I thought winter was over! There was no snow for two whole months and suddenly winter decided to come back!
Chapter 22-
Saturday came around and the party was in full swing at the Avengers Tower. There were old SHIELD agents, veterans of World War II, and others that Tony had invited. Emerson and Steve were found talking to Sam Wilson. Who Emerson had yet to meet in person.
"Sounds like a hell of a fight, sorry I missed it." Sam said taking a sip of his drink.
Putting his arm around Emerson, Steve smirked. "If I had known it was going to be a firefight I absolutely would have called you."
"No, I'm not actually sorry." Sam said shaking his head as Emerson laughed at the two. "I am just trying to sound tough. I'm very happy chasing cold leads on our missing persons case. Avenging is your world. Your world is crazy."
Nodding her head, Emerson looked over at Sam. "I can vouch for that."
Smirking at the blonde women. "I like you."
"Most guys do." Emerson said winking exaggerating at Sam.
"You picked a good one, Cap." Sam said lifting his drink to his friend. "Now I know why you didn't shut up about her."
Taking a sip of the drink Thor gave him. "Well its hard not to talk about the person you are madly in love with."
"Well I'm glad everything worked out." Sam said smiling. "So you find a place in Brooklyn yet?"
"I don't think I can afford a place in Brooklyn and Emerson owns a bakery on the Upper West Side, so that would be too far for her to travel back and forth." Steve said while Emerson nodded her head in agreement.
"Well, home is home, you know?" Sam said patting Steve on the shoulder. "Well I'll let you two be all cute and coupley. I am going to go mingle."
As Sam left the couple alone, Steve turned towards Emerson checking her out as he did so. "Have I told you how amazing you look tonight?"
Spinning in a circle so Steve could get the whole look. Emerson was wearing a black strapless dress with a pair black ankle boots. The dress hugged her in all the right places and even showed off the little baby bump that was beginning to grow. "I don't think you did."
"Well you look absolutely amazing." Steve said pulling her into an embrace. "Everyone keeps staring at you."
Wrapping her arms around his neck. "No I think they are staring at you. You know the guy who thought it would be cool to throw his motorcycle at people."
"It was a good idea at the time." Steve said with a boyish smile on his face. "Come on lets get a drink. It looks like Bruce and Natasha are talking."
Shaking her head as she followed Steve to the bar. "More like flirting. You do know they like each other right?"
"What? No they don't. They aren't together." Steve said shaking his head at Emerson.
Smirking softly. "That is because they are both chickens."
Steve and Emerson made it to the bar after Natasha walked away, Emerson went behind the bar and began to make a kiddie cocktail for herself.
"It's nice." Steve said leaning against the bar next to Bruce.
Turning towards the super solider confused. Bruce said. "What, what is?"
Emerson said nodding her head towards the retreating red head. "You and Natasha."
"No we haven't. That wasn't…" Bruce said horribly trying to convince Steve that nothing was going on.
"It's okay." Steve said putting his hands up. "Nobody's breaking any by-laws. It's just, she's not the most..open person in the world."
"But with you she seems very relaxed." Emerson said reaching over the bar, resting her hand on Bruce's shoulder.
Shaking his head at the blonde couple. "No, Natasha, she…she just likes to flirt."
"I've seen her flirt, up close." Steve said as Emerson snorted. "This ain't that. Look, if I didn't have Em here. I would be the world's leading authority on 'waiting too long', don't. You both deserve a win."
"Wait, what do you mean, 'up close'?" Bruce called out as Emerson and Steve walked away from the scientist.
Wrapping her arm around Steve's. "Well if that doesn't get Bruce thinking. I don't know what will."
"A wrecking ball would work." Steve said leaning against the couch in the middle of the room. "So how are you feeling?"
"I feel good actually. I was a little stressed out when you were out on that little expedition." Emerson said resting free hand on her stomach. "But everything is good."
"Say good one more time then I'll believe you." Steve said kissing Emerson's forehead. "And I promise not to stress you out anymore. I am done with going out into the field."
Nodding her head. "Until the world needs Captain America, right?"
"Well hopefully there won't be a need for Captain America." Steve said resting his hand on top of hers. "I'm a family guy now."
"Steve, don't make promises you can't keep." Emerson said looking at their hands resting on her stomach. "We both know that when you hear a cry for help, you will jump to the rescue."
Steve stood up straighter, looking around to see if anyone was listening into their conversation. "Em, what is it going to take for you to believe me? Do you need it in writing saying I won't go out in the field unless told so by all the world leaders?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Emerson sighed. "I don't know Steve. I'll believe it when I see it."
After the party ended and all the guests had left, The Avengers and Emerson were sitting around the coffee table that Thor's hammer Mjolnir was sitting on. Clint was convinced that the hammer was a magic trick and wouldn't let it go.
"Uh, 'Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!' Whatever man! It's a trick." Clint said waving his hands up.
Motioning towards the hammer, Thor challenged Clint. "Well please, be my guest."
"Come on." Tony said rolling his eyes at the Demi God.
