Time ticked away slowly for the denizens of 'Stark Tower', which would soon officially be rechristened 'Avenger Tower'. The wide array of conflicting personalities all living under one roof would occasionally amass tension of indescribable discomfort, but at the day's end the eclectic family would always learn to understand one another.

Tony Stark, to no one's surprise, built himself a private workshop in the basement of the tower. He spent many consecutive hours in solitude tinkering away at his latest project or fine-tuning his most awe-inspiring theories on the abundantly used blue prints. Stepping into his workshop was almost like stepping into his imagination. It seemed the only person in the tower who was brave enough to step inside the workshop on a regular basis was Virginia 'Pepper' Potts.

Bruce Banner had an area in the tower all to himself as well. Tony had taken the liberty of constructing the brilliant scientist his own lab which was also in the basement in the tower, but opposite Tony's workshop. Bruce didn't spend too much time in his lab. Ever since his 'accident' it was difficult for him to just stay in one place and actually have a conversation with another human being who wasn't afraid of who, or what, he was.

As for Loki, the man no one had expected to become an ally or friend, consistently managed to elude human interaction and resided himself to either playing short sorrowful melodies on the piano, which Bruce suggested he should learn, or reading alone in his private quarters. Pepper was kind enough to find several books for Loki to read to entertain himself and to better understand human nature: 'The Count of Monte Cristo', 'Moby Dick', 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', 'The Phantom of the Opera', 'Dracula', as well as the complete works of Shakespeare and the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. Through these stories and flawed yet virtuous characters Loki began to understand how and why Tony, Bruce, Pepper, Thor and Jane Foster were able to forgive him for his past misdeeds. In fact, it seemed Jane was the only person that Loki would willingly seek out from time to time and attempt conversation. She was more curious about Loki's heritage than his crimes.

Unfortunately Jane was having a very difficult time adjusting to her new life in 'Avenger's Tower'. Losing Thor was of course devastating, but being eight and a half months pregnant with his child wasn't relaxing either. Luckily, Pepper was very sympathetic and would make sure to spend 'girl time' with Jane. Pepper also made sure that Tony knew better to keep his mouth shut and not comment on Jane or her 'condition', unless he wanted to know what it felt like to be punched by someone who was 'punching for two'. Bruce and Loki also had knowledge of several homeopathic remedies to ease her physical discomfort.

A few months after Thor's death Jane considered finding her own place to live but decided that being on her own and raising the child of a Norse God would be too much to handle. Tony was willing to accommodate her as long as she needed it and Loki, though he never admitted it, was glad that she was going to stay. He felt as though the responsibility of teaching the baby, or 'beyla' as he liked to call her, of her Asgardian heritage was his, now that Thor was gone.

Pepper stepped out of the elevator and into the sitting room on the top floor of the tower, four large shopping bags in her hands and a warm smile on her face. She spied Jane sitting on the leather couch, her legs propped up on the small ottoman and a paperback book of baby names in her hands.

Jane noticed Pepper and her bags and immediately shook her head. "You didn't go buy more clothes for the baby, did you?"

"No!" Pepper grinned as she lied, poorly. "Well, one or two little outfits. The rest is stuffed animals, books, lots of diapers and a new camera!"

"Pepper..." Jane sat up straight and tried to sound more gracious than annoyed. "You don't have to keep buying things for her, I can do that myself."

"I know you can, it's just sometimes the tiny little clothes are too cute to pass up. Besides, Tony left me in charge of his bank accounts so it's not costing me a dime!" She sat on the couch next to Jane and handed her a bag to go through as a soft piano melody began sounding off beautifully from Loki's private quarters.

Meanwhile, in the basement of the tower Tony had finished programming and updating his newest satellite.

"Talk to me J.A.R.V.I.S., how does everything look?"

'All systems functional at 100%, sir.' The artificial computer voice answered. 'Sensor's indicate a launch at 02:00 hours will be optimal.'

Tony glanced at the digital clock display on the computer monitor on his desk. "Twelve hours and counting." With a single touch the display on the computer monitor changed from the schematic for his satellite plans to a small security camera in the sitting room. "Pepper's back." He noticed the shopping bags and small toys sitting on the couch next to both Pepper and Jane. "And she bought more stuff for the baby. I wonder if she knows we can't keep it after its born."

J.A.R.V.I.S. spoke up. 'Perhaps it'd be beneficial for Miss Potts to have a child of her own, sir.'

"Not funny J.A.R.V.I.S. I can barely take care of myself, how is she going to take care of a fragile human of constant needs AND a baby?"

'Of course. What was I thinking, sir?' The computer managed to master the art of sarcasm thanks to be created by Tony.

Before Tony could talk back to J.A.R.V.I.S. Bruce walked into the workshop. "Is the satellite ready, yet?"

"Yup." Tony spun around in his chair like a little kid. "At 2am we will officially have our own spy satellite ready to deliver the goods on all the dirty deeds done dirt cheap from every nook and cranny on the Earth."

