'Sir, Ms Potts is showing a reporter and photographer to the study,' Jarvis tells him.
'Thanks, Jay,' he straightens his jacket. 'When the last of your sensors arrive from the Tower have them sent up.'
'Of course, sir.'
'I want to go with Dada,' Pete objects from where he's sat at a desk colouring with Steve.
'Sorry, baby,' he presses a kiss to his son's head. 'I'll be back soon.'
'Good luck, Tony,' Steve smiles up at him.
'Luck?' he laughs.
'Telling you to have fun would probably be a mistake,' Steve grins back.
'Too busy to have fun,' he winks.
Steve laughs and looks away.
'I want to go with Dada,' Pete repeats with pout.
'We talked about this,' he checks his hair in the mirror. 'I'll go in first and call you if it's safe, ok?'
'Ok,' Pete doesn't seem convinced.
'Good boy,' he heads out.
'Hello, Mister Stark!' the reporter jumps to her feet as he steps into the study.
'Please, Tony's fine,' he gives her his trademark grin.
Her name is Tammi and he remembers sleeping with her in DC a few years ago.
'Tony,' she smiles, 'whenever we meet you always seem to have so much going on.'
What did she interview him about last time?
'Not just when we meet,' he settles onto the sofa opposite her and skilfully ignores the photographer. 'I've always got a lot going on.'
'Stark Industries, the Avengers, your Arc Reactor rollout, the Charity Gala and your son,' she lists, 'how do you keep it all straight?'
Was it the new Stark phone?
'Fair point,' he allows, 'but I do deal with most of those things all of the time.'
'It's incredible, Tony. How do you find the time?'
No, maybe the piece covering the Grande Prix when he finally made time to go again?
'Well, have you not heard? I have been described as a Superhero,' he winks at her.
'I think you would have to be.'
Did she actually just flutter her eyelashes?
'I do what I can.'
'Ok, let's start at the beginning,' she tones down her flirting. 'Stark Industries has changed a lot over the years but with you and Ms Potts in charge it's more profitable than ever.'
These women never like Pepper...
'Pepper and I are a great team. I handle the tech side and she wrangles the business side,' he grins, 'and me.'
'She's an important part of what you do?'
The sex was probably nothing special; he can't remember.
'Apart from my kid, Pepper is the most important person in my life. I wouldn't get anywhere near as much done without her.'
'Many people think she's still just your secretary.'
'Pepper was never just my secretary,' he tells her. 'Also, for the record, I'm not sure there is such a thing as just a secretary. Anyway, she was CEO for a week or so.'
'That was quite a crazy week.'
'I've had crazier.'
She laughs charmingly.
Tony manages not to roll his eyes.
'This was maybe one of your better weeks?' she smiles. 'Your announcement earlier this week has gone across very well. The Arc Reactor rollout has a lot of people very excited, what can you tell us?'
'I can tell you that this is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people. This has been my aim for SI since I came back from my little vacation in Afghanistan. With all of the Stark Industries' facilities running on Arc Reactor power we'll be the greenest international company out there.'
'So this is good for more than just Stark Industries?'
'If we can get everyone else on board then this will be good for the world. Except the oil companies; they don't like me much.'
'I bet!' her smile becomes more teasing. 'The press conference was something of a surprise, by the way.'
'Yeah, that's on me. I got the data from our trial run in DC and wanted to get things moving.'
'I meant the adorable surprise at the end!'
'Oh, he's quite cute, isn't he?' he smirks.
'I can't imagine why you've kept him hidden until now.'
'You're right; he's a particularly impressive three year old and I should have never kept him to myself.'
'What can you tell us about him?'
'His name is Peter Jarvis Stark, he's three and a half and he's the best drain on my resources that I've ever created.'
'What about his mother? How did you meet?'
Isn't that the pertinent question?
'A little over four years ago the question of having an heir was raised at an SI Board Meting,' he lies between his teeth. 'One of the people there suggested the idea of surrogacy and it stuck with me. Ten months later I brought Pete home and I've never regretted it for a second.'
'But what was she like?'
