Aurora

Seven

Natasha had forced Rory to stay inside the Avengers compound for a whole two weeks as her punishment for trying to burn Steve's neck off. The girl had tried to explain to her mother that she was doing what she was doing in just the right way so that Steve felt pain but didn't get burnt, but the former assassin wasn't having any of it.

In truth, it wasn't that bad of a punishment. The compound was huge. She could do whatever she liked. Explore in the labs, cook a meal, drive around the grounds in one of Tony's sports cars when he wasn't watching. In fact, Rory had done all of those things. She made a meal for everyone, mostly just to apologise to Steve.

Peter had visited a few times, and Rory was really starting to like him. He was adorable and pure and innocent. Everything Rory wasn't and everything Rory needed. She was out in the grounds driving in Stark's black Lamborghini when she saw the all too familiar Aunt May's car drive into the compound. The girl pulled up behind the car so they could drive out and greeted the two people who got out the car. They were, of course, May and Peter.

"Hi, May. You had a nice weekend?" Rory asked her as she rolled the window down to speak.

"I've had a great weekend, thanks." the older woman answered. She looked back at her nephew and told him, "I want you home before midnight, okay? I don't care if you want to be 'cool', I want you to be alive."

Peter stepped out of the car and closed the door, embarrassed. "Understood." he said sheepishly.

Rory smiled at the boy and he gave a weak smile in return, obviously embarrassed by his Aunt's antics.

"I'll keep him in check, make sure he leaves at a suitable time." Rory reassured May.

"Thank you, darling." said May. "Peter, you listen to Aurora, she's got common sense."

"She likes to be called Rory, Aunt May. She threatened to drop kick Mr Lang when he called her Aurora." Peter said matter-of-factly.

Aunt May revved her car's engine. "Cool. Keep up the good work, kid. Love you Peter." said May loudly as she put the car window up and walked away.

When May had driven out of the compound, Peter and Rory headed inside. Peter explained that he was there because Tony wanted to ask him to properly join the Avengers. Rory actually knew about this and had to pretend to be shocked. She knew that the whole team was going to be at a press conference in an hour or two and that Stark was, hopefully, going to introduce Peter to the world as the newest member of the Avengers. (A/N: In which SM:HC is set almost directly after the event of CA:CW because I have so much planned for the future of these characters and I just want to get to it.)

The two teens walked up the stairs to get to the lab where Rory knew Stark was waiting for Peter. When they entered, there was some sort of robot looking thing in a case and Banner was pushing some sort of lever down, and he appeared to be destroying said robot.

"Stark. I've got your friend." Rory called out.

Tony called out from across the lab. "Got it! You can go if you want, I just need the kid."

"I'll see you later, Mr Peter." smiled Rory.

"Oh, bye, see you, Miss Rory, bye." Peter fumbled.

Rory left the lab and took the elevator up to the apartment where the rest of the team was busy getting ready for the press conference. Although they were just going to be sitting in the audience with everyone from the press, they still wanted to look good.

The females of the group were looking very Pepper-esque in business suits. Wanda's suit was the classic red Scarlet Witch colour and Natasha's was navy blue. Pepper herself was wearing a black dress that stopped in the middle of her shin. The men were all wearing pretty much the same thing: a white button up shirt and black trousers. The only difference between them was the colour of their ties.

Rory went to her room to change and came back out wearing a black skirt and pink button up shirt.

After about ten minutes, Happy called for everyone over the intercom and the team left the apartment and piled in the Stark limousine.

"What exactly do we do if Peter doesn't join the team? What do we tell the press then?" asked Rory as she poured herself a glass of water.

"We can't afford to think like that." answered Natasha.

"Your mother's right, Firegirl. We need that kid on our team." added Clint.

"But, hypothetically, what would happen if he did refuse?" she asked again.

Natasha rolled her eyes in both amusement and annoyance. "He won't hypothetically refuse, so we don't need to worry about that."

"But-"

"Is there any wine in here?" asked Natasha. Clint laughed admiringly.

•••

The Avengers took up an entire two rows of seats at the press conference. Rory did want to sit next to Wanda so they could sit and have a chat to stop them from being completely and utterly bored, but Natasha insisted that her daughter sat next to her, and so Wanda and Rory were separated.

Technically, the press conference started half an hour ago but it seemed something had happened that had caused Stark to be late - again, and in true Stark fashion.

Pepper was beginning to get flustered. Even from a distance, Rory could tell the woman was getting more and more anxious by the second. The CEO said something to one of the security men and left the room momentarily. A minute later she returned with Tony but without Peter?

"Where's Peter?" whispered Natasha as the whole room clapped.

"We can't afford to think like that." mocked Rory.

Her mother flashed her a death glare.

Tony walked to the centre of the stage. "I'd like to welcome everyone to Stark Tower today. Thank you for being here. Now, today we were going to introduce the world to the newest Avenger but, unfortunately, they're massively unwell and couldn't be here today. I know, it's a shame. On the other hand however, this does give me more time to do something I've been wanting to do for a number of years now. Pepper, if you would join me." He then got down on one knee. The team looked at each other in excitement. "I have known you for going on twenty years now, and to be honest I'm surprised you're still here. After everything I've put you through, it's a wonder you haven't left, and I should say that I'm truly sorry for all the times I've put you in danger and messes up. So, I though 'Why not make it so she can't leave even if she wants to?'." This got a laugh from the audience. "Pepper Potts, I love you so much, and I fall in love with you more every day. Will you marry me?"

The room went silent for a moment as Pepper cried in shock.

"Yes. Yes, of course I'll marry you." she cried.