Peter waited anxiously next to May, the rapid tapping of his foot the only sound in the room besides the TV. May, Ned, MJ, and Pepper were all watching the screen intently, but Peter couldn't seem to focus on it. He kept sneaking glances at it, then looking away quickly. The room was quiet, quiet enough Peter could hear the drip of condensation coming off of Pepper's untouched water glass. May placed a comforting hand on Peter's arm, and he failed at smiling. His face just couldn't make that shape right now.

Because today was the day. Today the UN announced whether all charges were being dropped against the Avengers or they were all being sent to jail for having a child soldier and causing him trauma.

Peter, strangely enough, had not been allowed to come to the proceedings, even though every other Avenger was mandated to be present. He'd complained, but there wasn't anything even Tony Stark could say to change the UN's mind right now. So now he had to sit at home and watch his fate get decided on live TV. It was infuriating. They could kick him out of the Avengers right now, or arrest his father, and he was hundreds of miles away, unable to do anything.

"The UN panel in charge of regulating the Sokovia Accords, and by extension, the private organization known as the Avengers, are deliberating right now about the final decision regarding the ongoing investigation into the Avengers for violating the Sokovia Accords," the news anchor said quietly, as she was in the chamber with the Avengers, like many other international channels. "The investigation began when Peter Stark, aka Spider-Man, suffered from a panic attack while in Midtown High School. Reports began circulating that Stark had actually been forced to join the Avengers through the magic of Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch. Using powers against another person would be in direct violation of the Sokovia Accords.

"However, if the Avengers are not found guilty of using powers on Stark, there was a secondary cause for the investigation: to determine whether Stark, who is only sixteen, should be allowed to continue to serve on the Avengers at all. Many human rights activists are saying that Stark is being used as a child soldier by the Avengers, and that Stark's mental health issues, of which he has spoken openly of, are proof that minors are not fit to serve as superheroes."

Peter gritted his teeth. So they'd listened to him about his mental health issues, but ignored his express wish that he continue to work with the Avengers? Convenient.

"This whole investigation is so stupid," MJ said, shaking her head.

"Shush," Ned said, leaning forward. MJ flipped him off while Pepper suppressed a smile.

"It looks like they're ready to deliver the final verdict now," the news anchor whispered excitedly. A hush had fallen over the room. Peter smiled when he saw Tony completely turned around, chatting with someone in the audience. He had to be just as worried as Peter, but Tony would never let that show. Especially when by playing nonchalant he could piss some important people off.

"This panel has come to the conclusion that Peter Benjamin Stark, also known as Spider-Man, shows no signs of being controlled or manipulated by the powers of Ms. Maximoff, or any other enhanced individual," the man sitting at the head of the panel announced, though he sounded rather upset that they'd come to that verdict. "All charges regarding to violation of the Accords by the Avengers have been dropped."

Pepper visibly relaxed, her hand over her mouth. Her husband wasn't going to be locked up in the Raft. But Peter knew they weren't done yet. Specifically, he wasn't out of the clear yet.

"Regarding the public clamor and suggestions from multiple countries who ratified the Sokovia Accords that Mr. Stark be removed from the Avengers," the man continued, his mouth a thin line, "the panel has decided, after multiple evaluations, that Mr. Stark should be allowed to continue his current line of work."

Peter felt all the tension leave his body as his head fell into his hands. MJ and Ned were shouting victoriously, and May was shaking Peter's shoulders excitedly. It had worked. They had done it. Nobody was getting locked up, no one was being forced out of the Avengers. Peter was trembling, even as a giant smile spread across his face as it sunk into him. They were all fine, they were staying together, and he could keep being Spider-Man.

His phone rang. He pulled it out to see a single text.

Good job, Spider-Man.

It had been three months since Peter Stark had a panic attack while in class. Three months since the Avengers were put under investigation by the UN. One month since Peter announced that he would not be returning to Midtown High next year. Only two weeks since the Avengers were cleared of all charges. And today was the first day there would all be seen together since the trial, at Midtown's graduation ceremony.

The entire front row had been reserved for the Avengers and their guests. All the seniors sat in their bright blue graduation gowns and matching caps, but very few of them were interested in getting their diplomas. Not when they had the chance to meet their heroes, who word had gotten out would be attending the graduation today. People began to think that those were just rumors as the graduation ceremony was about to begin, and they hadn't made an appearance. Yet the empty row sat there, still awaiting their guests.

The Avengers showed up a minute before the music started, in T-shirts, hoodies, and dark sunglasses. If it weren't for their easily recognizable faces, they might have been mistaken for a regular family. Except for Bucky's metal arm, which could be seen between his sleeve and glove, and Vision's Infinity Stone, which was still shining beneath his human facade. Guests chatted excitedly when they saw them, but fell silent as the music started playing and the graduating class started walking towards the stage. Peter and Ned cheered extremely loudly when MJ passed by them. She flipped them off behind her back, causing them to laugh.

