"I don't understand," Pepper said, softly. "If Stephen found him, why couldn't he just bring him back with him?"

"Because he doesn't have a body to come to, Pep," Tony answered, gently. "The baby is here, and it would make Peter insane or something if the 16-year-old kid finds himself in a tiny little guy like he is here."

"But you said they're the same person."

"They are. Sharing a soul, which is why even when this is all over and we have Peter – 16-year-old Peter – back, we'll still know that we have the little guy in there, too, somewhere."

"Stephen thinks."

"No, Peter told him. So it must be true. Where he is right now, the Mind stone is in complete contact with him without hurting him. He's probably learning all kinds of things. Maybe who shot JFK, who knows?"

"Where's the baby, now?"

"Natasha has him."

"Is he alright, Tony?"

"He's fine, Pep. You'll see. I just wanted to be able to tell you what we learned, and you know how Romanoff is with that kid – in either age. She came up and pretty much held a gun on me and said, give me the toddler or else. What could I do?"

Pepper smiled at him, knowing that he was doing everything that he could to keep her from being afraid. Which meant that he had to be terrified. And she understood that completely. Yes, she loved Peter, and everyone knew Natasha and the others loved him, but it was Tony the boy had connected with strongest, and who had loved him longest, of all of them.

A son in every sense of the word to him.

"What do we do, then?" she asked. "Just wait?"

"Everything is riding on Strange and Wong. They figure it out, and it could be as simple as 'hey, this is what happened' the Mind stone figuring out the solution and then Peter casting the spell to correct it."

"And he'll be okay?"

"Yeah, Pep."

She went to him, then, and put her face in his neck, waiting for him to wrap her in his arms and hold her and comfort her as certainly as his words were trying to. Which he did. Tony tucked his chin on the top of her head and embraced her, tenderly at first and then with more fervor as they both had a chance, in their own minds, to consider the very real possibility that they were going to lose their son. Neither said a word about it to the other, though, and it was a very long time before he finally kissed her and released her.

"We probably ought to go find him," he said. "It's very possible that he's running around on Fury's ceiling waiting for someone to come get him down."

She nodded, and wiped her eyes.

"I'm going to change. I'll meet you in the lounge."

"Okay." He hesitated, and kissed her. "I love you, Pepper Potts."

"I love you, too, Tony Stark." She smirked. "And I'd like some Captain America sheets for our bed. Ask Steve where he found Peter's will you?"

He rolled his eyes, and left her to change.

OOOOOO

Natasha was in the lounge with Tony when Pepper arrived a short time later, now dressed in jeans and a fuzzy sweater. She was holding Peter and she and Tony were sitting in the usual table in the corner. Peter's corner, it was pretty much being thought of, since that was where his blanket and toys were, as well. The spy looked up as she walked over, and wordlessly handed the toddler that was sleeping in her arms over to Pepper, who took him carefully and gathered him into her arms.

Peter roused at the transfer, his breathing becoming a quick stutter as he was startled awake, and his hand tightening on the fabric of Pepper's sweater. She felt him press his face against the delicate skin of her neck.

"Momma…" he murmured, softly, and then was still, although she couldn't tell if he was sleeping or just being quiet.

Pepper felt the telltale sting in her eyes, but she turned her head away from Tony and Natasha as she settled into a chair to hide the moisture until she was able to damp down the sudden surge of worry. Then she turned to them, again.

"Was he good?"

Romanoff's expression was similar to the one she was probably wearing. Sad, but trying to hide it. Worried and not able to hide it. She nodded, though.

"I only have Clint's kids to measure him by, but he didn't pull my hair, or throw up on me, so I'm going to say yes."

Pepper smiled.

"That's a start."

Tony and Natasha continued the discussion that they'd been having – an Avenger discussion. It didn't mean Pepper was left out; they would discuss anything in front of her – even Top Secret things – but she wasn't interested in the payload that was going to Boeing Field the next week and so she tuned them out a little, and turned her attention to the dozing toddler in her arms. Was his breathing the same, steady, pace that it had been the day before? Did he seemed fevered, or was that just the same temperature that all sleeping children have? She wasn't sure. Aware that she was just making herself a wreck by worrying, she tried to distract herself and ran her fingers lightly through the soft curls that were tickling the underside of her jaw.

When Peter stirred at the touch, she knew he was awake. He shifted himself, putting his hands on her breasts and pushing his body away from her enough that he could look up at her. His brown eyes were sleepy, but filled with cheer, and they made Pepper smile, too, despite her concerns.

"Hi, sweetheart."

"Momma."

"Are you hungry?"

"Ice cream."

Tony smiled.

OOOOOOO

"I'm not seeing a connection," Wong admitted., with a tired sigh.

"Because there isn't one."

"Peter didn't say anything about which relic it was?"

"He doesn't know any more than we do," Strange pointed out.

"He looked okay, though?"

"Yes. It's definitely him."

"It'll be interesting to speak with him – once we get him back. Since he's not in his own body at this time, with the limitations that come with it, he can connect fully with the Mind stone. It'll be interesting to see if he gets anything from that contact. Not to mention we can add to what little we have on the soul stone."

"You'll probably have to stand in a lengthy line," Strange said. "I have a feeling Tony and Pepper will want him to themselves for a while, first."

The magician shrugged.

"It's only right." He looked at the books in front of him; stacks of books that they'd been going through, researching the pendant. "I think I'm going to start over," he told Strange.

"With the pendant?"

"No. From the beginning. Knowing everything we've looked at, now, I'd like to start with all three artifacts. See if we missed anything."

"We don't have an infinite amount of time."

"Then we'd better get started, yes?"

Strange nodded.

"Yes."