"Tony!" Maria Stark ran over to her son, pulling him into an embrace. She was a little drunk, but she smelt nice. The house was alive with animated chatter and the occasional howl of laughter here and there. A jazz band played in the corner, the double bass bouncing rich melodies around the white wash walls. A caterer handed him and the rest of his party a glass of champagne. Maria led Tony to where Howard was conversing with a group of overweight business owners.

"Ah, and this must be the famous Anthony Stark!" A number of them turned as his mother pushed him towards his father. They all shook his hand, fake smiles plastering their faces.

"Tony, you came!" Howard Stark did not hug his son, but instead smiled, and shook his hand like he was another one of the faceless men surrounding him. Tony smiled back, it didn't reach his eyes. Loki tapped him from behind, handing him a small gift wrapped in an expensive emerald papering. He winked before Howard saw him, and left. Tony turned back to his dad, the little card neatly placed inside the ribbon read 'To dad, happy birthday, love your son, Tony." Tony cringed at the italic hand writing and general phrasing of the card, but handed it over nevertheless. Howard was taken aback, staring at the parcel for a moment or two before giving thanks.

"Anyway, Mr Stark, we shall be over with the Mayor, he shall need to be informed also."

"Yes thank you, gentlemen." Howard smiled, watching as they walked away with a clouded expression.

"Who were they?" Tony asked, puzzled by the look on his fathers face.

"Nobody you need to worry about just yet." Howard smiled warmly, toying with the box. "Thank you, by the way." Tony turned his attention back to the box. Wow this was awkward, he thought. Howard slit the paper, revealing a silver metal box. It had a number of small lights on it, all of which were green and red. It was almost like a miniature treasure chest, had it not been for the flat top. Howard opened it, looking inside. "That's really something Tony… thanks." Tony looked up, trying to get a look. What the hell was it? I didn't get it… What did Loki do? He was shocked that his dad was surprised, and genuinely thankful for something he had done… well not him entirely. Howard closed the box, putting it on the inside of his jacket pocket, then placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Anyway, you don't happen to remember a man called Obadiah do you? You may have met once when you were younger." Well the surprise couldn't last forever, he thought, but whatever was in the box was starting to annoy him now.

"Howard, happy birthday! Oh and Tony, we meet again." Tony looked back at his father, not recognising the man dressed in a beige three-piece.

"I can't say I remember you, sorry, but nice to meet you." Tony shook the man's hand, a kind smile flashed on his face.

"I'm sorry Tony, but, you wouldn't mind allowing us to discuss some business? I'll get back to you later okay?" Howard looked at Tony, giving him his window of opportunity to leave.

"Oh, right yeah sure, seeya later." He waved, walking away to find Loki. He found Pepper instead. She was sitting next to an army general who was in full uniform and discussing air raids from World War II.

"And you see, Hitler was an excellent leader, but a very-" Pepper was about to fall asleep, the man never stopped.

"May I have this dance Ms Potts? Excuse us." He smiled at the general, holding out his right hand to Pepper, who grabbed it and didn't look back only to quickly thank him for such an intriguing history lesson.

"You never liked history."

"I still don't." Tony placed his right hand to the small of her back, swaying to the music. She felt a surge of electricity run up her spine from his touch on her bare skin. His other hand holding hers. He flashed his perfect teeth, making her blush. She didn't feel that way for him anymore… but old feelings die hard. Tony felt the same, although it seemed as if there was always something there with a Pepper, like a massive cloud preventing him from ever feeling like she was the only one for him, a missing piece. He broke the silence first, both of them glad of it.

"Where's Loki?" He asked, searching her eyes. She didn't answer for a minute while she looked back into his.

"Oh… um, I think he met Steve… you know from first year in college?"

"Rogers? What's he doing with him…?" Tony was vaguely interested about Steve, but he had to figure out what was in that box, it was really eating at him.

"I don't know really, but I left them to it. They were both… flirting. I know Steve's gay but is Loki?"

