Author's Note: Just a heads up, everyone: my dad is having open heart surgery this coming week and that's the main reason why my posting has been so erratic, lately. It might not get any better for the next couple of weeks, but I'm committed to writing this story and didn't want anyone to think I had abandoned it, or was tired of it. Just life coming first, this time.

OOOOOOOO

When they arrived at the small field where all of the archery and thrown weapons demonstrations had been taking place over the gathering, there was a small crowd of youngsters around Peter, who had his shirt off and was sitting on a gnarled tree stump holding medical supplies in his hands, Stephen, who was examining the boy's left shoulder blade, intently, and Shuri, who was watching the two with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her expression and body language a sure sign that she was upset.

Tony frowned at her wet cheeks and red eyes, and walked over to stand beside her, automatically sliding an arm around her waist to give her some support. She looked at him, startled by his arrival, which wasn't surprising since she'd been fixated on Stephen and Peter.

"Stephen?"

Pepper sidled up next to the doctor, wanting a better look – especially since she knew Shuri was in good hands with Tony.

"It isn't too serious," the sorcerer supreme assured them. "The bleeding is already stopped, and I'll close it with some stitches to make it heal quicker."

"Stitches?" Tony echoed, his arm tightening on Shuri when the girl sobbed at the response.

"Just a few," came the reply. Strange didn't look at all concerned.

"What happened?" Pepper asked.

"I was showing off," Shuri said, softly. "And I threw a knife at the tree. It hit a knot, we think, because it bounced back and hit Peter."

Tony frowned.

"In the back?"

That was odd, considering he'd have expected those spider senses to tell the boy the danger was there.

"I wasn't watching her," Peter said, smiling at Shuri, as if to reassure. "Azoru and I were rightening the string on his bow."

"She was not showing off," one of the boys said, coming to Shuri's defense. "She was showing me how to throw it. It was just bad luck that it hit the wrong part of the tree and deflected."

"Parker luck," Peter said, nodding his head. "I'm fine, Shuri. Really." He looked at Pepper and then at Tony. "Really."

"Does he need to go home, Stephen?"

"For a little scratch like this? Of course not. He doesn't even need to go back to the tents."

The kid had continued a camping trip after being attacked by a bear, after all. One little knife cut wasn't going to sideline him.

"I'm sorry," Shuri said – to Peter, and Tony and Pepper. "I did not-"

"It was an accident," Peter said, forced to hold still since Stephen was dabbing at the wound with a medicated cloth, making sure it was clean before he started stitching. "And it's okay. Really."

"He's right," Tony said, squeezing her, lightly. "He wasn't standing in front of you, right?"

"No. Of course not."

"He was out of view?"

"I knew where he was," she confirmed.

"Then you did everything right," Pepper told her.

"Yes, don't beat yourself up about it," Tony added. "The gathering has been way too much fun to let something little like this ruin your good time."

"It is not something little," Shuri said, leaning into him, subconsciously, needing more of the support that he was offering. "I could have killed him."

"The boys could have stampeded zebras right at him, last night," Tony pointed out, making several of those young men who had been there that evening shuffle, uncomfortably, until Stark smiled. "And that could have injured him far worse that your knife did. It was an accident, and I'm not going to allow you to stress on this, Shuri. Peter isn't – are you, son?"

"Of course not." The boy shook his head. "He's right. It wasn't really your fault. Any one of them…" and he meant the other teens. "Could have hit that knot and had a knife come back at us. You just have the best aim, is all."

She smiled at that, as he'd hoped that she would.

Tony smiled, too, keeping his hand on her shoulder, but now able to focus on his son – and the doctor.

"Do we need to restrict anything, Stephen?"

"No swimming and no showering for a week. When you get home I'll make sure you have a supply of dressings and show you how to change them. Nothing too active with that arm," he added, looking at Peter. "I don't want you pulling my stitches."

"I can still do bonfire, though, right?"

"As long as you don't make any expansive gestures."

"Alright." He didn't have anything to tell that would require anything like that.

"Beyond that, just make sure you don't make any sudden motions – and no wrestling with Barton when you get home."

"Or anyone here, either," Pepper added, knowing that the boys had been wrestling, somewhat.

Not Peter, but some of the others had been seen testing each others' mettle throughout the gathering. She looked at the other boys – and Azoru in particular – and that particular young man smiled and gave her a slight bow.

"I will keep him from doing anything foolish," he promised her, formally.

Tony smirked, gave Shuri one more affectionate squeeze and released her, pleased that she wasn't looking anywhere near as distraught as she had when they'd arrived in the field.

"Aren't you the one who took him out looking for zebras to chase, last night?"

The young Jabari noble feigned a shocked look that made Pepper smile, since he was almost as serious a fellow as Peter was – and up until recently, far too arrogant and proud to allow anyone to tease him. It was a noticeable change in his demeaner since he'd met Peter and the avengers.

"I do not know what you are referring to," he assured her, his dark eyes amused and clearly enjoying himself. He'd watched Peter interact with Pepper a time, or two, after all. "It was my intention to warn the others that they were doing something dangerous. I would never allow these fine young men to do anything that might get them injured."

The rest of the boys grinned, or rolled their eyes, or shook their heads, well aware that they weren't being thrown under the bus by their fellow accomplice.

She tilted her head.

"And the bees?"

Azoru shrugged.

"Everyone knows fresh honey is worth a sting, or two."

Pepper chuckled, reaching over and taking his chin in her hand and shaking it, playfully.

"You are far too clever for your own good, young man." She looked at her son when she realized the grinning Jabari's chin. "Do you need anything?"

"I'm good."

"Stephen?"

"He's good. I'll be done with these stitches in a minute."

"We're going shopping," Pepper told Peter. "So we're not going to be too far away if anything comes up."

Not at all self-conscious about having his parents checking in on him, Peter smiled and nodded, forcing himself not to wince when he felt Stephen start the process of stitching him. Luckily, the surgeon had given him yet another shot of painkiller before he'd started, and had just been giving it a chance to take effect while reassuring Pepper and Tony. It didn't really hurt, but the pressure was there, and the knowledge that it was happening.

"Thank you."

"We'll see you at lunch," Tony added, his arm now going around Pepper. "Shuri? You're invited."

She smiled at that.

"Thank you."

They left, and Azoru smiled at Peter.

"I like your parents."

Which, of course, made Peter smile, too.

Many of the other youngsters nodded their agreement.

"Yeah, they're great," Peter agreed.

"And so is your doctor," Stephen said, drolly, from behind him.

"And so is my doctor," Peter added, cheerfully.