Whatever It Takes

Epilogue

Peter had just reached the compound lobby, and in a moment the static in the air was undeniable. Unlike his spider senses, this was just his overall Peter senses going off. Not to mention the workers who paused their days to stand and stare at the overhead monitors. On it, cameras flashed at Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, as they usually did. Peter's brow dipped for a second, remembering the door that supposedly had no reporters on the other side, but it didn't last long. In the next second, the live announcement showed his older sister, Emma Hansen herself, walk slowly up to the podium in between the two. Tony said something, holding onto Emma with a protective arm around her, and the room erupted on the screen. The camera flashes surged once more, Emma tried her best not to squint, questions and comments that couldn't be heard rambled into one another. Tony Stark and Pepper Potts were getting married, and Emma was Tony's long lost daughter - proven via a DNA taken earlier that month. It only took a minute before cellphones and messaging apps dinged and buzzed around the room - including Peter's own cracked cell in his pants pocket. The whole world knew in thirty seconds flat. Peter barely heard the chatter in the lobby. He had to wonder, how would his shy, to herself sister be able to handle this?

Apparently Peter hadn't heard Happy trotting behind him either. When he spoke, Peter nearly jumped. "It took her a minute to decide," Happy told the brother. He looked to the monitor. Tony looked like the happiest man on planet - fucking - Earth, and he was. Emma was smiling shyly, and stuck to Tony like glue.

"I never thought she'd want to come out with it," Peter admitted, trying to hide his honest worry. Happy seemed to shrug, "I'm sure by now stranger things have happened with you two."

"Ya know, I think that's a bit debatable." The floating guy with the gem in his head and the guy in the motorcycle suit would grew as big as King Kong was something, but seeing Emma up in front of the whole world with cameras rolling and flashing all over where for once her sweater couldn't hide her may have been the craziest thing Peter has seen in his life so far.

That being said, maybe he could talk her into singing in public now. But that was a huge maybe.

"They'll be busy for a while," Happy said, "I should get you back." Peter took a final look at the monitor and the look of a frightened doe on his sister's face before heading out. Inside the screen and across the universe, Emma found herself feeling just like that.

In the room, a barrage of questions she could barely make out were thrown her way and then Tony's way and then ultimately Pepper's way. Her heart raced, and they all sounded the same. Like the same man and woman shouting the same questions louder and louder. They banged at her eardrums and she wondered if someone were actually knocking at the door.

Are you an Avenger?

Will you be taking over your father's work in the future?

Do you have an iron suit of your own?

Are you a product of Tony's infamous playboy era?

The last question burned to Tony, but only sizzled and simmered to Emma. She didn't want to say it to Tony - because she was certain at this point that it would hurt him - but in her eyes, that's more or less what she was. Not that she thought Tony viewed her that way, but it's how she couldn't help but view herself. And now, it's how the whole world might view her. Everyone at school. Everyone in the city.

Her stomach started to hurt and her brain burned; Did I make a mistake saying yes?

Tony wanted Emma out of there before they became more vicious. He looked to his fiancé who didn't need it in words. Tony excused himself and his daughter while Pepper fought the flames of the reporters. In a smaller back room, the noise drowned out. It was just her and Tony now, and for once that made everything better for Emma. Tony put his hands on her shoulders and tried to look into her eyes. "Are you okay?"