Hello dear reader!

After many months, here is the new chapter! I hope you'll enjoy it :)

Chapter 21

Watch Out

It took more than a fair share of dead ends for him to understand he was being played. The understanding occurred, thankfully for him, in his hotel room in China.

After another unsuccessful meeting and a look at his empty bank accounts, it occurred to him his wife didn't have his steady cash inflows. So where did she find the money to escape him? His reflection being troubled by his third whiskey, he wouldn't be afterwards able to remember the paths his mind took to arrive to the right conclusion: he was indeed being played.

His temper combined with alcohol led him to destroy everything in the room, but he didn't provoke an international incident nor end up in some remote and untraceable Chinese prison for espionage. As an FBI agent on an unauthorized quest to find his missing ex-wife - ex-abused ex-wife, some might add - he was suspicious to one country and undesirable to the other. And since it so happened the stupid woman had probably found some extremely good and filthy rich help, said help would've certainly made sure he stayed in some dirty hole for a very long time.Thus, Mr. Williams decided his ex wasn't worth all his trouble. Yes, she did seem to have found some support but no one had come to put cuffs on him. Better to just come home and make himself small. Work on his cases, keep his mouth shut, and one day she would make a mistake. He only had to wait…

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Hello, darling…"

The kind words frightened her. This voice never came without torment.

As she turned around, the vision in front of her felt like a punch to her stomach. He had Bruce in his arms. He had her sweet baby boy in his arms. He was stroking his hair, smiling that smile of his… As if he was just a man hugging his son. Her heartbeat quickened, she knew Him. She only had seconds before the inevitable hit…

She saw the man raise his arm while the other tightened around Bruce, she saw her boy's face change from confusion to dread, she saw the monster's smile broaden… She knew deep down her husband was going to kill her son. And she was so far… She screamed hoping for a miracle …

And she woke up.

Bruce was by her bed, looking at her with concerned eyes, while her heart beat a thousand miles per hour. She sat on her bed trying to smile to reassure him, but every time she blinked, she could see Him raising his arm and…

"I'm okay, Anna-Grace", stated Bruce.

He knew. He understood. His eyes were locked on her, like in her dream but this time without fear. Without horror. She opened her arms and Bruce rushed into the embrace. As she hugged her baby fiercely, she couldn't hold back her tears. But Bruce was fine. Bruce was alive and warm, and they were safe.

"I know I'll always be alright with you by my side," whispered the child with such confidence it broke her heart. Please, Nat, help me, she prayed as she cried silent tears into her boy's head. Help me keep my promises.

That day was surely starting on the wrong foot.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tony Stark was on a mission. A recon to be more accurate. He hadn't asked anyone's permission, not because they would've said no, but because he was a genius who could make no mistakes when it came to his friends. He was going to Neverland to prepare the Avengers' way into the Williams family's heart.

Of course, his action was not born out of boredom and frustration over his repeated failures understanding the de-aging of their favorite Green Monster. Nor was it born out of jealousy in front of Natasha's relationships with the Williams' family. No, Tony Stark was acting for the greater good.

Which is why he reserved, under a false name, a holiday week at Neverland. Pepper knew he was away, although she falsely thought he was in Miami. Not his fault if she got led astray by his researches on the best restaurants and clubs there, along with his questions to Junior about weather and clothes and best plane flights. Same for the Avengers team. And there was no deceit in him taking his car, going to the airport, shaving his goatee in the terminal's restroom, and using a rent car to then go to Neverland. He was a man appreciating discretion and loneliness, that was all.

Finally, he was not choosing this exact week based on Natasha's schedule in Antartica, but on the weather.

Thus, when he arrived at Neverland on this bright day, he didn't carefully open the door to avoid a heart attack in front of an unexpected spider but to be gentle with the door. Seeing no one in sight, he entered the building and while looking slowly around him, took in the scenery. Neverland was definitely an odd place, with its Victorian era decor. As he was frowning, he heard a small voice say from his left:

"Good morning, Sir, may I help you?"

He jumped, surprised and turned to his left. He definitely wasn't nervous, of course. He just didn't expect anyone in the lobby.

