Not surprisingly, they didn't get through the entire building before they ran out of time. Peter had to get to practice, after all, and although he was having a good time showing Pete around with Tony, he didn't want to be late.

"I'll drive you," Tony offered – although Pepper could have since she was finished with her meetings for the day.

"Can I come?" Pete asked, hopefully.

Tony looked at Pepper, who hesitated, but then shrugged.

"I don't see why not? He doesn't look like himself, right now."

"Can he go to practice with me?" Peter asked, excitedly.

"No."

"Please?"

Stark frowned at those brown eyes that he loved so much getting wide and eager. Pete was looking at him, as well, holding his breath. It wasn't quite as bad with him, since he was wearing a completely different face – although Tony could read his body language very well and could see how eager he was.

"Pep, help me out, here…"

She smiled, and shrugged, again.

"He doesn't look like Peter Parker," she reminded her husband. "The tech isn't going to fail in the middle of the crowd of kids, though, is it? Revealing who he is at just the wrong minute?"

"No." Tony knew that answer, of course. "The tech is sound. How would we explain your strange new friend to them, though?"

"He could be an exchange student," Peter suggested.

"Who's here for a day?" Tony asked, amused but unable to hide his sarcasm. "Think of something better than that."

"I could be checking out the school to see if I want to transfer there from my old school," Pete said, thinking fast. "Benjamin Pappageorgio…"

Peter laughed.

"Benjamin, maybe. Ned would get that reference, immediately."

"Benjamin Reilly," Pete said.

"Yeah." Peter looked at Tony. "Please?"

"You really think you could pretend to not be you?" Stark asked Pete. "I imagine it's harder than it sounds."

"I'd be careful," Pete promised. "It'd be exciting, though, to see what everyone is like here, compared to my reality."

"No magic references," Pepper said. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

"Right."

"I'll be right there, too," Peter reminded her – and Tony. "We can say he's from some other country in case he does something out of character."

"I speak Spanish," Pete added. "And I'm learning Chinese."

"You don't look Chinese," Tony pointed out. "How about you be from Cleveland or something? Then we don't have to make up anything too complicated."

"Okay. But can I be from California?"

"Sure." Tony looked at Pepper. "What do you think?"

Of course, she had just as much trouble saying no to Peter as he did, so it was a given that she shrugged.

"Just be careful."

Twin smiles – even through the SHIELD tech Pete was wearing.

"We will."

OOOOOOOOOOOO

As was usual, Ned was waiting outside the front entrance of the school when Tony pulled up. He waved to Stark while Peter got out of the car and then looked decidedly more interested when the other boy got out of the car. He walked over to meet them as Tony drove off, reminding Peter that he'd be the one picking them up.

"Hey, Peter," Ned said, looking at Pete. "Who's this?"

"This is Benjamin," Peter replied. "He's thinking about transferring here, so I thought I'd let him watch practice."

"Where are you from?" Ned asked.

"California," was the reply.

"Cool. Know any movie stars?"

"Saw Ryan Reynolds, once."

"Cool." The boy held out his hand. "I'm Ned."

"Yeah, I know."

"How?"

"Because I told him all about you," Peter said, quickly. "Of course. He knows who all of you are."

"Right," Pete agreed. "It's good to meet you."

"How do you know Peter and Tony?" Ned asked as they turned to walk into the school.

"Through Stephen," Peter replied, having already figured this part of the story out on the way. "He's a distant cousin."

"Are you staying at the sanctum, then?" Ned asked, more interested, now.

"No. I'm at the compound."

"The sanctum is interesting," Ned said, grinning. "But the compound has Avengers."

"Yeah. And Natasha."

Ned's smile widened. He agreed, completely.

"Yeah."

"What did you do, today?" Peter asked Ned as they walked down the hall toward the classroom they practiced in. "Anything interesting?"

"Same as usual. Flash is being a prick, today," he added. He looked at Pete. "If he gives you any lip tell me, or Peter, and we'll put him in his place."

"If MJ doesn't, first," Peter said, smirking.

Pete shook his head.

"I'll be fine. Thanks."

