Their reception was just outside of the outdoor theatre on a cobblestone hardtop with an open field off to the side. It was still light out, but the sky was slowly dimming with dusk upon them. There were ornate pillars around the space with vines growing up them and heavy, round tables around the perimeter of the flat area. People were dining and dancing as Midgardian music played. It wasn't like a typical (Western) Earth wedding with structure, here people did as they pleased while the party seemed like a celebration of their victory in battle just as much as it was of their nuptials, and Maria couldn't have been happier with that. She never liked being the centre of attention, and now she really wasn't.

Hope and Maria were still sitting at their table, now finished eating but remained seated as they drank and watched their party guests (including a few Asgardians who they didn't recognise) with a curiously present Peter Parker wandering about with a camera taking photos of the event.

"That's not alcohol, is it?" Jane slid in next to Maria, taking the goblet out of her hand to sniff it.

"It's punch," Hope leaned past Maria to inform her.

"Hope won't so much as give me a sip of her wine. I'm relegated to sharing a juice pitcher with Cassie."

"Good." Jane smiled as she put down the cup only to take Maria's wrist, finding her pulse point as she looked down at her watch.

"Jane, I'm fine." Maria sighed, not enjoying how everyone was fussing over her. Though, she knew better than to yank away from the doctor as she was taking her pulse.

Jane didn't respond until after she was done counting. "Forty-two." She met Maria's gaze. "That's low for you."

"But not for me," Hope proudly sunk her chin into her hand as her elbow rested on the table.

Jane pursed her lips in thought before she waved Hope's arm over and instructed, "Wrist."

Hope reached over Maria's plate as Jane began taking her pulse. During that time, Hope stared into Maria's eyes and smugly smirked at her like she knew she was about to prove a point.

"Forty." Jane released Hope before she looked at Maria and said, "You have an upgraded heart."

"Ha!" Hope grinned, proud of her superior organ.

Maria narrowed her eyes at her. "Everyone's always at peak athletic form when they're in Farm training. It won't last."

"Maybe not in your lazy body it won't, but I'm always in peak athletic form."

Maria gawked. "Did you really just call me lazy?"

Hope giggled innocently as she nodded.

"Oh, you're gonna be in for a rude awakening when you're full-time at S.H.I.E.L.D." Maria smugly ran her fingers under her chin, scratching her skin with the top of her nails. "You'll be in tears, longing to put your running shoes on but you won't be able to because you'll be on your tenth Quinjet flight of the week."

"Oh, but the Quinjet is a really big running track when you're this big." Hope indicated her miniaturised size with her thumb and index finger as she scrunched her face at Maria.

"Cheater," Maria huffed.

Hope grinned as her body was practically vibrating. She was just so happy, and not just from their little exchange, but in general. She'd never been so happy in her life. Being at her wedding with Maria as her bride while she was about to start a new adventure with S.H.I.E.L.D., it was all so much more than she'd ever imagined for herself.

Hope's smile was so big and beautiful that Maria wanted to kiss it right off of her face, but before she could, Jane interrupted her with an invading hand on her one incision spot at her side.

"Ah." Maria flinched as she turned her head back to Jane.

"Sorry, I'm just trying to feel your bandages, make sure they haven't shifted." She continued gliding her hand around her waist to her other side at her second incision. (Maria had already returned Fury's C.I.A. badge to him after the ceremony so it wasn't in Jane's way.) "I still think we should've used the adhesive ones."

Hope pointed at Maria's waist. "Eir said these are better for healing." The ones she had on were more breathable.

"They are, but they're also prone to slippage." Jane tugged up a little at the bandage which was wrapped around Maria's torso.

"Well, don't make that problem yours." Hope smiled at Jane. "It's a party, go enjoy yourself. Eat, drink, slow dance with Sam, leave me and Maria to her annoying – yet superior – bandages that I made her wear."

"I will go." She chuckled at Hope before focusing on Maria. "But don't think I'm not still keeping an eye on you today."

"I wasn't expecting anything of the contrary." Maria reached out and squeezed the doctor's arm in gratitude.

