Author's Note: I swear I am trying to get my muses working and organized on my WIP's.

"Mam! Da!"

Darcy all but flew down the steps as she spotted her family coming up the front walk of Stark mansion. She had been exhilarated when the security level dropped enough to let them return. The Tower managed to have its own draw, but she preferred the mansion for sheer atmosphere. Phil had been reluctant to shift back until she added a bit about her concern that some of her cousins might decide to try scaling the Tower – or rappelling down it.

They moved the next day.

Now her smile burst out, brilliant and joyful, as she threw herself into her mother's arms. "You're here!" she laughed. "You're finally here!"

"We're here, we're here." Her mother laughed and hugged her. She felt her father's arms encircle both of them as he pressed a kiss to her head. Darcy let her eyes slip closed as she let herself soak in the feelings burgeoning and blossoming in her heart at the cheerful greetings and shouts ringing in the yard. Maire let her have a moment before she pulled back. "Now," she lifted a brow at her daughter. "Where's he at?"

"Finishing some last minute scheduling," Darcy replied, rolling her eyes as she stepped back. "He's crossing t's and dotting I's."

"And making sure nothing will interrupt the ceremony," Tasha added, moving up beside her.

"There's always likely to be something," her father shrugged. He nodded at Tasha and held out a hand. "Brian Lewis."

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lewis," she shook his hand, her voice holding a cool professionalism. A hint of fierce assurance flickered in her gaze. "Nothing will interrupt this wedding." Her tone allowed no disagreement.

"You really should reel that in, Nat," Tony strolled into the conversation. "You're going to scare the tourists."

"Not likely," Maire replied before the redhead had a chance. She eyed the grinning millionaire for a moment. "You look taller in the pictures." Tony blinked, his grin faltering at the cheerful comment, but she continued without giving him a chance to comment. "My girl says you're a pain in the ass, so you must be an okay sort. Thank you for offering to let us invade while we're here, but we've got no desire to be imposing so-."

"No, no, no," Tony interrupted, shaking his head even as he lifted an eyebrow in Darcy's direction. "First off, security things – you'll have to ask your future son-in-law, my condolences there, about those – and secondly, Pepper would kill me." He shrugged and gave her a charming grin. "It's not like we don't have the room."

Darcy pinched the bridge of her nose. "I swear, Tony," she muttered, "one of these days I'm going to kill you."

"Not before the wedding."

A smile bloomed on Darcy's face as she turned to watch Phil stride up to the group. "You're just in time," she informed him, curling into his side as he slipped around her waist. "And I still think-."

Phil lifted a brow at her. "No."

"But-."

"He's the only one that can afford all of the scientists other than SHIELD and you know what Jane and Bruce would say."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Darcy heaved a sigh and then pointed at Tony. "It's a good thing I like you at least fifty-five percent of the time."

"You adore me, Miss Stacked," he shot back.

"Tony!" Pepper joined the group.

The billionaire pointed at Darcy. "She started it!"

The willowy redhead gave him a disappointed look that he tried to duck. "What must our guests be thinking?"

"I'm trying to decide how exactly he's related," Brian shrugged. Darcy snickered, her free hand coming up to cover her mouth, as the others blinked at him in surprise. The corner of her father's mouth twitched towards a smile, but he managed to hold it back. "He reminds me of my sister, Siobhan."

"Nobody should be reminding you of me," came a new voice. "I am too uniquely fantastic for anyone else to be reminding you of me."

"Hi, Aunt Siobhan," Darcy laughed.

"Lovebirds," Siobhan nodded at her and Phil before glaring at her brother. "Now, just who do you think is reminding you of me?"

"That would be me."

Siobhan turned and gave Tony a quick once over. "Huh." She blinked down, her eyes an inch or two higher than his. "You look taller in pictures." Exasperation flooded into Tony's eyes and Darcy started cackling as she leaned into Phil. Siobhan rolled her eyes and waved a hand. "Ignore Miss Chatterbox there."

"Please don't encourage him, Ms. Lewis," Pepper sighed as Tony's grin widened once more. She exchanged a long look of understanding with Darcy. "So many things become clear," she murmured. Then she gave the group a professional smile. "Shall we move this inside? We have a wing of the house set aside for you."

"Now, truly," Maire began.

"I insist," Pepper interrupted. The calm smile never wavered. Phil pressed a kiss to Darcy's temple before moving away to help direct the clan towards the mansion.

"Don't bother Mam," Darcy laughed. "Nobody wins against Pepper. Ever." She gave the other woman a cheeky smile before turning back to her mother. "Seriously, between her and Phil handling all the everyday stuff, I just have to stick to herding cats."

"Assisting scientists," Tony corrected.

"Exactly," she nodded. He made a face at her, prompting her to stick her tongue out in return. Her mother sighed in tandem with Pepper. Darcy glanced at Tasha before her eyes flickered to the roof. "Let's go," she ordered. "The sooner we're inside, the sooner my security fanatics can relax."

