"What do we do?" Ned asked Peter the next morning as the two boys were waking up and starting their day. It was a Saturday, and since Ned was going to be there through Sunday brunch, they had a whole day ahead of them to work on convincing Tony and the others that a trip to Wakanda – just the three of them – would be a great idea. They'd played video games for a little while, but it was late by the time they'd had their initial discussion with Tony and Pepper, so they'd gone to bed, figuring they'd be fresher in the morning and could come up with more convincing reasons by then. "Do we intercept them at breakfast and really turn on the big hopeful eyes?"
Peter smiled, but he shook his head.
"I don't think they'll work, this morning," he told his friend. "We caught them off guard, last night. Now they'll be ready for it."
"Damn. So what do you think we should do? You know them best."
Obviously.
"We've given them our best arguments, so far," Peter told him. "Now we let them think about it. And let them talk to T'Challa – and probably Okoye and Natasha, since this will require them to figure out the best way to keep us safe if they decide to let us go. So we go to breakfast and see if they have any questions, but otherwise we leave it alone, for now, and just stay out of the way."
"That's terrible advice, Peter."
"I'm right, though, trust me."
Ned grumbled, but he did trust Peter, of course.
"So what do you want to do, today, then?"
They had planned seeing if Tony and Pepper wanted to go bowling, or something like that, but now they wanted Tony and Pepper to both be in the compound in case T'Challa or Okoye called and wanted to ask questions – or offer up suggestions. The questions was if they should stick near by, too, or if they should get out of sight and out of mind for a while so Tony and Pepper could mull over the Spring break idea without Peter close at hand to remind them how much he meant to them – and maybe think they should keep him close at hand for Spring break, instead.
"We could go to the farm."
They hadn't been out to see Jack or Gina in a while, and that was always fun for Peter. And not just because Gina was an excellent baker and could make her own ice cream if given enough of a warning. True, he couldn't go ride the horses – or even spend a lot of time in the barn since he'd start getting the watery, itchy, eyes – but he liked them and it'd been a while since he'd had a chance to love up on Spot.
Ned looked interested. He wasn't much of a rider, but a farm was always interesting to a city kid like him and he was a fan of Gina's baking, too. And Jack always had an interesting story to tell the boys.
"That sounds good."
"Let's go eat."
OOOOOOOOO
The boys knew – with Karen's help – that Tony and Pepper were already in the lounge. It wasn't that unusual, really, when Ned or one of Peter's friends was in the compound for a visit. They wanted to avoid being called helicopter parents, but they also wanted to know what was going on and if Peter or his friend needed them for anything. The best time to ask was at the beginning of the day. Or the end of the day before, but they'd had other things to think about then, hadn't they?
The two adults were simply having coffee and relaxing with each other's company, dressed casually for a relaxing Saturday and sitting at the corner table. Both looked over when Peter and Ned walked into the room, not missing that Ned was holding Nutmeg.
"Round two…"
Pepper smiled.
"I think we should hold off on round two until we have a chance to talk with T'Challa – and the others – and get more information in order to make an informed decision."
"I've made my decision," Tony told her. "I slept on it and-"
"And you're going to wait and get all the facts and whatever else we need in order to make an informed decision."
He scowled.
She raised an eyebrow.
He rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I'll wait and see what the others say."
"Thank you."
"So we ignore the giant elephant in the room, then?"
"Yes. Unless they bring it up."
"Which they won't."
"I know."
They had been doing this long enough, now, to have some of it figured out, anyway. Or at least they had Peter figured out, by then.
The boys walked over and sat down, looking only a little guarded, but cheerful.
"Hey, guys. How'd you sleep?" Tony asked, forcing himself to ignore the urge to just say no.
Peter shrugged.
"Good. We played video games and then went to bed." He tapped his fingers on the table, needing to release a little nervous energy, but relaxing a little when the topic of the Wakanda trip didn't come up, right away. "I thought Ned and I might go out to the farm, today," he added, trying to be nonchalant. "To see how Jack and Gina are doing."
"Do they know you're coming?" Pepper asked.
"No. I thought I'd wait to see what you said before I called them."
"I don't see why that'd be a problem," Tony told him. "You're taking the Pontiac?"
"Yeah."
"Sounds like fun. Have breakfast, first."
"We planned on it," Peter assured him.
"Besides," Ned added. "We need to find someone to keep an eye on Nutmeg."
OOOOOOOOO
The meal was a little less relaxed than normal, but it wasn't as awkward as Peter had thought it might be – and Wakanda never came up, although security definitely did. It wasn't the first time Peter had gone to Jack and Gina's without Tony or Pepper, or a security detail, but Stark refused to allow himself – or Peter – to get sloppy when it came to keeping safe. A reminder to keep their trip off the social media and to check in regularly, as well as a reminder that if there was any cake left, they were to bring it home.
Peter looked at the piglet that Tony was holding while giving out these reminders. Ironpig was in a black sweater, that morning, enjoying the attention that Tony was always willing to bestow on him.
"Are we taking Ironpig with us, finally?"
The billionaire scowled, and shot Pepper a look when she snickered in her amusement.
They all knew the answer to that question, after all – even Ned, who was smiling, too. It was an old joke. There was no way Tony would ever give up his baby.
"Just get going," he told the boys. "And call if you need anything."
"Thanks."
OOOOOOOOOO
The end of the Wakandan day was closer to lunchtime at the compound, and it didn't surprise anyone that there was a call from T'Challa just before lunch. They were expecting it, really, and several people were in the area of the lounge when Friday announced that Okoye was calling, asking if they had time to speak to T'Challa. Tony agreed, immediately, and then suggested that this particular discussion was made in person. Since Stephen was purposefully in the lounge playing cards with Tony, Pepper, and Natasha, that wasn't a problem. Strange waited until the Wakandan contingent had been gathered, and then created a portal.
A moment later, Okoye, and then T'Challa, Romanda, two other guards, and – somewhat surprisingly, although Tony decided that he should have expected her – Shuri.
"Good evening, Tony," T'Challa said. "Thank you for having us."
Stark smiled.
"Of course." He gestured toward the table. "Come have a seat," he offered. "We have plenty of refreshments."
"Thank you."