Loving Yous A Little Bit Hard Sometimes / Bruce Banner

9. Rings

5 Months Later

"Okay looks perfect except for- where are the live animals that are supposed to be shitting all over Tony's yard? That was part of my- oh hi Tony." Alisha cooed. 

"Animals?" 

"A petting zoo!" Alisha agreed. 

"It's a baby shower, not a childs birthday party also never bring animals here. I dont like farm animals." Tony countered. 

"You bought a farm."

"I bought land and built a house, it just happens to have a lot of-"

"Farm land." Alisha agreed, before pushing her brother out of the way. "Pepper you look beautiful! Glowing! ALl that bullshit about women 8 months pregnant."

"Thanks, Alisha." Pepper agreed. 

"You didnt do it yet." Tony remarked pouring Bruce a drink. 

"I..." Bruce hesitated shifting his glass in his hand. "How did you know?"

"Because Lida was making up stories about farm animals instead of showing off a very large rock I helped you pick out for your engagement." 

"Thanks for that..." Bruce agreed. 

"Well? What are you being such a wimp, tell Hulk to come out he would propose in an instant." Tony demanded. 

"He likes Alisha a little too much." Bruce countered. 

"Ask her."

"It's your baby shower." Bruce countered. 

"And it will be extra memorable, go." Tony demanded. Bruce pat down his pockets, panic flooded his eyes as his gaze snapped back up to Tony.

"You lost the ring?"

"I didnt." Bruce corrected. "I havent taken it off my person when I leave the house just in case the perfect moment strikes."

"Then where is it?" Tony questioned, Bruce locked eyes on his jacket on Alisha's shoulders. 

"Alisha has it." Bruce countered. 

"What?" Tony spun around. "In your jacket and like a gentleman you gave it to her because she is always cold, right, okay, get it back."

"I can't just take it back." 

"Then be sneaky about it before she reaches into her pocket and finds it and ruins the surprise." Tony instructed.

"Yeah, that would be bad... okay." Bruce ran off. He wrapped his arms around her, Alisha leaned back into his touch. 

"Hi," She whispered turning her cheek to see him. "Is Tony okay?"

"Yeah why?"

"He's staring at us." Alisha answered, Bruce glanced back at him, Tony gave them two thumbs up. "Weirdo." Alisha chuckled. His hands felt around for the ring but he didnt feel it, then he did, he slipped his hands into the pockets as she turned to him tangling them up. "Bruce what are you doing?" Alisha questioned turning back around, he pulled his hand out grasping the little box. His sleeves went past her hands revealing slim fingers peeking out of the coat sleeves. Those fingers reached out touching his cheek. 

"I just, want to be closer to you." Bruce answered. 

"Aw, Brucie," Alisha cooed kissing him. 

"I... am going to get you some of that sparkling pink stuff," Bruce added veering off. 

"With boba!" she added. "I'm trying every flavor of this stuff pepper has become addicted to." 

"Got it." Bruce agreed. "And got it." He smiled back at tony victoriously. 

"Should I hold onto it?" Tony pondered taking the little ring box and spinning it around. 

"No," Bruce grabbed it again. "I got it." 

"It's going to look like you have a boner at a baby shower if you stick that in your pocket, a mini baby boner but we all know its Hulk thats packing, not Banner." 

"You are so mean to me." Bruce decided. Tony shrugged grabbing the box back. He opened it and closed it quickly, cackling out. "What?"

"Nothing." Tony shoved it back.

"What?" Bruce demanded. 

"Nothing!" Tony declared, Bruce opened it up but it was empty. 

"Oh my...." Bruce couldnt breathe. "What did you do?" 

"Me?" 

"I lost the ring-" 

"Oh no you didnt." Tony corrected glancing back at Alisha. 

"What did you do?" Bruce demanded. 

"Alisha." Tony countered pointing him towards Alisha and Pepper. Alisha brushed her hair behind her ear the sleeve slipping down her arm to reveal a shimmering engagement ring on her finger. 

"She has it..." 

"I think she agreed to your proposal before you could ask." Tony remarked. 

"Seems that way." Bruce agreed heading towards her. 

"Where is my boba?" Alisha teased. 

"You found it." Bruce countered kissing her. 

"I hope you dont mind, had to test it out. It's perfect by the way." Alisha agreed. "You want to ask me officially or?" Bruce kissed her again pulling her into his arms. 

"If you want, I'll get down on my knees, and with my hand over my heart, I'll beg you to be my adored wife until the end of time." Bruce agreed. Alisha debated that. "Alisha Maria Stark," He dropped down to one knee. "Will you- Can i have that back?"

"No." Alisha countered holding out her hand. "Okay you can put it on, fine." She agreed letting him slip it off. 

"Will you marry me?"

"It's about damn time!" Pepper declared.