- Pym's house -

"I'm heading out Dad. Don't wait up for me!" Hope called out to her father as she unlocked the front door of the house, ready to leave.

Hank rose from the sofa he was seated on and went to see his daughter out before she left.

For a long time, a rift between Hank and Hope had existed and the absence of affection was keenly felt. But with their relationship rekindled, Hank found himself taking a more active role in his daughter's life. Doing gestures such as seeing her out, even if they were small to show that he was there for her.

"Where are you going at this time of night?" Hank asked, but he had a feeling that he already knew the answer.

Hank observed that she wore a thin-strapped black dress and had a yellow silk scarf draped around her neck. It looked exactly like the kind of thing you would wear on a date.

"Oh! You're going out with him again." Hank figured things out quickly and voiced his displeasure.

Hope smiled at the absence of a first name basis between her father and Scott and asked, "Is that a problem?"

"No it's fine, just leave your old man behind. I don't mind." Hank pretended to passively express his hurt feelings; badly.

"I won't be gone for long, besides you have the ants to keep you company!" Hope reminded her father of his insect companions.

"And they're real fun company too." Hank quipped.

"Bye Dad."

"Don't stay out too late!" Hank called out to Hope one last time as she went out the door.

"I will!" Hope called out defiantly. Her defiant spirit getting a smile out of Hank.

With a free schedule for the night and hours to waste, Hank went into his bunker to do some experimenting.

Having been told by Hope that Scott was now a member of the Avengers, Hank wondered if he could still be of any use to Scott. Hank had passed the torch over to Scott by entrusting him with his Ant-Man suit, Hope had shown him the ropes by teaching him the fighting techniques needed to be a proper fighter, but Hank had a feeling that there was still more to be done to help Scott.

As he thought about how he could help Scott, a thought occurred to Hank; Scott's ingenious integration of the enlargement disc with the regulator to escape the Quantum Realm was unprecedented, the capabilities of the enlargement disc uncharted territory; and it was a territory that he was going to explore.

Testing of the enlargement disc with a suit would not be possible because it wasn't as if Hank had a spare Ant-Man suit lying around in his basement, so Hank set out to create an alternative option.

Using an old dog harness from days long gone by as inspiration, Hank created a harness comprised of metal tubing and fitted with a regulator that housed an enlargement disc modified to have an increased output. A perfect build for its test subject.

So after countless cups of tea brought by Hope during the late hours of the night and much tinkering that spanned many weeks, the harness was now ready for a field test.

"OK 291, lets go on a little trip." Hank spoke to the future test subject he kept in a small jar.

"You spend too much time with Scott and next thing you know, you're talking to ants!" Hank reflected out loud to himself.

Hank drove to an abandoned park where the field test would not be disturbed and if successful would provide enough room for what Hank hoped would be 291's substantial growth.

Hank placed the jar in the middle of a field and opened the lid, allowing 291 to exit the jar. After taking many steps back, Hank pressed a button on a remote control and watched as 291's height grew from mere inches to many feet in a matter of seconds. It was an astonishing sight.

"291. You are one goliath of an ant!" Hank proclaimed, having found an apt new name for 291 and been witness to what could be considered the pinnacle of his efforts. He also now had a story that was sure to astound Hope when she returned from her date.

- Scott's apartment - next day-

Scott groaned as he turned over in his bed. He had stayed up till 2am reading the books he was assigned to read. He had spent the last two days doing nothing other then reading, eating, drinking coffee and sleeping. Hope had been very busy so it was no surprise that he hardly saw her. So much for personal assistant. He thought. Scott checked the time it read 7am. He sat up and stretched then went to reach for the book resting on his bed table. Then it struck him, it was the weekend, that meant he could sleep in, he didn't have to read those books. He was about to go back to sleep when his phone began to ring.

"Scott" He said wearily into his phone.

"Dad?" Asked a female voice.

"Hey peanut." Scott said his voice lighting up.

"Did you forget we are going fishing?" Cassie asked in a knowing tone.

"No I just . . . daddy's really busy at work. I'll be over in an hour okay?"

"Okay."

"Love you peanut."

"Love you too dad." Replied Cassie hanging up the phon.

