**A/N – Hey all! Thanks once again for your support and I hope you're enjoying this as much as I'm writing it. Thing's will settle down for just a lil' bit before things heat up again, as is the way of life! **

Chapter 12

It was a few weeks after the incident in New York, and things were beginning to settle down. Major repairs were underway and not so major repairs were about finished. Marie's college had just reopened, students were returning (much to Marie's chagrin) and lessons taking place once more. There was a gtest coming up, in both English and Maths, she was not looking forward to it one bit.

At this point, she was also feeling like a fish out of water. These people, the Avengers…including her grandfather Steve, were so, so different to her. Not for the first time, she wondered if she should be looking for somewhere else to live. But for that, she would need a job…it was time to start looking. Then a small place to live. It didn't have to be fancy, hell…the one back in Nottingham was a dump!

Marie tended to arrive back from college around 4.30 pm. She wanted to take public transport, Steve insisted she didn't, he was an awful fusser but kept going on about if people knew who she was she might be in danger, blah blah blah…so she always came home in the car sent for her and on this day, Peter arrived home about the same time. They spoke a little, she wasn't used to being around kids his age, and briefly wondered that if she had been able to keep a solid relationship, could she have had a kid like him now…?

'Hey Marie, I'm making grilled cheese, want some?' even Peter, who was almost 16 years old…was taller than her. He had moved in with the agreement of his aunt when it was discovered who he was. Advisable for all Tony had said, to make sure he was safe and his aunt May visited every week or he went out to visit her.

'…just one slice please'

Setting her books on the countertop and her bag on the floor, she hopped onto a tall stool, leaning on her elbows, watching him making the snack.

'How was school….?'…isn't that what you asked kids at school?

'…as good as college I guess!' Peter grinned widely.

Marie replied with a smirk.

'I guess you're doing a million times better than me'.

'…still struggling with math?' Peter slid the cheese on toast across to her.

'Thanks. And yes. The thing is, I didn't pay attention at school and it's been so long since I did any studying, my brain isn't complying'. Marie cut the toast up into smaller pieces and began to eat.

'..And its maths. I'm from Britland, its maths. Bloody math…'

Peter snorted, started giggling then sat on a stool himself.

'I can help, if you want? I mean…only if you want to! I don't want to suggest you're no good or anything like that!...' he started gabbling.

'Thanks but…it'll be OK'.

Marie didn't want to say anything about looking for a job or a place to live, she'd set it up then tell Steve of course. He'd understand eventually. Besides, it's not like she was going back to the UK, she would still be here in the city.

Before Peter got to reply, the doors opened and Tony had arrived home. He had been away abroad somewhere or other and as usual, he was always happy to be home so in a jovial mood.

'Hey Spiderling, Squirt! Hope you two are talking homework! I'm starving….'…he lent forward and swiped a piece of Marie's snack.

'Hey!'…

'Come on squirt! I'm buying dinner tonight so it's a fair trade!' he put his hands up in mock surrender after shoving the cheese on toast into his mouth, before watching Marie pick up her bag and pile of books and march out towards her room…

'What did I say?' Tony wasn't often left speechless, but he was sure the theft of a teenie-tiny piece of grilled cheese wasn't a sackable offence and was somewhat surprised by Marie's reaction.

'…don't think it's you Tony. Its college, she said she's finding it hard work. I offered to help but she didn't want it'…Peter shrugged.

'Don't take it to heart Spiderling, you got to think it's hard work living with geniuses such as ourselves, Steve's got things sorted. Pizza tonight?'

'Deffo'. A grin from Peter as the rest of the team started to arrive after the day's work.

'…I don't want anything ordering for me, I'm not going to be here for dinner'. Marie was pulling on a thin jacket as Pepper was walking around with a notebook and pen, taking down everyone's orders.

'…you sure? Steve didn't say you were going out'. Pepper raised her eyebrows…

'…since when was Steve Rogers my fucking keeper?'

It just came out. She had been doing well but…

'I'm sorry. Don't worry, I won't be here much longer, I've sponged off you long enough'. The elevator opened as Marie stepped into it, heading out for a walk.

'Steve and Sam are going to be late! They're busy working on something in the training room!' Natasha bellowed through to Pepper from her room. Pepper just frowned at the closed elevator door. Something was bugging Marie, no clue what though.

'Right, OK, it can go in the oven to stay warm'.

After Friday had been instructed to place their orders, Pepper found Tony and Peter, engaged in supervising an arm wrestle between Thor and Rhodey, Rhodey was holding his own…but Thor had the edge.

'Tony'. She whispered in his ear.

'Yes Peps?' He didn't take his eye off the battle though.

'…Marie's just stormed out. It's getting dark and you know what Steve's like'.

'Right, let me check. Friday, show Marie's location on my maps…' He activated his phone and Marie's GPS tracker flashed up.

'Odd, she's travelling quite fast for a walk. Friday, is Marie in a cab?' He frowned, the arm-wrestling competition now paused as the participants listened in on the conversation.

'Yes Sir. The taxi appears to be heading for Downtown Brooklyn'.