"Really?" Barton asked getting up from his spot.
"Clint, you've had a tough week. We won't hold it against you if you can't get it up." Tony said as everyone laughed.
After one try and the hammer didn't move an inch. Clint looked over at Thor. "I still don't know how you do it."
"Smell the silent judgment?" Stark asked smugly as Clint sat back down/
"Please, Stark." Clint said gesturing towards the hammer. "By all means."
"Oh, here we go." Emerson and Natasha said leaning against each other.
Tony stood up and began rolling up his sleeves. "Never one to shrink from an honest challenge."
"Get after it." Clint said leaning in his chair. Getting ready to enjoy the show.
"It's physics really." Tony said grasping the hammer before looking at Thor. "So if I lift it, I then rule Asgard?"
Nodding his head. "Yes, of course."
"I will be re-instituting Prima Nocta." Stark said before he began to pull on the hammer. After pulling on the hammer and it didn't move, Stark looked at the group. "I'll be back." After a few minutes, Stark came back with his armored hand and tried to lift the hammer again but failed. After Tony gave up, Bruce tried to see if he could do it. As the scientist tired to lift the hammer, he roared trying to change into the Hulk. Everyone but Natasha stares at him warily, Natasha only grins.
"Let's go, Steve, no pressure." Tony said as Steve stood up from his spot next to Emerson.
"You do know I'm not going to let you live this down right?" Emerson asked knowing he was going to fail.
"Thanks for the support doll." Steve said checking his grip on the hammer. Steve was the closest one to to lift the hammer, as he managed to budge it a little. Thor looked at Steve a little alarmed before he relaxed when Steve still failed to lift it.
"Nothing." Thor said laughing softly. Before seeing if anyone else wanted to try the challenge.
"Ladies?" Tony asked Natasha and Emerson.
Snorting softly before taking a sip of her beer. "That is not a a question I need answered."
Agreeing with Natasha, Emerson said. "It probably won't be good for the baby. I already put the baby through enough stress for the week."
Tony looked over at Thor. "All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged."
"You bet your ass." Clint said agreeing.
"Oh babe, he said a bad language word." Emerson said smirking at her future husband.
Looking over at Tony, Steve sighed. "Really? You had to tell Emerson about that? Great another thing for her to tease me with."
Ignoring the super soldier, Stark looked back at the hammer. "The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code. "Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints." is, I think, the literal translation?"
"Yes, well that's, uh, that's a very interesting theory. I have a simpler one." Thor stood up and as he grabbed the hammer, he flipped it. "You're all not worthy."
"Boo!" Everyone said except for Emerson who was laughing in amusement. Until suddenly there was a loud screeching noise, which caused everyone to cover their ears. A minute later it finally subdued, even though ears were still ringing, everyone uncovered their ears as a not well put together robot walked into the room.
"Worthy. No. How could you be worthy?" The robot said waving his arm around, wires touching the ground. "You're all killers."
Steve moved in front of Emerson, blocking her line of sight. "Stark."
"JARVIS?" Tony said already trying to get the robot to turn off.
"I'm sorry, I was asleep." Shaking his head. "Or, or I was a dream?"
Tapping his device that controlled the Iron Legions, Tony continued to turn off the robot. "Reboot, Legionnaire OS, we got a baggy suit."
"There was a terrible noise." The robot said walk closer to the group. "And I was tangled in..in strings. I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy."
"You killed someone?" Steve asked keeping his hand on Emerson.
Shaking his head, trying to seem sad, at least as sad as a robot could look. "Wouldn't have been my first call. But, down in the real world we're faced with ugly choices."
Thor standing up, hammer ready to throw. "Who sent you?"
"I see a suit of armor around the world." A recording of Stark's voice said.
"Ultron!" Bruce said standing up with Thor.
"In the flesh." Ultron bowed. "Or, no, not yet. Not this chrysalis. But I'm ready. I'm on a mission."
"What mission?" Natasha asked slowly going for her gun.
"Peace in our time." Ultron exclaimed as the Iron Legion bots smash thought the walls and attacked the team.
Steve pushed Emerson out of the way, Bruce landing on her. "Ooff."
"I'm sorry." Bruce said looking down at her.
Nodding her head. "It probably won't be a good idea to turn green."
"I won't." He said pulling her up, protecting her as they ran off somewhere to hide her. Emerson noticed that Ultron took Loki's scepter and pointed it out to Bruce. "We'll get it."
"Stark!" Emerson heard Steve yell as a bot started walking towards her. Suddenly she saw Steve's shield hit the bot and Emerson sighed in relief. The bot no longer saying "We are here to help."
"That was dramatic! I'm sorry, I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through. You want to protect the world, but you don't want it to change. How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to…evolve?" Picking up one of the dismembered Iron Legions. "With these? These puppets? There's only one path to peace: The Avengers' extinction!" Suddenly Thor threw his hammer at Ultron and smashed him to pieces.
"I think that he was more dramatic then you guys were." Emerson said standing up, hand on her stomach. "If that makes you feel better."
