A/N So I wrote this in July, the last chapter promised an update in a few days. Sorry about that, between moving, summer work for uni and my actual job I've not had too much time to update.
Merry Christmas Ms Potts
After Thanksgiving Pepper's mother became more tolerant of her relationship with Tony, although this didn't mean she approved of Tony, just accepted that it was happening. For Adam though having Tony as part of his life was brilliant and this is why in his last basketball game before the winter break he was able to catch the site of Tony, hot dog in hand, sat in the bleachers watching the game, cheering him on.
After the final buzzer went, Adam's team having won, he found himself in the passenger seat of Tony's R8 speeding towards the private runway at Stark Industries. Pepper was at a board meeting in New York and Tony and Adam were flying out to for the weekend. The box from the pizza they'd bought on the way to the airport was sat on the small table between them "So what's the plan for Christmas?" Adam asked
"I'm not sure." Tony replied honestly, all he knew was that this year it was Pepper's turn to have Adam over the holiday period.
"What are you going to get my Mom?"
"What do you think I should get her?" He asked
"No way bro, don't think you get an easy out on this one."
"Come on Adam, help me out here!" Tony pleaded, for the last couple of Christmases he'd just given her his credit card and told her to buy something nice for herself, but clearly as her boyfriend that wouldn't work.
"I dunno I was just gonna get her a necklace." Adam shrugged
"Jewellery?" Tony thought
"Yeah, I've been saving like 10 bucks out of my allowance every month since September."
"Forty dollars?"
"Yeah you can get a pretty nice necklace at Macy's for that."
The conversation didn't really help Tony , who settled down on the couch and began to play COD with Adam until the flight made its descent in to La Guardia.
Pepper was waiting for them when they disembarked the jet, she hugged Adam first before kissing Tony.
"Did you win?" She asked him.
"Of course we did!" Adam told her. "I also made the little league team this year."
"Well done honey!" She said as they walked over to the car where Happy was waiting to take them to Tony's New York penthouse. When they got in the car, Pepper found herself yawning and her eyes began to close.
She awoke to Tony poking her "Wake up boss lady."
"Sorry, you know how those meetings are." She said as she undid her belt to get out of the car.
"Why do you think I never went?" Tony quipped as he led her in to the swanky Upper East Side building.
"God I need a vacation. I don't think this weekend will cover a full recharge." She moaned as they walked off the elevator.
"I thought I was the only who ran off batteries." He joked despite her glare.
Tony found Adam watching TV later that evening.
"I think I've found the perfect gift for your mom."
"Oh really?"
"A vacation, a real one not a weekend off in New York where she'll be doing work anyway. I'm thinking the whole no phones, no emails, no clo…meetings."
"Gross dude, that's my mom." Adam didn't miss the fact Tony was about to say 'no clothes'
"No irritating kids!"
"Aww Tony I thought you liked me."
"Nah, I like your mom not you." The seriousness in his voice was betrayed by his grin. "On a serious note though, do you mind maybe not coming?"
"On your secret sex getaway with my mom?" Adam asked the thought visibly disgusting him. "No, Tony I don't want to come."
"Great, where should I take her?"
"Bro you need to do your own homework. I'm going to bed." Adam stood and left, once again leaving Tony to struggle with where to take Pepper Potts.
… … … … … … … … …
It was Christmas morning in Malibu and the mansion was quiet with the one noticeable exception; Tony Stark was up and about and waiting for his girlfriend's son to wake up.
"Will you calm down Tony! You're like a child." Pepper mumbled from behind her coffee mug.
"Sorry Pepper, but it's…" he looked for the watch he'd yet to put on "JARVIS time?"
"The time in Malibu is 07:13am the weather outside is…"
"Frightful?" Tony enquired
"No sir, but may I congratulate you on your wit?"
"You may." Tony told his AI "You could also wake Adam."
"NO! JARVIS, leave him sleep."
"Of course Ms Potts."
"Peeeeeeppeeeeerrrrrrr." Tony whined.
"Mr Potts is awake." JARVIS announced and five minutes later Adam shuffled in to the kitchen.
"Finally." Tony stood and walked out, leaving a confused Adam and an exasperated Pepper in his wake.
"What's his problem?" Adam asked
"He likes Christmas." Pepper told him
"Mom you're dating a weirdo." Pepper nodded in agreement and followed Tony's path.
Under the tree there was an assortment of gifts, Tony sat on the couch waiting for them.
"Excited Tony?" Adam asked
"Yep." He replied as he stood and moved towards the present pile, grabbing the first one, a small thin box, and tossing it to Adam. "This ones from me."
Adam pulled the paper off and looked at the stack of tickets. "It's two tickets to every remaining dodgers home game, first row right behind home plate."
"Awesome! Thanks Tony." Adam then handed Tony the gift from him. He watched as Tony unwrapped the four remote control F1 cars including the Stark Racing one. "I figured mom would be mad if you tried to race one again."
"Thank you Adam." Tony put the gift down and instructed JARVIS to have the bots create the track markings for the Monaco circuit and then watched as Adam gave Pepper his gift, a small silver necklace. After Pepper finished hugging her son, Tony was handed his gift from Pepper.
"I wasn't sure what to get you so…" Tony cut her off with a kiss.
"I love it, thank you." She'd got him a new watch and given him a copy of the planning approval for the new Stark Tower in NYC, it had been an idea that Tony had discussed with her and now she was going to make it his reality.
There were a few more gifts, ones from family and friends that were opened over the next hour. They included a bottle of Tony's (very expensive) favourite scotch from Rhodey and a set of homemade jumpers from Pepper's mother. Adam also managed to get himself X-Games tickets from his mother and a new custom built surf board from Tony and Pepper as well as new baseball gear that had been sent by his father. It was then time for Pepper to open her gift from Tony, he handed her a card, the same thing he had done every single Christmas.
Potts,
Merry Christmas! You know where my credit card is if you want to buy something nice.
Tony.
P.S. Of course if you don't want to buy something come see me later and I'll give you a gift ;)
She looked at him in shock and then he started to laugh and handed her another envelope quietly whispering "gotcha!" before kissing her lightly.
She looked inside and saw the booking details for a trip to Venice for a week leaving on the second of January.
"Before you complain, I already had your assistant clear your schedule for the week and I'll be switching off your blackberry. The only calls that will get through to us will be from Rhodey who is babysitting Adam."
"I…thank you." Pepper said and kissed him and later that night Tony got the second part of his Christmas gift in the form of Iron Man lingerie modelled by the lovely Ms Pepper Potts.
… …. …. …. … … ….
New Years passed with a much smaller version of Tony's usual madness only a few choice friends were invited including some of Adam's friends and their parents.
Soon enough it was time for Pepper and Tony to depart on Tony's private jet.
"Don't let him stay up too late." Pepper told Rhodey "He'll spend all of his time in the workshop if you're not careful, make sure he does his homework when he gets home from school, actually you'll want to check he's going to school this semester. I've left the number for the doctor with JARVIS…"
"Pepper!" Rhodey yelled to stop her ranting "Relax, he's 13 how much trouble can he really get in to? I mean he's not Tony is he."
"I resent that Rhodes." Tony called from the car where he was waiting for Pepper.
"I love you." She hugged Adam.
"Yeah love you too mom."
TBC…
Next chapter will include the vacation and what Adam gets up to without supervision =p