A/N: Quick Update! Yay me! This chapter is big, and a lot happens, but it's moving the action and pairing along quite nicely. I have created to possible love interests for Lilliana, but do not fret, I have it all planned out, it's the filler that gives me issue.

Chapter 9: Sleeping In

Dr. Bruce Banner woke with a start, looking frantically around Lilliana Hudson's room for the young woman. He found her still at her computer, and glanced at his watch. It was past 4am, and she was still working steadily. He got up and stretched, walking sleepily over to her. She didn't even look away from the screen until he put his hands on her shoulders, causing her to jump.

"Calm down worker bee."

"I'm almost done."

"What did you do, rewrite it?"

"I wasn't sure if it was formal enough for the World Summit."

"It was perfect."

"It felt too personal. I'm getting ready to send it now."

"All right, send it and get in bed, you look exhausted." He told her, rubbing her back. Not sure why he was being this way with her, and cursing himself for getting attached. She listened though, a few clicks and she shut her laptop, stood up and shuffled to her bed, almost collapsing into it. He watched her for a moment, trying to get his mind in order, because he just couldn't determine where the need to help and take care of her came from. It was frustrating, he didn't want to get close to anyone, especially not here, but he couldn't help it, something about her was attractive to him. He shook it off, covered her up, turned off her light and left, taking his troubling thoughts back to his room, and debated going into the safe room to let the green guy vent.

There was no simpler way to put it; Tony Stark loved to be right. He loved to walk around, with a smug look on his face, and look at the defeated and frustrated face of the people that doubted his judgment or decisions. Today, he walked around with a thick copy of Lilliana Hudson's report on the Avenger Initiative rolled and tucked under his arm. The entire base had the opportunity to read it, and most were impressed by her writing to say the least. Any doubts on her hiring had been erased, only to be replaced with admiration for making each and every one of them sound important. It now became evident that Stark's demanding of her presence was the best thing for them, especially since the threat of Thanos was becoming more serious by the day, and they were going to need permission to work against him.

Lilliana Hudson enjoyed sleeping in, a lot. Most days she would have been happy to sleep until noon, but today was not most days. As she shot out of bed and dressed in a hurry, she was confused as to why her alarm hadn't gone off, or why Hill hadn't come in and ripped her out of bed by her pony tail, or Bruce hadn't come to find her for breakfast. Her mind then wandered to the connection he was trying to form with her, something more than friends, whatever it would be, it was something she didn't want. For them or for her, because of the nature of their job, anyone of them could die, and emotions made for endangerment. She was content in merely being an observer, despite her passion for them. She looked at her tired face in the mirror; she had thrown on a tank top and sweats, her hair in a messy bun, and slipped on her shoes, untied. Deciding to deal with it all later, she jogged down to the gym. Steve saw her and stopped her, grabbing her arm.

"Take it easy, you've been given the day off."

"Since when, are they kicking me off? Did he not like the article?" The panic that overwhelmed her face made him chuckle, and he shook his head.

"No, you've just been so busy writing it, he gave you the day off. Let the man be nice for once. Come to lunch, the gym will be there afterwards." He held his arm out to her and she took it with a nervous smile. They walked awhile in silence, both unsure of what to say.

"I liked what you wrote about me. It kind of captured everything in a new light."

"I'm glad you're okay with it."

"I never looked at it all in one place. It's overwhelming sometimes, everything I missed."

"So did you ever look her up when you thawed out?"

"Yes. She aged, gracefully, and is living in a suburb with her husband."

"I'm sorry Steve."

"I'm not. I'm glad she went on to live a full life, she has a beautiful family."

"Good for her, and you, for not being sad."

"I've been given another chance at life, and at love, what is there to be sad about?"

"Missing her."

"I was, for a while, bitter at everything I missed. Hated myself for not being here, but everything happens for a reason. She was right to move on."

"I agree. So after this you plan on doing the same?"

"Yea, I reckon I will, if I find the right woman."

"I hope you do."

"What are you doing for dinner?"

"Steve… I don't…"

"Don't say no."

"It's hardly professional."

"Is this a profession? Bruce says you want to be an actress."

"Still… we're coworkers in a sense."

"Please, just one dinner."

"Don't tell Fury?"

"Deal." He smiled warmly at her and she blushed. They walked into the mess hall and Tony, in his boasting, pulled her away from him, and walked her around, praising her and boasting to others how great she was. She saw Bruce and Steve talking across the room, and concentrated on reading their lips, to the point that she blocked out whatever Tony was saying about her. They both had smiles on their faces, and Bruce kept looking at her, and it was just getting overwhelming. She wasn't ready for all of this, and then her window of opportunity presented itself as Peter walked into the room, looking frantic, and pulled her away from everyone and out of the mess hall.

"You're going home, now." He commanded of her, pulling her down the hall to her room.

"What happened Peter?"

"I just got my hands on your briefing, and it is too dangerous for you!"

"I'm not a baby! Peter, I know what's going on and I'm ready. Clearly, or I would have left on my own. I have accepted every possibility. You can't make me leave."

"You can't even defend yourself." He yanked her arm roughly, but she pulled it back, pushing him away. Surprised, Peter stumbled backwards, needing his abilities to maintain balance.

"Spar me."

"You'll lose."

"Only if you use your advantage over me."

"Everyone will always have an advantage over you. Everyone on this base, everyone that will come after you because of this, and everyone who catches you off guard will beat you. Just like two years ago when I saved you from that gang." Now he was yelling at her, a part of him angry at her foolishness and he pushed her back, not realizing how much force he used and she hit the wall behind her hard enough to wind her. Within seconds after she hit Steve was at her side and Bruce had Peter pinned to the opposite walls, his veins pulsating and his eyes flickering that dangerous green color.

"That's no way to treat a lady Parker." Steve snapped, bracing her while she grabbed the back of her head. "I think you ought to apologize."

"I won't apologize for trying to save her. This is no place for someone like her. If you want what's best for her, like MJ and I do, you'll tell her to go home. She did her job."

"She's a smart young lady that can make her own choices, right Big Guy? Why don't we let Spidey go?" Tony had joined the group in the hall, and was barring the door from anymore company. Bruce pushed Peter in the wall and walked over to Lilly's other side, concerned as he realized how fragile she really was.

"Bruce agrees with Peter." Lilly said softly. "Do you, Steve?"

"I don't have a choice in what you do Sugar."

"Yes then?" Lilly shook the boys off and walked back to her room, hopped in the shower, and washed the insecurities away again.