The woman looked at Tony, automatically assuming – correctly – that that was really up to him, and not her. Of course, Peter looked so hopeful and excited, that the response was a given.

"Is it safe?" he asked, not too concerned that the dog was vicious. It was schmoozing with Peter pretty cheerfully, after all. "He's not going to eat him?"

"She," the woman corrected, with a smile. "And no; she's a good girl, aren't you, Trixie?"

The dog simply wagged her tail.

"Go ahead, buddy."

Their neighbor handed Peter the leash, and the boy grinned, hugely, as he took it.

"Come on, Trixie," Peter crooned.

Tony watched as the boy and dog moved slightly in front of them, but Peter didn't go too far ahead, well aware that Tony wouldn't like that.

"He's cute," Faith said, moving to walk beside Stark and matching his pace, easily. She was young, and pretty (dark black hair that was of indeterminate length since it was hidden in the hood of her coat, and blue eyes) and Tony was relieved to see that she wore a wedding ring. With a huge rock. "How are you two getting on? I have to admit that we were incredibly excited when word went through the neighborhood that the famous Tony Stark was moving in. You and your son. I understand you've recently adopted him?"

"Yes." Tony wasn't a sharer, by nature, and definitely not with strangers that he'd only met. He'd sleep with one (at least, he used to be willing to do that; his priorities had changed, now) but he wasn't going to pour out his emotions or feelings. Or his relationship with Peter. "He's great."

"My husband and I don't have children. We're considering it, though."

"You're married?" he asked, pretending that he hadn't noticed the ring.

"Yes." She gave him a sidelong glance. "It's an open relationship, though…"

"What does that mean?" Peter asked, looking back at them, and proving that he wasn't completely distracted by the dog he was walking.

The woman flushed, slightly, and took a step sideways from Tony, giving him a little more space than she had. She smiled, good-naturedly, though.

"That just means we'd love to have you and your dad come over any time. Maybe for dinner, or something?" she added, looking at Tony.

Who wouldn't want to have Tony Stark at their dinner party, after all?

"We'll see," he replied. "Peter and I need a chance to adjust to the new house and the new neighborhood, first."

And the neighbors, he silently added.

"Well, the invitation is on the table," came the cheerful response.

Then she changed the subject and started pointing to the various houses as they walked by them, telling the man and the boy about the people who lived in them. Their names and occupations, for the most part, as well as if they had children (which was only the case in one household). By the time they completed the loop of the large cul-de-sac area, Tony knew a little bit about everyone and was a little less uncomfortable with Faith Dickerson.

Enough so that he was able to smile, politely, and thank her for the walk and the company while Peter handed her the leash for her dog.

"Thanks for letting me walk her," the boy said, politely.

She smiled down at him.

"You're welcome. If your father will let you, you can do it, again, sometime."

The boy looked up at Tony, who shrugged.

"We'll see." And then he wrapped an arm around Peter, pressing his hand in front of his mouth just in time to stop him from asking if it was the same we'll see as he'd asked about, earlier. "Tell Mrs. Dickerson goodbye, son."

Peter grinned.

"Bye."

"Goodbye."

They watched as she went back inside her gate, and then Tony's hand on Peter's shoulder steered the boy back to their own driveway.

"That was fun," Peter said, letting go of Tony's hand once the gate closed behind them.

"I'm glad you had a good time."

His expression, or his tone, must have given Peter a clue that he hadn't enjoyed their morning anywhere near as much as he had, because Peter's eyebrows creased, and he frowned.

"You didn't like her?"

"No. It isn't that I didn't like her, buddy. I think she was friendly and nice to you – which is important. But she's a stranger to us, too, and it's critical that we get to know someone before we really can trust them."

"Why?"

"There are several reasons, son," he said.

They were walking back toward the front door, now, and Tony admired the house as they entered it. It really was nice. A good place for him to raise an up and coming superhero.

"Like what?" Peter pressed, pulling off his coat and hanging it on the lowest hook of the new coatrack in the foyer. "She didn't look like she wanted to kidnap me."

"She might want to, though," Tony replied. "You're young and it's in your nature to want to trust everyone. I love that about you, but you still need to be careful." He'd have Natasha talk to him about it, really, though, because she was a woman and he might understand better that even a woman could be a threat. "If her and her husband needed money, or something, kidnapping you to ransom you back to me might seem like an easy way to get it."

"But you'd know it was her."

"Not if she hired someone else – a stranger – to do it for her." He picked the boy up, trying to reassure even as they discussed something that could be so potentially scary. "She's probably fine," he said. "But let me talk to her a few more times – and maybe meet her husband – before you ask to spend any time alone with her. Okay?"

And he'd have Natasha or Nick check the whole family (and friends?) out as soon as possible.

"Alright." Peter shrugged his acceptance, and looked at Tony, curiously. "You said there was several reasons."

"Well, she might want to get to know me," he said. "More than she wants to get to know you."

Peter frowned.

"Because you're Ironman?"

"Right." It was easier to agree to that than start a conversation that he definitely didn't think the little boy was old enough to have – and he knew he didn't want to have it for several more years, at least. He wasn't looking for a girlfriend, just then. Especially a married one. And he definitely didn't want a fling. "Because I'm Ironman."

"She seemed friendly."

"And she might be," Tony pointed out. "I hope she is. I hope all the neighbors are, because this is where we live, and we should get to know the people in our neighborhood. If for no other reason than because then we'll know if someone is there that doesn't belong." He hugged Peter. "I didn't tell you this because I want to worry you. I just wanted to remind you that you have to be careful. At least with strangers – especially right now. Got it?"

"Yeah." Kind of. He rested his cheek on Tony's shoulder. Not because he was upset and needed the comforting that their position provided, but because it had been a very long time since he'd been in a position to be able to demand such attention, and he was wallowing in the sensation of being so important to Tony. "Being a superhero is more complicated than I thought it would be."

Stark smiled, settling himself on the sofa with Peter now in his lap.

"It's tricky, sometimes," he agreed. "But it's still a good gig, if you have the right sidekick."

"Like me?" Peter hazarded.

"Exactly," Tony said. "Ironman and Sticky Boy."

Peter's laugh in his ear made the billionaire smile.

"I don't want to be Sticky Boy."

"Teflon Man?"

"No."

Peter didn't even know what that meant, but he didn't like the sound of it.

"Wall Climber?"

"No. Well, maybe."

"You have plenty of time to figure out the perfect name," Tony reminded him, turning his head to look at him and try to get an idea of his state of mind. He looked fine, really. Cheerful brown eyes were looking back at him, and his smile was as happy as ever. "Why don't we go play Legos until lunchtime? The others are going to start showing up around three."

"Okay."