Guest of honor: how would you (if you haven't already) celebrate once who realized you were in love? (Not trying to be rude, just asking)

Guest: humor me

Plasma57: thank you

Ilikehats2: you'll see

Chapter 31: I'm What?!

(In Avengers' Tower)

Over the past 15 hours, the assembled individuals gathered to fight Dracula and save Spider-Man had completely prepared. All the weapons have been fully designed/constructed for everyone who'd been chosen to utilize them. The SHIELD squads and Nightstalkers are the support troops or 'average soldier'. The heroes are the 'main force'. But everyone had a part to play; no one could afford to falter from their objective. But some of the heroes felt they could leave behind the Nightstalkers, but Fury had ordered for them to go with them. Currently everyone who's being 'deployed for battle' is walking in/out of one of Tony's examination rooms.

"Man that still stings." Nova said, rubbing his arm. "What's wrong? A little needle hurt you?" Power Man chuckled. "That's not fair! You got to drink the serum!" Sam hissed. "Impenetrable skin baby." Luke chuckled. "While it's not the worst feeling, it didn't feel good." Iron Spider said. "Why did you have to take it? You've got armor?!" screeched. "In case they get through it." Iron Spider replied.

Thor chuckled at their discomfort.

"Come now younglings, surely those tiny…" The Asgardian started to say when a scream blocked his voice's volume.

Everyone turned to see Hawkeye walk out of the room, cussing under his breath.

"I hate shots!" The archer yelled with irritation. "Looks like we found someone whinier than Nova." Power Man laughed. "Hey!" Sam hissed. "Will you stop crying!" A familiar voice snarled.

Everyone turned to see White Tiger walking out of the room, unfazed. She wasn't amused with their complaining.

"These shots are for our benefit remember." Tiger said. "Yeah, yeah… Ow!" Nova said before/after Tiger hit him in the shoulder.

White Tiger shook her head and then walked away.

"The lass is still upset…" Thor sighed. "She's been like that since Spider-Man was captured. What's up with her?" Hawkeye grumbled as he came to stand beside his fellow Avenger.

White Tiger walked into another room. From a distance away, Aunt May saw her. She decided to talk to her; she realized something was going on. The others saw this.

"What are they up to?" The archer said, rubbing his chin. "We can find out." Nova said, deviously.

Hawkeye grinned.

(In the other room)

Tiger sat down on the window ledge and looked out the window to view the city. Never before had she thought it seemed so vast. She'd all across the city, for reasons quite obvious. But it felt empty though, something was missing. Tiger sighed with an emotion hard to categorize.

"Missing someone?" A familiar voice asked from behind Ava. "Huh? What?" Ava said as she turned around.

In the doorway stood Aunt May leaning against the door calmly.

"Can I come in?" The older woman chuckled. "Uh…. I guess?..." Tiger replied. 'What's she doing in here?' Tiger thought to herself.

May shut the door behind her and then walked over to sit by Ava. She too looked out the window to look at the city.

"So odd… Not seeing him out there…" May sighed. "… Yeah… It's getting old… him not being here…" Tiger said. "Are you ok dear?" May asked. "I'm fine! Why are you asking me?" White Tiger stammered.

May chuckled slightly. Tiger gave her a quizzical look.

"You miss him." May said. "He's my friend… why wouldn't I?" Tiger quickly replied.

(Outside the door)

Nova and Hawkeye are listening in on the conversation. Nova had taken off his helmet so he could put his ear to the door like Hawkeye. Everyone else walked over to see what they're doing.

"Cl…" Black Widow started to say when the archer shushed her. "They're having a 'private conversation'." Nova whispered, a smug grin on his face. "Want a better version?" Iron Man chuckled.

Both Nova and Hawkeye grinned.

(In the room)

A small spy bot flew under the door and into the room. The two women chatting didn't notice it as it sat above them on the wall. It began recording their conversation.

"Ava dear… You've been most… uh… unpredictable lately. Ever since my boy's kidnapping. A friend would be most unhappy. But you're more than just unhappy." May said.

Ava remained silent. May was correct. Tiger was far more than just unhappy... she's furious, angry, vengeful, and greatly saddened. Tiger tried to avert her gaze from May.

"It's ok dear to be sad. It's natural. I'd be upset if you weren't." May chuckled. "I… just didn't expect it to be him… Why him?..." Tiger stammered, her voice filled with sadness.

May sighed and then looked at the girl's mask. She could see stains on them.

