Lucky Thirteen

Bruce glanced down at his watch, eyes widening slightly. He quickly began saving his work. "JARVIS, tell the kids if they haven't already they need to start getting ready."

He then hurried out of the lab and into the workshop. Wanda was still there working on something. He started to chastise her gently when he paused and looked in slight amazement. She had Tony's bots wrapping presents for her.

"Don't worry. Yours is already wrapped," Wanda said. "I'm almost finished," she then added and looked at him hopefully.

Bruce looked at his watch again and then gave her small smile and nod. "I guess it should be fine. I have to make sure Jemma gets ready anyway. That should give you some extra time so we don't crowd you out," he said.

"Thank you," she replied.

Bruce moved on toward the main floor of the house. He decided to pass the recreational room just to make sure there weren't any kids ignoring the need to get ready. Sure enough Pietro and Clint were playing a game of air hockey. Bruce moved over to the table and watched until the next score.

"You two need to be getting ready," he finally said.

Pietro groaned. "I don't want to go. It's so boring."

"Eh, he's got a point," Clint agreed.

"Maybe so, but this is the one gala your dad looks forward to so let's not disappoint him."

"Ten bucks says dad isn't even getting ready yet," Clint countered.

Bruce couldn't help but chuckle. "No thanks. That's not a fair bet. Your dad always waits to the last minute to get ready." He then looked at the two kids wryly. "I'm beginning to think it's a Stark thing," he teased.

Pietro laughed. "It might be," he agreed.

"Alright, let's hurry it up and finish the game," he told them. "Incidentally… JARVIS, where is Tony?"

He is in the gym with Thor and Natasha.

"Of course he is," Bruce said with a huff of a laugh as he left the rec room, Clint and Pietro snickering behind him.

He made his way toward the gym and found Tony and Natasha sparring while Thor watched on. He wasn't sure if he should be amused that Natasha was an even match against Tony, maybe even a little better, or frustrated that everybody today would rather make a mad dash to the car. It was snowing outside so they would have to leave a little earlier so as to accommodate the weather on top of it.

"I'm glad this isn't kickboxing," Tony huffed out, obviously winded.

"You would stand even less of a chance," Natasha answered smoothly.

"She's right," Thor chimed in.

Bruce winced when Natasha struck a precise blow.

"Okay, yield," Tony said, throwing up his hands. "I'm done. You win this round."

"Boxing. Excellent idea when you have to be at a gala," Bruce said dryly as he came over to the ring.

"Of course it's an excellent idea, babe," Tony said flippantly as he downed some water and came to lean over the ropes. "Just getting out some restless energy. Trust me. You don't want me to have restless energy at one of these things."

Bruce sighed. "At least tell me there wasn't any face contact." He reached up and took Tony's face into his hands to study it. "The last thing I need is the tabloids accusing me of being an abusive boyfriend."

Tony smiled. "I'm good. No face contact. None on Natasha's end either," he assured him.

"I wasn't really worried about Tasha," Bruce admitted with a thin smile. "I know you wouldn't hit her even if you had the chance. Her on the other hand…" He hitched a shoulder. "But really, Tony, you're just as bad as the kids," he said with a small laugh. "We need to be getting ready."

"We can arrive as late as we want," Tony said, shaking his head. "We probably shouldn't, but we can."

Bruce, taking advantage of his hands still holding Tony's face, pulled him down into a kiss. "Just because we can doesn't mean we will," he said firmly.

"Okay, okay," Tony playfully grumbled. He stepped back and pulled off his boxing gear.

Natasha had already done so and left to get ready. Thor was starting to leave when Bruce stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Thor, you need to actually take a shower for this one," he told his son. "And make sure your hair actually looks brushed," he added. "Bathing in body spray and looking like you just rolled out of bed is fine most days, you know I don't mind, but indulge me on this one okay?"

Thor nodded. "I can do that," he said with a smile and then left.

Bruce sighed and Tony chuckled behind him. "You're taking a shower too, you know," Bruce said teasingly, looking over his shoulder at Tony.

