The news broke even sooner than Pepper or Tony expected.

By the time the three of them had settled at the breakfast table, with Peter looking though the user guide for the new toaster oven, and Pepper watching as Tony served them all oatmeal with varying accompanying side dishes, JARVIS announced that the first rumors were hitting the world wide web, and someone had broken the story that Tony Stark had filed a marriage license over the weekend.

Pepper shook her head, unable to help but be amazed, even though she knew – better than many – just how quickly rumors could spread through the network of news groups and independent reporters.

"I'm not going to get anything done, today."

"Why not?" Peter asked, munching on a piece of toast with batman's symbol burned into it.

"Because I'm going to be fielding questions from the press, nonstop."

"About you being married?"

"Right."

"That's what your secretaries and press people are for, Pep," Tony reminded her. "They can take all the calls."

"It doesn't work that way," she replied. "You know that,"

He did.

"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

"I'll hold you to that," she assured him. "We're going to have to make an official statement – the sooner the better."

"Ugh."

Peter giggled at the sound, not looking at all chastised when Tony scowled at him.

"I could help, too," the boy offered.

"We're going to keep you as far from the press as we can," his father told him. "Which is the whole point of taking you to the tower instead of letting you go to school."

"A wise decision," JARVIS said, speaking up. "Several reporters are already making an appearance at Peter's school."

"SHIELD knows?" Pepper asked.

"If they don't, yet, they will." He smiled. "Basically, the press are wasting time hanging out looking for you, since you'll be at the tower, and if we do it right, no one will even know."

OOOOOOOOOOO

By the time they drove up to the parking garage at the tower, the press were there, as well. A crowd of reporters, camera people, vans and photographers of all kinds were waiting for them.

"Wow."

Peter was amazed.

"I should just run them all over," Stark muttered, darkly, when the boldest of the group moved to stand between the car and the entrance to the garage, forcing them to stop or cause bloodshed.

"You can't do that," Peter pointed out from his spot in the backseat of the SUV. His windows were darkly tinted so while he could see out, none of the press of people could actually see him. Although Tony and Pepper had both been seen through the windshield when they'd pulled up. "You might hurt someone."

Tony scowled half-heartedly, the gesture making Pepper smile – although she double-checked the door locks before Tony slowed the car. Right as a small security force moved in from the side, forcing those people who were blocking the way to move aside. Tony wasn't the only one to recognize that the people were SHIELD agents, for the most part.

Stark made a gesture of thanks as he drove in, and breathed a slight sigh of relief when the garage door closed behind the car.

"What a pain in the ass…"

"It's exciting," Peter said, looking back, as if hoping to see them rushing through the side door.

Pepper smiled at the way Tony rolled his eyes, resting her hand on her husband's leg, amused.

"He's young."

They parked and rode the elevator to the executive floor, bypassing the lobby completely, and noticing the extra security everywhere. Maria Hill was waiting for them as they exited the elevator.

"Hi, Maria," Peter said, running over to her – too excited to hold himself to the same pace as Pepper and Tony.

She greeted him with a smile.

"Hey, Peter. Exciting weekend, huh?"

"Yeah. I'm not going to school, today."

Obviously. Otherwise she'd have picked him up, right? She didn't state the obvious, instead ruffling his hair and looking at Tony and Pepper.

"Congratulations."

"Thanks," Tony said, smiling.

Maria turned to Pepper.

"Mrs. Stark? Or Stark-Potts? Or Potts?"

Now it was Pepper who smiled.

"For now, Potts. As soon as I have a chance to change it, conveniently, it'll be Stark."

Peter and Tony both looked pleased at the prospect, Maria noticed.

"Is Peter going to daycare, today?" she asked. "Or doing something else?"

They'd already discussed that, and Peter had pointed out that he'd be fine going to daycare – which would free Tony and Pepper both up to do whatever they needed to during that day – and maybe the next.

"I'm doing daycare," the boy told her, cheerfully. "What are you going to do, today?"

Normally, her job was to follow him around, after all. It wasn't necessary if he was in the security of daycare. The place was normally well-guarded. If Peter was going to be there, that day, then it would be tighter than Fort Knox.