"Take your mask off dear." May said. "What?" Tiger replied, confusion in her voice. "Please… Let me look at you…" May said.

Tiger hesitated at first.

"It's ok dear. There's no one in here but us." May said.

(In the main room of the tower)

Stark, Clint, and Sam sat on the couch looking at the holographic screen connected to the camera in Iron Man's spy bot. The chuckled with irony at May's statement. The others shook their heads.

(In the other room)

Tiger nodded slowly, and then even more slowly took off her mask. And May gasped as she saw the girl's face. The girl's eyes are blood-shot and tears are streaming down her face. She'd been crying without end.

"You look terrible dear. Have you gotten any sleep?" May said. "… No…" Tiger said. "Dear… Is there something you're not telling me?" May asked. "N-No…" Ava sobbed.

Then it clicked in her mind… the possible truth.

"Ava… before Peter was taken… did you two talk?" She asked. "Yes… I just apologized to him about being mad at him." Tiger answered. "And did you do anything else…?" May continued. "Uh… no…" Ava said, there wasn't much conviction in her voice. "Did you two… hug?..." She asked. "What?" Tiger gasped. 'Huh!' May gasped in her mind, but kept her expression calm. "Uhhh…no…" Ava stammered. "You two held hands?..." May continued. "H-How did you?..." Ava started to say when May interjected, "And you looked into one anothers' eyes… And felt this feeling which you can't forget…" May added.

Tiger's facial expression was one of shock and surprise. What was Peter's aunt talking about?

"I felt it when I did it with my Ben." May said. "W-What are you talking about?" White Tiger gasped.

A warm smile spread across May's face and tears streamed down her happy face. She took hold of the girl's hands in her own

"You're in love with Peter…. You're in love with my boy…" May said, her voice filled with calmness and yet joy at the same time.

(In the main room)

Some of the individuals gasped with shock and surprise.

"AWWW!" Dagger and She-Hulk cooed as the revelation. "Ah ha! So the lass is in love with the Man of Spiders!" Thor said, happiness in his voice. "So that's why she's been so hostile." Falcon said.

Others smiled. Fist was one of the main ones. He'd suspecting there was something different, yet special between Spider-Man and White Tiger. The truth was out now.

'I knew it.' Fist mused in his mind.

(In the other room)

Ava was as quiet as mouse. She hadn't expected those words to come out of May's mouth. The look on Ava's face is one of extreme shock, her eyes wide. Her in love with Peter Parker?

"I'M WHAT?!" White Tiger shrieked with surprise.

The intensity of the sound caused May to grimace in pain. But she returned to her smile. Before she could reply, she saw Tiger was huffing in shock. Ava looked like she was going to have a seizure.

'ME AND WEB-HEAD?! WHAT?! HOW?! WHY?! N-NO! IT CAN'T BE!' Ava screamed in her mind.

White Tiger couldn't fathom the thought of her being in love with Spider-Man. He's goofy, unprofessional, unpredictable, and lazy. She's serious, passionate, no-nonsense, and fierce. Tiger couldn't see the intimate bonds between the two.

"Dear it's ok! It's strange and alien at first. But once you realize and embrace the truth, it's a wonderful and beautiful thing. Believe me." May said, the smile growing wider on her face. "I-I… I mean…" Ava stammered. "Calm down dear. It's going to be fine. You need to get some rest. Remember, tomorrow you all are going to get my boy back." May said. "O-Ok… What the…?" Ava said as she hears a buzzing sound and looked up.

(In the main room)

Sam, Clint, and Stark are laughing hysterically as they roll around on the couch. The others shake their heads in disappointment. Two of them look at the screen and their expressions change instantly.

"HAHAHAHA! T…." Hawkeye stopped laughing when he saw the grins on Fury and Widow's faces.

Sam and Tony stopped laughing when they heard Hawkeye's laughing vanish. They looked at him with confusion. Then they glanced at the grins of Fury and Widow. Natasha pointed to the screen. The three jokesters followed her 'directions' and saw something that changed their expressions. On the screen it didn't show the two women talking, it showed them. They looked up to see Ava and May. They had less than amused looks across their faces.

(THIS IS GONNA BE SWEET!)

Ava crushed the spy bot in her hand and let it drop to the ground. She put the mask back on then flexed her claws.

"Oh shit." The three jokesters gulped.

Tiger growled as she leapt at them, claws first.

(Outside the tower on the ground)

The people walking on the streets stopped instantly when they heard these loud, 'girly' screams of hysterical fear/pain. They all shrugged and kept walking.

To be continued…