A/N: So, I'm sorry about the silence the past couple of days. I had surgery on my leg, and am sitting in my hospital bed even as I write this. But I am fine, so no worries!

OOOOOOOOOO

"Is there anything in particular that you want to see?" Shuri asked the two boys as they walked. She was amused and gratified by the way they gawked at everything – especially considering that Peter was the son of Ironman and saw amazing things every day, and Ned was from New York, and even in Wakanda they knew that New Yorkers were jaded and underwhelmed by anything that they might see. "The organizers have the tribes separated, for the most part, due to the potential that old disagreements may flare up between certain people, but there is something of everything to be seen."

"Can we see the battle rhinos?" Ned asked, excitedly. "Are there any, here?"

She hesitated, looking at Peter, who rolled his eyes, understanding, immediately.

"I'm not going to try and ride one," he assured her.

"Or steal it?" Ned added, smirking. He looked at Shuri. "Come on. Please, Shuri? A rhino with a saddle? I have to see it."

The princess smiled. She wasn't immune to Ned's hopeful expression.

"Very well."

She led the way, but it wasn't a quick walk. Not only because the tribe that had the rhinos was on the very edge of the market – for obvious reasons – but because there were a lot of other things to be seen on the way.

"None of the rhinos are for sale," Shuri explained as they walked. They had stopped to buy a sugar coated treat to nibble on the way, and had looked at some pretty glass bottles that a man and his son were blowing and creating at their stand with the hep of an incredibly hot over. "They are just a part of the display. All the tribes are bringing their best and most exotic to show off."

"What are you bringing?" Ned asked, curiously. "Does the royal family have a special crest, or something?"

"We do," she assured him. "But we have something even better in mind, for later."

"What?" Peter asked – equally curious.

She smirked.

"I am afraid I am sworn to secrecy. T'Challa wants it to be a surprise, so it shall be."

Peter and Ned exchanged a look. It must be pretty impressive, then.

"You can tell us," Peter said. "We wouldn't tell anyone."

"I don't even speak the language," Ned added.

The girl's smile was downright joyful.

"You would not want to bring down the wrath of my king, would you?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"I'll tell him I forced you to say," Peter promised.

She looked as if she was considering it, and then looked around, as if to make sure that no one could overhear them – an impossibility in the crowded marketplace. Ned and Peter both leaned forward, expectantly.

"No."

Ned groaned and Peter chuckled. Both boys shook their heads. Typical girl.

"Fine. We'll wait," Peter grumbled, good-naturedly. "But your Christmas present just became a lump of coal."

She frowned.

"Why would you give me a lump of coal…?"

"Because that's what you do with people who annoy you," Ned explained. "They get coal in their stockings."

"That is an odd custom. Coal was a useful fossil fuel. Why would you give it to someone as a punishment?"

"Because you do," Peter said. "It's an American thing, I guess. Don't worry about it."

She shook her head, walking along between the two of them. She was adept at research; maybe she'd look the custom up, later.

OOOOOOO

"What do you think?"

"I think it's amazing."

"For you?"

"No. It'd look hideous on me."

Romanoff frowned, looking down at the robe.

"Why?"

"Because it'd clash with my cloak."

"Huh…" she shrugged. "It's very high-quality, though," Natasha pointed out, smiling at the merchant. "Ask him what he wants for it."

They didn't need a translator, since Stephen either knew whatever language was being spoken, or could create a spell to allow him to speak and understand the ones he didn't happen to know.

There was a very long exchange of conversation between the merchant and the magician, and a lot of pointing at Natasha. Finally the man shrugged and said something, muttering under his breath as he handed the robe to Romanoff with a polite bow, but shook his head and waved away her offer of money.

"What am I missing?" she asked as she bowed politely to the merchant, who turned to speak with another shopper now that the pleasantries were complete, unwilling to miss a single opportunity for a sale. "What just happened?"

