Disclaimer: The characters and things you recognize in this story don't belong to me. They belong to Marvel and Janet Evanovich. I'm pretty sure you'll recognize which is which. Mistakes belong to me.

Chapter 26 - Weapons and Halloween

Steph's POV

My first day of heavy PR had gone well, and it ended up being not as frightening as I'd expected it to be. But it had required heavy crowd control, and by the end of the day, I'd been feeling more than a little worn out. When Pepper had called a mandatory team dinner at the end of the day, I'd wanted to blow it off, but Steve had sweetly cajoled me into taking a little time to recharge and then going to dinner as requested. Recharging had involved snuggles and a catnap, but not sex with Steve muttering something about how it would be "way too obvious" what we'd done. It was true, I was pretty much a walking billboard for getting laid after sex, especially sex with Steve, but that hadn't stopped him before, so I was puzzled.

That confusion lasted right until I'd walked onto the common floor alone, after Steve ducked back "to get something he forgot", to the shouts of "Aunt Steph! Aunt Steph!" Those cries were immediately followed by two blurs of energy, aka my two oldest nieces, plowing into me with hugs. My father followed not far behind whispering not to worry and that it was just the three of them. Glancing around, I noticed just Pepper in the corner and realized that she must have set this up so that I'd have some quiet time with my family before everyone else came in. Both girls started enthusiastically trying to catch me up on what seemed to be the entire past year of their lives in 5 minutes.

Without fully realizing it, and only half noticing my father gaping at me as I did so, I picked one up on each side and carried them over to the couches where I sat them down next to each other before sitting on the coffee table across from them and giving them my full attention. I had my chin on my hand and was enjoying listening to them, when I felt a pang of guilt that it seemed Mary Alice had grown out of her horse phase, and I figured it was because she didn't have a daily input of Grandma Mazur and I supporting her. It would have happened eventually, but I still felt bad for playing a role in it with my lack of presence in her life.

A full fifteen minutes later, it seemed like the chatter was nowhere near ending. Glancing over at Pepper, I saw her give me a nod and with amusement clearly written all over her face, she mouthed, "they missed you!" Thankfully, Steve chose that moment to walk downstairs, come over to where we were sitting, greet my father, and settle next to me on the coffee table with one arm around my waist. Both girls immediately stopped mid sentence and just sat there staring at him.

After allowing the blissful silence to stretch on long enough to thoroughly entertain and relieve us adults, Steve leaned forward and simply said, "Hi, I'm Steve. I'm guessing you're Angie, and you're Mary Alice? Steph has told me so much about you; it's wonderful to finally meet you."

I chuckled when the girls continued to gape at him, and reached out to gently push their chins so that their mouths closed, "careful, you'll catch flies that way."

"Nonsense," Steve said giving the girls a wink, "flies wouldn't dare invade the Avengers' living space!"

The rest of the team started filing down the stairs, but had yet to draw the girls' attention when Angie leaned over and tried to whisper but instead very loudly said, "Auntie Steph, are you really dating Captain America? Because all of our friends say that you're lying and just saying that for the publicity."

I just said, "it is true, I really am dating Steve."

That clearly got Mary Alice even more excited, so she yelled, "Yes! I knew it! I told them they were full of shit!"

Steve and my dad both coughed behind their hands, trying to cover their laughs, and I was proud of myself for keeping a straight face. Just as I was about to scold Mary Alice on her language, Clint let out a huge laugh and said, "yep! You've got to be related to Steph with a mouth like that!"

I glared at Clint and gave Natasha a look of appreciation when she smacked him upside the head. "Mary Alice," I said, "I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to say that word."

Of course, by that point, they'd turned and seen the team and it was pointless. I shrugged at my dad and said, "I tried," before getting up and making introductions between my two families.

Dinner that night was an absolute mad house. The girls were absolutely charmed by Steve, and managed to get him completely wrapped around their little fingers in no time at all. But it was clear who the actual star was in their eyes, when they kept crowding around Natasha. When we settled in to eat, they insisted on sitting on either side of her, and the look Natasha gave me clearly said, "What the hell am I supposed to do with these girls? Why did you bring this upon me?"

Still, Natasha slipped into the mental space she needed in order to deal with kids, and before long, Mary Alice was loudly proclaiming, "you're my favorite Avenger!"

"Hey!" I cried, in mock offense.

