A/N: Anyone still out there? Anybody still interested? I hope so, more chapters are finally coming up! Got loads written and will be posting every few weeks. Enjoy!
After hours at customs getting out of Brazil and arriving back at DC, Emma was finally on a SHIELD plane to California. She turned on the in-flight TV and the news came on with Tony holding a press conference.
"I am Iron Man." He stated proudly as the press room went wild and Emma nearly spit out her water she was drinking. "You heard it here everyone, this is breaking news, Tony Stark of Stark Industries, admits he is the Iron Man." The reporter's voice cut in and Emma shut off the TV and dialed Tony's phone.
"EMMA!" he shouted excited.
"Anthony Stark!" Emma said sternly into the phone.
Tony gave a little giggle, "You sounded just like my mom when she got angry…Oh, she learned that from you didn't she?"
"You bet your iron ass she did. Now, what happened to laying low?" Emma asked as calmly as she could muster.
"Eh, laying low is boring and I have a duty to take care of the people. Plus, now I'm working for your boss, in a way."
"Put Coulson on the phone," Emma ordered and she heard the phone get passed off.
"Hello Emma."
"Coulson, is Tony working for us now?"
"Not really, more under our protection and watch but he will be looked at for the Initiative."
Emma sat up straighter, The Avengers Initiative was back on the table? The idea that Peggy and Howard had thought of back in the 70's once they had discovered Hank Pym and his Ant-Man suit? They had put that to rest in the 80's when they realized it was too dangerous of a plan.
"That was put away back in the 80's, I know my SHIELD history."
"Fury believes we have a reason to bring it back out, Banner, Stark, and more developing findings each week. He even thinks you, Romanoff, and Barton would be good additions as well, you three have been the ground floor building blocks for this to come back."
Emma sat back in her seat and just let that sink in. "We will talk more when I get to Stark's." Emma hung up at that and just needed to process that information.
She took the whole flight to process and when she arrived at Stark's, was greeted with hugs from her friends.
"I'm just glad you are okay," Emma said as she hugged Tony.
"You were right about Obadiah, you always were. I don't know what I would do without you."
Emma just smiled at Tony, "You're one of my best friends, just like your dad, I would do anything to protect you."
She saw Coulson standing on the tarmac and headed straight for him.
"You. Me. Conference. Now." She said walking by him and into Tony's awaiting car.
"Happy. Out." Emma almost commanded and Happy got out of the car without a word and Coulson got in on the other side.
"Yes Agent?" he asked.
"Avengers Initiative."
"Did you think about it?" Coulson asked calmly.
"Yes, I will help you rebuild it." Coulson's grin spread from ear to ear, "Under one condition," She quickly said before he could excitedly interject.
"What is it?" He asked with a hint of annoyance.
"I am taken off of Tony Stark's case, you figure out a replacement. I will live with him just to have some company for a few months and so he isn't suspicious. He is my friend after all and like family. Second, we re-open the Captain America files, I have to do some hard research on Hydra, Obadiah smelled eerily like Hydra work and I need more concrete evidence, even if that means me doing more travelling to figure it out. Third, I am allowed to do my own research while also still being open for cases and setting up the Initiative. Along with the Hydra research, I want to also find out more about my immortal/mutant/whatever bloodline and more about time travel and mind powers. Deal?"
Coulson blinked a few times and then smiled.
"Deal. First, I was hoping you would take yourself off the Tony Case, we need an unbiased eye to look at him and judge him for the initiative, but for now, we are going to give him some space before throwing him that curve ball. Second, I think that is a good plan, we need to know more about their motives and their work, somehow I feel like Hydra just didn't disappear after the war. Look at the Nazi's, they ran away around the world, most notoriously Brazil. Third, yes of course you can research, please do. On that same subject, we have had some strange activity in New Mexico, but only little fragments. If you could just keep an eye on that, that would be great."
"Perfect. I'm so glad you understand Coulson."
"I'm the one who brought you into this crazy world, I'll be the one always on your side."
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The next few months were filled with Emma going back and forth between the Stark residence on cases and her own work.