Jane got up with a smile and was soon met by Sam on the dance floor like he'd somehow heard Hope's request.

Hope leaned into Maria as she watched the couple start to dance. "So, does Jane need – like – a research grant or an all paid expense vacation to Monaco or something? Because I'm ready to give her – like – anything she wants for all she's done for us."

But before Maria could respond, they both felt a hand on their shoulders as Natasha popped her head between theirs. "Okay, I'm about ninety-five percent sure that Sharon and Steve had sex last night."

"What?" Maria looked to her before visually searching for their mentioned friends in the crowd. "How do you know?" She found them dancing close to each other with Sharon's head on his shoulder.

"Just look at them." Natasha gestured at the couple with her chin as the three observed them.

"You know what?" Hope said with intrigue, "Sharon was supposed to come get me this morning but instead she sent Roz."

Maria asked, "She specifically said it was going to be her?"

"Yes."

"'Get you'? Get you for what?" Natasha asked before it clicked. "Oh, you rebels" – she looked back and forth between them – "going against momma's wishes and breaking tradition."

"Don't act like you're scandalised." Maria shook her head as her gaze never faltered from the dance floor.

"Don't worry, I'm too busy patting myself on the back for making that happen" – Natasha pointed at the couple – "to concern myself with you two trying to break your mother's heart."

"Tasha, get out of here." Maria smirked as she placed her palm against her friend's forehead and pushed her away.

"I love you too, Maria." She chuckled before sauntering away to the bar.

Hope was still intently watching the couple as Sharon looked up to Steve before he lovingly kissed her on the forehead, which made her theorises out loud, "If anything, you waking up and giving them a sense of relief and perspective on what's truly important in life, is probably what got them together."

"Great." She looked over at Hope. "And why couldn't you've said that when Tasha was still here?"

Hope turned to meet Maria's gaze. "Because you sent her away before I had the chance to."

"Are you scapegoating your incompetence onto my orders?"

"No, I'm pointing out your incompetent orders that you're trying to scapegoat onto me."

Maria couldn't help herself as she said with a smirk, "Hey, at least they weren't as incompetent as telling someone to get behind me as arrows are flying."

Hope tilted her head, giving her a look that Maria assumed was her disapproval.

"Too soon?" Maria was apologetic, realising that she overstepped with that joke.

Hope guiltily bit her lip before saying, "I'm sorry."

Maria shook her head in confusion. "What?"

"I kinda snapped at you yesterday about that. About you being a human shield." Hope shook her head. "You didn't deserve that. I—"

"No. Stop." Maria cut her off, cupping her face to tilt her chin upwards as she pressed her lips to hers, wanting to shut down her worries without having to talk it out.

Yes, at times Hope could be a lot, but Maria wouldn't have it any other way. People had only ever been mad at Maria, but never mad on behalf of her – until now, that is. Hope's anger had a way of showing her that when she neglected herself, others were negatively impacted too. The anger wasn't a toxic force, it was supportive and loving – nothing like the traumatising anger of her physically abusive father or emotionally abusive mother.

Maria pulled back to say into Hope's lips, needing for her to understand that her heated words were not only fine but welcomed, "I love you, you salty bitch." Maria reclaimed her mouth for another moment before adding, "But next time you decide to chew me out like that, could you please not do it in front of Steve?"

Hope was relieved by Maria's overall understanding, and she could very much comply while remaining non-confrontational with her in front of others, knowing that Maria had a reputation to uphold. But Hope couldn't help herself as she agreed to follow her request through an innuendo.

Hope moved her head so her cheek brushed up against Maria's before she seductively purred into her ear, "I promise to only dine on you in private from now on." She moved her hand to Maria's thigh, sliding it inward and upward. "And you'll just have to come for me if I misbehave." She then innocently pulled her palm down to her knee.

Maria's nerve endings were dancing as she turned her head to look at her. "How considerate of you." She smirked, eyes dark with pupils blown wide in desire as she fixed her gaze on her wife's delectable lips.

