"You're evil."

Tony smirked, unrepentant.

"What did I do?" he asked, innocently.

"You sicced Peter on me."

"Whaaaat?" he allowed his voice to go a little higher, and his eyes widen in shock. "I'd never do something like that. Not that sweet little guy of mine."

Pepper rolled her eyes, looking over at the boy, who was still wearing pajamas – proof that they were going to stay at the compound one more day, just to make sure that Peter's cold was well on its way to being gone before Tony would risk taking him outside.

Even just to transfer him from the building to his car for the drive home.

He'd fallen asleep as planned, and Stark had put him to bed – also as planned. Tony liked it when things went according to his plans. He had stayed a few minutes, watching Peter sleep and listening for the sound of any congestion that might be lurking, but the boy seemed to be resting peacefully. Rather than risk waking him by joining him to hold him, Stark went back to bed, and fell asleep easily.

OOOOOOOO

In the morning, Peter had climbed into Pepper's lap after breakfast was done, and had cuddled into her embrace while Tony and Natasha arm wrestled over the last cup of coffee that was in the pot. Peter had sighed in contentment that had made Pepper smile, and then had simply told her that Tony was going to take him to Disney, and did she want to come with them?

The woman forced herself not to look over at her boss, who had to be the one responsible, but he was pointedly not looking her way as he shook his arm and accused Romanoff of taking steroids, or something.

"Did Tony tell you to invite me?" she asked Peter.

He smiled up at her, brown eyes happy.

"Yeah. It'll be fun," he added, hopefully. "There are rides, and food – and even a hotel that is right by the rides."

"Yes, I've heard that. Have you ever been?"

"No. I don't remember it, if I have. It's probably something I'd remember."

"Probably."

"You could come and take a vacation. Tony said that you need one."

"He did, did he?"

Peter nodded.

"Yeah. Please?" he added. "I'll win you a stuffed animal."

She smiled, and then shrugged, unwilling to say no to him.

Or maybe unable?

"I suppose I could take a few days of vacation. I have a lot of it accrued."

"Wow. This will be fun."

And then he'd simply held her, making Pepper feel like mush inside at being used as a cuddle buddy.

Eventually he had moved, too restless to stay still for long. He was playing Legos with Natasha and Clint, and she was still on the couch – only now Tony had come over to join her.

"Yes, that sweet little guy of yours. He told me that you suggested inviting me when you go to Disney."

"He must be mistaken," Tony said. "He's eight, so it's bound to happen"

"So you're not going to Disney? And I'm not invited to join you?"

"Disney sounds like fun. And if Peter has his heart set on it, then we have to go, really. You, of course, are more than welcome to come, too."

"When?"

"Whatever dates are best for you," was the immediate reply. "Peter and I have open schedules, this week."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"What are you doing?" Tony asked, peeking into Peter's bedroom, and finding the little boy sitting in the middle of his bed, with his backpack.

It was open and the manilla envelope was out, with the contents all scattered around him. There were a few more, now, than there had been the very first time that Tony had seen them. Including his Lego avengers, the bear Tony had won him at the carnival, and now a few pictures that he'd been given of the Tatros on Christmas.

"Packing."

Peter's smile was excited, and Tony walked into the bedroom.

"You don't need to bring that, you know…" he said, sitting on the edge of the bed, carefully, to avoid sitting on anything. "It will still be here when we get home from Disney."

Peter looked at him, uncertainly, and Tony felt that familiar ache that he always had when he was reminded of just how rough the boy had had things, in the past. It was one of the reasons that the billionaire was so determined to make his present and future amazing. (Another reason was probably that he didn't know how to do anything on a small level)

"I know…" the boy said, and Tony saw his hand tighten, just a little, on his father's wristwatch. "I just…"

"You can bring it, buddy," Tony assured him. "I just wanted to remind you that you don't have to worry about that, anymore. No one can take you away from me, now, and JARVIS wouldn't let anyone get away with taking anything of yours. Would you, JARVIS?"

"Of course not," came the immediate reply. "Not only would I immediately alert your father, Peter…" and Tony smiled at the way the AI was reminding the boy of his new status. "I would also alert the avengers."

"See?" Tony said. "You think Natasha and Sam would let anyone get away with doing something like that?"

"No."

"Not a chance. And then Nick would make sure they were sorry."

If Romanoff didn't take care of it, first. Of course, he didn't say that aloud. Peter had no idea just how deadly Natasha was, and Tony had no intention of letting him in on that knowledge until he had to know.

Peter nodded.

"I can still take it with me?"

"Yes. Of course, you can." He watched as all of the treasures went back into the envelope, and then the envelope went back into the backpack. "Other things that should go in your backpack are your phone, your tablet, a book – not a schoolbook – and whatever you think you might want to play with on the flight. Your clothes and that kind of stuff go into your suitcase. See? They won't be needed until we get to the hotel, right?"

"Yeah."

He was looking excited, again, and Tony took the backpack and put it on Peter's desk. They were leaving in the morning. They would be swinging by to pick up Pepper at her upscale apartment building, and then would be going to the private airfield to take the SI jet to Disneyland. Peter had been talking about very little else since they'd returned to the city the day before and had stopped at a store on the way in to buy Peter a new set of luggage for the trip.

His suitcase was on his little table near the closet, already open and waiting – although Tony had suggested that the boy let him help decide what to bring.

That was he didn't end up with eighteen shirts, one pair of pants, three socks and no underwear.

"Should we finish your packing, tonight? Or in the morning?"

"Natasha said to do it tonight, so I don't feel rushed and forget something in the morning."

"That's a good idea."

"She's pretty smart, huh?"

"Yes, she is."

"And pretty."

"Yes," he agreed. "That, too."

"So is Pepper."

"Yes, to both of those. Smart and pretty."

"Yeah."

Tony smiled, brushing his fingers against his son's cheek. (his son's cheek! How the hell had that happened?)

"What are you thinking about?" he asked the boy.

Peter shook his head, eyes happy.

"Nothing. Just something that JARVIS and I were talking about last night."

"Oh? What?"

"Legoland," JARVIS said before Peter could respond. "I was telling him the various rides and activities that are exclusive to that park, as well."

Peter grinned. He and Tony had actually downloaded and printed out a brochure for the Legoland park that was adjacent to Disney. It was definitely something the boy was interested in experiencing, after all, and they'd spent over an hour looking through it and debating what rides would be ones that he could go on – due to size restrictions – and what he'd even want to go on.

And that didn't even include the Lego activities indoors.

The billionaire didn't miss the fact that the brochure was also sitting on Peter's bed.

"Why don't I help you pack, now?" he suggested, reaching over and hoisting the boy off the bed and into his arms. "That way we're ready to go when Happy comes to get us, tomorrow."

"Yeah." He hugged Tony, because he couldn't hug himself, just then, and pressed a kiss against his cheek like the man had done to him so many times. "And then I can help you pack, too."

Tony smiled and kissed him back before setting him down.

"That's a great idea."