Pepper arrived at The Plaza just past 9 in the morning, equipped with a spare key to Tony's room. Quietly, she let herself in, considering that the father and son might still be asleep.

"Tony..." she called but stopped short at the bedroom door. The heartwarming scene before her had the power to thaw even the coldest hearts—Tony's arm encircling Peter protectively, the boy embracing his father with face buried in Tony's chest.

Without hesitation, Pepper quickly opened her phone camera and captured the candid shot. Afterward, she gazed at Peter, realizing Tony was right— Peter still looked like a baby, a cute one at that. She couldn't fathom the pain the child must have experienced.

She approached Peter, caressing the boy's curls. The father and son looked so peaceful sleeping that she mentally snapped a picture to remember forever.

She then called room service to order breakfast, ensuring that when they woke up, food would be waiting. Heading to the window, she drew back the curtains to let in the light. Tony's eyes fluttered open as the light streamed in, and Peter stirred, waking up.

"Rise and shine boys. We have a day ahead of us." She greeted them with a smile before making her way to the living room.

"Oh Pep, you're here. Good. When did you arrive?"

After a quick run to the bathroom, Tony returned, finding Peter still sitting in bed, half asleep.

"Just half an hour ago. Don't worry about it."

"Peter, are you awake? Do you still want to sleep?" Tony asked but Peter was already on the move, crawling down from the bed and making his way to the bathroom before Tony could react.

"I already ordered breakfast, Tony. Continental, is there anything else you'd like to add?"

"Add some grape juice for Peter and a mimosa for me."

"Uh uh no, Tony. No alcoholic drinks for today, not if I'm here."

Tony let out a groan, sounding like a big baby himself, "Pep, it's just like orange juice."

"That's a no, Tony."

Pepper was just about to call room service when Peter entered the room.

Tony made the introduction, "Peter, this is Pepper Potts. She's my secretary."

Pepper kneeled down in front of Peter, gazing at him with gentle eyes, "Hi Peter, you can call me Pepper. It's nice to finally meet you baby." She gave him a warm hug.

"Nice to meet you too, Pepper." Peter, still half-asleep, smiled with his curls all over the place, reaching up to cup her face.

"You're pretty, Pepper." She can't help but giggle at the child before her. A small smirk played on Tony's lips in response to his son's comment.

The doorbell chimed, briefly catching the attention of the trio.

"I'll get that." Tony said, taking charge and welcoming the room service attendant along with their breakfast in tow. He made sure to request a grape juice and expressed his gratitude with a generous tip.

Tony settled Peter into his baby chair, ready to begin their meal. The spread before them included toast, sunny-side-up and scrambled eggs, ham, bacon, salad, and waffles.

While enjoying their meal, Tony couldn't help but notice that Peter was barely touching his plate, sparking a sense of concern, "What's wrong bud, you don't like Toast?"

"I don't want Toast."

"You don't want Toast. What do you want?"

"I want bwead." A small laugh escaped Tony as he found amusement in Peter's silliness and the way he said it. Pepper couldn't help but laugh along.

"Can you not just eat your toast? Or do we have waffles here? Let's get you some."

"No..."

"Why?"

"'Cause I'm too sad."

Though Peter said it playfully, Tony and Pepper shared a knowing look, understanding that there was more behind those words than mere silliness.

"It's just Toast Pete, it's not the end of the world."

"It is." The boy mumbled, gazing down at his pyjamas.

"Peter, look at me, baby. It's not the end of the world. Okay? I'm right here, I won't let anything bad happen to you" Tony said, trying to reassure his son. "Let's eat even just a little bit, alright?"

"Mmm okay."

Tony cut up the waffles, drizzled them with syrup and added blueberries before feeding them to Peter.

Midway through their meal, a click from a phone camera caught their attention, and turning to Pepper, they found her grinning,

"You two are so adorable, Tony. Oh, Rhodey's not gonna believe this."

"Yeah, yeah. How long have you been doing that?" He shot a disbelieving look at Pepper, who only laughed.

Deep down, he couldn't believe it himself either.

Later on, Happy entered with the tailor from Tom Ford. They took measurements, a process that lasted about fifteen minutes, and assured that the suit would be delivered in the afternoon.