They walked into the classroom, then, and everyone looked over. Always pleased to see Peter (and not only because he was one of the better performers on the team, but because he was also the reason that they'd all had several chances to meet the Avengers and do crazy fun things at the compound) they were also immediately aware that he and Ned weren't alone.

"Who's this?" MJ asked, walking over with the others.

"This is Benjamin," Ned answered before either Peter could. "He's a relative of Doctor Strange's and is visiting from California."

"Wow." Abe looked impressed. "Know any movie stars?"

"He saw Ryan Reynolds, once," Ned replied.

"Know any real movie stars?" one of the other boys asked.

"No."

"Being from California doesn't mean you're going to know celebrities," Flash said, having also walked over and was checking out the newcomer. Sizing him up and deciding where to put him in his mind. "Where in California?"

"LA," Pete replied. He smiled. "I've seen your podcast."

"You have?"

"Yeah."

"You have?" Peter asked – at the same time Ned did.

"Yeah. He's a big fan of Spiderman, right?"

"I am," Flash agreed. "You?"

"Of course."

"Huh. Well, come on in," Flash said to the boy. "I'll show you what we do, here."

He turned and walked away.

"You really have seen his podcasts?" Peter asked, waiting until the others had all moved off to resume the places that they'd been at before he and Pete arrived.

"Yeah. I've even been on them a few times, too."

"Really?"

"Some. The ones about Spiderman, anyway."

"Why?"

"Because I'm Spiderman," he said, pointedly. "Who better?"

"And he knows?" Peter asked, surprised.

"Everyone knows," Pete replied. He looked surprised. "You mean they don't know, here?"

"Not everyone."

"Wow."

"Hey, you guys." They were interrupted by MJ, who had noticed that she didn't have everyone's attention and definitely wanted it so they could get started. "Let's do this."

"Come sit by me, Benj," Flash said, pompously. "I'll raise your IQ a few points."

Peter wasn't the only one to roll his eyes at that, but Flash didn't notice and since he wasn't being an ass, no one called him on it. Even Pete. The other boy walked over and took a seat – on the desk rather than on the chair – and everyone turned to MJ.

"We're working on math, today, first," she told them – mainly Peter and Pete, since the others already had been told when they'd arrived. "I want to make sure we're up to speed on all of the geometries before the meet, coming up."

The team settled in, despite having the distraction of a guest, and they started their practice.

OOOOOOOO

"Hey, Tony."

"Hey, Ned. How was practice?"

"Great. Benjamin is pretty smart."

"Yeah?" Tony smiled at the boy in question, and then at his son. "Smart enough to be on the team?"

"Easily," Ned replied. The practice was over and they'd said goodbye to everyone, but Ned had come out front to wait for his mom – and to talk to whichever person picked up Peter and Strange's cousin. It was a fun time for him, and a good way to connect. "He made Flash look stupid."

Tony raised an eyebrow at that, but Pete shrugged.

"Not really," he assured the billionaire. "I just knew some of the answers."

"He was pretty good," Ned said. "A natural, really. If you move here, you'll definitely be on the team."

"I'll have to find out what happens," Pete said. He smiled, though. "Thanks."

"Yeah." Ned looked at Tony. "Are we still tossing pumpkins next weekend?"

"Have you figured out your machine, yet/"

"Working on it."

"Well as far as I know, we are. I spent my morning designing one, and Pe- Benjamin, here, worked on one, as well. Just in case he's still visiting."

"Is it a better design than yours?" Peter asked, smiling. "So if he leaves, you'll pretend it's your own design?"

Tony's eyes widened, innocently, clearly pretending to be shocked at the very suggestion.

"Whaaaat? Would I do that?"

"Better copyright your design, Benjamin," Ned said, waving at his mother who just pulled up behind Stark's car. "Otherwise, you'll find it in Popular Mechanics with Tony's name under it."

Tony laughed at that.

"Go home, Ned. Tell your mom I said hello."

"Okay. I'm still coming out, this weekend?"

There was the slightest hesitation, but Tony nodded.

"Sure."

They'd figure something out.