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Chapter 19 - Football at Sunset

The Doctor popped onto a grassy island. It was night and the wind blew wildly around them to warn them of an approaching storm. Off in the distance, thunder rumbled. Samuel complained immediately.

"Yes. It is cold. I'm sorry about that. Wasn't thinking, son." He told him as he quickly went to the door of the modest cottage and knocked.

Bruce Banner opened it and seeing the baby in the Doctor's arms said, "Oh, man. Get in here. It's freezing out there." The Doctor stepped in, rubbing Samuel's back. Bruce brought him a blanket, which he wrapped around Samuel quickly.

"See, you are fine. You are already getting warm."

Samuel put his fingers in his mouth and lay his head on his Daddy's chest.

Bruce looked at him and smiled, "He's cute. What's his name?"

"This is my son, Samuel." The Doctor told him, proudly.

Bruce smiled at him. "You must really believe I have a handle on this to bring him out here-"

"I know that you don't want to hurt anyone. Especially, a small child. It's not something I worry about."

Bruce nodded. "Well, I trust me. I just don't trust the other guy. And it's not like….we….chat."

The Doctor chuckled, "True. Well, Bassiano told me you had some problems."

Bruce groaned, "I think we've repaired most of the damage I've done. I can't believe I did that. I'm so sorry."

The Doctor looked around and saw where beams of the house had been mended together. It looked like someone had driven a tank through the cottage.

Bruce continued as he ran his hand through his hair nervously. "Bassiano was a huge help. Along with Exton and Mortimer. Seriously. I couldn't have saved the house without them. Some areas I still am a bit worried about."

The Doctor shook his head as he looked around. "Bassiano is trained engineer. I have his assurances that everything is fine, otherwise I would have already had them take you someplace else to work.

Bruce nodded. "I appreciate that. I didn't know that about him."

He smiled, "Yeah. All of these guys are rather clever. Bassiano has helped rebuild a few things. Now that I'm back, they can get all of this sorted and it will be as if it never happened. Trouble is, you'll have to be out of it when they do."

"Yeah, he tried to explain it to me and it was just way over my head. I'll just trust whatever you want to do. It's your place anyway."

The Doctor rubbed Samuel's back. "It's your place. Treat it as such. Anyway. I'm not here for that, I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Bruce groaned and pointed to the sofa. They both sat down. "I'm fine. Just getting frustrated. I thought this would be an easy fix after I had the answer of what went wrong. It's only raised more questions."

"That's why you got angry."

"This shouldn't be taking this long."

The Doctor shook his head and held up his hand, "No. No. No. Understand. These things take time. You are not on any sort of time table here. Bruce, if this takes years, I'm fine with that. You do not have a deadline."

Bruce sighed, "It's just…."

The Doctor looked back at Samuel, who had gotten warm and had gone to sleep. "It's just what?"

"This is probably costing a fortune-"

"And it's worth every penny if it helps. Bruce, you don't owe me anything. This happening to you was an accident. But, some good can come from it. Relax."

Bruce smiled, "Relax?"

The Doctor nodded. "Yes. In time, you can figure out a way to sort yourself out."

"And if not?"

He looked back at Samuel, "Oh, imagine the research that would come from this."

Bruce smiled.

"I feel like I should have probably explained this better from the beginning."

Bruce shook his head. "No. It's fine. It's me. I'm just not used to people…..well, no one would do something like this. Why are you so invested in it?"

"Because simply, every one matters. You're no exception."

Bruce smiled, "Thank you, Doc. Oh! You said you had some virus you wanted me to take a look at?"

He leaned back and reached in his pocket. He tossed him a small thumb drive. Bruce caught it and nodded, "So, a virus?"

"Extremely deadly. It's so small. Nearly the size of a molecule."

Bruce looked surprised, "Viruses are not that small."

"This one is. Give it a look, if you need a break from working on this for a bit. But, don't feel that you are under any obligation-"

"No, I welcome a distraction at the moment. I'm just getting nowhere with this."

"Sometimes, you just have to take a step back to sort something out."

Bruce nodded, "Yeah. This virus sounds interesting. Hypothetical?"

"For the moment, yes." The Doctor stood up. "And if you don't mind, I'm going to borrow a blanket from you. I'll make sure you get it back.

Bruce laughed under his breath. "It's my pleasure. Thank you for stopping by. I'll fully admit, you've put my mind at ease."

