Breakfast was a trial all on its own.
Tony, apparently, did not like berries on his pancakes and only wanted coffee, Natasha thought the calorie count was too high and wanted something else, Bruce doesn't eat breakfast, preferring just a cup of coffee instead, Loki had no interest in trying the Midgardian food, particularly if it was covered in that "sickly sticky, sweet stuff", Thor just wanted the syrup, no pancakes, and Clint refused to drink orange juice or water, which was unfortunate as they had nothing else.
When JJ asked what Steve's complaint was he simply looked up at her with a smile and said, "Ma'am, I was born during the Great Depression, where we ate what we could get and were glad for it no matter how much we did or didn't like it, so whatever you serve I'll be glad to it."
JJ nodded and ran a hand through his hair affectionately. "You're a good kid Steve Rogers." Steve blushed at her comment and returned to his food. As the others continued to wine and complain JJ thought and Amelia looked on in sympathy while she hastily consumed her own breakfast. Finally JJ slammed her hands down on the table causing everyone to jump and turn their attention to her. "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit." They all opened their mouths to argue but she raised her hands to stop them. "This is the way this works. One, regular syrup is provided as long as it's on a pancake, it will be moderately served or I will serve it for you. Two, right now you're kids and everything you eat you will use up so calorie counting is a waste of time. Three, you will eat what you are served or you will eat nothing at all, and you will have what you refused to eat for your next meal. Four, any coffee will be in limited amounts and given only with food. Last of all, I can only offer you to drink what we have don't like it? Fine, you don't need to drink anything at all."
It was silent for several moments before Tony spoke up. "I'd like some bourbon."
They all stared at him.
"First manners matter, second, no."
Tony pouted at JJ's answer. "You said you could only offer what you had and we have bourbon."
"Did I offer it?" JJ cut off his reply. "No I didn't. In fact I didn't offer any alcoholic beverages, I will never offer any alcoholic beverages, and as long as you are a child in my care you will not be drinking any alcoholic beverages."
Tony frowned. "We're adults."
"No, you're adults in kids bodies, which means no alcohol. When you're big and strong again, you can do whatever you want, but for now, you will obey my rules."
"Why should we?" Clint challenged.
JJ raised an eyebrow at him then sighed. "Fine. You don't want someone here to cook, and clean, to help you, stop arguments, and do all the things you can't because you're too little, that's just fine with me. I'll just finish my breakfast and leave. Good luck doing anything." With that she calmly sat down and started eating her breakfast.
Amelia, who had left the room to wash up, entered slowly at the silence, than placed a hand gently on JJ's shoulder. "Hey, you sure you put your emergency meds back in the bag?"
JJ turned frowning deeply. "I thought I did. Why?"
"I couldn't find them or your regulars."
"They should be there. I'll go check." With that she stood and left leaving the children alone with Amelia.
She waited until after JJ's footsteps and receded before she, very softly, began to speak. "I don't know what just happened in here, and I don't really care, there are, however, a few things you should know about that woman. For the last five years she has been dealing with an undiagnosed muscle movement disorder, and at this point the doctors are thinking she might have more than one. She is one of the strongest people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. Her first question is about you, and she listens, she down plays her own problems and issues, she is constantly looking out for others, and she is very, very lost."
This caused all movement to cease as the turned their full attention on to Amelia. "Her who life she has been around children. The kind who need help, ones who are hurting and suffering, people who need her, and ever since she came here to be part of the study group, she hasn't had that, she hasn't really had that since she got sick and needed other people to help her. All her dreams where destroyed by this illness and any hopes she had of still being able to grasp them have slowly started to die as she's gotten worse and worse.
"You all may not need her, but she certainly needs you. She needs something to look forward to, someone to help, even if it's just a little bit, for a little while. A sense of-"
"Worth." Bruce finished for her turning everyone's attention to him. "She needs a sense of worth, something to grab onto in the storm, even if it's just for a little while." He looked up from his lap and held the eyes of each child as he spoke. "She feels like an outcast, like she doesn't belong, like she's not worth anything, unlike us though, she doesn't have anything to negate that. Constantly wondering why anyone would want anything to do with her when all she's going to do is weigh them down." Not even Loki could meet his gaze has he spoke the familiar feelings stirring in their own hearts and minds.
Amelia nodded. "I'm not asking you guys to make her an honorary Avenger or anything like that. Just give her a chance to be useful, even for a little while, something to do, to hold onto for as long as possible."
"I found them," JJ stated relief in her voice as she entered the kitchen. "Hey, what's going on?"
Natasha studied her finding the concern in her voice to be real as she knelt down between two chairs, gently stroking the back of Loki and Thor's hair. "Is everything ok? You all look so sad."
Steve, there ever present leader, spoke up. "Amelia told us about you being sick."