"He's looking for a wife for his father," Strange told her, tucking her hand into his arm and draping the robe over his shoulder. "He wanted to know if you were available – and if you can cook."

She scowled, looking back at the merchant, but not missing a stride, since Stephen had hold of her hand.

"He wanted to buy me?"

"Of course not. He just wanted to learn if you would make a comparable suitor for his father. Apparently, he's a lonely guy since his wife passed a few years ago. A fiery American wife would be just the thing to pick up his spirits."

"And you said…?"

"That you are very much taken, and that I wouldn't want to have to explain to your boyfriend that you lost your heart to another man while we were visiting his beautiful country."

She rolled her eyes, but his expression was amused, and she could help but be amused, too.

"I suppose I should be flattered," she conceded.

"You should," Stephen agreed. "His family has many goats and they are very wealthy."

"Huh. Maybe I should go back…"

He scowled, but he was still amused and more than willing to be teased by her. Fair was fair, after all.

"You'd make me fight an old man for your affections?"

She pretended to hesitate, and then shrugged, diffidently.

"I suppose not. Let's see what else we can find to buy, shall we? Clint's going to be sorry that he missed all of this."

"We'll find him a souvenir."

OOOOOOO

The market was amazing. Tony wasn't surprised, though. Everything about Wakanda was incredible, and that was on a normal day. A day when all of the tribes were gathered and going full out to impress? Even more amazing, of course. He and Pepper walked through the market hand in hand, stopping everywhere and utilizing a translator to make a dozen small purchases long before lunch time – Wakanda time.

"I wonder how the boys are holding up," Pepper said, admiring a necklace that was made of small, perfectly shaped shells, alternating with perfect pearls. Considering Wakanda was land-locked, it was a treasure in its own right. "Think the long day has caught up with them, yet?"

It was early Wakanda time, but fairly late in New York. Neither teen had wanted to take a nap, however, before heading to Wakanda. Far too excited to admit they could possibly be tired, yet.

"Not yet," Tony said, smiling as he handed over a couple of bills for the necklace and then hung it around Pepper's neck, brushing a loving kiss against her jaw as he did. "But dinner should be interesting."

"I know we promised we'd trust them, but would you have Friday check where they are?" she asked, nodding a farewell to the merchant as Tony led her and their translator off to the next stall. "Just to make sure they aren't doing anything dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Tony echoed, pulling his glasses and putting them on. "Our son wouldn't dream of doing anything dangerous."

"Riiiight."

"Friday? Where are Peter and Ned?" A head up display showed the two boys – and Shuri and the two unobtrusive royal guards – walking along the outer edge of the marketplace. To an area that definitely wasn't selling anything, but had a large crowd of people gathered around, excitedly. "Oh…"

"Oh?" Pepper was quick to catch the tone. "What is it?"

"Nothing, Pep. They're just hanging out by the war rhinos, is all."

"What?"

"They're just hanging out there," Tony repeated. "No one's riding one, or anything. They know better."

She didn't look convinced.

OOOOOOO

"Jesus… that's amazing."

The man standing at rhino's head smiled at the look of awe in Ned's expression and tone, even though he didn't understand the words. He said something to Shuri, who smiled, politely – but Peter didn't look very certain.

"What did he say?" Ned asked, knowing his friend understood the man just fine.

"He asked if you wanted a ride."

Ned's eyes widened.

"No shit?"

"Yeah. Tony and Pepper aren't going to allow you to, though. You know that, right?"

"We could ask. You never know. They let you."

"They didn't let me," Peter pointed out. "I jumped on before they had a chance to say no."

"I could just pretend I fell onto its back…"

"No." Peter wasn't going to violate the trust Pepper and Tony had put in him. And Ned. "If you want to ride it, you need to ask for permission."

"Awww."

Shuri smirked.

"I would suggest you practice looking especially hopeful," she told the boy. "And maybe do not stand beside the rhino when you ask – it will not look so dangerous, then?"

"Yeah." Ned stepped to the side and pulled his phone. "Wish me luck…"