"He needs to eat!"

"You think I don't know that?"

"You don't act like it!"

"He needs more than just food!"

"He needs you to act like a father and be in charge!"

"He needs to feel safe and happy! He isn't a little kid!"

"Yes he is!"

Pepper sat on the sofa, they hadn't moved upstairs, knowing that to do so would mean to risk Peter hearing the argument, something neither of them particularly wanted.

"If I try to rule over his life he will not want to be here, and I need for him to be happy and safe, to turn his new home into a prison will drive him away from here, I don't want that."

"I know Tony, your intentions are correct but-"

"No, not buts, the kid knows his limit, he is still recovering from the streets and forcing him to do anything could end badly."

"He needs to slowly eat more though-"

"Yes! Slowly! And he is, but, you made him eat more than he is ready for today and it made him ill, I don't want to do that to him, I want him to get better, if you make him eat so much he gets ill not only is it counter productive it will increase his fear of food, something that nobody is ready to handle in him."

Pepper placed her head in her hands, "he is dangerously underweight, he has nothing to support him if he gets ill or injured."

"I know, which is why I haven't let him go back to school or on patrol yet... I'm trying my very best to protect him but... it needs to be done slowly, at the kids own pace."

"I don't like this at all Tony."

"I know, but I assure you I know what I'm doing."

"You never know what your doing!"

Tony gulped, eyes flying in the direction to the lift, the lift that would take him to Peter, "I do this time."

And he did, he had been reading books on child care, talked to specialists... he had watched the kid and studied his behaviour and yeah he wasn't quite there yet, but he was the closest person the world had to offer right now. So he would do his best.

The next day Peter was hesitant at breakfast, eating a single banana and extremely slowly, as if scared if would attack him.

Tony didn't' comment on this, instead eating his own breakfast and talking about work, Pepper had the common sense to also keep her mouth shut, although it clearly took a lot of will power on her part. She had to respect Tony's ability to stay calm, she could tell he was worried, but only because she by this point knew him better than even he did.

"Been talking to Happy about your school," Tony said.

Peter looked interested now, eating his banana a bit more calmly now he wasn't thinking about it.

"We've decided that after a medical check today, if all is well, you should be ready to go back, we have negotiated with the school so that the year your lost won't pay any toll so long as you catch up quickly, think your up to it?"

Peter nodded, finishing his banana and grabbing another one even, "definitely!"

Tony smiled and nodded, "okay, well, remember, if you need any extra lessons tell me and we can find someone to help you learn... or depending on the subject you always have me, got it?"

Peter's eyes brightened and he nodded, he looked so excited to go back to school, back to learning and seeing his friends.

"Happy will be in charge of dropping you of and picking you up, if that is okay with you?"

Peter nodded, "I can take the train if Happy is busy."

Tony waved him off," I have plenty of other drivers if Happy is busy one day."

Peter nodded.

"You can eat at school or take your own food, up to you, whichever you prefer? Personally I think cafeteria food is absolutely foul, but I guess you might have a different opinion."

Peter rolled his eyes, "it's fine!"

Tony smiled widened, "as for extra classes, I would prefer you didn't take any for the time be, but you're free to take some as soon as you have caught up on all your normal classes, kay?"

Peter nodded, "what about the school academic decathlon team?"

Tony hesitated, "we'll see how you do in normal classes first, please?"

Peter nodded.

"And slow down in PE, okay? I know you can get awesome scores but... it may stick out a bit."

Peter laughed, "got it."

"I want you to call if you are ever feeling unwell during class."

Peter nodded.

Tony look very serious, "and I don't want any Spiderman stuff, even if the school is attacked, you call me, is that understood?"

Peter nodded, "I haven't patrolled in a while."

Tony frowned, "I know kid but... you still aren't exactly healed and... I don't like the idea of you getting ill in the middle of a fight and..."

Peter nodded, "I understand, promise soon I can go back though?"

"Once you are healed, if your sleep and eat and relax I am sure it will be soon."

Peter smiled brightly, "thanks Mr Stark, what time is medical?"

Tony looked at his watch, "around eleven I would say so, two hours, want to watch a film with Pepper? I am afraid I have to go to a meeting."

Peter nodded.

"Okay, cool, no popcorn before lunch," he warned standing up, messing up Peter's hair, and wondering of towards the lift.

Pepper waited for the door to close, "so, salty or sweet popcorn?" she asked running over to the machine.

"Sweet," Peter replied and Pepper was relived to see the kid was back to his usual bubbly self.

She got the machine on then went over to the DVD stack, "which one?"

Peter shrugged, "I dunno."

Pepper smiled, "how about... Friendly robot?"

Peter gave a small nod, and took the DVD from Pepper, carefully putting it into the machine while Pepper got the popcorn, coming back to sit on the sofa with Peter.

They watched the film patiently. Peter seemed to love it, Pepper was honestly a little bored having seen the film several times before, but recognized that if Peter was enjoying it, it was worth it.

The other thing was while Peter was distracted by the film he seemed to eat more, Pepper began to wonder if Peter throwing up after eating too much was more psychological than physical, and decided it was something she needed to mention to Tony. It made sense after all.

Once the film was over Peter was very slightly teary eyed and Pepper smiled at him, "you okay honey?"

Peter gave a small nod.

"Good, cause you got medical in a moment," she pointed out.

Peter nodded, smiling.