Angie looked over and said, "don't worry, Steph, you're our favorite aunt."

"I'm your only aunt!" I said in exasperation, but the girls refused to back down from Natasha being their favorite Avenger.

Of course, Steve took the opportunity to lean over and kiss me on the cheek and whisper in my ear, "don't worry, you're my favorite Avenger," which definitely cheered me up. By the time dinner and dessert were eaten, the girls pretty much passed out on the couches in excitement. So Steve picked up Angie and I picked up Mary Alice and we carried them down to my dad's car, giving them each a kiss as I buckled them in before giving my dad a hug and thanking him for coming and bringing the girls.

When we got back upstairs, the Rangemen had shown up and were plowing through another round of dinner that had been sent up for them in the living room. Tony walked over to the bar and popped open several bottles of champagne, pouring them and handing them out to everyone in the room. He looked at Ranger who gave him a nod before saying, "attention, everyone. A few minute details need to be worked out, and the paperwork needs to be officially signed tomorrow, so no public statements yet, but I am proud to announce that Rangeman, LLC has agreed to a merger with Stark Industries Global Security division."

Everyone turned to look at me expectantly, and I smiled wide and said, "Really?" moving my gaze frantically between Tony, Ranger, and Pepper. When they nodded, I let out a whoop and hugged all of the Rangemen in the room before settling back down and asking impatiently, "so what exactly does that mean?"

"It means that tomorrow morning, I'm flying over to Rangeman Trenton with Tony, Pepper, Hill, and Black Widow to conduct interviews of the current Rangeman personnel. My partners have elected to buy out and keep the other branches, though they'll be changing their names. We'll be interviewing the Trenton employees and those who are interested in doing so will be moving here to become part of the Global Security division providing you all with some extra muscle and support, but also being responsible for security and threats specific to the team. Like stalkers. Those who would prefer not to be involved in the Global level will be offered the opportunity to become part of Stark Industries security under Happy here, or at another SI office with availability. And those who don't like any of their options will get a very generous severance package and reference."

I looked at the five Rangemen sitting amongst the team and said, "you're all coming, right?" When they nodded I bounced around for another round of hugs before plopping down on Steve's lap this time. "And Ranger, don't think I didn't notice the way you said 'stalkers' and looked at me! Which is totally not fair- I don't have any stalkers right now!"

"Why would you even say that?" Darcy cried, "that's almost as bad as saying, 'what's the worst that could happen?' It's just asking for a new stalker!"

"And what do you call that Mario clown?" Bucky demanded.

"I call him a psycho ex skip. He's not so much stalking me as just actively trying to kill me."

There wasn't too much arguing over that fact, I think mostly just out of incredulity that I would have enough experience to so finely tune my definition of a stalker. Talk for a while revolved around how the living situation and Tower would adapt, as well as the glaring holes that would be filled by the addition of Rangeman personnel. In general it seemed that all of the Avengers, and Maria in particular, were relieved by the situation and the reinforcing of their numbers. Eventually, Steve shifted me off his lap gently and stood, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "Okay, Tony informs me that the five of you have already signed your additional NDAs and contracts, so you can be brought in on everything. We did a debrief last night with Coulson quickly, but there are still some things we need to cover."

He stood in front of a large white wall that JARVIS used to project all the footage he had of the HYDRA base mission. Not more than a couple minutes in, I said, "what's that view?"

Steve stopped and looked at me clearly puzzled, then looked back at the screen and said, "that's your point-of-view Steph, from your camera."

"I have a camera on my uniform?!"

Everyone turned to Tony as one, and he actually looked a little guilty as he asked, "did I forget to tell you about that?"

"Yes! That's my uniform. I have to get undressed, in front of it, in order to put it on!" I turned to Steve, "that was you earlier, wasn't it?! Does your uniform have a camera on it?!"

When he nodded, I just started stammering thinking of the sex we'd had with the uniforms on the floor of his room. What angle had the cameras been at then? Before I could get too freaked out, JARVIS cut in, "Ms. Plum, I want to assure you that I control the cameras and they are only on when you are on a mission."

I grumbled at everyone, especially Tony, but gestured for Steve to continue. Everyone winced when, after the explosion, my camera angled down and they could see the steel sticking out of my leg then again when I ripped it out.

Bruce cleared his throat and said, "you know, Steph. You really shouldn't do that."