In front of him, behind a counter, stood the woman and one of his best friends. Said friend was sitting on the counter - on the counter, people, feet on the counter as if his old self didn't always refuse any un-proper behavior despite Tony's lessons on cool-attitude… The "kid" was looking at him, surprised by his reaction, his pen fixed in the air as if he was gonna put it on the paper but was stopped by a sudden arrival.

As for the woman, if she had been polite but clearly intrigued by his entrance when he had come in, she was now starting to be extremely suspicious after his short and discrete - but not discrete enough, seemed to be - Green Beast's inspection.

Erasing all sense of discomfort after his - he had to admit - failed entry, he smiled broadly, all teeth out, and came to the counter, lightly saying:

"Sorry about that, I was expecting another scenery."

His smile certainly did not gain him her favor. Looking even more annoyed by his tentative flirtation, her eyes narrowed at him and she didn't say a word. He cleared his throat, and once in front of her, leaned on the counter.

"I made a reservation, a couple of days ago, for a week here," he said casually, adopting a reserved smile instead.

Her countenance changed, passing from extremely suspicious to professional. She smiled, even if it did not reach her eyes, and said:

"Of course, Sir, under what name?"

"Howard Collins."

"Yes, we were expecting you. How will you be paying?"

As he paid her, in cash of course, she picked a key and gave it to him but didn't lose her closed up demeanor. This was not starting well… Had she really not recognized him? Sure, he lost the goatee, but still, for someone who was looking after a baby Hulk, she must've done some research, must she have not?

"Well, I'll see you around, then?" he asked in an affirmative tone.

"Yes, have a nice day, Mr. Collins."

He smiled and left, hoping that their next meeting would bring more fruits. It had to, he missed his science-bro far too much to let a freak accident get in the way of their friendship!

Anna-Grace did not, in fact, recognize Mr. Collins as Tony Stark. She had of course seen his face before, but it had either been when she didn't care about him or when she learned the boy she loved more than anyone on earth was supposed to be a grown man risking his life every day through what seemed to be agonizing transformations. Finding out Natalie was the Black Widow had been the tipping point: among the multiple informations she had received that day, Tony Stark's face had not been among those she had chosen to remember.

Moreover, her latest fear concentrated on her ex-husband and the threat he represented for her boy.

So, when her newest client arrived, Iron Man stayed forgotten. All she thought was that Mr. Collins was strange, and had looked at Bruce for too long. She had to watch him closely: weirdos and real monsters always were where no one expected them.

The following day, Tony Stark was more prepared for meeting the lady he had first misjudged. He had been so focused on seeing Bruce again, he had forgotten Anna-Grace Williams wasn't one of his usual fans. Descending the stairs, his heart pumping in his body with a satisfying stable beat, he whistled AC/DC's Back to Black, impatient to face the family again.

Luckily for him when he arrived in front of the counter, the kid was there with his "mother" again. Cheerfully saluting them, he then casually asked Anna-Grace about the tourist sites in the city, while she filled out some paperwork. The conversation was going smoothly, easily and in an impersonal way. Perfect. He then proceeded to ask her about where to meet movie stars within the Big Apple. He had to admit he was a personal fan of Matt Damon.

Struggling, she answered his second question:

"Well, I'm not really into gossip or celebrity life so I don't really follow him or his work. If he got a room here, I wouldn't even recognize him," she laughed awkwardly.

"I see, I see… Of course, good for you! We can't all be shallow, can we?" he said truly meaning the sincere and somewhat admirative tone he took, already deeply aware there wasn't much futility in the woman's life.

Oddly, after a few seconds of strange shock, she understood he was sincere. Anna-Grace blushed lightly, flattered by his remark and surprised it was addressed at her. She laughed awkwardly again, and said:

"Well, I can't say I'm not shallow too, we all are in a way…"

Tony Stark didn't say a word but smiled at her with kindness that for once reached his eyes looking at a near stranger. For one so used to being surrounded by liars and hypocrites, it was refreshing to have an exchange with someone who didn't have a clue of how rich and famous he was. Or dangerous and connected for that matter. Even though it wasn't his first, he still liked it.

