The alliance between the X Men and the Avengers

Old and new aquaintances

Pepper:

I sigh, turn off the computer and stand up. I can finally call it a day. My work is only just beginning now. With a flowing movement I put on my blazer. I've been worried about her since the phone call to Morgan. She knows I'm not telling her something, but I don't want to make her sad unnecessarily. After the death of .... my husband, I have now taken over his business and now I have to go to an invitation. I know Morgan's actually loaded too, but I've got a bad feeling. Something tells me I'm about to be in for a surprise. Why I leave my daughter at home. With my arms and hands packed, I make my way to my car, which is in the underground car park. I have to open and close the doors with my elbow.

Two hours later I get out of a taxi and look around. In front of me rises a gigantic building with a long curving driveway. The big iron gate is open and I can pass through it without much problem. Several steps lead to the entrance of the house. Large white pillars line the entrance to the left and right. Everywhere there are people in evening dress and chatting. Some of them are holding champagne glasses. And I have also adapted my clothes to the occasion and am wearing a tight red dress. I twisted my hair into soft curls and left them loose. They bounce up and down with every step.
"Miss Stark, how nice to see you here." Says a handsome man. He is about forty and yet exudes an intimate friendliness. In keeping with the occasion, he is wearing a tuxedo and a bow tie. Small wrinkles have formed around his eyes and his hair already has gray streaks, as does his beard and gray patches.
"I wasn't expecting you at all," he adds.
"My last name is actually Potts. But of course I'm happy about your invitation." I correct him automatically. He looks at me in surprise.
"I thought you married Tony Stark," he says, irritated. But I wince when he says his.
"Yes, we did. However, I didn't take his name, I kept mine," I explain. Ever since we got married, I've been getting surprised looks when they find out what my name is. Although many of them call me "Stark," my name is still "Potts." However, Morgan got the name "Stark". I didn't care what last name she got, so she got his name.
"I hope you can still enjoy the evening," the man is saying. His words bring me back to the present and I nod absently. Before he can say anything else to me, I excuse myself and walk away. In passing, I grab a champagne glass and push past all the other people. Inside there is a lively atmosphere and some people dance to the relaxed music in the background. As I mingle with the people, I stop dead in my tracks and would have liked to leave immediately. But they saw me.
"Pepper! How nice to see you here, we didn't expect you," says Steve Rogers. I look at the former Captain America in surprise.
"What are you all doing here?"

Steve:

I didn't expect her to show up at all. She looks at us, that is Sam, Clint Thor and I, in surprise.
"What's this all about? Did Nick Fury send you here to change my mind?" Her expected reproach comes, but I shake my head.
"No, Nick didn't send us..." I begin.
"...we're just here." Clint helpfully ends my comment. I give him a grateful look. But Pepper doesn't seem to see it that way. Thor stands up and approaches her.
"Pepper, Tony was a friend to all of us. We all suffered at his death and I know what it feels like to lose a loved one. After all, I lost my parents and my brother. And I can understand if you didn't want to have more to do with us, but please remember, we have experienced the same thing as you." he says before walking to the bar and leaving us there. I glance at Sam.
"I think I'll keep Thor company," he says. "Oh, Pepper, can I come with you later? At your house, I mean. Because we have to talk.", he says to Pepper. Then he disappeared too. Clint looks at me and says, "Didn't you want to say something to Pepper?". I have to think for a moment, but then it comes back to me.
"Clint mentioned that your daughter is a bit, shall we say, upset. Maybe it has something to do with Pieter? Anyway, we thought that she might need some training," I say cautiously. Because I can not guess their reaction. As I thought, her face shows anger at first, but then it turns sad. Finally she just nods.
"You're right. I've been running from it for too long and I don't want anything to happen to Morgan. But I also don't want to have to constantly blame myself because she can't defend herself. So what are your plans?"
"Wait a minute, did you just agree to a workout for Morgan?" Clint stands up and looks at her in surprise. I don't really understand your answer either.