On camera Natasha and I hustled the kids out to the car, and my camera showed a weird angle as I tried to apply pressure to my wound in the process. Natasha and I went back in and were barely through the doors when the men came up the staircase and our fighting started. I gestured to the camera and said, "that's why I did it. I was much more likely to die with a bum leg, than a bleeding and healing one, and I wasn't leaving Natasha there alone."

Everyone pondered that for a moment before conceding the point. Once all the video had finished rolling, including Sam's confrontation with the reporter, Steve spoke up again.

"I think on the next call out, once the new guys are trained up and Maria feels they can handle the remote command post, I'd like Maria to be the pilot. That leaves Barton free to find a nest for himself and keep an extra eye out. And just generally help in the fight. If that reporter hadn't been a reporter but had been HYDRA, we would have been in trouble."

Clint nodded in agreement, and Hal spoke up, "I know you probably don't want us out on your missions, but I have experience as a pilot for the Army, all kinds of aircraft, though mostly black hawks. You really shouldn't have a jet in the air in battle without a co-pilot just in case. If someone can train me, I'd be happy to do that for you."

We all agreed that made sense, and Hal let out a breath like he'd been concerned about speaking his mind. It was something he'd have to get used to with this bunch, but at least his first foray into it had gone well.

A few smaller points got brought up before Clint and Natasha shared a look. "JARVIS," Natasha finally said, "bring up the side by side views of Cap and Steph's cameras as well as the team audio at the points I indicated earlier today."

After the clips, it was Clint who spoke up, "it's barely noticeable, and you both did a really good job, especially with it being Steph's first mission. And I understand, Cap, why you strategically put Steph where you did for this round, but you can see slight hesitation for you both when you're worried about the other one. I think we should put you in the field TOGETHER from now on whenever possible. You won't hesitate like that if you know where the other person is. Natasha and I fought in the field side-by-side for YEARS before we were comfortable being separated. And frankly, when I'm in the jet and I know it's going to take me much longer to get to her than if I'm in a perch, I have her camera feed up next to me still."

Steve looked like he was going to protest for a minute, and he still said, "I trust Steph in the field, she can take care of herself."

"Yes, she can," Natasha pressed. "None of us doubted it, and she definitely proved it this first time out. But it is normal to worry and to hesitate like that. And that hesitation could get either of you killed, not to mention the rest of us. It's the safer bet all around."

"What if one of them goes down?" Darcy asked quietly.

Much to my surprise, Bucky and Ranger both scoffed. Looking at each other, they said in unison, "then pity the enemy," and Bucky continued, "because ain't a single one of them getting out alive if that happens."

Steve and I looked at each other for a moment, after thinking it over a few times and contemplating the pros and cons, I finally nodded my head to him. So he turned to the rest of the team and said, "okay."

If there was one thing that hadn't changed in my life, it was the fact that Monday morning still came way too soon. Even when I'd been a bounty hunter and often worked weekends, there was just something about Monday. So when I had to drag myself out of bed Monday morning, I was not particularly happy about it. That is until I walked into the training room after my basic cardio and strength training warm up, and saw that Sif had a couple of tables setup up and filled with weapons off to one side.

When she'd offered weapons training as a reward on the day Jackie was in the Tower, I'd declined for two reasons. The first was because I wanted to give Woody and Jackie an opportunity to spend some one-on-one time together, and the shooting range seemed like a good way to accomplish that. The other had been that I really didn't have experience with any weapons of these types, and I didn't want my first attempts to be caught on camera. It turned out that was a good call because I certainly didn't pick up a sword and then instantly know what to do with it.

We spent the entire day Monday and Tuesday with weapons training. Sif had me only spending short periods of time with each weapon at once, rotating me through them for several iterations the first day, so that she could gauge which I was able to pick up more quickly and which were more of a struggle. On Wednesday morning, she told me that, while we would still train with all the weapons, she wanted me to pick my favorite with which I would begin intensive training.

At that point, I dragged the tables with the weapons into one of the smaller training rooms and then kicked everyone but Sif out and ordered privacy mode. I wanted to pick and have ample time to practice with just Sif before telling the others my choice. Mostly so that if I chose wrong initially, they wouldn't know. And also because some surprises were fun, especially when you were the one doing the surprising. I knew the others were making bets, but despite previous bad experience with wagers at my expense, I also understood the fun of the occasional friendly wager. So, that being said, the wager didn't revolve around assuming my incompetence, and it really didn't bother me.

