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“I can't do it!” Morgan wailed, tears welling in her eyes as she dropped the shoe laces. She let her foot drop to the floor, sniffing and burying her face in her arms.
Peter paused from where he had been coming down the steps, carefully calling, “Are you ok, Mo?”
Morgan shook her head, not looking up. She let out another loud sniff.
“What's wrong?” he asked, coming the rest of the way down the stairs and dropping onto the bench in the entryway next to her.
She looked up, meeting his concerned gaze with red-rimmed eyes, repeating, “I can't do it!” She emphasized her words by shaking her foot, the untied laces flopping as she did.
Understanding dawned on the teen, and he queried, “Trying to tie your shoe?”
“Yes,” the child mumbled, looking back at her shoe, “I've been practicing at school, but I don't remember how it goes.”
“When I was about your age, Aunt May taught me how to tie my shoes. I still remember the way she taught me. Do you want me to show it to you?” Peter offered.
The girl's eyes widened,and she nodded eagerly, “Please, Petey?”
“OK,” he nodded. He gently grabbed her leg and rested her foot on his leg. He took the two laces into his hands, “Criss cross the laces, and then, you make two bunny ears.”
“Two bunny ears,” Morgan repeated in a serious tone.
“Exactly,” Peter continued, shaking one of the loops, “The bunny goes around the tree.”
He paused to make sure she was following along. She nodded, watching him intently, mouthing the instructions he had given.
“Then bunny hops into his hole,” he instructed.
“And,” the girl prompted.
“And,” the teen chuckled, “he sleeps tight.” With that, he pulled the laces tight, setting her foot back on the floor.
“Wow!” Morgan gasped, staring at her tied shoe in awe.
Peter nudged her shoulder with his, pointing towards her other foot, “You try now.”
She propped her foot up and eagerly began, “Criss cross and bunny ears.” She looked up at Peter for confirmation. At his reassurance, she continued, “Around the tree and in his hole.”
“And he sleeps tight,” the two said in unison.
“Good job, Mo!” the teen cheered.
Morgan jumped to her feet and threw her arms around him, “Thank you, Petey”
Peter pulled her close, “Anytime, Mo.”
As he released her, he glanced towards the doorway to the kitchen, “You two can come out now.”
Tony and Pepper were both grinning as they joined them. Morgan whirled around and ran to her mother.
“Look, Mommy!” She squealed, pointing at her feet, “I tied my shoe. Petey helped me!”
“And you did a very good job,” her mother replied, giving her daughter a hug.
“You're so creepy,” Peter muttered as Tony strolled over to him.
“What?” The man smirked, “A man can't proudly watch his two children?”
Peter stood, looking bashfully at the man who had become so much more than a mentor. Somehow, since the Blip had been reversed, the billionaire had become, dare he say it, a dad. Tony looked at Peter fondly, wrapping an arm around him.
The teen leaned in close, murmuring, “I guess that's OK then.”
“Of course it is,” the man replied.
“Ready to go?” Pepper questioned as she walked towards the door with Morgan's hand in her own.
“Yep,” Tony answered, steering the teen after them. Peter allowed himself to be guided out to the car. He didn't know when exactly it had happened, but somewhere along the way he had gained a dad, a mom, and a little sister. And it was OK. More than OK. It was the best.