That morning Hope had said farewell to Princess Shuri (before she and Okoye left to go back home) when she – again – thanked her immensely for repairing her spine.

Not too long later she'd also said goodbye to her parents who were heading back to San Francisco. She'd asked for her mother's discretion about Hope's relationship with Maria in regards to her father, not wanting that subject breached with him quite yet. She knew that he would not likely take it well. She'd decided to save that conversation for a later date, with her being the one to tell him.

It was nearly ten in the morning, the time that the Avengers had decided to meet up at, when Hope started to make her way to the penthouse. She'd had an opportunity already that morning to return to her room to put on fresh clothing, still sticking with a pair of yoga pants –for that they didn't bother her bruised back – along with a casual grey button up. She'd also tried a french braid, happy with how well it covered her shaven patch.

When Hope reached the top floor she found only Scott there, already sitting on one of the sofas on a video call with Cassie.

Scott turned to the sound of her arrival as he was quick to smile before talking back into his phone. "Oh, look who just walked in." He then positioned his phone so that his daughter could see her.

"Hope!" the girl shouted. "Daddy said you got hurt being a hero. But now you're okay. You are okay, right?"

Hope smiled as she approached from the backside of the couch. "Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

"So, that means you're still coming to my school play next week?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

The girl beamed. "Good, 'cause I get to play a boy!" she said like she couldn't believe that she was allowed to do that; she had pure excitement in her eyes.

They then heard Maggie calling her daughter in the background through the phone. "Cass, Julia's here!" She was referring to the girl's best friend who was at her house practically every Saturday.

"Oh, I gotta go!" The girl grinned. "Bye, Hope. Bye, Daddy! See you when you get back!"

Scott turned the phone back towards himself as he blew her a kiss. "Bye, Peanut."

The girl waved before abruptly hanging up, obviously excited to rush off to her friend.

"So." Scott turned in his seat to look up at Hope.

"So?" she repeated

He smiled. "How did it go yesterday?"

"You don't have to—" Hope turned her body to sit on the back of the sofa. "I mean" – she chewed her lip in conflict, dropping her head – "we don't have to talk about it." She felt way too guilty to show him just how happy she felt with Maria.

"No. It's okay," he said encouragingly while resting his arms on the back of the couch next to her.

She shifted awkwardly. "It went…" – she searched for a word that didn't come across as too positive, but wasn't completely a lie either – "fine," she finally said.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Hide your feelings to protect mine" – he gently nudged her hip with his elbow just as the elevator doors pinged open with Natasha, Clint, Steve, Tony, and Sam walking out – "really" – his voice dropped a little as the gang moved closer towards them as they entered the room – "you can tell me the truth. I can handle it."

"You can handle what?" Tony seemingly overheard him as he asked. "Her telling you the truth about how your butt looks in your Ant-Man suit?"

"Wait, how does my butt look?" Scott straightened his body in fear. He then looked to Hope as he asked her in horror, "Is it bad?"

"Don't worry" – Tony waved his hand as he walked off towards the bar – "a flat ass kinda suits you, Lang." He then slightly raised the volume of his voice. "Hey, Jarvis. Play Party Mix Four ," he instructed the tower's computer.

"Starting Party Mix Four, sir," the male voice, with a British accent, came from the speakers in the room before soft jazz music began to play.

"Tony, I told you to leave Scott's rear end well enough alone," Sam scolded him as he sat down on the sofa across from them, with Natasha, Clint, and Steve, trailing over with him. "Not everyone has Cap's ass."

"Why do so many of our conversations seem to come around to mentioning my butt?" Steve sighed.

Natasha squeezed Steve's face as she jokingly spoke to him like he was an infant while shaking his head. "'Cause it's just such a damn cute butt." She then released him only to yank him down to sit next to her on the third sofa, perpendicular to Hope and Scott, as Clint took the seat next to Sam.

"My butt looks flat and you've neglected to tell me this this whole time?" Scott gawked at Hope.

"Sorry. Should we put some butt pads in your suit for you?" she suggested to her partner with a smirk.

"Well that would've been a great idea, but we can't do it now with everyone knowing!" he said while humorously waving his hands towards the rest of the Avengers.

