(TRIGGER WARNING: Separation anxiety, Peter feeling very replaced. He's pretty sad here guys. If you want to skip the heaviness ~~~ means it's over, there's nothing plot worthy in there.)

(Recap: Baby Stark is on his way and Peter is feeling cheated, though he definitely hasn't let the team know.)

Have you ever felt replaced? Overlooked? Or maybe just plain shoved aside for someone else to stand in your spot.

It's starts off with small things. You start to realize wait, I was about to say that.

Hang on, that's my nickname.

Whoa, what are you doing sitting where I always sit?

It's the feeling you get when your best friend sees you and some other person, sitting alone, and they go to them instead of you. Now you're the weird kid with no friends because your supposed 'bff' likes being with someone else.

They might not even realize what they're doing. Then you start to notice the way that your friend goes to this new person for things they used to come to you for.

You really want to hate that person. For taking your friend away, for butting into your life.

But you can't. Because you see what your friend sees in them. They're always nice to you, always offer to help. The worst part is, they do a better job at your old job than you ever did. So you just let it happen while drifting further and further away.

And finally one day your bff makes a casual comment about that person being their new best friend. Maybe they meant it as a joke, you can't really tell, but you knew they were dead serious. I thought I was your best friend?

Then you finally figure it out. You can be best friends with someone, but that doesn't mean they have to be best friends with you.

~~~
(Just talked about how it feels to be replaced.)

That's how Peter felt, and the baby hadn't even been born yet.

Except he hadn't lost a best friend. He had lost two aunts, an older sister, four older brothers and four uncles along with a mother and a father. How had his life nose-dived so fast?

The team was always distracted preparing things, watching YouTube videos tips and baby-proofing the Tower and compound. Considering how many deadly weapons, sharp objects and dangerous science experiments there were, it had been taking them a while. People barley even glanced up at him when he swung through the window anymore. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he seemed invisible.

Had he just been a place-holder the entire time? Waiting for Tony's real son to arrive? How clueless and naive he had been to think that the universe would have mercy on him.

He tried to avoid the Tower and the compound after that day. He was there maybe two times a week in comparison to his normal long hours every day after school. Even Ned was worried about how many excuses he had made up just to spend time at his house watching documentaries or Space Balls while learning D&D.

"Hey, dopey," MJ glared at him from the Player's Handbook and referenced his droopy attitude. "Your phone is ringing for the third time now. If you don't pick it up, I will."

"Dopey. That's a new one," Peter snorted softly and pulled his phone out, already knowing who would show up on the caller ID. "Do you want to talk to Tony Stark?"

"Peter." MJ narrowed her eyes farther, knowing all about their relationship. "Talk to him."

He groaned. "But MJ..."

"Just be finished by the time Ned gets out of the bathroom." She glared back.

Peter huffed and stood to make the call in the hallway. He hesitated a second before clicking accept and brought the phone to his ear.

"Hi Mr. Stark."

"Hey, kid, how's it hanging?" Tony greeted in a mock teenage voice.

Peter gave a strained chuckle. "I don't think people actually say that anymore, Mr. Stark."

The billionaire's tone suddenly became serious. "Pepper's in the hospital."

"Whoa, what?" Peter yelped in shock. MJ glanced at him curiously from down the hall. He shrugged and cupped a hand around the phone mic so he could talk quieter. "Is she okay? Is...is the baby okay?"

"Okay?" Tony laughed. "Better then okay kid! She's in the hospital because her water broke. That means he's in his way!"

Peter froze in the hallway.

Well crap. Was this the last time he would have his Dad - Tony - to himself? Was he going to be ignored? He was finally starting to understand how his friend felt when they complained about being the oldest sibling. Except Tony could kick him to the curb without regrets because they weren't real family. They never really had been.

Maybe a part of Peter just wished that fact could be looked over.

"Kid?" Tony's voice grabbed his wandering mind and roped it back to the present.

"That's great Mr. Stark!" Peter gushed suddenly, before his airway could be closed off by his own panic and sadness. "I'm so excited for you!"

"Sweet," Tony breathed. "So where are you? I'll come pick you up, I mean assuming you want to see the baby when he's actually born."

"Well yeah, of course!" Peter stumbled in response. "I'm, uh, at Ned's apartment with him and MJ."

