"I don't know…" Peter said, uncertainly, holding Tony's hand, but holding back when the rest of the line moved forward in front of him. "Maybe I should just write a letter. Or send an email."

Tony smiled, despite Peter's nervousness.

"It's not the real Santa," he reminded the child. "Just a guy that helps out."

"But what if he tells the real Santa that I didn't believe in him?" The boy peeked out from behind Tony's leg at the huge golden and red throne and the heartily dressed man in the red suit and with a beard that glistened white under the mall lighting. "Maybe Santa will be mad and I won't get anything."

"He's not like that, Peter," Tony assured him, taking a step forward and watching as an 'elf' picked up the girl in front of them in the line and neatly deposited her on the fake Santa's lap.

The man said a loud ho-ho-ho and asked her what her name was, making the child smile when she answered.

She didn't look nervous at all. Only excited.

"But what if he is?"

Tony reached down and picked Peter up, holding him, but not cuddling. He just wanted him on his own level to talk to him.

"It's going to be fine. Santa knows that you've had a rough time, lately. Just tell the guy what you want, let them take a couple of pictures, and then we'll go get our Christmas tree, so Santa knows where to put all your presents."

"Think so?"

"Yup." Tony put the boy back on his feet, and was pleased when Peter stayed in front of him, now, rather than hiding behind him. "You'll see."

The little girl posed with a wide smile holding the red outfit, tightly, as a photographer took several photos, and then she was lifted off Santa's lap by an 'elf' on the other side of the throne, where her parents met her, paying for the photo that was printed for them and smiling at their daughter's excitement.

The elf closest to Tony looked at Peter, expectantly, obviously reading his nervousness.

"Ready to see Santa?" he asked, kindly.

Peter looked up at Tony, who nodded, and then turned to the man in the bright green tights.

"Yes."

The elf picked him up, easily, and settled him in Santa's lap, and Peter looked up at the man with awe.

"What's your name, little guy?" he was asked.

"Peter."

"Merry Christmas, Peter. Why do you look so nervous? You're not afraid, are you?"

"A little…"

"Don't be." Strong arms held him in place. "Do you know what you want for Christmas?"

Peter nodded, looking over at Tony, who was watching, closely.

"I think so. But I don't think you can do it – not even the real Santa."

"You can try," was the reply. "Tell me what it is, and we'll give it a go."

Peter hesitated, and then shifted in the man's lap, getting on his knees, and Tony winced when he saw one of the boy's bony knees end up squarely on 'Santa's' groin. The man didn't miss a beat, though, even as Peter brought his mouth up to his ear to whisper in it for a moment. Then he leaned back, looking at him, expectantly.

"Well?"

"That's a tall order. I'll send the message, though. Anything else?"

"No. Just that."

The photographer held up his camera and drew Peter's attention to him.

"Say cheese."

Peter did, and a moment later he was being picked up by the other elf, and put back on his feet. Tony met him near the cheerful woman who was handing candy canes to each child on their way out.

"You did great," he said, pleased. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Peter shook his head, looking relieved.

"No. He's nice."

Tony paid for the cheaply framed photo, and admired the picture of the little boy, looking so cute. He smiled.

"Let's go get a Christmas tree, buddy."

"Okay."

OOOOOOOO

It was much later the same day when JARVIS announced that Natasha and Steve were at the door. The AI opened it, just as Peter hopped down from his barstool.

They walked in the door, and Natasha smiled when she saw him, scooping him up into her arms before Steve had a chance to do the same.

"Hey, handsome," she greeted him, hugging him close and pressing a noisy kiss against his cheek that made him giggle. "How are you?"

Peter smiled, too, and he turned in her embrace, pointing, excitedly.

"We got a Christmas tree," he told them. "Isn't it great?"

Steve walked over, joined by Tony, who shrugged.

The tree was a monster. It fit exactly right in the vaulted ceilings of Tony's apartment, and there were blinking white lights, some Christmas ornaments, candy canes hanging from every other branch, and the thing was so covered in tinsel that Steve had to look close to see the rest of it.

"That's quite a tree…" Rogers said, his blue eyes twinkling in amusement. "It's bigger than the one you had last year, isn't it, Tony?"