"So, what is your selection, Lady Stephanie?" Sif asked. I managed to not roll my eyes at the name because Sif was trying, and had largely gotten better about it. But she still slipped up more often than not, especially when she felt a moment to be particularly momentous. Given her love of weapons, I was pretty sure that me choosing a specialty was a huge milestone for her.

Looking over to her, I said, "Heimdall didn't tell you?"

She smiled at me, in fondness that I'd figured out her game, "he told me what you were most likely to choose, and our king, the All-Father has, in fact, already begun the process of procuring everything needed to craft your most likely choice as a gift and designing it. However, there are other possibilities, and Heimdall did stress the fact that you must choose for yourself."

I walked around the tables, playfully making fake-out motions to various weapons to Sif's delight before my hands finally settled on my choice almost of their own volition. When I looked up, I took in the broad smile on Sif's face, which granted was an incredibly common sight, but told me nonetheless that I had chosen as had been expected.

"The long daggers," she said. "Yes, you are quite well suited to these and they to you as well. They complement your close range combat training that you already have and are most comfortable with. With your constantly improving speed and reflexes, you will be a most formidable ally with those in your hands."

"You're not upset that I didn't choose a sword and a shield like you?"

"Nay, Stephanie. A warrior's weapon must be the weapon that is right for that warrior, and I believe it is a mark of a good mentor that she can guide her student in all aspects of the subject she is brought to teach. If you had chosen a sword and shield because it is what I use, or because of your Steven's shield, it would not have been right for you. This would have indicated a failing on my part to properly instruct you in weaponry and would have taken you longer to adapt. An ill-suited weapon can be a death sentence in the end."

I nodded solemnly in agreement because that absolutely made sense to me. We trained hard that day and, having sworn JARVIS to secrecy, any break I took, I took in the room so that I could watch videos JARVIS had found for me demonstrating dual dagger combat techniques. At lunch, and when I needed food, Sif would gather food for us both and bring it back. That first night, I discovered that Thor had been summoned back to Asgard, but promised to return for Halloween celebrations as he'd yet to experience the holiday in all its glory and I'd given it such an enthusiastic description.

For the remainder of the week, I lived and breathed my dagger training with every waking moment. With my decision, betting had been closed, but I still refused to disclose my choice, telling them I'd let them know when I was ready for them to know, and not before then. Surprisingly, it was Steve who was the most understanding and didn't pressure me at all. When I questioned him about it, he said simply that it was up to me when they found out and a few days in either direction wouldn't really matter. Besides, he seemed confident that he knew what it was anyway and was going to win the bet.

When Friday came, and it was Halloween, I could hardly contain my excitement. Still, I made it through a very thorough day of training before calling it quits in time for Steve and I to get into costume. He hadn't cared at all what we were, so he hadn't asked. But I'd made sure to make him sit through Grease one night that week after training, so he'd understand the reference when it came down to it.

"Steph, these pants are rather tight." He called to me from the bedroom as I changed in the bathroom

"Trust me, Steve, they've got nothing on mine," I hollered back. Maybe two seconds later, he popped his head in the bathroom and I just had to laugh because he looked at me like an eager puppy looks at a bone.

"I'd like to rescind my complaint; I'll wear anything if it means you're wearing that."

"That's what I thought!" I exclaimed. Then I motioned for him to spin, and took advantage of the moment his back was to me to take a picture of his gorgeous ass encased in the tight black pants. Before he could say anything or take away my phone, I quickly sent the picture out to Facebook and Twitter accompanied simply with the word, "Mine!"

I'd temp-dyed Steve's hair before we dressed, and quickly styled it into the typical 50s hairstyle of one Danny Zuko before pulling on my Sandy wig and stepping into my red heels. We stood beside each other, and I hummed the song "You're the One That I Want" to myself before smiling at Steve and turning to walk out the door.

When we walked downstairs, Clint and Natasha, dressed as Neo and Trinity, smiled at us and Raggedy Ann Pepper said, "Grease. Danny and Sandy. Nice choice, Steph!"

When Sif, dressed as Xena at my insistence, didn't quite know what to make of the outfits, I had JARVIS play the closing scenes, singing along with "You're the One That I want" and clapping in delight when Darcy and Bucky popped up as "We Go Together" started dressed as Rizzo and Kenickie, sliding in on either side of us. The party was happening in the Tower's ballroom, so we thankfully didn't have far to go, just to the elevator, and across a lobby. Happily we walked into the party four across with Bucky and Darcy, and posed for the paparazzi together before splitting up to be photographed as couples as well.