She took a trip out to New York to meet with Professor Xavier who knew a thing or two about mutants. He shed some light on her powers and had her discuss with some other mutants similar to her about control and work on her powers. Having travel and visions and mind reading powers causes quiet the work on the brain but also with her immortality "super soldier" serum in her veins, that helps the control and the over use of her powers on her brain. Most of the things he told her and discussed with her, she had already figured out for herself after her first big vision of Tony in the cave.
She went on some cases with Romanoff and Barton around the globe, little things here and there. One case in particular got them stuck undercover for two weeks. They were undercover as maids and a butler for a rich family in a big old English manor house in England, researching the head of the house who had connections to Hydra back in the day.
She also on the side, kept on her computer in the background, always running; a study of the atmosphere and meteorology of New Mexico where some strange things had been happening in the sky. She only caught some weird blips on the screen but she kept an eye on it after Coulson had mentioned it to her.
But, the day had finally come, some months after her meeting with Coulson, that she was moving out of Tony's place and back to her home in DC.
"But why?" Tony whined at the kitchen table.
"I need to Tony, my time has ended here and your expo is opening tomorrow night and I know you're going to be busy with that. I have things I have to do and a home back in DC to get to. You can come and visit anytime you want."
"But why can't you do them here?" He whined and Pepper just put her head in her hands at his childish antics.
"Because Tony I can't." Emma couldn't lie to his face. Especially after she had recently had a travel to his childhood days in his father's Hollywood home. He was giving her the same puppy dog eyes he did then when she said she wouldn't play hide and seek with him anymore.
"Please stay at least until after the expo opens? Please?" He begged taking her hands in his. "Please Emmabear?" he rarely ever used the nickname he gave her when he was a child. He called her Emmabear since she was like his mamabear when Maria was busy or not home from work.
Emma felt her stomach churn and she found herself saying yes to his request and he cheered. "But only until Monday morning! I will stay for the first weekend." Tony ran around the counter and gave her a big kiss on the cheek.
"Love you Emma!" He then grabbed his bowl of cereal and went down to his lab.
"You give in to him way too easily," Pepper commented.
"You would too if you knew his puppy dog face as a child and how it haunts you anytime he gives it to you now as an adult." Emma said as she got up and headed off to her room and Pepper laughed.
Emma reached her room and checked her computer for any checks on New Mexico. She then also checked for any messages left by Coulson or Fury; none. She did have one message from Natasha, telling her she would be gone for some weeks with a new assignment and she would call as soon as she could.
Emma felt her head becoming cloudy, she knew a vision was coming and she remembered what Professor Xavier had told her about controlling and bringing her visions to light. She took a deep breath and focused on her head. The vision came fast and she felt almost as if she had traveled.
Emma was standing in a gilded hall. Cheers were erupting all around her and everyone's gaze was towards the one end of the room. She turned to see a king on a throne and a blonde, strong man in front of him. On one side was a few soldiers and on the other was a woman and another man, tall, handsome with dark hair, skinnier compared to the man with blonde hair but he had a strong and commanding presence about him.
The blonde man picked up a large ornate hammer and held it high towards the crowd and cheered before kneeling before the king. Somethings were said to the blonde man that she couldn't make out and then a loud explosion was heard and people went running around. The king, the blonde, and the dark haired man went by her and the dark haired man looked toward her; almost as if he could see her and she felt a shiver at his grin towards her.
Emma pulled out of her vision and felt her breath catch in her throat almost as if she was gasping at the man seeing her.
"I've never seen a vision like that before…" Emma said to herself.
It was then the beeping on her computer started and she turned to her laptop and saw the radar and atmosphere going nuts over one part of New Mexico and then stopping. It was brief, almost as if it was a tornado touching ground for mere seconds and then stopping.
Emma brought up aerial photos and all she found of the moment was just weird cloud activity and a some light and then nothing. No indication of anything touching ground from a tornado.
Emma recorded the info and sent it all off to Coulson. Something strange was going on in New Mexico but nothing that she felt she needed to rush out there just yet but she did need Coulson's professional opinion on the matters.
He emailed her back right away saying he would send it off to the labs and have two interns take a look at it. Two bright young scientists from England supposedly were causing a stir in the intern department and were showing true brightness beyond their ages.
