A/N: I AM SO SORRY IT HAS BEEN SO LONG! Life has been INSANE. Please forgive me

-

It was so amazing to have Natasha back. Suddenly the group felt whole again for the first time in five years.

Shortly after Natasha arrived, Pepper took Morgan from Peter's room as it began to fill with Avengers. The group of heroes excitedly began talking amongst themselves now that the Black Widow was back in the mix. When the initial hugs greetings with everybody had finished, Natasha was scolded pretty harshly by none other than Peter himself.

"Nat, I am so glad you're back!" Peter said.

"Me, too, маленький паук," was Natasha's response. She smiled at him and ruffled his hair, earning a protective look from Tony.

"Never do that again, though, like for real," said Peter, taking on a more serious tone. This earned a few chuckles and murmurs of agreement from the rest of the group in the room.

"Do what?" Natasha asked, still smiling.

"I'm serious." Peter sat up taller in his bed and the room quieted down. Tony looked concernedly at Peter as everyone waited for him to continue. "Don't put yourself in that position again."

"Peter -" Natasha started.

"Why didn't you at least try to get the stone another way? One that doesn't involve you sacrificing yourself, maybe?" All eyes were on Peter now. "You should be dead right now."

A heavy silence took the place of the jovial chatter and ambiance that filled the room just seconds previous.

"That's pretty rich, coming from you. Don't you think, Peter?" Tony broke the silence after a few seconds. Everyone turned to look at him.

By now, blood had rushed to Peter's face, turning him a bright shade of red. His hands began to shake. A brief silence once again took over the room, only to be broken by Tony.

"Yeah, I agree with you, kid. Nat, we all promised. Everyone would go in and everyone would come out, not just some of us. I can't believe we were lucky enough to get you back again. But Peter, you should be... you shouldn't be here either, do you realize that?" Tony saw Peter living and breathing in front of him, but still could not bring himself to say the word 'dead.'

Peter picked his head up to look at Tony, only to find that every other pair of eyes in the room was now on him.

"Do you realize how lucky we all are to have you here with us after you snapped?"

Peter closed his eyes and immediately the events just before the snap started to replay in his mind. He felt the pain of the energy coursing through his body, threatening to tear it apart. Peter's breathing became quicker and he heard his heart monitor pick up speed.

"Peter, are you okay?" Captain America's voice freed Peter from his flashback. He forced his eyes open.

"I'm fine," he forced the words out as he slowed his breathing.

"Are you sure, kid? We're all right here, you're not in danger."

"I'm fine," Peter repeated, sternly this time. "Really, I'm fine."

Everyone sat in silence for a while, not really knowing what to do. Tony sat at the edge of his seat, eyes glued to Peter, who sat quietly, staring down at his hands in his lap.

"I think we should have dinner tonight, like old times? Now that we've got the gang back together?" Offered Bruce. Still, Tony didn't look away from Peter.

"Uh, yeah, let's do that," said Steve. "I'll go and make something up. Be ready at 6:00."

One by one, each of the Avengers left Peter's room. Natasha put her hand on Peter's shoulder for a second before following the rest of the heroes. Once she left, Peter remained in his room with Tony still sitting at the edge of his seat.

More silence.

"I'm sorry," Peter finally said, his voice quiet. "I'm - I'm sorry."

Tony exhaled deeply. Guilt hung heavily over him. I can't be my father.

"Peter," Tony started. Upon hearing his name spoken by his mentor, Peter looked up. When his eyes met Tony's, they once again fell to his hands on his lap.

Tony stood from his chair next to Peter's bed and sat on the side of the bed, turning to face the young hero.

"Peter," he said again, softly. "I'm not mad at you, I promise. I just..." God, how do I even say this? "I just can't lose you, okay?"

Peter looked up at Tony again. This time it was Tony who couldn't bear to meet Peter's eyes.

"You're not going to lose me, Tony. I'm fine."

"I know. I know you are. You're strong as hell, so you're going to be back patrolling and pissing me off in no time." Peter chuckled. Hearing his laugh made Tony's heart feel lighter. "I just hate that I was so close to never having that again, you know?"

"I... yeah, I know."

"Boss, it is 6:00. Your presence, as well as Peter's, is requested in the main dining room." F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s voice cut in.

"Ah, dinnertime. Should be interesting if Yankee Doodle really was the one to cook it all up. Shall we?" Tony stood and held a hand out to Peter, offering to help him out of bed.

"Do you think I'm ready?" Peter hesitated. "Just a few days ago you wouldn't let me readjust my pillow without your help."

"Ha, ha, very funny," Tony retorted, though both of them knew it was true. "Do you feel ready? I can have someone bring a wheelchair in if you'd rather."

"I think I'm ready," responded Peter. "Just…"

"I'll help you," said Tony.

Normally, Peter's grip was iron and Tony couldn't help him up without being inadvertently pulled down by Peter's strength. This time, when Peter used his good hand to grip Tony's hand and pull himself up, it was weaker than Tony had expected. Much weaker.

Tony used his free hand to place a bracing hand under Peter's elbow as he slowly stood up.

He felt so delicate.

When Peter finally got to his feet, he looked at Tony and smiled. "Let's do this," he said, starting for the door.

Tony kept a steady hand on Peter's back, and still immediately was nervous as Peter started walking. "Slow down, kid, dinner isn't going to be that good," he quipped, hoping Peter couldn't sense his apprehension.

Peter laughed. "I'm just excited to finally be out of this room!"

Tony smiled, sensing Peter's excitement. Still, Tony felt torn. He was excited for Peter to be up and around again, but he was so anxious. Peter was just so close to being taken from Tony's life forever; Tony didn't know if he was ready to have Peter vulnerable again.

The pair stepped into the elevator which immediately started the descent to the main dining area. Peter let himself lean against the wall. In only a few seconds, a soft ding indicated their arrival on the correct floor and the elevator doors slid open.

They walked together into the dining room. Everyone was seated at the large ovular dining table, including Pepper and Morgan. Tony eyed two open chairs at the table, one for him at Pepper's side and one for Peter, across from Tony's seat. As Peter and Tony entered the room, the chatter stopped.

Thor immediately stood up to help Peter into his seat, beside Thor's own. "Welcome, young spider!" he bellowed. It was only after Peter was seated that Tony left his side. The talking in the room resumed.

Tony walked around the table to take his seat next to his wife. She rested her hand on his thigh.

"It's good to see Peter up and around," she whispered to Tony. "Are you sure he's ready?"

Tony looked at Peter across the table, who had entered a heated conversation with Clint and Wanda about the best movies from the 1980s.

"I don't know," Tony whispered back.

Just then, Steve and Bucky entered the dining room from the kitchen, bearing large trays of lasagna, salad, and a pile of garlic bread.

"Wow, Cap, that actually doesn't smell awful! I think it's going to be safe to eat!" joked Clint.

"It smells amazing," said Natasha as the food was placed on the table.

"Well," said Bucky as he and Steve sat at the table with everyone else, "let's eat!"

The team started to pass the food around the table, dishing up their servings as they went. As it got to Peter, he reached out to help himself when Thor put his hand out.

"Peter, allow me!" said Thor, dishing out a sizeable portion of lasagna onto his plate.

"Uh, thanks?" said Peter.

When the bread made its way around, Bruce held the plate after taking his own slice. "Peter, would you like some garlic bread?" he asked.

"Yes please," said Peter, reaching out to take the plate from Bruce.

"Let me get it for you, how many pieces?" said Bruce.

"It's fine, I can grab it myself," said Peter.

"No, really, I insist. One piece? Two?" said Bruce.

"Two is great, thanks," resigned Peter.

Bruce placed two pieces of garlic bread on Peter's plate then passed the plate along to Thor. When the salad made its way around, Bruce again held the bowl and asked Peter how much he wanted.

"You know, I don't need to be babied. I'm perfectly capable of getting my own food," Peter said curtly, earning a few looks from the Avengers at the table.

"Oh, you're right, Peter, sorry. Here's the salad bowl, help yourself," said Bruce. Peter dished up a serving of salad and began to eat in guilted silence.

When conversations picked up around him, Peter nudged Bruce. "I'm sorry, Dr. Banner. I should have just let you help me."

"Peter, it's fine. You're right, you don't need my help. I'm just worried about you," Bruce said, turning to face Peter. "We all are."

The rest of the dinner was full of joking and fun, and after it was finished, everyone stood to take their dishes into the kitchen to be washed. Peter stood slowly once most everyone else, including Tony, had left the room and collected his dishes. He started for the kitchen, only to be met after a few steps by Steve Rogers.

"Look, I know it doesn't look like it, but I am 100% able to wash my own dishes, so if you're wanting to take them, it's fine, I've got it," said Peter.

Steve laughed. "Peter, I'm not here to take your dishes. I know you're ready for a lot more than people seem to think you are."

"Wow, thanks, man. I appreciate it," replied Peter.

"I guess I am still going to offer my help, but not with your dishes," Steve said.

Intrigued, Peter responded, "What for, then?"

"I'd like to help you recover and regain your strength," Steve said. "I'd help you lift and train to get back to where you were before Thanos."

"You wanna be my personal trainer?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, I guess I do," responded Steve. "Call me crazy but I think everyone here is a little bit invested in your future, and this is a way I know I can help."

"You think I'm ready for that?" Peter responded.

"We'll take it slow, I won't push you too hard." Steve smiled. "What do you say? Are you in?"

Peter thought of Tony's face when he stood from his bed today. Proud, yes, but a bit worried. Well, maybe more than a bit worried. And then the whole hand-on-back thing all the way to his chair? And dinner, how no one trusted him to be strong enough to dish up his own food. Peter felt fire burn inside him. He was ready to prove himself.

"I'm in."

"Great," Steve replied. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, 6:00. Meet in the weight room on my floor."