Hope closed the gap between them, sliding her tongue into her mouth, reinitiating their kiss.

Maria welcomed her actions while she swept her hand over Hope's exposed back, sliding it down until her fingers slipped underneath the fabric at her waist. God, she was a huge fan of her dress; she was constantly catching herself staring at her from behind. All the muscles that her eyes had a full view of made her practically drool. Hope really was in peak athletic form and she wanted desperately to take her into bed and ravish her.

"Bottoms up!" They heard one of the Asgardian party guests holler.

Maria pulled her mouth away – suddenly reminded of their surroundings – and dropped her forehead to Hope's as she grumbled, "That's so annoying."

It was a wedding tradition on Asgard that whenever the couple kissed during the reception, everyone took a drink. It was like their whole culture revolved around getting drunk.

Hope chuckled at her, not minding the ritual herself. She liked that everyone had to acknowledge that Maria was hers and this was yet another way to do so.

"Bottoms up," Janet sang, slightly out of breath from dancing, as she approached their table and picked up her wine goblet to take a quenching gulp.

They both looked at her – breaking apart in the process – as she slid back into her seat next to Hope (she'd eaten dinner there at that table along with Ramonda [who was Janet's plus one], Cassie [who talked their parents into allowing them to eat there], and Natasha). There wasn't much rhyme or reason to where people ended up, everyone just organically sat down and communed as they pleased.

"Hope, Jellybean." Janet patted her on the hand while placing her cup back on the table. "I have a sneaking suspicion your father wants a dance with you at some point today."

"If that's true, why doesn't he come over here and ask me himself?" She looked over to him, sitting at a table across the way, deep in conversation with Bruce.

"You two are so stubborn." Janet shook her head and took another sip of her wine. "I'm going back out there." She stood up, gesturing at the dance floor.

"Wait." Maria stopped her before she could leave. "May I have a dance with you?"

Janet's eyes lit up. "Of course you may, Pumpkin."

Maria stood up as Hope threw up a hand in question. "Wait. What about me?"

Maria looked down at her. "You already have a dance partner." She pointed across the room at Hank.

Hope scrunched her face at her. "You're mean."

Janet chuckled as she walked over to take Maria's arm while she addressed Hope, "No, she's perfect."

Maria looked over her shoulder while giving Hope a smartass smirk as the two of them began walking away.

Hope was quick to narrow her eyes as she mouthed to her, "Cold bitch."

Maria called out over her shoulder, playing dumb as she pointed at her ear. "What? I can't hear you!" She then gestured upwards, towards the speakers. "The music's too loud!"

Hope huffed at her, receiving a shit-eating grin before she turned her attention to Janet. They then began dancing together with Maria leading while Peter took a few pictures of them from a distance.

It didn't take long for Hope to get up and wander over to her dad. She genuinely did want to share a father/daughter dance with him, it just annoyed her that she was always forced to be the mature adult in their relationship despite him being the parent.

As she approached the two scientists, it was Bruce who noticed her first as he smiled up at her.

"Hey, your dad and I are talking about time dilation through quantum states. Care to join us?"

Hank pointed at Bruce as he said to her, "This man is wasting his talents at S.H.I.E.L.D.; he should be with us at Pym tech."

Hope crossed her arms. "Except, Pym Tech doesn't exist anymore."

"Do we exist?" He snottily pointed back and forth between him and his daughter. "'Cause – as far as I'm concerned – we're Pym Tech."

Hope took a deep breath through her nose, constantly annoyed by how he kept clinging to the fantasy that she wasn't moving away from San Francisco with full-time employment elsewhere.

Hope looked over to Bruce. "I think this is him trying to make you his new lab partner," she said while hinting to her father that she was – indeed – not going to be around to assist him as she had before.

"Well, my old one is too busy for me these days." Hank picked up on what she was – not so subtly – communicating to him.

Hope uncrossed her arms to throw a hand on her hip. "Your old one wants a dance with you unless you're too busy for her." She glared at him with a raised brow.