The gang instantly started making fun of Scott and his desire for a padded rear end when Hope tuned them out at the sight of Maria entering the room from the stairwell. She looked well rested as she stepped out onto the floor. She was wearing a black pantsuit with her hair twisted up. When she caught Hope's gaze her face split into a heart melting smile which had the ability to make Hope weak in the knees. Luckily, she was resting against the sofa or she would've been a mess sprawled out on the floor.

"Go." She heard Scott mutter in a low tone.

"What?" Hope looked to him.

"You've got functioning legs now," he said in a smile which – this time – actually seemed genuine. "Go." He used his head to gesture towards Maria.

Hope couldn't help but smile at him as she could have almost cried at just how supportive he was being towards her. She nodded at him before she pushed herself up and made her way over to her.

"Hey." Maria beamed at her as she approached.

"Hi." Hope had to hold herself back from just lunging at her, wanting to kiss her beautiful smile.

"So, how are you feeling? I noticed your lack of hobble just now."

"Oh yeah, I'm practically hobble free." Hope chuckled.

"Good," Maria said, her eye twinkling.

"So, how was your sleep?"

"Pretty fantastic." She nodded before eyeing her playfully. "But I did miss my pillow. It got up and left me during the early morning."

Hope sucked her bottom lip into her mouth as she took a step closer to her. "Maybe it'll show up again tonight." She shrugged teasingly as Maria bit down a grin in response.

"So?" Hope – startled by a voice that had abruptly come from behind her – turned to find Steve who'd suddenly appeared next to her. "I do believe we were in the middle of a game of pool. Interested in continuing?" he asked as if he truly had no idea what they were previously discussing.

Hope looked back to Maria who was smirking as she said, "What do you think? Want to wipe the floor with his corps?"

Hope stuttered for a moment, "I, ah— my motor skills aren't great right now." She worried about messing up Maria's game.

"So, what you're saying is, at this moment you and Steve are at the same skill level? Because this might be the ideal time to play then. We'll finally be giving him a fighting chance."

"Man, your trash talk is brutal," Steve muttered.

Hope smirked as Maria's comment gave her the confidence to attempt a Captain America destruction. "Okay. Let's do it." She nodded.

"Excellent." Steve sounded delighted that they agreed to continuing their game. "I'll grab us all some drinks before we begin. Hope, what would you like?"

"Do you guys have club soda?"

"Yes. Would you like it on ice?" he asked while he backed away towards the bar.

"Sure. Thanks."

"Diet Doctor Pepper?" He pointed at Maria.

She nodded. "And leave it in the can."

"Yes I know," he said while turning away.

Just as Hope looked back to the woman, Maria dropped her head like she had a new found fascination with her shoes. Though, on further inspection, it seemed like she was building up courage for something. She then lifted her gaze to Hope. "I wanted to apologise to you." Her tone came out seriously.

Hope shook her head in uttar bafflement. "For what?" She couldn't, for the life of her, figure out what she was talking about.

"Last night. I kinda had a breakdown there. That was so not like me." Maria shook her head like she were ashamed of her behaviour. "Like, there were tears and everything. I don't cry. That's not a thing that I do."

Hope couldn't believe the ridiculousness that was coming out of her mouth. She had absolutely nothing to be sorry or shameful for.

"Okay, you're not allowed to apologise to me about crying," she spoke sternly yet lovingly, "because I was literally a weeping mess when you returned my dad's lab to me." She thought back to their first intimate moment when Hope had been the one crying into their kiss. "So, it's only fair that it was your turn to lose it in front of me." She smiled at her before asking, "Okay?" Hope eyed her for a moment when she soon saw the corners of Maria's mouth curling up into a soft smile.

"Okay." Maria nodded just add Steve returned.

He walked up to them, passing Maria her can of pop and Hope her sparkling water in a glass. "So" – he gestured to Maria – "it's still your turn. Yes?"

"Yeah." Maria cracked open her can before heading over to the pool table, fixing her eyes onto the game in play. "Kay, now I have to remind myself as to what the hell I had planned again." She took a sip of her drink, holding it in her mouth for a moment before swallowing. "Oh, yeah." She nodded to herself. "Red ball." She then went to put her drink on a nearby table before grabbing a pool cue, quickly chalking its tip.

