Lucky Thirteen

Tony took several deep breaths as he waited for Bruce to finish ordering his meal and the waiter to leave. He tapped a little on the glass of his sparkling water as well. He was in the middle of rethinking the resolution he'd spent the entire day talking himself into when the waiter left and Bruce eyed him curiously.

"Is there something you want to say?" Bruce asked, raising one eyebrow and taking a drink.

"Uh… Yes. And no. Well, yes. Mostly yes," Tony fumbled and then cleared his throat. "Yes."

When Bruce moved his drink away, his lips were turned up in amusement. "With a build up like that, I'm on the edge of my seat," he said dryly. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes!" Tony pointed at him enthusiastically. "Everything is super. Which is exactly a great starting point for what I want to say," he said and the space between Bruce's eyes creased slightly in that way that Tony found remarkably endearing. "Ok so I was thinking it's been a wonderful three months, right? Even with the distance."

"Right," Bruce answered, but he sounded unsure.

"Right. And everything about us has been unconventional," Tony continued.

Bruce licked his lips slowly as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Possibly an understatement, but continue."

Tony nodded. "I took care of your landlord," he blurted, although it was a deflection away from his real point.

"Oh. You did?" Bruce looked and sounded torn between relieved and concerned. "Please tell me you didn't pay him without consulting me. I… I really didn't want you to throw money at this."

"I didn't," Tony promised. "I just sent someone from legal to sniff out the problem and see what the deal was. Turns out the landlord was also going to try and dish some stuff to the tabloids about you, including a bunch of made up crap about your being a bad tenant. Yeah, that doesn't fly where my legal team is concerned. The report you filed has been escalated to get you back in business and that bad tenant mark scrubbed. Also the landlord has been pressured to back down." He paused and clicked his teeth. "But PR and legal will be keeping an eye out for any libel this guy might have already spilled."

"Wow," Bruce said and actually looked stunned. "Thank you."

"Well, I figure the benefits of dating me should outweigh the consequences," Tony said with a small wave of his hand. "Or at least balance it out a little."

"Sorry I doubted you," Bruce said then with a smile.

Tony raised his eyebrows. "You doubted me?"

"A little. Throwing money at the problem does seem like the easier solution," Bruce pointed out, but Tony wasn't offended.

"And you'd be right about that. Any other case, I probably would have. But you're not any other case. And I knew that's not what you would want and, frankly, I didn't want the guy bullying my boyfriend and his family to get that kind of satisfaction," Tony said vehemently.

Bruce smiled again and looked down at where his hands were folded against the table, thumbs fiddling every now and then. "Your boyfriend thanks you. Incidentally, he also loves you."

Tony's previous anger at Bruce's landlord dissipated at that and an eager smile spread across his face before he finally blurted what he had really wanted to say.

"Which is why he should move in with me."

Bruce's head shot up and his eyes were comically large. "What was that?"

Tony took a deep breath and said more calmly, "I think you should forego the house hunt and move in with me."

"Tony," Bruce said his name very seriously and his lips twitched slightly in uncertainty, "that's a very big step. And it has only been three months."

"I know. It's a crazy idea. Crazy like me," he jabbed at himself in humor. Bruce shook his head fondly. "And I don't want to pressure you into this. If you say no, done deal," Tony then added with a very serious look at the other man. "But I've been thinking. There's plenty of room in the place. A few of the kids would have to share since there are only twelve rooms outside the master, but we could let them figure that out between them. I'm sure a few of them wouldn't mind." He paused and took a drink as his throat was unusually dry. "And here's the thing. The offer doesn't even come with strings or a lease. I was thinking it makes sense on a trial basis or at least until you can have time to really find the house you want and not just because of a time crunch."

The waiter returned then with their appetizer, forcing a break in the conversation. This lull went on for several moments as they began eating. Tony knew though that Bruce was thinking it over, considering the angles. There was this calculating look he got in his eyes whenever he was thinking long and hard about something. Sometimes he got that look when they discussed science; it was the look of a scientist and it looked particularly good on him. Then again, Tony could admit he was extremely biased and pretty much everything was a good look on him.

"The real crazy thing about it," Bruce began without segue way, "is I'm not even inherently adverse to the idea."

Tony had to admit he had expected Bruce to shut down the idea immediately. "Yeah?"

