Well, in contrast to last week, this chapter is 100 percent entirely fluff. Sweet cute holiday joyfulness. So sit back and soak up the warm fuzzies.

I did pull in several real-world things for this chapter, including an actual NYC magician (the "millionaires' magician" who does a holiday show which includes tricks like those I described) and the gingerbread village. I also made up some stuff – which led to me deciding that I should not, under any circumstances, be put in charge of naming gimmicky foods. See if you agree or disagree.

Speaking of foods, I love all of your weird sandwiches!

The song for this chapter is "Christmas Star" which was written by John Williams for the movie "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." It was thematically appropriate and it's a sweet one.

As a head's up, next week's chapter will be posted on schedule, but after that I'll be off for 2 weeks in a row to go run my SF/F convention (and recover from it). If conventions are your jam, poke me in the comments and we'll chat.

Enjoy!


Chapter 12: Shine Bright


On Christmas Eve morning, May's nerves were jangling with excitement, and Peter was bouncing beside her the entire morning wanting to know what she had been told and where they were going and what Mister Carbonell had planned. Even finding out that Mister Carbonell's girlfriend was going to join them had put no damper on his spirits.

"Anybody Mister Carbonell likes that much has to be okay, right?"

May had no argument for that.

At eleven o'clock, Tony knocked on their door. "Hey! Happy Christmas Eve sounds dumb, but far be it from me to say I didn't try so...happy Christmas Eve."

Peter opened the door halfway through the speech. "Hi Mister Carbonell!"

"You all ready for a day out, Underoos?"

"Yes!"

May gathered her purse and keys, stepping into her coat and dumping Peter's on his head to make sure he didn't leave without it. "Where to, conductor?"

Tony flashed a smile. "Car's downstairs."

For a moment May worried that it would be a limo or some other car that would be impossible to explain. But it was just a black SUV. Maybe a little fancy-looking, but nothing out of the ordinary enough to cause Peter to question it.

Also, apparently Tony had anticipated her, because as he opened the back seat for Peter he said, "When you meet P-Pat tonight, be sure and thank her. She used some of her connections to really pull today together, including this car."

"Pat?" May asked. She climbed into the front passenger seat, appreciating the smooth leather and warmed seats, and wondered how far down the list of fancy cars Tony owned this one sat.

Tony climbed in the driver's seat and off they went. "My girlfriend." He winked across at May. "Pat Pepper. She works for Stark Industries doing something complicated and logistical, so she knows all the tricks about setting up events."

Even May was impressed by the smoothness of that lie and its proximity to truth.

"Where are we going, Mister Carbonell?" Peter asked.

"Well, first, lunch at the exclusive SI restaurant in Stark Tower."

Peter froze, his eyes going wide. Then a smile that could have engulfed the sun broke over his face. "We're going to Avengers Tower!?"

May snorted at the look on Tony's face when Peter misnamed the tower.

"Are we going to see Captain America? Or Thor? Or Doctor Bruce Banner?"

"I hope not." He said it so quickly and so low May was pretty sure Peter didn't hear it, then raised his voice back to its normal volume. "I don't think Pep-Pat could swing that. But the view is spectacular and the restaurant has some specialties I bet you'll like."

Peter, being the good kid he was, didn't spend a moment with disappointment, immediately jumping back into his excitement. "And then what?"

"And then you'll see, squirt. One surprise at a time."

May noticed that they pulled into an underground garage that wasn't a public ramp. She couldn't really see any security at all, and that told her that there was plenty of it and all of it controlled directly by Tony and probably JARVIS. He parked the van in a fleet of other vaguely upscale cars and led them to an elevator.

And only because May was watching for it, she saw him almost speak, and then stop himself. Smirking, she pulled her phone out and texted the contact she had listed as "All Knowing J."

"Hi, JARVIS."

A text came in reply immediately. "Welcome to the Tower, Mrs Parker. Sir will not address me directly while he is with young Mister Parker, but I am here should you need my assistance at any time."

The elevator ride seemed short compared to the height of the building, and May and Peter both grimaced when their ears popped not once, but twice. Meanwhile, Tony was utterly relaxed, as content as she had ever seen him.

Then again, this was probably the safest place in the world for him, and the place he had virtually omniscient control over everything.

May wondered how often he felt safe at the apartment in Queens, and if that was why he had said he never really slept there, preferring his workshop. And she knew he didn't mean the one everybody else saw, even if she couldn't guess what else he had hidden somewhere.

At their floor, the elevator let them out in a lobby with broad windows to one side and a restaurant that looked, of all things, like an old time soda shop taking up part of the floor. There were very few others around, mostly small groups of people gathered around tables laughing together. Tony led them to a booth at the back with an unobstructed view of the city below.