Hank instinctively wanted to counter her and say that he'd never been too busy for her and that – over the years – he was the one who was there and she was the one who left. But he stopped himself. For once in his life he controlled his sharp tongue because – the truth was – right now, Hope was returning to him after her departures. She came home. He didn't want that to change. He couldn't go back to his life when they were estranged. Hope was everything to him and all he had left.

Still a bit tender (recovering from his surgery) Hank slowly got up. Now standing, he looked down to Bruce. "If you'll excuse me, Doctor Banner, my new dance partner is – apparently – as impatient as my old lab partner." He turned to Hope, smirking at her.

His words held a lot of truth. Hope often got frustrated with how long things took in the lab, that's why she shoved an arc reactor into their bridge. She didn't want to take the time to locate the problems and rewire the system – she wanted fast results.

Hope smiled at her father, happy that he accepted her dance proposal as she offered her hand to him. Taking it, she led him onto the floor as he then led her in dance.

They waltzed for a short, yet enjoyable, time before Hope brought him back to his seat. It was evident that he was growing tired as she realised that he wasn't bouncing back from his procedure as quickly as she initially thought.

After he was comfortably sitting he shooed her off to enjoy herself. Hope did just that, joining Maria on the dance floor, stealing her away from her mother. Janet didn't mind, Romonda was nearby to keep her company.

As they danced, Maria tried spinning Hope but the action of lifting her arm that high resulted in her retracting her limb in pain. After that, Hope didn't allow her to attempt it again, or anything else – in that matter – as she slowed and simplified their movements to Maria's relief. As good as Maria felt comparatively to the day before, she still wasn't at a hundred percent.

Peter came around again, taking more photos, but this time Maria couldn't let it slide as she had to know why he was there, and she knew just who to ask. Luckily, her person of interest was close by.

Maria turned both Hope and herself towards the dancing couple. "Tony?"

"Hmm?" The man cranked his neck to the side and away from Pepper, who was in his arms, to look at Maria.

"Why did you give a sixteen-year-old unauthorised access to another planet?"

Pepper gasped at him. "Peter's not authorised to be here?"

Ignoring his girlfriend, he shrugged at Maria. "You did the same thing with Shuri."

"She's authorised," Maria said dryly. "I authorised her. We like Shuri."

He took a large breath and said on his exhale, "Right, 'cause of the whole" – he gestured at Hope – "walking and talking and not being dead thing."

"Yeah." Maria glared at him.

"Okay, but Pete's a really good photographer. You want pictures of your day, right?"

She did want pictures but that didn't mean that she wasn't still annoyed that Tony brought the boy with him there. He kept trying to get Peter involved with Avengers business as a whole, and Maria had a strict no minors policy in the project. So his presence there wasn't as innocent as Tony was presenting it to be. He was trying to soften her to the idea of getting him more involved with the group.

Maria sighed, looking back at Hope. "Can I just have one drink? Please? I can't take anymore of that grape punch."

Pepper asked her, "Is that weird sour aftertaste not taking the edge off for you either?"

"Are you drinking that stuff too?" Maria furrowed her brows in confusion.

"Yeah, I kinda have to." She smiled as she looked down at her stomach.

"Are you telling them? I thought we weren't telling people?" Tony asked.

Pepper looked at him. "It's Maria. She can know." A mischievous smirk found its way onto her face. "Besides, the sooner she knows – the better, then she can prepare for an extra person when I leave you for her." She looked over to her friend.

"I'll be the best stepmother any child will ever know," Maria said adamantly. She was so happy for them but was forced to show it through messing with Tony since that was the situation presented and she'd never give up an opportunity to bug the man.

Tony sighed. "Great, so now you two are gonna take my money and my kid."

"My money," Pepper insisted.

"And my kid." Maria smirked.

Tony looked over to Hope. "This is what you have to deal with now. So, welcome to this." He then focused back on Pepper. "Question, how are you gonna escape to your Island in the Bahamas—"

"Belize," both Maria and Pepper corrected him.

"Whatever." He waved his hand. "—If you're in prison for murder?"