Bruce shrugged. "I'm beginning to think you're a bad influence on my impulse control," he said with a wry smile. But then he sighed. "It would take some of the pressure off. And you know I'd love to be that close to you, but… I'm also a little worried it might complicate things too quickly. Everything's been amazing and I don't want us to ruin that by rushing things. I'm just not sure."

Tony nodded. "Okay, what are some concerns you have? Specifically, I mean. Not just the rushing."

"The kids obviously," Bruce started between bites of food. "We couldn't take this kind of step without their being on board with it. It's one thing for them to get together sometimes, but another entirely for your kids to have to share their space indefinitely and my kids to move into other people's space."

"You're concerned about encroaching on boundaries?"

"A little. That goes for me too."

"You'd have the same reign as me, Bruce," Tony countered that point. "Just like when you watched the kids without me."

"Okay, in theory," Bruce only semi-conceded. "There's also Sam. I'm not his guardian. So you need to find a way to speak with your friend Rhodey about how he feels. He doesn't know me personally after all."

Tony had to agree. That was one of his responsibilities as Sam's guardian. "I'll talk to him about it next time he calls. And he usually takes a week off around Labor Day before school starts so you can meet him then finally."

"We have a dog," Bruce reminded him.

"And we have a zoo," Tony responded to that with a laugh. "I like Hulk. It's not an issue." He waved a dismissive hand.

"There's also the matter of all of our things," Bruce pointed out next. "We can't just fill up your house with our stuff."

Tony frowned at him. "Okay, gorgeous, I love your glasses, but are they the right prescription?" Bruce looked at him in confusion. "Have you seen my house? It can take it. If your kids don't want the beds in the guest rooms, we'll just move them out and let them move theirs in. Hell, the kids want to go crazy and makeover their rooms, I'm good for it and I really don't mind spending money on them. My kids makeover theirs constantly, but I understand if you're not comfortable with that," he backtracked just in case. "The point is there's room. You haven't even seen the storage basement."

"There's another basement?" Bruce asked with a raised brow.

"Two actually. Uh, there's the storage basement with tons of stuff from my childhood and parents' stuff that I didn't want to get rid of. Some heirlooms." He shrugged. "Some of Maya's old things as well," he said a little more softly and Bruce reached across the table and gave his hand an understanding squeeze that he was grateful for. "And then there's all the junk I've collected over the years that doesn't fit anywhere or when I feel like rotating the furniture," he said with a laugh. Maya had sometimes gotten a little frustrated with his short attention span when it came to inanimate objects. "But, trust me, there's room down there for any potential overflow. If not, we'll make room."

Bruce sighed and pulled his hand away. "Again, I think you're a bad influence on my impulse control," he said after a moment, lips turning up ever so slightly at the edges.

"Is that a yes?"

"It's a maybe," Bruce said. "What's the other basement?" He then asked curiously.

"An underground bunker," Tony answered briskly and the unspoken 'oh' that formed on Bruce's lips told him that further explanation wasn't necessary. It was the subtle ways Bruce already seemed to understand him that made Tony think this crazy next step wasn't so crazy.

Sam wasn't sure what to think when Tony came into his room while he was talking to his dad. Usually he didn't interrupt unless he really needed to speak with him. That was a little concerning.

"Hey, Tone," his dad said first. "I hear you're mistreating my son."

"Oh yeah, totally," Tony replied easily. "Was thinking about building an attic or tower and forcing him to move into it. And, Sam, I thought I told you to get started on the chores," Tony said as he nudged him playfully.

"Okay, so what's really up, Tony?" his dad asked with a raised eyebrow and Sam looked at Tony in equal curiosity.

"Okay I promise I'm not interrupting this for relationship advice, but you know that guy I've been seeing?" Tony started and Sam was immediately more interested than he was before.

"Dr. Banner?" His dad looked back and forth between him and Tony. "Yeah, kind of hard to forget that little detail. Sam's told me all about him and his kids. Especially, who is it again that you've been getting along with?" His dad looked at him then.

"Uh, Steve," Sam said quickly. "His name is Steve."

"Oh yeah," Tony said looking at him with a sideways glance. "You two have hit it off haven't you? Steve's a great kid. I can see why you'd get along."

"Mhm," Sam responded simply as he looked around the room, wanting to get on with whatever Tony had interrupted his call for. Talking about his friendship with Steve obviously wasn't it. He suddenly furrowed his brow. Or was it? "Uh, Uncle T… You had a point you were going to make?"

