Copper Feather

14

The next day, Evie returned to Earth. She and Peter went on a date to Dylan's Candy Bar, which was so much fun. Evie spent a lot of time at her house, decorating the entire house while laughing with Rachel in Russian. The nights were spent with Peter in the tower, because as much as Evie wanted time alone with Peter she couldn't bear to be that far away from the rest of the team, seeing as it hurt sometimes, the distance, that is. Evie's wings had more and more golden feathers sprouting, a few every month. She'd shrugged it off, assuming there was some genetic explanation.

On Christmas Eve, Evie invited the entire team, Clint's children and wife, Thor, and Loki, and Tony and Pepper (who was so glad to meet Evie now that she was back from seeing her sister in Germany who had been diagnosed with a rare, but treatable skin cancer).

At 2:00, Evie FaceTimed Ella and Ari, talking about New York, introducing them to the entire family. They talked about everything and anything, Ari gushing about this guy she'd met at a party. Ella had rolled her eyes. Evie was glad to see her friends were happy. Over the course of the school year, Evie and Ella had grown inseparable.

Evie and Pepper cooked Christmas dinner together, Peter coming in to help finish up. Clint and Natasha were entertaining Clint's kids and Bruce was messing around with a hologram. "Dinner!" Called Evie, and the patter of Clint's kids' feet on the tile floors was a welcome sound. Evie set down the roast, allowing Tony to cut the meat. Pepper sat down on Evie's other side, the one not currently occupied by a very hungry Peter, and initiated a conversation with the phrase, "So how's school?" Evie had grinned, then proceeded to go on a ramble about how much she loved it, and her teachers.

After dinner, Evie tucked Clint's kids into bed, singing them to sleep with a Russian lullaby. She kissed them on their heads, walking to the door quietly, she cracked the door so that it formed a makeshift nightlight. Peter was standing behind Evie, and he took her arm, kissing her on the cheek.

Evie walked into the kitchen with Peter, getting a glass of water. "How are you so good at this?" Asked Peter. "What?" Responded Evie. "You're so good at mothering. At being careful and sweet. It's hard not to immediately trust you, especially for kids." Explained Peter. Evie furrowed her eyebrows, thinking. "Maybe it's because I know what it's like to have a parent that isn't there, so I know what not to do." Peter nodded. "Maybe." Evie took a sip of water, then walked into the dining room. She took away Tony's wine glass, picking his plate and washing it in the sink with his glass. Tony grumbled but went to bed. Peter gave Evie a look that said 'thank you' then went to make sure Tony got in the shower. Natasha brought in two plates, Wanda's and hers, washing them at Evie's side. Clint and Bruce had persuaded Wanda and Peter to play hearts, something that wasn't going well for Peter if Evie's hearing was accurate.

Evie looked sideways at her mom who was looking out the window. "You know, it got me thinking." Evie set down the damp cloth that she'd been using to dry the dishes. "About what?" she prompted. "You. You're growing up. You're 18. Soon you'll be having kids!" Evie could hear the bit of anxiety bleeding into her mom's tone. Evie turned to face her mom. "Mom. I love you. I love Peter. I love this team. I loved Steve, and Pietro, and Phil, and the countless others that I've trusted who've died. I know you're afraid of what this team is doing to me, but there is a reason this ring is on my finger. It not only represents my ties to Peter, it represents my ties to this cause. And I know you're concerned about how Peter and I... are involved... but I'm not going anywhere. You'll be in the front row of my marriage ceremony, regardless of who walks me down the aisle." Natasha exhaled, and for a moment Evie could glimpse past Natasha's usually untouchable facade of bravery, at the woman who was exhausted, tired of having to hold together a family that the world seemed to want to tear apart. It unnerved Evie to see her mom at her weakest. Evie set down the final plate on the drying rack, walking out into the living room to help Peter, who was, as Evie had expected, losing terribly.