It was a much happier boy that entered Tony's office after school that day than had the last time, when he'd told the billionaire about being moved from Eric's. Tony was at his desk, but he knew Peter was heading his way, since JARVIS kept track of the boy for him. Peter went to his desk, putting his backpack down.

"Hi, Tony."

"Hey, buddy. How was school?"

"Good. Maria is neat."

The SHIELD agent who would be primary for Peter's outside protection. Specifically chosen by Nick and Natasha. She had been at the apartment to pick Peter up to transport him to school, and after very carefully making sure she was truly the person she was claiming to be, Tony had told Peter to have a good day and that he'd see him after school in his office.

Agent Hill had spent the school day wandering the halls of Peter's school, talking to the administrators and the school's resource officer, as well and peeking in and checking on Peter every fifteen minutes. The boy wasn't aware, since he was doing his normal school activities, but she was diligent.

"I'm glad. Before you get busy, I wanted to talk to you about something Pepper thought of…"

No sense in taking the blame if Peter hated the idea, after all.

"Okay." Peter waited to see if Tony was going to get up to come to him, and then walked over to his desk. He came around to the side where the man was, and Tony smiled. God, he was adorable. "Is it bad?"

Tony shook his head.

"Do you think Pepper would ever think of something bad?"

"No."

"No. Of course not. There's a daycare here in the tower, and she – that is, we – thought you might like going there after school, instead of coming to my office."

"You don't want me to be here?"

There was no recrimination in the child's expression. Just uncertainty.

"I want what's best for you," Tony told him. "And since I get to see you all the time, it might be a good thing for you to hang out with other kids when you're done with school. That way you can play with them."

"What about my homework?"

"It's called homework for a reason," Tony pointed out. "It should be done at home. The only reason we weren't, is because I wanted you to come here so I could see you five days a week. Now that I get to see you every day, I'm willing to share you. A little. Sometimes with the Avengers and sometimes with other little kids."

"Daycare is for babies."

"Nope. For once, you're wrong. It's for kids to hang out, together, and play, and socialize. And have fun while their parents are working. We could go take a look," he suggested. "You don't have to go, but I want you to at least look at the place before you say you don't want to. Fair?"

Peter hesitated. He was still stuck on the way Tony had phrased it. It was a place to have fun while their parents were working. He didn't have parents, now, but he knew foster dad was a stand in parent. It made his stomach hurt to think of Tony as a dad to him. A good hurt, though. An ache that he hadn't felt before.

"It doesn't have to be today," Tony told him, misinterpreting the hesitation. "You can think about it. I promised you that you would have a say in thing, remember."

"No." Peter leaned on Tony's knee, looking up at him. It wasn't asking much, really, and he was so nice to Peter. "You'll come?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Tony stood up, scooping the boy into his arms for a moment, and hugging him.

"Did I tell you that I'm glad to see you?"

Peter smiled and shook his head.

"No. I'm happy to see you."

"So am I." Another squeeze, and he set the boy on his feet, and then offered him his hand. "Come on. We're going to meet Ella."

"Okay."

OOOOOOOOOO

The daycare occupied a large section of the third floor, but there were only two access points to get to it. This was done on purpose, to make certain that the only people who mingled with the children there were parents or staff. Because of that, there was a security person at the door, next to the large desk that people would check in at when picking up or dropping off their children.

Peter held back when they reached the door, once more getting shy at the idea of meeting someone new. Many someones, really, because there were a lot of kids in the room beyond the first door. The room was bright, and the walls were painted in cheerful colors. Some of the children were playing with blocks, or Legos, building things and others were running around playing all kinds of games. All seemed to be having fun. There were dozens of activities going on at once, all tailored to the age of the children doing it, and several adults were watching, or participating, as well.

A woman came to greet them, smiling at Tony, first but then looking down at Peter with a warm smile. She was older and graying, but her mannerism was kind as she studied the boy who was peeking out at her from behind Tony's leg.

"You must be Peter."

He nodded, putting his arm around Tony's leg, but leaning away from him a little in response to her kindness.

