Chapter Four

"Stark."

"Speedy."

The only sounds that could be heard were the waves and Jane gulping. Bruce had his eyeballs flicking side to side as though he was watch a tennis match at high speed.

"Dr Banner, it is good to see you again," Pietro, deciding to take the moral high ground, acknowledged Bruce.

"Yeah…" Bruce looked confused. "It's good to see you too Pietro."

Thor, Wanda and Pepper breathed a sigh of relief. Tony returned to the inflatable he was blowing up, "Well Sabrina, it's good to see that you looking well." Wanda and Thor looked behind them in confusion. "I was talking to Wanda."

"I take it Sabrina is some sort of witch?" Wanda had her arms folded and eyebrow raised.

"Why would-"

"I actually understand why you keep calling me Hermione. Having spoken to Jane, I get the Willow and Morgana references; however, I would greatly appreciate it if you would stop."

"Okay, that's fine Wanda."

"Thank you. Now, where is Steve?"

"He went to look around the town." Wanda nodded her head and left the beach and headed to the town. "Does this mean I have to stop calling you Goldilocks?"

"You can call me what you wish," Thor answered. "I have no issue with you referring to me by another name."

"In other words, he's gotten used to it," Jane added.

-o-

"Can I have two cans of cola, two of lemonade, two of diet cola and two diet lemonades?" Steve asked the man behind the counter. The man eyed him suspiciously. "It's not all for me."

"I should hope not," Wanda said coming up beside him.

"Hey, when did you get here?"

"Ten minutes ago. Thankfully Pietro and Stark have not divulged into a fight. Yet."

"Do you want anything to eat?"

"Um, not now. I think there is some vender selling burgers and hot dogs so I may grab a burger later."

"Would you try a hot dog?"

"Can't. Religious reasons."

"Fair enough. I cannot argue with that."

"Do you need some help getting the cans back?"

"Nah, but you at least keep me company on the way back. How was the trip down?"

"Not too bad. Got stuck in traffic but I fell asleep. I spoke to Jane and found out what an astrophysicist does which is quite interesting. Overcomplicated but interesting."

"I guess you are not a science person."

"Not really. I mean I know some elements of the periodic table from having looked at it in the S.H.I.E.L.D labs. I think I know that the noble gasses end with on."

"That is more than me at least."

"I think you know more than you believe."

"You might have a lot more faith that I do."

"Considering what I have been through for the whole of my life, I like to be a little optimistic. One glimmer of hope can make a difference. That sounded less … what's the word?"

"Corny?"

"If it means overly sentimental then yes."

"Sometimes sentimentality is needed. It's the same as old-fashioned. We could all use a little sentimentality. So how is your brother?"

"He's …. Well, he's fine. He was reluctant to come today due to certain reasons."

"Stark?" Wanda nodded. "Why do they have to be childish?"

"I think it might be a guy thing."

"Because girls don't do it?" Wanda raised her eyebrow. "Pepper forced me to watch a movie where the girls were all horrible to each other."

"I don't think movies are fully reflective of real life. I mean I doubt there are vampires in the world."

"Yeah, you'd be surprised by the impossible."

-o-

"You know, this might be the first time in about five years that I have been able to sit down and just read a book," said Pepper when she and Jane were reading on their tablets while Tony and Thor attempted to keep inflating the air filled ball.

"Why?"

"Running a multi-billion dollar enterprise is pretty much a full-time job. I go to bed with paperwork."

"What are you reading?"

"I Heart LA. It's a sequel to another book where this English woman goes to New York because she caught her boyfriend cheating then hijinks ensue."

"Sounds fun."

"What are you reading?"

"The Astrophysical Journal. I'm looking for a new project to work on now that I have finished the work on the dimensional theories."

"Yeah, I think what happened in London pretty much proved that other dimensions exist. So do you intend to disprove other people's work or are you looking for something to help out on?"

"Probably something to help out on, though if something does not sound right I might dispute it."

"That sounds like me when I go to business conventions. Or when Tony comes up with something dumb."

"Okay I have the soda cans. I've got a mix of lemonade and cola though I did get the diet versions," Steve said coming into the area where the rest of the group were with Wanda beside him. "It's first come first served though."

"Brilliant, diet lemonade please." Steve handed the can to Pepper.

"Jane?"

"I'll have the diet coke please Steve."

"Wanda?"

"Um… I'll just have the regular coke. Were you planning on going in the sea for a swim?"

"I don't know. Maybe if it gets too hot."

"Well, I have never been in the sea before so..." Wanda removed her t-shirt and shorts revealing the black bathing suit that covered her back. Pepper was convinced that Wanda could pull off a bikini with her dainty body shape but the girl did not seem too confident enough to bare ninety percent of her body. Wanda on the other hand envied the confidence Pepper and Jane had for wearing the blue and green bikinis respectively.

However the other two women caught Steve glancing at Wanda's cleavage. The training and increased food intake had resulted in new curves in the right places.

"If you have not been in the sea before maybe someone should go in with you," Jane managed to grab Steve's attention causing his cheeks to go a light pink.

"I don't mind going in," Steve volunteered.

"Of course you don't Steve," Pepper murmured.

Steve removed his shirt. Wanda's mouth remained open as she felt a throbbing slipping lower down her body as she stared at the muscles flexing and straightening. Her cheeks were going bright red.

"Wanda? Are you coming?"

"Um… Yeah of course."

"I now understand why women find Rogers attractive," Thor commented.

"What the hell am I? Chopped liver?" asked Tony.

-o-

"So, what are you reading?" Pietro asked Bruce while Bruce was trying to read his book in peace. Pietro thought it would be a good idea to sit with Bruce so he could avoid having an argument.

"It's a spin-off book to a TV show called Doctor Who."

"What's that?"

"It's a British show about an alien to travels in a police box through time and space."

"Any good?"

"Some episodes are a miss. Most are watchable."

"Hmm. I think Wanda has been getting into movies with space ships and that. She might enjoy it."

"What sort of movies?"

"I think one had glowing sticks."

"Okay, she's going for the popular stuff. Best place to start."

"Do you think she would get into this show?"

"Maybe. Though to be honest Pietro, I kind of what to read my book in peace. You could always speak to Pepper."

"Fine. I'll just sit here. In the quiet. Just ignoring you…"

"It usually helps if you are not thinking out-loud."