I was disappointed that Thor hadn't arrived earlier in the day, but Jane insisted that she had an easy costume to throw over him whenever he arrived. She also reassured me, as did Sif, that Thor never went back on his word.

And of course, they were right, because we'd barely started in on the first course when Jane and Thor strode in, dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus. I couldn't help the smile that came across my face when I saw the perpetually jolly, perpetually smiling Thor dressed as Santa. Jane had even convinced him to put on a fake belly. It was still way more muscular than any Santa I'd seen before, but he did have a belly like a bowl full of jelly!

As we were wont to do, the team hung around for a couple hours, long enough to eat, be seen, have all the required photo ops, and put in what would be considered a good effort before we all snuck out and went back to the common floors to continue our party out from under the constant scrutiny.

While we were on the elevator, Sam started with, "Steph, come on, when are you going to tell us what your weapon is?"

"I don't know…" I trailed off, tapping my chin. "I was thinking maybe… tonight?!"

Everyone let out cheers, and Thor spoke up, "perhaps, Stephanie, you would allow me to do the honors by presenting my father's gift to you?"

My eyes got huge as I nodded my head in agreement. Stepping out into the common floor, we all agreed to quickly change and get comfortable before meeting back up. Giving Steve a kiss when we reached our floor, I dashed off in the direction of my rooms to shower and change before running downstairs. I was, predictably, the first one to arrive back in the common room, and I took the time to pull my wet hair back into a ponytail. Steve showed up a couple minutes later, looking appreciatively at my short Captain America boxers and black cami I was wearing. I was all nervous, bouncing energy, so Steve rubbed my shoulders as I waited, eyes fixed on the staircase, hardly acknowledging each teammate and friend as they joined us.

Finally, I could hear footsteps on the stairs and there was only one person left not waiting with me, so I knew it had to be Thor. As he reached the last step, Thor began speaking, "my presence was required on Asgard so that I could complete the forging of these for you. Once I had done so, the All-Father bestowed upon them a multitude of charms, several of which will allow them to behave in various manners similar to Mjolnir." He stopped in front of me and knelt, holding out a cloth bundle.

With shaking hands, I unwrapped the gift. They were sitting in sheaths in a harness, crossed over one another, with just their light blue handles sticking out. I quickly drew the blades, examining them with reverence. They were silver and had a slight curve to them, with cut-outs along the blades creating a surprisingly beautiful result. Upon closer inspection, they also seemed to have some sort of runes etched into the blades in a flowing pattern. Hefting them in my hands a few times, I quickly flipped one in the air, catching it in a backhand hold, and spinning and pausing with the blade mere millimeters from Steve's throat. And the man hadn't even flinched. That was trust. Smiling at him, I pulled the blade away, flipped the blade again, and posed with them crossed across my chest.

Everyone was watching, openly amused and awed by my new weapons. I pulled Thor down to give him a kiss on his cheek and simply whispering, "thank you."

"What're they made of?!" Tony asked, while reaching out for them, only to stop short of touching my new gifts when I growled at him.

"They are made of the same metal as Mjolnir, forged with the heat of my lightning and with the strikes of Mjolnir. And, as I said, they have been thoroughly enchanted by my father. They are almost worthy of being wielded in battle by Lady Stephanie. Almost. Though I can think of no other weapon more worthy. It will absorb, store, and amplify, your powers, Steph, and although the All-Father did not tell me of all the enchantments he bestowed upon them, I believe they will allow themselves to be summoned to you alone when you call to them. Heimdall told me I could inform you of this, but you must find out any additional enhancements on your own."

So saying, he took them across the room and set them down before indicating for everyone to take a step or two back. Everyone complied, except for Steve, who in another show of blind faith stayed where he was. I held out both my hands, looked over at Thor and Sif who nodded, and called out "Daggers!" in my mind. Immediately, the daggers unsheathed themselves and flew into my outstretched hands.

Grinning I looked up at Steve who said, "that'll be useful when you throw them."

A/N: Thanks again to those who continue to review and encourage me and this story. We've still got quite a ways to go! Last weekend was a very good writing weekend for me though, so I plan to bump up the posting to three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday). Hope you enjoy!