A/N: It has come to the point in this story where I no longer have control over these characters, I'll write them but I've lost control and now they live in their own universe. I let them do what they want and pray that they end up happy.

P.S. there's no Lucas in this chapter, or the next mainly because its more about repairing the Avengers right now.

Chapter Six – Sometimes it's easy to sneak around

Tony flirts with everyone, he knows this, he didn't expect to have Captain America the paragon of all that is good to flirt back. The only reason he had used the opening that Steve had given him was because he needed to find a way to get all of the Avengers into one place. Panic attack or no panic attack he needed to sit down with them all and actually have a conversation. The barbeque was out of the question because everyone invited knew about Riley so they were allowed to be father and daughter for a day without worrying about the media. After thinking about it since the conversation with Steve, and promptly blowing up the upgrade to the boot of his suit and having DUM-E use the fire extinguisher on him and not the boot.

"Did you invite the Avengers to our family barbeque?" Pepper asked as she walked in through the door.

"Yes and no, Steve invited himself and the team and I agreed to it, but I have an idea, the barbeque can be on Sunday because it gives you an excuse to force everyone to bed since the next day is a school day, and I'll tell the Avengers to come over on Saturday and we can have our dinner that day."

"You've thought of everything except one little detail," she said raising her eyebrows at him.

"What? What did I forget?"

"Riley."

"She can hide for a day."

"From super soldiers, spies, and powered individuals?"

"Her lab has a lockdown, and the vents are so small that not even Clint could get inside of them so she'll be alright."

"You know sometimes I'm afraid that our daughter takes too much after you."

"Yeah until she starts handing out words of wisdom or asks me for shoes, the shoe thing I'm pretty sure comes from you."

Pepper sighed before sitting down on the couch. his workshop. It was brand new since the last one had been torched when he accidentally set off the repulsor in his glove the week before while doing an upgrade.

"Do you want to talk about the other thing?"

"You mean the fact that you and Rhodey are dating? Let me think… Yes," he said smiling before sitting down next to her. "There was a time where I was sure that we would stay together but now I'm not so sure."

"I wished for it too but in the end I guess I was more afraid you'd die as Iron Man."

"But Rhodey bear is a service man, and he's the Iron Patriot."

"But he's more careful than you are when it comes to a lot of things, and he always remembers the small things, with you some days I was lucky that you remembered to sleep."

"Harsh Pep."

"Let me just tell you the easy part," she said taking a deep breath. "We started dating about two months ago."

"Who made the first move?"

"He did, and he was a complete gentleman about it too."

"I'm happy for the both of you, and if he hurts you in any way tell me, I'll send Riley to kick his ass."

"No, I'll kick his ass, with my million-dollar heels."

"Did I ever get you a pair of million-dollar shoes?"

"If you did I would remember but no you didn't. Although maybe for Christmas?"

"Listen if you and Rhodey get married I'll buy you the shoes and the dress to match, hell I'll walk you down the aisle and give you away."

"Sounds like a plan," she smiled at him before pulling him into a hug. "Are you going to give James the shovel talk today or are you waiting until he starts sweating?"

He thought about it for a moment before he decided. "I'll wait, he still needs to get Riley's permission to date you."

"She's a tough one," she said laughing. They both knew how protective their daughter was, for Tony she worked to make sure he survived. For Pepper she made sure that he did his paperwork, and they had the occasional shopping trip with one another.

"By the way," he said once they stopped laughing. "How did you find out about the team coming to the barbeque?"

"I got an email from FRIDAY, which was just the first because I also received a voicemail from Vision."

"Betrayed by my own creations, I should have known."

"I'm actually Riley's creation Boss," FRIDAY said making Pepper laugh.

"Yeah yeah," he said before leaning into the back of the couch and rubbing his eyes.

"I know it's useless but you should get some sleep," she said to him.

"I should but I need to finish this up before tomorrow, I signed all the paperwork you sent me earlier so you can pick it up from my office of have someone pick it up for you."

"You know you're being very responsible, especially now that you're the Director, if I didn't know better I would have thought that you'd been possessed by something."

"No, just trying to make my kid proud."

Pepper left him alone in the workshop not long after that, leaving him to fix the problem with his boot in peace. He had sent off an email while he worked to Steve that he had to be at the house by six on Saturday, and then sent the same email to all of the other Avengers, including a wayward archer who hated him because he was nice to the guy's kids.

"Time to fix some relationships," he said out loud to himself.

"Whatever you say Boss," FRIDAY answered.

