A/N: Jeez, I'm sorry about the delay! I hope this chapter rectifies my absence/neglect to the Parksborn babies! ;)

Chapter Sixteen

"When salted tears won't dry

I'll wipe my shirtsleeves

Under your eyes

These hearts will be flooded tonight

I'll wipe my shirtsleeves

Under your eyes"

Shirtsleeves—Ed Sheeran

Tony, Peter, Harry, and Pepper we're all sitting at the table with plates filled to the brim with a roasted chicken, steamed vegetables, and mashed potatoes. They were in the middle of eating and talking easily when Steve walked into the room to join them. He took his seat beside Tony after dropping a kiss on the genius's forehead. Peter smiled.

"Have you guys thought about recruiting the spider guy?" Harry asked.

Peter froze, turning to look at Harry.

"Spider-Man?" Steve clarified.

"Yeah, him."

"Yeah, we have. He'd be an excellent resource, and there's always a better advantage with another man on the team," Steve said.

"I just hope the guy isn't a jerk. Our team works so well right now with the different personalities, I'd hate for the new guy to ruin that dynamic," Tony shared.

"Would you make him share his identity with you?" Harry asked.

"It would be nice, and more convenient for him, but it's up to him. We would keep his identity classified though, only a select few knowing. It would be interesting to see who he is though," Steve said.

"The guy's got moves, too. A bit of flare with the whole web-shooters. He has to be smart," Tony commented.

Harry chuckled, "I think it would be good for him to have some reliable back-up."

"What do you think, Pete?" Tony asked.

Peter finished swallowing, "I think he'd be dumb to not accept a job with The Avengers."

Steve and Tony chuckled, while Peter stared at Harry.

The decision was made then. Peter would join The Avengers. Whether or not he would reveal his identity was a completely different matter entirely.

Dinner was good, contracts were signed, Tony promised to stop by in the next week to great their board, and they left with a full belly and a relieved mind.

Like clockwork, Phil was standing with the door open to the car. Peter smiled, "Phil, evening."

"Good evening. Did you have a good time?" Phil asked.

"A great time," Harry answered.

The drive home was silent, the food coma taking its effect on the two of them. They stumbled out of the car when they arrived home and made their way up to their room, pulling off their clothing and rolling under the covers in their briefs. They boy fell asleep within minutes.

The next morning, Harry went to work while Peter stayed home to attend to the matters of SHIELD and his recruitment. He fingered the card Agent Coulson gave him before dialing the number. The dial tone rang two times before it was promptly answered.

"This is Coulson." He answered.

"Hi. It's…Spider-Man. I'm calling to accept your offer." Peter said.

"Great. Where can I pick you up to take you to SHIELD?" Agent Coulson asked.

Peter gave him the directions and hung up. He changed into his suit, making sure to slip on a backpack with a change of clothing. He figured it would be easier on him and the team if they knew his true identity. He didn't want to be a wedge in a team that's working already working so well.

He jumped out of the window, and shot himself over downtown New York City to arrive at the rendezvous spot. He released his web and landed on the grand when he saw a black Sedan and Agent Coulson with his sunglasses on standing in front of the car.

"Spider-Man," Agent Coulson greeted.

"Agent Coulson," Peter replied.

"If you don't mind, we'll take you to SHIELD," Coulson said, opening the door.

Peter slid in the car. Coulson got into the passenger seat and told the driver to go ahead and go. Peter felt awkward. What would they think of him? Would they make fun of him? Would Tony and Steve be upset that he didn't tell them at dinner?

Before he knew it, the car was pulling to a stop. Peter opened the door and got out. Coulson was by his side, "If you'll follow me."

Peter nodded, and followed Coulson into a building, making multiple turns before taking an elevator that required a card to open the doors. Peter stepped in behind the agent and stood quietly in the corner.

Coulson put a finger to his ear piece, "I'm bringing him up now."

He turned to face Peter, "The team is already in the conference room."

Peter nodded, not knowing what to say. He was about to meet The Avengers.

The elevator door opened, and Coulson walked out. Peter followed him into a large conference room. The table was oval shaped. A tall, dark man stood at the head of the table with an eye patch covering his eye. He saw Tony and Steve sitting beside him. A man with black curly hair was standing against the wall, and on the opposite side, a woman with fiery red hair and a man with large, muscular arms stood side by side. Another blond man dressed in a cape sat at the table. Thor, his mind supplied.

Coulson went to stand at the door way quietly.

"Spider-Man," the man with the eye patch greeted, "I'm Nick Fury. I run SHIELD, and am the advisor to The Avengers."

Peter nodded.

"We could use a man with your talents," Nick supplied.

"Have you had any formal training?" The woman with the red hair asked. She intimidated him more than any of the men in the room.

"No," Peter answered.

"Damn, that's impressive," she answered. "I'm Natasha."

Steve cleared his throat, "Although we aren't forcing you to tell us who you are, if you decide to the people in this room will be the only one to know. Your identity will be kept a secret."

Peter smiled, although the mask covered it, "I've been thinking about that. I don't want to come off as distrustful because I wear a mask."

Peter grabbed the beginning of his mask and slipped it over his head, looking over at the two men at the end of the table. "My name's Peter Parker."

Tony chuckled, "Who would have thought?"

Steve seemed pleased, and relaxed.

"The co-CEO of OSCORP is the masked vigilante?" Natasha asked. "That's pretty awesome."

Peter blushed, running his fingers through his tousled hair.

"Does Harry know?" Steve asked.

"Yes. Besides him, you guys are the only others who know who are alive," Peter said.

"Alive?" The man with the overly large arms asked.

"My girlfriend died last year because she got caught in the cross-fire of my now boyfriend and I fighting," Peter explained.

"And you're dating him?" Natasha clarified.

"He was dying, and he figured that being treated with the spider venom that gave me my powers would cure him. It only made him worse, and he wasn't in control of his mental state. We later figured out that the spiders had my DNA, and would therefore only give me the powers, or enhanced abilities. Once Harry was treated and released, we worked on a cure together. After the first dose, he started feeling better and slowly transformed back to a healthy body and mind. Believe me, he has demons from his untreated state," Peter shared.

"And you forgave him?" The man with black, curly hair asked. He had a quiet voice.

Peter nodded, "He was my best friend. He inherited a genetic disease that he couldn't cure. He was desperate to live. He felt that Spider-Man was the answer, which he was. I didn't tell him who I was and it was partially my fault for making him feel like the venom was the only answer. I don't blame him for her death. She died because she came with me out of her own free will…after I 'handcuffed' her with my webs to a car. I tried to keep her away."

Steve frowned, "I'm sorry Pete."

Peter smiled, "It's alright. I mourned her and put her memory to rest. I'm supposed to be with Harry."

"There needs to be more people like you," the quiet man said.

Peter looked at him, "I've had to learn to forgive at an early age. Holding onto grudges and living with them wasn't much of a life."

The man smiled, "I'm Dr. Bruce Banner, or what Tony likes to call me, 'a green, rage monster.'"

Peter looked surprised that the quiet man was the Hulk, "Nice to meet you, Dr. Banner."

"I am Thor of Asgard," Thor introduced.

Peter smiled, "Nice to meet you."

An annoyed sigh made Peter look over to the man standing next to Natasha, "I'm Clint Barton."

Peter nodded at him.

Tony stood up and made his way over to Peter and clapped him on the shoulder, "Welcome to the team, partner."