They bundled him in another pair of sweats and then his snow pants – even though he wasn't going to be allowed off the porch. The more layers the better, since Strange didn't want there to be a repeat of the cold induced pain that had happened before – especially since he'd pretty much assured the boy that it wouldn't happen and Natasha had pretty much blackmailed him into coming outside.
Leaning heavily on Tony he walked out into the snowy afternoon and was helped over to the porch rail that overlooked a bustling activity that included Clint, Elmer and Ned making blocks that were being stacked to the side, MJ and Bruce clearing broken blocks from the middle of a circular wall of other blocks that were stacked almost chest high. There was a space for what was probably supposed to be the door and Jack was playing in that space, marking it as his territory and then chasing snowballs that Steve was tossing for him.
Peter leaned against the rail, waiting to see if the pain was going to start, or if Dr. Strange had been right. So far, so good.
"Are you alright?" Tony asked.
"Yeah."
"If you need anything, Pepper is going to stay with you."
"Okay."
"And I'll be right there."
He gestured vaguely at the snowy walls in front of them.
"I'm okay, Tony. Thanks."
"Put your hood up. I don't want you catching anything."
He didn't wait for Peter to do it, instead just reaching out to take care of the chore himself. Only then did he move off the porch to the steps, waving Strange and Natasha to come with him. Pepper moved up to take the space Stark had vacated. She put an arm around him, her hand resting just above his uninjured hip.
"Okay so far?"
"Yes."
They watched as Stark walked into the center of the circle and called all the builders to him, picking up Jack to avoid letting the puppy get underfoot and maybe stepped on. They couldn't hear what he said, but he was gesturing one-handed to the sides of the igloo and then waving it over his head in different spots. There were a lot of nodding, and the group broke up to separate into teams of two, and everyone started to stack bricks of snow close to their own section.
Pepper took a few pictures of each group to add to her photo collection.
"He's pretty smart, huh?" Peter said, impressed, as each group then started to build their own section of the domed part, using what looked like a million snow bricks to slowly get each section closer to the ones across from them, with Stark standing in the middle directing them, still holding Jack under one arm.
"That he is," Pepper agreed, also leaning on the rail. "Probably even as smart as he thinks he is – and that's saying something."
It didn't happen quickly. Even with all the people working on the building, it still took almost an hour for the igloo to actually take shape, and Pepper stayed beside Peter while it happened. He ached a little by the time the final connection was made – all of them connecting to a keystone brick that Stark was holding while the others packed snow all around it.
Not that Peter or Pepper saw it – they were on the outside of the structure and now everyone else was on the inside. They were high enough above it that they had been able to see the progression, though, and they heard the muted cheer that rose up when the last gaping hole was plugged and the roof stayed up. Then one by one each builder emerged from the small space that had been left for the doorway. They all stood around admiring their handiwork and turned to look at the porch when Peter and Pepper started clapping for them. Everyone took a bow – and then Clint lobbed a snowball at Peter, who caught it rather than dodging it and flung it right back at him, striking Bruce when Clint dodged as well.
That started a bit of a melee.
Careful to avoid their newly completed igloo, Bruce tossed a snowball at Peter, who was too sore to move quickly and dodge, so just caught that one as well. He also caught several others that were either thrown at him, or at Pepper, moving only his arm when needed and protecting the injured hip from any sudden movement that might hurt it. When she realized that he was keeping her from getting hit, she made snowballs with the snow that had formed on the railing and threw a few of her own, impressing Peter when she unerringly hit Stephen in the back of the head as he tried to avoid being white-washed by Natasha and Steve.
Tony ducked back into the igloo, taking Jack with him, but everyone else that wasn't on the porch was covered in snow in only a matter of minutes and involved in a full on snowball fight.
"We should go inside," Pepper decided, looking at the group below them. "We can start coffee and hot water for cocoa."
And she didn't want him to get hurt if someone forgot he was sore and grabbed him to white-wash him, too.
"Okay."
They headed inside, with him noticeably limping and leaning on the arm she had offered him.
