A/N: Pepper's birthday is getting a few chapters, I realized just now. But as much as she puts up with from Tony - and does for Peter and the others, I suppose it's only fair. Hope you guys aren't getting bored.

OOOOOOO

Pepper was somewhat surprised that Peter was still awake when the meeting ended. She'd pretty much expected that he would doze off, either because the meeting itself was dry content, or because he was warm and comfortable – or a combination of those things. Instead, he seemed to be listening, even though he never opened her eyes. He smiled at a few jokes, which told her, silently, that he was able to follow along with the conversation – even though she knew that he was taking Spanish in school and had never taken French.

Which reminded her that she had a meeting with the school about Peter later that week. He'd been out of classes since the beginning of the school year, and they'd sent her a letter advising that while they completely understood why he wasn't attending (although they thought it was almost strictly his appendix), he'd missed so much schoolwork by then that they were suggesting he be homeschooled for the remainder of the first trimester – to give him a chance to catch up at his own pace.

He'd be welcomed back the next semester, of course, and they were certain that he'd be ready and able to get back into the swing of things. It was something that they were more than willing to talk to her and her husband about.

She was sure the whole idea would upset Peter, and hadn't even brought it up with Tony, yet, since he'd been so busy with the aftermath of the battle of the compound – and all the guests that they had in the facility, just then.

"Still awake?" she asked, pushing that concern out of her mind, just then, in order to focus on her son, who opened his eyes as the display went blank and nodded, smiling up at her.

"Yeah. They really like having the access to the tech for those drones, don't they?"

Pepper smiled, brushing her fingers along his forehead and pushing his hair back out of his eyes.

"They definitely do. Which is fine, because it works out well for the developers – and for SI. We're making a lot of money on the videos that they create with the cameras affixed to the drones."

"And they can't sell them to the French military?"

"Nope." Pepper loved the fact that he seemed interested in the business side of things and not just the idea of being a superhero. "The first indication of any contracts outside of those already agreed to would be in violation of our contracts, and would renege their side of the merger. They'd forfeit their entire company's profits."

"And they know it."

"Of course they do. That's why the clause is in there; to keep them honest."

Peter sat up, cradling his hand against his stomach, a little.

"That was fun. I should listen to more of your conference calls."

"When we have them here, you're welcome to. The ones at the tower are a little more formal, but you could come to them, too. If you want."

"If the superhero thing doesn't pan out, I'd better be ready to start working in the mail room."

It was a common joke between them, but it made them both smile. Peter was serious, though, about learning what Pepper did, and he spent time with her when he could – and on their way to the city in the mornings he would sometimes pepper her with questions about the business model of various companies that she was being wooed by – or that SI was wooing.

Someone had to help her run things until she and Tony decided to have a biological child of their own to make the actual heir to the Stark Industries business.

"They don't have any plans to have any children," Alec told him. "They have you, and they're extremely content to just have you – for as long as you need them."

That made Peter feel warm inside, and he surprised Pepper by leaning into her and hugging her, one-handed, for a long moment. She put her arms around him, tucking his head under her chin like Tony did so often, and running her fingers through his hair.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" she asked, softly – just to make sure he wasn't feeling overwhelmed by everything.

"Yeah. I just love you, is all."

"Awww…" she turned her head and kissed his ear. "You're still grounded, though."

Peter laughed and pulled away, his eyes cheerful – which told her that he wasn't having a rough day and had just wanted to spend time with her.

"I'm going to call and see if they're ready."

"Ready for what?"

Peter shrugged.

"The barbeque."

Her expression turned suspicious - but she already knew that something was up, of course.

"We could just go look…"

"But that-"

He was interrupted when his watch beeped at him, and smirked as Tony's voice came over the communications. Obviously Friday had informed the billionaire that the conference call was completed, otherwise he wouldn't have interrupted.

"Peter. Are you still with mom?"

He nodded, even though Tony couldn't see the motion.

"Yes. Are we ready?"

"We are. Bring her out to the field."

"We'll be there in a couple of minutes."

The line went dead, and Pepper rolled her eyes.

"You two are so bad at being coy."

"We don't get a lot of practice," he agreed. "Ready?"

She looked down at herself, dressed in slacks and a polo shirt with her hair back in a relaxed ponytail.

"Am I dressed alright?"

"You're perfect." He reached for the paper crown that she'd left on the back of the sofa before the conference call had begun. "Don't forget your crown."

"I'm not wearing a crown in front of T'Challa," Pepper told him, rolling her eyes. "It'd be ridiculous."

"He won't think so. Come on… or I'm going to tattle."

Another eyeroll, and she picked up the paper crown and set it, indelicately, on her head.

"I think you're spending too much time with Tony," she accused him. "It's beginning to rub off on you."

"Or not enough."

He offered her his arm, she accepted it, and the two left her quarters and headed down the corridor.

OOOOOOOOO

There was a fairly large crowd of people out in the field when Peter and Pepper walked out the door – with the boy holding it politely for her. Tony swept in, taking Pepper from their son, and hooked her arm through his before she could stop him.

"Hey, birthday girl. Welcome to your party."

She shook her head, looking around.

The field was wide open, still, with the tables that normally would be dotting the edges still folded and leaning against the side of the building. The two barbeques that normally served up the meat for their festivities were off to the side, both were smoking, already, proof that they were ready to start cooking – but there were two more of them, besides, also smoking, which made Pepper wonder just how many people Tony had invited to the compound.

Along the edge of the grass someone had constructed a dais. To her consternation the same throne that they'd installed her in in the lounge was now in the middle of the dais – with comfortable folding chairs around it. This was where Tony led her, and T'Challa and Ramonda were both waiting for her – along with M'Baku, Shuri and Thor.

T'Challa bowed, politely, his dark eyes lit up with amusement at her discomfiture at being the center of so much attention. He reached for her hand, kissing it, lightly.

"Happy birthday."

Pepper's complexion showed her flush – a mixture of embarrassment and pleasure – and she smiled, rolling her eyes.

"Thank you. I told Tony nothing extravagant," she added. "Why do I get the feeling he isn't being completely honest with me when he said he didn't have anything extreme planned?"

"Because he is devious," T'Challa told her, amused. "I told you that you should have married me."

Ramonda smiled, as well, also greeting Pepper, warmly.

"It is a measure of his love that he is willing to face your wrath – and perhaps a marker of his intelligence that he managed to get others involved so there is not one person, only, to blame."

"Devious and intelligent," Pepper said, smiling a greeting to M'Baku and Shuri. "That's Tony, alright."

Thor chuckled; the sound booming, even though it was soft. Like rolling thunder – apt as it was.

"The day is young, Pepper," he told her – and it was he who took her hand and walked her over to the throne that was waiting for her. "My people are waiting."

"Your people?" she echoed, looking over her shoulder at Tony, who was greeting Ramonda with a kiss to her cheek. Peter had walked over to stand near Shuri. "How many of your people?"

The god of Thunder smirked, looking pleased with himself – the same expression that Tony was wearing, just then.

"A lot of them."