Maria cocked her head in intrigue as she studied Pepper. "You're going to prison?"

Pepper nodded. "Yeah, I've decided I'm gonna kill a man." Her jaw locked as her body visibly clenched. "Specifically, a broker who won't take my calls. Apparently, he's too busy with his vintage aircraft collection to hear out my proposal. A proposal that – I may add – would mutually benefit him as well as Stark Industries.

"Hunter Pearson?" Hope asked, knowing a broker who fit that description. He collected planes from the second world war and was very loyal to specific companies and didn't take meetings with just anyone.

Pepper turned to her, eyes wide. "You know him?"

"Yeah, I've known him as Uncle Hunt my whole life." He sat at the same table as her family at the country club that she attended as a child. He was also one of the people who agreed to invest in Pym Tech. Those few months back when she was trying to start it up again. "When we get back home, I'll get you his private number."

Pepper's eyes grew as she sputtered in disbelief, "Really?"

"Yeah. Tell him I gave it to you, and if he gives you any trouble, let me know."

Pepper detached from Tony and stepped to Hope, enveloping her in a hug as Maria was forced to step back. "Oh, you're a godsend." She squeezed her. "I'm naming the baby after you."

"What?" Tony gawked. "We're not naming the baby after her just because she's giving you a phone number."

Pepper pulled back from her with her arms still on Hope's shoulders. "And you're welcome to visit us on the island whenever you like."

"She's allowed to visit but I'm not?" Tony muttered, "Typical."

Hope chuckled at the whole situation. She was really beginning to like Pepper. She was funny.

Despite Maria enjoying the exchange that was happening in front of her, something caught her eye that pulled her attention away. She saw Shuri at the dessert table helping herself to sweets just as Peter approached her. They began conversing as it looked like Shuri was making fun of Peter's trousers which were a little short on him.

"If you'll excuse us, I need Hope for a moment," Maria said as she took her wife's hand in her own while placing the other at her hip.

Before Maria led her in dance, Hope said to Pepper, "By the way, congratulations." Maria started moving her away. "I look forward to playing with little Hope Junior in Belize." She had to raise her voice a little to be heard over the music as distance separated them.

Tony watched the brides leave as he said flatly, "And now there's three of you ganging up on me."

"Soon to be four." Pepper lovingly placed a hand on her stomach.

Tony couldn't help but smile at her as he softly cupped her face and brought this head down to hers, resting their foreheads together. He had never been so happy. He was going to be a father. A real father, unlike his own. His child was going to know love.

Pepper wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she basked in the moment. She'd always been unsure about having children, but when they found out she was pregnant, Tony's reaction made her certain about the situation and her life going forward. She wanted a child, specifically, she wanted a child with Tony.

Meanwhile, Maria danced Hope over to the teens, feeling lightheaded in the process. Once she reached them, she called over while pushing through her woozy state, "Princess Shuri." Maria stopped them in front of the young duo. "I'm surprised to see you eating, I thought your nutrient injection would've made you too full for cake."

Peter's face fell agape as he looked at Shuri. "What! You were telling the truth about those?"

Maria then led her dance partner along and away from them as Hope asked in complete confusion, "What was that about?"

"I just paid for your legs back there. You're welcome."

"Huh?"

But as Hope asked for clarification, Maria was distracted with her eyes on Cassie who was just before them. The child was holding hands with their dad as their bum was practically dragging on the ground. Instead of answering Hope, she gestured with her head at their flower kid as the couple came up alongside them.

"You doing alright there, Cassie?" Hope asked them with an amused smile, already forgetting her previous confusion toward nutrient injections.

"Yeah," they groaned.

Maggie and Paxton came dancing up beside the newlyweds as Cassie's mother looked at her wristwatch and said to the women, "It's almost eleven-thirty back home. The deal is, as long as she—

"They," Paxton corrected her.

"As long as they have the energy to dance, they have the energy to stay up."

Cassie rolled their head back and looked towards the brides. "Auntie Hope, can you carry me?"

"Cassie," Maggie said in a warning tone, "you leave your auntie be; it's her wedding day."

