Peter Parker hated parent events at school. Heritage Day, Career Day, hell, even the Science Fair was upsetting. It wasn't fun to be the only kid at school with no one to come.

The teachers were nice enough about it, though. Most of them knew that Peter only had his Aunt, and she worked everyday. There was no way she could get time off to go see Peter's science projects, or to walk around the school and talk about their heritage.

Don't misread the situation, though. May was the most caring woman in the world. She didn't get a lot of time to spend with Peter, but when she did, she made sure to ask about school projects, even the science-y coding ones she didn't understand.

Peter knew she was doing the best she could.

It didn't mean that parent events sucked any less, though. May knew that, so she tried her best to make things better, whether that meant signing Peter out of school for the day or letting Ned sleep over on school nights.

Sometimes, though, there was just no getting around it. Like today. May checked her watch anxiously. It was barely 6, Peter wouldn't even be up for school yet, but May was itching to text him. She felt so bad for the poor boy.

After a lot of heated phone calls to the school, she'd discovered that unless Peter could get a signed note from his primary care physician, he had missed too many days at school and couldn't miss anymore. That meant he would have to go on Career Day, when everyone's parents were invited to the school to explain their work, and for the kids to wander around and talk to different parents about what they did and to scout for internships.

Peter, who had no parents and a phenomenal "internship" already, was deeply upset that he had to go.

May checked her watch again. 6:03. He'd be up in a half hour, and then May would be off her break and Peter would have to go to school all alone.

Suddenly, May got an idea, and she pulled out her phone. She knew Peter and Tony were close, so it was worth a shot, she figured.

May: Tony, hey. Do you have time for a quick chat?

May set her phone back down, only for it to instantly start ringing. She grabbed at it, ignoring the other nurses' stares.

"Hey, May," Tony said on the other end, his sleepiness seeping through the phone. "What's up?"

"Hey, uhm, well..." May trailed off, feeling slightly self conscious.

"Spit it out, May, I haven't slept in 36 hours," Tony sighed. May rolled her eyes, knowing he could get like this when he was tired.

"Its Peter," the woman blurted out. Tony was quiet, silently waiting for more information. "His school hosts these parent day events, and usually I can sign him out, but he's been absent a lot so I can't get him out of this one. Its Career Day, so the kids can hear about different jobs and look for internships and all-"

Tony cut her off. "Pete has an internship, why does he need to go to this stupid thing in the first place?"

"No one at the school believes he's your intern, Tony. The school threatened to suspend him if he kept 'lying' about it, so I stepped in, but they said unless he had a note from his doctor, he had to come. I couldn't get the day off, so he's going to be all alone and-"

Again, Tony cut her off. "What time should I be there? I just cleared my day."

May breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much. It starts at 9:15, right after his first class. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tony this means so much to me."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm always going to be there for our boy."

There was silence as both adults realized what the billionaire had just said.

"May, I-"

"Don't worry about it," May waved the comment off. "Peter needs a father, and I can't think of someone better, seeing as you care just as much as I do. Just make sure to tell him you care once in a while, Peter lives off of positive feedback. Secretly, Ned calls you his dad anyways, and I know Peter doesn't correct him anymore."

The two chuckled a little, then said their goodbyes and got off the phone. May checked her watch, and seeing that it was almost time for her to get back to work, she sent Peter a good morning text.

May: Good morning, hun, I know today is going to seem rough at first, but I hope it goes well. Larb you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter walked into school, his head hung low. He wanted to go unnoticed, especially today, especially by Flash. It was hard enough being the bully's favorite victim, but now he was going to have to watch all the other happy families, the ones who weren't broken.

"Peter," Ned called, being as quiet as possible while still catching his friend's attention. "Hey, man."

Peter made his way through the halls, giving his friend a tight hug. "Hey, dude."

"Why are you here today?"

Peter took a deep breath. "I couldn't miss class without a doctor's note."