While Peter glued himself to the window, Tony eyed May and sent her a quick text.

"J is going to TRY to keep certain idiots from barging in, but a few of them can fly. They do know my alias. I'm sorry in advance if they go overboard."

She gave him a thumbs-up. He frowned and typed something else.

"You look way too happy about the possibility of them crashing our day."

May shrugged and gestured at Peter. If anything, Tony's frown went deeper.

"I think you just want to see me embarrassed."

May gave an enthusiastic nod and Tony groaned.

Peter spun back around. "Are you okay, Mister Carbonell?"

"Just fine, mini me," he said. "Thinking about something annoying."

May laughed and pulled over the menus. "Let's figure out what we want to eat."

The menu was a throwback filled with burgers, milkshakes, and other fifties diner fare, but all of the items had absolutely ridiculous names. Tony never even looked at the menu and ordered, somehow, with a straight face, "One Stark Expo Sandwich and a Robot Chunk Shake. And an extra side of Patriot Fries."

"What makes them Patriot Fries?" Peter wanted to know.

The server grinned at him. "They're like French fries, but we use red and purple potatoes to turn the fries vaguely red and blue."

May ended up choosing a SHIELD Salad with a cup of Repulsor Chili and a Howling Vanilla Shake. Peter, after giggling at the choices so long even the waitress was laughing with him, picked the I AM Iron Man special which included a loaded Hero Cheeseburger, a chocolate Malibu Malt, and Tony Tatertots. Tony cringed at the name, but grinned at Peter's choice anyway.

The waitress and others in the kitchen clearly knew Tony's real identity, but other than a few slightly curious looks towards May and Peter, no one behaved awkwardly. May realized that these were people who probably interacted with others like Thor or Captain America, and so maybe they just saw celebrities too often to fuss about it.

The tables themselves were decorated with lots of news articles about Tony Stark and the Avengers preserved under the top layer, so Peter entertained himself by reading every article he could, even badgering May to swap seats so he could see the ones that were upside-down to him. He chattered a mile a minute, and May realized that this was the first time since last week that his eyes were completely free of grief or guilt.

Right now, dozens of stories above Manhattan, Peter Parker was happy again.

She had to dab at her eyes with her napkin at that, and Tony waggled his eyebrows at her, and she swatted him on the elbow for it, but Peter didn't see the exchange because he'd just realized the table next to them had different articles and was trying to see them without quite tipping over his chair.

When the food arrived on its red and gold plates, May was sorry she hadn't pulled out her phone for a picture. She snapped one belatedly, but she had missed the unabashed glee on Peter's face.

Then her phone dinged with a text.

"I have been studiously recording still images as well as video since you entered the Tower at Sir's request. I have several excellent angles, so you need only take your own pictures if you enjoy doing so. I will email you the results after I compile the best of the options."

Oh, I could really get to like that AI. The spying is a little creepy, but he's just so useful. She sent him a smiley-face emoji in reply.

The longer they sat there eating, the more May noticed Tony getting tense. Eventually, even Peter spotted it.

Or, more likely, he'd seen it earlier, too, but chose not to comment until it was beyond obvious.

"Mister Carbonell? Are you okay? You look nervous."

"Not nervous. Just...thinking about some folks I don't want to run into any time soon."

May caught the hint. "Well, we could get moving if that would take your mind off it." She gestured to Peter's nearly empty plate and her own finished meal.

"That sounds great." He practically leaped from his seat and May and Peter could only follow. Tony only waved at the servers, which May took to mean he was enough of a known quantity that their food would be magically paid for without him having to do it. Peter was still torn between the view and the Avengers-centric decor, so she was pretty sure he hadn't even thought about how their meal was billed.

They were just waiting by the elevator when Tony jolted in place and immediately checked his phone. A second later, he jammed it in his pocket with violence.

"Hurry it up," he said under his breath. To JARVIS, she realized.

"Hey!" The voice that called out was a little familiar, but May couldn't place it. Peter, however, began to turn around.

"Um?"

The elevator opened.

"Time to go!" Tony got an arm around Peter and another around May and hauled them into the elevator which started to shut almost at once.

"Coward!" rang out across the floor. "You utter sh—"

Tony sighed when the doors shut completely.

"That voice sounded a lot like Colonel Rhodes," Peter said, eyes wide.

"You know Colonel Rhodes by his voice?" May asked, surprised.

Peter nodded. "He only gave a million speeches for Mister Stark, you know, and they're all online."

"Oh."