Hope took a sip of her drink before placing it next to the can of Dr. Pepper just as Maria reached out to her. Wordlessly, Hope took her hand with a smirk and allowed Maria to gently pull her to the edge of the table.

"Okay," Maria explained while failing to let go of Hope's hand which was somewhat distracting to the her, "we're going to bounce the cue ball off the bumper, around his yellow ball, and hit it into our red ball, sinking it into the side pocket there." She pointed out all the intended moves with the stick.

"Okay, I'll give it a try," she said with wavering faith in her abilities.

Maria softly squeezed her hand before letting go before she next passed the cue stick to her. Then, ever so carefully, she guided Hope over a little to the right, positioning her in a more ideal spot. Hope independently bent over the table, lining up the shot before Maria slowly and gently lowered herself to Hope, making contact with her upper back with her chin resting on top of her shoulder – just like she'd done before the last time they'd played. Maria slid her hands around Hope's body to rest them on top of her own, which were gripping the stick. "Okay, I'm gonna mark the bumper again." Maria pushed their hands to bring the stick to the wall, chalking it so Hope would know exactly where to aim, when Maria hissed while quickly retracting her arm.

"Your shoulder?" Hope asked empathetically as she turned her head to her in concern.

"Yeah, I keep forgetting about it."

"Careful." Steve cautioned from the other side of the table. "Don't pull a stitch out."

"I won't. I'm fine." Maria lined up the shot for Hope where the woman underneath had to bite down on a smile, enjoying Maria's dominating contact once again. "This looks about right." Maria turned to speak softly into the side of Hope's face, the heated air of her breath falling onto her cheek, sending a warm rush through Hope's body. "You feel like you got this?"

"Theoretically."

Maria chuckled while letting go of Hope's grip as she stepped back from her.

Hope took a deep breath before sliding her cue stick to take the shot, which then abruptly jolted upwards, tipped the right side of the cue ball with the edge of the stick as it barely moving it on the table, scratching their shot.

"What the hell?" Hope angrily stood upright, aggressively gesturing to the cue ball as she spat, "I was literally aiming to shoot left and my stupid messed up brain made my hands jerk in the complete opposite direction." She ground her teeth, hating her body for failing her like that.

"Okay, Steve," Maria addressed him calmly. "I yield. You win."

She took the pool stick out of Hope's grip, tossing it on the table while knocking pool balls in the process. She then seized Hope's hand in her own. "Come on. Let's go dance." She smiled at her encouragingly. "You don't have to aim while dancing."

"Wait," Steve said. "You didn't have to do that. We could've taken a rain check and continued at a later date."

"No, it's fine," Maria said while pulling Hope to the empty space on the floor next to one of the speakers by the window. "Congrats. You finally beat me."

"This feels like a cheap win!" he called out to her. "I don't like it!"

"Oh well." She shouted over her shoulder, her voice carrying over the music, before she spun Hope around to face her. She placed her hand gently on her hip and held up their already clasped hands out to the side. Hope followed her lead as she rested her free hand on top of Maria's good shoulder, welcoming the activity change. Maria pushed her backwards in a slow dance.

Hope could somewhat hear Tony asking Steve about their pool game from the other side of the room, but she was too preoccupied to care about them. She speedily shut them out while her full attention fell onto Maria.

Hope sighed in embarrassment before she said in earnest, "I'm sorry for ruining your winning streak. And for my shitty attitude. I know I'm being pathetic and overreacting to that shot. It's just I'm not used to my body betraying me like that."

"For one, I don't care about the game. And two, you're not being pathetic and overreacting," Maria responded softly.

"No, I am," Hope admitted. "Jane already told me I'd have this recovery period and that it shouldn't last long." She growled, "Yet, here I am, frustrated as ever!"

"Then be frustrated. You're allowed to be frustrated."

"Okay, good because I am." She practically pouted.

