When the door closed behind her, Shuri looked around the room with interest. True, it was much smaller than her bedroom at the palace – even smaller than her workroom, really – but she wasn't offended. It wasn't permanent, after all. It was a place for her to sleep while she was there, nothing more. But it was also in Tony Stark's house. She knew that she probably shouldn't be as excited as she was about that – he'd made his point clear when he'd pointed out that what she'd done was wrong and dangerous – but she couldn't help it.

She was here!

Not just in America – which was exciting in itself – but in New York, and more importantly, in Tony Stark's house. She had actually spent time with him – and would have a chance to spend more before she left. Even if she managed to get through to her father that day (and that wasn't a given since he might be someplace where he would have to have a message sent to him rather than a direct call) he would still have to send someone to collect her, and that wouldn't be immediate.

At the least, she was guaranteed the next 24 hours, and that was exciting.

Shuri walked over to the bed and set the bags that Pepper Stark had handed her down, grinning. Shopping at Walmart had been fun, even though she'd shopped with Pepper and not with Mr. Stark. There had been so many things! Food, and clothes, and things that she had no idea what they did. So many people, too. None of them were haggling over the prices like they did in the markets back in Wakanda, and that had been odd, but it had also been fun when she and Pepper had chosen a sun dress for her and had then found her three pairs of jeans. Real blue jeans! Just like she saw people wearing in videos. She'd been so excited that Pepper had suggested that she have more than one pair – even though Shuri knew she wouldn't need so many changes of clothing. The girl had been eager, though, and had been sent into a changing room to try them on – and they'd fit the first try.

Several t-shirts (two plain, one Captain America one, and an Ironman one), and a sweatshirt (bright pink!), and then socks, underwear, and a pair of tennis shoes had also ended up in the wheeled cart that Pepper pushed through the store. Other things, as well. A toothbrush and paste (Shuri hadn't even thought of that when she'd packed her things), a pair of green striped pajamas, and a backpack to put all of her new things in.

Pepper had seemed to have almost as much fun as Shuri had.

Now, they were at the house (and it wasn't as amazing of a dwelling as she'd expected for Tony Stark to live in with his family). It wasn't particularly large (she'd expected a huge mansion with many servants) but it was comfortable, and there was plenty of room for the three of them, obviously. Shuri had been led to the guest room and Pepper had smiled down at her.

"Can you think of anything we missed?" she'd asked, kindly.

Shuri had smiled and shaken her head. Pepper was much nicer than Tony Stark.

"Nothing."

"There are towels in the bathroom if you want to take a bath," she'd said. "Or just take some time to relax. Change into your new clothes if you'd like. We won't be eating dinner for a while, so it'll give you a chance to settle in."

"Thank you."

Pepper had left, then, and Shuri found herself alone.

She rummaged through the bags – and her bag from Wakanda – and had pulled out jeans and the Ironman t-shirt. Then she'd hesitated and put it back, opting instead for one of the plain ones. Tony Stark might not approve of her wearing the Ironman one, just then. She was sure he was still annoyed with her – although he wasn't being firm like he had been in his office – and she didn't want to make him mad. Hurrying out of her Wakandan casual clothing – which was comfortable but not as casual as what was waiting for her – Shuri pulled on the jeans and the t-shirt and then folded the rest as neatly as she could and put it in one of the dresser drawers.

Then she looked around, again.

There was a television, and the stand beside her large bed had a remote for it. It wasn't interfaced with JARVIS, apparently – which was disappointing – but she climbed up onto the bed and settled against the comfortable pillows before reaching for the remote and turning the TV on. Flipping through the many channels was incredible and annoying all in one (so many choices but nothing that looked too interesting). She yawned, finding an animated show, and set the remote aside, leaning back, more, and closing her eyes as her long day started catching up to her now that she was someplace that she could relax.

Within moments, she was asleep.

OOOOOOOO

"Well?"

Pepper smiled as she joined her guys in the kitchen.

"She's settling in."

"Can I go see her?" Peter asked, hopefully.

"Let's give her a chance to relax, first, buddy," Tony said, offering Pepper a cup of coffee. "She's had a pretty busy day, and she's in a strange place. She might just need a chance to get her thoughts together."

"Oh. How long does that take?"

Pepper smiled at the question.

"Why don't we wait until she comes out here?" she suggested. "Did you have a good time at the amusement park?"

The distraction worked – of course – and the boy nodded.

"It was great."

"Did Barnes ride the rides?" Tony asked.

"All of them."

"Did he throw up?"

Peter laughed.

"No. Steve didn't, either – although Sam said if he rode any more rides he was going to. Especially after we had lunch."

Pepper rolled her eyes at Tony for the question but Stark just smirked.

"What else did you guys do?" she asked, coming around the island to find a package of cookies. There was still some time before dinner, like she'd told Shuri, so she'd give her son something to munch on while he told them about his day. "Did you play games?"

"Yeah." Another smile. "I didn't bring any stuffed animals home, though."

They all knew by then that Peter was a pretty good aim and he excelled at most of the carnival games. Rather than be inundated with a plethora of stuff animals, the rule was that he had to give them away before he left the park. It was a good rule, really, because he enjoyed giving them away to other kids – especially the giant stuffed animals.

"Good."

"Although I would have brought one for Shuri if I'd have known she was coming."

Tony rolled his eyes, but he was in a better mood than he had been, earlier. Part of it was that he was home, now, rather than in the office, but he knew that most of it was that he had Peter and Pepper to himself, now, rather than being forced to share her attentions with the people at the tower and sharing Peter's with whoever he was spending time with that day. True, they had Shuri with them, but that wasn't the end of the world, was it?

"It's just as well that you didn't know she was coming," he told his son, picking an Oreo off the plate when Pepper pushed it toward them.

"Because then you'd be mad I didn't tell you?"

"I wouldn't be happy," he agreed.

"And you wouldn't have let her come?"

"Not alone." He pointed his cookie at the boy. "Don't you ever even think about doing something like that. Understand?"

Peter nodded, his expression telling Tony that he knew he was serious about what he was saying.

"I won't."

"Good." He winked at Pepper. "Now tell us what else you did, today."

They had time, after all. Even for the play-by-play they both knew Peter would give them.