The relief seemed to tumble down her like a waterfall and the smile she gave them was one that Natasha had often seen parents giving to their children. One of fondness, one of love.
"Is that all?"
Tony gaped at her before he began to sputter. "Is that all? Is that all! You have this horrible illness and you say, 'Is that all'!"
She gave him a warm smile a small laugh escaping her lips like a breeze. "I've had it for a long time Tony. Sure, my medicine doesn't let me go out during the day, sure I have to be careful of my stress levels so I don't go into an attack, and constantly carry around emergency meds in case I do. It's really not that big of a deal. It's not killing me, and my only real major side affect is exhaustion. I've learned to deal, to live with it. It's no worse than people with MS."
They exchanged looks.
Thor shook his head. "I do not understand how it can affect you so little Lady JJ. I do now know what I would do if I was unable to be out in the sun."
JJ smiled slightly sheepishly. "Well I can be out, if I've got sun screen and protective gear, and it's not too hot, but most of the time I'd just rather not take the risk. Now," she stood and slapped her hands on her thighs true happiness overthrowing any pain there had been from talking about her illness, "who among you is going to eat your pancakes now, and not wait for lunch when they don't taste so good?"
Thor raised his hand. "I believe I shall Lady JJ."
"Great," she turned to get his plate set up then turned back around. "Oh, if you could drop the Lady I'd appreciate it."
Thor frowned. "The man in the wall calls you such."
JJ nodded. "Very true. JARVIS?"
"Yes Lady JJ?"
"Can we scratch the Lady thing and try the next one?"
"Very good. What do you wish for me to try next?"
JJ shrugged. "Surprise me." Then she turned back to Thor. "Now he doesn't."
Thor took a moment to conceder this then nodded. "Very well, simply JJ it shall be."
She grinned and turned back to the food even as Amelia squeaked, gave JJ a kiss on the check and fled with a quick, "We're going to be late," thrown in behind her.
JJ grinned at her rushing friend.
The rest of breakfast went much smoother, with all those who wanted it, getting a small amount of coffee after breakfast was over, and even Bruce and Loki eating a few small pancakes. They each asked politely to be excused, fallowing Steve's example, and cleared their plates when told so, even though Loki had to be glared at by the rest before he did and with much grumbling in between, all of which JJ pretended to ignore.
Each one washed their sticky hands and faces using a small stepping stool they had found in a closet, going back more than once if JJ wasn't satisfied, then changed into their new clothes.
When Tony brought up the subject of the light up shoes JJ raised an eyebrow and smartly asked, "Are you planning on going anywhere?"
Tony frowned, eyebrows scrunched up comically on his small face thin face, his equally thin and lanky arms crossing over his chest. "Why does that matter?"
"Do you have any reason to believe you might have to run away? Escape?"
His small lip stuck out slightly in a pout. "No."
"Then you don't need to be wearing shoes now do you? Besides wear them too much and the lights will stop working." Tony hunched down over his arms, as his lip came out even more. JJ held in a laugh and ruffled his hair. "Why don't you go find something else to do?"
"Like what?" Clint demanded from the couch. His little body was stretched out head leaning up against the bottom of the back of the couch, little feet dangling in the air. He turned his blue eyes toward her. "There's nothing here for kids to do. Everything we have is for grownups."
Thor sighed. "The archer is correct simply JJ. We have no way to entertain ourselves."
JJ giggled slightly before she frowned. "Don't tell me you've never played imaginary games?"
Loki frowned. "That sort of thing is for children."
The laugh that bubbled up in JJ almost broke free. "And what are you now, if you are not children?" All six seemed to sulk at that point. JJ shook her head and gathered them all on the couch, picking Clint up and placing him in her lap. "Look, however it happened, you six have been given one of the greatest and rarest treats in the whole world. You get to be children again. No worries, no cares, no responsibilities, or expectations. You can play games, take naps in the middle of the day, you get to be kids, some of you, if I'm not mistaken, for the first time. It doesn't matter what people say or think, because for now you can do all the things you never got to do."
Ever so slowly Natasha spoke. "Hop scotch?"
JJ grinned, enthused that Natasha, at least, was getting it. "Why not?"
"Could we race down the halls in our socks?" Clint asked looking up.
"We'll have to make sure there's nothing in the hallway, and that tends to work on wood or laminate floors best."
"Yes!" he did a small fist pump.
"Can we go on pick-nicks?" Bruce questioned form one side.
"I may not get to go with you, but if we pick the right day Nick and Amelia could take you."
His smile made her want to take them all on one right then.
"Could we build a fort?" Steve asked almost bouncing.
"A really big one!" Tony added spreading his arms as wide as they would go almost hitting Bruce and Thor.
JJ laughed squeezing Clint gently. "We could even have lunch in it."
"Could we play hide-and-seek?" Loki questioned, his usually voice, small and timed.
