Peter was animated when they left the compound only a short time after dinner. He'd had a fun morning, followed by an amazing surprise and an equally fun afternoon playing with all of the avengers, who had been decked out in their superhero outfits. Even Tony. And even more, he'd been given an incredible suit that wasn't really the Ironman suit but was a lot like it – and it had batman on it.

He couldn't wait to show it to Pepper.

He chatted with Tony as they drove down the service road and then out onto the highway. One minute talking about sledding, and then the next minute reminding Tony that they were going to visit at Erics that next day so Peter could see Ned's new puppy in person. He asked if he could take his new suit, but Tony had pointed out to him that Ned might feel upstaged if Peter brought something like the suit to show him when the whole point of the visit was to show off the puppy, really.

Peter hadn't considered that, but he conceded that it made sense. He'd show Ned the suit a different time. They also discussed other things that they could do after the visit – if Pepper didn't have anything already in mind for them. It was a new thing for the two to worry about. They weren't just two, now, so Tony reminded Peter that they needed to remember that Pepper didn't necessarily enjoy doing all of the same things that they did, and they should try to adjust accordingly.

Peter nodded his agreement, pointing out that he didn't mind, and it was worth it to have Pepper with them. Tony agreed, of course, and they both enjoyed the discussion. The boy was tired, though, from the long day, and the drive did him in – not surprising Tony at all. Try as he might to stay awake and keep him company, Peter was asleep when the SUV pulled into the garage at their home.

Pepper had been alerted to their return by JARVIS and was walking through the door that joined the garage to the kitchen, even as the outer door was closing. She smiled a greeting when Tony got out of the car, and he kissed her, tenderly.

"How did it go?" she asked, looking over and seeing that Peter was asleep.

She wasn't surprised, either.

"A rousing success," he assured her, feeling smug, and about as happy as he could ever remember being. "He loved the suit, and your idea to put the Batman logo on it was a good one."

She didn't even say I told you so, although she looked smug, too.

"I'm glad. He'll have to try it on and model it for me."

"He said that he was going to. I imagine he'll be running around the house in it all the time if we allow him to."

"I imagine if you were eight, we'd have that problem with you, as well."

He was considerably older than that, but still felt the thrill of excitement when he had the suit on.

Smiling, Tony walked around to the other door and opened it.

"He fell asleep just before we hit the county line," he reported. "But he's had dinner, already, and I think we're safe to just put him to bed."

As he was saying it, he was pulling Peter gently from the special harness that had been installed in the SUV – and would be in every vehicle Tony owned. The boy mumbled something as he was moved, but the billionaire shushed him, tenderly, pressing a kiss against his forehead.

"Let me have him," Pepper said, reaching for Peter. "You can bring in the cases in the morning, though, right? We don't need any of it, tonight?"

"No," he agreed. "We're done for the night."

He was tired, too, after the long day, and was definitely ready for some down time. Just her and him, though, since Peter had fallen asleep and probably wouldn't wake for a while.

"Good." She took Peter from Tony, and the boy reacted to the change of hands by resting his cheek on her shoulder. His arms went around her, and he sighed, already almost asleep and the sound one of utter contentment as near as Tony could tell.

"Mom…"

Stark looked at her, and Pepper made a soft sound that Tony couldn't interpret. Her hand went to the back of Peter's head, cradling him, but her eyes went to the billionaire.

"Tony Stark," she murmured, softly. "If you don't ask me to marry you, someday, I'm goin-"

"Will you marry me, Pep?" he interrupted. "Marry us," he added, putting his hand over the one she had on Peter.

She froze, clearly surprised by the unexpected turn of events, but he was watching her eyes, and there was no uncertainty in them. The hesitation was surprise, but it wasn't doubt. Then the expression changed to happiness, and she nodded.

"Yes."

Now he was the surprised one.

"Yes?"

"Yes," she repeated. "I will."

"Jesus…"

It was an exclamation of amazement, she recognized, not a 'what the hell have I gotten myself into, now?' type of noise. It made her smile. Tony leaned forward, with Peter still between them and caught her lips in a tender kiss.

Peter stirred, feeling the pressures on him from both sides, and Tony moved back just enough to keep the boy asleep, his eyes locked on hers.

"You're sure?"

Her smile widened.

"Yes. You?"

"Definitely."

"Do we wake him and tell him?"

"No." Tony kissed her, again. "We're going to put him to bed. Tonight will probably be the last night I really get to have you to myself for the rest of our lives. Or until he goes off to college – and that isn't going to be any time soon."

Pepper shook her head, and she looked almost as amazed as Tony did.

"Is it weird that I love that idea?"

"Nope. I do, too. Do you want me to put him to bed?"

"I'll do it," she replied. "You go change."

"Yes, dear."

They walked into the kitchen together, but Tony headed for his bedroom while Pepper carried Peter into his room. She held him steady with one arm around him while she pulled his blankets back, and then sat him down long enough to pull his shoes off. The little boy roused, again, when she put him into his bed and this time he opened his eyes, sleepily.

"What…?"

"Shhh…" she pressed a kiss against his cheek, keeping her cheek against his for a moment. "Go to sleep, honey.

"We're home?"

"Yes."

He made a sleepy sound and closed his eyes, again.

"I had fun, today…" Peter told her.

"I'm glad."

"We played snowball wars."

Pepper didn't want to engage him in too much conversation, knowing that it would wake him. As much as she loved him awake, though, he was sleepy and they could talk in the morning.

"Sounds like fun. Sleep, now, and tell me in the morning."

She kissed him, again, and then pulled the blankets up, tucking them around him. Then she waited a moment, watching as he settled, and was still, once more.

"I've got him," JARVIS told her, his own 'voice' muted.

Pepper nodded, and left, closing the door behind her, silently.