They'd just finished breakfast Saturday morning and had pulled out the Crockpot that Happy had given them for their housewarming present when JARVIS announced an incoming call from Steve. Tony handed the machine's instruction book to Peter.

"Read that," he ordered with a wink. "You can be chief cook in charge of dinner, tonight."

Peter grinned and took it.

"Okay."

Tony didn't leave the kitchen area, but the call wasn't video, so Peter wasn't able to hear both sides of the conversation that he had with Steve. Tony's side was serious enough, though, that Peter watched him, instead of reading as he'd been told. Stark noticed him watching, of course, and winked at him, his expression losing a little of the seriousness that had been there a moment, before. When the call ended, Tony put away his phone.

"Change of plan, little man."

"Oh?"

Tony nodded, reaching down to pick Peter up.

"Steve needs me to go to South America with him and the others."

"On a mission?" Peter asked, his eyes widening.

"Yep. Avengers only, though. So, you need to pack some clothes and some things to do while I'm gone, and I'm going to take you to Pepper's."

Peter hesitated.

"For how long?"

"I'm not sure, yet, buddy," Tony admitted. "I'll know more when I get to the compound."

"Oh."

He smiled, understanding that Avenger missions might be exciting, but it was also potentially a scary prospect for a little boy who was so new to the idea.

"But I'm not going to go until I make sure you're settled at Pepper's. Okay?"

The boy nodded. He and Tony had discussed this, of course. It was part of Tony being who he was, and that meant that sometimes it was going to be possible that an Avenger mission came up. When they'd discussed it, Tony had reminded Peter that the avengers were kick-ass fighters, and tacticians, and that (thanks to him) they had more tech and better tech than anyone in the world. There was nothing to be worried about.

Faced with the reality, though, he couldn't help but be a little worried.

"You'll be careful?"

Tony nodded, brushing Peter's hair back from his forehead.

"You know I will. JARVIS will be there, watching over me. Right?"

"Yeah."

"Speaking of watches…" Tony took his off his wrist. "I know you already have a very important one, but I want you to hold onto mine for me until I get back, okay? That way I can use it to talk to you."

Peter's eyes widened, and he looked down at the gleaming metal in his hand.

"Really?"

"Of course. JARVIS is integrated in it. Bring your tablet with you to Pepper's, and he can teach you all the bells and whistles after I leave."

"Wow."

Tony smiled and hugged him.

"Go pack. And make sure you take your toothbrush – otherwise you'll have to share Pepper's."

Peter did as he was told, putting Tony's watch into the pocket of his jeans for the moment. With JARVIS telling him what he should put into his littlest luggage bag, he packed clothing and necessities for several days – just in case – and then loaded his backpack with his favorite Legos, toys, his tablet and finished with the stuffed bear from his bed. By the time he came out of his room with the backpack slung over his shoulder and his suitcase in hand, Tony had returned from his room, as well. He only had a single bag.

"I just spoke with Pepper," he said. "She's waiting for us."

Peter nodded and he was bundled into his coat and hat. He shoved his mittens into his pockets, and then took his bag in one hand and Tony's hand with the other, walking out the front door and into the bright Saturday morning sunshine.

OOOOOOOOO

Pepper was waiting for them when they arrived at her door. She smiled down at Peter, who looked more worried, now, than he had at their home. He'd had the entire drive to think about everything that could go wrong, after all.

"Hey, honey."

"Hi, Pepper."

Tony tossed Peter's bag onto the sofa, and picked the boy up, holding him, lightly. He wasn't worried about the mission; he'd done a million of them, after all, and they didn't call him Ironman because he was marshmallow soft.

"Now… ground rules…"

Peter was surprised enough to smile.

"Ground rules?" he echoed. "It's Pepper's apartment."

"You make a good point," Tony acknowledged. He looked at pepper. "Do you have ground rules, yet?"

She hadn't even thought of any, but she negotiated billion-dollar deals and had witnessed Tony setting the rules down with Peter on more than one occasion, now.

