Chapter Seven - Reunion

Avengers Tower

Paige followed Clint, who was holding Ralph's hand. Clint was obviously Ralph's new hero after inviting him to be co-pilot of that impossible jet. The broad-shouldered archer led them into the building, to an elevator, and instructed something called JARVIS to take them to the eightieth floor.

"There's a comfortable, uh, I guess you could call it a common room there," Clint told Paige. "It's restricted to team members – Avengers, that is – and their guests. Nobody will bother you there while you and Bruce talk. I'll see to it."

"Thank you," Paige said. "For everything. You've been so kind."

One corner of his mouth quirked and he tipped his head slightly. "Bruce is my friend. I – would like to see him happy."

Which implied that Bruce wasn't happy now, Paige thought, as Clint showed them into a very comfortable room, several couches spread about, big-screen TV's hanging from the ceiling. A large wet bar. She cast a censuring glance at the Avenger who only raised an eyebrow back at her.

"Plenty of soft drinks there. And snacks in the refrigerator if you want anything. Please make yourselves comfortable, I'll be back in a few minutes."

Paige found Ralph a soda, and he immediately sat down and started eyeing the game console handsets strewn on the coffee table. One of them lit up invitingly and Ralph reached towards it, glancing at Paige.

"I'm not sure if you're allowed, honey…"

"Excuse me, Ms. Dineen," a softly modulated English voice said, "All games on the system that Ralph may access are approved for his age level."

"You're JARVIS?" Paige asked a bit nervously.

"Yes, Ms. Dineen, I am. Should you require anything, you may speak my name aloud and I will respond; otherwise I do not monitor any Tower occupants unless specifically requested. Would you prefer that I continually monitor Ralph and his whereabouts for you? He will not be able to leave the Tower, and I can then instantly apprise you of his location on your request."

"Thank you, yes," Paige said, a bit surprised, but realistically she would want to know where Ralph was at all times, and this Tower seemed like a big place. "All right, Ralph, you can play for a while."

Paige watched as Ralph started playing one of his favourite games, and then she felt a little restless and moved over towards one of the big windows, looking out at the spectacular city view. Stark Tower – Avengers Tower, now – was the tallest building in New York, she knew, and she must be very high up in it because she was looking down on every other building in view.

The elevator chimed, and Paige turned to face it, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. She didn't realise that with the light at her back, anyone coming through the elevator would only see a blur instead of her face.

Clint came out first, looking over his shoulder and speaking sharply. "Banner, I don't ask for much. But you need to get in here."

Banner? Was that his real name? Bruce Banner? She'd seen it before, in scientific journals. Sylvester had mentioned the name once as some genius physicist who'd rewritten some major theory that had revolutionised his field… Paige's brain stuttered to a halt as a familiar figure stepped out of the elevator.

He'd hardly changed at all, was her first thought. A few more threads of silver in his dark fluffy hair. More muscle packed onto his lean frame. He was wearing nice clothes, a pair of black dress pants and a chocolate-coloured button-down shirt that looked expensive. She just stood there frozen, staring at him.

"Clint," Bruce said in irritation, "what the hell is all this about?" And then he saw the boy sitting on the couch. "Who is this?" The kid looked up, staring at him. Bruce frowned, and Paige realised she couldn't let them get off on the wrong foot.

"His name's Ralph, Bruce," she said, stepping forward. "He's my son. And yours." She'd spoken to Ralph during the long car journey, explaining that his real father was in danger and they might see him. Ralph had never asked many questions about his father. The only one he'd asked then was;

"Is he like me and Walter?"

"Yes," Paige had replied, knowing that he meant to ask if his father was a genius. "But – he might be a little better at talking to people than you are sometimes."

Bruce certainly wasn't talking now. He stood, staring from her, to Ralph, to her again, back to Ralph. Paige smiled. Ralph was so obviously their son, with Paige's beautiful eyes but Bruce's firm mouth and face shape. Put the three of them in a room together and anyone would pick them out as a family.

Barton was still lounging against the wall by the elevator, obviously sticking around in case this little reunion turned ugly. Glancing at the frozen, open-mouthed Bruce, he quirked a slight grin at Paige and then headed over to Ralph.

"Hey, Skylanders, my favourite!"

Ralph gave Clint a considering look and then pushed a controller towards him. Clint picked it up and launched into the game with every appearance of enthusiasm, leaving Paige and Bruce to keep staring at each other.

"My son," Bruce said flatly after a few moments, approaching closer to Paige and lowering his voice so they wouldn't be overheard. "He's my son?"

Paige nodded, choking up. "I would have told you, but I didn't know I was pregnant when you left. I didn't know your real name, where to even start looking for you. All I knew was that if anyone ever found out, both Ralph and I would be in danger…"

"Hush," Bruce couldn't help himself. He stepped closer and lifted a gentle hand to Paige's pale cheek. "I wish I'd known, but I certainly don't blame you."

She bit on her lower lip in that way that had always made him want to kiss her, and he scrutinised her face carefully. Ten years had changed her from a pretty girl into a seriously beautiful woman, willowy and graceful. "How've you been, Paige? Has it been tough?" He turned to look at the boy on the couch. "What's he like?"

Paige melted at the look in Bruce's eyes, the wistful longing. "Ralph's a great kid," she said. "Brilliant, he got his brains from you. He has trouble communicating sometimes. It's been better since I joined Walter's team, they've been helping me to understand him."

"Ah, that kind of genius," Bruce said understandingly. "Yes, that was me as a kid too. Got better when I got to Culver and found people operating on my level."

Paige smiled. She'd known he would understand. Bruce was still the same man she'd known; kind, easy to talk to. Handsome. She tried not to think about that too hard, but the reality was right there in front of her. Perhaps she'd been drawn to Walter because he reminded her of Bruce, a little. Same fluffy dark hair and intense eyes.

Bruce took a deep breath. "I understand now why Clint brought you here. Are the rest of your team here? I'd like to meet them. Their lives have just been thoroughly screwed over because of me and they deserve to understand why."

Paige's smile widened. "Yes, they are. You'll like them. Uh, they went off with Captain America."

"I see," Bruce's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back at her. "Would you be okay leaving Ralph here with Clint for a little while? Obviously I want to get to know him, and I'd very much like if – well, we can have that discussion later. But Ralph should get comfortable here first, and Clint is awesome with kids."

Paige glanced across the room. Ralph appeared totally relaxed with the archer as they chose new characters to put on the portal in their game. "Okay. I'll just tell him we're going for a little while." She crossed to Ralph and crouched down so that he could look at her if he wanted to. "Ralph, I'm just going to check that Walter and the team are okay, all right? Would you like to come with me, or would you prefer to stay here and play the game with Clint for a while?" She glanced at the archer, who smiled and nodded reassuringly.

"Stay here," Ralph said, eyes intent in the screen.

"That's fine. I won't be too long, and when I get back we'll get something to eat, okay?"

She got no response, but she hadn't particularly been expecting one. Rising, she turned to see Bruce staring at her and Ralph with an expression of undisguised longing. She looked away shyly, blushing again.

"This way," Bruce gestured towards the elevators, and she walked past him. He spoke to JARVIS to determine which floor they should go to, and then stepped into the elevator beside her.

Sorry I've been neglecting this one for a while, been too busy with other things! I will be finishing it off soon though, promise!