"Right." Tony nodded and then looked back at his dad. "So here's the thing. A few nights ago I asked him to move in."

"Really?" Sam asked in disbelief. That was definitely the last thing he'd expected, but he couldn't help smiling at the idea.

"Yeah, really," Tony affirmed. "You're the first one to know about it so please don't say anything." Tony then cleared his throat. "Now Bruce only agreed under two provisos. Other than the obvious one with our kids being okay with it, he said that if you aren't okay with it he won't move in," Tony said, the point obviously aimed at his father. Sam watched his dad's reaction; he had moved his hand to his chin in a studious motion. "Dr. Banner respects the fact that he's not your son's guardian and that you don't know him or his children. If you're not comfortable or want to meet him first, he's willing to wait. I mean, the guy will probably insist on waiting if you even remotely hint that you're not sure about it."

Suddenly his dad laughed, hand falling away, and Sam smiled knowing that his intense glare had been a ruse. "And let me guess, you'd be pretty disappointed if I said no?"

"Well, yeah," Tony admitted. "But give me a little credit. I respect your wishes."

"And give me a little credit. I still trust you wouldn't put my son in danger… Well, not like this anyway. But you must really be serious about this guy."

Sam grinned. "He is."

Tony looked at him with a crooked grin of his own before looking back at the screen. "I am. So, you are okay with it?"

"That depends." His dad looked at him and Sam knew the decision was going to fall to him. "What do you say, Sam? Are you comfortable with Dr. Banner and his kids moving in there? Or do you think Tony's rushing this thing a bit?" Rhodey finished with a small laugh aimed at Tony. "Wait do you even have enough room in that palace of yours for seven more kids?"

Tony laughed at that. "We can make it work. A few of the kids will have to share, but Bruce's kids are already used to that so he doesn't think it'll be a problem. And don't worry, Sam won't be one of them. No matter how much he might want to room with his new bestie," Tony said with a teasing smirk before winking at Rhodey. His dad snorted in amusement.

Sam coughed and felt a warmth rising up the back of his neck. "I, uh… Okay, dude, no." He shook his head. "Sure I like the guy and all, but I'm not about to give up any of my space." His dad was looking at him suspiciously. "What?"

"Nothing," Rhodey said. "So you're okay with Dr. Banner?"

Sam nodded. "Yeah. He's pretty cool. Better cook than Uncle T here which is nice." Rhodey snorted. "And all of his kids are cool enough. Loki's a little angsty and Natasha's downright scary, but yeah. And I wouldn't want Uncle T moping around the place over not having his boyfriend around all the time."

"Alright then," Rhodey conceded. "Sounds fine. But I do want to meet him when I can and make a final call," he added with a look at Tony. "Also might need to discuss a few things with him."

"We're too old for the shovel talk, Rhodey," Tony said.

"No, this is more like a bulldozer talk. A 'hurt him, hurt his kids, hurt my kid, you die' talk. And that's not the only thing I meant," he said in a serious enough tone that Sam had to wonder and he saw Tony look just a little bit worried.

"Not into surfing?" Natasha asked as she sat down on the beach next to Sam. Aside from herself and Loki and Wanda, and Jemma who Tony was teaching how to skimboard instead, he was the only other one sitting out the surfing portion of the little beach bash Thor had wanted for his birthday. It seemed a little strange since he was into most other sports as far as she could tell.

"Not really my sport," he said with a shrug. "I go out there sometimes, but I'm just as fine swimming or chilling out on the beach. Surprised?"

She gave a shrug of her own. "You're athletic so a little."

"Okay, you got me," he confessed, though sounding melodramatic as if it wasn't really state secrets. "I had a small accident when I was younger. Nothing like near fatal or anything. But it just hasn't appealed to me since."

"Ah. Well, here's to the beach bum life," she said, raising her fruit smoothie toward him. They sat in silence for a few moments before she finally decided to ask her real question since it was just the two of them – a rarity in the chaos of fourteen kids hanging out regardless of the size of the house. "You know something," she said point-blank.

"What?" He looked at her, clearly thrown off guard.

"I think that statement was clear enough. You know something and you're keeping it from us. And whatever it is, my dad and Tony know it too. You've all three been acting weird the past few days." She paused and gave him a thin smile. "So, do I have to pry it from you? Because I can be pretty persuasive."