Maria stopped leading her in dance as she pulled Hope securely into her grasp, wrapping her arms around her upper back while holding her head in her hand; she pressed it to her neck as she rested her cheek atop it. Hope sighed, completely melting into her body as she closed her eyes and hugging her arms around Maria's lower back. She'd forgotten both her surroundings and her worries as she relaxed into Maria's supportive embrace while listening to the calming music that surrounded them. "Okay," Hope contently murmured into Maria's chest. "I'm kinda no longer frustrated now."

Maria chuckled into the top of her head. "Good." Which made Hope smile in response.

"Whoa, hey, Scott!" Hope heard Tony call out quite loudly. "You should keep an eye on Maria over there. Looks like she's trying to steal your girl."

Hope quickly opened her eyes and turned her head to see Tony walking to the sofas – with a fresh drink in hand – addressing her partner who was still in his same seat on the sofa.

Hope's heart instantly began to pound. Her nerves now getting a hold of her. She was scared as to how this was all about to shake down, still very concerned about Scott's feelings.

"Oh, it's cool." Scott shrugged nonchalantly to Hope's surprise. "That ship's already sailed."

"Huh?" Tony asked for clarification as he sat down on the armrest of the couch opposite him as Hope observed the rest of the gang now focusing in on the exchange, as well as, taking notice to both her and Maria embracing.

"She already stole her." Scott flicked his hand casually before his face scrunched in realisation. "Well, technically," he continued as if he were concluding his thoughts out loud, "she didn't steal her at all" – he shifted to an even more light-hearted tone – "it was Hope who decided to replace me with a younger hotter model."

Tony shook his head. "Typical Playboy move from a child who's financially benefiting from dear old dad's billion dollar tech company." He nodded. "I know it all too well. Practically invented it myself."

"Hey." Maria spoke up. "I saw my shot at landing my very own sugar daddy and I took it!"

"Oh my god!" Hope ripped her head back to look at Maria who was wearing a proud smirk.

"Ah, way to rub it in my face," Scott whined dramatically. "I was so close to that sweet Pym Tech moola."

"You two are ridiculous." Hope whipped her head back and forth between the two, yet couldn't help but beam at how playful they were being with each other.

"Yeah, but because of what she did to you, I'm now worried when I get a little older, she'll dump me too for somebody younger," Maria addressed Scott while completing ignoring the woman in her arms.

"Probably will," Scott agreed. "I mean, just look at her track record."

"What track record?" Hope scoffed, suppressing a grin. "And what exactly is it that makes you two think that either of you have ever, or will ever get access to my money?"

"Oh." Maria scrunched her face as she looked to Hope. "I mean, if that's the case and there's no green here, I guess we should just call it now." Maria then turned her attention back to the centre of the room. "Scott, want her back?" she asked.

"Nah," he said teasingly, "I think I'm good. A locked up well is as useful as a dry one."

"I hate you both so much right now," Hope muttered.

"Hey!" Scott's eyes lit up as he completely disregarded Hope's last statement while locking his gaze onto Maria's. "We should get together instead," he proposed as he pointed back-and-forth between the two of them.

"What?" Hope couldn't help but laugh out, not able to conceal her happy mood towards their ridiculousness as they were getting along far too well. "That doesn't even make sense."

"You know," Maria addressed her, "it might be a sexless relationship, but it'll be worth it for all of the movie marathon we'll have."

"Oh, and all the video games we'll play." Scott added. "Please tell me you play video games?"

"Sometimes when I need to unwind I come up here in the middle of the night and play Rock Band. Does that count?"

"Are you kidding me? I'm all about the drums in that game!"

"I always play guitar."

Scott jumped to his feet with excitement. "We should start a band!"

"Yes." Maria slid her hands to Hope's shoulders as she nudged her away a bit. "Wanna play now?"

"Let's do it!" Scott enthusiastically agreed as Maria straight up walked away from Hope, abandoning her as she made her way to the end of the room, opposite the bar, and flicked a switch on the wall that made a screen drop from the ceiling.

Hope threw her hands up in bewilderment as she muttered, "Literally what is happening here?"

"Yeah," Steve spoke up from behind the sofa that Sam and Clint were sitting on. "I'm confused too."

"Me, three." Clint raised his hand.

"So," Sam asked, uncertainty written all over his face, "Maria and Hope aredating?"