"With a couple of boundaries, like no air vents."
Clint groaned even as Loki's face brightened.
"You take all the fun out of it," Clint complained.
"Safety is always first," JJ told them gently tickling him as she leaned forward to look at the now squirming child. "We can do all sorts of things, make your imagination your limit, and yes we'll get a few toys as well, but have fun with what you have here, always make the best of what you've got."
Steve nodded sagely as if she had just imparted the most important piece of wisdom he had ever heard, Natasha simply looked at the floor, while the other four seemed to be deep in thought.
"So," JJ quietly asked a few moments later, "what are we going to do?" This posed a slight conundrum to the adults turned children. None of them had played such games in a long time, a few never at all.
Finally, a slow grin spread across Tony's face. "I have an idea."
That idea was what caused Maria Hill to stop dead in her tracks as she watched the small Avengers, plus Loki , racing around the furniture, little legs pumping as they tried their hardest to stay off the floor, and off whatever piece of furniture a strange woman called out.
"Right table!" she yelled. Instantly everyone who was on that table made a mad dash to get off of it, laughter and squeals of delight filling the air as they also attempted to push the others off.
For several moments she panicked.
What in the world! They're small. They should not be small. Why are they small! Oh this is not good. This is really not good. What is the Director going to say? There is no way he's going to believe me. Not in any way shape or form. He's going to call me nuts, and insane, and demote me. Heck he's going to fire me and send me in for a phsyc eval! Forget the eval he's just going to send me straight to the loony bin.
"Lady Hill, welcome!" Thor yelled as he spotted her still standing by the elevator. Still caught up in her mental tirade Hill didn't move.
"Agent Hill, are you well?" Steve asked concerned as he slowly moved toward her, still standing on the furniture.
"Hill?" Natasha asked a few moments later as they all began to get worried.
"Maria?" Tony called slightly desperate.
"Agent Hill report!" Clint yelled.
Maria snapped out of it blinking several times. "I'm imagining things."
JJ smiled at her finally understanding. "Steve use the step stool in the kitchen to get Agent Hill some water please." Steve nodded, jumped down, and rushed to obey as JJ moved to gently take Maria's elbow. "I know this is a bit of a shock Agent Hill, but what you are seeing is real." Very slowly she steered her toward the couch as Maria shook her head. "Yes, I'm afraid it is. While they were fighting, Loki attempted to cast a spell that, for some reason, backfired, and turned them all into children, though, they have kept all of their memories and are more like small adults." JJ eased Maria down to the couch as Steve returned with the water.
"There you go now," JJ handed her the water and backed up slightly. "Agent Hill are you all right?"
Maria blinked a few times then took a shaky breath. Slowly she lifted the water and took a large drink all the while studying the woman in front of her. She was short, shorter then Maria at least, with brown hair that was tussled and slightly messy, the natural curls framing her average face. Slightly chubby checks, on an oval face, dark brown eyes brimming with worry, and a body that most defiantly did not work out, not fat either, just a little chubby. She was wearing a red scrub top and black scrub bottoms. A nurse?
Quickly finishing the water she gave it to the woman's helpful hands and turned her attention to the children. Natasha, for no one else could look so much like a little angle with hair that color red, was the first. Their bodies weren't built, nor where they tan, their faces a little chubbier, and they only ones who weren't sporting a mop of curly hair were Thor and Loki. The arc reactor was barely glowing from underneath Tony's shirt and the Captain was in the best physical condition a kid of his age could be in. How old where they anyways?
"Mr. Thor, Mr. Loki, and Captain Rogers are the eldest at five, while the others are four, judging from their physical state." JARVIS stated.
How had he- Oh. She must have been thinking out loud.
"Ok." She said the word slowly, still attempting to slow her churning thoughts. "Ok." This time it held more confidence. "First, who are you?"
JJ smacked her forehead with her palm. "Sorry. I'm JJ Darling. My friends Nickoli Dowson, AKA Nick, Amelia Rangel and I found them in Central Park and brought them back here with JARVIS's help." When Maria only raised an eyebrow JJ told the whole story.
Finally Maria nodded thinking quickly.
"So," JJ spoke up several minutes later, "what happens now?"
"Now," Maria slowly released a breath. "Now, I get to tell the Director of the most elite group of spies that his two best spies, as well as the rest of his best team, and one of their biggest enemies have been turned into children. He is not going to like this."
So, first, sorry for the long wait. Life has not been so kind lately, and I've not been doing well. I hope I kept everyone pretty much in character, and that you all enjoyed it. As always thanks for reading, and please leave a review. Love to hear ideas, and thoughts. Especial thanks to Cara Tala for the of the argument with Tony about the alcohol. See! I use ideas! Please, please don't be afraid to send some my way. Once again thanks for reading! Oh, and alerting, and favoriteing. :-)