Of course, even he had to admit the effect was reinforced by the way Bruce looked at her, akin to adoration. Especially as the only times his friend wore this expression was when he was looking at Natasha thinking no one saw him, or when he remembered his mother. Which did not happen a lot in his presence.

He didn't know why but suddenly he felt tenderness. This was a rare occurrence. He could even count on his fingers the number of times it happened.

Of course, he could feel empathy or he wouldn't be Iron Man, but it more often translated into anger in front of injustice or cruelness. Sometimes, it was love, romantic for Pepper, or friendship for his friends.

But this kind of tenderness, for a stranger, was new. Of course, he knew enough about himself to understand the tenderness was mixed with the brotherly feelings he had for Bruce, even if his friend looked like a child. But the tenderness was also directed at the child that was not his friend. Moreover, and that was even weirder, it was directed at the woman too. He knew it was partly because of how she acted with Bruce, but, still…

Well, now, this is personal. This thought was filled with determination, and he knew this husband better not come in his way because he may have felt tenderness, it didn't mean he would stop avenging…

Full of such thoughts, that is heroism and battles, he only heard feet coming down the stairs when they were down and too close for him to escape. Which shouldn't have been an issue if the person those feet belonged to hadn't had ginger hair and fierce anger…

Be careful, reader, not to read - literally - into what I am writing. No one would be able to say that Tony Stark - a.k.a Iron man - was afraid and stay alive.No, Tony Stark was never, ever afraid, and certainly not by some ginger girl. Shame on him if he ever did.

He was only surprised, because the woman wasn't supposed to be here. She was supposed to be on a secret SHIELD mission in Antartica! Said woman was approaching, and it would freeze in hell before he let her know what he didn't feel at all.

Considering how she looked at him, it must've been freezing down there because a tiny trace of a deadly smile appeared before her eyes let him know how furious she was.

Deciding on a strategic retreat, because he still had many researches to do anyway, the not-running-for-his-life-Iron Man casually said:

"Well, Mrs. Lorien, kid," with a nod to each one of them, "it was an honor to meet you both. See you soon, if I'm still alive by then!"

Said woman and kid, clearly surprised at his early and abrupt departure, answered as he left:

"Good day, Mr Collins,"

On crossing the ginger spider, Tony nodded and said:

"Milady," before disappearing to his room.

Natasha still had to fix the mess he hadn't made with the Williams' family so she couldn't follow him, but both knew it was not over.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Tony Stark?" she repeated with an incredulous tone.

"Yes, Anna-Grace. I suppose he wanted to meet you without too much fuss," calmly answered Natasha after taking a sip of her tea. The amount of tea I'm drinking ever since I met you is what's unbelievable, Anna-Grace.

"That's insane!"

Her friend stood up and paced her kitchen. They were in the Williams' apartment, Bruce safely away with Rosie for a Central Park tour. Natasha was indeed extremely thankful for the lady's capability to take a hint. Putting down her cup of tea, the spy shrugged and said:

"Tony Stark is not known for his sanity, that's a well known fact."

Anna-Grace stopped and looked at her, surprised, certainly by the air of tranquility the Black Widow let out. Then the blond lady exploded.

"No, I meant, why would he want to meet me?!"

"My dear friend, I know you're surprised, but still. You must've understood by now…" teased the spy

"I… I…"

"Anna-Grace, come on! I know I told you I love your modesty, but even qualities have their limits…" laughed Natasha

"No, it's not about me being modest or naive!" answered an angry and confused Anna-Grace, feeling her lack of sleep impending her judgment. "I know you all care about Bruce, and thus about me. But why the need to meet me? Couldn't he just take information from you? Why did he need to come here, and…and…"

At the last words, fear pierced the fog of emotions overwhelming Anna-Grace and Natasha sighed, finally understanding the problem.

"Anna-Grace, I swear he's not here to take Bruce away from you…"

Only silence answered her as Anna-Grace stared at her, unsteady breaths shaking her body.

"Do you believe me, Anna-Grace?" asked Natasha, fixing her eyes on the blond woman, trying to assess the situation.