"Oh, did they wanna come too?" Tony offered casually.

Do you want to invite your friends to see my real son born? Peter scoffed softly to himself. He was pretty sure Tony would regret it if he actually brought his friends.

"No, I think they're good, Mr. Stark. This might not be something to invite a bunch of teenagers to anyways, right?"

Peter knew the billionaire was rolling his eyes. "Well I invited you, didn't I?"

The arachnid winced, feeling the words like a punch in the gut. "I guess so. You don't have to bring me if you don't want to."

"You don't have to come if you don't want to," Tony shot back in return, maybe thinking Peter was being sarcastic. The Iron Man's emotions had been a little mixed up lately. "I never said you had to. I just thought you might want to meet my son."

"I–I didn't mean it like that, Mr. Stark. I'm sorry." Peter held his breath. "I wouldn't mind you picking me up."

"Don't apologize, kid, that should be my job. But yeah, I'll be there in a few minutes. Most of the team is already here anyways."

"Um, maybe one of them should pick me up. I mean, what if the baby comes when you're gone? That would kinda suck," Peter rambled for an excuse. "I mean, you don't want to miss the happiest day of your life, right? Pepper would be disappointed and you probably would too. But, like one of the others could mess it and only regret it a little cause it's not their baby–"

Tony laughed. "Okay, okay, I will. Someone will be there in a few minutes."

"Okay Mr. Stark," Peter sighed. Relief? Disappointment? Pain? Who knows. Definitely not Peter himself.

He walked back to the family room and apologized to MJ and Ned - who was back from the bathroom. "Sorry guys, someone is going to pick me up, but we can do it again next week."

"Thank god," MJ mumbles as Ned whined. "You're so weird when you act all gloomy and depressed."

Peter glared at her. "I have not!"

"Have too."

"Have not!"

"Have tooooo."

Ned's mom shouted at them to stop arguing and start playing. They grinned at the kitchen door good-naturally. All of them were pretty close with both Ned's parents and Aunt May. Weird...Peter had never been to MJ's house.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a doorbell. Mrs. Leeds poked her head out of the door and announced a black car had shown up, whoever's ride that was. Peter sighed, knowing for a fact MJ always walked home.

"See you guys," he waved and packed everything into his backpack.

"Bye Pete! See ya tomorrow!" Ned shouted as he opened the door.

Bucky blinked and smiled at him, messing with his bun uncomfortably. "Ready kid?"

"Aye aye, captain," Peter chuckled. If only it had been Steve.

Bucky rolled his eyes and didn't ask, used to his random puns and jokes. Instead he lead the teen outside and opened the passenger door for him.

"Wow, such a gentleman," Peter told him sarcastically.

The soldier snorted and slid into the driver's seat. "Did you want me to get you a car seat too?"

They rode the rest of the way to the hospital in silence. The nurse didn't ask which room when they walked up, seeing Bucky's metal hand and knowing who she was dealing with. Instead she merely pointed down the hall.

Bucky nodded and directed Peter to a closed waiting room, where superheroes were piled up on chairs, the floor and each other. Peter giggles at the sight of the snoring team. The only ones awake were Vision, Natasha, Steve and an anxious looking Tony Stark.

"Hey kiddo," the billionaire's face relaxed a smidge as they walked in. "I'm glad you came."

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" Peter stuttered and took a seat next to him.

Tony shrugged and continued tapping nervously on the chair arm. Bucky sat next to Steve and rested his head on his shoulder tiredly. Every Avenger looked exhausted, in fact.

"How come you aren't in there?" Peter asked Tony, the door to Pepper's room closed tight.

He sighed. "She wanted me to get sleep or something about a meal. I don't know."

"You should," Peter encouraged, seeing the deep bags under his eyes, well, deeper than usual. "You won't be any help to her if you exhaust yourself."

"Heh well..." Tony's head lolled. "Maybe..."

He was asleep a few seconds later. Natasha sighed thankfully and nodded to Peter with a smile. He had always been the only one besides Pepper who could get him to take a break. That hadn't changed, at least. Peter grinned warmly back and slumped in his chair to rest himself.

Only five minutes later an alarm went off and doctors and nurses started to rush into Pepper's room.

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Heh. Here comes Stark Jr. (even though I haven't named him yet lol. You guys can give me some suggestions if you want.)

Also I wrote a new Superfamily book! I don't know why! It was supposed to be part of this but I decided it would end up too long so...don't worry it'll be to your liking. Thank you for everything!

- Wanda