"Well, he does hang out here sometimes," Tony said, feigning nonchalance. "Maybe he knows somebody who works at that restaurant. It's the best one in the Tower."

Peter considered that. "It would have been so cool to meet him, though."

May ruffled his head. "Maybe someday. But we have our own plans today, right?"

"Right!"

Tony pulled out his phone and typed quickly. May's phone dinged.

"You are my hero."

"Why are you two texting each other so much?" Peter asked suddenly.

May was caught flatfooted, but this time Tony was prepared. "Surprises, Peter. I thought that's what Christmas is all about."

"Surprises...for me?" He looked so unsure, May had to hug him.

"Oh, Peter. It's all for you. You know that."

That made him turn very red and go very quiet for the rest of the elevator ride and most of the time in the car. May noticed they were returning to Queens, but heading away from the Astoria neighborhood.

"Sorry, May," Tony said. "This is a little more Peter's speed than yours, but I've got you covered."

"Honestly, I don't have any doubts."

Now Tony was the one looking a little too hard out the windshield and clearing his throat. May preened — it was hard to embarrass that man.

When they pulled up in front of the familiar building, May was surprised to hear sadness from Peter in the back seat.

"But...they're closed, Mister Carbonell." He sighed. "It was a neat idea, though."

"Oh, ye of little faith," Tony said. "Didn't I tell you that P-Pat thought this through for us?"

Indeed, there were people in the parking lot — and lots of kids.

"Welcome," Tony said, "to the first annual Stark Industries Family Day Of Science!"

Of course Tony Stark would rent out the entire NYC Hall of Science and then cover it up with something like this just for us. Of course he would.

The three of them joined the crowds streaming into the building, Peter tight to Tony's side. In moments, they were inside the huge monument to science and learning which was decorated for Christmas everywhere.

"The largest gingerbread village in the world is the special exhibit, Aunt May!" Peter practically yelled. "But they opened everything up!"

"So," Tony said, turning to her, "here's what I'm thinking. You are absolutely welcome to join us as we get our geek on, but if that's not your speed, I've got something for you after we hit that gingerbread."

The gingerbread village was impressive and beautiful and full of tiny details like signs from around Queens and famous people recreated in cookies. In spite of the crowds, somehow they ended up having that area almost to themselves while they laughed at a rendition of Captain America on top of a chimney dressed like Santa Claus with an elf carrying his shield.

And if Peter stared longest at the gingerbread Iron Man, candied repulsors ready to defend the village, well, she didn't expect anything else. And she knew Tony didn't miss the admiration, free of any possibility of blame, in his eyes.

"Okay," Tony said when they finally moved on from the holiday themed stuff. "Pete, you go jump in that line for the astronaut experience. I'll be right behind you."

Peter looked between them. "You're planning something again. Okay, bye!"

May laughed at his rapid retreat. "He's getting too smart for us, Tony."

"I am inclined to think he started that way," Tony said. "May, your call. Science with us, or some quiet time?"

She raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly do you have planned for me?"

"Well, honestly, Pepper is here. She opened the event for SI employees and kids, and since then she's been kicking back in one of the meeting rooms probably enjoying a mimosa and laughing at me over JARVIS's hacked security feeds. She told me to tell you to invite you to go have some girl time."

May swallowed. She glanced down at her jeans and sweater.

"Hey." Tony was looking at her with that serious expression. "I know I'm a hot mess, but Pepper is one of the kindest, most forgiving people on the planet. I mean, she puts up with me. She's not going to judge you."

Meet the most powerful woman CEO on the planet? The woman who redefined public perception of female-oriented leadership?

How can I not?

"All right," May said. "Actually, it would be nice to chat with her one-on-one, thank her for putting all this together."

"Fantastic. JARVIS can guide you there. We'll see you when it's time to change for dinner."

May's phone rang at once and she answered it to the polite, British-lilting voice of JARVIS. "Hello, Missus Parker. I do hope you're enjoying your day."

"So much," May said. "Thank you for your part in putting it together."

"It is my pleasure. Now, if you turn to your right you will see a hallway that extends past the restrooms. Please follow that to the end and turn left. Miss Potts is anticipating your arrival."

May forgot before she even reached her destination that she was talking to an AI and not a real person, and she thanked him for his help and wished him a happy holiday season before she remembered. But JARVIS seemed to appreciate the sentiment. The door opened at her knock to reveal a tall man with curly hair in a suit.

"May Parker?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"I'm Happy Hogan. Head of security. Nice to meet you." He held the door for her. "I'll just be outside if either of you needs anything."