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Exton tossed a football from the bottom floor of Tony's penthouse suite to Soler and Tony Tyler, who stood on the balcony on the floor above. Pepper stood in the kitchen, sipping a glass of wine and smiling at their playful laughter.

Exton pointed up at them as he held out his hands. "Right. Drop it directly into my hands, Tony."

Tony dropped the ball. Exton took three steps back to catch it. "Harder than it looks, isn't it?"

Tony groaned. "That's a trick. That doesn't make any sense."

Exton laughed and held up his finger. "Okay. Boys. Be quiet. Samuel is sleeping and John is on his way. Pepper, is it alright if he pops in here?"

She nodded her head. "Sure."

The boys disappeared into a bedroom. Pepper looked up to see the Doctor standing next to Exton holding Samuel wrapped in a blanket. She laughed, "A bit extreme for walking him around isn't it?"

The Doctor laughed, "Yeah. Walked him all the way to New York. No wonder he went to sleep."

"It's amazing you haven't collapsed from the journey." She teased.

He sat down at the bar and she poured him a glass of wine. She ate from a bowl of grapes in front of her. "Exton? Wine?"

Exton politely refused. "If you don't mind, I need to pop to the ship for a bit. John?"

The Doctor adjusted Samuel in the blanket, and slipped the wine. "I'll be here for a bit. Sure."

Exton disappeared.

Pepper offered him some grapes. "Comfort food?"

The Doctor chuckled and grabbed a handful. "I've never heard of grapes referred to as that."

She smiled, "Maybe it's just me. Tony teases me about it."

The Doctor smiled at her, "What's Tony's comfort food?"

"Defiantly, Scotch."

The Doctor laughed, sipped the wine and then looked at it in his glass. "This is the same wine that you gave to Rose to try."

"It is. I'm surprised you recognized that."

He took another taste. "My sense of taste is very strong. This isn't from the same….ummm…barrel, but it's the same sort."

Pepper looked impressed, "It's Tony's favorite. We always have a case of it here. Rose said she liked it."

"She loved it. I need to have Michelle order us some."

"Rose said you don't like red wine."

"I like this red wine. It…has a…wood taste to it."

Pepper looked surprised, "Wood? Really?"

"Yes. The vineyard must use wooden barrels. Some use those metal ones that just leave a terrible taste in your mouth."

"John, this is interesting. What else can you taste?"

He sipped it again, "I can also taste, mint and this….an odd flavor that I can't figure out."

"Maybe you pick it out if you drink enough of it."

"That's my current plan." He told her as he drank it again.

Pepper looked impressed, "So, you know about wine. Where does that come from?"

"I picked it up someplace. Wine, the most ancient alcoholic drink on Earth. Over 10,000 years old. This drink, has probably saved the human race. The high alcohol content from natural fermentation kills bacteria very efficiently."

Pepper nodded, "I've never thought about it that way. And believe me. I've thought about wine a lot in my life."

The Doctor smiled, "Life with Tony probably promotes it, huh?"

She laughed, "Indeed, it does. Tell me, who drinks more wine than anyone in the world?"

He looked back at Samuel, "Vatican City. Which really isn't that surprising when you think they are using in the Catholic masses there."

Pepper looked impressed, "I was going to say Luxembourg."

"They are second."

Pepper smiled at the sleeping baby. "How long as he been asleep?"

"Eighteen minutes and ….. Almost twenty minutes." He laughed.

She giggled at him, "Tony would be proud. Good job."

He smiled. "Yeah."

They both looked up at the sounds of the children playing upstairs.

Pepper smiled, "Something I never thought I would hear in here."

"Well, I know this isn't something you are used to."

She held up her hand, "Dealing with a child? Have you met Tony Stark?"

He sipped the wine and laughed, "Well, that is true….but-"

She smiled, "We'll be fine. Although, I have no idea what I'm going to do with him during the day while Tony is gone."

"Send him to the island to play with the children. Ress won't mind looking after him. It will be good for him to be around the other children."

"Are you sure?"

He looked down at Samuel, who stretched his arm outside of the blanket. "He's getting warm. Yes, it's completely fine. He'll be safe. Don't worry about him. Exton or Mortimer can bring him in the morning and bring him back in the evening when you are ready for him. Tony stays with us during the day. Howie's son is there a lot, too. We really don't mind."

She nodded, "That would work. Gosh. If everything could be that simple."

He unwrapped Samuel from the blanket and tossed it on the stool next to him. He blew in Samuel's face as he continued to sleep. "What else is going on?"