"I didn't forget about your meddling young lady so don't push me," he said threatening the A.I. which shouldn't be weird because it was a normal occurrence but now he didn't know if FRIDAY was working with him or against him. It was Riley's creation but it felt as though his own kid was using the A.I. to manipulate him into a false sense of security. When had his daughter become the parent in the relationship?

Tony sent Steve a message telling him that they should have their date on Saturday, and then promptly sent an invite for the barbeque to the rest of the Avengers for the same day. He had to believe that his daughter was right about families fighting but he also knew that there was going to be an all-out fight that day as well.

"Fri, can you tell Vision to come down here so I can get his help," he said thinking of JARVIS his old friend still lives within Vision but in some ways he's learned that Vision was also becoming a good friend so he didn't mind.

"FRIDAY has told me that you would like to see me," Vision said as he came through the wall making Tony jump and fire off the boot he had been working on for the second time.

"Jesus," he as the far wall exploded. "Doors Viz, learn to use doors please."

"Sorry."

"It's alright, I wanted to see you because I'm planning something and honestly I don't want the other avengers to know I'm planning this, and Steve thinks it's a date but it's actually a team bonding thing," he said only stopping because he needed to breathe. "Anyway, Riley wants me to work on mending these relationships with the team, and honestly no matter how much we all fucked up, we need to once again function as a team even if that means lying to everyone to make sure that they show up for dinner."

"And what is my role in all of this?" Vision said looking at him with wonder. Although for Tony is was still a bit freaky that the guy could look so human and not be human at the same time.

"Well you've been working on your cooking skills, so can you be in charge of food, nothing fancy just something that says home."

"It sounds like a strange concept but I have been working on several recipes with Riley, Isaiah, and Peter so I believe I can try."

"Thanks Viz, for everything."

"No problem Mr. Stark," he smiled for a moment but before Tony could correct him the android left the room.

"I hate it when he calls me Mr. Stark, and now I'm sure he does it on purpose," he said to himself before moving on to fixing the latest disaster.

Riley had gotten the message from her father, she wasn't allowed upstairs while the Avengers were on the premises and since they weren't sure when the team would arrive, she had locked herself away the night before. She had homework to do and things to build, plus she had to figure out the formula for that nail polish which had been bothering her since she blew up the science lab.

As she worked on the equations for the nail polish, her phone started ringing, she saw Zay's face light up the screen so she put the phone to her ear as she answered.

"Hey Zay," she said as she tweaked the equation, making FRIDAY run the numbers before the screen turned red making her grunt at the fact that she couldn't perfect the damn thing.

"So I think my dad is dating your mom," Zay said making Riley drop her tablet.

"WHAT?"

"Well your mom came over yesterday, my dad thought I was sleeping, anyway they were downstairs talking about how she told your dad that they were dating because my dad was too much of a coward to do it the other day."

"Zay, Uncle Rhodey is not a coward."

"No he's not, but apparently he needs your approval for their relationship to continue, because your dad has already blessed them, but because we're their kids they need our approval. I mean if they got together to the point where they got married we'd be brother and sister, which is cool, but why do they need our permission to date?"

"I think it has to do with boundaries and how it would be a blended family, and all of that kind of stuff," she said thinking about how it would make them all a real family. "You know, I approve of their relationship, plus they know each other so there's no awkward thing where they have to explain that they have kids."

"You're being optimistic."

"Yeah well I've been locked in my workshop for an entire day because of whatever my dad is up to, and since the Avengers were coming over I can't go to my room… it gives a person time to think about things."

Her phone beeped three times, as her tablet alerted her that Peter was on the other line.

"Hey Zay, Peter's calling," she said.

"Go talk to your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend, will you let that go."

"Nope, talk to you later."

"Later Zay."

She switched the call over only to have Peter sigh in her ear.

"So I'm at your house, and I can't bug you because the Avengers are coming over, what's your dad up to?"

"Team building exercises," she said smiling. "Actually I'm not sure, all I know is that I'm not allowed to go out, and you can't come down here, but we're having a barbeque tomorrow and your invited to that."

"Am I?" he said and she knew he was bored because he was trying to find something to talk about with her even if he questioned everything she was saying.

"Yes, it's only family, so basically my parents, Zay and Uncle Rhodey, you, Ned and Vision… In the end it's just the people who know I exist. I mean dad invited Uncle Nick but he's busy."

"How your dad has kept you a secret is beyond me," Peter said before becoming quiet. "Everyone is starting to arrive."

"Game face Pete," she said smiling.

"I wish, it's still a little weird that they know who I am, but not know who I am… wait did that make any sense?"

"Not really but then again you're in a room full of superheroes so who knows what makes sense anymore. Text me when you're ready to run and Vision will probably find a way to sneak you away."