"No, I don't think so…" They both stole a glance, how the hell would he know? Now that you mention it, he never once had a girlfriend, despite the amount of attention he got from most of them.

"Hmm… what about Natasha?"

"Oh her, she dumped me with captain boring over there to meet Clint. He came after all."

"Aw diddums. Poor Pepper." He sympathised sarcastically, she scowled.

"Don't do that it doesn't suit you." Which made her scowl more. The music had changed and they were dancing in completely the wrong time, which others hadn't failed to notice. Maria gestured towards her son to up the tempo a little, before there was a traffic incident with the amount of people they were holding up. Tony quickly took the hint, dancing at a faster pace. Pepper hadn't noticed and before she knew it she was being jumped to and fro suddenly. "HEY!" she hissed at him. He started doubling up with laughter, his mother looking at him in disapproval. He walked her away from the dance floor and they sat down again, finding a plump older woman joining them as soon as their butts touched the seats. She rambled on for what seemed like hours about her old cat, Tibbles. Who died randomly of AIDS. They tried to look interested but Pepper eventually fell asleep on Tony's shoulder, leaving him to deal with her.

He eventually spotted the trio standing a way back, laughing at Tony's current predicament. Another older lady had decided to join him and the pair nattered on about the best way to repair old socks. He growled at them, as they wouldn't come any further. They were what age now? GROW UP he mouthed, wishing them to come and help him out. Loki eventually strode over, Tony glared at him the whole way, and asked could he and his friends be excused from their company. The ladies agreed, and then they caught Loki out, who was not the type to upset old ladies, so his feet stood rooted to the spot.

"I'm sure Ginger was a great mouser, but-"

"And did you know young man that some rats carry diseases!"

"Yes, I was in fact aware of that but-"

"And Tibbles was the best in our neighbourhood for it!"

"I respectfully disagree Merium I think Ginger and Louse were wonderful-"

"That may be so Margaret but Tibbles had four rows of excellent sharp teeth-"

"FOUR! Utter lies utter lies-"

"Excuse me Margaret but I believe-"

Loki backed away slowly, leaving the pair to waffle on. He quickly found the other four and they cleared far away from the tables altogether. They contained either batty old women or angry and bitter ex-army generals.

"Hey, um, so… you'll call me later?"

"Oh, yeah sure. Goodbye" Loki smiled at the man to his right, who had appeared out of thin air. Steve nodded to Tony, turning to go.

"Who was that?" Natasha and Pepper chimed in, making Loki blush.

"Oh just some guy I met…" The pair looked at each other, confused.

"Steve… so you… like him?" Pepper was digging, she had to know though. Loki had turned beetroot.

"I don't know…" He didn't know what to say, they had no idea that he wasn't straight. Thor didn't even know.

"What do you mean you don't know? We've known you for two years now, and you never thought to bring this up?" Natasha was jutting in now too, shocked.

"Its n-not that important…" But he didn't continue in fear of what the two ladies would do, as they glared him down. But they retracted their gazes when Tony broke the silence.

"Leave him alone, you're like eagles fighting over a piece of meat." He gave Loki a look, wow, Loki was gay. Not that there was anything wrong with it, in fact if anything girls never seemed to suit him. Loki gave a look of thanks back as the two girls fell back without a word.

The rest of the night wasn't as bad, the music was good and they danced their feet off. Tony even danced with his mother, whilst the others cooed in the corner over how cute he was. His father blew out fifty candles on a three tiered cake, and after 1:00 when everyone was completely intoxicated, they had the best fun they had in weeks. There were conked out grannies everywhere and the army general had fell asleep into his chair. Leaving the younger people to enjoy the rest of the night. Tony forgot altogether about the box, even when his father had joined him and his friends over drinks. Loki and he were extremely excited over a recent discovery in New Mexico, an odd form of copper extracted from the ground. Tony joined in a few times only to drop out and fall back asleep with Pepper by his side. A cab took them back to their dorms, at around half five, ordered by the caterers, who eventually themselves had to half carry Tony to the car with Loki.