"Um, okay, uh… No, no, you don't have to…" Sam looked around as if trying to find a witness for whatever she might be implying. He sighed. "Okay, you really can't let your dad or Uncle T know I told you."

She rolled her eyes. "Sam, we're not kids. I'm not a snitch if that's what you're worried about."

"Eh, never know. I can think of a few of your siblings or Starks for that matter who I wouldn't trust with this kind of thing," Sam said in earnest response. She nodded her head back and forth in concession to his point. "Okay, I don't know the whys or whatever, but your dad and Tony have been discussing your all moving into the mansion."

Natasha's typically schooled face shifted into an expression of confusion. "Really? Already?" She considered it. "Maybe it's because dad was having problems with our old landlord and finding a place here on account of it."

Sam shrugged. "Maybe. They're going to spring it on you one of these days because it's up to all of you if you're okay with the arrangement," he explained and then looked back out on the surf.

She considered it carefully. "Well, we're always with you guys anyway. And dad has been pretty stressed about looking for a place before the school year. And he…" Natasha let her sentence trail when she realized Sam had stopped paying attention to her. She followed his gaze to where Steve was coming up to the shoreline, carrying his board with him. "Enjoying the view?"

"Yeah…" Sam answered absently before he realized his slip up. "I mean…" He looked at her frantically and she smiled wryly. "Damn, you're good."

Natasha snorted at that. "No, you're just sloppy," she corrected. "I mean, I am. But I think the only one who doesn't get it is Steve."

"Good," Sam said in relief and she rolled her eyes. "What? He's a good friend and I don't wanna make things weird, okay?"

"Again, not a snitch," she said to his implied request. "And you may have a point. Steve is awkward enough oblivious. If he actually got a clue, who even knows how he might react," she said with a laugh.

"Hey now," he said, nudging her playfully. "Some people find that endearing."

"Oh god," she laughed harder and nudged him back. "I can't believe you like him. This is weird."

"Oh, weirder than you dating his best friend?" He asked incredulously though with a wide smile. "Because I got the impression that's all kinds of weird for Steve."

"It is," she admitted with unrepentant impishness.

He laughed and shook his head. "That's cold."

From the corner of her eye Natasha didn't miss the way Steve stopped in his tracks and studied them.

"Loki, do you think Hulk misses us?" Jemma asked him at random through a bite of her macaroni and cheese.

"No," he said coolly even though he knew better. Sometimes he just enjoyed being contrary. She pouted and looked up at him as though he had broken her heart and that wouldn't do so he relented. "I think he really, really misses us." Her face brightened instantly. "And he probably misses you most of all," he added.

He saw the look his father gave him as he walked by with his own plate to sit at the end of the table. It was the look his father gave him when he was proud of him. He would never admit it and knew it made him somewhat pathetic, but he liked that look.

His father then looked down the table and nodded minutely. Loki quickly followed his gaze to see Tony clearly communicating with his father about something without words. He looked down at his plate of food with a sudden inkling in the pit of his stomach that whatever it was it was going to affect them all.

"Well, I suppose we'll just have to go get Hulk and bring him here so he won't miss you anymore," Tony said breezily.

"Really!?" Jemma cheered.

Loki looked up at Natasha across from him. While everyone else was looking around in confusion, she had that infuriatingly knowing look on her face. Whatever this was, she had managed to figure it out somehow before the rest of them. He narrowed his eyes at her questioningly and she gestured all around with her eyes. He blinked a few times, contemplating what that could mean.

"Did we find a house?" Peter asked and it dawned on Loki in that moment. His eyes widened in disbelief and Natasha hitched a shoulder before taking a bite of her dinner.

"We might have," Bruce answered, clearly hedging.

"How would everyone feel," Tony started, "if we made this arrangement a little more permanent?"

There was silence so loud that Loki found it almost unbearable as they all looked at one another uncertainly.

"You're getting married!?" Harley broke it with a disbelieving shout.

Loki noticed that as he and his siblings turned their head to look at their father for an answer the Starks' heads turned the opposite direction to look at their father.

"We're not… No…" Bruce stammered. "That's not what he meant. He meant…" He shook his head and looked helplessly at Tony.