"Why does it matter anyway? It won't change anything…"

Anna-Grace started her pacing again but Natasha frowned at the tears she could almost hear in her friend's voice. Fiercely, the spy stated:

"It matters because you're Bruce's lifeline right now. I can't have you doubt me."

"Natasha…"

The despair in Anna-Grace's voice locked their eyes. Standing up but staying at her place to leave room for the shaken up woman, Natasha encouraged her friend to let it go:

"Yes?"

"Why he is here then?" yelled the scared 'mother'.

Once again, Natasha thanked all the gods she could think of for Rosie's observational capabilities. Seeing Natasha's face had been enough of a hint to quickly propose a trip to Central Park to the boy. Had Bruce been in the apartment, Natasha knew for a fact this conversation would've been a total disaster. Oh, she was going to kill the stupid billionaire… Things were going so well at Neverland… His presence could only scare Anna-Grace and the boy, and that was a recipe for disaster. Had she ever been so mad?

"He's here because he's a son of a …"

The word she used is not one worthy of being written, but it did convey the message. Anna-Grace laughed, surprised. In a strange way, seeing her friend line up against the Iron Man was comforting.

"Really?"

"Oh, if only you knew all the stupid and selfish things he does, you would call him by a worse name, believe me…"

Natasha's tone surprised Anna-Grace. She was starting to know Nat, as well as someone could ever know the Black Widow, but this was the first time she had seen the ginger lady express so much fierce anger.

Hesitantly, she asked,

"And he was Bruce's friend?"

Not that Anna-Grace thought Tony Stark was a terrible man, he was Iron Man after all. But to render her friend so furious was an exploit, she was sure of it… What kind of man could do that?

Natasha sighed.

"Yes, he's not so bad. He just has difficulties thinking before acting, or seeing situations from other points of view," she explained with the kind of voice someone takes when talking about a good but annoying friend.

Anna-Grace didn't answer but looked into the distance, trying to fit together all the pieces of what was her life now.

"The point is: I'm trying here, Anna-Grace. I'm trained to prepare for the worse, but our situation at Neverland with you and Bruce is not one I ever imagined. Which is what my training prepared me for, but still. We've progressed, you and me, haven't we?"

Anna-Grace didn't reply, but she understood. Their situation wasn't easy to deal with and trust was hard to gain. New elements were unwelcome, and Tony Stark certainly was unpredictable. Uncanny combination, for sure.

"Do you believe me, Anna-Grace, when I tell you no matter what, you will always have a say in any decision regarding Bruce?"

Anna-Grace fixed her friend's concerned eyes and let them wash away the fear. They indeed had come a long way since their first meeting. Thinking about how she had felt on her first day as Peter's secretary, the young woman was grateful for being able to say without a doubt Natasha cared about the mother almost as much as she cared about the son.

Nodding, she smiled at the ginger lady, moved once again by her friend's concern. It felt good not to be alone.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

When Tony, while on his Central Park jogging tour under disguise, received an email notifying him of Miss Natalie Roshman's acceptance of the 'forgive me' flowers, among the mixed feelings of relief and gladness, a thought stood out: The meeting has gone well.

Indeed, had Anna-Grace Williams reacted with anger and madness at his intrusion into her family's life, Natasha would've been hurt and angry. Said anger would've been directed at the one responsible for the dire situation, that is himself. Receiving poisonous flowers he had first sent as an innocent and inoffensive apology was unfortunately something that had already happened ever since he could say Natasha Romanoff was his friend. Having ex-murderers and spies within his close circle was no easy task, that needed to be said at least once!

Thus, when he then received, a couple of days later, a tea invitation at Neverland from the Black Widow, he didn't know what to expect. An actual tea time with Anna-Grace Williams, Natasha Romanoff and a suspicious Bruce was never it.

Apparently, he had been explained to the boy as "Natalie's weird old and annoying friend that somehow got to stay in the ginger lady's affection". Some part of him was amused at how Bruce looked at him like a man scrutinized a threat to his lady friends. The other was pained to be looked at as dangerous by his best friend.