'Lovely woman. She was a surrogate for me but we don't have any contact other than that,' he smiles.
'Still no new person in your life? That will make a lot of our readers happy,' the flirting is back.
'Ha! I am single, but I'm afraid that won't be changing any time soon. I'm finding being a single father works quite well for me.'
'I'm sure I speak for many single ladies when I say we'll keep our fingers crossed that you'll change your mind!'
'Alright,' Tony shrugs, 'but I'll give you fair warning; Pete hogs the sheets and wakes up at a horrifyingly early time in the morning.'
'Oh, but I know you love your late nights!'
'Luckily I live with people who are better at the waking early thing than I am.'
'The famous Ms Potts again?'
'Of course, and Cap actually. Pete is quite convinced that Cap making me coffee in the morning is essential for my health,' he aims for charming with his grin.
'You have your live in babysitters then?'
'Cap certainly is, but as much as Pepper loves the kid she's mostly too busy to look after him if I can't.'
'She's been out on the west coast recently?'
'Yeah, she tries to keep out of Avenger business.'
'So you're on your own with them, then?'
'No, the Avengers are a team; we look out for each other.'
'And what about when you're out as a team, do any of them in particular have your back?'
'As I said, we're a team.'
'Come on, Tony! You must have a favourite?' she wheedles.
'I suppose I spend the most time with Bruce,' Tony smiles.
'You mean the Hulk?'
'Sure, but he's not generally big and green at the time.'
'Doesn't that get... dicey?' she isn't convinced.
'Nah, he's a teddy bear,' he tells her. 'In both forms, actually.'
'Well, that must be a relief! You've had to have your tower repaired enough already!' she laughs.
Tony bites his tongue and keeps smiling,
'The Tower is at more of a risk from me and Thor than from Bruce.'
'Thor's back in town?'
'Dropped in a couple of days ago,' he confirms. 'Made my kid's day by giving him a sword...'
'A sword?!'
'Tell me about it,' he sighs.
'How are the rest of the team?'
'Barton's an overgrown kid who eats peanut butter with a spoon,' he grins. 'Romanoff thinks we're all idiots but I'm pretty sure Pepper has made her promise not to kill me.'
'And Captain Rogers?' she cuts in with more enthusiasm than necessary.
'Cap's a morning person,' Tony tells her, as if that explains everything. 'I'd generally find that offensive but he feeds my kid breakfast so I let it slide.'
'And will they be coming to the Gala in the week?'
'Cap will be there,' he confirms with a smirk. 'He scrubs up nice.'
'I know that look, Tony!' she calls him out. 'What are you planning?'
'I just like the baffled look Cap gets when he's out of his element,' enjoys it a little too much actually.
'Tell us about the Gala.'
'It's a fundraising event for the Maria Stark Foundation and their ongoing efforts to support children's charities in New York. I supply the venue, catering and entertainment and all the people have to do is bid high enough to get an invite.
'A pretty exclusive event! I hear our readers can get involved in the fun at home by bidding on an online auction of items donated by various guests; did you donate anything?'
'Sure,' Tony blags it and grabs his phone knowing Jarvis will bring up the answer without being asked, 'signed Avengers posters, one of my cars, a month's loan of my yacht and a prototype for the next StarkPhone with personal tech support for a year.'
His car?!
'I know a lot of people who would give their right arms for a day of tech support from you!'
'Donations in US dollars only,' he grins.
Which car?
'I have to mention one of the cars I recognised outside,' she acts like she's asking him to reveal a secret, 'is Bruce Wayne here?!'
'Not yet, but he'll be here for the Gala,' he confirms.
'But you have his car?'
'Apparently,' Tony grins, 'but you'll have to ask him.'
The door opens a crack and attracts their attention. Pete peaks inside,
'Dada?'
'Hey, baby,' Tony smiles his first genuine smile since he walked into the room.
The door opens further to reveal Pete wearing a Captain America costume, with a shield, as he runs to his father,
'See what Pepper found for me?'
'I do,' Tony gets a knot in his stomach as he realises that costume was his. 'So you're Captain America now?'
