1 year ago-

She had noticed right away that this time was different. Bruce was edgy, and not totally himself. Not having the opportunity to get him alone, Victoria couldn't ask him what was the matter. Though, it had become pretty clear at dinner. After the prerequisite visit to the STEM Lab Tony had fitted up, where they had discussed any needed upgrades, repairs, or replacements, Tony took them out. They went to a real fancy, white table cloth type of place, and Bruce had subtly maneuvered himself next to her. Victoria felt like she got an answer to why he was so edgy went she felt something tough her leg. She jumped slightly, and Bruce mumbled an apology. All the while squeezing her leg a bit tighter.

All through dinner he languidly caressed her leg, until conversation started to get difficult and they both started to wish she had worn a skirt. After dinner, Victoria made her excuses and went home alone to wait…

Bruce found it more frustrating then usually to shake Tony that night. Eventually he resorted to saying he was stressed and needed to go meditate. Tony has learned to accept this excuse from him, and wandered off into the huge apartment he kept for when he visited Boston. And Bruce made his escape.

The trip to Victoria's felt like the longest ten minutes of his life. He finally arrived and banged impatiently on the door.

"Hey Bruce, took you long enough…." Victoria started, but was interrupted by Bruce kissing her abruptly and pushing her against the wall of the entry way.

"Jesus, get inside." She mumbled when he released her, glancing around to be sure the neighbors hadn't seen. She closed and locked the door, and led him to the living room. Once inside, Bruce practically attacked her again. Until the two of them almost feel onto the couch.

"Well, Bruce. Hi to you to."

"Hello," Bruce replied, ducking his head and looked embarrassed.

"Oh no" Victoria joked. "You don't just maul a girl like that and then look all… abashed. Am I to assume that's what all the edginess and leg rubbing was about?"

"Yeah, Victoria, I'm sorry about that. I guess I just missed you..."

Victoria laughed. "Missed me? Missed this you mean." She said, gesturing at between their bodies. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were using me Dr. Banner"

"No! No, never Victoria, I …"

"Shhh," she interrupted him. Looking closely in his eyes she asked "You ready?"

Bruce pulled in one last deep breath and nodded. He hadn't looked back at Victoria before she pulled closer to him, kissing him deeply. She smiled as Bruce tugged her closer still, some minutes later she was straddling his lap and their breathing was becoming ragged. She moved slowly, fully expecting him to stop her. This is the farthest he ever let himself go. She ground into him and groaned. Then, she felt his hands at her back, toying their way up her shirt. She smiled and helped him slip it off. She'd taken her bra off when she got home from dinner, but Bruce hadn't noticed. Yet.

"Jesus," he groaned.

"Yup," Vic snarked, trying to lighten the mood and knowing full well Bruce was about to call an All Stop. "They are nice. Grew them myself!"

"I...I...I…" Bruce mumbled. Then he laughed shortly, and reached up to kiss her again. "I think I have to go..."

Victoria sighed and slid off him "Stay. There is no reason for you to go home."

"Victoria, please. I need to calm down. I can't…"

"Oh stop it. Come on, we'll go lie in bed and watch bad TV. While, I'll watch bad TV, you can mediate or something."

Bruce sighed out a laugh, and agreed. "Wait," he asked as Vic led the way to the bedroom. "Aren't you going to put your top back on?"

She smirked back at him "No. As I mentioned before, it took a long time to grow these, and I am sort of proud of them. Besides, they haven't been getting nearly the attention they deserve. Consider it a test"

Bruce swallowed loudly and allowed himself to be led to bed. At some point, Victoria must have fallen asleep. She woke up and stretched. She was, surprisingly, still topless and less surprisingly alone. She smiled as she mentally replayed the night before. She was interrupted by her text alert.

Coffee?

Sure. Give me 25.

Victoria sighed and heaved herself out of bed to get ready to meet Molly.

Present day-

"So, they're coming back tonight? It's been a bit hasn't it?" Molly asked after ordering her coffee.

"Yeah four months." Victoria answered.

"Hi, how can I help you?" Interrupted the cheery barista

"I'll have a medium iced mocha, please?" Victoria asked

"Oh you mean a venti?" replied the barista

"Yeah, whatever a medium is…" Victoria clarified

"We call mediums, ventis!"

"Jesus whatever! Just make my coffee!"

"Well, no need to get snippy." She trailed off, marking Victoria's cup and passing it along

"They're totally going to spit in that." Molly joked.

"Oh! Probably! Cuz I'm not in a bad enough mood! Some skinny hipster is going to spit in my coffee because of...of...of…linguistics!"

"Wow, chill out Vicky. What's going on? Aren't you happy that your brother and Dr. Mc-Hunky-Commitment-Issues are coming?"

Victoria sighed as she retrieved her coffee and sat down. She sent a glare to the barista as she cautiously took a sip. "I am happy, I guess. It's just…"

"Do I have to say I told you so?" Molly interrupted.