Hope chuckled. "It's fine." She stepped away from Maria and waved the kid over.

Maria had to reposition her feet, now realising how much she was just previously using Hope for balance.

Cassie's face brightened as they ran right into Hope's arms. She scooped them up and put them on her hip. She then swayed with them towards the middle of the floor where a bunch of the Avengers were gathered in dance.

Maggie shook her head. "She's so spoiled." Paxton took a breath, about to correct her again but she did it on her own. "They're so spoiled." She sighed. "I swear this gender-neutral thing better stick because my brain can't handle learning any new pronouns."

"You should hear Thor talking about Loki," Maria said as she watched Hope with Cassie. "One day he's talking about his brother who locked him inside of a tower for weeks when they were kids, then the next day he's talking about his sister who seduced a sea monster on Nidavellir and had its child."

Maggie practically stuttered as she said, "I'm sorry, but am I supposed to be focusing on the fact that Loki changes genders? Because I'm much too caught up on – like – everything else you just said there."

Maria looked over to her, shrugging sympathetically towards the woman who didn't do well with new and different experiences.

Maggie was a simple woman who felt comfortable with the ordinary. The fact that she had two men in her life was something that shocked even herself. She was one who felt overwhelmed by travelling the Bifrost to get to Asgard, and still had a hard time wrapping her head around the fact that Scott could unnaturally shrink and grow in his Ant-Man suit.

Turning back to watch Hope with Cassie on her hip – little arms hugging her neck with a heavy head on her shoulder – dancing with the others, Maria couldn't help but smile. It was funny, everyone insisted that Maria was Cassie's favourite, but the truth was, Cassie really loved Hope. They always texted and called her, updating her on their day, and expected Hope to show up (or digitally watch) all their special events. Hope was the consistent Aunt. The one who was there for them.

In the Avengers dance circle, it didn't take long for Cassie to perk up once Thor did a variation of the electric slide right alongside the two of them. Before Hope knew it, Cassie was on top of the Asgardian's shoulders, laughing their face off at his silly dancing.

"Hey, Van Dyne!" Sharon gestured with her head for her to come over to her. She was in the circle just off to the side of her.

Hope complied, passing Thor and Cassie in the process.

"Look." She used her chin to point towards Maria who was a little ways away on the dancefloor. Hope fixed her gaze on her, seeing that the woman's eyes were downcast with fingertips pushed in between her brows. "You see how she's rubbing her forehead like that?"

"Yeah?"

"She's not feeling well."

"Are you sure?" Hope studied Maria, her hand was already back down by her side as she said something casually to Cassie's caretakers. "She doesn't look bad to me."

"She's good at hiding it. But that was her tell just then." Hope nodded. "You should probably go look after her."

Hope shifted her gaze from Maria to fix her eyes on Sharon as she couldn't help but bite down on a smile.

It didn't take long for Sharon to notice as she looked at Hope. Scrunching her face, she shook her head. "What?"

"Getting laid has almost made you pleasant."

Sharon's eyes grew as her jaw fell agape. After a second her brows furrowed and her head snapped to the side, growling, "Romanoff." She stared at the mentioned woman who was sitting across the room at a table with Clint. "That nosy, meddling lump of asphalt."

"Asphalt?"

"That's what I said. Deal with it!" she barked.

"That's not even a curse word. I'm shocked."

"It is a curse word if it's said in the tone that I just said it in!"

"Well, by that logic, everything you say is just one long series of cusses." Hope smirked at her before looking off towards Maria. "I'm gonna go see to my wife now." She started walking away as she said, "Have fun swearing in your post-coitus afterglow."

"Fuck off, Van Dyne!"

"I already am, you lump of asphalt," she yelled over both the music and her shoulder while flipping her the bird.

Sharon choked down a laugh, hating how much Hope was growing on her. She had far surpassed Sharon's expectations of her as Maria's partner, a valued member of S.H.I.E.L.D., and a suitable friend for herself.

Maria heard Hope's holler. She turned away from the thruple and looked over to her, witnessing her middle finger raised, making her shake her head in question.

