The party was winding down when Eric came to collect Peter. Tony was surprised to see the big man, though, because the plan had been for him to call Eric, first, and see if everyone was home, yet. The other kids had been invited to the same party that Peter had gone to, but had declined when they were told that it was going to last during prime trick-or-treating hours. Instead, they'd separated and gone to a few different events, depending on their ages and interests.

"Eric. Can I get you something to drink?"

"Coffee if you have it, thanks."

He was scanning the room, automatically looking for Peter, who was easy to spot, even in costume. He was the smallest person there, after all. The little boy was hanging out with Steve, Sam, Natasha and Rhodes. The Avengers were dressed as the main characters from the Wizard of Oz, although Dorothy hadn't looked nearly as sexy on the big screen as Natasha Romanoff was looking.

"Everything alright?" Tony asked, noticing that he looked troubled, even as he took the coffee he was offered.

"Depends on how you look at it, I suppose."

"Oh?"

"The state is moving Peter."

"What? Why? And where?"

"My place was just supposed to be temporary," Tatro explained. "Until they could find a place where he could be with kids closer to his own age, or – even rarer – a place where he's the only child, to give him the special attention a kid as bright as he is needs. I never made the push for him to be moved, because I really like him, but his social worker doesn't want him with kids who are so much older – in case he gets hurt from them being much rowdier than him." He looked over. "I got a call this morning that they're placing him in a home where he'll be the only child, and the woman who lives there is a retired teacher, so the social worker thinks it's a perfect fit for a budding genius."

Tony couldn't help the moment of panic that he felt – and the sudden concern that this wasn't a good thing, no matter how they looked at it.

"Where is it?"

"In the city, still," Eric said. "Closer to his school. Further from your tower, though."

"The social worker won't stop him from coming to my office after work, will he?"

The big man looked troubled.

"I don't know, Tony. It'll be up to the foster parent. I think you're good for Peter. I'll make a recommendation, of course, that she continues the mentoring, but I don't have any clout, and the social worker won't want to go against what the foster parent wants – to avoid making waves."

"Does Peter know?"

"No. Not yet. I wanted to make sure it was final before I mentioned it to him. I'll tell him tomorrow."

"Do you want me to?"

Eric shook his head.

"No. It's not the first time I've had to have this conversation, Lord knows it isn't going to be the last. I know how to break it to him."

"If there's anything I can do…

"I'll let you know."

"When are they moving him?"

"Wednesday."

Ugh.

OOOOOOOO

It was a very subdued little boy who walked into Tony's office the next afternoon.

The billionaire noticed, immediately, that the ever-present backpack was stuffed full, and his heart ached for the little guy who was literally carrying his most precious possessions with him for fear of losing them, otherwise.

"Hey, buddy."

"Hi, Tony."

The boy went to his desk and sat down, opening his backpack to get his schoolwork. Stark noticed that the first thing Peter had to move out of the bag was the stuffed bear that he'd won him on their first excursion out alone.

He felt his eyes sting.

"You okay?"

Peter wouldn't look at him. He pulled out his papers, and nodded, but Tony heard a soft sniff, and was sure that he saw a tear drop off the boy's cheek.

"They're moving me from Eric's."

"I heard." Tony walked over and brushed his fingers through those fine curls. "It might be for the best, though, Eric says. You'll be the only kid there, and won't have to share the attention. More hugs for you."

"It's going to be bad," Peter told him, his voice breaking on the last word. "I know it."

Tony reached down and picked him up, and Peter put his arms around the man, burying his face in his neck. The next sob escaped with very little effort.

"Shhh…" Tony crooned, trying to comfort when there was little that he could offer.

He'd told Pepper what was going on when he'd arrived at the tower the next morning, and had asked her to see what the options were. Her response less than an hour later had been regretful, but succinct. The foster care system could move the kids whenever the social workers thought it was in their best interest, and she'd personally spoken to the social worker – despite the woman being on the road to an appointment.

