"Pepper," Tony said, standing up. She looked between him and Chris.

"Ms. Potts," Chris said, standing beside Tony. "If you have things you'd like to say, then we should go down to the apartment." Pepper looked around and saw the teenagers and children staring at her.

"Is there a problem?" Scott asked, getting up to stand in front of Gabe and Annie.

"You don't need to concern yourself with this, Slim," Tony said. "Pepper." She nodded shakingly and went into the elevator.

"You want me to go with you?" Chris asked quietly.

"The kids-"

"We'll keep an eye on them, Tony," Peter said. "Between the four of us, our age matches yours, right?" Chris hid his amusement by faking a cough.

"Keep it up, Underoos. I can throw you in the gym faster than you can blink. You four can help clean this mess up." He looked at Chris. "And you don't seem to complain when I-"

"Tony!" Chris protested, his face turning red.

"Take him and go, Dad, please," Scott begged. Chris pushed Tony to the elevator, Tony laughing the whole way.

"So," MJ said while the game was paused. "Your dad and Tony Stark?"

"Yeah," Scott said defensively. "You got a problem with that?" She looked at Scott and Peter, grinning.

"So you're basically brothers now."

"Yep," Alex said, popping a peanut M&M in his mouth. "Tony has as much a say in our lives as Dad, and same for Peter with Dad."

"And they've managed to keep it out of the news this long?" Ned asked in awe.

"They don't go out in public together. Dad's usually busy with his company and Tony's here or with the Avengers," Scott said. "Your turn, Annie. And don't ask about 8's again, ok? We don't have any."

"Ugh. You're so boring, Scotty," Annie complained. Scott stuck his tongue out at her.

"The great fifteen year old," Alex said, rolling his eyes. "There are days when I seriously wonder if I'm more mature than you." Scott mocked his brother, drawing a laugh from their youngest siblings.

"Is it weird?" Ned asked.

"Is what weird?" Peter replied.

"Having Iron Man as a… a dad."

"It's different," Scott said. "He's completely different from how the media portrays."

"He's not good at playin' dolls," Annie said firmly.

"That's cuz boys stink," MJ said knowingly.

"Yeah! Stinky boys!" MJ put her controller down and walked over to where Scott, Annie, and Gabe were playing cards.

"Are you the only girl here?"

"Ms. Nat brushes my hair sometimes," Annie told her.

"Guess I'll just have to come around a lot so the stinky boys won't corrupt you."

"And play dolls?!" MJ grinned.

"I love playing dolls."

"You do?" Peter asked.

"What, is that so surprising?"

"Not at all," Ned said, elbowing Peter in the ribs. MJ turned her attention back to Scott.

"Are you enrolling in Midtown for next semester?"

"Looks that way," Scott said, trying not to look at her.

"So that means you'll be able to bring me by to play dolls with your sister."

"Um… Sure, as long as my dad and Tony are ok with it."

"I wonder how it's going with Ms. Potts," Peter said. "She and Tony were engaged until last year."

"What happened?" Scott asked.

"She couldn't take his life as Iron Man."


"I can't believe this!" Pepper said, pacing back and forth in front of Chris and Tony. "And here I thought you were just avoiding me because I wanted to talk about our engagement!"

"What engagement?! You broke it off, Pep! Or do the words 'Tony I can't live like this anymore, here's your ring back' mean something different to you?!"

"It didn't mean our entire relationship was over!" Chris rubbed the back of his neck, completely uncomfortable.

"We were only together for SI functions from that point on!"

"And who even is this guy?! Someone after your-!"

"Don't you dare," Tony growled.

"Oh my God. He's the guy from Alaska you built that hangar for, isn't he?!"

"What are you doing here, Pepper?" Tony asked tiredly.

"I'd heard about May and I knew Peter would be here-"

"How?" Chris asked Tony. "He only came into the picture earlier this year."

"It doesn't mean I don't brag about him," Tony explained. "I still have to sit in on meetings occasionally."

