It was supposed to just be a publicity thing. Really, that's how it started.

It was Pepper's idea to help them seem...more approachable after some incident or another with some Avenger fans crashing one of Tony's charity gala's. Which had ended badly for everyone, including those not even involved- if the newspapers and reports were anything to go by at all.

The idea was to hold a nation wide contest for kids.

Pepper was quick when she specified the ages of the kids taking part in the contest. Partially because smaller and younger kids (while fun and delightful little bundle's of energy) were far more likely to get themselves into trouble than someone older and more able- and capable- she made sure that she stressed that word several different times- of taking care of themselves.

And since the contest was directly tied into grades- because nothing encouraged kids to study harder than the possibility of meeting their favorite hero's- Pepper stressed that point several times too. Then the contest would be for underprivileged kids all over the country.

However she also stressed that only so many could come to stay with them since part of the prize was a get-out-of-school free arrangement that would last three months.

Tony and several others that tried to talk her out of the three month thing but she had been adamant that simply meeting them wasn't enough. They would get out of school and come to the Avenger's tower and stay with them for three whole months as part of their prize.

Of course Nat had mentioned criminal behavior and background checks. To which Pepper had replied immediately that she would do those things since they couldn't have a villain of any kind running amok in their fair city. After which Tony and the others had reluctantly- very reluctantly agreed to Pepper's suggestion and had watched the woman grin like a shark and go in for the kill.

Turns out, she'd already had the contest going for a while now. And the whole 'charity gala' incident had merely made her decide that much quicker about who would be coming to stay with them.

Tony had practically had a litter of kittens as Pepper had pulled up several files for several dozen different kids. All of which had been thoroughly checked into, and their numbers whittled down to four.

Two girls. And two boys.

Only one of which had even a little bit of a delinquent history, but nothing so terrible that the boy would have to be banned from the contest, much less the tower.

After letting the lot of them study the files she then pulled up pictures of the four and began to go through the introductions and profiles laid out for the kids to help them get to know them a little bit better.

At least two of the kids were orphans. While the other two had just as tragic backgrounds.

All of them went to the same school, and were friends. So they wouldn't have to worry about any of the kids being distressed about being far from home and their friends and such.

The two girls were hands down some of the prettiest kids that any of them had ever seen.

The first one of them to say anything had been Nat. And her comment was more of a question along the lines of, "Can I adopt them? I feel like I should adopt them." After which she had turned to Steve and asked, "I'd be an okay mom right?"

Steve had smiled at her while Clint had laughed softly.

Once Pepper had introduced the kids to them and shown each of their pictures she went more in depth about their personalities, likes, dislikes, favorite hobbies ect.

At least one of the kids was a fellow brainiac. Which was awesome. Tony and Bruce had been looking to extend their science-bro family a little bit.

One of the other kids was into music. And even worked with a band to make his own way in the world.

Clint's eye had lit up like Christmas lights as he'd practically gushed about how if the kid was any good, Tony could ask him to play at his next gala. Tony had merely scrunched up his nose a little bit and muttered a thoughtful sounding, maybe.

Nat had been pleased to learn that one of the girl's liked to cook and bake since that was something that she liked to do in her spare time. And it would give her a chance to bond a little bit with someone outside of group.

And Steve, Clint and Thor had all damn near turned to mush when they had found out that the other girl was a martial arts champion and had won more than a few tournaments and such.

"A fellow warrior!" Thor had practically shouted with glee. "We will bond over glorious battle!"

Steve reached out and placed a clam hand on the man's arm and simply shook his head no as he slowly said. "No. No glorious battle Thor. She's both a girl and a kid. She isn't going to like doing battle." Trying to appeal to the man's sense of reason.

"But, she is a fighter-" Thor started to protest when Clint hissed out in an irked tone.

"So help me, Thor if you con a little girl into any sort of 'glorious battle' with you, I will destroy every pop-tart I find. Starting with your stash here in the tower."

Thor gasped and looked at his friend wide eyed in horror. But said nothing more about any sort of glorious battle.

Everyone knew that Thor was still sort of adjusting to life in their world and all, but there were just some things that a man should never do. Dragging someone's child to god knows where, to fight god knows who- was simply one of them. The demi-god would just have to find another way to bond with the kid.

Preferably over something nice and harmless.

Sighing tiredly, Tony eyed Pepper warily for a moment before finally saying, "Okay, you have us right where you want us Pep. When are we to expect the kids?"

Pepper smiled brightly and simply said, "Three days from now."

Tony said nothing, he merely hung his head in defeat as Nat jumped up out of her chair and started barking out orders to the lot of them, much to their- and Pepper's amusement.

"Get up! All of you now! We're going to have children staying with us- we have to get rid of some choking hazards, child proof the weapons and clean!"