Emma felt she needed to travel, she decided to take a quick travel. She decided to keep working on another trick Professor X told her, to not focus on anything; no destination and no person or event, just giving in to her traveling powers and seeing where they naturally take her.
Many during her test run on this have taken her back to the 40's always drifting back to her time with Steve or people connected to her and Steve. Emma picked up her travel bag and cleared her mind. She closed her eyes and waited to see what would happen next.
Emma opened her eyes to find herself in a diner, by the looks out the window New York City mid 1940's. The diner was empty, it had to have been early morning, the day just starting for most. At that moment a young brunette waitress came out from the kitchen.
"Hey hon, we aren't open yet. Why you wearing such funny clothes? Are those penguins on your pants?" Emma looked down at her pajama's and gave a shrug.
"I'm sorry I'm here so early, the door was unlocked. I am a model, just finished my morning shoot and got to go home with a pair of their new pajama pants."
"You're a model? I'm an actress. I understand the strange things they make you wear. Name's Angie," She held out her hand to Emma.
"Rebecca," Emma said shaking her hand. "Mind if I use your restroom to change?"
"Nah, you go right ahead." She said and then the door opened and Angie turned and Emma grinned at who walked.
"Hi there English!"
"Peggy!" Emma said excited.
"Morning Angie," Peggy turned and smiled at Emma, "Em-" Peggy stopped as Emma shook her head.
"Do you know Rebecca?" Angie asked getting a coffee cup ready for Peggy and saw the look the two shared.
"Yes, she was a USO Dancer with Captain America. We ran into each other a few times."
Angie leaned on the counter, "What I wouldn't have given to work with him. You ladies were very lucky."
"Peggy, would you like to catch up while I change?" Emma suggested and Peggy followed her.
"What are you doing here?" Peggy asked locking the bathroom door behind her.
"No idea, just traveling for fun. How are things?"
"Well, just saved Howard Starks life from a dangerous Red Room Girl killer."
"Red Room Girls go this far back?" Emma asked as she started to slip out of her pajama's.
"You know of them?" She asked intrigued.
"Yes, but that's all I can tell you." Emma wouldn't dare tell her that a former Red Room Girl is one of her best friends and best agents at SHIELD. "So Howard got himself into some trouble with the Russian's."
"Sort of, but he can tell you all about it later. I actually am glad you are here," Peggy stated as Emma started to step into her green dress. "There is something I have to do this afternoon and I would appreciate it if you were there."
Emma nodded her head as she went to the mirror and pinned up her hair since it wasn't properly styled for the time.
"Sure, anything for you Peg. You're one of my best friends. What do you need?" Emma turned around to face her and found Peggy holding a small vile of contents that looked eerily like blood in front of her.
"This is Steve's blood. Howard had kept a vile safe but it almost fell into the wrong hands. I need to…" Peggy got choked up even thinking about it. Emma reached out for it slowly and took the vile carefully out of Peggy's hands. She held the small vile between her fingers and felt tears stinging her eyes.
"You're getting rid of it. Steve would want you to. I'm glad I'm here for this." Emma said and her hand clutched around the vile as if she was holding on to Steve's hand for dear life.
"I am too. It just didn't seem right doing it without you here and knowing about it. But I didn't know how to contact you but I knew at some point I would see you again." Emma hugged Peggy close and the two of them cried silently together.
"Come with me to work, I get questions a lot about the mysterious Agent Walker and her disappearance after the war. Come up with a fun story to show off to the boys." Emma grinned at Peggy's suggestion and she slipped on her heels.
"Oh believe me, I can do that."
After having a quick breakfast with Angie, the ladies headed out to SSR's offices in NYC.
"Ms. Carter who is this woman?" A phone operator with horned rimmed glasses asked.
"This is Agent Emma Walker."
At that the women all stood up and clapped briefly. Emma was baffled and shocked at the praise she received from these female agents.
"I'm so sorry Agent Walker, I'm Rose. I just had only seen pictures of you and didn't…I'm sorry."
"It's alright Rose. I forgive you."
She then opened the door for us and we walked inside.
