In the end, it was a couple of days before the issue with Wakanda and the power stone could be addressed with her king. It was Tony who addressed it, too. Not that he didn't trust Peter to do it, he was quick to point out, but he was far better at negotiations than the boy, and besides, he didn't want Peter to have to worry about trying to figure out what to say on top of everything else.

He and Pepper were just sitting down to breakfast Saturday morning when Friday announced that T'Challa was calling for Tony.

"Perfect." He pulled up his phone, and the 3D display, bringing T'Challa's visage online. "Good evening, your Majesty."

"Tony. Good morning to you. Am I interrupting?"

"Just breakfast, and we haven't even truly begun. How's everything and everyone?"

"They are well, thank you. And your family and the Avengers?"

"Doing fine." He smiled. "Peter got his brace off his hand, yesterday."

"Shuri told me. That is good news. How much longer is he forbidden from using his phone?"

"Another week."

"A lifetime."

"So it must seem."

"Is he there?"

"No. He's with Natasha and Steve. They're flying to Boston," Tony added. "We're going to repaint Peter's car, and I figured I'd send him up to pick out the color that he wanted."

"Shuri tells me he is going to make sure it is the same color as before."

Proof that T'Challa probably heard far more about what was going on with Peter than he really wanted to. Not a huge surprise, but probably not what a king really needed to know about someone who wasn't even from his own land.

"That's what he wanted."

The young king hesitated.

"I have some matters to discuss with you and Pepper. Is there any way you can have Stephen make a portal to bring me to your compound?"

"Now?"

It was getting late in Wakanda, after all.

"Evening is the easiest time for me to leave like this. Unless you are otherwise occupied?"

"No." Tony looked at Pepper to make sure, but she nodded. "I'll call Stephen and see if he minds and have him set it up with you."

That would be easier all around, really.

"I will be waiting to hear from you. Thank you."

OOOOOOO

Stephen was willing – not surprisingly – and curious enough that even if he hadn't been willing, he still would have come to the compound less than ten minutes later to provide instant movement for T'Challa. Pepper and Tony were waiting when he arrived and a few minutes later they were in their quarters, knowing that T'Challa would prefer to not have an audience since he did audiences all day at home. They did, however, make sure to have refreshments available for him and whoever he brought with him.

"Ready?" Stephen asked.

"Whenever you are," Tony said, moving to the side and drawing Pepper with him.

They watched as the portal was made with a simple motion of Strange's hand and arm, and a moment later T'Challa walked through, Okoye a step behind him. The young king smiled a greeting.

"Thank you, Stephen," he said with a polite nod. "It is much appreciated."

"My pleasure, T'Challa."

When he was certain no one else was coming, he closed the portal, surprised by the lack of others.

He wasn't the only one.

"T'Challa," Tony said, stepping forward and offering the young king his hand. "Where's your sister? I expected her to accompany you."

"She is asleep," he replied, shaking Tony's hand, cheerfully, and then embracing Pepper and kissing her, politely. "I preferred her to not come for this meeting."

"Oh?" Tony led the way to the bar, and was surprised when Okoye made herself scarce, purposefully walking across the room and out of the door, where Tony knew that she wouldn't go far. T'Challa was her responsibility, after all. He must have mentioned to her that he didn't want her at the meeting, either, however. "I assumed we were discussing this upcoming celebration in Wakanda… am I mistaken?"

"Yes and no. We do need to discuss that, but there is not much to say. The festivities will last all weekend, and it would be our great honor if Peter and anyone who wishes to attend from the compound would attend as much as possible. There will be contests, entertainments, games, food of all kinds and from all areas of my country and every noble in my land will be in attendance. It is shaping up to be something of an epic celebration, really."

"Sounds fun," Pepper said. "We accept."

T'Challa smiled.

"Very good." Then he hesitated, looking at Strange for a moment, and then shrugging as if deciding that the man was trusted enough to be a part of whatever conversation was to come. "There is another matter that I wish to discuss, however. One that is of a much graver and serious note."

"Oh?" Tony frowned. "Is everything alright?"

