"You need to relax, little girl," Tony said, amused. "Or your head is going to pop right off your skinny neck and then your mom and dad aren't going to be happy with me…"

Shuri grinned, happily, torn between cheerfulness and excitement. As she had been since Tony had received the call from someone who had told him that her parents had landed and were now on their way to his house.

She'd woken from her nap and had found Peter, Pepper, and Tony all in the living room. With them had been another man who had been introduced to the princess as Colonel Rhodes – and he'd told her to call him Rhodey. They were all playing a card game and had been having a good time, and then had invited Shuri to join them. She'd learned to play UNO easily and had found it to be a fun game – and a very frustrating one. She'd find herself with handfuls of cards that took forever to get rid of – but sometimes she managed to throw down a card that made one of the others have a handful of cards, too. Since it was frustrating for everyone, it wasn't so terrible, and she'd even managed to win a few hands.

They played until it was time to eat. Then Shuri and Peter set the table with help from Rhodes, while Pepper and Tony made a simple but filling meal of spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread. Dinner had been fun for the girl, too. The day spent with Tony and Pepper had relaxed the two adults (mainly Tony) with her even further, and they were more casual toward the girl, treating her like their son, really, when they spoke to her.

As if tossing a stack of plus 4 cards in front of her hadn't proven it quite nicely.

Rhodes stuck around after the meal, helping with dishes while Pepper and Tony hung out in the game room – pointing out that they'd made dinner and so didn't have to do dishes, which had made Rhodey and Peter smile. Shuri was good at dishes, by then, and didn't mind, and it gave her a chance to learn more about the United States military, since that was what Rhodes did for a living. It had been a little boring to her, to be honest (which she was princess enough to not admit aloud) right up until Peter had told his new friend that Rhodey was also War machine. Shuri hadn't known what that meant, but JARVIS had helpfully pulled down a kitchen display unit and shown her a few videos of the War Machine capabilities, and she'd almost dropped the glass that she'd been putting into the dishwasher.

"You are an Avenger?" she'd asked, eyes wide and expression excited.

He'd smirked, looking pleased.

And why not? Who wouldn't like to see that kind of excitement directed at them?

"Yup. When I'm not saving the world in other ways, that is."

The rest of the evening had been spent playing in the game room which had plenty of games and activities to keep two children interested enough that three adults could relax a bit before the arrival of some VIPs, and Shuri had been playing giant Jenga with Peter when Tony had gotten the call.

"It is exciting," she told him, smiling.

"I know." He did, too. "But don't forget you're still in trouble…"

"It was worth being scolded."

Which forced Stark to hide his amusement.

"But you won't do it, again, right?"

"No. It was dangerous and reckless."

She knew better than to reply any other way, of course.

"Good." He looked at her more closely. "Do you think you should change back into Wakandan clothing?" he asked. "Or will they mind that we got you something more casual?"

Shuri shrugged.

"They will not mind," she assured him – and Pepper. "And I like them."

"Fair enough." He looked at Peter, who had climbed onto the pool table and was sitting there watching everything while idly rolling the eight ball. "Best manners, okay?"

The boy smiled.

"Yeah."

Pepper knew that Tony wasn't too concerned. Peter was hardly a hooligan, after all. She ran her fingers through his hair, though, to tame it a little.

"Who all is coming?" Rhodey asked, curiously.

It wasn't the only reason that he'd invited himself over that evening, but when your boss is annoyed because the VIP visit doesn't include any of his high-ranking commanders or officials and tells you that maybe you should take advantage of your friendship with Tony Stark and get invited to the VIP visit, you go. He didn't mind; he enjoyed every chance that he hads to see Peter (and Tony and Pepper, of course).

"The king, the queen, the son, and three Dora Milage…"

"What's a Dora Milage?" Peter asked, curiously – beating Pepper and Rhodes to the question.

It was Shuri who answered, and she giggled.

"Milaje," she corrected, giving it the correct pronunciation. "They are the royal guardians. They are very fierce fighters. I will be one, one day, I think."

"Not queen?" Rhodes asked, smiling.

"No. My brother will be king, and I will get to work on Wakanda's technology and build amazing devices and be a famous scientist."

"And a Dora Milaje," Peter added.

"Right."

"Ambitious," Tony said, smiling his approval.

"Do we need to figure out some kind of ceremony?" Pepper asked Tony. "Did Nick mention anything?"