And then May was alone with the Pepper Potts, wearing a suit that probably cost more than May made in a month, in a sparse conference room. The space was obviously meant for meetings when companies or schools held events at the Hall of Science, but the chairs that ringed the big central table looked plush and well-kept. A full spread of delicate snacks took up one end of the table, and there were several drinks as well.

At the other end of the room, Pepper Potts rose and smiled.

"I'm so glad I finally get to meet the famous May Parker," she said. "Can I offer you something to drink?"

"Thank you for inviting me, Miss Potts," May said. "And for...all of this. I hope it wasn't too much trouble."

"Honestly, it was a relief from my day job. I always enjoyed the event planning part of being Tony's assistant. And call me Pepper."

May smiled, feeling more at ease. "Thanks. I'll grab myself a drink and join you, then."

With a glass of wine in her hand, May settled into the chair across from Pepper. For a blinding moment, it reminded her of her days with Mary Parker — the two of them with wine, a couch covered in blankets, and movies the boys wouldn't touch with a thirty-foot pole.

May shook off the pang of missing her sister-in-law and focused on the woman before her.

"I hope Tony told you," May said, "that I threatened him bodily harm involving mistletoe if he ruined your Christmas."

Pepper laughed, delighted. "He did. Thank you, by the way. It's so nice to meet someone else who doesn't put up with his...Tonyness. But this was a perfect compromise. It gave me the chance to do something for the employees as well as spend the evening with Tony and you and Peter."

"Peter doesn't know he's meeting you, though. Tony isn't ready to tell him, yet."

"I know." Pepper shook her head. "I don't mind, not really. Tony seems...happy in a way he wasn't before. He's never not been Tony Stark. So being Tony Carbonell...it's helped him a lot."

"I think so, too," May said. "He's happier than he was when we met him in July. And he's...he's wonderful with Peter."

"I think," Pepper said with light in her eyes, "that Peter is wonderful with Tony."

May laughed and held up her glass of wine so they could clink glasses.

"Now," Pepper said. "Enough about the boys. I'm sure your life is full of those two and their antics. I know mine is, at least Tony's. Let's enjoy the reprieve."

Before she knew it, May had finished her glass of wine and they were deep into a discussion of classic movies with the best female characters and the most believable love stories. Pepper had seized onto the fact that May was another life-long fan of "An Affair to Remember" and "Roman Holiday." Which led directly into a discussion of timeless gowns and styles.

Somehow, this turned into a pact that, if they were ever spending Halloween together and at a party where it would be appropriate, the pair of them would dress up to match — Pepper as "My Fair Lady's" Eliza Doolittle when she was a flower girl and May as Eliza Doolittle in the fancy ballgown.

(Sometime later, May would realize that JARVIS was probably listening to the conversation and might share it with Tony, but at least then she could feel better about him buying her costume if it came to that.)

May had her shoes off and Pepper did, too, the pair of them curled up in chairs and picking at their snacks as comfortably as though they were in a living room.

"You know," Pepper said at one point, "Any day you have free, you're welcome to come watch movies or just take some time to hang out at the Tower. I know it's awkward with Peter not knowing about Tony, but even so. The invitation stands."

"Only if you join me. I'm not going to sit in your penthouse by myself watching movies," May said. "You tell me when you have a couple of hours you don't have to be the most kickass CEO in the world and I'll be there. I haven't had a girls' night in forever."

"Me either," Pepper admitted. "Sometimes Natasha comes by, and Maria Hill joined us for Thanksgiving, but they're...well, they have reason to keep somewhat to themselves."

"Lonely at the top?" May asked with genuine sympathy.

"Pretty much. From the time I started as Tony's assistant, I put my job before friends. I haven't spoken to most of the people I used to consider my closest non-work friends in years. And as for work friends, well, I'm the boss now. So it's different."

"Hmm. Sounds like we could both use a little more woman power. I can't boss around an entire industry with a wave of the hand, but I know how to run herd on a twelve-year-old science genius and a science genius who hasn't realized he isn't twelve anymore."

May and Pepper both laughed.

"Want to check in on them?" Pepper offered.

May nodded. "I don't want to ruin their fun, or ours, but…"

"Not a problem." Pepper pulled out her phone. "JARVIS, please display Tony and Peter on the main screen."

Immediately the big pull-down screen in the room lit up with the projector snapping to life. Within moments, they had what looked like security footage of the exhibits halls, centered on one with Tony and Peter in the middle. They were reading the text on one particular activity, their heads bent together at almost the same angle.

"Well, nothing's on fire," Pepper said. "So that's a good sign."

May nodded. "I know I can trust Tony with Peter, he's always so careful, but I still have to worry."

"It's fine. JARVIS can leave that up until they're ready for dinner."