"Mr. Stark, is the suit for the funeral?" Peter asked, looking up at Tony. Tony didn't know how to broach the topic with Peter, considering that his aunt and uncle's funeral would be later that day. He wasn't sure if the kid even understood what a funeral was.

"Do you know what a funeral is, Pete?"

Peter nodded, "Me, Aunt, and Uncle have been when Mom and Dad died."

Tony settled Peter onto his lap as they sat, "It's this afternoon, are you okay with us going there?"

Peter nodded, yet his eyes glossed over as he wrestled with holding back tears. It was clear that the child was putting up a strong front.

"It's okay, bud. It's okay to let it out. I'm here."

Peter, hearing Tony's comforting words, couldn't hold back tears for the loss of his guardians. Tony, responding with care, rubbed his back and pressed a tender kiss to the top of his forehead. After a few minutes, Peter relaxed against Tony's chest and closed his eyes, drifting into a nap.

"Tony, pictures of you and Peter have already circulated on the Internet."

Pepper sat by his side and presented a newspaper with a headline featuring a picture of him carrying a child. Tony cursed under his breath, wondering how they managed to capture that image so quickly in the lobby.

"Shit. Headline on tabloids? Really?"

Why do people like to meddle in other people's private lives?

"Tony, you're more than just a celebrity now, you know that right? You're basically an icon with tons of magazine covers as the genius and CEO of a billion-dollar company."

"Well, yeah, I know that, but this is different. My son is already involved."

"Exactly. So, how do you want to play this? Do you want to set up a press release, or press conference?"

"Just press release. Maybe the day after tomorrow when we head back to California. Make it as concise as possible."

"Copy that. I'm gonna go back later tonight to California after the funeral. I left so many meetings and work to do.

"Thanks for saving my ass once again, Pepper. Tomorrow morning we'll head back, pretty sure Pete's going to be exhausted later."

Pepper made some calls, while Tony remained seated on the sofa, cradling Peter who was still sound asleep on his chest. Deciding to drown out the silence, Tony turned on the TV for white noise, jotting down ideas for the next Stark Industries project on his phone. An hour later, Peter woke up, and they began preparing to attend the funeral.

"Mr. Stark..." Peter muttered while Tony's fixing Peter's bow tie.

Tony's gaze lingered on the kid before him, a mix of emotions crossing his face as he grappled with the realization that this child was undeniably his own.

"You can call me Tony, buddy. You don't have to be so formal again."

"But my Auntie said to always use Mister or Missus or Miss or Sir when respecting elders."

"That's right kid always remember that, but you know this is me right. You know that you're still respecting me when you call me by my first name. It's okay."

"Mmm okay, Mr... T-tony." Mumbling sheepishly, Peter seemed unsure about the words that had escaped his lips, as if the words didn't quite sit right with him.

"Good. Now what are you trying to ask me?"

"Where are going to stay after this? What will happen to Auntie and Uncle's apartment?"

"We're going to my house in Malibu 'cause that's where I live. The things from your Auntie and Uncle's house are already transferred there. The apartment is vacant for now until it finds its new owners. Is that ok with you? Do you want to visit the apartment?"

"Mmm... No, it's okay. I'll just miss Ned. He's my friend."

"Ned can visit you in Malibu, Pete. I can arrange that, and we can come here in New York whenever you like."

"Thank you, Mr. Stark… oops… Tony."

Extending his arms, Peter initiated a hug, and Tony responded by wrapping his arms around the child.

"It's no problem. You always tell me if there's something you want to ask. Okay? No need to hesitate."

"Okay."

A smile graced Tony's face, emotions swelling within as he tenderly grazed his son's cheek.

The ride to the church passed quickly. Inside, the atmosphere was sombre, filled with the colleagues and neighbours of Ben and May. They greeted Tony warmly, offering sincere advice on taking care of Peter, acknowledging the preciousness of the child—a sentiment Tony wholeheartedly agreed with. Ned, along with his parents, was also present, offering comfort to Peter.

When the time came to view Ben and May's caskets, Tony carried Peter in his arms. He asked the young boy twice if he wanted to see the open caskets, and Peter, with a heavy heart, agreed.

As they approached, Peter gently brushed his hand against each casket, his sorrow evident. Tears streamed down his face, and he cried in Tony's embrace, the weight of grief and the harsh reality settling in. Tony held him close, his own heart aching at the sight of his child in pain.

