Proving that Peter knew her a lot better than Shuri did, Pepper didn't even let the young princess get her argument out before she raised her hand, putting a stop to what was almost certainly going to be a well thought out debate.

"No."

One word, and Tony couldn't help the smirk that he tossed Peter's direction. He'd been on the receiving end of that single word so many times that he'd lost count. Even Peter had found himself on that end of it.

"But… I am-"

"Shuri. Is the next step of your shield project important?"

"Yes. Which is why I need to get it completed before I do anything else."

Peter glanced back at Tony, knowing the answer had opened Pepper's next argument.

"Then it only makes sense that you go at the next step fresh. Get something to eat, and do something to take your mind off things for a little while, get some sleep and then you'll have a clear mind to start tomorrow."

The girl frowned, looking at Tony, and then at Peter, and finding no help from either of them. They both shrugged, as a matter of fact. Pepper raised an eyebrow, waiting, and Shuri sighed.

"Very well. I suppose it will not hurt to wait until tomorrow morning."

"Good." Pepper smiled. "Why don't you and Peter go save us a spot?"

Peter nodded, taking Shuri's hand and heading for the door. Tony smiled as they left, and then turned his attention to his wife.

"Smooth."

Pepper chuckled, letting him wrap her in his arms.

"She's easy compared to some people I know."

"I know you're not referring to anyone in this room…"

She rested her cheek against his chest, and knew from the way that he was holding her that he'd had a rough day.

"What have we learned, today?"

"The military liaisons are here, and they're talking about bringing up the National Guard, first, then augmenting with regulars when it becomes necessary. Vision and Wanda were supposed to be here, today, but they're being held up – Wanda didn't tell me why."

"And Peter?"

He didn't even ask how she knew there was something going on with Peter. The grip that he held, tightened.

"He told me, this morning, that Gamora knows where the soul stone is." Before she could ask, he sighed. "It's the one stone that we were counting on, because supposedly no one knew where it was."

"But she does?"

"She does, yes – and Peter does, too, now."

Pepper was intelligent enough to know what that meant – but she voiced it, anyway.

"So that means Peter knows where all of them are?"

"Yes. Not that it is that big of a deal – Gamora knows where they all are, too," he said. "And we can figure it out. The scary part is that if Thanos finds out that Peter knows – and that Peter has the connection with them – then he's definitely going to be a target."

"Peter knows?"

"Yes." Tony's chin came to rest on the top of her head. He hesitated, but she had to know. "He had the nerve to tell me that if it even looked like Thanos was going to get control of him, I was supposed to make sure it didn't happen."

She hadn't missed the phrasing, and she frowned, stepping back and looking up at him.

"What?"

"It isn't going to happen, Pep."

"No. It can't happen. We're getting everything together that we need?"

"We're going to be ready for him. And anything that he brings with him. Stephen and Romanoff are back from Asgard, and Thor's buried his stone deep – and offered Asgard as a sanctuary if we get overrun." It was important to him that she know all of it. "Stephen's going to make a portal to Asgard that can be triggered by anyone. If the worst happens, you open it and grab Peter and get the hell out."

The look she gave him was hard to read, but Tony didn't mind. He expected her to deny that anything like that was going to happen. The idea, right then, was to tell her and get the idea in her mind – just in case. Using Peter wasn't just a way to make sure she got herself to safety, but it was a reminder that someone had to survive to take care of their son – and had to make sure that he went with her. Again, just in case.

"Did you check on my suit?"

"I went by. It's taking shape."

"I'll be staying here, the next few days," she told him, kissing his cheek and then stepping out of his hold. "All meetings that are scheduled can be handled by the vice presidents and PAs."

"Then you can watch when we try out the new shield tomorrow afternoon."

"It's that close?"

He smiled, slightly.

"If you didn't rein her in, Shuri would have been able to finish it, tonight. I'm in complete agreement with you, by the way. Tomorrow is soon enough, and there's enough pressure on her. We'll make sure she has a chance to do something that doesn't mean life or death, tonight."

"Spoons?"

Tony rolled his eyes.

"I said no life or death, honey," he reminded her. "You've seen those people play spoons."

They were both smiling, despite the danger lurking, when she finished dressing and they headed to the lounge, hand in hand.

OOOOOO

"Does she really believe that we need to save them a place to sit?"

Peter shook his head, amused. Both by the question, and because Pepper had proven him right.

"That's mom-talk for get out and find something to do until dinner."

"We were dismissed?"

"Yep."

Peter was clearly unconcerned by the fact.

"I do not remember the last time I was dismissed."

"I get it all the time," Peter assured her. He was pretty sure that Tony would want some time alone with Pepper – and would almost certainly tell her that their son knew where the stones were and the danger that it posed. If she didn't figure it out, herself. "Want to play chess while we wait for them?"

Shuri nodded.

They were still holding hands when they walked into the lounge only a minute or two later and there were only a few people there to notice. Groot was there, but his attention was on the video game in his hands. Drax and Mantis were also there, sitting at a table with Clint and Bruce – who had been out of town, and must have been called, because as far as Peter knew, he wasn't supposed to be back for another few days.

Now, he was sitting in the lounge, and Nutmeg was on his shoulder, almost asleep. The four were playing cards, and it was clear that Clint was teaching the aliens how to play spades.

"Want to play?" Bruce asked, smiling at Peter when they walked over and well aware of the response.

"No, we're going to play chess while we wait for Tony and Pepper. Thanks, though."

"She went to the tower?"

"Yeah."

"But you didn't go to school?"

He was still being caught up, clearly.

"No. It's out for a while. Can't risk me bringing trouble down on my friends." He couldn't help the slightly bitter note in his tone, and he shrugged. "We've already pulled Shuri and Wakanda into it, after all."

"We are you allies, Peter," Shuri reminded him. "It is not just our pleasure to assist in any way that we can – it is also our duty, since we are well aware that if things were reversed, you and your people would be there for us."

A royal speech – and the complete truth, Peter knew.