A/N: Sorry about that ending of the last chapter. I'm not exactly sure where that 'I'm okay' came from! It's fixed, now, though.

OOOOOOO

The corridors of the compound were silent as Peter walked to the gym and took Ironpig's sweater off him (to make sure he didn't get too warmed in the already heated enclosure during the night). He smiled as he settled the piglet in the outside area of the enclosure and then turned on the small display that would play barnyard videos all night at a lot volume.

"You're getting pretty big, aren't you?" the boy told the pig, reaching down and scratching his ears. "Keep growing and Pepper'll have to make Tony take you to Jack and Gina."

The piglet didn't look too concerned. He made a soft squealing noise and wandered off, and Peter washed his hands at the sanitizing station that Pepper had had set up – just because – and then headed for Tony and Pepper's quarters, stopping at his own for just a minute to pick up a brightly wrapped package from the coffee table in his living room.

They were both there when he reached the door and was admitted by Friday, who alerted Pepper and Tony to his presence. Peter walked in and found them on the sofa, with Pepper once more wearing the paper crown from Burger King, although after a day of wear, and being nibbled by the Pegasus, and gnawed on by Nutmeg, it was looking a little ratty.

Pepper was planning on keeping it, however.

"Did you have a good day?" Peter asked, walking over and sitting on the coffee table in front of their sofa so he could look at both of them - although he was focused on Pepper, just then.

She smiled.

"It was perfect. Thank you."

"It isn't quite finished," Tony told her. "We still have presents."

"You two don't need to get me presents. You know that."

"We want to, though," Peter said. "Besides, you deserve it."

She shrugged her acceptance; it was one of those ways that she couldn't say no to him – or to Tony, for that matter. Not when it came to something like this. Something that made them far more happy than it did her, really.

"Well…" Pepper drawled. "Maybe I could see what you got me…"

Tony smiled at the way she said it, and the way Peter beamed when the boy stood up and pulled the small package out of his pocket.

"I didn't get it," he said. "I made it. Sort of."

"Yeah?"

He nodded and handed her the package, and Pepper smiled, because it was clearly wrapped by himself and not a professional somewhere. As she worried through several layers of wrapping paper that said happy birthday on it, and almost as much tape as paper, she tried to figure out what it was – all the while watching his excited expression. When she finally cleared the tape and paper, she found a small velvet covered box, about the size of a deck of cards.

"I didn't make the box," Peter told her.

Pepper looked at Tony, but his expression was a mix of amusement and a challenge, which actually told her plenty, even as she opened the lid of the box. Inside was a bracelet. It was made of what Pepper thought was probably hammered silver (and looking closely, she could see the marks made from the hammer) and then was dotted with tiny gemstones, of all colors and varying sizes. It was gaudy and bigger than anything she'd ever worn in her life, but he was watching her, expectantly, and she smiled when she pulled it out of the box to get a closer look.

"You made this?"

"Yeah." He grinned. "It's all of the little stones that Shuri and I found in the vibranium mine when we were there. I had them cleaned and cut and polished – I didn't do that, because they would have ended up looking like pieces of sand – and then I made the settings and the band and put it all together. I thought about a little silver chain with them on it, but this stands out more, I think…"

"It definitely does," she agreed, leaning over and kissing his cheek before hugging him and looking over at Tony, who was smiling, with a slightly goofy expression on his face. "It must have taken forever to get them all on there. Thank you."

"You like it?"

"Of course I do," she assured him. "It's beautiful."

Peter beamed.

"You know, Pep," Tony interjected, taking the bracelet from her hand, and then putting it on her wrist with the ease of long-time practice. "We have the annual fundraising gala coming up next month. You could wear it, then…"

To her credit, she didn't even bat an eye.

"Good idea. I'll have to find a new dress to match it."

Tony smirked, and covered the expression by reaching around her and taking a box of his own and handing it to her.

"Speaking of rocks that we found in the mine in Wakanda…"

The package he handed her was much more formally wrapped, and the box was probably as expensive as all the tiny gemstones (real though they were) on Peter's bracelet were worth, combined. When she opened it, she found more jewelry. This time it was a pair of diamond earrings, with a sapphire pendant, that had a setting of smaller, brilliant diamonds around it, as well. It was suspended from a fine silver chain, with a backing that she recognized was almost certainly vibranium.

"Did you make this?" she asked him, knowing the answer before he even opened his mouth.

"I left it up to the professionals."

"He helped me with mine, though," Peter added, pleased at how happy Pepper was with their presents.

He hadn't considered jewelry, thinking that Pepper already had a lot of pretty things to wear, but Tony had pointed out that the stones were hand-picked from the trip to Wakanda, which would make them special because they were so personal, and because it would remind her of the fun they'd had that trip. And that day. When he put it that way, Peter had agreed and had set to, starting to research with Karen how to make jewelry and what the best kind of metal to make it out of might be.

"He did most of it, though," Tony assured her.

"I love them all," she told them, feeling a little weepy. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Peter smiled.

"I'm glad you like them. Happy birthday."

"It was," Pepper said. "The best one, ever."

"Until next year," Tony replied. "Then we'll have something bigger and better planned."

She took the bracelet off, and put it back in the box. Then put it with the one Tony had presented her with and set them on the coffee table, along with her paper crown. Peter surprised her by getting up.

"I'll see you guys in the morning," he told them.

"You're not staying?"

She had assumed that they would keep him in their quarters, watching a movie or playing games, or something, until he fell asleep – which would make it easier for them to keep an eye on him that evening. She'd have just had Tony cover him with a couple of blankets and kept him close, even if it was just on the sofa.

"I'm going to go help clean the lounge and see if there's any cake left." He rubbed his hand against the one with the brace, and she wondered if it was bothering him. "Besides, it's your birthday. You two should be allowed a little time just for the two of you."

"That isn't how the family thing works, son," Tony reminded him. "We like spending time with you."

"I know. And I love it, believe me. But you guys don't have to keep me entertained all the time. I'll find something to do, tonight, so you two can spend time without me being in the middle taking all the attention."

He was clearly sincere, and not at all distressed, and they could both tell. Pepper smiled and took his uninjured hand, pulling him down into her lap, even though he filled it completely and spilled over into Tony's, as well. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him, and kissed his cheek.

"Fine. Go do something else. But if you need anything…"

"I'll cry for mom and dad, immediately," he assured her, smiling. He stayed still for just a moment, soaking up the loving and feeling the toddler inside squeeing in happiness at being cuddled like he was being just then. Then he forced himself out of those loving arms. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Don't make yourself sick with too much cake," Tony added.

"I won't."

"And save me a slice in the fridge, or something."

"Probably won't be any left," Peter pointed out as he headed for the door.

"Good night, son."

"Night, guys."

Peter left, and Tony shook his head, looking at his wife.

"That was considerate."

"Yes. Of course, you're going to have Friday keep an eye on him, anyway, right?"

"Of course."