And so they spent the rest of their afternoon chatting while enjoying the live feed of Tony and Peter running around the science museum as if they were both children and not just one; they caught Tony trying to "fix" exhibits no fewer than four times, and Peter attempting to stop him only at the beginning. But, by mutual agreement, they focused on talking not about the men in their lives, but just their lives.

One thing May and Pepper had very much in common was having their lives defined by the men around them, and having to forge their way on their own in spite of it.

At five o'clock, there came a tap on the door. Pepper tensed momentarily, but it was Happy Hogan who stuck his head in.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said. "Boss texted and says he thinks Peter's about ready for phase three."

"Well," Pepper said, gracefully rising out of her chair, "that's our cue. May, you head back to Tony and Peter. We'll see you at dinner. Oh, and I absolutely love your dress and I can't wait to see you in it!"

May stood as well. "I'll see you in a few, then." She paused. "And thank you for this."

Pepper smiled. "This was genuinely my pleasure, May."

May saw the quirk in Pepper's body language, the uncertainty. So she decided to be a little brave and opened her arms very slightly in invitation.

And that's how Pepper and May cemented their friendship in a sisterly hug — and May was hit with another wave of nostalgia. Pepper was not Mary, but May was absolutely certain they would have adored one another, too.

Well, if Tony is like the weird brother I didn't know I had, I think I can live with having a new sister in Pepper. Guess I better give Tony the shovel talk, though. That's what sisters do.

May met Peter and Tony near the entrance, Peter giddy and talking almost too fast for her to follow as he tried to recount every single thing they had seen, tried, or attempted to adjust. Tony had his hands in his pockets and was rocking on his feet, but his attention was mostly on Peter's happy face. Tony's own expression was a look May recognized.

Ben had worn that face — it was the face of a man whose child is happy and well, and therefore there is nothing else to want in the world.

May realized if she didn't do something, they might not actually move from this spot, so she caught Tony by the arm and tugged on Peter's coat with the other hand.

"Aren't you two hungry after causing all that trouble?" she asked. "And apparently we have to change first, so the sooner we get moving, the sooner we can eat."

They drove back into Manhattan, not an easy drive even on Christmas Eve, which meant some extra time in the car together. After Peter ran dry of things to talk about relevant to the Hall of Science, he decided instead to educate Mister Carbonell about his favorite Christmas songs. Which turned into a rendition of the three of them taking various speaking roles to recreate the chaos and breakdown that was "The Twelve Pains of Christmas."

But Tony did very well at his part yelling about "rigging up the lights."

When they reached their destination, May knew her eyes were wide.

"Have you ever stayed here?" Tony asked, a glint in his eyes.

"Funnily enough, the Waldorf is a little outside my budget," she told him.

Tony grinned. "Well, we're not staying, anyway. We're just borrowing a room long enough to change for dinner."

Somehow, that is actually worse.

A bellhop in a fancy uniform met them almost as soon as they walked in, who took their coats for them before leading them to an elevator and personally escorting them to a pair of rooms.

"I'll handle Peter," Tony offered. "You take your time to do...whatever women do. I know it takes, like, an hour. Dinner is in an hour and a half. Knock on the door if you need anything."

And May was left to her own devices in a very fancy hotel room. Her dress hung not in a closet, but on a dressform that was in the room for some reason, and there was a vanity absolutely covered with toiletries and cosmetics already laid out. May peeked into the bathroom to discover a huge whirlpool tub, and she decided it wouldn't take that long to do her hair anyway, so she indulged in a steamy, scented bubble bath first.

Ten minutes before dinner, May finished the final touches on her makeup, packed her street clothes into the bag sitting on the bed, and ventured out into the hall. She tapped on the door.

"Tony? Peter?"

The door opened. Tony stood in a tuxedo, his unruly hair even more out of place than usual. Even knowing who she was looking at, even in the tux, he only barely resembled Tony Stark. Of course, it helped that he was wearing a domino mask over the top half of his face.

But May grinned, because that mask was not just a simple piece of satin or molded plastic. It was, in fact, a piece of blue metal with silver gears like stars sprinkled across it.

"Wow," May said.

"Wow yourself, Miss Parker," Tony replied. He took in her strapless red dress gathered at the hip and her appropriately green-stoned necklace. She had even transferred the most critical things into the little matching clutch which she decorated with a spring of holly borrowed from a decoration in the hotel room.

"Did you lose my nephew?" May asked, grinning.

"Nope!" Peter appeared behind Tony.

Seeing him in a perfectly-fitted tux, complete with an Iron-Man-gold cumberbund and red tie, she felt a lump come into her throat. He was getting so big now, even if he had yet to grow into his huge brown eyes. His hair had, apparently, been slicked back, but short of cement there was nothing that would hold it for long and already the curls were thinking about breaking free.