She sipped her wine, "I believe I've worked out everything. Damn CNN though. They wanted Tony to come on and do an interview tomorrow night. He's only postponed it about three times."

"He hates the press."

"I can't say I blame him. I hate him doing it. It's always a circus for weeks afterwards."

The Doctor chuckled. "What do they want to talk to him about?"

She sighed, "The Expo. Weapons. Him being held captive always comes up, even though he shuts them down. And this new business you guys are doing together. He was going to announce that at the Expo tomorrow, before the interview. Ugh. We'll just-"

"Let me do it. That will keep the madness down a bit."

She looked surprised, "Really? Are you sure?"

He sipped his wine. "I am. I know as much as he does about all of that. And, it will keep him off the telly."

"Oh, that's a dream come true. Thank you, John. He's…just…so unpredictable." She smiled.

The Doctor rose an eyebrow at her. "How is that going? You and him? He said he had news we needed to drink champagne to celebrate with on the way home."

"He did? Did he say why?"

"No. He said he couldn't say. He was very….vague."

She glared at him through her eyebrows. "Vague? Are you telling me everything you know?"

The Doctor pointed at her with his free hand. "You know, you can be rather frightening. Yes, that's all he said. Why are we celebrating?"

She finished her wine, "Probably that I haven't killed him."

The Doctor laughed at her. "Well, that's something to drink to."

She refilled her glass. "And there's another thing I wanted to ask you about-"

"I might not be able to tell you-"

"Oh, you are going to tell me, John."

He finished his wine and smiled. "Oh, my mate is in over his head."

She poured him another glass. "I've noticed that Tony has stopped drinking. He's only had maybe a glass of wine. No, a half a glass of wine, in the past few days."

"The palladium build up in his blood stream is leaving a bad taste in his mouth. He told me that he can only drink water. I suggested spearmint water. "

"Okay, I've seen him drinking that. Yes. That makes sense."

"He took his medicine with him. Hopefully, he can get some rest with Lenox. It's a beautiful place there."

She nodded. "Hopefully. He sent a text. It doesn't look like there is any other way for them to contact us."

The Doctor tapped his head. "I can talk to the Quauthin that are with him. So, if there's an emergency, we'll know immediately."

"That really doesn't make me feel too much better, John."

"Well, he's with Lance, who is about to enter the Trials to become a Primus. Lenox, who is a Primus. Logan and Legate. And Legate, is very impressive. I can't even tell you, but….trust me. Tony's not terrible himself. They will be alright."

She smiled, "What are they doing?"

He looked down at Samuel while he spoke to them in his head. "Legate says they are having something to eat. Phipps, Lenox's wife, is an excellent cook. Oh hell."

"What?"

"Tony is showing the children how to blow bubbles in their drinks."

Pepper laughed, "See? He's just a tall child."

He laughed and sipped his drink.

XxxxxXxxxxxXxxxx

Tony Stark stood leaning on a fence watching the sun set behind the grassy hills. They had been on Photoria since earlier that morning. He smiled as the silhouettes of Legate and Logan played soccer with a group of children. He wore his jeans and a black, cotton shirt with long sleeves that he had rolled up. Stubble showed all over his face.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and snapped a picture of the sunset. The wonderful aroma of the flowers that bloomed all around him, blew in the gentle wind.

He felt a hand on his back. Lenox handed him a blue drink in a glass. "Saw you out here. I guessed you could use a drink."

He took it and smiled back at him. "Thank you, Lenox."

Lenox sipped his own and smiled. "You are most welcome. My youngest son loves this. It's called, 'Naspov.' But, it's mostly water."

Tony sipped the sweet drink and looked down at it. "Tastes like what we would call a blueberry, back home."

"Blueberry. I've never heard of that."

"I'll bring you some next time we come. Your son would love them. They are a, little fruit that grows on small trees. They are really sweet when they are dried."

Lenox nodded and sipped his drink. "Thank you. He would like that."

Lenox leaned on the fence next to Tony to watch the children playing with Legate and Logan. "I'll confess. I don't see what they like so much about this game."

Tony laughed. "I don't either."

"So, you don't play?"

"No. Not that. I prefer boxing."

Lenox nodded and smiled. "Yes! Now, that I enjoy. This….it's just….too….."

Tony nodded. "Don't put a word on it. They get a bit uptight about it."

Lenox laughed. "Legate does."

Tony sipped his drink. "This is beautiful here. Quiet. Simple. Just. Perfect."

