"Hey Pete, how was school?" A gentle voiced called across the large living room in the recently re-purchased Stark tower.

"Hey Ms. Potts." Peter called back, placing his back pack on the sofa. "Yeah it was alright, just school. We got a new teacher."

Pepper looked up at him from where she sat on the couch in her usual business attire. She looked relaxed with a cup of tea on the coffee table in front of her and a book in her hand.

"That's nice." She said with a smile. "What class do they teach?"

"Oh, uh, History. She's really nice. Ned has a crush on her." He blurted out quickly. "Please don't tell him I told you that." He said ducking his head.

Pepper just laughed and pretended to zip her lips shut.

"So, uh, what are you doing home so early?" He asked, but hurried to carry on after seeing her eye brow raise slightly. "Not that it's not nice seeing you here, I just mean that normally Mr. Stark – I mean, I just haven't seen you here during the day, on a Monday."

Pepper couldn't hold back a small chuckle as the boy fought to save himself. Holding up a hand she said, "Pete, hunny, it's fine."

Peter let out a small sigh.

"I worked Saturday and Sunday, before you and Ned came for dinner. So, I thought I would take today off instead. Besides, they can live without me for one day." She explained.

"Oh, okay."

Peter looked at her for a second, uncertainty playing in the back of his mind. He stepped forward, nervously playing with the leather fold at the other end of the long couch. He was seldom alone with Ms. Potts, and often uncertain of what to say to her when Mr. Stark wasn't with them. It was never awkward with Mr. Stark.

Pepper seemed to catch on to his slight discomfort. She sighed slightly.

"Tony has a meeting for another hour or so." She said, seemingly reading the boys mind.

"Oh, okay. Cool." Peter said, trying to hide how awkward he was feeling.

She smiled kindly at him.

"If you would like, you could do your homework up here and then go down to the lab with him when he gets back?" She offered.

Peter nodded, trying desperately not to show how awkward she made him feel.

"Yeah, yeah, sounds good. Uh. Should I stay in here or…?"

"Wherever you're most comfortable. Why not set up in the kitchen, I'll get us some snacks." She suggested,

Peter grabbed his back pack, eager to get stuck into his homework, while simultaneously wishing he didn't feel so awkward around Pepper.

"Yeah sounds good. But you don't need to get up if you don't want to. I mean I could grab us something and bring it to you." He offered.

"It's okay Pete, I'm hungry anyway. Why don't you get started and I'll bring something over once I get up."

"Okay. Thanks!" He grinned at her, hoping that she wouldn't think his awkwardness was him being rude towards her.

He hurried into the kitchen and set himself up on the counter top, pulling out his History homework. He still couldn't believe that they had guessed wrong! He had been so certain of his answer.

A few minutes later Pepper walked in to study the refrigerator and finally decided on what they would snack upon.

"You okay with chocolate mud cake Pete?"

He looked up, "Yeah, that sounds great Ms. Potts."

He looked back down at his homework. He felt a slight tinge of heat on his cheeks. He just never knew what to say around her! What he missed, however, was the small way in which Peppers face fell when he turned back to his homework.

She carefully cut him a large piece, and then a small piece for herself.

"Here you go, Pete." She said, cringing slightly at the way her voice sounded so hopeful for a second.

He stopped his work for a second, "Thank you Ms. Potts. This looks amazing."

"Thanks Pete. What homework are you working on?"

"Oh, uh, nothing interesting. Just history." He said, ducking his head slightly.

Pepper opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off.

"There they are!" Called a familiar voice.

Peppers face fell into a gentle smile as Tony walked through the kitchen to stand next to her. Peters head flew up and a bright smile filled his face upon seeing the older man.

"Tony," She greeted, accepting his kiss on her cheek. "I didn't expect you back for another hour."

He grinned and snuck in another kiss.

"Snuck out early." He said with a chuckle as he reached across the counter to slap a gentle hand on Peters shoulder. "How you doin' buddy?"

