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Chapter 37: EpilogueSummary:

FINISHED....

Chapter Text

"Miss Rushmanov, Dr Stark, Captain Rogers." Rael smiled at the three Terrans. "You have the thanks of Xandar and quite probably, most of the known universe, for your assistance in dealing with the threat of Thanos, the Mad Titan." A cheer rose from the tired fighters as they slumped on whatever patch of flat surface they could find. "There is nothing that we can give that will adequately show our gratitude. So, we will simply say… thank you…" The white-haired woman bow her head to them and stepped back from the podium.

The cheer rose again.

~~~

August 7th 2013

Emerging into the soft light of an upper New York sunset, Tony stretched and let the nanobots melt back into the arc reactor housing on his chest.

"Right, kids, that's a wrap." He called. "I think there's enough beds for everyone. JARVIS? Is there enough beds for everyone?"

"I'm sorry, Sir, but no there isn't." Came the reply.

"Well, that's not good." Tony muttered. "Who can double up? It's only for one night."

Nat looked at Yelena and the blonde nodded back.

"We'll give up our room." Nat said.

"And where do you plan to sleep, then?" Tony looked at her in suspicion.

"I will be bunking with Steve and Lena will bunk with Riley." Nat said calmly.

"Excuse me?" Clint blinked a few times.

"You heard me." Nat said and wandered off in the direction of the house, arm-in-arm with her sister.

"Nat?" Clint called and when she didn't respond, he trotted after her. "Nat? What do you mean, you'll bunk with Steve? Why? For how long? Just tonight? Nat? Nat?!" Tony heard the archer pepper the redhead with questions that she didn't seem to be interested in answering.

"Steve? Riley?" Laura asked, looking at the two men.

Riley just shook his head, he seemed to be in shock.

Steve just snorted. "I know nothing, Laura. This is the first I've heard about it."

Laura just sighed. "Of course it is… Alright boys, those are my daughters. Hurt them and I hurt you. Got it?"

"Got it." Steve nodded.

Riley just nodded, still unable to speak.

"Good. Off you go, then, don't keep them waiting." As the two men trotted/stumbled after Clint and the two Widows, Laura turned to Pepper. "I'm going to let Angela know that we're back."

"I'll have Happy fire up the bus and go pick up, her and horde." Pepper added.

"Thanks, Pepper." With that Laura followed the path back to the house, up the path she could hear Steve and Riley talking.

"What the hell…?" Riley's mouth finally started to work.

"Hey, it's Nat and Lena." Steve replied. "You don't really think they'd tell us mere males what they planned, do you?"

"Uh…?" Riley's grunt turned into a whine.

"No, of course not…" Steve said. "We'd only screw things up."

"Talking of screwing up…?" Riley chuckled. "Did you see Sam and Rhodey?

"Oh, Gods…" Steve laughed. "The calf-eyes. Talk about going goo-goo…"

Tony just shook his head, he didn't want to know.

An hour later, Sam pushed open the door to the suite that he usually shared with Riley, only to stop in the doorway to his room and sigh. His bed was occupied. If he wasn't so tired, he'd coo. They were so cute. Steve and Nat, curled up like kittens, albeit that Steve had a face-full of Nat's hair and Steve's shoulder was likely to give Nat a black-eye, from the way she was pressed against it.

He sighed and stumbled from the suite.

"Sam?" Rhodey asked, as he staggered up the hall.

"Steve and Nat have taken my bed." Sam whined, he just wanted a soft place to sleep. Was that too much to ask for...?

"Come on, you can bunk with me." Rhodey was just as tired, but his momma hadn't raised an idiot, he'd make use of any chance he could, to get the younger man in his arms. If only he was willing to stay there…

~~~