Scott got changed and quickly packed up his gear. They were going to go camping for one night then return so he didn't need much. He was just heading out the door when he decided he would be needing his suit. He hurried back inside and grabbed his gym bag which held his suit. He jumped into his van and headed off to Maggie and Jim's place. He had heard they were having trouble with insurance as they didn't know whether or a giant train counted for insurance or not. As Scott neared he wasn't sure if Hope would be there, he vaguely remembered telling her that they would be leaving at around 8:30 but he couldn't quite remember her response. Scott wondered how long it would take for Hope to open up completely.

He soon arrived and walked over to Cassie who in turn and straight into Scott and gave him a big hug.

"DADDY!" She squealed loudly

"Hey peanut." He responded retuning the hug.

"Scott!" Said Jim walking toward him his arms laden with tents and cooking gear.

"Hey Jim . . . how'd you end up taking all the stuff to the car?" Laughed Scott

"Better watch it otherwise they'll both make you join me." Replied Jim.

"Who else is inside?" Asked Scott looking down at Cassie.

"Um . . . someone called Hope." She respond.

Scott smiled and walked in through the front door. It was mostly repaired and it was hard to believe that just in just a week it looked like nothing had happened. He heard two female voices talking.

"So you and Scott?" He heard Maggie ask.

"Oh . . . no we work together, actually I am his assistant and well I am helping him catch up on stuff that is vital for his role."

"Hey Hope." He said naturally.

He saw a large smile creep up onto her face.

"Hi Scott." She replied composing herself, "how did the reading go?"

"Well I'm nearly halfway there, there'd better not be anymore." He complained.

"You have just scratched the surface." She said playfully.

Scott groaned good naturally and watched Maggie's expression which seemed curious but saw her shrug it away. Scott was thankful that Maggie was bombarding them with questions. They went outside and Scott helped move Hope's gear into his van and soon they were off.

Scott and Hope talked the entire trip up to the camping site. They talked about work, about how her Wasp suit was coming along and how Hank was doing. Scott was surprised that Hank seemed to have more energy and his crankiness seemed more controlled. Hope quizzed Scott on the information he had been reading and for the most part was able to answer correctly which impressed Hope.

"You aren't thinking I'm the wrong guy are you?" He asked, remembering how much Hope disliked him and thought he was a waste of time.

"Look . . . I'm sorry for my behavior then . . . I was just angry at Hank and at Darren Cross. You added to my frustration trying to train you was like training a rock to move." She smirked at the last part, "But I now see I was wrong and I'm glad you became the Antman."

"Hmm . . . I am very glad I became the Antman otherwise I would never have met you Hope Van Dyne." He winked cheekily at her.

"Did you just call me that?" She asked raising her eyebrows.

"Um no . . . I'd never call you THAT, well except for just then." He grinned.

Hope merely rolled her eyes in disbelief, she couldn't believe how much Scott made her want to smile when he said those things or ruined a moment being somewhat funny. Her mind wondered to the time when Hank and told her about how her mother died and how he was trying to protect her. Scott had ruined the moment clapping his hands together loudly and saying

"Awesome, you guys are making up, tearing down those walls."

Only to realize he had ruined the moment and even asked if he was, she had wanted to scold him but she found it amusing, especially when he quickly existed to make tea.

"What's on your mind?" Scott's voice snapped her back to reality.

"I was thinking about you." She said wryly.

"Oh? Like how much I kick butt in the suit?" He asked.

"No, rather how funny you are when you try and back-peddle from saying the wrong thing." She said grinning cheekily at his open mouth.

Scott's face turned bright red in embarrassment remembering all to well those moments. They just seemed to happen but he was glad it made Hope happy. They arrived at the site and soon began unpacking everything. Scott noted that Hope wasn't dressed in her usual attire. He nodded approvingly,

"What?" Asked Hope her heart racing as she caught Scott staring at her.

"Oh its just . . . you like beautiful in that outfit. Who knows maybe dresses next?"

Hope grinned at him, "Lets not get to far of ourselves"

Scott shrugged his shoulders and soon they began setting up their campsite. Maggie and Jim started to collect firewood, while Scott explained to Cassie how to set up a tent. Hope watched a large smile upon her face as she watched Scott patiently help his daughter with the tent. He was laughing with her and soon they were on the floor tickling each other. She laughed softly and was surprised that Scott had heard her. He flashed her a smile then got back off the ground and finished off the remaining tent. Soon they were fishing something that Hope hadn't done since her mother died. She watched as Scott helped cast Cassie's line out for her and took a seat next to her. He kept some distance between despite the urge to hold her, he knew that this relationship wasn't ready to be in the open yet.