"Nope. They're not here on an official visit," he told her. "We'll just treat them like VIPs and hope for the best."

She smirked, but Rhodey replied.

"Maybe we should let Pepper do all the talking…?"

Tony wasn't offended.

"Probably."

OOOOOOOOO

"A small caravan of vehicles has just been admitted through the gate."

Shuri jumped up from where she'd been sitting on the couch, trying to allow the Disney movie they'd been watching distract her, but still too excited to let it.

"They're here!"

"And you aren't wearing shoes," Tony said, reaching out and catching her around the waist with one arm before she could run out the door. "They can come to us. That way you don't step on something on the porch and get gangrene right before they come to get you."

Pepper snorted, amused, as she stood up, as well.

"I don't think that's how gangrene works, Tony," she pointed out. "Come on. We can meet them at the door like civilized people."

The five of them walked over just as the SUVs and the limousine pulled to a stop in front of the house, and despite his concerns, Tony did lead them out onto the porch. It was a better location for a first meeting than forcing each through the front door one at a time, after all. Besides, the porch was swept clean by the yard guys that took care of the rest of the landscaping, so there wasn't anything to step on, really.

Shuri stood beside Peter, and the kids were flanked by Tony and Pepper, while Rhodes stood to the other side of Tony and they watched as a SHIELD driver got out pf the limo and came around to open the door, while several other SHIELD agents and three women in Wakandan outfits also joined them, looking around intently. Nick Fury, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff also got out of the car – from the other side and walked around to stand close at hand while the back door was opened.

A moment later, the king of Wakanda stepped out of the car, glanced at the porch and the waiting audience, and then turned his attention back to the interior of the car long enough to offer his hand to someone. His wife stepped out a moment later and moved enough to allow T'Challa to exit the sleek vehicle, as well, and the door closed behind them.

Nick said something none of those waiting on the porch could hear and then led the three newcomers toward the group.

"Mother!"

Shuri had waited long enough and jumped down the steps to go rush to her mom, who smiled and swept her up into her arms, hugging her closely. T'Chaka rested a hand on his daughter's head and the little girl smiled over at him before burying her face in her mother's shoulder, squeezing tightly and clearly happy to be reunited.

So much for the worldly traveler, Tony thought, forcing back his smile as Nick led the king and queen to the stairs.

"Tony…"

Stark and Pepper walked down the steps with less enthusiasm than Shuri had shown, but clearly interested in their visitors.

"Nick."

"Someone I want you to meet." He gestured to each as he introduced them. "King T'Chaka. Queen Ramonda. Prince T'Challa. This is Tony Stark. His wife Pepper. Their son, Peter, and Colonel James Rhodes."

The king stepped forward.

"Mr. Stark. It is an honor to meet you."

"And you, your Majesty." The man offered Tony his hand, and Stark took it. (He hadn't been sure if the Wakandans shook hands and hadn't thought to ask Shuri). Then he gestured toward Pepper, who stepped up, as well. "My wife, Pepper."

"It is a pleasure," T'Chaka said, taking Pepper's hand and brushing it against his lips.

She smiled.

"Thank you. Welcome to our home."

The king's smile was more relaxed than ceremonial, as if he'd been uncertain what kind of reception he'd get from the people who had been set upon by his daughter without asking for such a responsibility.

"My wife, Ramonda."

Tony kissed the queen's hand, while the two women simply shook hands and nodded. Of course, Ramonda still had Shuri in her arms, so it was a bit of a hindrance.

"This is my son, T'Challa," T'Chaka told them as the prince stepped up to offer his hand to Tony and then took Pepper's. "My heir."

"Mr. Stark," T'Challa said. "It is an honor."

"Call me Tony," he replied, shaking the young man's hand. "Good to meet you, as well."

"I'm Peter," Peter said, unable to wait for his own introduction any longer. He stepped up between Tony and Pepper and offered T'Chaka his hand. "You can call me Peter."

The king snorted, not at all offended by the introduction and lack of ceremony. He simply took the boy's hand and shook it.

"It is a pleasure, Peter," he assured him. "You may call me T'Chaka."

"Wow."

"Let's finish the introductions inside," Nick suggested, knowing that it was a good way to cut the greetings short. There were others to be introduced, after all – including Rhodes and Okoye. "Do you have refreshments, Tony?"

"Of course." Stark reached down and caught Peter up into his arms to avoid him being bumped into. "Let's go inside, your Majesties."

"Thank you."