Look at that, my schedule is working again! :D
I do not own "Ironman" or "The Avengers" and I mean no copyright infringement.
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"They are adorable," Natasha sounded half awed, half disapproving.
"They're weird," was Clint's equally awed input.
"Shh. They're not getting into trouble," Bruce's voice, like Natasha's, was affectionate. Pepper, now visibly pregnant, was smiling in a motherly fashion from her spot, leaning against Steve, where they all peeked through the door to Tony's garage and secondary workshop.
"He will be a wonderful father," the mother-to-be noted, getting nods of agreement from both Bucky, Steve, Bruce and Natasha, the latter seemingly not in the least bothered by the thought of sharing her and her girlfriend's baby with her father.
Inside the workshop, a number of impressive cars were lined up in both neat and messy lines: a brand-new Maserati sharing space with a Maclaren, two different Koenigseggs lined up next to a very flamboyant red Ferrari and an orange Lamborghini. In a corner, Tony's extensive vintage collection was carefully settled.
The owner of all these cars had settled into the middle of the large room, apparently having decided to make some small restoration efforts to the Austin Healy he had bought a month or so ago at auction. It had a door open to assess what might be needed and the bonnet as well, but - and this was the reason for all the cooing at the door - it had been abandoned. Not ten feet away, Claire had started a similar effort with her Isetta Bubble car which Tony had given her. As it turned out, though, the younger engineer knew far too little about cars to attempt the restoration of such an old engine on her own, and Tony had forgotten his own project, throwing himself headfirst into hers like the perfect mentor that he was.
The Avengers (and CEO, already supermother) at the door watched and listened as the usually believed to be arrogant engineer gave a patient and very helpful lecture about how to spot and eventually fix some problem no one bothered to listen to the details about. No one, of course, except Claire, who had not noticed what everyone else was, but instead was merely listening to the information about cars, her eyes shining happily.
There was something about the way they looked, restoring the old car together, with the same enthusiasm - or maybe it was the trusting way they leaned together - which just made the breath catch of everyone spying at the door. The picture they made, the warm, innocent affection in a room which was suddenly no longer dominated by the hundreds of millions worth of cars which had used to rule it, was beautiful.
Just listening to the warmth and trust streaming through the door was enough to warm anyone's heart. Pepper pointedly stared Clint down when he dared to joke about recording it for use as blackmail material. This was private, and it was too delicate and wonderful - too valuable - to give to the press, or to anybody. Silently, one by one, the Avengers left, until finally, only Natasha remained at Pepper's side.
They shared a smile which was all love and understanding, and a press of laced fingers, then they, too, left to leave the genius and his daughter to their collective success.