As the crowd dispersed, leaving them alone, Peter began to speak to the graves.

With a voice filled with emotion, Peter spoke, his words cracking, and Tony steadied him with hands on his shoulders, "Mom, Dad, Uncle, Auntie... I won't forget you,"

Tony delicately wiped away the tears streaming down Peter's face.

"I'll miss you, but don't worry up there, okay? I'll be fine, Mr. Stark's— Daddy's going to take care of me. And I believe him. We're going to Malibu tomorrow to live there but I'll still visit here."

With one last cry, he whispered, "I love you." to his parents and guardians. He laid down pure white roses for each and Peter said his last goodbye.

The echoes of yesterday's events lingered in Tony's mind. Wishing to erase the pain and sadness that lingered, Tony grappled with the inherent challenge of shielding his kid from the harsh realities of the world. His resolve stood firm – to serve as Peter's support and guardian against the inevitable pains and hurts of life.

But Tony also knew that it would be difficult. To live in this world is also to live in a world of pain. One can only endure and in the process, one also gets stronger. He was confident that Peter, his own kid, would emerge stronger from these experiences.

During the jet journey back to Malibu, Peter slept soundly, only stirring as they prepared to touch down. Upon landing, Tony made his way to his waiting white Audi Spyder, ensuring Peter was safely secured in the passenger seat beside him.

"Alright kid, Ready to go?"

"Your car's so cool!" Peter exclaimed with wide-eyed wonder at the car.

Tony, sporting a grin beneath his red sunglasses, revved the engine and began driving, soaking in the child's enthusiasm.

"Yeah, it is. Wait till you see the rest in the house."

"So where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"This is amazing…" Peter marvelled into the vast blue ocean, soaking in the breathtaking scenery around them, the fresh wind tousling their hair.

"This is my first time here in California. Does it snow here?"

"Just cold weather when it's winter. But No, it never snows."

"That's cool. Auntie May always slips up on the ground when snow turns into ice in New York, she said she's so sick of it. She would have loved being here."

The sound of Peter's laughter filled the air, a comforting contrast from yesterday's tears. It was clear that Peter had a remarkable ability to cope with grief and pain, even at his tender age.

Peter was in deep contrast with him, Tony struggled immensely when his parents passed away, particularly devastated by the loss of his mother. His coping mechanism involved drowning his sorrows in alcohol, leading to a downward spiral where he neglected his well-being, skipped meals for weeks, and found solace in the haze of partying. Rhodes became a reliable presence, helping him sober up during those challenging times.

Opting for a parking space at an In-N-Out burger joint without a drive-thru, they parked their car.

"C'mon Pete. I know you're already hungry."

Hand in hand, they proceeded through the entrance after getting out of the car.

"Are we going to eat inside?"

"Nope, we're gonna order for takeout and eat it in the car. Eating in this open crowd is troublesome." Despite a few recognizing Tony, most people in Malibu were nonchalant, while a handful snapped photos. The town's celebrity culture made privacy a nuanced issue.

They ordered 3 cheeseburgers and fries for takeout then headed to the car. Tony drove with one hand and food at the other.

Midway through a delicious bite, Peter chimed in, "I like this cheeseburger, it's really good." savouring the flavours as he indulged in some fries.

"I like it too, bud."

"I like pizza and meatball sandwiches too from Mr. Delmar's in Queens, but Aunt and Uncle rarely buy me some. They said it's too oily and fatty for a growing boy like me."

A small ketchup mishap occurred. Tony, with a fatherly instinct, reached for a tissue to wipe off a ketchup smudge on Peter's, both sharing a lighthearted moment.

"They always tell me to eat vegetables, even if I don't like it, but I still eat it though 'cause it's on my plate. I didn't get to say goodbye to Mr. Delmar, I forgot."

"Yeah? That's okay, I think Mr. Delmar understands. Don't worry about it. We can drop by Mr. Delmar's anytime when we come back to New York."

As they approached the house, Peter observed the swaying palm trees, the car gracefully circling towards the front door. The kid's jaw dropped at the sight of the grand mansion.

"Is this really your house?" he exclaimed, captivated by the luxurious mansion perched on the edge of the cliff with an expansive ocean panorama.

"This is our house now, Pete. It's also already your house, capiche?"

"Got it!" Peter said a wide smile on his face. "Capiche!"