"Ah. It's a lot of work. I was thrilled when you lot decided to come wait out the storm here. It's always nice to have visitors. Please know that you're always welcome here."

He smiled at him, "Thank you, Lenox."

"Of course. I'm sorry we don't have any room for you in the house."

Tony waved his hand. "It's really alright. The ships have a place to sleep. We're fine."

"And they are nice ships. Especially, yours. It reminds me of a newer version of my father's."

Tony grinned. "I'm not fully convinced that him and Legate aren't pirates."

Lenox laughed proudly. "I can see why you would say that. But, they are quite the opposite."

Tony turned around and leaned on the fence to look at Lenox. "Yeah. They are Quauhtin warriors. Just like you were."

Lenox motioned for them to go to a table nearby and sit down. "As I understand it, you are someone of importance yourself."

They sat at the table and Lenox refilled both of their glasses with the blue liquid. Tony nodded. "I believe that's the thing I enjoy the most about being away from home. No one knows me. Finally, I can be myself. I don't have to live up to who people think I am. I can finally, relax. Hell, not many people can even say my name out here. At home, no one can forget it."

"There's no place you can go there to properly relax?"

Tony shook his head. "No. Everyone knows me. It's always been that way. My…..umm….girlfriend….." He smiled.

Lenox rose his eyebrow at him. "You're not sure how she will respond to it?"

Tony waved his hand. "Pepper is rather well known herself. But, if people see us together, they know it's us."

Lenox nodded. "I see."

"She was with John, on the ship. That was the most relaxed I've ever seen her, in all of the years we've known one another. She needs to experience that more. She works too damn hard."

"Well, you are always welcome here with her. What does she do?"

"She runs a company. Several, actually. She would say she keeps me out of trouble."

Lenox chuckled, "My wife would say the same about me."

"Her child that requires the most supervision, huh?" He smiled.

Lenox laughed, "Yes. It's true. I am a lot like my father when it comes to thinking up new games for these children. Keeps them on their toes."

Tony smiled, "Keeps it interesting."

"It's good training for a future Quauhtin, which some of them may be. I understand you have a child."

"No. Well. No…well…no. Well. Ugh. Sortof."

Lenox shook his head and chuckled, "I can say that for about 80% of mine."

Tony groaned and laughed as he sat back in the chair. "He's staying with us while Poltious looks for his father. You're the first person to ask about him and I've not given it any thought. I suppose I do have a child. At the moment."

Lenox nodded, "Yes. My father has told me about him. I want to ask if you if you are prepared to keep him if they can't find his father?"

Tony nodded, "Yes. He needs someone."

"Because, I can take him. He would be welcome here among my-"

"No. He's fine. He's with me."

Lenox nodded, "Right. Well, I just wanted to….talk to you about that. It's easier to get them from the beginning-"

Tony sat down his drink and crossed his arms. "No. He's fine. I couldn't do that to him. He already believes his father didn't want him."

Lenox raised a finger to make a point. "And you need to prepare yourself of what you are going to tell this child if that turns out to be true. Everyone doesn't value their children as much as we do."

Tony bit his lip. "So you think it's possible he was sold. The man's own son?"

Lenox shrugged his shoulders. "It is a possibility you need to prepare yourself for in case it is true. Also, what do you plan to do if these creatures that had him come looking for him?"

Tony rubbed the stubble on his face. "Well, they aren't getting him back. It's that damn simple-"

"He legally belongs to him. If he has been sold-"

Tony shook his head. "No. They left him on Andromeda for dead. Threw him away, like trash. He will remain with me, even if I have to…..take him someplace and hide until he's an adult."

Lenox rose his eyebrows. "I'm impressed. You do have this little boy's best interests in mind."

Tony rose his hands, "Why does everyone find that so surprising?"

Lenox held his hand out. "No offense. I just needed to have this chat with you. Believe me, he is a very lucky young man to have found you."

Tony continued to rub the stubble on his face and look out at the soccer players. After a few minutes, "Lenox. You are the youngest ever Quauhtin Primus."

"Yes." Lenox agreed as he refilled their drinks.

Tony looked back at him and rose his hand. "Why, man?"

"Why did I resign?"

"Yes. I mean, I don't understand a lot about it at all. But, as soon as someone says 'Primus', I see how people react. What even is that?"