"Do you know Peter?" Chris asked Pepper.

"I don't see why I have to answer you," Pepper said angrily. Chris crossed his arms and looked at her.

"That boy is as good as my son-"

"So you've inserted yourself in here to play family with a billionaire?"

"That certainly seemed like what you were trying to do," Chris said, scoffing.

"Tell him he can't talk to me like this!" Pepper demanded. Tony looked at her and then turned to Chris.

"She's the CEO of SI," he said.

"Great," Chris said. "Then I hope you two have a wonderful time together talking about business." He started stalking off towards their room and Tony grabbed his hand.

"Don't do this, Bear," he pleaded. "She's only in my life as a professional relationship-"

"I'm not comfortable with her being around you," Chris said, eyeing Pepper over Tony's head. "If it was only professional on her end, she wouldn't be having an issue with this. With us."

"Chris-"

"I'm not asking you to choose me over your company," Chris said, returning his gaze to Tony. "But please try to understand how I might be feeling. Your ex fiancée has walk-in privileges to the place you're calling our home? What if the kids were out and you and I were on the couch having a moment to ourselves and she walked in? I accept that I have no say in who works for you, but I should have a say on who can walk in without permission."

"You're right," Tony said. "I can restrict her access. I should have, but I hadn't been here for months, and then May died, and now here we are."

"I'm sorry, Tony," Chris said, running a hand through his hair.

"I'll do whatever you ask me to, Chris," Tony said, completely serious.

"I know," Chris said with a sad smile. "And that's why all I'll ask is for the restriction to this floor."

"That's it?"

"I wouldn't be opposed to something else later tonight," Chris said, quickly looking down Tony's body before returning to his eyes.

"I can make that happen, Big Bad." Chris looked at Pepper, who was still angrily looking at the couple.

"I'm going back up to the kids," he said. "I want her gone from our home."

"Consider it done." Chris nodded and dropped his lips to Tony's, clearly marking his territory in front of the red head.

"Ms. Potts," he said as he passed her to get on the elevator. Friday took the elevator up to the top floor and Chris exited, relieved to see Alex, Ned, and Peter playing video games and Scott, MJ, Annie, and Gabe playing a card game.

"Dad," Scott said once he realized Chris was watching them. "Everything ok?"

"Just fine. Ned, MJ, do you two feel like joining us for dinner? We're ordering out."

"Sure, Mr. Summers," MJ said. "Thank you."

"Pizza? Chinese? Subs? What do you kids feel like?" The group looked at Peter to allow him to choose.

"Chinese," he requested.

"Great. I'll just… I'll order a bunch of things and we can all share."

"Daddy, I don't like Chinese-"

"I'm not doing this tonight, Annabeth. I will get you something you'll like, but you're not ordering from somewhere else."

"But Mr. Tony says-"

"Tony spoils you too much," Chris muttered. "Friday, would you mind asking the Avengers if they want to join us for Chinese?"

"Ms. Romanoff and Mr. Barton send their regards, but Captain Rogers and Dr. Banner have expressed interest. Dr. Banner requests spring rolls. Thor is currently unavailable."

"Got it," Chris said as he pulled the menu out of a drawer. He looked it over and then called to place the order. He was just hanging up as Tony came in, face drawn.

"Are you sad, Mr. Tony?" Annie asked.

"I am," Tony said. "Can you give me a hug to feel better?" Annie put her cards down, faces up, and ran to Tony as he dropped to a knee. "Thanks, Sunshine."

"I ordered Chinese," Chris said. "Steve and Bruce said they'd join us. Is Rhodey planning on dropping by the Tower tonight?" Tony stood up and put Annie on his hip. "T?"

"I'm in the market for a new CEO," he said. Chris' shoulders dropped.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to fire her. I know how great of a CEO-"

"She quit, actually. But that's… We can talk about it later. I'll have to start back in the office for the time being."

"Tell me how I can help." Tony nodded, his mind elsewhere.