A week and a half later found Sherlock and Natasha riding up the elevator of the previously christened Avengers Tower bearing three gifts and double the amount of weapons.

Nathaniel Pietro Barton's birthday had been set to take place at Clint's farm but Tony insisted otherwise, arguing the team should be allowed to celebrate with them since no one had given him a chance to properly celebrate Ultron's defeat a year or so before. Clint had been dead set against it but Laura had never seen the inside of the Tower, and there was only so long he could resist his wife when she set out to convince him.

Tony had assured Clint he'd take every measure to make sure they'd all be safe. Natasha promised she'd keep an eye on Tony to make sure he'd keep his word, and eventually even Pepper was chiming in with her own calm assurance. Clint's resistance wore down, preparations were made, and Natasha flew out of London to New York three days before the party to go over whatever security measures had been implemented, as promised. Sherlock arrived two days later and spent the night at Natasha's place in the city.

Late the next day, they made the trip to the lit up building sporting a large 'A' on its topmost floor, and rode up the elevator in silence but holding hands. Only the team and their plus ones had been invited, but that was still quite a bit of people by both Natasha's and Sherlock's standards. Natasha gave Sherlock's hand a squeeze as they neared the proper floor. "You okay?"

"Just fine, I'm perfectly fine, no need to worry." Sherlock said quickly, keeping his eyes facing forwards on the lift doors that were bound to open at any moment. His free hand twitched on the gift propped against his side and he drew another breath in. He'd been reminding himself ever since he flew in that she was more important than his insecurities. It had been a constant in his mind. She'd been understanding, which was a welcome surprise compared to the overwhelming majority. Still, social aspect aside, there was a bit of nervousness at meeting those she considered family. He'd manage. He was Sherlock Holmes after all.

"Hey." Natasha came to stand in front of him with a small smile. "It's just a couple hours, okay? After that, it's just you and me. I promise." The doors opened behind her to a thunderous laugh she recognized as Thor's and someone calling her name.

"Nat!" It was Clint, and she squeezed Sherlock's hand one more time before she turned to pull him out of the elevator. Clint walked over to greet her with a quick hug. Lila was close on his heels. "Where've you been?"

"Wrapping presents," Natasha said dismissively, turning a bright smile and her full attention to the little girl who'd wrapped her arms around her waist. "Sherlock, I'm sure you already know. That's Clint, and this one right here is Lila."

Sherlock let go of Natasha's hand as his quick silver-blue eyes ran over the man introduced as Clint. Deductions left him with the usual information in a short amount of time, but he hadn't decided if he'd like this individual at all. "Hello Clint." He glanced at Lila and nodded. "And Lila."

Lila looked up from where she'd buried her face in Natasha's shirt and smiled a bit. "Hello."

Natasha gestured for Sherlock to give her the box he was carrying. "That one's for you," she informed her. "Where're your brothers?"

"Nathaniel's with Laura," Clint supplied. "Connor's badgering Steve." He eyed Sherlock again. "So you're the guy."

"Apparently." Sherlock said, meeting the eyeing with his own. A stare off, both sizing each other up. "Sherlock Holmes, a pleasure I'm sure."

"I'm sure," Clint replied, waiting a beat before offering his hand. "Welcome to the party."

"Thank you." Sherlock replied, taking the man's hand with a firm shake.

Natasha eyed the interaction for all of two seconds before she decided it was going well enough that she could leave them alone. "I'm going to find Laura," she announced. "I'll be right back. Sherlock," she called as she walked away. "Wine?"

"Yes please." Sherlock said, glancing over at Natasha's retreating form. He turned his attention back to Clint, trying to decide what people were meant to say in this situation. "I appreciate the invitation... congratulations."

"Don't worry about it," Clint replied before nodding towards the rest of the group and taking a step their way. "Had to meet you somehow, right? Nat's not the most forthcoming person in the world, but I know her enough to know how much she cares about you," he explained. "That doesn't happen every day. Not for her."

Sam came up behind them and clapped Clint on the back. "Scaring the guests already?" He turned towards Sherlock with an extended hand. "Hi, I'm Sam Wilson."

"I'm just checking the guy out," Clint insisted.

"I don't scare easily." Sherlock shifted his eyes away from Clint and turned towards Sam, taking his hand to shake. "Sherlock Holmes."

Steve Rogers, on the other hand, moved towards the bar where Natasha was, having left Cooper to hunt down Wanda. "Hey there stranger." He said, putting a hand on her shoulder as he leaning in next to her, nodding towards Sherlock. "That's him?"

Natasha spared a glance and a smile Sherlock's way, pouring a second glass of wine. "That's him," she confirmed. "He flew in yesterday."

"Clint's giving him the eye, but getting it right back." Steve said, clasping his hands together as he leaned against the bar. "I'm not sure who I feel sorry for more." He joked.

"Clint," Natasha answered without hesitation. "Because if he pisses Sherlock off, he won't just be dealing with scathing deductions from the man himself. He'll be dealing with me too." She flashed him another quick smile and picked up both wine glasses. "Coming to meet him?"

