In which it is Thanksgiving
Holidays at the compound were generally calm, because everyone who had family left to be with them. Those of the Avengers who had no or very few surviving relatives always spent Thanksgiving together. Tony on the other hand usually ditched and flew to California with Pepper. Not this year. This year Pepper had been called away to some big ceo meeting, and had ordered Tony to stay at the compound. She told him she didn't want him lonely and or board on the holiday. He had objected of course, but in the end his wife had won.
Steve, Bucky, Bruce and Nat had been thrilled, and were happy he was joining them. They had had gladly admitted him to their normal Thanksgiving tradition. It was quite different from the normal Thanksgiving endeavors. There was not turkey (actually no meet at all.) No football. No mashed potatoes. None of it. There was coffee and hot chocolate for Bucky. Tony had asked him why he only drank hot chocolate, and he muttered something about it tasting bad, and bringing back bad memories. There was lounging around on the couches, and there. was junk food. Lots and lots of junk food. Tatertots, pop tarts, cookies, and a whole shit ton of microwave popcorn.
“Why aren't we eating real food?” Tony asked a few hours into the day.
Nat snort rather rudely.
Bucky shook his head.
Steve laughed, and Bruce answered the question.
“Do you remember a few years back, our first Thanksgiving? Remember the stain on the ceiling? Well that was the result of us attempting to make real food,” Bruce enlightened Tony.
“I see,” This was just sad. Something needed to be done about it. Frowning Tony pulled himself off the couch and went to refrigerator. It was full of more junk food, and soda. This was problem. Narrowing his eyes Tony closed the fridge and grabbed his car keys.
Nat heard keys and opened one tired eye.
“Where you going?” she asked not really actually caring what the billionaire was up to.
“Shopping,” He stated and pulled on his jacket.
“Black Friday isn’t until tomorrow.” Why would anyone go shopping on Thanksgiving?
“Not that kind of shopping,” Tony stated briskly, and vanished down the hallway. Nat shrugged, she was mildly curious what the man was up to, but not enough to get off the couch. She popped another tattertott in her mouth and yawned. Bucky was napping on a couch, Steve had passed out in his armchair with a book folded over his chest, and his glasses hanging off his face. Nat let out an amused chuckle. Napping wasn't a bad idea. She resigned herself to the wave of sleep washing over her.
Tony didn't have time to drive all the way into New York, and he certainly didn’t have time to deal with city traffic. No, he was driving to the closest locally owned supermarket. He pulled into the first one that was open. It wasn't in the best shape, and really didn't look like it would survive the next wind storm. As long as it had what he needed he was fine with it.The interior of the store was tidy and well kept. There was a little old lady sitting at the counter. She looked up in surprise as he stepped inside. A huge smile crossed her face
“Happy holidays!” She greeted him warmly.
"You too," Tony replied, and meant it. He took a shopping cart and began his journey around the small store. He and the old were the only ones in the store. Tony walked to the back of the store where he found the deli. There was no turkey, which wasn't surprising. Instead he was forced to settle with a ham. He got three just incase. He was making his way down the aisle that juice and canned fruit when the old women spoke.
"Can I ask why your meal shopping so late in the day?" She asked quietly.
"Cooking was last minute decision," Tony said.
"I see."
"What about you? No grandchildren? Family?" Tony wouldn't have said anything, but the woman had a grandmotherly, kind, warm air to her.
"No, I'm afraid not," The old woman said sadly, as if that was something she had dreamed of many times, "It's just been me for a long time. My family lives very far away, and they never come visit... Sorry I shouldn't be laying all this on you."
Tony frowned.
"No. Its fine. Can I ask why you do don't go to them?"
"I don't have the money. This place is all I have, and it will probably go under soon. After that I don't really know what I'll do."
Tony furrowed his eyebrows. None of this floated with him. He grew uncomfortable, and finished his shopping quickly without another word. The old lady checked out his groceries, and he left. He packed the bags into his car, and squealed his tires as he left the parking lot. A guilty itch worked its way up his back. He felt bad for the woman, and it made him sad thinking about her alone in the dilapidated store on the holiday. Her only company was the few customers who might go in there. He slammed on the breaks and did a u-turn in the middle of the empty road, and sped back toward the store. He screeched to a stop in the parking lot and rushed back into the store.
"Oh, hello again," The old lady seemed surprised to see him again, "Did you forget something?"
"No, well sort of," Tony was out of breath, and he wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, "I just- No one should be alone on the holidays."
"I agree," The woman said with a smile.
"What I am trying to say here is, and this going to sound crazy coming from a complete stranger, but I would like you to join me and my friends for Thanksgiving dinner," Tony's words were out of his mouth before he even realized it. The old lady smiled.
"Thank you so very much, but I shouldn't leave the store..."
"Don't worry about the store," Tony said, he was going to pay for the repairs for it. The old lady thought for a minute.
"I would hate to impose on your friends plans."
"Oh trust me they had no plans, I am just winging this meal because watching them sit on the couch eating tater tots was making me sad."
"Your going to cook? All of that food you just bought by yourself?"
"They aren't going to, so yeah I guess."
"No one should be cooking alone on the holiday. I'll join you under the condition that you let me help cook."
Tony smiled.
"Deal."
Natasha was startled awake by the oven beeping in the other room. Something smelled really good, and it wasn't tater tots. Bucky and Steve had woken up too, and obviously noticed the aroma as well. The three of them ventured slowly and cautiously to the kitchen. Tony was wearing an apron, and stirring a pot of mashed potatoes. There was a random old lady pulling real homemade cookies out of the oven, not the stupid wal-mart ones Nat had been eating all day. Bruce was setting places at the table. Nat took one look at the old woman, and knew exactly what had happened. Tony couldn't settle for just adopting smart teens, now he was adopting grandmothers for the team.
They were all soon seated around the table eating real food. Tony had done all of this for them, and he had brought along a lonely old grandmother. It was beautiful. Nat smiled. It was to bad he never showed the rest of the world his big heart.
Pepper unlocked the door to her hotel room. She was tired after hours of meetings, and honestly really wished she had let Tony tag along. She was lonely and really needed a hug. She walked into the room sad to be spending the night alone, but then all those feelings vanished because there he was.
"Tony?! What the hell are you doing here?" She exclaimed and leapt into his open arms. He hugged her tight.
"No one should be alone on the holidays."