Chapter 2

"Team Bonding" Tony shouted as he gets a running start towards the pool, balling his legs up, cannonball into the pool. Causing a splash, Natasha, Pepper and Maria laid out on lounge chairs, judging the splash holding up numbers with their fingers.

Bruce wore bright purple swim trunks, as he was next in the cannon ball contest. Instead of a cannon ball, he did a belly flop, making a splash, definitely not as big as Thor or Steve, bigger then Clint and Tony.

Natasha giving Bruce a 6, Pepper a 7 but Maria held 8 fingers proudly.

"this is rigged. What's next for team bounding Tony." Clint groaned.

"Legolas, another round of beer pong?" Tony teased.

"I'd go for another bout. Captain Rogers is a worthy opponent." Thor said, only because he was winning every event.

"NO!" The women all yelled in unison. Bruce coming to sit at the end of Maria lounge chair. Before anyone could see what happened, a flash of red blurred passed them. Steve and Clint grabbed to lounge chair Natasha was laying in, tossing her and the chair into the pool. Clint laying out on the ground laughing, Natasha drenched looking like a sad puppy, giving Clint a murderous look. Steve deciding to jump in after her. Swooping her in his arms, swaying her around in the water, causing her to giggle.

Maria and Bruce were jealous of the openness of Tony and Pepper's relationship and the newness of Natasha and Steve relationship. They both really cared for each other, and didn't want to share their free time with anyone else. They just didn't care for the public opinion on the matter. Especially when it came to Tony's teasing.

Bruce making his feeling known to her months prior, when they were making dinner one night for themselves. Them both being vegans they spent the night getting to know each other more.

Maria called it "a by chance night" everyone one else went out for dinner and drinks, but Bruce doesn't like going out in public and Maria unfortunately had a lot of work she needed to finish. He build the courage to ask if she wanted something to eat. They hit it off, spending the evening talking about the places they have traveled too, the places they wanted to still see. The foods they loved and some of their favorite things in the world. Bruce taking a leap and leaned in a kissed her, Maria letting him make his uncomfortable awkward move on her.

From there they landed an easy foundation to their relationship. They talked on the phone, and exchanged emails. Only moving into a more physical part of their relationship recently. When Maria returned from their weekend away, she returned to her office, where a gorgeous single orchid with little splatters of purple on the petals. A hand written note in his rough doctor scribble, You are the peace I looked for in my life. You make every day better. – Bruce. It was the first time in her life she received flowers from a man she cared. Not because she injured.

They knew each other jobs were the biggest apart of their lives and neither one wanted to interfere with the others job. Sometimes made communicate hard, both understood they would not be able to talk daily.

After everyone had a good laugh at Natasha expense, Tony and Clint start the same argument everything who was the true grill master. Clint really didn't care he just loved giving Tony a hard time.

Maria had gone inside to start preparing the side items and pulling everything would to eat outside. Pepper joining her to help.

"Happy to see Bruce?" Pepper asked

"Yes. It's been a couple of weeks since the last time we spent time together." Maria told her while you placed all the condiments on the counter.

"You know if you want more time with him, we could arrange something."

" Pepper, I appreciate that but I think it's too soon for us to be making life and job altering decisions. Plus we are still getting to know each other, I don't want to be all lovey-dovey and ughhh." Maria asked getting a sickly shake of her body and making a face. Clearly a little grossed out by Steve and Natasha abundance of affection.

" You are a valued member of this team, and I want you to be happy in whatever you're doing." Pepper said quietly placing a hand on her shoulder.

" Thank you but I enjoy my job and life very much at the moment."

"Good. Let's get these outside before the start eating like cavemen" Pepper gathering multiple items in her arms and having Maria follow suit.

Only a small food fight broke out at dinner, which Clint started and Natasha going to ending. Before Thor and Steve tossed both of them in the pool, causing an all-out splash fight. Tony and Pepper sitting back watching the children play, as Tony thought of his team mates, his kids.

Maria discreetly pulling Bruce hand leading him into the house. They giggle like teenagers escaping the watchful eyes. They lightly ran down the hallway, pass the R and D lab, Bruce opening the single door to his large living space. His quarters were away from everyone else and his room was specialty enforce just in case the other guy wanted to make an appearance.

Maria wrapped her arms around his neck, finding his lips while they she and him, stumbled towards his bedroom.

The back of Bruce's leg meeting the edge of the mattress, she felt the shift of his unbalance. She pulled back a little, giving a sideways look with a raised eye brow. She smirked at him before pushing him back on to the bed, he grabs her hand pulling her on top of him. Their lips meeting again, she didn't put up much of a fight, letting him dominate her mouth. She rolling off from on top of him to his side. He remained on his back while she ran her fingers through his hair.

"When do you have to go back?" He whispered. A grunt sound escaping her.

"I wished I could have more time with you. But I do have a lot of work. Coulson and May have had me watching a Senator, Tony's privatized world security and Pepper trying to keep the company ahead in the technology race. It's just a lot all the time." She sighed exhaustively.

"We will have to plan our next weekend away. Without work, cell phones or…." Bruce voice quiet while he closed the space between and having their lips meet.

The early morning sun wakes the curly messy brown haired man, rolling over, seeing a fully dressed beauty sitting up over the covers. She was busy tapping on the key board of her laptop. She leaned over giving him a greeting kiss.

"How did you sleep?" He asked her.

"I sleep better with you. But apparently Mace doesn't sleep. Have you ever study a Dr. Radcliffe ?" She asked

"That's funny you ask, Agents Fritz and Simmons have been needing some assistance with some of his research. I think he is playing fire. Makes me feel better you are keeping an eye on him." He laid crossed her legs. "Is this your settle way of telling me your going back today?"

"Yes, I am going to drive Pepper back. We have to head to Malibu for a technology presentation." She told him, in a sad voice.

"I will get dress." He started getting out of bed.

"No, stay. I don't want to make a big deal of it. But can you get away in two weeks? Maybe the weekend?" She gave him a raised eye brow, waiting for his response.

"Sounds like a plan to me. Be safe." As he find her lips again. Lingering there in the moment.