"And, why are you launching a satellite again?"

"Because I know we didn't imagine a helicarrier making a splash landing in the Potomac River. I want answers and this is how I'm going to get them and I always gets what I want."

"I take it S.H.I.E.L.D. still hasn't responded."

"Nope. Only Agent Hill, correction, former Agent Hill, has made an appearance since the helicarrier crashed eight months. Surprisingly, she's great with people. Pepper wants to make her a permanent member at Stark Industries. She makes a great cup of coffee, too."

"Right." Bruce always had a difficult time responding to Tony's enthusiasm. "Anyway, I finished restocking and reorganizing the infirmary, so I'm going to head out for a while."

Tony eyed Bruce suspiciously as he turned to exit the workshop. "Who you going to meet? Betty?"

"What?" Bruce stopped suddenly and turned around. "Betty?"

"Yeah, you know, Betty. Literally the only Betty I've ever heard of and coincidentally the same Betty that you risked your freedom to see time and time again. Is she in the city?"

"I'm not-"

Tony interrupted Bruce. "You know, it'd just be easier and safer if you brought her to the tower."

"I'm not-"

Tony interrupted Bruce again. "You're not embarrassed by the company you keep are you?"

Now Bruce stood in stunned silence.

"You know, me, the guy with severe anxiety issues as well as textbook narcissism and impressively devious past that anyone could Google." He began counting off the names on his fingers. "The former God of Chaos, who is now a reclusive piano savant." He continued his count. "Jane, the woman who is bearing the child of the fallen God of Thunder." He stopped counting as he came to Pepper. "And of course Pepper, the only sane one in the group. Essentially the duct tape that holds the team together."

He smiled sheepishly at Bruce. Bruce shook his head. "I'm not meeting Betty. I've haven't seen her since Harlem."

"Good thing we're in Manhattan." He took a sip of coffee from the mug sitting on his desk. "Shouldn't be too hard to meet her."

"I'm NOT meeting Betty." Bruce quickly left the workshop before Tony could continue.

Stepping away from his desk Tony headed toward the elevator. "He's totally going to meet Betty."

J.A.R.V.I.S. answered. 'Records indicate that Master Banner has an appointment at Mount Sinai Hospital at 15:00 today, sir.'

"...And then after he's going to meet Betty." The doors closed and Tony ascended to the top of the tower.

Jane finished examining all of Pepper's gifts and carefully put each item back in the bags. "Thank you Pepper, I really appreciate everything you've done for me."

"Oh, please." Pepper flattered. "After all the years of taking care of Tony, shopping for the needs of a baby is a snap!"

Jane put one of the bags aside, pushing it out of sight with her foot. "I don't think Loki will go for changing his attire from Asgard to Earth, yet."

"You're probably right, but maybe the gesture will help him ease into life on Earth a little more smoothly."

The melody from Loki's private chambers ceased. Shortly after the former god emerged from his isolation and entered the sitting room. His overall appearance hadn't changed much over the months he had been living on Earth. He continued to wear his black pants and green tunic despite the small tears and stains that marred the fabric, but he did cut his dark hair leaving it just to his shoulders.

Loki glanced about the room and acknowledged Pepper's latest purchases as he mentally counted the shopping bags sitting on the floor. "I see the beyla has spurred another bout of gifts."

Pepper just grinned at his comment. "Sometimes I just can't help myself."

Loki quietly strolled across the room and stared through the giant window at the skyline of the city. It was easy to see that Loki had fully healed physically from the battle against Thanos, but his mind and heart were still in pieces since it was during this battle that Thor had been killed. Bruce assured Jane and Pepper that in time he'd come around, until then they needed to be patient.

Jane spoke up, wanting to ease the tension that Loki still sensed when in the presence of the other team members. "That was beautiful, Loki."

Glancing over is shoulder he eyed Jane curiously. "To what are you referring?"

"Your song. We can hear when you play the piano. It was beautiful."

"Ah, thank you for the acknowledgement." Loki didn't agree with the compliment, he found it increasingly difficult to believe that he could ever create something beautiful after all the ugliness he helped unleash on Earth.

Tony arrived on the top floor of the tower and made immediate eye contact with Pepper. "Did you get me anything?"

"Actually..." She strode away from the couch and whispered teasingly into Tony's ear.

"That's exactly what I wanted." He grinned at her playfully. "When do I get it?"

"Later."

"Technically it is later."

"Much later." She put her hand on his chest an pushed him away gently. "Where's Bruce?"

"He went to meet with Betty."

'He has an appointment at Mount Sinai Hospital, Miss Potts.' J.A.R.V.I.S. reported.

Tony tagged in his opinion on the matter. "Then he's going to see Betty."

Pepper just shook her head at his statement. "Do you really think-"

'Sir!' J.A.R.V.I.S. suddenly alerted the tower, a red warning light flashing as the large computer monitor displayed odd readings. 'Incoming energy surge!'

...to be continued...