Peter was a little guy, and a genius, and she didn't want to risk him in a house filled with older boys who could possibly hurt him. He was being placed with a carefully screened foster parent who had a lot of money and a large house – even with a yard for the little boy, and a play area he'd have all to himself. It was a good placing, she said, and she promised to mention just how good it was for Peter to go to Tony's after school every day.

"There's nothing we can do."

"Can't a judge make them keep Peter where he is?"

She'd raised an eyebrow at that, and then her expression had softened.

"Keep him in a crowded home to avoid sending him to one that seems ideal? It won't happen."

"It's not fair to him," Tony said, scowling. "Moving him around? He was just getting stable."

"I know."

So he held Peter. Schoolwork forgotten, he walked over to the couch and sat down with the boy still in his arms, head tucked under his chin. Peter wasn't sobbing, not like he had when Tony had yelled at him back at the compound, but he was definitely not happy, and tears were leaking down his cheek to smear Tony's neck and soak the shoulder of his expensive suit.

"I'll miss you, Tony," Peter told him, woefully, his voice muffled.

"You haven't lost me, buddy," Stark promised. "You'll see. It'll be okay."

"It'll never be okay."

"I'll talk to the woman at the home, myself," Tony told him. "So she understands just how amazing you are, and how much I want you to come see me after school. She'll agree."

"What if she doesn't?"

"She will."

OOOOOOOOO

"No."

"What?"

"I said no, Mr. Stark. I don't intend to allow Peter to visit you after school. Not tomorrow, when he officially moves into my home, or any other day."

Tony frowned at the instant denial. Annoyed and really surprised. He hadn't even done anything to piss her off, having had JARVIS find out who was taking over Peter's care and then calling her and politely asking if he could come by and speak with her.

The house he was standing in was a pretty nice one, considering she was a retired teacher, and the woman herself was around his own age, graying and thin, with a stern expression as she regarded him, coldly.

"But why not?"

"Because I know who you are, Mr. Stark," she told him. "And I know your reputation. I don't believe you're a good role model for a small child like Peter, and I don't intend to expose him to you or your avenger companions any longer."

"To the avengers…?" Tony asked, incredulously. "You think Captain America is a bad example for a little kid?"

"He's a known killer."

"He killed bad people."

"It still isn't an element that Peter needs to deal with, and I won't make him."

"You don't have to make him," Tony snapped, turning angry almost immediately and unable to hide it. "He wants to come see me."

She wasn't impressed.

"He's eight. That means he doesn't get a say in the matter."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No. I have to go pick him up, now, so if you'll excuse me…"

He bit back what he really wanted to say, knowing that making her mad wouldn't do any good – and it might make things even harder on Peter. Instead, cursing under his breath, he left, and stewed angrily the entire way back to his office.

"JARVIS…" he scowled as he walked over to his desk and sat down, but he felt a pang of sorrow at the sight of the other desk sitting empty. "Run a check on Peter's new foster mother. I want to know everything about her, and I want to know what she has against the Avengers – and me, in particular."

"Yes, sir."

He couldn't sit still while he waited, though. He was far too angry. Instead, he got to his feet.

"I'll be in Pepper's office."

The billionaire didn't have to walk far to get there, and he gave a perfunctory knock on the door before storming in. She was sitting at her desk, and she looked up as he walked over and threw himself into the chair across from her.

"It didn't go well?"

Stark scowled.

"That's an understatement."

"I'm sorry to hear that. What did she say?"

"That Peter needs better role models than me and the Avengers."

"Seriously?" She frowned, clearly surprised. "I get that she might not find you to be the most reliable example, but the Avengers?"

"Yes."

"That's odd. Did she say why?"

"She doesn't approve of us. Me, in particular, but she doesn't even like Rogers. Everyone likes Rogers."

"Yes, they do."

"What do we do? Can I kidnap him?"

Her expression was sympathetic.

"And then what? You'd have to return him."

He huffed.

"I have JARVIS checking her out. Maybe he'll dig up some dirt on her, I can turn her in and Peter can go back to the Tatro's."

"I wouldn't hold my breath," Pepper told him. "They usually do a pretty thorough check on the people they allow to be foster parents."

"It's all I've got," he said. "For now."