"You're not going to ask Tony to keep him, are you?"

Peter smiled at his friend and shook his head, but had to push the Pegasus's nose away from his cheek – again.

"No. He's a lot bigger than Nutmeg, and we definitely don't have any place to put him. Besides, it'd freak everyone out who didn't already know about Thor and the Asgard, and people would be swarming the compound to see him."

"True." She sighed and looked around. "I'm going to miss this place."

They were getting ready to go. Most of the Wakandans who had participated in the performance for Pepper's birthday had already left, through a portal Wong had opened for them. Peter knew T'Challa and his mother were getting ready to leave, as well, and they were taking Shuri back when they went.

"We're going to miss having you here," he assured her. "I will, especially."

Shuri smiled at that.

"Come help me carry my things?"

"Of course." The boy looked at Groot. "Distract this guy, will you?" he asked the young tree. "I don't think Nick would appreciate hoofprints in the corridors."

"I am Groot."

The boy patted the Pegasus's shoulder and then nodded. While Groot distracted the Pegasus the two teens made their escape through the closest door and Peter offered the princess his arm.

"I thanked you for saving my life?" he asked. "And my hand?"

She nodded.

"You did, but you did not need to. I did not thank you for saving the universe, did I?"

Peter shrugged.

"No. Of course not. That's different, though."

"It is the same, trust me."

They were silent as they walked, each simply enjoying the company of the other. When they reached Shuri's VIP room, the boy shook his head when they entered and he saw the state of the living room area. It was fairly messy; clothes were draped over the sofa, and folded but sitting on the coffee table. Several items that she'd collected in the short time that she'd been there were also stacked on every surface of the room; the table, the stand by the sofa, even the back of the sofa.

"Do you need more luggage?" he asked, amused that someone as tidy as she was could have made such a mess.

She smiled, too.

"No. It will fit. I just need to organize it."

The princess vanished into her bedroom and returned with two large suitcases and a smaller one that was already packed. That was the tech items; phone, tablet, laptop and the like. Peter would have packed that, first, and it was obvious that Shuri had the same priorities.

"Can I help?"

"Just keep me company – and do not allow me to become distracted."

Peter nodded and sat on the edge of the arm of the sofa, watching as she folded all of the jeans, t-shirts and blouses that she normally wore when she was in the states – but rarely wore back at home. Being a princess was a lot more formal than being a guest, after all.

"Did Sirah decide what she wants to do?"

"She did," Shuri replied, folding her Captain America shirt and neatly tucking it into the suitcase. "She wants to work with children, and as I am the youngest resident of the palace, she will be better able to do that at the orphanage."

"Steve will approve," Peter said, knowing that Rogers was going to go back to Wakanda for a day or so, just to see that the alien girl was settled in.

And to give Carol a chance to get a better look at the place.

"She will do well there, I think," Shuri agreed.

"If she needs anything, you can just call me," Peter told her.

"I will."

He hesitated.

"If you need anything, you know that you can call me, too, right? I mean, I know you're a princess and the whole country of Wakanda will come rescue you if you need to be rescued, but I would, too. Just saying…"

Shuri stopped her packing, and walked over and sat down beside him – close, because the arm of the sofa was only so big – and put her arms around him.

"You are a good person, Peter Parker. I am glad to be your friend."

He felt warm and gooey at that, and hugged her, close.

"I wish you lived closer."

"You can come visit, anytime."

OOOOOOO

"You're sure you want to do this?" Tony asked. "I mean, we don't want you to think that you have to go there. It's a good opportunity and they are great people, but if you wanted to try something else, we could set that up, instead."

Sirah looked at the people standing in front of her, and smiled. Five of them; Tony and Pepper, Gamora and Peter Quill, and Steve Rogers. None of them were looking down on her because of her station in life – only because she was much, much, shorter than they were. And all of then looked sincere in their desire to make sure she wasn't doing something that she didn't want to do.

Which was amazing to her, and made her eyes sting, a little, with unshed tears.

"It is safe, though, right?"

