Merry Christmas Readers! It's done, we've reached the end. I have already received a request for a book 4 ( I love you! That's awesome.) I'd like to, go into them working with kids a bit & bring Jenn back into the fold somehow...it just has to have enough...We'll see! I might go backward and clean a bit. There's another Brutasha on here i never finished so maybe I'll work that a bit as well as long as there's interest. Thank you for embarking on this journey. Love you guys & thanks for reading.

"Let me see." Natasha bumps her husband over, causing him to chuckle over her hip check;

"That was uncalled for."

"Was it?"

"What do you think of the colors?"

She looks over Bruce's tablet, swiping her fingers over the plans;

"Fair. I do think the training room should just be tan. They need some kind of color."

Bruce crosses his arms, removing his glasses. It had been hours of 'remodeling' accounting for all of Natasha's specifications.

For the both of them, it was good to be home. With all of the projects they had started in regards the training program, the past two weeks had flown by quickly.

And Banner wouldn't have had it any other way;

"So what do you want."

She shrugs, "Soft green?"

He scoffs, "Heck no."

Natasha leans her elbow over his shoulder as he clicks his buttons adjusting the color palette;

"Soft purple."

She nods, "I like that. It's very subtle."

He watches her from his peripheral. Missing her presence constantly at his side. She refused to leave him for more then an hour, wanting to be one hundred percent involved in the project.

The shepherd rests soundly in his dog bed, placed in the corner so to feel a part of the family and everything going on at all times.

Natasha tugs on Banner's blue top, adjusting his collar;

"When do you want to take a break."

He grins, allowing her to fix him before refocusing on his project;

"When you're ready to talk more about horse farms and whatever else you've been doing for a week."

She rolls her eyes, placing her hands and pushing herself up onto the table. Her legs tangle at his side when she shrugs;

"What else do you want to know? I was a home maker and as fun as it was, it was quite boring. You were the most interesting part- well. Other you."

He looks over his lenses, now replaced on his face, "Would you rather I was a, biker, divorcee, drinking...therapist."

Bruce can't finish his sentence without laughing, swiping his finger on his screen as he mumbles, "Can't believe you traveled through dimensions. How did it even feel? Could you sense the atoms around you shrinking or expanding? Were you aware of the warp at all?"

She rolls her eyes as he continues to ask questions shifting her leg to wrap around his standing frame. His hand falling at her thigh over the deep blue jeggings while his opposite hand continues to gesture;

"I mean, could you even sense it- think about the capabilities here-"

She lifts her hands over his cheek after pushing the tablet aside;

"I missed nerdy you."

He sighs, eyes tender, "You did?' He brushes a stray hair behind her ear, 'Just one more question..."

Natasha rolls her eyes and leads his head closer to her own with her fingers wrapped in his curls;

"Later. Shut up and kiss me."

She clenches her legs, currently wrapped around his waist. He jumps slightly and returns her smile once she separates her lips from his.

Natasha bites her lip, eyebrows lowering playfully, "We should get back to work."

He nods, ready to return until she pulls him back. He turns his head cautiously;

"So, are we working? Or...not working."

She whispers playfully, "Not working."

Bruce tucks his arm under her leg and maneuvers her smoothly gently onto the table. She laughs, eager to pull him close;

"I love you Vrach."

. . . . . . . . . . .

"It's legit freezing you guys!"

Darcy shivers under her blanket, notebook laid at her feet while she's hard at work.

"Well I'm hot." Jane fans herself, her own infants cradled in her arms.

Thor aids, lifting one onto his own lap;

"JARVIS shall adjust the temperature."

The team huddled in the main room, decked out in red and gold. Tinsel tastefully placed on each hand rail and over the fireplace where Banner stays put with Romanoff. Her red sweater matching Banners red button down. Her hands holding a warm cup of tea over her black skirt. Their dog rests his head over Bruce's lap, receiving a steady pet over his ears.

Pepper releases a heavy sigh, watching Antonia attempt to crawl toward the huge tree in the corner of the room;

"Ugh. Clint can you grab her for me."

Maria jumps on it, leaving her box of Christmas cards on the sofa and lunging to scoop the infant on her now healed leg;

"I got her!"