Peter's mask was brownish with a spattering of crystals like snowflakes across it, and had a pair of tiny gold antlers sticking up over his temples. May peered at it.

"Shouldn't you have a red nose if you're going as Rudolph?" she asked.

Peter's grin went big. "I do!" He reached up and touched a hidden button near the clasp over his ear, and a bright red light masquerading as a snowflake burst to life on the tip of his nose.

"Nice! Well, now I'm feeling left out."

"Wait right there," Peter said, dashing briefly to the side. He returned, holding something behind his back. "While you were doing all that," he gestured to her appearance, "Mister Carbonell and I did the wiring for this."

May immediately wanted to scold Tony for doing wiring in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, but realized there was no point. Frankly, it probably wasn't the worst thing he'd ever done in a hotel room.

Then she was distracted by the mask Peter held out for her.

It was a third domino mask for the upper part of the face and the bridge of the nose, but red like her dress. However, it had a swoosh of tiny, golden stars that swept from one side to the other. When Peter held it up, he pressed a similar hidden button — and the stars glowed sequentially, lighting up and dying away like fireworks blown in the breeze.

"Oh, my…" She took it from Peter gingerly. "Tony, it's beautiful."

Tony shrugged. "Hey, credit for the light show is all Peter. I designed it to glow, but he picked the pattern and helped set it up."

May gave Peter a hug. "Help me put it on?"

She found that the inside had a cushion to make it soft against the face, and only because she was looking for it did she see where the cushion could be removed to get at the working parts inside. She placed it on her face and turned.

"I'm still too short," Peter grumbled.

"I got it, Underoos." Tony carefully affixed the strap around the back of her head, and she could even tell he was taking care with her hair; she was glad she'd chosen an up-do so it was out of the way. "Now we're almost perfect."

He was carrying a fourth mask, this one a deep forest green with a pattern like holly leaves and a few white crystals for berries at delicate intervals.

"Well, then we should find the princess who fits that magical mask," May said.

Tony offered May an arm like a gentleman. Then he paused and looked down at Peter.

"Let me show you how to do this." He stuck out his left arm and May offered her hand. "It's not supposed to look like you're elbowing her or doing the chicken dance. You rest her hand on the inside of your forearm, like this." He demonstrated. "Then, if you're not a jerk,you put your other hand over hers and only remove it to shake hands with others."

"Do I need to know how to do this?" Peter wanted to know, not whining, but curious.

"Everyone likes to feel safe," May said. "Whoever you are escorting to a fancy event, girl or boy, holding their arm like this means you're keeping them tight to your side. It's a way of telling them that you will take care of them even if they're intimidated."

"Oh." And his eyes lit up. "It's like a secret handshake between the two of you."

She couldn't keep from chuckling. "Exactly."

Peter straightened his shoulders and, with one last glance to Tony, carefully extended his left arm. "Can I take your arm, Aunt May?"

May smiled and settled her hand on Peter's elbow just as she had Tony's. "It would be my honor, Peter."

Tony's face was broad and so proud she thought he might burst. Instead, though, he moved to her other side and offered her the opposite arm. "Now you'll be the safest person in the world," he said.

May wasn't sure she could be any happier as the two boys escorted her to the elevator and never let go.

They didn't head down to the lobby, however; Tony directed them up higher into the part that the map said was the Waldorf Towers. When they exited, May felt sure that she had been transported to a palace in France somewhere. The high ceilings, the chandeliers, the gold decorations, everything in sight sparkled with tasteful Christmas trappings while soft violin music sounded from an alcove.

While May and Peter were taking in the room, Tony was scanning the crowd. "Ah, here we go."

He led May, which tugged Peter along, to where a statuesque woman stood angled away from the elevator with red-blonde hair piled high over a one-shoulder, form fitting green gown that shimmered in the light. Tony released May at the last moment to slip the mask on before she could turn.

"P-Pat Pepper," Tony said as he finished the clasp, "you look stunning."

Pepper turned, smiling. "So do all three of you." But her attention was mainly and immediately on Peter. "Hello. I've heard so much about you from Tony and May. You can call me Miss Pepper."

Peter extracted his right hand from May's perfectly and held it out. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Pepper. I'm Peter Parker." He grinned. "We both have alliterative names starting with a P!"

"We do indeed," Pepper said. "I think that means we are destined to be good friends, don't you?"

Peter nodded. "You're the person who set this all up for us, right? Because you work at Stark Industries?"

"I managed to make a few arrangements to sneak us in," Pepper said, a twist of conspiracy in her smirk.