"Carter, what was with all that…holy shit!" Agent Thompson said coming out of his office. All the men in the office turned and looked at Peggy and Emma.
"Is that Agent Walker?" Emma heard some men whisper to each other and then Agent Sousa came over and saluted to Emma.
"At ease," Emma said, "I'm Agent Emma Walker."
"I'm Agent Daniel Sousa and am honored to meet you Agent Walker."
"Thanks," Emma blushed at that and all the men came up to her.
"Where have you been?"
"What missions have you been on?"
"What was it like serving with the Howling Commandos and Agent Carter?"
"Did all the USO Girls really look like that?"
The questions ranged from good to bad and Emma just held her hands up.
"Gentleman please. First off, the USO Girls were a sweet bunch of ladies whom I keep in contact with and miss dearly. Second, I have been based in DC at headquarters and have been on missions across Europe cleaning up after the war. I even took down a Hydra/Nazi base all on my own when my unit left me in Italy going the opposite direction we were meant to be going."
All the men looked at her in shock.
"Did you hear what Peggy did? You two are the most impressive women in the SSR." One mail carrier said and Peggy gave a small smile at Emma.
"Enough gentleman, she is here to help me with a case. Please give her some breathing room." Peggy cut in and she ushered Emma to the back of the office into a conference room.
"Sorry about all that," Peggy apologized closing the door.
"Don't apologize, I understand. I'm an enigma and almost a myth to these guys." Emma sat down on the table.
"I do have some work to get done, you are more than welcome to help or you can keep the boys occupied for the day till I can leave around 5."
"Oh, I can keep them occupied."
Emma for the rest of the day told old war stories and USO Girl stories and also helped answer some questions about files for Peggy who was on duty of clearing out old WWII files. At the end of the day, Emma and Peggy headed out.
"Where do you want to go?" Emma asked.
"I was thinking the Brooklyn Bridge, take him home." Emma gave a smile at the suggestion and held Peggy's hand.
"I think that is perfect."
They headed to the Brooklyn Bridge and watched the sunset. Peggy pulled the vile out and held it up to the light.
"Goodbye my friend, goodbye my darling." She said with tears in her eyes and then she handed the vile to Emma.
"Steve, I miss you so much." She said her voice cracking through the tears. "I know this isn't really goodbye, just until we meet again. I love you darling, I love you so much." With that Emma emptied the vile into the water below and Peggy took Emma's hand and held it while they cried at the bridge.
Emma felt the all too familiar dizzy sensation. Her mind pulling her back.
"I have to go, thank you Peggy." Emma hugged her friend.
"Thank you Emma. Take care." Peggy said pulling out of the embrace. Emma grabbed her bag from the ground and closed her eyes.
Emma was back in her room at Tony's, only about 10 minutes had gone by. Emma felt the hard and hollowness in her chest, she felt depression creeping in and she didn't want that. She needed happiness, needed to not think about Steve being gone but remember the good times with him. Emma looked out the window at the bright sunny day and changed into her favorite flowered sundress; one she bought back in the 40's to go to the beach with Steve and the USO Girls one hot summer day.
She went down the stairs and found Tony working in his basement, busy with last minute things for the expo.
"Tony, I'm going down to the beach!" She called heading back towards the door to the beach stairs.
"Have fun!" He called not paying attention.
Emma headed out the stairs and down to the beach and sat in one of Tony's beautiful white Adirondack chairs. She watched the waves crash and could feel her mind still restless. Professor X had told her when her mind was restless like this; not like a normal restlessness, it was her powers needing to be exercised, just like the human body needs exercise. She hadn't traveled much that week and this morning's trip was short one, so it didn't do much to help her restlessness or her emotions.
Emma decided to try and work on another aspect of her powers she had recently learned to use, time placement. She already knew she could stop time and travel through time, she could see visions but she learned about time placement from Professor X. Time placement was when she could place herself back in a memory or a place in time without harming effects like her time travel; almost as if she was a ghost in the moment.
Emma thought of that summer in 1943, they were traveling the country on the nationwide tour. It was a hot July day and all the girls were complaining about the early morning heat at the theater in New York. They were supposed to have an early rehearsal but the director could tell everyone was exhausted and gave them the day off.
