Rhodey was waiting for them outside the entrance to the Palace. He smiled when he saw the two walk up, having been forced to park the car almost a block away.

"Hey, Cheese Pizza," he said to Peter when the boy let go of Tony's hand to run over and greet him. The man swung Peter up into his arms long enough to give him a cheerful hug. "Thanks for inviting me to dinner."

"You're welcome."

"It was my idea," Tony said, watching as his friend put the boy down and the two men walked into the place with Peter between them. "Peter just made the call."

"Is that true?" Rhodes asked.

Peter grinned.

"Yeah. Only JARVIS called. Not me."

"Well, I still think it was nice of you," he was told. "Tony only wants me to come because he's hoping I'm going to pay the bill."

"Wrong again," Stark said. "You're coming so I have another superhero to buffer against all the kids from Peter's old home."

Rhodes smiled at that. He didn't mind, and he knew it was probably pretty close to the truth. They were there on the normal night that the Tatros took the kids to the pizza place, and when Tony had called and asked if they minded if they joined them, the reply had made sure they knew they were welcomed.

James liked children, so it wasn't a big deal to him to have them around.

Not surprisingly, considering it was pizza – and Ironman – all of the kids from the home were there. Tony had passed on the request that Eric not spread word that they'd be showing up, so while the boys all knew who he was and were excited to see him, they were able to slip into the room and join the others at the table without too much hassle. Peter hugged Eric, and then his wife and then Ned, while Tony introduced Rhodey to the others. Peter sat between Ned and Eric, and Stark smiled at the way Eric's big hand came to rest on the boy's head, casually.

"You look great, Peter," Tatro told him. "Are you sleeping, more?"

"No," Peter replied honestly. "Well, I did when I was sick, but not now."

"Caught a cold, huh?"

Tony smirked, ignoring the way the older boys were taking pictures of Rhodey. He'd met them all on Christmas, so while they were still awed at being so close to him, they were really excited at the chance to meet another Avenger. Which was fine, because it gave him a chance to watch Peter and Eric, and gave Peter a chance to see his friends.

"Then he gave it to all of the others," Stark said.

"He was always a sharer."

"How do you like living with Mr. Stark?" Ned asked, excitedly.

"It's fun," Peter answered. "We went to Disneyland." He handed the boy a keychain that he'd picked up on Main Street, and Ned smiled, widely.

"Thanks."

"Tell Peter your big news, Ned," Eric said, tousling Peter's hair, affectionately.

"What news?" Peter asked, curiously.

"I got accepted into your school," his friend said. "I'm going to start there, next year."

Peter's expression was suddenly worried.

"Why don't you look happy?" Eric asked him.

The boy hesitated, going from looking worried to being afraid.

"What if they decide to put you in a different home?" he said. "Miss Marples was-"

Ned smiled.

"I don't have to worry about that," the older boy said, looking more excited than ever.

"Why not?"

"Eric and Nancy are going to adopt me."

Peter's eyes widened. He looked from Ned over to Eric and then Eric's wife.

"You are?"

Tatro smiled.

"We are. Ned's going to be what's called a failed foster. We were worried about them deciding to put Ned someplace else when word got out that he was smarter than average, and Nancy and I talked it over and decided that we loved Ned too much to allow what happened to Peter happen to Ned. Or what could have happened, if Tony hadn't stepped up and taken you."

"That's incredible," Tony said. "Congratulations, Ned. And you two."

The big man smiled.

"Thanks. We're excited about it."

"I am, too," Peter said, hugging Ned, tightly. "And you're going to be in my school!"

"Full scholarship," Eric said, proudly. "We knew Ned was bright, but not just how much until he mentioned being invited to take an entrance test."

Probably the boy had been overshadowed by Peter's own brilliance, Tony decided. It was good to see, and not just because it made Peter so happy.

"If there's anything I can do to grease things along," he told the Tatros. "Make sure you let me know. Don't be shy, either."

"We'll keep that in mind," Tatro said. He smiled at Ned. "Are you happy?"

"Yes."

"Peter?"

"Yes."

"Good. Let's have some pizza. We've just been waiting for you guys to get here."

"Wow."

OOOOOOOOO

It was a good evening all around. Peter had a chance to spend time with the boys from the home – and Ned in particular – while Tony had a chance to spend time with Eric and give the other man (and his wife) a rundown of the past few weeks and how he'd been coping doing the whole single dad thing when before it had only been him.

"Of course, Tony has it easier than most," Rhodes pointed out as they lingered over the last few slices of pizza and Tony signaled the waitress than he wanted the check and not to give it to Eric. "Peter has a hundred aunts and uncles that want to take him whenever Tony will allow them to do so."

"Including you?" Nancy had asked.

"Especially me."

Peter had smiled, and then turned back to telling Ned all about the new place they were moving to. The other boy was excited, mainly because Stark had already reminded him that there would definitely be sleepovers and when summer came the pool could be used for barbeques and other special days.

When they finally had to call it a night – it was a school night for the others, after all – Peter hugged everyone again, and Tony took some last minute photos with the other boys before shaking hands with Eric, again.

"We should make this a thing," he said.

"It's already a thing for us," Tatro reminded him. "But you're welcome to be a part of it. We'd like to keep in touch with Peter, if we can, and I know Ned wants to, as well."

"Then we will," Tony agreed. "As much as my schedule will allow, anyway."

They parted ways at the entrance, and Rhodey walked with Peter and Tony to their SUV.

"Thanks for coming," Stark told him.

"It's pizza," Rhodes pointed out. "I'd do it, again."

"You're invited."

For that matter, the others might be interested in coming, sometime.

"Thanks."

They gave him a ride to his car, and then Tony drove them home, smiling when Peter fell asleep on the way. He'd always assumed it was some kind of urban myth that little kids would fall asleep on car rides, and that it was a good way to get a baby to sleep if it was being fussy, but it rarely failed that a big meal and car ride worked to put Peter out like a light, most times.

The question usually ended up being if he woke him when they arrived, or just carried him in from valet and put him to bed.

Peter roused when they pulled up to the building, though, and managed to get himself out of the car on his own. Rather than allow his groggy boy to walk, Stark just scooped him up into his arms, anyway, and nodded a thank you to the doorman who held the door for him. Peter put his arms, loosely, around Tony and sighed, contentedly, at the sensation of being so loved.

He was almost asleep, again, when Tony carried him into his room and deposited him on the bed, smiling down at him.

"Can you get yourself ready for bed?" the billionaire asked. "Or are you too sleepy?"

"I'm okay."

"Good." He kissed the boy. "Get some sleep."

"I will." Peter smiled. "Dad?"

It never seemed to get old. Tony's smile was soft.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"Keep that up and I'm going to hug you all night, kid," Tony told him, feeling warm and gooey inside. "Jesus, I love you, too, Peter."

Which made Peter smile, too.

"Goodnight."

"Don't forget to brush your teeth."

He leaned over, though, and pressed another kiss against his cheek before he left the room.