"What? Why?" Demanded Victoria

"I believe it was a year ago. The 1st time he left you have naked, alone, and frustrated. I told you this was a bad idea. You're a long term kind of girl. Or at least you were before you met Dr. Banner. Now you're just…hanging around waiting for him."

"I've dated!" Victoria insisted

"Two dates with Gym Teacher John do not count!"

"There were others!"

"What? One date here and there?" Molly teased.

Victoria sighed and took another sip of coffee. "Ok, ok. I get it. John actually texted me the other day. Talking about how he can't wait to see me tonight. Bruce told me he was coming, and I totally forgot to cancel. I have no idea what to do!"

"Ok, throw me the options. What are you thinking?" Molly asked eagerly.

"Glad you're enjoying this." She teased. Molly shrugged and gestured for her to continue.

"Ok, so. I can blow off Bruce and Tony tonight, and go out with John. I mean I like him well enough. It could turn into something more. He has none of Bruce's issues and they're could very well be a future there if I give it a go. Also, third date, so very likely I'll be able to um...release some of my frustrations."

"OK, very valid. Slightly boring, but valid. What's the other option?"

"Ditch John. Go out with Tony and Bruce, meet Bruce later tonight at my place and wake up alone again. Probably half naked, and almost certainly just as frustrated."

"Also, valid. But much less boring…"

"What is that supposed to mean?" demanded Victoria

"Come on Vic! You think your being coy about it, but I know you like Bruce. A lot. So I may have a third option for you." Molly began.

"I'm not sure I like were this is going…" Victoria interrupted.

Molly rolled her eyes. "Look, you're not working summer program, right?" Victoria nodded. "Ok, so your summer is free, and you have a very generous older brother. Who happens to live in big building with Dr. Mc-Hunky-commit…"

"Stop calling him that!"

Molly sighed and continued. "Ok, ok. With Br. Banner. Why not try to wrangle yourself an invitation to New York for the summer? If you spend more time with Dr. Mc…Bruce… you can either make something happen, or rule him out. Either way, it's bound to be fun!"

"Alright, but there's still one issue." Victoria explained.

"And what's that?" Molly asked impatiently.

"What the hell am I going to say to John?"

"That's my girl!"

The next day-

Bruce fidgeted nervously for the whole flight, while Tony shooting him weird glances every few minutes. The strangely tense silence finally broke when Bruce dropped his tea.

"Jesus, big guy. What the hell is wrong with you?" Tony demanded

"Nothing, I'm fine. Flying makes me nervous". Bruce lied as he helped the flight attendant mop up the spill.

"That's Bull Shit." Tony replied. "But whatever, I'm going in the other room."

Bruce sighed and sat back in his seat. The flight attendant handed him a new cup of tea as he tried to relax. His thoughts inevitably wondered to Victoria. He wondered, sometimes, how she really felt about him. When they were together, she made a lot of jokes about him just staying around for the physical. She joked that he never missed her, he just missed her body. Maybe, at first, that had been true. But as Bruce had gotten to know her and care about her. He found himself thinking at times, what would happen if he didn't have any…issues. Well, there would still be the age thing. He was 41. Eleven years older than her. She was still young, and deserved someone…

"Were landing in a few. You all set" Tony had wondering back to get ready for landing.

"Yeah all set. Is, um, Victoria meeting us?" Bruce asked, shaking himself out of his interrupted thoughts.

"No, she's working. We're gunna swing by her school though. Check out the lab, get that all out of the way." Tony explained.

"Oh, yeah, ok good."

After arriving at the school and finding the STEM lab, Tony paused at the door. Bruce gestured for him to go ,but Tony shushed him and gestured for him to listen. Inside, Bruce heard two people arguing.

"I told you John. I'm just tried, all the end of year testing. The kids are being bratty. It's been a long week." Victoria snapped.

"Come on! Your brother is in town so I know you're not staying in. Why not just take me with you? You can introduce me to him." John urged.

"I already have, many times." Victoria mumbled

"Yes, Victoria. But it's different now. I mean, you know I care about you and…"

Tony scowled and pushed the door open forcefully. "Vicky! I've missed you!" He called loudly, striding in and giving Victoria a hug. "And of course Bruce is here to." He said, turning around and gesturing at him.

Bruce stood in the hallway, pinching the bridge of his nose and breathing deep. He cares about her! I'll kill him if he touches her! Wow, wow, calm down Bruce, breath. He argued with himself. He realized everyone was staring at him during his internal debate, so he mindlessly walking into the room and offered a lame greeting "Hello Victoria. Nice to see you again."

Victoria started at him wide eyed. She had learned, in the time she'd spent alone with him, the signs of his control slipping. She racked her brain to figure out what triggered it.

"Hey, fellas! John O'Neil, nice to see you again." John reintroduced himself and wrapped an arm around Victoria's waist.

Victoria angrily pushed him off, as she and Tony stared at the door Bruce had just rushed out of.