"That's bullshit," Ned exclaimed angrily. "You shouldn't have to be here, you have an internship already!"

"They don't-"

"Hey, Puny!" Flash's voice rang out in the hall, and the mass of students seemed to split nearly instantly, letting the bully through. "Whatcha doing here, Penis? Last time I checked, you had no parents to bring to Career Day!"

Peter blushed a little. "Go away, Flash, leave us alone," Ned said confidently.

"Oh, and the fatty decided to speak up? You two are loses," Flash said, rolling his eyes. "Can't wait for you to see what a Dad looks like, Penis. You know, since you never had one." Flash laughed harshly, and pushed Peter backwards into the lockers. "Try and find a real internship while you're at it, too."

Flash walked away, and Peter ran a hand over the back of his head, where he was sure he had a lump forming. "Its fine," he said to Ned, sensing his friend's anger building up.

Ned huffed, and the two made their way to first period. It was lit and comp, one of the most boring classes they had.

Just before the bell could ring, the PA system sparked to life. "All students, please make your way to the auditorium. Your parents are waiting for you there. Peter Parker, please come to the main office."

Everyone gathered their stuff. Peter could feel the stares getting shot his way, but he just ignored it and put his books away. Ned gave him a questioning look, his brows furrowed in confusion. Peter just shrugged. Maybe May had called to bust him out?

The teen made his way down the hall, pushing past the swarm of students headed the opposite direction. When he got to the main office, he ducked inside and shut the door with a thud.

"Peter Parker, head on into my office." The principal was waiting for him.

Peter headed down the side hallway, to the large office space at the end of it. He was more than a little surprised to see Tony Stark, his mentor, sitting on a hard plastic chair in front of the principal's desk.

"Hiya, Underoos."

"Tony, what are you doing here?"

The principal showed up just then, and Peter took a seat next to the billionaire, who ruffled his hair affectionately.

"Mr. Parker, I'd like to first apologize for the way my staff and I have treated you about your internship. I myself was misguided and I am deeply sorry for how I handled the situation." Peter nodded in appreciation, and the principal continued. "Given the events of today, and your, uhm, guardian showing up, we'd like you and he to both present at the career day festivities, since you both work at Stark Industries."

Peter's mouth hung open a minute in shock, but if there was one thing he had gotten good at since working with Tony, it was how to roll with whatever happened next. He quickly replaced his confusion with a smile and nodded at his principal. "We'd love to."

Tony and Peter then followed the principal out of the office and down to the auditorium, where the principal stepped out on stage to kick things off.

"Okay, spill. What the hell was he talking about?"

"May and I decided I would become a second guardian, so I came by to drop off the paperwork and it was career day, so I-"

"Bullshit, you hate paperwork."

"Okay, you caught me. May called me this morning, and I wanted to be here for you. I had Pepper do the paperwork of making me a second guardian so I could come and actually participate. This school is very strict about the rules, Pete, its not cool."

Peter laughed. "Thanks, Tony, this means a lot."

The billionaire flashed a smile, then held out his arm. Peter didn't move, and Tony wiggled his arm a little. "Come on, Peter, bring it in."

"Oh, what is this," Peter said mockingly. "What is this? Tony actually wants a hug, he's not just reaching for the mic or something?"

The two laughed, remembering a time when they weren't so close. After a moment or two, Peter stepped into the hug, and they both chuckled lightly.

"-And now," the principal announced, startling both Peter and Tony. "I'd like to introduce our first presenters. Peter Parker and his guardian, Tony Stark, who will be talking about what they do at Stark Industries together!"

There was stunned silence as the school realized Peter had been telling the truth all along. Ned waved at Peter from down in the 3rd row, and Peter waved back enthusiastically.

"Hello, Midtown High, you all know me and my kid, so now, onto the good stuff!" Tony rubbed his hands together. Peter chuckled, then they both launched into what they did.

"Any questions?" Peter asked at the end, sensing that Tony was starting to get tired of talking.

Every hand went up.