The ceremony was pretty boring overall. A lot of formalities, and a long list of students being called up to get their diplomas. The Avengers were extremely vocal when MJ was called up. She rolled her eyes when she saw Peter and Ned giving her a standing ovation, but she restrained herself from flipping them off since she was on stage. Even though she was valedictorian, she had decided not to give a speech. She thought this whole ceremony was ridiculous. But it was over soon enough, and MJ had officially graduated from high school.

Since MJ's own family was there to congratulate her, too, Peter and Ned only gave her a quick congrats before promising to see her tonight. But Peter had brought a different guest with him to talk to MJ. He hoped she would like the surprise.

"Ready to head home, kid?" Tony asked.

Peter watched Maria Hill approach MJ, a small smile on his face. The two women shook hands. He saw Hill take MJ over to an out of the way table. They would have a lot to talk about.

"Yeah, let's go," Peter said.

Tony draped his arm around Peter's shoulder. "You know you most definitely will not be valedictorian."

"Not in high school. Maybe at MIT. Weren't you valedictorian?"

"Yup. I was seventeen and got drunk out of my mind for the speech. I can't remember a word I said," Tony said lightly, grinning over at Rhodey, who was walking near them. "Isn't that right, honey?"

"I had a bet going on when he would pass out," the colonel said without missing a beat. Tony roared with laugh. "He didn't, but his old man sure did have some words for him, showing up drunk to an event like that."

"He was drunk when he yelled at me about my inebriated conduct though, so it was kind of a moot point."

"God, he looked ridiculous," Rhodey said, shaking his head. "Five years younger than the average graduate, all lanky and unshaven. I remember people asking me if he was actually the valedictorian, or if his dad had paid for it."

"Trust me, he was not happy I would be returning home after graduation," Tony said, that bitterness seeping into his voice. Then he smiled brightly at Peter and said, "I hope your friend takes the job. Hill can be pretty persuasive, though, so it shouldn't be a problem."

"I hope so, too," Peter said. But who knew with MJ?

"Congrats, MJ," Peter said as she stepped into his lab, where he and Ned had been tinkering around. She'd had to attend a small party her family had thrown for her, but promised to drop by the Facility later. She still wore a nice dress that had been under her graduation gown, but all traces of jewelry and make-up had been wiped away. She didn't really like all that stuff much.

She strode straight up to him and grabbed him by the shoulders, and made him stand with a surprising amount of strength. She'd been faking exercising for four years, how was she so strong? Ned popped out of his seat too, clearly wanting to help, but unsure what to do. MJ looked kind of scary, having not said anything yet and looking angry. Peter was too surprised to pull away.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What is happening?" Ned yelled.

She shook Peter's shoulders. "Did you seriously set up a job for me, Stark?! What, do you think I need charity or something?!"

"That is not what happened!" Peter cried. "I just told Maria about you and Ned! I did not ask her to give you a job!"

She searched his face. "You're serious?" she checked.

"Completely serious," he promised. She let him go. He stepped back, just to be safe. She'd already jumped him once tonight, he didn't want it to happen again.

"Okay, then," she said calmly, sitting down at the work table.

"Wait, wait up," Ned said, looking between his two friends. "What the hell just happened?"

"Some lady who works for his dad just offered me a job here," MJ said, in perhaps as little detail as a person could possibly give. Peter decided to step in.

"That lady was Maria Hill. She's the former Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Now she works for Stark Industries, officially, but she's really in charge of the Facility. What job did she offer you? She wouldn't tell me what she wanted to recruit you for when she asked to come to your graduation."

"Snoop," she snapped at him. Then a small smile appeared on her face. "She wants me to work directly under her. Some sort of intern position, I guess."

Peter whistled. "That could be a lot of work."

"But I'd have access to all of the Avengers files, wouldn't I?" MJ asked, a sparkle in her eyes.

"I'm worried about you asking that, but yes. Hill basically runs things here. You would be pretty high on the chain of command, which honestly terrifies me."

"Are you going to take the job? It sounds amazing," Ned said, eyes wide.

She shrugged. "Maybe."

"You're taking it," Peter said confidently.

"Hell yeah, I am." They all laughed.

"Man, next year will be weird," Ned said, shaking his head. "I'll still be at Midtown, Peter's going to be a full-time Avenger, and now MJ's going to become a super spy. If someone had told me that's what's going to happen to us in two years ago, I would have called them crazy. Now it kind of just feels like the next step in our lives, ya know?"

It had been a crazy two years, Peter agreed. Full of drama and near death experiences. Honestly, nothing sounded better to him than a nice relaxing summer, spending the days with Ned and probably helping train MJ. It was a requirement to know martial arts and how to use firearms when you worked for the Avengers. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she found out. She'd do it, though. She'd always loved conspiracy theories, and now she could be at the center of them, creating them for other people to chase while she knew the truth. Ned would be top of the class, like MJ, Peter was sure. And he would home school himself, and do Avengers stuff. Yeah, it was crazy, but it was also perfect.

For once, Peter wasn't worried about what came next.

This was the last chapter, guys. Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed and favorited my story. It means a lot to me. I have more stories on the way, so please go check those out. Thank you so much to Beauty In Her Darkness for being my beta (you should check out her stories, too, she's awesome).

-Lady of Lorule