"I think so." Steve said, pushing off of the bar to start towards the little group. "Wouldn't miss this for the world."

The walk towards the area where Sherlock, Clint, and Sam were still standing was short, and Sherlock was speaking when Natasha and Steve got close enough. "…consulting detective. The only one in the world, I invented the job."

Natasha came up beside him, offering a glass of wine. "I hope you boys are playing nice."

"Sherlock's been telling us about what he does," Sam said diplomatically, briefly tipping his head towards Clint to signal there might've been a bit of tension involved in that conversation. "Sounds interesting."

"If it's your kind of thing," Clint said with a casual shrug.

"Well it's my kind of thing." Natasha slid her free hand into Sherlock's, lacing their fingers together. "Change of subject? Sherlock, this is Steve Rogers."

Sherlock didn't have a hand to shake Steve's with and instead just nodded cordially. "Hello."

"I'm glad you're here. I've heard a lot about you." Steve smiled. "All good things, of course."

"I'm surprised." Sherlock said impassively, obviously still a bit tense and annoyed at the entire conversation, if one could call it that, with Clint Barton.

"So am I," Clint said dryly.

"You shouldn't be," Natasha interrupted with a pointed look. "How about we move this over to the couch?" She told the rest. "Where's Tony?"

"With Pepper," Clint informed her. "Something about the cake, I don't know."

Sam clapped Clint on the shoulder to steer him towards the couch. "So how long are you two staying in the city?"

"Until I'm needed in London again or Natasha needs to leave, could be tomorrow or could be sometime next week." Sherlock said.

"Well, there's nothing on to-do list right now. We're taking a couple weeks off from the training facility." Steve said, sitting down in an armchair. "You'd be needed for a case then?"

"Yes." Sherlock confirmed before he launched into a quick overview of his usual caseload.

Clint settled down beside Laura and the kids while Sam sat next to Thor and Jane. Natasha picked out a couch for Sherlock and herself just far enough away from Clint to strain conversation between the two of them as much as possible. "Even if he's not, I might just prefer flying over. I like the weather."

"I hate the weather," Jane said with an honest laugh. "But I've heard of you, and it's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Holmes."

"Call me Sherlock, please." Sherlock replied, offering a polite smile Jane's way. His eyes darted around the group as he pulled out names, careers, and associations from earlier conversation and deduction.

Laura Barton was bouncing Nathaniel on one knee, but reached to take Clint's hand. "I keep trying to get this one to take a trip to London and bring me along. Maybe this is a good opportunity."

"I still don't like the weather," Clint insisted, but this time he aimed a warm smile his wife's way.

"Well if you do, I've got a place you can stay," Natasha offered. "Never been used." She paused with a quick look at the kids. "Though if you're all going, I might need to move a few things."

"I wouldn't doubt it," Tony commented on his way over from the elevator, pushing a rolling tray with a huge chocolate cake on top. "You probably have the mother of all stashes."

Pepper's heels clicked on the floor behind him. "We're not singing 'Happy Birthday' just yet," she assured the rest. "Tony just wanted to run the cake by Laura. We have three more downstairs if you don't like this one."

Natasha set her glass of wine down. "I'll take Nathaniel," she told Laura.

"Three more cakes?" Laura said with a half laugh as she passed the one year old off to Natasha. "Let's have a look, I'm sure they're perfect."

Clint turned his attention back to Sherlock and Natasha. "So what are you two?"

Sherlock's first instinct was to answer 'consulting detective and master assassin' but he was sure that's not what Clint meant. He cleared his throat and glanced at Natasha for help. "Together…I assumed that was obvious."

"Together," Clint repeated dubiously.

Natasha settled Nathaniel on her lap and fixed her eyes on Clint. "Is this going to turn into an interrogation about what his intentions are with me? Because last I checked I was a grown woman capable of making decisions on her own."

Clint looked first at one and then the other. "Fine," he conceded. "I'll leave it alone."

"Good," Sam interceded. "Now when are we having cake?"

"Eager much." Steve teased.

Sherlock still gave Clint a suspicious look, as Laura answered Sam's question. "I think we can right now, this is perfect. I never say no to chocolate."

"We're here." Wanda Maximoff said as she walked in, followed closely by the Vision. "We are sorry for our tardiness, we were speaking and lost track of time."

"Wonderful, now that everyone's here…" Pepper started, smiling at Tony to get it all started.

"Right." Tony clapped his hands together and retrieved the matches. "Everybody gather round."

Natasha leaned over to give Sherlock a quick kiss on the cheek before she stood with Nathaniel in her arms. "Do I get to hold the little traitor or does anyone else want to do the honors?" She called to the rest.

"Be our guest." Laura called with a fond smile. "Namesake and all. Besides, he can't get enough of you."

Sherlock stood just behind Natasha, and Steve gave him an almost understanding look. Soon the candle was lit and a fairly decent sounding version of 'Happy Birthday' filled the space. Sherlock didn't sing, simply scanned his eyes over the crowd of fourteen people gathered there. It came to a close as the round of applause was accompanied by various laughs and a little giggle from Nathaniel himself.