the one-way ticket (petermj)

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

MJ and Peter are cleaning the kitchen after dinner, May having gone to put May and Ben to bed to "give them some time to talk". But there's less cleaning and more of making a bigger mess. And they're dancing for some reason when he feels eyes on him.

"I know you guys are spying," he says, spinning so he can look over MJ's shoulder where, in fact, both Mays and Ben are spying on him and MJ under the kitchen table. "Aunt May, you're supposed to be putting them to sleep."

"But this is just so cute!" she argues.

"And I'm sure you've videoed it on your phone."

"And there's pictures."

"And there's pictures!" he repeats, looking at MJ with a sarcastic look on his face, to which she laughs at. "Fine, you irresponsible adult. Your babysitting privileges have just been revoked. Like, all the way. No more babysitting for you. Come on, my beautiful kiddos. Bedtime."

"Will you tell us a story?" Ben asks.

"Or read us one?" May asks, looking at Peter, then over to MJ. "Miss MJ, will you read us a story before bed?"

"I sure will," MJ says. "Can I talk to Aunt May for a minute first?"

"Yes ma'am. I'll go pick out the story now!"

MJ chuckles. "You do that."

"Yay!" she says, running into her room. Peter picks Ben up and looks at MJ in confusion.

"You get Ben." MJ says. "I've got May."

Peter smiles gratefully, mouthing thank you.

When Peter's made his way into Ben's room, MJ turns to May. "Why's he so stressed out lately?" she says softly, mindful of Peter's super hearing.

"Call Tony." is all she says, giving her a piece of paper with the contact information on it. "And MJ? You've helped a lot. Just today. Thank you."

MJ smiles at her and May walks off to get ready for bed.

She goes over to the room Peter's in, where he's tucking Ben in bed.

"Daddy! I'm a taco now!"

"Oh, you are?" Peter smiles. "Well, is this taco . . . ticklish?"

"No!" Ben says through tears of laughter while Peter tickles him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Okay then . . . what kind of taco are you then?"

"Hmmm . . ." Ben thinks on that for a minute. "A pshtaco!"

"A fish taco?"

"Yeah!" Ben says. "Is it story time now?"

"Sure is, bud," Peter smiles. "Although, I don't have any stories about fish tacos . . ."

"Miss MJ?" she hears from beside her. It's May. She squats so she can talk to her more easily.

"Yes, Miss May?"

May swallows. "You can just call me May if you want . . ." she says. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure." MJ says, and May leans into her ear, cupping her hands around her mouth, and whispers loudly, "I don't want any stories about fish tacos."

MJ laughs, pulling back. "Do you wanna know a secret?" she whispers, and May nods. "I don't think I would, either."

May laughs, and MJ smiles.