Barton shrugs and shakes his head over her excitement to stand on both legs again.

Steve timidly sits beside Darcy, politely asking to see her notes;

"Are you working on Christmas?"

Tony lifts a dramatic finger running forward to hijack the notebook;

"Oh hell no! This is my party and I say no work allowed."

Fury grumbles in the corner, "Then you shouldn't have invited me."

Happy laughs, receiving a dirty look from Stark, "Trust me, I'm already regretting that. Now! I have gifts for everyone under the tree, except for Brucey, I bought you a new computer, too big to wrap or hide so! You're welcome! Go digging!"

Banners eyes light up, asking his nerd oriented questions that Stark is all to happy to entertain. Pepper rolls her eyes, shaking her head playfully while she eyes Natasha grab her husband's elbow;

"Sit down- no Tony he will not follow you. You sit down too."

Romanoff nudges Banner after pulling him back down and tosses a small box toward Tony;

"This is for you guys from us."

Pepper takes it gratefully, eager to unwrap her gift;

"Oh my gosh Tony,' she chuckles and reveals noise canceling ear pieces, 'This is all I need this Christmas!"

Stark laughs and eyes his daughter, "Looks like little one's been keeping everyone up in the tower!"

Clint chuckles, pointing to the boxes under the tree, "Nat and I bought some for everyone, just saying!"

Tony digs into the box, removing more of the gifts from the bottom;

"I love these!"

He holds up his new tablet, ready to mess with his new toy. Pepper digs into her side and reveals a wine glass. She chuckles over the witty comment and eyes Natasha knowingly;

"That was a fun trip to the mall. Little ninja bought it behind my back."

Romanoff shrugs with a grin, "Made us both laugh."

Barton reaches forward, taking it carefully into his hands, "What does it say?"

Jane leans over and starts chuckling as she reads, "Wine. Because punching people is illegal...Natasha needs that for herself."

Romanoff whips her head to the side when she hears a chuckle come from her husband, "Oh you watch it."

Maria scoffs, pointing to another package beside Romanoff;

"That one is from Fury and I. Barton helped."

Clint rolls his eyes, "You said that like I was an extra. It was my idea."

Nick shakes his head, sharp eyes piercing through Clint's soul, "Shush little man."

Natasha peels open her wrapping, eager to reveal her new cuffs;

"Oh my gosh. These are sick."

"Sick huh?' Steve chuckles, 'They look pretty effective."

She jokingly takes aim toward Thor who shakes his head;

"Not today Lady Romanoff."

Romanoff takes down her aim, nudging Bruce, "I should let Katie try these, she'd love them."

Fury widens his stare, "They are not for the training facility!"

"Give Brody a wack at it!" Darcy receives a whisper from Steve to which she rolls her eyes;

"I know he has the powers I just think he'd like them."

Bruce nods, "He's been into the ones Tony made. Can aim better that way."

Natasha interjects excitedly, "He hit all five targets last weekend. His athleticism is off the charts."

Maria stays sorting their cards, lifting a sparky green envelope;

"Here. Someone's cousin is an ultimate troll."

Stark lifts a finger dramatically and plops into the couch with an arm wrapping around Pepper;

"Listen, I offered for her to come out here. But she's too stubborn to take anything. Is that a family trait? I swear. Rhodes would've driven with Happy I could've sent a jet."

Bruce nods knowingly, biting his lip so as not to get in trouble. He lifts the card, seeing the photo of Jen, her husband and child. Natasha leans her head over his shoulder;

"They look cold."

Bruce scoffs, "Jen made them all sit outside in two feet of snow, of course they're cold."

Natasha snatches it, "Did they get a cat?"

Banner nods, "Yep. Timothy the Tammy. Don't ask-"

"I won't,' she pokes her husband and points to the clock, 'We should get going."

Bruce stands up, easing a whimpering Alex at his heels;

"We'll be back in a few hours buddy."

Darcy reaches her hands forward, speaking in a baby voice to a dog who starts wagging his tail furiously in pure excitement.

"Come here good boy!"

Natasha drops her jaw, "Really Alex? You run right by your mother...?!"

Pepper nudges Tony, whispering something that he's quick to brush off and stands up along side his wife;

"Hey Banners, come here for a second."

