"You two didn't bake this, I assume?"
Tony shook his head, ignoring Natasha's snort.
"We ordered it a month ago," he admitted. "And it took forever to decide exactly how it should look."
"They were terrible," Romanoff told Pepper, her expression amused as she looked at Peter and Tony. "First, Peter wanted it to be a millennium falcon shape – with butter cream frosting. Tony vetoed it and said it should be Stark Tower – covered in chocolate. Then they decided it should be a farm. And then the compound. I thought the woman at the bakery was going to start crying – either from suppressing her laughter, or because of some of the crazy ideas."
"They weren't crazy," Tony objected. "Just grandiose."
"The lady suggested we do something more elegant," Peter said.
"She took away all of the books that had any kind of characters, or vehicles, or anything movie related – or superhero related," Natasha added. "Just to make sure they didn't get any bright ideas."
Pepper smiled, reaching out and resting her hand on Tony's.
"It's wonderful. Thank you."
He looked smug and leaned over to kiss her cheek.
"You deserve a hundred of them."
OOOOOOO
With such a large group and such a happy occasion, it was impossible for Peter and Tony to keep Pepper just to themselves, despite how much they might want to. As such, they didn't even try. Tony told Peter to go mingle and enjoy himself, and the boy went over to sit with the guardians, taking another piece of cake with him as he joined them.
"Are you having a good time?" he asked.
Tony had set up a casino royal for the people who were enjoying Pepper's birthday party. Complete with several different stations with different card games as well as other games, like roulette and craps. The money being wagered, lost and won wasn't real; but it was viable currency for a hundred small prizes that could be purchased from a vendor on the far side of the room. Things like gift cards for the most part, but treats, movies, some clothing items and a host of other things.
A stack of snack food packages sitting in front of Rocket and Peter Quill proved that the two of them had gone through the games available and had managed to win enough fake money to ensure they'd have sweets enough to last them until they could talk someone into driving them to the gas station for a refresh, sometime.
"It's pretty insane," Quill replied, looking around. "Do you guys do this for her every year?"
The boy smiled, reaching for Nutmeg, who had been climbing on Groot's head and looked ready to launch himself at any minute.
"It's my first year with them like this," he admitted. "I hope so, though. She's definitely worth it."
"Quill said it is common to present a person celebrating their birth with a gift," Mantis said.
"How does that work?" Rocket asked, curiously. "Do they judge the present by how many years the person has made it? A better gift each year? Or some other way?"
Peter shook his head.
"Basically, you just give them something to let them know you love them. Same with Christmas, and mother's day, or father's day. Pepper doesn't really need a lot of things, and there are a lot of people here who wanted to celebrate, so Tony and I didn't want anyone to think that they needed to give her anything – we got gifts for her, but no one else should. Just being here to celebrate with her is plenty."
"I am groot."
"Yeah. We're the ones getting the free stuff," Rocket pointed out. "All the food, and these presents and other things."
"We should save them," Drax said. "And use them for my birthday."
"No, guys," Quill said, shaking his head. "That isn't how it works. You don't need to save it. You are celebrating with them and it all starts fresh, each time."
"How does that work?" Rocket asked, looking confused. "We could just-"
"it's an Earth thing," Star Lord told them all. He looked at Peter. "Help me out here…"
"Yeah. It's an Earth thing," the boy agreed. That was safe; since as far as he knew from their reactions – as well as those of the Asgardians – no other people seemed to celebrate birthdays. "Just have a good time and enjoy yourself. That's how you make Pepper's birthday celebration a success."
"How's the head?" Gamora asked, allowing the subject to be changed.
Peter shrugged.
"I'm okay." The stitches were beginning to itch, which told him that they were healing. "It hurts a little, sometimes, when I bend over to pick something up and the blood rushes to my head, but other than that it mostly just aches a little."
"And the hand?" Peter asked, reaching over to rub Nutmeg's ears, causing the kitten to purr, loudly.
"It's getting better. Thanks."
"We're almost done refitting the Milano," he was told. "But before we take it too far, I thought I'd see what Tony thought about us flying it more locally; to the edge of the star system and back. Just to make sure the welds hold and the drive is online."
"You mean out in space?"
Quill rolled his eyes.
"Duh. Think your old man will let you come with us?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Why not? I mean, it'll be another day or two, so maybe lead up to asking for some time when he's not still pissed off about you screwing up and driving without the seatbelt."
"Wow. Thanks."
"Just don't throw up in the ship," Rocket requested – but those who knew him could tell the racoon liked seeing Peter excited by the prospect of going for a ride.
"I won't." Peter started to say something else, but he saw Tony gesturing for him. "I'll ask him, tomorrow…"
"Good."
The boy excused himself, taking the kitten, and Gamora frowned, looking at Quill.
"I thought Tony asked you if you'd be willing to take Peter on the test flight?"
"He did," Peter confirmed, looking smug. "But he didn't want Peter to know that it was his idea, since he doesn't want to look like he's rewarding him so soon after being so stupid."
"I wish I had a reward every time I did something stupid," Drax said. "I would have three rewards."
They didn't ask what circumstances he was referring to.
"We're taking his friend, too?"
"Maybe. There might be some motion sickness issues with the buddy and I'm not going to be cleaning puke out of the Milano for the next week."
OOOOOOO
Tony smiled when Peter joined him, Pepper, Natasha and Stephen at the table. He was holding Ironpig in his arms, and the piglet was wearing a purple sweater with gold trim, and still had the bowtie on.
"How do you feel?"
"Okay."
"Tired?"
"A little."
"We are, too," Stark admitted. "Pepper and I are going to call it a night and let the party continue on without us. Would you do me a favor and drop Ironpig in his pen before meeting us back at our quarters?"
"Yeah, of course."
Natasha reached for Nutmeg, freeing Peter to take the piglet. The assassin cuddled the kitten, cooing down at him.
"I don't want you staying up too late, tonight," Stephen told Peter. "It's been a long day, and you need to get some rest."
"Yeah. I will."
"The physical therapist is going to be coming by, tomorrow," Pepper said, standing up. "Do you plan on being there, Stephen?"
"For the first session, yes," she was told. "I want to see what regiment she intends to use. Afternoon?"
"Right."
"I'll be here."
"Mom and I are going to say our goodnights," Tony told Peter. "You can come back when we're done in our rooms, but don't gorge on too much more cake, got it?"
"I won't."
"I'll bring Nutmeg to your rooms, later," Natasha promised. "Or you can come find me, later."
Peter nodded and headed for the door with Ironpig. Stephen looked at Tony and Pepper.
"Keep an eye on him, tonight. Or, rather, have your AIs watch him."
"Why?"
"The birthday party thing," Strange replied. "Just in case the reminder of May's final party hits him in the middle of the night and he sleepwalks."
They both nodded.
"We will."
"And I'll check on him before I go to bed," Romanoff reminded them. "I need to return Nutmeg, after all."
"No cat hair in your bed?" Pepper asked, amused.
"I like to wake up and find my things where I left them the night before," she replied.