"T'Challa is the ruler of his people," Tony answered. "You saw the demonstration that they gave? His country is filled with warriors like that. And there's a forcefield surrounding it, to boot. No one goes in or out without permission – and if they tried, the people will rise up before the invaders even knew what hit them."

"It is an amazing opportunity," Sirah said, looking at the Wakandans, who were waiting patiently for her – and Shuri, who hadn't returned from getting her things. "I am excited to learn more of your world."

"If you need anything, tell anyone," Quill told her. "If they can't get it for you, they'll let us know, and we'll get it."

The girl smiled.

"Thank you. You will be seeing my master?"

"Your former master," Steve corrected. "No one owns you, now."

"Or ever will," Pepper added, kindly.

"We will be seeing the collector," Gamora said. "But we're not going to mention you – or where you are, now."

"For your safety," Quill added. "He's going to be more interested in getting his rock back than you, and we want to keep it that way."

"Thank you."

Tony nodded, caught sight of Peter and Shuri walking out of the building – with Peter loaded down with luggage – and he looked at Steve.

"You'll make sure she's set up before you leave Wakanda?"

"Of course."

Tony nodded and moved away from the group as the two teens walked over to where T'Challa and Ramonda were waiting with M'Baku and Azoru and the royal guard. Pepper walked with him, and they arrived just in time to hear Azoru ask the princess if she had left anything in the compound. Amusing enough, normally, but especially funny when you consider what kind of stiff-necked jerk Azoru once had been.

Peter smiled at their arrival, stepping back to allow the others to say their goodbyes to the Wakandans – and Shuri, specifically. He didn't actually get to hear what they said to her, since he was suddenly dealing with the cloak wrapping itself around his shoulder and head, and the Pegasus, which trotted up as soon as it noticed him and stuck its nose in his face.

The boy felt the cloak give a good-natured grumble in his mind and push the magnificent creature with a corner of fabric. The Pegasus was nonplussed and snorted its disapproval but stuck the soft nose right back into Peter's cheek, making the boy smile and press his hand against the white hide as he watched the others.

T'Challa walked over to him with Ramonda with him, and offered the boy his hand.

"It was good to see you, Peter."

"You, too, T'Challa. Thanks for letting Shuri come to help me."

"She is your friend," he replied. "Even if it were not her obligation to come, it would definitely have been something she wanted to do. I am glad it turned out so well."

"Me, too."

Ramonda hugged the boy, cheerfully, and Peter smiled, despite the annoyance of both the Pegasus and the cloak echoing in his mind at her taking his attention from them.

"Come for a visit, soon," she told him.

"When I'm done being grounded," he assured her, squeezing her as tightly as he could without hurting her. "Take care of these two."

The older woman gave him an amused look as they separated.

"I work on it every day," she told him with an air of great suffering. "And what do I have to show for it?"

"A brilliant daughter and a superhero son?"

"Do not let them hear you say that," Ramonda said. "But I am very proud of them."

Peter laughed, even as Strange stepped up, noticing that everyone seemed to be ready to go – including Carol and Steve, who said a quick goodbye to Tony and Nick, reminding them that they'd be back in a few days.

"Are we ready?" T'Challa asked, looking at his sister more than anyone.

She nodded, and smiled at Peter but didn't hug him, again. Without another word, Stephen opened a portal and the Wakandans started toward it, with T'Challa gesturing to Sirah, politely, to join them. The girl looked over at Peter, momentarily, and then walked through the portal with the others.

Pepper walked over to stand by Peter, slipping her arm around him and ignoring the Pegasus, who lipped the paper crown she was wearing, curiously.

"You okay?" she asked him, softly.

"Yeah." He was, too. As well as he could be, anyway. And certainly unwilling to be morose and ruin her birthday. The boy smiled, looking at the winged horse. "What do you think dad would say if I asked him to build a barn in the woods out back?"

Pepper turned her head.

"Please tell me you're kidding…" Peter didn't say anything, but his amused expression was enough to make her worried one become amused, as well. She smirked. "Just make sure I'm around when you ask."

"Stephen told me that he'd give me a hundred dollars if he's around, too."