Chapter 13 is ready for posting. I greatly appreciate those who are sticking with me here.

keamlkntl: Always happy to be a part of making someone's day a little brighter.

star3235: Thanks. Hope you find this chapter appropriately fluffy as well.

icecold5: Thank you.

sailorraven34: I'm so glad you liked.

Thanks all for the kind reviews. This one is short. I had another idea for it that I had been working on, but then this one popped into my mind and the image just made me smile. Hopefully, you'll do so as well.


Day 13: Eating Ice Cream

The dark colored SHIELD SUV silently drove into the Avenger's Tower parking garage. The back door opened and a very disgusted Maria Hill climbed out.

"Go back to the base and get this thing cleaned up," she told the driver before slamming the door. She watched the vehicle drive away, then turned towards the elevator.

When the doors opened, she groaned softly.

She found herself facing a very amused group of Avengers.

Pepper looked amused, but slightly concerned.

Thor looked completely confused.

Phil, Bruce and Steve were at least attempting to hide their smiles, even though they weren't doing a very good job of it.

Nick's look was questioning.

Clint and Natasha were both smiling broadly and something that sounded suspiciously like a muffled laugh escaped the red head's mouth.

Tony, though, was grinning from ear to ear.

Maria glared at them, hands on her hips. She was covered from head to toe in multicolored globs of something dripping and fluffy.

"What is the meaning of this manner of personal decoration?" the Asgardian inquired.

Bruce patted his arm. "I don't thing it's intentional, my friend."

"Why do the bad guys always feel the need to blow thing up?" she growled.

"Um...because it's fun to blow stuff up?" Tony offered. "Duh."

The others nodded, mumbling their agreement.

"You never seem to have a problem setting off explosions, Maria," Phil added.

"But it sucks when you're the one that gets exploded on," she groused.

"What exactly are you dripping all over our garage floor?" Tony inquired, reaching out to touch one of the colorful globs decorating the deputy director.

"Ice cream."

"Ice cream?"

She nodded, reaching up to wipe away a sticky glob running down her face. "Tracked the guy down. Found him holed up in an ice cream distribution facility. I'm chasing him through the coolers, freezing my butt off, and he throws a grenade at me."

"You okay?" Nick asked, suddenly concerned.

"I'm fine," she assured him. "I guess his fingers were too cold to get a decent grip and his throw was way off. Rolled under a pallet of those big containers they ship to the ice cream stores. Big boom." She used her hands to illustrate. "Ice cream everywhere."

"Did you catch the guy?" Nat asked.

Maria nodded. "Tackled him when he slipped in a puddle of something green."

Tony studied her a moment, then reached a finger out to a green glob sliding down her arm. He caught it, then brought is to his tongue.

"Pistachio?" he commented, offering Pepper a taste.

"I think so," she agreed.

"Is this strawberry?" Natasha asked, poking her finger in a pale pink glob on her friend's shoulder. She licked it off, then shook her head. "Cotton candy, I think."

The agent glared at them. "It's sticky and it went down my collar and it's cold," she told them.

Tony shifted his attention to her chest. "Apparently so."

Pepper elbowed him sharply.

Nick stepped forward. "We were just about to head out for some dinner."

"Guess I've got dessert covered," Maria commented, holding her arms out.

"Actually, dessert has you covered," Bruce corrected.

She started to send him an icy glare, then decided to settle for a heavy sigh and an eye roll.

"You guys go ahead. I'll help her get cleaned up and we'll catch up with you later," Nick told the rest of the group.

"Sounds like a good plan," Pepper replied, pulling Tony along behind her.

As they passed her, each of her friends felt the need to scoop up a fingerful of drippy ice cream. Of course, under Nick's watchful eye, even Tony was careful where he sampled from.

Finally alone, Nick followed Maria into the elevator. She sighed again. "I was hoping to get in here without anyone noticing and get cleaned up. Should have known it wouldn't go that smoothly."

"Still probably a better option than HQ," he responded.

She nodded agreement, then sighed again when a rivulet of chocolate ran down her cheek. She started to wipe it away, but Nick gently grasped her wrists. Instead he leaned close, his tongue darting out to catch it as it reached the corner of her mouth.

She smiled. "You know, somehow, I don't mind so much when you do that."

"You mentioned something about some going down your shirt?" he inquired, eyebrow lifting.

"I did,"she answered. "And I could probably use some help to get that cleaned up, too."

"And I do love ice cream."

"I'm thinking we might not be joining the others for dinner," Maria laughed, leading him down the hall towards her rooms.

"I think you may be right," he laughed. "And I don't think anyone will be surprised."


Thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Please drop a review. It's like water to a withered plant. I love knowing I made you smile or giggle or roll your eyes.

I have the next chapter of Stroll about halfway written out, about half of a new, (probably) one-shot written, new chapters of Risks and Alternative making their way through the gray matter as well as a niggling idea for continuing Secrets. Oh, and there's also laundry needing to be done. Decisions, decisions.

Day 14 is Gender Swapped. This could be difficult.