Peter dashed towards the ceiling-to-floor glass window, taking in the breathtaking panoramic view of the ocean, a sense of calm washing over him.

"Good Afternoon, Sir. Welcome back."

"Who's that?" Confusion etched across Peter's face as he looked around, wondering if there was someone else present in the house.

"Nice to be back, Jarvis." Tony said, "Jarvis, meet my son, Peter."

Tony pointed to one of the AI controls in the house. "This is JARVIS, Peter. He's our AI—Artificial Intelligence. Think of him as my virtual assistant and the house's security system."

"It's nice to meet you, young master Peter. I'm glad to be of service."

Peter looked up and greeted, "Hi, Jarvis, nice to meet you too."

He then caught sight of the swimming pool. "And there's a pool here too! Amazing!"

"That's "we" now, Pete."

"Do I have a room?"

Tony chuckled, "You bet, bud. Let me show you."

They went upstairs and headed to Peter's room, just across from Tony's, and he opened the door.

"This is awesome!" Peter exclaimed as he entered the bedroom.

The modern Star Wars and Outer Space design greeted them with dark blue, white, and dark red silhouettes coordinating perfectly. Star Wars posters, modern art paintings, and Star Wars sheets completed the look. The wall, resembling a blackboard, added character and a sofa sat on the side. The ceiling, adorned with tiny bright lights resembling stars, created a stunning night sky effect. Connected to a closet, there was also a bathroom.

"How did you know I liked Star Wars?"

"Just a lucky guess. Like it?" Tony grinned, "Wow, Pepper really outdid herself with this bedroom."

Peter's belongings from the apartment were neatly arranged, and there was a new set of clothes and shoes. Various toys and Lego boxes added a playful touch.

"Like it?! I love it!" Peter exclaimed, running back to Tony and hugging him,

"Thank you, Tony."

Tony wondered when Peter would call him Dad again, sniffing his baby-scented hair and gently placing a kiss on his forehead,

"No need to thank me, bud. This is all yours."

Later that day, after giving Peter a tour of the house, Tony retreated to his lab to finalize ideas for new weapons for his company. Meanwhile, Peter happily assembled his Star Wars Lego set on the couch at the far end of the lab.

As they enjoyed a Chinese takeout for dinner, Peter's eyes fell upon a chess board resting on the glossy wooden table in the living room.

"What's that thing called?"

"It's a chess board, Pete. A mind game."

"How do you play it?"

They settled in the living room with their dinner. Tony initiated a chess lesson, explaining the basics, "Here laid out are black and white pieces. We alternate making moves and white always goes first. There are different kinds of pieces, each moves a specific way."

As Tony gestured and explained how each piece move, up to the special rules of the game, Peter listened intently and quickly grasped how the game works. Next thing he knew they were already playing the game of Chess.

"No fair, why do you always win?" Peter let out a groan of frustration after losing for the third time in their chess match.

"Cheer up, kiddo. I've had years of practice playing this, and you only learned two hours ago and you're almost at par with me,"

The speed at which his son absorbed information that might challenge most kids left Tony thoroughly impressed, "I'd say that's a feat, and remember mistakes make a man wiser, or at least that's what they say."

With a grin, Tony affectionately tousled his hair, "Alright. Let's go, time for bed."

After cleaning up, Tony tucked Peter to bed. "Pete, did your parents used to read you bedtime stories? Do you want me to?"

Peter looked at the books in his bedroom and searched for something he liked.

"They mostly read me basic sciences, from science books for kids, instead of children's stories. I also like listening to Norse and Greek mythology."

"And you know how to read and write already?"

Peter nodded and nestled back into Tony's lap, holding a book tightly, while they both settled into a cozy sofa chair.

"Mom taught me when I was three."

It dawned on Tony that his child might indeed be a prodigy, a boy genius!

Peter opened a Physics book for kids complete with pictures of examples and Tony explained the concepts to him.

After an hour of informative reading, Peter whispered, "Thanks for today, Daddy. I love you," before peacefully nodding off in Tony's arms.

The reiteration of the endearing word brought warmth to Tony's heart, leading him to plant a gentle kiss on the top of Peter's forehead and cherish the sweet baby scent in his hair.

"I love you too, Peter." Gently laying down the kid on the bed, Tony gazed at his little one for a few moments before leaving the room and returning to his lab.