Jennifer waits with Bruce by the door, their soft voices deep in conversation. She's pushing him to talk about the dimensions while he picks her brain on how to deal with ten year olds.

Walters smiles, "You'll figure it out."

"Thanks for volunteering Natasha and I just to, peace out."

"I have my own child to deal with," She laughs talking through her teeth, "Are you being dramatic? Or are you actually mad at me."

"I'm anxious," he wants to elaborate but doesn't.

Jennifer checks her watch, "I know something is up. If you won't tell me, tell Natasha?"

Bruce leans up against the wall, crossing his arms defensively, "Eventually."

She leans against the opposite wall, humming in her green form, "You know I'm never out of reach, not for you. The worst thing that could happen is you get my voicemail and I call back."

"I know."

Jennifer drops her hand at her side and peers over her shoulder. There's too much to talk about between the twosome and too little time.

"We're almost at my stop. What do I have to do to convince you and Natasha to come visit Cali?"

"Help adopt out children so I don't need to pay for a weekend of daycare," he laughs through his response.

"Maybe you'll adopt one yourself."

Bruce shakes his head and looks elsewhere, watching Natasha enter with slow and rhythmic steps.

Jennifer bites her cheek;

"Are you doing okay, cousin?"

Romanoff has her hands in her pockets when she nods, "I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

Natasha ignores, uncomfortable with their looks of empathy. It's still too new so she briefly questions Jen's intentions. Though, silencing those negative voices in her head is easier than usual.

"Thanks for coming,' Natasha tilts her head, 'You work well with us-."

"Don't you dare."

Stark enters, a glass of bourbon in his hand as he passes through with Rhodes;

"Were you seriously going to leave without saying 'goodbye'?!"

"Goodbye," she salutes with two fingers at her forehead, "Where is the Captain? And Barton?"

Natasha points to the ceiling of the jet, "Clint likes to hide out on the bridge."

"I really thought you were going to say he was in the vent above you," Tony remarks.

"Wow," Rhodes pauses, his eyes wide as he chugs the contents of his glass.

"Where's Thor? I want to go say 'goodbye' to him and Jane,' Jen pauses, 'Now that's a cute couple, they're adorable."

Tony drunkenly raises his volume, "Ha! You should hear about Thor's proposal-!"

Bruce nudges a sharp elbow into his friend to immediately shut him up.

"Get off my jet, Walters," Fury sarcastically moves to hand her a check and waves her along.

"My, my,' She releases an over-the-top sigh and hugs her cousin first, 'I love you so much."

Natasha is pulled in next, forced into an elongated hug when Jen addresses her, "I love you too."

Tony opens his arms.

Jen lifts a finger to his face and takes a deep inhale, "No."

"You really want to."

She groans dramatically and opens her arms for a Stark hug. She pays his back, "Stay out of my house. Call me first next time?"

Jen points over her shoulder and addresses Rhodey, "Where are you headed James?"

"Malibu."

"No way. Do you have dinner plans? You should come by. I feel like you and John would talk for hours."

"That would be great!"

Tony scoffs, "Really?! I've been to Malibu eight times this year! You never invited me!"

Natasha has Violet at her side, hand in hand when she leads Bruce to the back of the jet. They still have about three hours until they arrive at New York so she decides to introduce the kids;

"This is the infamous Riley-."

He nods politely. "Hi Riley."

"She has a new mind reading power which she will always ask before using, yes?"

The girl shrugs, already fixating on Banner's mind.

"Ugh," she gives up after sensing nothing but a mass of boring jumbles of equations. He's overanalyzing the world and clearly anxious- a nerd. She has no time for nerds.

Natasha addresses Garrett who is offering a handshake;

"This is Garrett."

"You must be Dr. Banner," the boy shakes his hand.

Bruce finds him amusing, "That's a firm grip. Has Clint asked you about archery yet?"

"He has. I'm thinking about it."

Izabella wraps an arm around Brody's smaller shoulder and introduces him for Natasha, "This Brody."

Bruce smiles, "Right. I saw you back at the house."

