"I had fun. Thank you."

Tony smiled as he watched the most dangerous woman in the world (maybe even the universe?) try not to cry. Romanoff leaned over and hugged Peter, hard, picking him up and pressing a kiss against his cheek.

"Not as much fun as I did," she assured him. "We're not done, yet, either," she reminded him, softly. "Still gotta figure out what makes you tick, right?"

The little boy hugged her back.

"Yeah."

He was put onto his feet, and smiled at Steve, Sam, and Clint, again. He'd already said all his goodbyes, and his backpack was stuffed full of Avengers clothing and swag for himself, while he also had another bag that had been filled with SHIELD and Captain America sweatshirts for the other boys in the home, as well as a coffee cup for Eric's wife and a keychain for Ned. He didn't know that the other kids were going to be happy to see him after an entire weekend of not having to put up with hearing how much smarter he was than them, but they'd definitely like the swag.

"Tony will bring you out here, again, soon," Steve told Peter. "If he knows what's good for him."

Stark rolled his eyes, but it was all good-natured. He knew they would want to see Peter, again, and he'd had a good time, as well, so wasn't completely against the idea of another trip out. It'd have to be for a weekend, though, since the drive to the compound was too long to just make an afternoon of it.

"Of course we'll be back," he assured the boy – and the avengers. "We'd stay longer, but they have to save the world, and I have to make money – and you can't miss any more school than you already have."

Peter smiled at that.

He'd had a lot of fun. Aside from the terrible time with Tony when he'd met JARVIS, officially, the rest of the weekend had been better than anything he could ever remember. Certainly better than anything in recent times. He'd been the center of attention, and even though he knew it was wrong to wallow in it, he really had done just that and enjoyed every moment.

Even more, Natasha, Clint and Sam all knew his secret, now.

More than just the strength thing, too, apparently, because when he'd gone to breakfast with Tony that very morning, Clint had commented on his busted lip looking much better than it had the day before. Tony had examined his face, carefully, even having him open his mouth so he could check the inside part that he'd cut with his teeth, but it hadn't hurt, and when he chanced a look in a mirror, he saw that the bruise that had been so dark the night before when he'd brushed his teeth had faded to yellowish purple already.

"Maybe you weren't hurt as bad as the doctor thought…" Tony had said, speculatively. "That's good, though." He'd smiled and tousled Peter's hair – something that Peter couldn't remember people doing to him, before – but it was something that he was coming to like, too. "Now Eric won't beat me up for letting you get hurt."

The look on Romanoff's face said that she suspected more was going on than it not being as bad as they'd thought. She'd seen Peter's face when Peter had hurt himself, and she knew it had been serious.

He was still smiling when he buckled himself into the passenger seat of the car, and he waved at the others, who were still hanging out to see him off, as if they didn't have a lot of more important things to do that afternoon.

"Thanks for bringing me, Tony," he said, as Stark started the car and honked the horn at the others before he drove them away from the compound. "It was great."

"It was," the billionaire agreed. "I'm glad you had fun."

The boy smiled at that, and then turned his head to watch the scenery go by. He hadn't been out in the country before, and the trees and open land going by was almost as much of a novelty as having spent the weekend with superheroes.

"I wish I could do it every week," he said, softly, and Tony wasn't sure if he'd meant to say it aloud or not, so he wasn't sure if he was supposed to reply.

"We'll find something to do, next weekend," Tony promised him. "It's almost Halloween… maybe we'll go to a pumpkin patch or something."

"That'd be fun."

"Good." Tony reached out and tousled those curls, again. "I got you a present."

"You did?"

"Yup. Can you reach behind my seat? There's a green bag."

Peter craned his head and saw what Tony was talking about, and twisted a little so he could get hold of the handle. It was bright, with a ribbon at the top, but nothing to indicate what was in it.

"What is it?"

"Open it up and see."

The boy did as he was told, and pulled out a small tablet. An expensive one that was enveloped in a fine cover that zipped around it to protect it when it wasn't in use.

"Wow. This is for me?"

"Yeah. It's set up for data, on my personal satellite network. That way you don't have to worry if anyone is using the computer, and you want to use it."