Since he hadn't bothered with a Christmas tree in more than a decade, Tony was forced to nod.

"That it is," he agreed.

"I did the tinsel," Peter told them, squirming so Natasha could know that he wanted down. He ran over to it, and pulled a candy cane from a branch that was on level with his head, and held it up. "And there are candy canes."

"Wow…"

"They're different flavors, too," Peter told them, proudly. "Not just this kind; there's orange, and strawberry, and root beer."

"That's amazing," Natasha said. "I didn't know candy canes came in so many types."

Tony rolled his eyes at her amused look.

"I didn't either."

"There aren't any presents, though," Steve noted, looking at Stark with an expectant expression.

"We've had the tree up for three hours," the billionaire said. "Even I need a little time."

"Well don't take too long," Natasha said, smiling when Steve picked Peter up only to hang him upside down in his arms, which made the boy laugh. "It looks pretty bare."

"It won't for long," Tony assured them. "He just ate, Rogers," Tony added. "If he pukes on you, that's your mess to clean up. You've been warned."

Steve smirked, swinging Peter, slightly.

"He's not going to throw up, are you, Peter?"

"Nope."

His face was turning red, though, from being upside down. He didn't mind.

Tony shook his head, amused.

"Why don't you show Steve the new hat you got?"

"Okay." The boy looked up at Captain America. "They had some at the Christmas tree place. It's warm."

"Let's go see."

He winked at Natasha and, still holding Peter upside down, he walked into the boy's room and closed the door behind them.

"What's up?" Natasha asked, stealing a root beer candy cane from the tree and then walking over to the kitchen. "You know there's a blizzard going on, right? And I'm not in the habit of being summoned."

Tony nodded.

"I appreciate you coming. I need a little help with something, and I'm hoping you're the one to do it."

"Oh? Need a baby-sitter? I'm in."

He smiled.

"Any time you want, but no. JARVIS?"

The kitchen display came on, and a moment later there was a video feed of what was obviously a security camera at the mall. The center of the mall, Romanoff saw where Santa was holding court. Her expression softened when she saw that Peter and Tony were in the line, with Peter hanging back, nervously.

"Aww."

"Yeah. He's cute. And it took some convincing to get him to say hi to Santa." He rolled his eyes, again. "He was worried Santa would be mad because he didn't believe in him, before, and that he wouldn't get anything."

"What did he ask for?" she asked, curiously, watching as Peter whispered in Santa's ear and the man nodded. "Did you hear?"

"No. The camera caught it, though – with a little amplification from JARVIS."

They both watched as the scene rewound and this time the volume went up, a little.

"I want my dad's watch back," was the soft whisper. "And I never want to move, again…"

Romanoff looked at Tony.

"Awww…"

He nodded, and then – to her surprise – he smiled.

"I'll work on the second one, but I was hoping you might be able to see what you could do about the watch."

"Really?"

He frowned.

"You don't think you'll be able to track it down?" he asked, purposefully misunderstanding her shock. "I had JARVIS check inventory of all pawn shops – and videos of all displays. It isn't there. You're better at ferreting out secrets than I am."

"Yeah. I'll look into it." She looked at the kitchen, and the ingredients and equipment that was strewn about the island and the counter. "Are you guys baking cookies?"

Tony nodded, smiling, and reached over to turn the display off when Peter's bedroom door opened, and the boy and Steve came out. Peter was wearing a stocking cap, now, that had a poof ball on the top and was black and white stripes.

"We are," he confirmed. "Stick around and you can be taste-testers when the first batch come out."

"They're chocolate chip," Peter told her, climbing onto his chair and joining the conversation, easily. "Can you stay?"

Natasha looked at Steve, who shrugged.

"For a while," he said, unable to resist Peter's big brown eyes and hopeful expression. "But if it snows much more, we might end up being your guests until spring thaw."

"That would be great!"

Tony rolled his eyes, tugging the stocking cap down over Peter's face, blocking his eyes and nose. He smirked at Rogers, ignoring Natasha's expression.

"You can stay for the first batch. Then you're out of here – even if I have to hire an UBER sleigh."