Chapter Thirteen: Back to Work

Emma only stayed in Avengers Tower for a couple of more weeks, much to Bruce's disappointment, before she was forced to return to work. Their goodbye was long and drawn out, however, spending the entire time in Bruce's bedroom. They never left his bed except to eat or use the bathroom. Her new relationship with Bruce was exciting and definitely something she was looking for. She never met a sweeter guy besides her grandfather. She only hoped that Steve would approve.

When she arrived back at her apartment she found Steve and Natasha waiting for her. Ever since Clint took a break from being Hawkeye, Steve and Natasha took to being each other's partners. Emma thought that they worked well together from the way her grandfather had spoke about her on the phone. She could have sworn she saw a spark of something that could lead to them being more than partners. She certainly hoped so, she wanted them both to be happy.

"You've been in New York for a long time, who was keeping you there?" Natasha asked, smirking knowingly at her.

"No one was keeping me there per se, I was working on a project," Emma said.

"A top secret project?" Steve asked, crossing his muscled arms.

Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes at her grandfather. He hated when something was kept from him, a trait of his that she found annoying.

"With Bruce?" the redheaded assassin smirked.

"You'll know soon enough about my secret project when it gets approved. I want it to be surprised," Emma said, as she threw her bags on her bed. "Don't worry, it's a good surprise."

"Is you sleeping with Bruce a good surprise?" Natasha asked, both Steve and Emma nearly choking on their saliva.

"Because you're Natasha Romanoff I'm not going to ask you how you know that," Emma said, glaring at her. "But yes, Bruce and I are together."

"Bruce is a good man," Steve replied.

"So, you approve then?" she asked, teasingly as she unpacked her things.

The super soldier and the assassin stood in the doorway of her bedroom. Their eyes following her as she moved back and forth between her bed and her dresser. She felt small then as though she was their daughter returning home from college. Secretly, she loved the feeling and she wasn't sure why. She barely knew Natasha.

"If he makes you happy and he treats you right which I know he will then yes, I approve," Steve told her.

"Thanks, pops," Emma said softly. "So, what are you two doing in my apartment?"

"Fury wanted us to let you know that we're going to be over seeing your training," Natasha said.

"Wait, he's going to let me out into the field?" Emma asked as she paused in her unpacking.

Since she joined Shield all Emma wanted was to more than sit behind a desk and now it looked like she might be getting her chance.

"With enough training, he will," Steve replied. "Are you up for it?"

"Hell yes!" Emma exclaimed with a squeal and threw her arms around them both. "I've got to call Bruce."

She bounced from the room, leaving the other two alone. Natasha smirking at the young woman's hopping figure, reminding her very much of a bunny.

"Your granddaughter's adorable," Natasha said to Steve.

"Yes, she is," Steve replied with a smile.

"She must get that from her grandfather," Natasha said, smirking when he blushed.

Emma grabbed her phone and dialed her boyfriend's number, he picked up immediately.

"Hey, Emma, miss me already?" Bruce asked.

"I do, in fact, miss you but I was calling to tell you something," Emma said.

"What's up, honey?" Bruce asked.

"Honey?" she asked.

"You don't like it?" Bruce wondered. "I could try something else. I could call you my boo."

Emma snorted with laughter. She couldn't believe that those words came from Bruce Banner's mouth.

"No, don't you dare," Emma said giggling.

"How about baby or babe?" he asked.

"I like babe," she replied with a smile.

"So, what's up babe?"

"Well, Fury's finally letting me into the field, he's getting papa Steve and mama Nat to train me," Emma told him.

"So, you're going to go on missions?" Bruce asked, a tone of worry in his voice.

"Eventually but don't worry, I'll be very well trained," she answered calmly.

"I have every faith that you will do well but it'll be hard not to worry," Bruce said. "I care about you."

"I care about you too," Emma said blushing.

"So, I was thinking in a couple of weeks I'll come out to visit you and maybe you can show me around DC," Bruce said.

"I would love that. I can't wait to see you," Emma said, pausing. "Okay, I'm not so sure about babe anymore. I think we should go back to honey."

"Okay, how about you call me babe and I'll call you honey. How's that, honey?" Bruce asked.

"That sounds great, babe. Oh, yes, I love it," Emma said. "Anyways, I have to finish unpacking."

"Alright, see you later, honey," Bruce said laughing and Emma said her goodbyes, hanging up the phone.

"Correction," Natasha spoke from behind her. "You're both adorable."

"Shut up, Natasha," Emma said as she poke her tongue out at the Black Widow.

She went to start unpacking again but then she paused and turned to Natasha.

"Thank you, Natasha, for agreeing to train me," Emma said, gratefully.

"How could I not?" Natasha asked, scrunching up her face and pinching Emma's cheeks.

Emma mock glared at Natasha and went back to unpacking. She really liked Natasha and since coming to DC she found a friend in Natasha that she never had before. Natasha was quite unique in everything that she did. She was brave, funny, and didn't judge when you needed someone to talk to. If something happened between Natasha and Steve then she wouldn't mind it one bit. Creating the serum was only a way to give her grandparents more time and she wasn't naïve to think, or to want, her grandfather to keep pining for Peggy Carter. It wouldn't healthy. They both needed closure especially since she knew Steve would want to settle down someday. She had a feeling it would be Natasha.