"-I have laser vision. That's why Mr. Stark made me these glasses."

"Are they made of-."

"-I don't know. I'm not a scientist. But you and Izzy can probably figure it out if you wanted to."

Izabella jumps at the opportunity to offer an elaborate breakdown. Bruce reaches the sits back on his heels, preoccupied with Izabella and Brody in discussing his STARK glasses.

Violet points tugging at Natasha's hand so that she leans over for the girl's whispered question about if she can meet the hulk. Romanoff bites her lip,

"You can ask him."

She shakes her head and tugs at the redhead once more, "Can you?"

Natasha laughs, " Vrach ? Violet wants to meet the hulk."

"Um...Hulk is...shy," He pauses only momentarily to shrug, out of ideas and still deep in a conversation with Izabella and Brody.

Natasha rolls her eyes, "You crushed Violet's dreams."

Bruce looks back over despite Izabella still talking, "Huh? I missed that Nat."

"Never mind. Keep geeking out. Don't let me interrupt."

Violet giggles, suddenly more interested in the window as she spots the New York skyline.

Riley and Linda along with most of the kids have already glued their noses to the glass in anticipation. Natasha points in the distance and narrates the landscape when she thinks up a game to keep them excited;

"The first one to spot the tower gets to harass Tony Stark for one hundred dollars."

Riley is instantly attentive. Her eyes are sharp, screaming when she finds it, "I call it! Far left. Third skyscraper in."

Natasha is so proud, "You'd be correct. Make sure you go harass Tony for that cash. Tell him I sent you."

Natasha is busy in her own space, Peter and hologram drafts are sprawled out and over a small desk she's claimed on the jet.

"Come in," she calls out over a knock, pleased to see Banner.

Bruce closes the door behind him and takes a seat beside her;

"What are you working on?"

She grins proudly, "I've divided the kids by ability and drafted some training procedures for when they're not in school. My plan is that they'll stay at SHIELD headquarters until the center gets built-."

He takes her binder and tries to read through her notes. Natasha frowns over his extended arms and taps her pen;

"You lost your glasses?"

He laughs nervously, "Yeah."

Natasha is clearly excited about this endeavor based what he can read from her outline. And talking about the children keeps her mind off of Alexei.

"Svetlana wants to adopt Brody," Natasha offers.

"She's sweet."

"Very…Is Izabella with me for these uh, 'Mentor Hours'?"

"Us,' she corrects, 'Yes she's with us. She's my kid too."

"Did you give yourself Riley?"

Natasha shrugs, "Clint wants her. Thor and Linda seem to have formed a bond so I'm not about to break that."

Bruce watches her layout, she separates the kids with who they'd work best alongside and it looks like one big mesh of lines and threads.

Their temporary space of peace feels secure and as normal as this situation can be. Being away from the team and the kids forces them to focus and to work through the current issue just the two of them. And maybe that was Jennifer's plan to begin with.

Natasha loves his smile. Bruce loves her laugh. They've been away from one another for far too long.

He pauses, looking up from her binder with a hand in his curls, "It's been, a crazy year."

Her head stays down, making a note.

"A crazier few months," he tries again.

The ink of her pen is coming out fast, his compulsive nature to keep things neat and orderly triggered the instant her pen starts to run.

Bruce tries to ignore it, "Natasha? Can we…"

"I should swap Nelli with Timothy."

He tugs at his fingers, "I'm trying, I swear I'm trying. But there's an elephant in the room."

Natasha laughs through her pain, "What do you mean."

"I want you to talk to me at some point? And tell me what happened?"

Natasha sighs and shifts in her chair, "Alright."

She freezes up. Even if she wants to talk she can't.

Rushing through it all logically makes more sense than waiting but she can't get a word out.

He reaches lovingly toward her hand, carefully taking up her fingers. Natasha focuses down.

He cares. He's there, he's always there.

Bruce doesn't speak, letting her have the opportunity to talk when she wants to. Natasha's stumbles over her words;

"It's…"

He huffs out an exhale and offers a grin, "We don't have to talk right now."