"Not anymore, I clearly just stole Maria away from her." Scott bore a lopsided smile as he gloated. "Seduction through video based entertainment." He threw his hands on top of his hips as he nodded. "I would say it works every time, but this is literally the first that it's ever panned out for me."

Hope had to hold back a laugh as she called out in fake anger, "You guys will never last!" She then walked around to the couches, sitting down on the empty sofa that Scott had just vacated from.

"You mean because of our gold digging tendencies?" Scott looked to her before going to Maria, who was dragging out the drumset which was housed inside a large cupboard. "She kinda has a point." He helped her place the equipment in front of the screen. "We need a rich person to leech off of."

"Don't worry." Maria turned to retrieve a guitar. "I've been playing a long game with Pepper Pots for years now. She can be our sugar daddy."

"Ooo, Stark money!" He grinned as she passed him his drum sticks and turned on the game that had already been loaded in the system.

"Damnit, Maria," Tony sighed. "Stop trying to romance my girlfriend. It's super annoying because I know she likes you better than me."

Hope caught a mischievous smile shared between the two as Scott gave Maria a thumbs up, making Hope chuckle under her breath at them. She was just so utterly ecstatic that these two people – who were both so important to her – were getting along so well, even if it was at her expense.

After a short amount of time the two were set up with their instruments, Scott sitting at his drum kit and Maria with a guitar in hand, strap awkwardly halfway off her shoulder due to her injury, while they were going through the song library with the room music already turned off.

They settled on 'We Will Rock You' by Queen. They were soon both skillfully playing through the song. Only once during a difficult guitar solo did Maria trip up as Scott had encouraged her through it, which seemingly helped.

Once the song had ended, the screen showed their scores. Maria had received eighty-seven percent and Scott had gotten full marks.

"You got a hundred percent?" Maria turned to him with a smile of awe. "How the hell did you manage that?"

"Well, while you were busy romancing Hope, I was home studying the drums. Clearly one was better time spent."

"Clear as a perfect score sprawled across a T.V. screen!" She pointed to the mentioned presentation as she flickered her eyes to Hope, flashing her a playful smile.

"You guys are really testing me here," Hope warned them.

Then Maria's gaze moved upright as she scoffed, "Unbelievable." Her attention now over towards the elevator.

"Hey, you guys are playing Rock Band?" An unfamiliar man's voice was heard by Hope as she turned to see who it was coming from.

"Thor!" Sam smiled at the Asgardian who'd just entered the room.

"Hey, buddy. What brings you here?" Steve walked over to great him.

"What the hell!" Maria barked at the new arrival as she took off her guitar, placing it down on the ground while not breaking eye contact with him. "Fury's been trying to contact you for months."

"Did he send a raven?" Maria's jaw clenched as she crossed her arms. "Look at her scary face," Thor addresses the room, pointing at her. "She hates it when I ask her that." He then looked back to her. "My apologies. I truly did just received his message. That is why I am here now." He looked about the room. "Where is he?"

"Not here. And he doesn't need you anymore." She sighed. "You're too late. We dealt with it another way."

"Excellent, then we can drink and play Rock Band!" He approached her as he smiled. "And you're not allowed to be vexed with me because I found you the perfect maiden during my absence and I told her all about you too."

Maria's mood seemed to shift as she tilted her head in intrigue. "Oh, yeah?" She briefly looked to Hope again, smirking before focusing back to Thor.

"Yes," he said with excitement. "She is a beautiful Valkyrie. You two would be perfect for eachother. And she seemed rather interested when I described you to her."

"Oh, she sounds promising." Maria smiled before leaning in as she asked in fake concern, "But is she greedy though? Like, does she horde her wealth?"

Hope couldn't take it any longer as she got up from her spot and hurried over to her. "I swear to god, Maria!" she growled before wrapping her arms around her as she purposefully, yet gently, pushed her fingers into her sore arm.

"Ow!" Maria cried out with a laugh. "That was my bullet wound."

She turned in Hope's grasp as she too wrapped her arms around her.

"Serves you right." Hope stared into her eyes playfully as their foreheads had nearly touched.