"Let's all go to The Hamptons!" Carol squealed excitedly.
"Yes!" Most of the girls cheered.
"I've never been," Emma said.
"I've only been once, Bucky's Aunt had a place out there."
"Well Emma, we got to take you!" Alice said.
The girls then insisted on taking Emma to get a summer dress and bathing suit since they all had some. That is where Emma got her flowered sundress she was wearing. They also made her get a two-piece bathing suit that was bright blue to match her eyes. It had a high waisted bottom and halter top and white trim on the top and the bottom.
Emma thought harder about the beach day and soon the Pacific rocky beach around her dissolved and she was sitting in her chair in the middle of her beach day memory.
The girls all played around in the water to enjoy the coolness after the long hot train ride, but most sunbathed on towels brought from the hotel.
Emma and Steve on the other hand, enjoyed just each other's company. Walking hand in hand down the beach with their feet in the water. Steve didn't have much for swim wear and didn't care to buy any then, so he wore his SSR white shirt and his kahki's rolled up to his knees. Emma wore her flowered sundress, unbuttoned a bit in the front to reveal her new bathing suit underneath, letting the sun soak into the exposed skin.
"It's nice we get this day off," Emma commented.
"We all needed it," Steve agreed.
"The water is so nice and refreshing today, not too cold." Emma commented lifting her feet and kicking water around but she splashed Steve and he laughed.
"So that's how it is?" He teased and then he picked her up into his arms and mimicked throwing her while she giggled and screamed at him to stop. He put her back down on her feet and they both walked back up to their towels.
Emma watched the two of them lay comfortably down in each other's arms. This was just the beginning of their relationship. Their first date had been only a few nights before this. Emma could feel the warmth of his body on her even as she sat a few feet away from the actual moment. Her memories were strong and powerful.
"What did you want to be when you grew up?" Emma laid on his chest and looked up at his bright blue eyes.
"I always wanted to be a soldier like my father. Do the right thing, serve my country. Then settle down with a family, possibly in Brooklyn or in a house on Long Island. I always wanted a house, I love Brooklyn but growing up there made me ache for a real home not a small apartment. We had one when I was very little, before my father died. Then we moved back into the city." Steve's fingers brushed up and down her bare arm across his chest as he talked. She could see the far off dream in his eyes.
"What about you?" He asked looking back down at her and out of his dream.
"I always wanted to own my own bookshop. I loved books as a child. But as I got older, I knew I wanted to do something like my father, do the right thing and protect others. My family was always very protective of their family and friends, so I guess that rubbed off on me. My parents were bright too, hence the reason how they got into science and military work."
"I thought your father was a cop?" Steve looked at her confused.
Emma felt her stomach drop from that moment, she remembered feeling flustered at revealing too much and saw her face go a little pink as she rolled onto her back away from him. She didn't like being that close to him when she lied.
"He was…but he also was in the military before that. Mother died young, she was a scientist. And my father died right before I joined the SSR." Emma partially lied. Steve sat up and leaned over Emma to brush hair blowing in her face behind her ear and to lean down and softly kiss her.
"You miss them?" He asked mistaking the sadness in her eyes from lying for missing her family.
"Yes, every day."
"I miss my parents too." Steve then gave a small smile to her and held her hand, "We never have to be alone again."
Suddenly Emma's memory changed and she felt a shivering cold and snow began to form around her feet instead of sand and the landscape changed to a snowy tundra with blinding white snow falling all around her.
"EMMA!" Steve called in the distance.
Emma stood up but knew she couldn't call back out to him, not in this state.
"EMMA HELP ME!" Steve called again and Emma felt her throat tighten at the urge to scream.
"Emma!" Tony called and Emma was pulled out of her memory and saw everything around her fade back to the present.
"Hi Tony," She said turning to him.
"You seemed lost and in a daze, you alright?" Tony asked coming to sit in the chair next to her.
"Yes, just exercising my mind." She said shaking off the last half of the memory; which had turned into one of her nightmares.
"Restless today?"
"Yes, but better now."
