Strange Connection (Stephen Strange x OC)

Chapter 25

"Do I look okay? You said casual, but did you really mean casual?"

Ariana turned around from where she had been browsing through books on a shelf in the library to find Stephen standing there, wearing dark blue jeans and a vintage Pink Floyd t-shirt.

"You look great. Why are you so worried about this? It's just Pepper and Morgan."

"They're you're family. I'm having dinner with your family, that's a big deal."

"Stephen," Ariana said with a smile as she came close and rested her hands on his chest. He wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. "This isn't the first time you've been around Pepper and Morgan. It's not like you're meeting the parents or something.

Stephen sighed. "I just—This is our first dinner with them since we got engaged. I know how important they are to you."

"You are important to me, too."

"Exactly. I don't want you to have to worry about weird family dynamics."

Ariana frowned. "For a guy who is normally so confident—dare I say arrogant—you're awfully worried about this."

"Let's just say I remember some pretty stressful family get togethers from my childhood."

Ariana blinked. "That's the first you have ever mentioned your childhood before. I just—I didn't ask because I assumed it was a sensitive subject."

"You assumed correctly. I don't like to talk about it. Maybe one day. Not today."

She nodded. "Okay. But for now—don't worry about this, okay? It's just Pepper and Morgan."

"Okay. But—"

She ran her hands down his arms, over his bare arm muscles. "You look great. Should we get going?"

"I'm ready if you are."

A few minutes and one portal later, they were knocking on the door of the cabin. Pepper answered with a smile on her face. "Hi! You made it!" She opened the door wider for them to come in and they followed her towards the kitchen. "I was worried you might have some inter-dimensional mystic crisis come up."

Stephen smiled. "There are plenty of other Masters who can handle an inter-dimensional crisis now and then when an important occasion comes up."

"So, Wong has things under control?" Pepper glanced back with a smile.

"Precisely," he said with a nod.

"Morgan! Aunt Ari and Doctor Strange are here!"

"Please, Mrs. Potts—you can call me Stephen."

Pepper turned, hands on her hips, eyebrow raised. "Perhaps if you'll start calling me Pepper that would be a bit easier."

Stephen blushed. "Oh, right. I see your point—Pepper."

Pepper nodded, feeling victorious in that battle. "I just need to bring the dishes to the table and we'll be ready to eat. I hope you all like Italian. I made Ziti, Garlic Bread, Salad."

"Everything looks great, Pepp. Thanks so much for having us over," Ariana said as she picked up a huge bowl of salad.

"It smells amazing," Stephen added as he picked up the huge dish of baked ziti.

They had just set the dishes on the dining table when they heard the heavy beats of footfalls on the steps.

"Aunt Ari!" Morgan squealed out as she flew towards the woman's waist, hugging it tight.

"Morgan, my girl! How are you?"

"I'm good. I'm so happy you're here." The young girl then released her 'aunt' and looked nervously to Stephen. "Hello, Doctor Strange."