"Are you going to make me?" Tony asked with a slight leer as he stepped out of the ring.

"Not a chance," Bruce said with an amused shake of his head. "Because we don't have time for that and you," he poked Tony in his shoulder, "can't help yourself."

"Damn right I can't with you around," Tony said and pulled him into another kiss.

"You're all sweaty," Bruce pointed out. He was perhaps a little too intoxicated by it, enough for it to be slightly embarrassing.

"All for you, hot stuff," Tony said wrapping Bruce in his arms and kissing him again.

For a moment Bruce lost himself, one hand wrapping around Tony's damp neck and the other running up and down Tony's exposed, muscled arm. Sometimes Tony wasn't the only one who couldn't help himself, he mused in the back of his mind.

Sirs, Harley and Peter are attempting to infiltrate the Christmas gifts again.

Bruce and Tony pulled apart, both shaking their heads in sync. Tony groaned. "Those two are—"

And Steve is requesting assistance, JARVIS added before Tony could finish. He seems quite distraught.

Bruce furrowed his brow and looked at Tony. "How about I handle Harley and Peter and you handle Steve before you take your shower?" He asked with a hitch of his shoulder.

"Sure," Tony replied and they split up.

Bruce made his way to the living room and found the two boys around the tree. He tilted his head as he tried to figure out what they were doing. Finally he realized they had rigged some sort of X-Ray contraption.

"I guess I'll have to call Santa's elves and have them take back your gifts," he said, announcing his presence.

The two boys immediately froze and stood up straight. They then turned around in a guilty synchronization.

"We weren't looking at our gifts, honest!" Harley said in earnest defense.

"We really weren't," Peter agreed. "We were looking at everyone else's."

Bruce's head fell forward a little at their attempted loophole. He then moved to stand in front of them and held out his hand for the machine. Peter sighed and handed it over.

"On the one hand, this is a very clever device," Bruce said encouragingly. "You two are extremely gifted and clearly when you put your heads together even more so. Unfortunately I'm going to have to hold onto it until you can be trusted not to use it inappropriately," he continued. "Sorry, boys. And there's also a little issue of neither of you listening to JARVIS and going to get ready. But since that seems to be the entire house at the moment, I'll let you off on that one."

"Dad got you something awesome!" Harley said with a wide smile.

"He really did!" Peter agreed.

"I never doubted that he would," Bruce said simply, ignoring his own impish curiosity. "And if I hear about either of you telling your brothers and sisters what they got, I'm going to be disappointed. Please don't disappoint me. That would be a very nice Christmas present for me. Doesn't cost a thing."

"Fine," Harley said, though Bruce could tell he was a little disappointed in not being able to share what he'd seen. Peter's shoulders deflated as well and the two boys hurried off to get ready, or at least Bruce hoped so.

He looked again at the machine in his hand and shook his head. He then went to Jemma's room at last only to find her already in her dress with Hulk lying on her lap as she watched Rudolph on her and Wanda's television.

"Look at my little molecule already dressed," he said proudly.

"I was excited," she said with a smile. "I asked Wanda all about it and she said the room will be filled with everybody dressed in beautiful dresses and handsome suits and there will be music and a fancy dinner and Christmas decorations everywhere and dancing… Daddy will you dance with me?"

Bruce smiled at her enthusiastic ramble and her question as he grabbed some hair supplies from Jemma's dresser and then sat on the edge of her bed. Jemma moved around to stand in front of him then so he could fix her hair.

"Of course I will," he promised and began the task of brushing her soft waves.

"I'm going to ask Tony to dance with me too," she said decidedly.

"I think he would love that," Bruce replied with another smile as he pulled a section of her hair up.

"Ow," she protested as he pulled on her hair a little too tightly.

"Sorry," he apologized and loosened it a little. He then quickly moved his hands to pull up another section before wrapping them around a third section of hair and fastening it all in place with one of her barrettes. "All done," he told her and she hurried to look in the mirror.

Dr. Banner, Ms. Walters has arrived.