"Of course I do," she said, smiling at the boy. "No sneaking into the fridge of the middle of the night and stealing my leftovers."

Peter smiled, back.

"Okay."

"She eats spinach lasagna, buddy," Tony said, pleased that he was losing the worried look. "You aren't missing anything there. What else, Pep?"

"No swearing. I don't even want to know what words Tony's been teaching you."

Another smile.

"Okay."

"I notice he didn't deny it," she told Stark.

He didn't deny it, either – although he'd been pretty careful, really.

"What else?" Peter asked, curiously.

"That's it. I'm happy to have you here. We're going to have a good time."

Peter nodded, and Tony squeezed him, tight, before letting him down.

"Happy is going to be your driver," he told her. "If you guys decide to go do anything, he needs to be the one that takes you."

She nodded. They'd discussed that, too, of course. They would need to have a security detail on Peter – especially with so many of the avengers gone. SHIELD was going to be close – and she'd already been given Nick Fury's number if anything came up.

"We're going to take him up on that," she said. "If Peter's interested."

"Where are we going?" the boy asked, curiously.

"A place that I know," she replied, mysteriously. "Tell your dad goodbye so he can get going," she told him. "The sooner he leaves, the sooner he can get everything done and come back, right?"

"Yeah." Peter turned to Tony and the billionaire picked the boy up, again, and hugged him, close, kissing the boy's cheek. "I have some ground rules, too…" he said, suddenly.

Tony smiled, and set the boy down.

"I'm listening…"

"You have to be careful."

"I can do that."

"No dangerous stuff."

"When I can avoid it," Tony hedged.

"You have to listen to Steve."

Peter had been around the Avengers long enough, now, to know that despite Tony being the coolest superhero that Peter knew, Steve was the acknowledged leader.

"I will."

"Even if you don't like it."

Tony rolled his eyes, which made Pepper have to hide a smile.

"I will."

"Promise?"

"Yep."

"I love you."

The man smiled.

"I love you, too. Go put your bags in the guest room so I can talk to Pepper, alone."

"About me?"

"Of course."

The boy laughed at that and did as he was told, picking up the luggage and the backpack and vanishing into the apartment's spare bedroom.

"You got him?" Tony asked, speaking softly.

"We'll be fine," she assured him. "I'll take good care of him."

"I know." He brushed a kiss against her cheek. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Where are you going to take him?" Tony asked, curiously.

"It's a surprise." She smiled when Peter joined them in the living room. "Did you bring your Legos?"

Peter nodded.

"Some of them."

"Good."

"And he has a book for you to read to him," Tony added. "We're getting to the good part. You read it at bedtime – and he doesn't get to read ahead."

"Got it."

This wasn't news to her, either. She and Tony had had a long talk about the possibility of something happening, and she was set up and ready. As was SHIELD.

"I'd better go, or Steve will send Natasha looking for me." He turned to Peter. "You be good, little man."

"I will."

Pepper swung him up into her arms, hugging him, fondly.

"He's too cute to be anything but amazing."

"Oh, and no climbing up the walls," Tony added as he zipped up his jacket, preparing to leave. "Pepper doesn't want to have to pluck you off the ceiling in the middle of the night."

Peter smiled, putting an arm around Pepper's neck.

"I won't. I'll miss you."

"And I'll see you soon."

He left, then, before the waterworks could start. It wouldn't do to let Pepper see him cry, after all.

Peter looked at Pepper, and she had to smile again when she noticed that the little boy was wearing Tony's watch.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise. Did you eat breakfast?"

"Yes. Did you?"

"No. Not yet." She'd barely started her day when Tony's call had come in. Pepper enjoyed sleeping in on the weekends, after all. "Let me eat, and get some sensible shoes on, and we'll call Happy to come get us."

Peter nodded, excited by the anticipation.

"Okay."

"Want a pop tart?" she asked as she headed for her kitchen.

"Yes, please."

He'd never say no to a pop tart, after all, and Pepper had already made sure to have a box of his favorite flavor in her cupboard.