"Are you alright?" she asked, concerned, as they walked inside and closed the door behind them, muting the sound of any other scuffle and yelling.
"Yeah," he assured her, pulling off his coat. "Just sore. It's not as bad as it was the other day."
"You should go sit down."
He shook his head, smiling.
"I'll come hang out in the kitchen with you – I can sit down there."
Pleased that he wanted her company, but torn, since she wanted him off his feet and someplace softer than the stool in the kitchen, she helped him out of his snow pants and then shed her own winter gear and walked with him into the kitchen.
He was comfortably settled on a stool in the kitchen, drinking a cup of hot chocolate and watching the coffee brewing while discussing the never ending snowfall when they heard the door open and the sounds of everyone piling into the cabin. Jack came trotting into the kitchen, first, wagging his tail cheerfully and looking for a snack. Peter leaned over to rub his ears, but didn't offer him anything to eat.
A moment later, Natasha walked into the kitchen as well. She was wet; snow had been in her hair and melted, some had trickled down her neck and under her shirt, but she smiled, clearly in a good mood – despite the fact that she had been pinned under Ned and Steve getting snow dumped on her when Peter and Pepper had gone inside. She hugged Peter, pressing her cold cheek against his for a moment before turning to Pepper with one hand still on his shoulder.
"Ned has volunteered to help Stephen make dinner tonight to give you a break from cooking duties."
"That's nice."
"I thought so, too."
"What are we having?" Peter asked, curiously, just as the coffee machine gurgled and let everyone know it was done brewing.
"Tacos."
Pepper reached for several mugs, aware that everyone would want a chance to warm up after being outside all afternoon. Just as Romanoff started pouring, Tony walked into the kitchen, too.
"Are you guys hungry?"
"I am," Peter admitted.
"Let's get out of the way and leave the kitchen to Ned and Stephen. I want at least a couple of hours for my campaign, and I don't want taco shells all over my notes."
He gathered Pepper, Peter and two mugs of coffee and headed for the sofa rather than sit at the table. Peter saw that the rest of the group was gathered in the living room as well – all but Strange and Ned, who were nowhere to be seen. Natasha said both had gone to change before making dinner. The fire had been built up in the fireplace and the entire living room was bathed in warmth. Clint had taken one of the beanbag chairs and had scooted it as close to the fireplace as he could handle. MJ was in the other one. Steve and Elmer had the recliners and Elmer had his camera out looking at the photos. Bruce smiled at them from the sofa where they all joined him.
"Coffee's ready, folks," Tony announced. "MJ. Hot chocolate, young lady."
She turned her head, looking up from the D&D book she had been looking through, and rolled her eyes, but didn't argue. Peter shook his head, amused, but he didn't say anything. He liked that she was comfortable enough with Tony, now, that she didn't seem too impressed with hanging out with Ironman – although he suspected that she might have a bit of a crush on Steve. Peter eased himself down on the couch beside Bruce, who handed him a pillow to cushion his hip, and then leaned back into the soft leather. Pepper sat beside him, with Tony beside her, one arm around her, one holding his coffee.
"Feeling better?" she asked, running her fingers lightly through his hair, pushing his bangs back and at the same time checking for any fever.
He nodded. He knew what she was doing, and didn't mind. It never ceased to touch him that they wanted to be near him like they did – and were always touching him. May used to do that, too, he remembered. Even more, if he concentrated, he thought he could remember his parents doing it, too. It made him feel warm – far warmer than any fever ever could.
"I'm good. Yeah. Thanks."
"You're ready for my campaign? Got your things down here?"
"No. Not yet. They're in my bag, still."
He didn't like the idea of getting them, either, the stairs seemed to be a mile high at the moment.
Stark smirked and set his coffee down and reached for his watch.
"Ned?"
There was a short pause.
"Yeah, Mr. Stark?"
Peter smiled; he could hear his friend's excitement at being called on his watch.
"Bring Peter's D&D things when you come down, will you?"
"Yeah."
Peter raised his watch, too.
"Thanks, Ned."
"Sure thing."
"That's handy," Elmer Rupp said.
"Ned's a handy guy," Tony agreed.