"Hold on." Thor looked to them in absolute delight. "Is this your—" He pointed at Hope. "Have you finally found somebody?" he asked Maria with the most pride Hope had ever seen in a person.

Maria chuckled at him before she introduced the two. "This is Hope Van Dyne," she said to Thor. "Hope." She shifted subjects. "This big golden retriever here is Thor."

"Wait. You're The Wasp?" His face split into a grin. "I've heard that you are like Ant-Man but way cooler! Like you have blasters and organic wings on your suit so you can both shoot and fly!"

Scott bounded to his feet as he added from behind them. "I mean, I can grow really big and she can't. So let's not totally forget about that." He nodded with a slightly sheepish smile like he were completely captivated by the Norse god in front of him.

"Ah" – Thor stepped to him, clapping his hand jovely on top of his shoulder – "you must be Scott Lang, I presume." He beamed at him as the smaller man nearly lost his balance under the god's strong grasp.

"Yes." Scott looked up to him in awe. "And what a privilege it is to meet you."

Thor shook his body like he were shaking his hand before he asked, "So, you play drums?" He let go of him to point at the sticks in his hand.

"Ah, yeah."

"Wonderful! Would you do me the pleasure and play a song with me? I just love this game."

Scott brought his hand to his heart. "It would be my honour." He almost cried.

"Good. I am partial to the song MMMbop by the greatest Midgard artists known as Hanson."

"You really know your Earth music because I couldn't agree with you more. Hanson truly is great," Scott said sincerely.

Maria then guided Hope to sit down with her as Thor grabbed up the guitar to play his favourite teen-bop song with Scott.

Maria pulled her legs up to sit with them tucked underneath her butt while Hope had crossed her one leg over the other as Maria had taken a hold of her thigh, pulling it so her leg practically crossed over Maria's lap in the process. Their arms were already interlocked with each other as their body's were tightly pressed up against the others.

"So." Steve studied them like he were still trying to understand. "You two knew each other already?"

"Yeah." Maria nodded.

He shook his head while staring at Maria. "I should've realised."

Hope wasn't quite sure what he'd meant by that, or why he should have known, but she assumed the remark wasn't meant for her.

"Wait, when did you two meet then?" Sam asked.

"Few months ago."

"Maria was stalking me." Hope added onto her answer.

Maria scoffed, "Being under surveillance is not stalking."

"Yeah?" Hope eyed her with a suspicious smirk. "And what's the difference?"

"A paycheque," Maria nodded with inflated confidence.

"You were checking in on their quantum bridge." Tony figured it out, only then to complain, "And you didn't even invite me? I could've helped find Auntie Janet."

Hope cocked her neck to the side as she told him, "Technically you did help."

His eyes grew in realisation as he looked to Maria. "That part you tricked me into making for you, and then threatened me not to ask any questions about." He nodded as if the pieces were all falling into place. "I know exactly what that was needed for now," he said as if he could pinpoint the specific location of the component in the bridge and tell you its precise function in the system.

"I was thinking of the arc reactor," Hope said, whipping her head to Maria. "You got him to make that other part for us too?"

"You gave her one of my arc reactors?" Tony questioned her

"Yes and yes." Maria shamelessly responded to both of their queries.

"Good," Tony simply said.

Hope shrugged. "I'm not mad."

"Wait, how did you get one of my reactors?" He clearly had just thought over the situation a little more thoroughly.

"I walked into your lab and took one."

"Huh. I feel like I should be worried by your entitled actions and complete lack of boundaries, but I'm not at all for some reason."

"She's exhibiting behaviours similar to your own, that's why," Sam theorised.

"Ah, my narcissism is putting me in a place of vulnerability yet again."

"Technically, I did ask Pepper – after the fact – if it was alright that I took one." Maria innocently shrugged.

"And?" Tony seemed curious as to how his girlfriend had responded.

"She told me next time I should take five. Then proceeded to thank me for her birthday evening that I planned for the two of you."

"Damn, I knew she'd figure that one out. It was too good and she could tell."

"Wow." Hope eyed her. "You really are playing the long game with her."

"Well." Tony explained, "She did use the birthday celebration to manipulate me to make parts for you. So is she really?"