'No,' Pete scoffs, 'I'm Captain Stark. That's better because I can be like you and Cap at the same time!'
Tony notices that the red gloves are actually from an Iron Man costume,
'Much better,' he agrees.
'This must be Peter,' the reporter is gesturing crazily to her photographer, who is ignoring her as he's already snapping away. 'Can I ask him some questions?'
''May I',' Jarvis corrects into his earpiece. 'Sir, Captain Rogers is in the hallway and wants to know if you wish him to enter.'
'Sure,' he tells her as he makes a swiping negative motion with his hand for Jarvis. 'But I have final say on what you print if he tells you any business secrets.'
'Of course,' she beams. 'Hello, Peter, I'm Tammi, have you been having a good day?'
'Yes,' Pete stares at her.
'Have you been playing with your Dada?' she tries
'Yes,' Pete confirms.
'And what do you like to play with your Dad?' she beams.
The first interview with the Stark Heir with photographs; she's going to be rich if she plays this right.
'Cars,' Pete turns shy and tucks himself under his father's arm.
'And will you be coming to your Dad's party?' her eyes glow with the victory fire of having an exclusive.
'Dunno,' Pete maintains a death grip on his shirt.
'He's coming,' Tony cuts in.
'And who is your favourite Avengers?' she tries to coax out more than a one word answer.
'Dada,' Pete replies loyally.
'How about your second favourite, baby?' Tony takes pity.
'Cap,' is the immediate reply.
'And what do you want for Christmas?' she's clearly ready to wrap this up.
Pete just stares at her.
Christmas in the Stark household was never really a thing...
'What toys do you want?' Tony hopes she thinks he's just prompting.
'I want a Lamborghini,' Pete decides, 'and a little helicopter.'
'A toy Lamborghini?' she asks uncertainly.
'No,' Pete refuses. 'I want to play with the engine; it has to be big.'
'Oh,' her gaze flicks between Pete and Tony, 'but only a little helicopter?'
'Dada needs the helipad for the Queenjets,' Pete tells her with giant innocent eyes that Tony can't pull off anymore.
'Oh,' she says again, 'of course.'
'Quinjets,' Tony corrects.
'Queenjets,' Pete agrees.
'Ms Potts is on her way to interrupt, Sir,' Jarvis announces in his ear.
About time.
'I...' she seems to have forgotten her words.
'I'm sorry to interrupt,' Pepper is not sorry. 'Tony, something's come up.'
'Time to go, kiddo,' he shifts his son onto his hip as he stands. 'Lovely to see you again, Tammi.'
Pepper hands him another tablet as they fall in step and exit the room.
'I love you,' he tells Pepper.
'I know,' she bats her eyes and walks away.
'Cap!' Pete squirms, 'I saved Dada!'
'You sure did,' Steve looks a little sheepish as he pushes away from the wall to join them.
Tony sheds his suit jacket and steps into the Iron Man boots as soon as they get back upstairs.
'A Lamborghini?' Steve asks quietly as Pete starts drawing in the corner.
'You heard that?' he smirks.
'You're going to get him one, aren't you?' Steve sounds amused.
'Why not?' Tony agrees. 'Apparently I'm going to be gaining a space in the garage after the Gala...'
'Ms Potts did inform you of her intention to select items to be donated if you did not make the decision yourself,' Jarvis tells them.
'I didn't think she'd take a car!'
'You think the interview went ok?' Steve is cold heartedly indifferent to his plight.
'I lied through my teeth for much of it,' he shrugs, 'but sure, she bought it.'
He watches Steve shoot a look at Pete before continuing quietly,
'You're lucky he didn't say anything to give you away.'
'I wasn't expecting the question about Christmas,' Tony fiddles with a tablet.
'He doesn't know what Christmas is,' Steve has that trying not to look sad expression on his face.
'No,' he agrees. 'Now stop reading into it.'
There is no way Steve won't read into it.
There's no way Steve won't now have formed some theories.
'Tony...'
'I have work to do,' Tony lifts up to the ceiling and ignores Steve.
'Sure,' Steve gives in and quietly joins Pete with his action figures.