"Before I forget, then, thank you for all of it. We had so much fun at the restaurant and the Hall of Science, and I've never been to anything like this, but it's really neat to see all the masks and I'm sure it was a lot of trouble for people you've never met, and...thanks."

"Peter," Pepper said, "you and your aunt have taken good care of Tony for me when I couldn't come visit him. This is the least I could do to thank you for that. So maybe we'll just be friends doing things for one another because we like each other." She eyed Tony. "That's how it works when you care about people."

And May didn't snort at Tony's expression, but it was a near thing. Peter, missing the poke aimed at his mentor, just nodded.

"So, can you tell me what happens now?" he asked.

"Well, we have dinner and then a show," Pepper said. "One I truly hope you'll enjoy."

The lights dimmed a few moments after and people began to move out of the hallway and through the double doors that led to an even more extravagant event space. There were fewer than twenty tables set out in the chamber, all arranged with a view to a clear spot at the end of the room. Pepper led them unerringly to a table right in front which had their names on it amidst the cloth napkins folded like peacocks and the gold-rimmed dishes.

Peter was placed on the seat closest to where the entertainment would happen, with May and Pepper to either side. And May noticed that there was a strategic little corner with a door near to Tony's spot, which she assumed had to do with providing him an escape route should he get recognized. But, then, she had no idea who else was here in this room, and the masks weren't helping, so maybe they were all in on it. And the mask and giant facial hair really did disguise the man beyond belief.

Dinner was a slow affair of six courses including dessert, all of which were delicious and impossible for May to even explain to Peter who was curious about every bit of food and where it came from and who figured out that you could even cook quails that way. But Pepper was a font of knowledge and between that and the internet they all learned more than they had ever expected about certain high-end dishes.

Tony did end up bribing their server into bringing an extra helping of the individual chocolate tortes so Peter could have seconds, and he repaid the man by splitting it with him while Pepper and May didn't quite giggle at them and May made absolutely sure JARVIS was getting pictures.

The food finally gone and all dishes cleared away, the room's lights came up a bit from its darkened mealtime ambiance, and a man entered, sauntering his way to the cleared place at the front. He wore a top hat with a red ribbon, a full waistcoat with tails, a tiny wreath on his lapel, and actual spats. Turning to the room, he swept them all a deep bow with a bright smile.

"Welcome," he said in a warm voice, "to this very special Christmas Eve performance of Chamber Magic!"

Peter grabbed for May's hand. "It's a magic show!" he whispered.

"No," Tony whispered back, "it's the magic show. Best close-up magician and mind reader in New York."

And for two hours, the man did nothing but amaze. Amidst anecdotes relevant to the season, lines out of A Christmas Carol, and jokes about falling down while skating in Rockefeller Center, he continually performed impossible stunts. He borrowed wedding rings from three people in the crowd and somehow caused them all to become linked together. He asked someone to write down where they were born and, without looking at the paper or the map he drew from a pocket, unerringly pointed out the tiny town in Iowa.

Then he turned to their table.

"Now, for you four lovely people with, I must say, the finest masks of the evening, if you could please write down on these slips of paper what your favorite beverage is. Don't show one another or me." He even turned away to make conversation with the next table.

May wrote down her favorite red wine and peeked over to see Peter writing "hot chocolate with extra marshmallows." She didn't catch what Tony or Pepper wrote before they folded them in half.

"Now, young man," the magician turned to Peter, "please put all four of those pieces of paper into that silver kettle sitting on the table over there."

"O-okay." Peter rose with the four and walked to the large kettle that had been sitting off to one side for the entire duration of the evening. He paused when he reached it. "Um, can I peek inside?"

The magician laughed. "Of course you can! In fact, please hold it up so everyone can see."

Peter lifted the kettle and removed the lid, turning to show that it was empty.

"Very good. Now, the four pieces of paper."

Peter dropped them in.

"And would you please, carefully, pour a pitcher of water into the kettle. You can use any pitcher from a table willing to give up their water to the cause."

A nearby table had a very full carafe of water still and they offered it to Peter at once. Peter poured it as delicately as he did his science experiments, not spilling a drop. Then he returned to his seat.

The magician waltzed to the kettle and lifted it, sloshing it around so they could hear the water in it. He waved his hands a few times, then approached their table.

"Allow me to refill your drinks," he said.

In front of Peter, he poured the kettle into an unused glass — and hot cocoa complete with some mini marshmallows appeared.

Before Peter could even reply, he moved to May and, without touching the kettle in any way May could see, poured a glass of red wine. Then to Pepper, and it was a cocktail May didn't recognize. Then to Tony, and it was a cup of thick, rich coffee still steaming.

