A/N: This one has a lot more story to tell. And tons of fluffiness. As long as there is interest, I'll keep posting it!

OOOOOOOOOO

It was Eric who delivered Peter to Tony's apartment Saturday morning, bright and early. Not that the billionaire would have minded coming to get him, but then he would have had to deal with all of the other kids at the home where Peter lived gawking at him. It would have delayed them, and Tony didn't like being late to somewhere unless it was his choice. Luckily, Eric offered to bring Peter to him, and Tony accepted, immediately, and without hiding his relief.

The weather was raining, and Peter was loaded down but didn't seem to feel burdened. He carried his backpack, which was bulging even more than usual, and was wearing a rain jacket and a hat. Tony smiled when he got out of the van to make the transfer over to Stark's sportscar, because the boy looked so excited, and it was a good thing he'd have a seatbelt keeping him buckled in, otherwise he'd never be able to sit still for the ride.

"He didn't sleep, at all, last night," Eric confided to Stark. "So he might get tired, later, if you don't figure out a way to get him to nap."

"Hitting him over the head and knocking him out doesn't count?"

The other man chuckled, and shook his head. Maybe, initially, he might not have found that amusing, but he'd met and spoken with Tony Stark several times, now, and knew he had an odd sense of humor. He also knew that Peter was nuts for the guy, and it said a lot that Tony spent so much time with him.

"No. The state frowns on that method, or I'd have tried it with some of the teenagers a long time ago."

"Did you eat?" Tony asked Peter directly.

"Yeah."

Eric shook his head.

"Not much. He was too excited. Last chance to change your mind about having him overnight…"

"He's eight," Tony said. "I can handle him."

"He's precocious," Eric reminded him.

"So am I. Besides, I'm going to have Avengers with me."

The bigger man shrugged his agreement.

"You have all of my numbers if you need anything." Another look at the boy. "You behave yourself."

"I will."

"Get in the car," Tony said, taking the backpack, and surprised by how heavy it was – and how easily Peter had been carrying it. "Otherwise you're walking."

He offered Eric his hand while Peter complied.

"Have fun."

Peter was quiet as Tony drove them through the busy city streets. It wasn't the first time that he'd been in the car, and he was over the initial excitement of being in an expensive car and he'd long since grown past the fact that Tony was Tony Stark, Ironman and superhero, so he didn't stare at the man, like he knew all of the other boys would have.

He had him to himself, just then, though, and had mentioned to JARVIS the night before that maybe now might be the chance he'd been hoping to get to ask Tony about how he should proceed with using his own superhero abilities.

The AI had advised him to be patient for just a little longer. He and Tony were relaxed with each other, now, it had been pointed out. But surprising him with all the other avengers around might annoy him more than impress him. JARVIS wanted to wait and see how the weekend went, first, before letting Stark in on their secret friendship.

"It's your first time overnight with him," he'd said. "And a big step closer to the goal. But we'll see how he handles things."

Since it was Peter's goal to learn to use his powers, he wasn't completely sure what spending the night away from the foster home and with Tony had to do with all of that. He trusted JARVIS, however, and had been excited enough to go along with pretty much anything.

Which was a good thing.

When they reached the city limits and Tony pulled the car onto the highway going north, he could relax enough to address his young companion.

"Ground rules…"

Peter wasn't surprised. Tony had ground rules for pretty much everything they did together. They were usually fairly similar.

"Yeah."

"Don't wander off." He was watching the road, since it was raining and the car's wheels were designed for performance rather than traction in the bad weather, but he was obviously serious. "There are a lot of wooded areas around the compound, and the river on one side. I don't want you messing around in either of them."

"Okay."

"If someone asks you if you want to do something dangerous – even if it's a SHIELD agent or an Avenger, you say no."

"What would be classified as dangerous?"

"Shooting any kind of weapon – gun, bow, tank… going for a flight, anywhere. Jumping out of an airplane."

"You think someone will ask me to do those things?"

"Not if they know what's good for them," Stark replied. "But some of them have interesting senses of humor, and they might think it was funny to have you do something that might make me worry. Not to hurt you, of course – none of them would let you get hurt – but because they want to see me lose my shit. Understand?"

"Not really," Peter admitted.

"Just don't do anything dangerous. Promise me."

"I promise."

OOOOOOOOOO

It was still raining when they reached the compound. Peter had spent the entire drive peppering Tony with questions. Who was going to be there? What were they like, really? Did he like anyone more than someone else? Where was he going to sleep? Who was the strongest? Was the Hulk going to be there? Did he stay in a cage? Where was Thor? Was he really a god? Or just an alien? Were there other aliens, then?

Rather than tell him to be quiet – and it was a sign of just how far they'd come that Tony didn't do that, automatically – Stark had answered many of the questions posed to him, although not all, of course. He certainly wasn't going to tell anyone who his favorite avenger was, now was he? Not even that Avenger.

"Speaking of Avengers…" Tony murmured as they pulled up to a covered area with a driveway. It was right in the front of the impressive building, and would keep them both from getting rained on. Assembling themselves next to the door (alerted by Tony and his AI without Peter being aware) were a couple of very familiar faces. Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, and Sam Wilson were all watching as the car stopped. Tony looked over at Peter and winked. "Now we don't need to carry our own bags."

Peter gave him a slightly nervous smile, looking through the water smeared window with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty on his expression. Stark smiled at yet another reminder that despite his brilliance and his remarkable accomplishments, he was still very much a little boy. He tousled his hair, got out of the car and went around to open Peter's.

"Come on, buddy," he coaxed. "They want to meet you."

"Oh, he's so little…" Sam said, softly, watching as the child got out of the car, and then hung back when Tony walked over to stop in front of them. All three avengers tried to get a better look, but Peter went shy, and was suddenly hiding behind Tony, peeking out at them from around his leg, his hand holding onto the back pocket of Tony's jeans. "Is this your friend we've heard so much about?"

"Guys," Tony twisted, just a little, amused, and a hand on Peter's shoulder brought the child a step closer so they could all see him. "This is Peter. Peter? That's Steve, Natasha and Sam."

Sam was closest and was first to offer the boy his hand.

"I hear you're a pretty interesting guy," he said, kindly.

Peter smiled, and took his hand, forcing himself not to hide his face against the denim of Tony's jeans.

"Hi."

"Did you really break into Tony's apartment?" Steve asked, stepping up to shake that little hand, too. His smile was friendly, and his blue eyes were alive with good humor that made Peter smile – despite the reminder of the first time Tony would remember meeting him. "Or is Tony just making it up?"

"No. I did."

"It made him change his security code, at least," Natasha said, approvingly, when she offered Peter her hand as well. "I kept telling him that his birthday wasn't a good choice."

Tony rolled his eyes.

"What's the plan?"

"Did he eat?" Steve asked.

"Not since breakfast."

"Then we feed him and show him around – and then hang out with him." He looked at the little boy. "Sound good?"

Peter's smile was more excited, now, than nervous. They were doing what they could to relax him around them, and it was working.

"Yes."

"Good. I'm going to show you where your room is – which is right beside Tony's – and Tony can carry your bags with his."

Stark scowled at that, but Steve only smirked.