That afternoon was a good one for Peter.
The sledding hill experiment by Clint worked even better with the thin layer of snow over the iced sliding strip. Barton went down it first to try it out and the speed that he reached was exciting – even for a guy that got his thrills flying a super jet. The rest of the hill wasn't quite as fast, but just as much fun as Peter had remembered, even though his first time up the hill Ned and MJ had willingly pulled him up by the rope that was attached to the sled and he felt like a piece of useless baggage. When they got to the top MJ doubled up with him, riding in front of him so she could put her feet down if she thought they were going faster than was sensible. He hadn't argued, but he did assure her that as long as the sled didn't spill them, he was going to be fine.
After that first slide down the hill MJ relaxed her vigilance a little – as did Ned and Clint. It took a little longer for the others once they arrived and started playing on the hillside as well. After being towed up the slope a few times by whoever happened to be heading up the hill at the same time that he'd reached the bottom, he pointed out that he felt okay and could probably walk himself up. Strange had objected immediately, and had been backed absolutely by Pepper, Tony and even Elmer, who had also been close enough to hear the conversation and offered to pull the boy up the hill for his next run rather than have him chance opening the wound the man had put on the boy in the first place.
It was the only drawback to a very good afternoon, and it allowed him enough respite that he lasted most of the day before he started to flag. The sky was beginning to fade from light gray to a darker gray when Strange told Stark and Natasha that he was going to head in to warm up and then start dinner and coffee. Pepper offered to assist him and the two headed back to the cabin. Tony had been watching as Steve towed Peter up the hill, joking with the boy about hooking Jack up to the tow rope and setting up a steak to dangle in front of him as encouragement to pull. He turned from his almost constant (and somewhat unconscious) observation of Peter and nodded when Strange told him to keep an eye on Peter for him.
While he waited for the others to get tired, or for the waning light to fade so much that it was too dangerous for them to sled any longer, Tony activated his suit and had Friday scan all of the slopes that were even close to their location for any sign of weakness that might pose a threat to his little group. They couldn't always rely on Peter and his spider senses, after all. And certainly couldn't expect the boy to repeat the astounding feat of the night before.
"Everything alright?" Romanoff asked once he'd satisfied himself that all was well in every other area and had deactivated the suit.
"Yeah. Just checking, you know?"
"I do," she told him. "And I can appreciate it, too."
"Looks good. We shouldn't have to worry about any surprises tonight, anyway."
"Good. I'm going to go in and warm up."
Bruce heard her and decided to go with her.
"We won't be far behind, I think," Stark told her, deciding that he'd stay until Peter was done.
Not that he didn't trust Steve or Clint to watch him, but Peter was his responsibility above and beyond anything else.
Even the inexhaustible energy of the kids – and Clint – were being tested by the countless runs that they'd made on the hill that afternoon. Steve would be able to go forever, he knew, but the rest were going to be ready for a quiet evening in front of the fire – or at the table playing board games.
He was, too.
OOOOOOOO
Dinner was cooking when the last of them finally gave up for the night. The cabin smelled of stew and freshly baked bread, although it wasn't quite ready to be served. Smiling at the fun he'd had – and the fact that he'd made it all the way through the day, Peter shed his winter clothing and went to sit at the table with Tony and Ned, who was reliving every run that they'd made down the hill that afternoon, it seemed.
"Coffee?" Pepper asked Tony, coming out of the kitchen when they reached the table and brushing a hand through Peter's wet hair, briefly, before winking at Ned cheerfully.
"Please."
"How do you feel?" Steve asked, joining them at the table to sit for a minute, drying a very wet Jack with the old towel that he'd brought with him for that very purpose.
"I'm a little worn out," Peter admitted. "It was fun, though."
"It was fun having you out there with us, again," MJ told him, sincerely, when she joined them. "I'm glad you're feeling better."
Peter blushed. As usual.
"Thanks."
"How long until dinner?" Tony asked Pepper when she brought him a cup of coffee and set a cup of hot chocolate in front of Peter who smiled a thank you to her but didn't want to interrupt the conversation Tony was having with her.
"About ten minutes. Do you guys mind setting the table?"