"I'm going to act as liaison for SHIELD," she replied. She smirked. "Your dad and Mrs. Stark, here, have opened up a can of worms. It's going to be an interesting day."

Tony didn't look too concerned, but Pepper did.

"You don't think anyone will try to sneak in, do you?"

"I think they'd be foolish to try," was the confident answer. "We're monitoring everyone who comes in and out of the building – and credentials have to match."

"No one's going to get by JARVIS, Pep," Tony added. "Like Maria said, they'd be out of their minds to try – especially today."

"I suppose." She smiled down at Peter. "We'll come and get you for lunch, alright?"

The boy nodded.

"Yeah."

"I'll take him to daycare," Tony said, a hand resting lightly on Peter's bony shoulder. "Then I'll come meet you in your office and you can tell me what we're going to do about everything."

Meaning, he was more than willing to follow whatever lead she wanted. That didn't have anything to do with them being married. Tony had been doing what Pepper told him for a long time, now, after all.

The two women headed one direction, and Tony and Peter moved back toward the elevator.

"Do you need anything?" he asked Peter as they got in and the door closed.

Peter shook his head, his fingers twisting the ring on his finger.

"No. I'm okay."

"Good." Peter had only done all day daycare once or twice, and while Tony knew there would be plenty to keep him occupied, he still felt a little like he was abandoning him. "You know that you can call me if you need to – or if you want to," he added.

The boy smiled.

"Yeah."

OOOOOOOO

The press conference was hastily set up, but the people allowed into the building were carefully screened.

Not so much because anyone really expected someone would be trying to take advantage of the excitement of the wedding announcement to make a play on Tony – or on Peter, or even Pepper – but because SHIELD was always careful. As was JARVIS. The AI wasn't infallible, of course, but it was a learning being and had been around a long time, now, and was quantum enabled enough that he could be everywhere at once – as long as there was a video camera.

And New York was one of the most surveilled cities in the world. Everyone knew that.

Tony and Pepper stood at the podium, side by side, her diamond ring sparkling artfully in the light of the room, both natural and artificial. They watched as the reporters and photographers gathered, taking seats under the vigilant gazes of security people, and when the last was seated, Tony read a statement that Pepper had written.

"Yesterday, as you all know, Pepper, here, and I filed for – and were granted – a marriage license. We didn't see any reason to wait, and were married in a very small ceremony. We have no intention of having any other ceremony – now, or in the future. One marriage is enough for both of us."

He was watching the people in front of them, well aware from the tension in the room that they all were burning to ask questions. Pepper had suggested they allow a few, and Tony had grumbled, more out of habit than anything, but had agreed. He turned to her, resting his hand over hers on the podium, where they could all see it – and several cameras went off.

"We'll take a few questions," Pepper told them.

"Pepper Potts?" one man asked. "Or Pepper Stark?"

"Get used to Stark," she replied.

"Was Peter your best man?" a woman asked Tony.

"We didn't have that kind of ceremony," Tony said.

"Was Peter there?"

Pepper fielded that one.

"Of course."

"Where is he, now?"

"He's here."

"Is he happy with your choice?"

Tony didn't even get annoyed by the question.

"He's ecstatic."

"Where's the honeymoon?"

"You're looking at it."

"Who popped the question?"

The list of questions went on and on, but since there wasn't anything too personal – the press were learning that Tony was a lot more cooperative if they were polite, and were adjusting accordingly – Tony and Pepper answered far more than they'd intended. Eventually, though, Tony held a hand up to stop the question about the flavor of the cake. Some things weren't important enough to be included in a news conference.

"That's it, folks. Just because we're married, it doesn't mean that we don't have a busy day."

"When are you going to get Peter a puppy?" one of the reporters asked, hoping for a final family friendly soundbite.

"When he asks for one."

The SHIELD people started ushering the reporters out of the room, and Pepper smiled as the last one left.

"That went well."

"Yeah."

Pepper's aid walked up, though, carrying a cell and wearing a concerned expression.

"What is it?" Pepper asked.

"Peter's daycare is calling for you, or Mr. Stark. There's a problem."