"Well?"

Peter hesitated, looking out the window of the SUV at the huge house in front of them.

"It's nice."

Tony smiled.

"Think it's worth going in and looking at?"

"Yeah."

It was Sunday morning, and they'd taken all day Saturday to rest and recuperate from their trip – and allow Peter a chance to call the avengers and double-check that they really were alright. There was some coughing, and raspy voices, but when he spoke with Natasha, she assured the little boy that they were fine, and everyone had just caught a cold. They weren't in any more danger, she told him, than he had been when he'd been sick. Then she asked him all about the trip to Disney, and smiled when he assured her that he'd brought her back a present.

He'd brought everyone a present.

Feeling better (although maybe a little guilty) Peter had nodded when Tony suggested that they go look at a couple of houses that the realtor had picked out to match the requirements both the man and the boy had wanted in their future home. Most of the requirements were Tony's; he was picky about how many bedrooms, what they featured, the kitchen, the appliances, a proper yard – and some extra area around it, the size of the place and the fact that there absolutely had to be sufficient wiring to handle what he'd do to the place to set JARVIS in the home network.

Peter was just hoping for a swimming pool and a bedroom that had a big window.

This house was surrounded by an iron fence and tall shrubbery, with a private driveway and a secure gate, with a pre-set security system. The realtor had made sure the place was open in case the billionaire wanted to drop in, and they'd taken him up on it. It was the second house that they'd looked at that morning.

The first one had been opulent, but didn't have as many rooms as Tony wanted. And there wasn't a spot to put the piano.

"Come on, buddy."

Tony offered Peter his hand, automatically, as they walked up to the porch, and then through the front door.

"Wow."

Peter looked around with interest, but so did Tony. Not only at the house, itself, but at Peter's reaction to it. When they looked into the bedrooms – and there were four – he watched when Peter ran over to the window to look out over the yard. A quick walk through the rest of the place; kitchen, dining room, huge family room, and even a room that Tony mentioned would make a good game room. A space for a den and a workroom for the billionaire so he could still tinker at all hours of the day, and a proper place to showcase the piano.

"What do you think?" Stark asked as they walked out the side door and looked at a swimming pool that was more than big enough for the two of them – as well as any large group of superheroes that they might want to invite over, someday. "Could you see us living here?"

"Forever?"

"That's the plan."

Peter hugged himself, excitedly.

"It's pretty neat, isn't it?"

That made Tony smile.

"Yeah."

OOOOOOOOO

"Are you nervous?" Natasha asked, standing next to Peter.

The little boy nodded, looking up at her.

"A little. Tony doesn't like them."

The assassin smiled, taking Peter's hand. They were watching a video display that showed the room next to the one they were waiting in. A small room, furnished with a table and some chairs. The table held crayons, coloring books and Legos. It also had three distinctive giftbags on it; each one with a bow and ribbons in every shade of blue. There was another table with refreshments, pushed against the far wall. As they watched the display, Tony moved into the room, standing with Pepper and waiting.

A moment later, Happy opened the door and three people were ushered into the room. Two women and one man, and while Peter didn't recognize them, most everyone else who watched news definitely would. They silently walked in and looked around. Not finding what they were looking for, they turned their attention to Stark and Pepper.

The billionaire didn't make them wait long.

"Ground rules," Tony said, speaking before Pepper could welcome their guests.

Peter smiled, and Natasha squeezed his hand.

"We're listening," said the oldest of the visitors.

"One question at a time. Nothing complicated. You act like human beings and you don't frighten him, or everyone goes home without a second chance. Got it?"

The three nodded. None of them liked being told what to do, or how to conduct an interview – even with an eight-year-old – but they all desperately wanted to be there.

"Agreed."

"You have one hour," Tony added. "Or until Peter's done."

The three nodded, and Stark turned toward the door where Natasha and Peter were waiting and nodded. A moment later Romanoff and Peter walked into the room. The boy walked over to stand beside Tony, while Natasha went to stand near Happy, and now both were watching the newcomers, intently.

Waiting for them to make any move that might prove to be a threat to Peter.

"You okay?" Tony asked Peter.

The boy nodded.

"Yes."

He brought his hand up and Tony took it. Then the billionaire addressed the news reporters, again.

"This is my son, Peter Stark. He's eight. He likes Legos, coloring and – for some reason I can't fathom – Batman."

Peter smiled.

Mindful of the scrutiny of the others, the reporters all smiled, too.

"Hello, Peter," one of the women said, stepping up to offer him her hand. "How are you?"

"Good."

The boy looked up at Tony and Pepper, and Stark smiled, reassuringly.

"It's okay, buddy. They're just going to ask you some questions."

He and Peter had discussed this several times the last few days while they'd been waiting for Romanoff to recover from her cold and then lead the team that vetted the reporters, and the upcoming meeting, preparing for the media introduction to Peter. He knew what was supposed to be happening, and Tony had done a good job of preparing him.

"Okay."

Tony led Peter to the table, and the reporters followed, seating themselves, as well.

"What do you like best about living with Mr. Stark?" the male reporter asked.

"Being with Tony."

The billionaire smiled at that and he felt Pepper take his hand.

Then the two of them watched as the media slowly and very carefully introduced themselves to the child, and then joined him at the table. The gift baskets were for him, they told him, and everyone in the room watched as the little boy opened, them, excited.

Soon the reporters were playing with Legos and Hot Wheels as they asked him questions and tried to learn more about the little boy who was now heir to a fortune and would almost certainly become one of the most known faces on the planet in the upcoming days.