"Thanks…" Peter was examining it. "This is great."

Tony smiled, pleased at the response to the gift. And pleased that he'd thought of it.

"You can also use it to talk to JARVIS," he added, making Peter look over at him, surprised.

"You wouldn't mind?"

"No. I think it's great that you give JARVIS someone to talk to when I can't be around to spend time with him." He knew, really, that it was the other way around, of course, but he couldn't say that. He hesitated, though, watching the road. "If you wanted, though," he added. "You could talk to me, too. If it's late and you're awake. Or if you had a bad dream and you need someone to talk to."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"How do I know if you're awake?"

"You ask JARVIS, of course."

"Oh." Duh. Peter looked at the tablet, and smiled, but also felt his eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Thank you, Tony."

"You're welcome, buddy."

OOOOOOO

"Really Tony?"

"What?"

"A Halloween party?"

"We've had Halloween parties, before, Pepper."

"Not with a bunch of little kids."

"It'll be great. All the people that work here can bring their kids, play games, and have a costume contest, or something, and stuff them full of sugar until they puke. It'll be good for my public image, right? And good for morale."

She raised an eyebrow, not at all convinced that he was concerned about his public image.

"Are you planning on inviting Peter?"

"It crossed my mind."

"Huh."

Tony ignored the look she gave him.

"Don't read anything into it, Pep. I just thought it'd be a fun thing."

"I'm sure he'll have a great time."

"Yeah. Set it up, will you?"

He couldn't wait to see Peter's reaction. Maybe he'd take him out to pick out a costume, even.

Peter had been increasingly present the last couple of weeks. Both at the tower, where he arrived after school and hung out, working on homework, but also sometimes just sitting in one of the leather chairs near Tony's desk, watching him work, or talking to him about what he'd done at school that day, and also on outings away from the tower, and the foster home. Nothing overnight, like they'd done at the compound, but Tony had taken him on a couple of day trips to different locations in the city that were entertaining and fun for both of them. An arcade, where they'd spent an afternoon playing every videogame the place had to offer. There had also been a trip to a pumpkin patch, where Peter had excitedly grabbed Tony's hand and dragged him all over the little farm, stopping to oooo and awwww over the smallest of things.

Stark had had a good time, he had to admit – privately – but Peter had worn him out that day. They'd picked out pumpkins, they'd gotten themselves lost in the corn maze for almost an hour, had gone on a hayride which had culminated in Peter being allowed to feed the huge horse pulling the wagon a couple of carrots. The boy had fallen asleep on the way home, and Tony had handed the sleeping form over to Eric with a wry grin, and had then gone back to his apartment and fallen asleep, almost immediately, rather than spend his evening working on his newest suit design.

Most nights would find the boy talking to JARVIS, and on occasion to Tony, who was pleased that he'd set up the tablet that he'd given Peter to have video function so they could actually talk to each other, although Peter seemed to be reluctant to keep Tony awake, just because he couldn't sleep. Little did he know just how little Tony actually slept most nights, or he wouldn't have felt guilty at all.

Usually their conversations were nothing too extraordinary; what Peter was scheduled for in school the next day. What Tony was scheduled for at the tower, and every now and then both of them calling Natasha, or Steve, or one of the others, just to wake them up and say hello.

It was pleasant, and Tony looked forward to the end of his workday so he could see that cheerful little guy walking into his office.

Pepper rolled her eyes, but she didn't complain. Of course, Tony knew that she was fond of Peter, too, and also thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Stark's public image was going up, steadily. Not because the people saw him with the boy; more often than not when they went out, Tony wasn't recognized for who he was, and Peter tended to garner more attention because of those big brown eyes of his. No, having the boy around him made Tony feel less and less inclined to be a spectacle. Or to go to parties and pick up some floozie for the evening. Why would he want someone in his bed when Peter called to see if he was busy?

He certainly didn't want JARVIS telling Peter that Tony couldn't talk because he was entertaining some stranger.

"I'll take care of it.," Pepper told him.

Tony smiled.

"Thanks."