But instead of explaining herself, Hope walked right up to her, lovingly cupping her face as she said, "Let's go someplace quiet to rest for a little while, kay?"

Maria sighed with a smile, wanting just that. The lights had turned into a nauseating kaleidoscope as colours danced off every surface like she was spinning in a house of mirrors. "Can we go sit on the magical rainbow and pretend we're in a Skittles commercial?"

"Skittles commercial?" Hope quirked an eyebrow, not understanding her reference.

Maria smirked with amusement. "The gaps in your pop culture knowledge are startling to me. Are you sure you grew up on Earth or – like – weren't asleep on the ice next to Steve there for a couple generations?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Hope took her hand to lead her away, but before they left the party an idea popped into her head. "Wait one second." Hope abandoned Maria by the bar before she crossed the dance floor to where her dad was sitting, now by himself.

Maria watched as Hope asked for something from her father. He pulled a small manila envelope out from his breast pocket, handing it to her. She tilted its contents into her hand. They almost looked like Legos from the distance Maria was at. She riffled through the pieces with her finger, picking one out before dumping the rest back into the enclosure.

She handed the envelope back to her dad as she seemed to ask for something else. The man shifted in his seat as he pulled his keys out from his front pant pocket. Detaching a keyring from them, he handed it to her. Maria made out Hope saying, 'Thank you' before she hurried back over to her.

Hope took her hand and led her to the bridge.

They made their way down the Bifrost as a light, warm breeze tousled their hair while they silently enjoyed the casual stroll.

Maria appreciated the fresh, salty air that she wasn't getting as intensely back on land, though she still wished to sit down and ground her body.

They got about halfway across when Hope turned to Maria. "How about here?" She pointed to a spot just before them.

Maria looked over the water. To her right, the mountains lay, and off to her left, the world fell off the edge into starry space. "Here's good."

Hope moved to put the small item that she had grabbed from her dad, down on the colourful, glowing ground. She then took Maria's hand, pulling her back as she hit it with Hank's particle blaster.

Suddenly – before their eyes – there sat a lush, black, leather couch which faced over the water.

Maria gasped just before she walked over and dropped – onto her back, lengthwise – into the sofa. "God, I love you and your travel-sized comfort items so much." She sighed with satisfaction.

Hope giggled at her as she came around to scoot her up and over. Maria kept her feet reclined, making Hope lift them so she could sneak in beneath them. Hope sat with her feet on the ground as Maria was tucked into her left side. Hope wrapped her arm around her back as Maria dropped her head onto her shoulder.

"You okay?" Hope reached up to run her fingers through Maria's hair.

"Perfect." Maria snuggled even more into Hope as she hugged her one arm around her shoulders, resting it on top of the backrest as she watched the Asgardian sky turning pink as the night had nearly arrived.

Hope's heart fluttered as realisation sunk in. "Maria?"

"Yeah?"

"We're married."

"I know." Maria grinned, still not quite believing it. "You're my wife, Misses Hill."

Hope gently moved Maria's head away from her body with her hand so that she could kiss her temple.

"And you're mine, Misses Van Dyne," she spoke into her skin.

"I'm glad we're switching names." Maria dropped her head back to her shoulder. "I know it won't be confusing at all," she said sarcastically.

Hope giggled. "We don't have to switch all the way, you can keep Commander Hill, but you have to use Van Dyne for all non-professional related things like functions and stuff."

"Functions?"

"Yeah, you're gonna have to accompany me to charity fundraisers."

"Am I now?" Maria tilted her head up to raise a brow at her.

Hope looked down at her as she innocently smiled. "Yup."

"Fine." Maria dropped her head back, focusing on the view. "I'll be Van Dyne at social gatherings but you have to be Hill when neutralising threats."

"What does that mean?"

"Before you take in an arm's dealer or kill an enemy of the state, you have to announce yourself as Agent Hill to them."

Hope nearly laughed as she gawked, "And why would I do that?" She found her request unreasonable to the point that it was funny.

