Hey ya'll! We're getting close! I want to dedicate this chapter to everyone who's reviewed! All of you! You're the reason I keep updating, your words of encouragement are what keeps me going and makes me happy to update! I hope you enjoy the last few chapters, and I'm still thinking of what to name the sequel. I'll let you know as soon as I know! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bruce Banner. I only own the Strong Family.


"Simone," I smiled at my very surprised mother as she opened the door. "I- What are you doing here?"

"Well if you want us to go-" I shrugged as I took Bruce's hand.

"Oh get over here!" she said and I laughed as I hugged her tightly. "Bruce, come down here and give me a hug." she ordered and Bruce leaned over and hugged my mom with a smile.

"Tony had to do some business at Stark Industries LA and dragged us along, so we thought we'd come to visit you."

"How long are you here for?" she asked as we walked into the house with her.

"Just tonight." I said with a small smile.

"And you couldn't call first?" she asked and looked at Bruce. "You let her surprise me like this?"

"Actually it was my idea." he said and she shook her head.

"Your father isn't home yet, make yourselves comfortable, I'll call him."

"Actually I'm going to show Bruce my old room." I said and she nodded.

"Okay Honey." she said as I took his hand and lead him up the stairs.

"I thought she was going to have a heart attack." I said with a small laugh.

"Are we going to tell them?" he asked and I shook my head.

"No. It would only be that much harder." I muttered softly. He nodded and I opened a door, leading to some more stairs. We went up the stairs into my attic bedroom. The entire ceiling was covered in stars, that I knew when it was dark they glowed because of the LED paint I used. The walls were painted a deep blue color with a white trim and my bed was pushed against the far wall. There were bookshelves full of books on every matter, records and a turntable, a small TV, more piles of books, and comic books, and fashion magazines.

"It's very you." he said as he sat down on the bed.

"That's not even the best part." I said as I went to a window that was big enough to fit me, but I knew he'd have to squeeze through. I opened it and slipped out the window, onto a flat part of the roof. He followed a moment later, his shirt riding up slightly as he squeezed through the window legs first. "You okay?" I asked as I pulled his shirt down when he was standing.

"Well, I see why you're good at getting yourself out of tight situations." he said and I smiled. We sat on the flat part of the roof, looking over the land. "You never told me you lived in the country." he said and I shrugged.

"I told you I lived outside of Malibu."

"It's nice out here."

"It's okay." I shrugged. "Not a whole lot to do for fun. Ride the four wheelers, play with the horses, that kind of thing, but aside from that, you really just had to make your own fun."

"How'd you do that?"

"I played paintball, I used to raise hell. MeeMaw and I would pull pranks on people." I shrugged.

"You had horses?" Bruce asked and I smiled.

"Have." I corrected him. I heard mom calling us and I sighed before I moved back to the window. "Come on, I'll show you the horses." I said before I slipped through the window. Bruce followed, squeezing himself through the small window and we went downstairs.

"I called you sisters and your brother and dad is picking up MeeMaw from the home and they're all coming for dinner." Mom said.

"Jeeze mom, I just wanted to stop by and say hi." I said rolling my eyes, but I was smiling, I knew she was going to do all that anyways.

"Well how often do we get to see you?" she asked and I sighed as she fussed for a moment.

"Mom, I'm going to show Bruce the horses."

"Okay, but watch Hermes, he's been a little grumpy these past few weeks."

"I know the feeling." Bruce muttered to me and I laughed as we walked out of the house. We made our way to the ban and I pushed the doors open.

"So, over here is Gypsy," I said as I showed him a black mare who walked over to the gate. I pushed it open and softly stroked her neck as she smelled the front of my shirt, then moved her nose to my face. I laughed and pointed to a refrigerator we kept in the barn. "There should be some carrots in there, will you grab a few?" I asked and he went and got them. I broke one up and held it right under her mouth; she gladly took them and munched on them, before nudging my face with her nose. "Oh-" I said and Bruce looked at me as I pulled away from the horse. "She's blind, she feels that way." I said as I rubbed my chin where she had hit me. "It's happened before and it'll happen again." I sighed as I pushed on her. She backed up into the stall and I closed it.

"You have a blind horse?" he asked and I nodded.

"I heard about her through the grapevine, someone was going to kill her because she was blind and I convinced Dad we needed to take her in. She's a great learning horse; she loves people, and kids especially. We let the kids ride her with someone leading." I said and he nodded. "Over here," I said as I led him to the next stall "Is Hermes, the cranky pants." I said looking into the stall. The Norwegian Fjord was standing there drinking some water. I clicked my tongue a few times and he walked over to the door as I pushed it open. "Come on Hermes." I said and I broke up another carrot for him. He took it (rather quickly) from my hand and backed off into the stall. "Okay, be that way." I said to him as I closed the door.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing, he's just old." I shook my head. I took Bruce's hand and led him across the barn to the other side. "In here," I said as I pushed open the door. "Is Snow White- Abby named her." I clarified as the white Appaloosa walked over to us to investigate. "Do you want to pet her?" He walked over hesitantly and I took his hand and held it up to her nose.

"Their noses are soft." he said and I nodded as he continued to pet her. I let go of his hand and Snow nudged him. I broke up the carrot, the sound of it cracking got her attention and I put it into his hand.

"Hold your hand out flat." I instructed him. He did and Snow seemed to sense he wasn't used to being around horses because she slowly took the carrot from his hand, and nudged him as she was munching on it. She did was Gypsy had done to me and pressed her nose against his chest, sniffing him up to his face. I could see him laughing and I smiled. "She likes you." I said as she moved his glasses slightly by accident.

"I've never been around horses." he admitted and I smiled as I pushed her back.

"I'll be back later Princess." I said as she backed into the stall. I slid the door shut with Bruce's help, and led him to the next stall. "This is my baby." I said as I opened the door.

"That's your horse?" he asked as the tan Clydesdale walked over to us. I smiled up at him, and laughed as he put his nose right against my face.

"How's my boy?" I cooed at him. "How's my baby?" I asked before I hugged the huge horse. "His name is Ox."

"I wonder why." Bruce said as I scratched the large horse. I broke up a carrot and gave it to him.

"I got him when he was a colt- a baby." I clarified for Bruce. "His mom had died in birth and the breeder didn't want to keep him, so I broke dad down and convinced him I needed him." I explained.

"Never got over him either." we both turned around and I grinned as my dad walked over to us. Ox pawed the ground and nudged my back; he never liked it when I gave other people my attention. "Bruce, it's good to see you." Dad said and Bruce smiled, then Dad picked me up and spun me around.

"Dad, stop!" I hit his arm. "Tap out, Tap out!" I groaned. He put me down and I steadied myself against Ox who appreciated the attention. "Ox," I said to the horse. "They're all crazy."

"So, what are you two doing here?"

"Tony had some business to do in town, and he needed me around and Bruce came along, so I decided to visit you guys when we were done." I smiled.

"Well I'm glad you did. Ox, get back in there, you great mangy furball." Dad pushed Ox back into his stall. Ox snorted and whinnied in protest, but backed back into the stall allowing Dad to close the door. "So, Bruce, see why she's so patient?" Dad joked, then without waiting for an answer looked at me. "You realize your mom had invited the troops, right?" he asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, I know." I said and he sighed.

"Good, and good on ya. She's cancelled her book club that was supposed to happen here tonight."

"Good or bad?" I asked and he laughed.

"Trust me kiddo, that's good." he said as he led us back to the house. "I don't know if I could stand another night of Louise Parker bitching about that mutant initiative, or listening to Emma Braxton's divorce proceedings." He rolled his eyes and I laughed.