"I was speaking with my father, yesterday. He-"

"I thought your father was gone…" Tony interrupted.

It wasn't a secret, after all.

The young king didn't mind the interruption. He nodded.

"That is true. However, just because he has lost his mortal body, it does not mean that I no longer can speak with him. My line – and a few others – possess the capability to seek out ancestors in the holy place. An Astral plane. It is this constant connection that we have that keeps our leadership stable."

"You walk the Astral plane?" Stephen asked, surprised.

"You know of it?"

"I've been there."

"I'm surprised you guys aren't bumping into each other left and right there," Tony said, also surprised, but hiding it behind a sarcastic remark. "It seems to be a high-traffic area."

Strange smirked, but T'Challa nodded, used to Stark's flippant attitude, but unwilling to lose the thread of the conversation.

"My father spoke to me, Tony," he continued. "And told me that you possess something, here, that needs Wakanda to protect it."

Tony and Pepper both frowned.

"He said that, did he?" Tony asked. "Your father told you?"

"He did." T'Challa shrugged. "At first, I admit that I thought that he meant Peter. I was already trying to figure out how to persuade you to bring your son to me when I knew that there were no words that could ever convince you to do something like that."

"True."

"Not to mention, the danger to Peter is passed. Then another ancestor stepped forward, beside my father, and said that it was not the boy that needs protection, but a jewel. I was told – ordered – by my ancestors to come talk to you and offer whatever you may require."

"Wow…"

Tony looked at Pepper.

"Yeah, wow. That's incredible, T'Challa."

The young man smiled, probably relieved that he hadn't had to prove to the skeptical Americans that he was able to speak to people long dead, much less that they had told him to tell Tony to give him something that must have great value.

"Is it safe for me to assume that you have such a jewel, then?" he asked. "Something Wakanda should be protecting for you?"

Tony nodded.

"Yeah. I'd say so. Come and sit down, will you? It's a long story, and while you know some of it, you don't know all of it, and you probably should before you agree to do anything. No matter what your father told you."

T'Challa nodded, and took Pepper's arm as they walked across the room and settled on the sofa. He was focused on Tony, though, ready to hear what was so important that his entire lineage had literally rose up to tell him he was going to do it. Whether he wanted to, or not.

OOOOOOOO

"So this jewel… it cannot be triggered without someone to focus its energy?"

"Not as we understand it. Usually, it's inert, like any other stone. The thing has been in my safe since the day Peter used it, and nothing has happened. But it's too close to him for his safety – but we've been trying to think of a place to put it. To keep it safe. Peter mentioned putting it in the bottom of his vibranium mine with a shield around the inner chamber to keep anyone from finding it, accidentally, and maybe getting hurt."

T'Challa nodded.

"Your son is very wise. It would be an ideal place. Let me think about how best to situate it and I will have the mine prepared."

"Of course."

Strange spoke up, though.

"The less people who know about the location of the stone – or even the existence of the stone – the better."

"Of course. Which makes Peter's mine the perfect location, really." He stood, pressing a mark on his sleeve as he did, and smiled at the three. "I am pleased that you are willing to allow Wakanda to assist with this."

"It's a burden we didn't really want to put on you," Tony said. "Or your country. Peter's worried about someone getting wind of the power stone's location and coming after it."

"It is our honor to be part of something so incredible. Even if my people will not know of it, completely. As for someone coming for it," Okoye entered the room, and Tony realized T'Challa had summoned her. "Wakanda has withstood all who would trespass her borders for ill gain, and always will. We will speak more of this, later, Tony," he added, offering his hand to the billionaire, once more.

"I appreciate it."

"You may thank me by bringing your wife and son to our celebration." He turned to Stephen. "You are invited, as well, of course. And your friend, Wong. As well as the Avengers."

Obviously.

"We accept," Stephen told him.

"Good." He looked at Okoye. "We are ready to return."

Strange waved his hand, and a portal appeared at the same place it had been the first time.

"Call if you need anything," Tony told him.

"I will."

A moment later he and his bodyguard were gone, and Stephen closed the portal.

"Well. That was easier than I thought it'd be."