He sat down his drink. "A Quauhtin Primus is the highest rank one can receive, with the exception of one man. The leader of the Quauthin. Each Quauhtin is worth ten men, but a Primus is worth an entire Army. The way they think, plan, fight, take care of others, it's without equal. The leader of the Quauthin, the King, commands all Quauhtin. Thus, he is the leader of many armies and men. With the support of the families they protect, and the friendships that have been forged. It's a brilliant arrangement that has dated back many generations. Working together, making the universe more peaceful of a place."

Tony nodded his head. "Now that does make sense. How old were you?"

"72. But, my life had always been headed in that direction. From the time I was born, that was my purpose."

Tony looked confused, "I don't understand. When did the purpose change from Primus to….what are you called?"

"Governor General." Lenox pointed to the field where the game continued. "Legate made the decision that changed it. He is my older brother. But, he decided to step down."

Tony shook his head. "I'm not following. He's still a Quauhtin-"

"Oh no. Not as a Quauhtin. From his birthright. You don't know this?"

Tony shook his head. "No."

Lenox sipped some more of the drink and smiled. "Legate's mother, and mine, was royalty. Her father still rules the Quauhtin people. What few of us who are left."

Tony couldn't believe what he was hearing, "Hang on a minute. Your grandfather is a King?"

Lenox nodded. "Yes. Lartius of the Quauhtin. Royal King of the People who live to protect Royalty throughout the Galaxy. Poltious served their family and fell in love with our mother, the daughter of the King. After her death, he couldn't remain there. He said his heart longed for her around every turn of the castle. The Quauhtin people were heartbroken, but he says his pain was worse. He's never returned to our homeworld. He says he cannot even look at the face of the King. To my knowledge, he never has."

"But, then Poltious would be a King."

Lenox shook his head. "No. He's not of noble birth. It skips over him and goes to Legate."

"Because of your mother."

Lenox nodded. "But, Legate has no interest in ruling. Legate survived when the Cyberman invaded our world. We thought he had been taken and killed, but as it turns out, he had taken a large part of the population and helped them resettle on a nearby world. He served there as ruler, keeping them safe. That colony still is the largest ones outside of the homeworld."

Tony shook his head in surprise. "Really? Legate?"

"Imagine our surprise when we found out that not only had so many of the Quauhtin had survived, but my brother was the reason for it. Summus asked him to begin the Trials, but he refused. He said after being the one in charge of so many, he was happy to step back and let someone else serve instead. He was anxious to return to space. Be part of a unit, not a leader of it."

Tony shook his head in surprise. "Legate? That guy out there playing soccer with the children?"

They both looked over in time to see Legate toss his arms up and shout in celebration of a goal someone had kicked.

Lenox chuckled, "I had finished the trials, but had met Phipps. We settled here and started this place. I had mourned the loss of my brother, probably more than even our father had. I knew it was up to me to one day step into our grandfather's role. After Legate was found, he came to see me. Words cannot express how happy I was. He had been groomed for years for it, but after hearing why, it really didn't take me by surprise. He's too much like our father. He knows his duty, and told me that he would do it if I wanted him to. But, I want him to be happy. One day, he might return to serve as a ruler somewhere. I told him to keep it in mind. That option is always open. Our grandfather told us that he loved us equally, and whatever we decided to do, he knew would be right."

"Helpful." Tony teased.

Lenox smiled, "It actually was. Our world was in runes. Two wars, a sickness, and then the Cybermen left very little there. I asked the King to come here, and bring some children who otherwise wouldn't have homes. Look after them and keep them safe. We have a few proper Quauhtin here. In fact, I sent four to the Academy just last week. That's four more that will be keeping the galaxy a bit safer. It only takes one to save someone's life and prevent a war that would take so many."

"But you are all out here, without any protection."

Lenox shook his head. "Oh, this world is protected. It's protected by me. I have my ship just over that ridge there. I don't want the children around it, so it's locked out. My brother in law helped me install a planetary defense system which I control in the house there."

Tony crossed his arms, "I didn't detect it when we came-"

"And you wouldn't have. I had already lowered it to let you in. I also have a few Quauhtin here. They run patrols around the planet and help keep us safe. Trust me, you are always welcome here, but ring me first so I can open the door."

Tony grinned. "Well, alright. You know, these guys that are taking children are able to disguise their ship. Make it disappear."

Lenox nodded, "Yes."

"I have a device that you need. Let me equip it on your ship and your radar system here, so you can see them. Let me help you keep these kids safe here."

Lenox smiled warmly. "I would like that. Thank you."

XxxxxXxxxxxxx