She's relieved, "Yeah. Let's focus on the kids."

With the kids in tow, the team heads back to the tower later that evening.

Antonia looks big to Bruce and Natasha who haven't seen her in a while, their bond unbroken no matter how long it's been. The same goes for a gleeful Alex who cries for attention.

Steve Rogers drops his duffle and shield, eager to kidnap the shepherd for a run;

"Natasha? Is it okay if I take your dog-."

"Go for it. He probably missed you more than me."

The CEO, Pepper Potts caves on Izabella's request to hold Antonia, and Antonia immediately responds to her.

Tony grumbles, "Don't evaporate my kid."

Pepper nudges him aggressively, "Leave them alone. They're being cute!"

Tony takes over, "Alright. Svetlana, Izzy and Brody- make yourselves comfortable. We'll move you guys into your new place tomorrow. The rest of you? Go run with Uncle Steve!"

Natasha interrupts, "Oh, Vrach , I forgot to tell you that Agent Perez and his wife will be adopting Violet. The little one."

Bruce lifts a finger, "Hang on, I didn't clear that and I thought that was my job?"

"You'll clear the others I promise. They're good friends of mine. I trust them."

Barton smirks, "And does the fact that they live in Queens have anything to do with your rapid approval?"

"Being local means it'll be a short drive to the center," she crosses her arms defensively.

"Dr. Banner? I wish to ask for directions on this Morningside of which you and Lady Romanoff attend so frequently," Thor whispers after a while.

Bruce lowers his chin, a hand in his pocket as they linger in the main room of the tower, "And why is that."

"I wish to find a quiet, romantic, and peaceful location to take dear Jane tomorrow evening."

A lightbulb goes off in Banner's mind and he tiredly relents, "Alright. Well, Central Park is closer."

"Ah yes. Indeed."

"…you really want to do this? You want to try again?"

"I do indeed. Jane is the love of my love as you midgardians do say. I will not cease until she says 'yes'."

He nods, "Let me get a pad, I'll give you the subway route. And just be yourself. It doesn't need to be elaborate."

"Indeed."

Natasha invades their bubble, following Thor and Bruce over to the table;

"What are you boys doing?"

Thor grins, "I require assistance in planning the perfect proposal."

Her eyes widen and she nods.

Tony butts in, Antonia on his hip, "Really?! You're gonna try again?!"

Pepper moves in to hit her husband's shoulder, "Tony Stark!"

"What?! I heard the first try was a disaster."

Natasha steals Bruce's pen, addressing the makeshift map, "Down here is quieter."

Clint lifts his chin, trying to be inconspicuous, "Do you mind if I ask,' he coughs, 'Where you got the ring?"

"'Twas forged of the finest metals in Asgard-."

"Yeah okay. Forget I asked."

Tony interjects, "Pep's was from Tiffany's."

Pepper reaches to grab Natasha's hand, "Where's yours hon? I never see you take it off. Did you lose it?"

Romanoff tugs her hand back, "Something like that."

Tony force lifts Banner hand which he quickly pulls away, "His finger's naked too. What happened? You meet some chic you liked better in the other world?"

Banner mumbles incoherently.

Tony sighs, "Alright. I know what I'm getting the Banner couple for their anniversary: Hulk-proof, mission-proof wedding bands."

Jane whispers from behind them with a yawn, "What are you all up to?"

"Hide the pad, hide the pad," Pepper talks through her teeth while Banner crumples the page.

Natasha snatches the paper from behind her back and stealthily tucks the page into Thor's back pocket.

Pepper laughs, "We were sharing recipes."

The demigod freezes up initially. With a heavy sigh Thor keeps his voice soft;

"No. Jane Foster, I was requesting Dr. Banner's assistance in planning the perfect proposal."

Tony holds his head, flipping Antonia in his arms, "Wow man, you're hopeless."

Thor ignores and just steps forward to meet her in the center of the living room, "Having friends witness this encounter is very important to me."

"Okay," Jane tugs at her hair.