Natasha follows tentatively, hesitant over Peppers grin as she leads them into the back of the kitchen away from prying eyes. Stark checks over his shoulder, lowering his voice slightly;

"So. Um. Pepper and I have been talking. We've given this some thought."

Bruce shoves his hands into his pockets, nervous already over Tony's odd pitch.

Pepper lifts a hand, gentle eyes trying to make contact with them;

"No pressure by the way! And we don't need an answer tonight."

Natasha crosses her arms, eager to have them spew it out.

Tony wraps an arm around his wife;

"Yeah no pressure. We just wanted to offer, an option."

Potts shrugs, "If you still wanted kids, we are willing to help you guys."

Tony nods, "We've weighed the risks, I have ideas that would prevent anything from going wrong..."

Romanoff lowers her chin, eyes wide, "You're talking about...having Pepper, be, a surrogate mom..."

The Starks nod in unison, "Yep."

"Yes."

Banner eyes Natasha, the two sharing a quick glance before Pepper interjects;

"Don't give us an answer. I can see the terror on your faces. We can all talk about it."

Stark shrugs, "Merry Christmas...?"

Bruce checks the clock, "Tasha, we should go."

Romanoff nods, "Yeah we should do that."

Banner steps backward, "Hey, that's extremely sweet of you two."

Natasha steps forward to hug Pepper;

"Extremely sweet."

"We have to be at the center."

Tony waves, giving Bruce a pat at his shoulder;

"Yeah of course. Love you guys."

Pepper smiles, "Have fun!"

"Yeah, give our girl Izzy a hug from us."

Natasha takes her husband's hand as they leave the room, throw on their jackets and step outside. The couple mumble each other, Bruce adjusts the collar on his coat, Natasha zips her leather jacket. Banner whispers first;

"So I'm not doing that."

She scoffs, "Oh hell no."

"But it was nice of them."

"Oh extremely."

"We have enough kids."

"Yeah, suddenly I don't need my own."

"Cold out."

"Brutally."

She points, fingers somewhat shaking, "We're walking through Morningside to get there right?"

"Obviously,' he pauses, reaching into his pocket, 'Hang on a second."

She pauses, pivoting on her heel as she looks up toward the falling snow. Natasha looks back toward her husband admiringly, watching the white flakes fall onto his dark curls. Her fingers take a small box he extends her way;

"What'd you do Bruce."

He shrugs, "It's small. I just used to hate Christmas for, family purposes. But you're my family, and you're not so bad."

She scoffs, opening her box, "Thanks. You're not so bad either."

Natasha looks down at her opened velvet box, seeing a small silver studded pendant in the shape of a lily;

"Aww Bruce."

He shrugs with a single shoulder, "I love you Tasha."

She keeps her focus on the silver, light finger brushing over as she takes it out and shoves the box into her jacket;

"You know, this doesn't mean you can stop buying me real flowers..."

He chuckles, helping her fix the clasp around her delicate neck;

"I never thought it did."

She grins, feeling him tremble slightly over their contact;

"I still give you butterflies."

"Always."

She leans forward to kiss him, gentle hands over his face as she pulls him close. He relaxes under her touch, his arms around around her shoulders.

Bruce lays his forehead against hers and nuzzles Natasha's nose playfully;

"We should get to those kids. They're going to be furious if we're late."

"Yeah I know,' she chuckles, 'They can wait 10 minutes."

Natasha latches onto his lips once more, wrapping her hands around the back of his neck to kiss him again. He scoops her up into his arms, each one letting their walls fall harder then the snow around them.

She giggles like a teenager in love, starving for his affection when he playfully nuzzles at her neck.

Bruce pauses to look into her hazel green stare, loving her laugh. She reaches to tug at his soft curls;

"Do you remember when I pointed a pistol at you."

"Yeah, which time."

She shakes her head playfully, "Vrach."

"What..."

"I was trying to be romantic." She chuckles, feeling him peck her lips.

"Sorry. I love you Tasha."

"To the kids?"

He pecks her once more before turning to walk the path;

"To the kids."

Bruce reaches his hand out to take hers. She gives his an extra squeeze as they walk their path through Morningside and head toward the training facility, exactly where Natasha Romanoff suggested it be built.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .