<So this is my New Years story, the song at the top comes from the musical of the same name, which is also the musical we're doing this year at my high school, I'm one of the leading characters and I'm super excited, so I figured I had to make a fic incorporating it somehow. (Like seriously look up the musical, it's super fun and inspirational). What better way to do that than a New Years Story? Enjoy!>

"C'mon, Morg! It's safe!" It was the day after Christmas, and Morgan had been anxiously waiting to try out her new ice skates. Tony had agreed to let them skate on the pond, as long as it was safe. After testing it with one of his spider-bots that was able to measure the thickness and safety, they were ready to skate. Peter glided across the ice, remembering how much he loved this. He did an experimental turn, and promptly fell flat on his face, getting lots of giggles from Morgan. She promptly pushed off from the shore and began gliding smoothly.

"Wow, the six year olds better than you are, Pete!" Tony shouted from his vantage point by a tree on the other side.

"Hey!" Peter yelled back, getting to his feet and pushing off toward Morgan. "I don't see you out here, so you don't get to make comments!"

"Yeah, daddy! Be nice to Peter, he's trying his best!" Morgan piped up.

"Don't you start too, you stinker. C'mere!" And Peter skated up to her and took her little pink-gloved hand in his larger Rudolph-mitten clad ones. (They had been a gift from Morgan, he wasn't getting out of that one.)

"Can we be like the people we saw on TV?"

"Course we can! Are you ready to win the gold medal, my amazing partner? Hey, judges, tell us what we need to do!" He yelled this to Tony and Pepper, who were grinning and taking pictures from the side.

"Skate in a big circle," yelled Pepper.

"Alright, ready Morg?"

"Always." They both pushed off and skated in a circle, even skating backwards for a few seconds. They completed it and bowed, Tony and Pepper cheering wildly.

"A perfect 10! The worlds greatest brother-sister ice duo has done it again! But, can they do it one last time and beat their fiercest competitors/themselves?" Tony dramatized. "For their final test, they will be separated!"

"Gasp!" Pepper whispered, adding to the drama.

"They must race to the far end of the pond and back, and whoever gets back to me first gets a giant ice cream! Go!"

Laughing, both Peter and Morgan took off skating as fast as they could. They were almost there, Peter letting Morgan edge ahead, when it happened. The ice shifted, and began cracking. "Morgan, turn back!" Peter screamed. "The ice!" She turned back part ways, too far ahead to hear him clearly, but then the ice cracked around her.

"Peter!" She screamed! "Help me! I'm scared."

"Ok sweetie, I'm coming as fast as I can, try not to move too much!" Peter skated toward her in a panic, trying to ignore the spreading cracks and make sure Morgan was safe. He reached out his hand to her and was just about to grab her when suddenly she fell. Without thinking, Peter dove in after her. He grabbed her and pushed her above him as quickly as he could, trying to push her onto firmer ice. He heard a noise and Morgan was pulled out of his hands. Cold. It was so cold. What...? His eyes closed and his hand slipped. Cold...Morg? Black.

"Pete? Hey, Peter? Please wake up for me. I'm so sorry." He distantly registered a hand on his head. What was happening? Why was it so cold? Uncle Ben? Dad?

"Yeah, Pete, it's me. Please open your eyes. You're alright. You're alive. But we need to get something warm into you now.

"Dad?" Peter said again, slightly more awake.

"Yeah, I'm right here."

"What happened?" Peter asked in a small voice.

"You fell into the frozen pond. I'm so sorry, Bud, I never should have told you to do it, that was really stupid of me, and—"

"It's not your fault." Peter said quietly. "Is Morgan okay?"

"Yeah, thanks to you. You saved her with your quick thinking." Pepper joined Tony beside Peter's couch. "She was barely in the water, but you on the other hand... oh baby, what's wrong?" A massive coughing fit overtook Peter.

Pepper and Tony exchanged a glance. "It's a good thing Bruce is coming today," Tony whispered quietly. But of course, Peter being Spider-Man, heard them.

"Don't bother him, I'm fine." Peter curled into the couch. He didn't feel fine. His chest was on fire, and his head seemed to be spinning. He didn't want to be miserable around everyone. Stupid Parker luck. Was one normal holiday too much to ask for? He realized tears were slipping down his face. He tried to hold them in, but it was no use.

"Hey, baby it's okay." Pepper murmured softly, running her fingers through his curls. "What's wrong?"

"I'm ruining Christmas! Bruce doesn't want to take care of me, and Clint and Sam already think I need to "man up," and you guys probably have better things to do and I almost let Morgan get hurt, and—"

"It's okay, kiddo. None of that is true, it's just your fever talking. All of us love you so much, and any one of us would take care of you forever if it just meant having you around. You're a joy, Peter, and you make everyone's lives better. We all love you just as you are, and you're going to be okay. If it would make you feel better, we'll just do Christmas tomorrow, it's not a big deal either way. But here, let's go up to your bed so you don't get overwhelmed when everyone gets here." Tony helped Peter upstairs and settled him gently in his bed. "You're gonna be okay, Spiderling."