"Please make sure I got your orders right," the magician said with a wink.

Peter didn't hesitate — he grabbed his cup and took a big sip. "Oh my gosh!" he yelled.

The entire room burst into applause.

At the end of the show, May could see that Peter was both almost too excited to exist, and also at the absolute end of his energy. His eyes were getting a little glazed, and he started to yawn.

"Well, before Christmas Eve turns into Christmas Day, we should probably get you two home, huh?" Tony said, smiling at Peter.

"Will...will we see you tomorrow?" Peter wanted to know.

"Not sure when, but yes," Tony said. "There's some annoying folks I have to see first."

"Also Miss Pepper," Peter said. "She's not annoying."

"No." Tony laughed. "She is the best of the lot by a million miles."

Pepper and May exchanged fond looks.

"To finish your night right," Pepper said, "we've actually got a big comfy car to take you home so Tony can come home with me. I hope that's okay."

May looked at Peter. "He'll be asleep before we get out of the turnaround. Don't worry about it."

Peter opened his mouth to object and promptly yawned again.

Down on the street with their coats on against the night's cold breeze, Pepper gave May another hug. "This was wonderful," she said softly. "I'll get on Tony to tell Peter soon so we can do this again."

May hugged her back fiercely. "I'm looking forward to it. And thank you. For everything. This was…" Her eyes welled up unexpectedly.

"My pleasure," Pepper said very firmly. "Believe me. This is the best night we've had out in a long time."

Pepper turned to Peter who was leaning on Tony and trying to remember not to rub his eyes because he was still wearing the mask. "Would you like a handshake or a hug, Peter?"

Peter looked at her. "Um, hug?"

Pepper gave him a quick squeeze. "I am so glad to have met you and your aunt. Thank you for making my Christmas magical."

"I think the magician did that," Peter said, and everyone laughed.

Tony gave May a hug while Pepper had Peter, then pulled the kid close and whispered something in his ear that May didn't hear. But it woke Peter up enough to nod and grin.

"Here's your ride," Pepper said.

Well, May supposed if the day started in a sensible car it would have to end in a limo. Peter's eyes bugged out at first, but he still fell asleep before they hit the bridge off Manhattan. May found their bags of street clothes waiting for them and changed out of her heels into her comfy sneakers. She also took off her mask and Peter's and wrapped them in her sweater for safe-keeping.

When they reached Queens, it was past midnight and dead quiet on the street. May woke Peter and got him to help carry their bags while she thanked the driver — he offered to assist with the bags, but May didn't want his limo on the street drawing attention longer than necessary. So she waved him off and led her mostly asleep nephew into their building.

And in all the excitement, had completely and utterly forgotten that Tony had said something about getting into their apartment during the day.

When she pushed open the door, she noticed a faint light and immediately knew what he'd done.

"Peter," she said, shaking him a bit. "Look."

Peter blinked.

They had decorated for the holiday in fits and starts, but between May's job and the difficulty of the season, everything had turned out kind of plain. They did have a tree, but it was a four-foot fake tree they'd found abandoned on a curb decorated with only a portion of their ornaments. The lights were mostly stretched across the windows haphazardly, and May had dangled the monogrammed stockings under the TV.

Now they had a real tree, an actual tree that smelled of balsam and green and life, and their ornaments had been unpacked completely to fill the tree — with a few new ones she could see from here. The stockings were both bulging under the TV which showed a burning fireplace. Instead of plain strings of lights above the windows, now there were pine garlands with lights and bows and winking bells that tinkled with the warm air from the heating vents. There was a new, deep red tablecloth on the table and a centerpiece wreath with candles sticking up out of it, and a huge pile of wrapped cookies in the center.

And there were some presents under the tree. Not, May realized with relief, the mountain she had a feeling Tony actually wanted to do, but enough to fill out the scene.

"Did Mister Carbonell and Miss Pepper do all this?" Peter asked, eyes wide.

"I think so," May said, drawing him close. She kissed his head. "But I think we should go to bed now and leave all of this for morning."

"Yeah." Peter yawned hugely. "I wanna be awake enough to enjoy it."

But he pulled out his phone and began to type. May leaned over to see him sending Tony the words "Thank you" in all caps with about thirty emojis afterwards. Then, as an afterthought, he sent, "Merry Christmas."

Tony sent back one smiling face. "Merry Christmas, figlio."

May's heart went warm. She ruffled Peter's hair. "Merry Christmas, Peter."

And in spite of the fact that he was pretty much asleep on his feet, he still smiled at her and gave her a proper hug in return. "Merry Christmas, Aunt May."