Peter grinned and nodded at him, "Good, thank you Mr. Stark. How was your day?"

He threw a casual arm around Peppers shoulder, "Good, kid. Good now that I'm not stuck in that god forsaken meeting." He said with a laugh.

Pepper hit his side playfully. He pouted at her, earning a small eye roll.

Peter just smiled, relieved that Mr. Stark was here. He liked Pepper, in fact, he admired Pepper. But for some reason, he just always felt so unsure of himself around her.

"Oh, Pete." Pepper spoke up suddenly. "Your Aunt called before you got here. She asked if you could stay the night. Her shift was extended so she won't get home until late. Is that okay with you?"

Peter felt excitement bubble in his chest. A whole afternoon and evening to spend with Mr. Stark!

"Yes!" He answered quickly. "I, uh, I mean yeah, that's cool."

Tony just laughed and patted the kids shoulder again as he walked behind Peter to see what he was working on.

Tony pulled an old shirt over his head as he walked towards the bed he shared with Pepper. It was almost mid-night, and he'd just finished up with the kid in the lab, and deciding that that was late enough for a school night, had sent him to head towards bed. He paused where he stood in his own room, watching Pepper for a moment.

"Everything okay, Hun?" He asked.

She looked up from the book she was reading, and nodded. She had been quiet all evening.

He moved again and began to crawl into bed next to her, adjusting the covers the get comfortable. Leaning over he gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek before leaning his head on her shoulder, lazily eyeing off whatever she was reading.

"Are you sure?" He murmured.

She sighed slightly, putting her book down on her lap and leaning her head on Tony's.

"Does Peter like me?" She asked quietly.

Tony's brow furrowed slightly. The kid liked everyone.

"Yeah, why would you think he doesn't?"

She sat up straighter, at turned slightly to look at him.

"He always seems so awkward around me."

Tony gave her a look. "Are you sure?"

She nodded.

"You should have seen this afternoon before you got home. I think we said four things to each other before he just shut down and started looking like he wanted to be anywhere else but there. And then when you came in he just lit up and went back to normal." She looked at him, almost desperately. "Is it me? Am I doing something?"

Tony sighed and shook his head. Running a hand through his hair, before grabbing her hand, rubbing a finger over the engagement ring.

"The kid loves you." He said. "Maybe he's intimidated by you." He added, but then immediately regretted.

Pepper shot him a look.

"Why would I intimidate him? I'm always careful to be gentle when he's around."

"That's not what I meant." He said, but then continued to dig his own grave. "Well yes, that's what I meant. But, you know, you're Pepper Potts. The infamous Pepper Potts! Maybe he's scared of you."

She continued to stare at him.

"He's scared of me?" She asked, an eyebrow raising. "Me. He fine with Iron Man and the multiple weapons you carry on you. But it's me he's afraid of?"

Tony let out a deep sigh. Shaking his head slightly.

"Do you want me to talk with him?" He offered.

She shook her head, "No. I'm sure it will pass with time."

He nodded. He watched for a moment, before I small smirk came across his face.

"You know," He said moving to wraps his arms around her waist and nuzzle her neck. "You used to terrify me."

He felt her laugh slightly as she relaxed into him, allowing him to distract her from her thoughts for the evening.

Peter stood in the room that had become his in Stark tower. He wasn't sure when that had happened, but shortly after returning from Titan Mr. Stark had told him he was welcome to stay over as often as he wanted. This had caught him off guard considering that Mr. Stark had often tried to distance himself from him. A small part of him wondered what brought on the change, but another, more excited part of him was too happy to care. He knew that he had blacked out on Titan, and he had woken up surrounded by the others that he barely knew. He remembered so little from that time, other than sticking close to the doctor, and a ship arriving. His next memory was waking up in this very room, with Mr. Stark and Aunt May both next to him.

He shook his head at the memory and changed into his pyjamas. He quickly prepared his back pack for school, shoving his text books in, vaguely looking forward to tomorrows history lesson with Miss. Watson.