Chapter 11
The next morning Tony, Pepper, and Morgan set out for Tennessee; Tony explaining that he needed to let Harley know he was alive. Bruce decided to go check in on Thor, making sure the man didn’t go back into his drinking ways. Clint and Laura also decided that it was time to get back to the farm; and of course, dragging Steve and Natasha along.
“The more the merrier for the clean-up.” Laura joked, causing everyone to groan, remembering that the farm house hasn’t been cleaned in five years and who knows what’s been growing inside and what animal has been making the home theirs.
“Maybe we could all get together and go to the festival celebration in Wakanda.” Tony said as he, Clint and Steve walked out of the tower. When they walked out, the men saw their leading ladies taking to Wanda, Happy, and Pietro.
“That’s what two weeks from now?”
“We should have the farm up and running by then. Just in time to go.” Clint added in.
“Don’t forget if you two need anything then you need to call or just come straight to the farm. Understood?” Natasha asked the Maximoff siblings. They both nodded and reached in to hug the red head, an attempt to ease her worries.
“Don’t worry Nat, we’ll call if anything. Carol and Rhodey are going to be back in a few days and Sam is going to be checking in on us all the time. We’ll be fine.” Wanda said.
“Okay. That doesn’t mean I won’t worry.”
“You guys know that she’s a momma bear. A mean, red headed, Russian momma bear.” Clint said with a laugh, Natasha pinching him on his side causing him to let out a high pitch scream.
“You heard nothing.” He said, glaring at the laughing children.
“Sure, we didn’t sweetheart.” His wife said, pecking him on the cheek.
“Alright enough PDA people. Let’s get on the road.” Everyone shared one last hug and promises to call another when they get to their destinations. Happy drove the Starks’, Bartons’, and future Rogers’ to the airport so they could catch their planes. Happy promised to keep an eye on the Maximoffs and Peter, but Tony only waved him off.
“You’re not going to check on Peter. You’re there for May.”
“Not all the way true you know.”
“Mhmm, take care Happy.”
“You too boss.”
When the Starks touched down in Tennessee, Pepper quickly contacted the private plane that was going to be sending their suitcases, while Tony and Morgan walked into a little shop to buy gifts for the other Avengers.
“Oh! Auntie Nat would like this.” Tony said as he put on a pair of heart shaped sunglasses and tried to model for his daughter; the little girl laughed and shook her head.
“No! That’s for Uncle Clint. Auntie Nat needs a shirt.”
“But we’re getting Uncle Rhodey and Steve a shirt.” The genius pointed out as he picked up a pink hat that said I Heart Tennessee, “Maybe we can get this for her, and a key chain for Uncle Bruce because I don’t think they carry Hulk size shirts.”
The little girl laughed again before running to the necklaces with the names on them. Morgan realized that she was took short to see all of the names.
“Daddy, I can’t reach.”
“Hold on honey.” Tony quickly put the pink hat into the basket that contained gifts for T’Challa, Peter, Sam, Wanda, Harley, and Bucky, before walking over to his daughter.
“What are you looking for honey?”
“My name, so you and mommy can wear it all the time. Then I can get one of your name and mommy’s name and wear it all the time too.” Tony smiled at his daughter’s confession, touched actually.
“How about this? We can wait until we get home to get the necklaces so we can customize them. Okay?”
“Okay! Let’s get the rest of the gifts! And we have to get something for mommy, May, and Happy!” The little girl giggled happily before speeding off to the other side of the store. The older man could only laugh, before racing off to see what presents his daughter would pick out for her family.
“Harley, can you please head out to the store for me? I have a list.” Lindsey asked her younger brother.
“Sure, Kyle needs milk?” The young man asked his sister. Harley quickly slid on his shoes that laid by the kitchen door and smiled happily when his nephew giggled in his direction, and started to reach out for him.
“Yes, and he needs oranges and apple sauce. Well you’re at it can you get a chicken? And some sides? Oh, and get yourself something while you're out.” Lindsey said while handing her son to her brother so she could get some money out of her purse.
She smiled to herself when she saw the two of them making faces at one another, but more so smiling because Harley was happy for the first time in a week since coming home from Tony’s funeral.
“Okay, here’s the money and the list. If you need something that’s not on the list, please get it.”
“You know I don’t like buying things that I don’t need.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Harley sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to win the fight, and handed Kyle back to his mother.
“I’ll be back in an hour.” The older sister nodded and watched her brother walk out the front door and towards the store.
“Okay, honey let’s put you down so I can clean up.” Lindsey told her son, who was too busy playing with her hair to pay attention to what she was saying to him. She walked over to the play mat that he had in the living room and put him down, handing him some toys to play with. Once she was comfortable with him being alone, the blonde walked into the kitchen and began cleaning out the dishwasher before loading the dirty one’s in. She was half way done the door bell rung out, causing her to sigh.
“Did you forget your house keys?” Lindsey called out as she opened the door; but it wasn’t her brother.
“Oh my gosh it’s Tony Stark.” She said, nervously opening the door wider.
“Ha-ha, yes I’m Tony Stark. Is Harley here?”
“Oh, he just left for the store. Please come in, I’m sorry for the mess.”
“No, no it’s fine.” Pepper said as she and Morgan entered the house behind Tony.
“I’m his older sister Lindsey.” She said as she stuck out her hand for both of the adults to shake, in which they did.
“I’ve heard about you; he talks about you a lot. This is my wife Pepper and my daughter Morgan.”
“It’s nice to meet you all. Harley should be back in a little bit. Can I get you guys something to eat or drink? We’re having chicken and some sides for dinner if you would like to stay.”
“We would love too; but we can hold off until he gets back.”
“Of course, please have a seat.” She said as she quickly pushed Kyle’s toys off the sofa to make room for the family.
“Hey there buddy. What’s your name?” Tony asked the child who was more concern with his teddy bear, than the famous family who walked in.
“This is my son Kyle.”
“Hey Kyle, how old are you?”
“Say I’m one.”
“I don’t think he cares right now.” Everyone laughed and then Lindsey excused herself to finish cleaning the kitchen, she offered the Starks’ the remote to watch T.V. and once again promised that her brother would be back shortly. Thirty minutes later Harley walked through the front door with items in hand. He almost didn’t notice the Stark family sitting in the living room until Kyle’s giggling brought it to his attention.
“Lid, I’m home and I-“
“Hey kid.”
“What? How? When did you-“
“It’s a long story, I’ll tell you during dinner. I would like a hug though.” Harley didn’t mind putting the bags on the little table by the door and wrap his arms around that older man.
“I thought you were gone.” He said, tears starting to roll down his face and onto Tony's shirt.
“I was, but I’m back now and I’m not leaving you again. Deal?” instead of answering the young man could only nod and tighten his hold on Tony once more.