"So Hope you um . . . enjoying yourself?" he said after a moment of silence passed between them.

"Yeah Scott, I am. I enjoy watching you and Cassie, its refreshing." She replied her eyes glued on Cassie who was reeling in the line.

Scott sat up and helped Cassie cast the line out again then resumed his spot next to Hope. They talked quietly to one another and when Jim and Maggie returned they helped with the fire and the preparing for the evening meal. Scott was surprised that Hope wasn't glued to her phone and answer messages. Normally no matter what it was, unless they were sparring, she would be responding to some message.

"So Scott how's the new job?" Asked Jim as they set to work cooking the meat.

"Oh you know . . . its new . . . I am like training or so my assistant tells me." He said glancing over to Hope who flashed him a sly grin.

"Oh so Hope what do you have Scott doing."

"Reading mostly, next week he will start overseeing some stuff over at Pym tech." She replied the added, "which reminds me Scott, Hank wants Kurt to install a new security system to the building."

"Kurt? Sure I'll ask him first thing Monday morning." Scott replied he turned away from Hope as he could feel himself want to smile affectionately at her.

The meal was soon cooked and Jim helped Cassie clean a large fish she had caught and they added it to the meal. Cassie began to toast marshmallows while Scott tackled the chocolate. Hope laughed softly as she saw dabs of chocolate smeared all over his face. She wondered if she should help him remove it but thought otherwise. She watched as Scott hugged his daughter goodnight and wanted nothing else but to hug Scott. She blushed as she caught herself thinking such thoughts. She was grateful the the glow of the fire as it hid her red cheeks.

Jim brought out a deck of cards and soon they were in a heated game of 500. Scott was patient with Hope to start off with and soon they were annihilating Jim and Maggie.

"I can't believe this is your first time to play 500!" Scott exclaimed as they won their third game in a row.

"Yes . . . I can't believe I am losing this bad." Groaned Jim in a joking tone.

Hope smirked and simply shrugged her shoulders, not used to getting such praise from people. She felt her cheek grow warm due to the praise the others were showering, especially one in particular. Jim and Maggie retired leaving Scott alone with Hope. He shifted closer to her until his arm was touching hers.

"So how was your day?" He asked a hint of worry in his voice.

"It was grand . . . I haven't done this since . . ." she chocked on the last words

"Hey sweetheart its okay." He said soothingly.

"I know . . . I just miss her . . . wait did you just call me sweetheart?" She asked looking at him.

"Uh . . . no of course not . . . I wouldn't dare call you that . . . except I just did." He stuttered trying to back-peddle, "That wasn't appropriate" he finished lamely

Scott groaned internally at his big mouth. Hope wasn't even his girlfriend yet and now he had simply implied that they were. The last thing he wanted to do was rush her, he wanted her to feel comfortable around her and he knew that she did to some extent. But he couldn't wait until they were a couple and maybe get married. He shuddered at the thought not because he feared it but that he wasn't a hundred percent sure what Hope thought about that possibility, would she want to be more then just good friends. Had she ever thought of getting married to him? He wasn't entirely sure what lay ahead.

"Don't take it back!" Blurted Hope suddenly.

"Um . . .okay?" He replied hesitantly.

"Only you can call me that." She said softly not wanting to be overheard.

Scott beamed with happiness and Hope felt her heart melt. She couldn't speak so she just watched Scott as he gazed at her in pure joy. Scott looked up into the vast open sky and sighed.

"Its so much more beautiful out here." He said gazing at the moon and the thousands of stars that glittered and shone.

"It is indeed." Replied Hope.

She bit her lip as she contemplated whether or not she would follow through with what was going through her mind. She swallowed hard then took a step of faith and leaned her head onto Scott's broad, strong shoulders. She remembered the first time feeling his strong shoulders against her head when he kissed her behind the door. She felt her heart sing. She knew this was going to be a long journey for the both of them, with her dealing with the different things in her past but two things she was certain. She felt safe, comfortable and loved around Scott, he made her happy. She gave a happy sigh as they both watched the stars dance.