But Tony's quality, among many despite his recklessness, was his optimism. Since Bruce didn't appreciate him now, he only had to find a way to get back into his good grace. After all, it wasn't the first time Bruce Banner disliked Tony Stark.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

It was surreal. She, Anna-Grace Williams, was visiting Stark Tower with Natasha, Bruce, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers for the tenth time.

She wasn't so afraid now. Meeting the infamous Iron Man had helped on one account: she knew now Tony Stark would do anything for his friend. Since said friend was currently six years old and loved Anna-Grace Williams like a mother, Tony Stark would do anything for Anna-Grace. The weirdest part though was he liked her. She and Tony Stark were more than accountancies, she could almost say she trusted him.

When had her life become so unbelievable that being in Tony Stark's tower, incognito from the world, could start to feel normal?

Arriving there the first time had been quite an experience. She had already been in important buildings and hype parties, with her ex-husband being an FBI agent, but Stark Tower was at a whole new level.

Only entering its door was enough to make you understand you had just arrived at the most expensive building one could imagine. As she walked in the lobby, she admired her shadow's reflections on the floor playing with the lights high in the ceiling. Busy and hurried men and women went by them, going in and out of dozens of elevators. Like a hive, the glass elevators went up and down the hundreds of floors. The place smelled clean and new despite the number of business people around them. The lobby was so wide, the ceiling so high, it was like they were in a ball room in the middle of the desert, not the mega town New York. Receptionists on the right and the left welcomed visitors with broad smiles while using transparent screens and robots for their services.

The weirdest of all though was the noise: as soon as they entered the building, the ever-present city background buzz - honks, people, screams, huge cars and wind, sirens - faded away, replaced by the subtle sounds of fountains placed here and there inside the lobby. Despite the number of people inside the hall and their hurried pace, the sound was muted. It seemed as though no one whispered yet no one needed to talk loudly to be heard by his companion.

The ground floor was, generally, so out of her usual knowledge there was no way she could understand one percent of the technology there. Bruce loved it, of course. He was used of feeling out of time and not understanding what the things around him were, but for once someone took the time to explain the amazing science to him. Tony Stark had consulted the best teachers in the world to offer Bruce the "best and amazing discovery tours of science and fun".

She couldn't say she had had so much fun, especially the first time… Even though Bruce had clearly been having the time of his life, even though Natasha had been there to control the mad genius billionaire and ensure the Williams' safety while reassuring Anna-Grace, the blond woman had felt uncomfortable ever since the tour started. The tower, the rooms they had visited, the way Stark had been making his way into her boy's heart, the way Mr. Rogers had been introduced to them as Natasha's friend and stayed around for the tour while respecting the Williams' privacy… It had felt too much like she was being shown what her life in the tower could look like…

Thankfully, visiting the tower several times had allowed her to find her marks. She was starting to appreciate the silence that welcomed them every time they passed the Stark Towers' door. As she had relaxed in this new environment, she had been able to see how Stark was trying his best to make things easier for everyone involved. The tours allowed them to meet the Tower's personnel they would often be in contact with should they leave Neverland. Not only did that make it easier for her and Bruce, it made it less suspicious for the personnel should the family move in the Tower urgently one day.

Once she started to see the tour benefits for her baby boy, the comfort gradually transformed into appreciation for her new environment. She was even starting to not feel lost in this giant building. Which probably was another reason Stark had insisted on arranging so many tours…

Siping on the excellent coffee the Iron Man had just handed to her, Anna-Grace looked around herself, trying to get over the now familiar feeling of astonishment.

They were in some living room. Bruce was drawing on the mini coffee table. She was sitting on an extremely comfortable couch, tasting the best coffee she ever had. She had to admit, Tony Stark had the means to make her life extremely enjoyable. As Natasha and Mr. Rogers were talking about things above her certification level, Tony Stark was gone somewhere to do something and Bruce was clearly happy drawing ducks and Hulk, she took the time to think.