"No, I am." Maria smirked. "Two birds" – she put up two fingers – "one stone" – she lowered her middle finger just as Hope was quick to sloppily snatch her one digit that remained erect, squeezing it tightly – "Gotta play the field." Maria giggled out towards the other woman's actions. "Don't hate the player hate the game!" she practically screamed while Hope yanked her finger while pulling Maria across her lap, where she then proceeded to put her elbows down to trap Maria in place.

"Is your shoulder being squished?" Hope asked Maria, making sure she wasn't hurting her.

"No," Maria huffed from her spot where she was pinned.

"Good."

"You know what?" Clint finally spoke up, "I'm still not quite sure how this all came about. But I like that you're somehow getting away with pushing Maria around. Because if any of us would try that" – he pointed to Maria trapped beneath her – "we'd be dead."

"Oh, she's gonna be dead," Maria growled, yet did nothing in trying to get out of her hold.

Just then the guys finished up playing their song. "A hundred each!" Thor cheered at their perfect scores. "Man of Ant, we have brought honour upon the name of Hanson this day!"

"Wow, Thor beat your guitar score by a lot," Hope teased Maria.

"He changed the difficulty from Expert to Hard, I saw him." Maria then looked to her from previously straining her neck to see the screen. "Can I please get up now?"

"I don't know, are you done causing me grief?"

Maria looked through slitted eyes, studying her face for a moment before saying in a tentative tone, "For now."

Hope bit down a smile as she moved her elbows as she then proceeded to help her back up into a sitting position.

"Commander Hill," Jarvis's voice came through the room's speaker system, addressing her. "Director Tarr is on the line, requesting to speak with you."

"Okay, I'll take it down in Controls." Maria stood up rather quickly like the call was important.

"M.I.6?" Natasha asked. "Is this about Paris?"

"Possibly, but I suspect it's something else."

"Something else like what?" she followed up.

"Something classified."

"Fury and Maria are keeping secrets from the children again," Tony said in a sing-song manner.

As Maria passed Thor, she wordlessly eased the guitar out of his hand, quickly changing his difficulty to Expert before handing it back to him.

"Now watch him play." Maria looked to Hope with a smirk before she made her way to the elevator.

Hope then noticed Natasha and Clint signing a conversation while darting their eyes at Maria like they were trying to figure out what she was not telling them.

Hope sighed, realising that Maria really was constantly preoccupied with her job, not that she would let that cloud over the enjoyable time that they were able to share just then. Besides, even if Maria didn't make it back to their group hangout, Hope would still have the opportunity to see her that evening. Maria did say that she wanted her pillow after all.

Before Maria disappeared inside the elevator, she turned and smiled towards Hope as she mouthed, "See you later." She then winked which made Hope bite down a giggle. Maria had a way of making her feel like a giddy teenager.

"Who's going to sing for our band?" Thor's boisterous question brought her attention back to the party as she turned to see him holding up a microphone.

"Go on, Steve." Natasha slapped the Captain's leg.

Steve sighed, "Alright, alright." Yet Hope caught the smile on his face as he walked over to the mic.

They proceeded to play songs as they switching off so that everyone had a chance if they'd wanted one.

It ended up being an enjoyable time even though Hope would have preferred it if Maria had stopped by again, which she didn't end up doing. But she still had a blast, especially with Thor, who was like a fun jock with lots of positive energy. It had been so long since Hope had been part of a group of friends. She had been isolated for many years that she'd forgotten what it was like to be a part of something, and with people who she actually liked and got along with. Hope had felt as if she'd found her extended family which brought her joy.

Maria had spent the rest of the morning and part of the early afternoon in calls with M.I.6, Fury, Agent Sharon Carter, and a contact that she had with the C.I.A. all in regards to A.I.M. and their activities. Something was afoot with that organisation and she, along with others, had feared it was brewing into something big.

Her and Fury had concluded that it would be best if she got out into the field to start mingling with her informants; to shake some trees and see what falls out of them.

It was the early afternoon when she'd readied herself to hit the road. She was currently standing in the Avengers Tower elevator where she was in casual clothing: jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and a leather jacket that was flung over her shoulder. She held a black duffle bag in her hand with her hair now down and her sidearm strapped to her belt.