'It's not the best place to be at night, should we tell Steve?' asked Rhodey.

'I don't think Marie will appreciate us sending the Capsicle after her, you know what she's like!' Tony kept his eyes on the blip on his screen.

'I could go, I'm a lot less…obvious that some of you'. Peter shrugged as everyone stared at him.

'Good plan! Friday will keep you updated of her location. In the meantime, we need to keep both Steve and Sam busy in the gym! Clint, get down there!' Tony ordered.

'Why do I have to go? I've eaten too much pizza, I can't move!'

'I'll go kick their butts about for a bit' Natasha rolled her eyes, standing.

'Where do you think she's going?' asked Pepper as Peter came back, all suited up. Bruce had already opened the window for him.

'Brooklyn, Steve's old haunting ground…' Clint shrugged, it was a wild guess.

The taxi pulled up and Marie got out after paying the driver. After closing the door she started walking towards the address she had. The address her grandfather had lived at before he joined the army. It was almost completely dark now but such things didn't bother her. According to her phone, she was about 5 minutes away. There were people around, going about their own business, paying her no mind so she thought, and turning the corner she came across the door of the house Steve lived in before his life changed forever.

There was a low wall she sat herself on, just stared at the door. Her grandmother had known Steve before he became the man he was now. But of course…if he hadn't, she would probably still be alone and lost back home, unaware of her past, just another statistic, unimportant and invisible. Hugging her knees, Marie lent back against the fence that was behind the wall, she allowed her thoughts to wander off…

'…you know, this isn't the best neighbourhood to be in alone at night'.

'Huh?' Marie looked left and right, then up…to see Spiderman dangling upside down from a lamppost.

'Oh. They sent you, right?'

'I volunteered. I maybe still at school but I can still tell when someone is sad. I don't mind listening. Want to see something cool?'

Marie smiled at him as he let himself drop silently to the floor. She stood, looking up and staring at the mask.

'…just hold on, you won't fall'.

Well, it had freaked her out at first but as they glided silently through the darkness she lost her fear as Peter swung them both upwards, they then sat on the web he spun at the top of the Brooklyn Bridge, the lights of the city reflecting off the still water of the river. Peter had taken his mask off and was sat next to her, the warm breeze blowing both their hair about.

'Don't you like living at the tower?' Peter turned his head towards her.

'I find it…hard work sometimes. You are all so incredibly talented, every one of you a genius. Then I rock up and, well, you know the rest'. She shrugged.

'I tried the IQ test you were all talking about the other day. I won't even tell you my score. I'm terrified Friday will spill the beans. I don't think there's a place for an average person in Stark Tower'.

Peter looked at Marie. He had never met anyone before who valued themselves so little. Was that what happened to you without a stable home? He had been lucky, his aunt and uncle had done their very best by him, and he had had the best upbringing ever. Steve had told them all that Marie had been in several foster homes after the adoption failed, so he deduced that the lack of stability was behind her current level of thinking.

'But you're not average. You're Marie. My aunt May said it doesn't matter what's between the ears, as long as your heart is good'.

'Nice, but a bit of a dream, don't you think Peter?' Marie gave a wry smile.

'It doesn't have to be. I knew Steve before you, he's changed since you came. He's not bothered about tests and IQ levels. I heard him tell Tony that he only insisted on college because he knew you missed out. He's really guilty you had a crappy childhood' He ran his gloves hand through his hair, he must be getting old, he was talking like an old man!

'He feels guilty? I feel guilty he's ended up with someone like me!' This was nuts, sat on a web, pouring her heart out to a 15 year old Spiderman, it was pretty surreal.

'If you leave, I know he'll be unhappy'.

A long pause as she continued to stare out over the river.

'I felt valued when I was wearing that multi-coloured suit'.

'So it WAS you! Everyone laid bets. But Tony told me once if you're nothing without the suit, then you shouldn't have it. He was right, you don't need the suit to be Marie. You make me laugh, and everybody else laugh. You say things are they are. Blunt, Dr Banner said. It's a good skill to have 'coz you don't have a false…um….you know, a false front?' he wasn't sure he was making sense but continued.

'…you can't leave, else I won't laugh as much'.

'I have to say, I've never been lectured by someone whose over 20 years younger than me!' she had to smile, couldn't help it.

Peter grinned in reply.

'See? You make me laugh! Oh, hang on, phone call..' He pulled his mask back on.

'Hey Tony. Yeah, we're busy watching the boats on the river. No, the bridge. No-one can see us, we're on the top. She's not going to fall off, I made a web! Alright, no…you don't need to do that. 15 minutes. OK!'

The mask came off.

'That was Tony. We've got 15 minutes to get home else he'll knock our heads together, we left without having ice-cream and Pepper won't let him have any till we get back or he'll eat the lot'.

'…the man is a lunatic'. Marie couldn't help but laugh.

'…wanna lift? Quicker than a taxi!' Peter stood and offered his hand.

'Don't drop me'.

Natasha had done a great job at keeping Steve and Sam busy in the gym. They had no clue Marie had left the tower and no clue of the conversation at the top of the bridge, and Marie wanted it to stay that way…