She had time to think of course in her life. But she was a mum. There always were things to do during the week. And there was the job, demanding despite its apparent simplicity. Moreover, every night, after putting Bruce to sleep she was too tired to take the time to rest. She hadn't made any real progress on her book in what she was sure was more than 2 months. Add her late general feeling of exhaustion thanks to the recurrent nightmares, she logically didn't spend much time reflecting.

So here she was, admiring the view from a floor in Tony Stark's Tower while enjoying an excellent coffee and listening to some jazz music playing in the background of Natasha and Mr. Rogers' conversation and Bruce's pencil working on the paper. She suddenly was surprised at how peaceful she felt. Right now, she was feeling peaceful and content. Smiling, she mused at how, had anyone ever asked her what she would do around 30, she would've never imagined this. After all, falling in love with your high school sweetheart was another life direction.

Looking around her, she finally was able to pause and observe the living room. For the first time since entering the higher floors, she realized they were different from the ground floor. On some level, they had entered into Tony Stark's private floors: there was more wooden floor than marble, more paintings on the wall than glass, more homey lights than bright lights. The personnel smiled more brightly, joked more easily yet were more discreet, more regarding towards those living in the quarters and those visiting them.

And this floor… This apartment… Her heart fluttered as she remembered her first sight, her first thought. Here felt like a place someone could live. Here felt like they could live. Floor smooth under her feet like silk, panels of wood making up walls, paintings reminding her of Neverland or her childhood or Bruce, furniture looking extremely comfortable, soft lights, even the odor there was agreeable, making her think of boulangerie and fresh linens… And this only was the common area. She knew treasures would be found if she wandered in the kitchen, the bathroom or the bedrooms…

Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt someone sitting next to her. Turning around, she saw Natasha smiling at her.

"Incredible view, isn't it?"

Above the rows of skyscrapers, mere tiny dots from their floor, reigned the wide, open blue sky. Some clouds drifted lazily towards what Anna-Grace imagined to be the Ocean. Following them with her eyes, Anna-Grace took another sip from her cup. Had she said how excellent her coffee was? Sighing with this new peace she hadn't felt in a long time, she smiled and answered her friend:

"Yes, it is. I never thought I would be privileged enough to enjoy one like this."

As they both looked at the firmament reigning with all its majesty, Natasha installed herself comfortably near her friend on the couch while answering her:

"Hmm. I know, I feel the same."

"Really?"

The skeptical tone had Natasha chuckling.

"You know, Anna-Grace, I don't know how much you've read about me, but I wasn't exactly raised in the Tsars' castle…"

Anna-Grace blushed at her friend's light teasing and replied:

"Sorry, it's just that it seemed like you were in contact with many wealthy people…"

Looking at Natasha, the blond lady was surprised by the far away air.

"Yes, I was… But it never was like this. Here, I know I can actually enjoy the view. I'm not working and Tony loves that I can take the time to actually look and see…"

Natasha looked at the blond woman with a corner smile before staring at the view again.

"Really?" asked Anna-Grace, this time not with skepticism but thoughtfulness.

"Yes, Anna-Grace. It may not seem like it, but right now, Tony is really happy because you're looking at the window and looking content. He's happy you can take the time to enjoy the view. He knows he grew up with enormous chances in life. He wants all his friends to enjoy it too…"

Anna-Grace kept her eyes on the view but her mind stopped watching. Instead, she thought about how strange her life was now. She had almost no control of it, if she ever had any, yet she had never felt so safe. There had never been so much uncertainty, yet she never had felt so hopeful. For her and for Bruce…

- "You know, Anna-Grace" said Natasha, with a musing tone she rarely heard in her friend's voice, "the table on which Bruce is drawing was ordered specifically by Tony for a day like this."

- "What do you mean?"

- "When Tony realized Bruce... As soon as he knew, Tony ordered it from some designer."