"Peter's shy, sometimes," Tony said, unnecessarily. "But he's a fun little guy."

"I can tell." Her eyes never left Peter. "I'm Ella."

"Hi."

"Why don't we show you around?"

Ella had already spoken with Tony, so she knew Peter's history (although not his special abilities) and Tony had – of course – looked into her background, immediately. She was a children's education major from long ago, a retired teacher, and a mother of four and grandmother of three. Her employment and personal backgrounds were spotless – not surprising, since Pepper wouldn't have hired anyone less than perfect to watch over the daycare, Tony knew. He'd liked her, immediately, even though his first thought when he'd heard retired teacher was Marples. Someone he hoped Peter didn't associate with the other woman, because the two couldn't be any different as far as personalities.

Peter hesitated, but there was no impatience when she put her hand out, offering it to him.

"It's okay, buddy. I'm going to be here, too."

Tony didn't want to distract the older kids who would almost certainly recognize him from their fun, and he didn't want the other children to know his relationship with Peter, if it wasn't necessary. That way they would be friends with him, just to be friends with him. There wouldn't be jealousy or any kind of butt kissing.

Peter took the hand that was being offered, and looked around as he was led into the room. Some of the kids were running by, laughing, and it made him smile, too. They wouldn't be laughing if they weren't enjoying themselves, right? And no one was telling them they were being too noisy, either.

"We have fourteen children your age – or within a year up, or down," Ella told him. "They go to different schools, for the most part, but they get to see each other almost every day, here, so they can play together and have fun. What do you like to do?"

Peter shrugged, craning his head to see what a girl was drawing at a table they walked past. She smiled at him, and showed him, wordlessly. It was a picture of a chimney with Santa and his reindeer on the roof beside it.

"I like to do science."

"Like building things?" she prodded, wanting to give him a chance to open up and relax at the same time. "Like an engineer?"

He nodded.

"Like Tony."

That made both adults smile, and Stark feel a little gooey inside. He watched the boy as they walked through the various rooms that made up the daycare. There was a play room, and a nap room, and a movie room. These were being utilized by children as old as eleven, which he was told was the oldest allowed at this particular area. There was another section that was for teens, and a nursery for babies and toddlers.

There was even a kitchen, where lunches were made for the children who were there all day, and snacks for all of the others. Small children sized tables and chairs were neatly scattered for them to use – although right now they were empty.

"What do you think?" Tony asked when they finished the tour and found themselves back at the activity room, once more. "Looks like it might be fun."

Peter nodded.

"Maybe."

"Are you interested in trying it?"

"I don't have to stay if I don't like it?"

"Not if you don't want to. You just tell Ella to have someone call me, and I'll come. But I want you to give it a try. A real try. That way we know. Okay?"

"Yeah."

"Starting tomorrow?" Tony asked Ella, just as a couple of boys ran by, laughing.

"I can't start, today?" Peter asked, making the two adults smile.

"Of course, you can," Ella said. She waved at the boys, who came over, immediately. "Peter? This is Gabriel and Jonah. Guys? This is Peter. He's new. Let him see what you're doing and see if it's something he might want to do, too."

The taller of the two nodded, agreeably, looking at Peter, speculatively.

"How old are you?" he asked as they walked off, heading for the corner where they'd been running to when they'd been called.

"Eight."

"My age, then," the smaller said. "Gabe's ten. But he's fun."

Tony couldn't hear Peter's reply, and he turned to Ella, who looked pleased.

"If he needs anything, call me."

"We'll try to work it out, first," she told him, walking with him to the door. "That way we can work on problem solving and interactions. If it's serious, though, we'll definitely call."

"Fair enough. I'll come collect him at five-thirty."

Feeling comfortable with leaving his little guy with her and the other kids, Tony left.

"Do I keep an eye on him?" JARVIS asked as Stark passed an interactive display.

One of many in the building.

"Of course."

He wasn't being over-protective, he told himself as he headed for the elevators and his office. He was just being thorough.