"Where were you?" He asked.
"Would you like to see?" Tony looked amazed and nodded his head. Emma then took his hand in hers and concentrated back on the beginning of the memory, of her and Steve walking in the water.
The landscape around them changed as if rewinding a tape and Tony looked around in awe.
"Who are they?" He pointed to the USO girls tanning.
"The USO Girls and no you can't talk to them, we are like ghosts, not really here."
Tony nodded his head and then saw Emma and Steve.
"Is that Captain?" He asked slightly in awe.
"Yes, in his casual wear." Emma teased.
"He's so much bigger than I realized. Handsome and you two look happy."
"We were." Emma said softly. Then she let go of his hand and pulled them out of the memory.
"That's cool. Did you learn that from Professor Z?"
"Yes, I learned it from Professor X." Emma corrected.
"I knew it was one of those letters." Tony teased. "So we should get things ready, we got a plane to catch to New York in about two hours."
Emma followed Tony back to the house but couldn't get the cold feeling from her nightmare to go away.
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The next night, Emma was dressed in her favorite red dress and waited on the side of the stage for Tony to make his entrance.
"Where is he?" Pepper paced behind her.
"No idea, but the girls are going out to dance without him." Emma watched the "Iron Maidens"; as Tony called them walk out on stage in their skimpy outfits. He had tried to talk Emma into joining them for fun and old times sake but she said "over her dead body".
"They can't go out, they are supposed to go on when he enters!" Pepper exclaimed looking at her notes.
"I'm sorry Pepper did I not get you the updated staging schedule?' Tony said in both of their ear pieces.
"Where the hell are you?" Pepper exclaimed into her ear piece.
"Look up."
Emma and Pepper looked up at the fireworks to see Tony flying down in his suit to land on the front and center of the stage.
"I'm going to kill him," Pepper hissed behind Emma.
"Not if I get to him first."
Emma loved Tony but his eccentric personality can sometimes get under your skin. He sometimes liked to show off too much, he was too much like his father.
They watched as the crowd went wild at Tony and he gave a great opening speech and then threw in the old video of his dad from the last expo.
Pepper left the stage and decided to go deal with some other matters as Tony came off stage.
"Pepper's mad at you," Emma commented as Tony tested his blood.
"Yeah, I figured." He said.
"You need to see a doctor about that," Emma commented on his blood testing.
"No, you will only send me to one of your SHIELD wack-o's," he said annoyed as he looked back up at the big screen of his dad.
"That was a nice touch to add him."
"Well, I have you to thank for that." He said turning to her, "You help me remember the good memories with Dad and are partially the reason I decided to do the expo."
Emma smiled, "Your father would be so proud of you." She said taking his hand.
Tony nodded his head, "Thanks. By the way," he quickly fixed his tie and turned to head back on stage, "You look beautiful tonight," He then turned back to look at her, "Like you always do but more phenomenal tonight." He gave a smile and left.
Emma left the stage with a smile and applause behind her and went to meet Pepper at the car but she was nowhere to be seen. Emma picked up a note on the car and it read:
Had to catch a last minute flight to DC. Ask the girl in the purple top and it will all make sense.
Emma walked over to the girl dressed in a purple top hovering over Tony's convertible.
"Hi, I work for Mr. Stark. Can I help you?" Emma asked her.
"Yeah, he's being served."
"Son of a bitch." Emma hissed under her breath and called in Coulson to get her a jet out of Flushing to DC.
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"Anthony Stark!" Emma sternly glared at Tony as he walked towards his plane to head back to Malibu.
"Uh oh, mom's mad." He teased and Emma rolled her eyes.
"What the hell was that stunt you just pulled in the court?"
"Me saving my ass and telling them all to piss off." Tony said strutting up the stairs.
"Hi Emma." Rhodey said following on the plane.
"Hi Rhodey, good to see you." Emma followed behind Pepper as she fiddled with her ipad.
"Tony, I'm not done with you. Yes you stuck up for your work but you could've put me and SHIELD in a very awkward position since you are under our supervision now."
"Yeah, well it's fine now." Tony collapsed into a seat.
"And you!" Emma turned on Rhodey.