Their eyes were still fixed on the horizon, and with a whisper, the spy added "I know he had the ideas worked out for a while now, probably for the first of our group to have a kid, maybe one day…"

Her voice finished barely audible, but the wistfulness surprised those who heard it. Bruce stopped drawing and looked at his idol, trying to decipher this new mystery. Anna-Grace turned to her friend, respecting the silence they needed. She knew Bruce had been a grown man, that he had had a life before, friends that loved him dearly. But this was the first time she realized the Avengers had been more than just coworkers or friends. They had been his family. He had been part of their family…

Anna-Grace looked at her friend, torn between her sadness over Natasha's loss and her fierce protectiveness over Bruce's need to be a child. Yet, when Natasha's eyes focused on hers, there was no pain, only reflection. Musing, the ginger lady quietly said:

"So when we learned about Bruce, Tony asked for the table to be made with some specific requirements."

"Which were?"

"For the table to be round, low and made in wood."

Anna-Grace looked at the cup her hands were holding. There was an intensity in her friend's eyes she was trying to understand.

"Do you know why, AG?"

The young woman nodded no, knowing Natasha meant something special with what she would say next.

"He wanted a living room table for adults to meet around on other occasions than meals. He wanted it round so kids could run around and never risk getting hit by a corner. He wanted it low so kids could draw on it on their knees. He wanted it made in wood so kids would never fear degrading it with their pencils or their drinks."

Anna-Grace didn't know what to say. This didn't go with what she, despite herself, had imagined about the man who, while nice, always seemed to be doing something and talking.

- "He wanted it so Bruce could feel like he belongs with us, Anna-Grace, no matter what."

No matter his age wasn't said, but Anna-Grace knew it was meant as well.

Looking up at her boy at the table, she smiled at him as he returned to his drawing. Tomorrow might feel like hell was invading earth, but today it felt like no matter what, hope would forever be by their side. Smiling, Anna-Grace nodded at Natasha. Maybe moving out to the Tower wouldn't be so bad after all. She was now convinced of one thing: should they ever move out here, Tony would put all his intelligence, money and sensibility in making their stay as comfortable, funny and safe for them as he could. Because he notices things too.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

When Tony came back to the living room where he had left the gang for a last-minute unavoidable checkup about Stark Industries with Jarvis and the delightful Pepper, he was glad to see everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Steve was drawing on the table - the perfect table - with Bruce who just giggled at something Steve said while Natasha and the mother laughed softly. Smiling at them as he joined them, he was surprised at the welcoming smile he received from Anna-Grace. This is new... Smiling broadly, he said:

"So, ladies, having a good time?"

Natasha looked at Anna-Grace, letting her answer.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Stark, this was lovely."

"Oh, come on, Miss Williams, I already told you, please call me Tony."

Anna-Grace blushed, uncomfortable. She glanced at Bruce who had raised his head, frowning at the man he clearly thought was being too familiar. She suddenly realized she needed to fix that.

"Yes, of course, if you call me Anna-Grace."

"Deal!"

She laughed, letting the birds of hope within her body fly away. Things were certainly still weird, she still felt uneasy around Tony Stark and Steve Rogers but she finally could see herself getting to know them more. They weren't so bad.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Before going back to the same living room than earlier for dinner, they had had another tour, this time in a facility where Bruce could learn about the stars. He had never really thought about it, but he had to admit it was really interesting. To think some stars he could see now didn't even exist anymore? His head out there, lost among so many lights, he didn't realize he didn't have any suspicion about Tony Stark anymore.

They were back in the living room and Bruce had started drawing what his head was full of. He had started with Jupiter and Venus before going for the galaxy. He was drawing himself and Hulk flying among the stars when he heard Tony sit beside him. Looking up at the man, he grinned at him without a hint of shyness for the first time since he had met him. Surprisingly, Tony looked startled then pained, then almost like he was crying before smiling back. The man was weird but really nice, decided Bruce.

"So kid, what do you thing about my Tower?"

The question was sincere, that was for sure, so Bruce took his time thinking.

"It's great."

"Really?" said an excited Tony.

"Yes, the tours were really interesting. Especially the one about time." Bruce paused before asking quietly, "Do you thing I could come back one day and see it again?"

"Of course, kid, of course. I'll talk it over with your mum, but I don't see why you couldn't come and see it as many times as you'd like!" exclaimed an overjoyed Tony.

Bruce grinned, almost laughing then looked at his paper, sudden shyness making him blush. Tony laughed softly before saying,

"Alright, I'll let you finish your drawing."

