A/N: Hey everyone, so I'm back with another chapter but there will probably only be one or two chapters now for the rest of August, unless I decide to pre-write the chapters to upload while I'm away on holiday. Anyway, enjoy. Justogingwithit x
Chapter eight:
(Eden's pov)
The rest of the party had gone by in a flash, I hadn't really seen much of anyone else since I'd spent the night dancing with Peter and actually being a teenager, I'd been so busy having fun that I hadn't noticed the team watching me from the side lines. At the end of the night, after everyone had left we all sat around on the family floor, Uncle Tony had switched the party music to some chilled out music and the lights had been changed to reflect the chilled out mood. Everyone was just taking part in conversations between themselves, Peter was talking to Uncle Tony so I got the chance to sit and reflect for a few.
"So… you and Spidey huh?" Nat asked as she slid into the seat next to me, Wanda sliding the other side, she was smirking.
"No? We're just friends." I told her, rolling my eyes, she smirked the same as Wanda, "I'm thinking that I don't want to be friends with either of you anymore." I added and they both started laughing, their arms went across my shoulders from either side to hug me, it was warmly welcomed because even though I hadn't been with the Avengers for long they had certainly become my family.
"Uh uh… the eyes Spidey keeps making at you, well they tell a different story." Wanda giggled and I huffed, I knew by how enhanced my hearing was that my dad and Bucky would definitely hear them. I peaked over at them and saw them both glaring at Peter.
"Thanks for that." I groaned and let my head fall to Nat's shoulder in despair, "Now I'm going to have an interrogation." I closed my eyes, feeling really peaceful and safe.
"I don't know about you guys but I'm just about ready for bed." Uncle Tony said quickly downing his glass of scotch, he walked over to kiss my forehead.
"I hope you had a good birthday princess, goodnight." He told me quietly, I smiled and kissed his cheek when he leaned down.
"I loved my party Uncle Tony, thank you." I told him as he began walking off.
There were several others who piped up with 'I'm going to bed' and departing to go sleep off the alcohol they had ingested. Nat and Wanda left next both promising to catch up with me the next morning and I smiled rolling my eyes. Bucky, my dad and Peter were the only ones left on the family floor. My dad and Bucky were staring between me and Peter intensely, I decided to break the tension.
"You're not heading home tonight are you Peter?" I asked and he looked and me shaking his head, but smiled a gorgeous smile.
"No, Mr Stark said I could stay the night." He answered and looked over at my dad, "Of course if that's okay with you Captain Rogers… sir." He gulped a little bit and I rolled my eyes.
"Peter, if Uncle Tony said it's fine for you to stay then that's all the permission you need." I told him, glaring at my dad who was about to but it, he clamped his mouth shut at that point. "In fact come on, I'll show you to a spare room." I told him, getting up from the chair and gesturing for him to follow me, he started to follow me.
"Now just hold on a second…" I heard my dad start to say and I looked back at him, "I… um… just wanted to say goodnight, Eden." He told me and I knew full well that's not what he wanted to say but he was running with it so I played along for the sake of Peter. I walked back over to him and he wrapped me into a protective hug, he genuinely made me feel safe for the first time in my life, like properly safe where nothing could hurt me and I didn't have to be The Ghost Assassin.
"Goodnight Dad, I love you." I told him and leaned up to kiss his cheek, he smiled and kissed my forehead.
"I love you too Eden." He responded and I smiled, moving away from him. I noticed Bucky standing off to the side of us looking a bit forlorn and so I decided to give him a goodnight hug too.
"Night old man, love you." I told him as I kissed his cheek and he huffed pushing me away jokingly, I giggled and left him to re-join Peter, who's hand I grabbed to lead him with me.
"Come on then Spiderboy, lets find you a room." I almost sang to him and he smiled a little shyly but came with me without protest. I lead him to the elevator and asked Friday to take us up to the floor my bedroom was on. We soon made it up there and I stopped outside one of the empty bedrooms.
"You can take this bedroom if you'd like, mine is just across here so if you need anything then you know where I am." I opened the door for him and showed him into the room, little butterflies were dancing in my belly but I didn't know how to feel about it. I glanced at him as he was looking around the room, a perfect curl was brushing against his forehead and I longed to brush it out of the way, his chocolate eyes gazed at the room as if he was staring at the gates of Asgard. "Um… I hope this is okay for you." I added and his attention then turned to me, his eyes set on mine but then travelled slowly down my body and I felt like I was on fire, he must have realised what he was doing because his eyes pinged back up to mine almost instantaneously.
"This is perfect, thank you Eden." He reassured me and I nodded nervously, standing a little awkwardly.
"Okay well, I better get to bed. I think Nat and Wanda want me to train in the morning." I could have slapped myself because I didn't need to tell him that I was going to train in the morning and yet I did, stupid hormones. I wondered if he could hear my heart pounding in my chest.
"That sounds awesome, I might come to check you out." He said then recoiled a little, "No um.. I-I-I didn't mean check you out… I meant check it out. I wouldn't be checking you out, oh no I didn't mean I wouldn't check you out because you're gorgeous but no I'm only going to be checking out the training." He rambled and I giggled slightly, although I could definitely feel my cheeks warming from blushing, I leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"I think you're gorgeous too, Parker. Goodnight." I told him and left the room, shutting it behind me on the way out.
"Night Eden." I heard faintly behind me but I didn't stop, I continued over the hallway to my own room and proceeded to strip out of my party clothing before jumping in the shower to rid myself of all the hairspray and make up that had been piled on my hair and face. Once I was done I dried off and dressed in a cami top that was a little short for me so came up to my belly button and a pair of shorts and crawled into bed with wet hair and feeling lighter than I had in years, I was genuinely happy, one thing plagued my thoughts though.
"Mum… I know you're watching me from heaven, I wish you could have been here tonight to see me dancing with dad and even Bucky. I know you'd have smacked Uncle Tony for going all out but also would have thanked him for loving me so much, I'm so glad to have found him again and kinda not under threat of Pierce and Rumlow. I'll have to ask him about your grave, I didn't think I was ready for it before but I feel a bit stronger now and I'm pretty sure I could handle it. Dad's lonely, he misses you mum, just like I do but we have each other now and I know we'll be okay because you're always in our memories and in our hearts. I guess I just wanted to feel like I have you here with me on my birthday..." I started and hiccupped a little on a sob but I swallowed down the rest of the sobs that were forcing there way up my chest, "I…um… met a boy. He's funny and sweet and so handsome, his eyes are like chocolate with flecks of gold in them mum, I just know you'd comment on them if you'd seen them. I really think you'd like him mum… um anyway… I just wanted to say that I really miss you mum, but I know you're here with me and I'll get to see you again someday… I love you." I spoke to the room, it did feel as though I was speaking to her, I swiped away a tear that had rolled down my face and closed my eyes forcing myself to sleep.