Pepper stayed to keep Peter company when Tony went to fetch them some dinner. They didn't know what was on the menu in the lounge or in the commissary, but both had told Stark that they didn't care what it was he brought them. Peter knew Tony wasn't going to feed him something he didn't like – and by now he knew what he didn't like, anyway – and Pepper was fairly open to anything, as long as it wasn't too greasy. Which Tony also knew. When he left, Pepper settled herself against Peter's headboard, and had to resist the urge to cuddle him.

He wasn't feeling miserable, and probably didn't need comforting, and as much as she wanted to hold him and remind him that she loved being right there with him, she settled for simply sitting close.

"Tell me more about your day," she said, reaching out and brushing an errant lock of hair from his eyes. The boy seemed to always need a haircut. "What else did you do? Did you get any rest?"

"I slept in," he told her. "So I didn't need a nap, or anything. Doctor Strange came and checked my hip and said I could sit up – and that maybe tomorrow I can go to the couch, even."

"That's progress."

"Yeah. Then he left and Natasha started telling me and Tony about her new game." He frowned. "I think she was telling me about it last night, too, but I might have been dreaming it."

"Sounds like fun, though."

"It is. It would have been more fun if you were playing, too."

She smiled.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be here with you guys."

"Oh. No." He shook his head. "I didn't mean it like that." The boy reached for her hand. "You had to work, I get it. I do." He didn't want her to think that he felt like she wasn't paying enough attention to him. "I just wanted to make sure you knew that I like your company, too."

"I appreciate that, Peter," she told him – and now she did hug him, again, unable to help herself. "I enjoy spending time with you, too. Really."

"It's not like you weren't snowed in with me for days just a little while ago," he pointed out. "It'd probably be selfish of me to want to have you to myself all the time. Tony should have some time with you, too."

Pepper smiled.

"We'll figure it out," she promised him. "Before I forget, though, did you want me to invite Ned out this weekend? I wasn't sure – with you being stuck in bed. I assume you won't want MJ out."

"Uh. Yeah. No. No, not MJ. And not Ned, really, either. He'd go crazy if we had to just hang out in my rooms. He likes to explore, you know?"

"Yeah." She touched his cheek. "Looks like I'll have you to myself a little this weekend, then."

That thought pleased him, she could see. Which made her want to hug him, again. Instead, she asked him more about the game that had apparently kept him so distracted that he wasn't even complaining about being stuck in his bed.

"You're supposed to be the judge," he told her. "Some of the images might be the same and if they are, then you disqualify them. I think Tony wanted you to judge so that you'll make him the winner…"

"I heard that," Stark said from the doorway. He'd returned with a serving cart that held several silver covered platters, a pot of coffee, plates, silverware for three and an entire chocolate cream pie. "Just for that, I'm going to tell her to put you in last place."

"She wouldn't do that."

Pepper frowned, looking at the cart and not paying attention to the squabble about the game.

"A whole pie, Tony?"

Stark shrugged.

"We can put whatever we don't eat in the fridge. He can have it tomorrow."

"I might eat it all tonight," Peter told her. "Then we wouldn't need to worry about the fridge."

"You are not eating the whole pie tonight," she told him, giving him a look that Tony recognized immediately.

He saw it all the time, after all.

Peter smiled, slyly, and Pepper realized that he was teasing her. The scamp!

"I think you're spending too much time with Tony," she chided him, amused and delighted, both. "He's rubbing off on you."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Tony said, pushing the cart right up against the bed and passing out plates. "I like it."

She did, too, but she'd never admit it. Instead, Pepper moved a little away from Peter to give him the room he needed to eat.

"Eat. Then we'll decide what we want to do tonight."

"You have to look at our papers," Stark reminded her. "We need a declared winner."

"I'll take them with me tomorrow and look through them, then. I want to spend some down time with my guys tonight."

Tony didn't even scowl or pout. He just smiled. What a difference from the workaholic overachiever she used to be!

"I think that's a great idea, honey."

OOOOOOOO

"He didn't last long, did he?"

Tony smiled, his gaze tender as he looked down at the boy who was dozing, sprawled on his bed with his head resting on Peppers leg.

"Longer than I expected him to, really."

They'd had dinner; a homestyle meal of chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn and stuffing. Along with the pie, of course. Then Peter had suggested a movie, which suited Pepper and Tony just fine. They wanted him to have a chance to wind down, and watching a movie would give him that opportunity. Tony had taken the remains of their dinner back to the commissary – except for the pie, which ended up covered and put into Peter's fridge for later consumption – and had told them to decide what movie they wanted to see while he was gone.

When he'd returned, they were waiting for him. Pepper was sitting up against Peter's headboard, propped by pillows. Peter was curled on his uninjured side, his head resting on her leg. They were waiting for him so they could start the movie, and he simply turned all the lights off and settled in on the other side of Pepper, sliding an arm around her and pulling a blanket up over Peter, first, and then using another to cover them.

Peter hadn't made it more than halfway through the movie before they both realized that he was sleeping. They didn't wake him, and they didn't leave just yet. It was a good movie, and the company was relaxing. They'd simply cuddled, enjoying quiet, family time – with each other and with Peter, even though he wasn't awake to share the good feeling. And when the movie was over, Tony simply turned it – and the TV – off.

"You saw his hip?"

"Yes. It's nothing like it was, before. It's healing well."

"Stephen isn't holding back?"

"No. He's doing great, Pepper. How could he not? He has you to take care of him."

She looked down at the boy, brushing her fingers against his temple, but being careful not to wake him.

"Is Natasha going to stay with him tonight?"

"Yeah. She'll be along in a while. We can go to bed, now, or wait for her. Whichever you want to do."

"Let's stay here, then," she decided. "I'd rather not risk waking him by jostling him more than necessary."

And besides, she was fine, right where she was.

Tony nodded, and stole a kiss before she realized he was doing it.

"Good idea."