"I wish to share a few things with you, Lady Jane; I do not ever wish to make you uncomfortable or to embarrass you. I shall never again bring the head of an Asgardian beast home or abandon you with my mother if that is not your wish."

She smiles, "Thank you. But I've already forgiven you."

The demigod refocuses on the brunette in front of him, a hand over her stomach, "We are to be parents and I wish to be a part of their lives for always. You are the center of my universe Jane Foster. You shine brighter than any star in my world. And I wish to marry you. To spend eternity with you."

Her head tilts, watching him kiss her hand. Her lip quivers, "Alright that was, sweet."

He takes a knee, revealing an amethyst crystal he's presumably carried around for the month, "I am requesting once more, with a promise to care for you and all of the many children we will have."

She cringes, "I'm good with just having the twins-."

"Will you let me become yours?"

Jane nods, her gentle hands over his strong cheeks, "Yes Thor. Let's get married."

"You will be my Queen?"

"Yes, yes. A million times yes."

A wide smile spreads over his features, standing to scoop Jane up into his strong arms and to latch his mouth onto hers.

Pepper cheers with Brody, Svetlana, and Izabella, Tony shakes his head.

Clint takes mental notes while Natasha rests an elbow on his shoulder. He glares, "What?"

She winks.

Once Jane's feet touch the ground she taps her side, "Oh gosh, I need to call Darcy."

Thor laughs, running to scoop up Banner from off the ground.

Bruce cringes, "Oh geez!"

Thor lowers him back down with a slap on his back, "I wish to thank you for your wise advice!"

"Don't mention it."

Alex barks as the door swings open, a panting Steve wiping his forehead post sprint when he looks at the mob still in the same room;

"What's going on? What did I miss?"

Alex barks and moves to jump on Natasha, running to Bruce next.

Tony points to address Steve, "Are you back already?! Go run another lap. Go!"

Pepper rolls her eyes, "Are you already picking on Steve?!"

Clint moves to grab his jacket and searches for the keys to his truck, "I'm out!"

When Barton makes his way up the hill and pulls into the driveway, he's biting his lip. He can see Laura waiting in the window as she lights a candle.

She's fixed the chimney and replaced the front door from cherrywood to a white washed oak. She's been beyond productive while he has been away. Even the walk is shoveled from the recent snowfall.

The archer abandons his bow in the backseat and walks purposefully toward the door.

Clint is a man on a mission when he walks through the door and greets her with a warm hug.

"That was too long,' he whispers, 'I wouldn't have done it if Natasha didn't need me."

"I know,' Laura looks over the bruises on his face and neck, 'I made dinner."

"Laura?' Clint asks cautiously, 'Do you love me?"

She's confused over his pointed question, "Of course I do."

"No I mean, really, love me. Enough to move up here, build out our home, raise a family...get married?"

Laura crosses her arms, shawl folding with her, "What are you asking me, Clint Barton…"

He scoffs, to the point when he holds her hands, never breaking eye contact, "I think, I'm asking you if you'd marry me."

She returns his loving stare, unsure of how to respond, "Really? Are you pranking me?"

"No. And look, I got some shit to work through but working on it. -I'm going to be a mentor to some meta kids and I can't afford not to grow up. It's what got me thinking 'bout what I want. And if it's what you want?"

She nods with a smile. The time away has been good for him, "Yes. It is. Do I get to meet these kids someday?"

"The girl I'm in charge of is nuttier than squirrel shit but she's a badass. And I think you'll like Garrett."

"Well,' she hugs her arms around his waist, 'Not as much as I like you."

He grins, still serious, "So you'd marry me?"

She hums with a nod, "Yeah. As long as it's up here."

"At the cabin?"

"With my sister."

"And Nat."

"A quick elopement."

"Saturday?"

"A small guest list."

"Yes ma'am."

He leans down to kiss her deeply. Unlike Thor he prefers it quiet, they both do.

Clint makes a face when he pulls away.

Laura's head tilts, "What?"

"I don't have a ring."

She laughs, "Do you think I need a ring?!"

"You're getting a ring."