"Cousin Jen!" Jemma cheered.

"Cousin Jen!" Bruce echoed and they left the room to go welcome her.

"I hear there's a crisis," Tony said as he stood in Steve's doorway.

Steve turned around with obvious distress written all over his face. He was fumbling with his bow tie and his hair was a mess and there was a very obvious spot of acne on his nose. Tony bit down on any impish jests he could make about Steve being festive and channeling Rudolph as he moved into the room.

"I'm out of hair product," Steve said as he let his hands fall in defeat. Tony took over where he had given up and fixed his bow tie for him. "I spilled the rest of my cologne in the sink and the ghost of puberty decided to pick today to haunt me," he grumbled.

Tony finished with the bow tie, smoothed the hem of the tux at Steve's shoulders and then stepped back. "All of those are fixable problems, Steve," Tony assured him. "So let's fix them. Well, no, first, what's with the jitters?" Tony gave him a strange look.

Steve became sheepish for a moment. "Uh, two days ago was our three month anniversary," he said, obviously referencing Sam.

"Oh," Tony said in realization. The other boy had finally moved back in with his dad a few weeks prior and even though Sam was still over often, the two teenagers were adjusting to not having each other around 24/7.

"And we didn't get to have a date," Steve continued somewhat despondently. "So I guess tonight is sort of it for us… if that's okay," he tacked on hopefully.

"Of course," Tony said with a hitch of his shoulder. "As long as that's fine with the both of you then I don't mind how you spend the night. I mean, you still have to do the family shots and mingling early on, but other than that have fun."

"Okay, but I still have three very big problems," Steve reminded him.

"Big problems that I can fix," Tony reminded him in turn. "Look, I should probably give you some inspirational speech about how Sam likes you the way you are and yada yada and that's true obviously, but let's be honest. I know you want to look your best for him and that's perfectly normal. So come with me," he gestured with his head. Tony led him to the master en suite. "Okay, you've got plenty of options here, Steve," he said when they got there. "I know your dad won't mind if you use his product and I've got plenty of product to spare."

Steve's eyes widened at all of the options that Tony pulled out. "Uh…"

Tony ran a hand through Steve's hair in consideration. He then grabbed one of his own products. "I think this one will work the best with your hair and what you probably want." Steve just nodded and took the proffered item. "Okay, next up cologne. Again, there's your dad's stuff—"

"I, uh, I'd rather not," Steve said hesitantly and Tony barked out a soft laugh. "It's just… He's my dad and I don't want to smell like my dad… And I'm not really into what he wears." He shrugged and ducked his head.

"It's fine, Steve." Tony clapped him on his shoulder. "To this day I still won't wear anything that remotely reminds me of whatever it was my dad wore," he confided. "I mean granted I like what your dad wears a lot…"

"Right," Steve said with a slightly uncomfortable sort of nod.

"What do you wear?" Tony asked, studying him. "Is it like a floral, a leather? Obviously not wood if you're not into the earthy stuff your dad wears. You don't quite strike me as a citrus."

"Uh, it's a leather I think," Steve answered.

"Figured as much," Tony said with a nod as he grabbed one of his many bottles of cologne. "Just wanted to be certain. There you go."

"Thanks," Steve said with genuine gratitude in his tone, but there was an underlying hint of leftover defeat.

"Hey, I've got the ghost of puberty covered too," Tony assured him. "Literally," he said with a chuckle as he reached for a small tube of concealer and then a small bottle of liquid make up. He held both out for Steve to take.

Steve looked at the items dubiously. "Make up?"

"Yes, make up," Tony confirmed. "Contrary to some opinions, any and all men can and should wear make up on occasion, unless they always want to wear it in which case that's their business. This," he held up the concealer, "goes on first. It will reduce that redness and the inflammation. Then dab on a little of this over it," he said, holding up the liquid make up then. "Trust me. It's not a big deal."

"If Sam notices…?" Steve looked at him uncertainly even as he took the additional two items.