"I'm offering the Banner clan to move in here with us," Tony clarified and soon all of their heads were turned in his direction. "I think it makes sense, even if it's only temporary, but it's ultimately up to everyone at this table to come to a unanimous decision." Some of them opened their mouths, but Tony barreled on quickly. "Because there are twelve bedrooms and fourteen kids, four of you will need to buddy up. Just laying it out there on the table before you make that decision. And if we do this, I'm making it perfectly clear here and now. This house becomes everyone's house. Banner kids will have the same rights as Stark kids."

"What about rules?" Loki felt inclined to ask. "It's no secret that you two aren't entirely compatible when it comes to rulemaking."

"School year rules are way harsher," Clint replied before either of their fathers could.

"He's right," Tony said. "But your father and I will have to discuss that at length. Technically you're still his kids so if he has different rules, I won't interfere."

"And I won't interfere with Tony's," Bruce added. "So… We'll leave you to deliberate amongst yourselves and—"

"Would we bring all of our stuff with us?" Jemma asked.

"Sweetheart, please don't interrupt," Bruce said gently. "But, yes, we would. But Tony says you can keep the bed in the room here if you like it better."

"But then where would Jane sleep?" She quizzed further.

"I can share with Jane," Darcy suddenly volunteered and Jane nodded enthusiastically.

Loki didn't quite understand that budding friendship as Darcy was no scientist and a few years younger. Yet something about Darcy's pint-sized spunk seemed to prove a good foil for Jane's endless enthusiastic chatter about science.

"Let's not jump ahead," Bruce started.

"Me and Pete can totally share!" Harley then exclaimed and threw his arm around the other boy's shoulders which Loki found completely unsurprising.

"That's a terrifying idea," Tony said with a laugh. "How about everyone think it over and come to a decision first and then we'll discuss the room arrangement if need be."

Loki sighed. "I don't think it's that complicated," he said. "It's clear that you both want this, but are thinking of our feelings. But if you've been paying attention it's not like we've been kicking and screaming so far. We've been willing to adjust as necessary."

"Loki's right," Skye agreed with him. "The space is big enough and we've all gotten along together for the most part."

"Yeah, but that could change once we're all together 24/7 like an actual weird, blended family," Clint challenged, making a reasonable enough point.

"Sure," Skye said, not arguing. "But if it becomes too much of a problem I'm sure our dad and Dr. B will handle it. I say we go for it. Yolo right?"

"Skye, nobody says yolo anymore," Clint balked and shook his head. Then he shrugged. "But you make a good point. I'm in. But I'm not sharing a room."

"I'm okay with it," Wanda said. "Saying no now will only delay the inevitable."

She was right, Loki thought. It might even be best to let their fathers make play in the domestic arts now rather than later. No better way to test their relationship after all.

"I don't care," Pietro said flippantly. "They're always here anyway. And now Thor can teach me MMA," he added with a grin.

"Well, that's my kids present and accounted for," Tony said after a moment and looked down the table at Bruce.

Their father looked at Steve first and Steve glanced quickly at the boy beside him and then around the table. "As long as we're really welcome," he finally said in a dutiful sort of voice as he looked at Tony. "I wouldn't want us to be seen as encroaching on your home."

For some reason Tony glanced at their father and then smiled. "Like I said, if this happens it will literally be 'mi casa es tu casa' – no tricks, no surprises. Understood, Stark clan?"

"Understood," they all said in unison; Loki wasn't sure if it was fascinating or disturbing.

"I have no complaints," Thor said.

"Nor do I in case I wasn't clear earlier," Loki chimed in.

"New York is New York and I'm blunt enough to say there are way worse housing options," Natasha said with an easy shrug. Bruce groaned and Tony laughed in amusement, no doubt finding her remark earnest rather than offensive.

"I'm totally in," Peter piped up next and then all the eyes fell on Jemma beside him.

She squirmed in her seat and Tony said, "I know you probably don't want to move at all, but would you like to move in here?" He looked at her with a soft gaze.

"I guess it would be fun," she said with a small shrug of her equally small shoulders. "If everyone else wants to, then it's okay."

Loki looked at his father for his reaction in time to see the way he smiled in clear relief and looked at Tony in a sickeningly-in-love sort of way. He didn't have to turn his head to know the billionaire was looking at his father in the same way.

Jemma hugged her favorite doll close as she watched the furniture and boxes be carried out of the house by the movers Tony had hired to help them take the stuff all the way to New York by truck. Around the house her dad and siblings were packing up the last of their stuff and labeling the boxes. She walked back to her old bedroom to see it was already half empty. A lot of stories and movies made moving seem like an adventure, but all she felt was sad.

