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The hall was crammed. Wayne Incorporated or Stark Industries hosting a press conference was always big news, them doing so together was far from unprecedented, but still a very big deal.

Only, neither man of the hour was actually there.

Edward Fox and Virginia 'Pepper' Potts handled this admirably well, as anyone could guess they would. The latter was completely unfazed, while her colleague seemed to feel some concern for his boss as they went through the initial proceedings on their own, until it became obvious Stark and Wayne was meant to be there, and needed to be, to announce this cooperation.

Any other time it might have gone the entire assembled press by - and in Pepper's case that was no unusual feat. Fox, on the other hand, while equally as competent (if such was possible) was not used to being similarly abandoned by his business partner and boss.

Still, Fox felt assured that Wayne would turn up, and merely some calamity had kept him from calling while stuck in traffic, so Pepper was the one to give in and make the call - Tony could have forgotten which week it was, after all, nevermind day and time.

She had probably intended to do so in secret, but unfortunately her speaker was on, and everybody heard the commotion that came straight after the computerised voice saying, "Calling Tony Stark."

Something was clearly knocked over on the other side of the line, and the answer was snapped out, more than anything. "Bruce Wayne."

"Mr Wayne!" Pepper blinked, looked over at Fox, and paused, unsure what to say.

"Oh, damn it. Tony, this is your phone!" Wayne sounded exasperated, as well as stressed.

"Alright, out, all of you!" It was a female voice, and it sounded like Claire, which was likely anyway. "I don't need three geniuses, two billionaires and a flock of superheroes in the middle of my experiment!"

"Oh god, and here we thought you were suicidal in pursuit of your science," Wayne's voice was soft, now, but deeply unsettled still, and he must have been addressing Tony.

"Hey! I'd never hurt Claire!" This voice sounded more like Bucky, and there was a corresponding sound of outrage behind it that might have been Steve.

"We know. What set you off, anyway?" Bruce Banner's voice was calm, soft, and heard only by Pepper and Edward, as she'd had the head to turn down the volume by then. She had hastily set up a pre-recorded presentation to play, buying them time and listening along in silence together with Fox, to whatever had occurred on the other side of the phone. The journalists were doubtlessly disappointed, but there was little they could do about it.

"Claire put her hair up," Bucky sounded a little dazed and out of it, but he spoke with confidence. When his words didn't make it clearer for the rest of them, he added, "Her hair usually brushes against me as she does tests, and it helps remind me here I am. It's braided and up now, so..."

"Oh, damn it." Judging by the rustling sound, Claire was already busy in remedying this. There was then a small clank, along with an exclamation from maybe Tony. Clint chuckled lightly.

"Is there a reason you've got a metal gear in your hair?" The archer wanted to know.

"Because she's beautiful and clever. As long as mechanically inclined, I guess. Kinda like her dad, come to think of it. As well as in the general lack of self-preservation...!" Bruce Wayne's voice started out soft and admiring, ending more exasperated than anything.

"Does that mean I'm beautiful and clever, too?" Tony's voice was amused, not stressed like most of those around him.

"Well, I guess so. It's just too bad I can't stand you," Wayne snorted. "Let's go before our CEO's kill us. Later, everyone. I'll call you, alright, darling girl?"

"I'll de-weaponise the super-boys of my life and then I'll be all yours," Claire didn't sound all that concerned about it. "Off with you. Steve, you're late for Peggy. Come on, out, I've got this."

"Indeed. We don't need, what was it, three geniuses and a bunch of superheroes, to try and handle what one supposedly normal girl does better," Banner's voice was soft.

"Are you sure it's safe?" The other Bruce was moving, judging from the sound, but still sounded worried for his better-half-to-be.

"Hawkeye is with us, as is Bruce, so Hulk is a gesture away if I should need him. Now go!" Claire apparently shooed the billionaires out, apologising loudly for Pepper to hear through the phone. Not that it was needed - Starkphones and all that.

By the time the demonstration film had played out, both of the company leaders meant to do the part before the presentation, were present and ready to belatedly do their duty.


Pepper finally got in, a little bit exasperated after what had not exactly been a smooth day - though they came out on top at the end, like they always did - and found an empty common area. While this was not unheard of, it was somewhat unusual for nobody to be around.

"Jarvis? Where are everyone?" Pepper removed her shoes and went in search of a tub of ice cream. It might have been almost nine months since she was pregnant, but she still had the craving once in a while. She blamed Tony for being impossible.

"Miss Romanow was called in to help with training of new recruits, ma'am," Jarvis told her simply, "Mr Barton went to visit his family this afternoon but has now returned. Sir and Mr Banner are in their lab, and all the rest of the Avengers are in the gym. Miss Thomas has just left the nursery, but Miss Stark is with her father. They're modelling responses for Mr Banners research and she is quite safe there."

"Thank you, Jarvis. What are they all doing in the gym?" Pepper let herself collapse into the sofa, yawning.

"War games, I believe, ma'am," Jarvis responded, just as Claire walked in from the elevator leading downstairs, carrying what appeared to be a box of baby toys.

"Hi!" Claire looked a little taken aback to see Pepper home, then sheepish. "Did everything turn out okay? Sorry for having a crisis in the middle of your important meeting, and forgetting to send off Wayne and dad!"

Pepper waved it off. "Not your fault, and yes, we worked it out. All is fine. I didn't even have to stay especially late, obviously. I just got in. Did Wayne go back to Gotham?"

Claire shook her head, putting the box down. "No, they're playing in the gym. Clint, Bucky, Steve and Wayne make for an even number. Fair teams. They seem to be getting along... way too well." She grimaced slightly, but she was smiling.

Pepper laughed. "That's good... but I understand your concern! What's in the box?"

"Just some baby toys Nathaniel grew out of, Laura sent them over when Clint went there to check on them. I know we don't technically need hand-me-downs, but they keep this stuff for such a short while, sharing seems much better!"

Pepper nodded in agreement. She looked Claire over, slowly, then added, "I'll pass things on to you, when you need them. Assuming, of course, that you do."

Claire sighed, sitting down. "I probably will. I... I can't see the picture as well as the committee of geniuses, but I see it. I... I'm too young. I am not ready, yet, but," she snorted, "look at the man! Does anybody think he wouldn't wait for me?"

Pepper smiled, and she nodded. "Pretty much a done deal," she agreed. "I bet he'd wait forever, if you let him."

"I don't need forever. A few years... but what about you? Will Natalia be the only Potts-Stark or whatever hyphen name, to need them?" She held up the box to illustrate what she meant, as an afterthought.

Pepper bit her lip. "Maybe not. I'd hope, anyway. Natasha has... hinted, that she wouldn't mind a few more if I'm up for it. She can't carry any, but she has made it clear I can choose to have more, should I want to. And frankly, Claire, " Pepper looked up, meeting her daughter's godmother's eyes, "I do."