Tony considered it for a moment. "Yeah, he'll probably find it hot. Trust me and just use it."

"Okay," Steve conceded and started to leave. "Thanks, Tony," he said before moving along.

"No problem," Tony called after him before shutting the en suite door and finally taking his shower. To his surprise, Bruce joined him near the end of it. "Couldn't resist, huh?" He gave him a teasing look.

"Don't get any ideas," Bruce warned him with a playful peck on his lips. "Just thought I'd save a little time since we're running a little behind schedule," he explained. "Jen showed up and I got talking to her too long. Then Jane couldn't find her leggings." He sighed. "They somehow got mixed up with Wanda's clothes."

Tony chuckled. "Steve has a pimple on his nose," he offered explanation of Steve's dilemma.

"Ouch." Bruce winced.

"Yeah, he was also out of product and he spilled his cologne. You'd think it's been months since he last saw Sam," he finished with a shake of his head as he absentmindedly let his hands run up and down Bruce's wet sides.

"What did you do?" Bruce asked curiously.

"Gave him some of my product, cologne and make up," Tony answered. "I think I just about broke his brain with that last one, by the way."

Bruce snorted. "Yeah, that conversation has never come up before. Well, hopefully instead of breaking his brain you expanded his mind," he said thoughtfully.

"When he sees the results of that concealer I think that'll be a sure thing," Tony replied with a smile.

Sirs, I am sorry to interrupt.

Tony sighed and dropped his forehead against Bruce's shoulder. "What now, J?"

Bruce chuckled softly and massaged his head for a moment before pushing him off so he could continue showering. Tony was done anyway.

It seems that Skye is having a wardrobe crisis.

"Alright, alright," Tony surrendered as he stepped out of the shower. "Tell her dad'll be there in a few minutes." He dried his body and hair as quickly as possible. He then threw on the pants of his tux and his under shirt before leaving to find out what the problem was.

"Dad, my heel broke!" She said in panic when he reached her room.

He looked down to see her standing in uneven heels. He then looked back up at her. "I know you have more than one pair," he said incredulously.

"I don't wear heels that often," she countered. "I don’t have any other pairs that will match this dress."

Tony clicked his teeth together thoughtfully, weighing his head from side to side in consideration. Finally he held out his hand. "Let me see the heel." She took it off and handed it to him. "Do you have any other shoes you can get by with in case this doesn't work?"

She looked in the direction of her closet. "Maybe a pair of flats," she answered with a shrug, clearly not liking the idea.

Tony sighed. "Okay, be prepared to deal with that, just saying. But," he studied the shoe, "I might have another option."

Tony made his way down to the storage basement and over to a large armoire filled with vacuum sealed clothes and several pairs of shoes. With the exception of Maya's wedding dress and some jewelry pieces Tony hadn't really intended to keep any of the items as heirlooms for his daughters – rather the items were kept because he couldn't bear to throw them out – but as he compared the shoe sizes and looked for a pair in a similar color he realized maybe he should give his daughters that option.

He grabbed a pair of heels in decent enough condition that looked like they would work before moving back toward Skye's room. On his way there, Darcy ran into him. He looked her over and raised an eyebrow at her wearing Converse with her dress.

"I don't want to wear dress shoes," she protested in immediate realization.

"You don't have to," Tony compromised, "but you do have to wear your white Cons or your black ones, sweetheart. That shade of blue does not go with that dress. Okay?"

She huffed, but then nodded. "Fine, I'll be boring and match," she said and then went back to her room. He shook his head in slight amusement as he watched her go.

Tony reached Skye's bedroom again and held out the shoes for her. Skye immediately narrowed her eyes on them and gave a thoughtful tilt of her head. "Where did you get those?" She asked, looking up at him then. "They look familiar."

"They were your mother's," he answered, swallowing a small lump in his throat. Her eyes widened and she immediately took the shoes reverently. "Same size. I guess. Not all shoes fit the same so you'll have to try them on."

She quickly did so and the shoes, much to Tony's relief, fit her. "Thank you," Skye whispered over an obvious lump in her own throat and hugged him tightly.

