Peter was a mess. Anyone could see that the kid was always sad now, always locked away. He spent a lot of time with Tessa in his room or on small walks. Stephen grew concerned about his kid, the only time he'd be out of his room was to go on a walk.

He'd eat and do everything in his room finding no reason to go out. Peter visited Tony a lot too, begging his dad for one more hug, one more talk. Begging him not to go, not to leave him alone.

But in the end, Peter got no response. The kid tried, tried to move on, and keep going but how could he? His dad, the one who's taken care of him, who took him in when his mother couldn't, the one who fed him and changed him and loved him, was dying.

Peter was going to be alone and he didn't want to be alone, didn't want to keep going alone. He hugged Tessa, who sat next to him on the bed. "I don't want him to go. I don't know what to do if he left." Peter sobbed, making her whine and try to lick him. "What will I do Tess?"

The dog whined again, stressed that she couldn't help her owner. Peter curled up on the bed, trying to hide in his blankets. Tessa laid down next to him, ears down as she heard his cries. "Please dad, don't leave me alone." Peter whimpered out into the darkness of his room.

___

Stephen worried constantly for his son. The kid didn't want to talk to him and the doctor understood that these past four months have been difficult. Hell, even Stephen had cried a couple of times.

The thought of losing Tony weighted on him constantly, it never left and it would exhaust him.

But he pushed that down and tried to be strong for Peter. The kid needed something stable and if he was weak now there would be no way to help him.

But Stephen heard Peter crying and decided to go in and help him. It was clear that Peter was hurting and he needed someone. He knocked softly on his teen's door. "Pete? I'm coming in okay?"

All he got was some sniffles and a small sob. He entered and his heart broke at seeing his kid. "Oh Pete, it's okay." He got on the bed and hugged the kid, cradling him into his chest. "It's alright, it's okay." He whispered, smiling a bit when Tessa inched closer. He pets her with one hand while holding Peter with others. "Tony will wake up, we just have to be patient. He won't leave you, Petey."

Peter nodded against his shoulder but didn't stop crying. "He loves you very much, and he just needs to heal but you'll see, he'll make it out of this, he's the invincible Iron man right?"

Peter sniffled and nodded. "Yea, he is. Will he ever wake up?" Stephen took in Peter's appearance. He saw the dark circles under the kid's eyes, his pale skin, and unkempt hair, how could he let Peter get like this?

"He will just give him time." Peter nodded and cuddled back into Stephen, letting his dad rock him to sleep.

____

Downstairs Jarvis smiled when his creator opened his eyes. "Sir?"

Tony looked over at him. "I'm sorry, who are you?"