"Of course not."
Peter got up, too, even though Tony frowned and would have motioned for him to sit back down. He didn't reach for any plates or anything heavy; he just grabbed the silverware and started putting it on the table while Ned brought in the plates and MJ and Tony started bringing out the bowls and butter and other accessories that would be needed.
"Dinner's ready, guys," Pepper called, drawing the attention of those who had decided to find the fireplace to warm up rather than the table.
A moment later, everyone was gathered around the table, and the stew and bread were brought out.
"Big plans for tonight, Tony?" Stephen asked, sitting between Natasha and Clint, and cutting slices of one of three loaves of bread that he'd baked.
No one asked when he'd made the dough, or seemed to notice that it hadn't been in the kitchen rising all afternoon. It was a welcomed addition to the meal, though.
"Everyone is on their own, tonight," Stark replied. "I'm tired, and I'm going to relax – and I refuse to be the last person to read the Idiot's Guide to the Avengers."
MJ smiled, pleased that her gift to Peter was so popular. She looked at Peter.
"Want to play chess?"
"Sure."
"Ned?"
"I'll play winner, yeah."
Strange had almost been worried that the group would decide that Peter was healthy enough to play Spoons and had actually been ready to veto it if the idea had been brought forth. He was a bit relieved, really, that no one mentioned it. He was all for a quiet evening of cards, though, and suggested Pinochle, which could have as many players as wanted to play.
When dinner was finished, Natasha and Clint made a quick job of the dishes. Pepper went into the living room and settled on the sofa with Tony. She was reading a paperback that she'd brought with her for just this sort of occasion and he had found the Avenger book and was reading it while acting as a pillow for her. Elmer didn't know how to play Pinochle and was getting a lesson in the game from Strange and Bruce while they waited for Natasha and Clint to join them.
Peter lost to MJ – he wasn't as good at the new 3-D chess as she and Ned were, yet, since he hadn't had as much time to play it, and when Ned took his spot, he went over to the living room and joined Pepper and Tony.
"What's the matter?" Pepper asked when he sat down and then leaned over and rested his head on her leg like he normally did with Natasha. She ran her fingers tenderly through his hair and brushed a hand along his cheek, ostensibly checking for fever, but really just wanting to touch him and remind him that she was always happy to spend time with him. "Did you lose already?"
"Yeah."
"You didn't let her win, did you?" Pepper asked, softly, so MJ couldn't hear.
"No. She's better at the new one than I am. So is Ned."
"Now you know how I feel playing you," Tony pointed out, amused.
Peter smiled, but didn't point out that he hadn't bet anything on the outcome, so it wasn't quite the same.
"I'm going to go to bed."
"Feeling okay?"
"Yeah. Just tired."
"I'll help you up the stairs."
"I'm okay."
"Stephen? Does Peter need me to help him up the stairs?"
"Yes."
Tony shrugged and gave the boy a what can you do look, and Peter rolled his eyes. Pepper waited until he sat up and kissed his cheek.
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Night, Pepper."
He went to the table and told everyone else goodnight, as well, and then allowed Tony to help him up the staircase and even as far as his room.
"Do you need anything?"
"No. I'm good. I'm still sore enough that I probably would wake up if I tried to sleepwalk, and I don't feel anything like last night's avalanche thing."
"You know where I am if you do."
"Yeah."
"And you know I'm okay with you waking me."
"I know."
Stark met his gaze for a long moment, but while Peter looked tired, he didn't look anxious and he didn't look uneasy.
"I love you. Just in case you weren't sure."
Peter flushed with pleasure, feeling a great joy within him and he couldn't help but be amazed at how the simple phrase coming from Tony always made him feel so wanted. He could hear it a million times, and he just knew it would never get old.
"Thanks, Tony." He hugged him, feeling Stark's chin coming to rest on the top of his head and wondered if when he got his full growth, he'd be tall enough to return the favor and do that to Tony, instead. "I love you, too."
"Good. Goodnight."
"Night."
He went into the bedroom, changed into clean sweats and a long sleeved t-shirt and was asleep long before Ned came to bed, too.