Tony hugged her back just as tightly. "I love you so much, dear. And I know if your mom would be so proud of the girl you're growing up to be."

"And she would be proud of you," Skye said pulling away and looking at him with a teary smile. "Because you're the reason I'm turning out so well. And you did good finding somebody else who loves us like she would want." Tony pulled her back into the hug at that and kissed her on top of her head.

Tony then returned to his bedroom to finish getting ready. When he got there, he stopped in his tracks just inside the door and watched as Bruce began to tie his bow tie, looking as irresistible in a tuxedo as he knew he would. Skye was right and Tony couldn't help but feel like the luckiest man in the world to have found love again with Bruce and then some with the added bonus of Bruce's kids. As he stood there and drank in the sight of the man he loved, Tony's futurist mind ran down distant paths.

"I'm never going to be lonely again," he mused aloud as the thought struck him with clarity and conviction.

Bruce turned to look at him with a curious smile and Tony answered it with a deep kiss and showered compliments over how amazing he looked. He looked forward to more of the same blissful routine in the future, near distant both, and all the time in between and beyond.

"I don't think I've told you yet, but you look lovely this evening, Sig," Bruce said to the young blonde as he neared one of the tables the kids were sat at, checking on the various kids to make sure they weren't causing a ruckus.

"Thank you, Dr. Banner," Sig said kindly and glanced quickly at Loki before looking back down at her hands.

Bruce smiled thinly in understanding since Loki's eyes were fixed on the table in front of him. Although Loki had been the one to invite Sig – at Tony's suggestion since they were still extremely grateful to her for helping Jemma and since it was clear Loki wanted to ask her – it was clear to Bruce that Loki still was a little on the emotionally stunted side and didn't quite know how to express the things people liked to hear among other things.

"Loki," Bruce said his name evenly and his son looked up at him. "Have you two been enjoying yourselves?" He raised an eyebrow and nodded minutely toward Sig. Loki followed his gaze and then furrowed his brow before looking back at him. "Dance," he mouthed, and nodded his head toward the general direction of the open dance floor.

"Uh, Sig," Loki started, "would you…?"

"Yes?" Sig looked up eagerly, clearly taking him off guard.

Loki cleared his throat. "Would… Would you like to dance?"

"I'd love to," she answered quickly.

Bruce gave Loki an encouraging smile when he glanced back at him. Bruce then moved toward the outskirts of the dance floor himself just to spy a little. Steve and Sam were already there, very obviously drunk on their young love. Skye was there too, dancing with Jemma – who had probably asked just about everyone to dance with her at this point.

Bruce smiled at the scene and then turned his attention fully to the grand piano nearby.

"Repeat the sounding joy," Clint sang as his fingers danced across the keys.

"Repeat the sounding joy," Tony echoed as his fingers danced alongside his son's.

Their voices joined in together then and filled the large room with their harmony as the piano accompanied them.

"I never thought they would play again," Pepper said softly as she came up beside Bruce.

Bruce was broken from his reverent gaze on father and son as they played together. Most of the room didn't understand the importance of their venture, but he did and he was more than a little emotional about it. Of course, Pepper was too as he saw her wipe a tear and look down at her drink with a small smile.

"They didn't think they would either," Bruce replied just as softly.

The two likely hadn't even expected they would play outside of the safety of their own home, save Sig's little show, but it had simply happened. Clint hadn't been able to refuse the grand piano now that he was playing again and Tony hadn't been able to follow his lead. Bruce was glad it had happened; glad they could create good memories again. He was also glad that the rest of the hired band had indulged them; it was one of those moments Tony's affluence was a wonderful thing.

"Thank you," Pepper said gently.

Bruce's small smile turned down slightly in confusion. "For what?" He studied her.

"For giving them a reason to play again," Pepper answered, eyes sparkling with conviction.

"You think I'm—"

"No, I know you're the reason," Pepper said firmly before he could finish. "They were a little lost and you found them."

Bruce looked back over at the piano just as the song ended. Tony looked up from the keys, meeting his eyes and smiling at him.

"No," Bruce countered. "We were all a little lost and we found each other," he said in reference to both families. "But I'm glad just the same that they have a reason to play again," he added earnestly. "If you'll excuse me," he then said with a courteous nod and smile toward her.

She excused him just as courteously and he took his leave of her. Bruce made his way over to the piano and leaned gently against it. Up close he could see Tony's eyes glistening with bittersweet tears and it was enough to cause Bruce to mirror them.

"Sing me a song, piano men?" Bruce asked with a smile when they were done.

Tony flashed him a bright smile that Bruce was sure would never fail to affect him. "I'd rather dance if you're offering," he said and looked at Clint. "Besides, I think he's got the keys covered."

"Yeah," Bruce nodded, "I'd say he does. And I'm very glad for that."

"Me too," Tony agreed as he stood from the bench and looked down at his son. "Play something nice and slow for us?"

"I'll see what I can do," Clint replied.

Then Bruce and Tony moved to the dance floor and joined the other couples, and the kids that were there too – some theirs and some of those of other guests as it was a family-friendly event. Clint started up another song, the hired band joining in, and the two men began their slow dance in each other's arms.

"Maybe it's much too early in the game, ah, but I thought I'd ask you just the same," Clint started to sing.

Tony laughed softly at Clint's choice in song and Bruce got caught up in the way his eyes danced as he did.

"I still can't believe my luck," Bruce said in a low voice. "I'm dancing with the most gorgeous man in the room and I get to go home with him," he elaborated sentimentally.

"You might think differently when you learn that gorgeous man has six kids," Tony flirted, keeping his voice pitched low as they swayed. "Spoiled brats too. Every last one of them," he said with a chuckle as he looked over at a few of their kids.

"Uh oh," Bruce deadpanned as he flirted back. "I have seven."

"Well in that case, you're definitely going home with me," Tony responded, voice like silk and causing goose bumps to rise along Bruce's arms.

Bruce sighed contentedly as he considered their time together and how everything felt so oddly normal now, whether it be wrangling kids he'd never counted on or the flash of lights outside the gala or dancing with Tony in a ridiculously expensive tuxedo that, if Tony's earlier promises were true, would likely be ruined by the end of the night.

"Home," Bruce echoed the key word of Tony's previous statement as he looked at their kids and then back at Tony's warm gaze.

Tony grabbed Bruce's left hand and brought it tenderly to his lips, brushing a soft kiss along the ring finger. He then leaned in so that their foreheads were touching and began to serenade him in that soft, beautiful voice that Bruce loved to listen to. "Oh, but in case I stand one little chance here comes the jackpot question in advance..."

Bruce closed his eyes and smiled, understanding Tony's sentiment. As the song came to a close Bruce captured Tony's lips for a kiss that he hoped expressed his promise. If every day was even half as crazy and wonderful as this one, and most all the days before, had been then there could be no doubt as to the answer to that jackpot question.

Suddenly Clint started playing Run Run Rudolph and the two men pulled away from the kiss with laughter. Bruce looked over Tony's shoulder to see Clint's smirk as he hit the keys expertly. He then looked around to see the mood of the room instantly changed as more kids and some of the more lively employees at the company filled the dance floor, or at least bobbed their heads along if they didn't.

Jemma ran over and tugged on both of their arms excitedly. Tony immediately started dancing with her to the infectious tune and Bruce felt his heart soar.

"I got a bargain," he said and Tony spared a look in his direction, head tilted in askance. "At the first gala you asked me if I was still interested after seeing the price tag," Bruce explained with a smile. "Turns out I was really getting a bargain."

Tony beamed wildly and held out his hand. Bruce took it and let Tony pull him into the dance with Jemma. It was then that it hit him that somewhere along the way he had stopped worrying about it all falling apart on him or his kids getting hurt or the obstacles between them being too much to overcome.

As long as they had each other and their thirteen kids, their luck was sure to hold.