He was floating in a blackness that was filled with endless aches and pains – nothing too terrible but always there. Always. Especially his hand. It wasn't enough to keep him awake – not with the medications that were coursing through his body to counter the ache – but it was enough to keep him from sleeping soundly most of the time.

He wasn't alone, either. Not only did he have someone near him every time he opened his eyes – and he felt them even when he didn't have his eyes open – but Alec was in his mind, doing what he could to bolster him, the cloak was now crooning a nonstop lullaby in his head and the infinity stones were all making themselves known to him while he recovered from the trauma that using them had caused his body.

The stones weren't being as subtle as they once had been, either. They'd had a chance to know him, now, and had all been connected to him, and while they weren't sentient like Alec (or even the cloak) they were definitely very different personalities that he couldn't ignore now that they were awake. Even through the vibranium that had them so neatly wrapped up, just then.

"It won't last too long," Alec assured him. "They're just excited."

"They're stones," Peter reminded him, feeling the loving influence of Tony and Pepper gradually taking the place of the solid presence that was Natasha. "They don't feel like that."

"You know better," Alec chided, gently. "The mind stone has always been infatuated by you. Now the others are getting their chance to spend time in your mind and since I can feel them, I know you must be able to, as well."

He could, too. Not overpowering like they had been; now it was muted and almost like mental caresses. The mind stone was the same as it always had been; comfortable and secure in its presence, but he could tell the others apart, now, also. The time stone was a lot like Stephen; dignified and sophisticated, although it was just as happy to be with him as the others. The reality stone was taking an almost childish delight in his company, and the space stone kept showing him places that they could go – he only needed to give the word.

The soul stone was ancient, and wise beyond anything in the universe, it seemed to Peter, being the repository of all the knowledge of the countless souls that eventually, always, came to it in the end. It was the power stone, however, that had Peter most distracted. The thing was mentally sidling up to him, practically rubbing against his mind, radiating approval, and smugness that even Peter could recognize. It was pleased – with itself and with Peter – and it wasn't bothering to hide that from the boy.

It was all distracting, but that was fine, because it helped make the pain less unbearable. Even asleep he felt someone taking his hand and holding it, caressing his cheek and murmuring words of love and encouragement to him. The cloak's lullaby softened, Alec fell silent and even the stones all seemed to be in agreement that he rest, because they, too, went mostly silent in his mind, and Peter's sleep deepened into something more restful, and much more helpful to the healing process.

OOOOOO

"Where's your troublemaker of a husband?"

Pepper smiled, looking away from Peter's sleeping form to glance at Nick, who was walking over to the bed, holding Nutmeg.

"He's seeing T'Challa and Shuri off. Stephen's portalling them home."

The handsome face frowned.

"We don't need the princess?"

"She's a phone call away if anything happens," Pepper assured him, reaching for Peter's kitten to free Nick's hands to check on the boy. "Stephen says that he's doing very well, all things considered."

"Has he woken?"

"A few times. He just opens his eyes, looks over to see if someone is with him, and then goes back to sleep."

"Strange isn't concerned?"

"Doesn't seem to be."

"What about the trauma guy?"

"He took the bandages off and he and Stephen checked the hand and arm. The nanotech seems to be doing the trick; it looks good, they tell me."

Fury nodded, looking at the bandages that were bundled along the right hand and arm – up to Peter's shoulder. Pepper looked concerned, but not panicked, and he knew that if she had any doubts about what she was being told by the doctors, she wouldn't be able to hide it.

"Where are the infinity stones?"

"Still in the polymorph."

"Shuri didn't open it and get Vision back on his feet?"

"She can't," Pepper replied. "It only works for Peter."

He sat down in the chair that Tony had vacated to go say goodbye to the Wakandans.

"I've been watching some of the video feeds from the battle… you were looking pretty good there, Rescue."

Which made Pepper smile, although she shrugged, modestly.

"I was following Tony," she reminded him. "He cleared out all the heavy fighting before I actually even came close to it."

He probably didn't think she knew that (unlikely) – or maybe he hadn't realized that he was doing it (less likely) but there hadn't been any doubt that the Ironman suit was doing everything needed to keep Rescue from hitting any fighting that might have been overwhelming. Which she appreciated – although she knew she could never acknowledge that he'd done. He'd just deny it.

"Still did great. Are you going to keep the suit?"

"Maybe." She smiled. It was pretty amazing – and she loved flying in it, if nothing else. "Hopefully I never have to use it, again."

Which didn't mean she'd never put it on.

"Looks like we're out of evil aliens, for now."

"True."

He looked at Peter, again.

"Need a break?"

"No. I've only been here a few hours. We'll sit with him through dinner."

"Steve and Danvers are going to go to Wakanda this evening – daytime in Africa. There are a few traditional ceremonies they have there – like mass funerals, only more intimate. We'll start debriefing when they get home – most likely tomorrow afternoon." Before she could wonder why he was mentioning that to her, he stood up. "We'll want to get your thoughts on what happened, too, so make yourself available."

Debriefing was a new thing for her, but she nodded, and gestured toward Peter's bed with the hand that wasn't cradling the kitten.

"You know where to find me."

"Make sure you get some rest, too," he added, seriously. "And sleeping in a chair doesn't count."

"Yes, Nick."

"I mean it."

Pepper smiled.

"I know."

It shouldn't surprise her that he treated all of them like wayward children. He was the one who'd initially been director of SHIELD and had brought the avengers together in the first place. Of course he'd have some proprietary feelings toward them. And some paternal ones.

"Want me to take the cat?"

Pepper shook her head, pressing her face into Nutmeg's furry side so she could hear him purr.

"No. I have him. He'll be good company until Tony returns."

"Tell Tony to eat."

"I will."

"I'll be back for a turn watching Peter, later, too. Don't forget."

"Yes, dad…"

The formidable man smirked, acknowledging the dig. Then he went to his feet, touched her shoulder for just a moment as he glanced back over at Peter and then left.

Pepper smiled down at Nutmeg, who suddenly found a corner of the cloak caressing his side.

"Did uncle Nick feed you?" she asked in a soft murmur. "Or should I have someone bring something?"

She kissed the top of the yellow and white head and watched him settle in and promptly fall asleep. Clearly he wasn't hungry and would much rather sleep. Pepper tucked him carefully next to Peter's uninjured side, shaking her head as the cloak made room for him and then curled some fabric around him.

Never a dull moment, she decided, watching as the deadly ancient relic played nanny to the 12 oz kitten. Then she picked up her tablet to watch more of the news feeds to see what the rest of the world was doing while she waited for her son to wake up so she could get an idea of how he was feeling.