Stopping at the gym floor, Maria stepped out, placing her bag and jacket down by the entrance as she slowly walked over to where Hope was sitting at a weight machine. The woman was in the middle of doing push-resistance repetitions with her legs. Both Scott and Cheryl Leeman (the Avenger's go-to physiotherapist) were standing over her as they monitored her movements.

Hope caught Maria's entrance almost instantly as she stopped her leg reps while tracking her movement. She clearly noticed her bag and change in appearance.

"Hey, Cheryl," Scott addressed the physiotherapist, "you think you could show me that machine over there now?" He pointed way off to the other side of the room. "Give Hope a small break?"

"Sure." She nodded, already familiarised with being excused for private conversation while working contractually for the agency. The two then wandered off to leave Hope alone as Maria reached her location.

Hope removed her feet from off of the weights that she'd just been pushing up a track, swiveling in her seat as she rested her runners on the ground. Maria took note of how many pounds she was repping while in awe of just how strong she was before focusing back on the woman.

"You're leaving." Hope looked to the bag and jacket that were resting by the elevator before looking to her.

Maria locked onto her gaze as she shook her head. "I'm sorry." She felt a weight sitting on her chest, hating to leave her.

"No, it's okay." Hope reached out to take her hand, pulling her down into her lap as Maria straddled her. "I already agreed to this part," Hope said as she slid her hands around her lower back. Maria sighed as she dropped her forehead to Hope's, bringing her hands to her gorgeously flushed face as she ran her thumb over Hope's beautiful mouth. "You're going to call me when you're out there, right?" Hope spoke into the other woman's thumb.

"Absolutely."

"You have my new phone number?"

"4-1-5-6-6-3-72-18," Maria rattled off her number, having memorised it the second her eyes read it off of her file when her and Scott submitted their applications to join the Avengers.

Hope's face split into a grin before she gently bit Maria's thumb, holding it gingerly between her teeth. "And I'll stop by your place the moment I get a chance," Maria hummed before she pulled her thumb free from her mouth only to replace it with her lips. Hope was quick to position her tongue to run its tip over the inside of the other woman's teeth which sent all of Maria's nerves ablaze. "I'm going to fucking devour you the next time I see you," Maria muttered into their kiss which resulted in Hope grabbing her ass and pulling her in closer. She started kneading at her butt through her jeans with the same rhythm that her tongue was flicking inside of Maria's mouth.

The kiss didn't last terribly long for that Maria couldn't handle its intensity. If she didn't break away from Hope's intoxicating touch then she'd never leave. "Okay," Maria gasped, pulling away from Hope's mouth. "I have to go."

"Okay." Hope smiled, removing her hands off of her bum while bringing one to her face where she was quick to take a hold of her chin. "But I swear to god" – she shook her head in her grasp while she warned her – "if you try to romance any other women while you're gone, I will murder you."

Maria chuckled, the thought of wanting to be with anybody else when she already had the most beautiful and intelligent woman in the world seemed utterly asinine. "There are no other women." Maria removed the hand on her chin only to then seize it in her own, threading their fingers together. "Just you."

Hope grinned where she pulled Maria back to her, kissing her fiercely before abruptly pushing her away. "Okay, go." She lifted the woman up off of her with her incredible strength as she then continued to shove her away playfully.

"I'm going!" Maria shot back at her. "Stop pushing me." She grinned, swatting Hope's hands off as she backed away.

Maria huffed at her before turning to leave when Hope called out, "Goodbye, Maria!"

She beamed as she finished their ritual farewell that seemed to have organically developed over their relationship. "Goodbye, Hope."

Once she reached the elevator she heard Hope calling out to her, "By the way, Thor scored an eighty-nine on Expert. So, he still beat you by eleven percent on an equal playing ground!"

Maria dramatically growled out loud as she scooped up her bag and jacket before disappearing inside the elevator as she could hear Hope laughing at her while the doors closed behind her. Maria then chuckled to herself as the lift brought her down to the parkade where her vehicle awaited her to take her away from Hope, but hopefully, not away for too long.