"Thanks, dad." Peter muttered sleepily. Tony thought his heart might burst with love. It didn't matter how many times he had said it, that little spider kid never failed to bring a smile to his face. May had finally given him joint custody, and since she was in Florida for the week with Happy, Peter was all his. Man, did he love that kid, and so did everyone else. Everyone except Peter himself. From his own battle with anxiety and depression, Tony knew it was useless unless the kid believed it himself. All he could do was be as supportive and loving as he could possibly be, and hope that someday Peter would come to see himself as everyone else saw him. Now, that was an idea... He planted a quick kiss on Peter's too warm forehead and hurried downstairs. He whispered his plan to Pepper, who agreed wholeheartedly. Then he went outside to greet the other Avengers who had started to arrive. He explained what had happened, and they all agreed that Christmas could wait another day. They also all agreed that his plan was perfect, and immediately set to work. As soon as Tony got to "Peter's sick," Bruce was already heading upstairs to check on him. See, Tony willed Peter to hear his thoughts, we all love you. You could never be a burden to us.

Bruce quietly entered Peter's room. "Hey, Pete?" He didn't get a response. Peter was sound asleep on the bed. And with a fever like that, that was probably for the better, Bruce thought as he felt Peter's forehead. He pulled his thermometer out of his pocket to check the actual temperature. He tried to be as gentle as he possibly could, but as usual, Peter's enhanced senses screwed him over. At the touch of the thermometer on his ear, Peter shot out of bed and swatted it away, but relaxed when he saw it was only Bruce. "Hey, I'm just gonna check you over, okay?"

"Okay," Peter muttered weakly. His throat felt awful now, too. He sat still while Bruce listened to his chest and checked his pulse. Noticing the older man's frown, he asked worriedly "What is it?"

"I think you have bronchitis."

"Oh." Peter sighed.

"But it doesn't seem to be too bad. I'm going to give you some painkillers, and as long as you keep hydrated, you should feel better before long. And we can have Christmas tomorrow, you should have a little more energy then, knowing you." Bruce smiled at the kid and patted his shoulder.

"Thanks, Bruce."

"Don't worry about it. I'm always happy to help you. We're all here for you, you know that right?" Peter only shrugged, but at least some tiny part of him was starting to believe it.

The next morning, Peter did feel better already. When he went downstairs, he was shocked to see that the entire bottom floor of the cabin was covered in red and blue streamers and balloons. What was going on? He made his way into the dining room, and suddenly a banner dropped from the ceiling. "We love you Peter!" The sign said, and then all the Avengers were there. No one shouted or ran forward to hug him, not wanting to overwhelm him. Peter was so touched. He turned around to see Tony grinning at him, and he enveloped his mentor-turned-father-figure in a huge hug. He hoped the hug could say everything that words could not: thank you for being there for me and believing in me when I didn't even believe in myself.

"Well," Tony said after a few seconds. "How about a little early New Years party to celebrate the hero that keeps New York safe and makes our lives better with every second he's around?"

"Hear, hear!" Cap agreed, and glasses found their way into everyone's hands. "To Peter Parker, the best of us all."

Everyone cheered to that toast. Peter could feel tears pricking at his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away. "Thank you guys. A toast to the Avengers!"

Everyone cheered to that too, and Tony, noticing that Peter was starting to get uncomfortable with all the attention, steered everyone into the living room, where Pepper had set our mounds of leftover Christmas cookies. Everyone shared their favorite memories of the year, from the famed July 4th bake-off to Morgan's first communion to the prank war, with so many things in between. Everyone was so thankful for each other, and so many of the stories involved Peter's unshakable happiness and his light. And Peter knew then, that no matter what he was going through, his family was there for him. And maybe, just maybe, he was starting to see himself as they saw him. He curled into Tony's side, and May (who had arrived early from Florida) patted his foot. Morgan was sitting on his hip, bouncing excitedly, and he was surrounded by all his childhood heroes. Someone had turned on the radio, and old Broadway tunes were playing. Peter almost geared up some more when he heard the lyrics of the song.
🎶
MY FAVORITE YEAR
LIKE NO OTHER YEAR OF MY LIFE
MY FAVORITE YEAR
A DREAM COULD COME TRUE
MY FAVORITE YEAR
WHEN NOTHING COULD STAND IN MY WAY
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE HELL OF A YEAR
FOR SOME OTHER YEAR TO EVER COME NEAR
MY FAVORITE...🎶

Through all the ups and downs, he was never alone. People were always there to take care of him, as he tried to take care of others. He didn't have to be alone. A weak cough burned his chest, but he was already feeling better. Surrounded by these people, nothing could hurt him. Yes, it would certainly have to be one hell of a year for some other year to ever come near his favorite year.