Chapter 14
Sorry I took me some time to update this! Please review and tell me what you think.
"What!?" Tony blurts out.
"Why didn't you tell us about this sooner?" Natasha asked.
"We'll I wanted to do a little researching about it all before making a big deal out of it; -" Pepper pulls a cream colored folder out from under the table. "And with the help of all Tony's lawyer's I think that we all could adopt her as a "family." "She says. Everyone exchanges glances. Pepper grins. "No one's denying that it will work." She says.
"On the crazy off chance, what if she doesn't want to come back?" Bruce speaks up.
"Oh, she wants to come back alright." Pepper says; looking through the folder.
"And how do you know that?" Tony asked.
"Sam told me." She says casually. "I asked her the next time she visited Kate -today actually- that she needs to ask her some random questions for me." Pepper says.
"You've really thought of everything haven't you?" Clint says with a smirk. Everyone is silent for a moment.
"Well I'm in." Clint says.
"Is this the right thing to do though?" Steve asked. Clint looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the life we live isn't for the faint of heart. We won't always be there for her." He says.
"That was a pretty cheesy line." Tony says. Steve sends a quickly glare in his direction.
"So, she can learn to defend herself." Clint says.
"No that's not what I'm saying. If we don't come back from a mission, or saving the world, whatever... How is that going to affect her?" He says.
"Look at it this way." Natasha speaks up. "Do you think she would rather spend her life with us? Or with some random family that may not make her happy." Natasha says with an eyebrow raised. He looks at her; then the table. Pepper looks to everyone.
"I think it is a fine idea. Brining Kate back to the Tower." Thor says. Pepper smiles.
"Thank you Thor." She says sweetly. He smiles; taking a bite of mashed potatoes. She looks to everyone. "Ok, all in favor for adopting Kate. Raise a hand."
Pepper raised hers; Clint's hand shot up. Natasha put her hand up and so did Darcy and Jane. Steve swallowed his bite of chicken; then raised his hand. Thor raised his and so did Bruce. Everyone looked at Tony. He rolls his eyes; raising his hand. Pepper smiles.
"Ok. It's decided. We'll adopt Kate." She says with a slightly squeal of happiness.
~0~
"What do you mean we can't all adopt her?! Pepper says. They were having a meeting with Ms. Williams. The lady that watches over a small portion of the home.
"If there are several people in the adoption process, then one person has to take a bit more responsibility over the child. This significant other would be known as their guardian." She says. Pepper rubs her head; glancing at Steve, Natasha, and Clint.
"So we would all be adopting her, but one of us would have more claim over her?" Clint says. Ms. Williams gives an annoyed look which she quickly hides.
"In theory." They all look at each other. "Would that be one of you?" She asked.
"Yeah." Natasha says. Ms. Williams nods.
"I would recommend a person she is closest to, or gets along with. I understand she was living with you for almost 2 months?" They nod.
"That'd probably be you." Clint says to Steve. He crosses his arms over his chest and shakes his head.
"No. I'm not the right person for this."
"C'mon, she loves you." Clint says playfully. "Besides, you were the one who found her, AND you act like a parent to her anyway." Clint says. Steve gives him a look.
"You should." Pepper says. "I think this would be good for you." She says with a smile. He sighs.
"Of all people I have no idea how to take care of a teenager." He says.
"Just do it." Clint says; shouldering him. "It'll be easy, we got your back." Steve glances at the papers on the desk, and everyone else. He lets out a breath, and then hesitated.
"Ok."
~0~
"Here are you papers." Ms. Williams says; handing the adoption papers to Pepper. She takes them gratefully. "I can go have her pack-"
"Not just yet. We wanna surprise her." Pepper says. Ms. Williams nods. She just wanted these people out of here.
"What did you have in mind?"
~0~
A day later…
"Sam, I swear if you're taking me to a McDonalds I'm going to kill you." I say with a laugh. Sam was taking me somewhere for my birthday surprise. My parents had always given me a big surprise on my birthday. It could have been going to a place, or an object, anything really. But sense my parents… can't do it anymore Sam wanted to make sure it happened this year. My birthday was in the first week of July. It was the second to last week of October. And since we kinda missed it, Sam wanted to make it extra special.
"Don't worry, its way better than McDonalds." I look in her direction, I think. She blind folded me. Typical. I feel the car stop and she helped me out. We walk at least 20 feet into a building and into an elevator. I feel the floor move; and I stumble. It's a pretty silent ride. Where the hell is she taking me? Ii put my hand up slowly to take off the blind fold. Sam slaps me lightly.
"Ow."
"Oh please." She mumbles. I feel the floor rise a bit and stop. I hear the door ding and open. I raise an eyebrow. I know that sound. I just can't put my finger on it. Suddenly, someone pulls the blind fold off my head and I squint and the light. I blink several times and gasp.
Oh. My. God. I'm back at the tower! I look around me; my mouth open. Everyone was standing in front of me, including Thor, Jane, and Darcy! Jesus. Christ. Oh my freaking god. Oh my freakin. god. I feel my eyes start to water a bit.
"Welcome back Kate." Pepper speaks up. She bites her lip with a smile. She had a tasty looking cake in her hands. I feel my lips twitch up into a smile. I could see Sam standing slightly behind me. I feel my eyes watering more now. Best. Gift. ever. I quicken my pace as I walk up to Pepper.
I pull her into a frantic hug; she side hugs me, still holding the cake. After everything I thought they were past me. I thought they would have moved on, but they actually stopped everything to let me visit!
"Like it?" Sam said from behind me. I turn nodding to her.
"You've really stepped up your game." I say. Everyone chuckles.
"My turn." Clint says; walking over. I smirk. He pulls me into a hug. I hug Natasha, Bruce, and Tony. I walk over to Steve. He smiles.
"Long time no see." I smile. He gives a small smile; pulling me into a hug. Once out of his view I furrowed my eyebrows slightly. Something's up. He doesn't seem right. He was tensed and had a weird look in his eyes; like he saw me differently... Whatever, I'm sure it's nothing. I pull out of the hug and go hug Thor- who almost crushed me-, Jane, and I fist bumped Darcy before hugging her.
"So what to you wanna do first?" Pepper spoke up. I swallow; looking around. Shoot, I don't know.
"Why not do lunch first." Steve says. I look to him and nod.
"Wait!" I yell; holding out my hands. "Do we have pudding?!" I demand in a serious but childish tone. He smirks and nods. Yes! They thought of everything. I do a fist pump and run for the fridge.
~0~
I take a bite of my biscuit. We all had sat down to eat lunch a bit ago. I pick up my plate along with Pepper's, and Clint's who had finished; taking them to the sink. Thor, Jane, and Darcy had gone back to their rooms, and Tony and Bruce had gone back down to the lab.
"So what do you wanna do?" Clint says; leaning on his fist. I shrug; sitting back down.
"I honestly don't know. I didn't expect to be here today." I honestly expected to be at some restaurant right now or something. But this is waaayyy better.
"Well Nat and I have to pay Fury a visit." Clint says. I nod; taking that into account.
"Could we maybe go on a run?" I ask; turning to Steve. He nods; wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Yeah, go get dressed." He says. I nod; I was kinda wearing skinny jeans and a flannel shirt. I run for the elevator and to my room. Sam had somehow snuck some of my clothes out. Don't know how she got passed Ms. Williams, but whatever! I run into my room; grabbing the bag of clothes by the door, and run into the bathroom to get dressed.