"To make the name strike fear into those who hear it." Maria smirked to herself, full well knowing how silly she sounded. "Also, it's only fair – you get galas so I should get violent justice."

"But everyone'll assume it's you taking all these people down. I don't want you getting credit for my accomplishments, I want the credit for yours." The irony that Hope had just recently fought Lady Sif's advice for the exact opposite, wasn't lost on her. She'd wanted Maria to take credit and the title of Queen Slayer. But now, Maria was no longer fighting for her life, she was well while being a charming pain in the ass and Hope wasn't about to stand for it. "I want violent justice."

"You can't, I already claimed it." Maria moved her head back to look at Hope. "It's too bad too, if you would've played your cards right you could've had Director Van Dyne of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Maria!" Hope jumped a little in her seat, slapping her thigh. "Did Fury promote you?"

Maria shook her head. "No. Not yet." She saw Hope's shining eyes fade. "But it's coming."

"Soon?" The light was back.

"Well, probably not tomorrow." Maria smirked, finding her excitement towards her career path enduring. "But I don't think it's gonna be years either."

"Good, because I want that status symbol. 'Wife of the most powerful person on Earth' just has a nice ring to it."

Maria chuckled. "And now who sounds like a golddigger?"

"You can't own a position or title so it's not material. Therefore – I'm not a golddigger."

Maria eyed her. "I think you're splitting hairs here."

"Am not." Hope gently pulled Maria's head to her cheek as she gazed out at the vibrant, starry sky.

Maria sighed while sinking into Hope, closing her eyes to rest as she basked in her wife's hold.

As beautiful as the sight was before them, Hope couldn't help but look down at the gorgeous woman in her arms. It was like her hand had a mind of its own when it reached to her long, slender legs that were exposed at the knees as her skirt had ridden up. She unzipped her tall gladiator sandals that ran up her calf, sliding them off as Maria wordlessly repositioned her feet to help her out. Hope dropped the shoes behind the sofa, onto the ground, before she brushed her palm over her smooth limb. She ran her hand up and down her leg before she innocently placed her hand over Maria's dress, dragging the backs of her fingertips up her torso, beginning at her navel. She pushed them up between her perfectly shaped breasts, moving them along the curvature of her cleavage.

Maria kept her eyes closed as she deeply sighed at the touch that sent tingles up her spine.

"It's like you're a supermodel," Hope murmured while her fingers turned so the pads were now on Maria's skin, gently moving over her clavicle before shifting up along her long neck and to her ear. "But with a Mensa brain" – her hand made its way to her temple as she combed her fingers through her hair – "and the wit and humour of a playwright" – she positioned her hand back to her skin, running it over her jawline – "that could kill you where you stand." She then leaned in to softly kiss her before pulling away so that she could look over Maria's stunning face. "You're so remarkable I sometimes can't even believe you're real."

Maria fluttered her eyes open and looked into Hope's loving gaze. She was dumbfounded. Hope had always made her feel special, but this was on a whole new level.

She became instantly flustered at the intensity of love she had for the other woman. Maria cupped her face. "No, you're the hot and smart one," she said before pushing her mouth to hers as she showed her just how much she loved her through the action.

Once their lips parted, and their eyes opened, Hope smirked. "You didn't fight me over being funny, I noticed."

"That's because I'm hilarious. I'll wear that title, no problem." Maria flashed an innocent smile.

"As long as you do it under the Van Dyne name." Hope rubbed her thumb over Maria's jawline. "I mean, you'll have to since you're the one who made Hill the scary one."

Maria narrowed her eyes at her. She wanted both associations with her surname, but she understood the dilemma. Being funny didn't exactly plant fear into the heart. "Sometimes I don't like how clever you are."

"Lies." Hope pushed her mouth back to hers. "You love it," she said, breaking away.

"I love you." Maria opened her eyes to stare into Hope's.

Hope smirked at her. "Not as much as I love you."

Maria shook her head. "Only in your dreams." She kissed her once again, smiling into her lips, knowing that was just one kiss of many, many more to come.