"We're not fanatics," Tasha corrected even as she ushered Darcy towards the building.

She lifted an eyebrow in a clear challenge. "Tell me I don't have two snipers on the roof."

"Snipers?" Brian looked up, narrowing his eyes as he tried to see through the light around them. "Why would there be snipers?"

"Security fanatics," she repeated.

Maire tilted her head in curiosity. "But snipers?"

"Sure," Darcy shrugged. "Tasha's here with me, Phil is working the yard and keeping an eye on the family. There's no sign of the guys, so they must be on the roof." She spread her hands as she allowed Tasha to move her up the steps. "No reason for them to be up there without their weapons if they're going to be keeping an eye on things. Ergo – snipers."

"Will we be meeting them?" Siobhan followed her through the front door. She turned on a heel as she took in the opulent front hall. Her gaze focused on Tony. "Doesn't fit you."

"I inherited it," he shrugged.

"Least you're doing something with it," she nodded. "Can't abide the useless."

"Funny how often I get painted exactly that," he noted. "People keep trying to raise my taxes and lecture me on corporate greed."

"Some people lean towards stupid."

He started laughing. "I cannot argue that."

"You two are not allowed to hang out," Darcy informed both of them. Siobhan smirked at her, but she shook her head. "Don't try me, Aunt Siobhan. My word is law when it comes to the well-being of scientists and only Pepper can overrule me on Tony."

"I don't think-."

"Ack!" She lifted a finger as she spun to face Tony. "One hour with my aunt and I can almost guarantee someone is going to die. I don't know if it'll be you at her hands or the reverse, or whether it'll be the rest of us going after both of you, but there will be quality homicide going on and I refuse to be a party to bloodshed before my wedding." She folded her arms over her chest. "So the answer is no."

"Darcy!"

The echoing shout drew everyone's attention, but Darcy moved to the foot of the stairs. "No, Jane!" she hollered up them.

"But-!"

"You had five hours in the lab already today!" She rolled her eyes. "Tonight you are joining us for family dinner. The labs will still be there later." One finger tapped against her thigh before her eyes narrowed. "And you can tell Jemma and Bruce that the same goes for them!"

A bell chimed. "Miss Lewis?"

"Hey, J, what's up?"

"Doctor Ross would like me to inform you that she will ensure the presence of Doctor Banner at dinner this evening," JARVIS informed her. "Prince Thor has confirmed he shall do the same in regards to Doctor Foster."

"FitzSimmons?"

"Doctor Fitz appears to be working on convincing Doctor Simmons that she does not need to return to the labs this evening."

Darcy gave a deep exasperated sigh. "Volunteer?" She threw the word out to everyone.

"I'll take care of it," Bucky replied, materializing at her elbow. Steve leaned against a nearby wall and his friend nodded at him. "We'll make sure they're at dinner on time."

"Great!" Darcy gave him a quick hug. She turned towards her family. "Sorry about putting off introductions, but it'll be easier to introduce everyone over dinner if only because that's the one time I can be sure everyone will be there at the same time."

"Barring any emergencies," Phil added, returning to her side.

"No." She shook her head at him. "Do not jinx it. SHIELD, the Fantastic Four, or the X-Men can handle it tonight. We are going to have this dinner and get everyone introduced before anyone tries taking apart the city."

The barest hint of a smile flickered over his lips. "Anyone?"

"Loki, Doom, Magneto." Darcy ticked the names off on her fingers as she twisted until she could lean against him. "Deadpool, Johnny, Tony."

"I think I should resent being on that list," Tony interrupted. He turned to Pepper. "Should I resent being on that list? Because I think I should resent being on that list."

Darcy ignored him and continued her countdown. "Scientists, spies, super guys."

"The spies are staying in tonight," Clint interjected from his perch on the bannister. "We're handling security, so the city's on its own."

"Don't even try that one with me," she informed him, a speaking look on her face. "I've seen those timed devices you all think you're being so sneaky about."

"Darcy Marie," Maire laughed, "what are you going on about?"

"I know better, Mam." Darcy arched an eyebrow at her mother. "I know darn well you added two and two ages ago. Aunt Siobhan probably bribed half of the science community as soon as she found out I was staying with Jane after graduation." She pursed her lips. "And half of the cousins probably started hacking within ten minutes after I hung up with Jenny about coming to New York."

"Yes, yes," Maire waved that off as others from the clan chuckled. "I know who you're working for and with. That wasn't what I was talking about."

"It wasn't?"

"Don't be daft, girl," Brian shook his head. "She was talking about your list of city despoilers." He fixed her with a stern look. "Did you forget who all came visiting? Aedan, Hugh, and Sorcha are here."

Three separate shouts of fervent and heated denial rang across the room as the clan chuckled.

Darcy grew still, her eyes widening with horror as they fixed on her father's amused, if commiserating look. "Oh, my God," she groaned before she turned to lean her forehead against Phil's chest. "We're doomed."