"Me?" He asked surprised.
"Contact me or Coulson next time before you file anything about the Iron Man suits. We already know about the other tests going on, you're welcome for those videos off of my files by the way Tony." He looked up at her innocently, "Yeah, I saw you hack into my files on your phone." He just shrunk in his seat and Rhodey looked slightly frightened.
"I promise to contact you guys next time."
Emma then sat at the back of the plane the whole flight next to Pepper and let her anger fume for a bit.
After arriving back at the mansion the next morning, Emma decided to get some workout's in and headed to the gym where Happy and Tony were starting to get ready for a boxing match.
"I heard you made Pepper early this morning your new CEO."
"Please don't tell me you are going to be mad at me about that now," Tony rolled his eyes and Emma just smiled.
"No, I'm proud of you on that decision. Also, I forgive you for yesterday." Tony grinned at that and went back to boxing with Happy.
"Notary is here for the signing. Please come and sign!" Pepper called not too much later coming into the gym and Emma turned to see a red head woman walk into the gym and she tried not to show her surprise.
"I promise this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company," Pepper exclaimed as Natasha walked over to her.
Natasha gave a smile to Emma over Pepper's shoulder. So this was the agent sent to watch and see if Tony was ready for the Avengers. Damn it Coulson. He knew she would distract Tony and get whatever information she wanted.
"What's your name lady?" Tony called over to Natasha.
"Rushman, Natalie Rushman."
Emma took a couple more jabs to the punching bag as Tony invited her in to the boxing ring. Oh no, this wouldn't be pretty.
Natasha went in to the ring and just stared down Tony.
"What?" Tony asked a little un-nerved and headed over to Pepper.
Emma followed behind him to watch what would happen to Happy.
"Who is she?" Tony asked Pepper.
"She is from legal and a very expensive sexual harassment lawsuit if you keep looking at her like that." She said annoyed.
"She would be a great candidate for your position Pepper, she seems right at home here," Emma suggested leaning over their shoulders. She had to plant the seed for Natasha to stay and keep watch, even if she wasn't entirely sure about her staying.
"I like her idea!" Tony said.
"No, we have some nice potential candidates."
"I need somebody right now, I need her." Tony commented, "Natalie, how do you spell your name?" Tony called and Natasha spelled her name.
Tony took the liberty to look her up on the table top computer next to him. He found some very interesting photos and her resume. Emma shook her head and looked up and saw Happy getting his ass kicked by Natasha.
Everyone rushed to Happy and Emma was trying not to laugh.
"I need your impression," Natasha held out a stamp for Tony to finish with his legal documents. "Will that be all Mr. Stark?"
"No." Tony said.
"Yes." Pepper said over him.
"No, I want to see you take my best friend, Emma in the ring."
Emma and Natasha exchanged glances.
"No, I think she has some things to take care of," Emma said.
"It's okay Emma. I understand if you are intimidated by me." Natasha said, Emma knew she was just throwing a challenge out there but she hated how well she played the part.
"Shots fired," Tony said gleefully.
Emma threw her towel around her neck at Happy and smiled at Natasha, "Oh, no it's not that, I just don't want to break your pretty face."
"OKAY! Enough is enough ladies," Pepper interjected.
"Have you two met?" Tony noticed their glances at each other.
"Yes, I ran into her a few times during my internship at Stark." Emma commented with a cover.
"We took martial arts classes together on Wednesday's." Natasha added on.
"We are just teasing each other," Emma said smiling at Natasha.
"Oh, that's good. You had us going," Pepper said relieved.
"Let me walk Ms. Rushton out and we can catch up."
Emma then walked Natasha to the front door and out to her awaiting car.
"What the hell?!" Emma said.
"Oh come on, it was all in fun. And he will never know!" She laughed.
"I mean, Coulson assigned you?!" Emma explained.
"He figures I can get information out of him better than any other agent." Emma had to agree with that.
"Well he's already salivating over you so it's a start."
"You better go before they get suspicious; you head out to DC tomorrow right?"
"Yeah. I need the break," Emma sighed
"I can tell. Enjoy it." Natasha then quickly hugged her and got in her car and drove off.