"Funny, but even I'm sure you're as stuck as I am in all of this," he said and she knew he was waving his hands around. Peter was very animated when he spoke to anyone and sometimes is was fun to watch.

"Who's up there anyway?"

"Well that panther guy is here, and Dr. Banner has been talking to Tony about something and of course… Tony is trying to convince him to teach a science class at the academy," he said and Riley could tell that he was trying to hold back the words your dad. "Vision is in the kitchen cooking, and Zay's dad is here making himself a drink."

"Yeah… good luck with that and talk to you later," she said before attempting to hang up.

"Later… yeah hopefully nothing happens… so yeah later," he said mumbling along. He was nervous and she knew it.

Letting go of the phone she walked over to the couch she kept in the shop and sat down trying to figure out what to do with herself when Vision came in through the wall making her jump.

"Jeez, why can't I get used to that?" she said with her hand on her chest as her heartbeat sped up.

"I'm sorry, but since I'm not allowed to open the door and not alert the others within the house it was unavoidable," Vision said uncovering a plate full of food. Riley smiled when she saw nothing but comfort food in front of her. Before Peter knew who she was Vision had been her only real friend outside of Zay, so when Vision had started to learn how to cook with Wanda, he had come over to the house with plates of food for Riley to try.

Lately he had been cooking dinner with even Peter in mind, as he was coming over more and more. Ned came with him sometimes, but mostly went to Zay's because they had some kind of competition going on a video game.

"It's okay," she said smiling as he put down a plate of mac and cheese with stuffed chicken breast and mashed potatoes. "You know if mom saw that there were no veggies in this she would probably freak."

That was when Vision uncovered a second plate with the most colorful salad she could have imagined. She couldn't help but smile at the android wishing that he could taste the things he often made for her.

"Thanks," she said before receiving a smile from Vision.

"You're welcome," he said before leaving.

The only thing she could do now was wait so she had FRIDAY put on a movie as she settled down to eat her food.

Steve drove his motorcycle to Tony's house for their date, he had thought it was going to be a barbeque but when he had gotten the message it hadn't seemed that way anymore. He had learned from Bucky, in what seems like another time, to flirt with others but had never actually flirted. Even with Sharon everything had been an awkward mess, but he tried it out on Tony and didn't really expect the reaction he had received.

He also hadn't expected up to the huge house and see the rest of the Avengers standing in front of the door as if they were debating on whether to knock or run the other way. Clint was standing next to Natasha who was holding his hand while Bucky glared from her other side. Wanda was letting out sparks of magic from being nervous, Sam was watching everyone, and Scott wasn't sure if he was supposed to be there.

"Hey," he said walking up to everyone utterly confused as to what was happening.

"So Stark invites the whole team over for dinner," Clint says as he tries to pull away from Nat. "Without telling any of us that he invited the other members of the team."

"Well he hasn't really spoken to any of us since he announced that he was the director," Natasha said, Steve could see a bit of sadness in her eyes.

"I'm pretty sure the only person who talks to him is Colonel Rhodes," Steve said watching as everyone was nervous. He had realized at that moment that Tony had lied about the date, and for some reason it stung because he wanted it to happen, but Tony had to deal with his trust issues with the team. He should have known this but he had given himself a little bit of hope anyway.

Steve watched as Clint attempted to run away for a second time but Natasha grabbed onto his shirt collar and pulled him back choking the man.

"Damn it Nat let me go," Clint said trying to get away from her grip.

"No, Laura says you have to do this, she's still pissed off at you for leaving and going off to help Steve because you were supposed to be retired. She also told me how much fun you all had on Tony's private island so stop being stupid and fucking apologize to the man like the grown up man that you are or else I'll get James to sit on your head until I can get your wife over here to yell at you," she said without stopping, and Steve knew she meant business.

He had wondered about Clint and his family for so long, after everything that had happened, about his own selfishness in asking the archer for help and what it had cost him. Only finding out from Nat weeks ago that Laura Barton believes in family, and that although they fight she's still pissed off at Steve and the rest of them for what had happened. But also there had been some connection formed between the Barton kids and Tony. Nat wasn't infallible in all of this either since she had left Tony behind to help him get away and then joined him in the months after. They had all in some way abandoned Tony, and none of them had tried hard enough to repair that damage since they returned.

The door opened with Dr. Banner on the other side, someone else that they had to learn to work with a get pass another wall. Bruce in some ways understood Tony's need to have laws for powered individuals in a way that Steve had missed since he had made the safety of his childhood friend a priority. Once Tony had modified the Accords to the point where Ross was no longer involved and SHIELD as the in between with the UN. Banner understood the Accords in a way that Steve hadn't and it had been because Banner had the Hulk, but he had also grown up in the same world that Tony had where people take advantage of those with any kind of power, and some who had power took advantage of their position.

