trauma, mentions of mental health issues.

I stood outside of Peter's medical suite, my lip in between my teeth as I stared at the boy who was asleep in the hospital bed through the wall of glass. I sighed as I felt a presence appear beside me.

"How's he doing?" I asked nervously.

"He'll live." Tony nodded. I took a breath of relief and held my hand to my chest, my heart jumping in relief but still slowing down at the fact that he would be okay.

"Thank you." Tony spoke. I looked up at him.

"For what?" I asked. He shrugged and continued to look at Peter through the glass as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"For making him turn his life around. It broke me when he hung up everything because he couldn't handle the guilt of losing MJ, and he couldn't have gotten back to this point without you, so thank you. Thank you for bringing our Peter back." He nodded.

"You mean back to the point where he almost died trying to save me, again?" I scoffed and shook my head.

"Back to the point where he actually feels like his life means something." Tony nodded as he looked at me. I sighed and returned the glance.

"You're everything to him now, Y/N. To be completely honest with you, he wasn't even this happy when he was with MJ. You're his entire world, so please don't blame yourself for this. He would die for you if it meant saving you." he reassured. I gulped and bit my lip, tears pricking my eyes as I looked back at Peter.

"I know. And that's what worries me." I admitted quietly.

"Don't let that worry you. Worry about figuring out who hired the thugs to take you." He nodded. I bit my lip and looked up at him.

"That wasn't the first time, either, Mr Stark. I've been taken, stalked, or almost taken too many times to count by now. And it all started when Peter came back as Spider-Man." I admitted. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me.

"Huh. Very suspicious timing, too suspicious to be a coincidence." He mumbled.

"That's what we thought. I know that the same thugs who took me this time around are the same ones who took MJ and I, the day that she died. But...I don't know. We know almost for certain that the buck doesn't stop with them, that there's someone higher up than them. We just don't know who, or why they're after Peter specifically." I sighed and shook my head.

"And you have to figure that out. I'm sorry, kid, but if there's someone higher up, if you're right, then I'd bet that they won't stop until they get what they want. And what they probably want is Peter gone again. Whether that means killing you and pushing him back into retirement, or killing him." He nodded. I gulped harshly and looked at my boyfriend's former mentor, tears pricking my eyes and my heart filling with the choking feeling of anxiety as I stared at the man.

"Is it wrong that I'm scared? Like, really fucking scared?" I choked. Tony sighed and gave me a small smile.

"I'd think that something was wrong with you if you weren't. You're in seemingly constant danger right now, of course you're scared. You just have to remember that you will figure this out. You and Pete will figure out who's sending all of these people after you, you'll stop them and it'll all be okay. I just...I have to ask you something that's unfair, but I have to ask." He spoke. I gulped harshly, my heart starting to pump more in my chest as I wondered what the question would be.

"Ask." I nodded. He looked down and puffed out, the reaction telling me that he was also trying not to cry as he looked back at me.

"I get that this is scary, so if it makes you want to get out, you need to leave him now. He's already insanely deep and so it'll hurt him, but it'll hurt even more if you push it off. If you can't do it, leave. And if you stay, you need to make sure that you stay for good. The kid can't handle losing another girl who he loves, especially not you. He can't handle losing you." He shook his head as a tear slipped from his eyes. I bit my lip, tears also rolling down my face at his words.

"I may be scared, Mr Stark, but I'll die before I leave Peter." I promised. He nodded and gave me a small smile, making me gulp as I looked back at the boy who was still unconscious in the hospital bed.

I sat by Peter's bed, my hands clamped around his and refusing to let go as I just stared at him. My teeth nervously chewed on my lip, my heart hurting as I silently begged for him to just wake up already. It had been two days since I had been taken and Peter had rescued me, and it had been touch and go as to whether or not he'd be okay. Peter had stayed alive but only just, his broken back healing a lot quicker than normal due to his powers. His powers had saved his life completely on this occasion. I couldn't help but let tears prick my eyes as I looked down at my lap. I had promised to stay with Peter, and I would do, but the whole situation was becoming overwhelming. I loved him unconditionally, and the fact that he had now risked his life several times to save mine proved that he felt the same way. But that was also where the problem lay. I didn't want to die by any means, but I also didn't want Peter to risk his life each time that I got into trouble. Which seemed to have been a lot since I had made contact with him again. Peter was getting more and more injured each time that something like this happened, which made me worry that the next time would be his last. The thought killed me inside. I flicked my eyes up, my heart jumping in hope as quiet groans started to leave his lips. I sat up and gulped harshly, my eyes wavering as Peter's eyebrows furrowed and his mouth fell open slightly. His eyes slowly but surely fluttered open, the beautiful chocolate in them darting around before landing on me.

"Baby..." He whispered as his hand tightened around mine.

"I'm here, Pete, you're okay, it's okay." I choked, making him give me a weak smile as I raised his hand and pressed my lips to the back of it.

"What happened? I-I don't remember after when you were taken." He mumbled. I sighed and bit my lip. I already knew that Peter wouldn't like the fact that I'd inconvenienced Tony, but I was sure that he'd understand that I hadn't had a choice.

"You came to get me, of course. You were trying to get me back from one of the thugs when he said your name. Your real name. He said that his boss knew enough about both of us to get to you without needing me. A-anyway, that's besides the point, we worry about that when you're better. He took the opportunity of you being shaken up by what he said to push me off of the gap in the floor. I fell and you went after me, but we fell so that you were on the bottom. You got hurt really bad, I didn't know who else to call apart from him." I choked and shook my head as tears left my eyes. Peter sighed and gave me a small smile, his hand raising to gently cup my cheek as he looked at me.

"We're at Mr Stark's, aren't we, angel?" He asked quietly. I nodded and bit my lip, making him sigh again.

"It's okay, baby. He's the only person that you knew would help me, and had the resources to." He reassured. I gulped harshly, the tears slowing down as I looked at him.

"You're not mad at me? I know that you don't like to bother him if it's not for work." I shook my head.

"I was dying, babe, there weren't many other people that you could call, so of course I'm not mad. You saved my life. I can't be mad at you for that." He chuckled and shook his head.

"Not to mention that I'd have to kick his ass for being mad at his girlfriend for saving his life." We both looked at the door, a smile forming on my lips as Tony stood there.

"Mr Stark. I'm sorry for inconveniencing you like this." Peter sighed as he sat up slightly in the bed.

"You mean inconveniencing me by almost dying? I can't lie, kid, after having not heard from you for five years, I'll take any inconvenience that you can give me." He teased, making Peter and I chuckle as we looked at each other.

"What's the verdict then, Mr Stark?" I asked.

"Verdict is that you're okay, kid. You're very lucky that you have powers, that impact on your back would have killed any normal person instantly. But you're okay. You'll be sore for a week or two, but you'll live." He nodded.

"Thank you, Mr Stark. For everything." Peter shook his head.

"Don't thank me, Pete. Your girl is the one who saved your life." He nodded as he looked at me. I playfully rolled my eyes and shrugged as Peter smiled at me.

"Please, all I did was call you." I teased, making them both chuckle as Tony nodded and left the room again.

"He's right, you know, baby. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you. At all. You know that I can never repay you for that." He mumbled, our gazes locked once more as he gently stroked his thumb against my hand. I bit my lip and tried not to cry, his words going straight to my heart as I stared at the boy who I was utterly in love with by now.

"You repay me every day, Pete. Simply by being you." I whispered. He smiled and bit his lip, making me return it as I leant in and kissed him.