Tony and Steve were waiting in the lounge.

"Where's everyone else?" Rhodes asked, allowing the boys to free their hands (although he had to admit that even the domesticity of holding little hands was enjoyable) and looking around, while Peter sidled up to Stark's chair in greeting.

The man smiled down at his son and ran his fingers through his still-damp curls.

"They went to get lunch."

"What are we having?" Ned asked, finding a chair next to Steve, and feeling yet another thrill go through him.

He was sitting beside Captain America!

"KFC."

That was met with enthusiasm. Peter took the spot beside Tony, which was the chair with all of the books to boost him, and Rhodes sat down with them.

"Can we play in the gym after lunch?" he asked, eyes wide and hopeful.

Tony wondered if he had any idea just how adorable he looked when he did that. If he could pull that look off, he'd be able to do anything – and anyone – he was sure.

"Rhodey's leaving after lunch," he reminded his son. "If you want to give them all their surprises at the same time, then you should take care of that after we eat, before he goes."

"What kind of surprises?" Ned asked, curiously.

Peter smiled, feeling excited.

"I got everyone something. Even you," he added.

"You did? What is it?"

"It's a surprise," Tony reminded the older boy. "So Peter can't tell you."

"Awwww." Ned wasn't above theatrics, if he needed them. "Give me a hint?"

"It's white," Stark said, using the same hint that his son had given him. "And it isn't underwear."

Peter giggled at that, but before Ned could start trying to get more information, there was a commotion at the entrance to the lounge and the others entered, arms filled with bags that smelled amazing.

"Lunch is on!" Romanoff declared, cheerfully.

OOOOOOOO

"This is awesome!"

Rhodey frowned, looking over at Ned, who had immediately slipped his batman shirt on over the long-sleeved shirt that he was wearing.

Peter smiled at his friend.

"I got Tony and Pepper one, too."

"Thanks," Ned told him, beaming. Both boys looked at the avengers, expectantly. "Try them on," Ned suggested.

"Yes," Tony agreed, smirking, amused at the lack of enthusiasm that they were all forced to hide to keep from letting Peter see it. "Put on the Batman shirts."

"I think mine is great," Natasha said, sliding the pink shirt with the black and yellow logo on, easily. "Thank you for thinking of me, Peter."

Peter was excited, and incredibly happy.

"You're welcome."

"Next time, you need to go to War Machine land," Rhodes told the boy. He put his shirt on, too, ignoring Tony's enjoyment. "I bet the shirts there would be even cooler than Batman."

"Is there a War Machine Land?" Ned asked, looking impressed.

"There should be."

Sam and Steve also tried their shirts on, and it was clear that Pepper had helped, because Peter had shirts that fit all of them better than if an eight-year-old had picked out the sizes. Soon everyone in the room was wearing Batman on their chests – except Peter and Tony.

"Let's get a picture," Tony suggested, smugly. It was fun when it was happening to someone else, after all. "Peter promised Pepper."

They rolled their eyes, but grouped themselves together. Peter and Tony joined in, and one of the kitchen staff snapped a couple of photos on Tony's phone. He immediately shared them out to the others' phones – including Peter's and even to Ned, who was clearly excited about being able to show that picture to everyone he knew.

"We'll get you a print made before you go home," Tony promised Ned, who grinned, excitedly.

"Thanks."

"Speaking of going home," Rhodes said. "I'm going to head out – before the snow gets too deep and I'm stuck here until spring thaw."

"Could that happen?" Ned asked, wide-eyed.

And maybe a little hopeful.

"Nope." Tony smiled to soften the boy's disappointment. "Might have a snow day, though, if it keeps falling."

"Wow."

"Thank you for the shirt," Natasha told Peter, sweeping him up into her arms and hugging him, close.

"You're welcome."

"Yes, thanks Cheese Pizza," Rhodey said, also hugging him. "Tony? Pizza at the Palace, next week?"

"Correct."

"You're coming, again?" Ned asked, cheerfully.

"Of course."

That made Peter look happy, too.

"Can we go play in the gym?" he asked Tony.

Stark looked at Natasha and Steve, and they understood immediately that he was asking their opinion of that idea.

"It's safe," Steve confirmed. "Your AI is everywhere, and we have cameras and security people roaming. If they don't want adults hovering over them while they play, they're good to go, really."

Natasha nodded her agreement.

"I might drop by, later, though, to play in the ball pit."

Peter smiled at that and then turned back to Tony.

"Please?"

He didn't have a defense against that little face and those big eyes.

"Yeah. Go ahead. I'll be here," he added. "When you guys get bored, we'll play some games."

"Video games?" Ned asked.

Ugh.

"Whatever you want."

The compound was ready for Peter and Ned. That had meant bringing in video games, as well as board games.

"Wow." Ned nudged Peter. "Come on."

They hurried out of the room, and Natasha smiled.

"I used to have that much energy."

"I never had that much energy," Tony assured her. "Do you think they'd be annoyed if I wandered that way and watched them?"

"Do you have other things you could be doing?"

"I always have things I could be doing. I don't want him to think I'm tired of spending time with him, though."

"Maybe he needs a chance to spread his little wings a bit," Sam said. "Poppa's been hovering – as you should be – but he's safe, here, and he should start getting used to the idea."

Natasha shrugged her acceptance of that when Tony looked at her, and Steve and Rhodes both nodded.

"Sounds right," Rhodey said. "Why don't you walk me to my car? Then you might swing by the gym and peek in on them to make sure they don't need anything."

"And remind your AI to contact us, if he does," Steve added, even though SHIELD would inform him, as well, if something looked amiss.

There was a blizzard, pretty much, going on outside. No one was going to be storming the compound that afternoon.

OOOOOOO

"You good?"

Tony nodded, watching as his friend tossed his overnight bag into the SUV he was driving back to the city.

"Yeah. You sure you want to drive in this? You could stay the rest of the weekend."

"Places to go and people to see, Tony," Rhodes told him. "Besides, I need to go show off my new t-shirt to all the guys."

Stark snorted at that.

"Well, then, I'm going to go play with Legos without you."

"Have fun with that."

He waited until Rhodes drove away and then went back inside, shivering because it was chilly out. A quick stop at the gym (and a peek inside without letting the boys see him) confirmed that Peter and Ned were enjoying themselves. The ball pit was clearly a hit, still, because both boys were inside the netted area, flinging balls at each other. The large room echoed with their laughter.

Tony shut the door behind him, quietly, and then headed for his workroom. He could go play with Legos, of course, but he was Ironman. There were plenty of toys for him to play with, after all.

"JARVIS? Let me know if they go anywhere."

"Will do."