"What do we do?"

Tony shook his head.

"Nothing. Not now, anyway. We can't protect him until we know exactly what the danger is. Not to mention, if there's anyway for him to help us figure this thing out, we're going to need him."

"He's a boy," Pepper objected. "Our boy."

"I know, honey," Tony assured her. "But he won't let us bury him somewhere safe if there's something that he can do to help. You know how he is; he's going to help if he can, because that's what he does. Our job is going to be to keep an eye on things, figure out what is going to happen, what – if anything – we can do, keep him from doing anything foolish – or dangerous – and then hide him someplace safe until it's over. Probably Wakanda."

She lost a bit of the worried, concern in her expression, then. Obviously, Tony had already been thinking, and she approved of everything that he said. Especially when he mentioned Wakanda, since that would have been her first choice as a place to hide their son from danger. With the technology and the shields that the Wakandans had – and the fact that they were allies – she couldn't think of a safer place on the planet.

Nothing could get to Peter if he was in Wakanda.

Tony took her hand, and walked her through their quarters and into their bedroom. He made sure to not bother to close any doors – just in case Peter ended up joining them in their bed that evening, although in this instance it would probably be a toss up between theirs and Natasha's since she was back in the compound.

It would depend on whether he was more afraid about what was happening, or if he was more worried about how Tony and Pepper would be feeling.

"Come to bed, Pep," Tony cajoled. "We can't do anything, tonight, and if you look tired and worried in the morning, you know it's just going to worry him."

She frowned but let him pull back their blankets and followed him into the bed, cuddling up against him and putting her head on his shoulder. His arms came around her and he kissed her, lightly.

"Are you going to call T'Challa?"

"Not, yet. But him and Thor are both going to hear about this, eventually."

"And the government?"

He sighed.

"When we know more. Not, yet, though."

Pepper ran her fingers through his hair, lovingly, knowing that he was already bearing the weight of the world on those strong shoulders of his, and now – somehow – he'd suddenly found the weight of the universe there, as well.

"Go to sleep, Tony," she told him, lovingly. "There's nothing to solve, right now."

He nodded and closed his eyes, still holding her. But neither actually fell asleep right away.

OOOOOO

"Well? What did we learn?"

"Magic and transporters look the same."

"Quill and Rocket can't steal a child without being caught."

"I really miss chocolate milk…"

Gamora scowled at the males walking into the main body of the ship behind her.

"Seriously?"

Quill shrugged.

"What did we learn? This Peter kid is real – and these people have an infinity stone, somewhere."

"The wizard has it," Mantis said. "At least, he was the one who reacted most intensely when it was brought up."

"It has to be the Mind stone, then," Gamora said. "It's the one that Peter connects to."

"So they say," Rocket added.

"They don't have any reason to lie about it," she pointed out, shrugging. "Besides, what else would be able to get into my mind to direct us where to go and who to talk to?"

"So, we can go, then," Drax said. "We delivered your warning. Why are we sticking around?"

Gamora sat down, looking at the others.

"Because they have Peter. If he can control the stones, then he's the best bet to stop Thanos. We have to be in a position to help them – if we can."

"If nothing else," Quill added. "We can get the information they have and warn the Nova Corp to safeguard their stone."

The racoon shrugged, neither agreeing, or disagreeing.

"I am groot."

"Yeah. They seem nice enough. You're right."

"We'll see what we can learn," Gamora repeated. Then she looked at Peter and Rocket. "How do you feel? Any side-effects from being beat up by the kid?"

"He didn't beat us up," Quill objected. "He just got lucky."

"It would be interesting to see what other talents he has," Gamora said. She looked at Mantis. "Did you catch anything?"

She shook her head.

"I couldn't feel anything when I was near him."

"What?" Peter frowned, surprised. "Nothing at all?"

"No emotions, no leaking feelings of any kind," she confirmed.

"How is that possible?" Rocket asked. "I thought you could feel everyone."

"I could. All of them – to an extent. Except the boy."

"Will the Mind stone block a person like that?" Quill asked. "Maybe it's keeping Mantis out."

"It would certainly be proof of his control over it," Gamora agreed. She looked more hopeful, really, than Quill had ever seen her look since he'd met her. As if the terrible things that only she knew about were suddenly maybe not as inevitable as she'd always believed them to be. "We'll see what we find out, in the morning," she decided. "Then we'll make our plans, accordingly."

They all nodded their agreement – in one degree or another.

"We'll want to make sure the ship wasn't damaged when they shot us out of orbit, too," Mantis added.

"I'll look at it in the morning," Quill promise

She was his baby. Of course he'd make sure she wasn't damaged.

OOOOOOO

He wasn't asleep when she joined him in his bed. He wasn't surprised, either, really. He supposed it would be either her, or it would have been Tony and Pepper. Peter sometimes wondered if they had a special code the three of them used – through their communicators – that told them whose turn it was to come keep him company.

"They seem to just decide based on what kind of situation it is," Alec told him, amused, but also practically radiating approval for the way the people around Peter supported him. "If it's something where you're in perceived danger, it's Natasha. If you're upset, then it's mom and dad. They probably have had it figured out for some time, now."

He didn't answer; he was too busy moving a little over and shifting Nutmeg from his chest up to the pillow above his head to make room for her.

"Why are you still awake?" Natasha chided, gently, as she slipped under his blankets to join him.

Peter had the feeling that she'd simply said goodbye to Stephen, had showered and changed into comfortable sweats and a long-sleeved shirt and had come directly to his quarters without even trying to sleep in her own room. It wouldn't be surprising, really. Half the universe was a lot to have hanging over anyone's head, after all.

"Couldn't sleep."

She nodded.

"We'll get it figured out, baby. This Thanos guy isn't going to get close to you."

The certainty in her voice made him smile, and he felt better, even though there was no real reason that he should. He suddenly had the strangest feeling that, yes, Thanos would definitely end up looming large in front of him, someday – and he saw a brief glimpse of a huge, shadowy figure wearing armor that gleamed gold and a metal glove on his hand that shone with power.

"He's crazy, Natasha…"

She tucked him up against her, and Peter melted against her, easily, claiming the spot she reserved only for him, and the support and confidence that she was always willing to share with him.

"He's crazy, alright, baby. Because if he comes anywhere near you – " and she was interrupted when Nutmeg decided to move back down to warmer territory and find the spot above their heads, but in her nest of already tangled curls and start purring, gently. "I'll kill him. And anyone else that he brings along to help."

"I love her. You know that, right?"

Alec approved of Romanoff's self-confidence.

"Yeah. I do, too."

Peter sighed, warm, and protected, and loved.

"Thanks, Natasha…"

"Go to sleep, baby," she told him. "Stephen's bringing Wong, tomorrow, for breakfast. I can't wait to see his reaction to Groot."

The boy chuckled, and went to sleep.