"Jemma," her dad called and she palmed away a few tears before going back into the living room to see what he wanted. "Aunt Betty and Leo are here," he told her even though she could see that for herself.

Her Aunt Betty came over and smoothed her hair over with her soft hand. "How are you holding up, dear?" She asked in that equally soft voice of hers. It sometimes made Jemma wish she could have a mother too even if she knew it was wrong of her to think so. Her father liked other fathers and that was okay. Jemma put on a brave smile, but didn't say anything. "Bruce, mind if I abduct Jemma and take her to the park with Leo?"

Jemma looked over to see her dad smile softly and shake his head. "No, of course not. We'll probably be about another hour with clearing everything out."

"Okay," Aunt Betty said and then held out her hand. Jemma gladly took it, squeezing her doll tightly in her other arm. She was happy to go to the park. It would be less sad than watching the house grow emptier and emptier.

The park wasn't very far so they walked there. The entire way Leo talked about a science book he had read, but she was still a little too sad to really pay attention. When they got there Aunt Betty held her doll for her while she and Leo went to the two swings that were free.

"Do you think we'll ever see each other again?" Leo asked after they'd been swinging for what felt like forever not talking.

Jemma's lip quivered, but she still forced herself to smile. "I hope so. Daddy says we'll find a way. Maybe Tony can fly you to New York like he did for Steve's birthday," she suggested.

"It won't be the same," he said.

She wanted to hit him hard because she wasn't stupid and he didn't have to say things that they both knew, especially when those things made her want to cry. "I know that," she said back instead. "But there's nothing I can do. I'm moving." Suddenly Leo stopped swinging and stretched his leg to kick at the ground. Then he twisted in his swing and stopped hers. "Hey, what are you doing?" She protested.

Leo looked at her with a pout. "I don't want you to leave, Jemma," he said, looking like he was going to cry.

Jemma couldn't smile anymore. She couldn't!

"I don't want to leave either, Leo. You're my best friend," she choked out, starting to cry. "But I have to! I have to and it's not fair!" She let go of the swing and began sobbing into her hands.

"Jemma, sweetie, what's wrong?" Jemma moved her hands and through wet eyes saw Aunt Betty stooped in front of her, her doll tucked underneath one arm. "What's wrong, honey?" Aunt Betty asked again gently and pulled a tissue from her purse. Aunt Betty began dabbing at the tears on her cheeks.

"I don't want to move," Jemma said through snivels. "I just want to stay here. With you and Daddy and Hulk and Leo and I want everything to be the same. I want daddy to read to me at night and make breakfast for just me and Peter before school and to listen to Tasha and Jane arguing in our room and…" She sobbed again. "I don't want to move."

Aunt Betty handed her doll to Leo and pulled her into a hug. "Oh, Jemma. I know. I know it hurts. You've never moved before like your daddy and brothers and sisters. So I know this is scary for you," she spoke soothingly and Jemma thought it sounded like music. "I can't promise you things won't change because I don't know. But I know that your sisters will still argue and your daddy will still read to you when he can. You'll still have Hulk and maybe your dad will make breakfast for more than just you and Peter, but he'll still love you the same when he does. I know Leo won't be there or me or your Uncle Leonard, but it'll be okay. You'll see. I'm sorry it hurts, Jemma. I wish it didn't. I'm going to miss you." Aunt Betty squeezed her tighter before letting go and pushing away the hair stuck to her cheeks. "How about we share some ice cream together before we head back, hmm?"

Jemma sniveled and gave a weak nod. She then sat back down on the swing while Aunt Betty left toward one of the park vendors. Leo gave her doll a hug and then handed it back to her, smiling a little when he did. She took it, looked at it for a moment and then hugged it as well.

"I think if we're really best friends, we'll always be best friends," Leo said in a brave voice in spite of his looking like he wanted to cry too.

"Promise?" She asked, looking at him hopefully.

"Promise," Leo said with a nod. Blushing she couldn’t help herself and leaned over and kissed her friend on his cheek. He turned red and if she wasn't still too sad she would giggle. "Why'd you do that?" He asked.

"Because you're my friend and I care about you, silly," she answered.

"Oh," he said and Jemma rolled her eyes.

Sometimes boys were dumb. Even smart boys like Leo.