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They say trouble comes in threes, and whoever "they" are couldn't be more right. Tony was looking at the three biggest bundles of trouble he had ever seen in his life.

"So what possessed you three to blow up my lab this time?"

Yep, this had happened more than once, explosions were a pretty regular occurrence in this household.

"Brennan did it daddy!"

Tony looked down to see his five year old daughter, Lilly, pointing a tiny finger at her older brother who was standing to her left. Lilly looked like a miniaturized version of Pepper. Her short, strawberry blonde hair complimented her striking blue eyes that were currently glaring at her older brother. Tony squatted to get to his children's eye level and smiled.

"Oh did he now?" he quipped.

He found the blame game Lilly constantly tried to play very funny, her forehead always got so scrunched up and she made a point to pout with her lower lip. Wow. She was exactly like Pepper. He wasn't mad that his kids blew up his lab on a regular basis, he kept anything valuable or potentially dangerous locked away so they couldn't get to it. He was quite thrilled that they were interested in tinkering around, he also loves how their tinkering tends to ruffle Pepper's feathers. His eyes moved to his son who gave him a somewhat exasperated look.

"It was an accident Dad, I swear." He grumbled

Brennan was seven, he had Tony's mussy brown hair and big, beautiful brown eyes that he learned he could easily manipulate others with. He was normally full of spunk and sass, much like his father, but something had put him in a less than dapper mood.

"I believe you, just tell me what happened"

Brennan sighed and glanced at his father's demolished workbench before he began.

"Well, you know that hoverbike you got me?"

Tony nodded in reply

"Well, it runs out of juice way too fast, and is a pain to recharge. I remembered hearing you say something about how rubidium can create a lot of energy and I wanted to try to harness that energy... But Lilly came in while I was working with it and I got distracted and accidentally dropped some in the glass of water I brought down. Then... you know... Boom!"

Brennan gestured rather violently to show how big the explosion really was.

"I was so close Dad, if only I didn't drop it.."

Tony couldn't help but grin. He was amazed at how inquisitive and truly brilliant his son was becoming. Brennan kind of reminded him of himself when he was younger.

"So, where does your little brother come into the picture?"

A small face peered from behind the rubble that once was Tony's workbench.

"Cris didn't do nuffin Daddy" Cried Lilly

Lilly tended to feel responsible for her three year old brother. Unlike his parents and siblings, he was shy and very soft spoken, his angelic face feigned innocence but Tony knew better than anyone that looks can be deceiving. Cris was just as destructive as the rest of his family members.

"Oh really? Is that true Cris?"

Some unintelligible mumbling came from behind the rubble and the boy's face started to flush.

"What was that? Couldn't really hear you my little man!" Tony teased.

Cris's voice came out as barely a whisper.

"N-no Daddy"

Cris flushed even harder which contrasted with his pale skin and blonde hair.

"You and I both know that the small amount of rubidium Brennan had couldn't cause this big of an explosion"

Pepper's voice rang out through the intercom just as Cris's hazel eyes started to well up in tears.

"Tony! We're late! Pleasetell me you've finished packing."

Tony sighed, he was just starting to have fun.

"Hey, Cris I'm not mad, not at all! You, me and Brennan can all work in the lab together when I get back so there aren't anymore accidents, okay?"

Tony ruffled his son's hair

"Let's go find Mom"

He then scooped up his youngest child and swung him onto his shoulders. The boy let out a delighted squeal as Tony exclaimed

"Come on you guys! I'll race you to Mom!"

The kids started to giggle and scamper about, running out of Tony's demolished lab in a desperate attempt to beat him to their mother.

Pepper was standing with her arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently. She glanced at her watch and heard the sound of her children's laughter down the halls. Her face, which was furrowed and impatient suddenly relaxed into a soft smile. Tony was so good with the kids, it probably helps that he was basically one himself. The four came tumbling into the living room, full of laughter and squeals, but the sight of their tattered clothes and faces covered in soot and God knows what else made her eyes go wide.

"Oh my God, the sitters will be here any minute! You three need to get cleaned up... NOW!"

The three scurried off, still snickering and giggling from the fun they had with their dad.

Pepper sighed and slumped into the nearby leather sofa. Tony plopped down next to her and crossed his arms in thought.

"You know, Brennan's right.. his hoverbike runs out of juice too fast. Did you know he was experimenting with harnessing energy from rubidium?"

Pepper let out an exasperated moan

"Tony, you know how I feel about him having a hoverbike, let alone giving it more "juice""

Tony chuckled while he remembered the many times Pepper looked like she was about to have a heart attack while Brennan would wiz around on his red and gold hoverbike, leaving a path of wreckage in his wake.

"Wait.. Brennan was messing with rubidium?"

Tony could tell he was probably going to be in trouble, so he stood up and tried to back away.

"I should... uh... finish packing"

"No need, I figured you hadn't packed so I did it for you."

"What would I do without you?"

Pepper couldn't help but smile

"Sorry.. I'm just worried what kind of trouble the kids will get into while we're gone" She sighed

"It's hard enough to deal with one of you Tony, let alone three mini-yous"

Tony raised his hands in mock defense and retorted in a teasing tone

"Hey! Don't blame it all on me! They're your kids too, you get some of the credit"

"Oh really? How much? Twelve percent?"

Tony pretended to cringe at Pepper's comment

"Oooh, over seven years and I still have to pay for that comment? Holding quite a grudge, aren't we? I'd say with these babies you get..."

Tony paused and pretended to do calculations in the air.

"... Fifty percent of the credit"

"Is that so?"

Pepper smirked as she scooted closer to Tony, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Well, of course they get all their genius, badassery and just all around awesomeness from yours truly" he teased

"And if they get all that from you, what do they get from me?"

Tony paused. Pretending to think long and hard, pouting out his bottom lip for extra effectiveness.

"They're gorgeous" He whispered as he leaned towards her lips

"Just...Like...You."

His voice trailed off at the last word as he pulled her in for a breathtaking kiss. After seven years he couldn't get over how lucky he was. Pepper is the most amazing woman he has ever met.

Unfortunately this kiss was interrupted by a sharp squeal coming from behind them. Tony was seriously considering changing Lilly's name to "The Squealer"

"EEEEW! BRENNAN! CRIS! MOMMY AND DADDY ARE KISSING!"

Pepper and Tony broke apart and both let out an exasperated sigh. This vacation couldn't come fast enough. They turned to look at their daughter who skittered away once her eyes met with theirs.

"Mr. and Mrs. Stark, you have guests at the door" Chimed JARVIS

"Oh thank God" Pepper exclaimed with relief.

She hopped off the sofa, but not after stealing another kiss from Tony and receiving a slap on her rear as she turned to answer the door as Tony walked behind her. Pepper tried to fix her messy hair and took a deep breath before opening the door to the people who will be watching the kids for the next few days. She grinned, probably at the thought of finally getting a break from having to play "Mom" 24/7. Her grin widened as she swung open the door.

"Thanks so much for coming you guys!"