His tone was so full of tenderness, Bruce looked up at the man who was looking at him strangely again. It was as if he was seeing someone else but himself, someone he really liked… Tony realized he was being strange because he cleared his throat embarrassed before getting up and saying:

"Hulkey-dokey, what's next people? Movie and a delivery? Italian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, French?"

The rest of the conversation was lost on Bruce who looked at his drawing of himself and Hulk. Something stirred within him, something he didn't like, some uneasiness he wasn't used to. Something that had been awakened by Natasha's story about Tony's table… His mind raced faster than it ever raced as his memory tried to remember things he had forgotten and as his formidable mind tried to put back together pieces of information he had collected. Bruce suddenly realized, looking at the green boy drawn on the sheet of paper on the table, that Hulk was a mystery. A mystery he and Anna-Grace were supposed to solve. So why did he feel like everyone had the answer to all his questions but him? Like they had understood everything but had forgotten to tell him? Had they forgotten? Or just chosen to? The uneasiness grew and suddenly, Bruce was scared. He didn't like where his thoughts were going to, not at all. Chasing them out of his mind, he decided to concentrate on Anna-Grace's face as he raised his eyes to look at her. She sure was beautiful and kind, he could trust her.

As he rose to give her his drawing, as she exclaimed how lovely it looked among the stars, as they ate dinner, as they went back home, as she read him a story, as she kissed him goodbye, as he fell asleep, one question stayed put, under the surface of the sea of his subconscious thoughts. It was asleep but ready to jump to the surface and disrupt his inner peace and new perfect life: why do we feel like we know Tony and Natasha from somewhere before Anna-Grace?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"You seem pensive, Anna-Grace"

"Hello to you too, Nat," answered the secretary without even bothering to look up from the papers she was pretending to be filling in Neverland's lobby, a corner smile barely hidden behind her blond hair.

"Haha, hello dear friend. So, what's on your mind?" asked Natasha before leaning against the counter.

"Nothing…"

The spy frowned at her friend's uneasiness. Anna-Grace tried to look in the lobby, hoping for clients to interrupt the conversation or for Bruce to come back from his walk in Central Park.

"I mean, nothing really important…" she added. At her companion's raised eyebrows, she groaned, "Oh, don't give me that look!"

The confident Black Widow chuckled soon followed by the blond:

"Fine, fine" she surrendered. "I was thinking about how I would miss Neverland."

The revelation surprised Natasha, as well as the defeat she could perceive behind the smile plastered on Anna-Grace's face.

"Where is this coming from?" We've never talked about making you leave…"

"He's going to hulk out, as you say, one day Natasha. I know it deep down in my heart."

"You do not need to be so desperate nor un-optimistic, Anna-Grace…"

"It's not like that, Natasha. I'm not saying this because I'm feeling particularly down right now. I just know it will happen one day."

"And what makes you say that?"

"I don't know… A feeling? Something I saw or heard? I just… I know it…"

The feeling had come despite herself, that she was sure off. None could understand, not even herself because she was Anna-Grace. She had collected clues while living with Bruce but those could only have been explained by the knowledge Natasha, Tony or even someone on the Avengers Team had from Bruce Banner's history. They all knew who the Hulk was, and the inner circle knew how the Hulk thought and functioned.

But Anna-Grace didn't. She knew about the Hulk of course. She had looked online, That Day. However, the shock was so overwhelming she never dared look for more information she didn't need once she trusted Natasha.

So, here she was, living with a young boy that should've been an adult and all the hints of him being more than a kid were hers to see, noted but not understood. His incredible health despite the tough winter. His emotional roller-coaster. His dreams and nightmares. Bruce and Hulk talking like they were the best of friends…

Nonetheless, she wasn't oblivious. Hint after hint, clue after clue, it all piled up and started to form an image in her subconscious that told her the Hulk was alive within her boy and waiting to appear… And this morning, Bruce's face had told her she was right. Something had happened somehow, somewhere because of someone she couldn't pinpoint. But it had happened and now she was left uneasy waiting for the worst to happen…