Steve had seen it with the Red Skull, but what he had undeniably missed the first time around was just how frightened the people of the world were of those with the kind of powers that the Avengers had. Natasha had told him once while they had been on the run, that in a world like theirs there had to be some kind of checks and balances because if there wasn't it would be as bad as having a mad dictator taking over. Now as he worked to repair so much of what had gone wrong he had to also deal with the fact that as much as he acted like a man out of time, he had been in this life long enough to see what happens when someone has too much power and takes advantage of that.

"Hey everybody," Bruce said welcoming them all in. "FRIDAY had announced your presence but also told us that you were all questioning whether you should knock. So I gave you a few minutes before opening the door."

"Hey Bruce," Natasha said finally letting go of Clint so that she could hug the other man, but it hadn't gone unnoticed how Bucky had stood behind the archer to keep him from running off.

"Hey Nat," Bruce said smiling. Steve had found out that after the war with Thanos, after what had happened to the man while he was in another realm, long after Ultron, Bruce Banner had found himself able to truly control his other half. He had gotten help from Tony in some ways and in others he had gotten help from an old friend.

"So what have you been up to?" she asked walking into the mansion.

"Well Tony's trying to convince me into working at the Academy, he even offered a position to Betty, and we're both considering it."

"Betty? As in Betty Ross?" Clint said astonished at what he was hearing.

"Yes, Betty and I got back together and we've decided to work on our relationship especially since well, after the whole near end of the world thing. I don't want to hold back anymore and lose someone so special."

"But she's… she's Ross's daughter," Clint said making Steve's head turn to the two men. Bruce saw his reaction immediately before offering up a quick explanation.

"Betty and her father haven't gotten along since what happened in Harlem, it's a long story and not one I'm planning on going into right now, this is a dinner to fix the dynamics of the avengers at least those who were involved in that stupid pissing contest, so come in and make yourselves comfortable."

The group walked in to see Peter Parker standing next to T'Challa while talking to Tony who was mixing some kind of drink. Steve hoped it wasn't alcoholic since the kid was still underage. Tony walked up to the bar and give Tony a knowing look before the genius poured him a drink shrugging as he walked to the mini fridge and grabbed some more ice.

"What," he said as Steve took a drink from the cup and tasted nothing but fruit. It was fruit punch, with actual fruit which surprised him. "I never said today was a date, I just said dinner and told you to be here."

"Well that's true, I guess I should have gotten more details in the end," Steve said before turning around to greet Peter and T'Challa.

Once everyone sat down comfortably around the living area Tony finally walked out from behind the bar and sat down on the couch next to Peter.

"So," he said putting his drink down on the side table. "You may all be wondering why you're here. Well I think it's time for us to actually have a conversation that doesn't end in someone throwing a punch, of having an arrow shot at my ass."

Clint choked on his drink for a moment, Natasha started hitting him on the back trying to help him breathe.

"Anyway, Barton already knows this is coming especially since his lovely wife threatened him within an inch of his life just to make him show up here today, because as angry as he is with me over all of the stupidity he himself created, his wife is scary if you cross her. So we're here to mend the fences, to fix this bullshit, and to let go because honestly I can't deal with Natasha popping up somewhere and scaring the living shit out of me again. I get enough of that from Vision and the walking through walls bit he loves to do."

Steve couldn't help but laugh, thinking of how popping up out of nowhere freaks the other man out, but he could understand where the whole conversation was going to go because they needed to mend this team of wayward heroes.

"So where do we start?" he asked looking over at Tony.

"Dinner or a movie night, twice a week, we could do it here or at NAF but we need to get together more often. Today we start with food and conversation, because Vision has been cooking up a storm all afternoon," Tony said while everyone else stayed quiet.

Steve saw a pained looked on Wanda's face because as close as the two of them had gotten since the Civil War, there was still a small rift there because of what had happened to Tony and Steve only knew about it because the same rift was slowly mending itself between Tony and himself. Vision and Tony were family, because of how much of JARVIS lived within the android but also because he was created by the genius himself. To Tony Vision was as much his child as JARVIS had been, even Tony's bots were his family.

Now they just had to work on mending the human family that Tony had once relied on, that Steve had torn apart and now regretted it after being on the run because of all of their fighting.

"Families fight," Tony said shrugging his shoulders. "In the end it's up to us to fix it so that we can trust each other again."