The Party
Addy hadn’t let go of her hand since they’d stepped foot outside of Sam’s car, and if Sage didn’t know better, she’d say that her girlfriend was actually just squeezing incrementally tighter as they got closer and closer to the penthouse.
“Psst. Hey.” She got Adeline to look at her, smiling softly at the vague worry in the other girl’s eyes. “I love you. We can do this, yeah?”
“Yeah.” She offers a small smile, rolling her eyes when she catches Sam grinning at the two of them. “Fuck off, dude.”
“I will not! My little sister finally has something good going on in her life- a lot of good things actually, so no. I will be happy, and you both will deal with it. Bite me, Adeline.”
“You’re not quite my type, sweetie.” She winked at him and laughed when Sage let out a startled laugh.
“So what you’re saying is that you would definitely bite me.”
“Only if you asked, babe.”
“Oh my god, okay. I get it. Stop.” Sam made a disgusted face as Sage cackled.
The doors to the elevator slid open, and Sage couldn’t help rushing ahead of Addy and Sam, pulling Loki and then Tony into huge hugs. “Hi.”
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Hello, darling. How was your night?”
Sage rolled her eyes. “It was fine. We watched Irreplaceable You and cried, if you must know.” She turned back to see Addy a step behind Sam, who was- of course. He was talking to Thor. Typical. She walked back a few steps and took the other girl’s hand, gently pulling her forward. “Dad. Papa. This is Addy.”
“Hello.” She held out a hand to shake, trembling nearly imperceptibly. “It’s great to finally meet you.”
“You too.” Tony shook her hand fervently with a huge grin, winking at Sage.
Loki was more reserved. He shook her hand carefully and respectfully without doing that awful delicate maiden handshake. “I am glad that Sage has finally brought you around to meet us. You seem to make her very happy when she’s not just said something unintentionally idiotic without thinking.”
Sage flushed furiously, and Tony looked at his husband and then his daughter, looking completely confused. “Wait, what-”
“It’s not important!” Sage cried, mock-glaring at Loki. “It’s not anything that needs to be revisited, thank you very much.”
Addy smiled and took Sage’s hand again, squeezing it gently. “Yeah, well. She makes me happy when she’s not saying stupid shit too.”
“Oh my god, this was a mistake. I’m never letting you come over again, all you people do is make fun of me. If it makes anyone feel better, I’m happier when I’m not being a fucking moron too, so.”
Sam laughed from across the room, and she turned to glare at him, scowling when he winked.
“Okay, wow. I’m being attacked at my own party. I’m never inviting any of you anywhere ever again.”
“Wow, I haven’t even done anything yet and I’m banned for life. My reputation must precede me.”
Sage spun around and shrieked in delight, rushing to give Aerin a hug. “Hi! I’m so glad you made it!”
“You didn’t think that I’d really pass up an invite to your adoption party, did you?” They grinned and hugged her back, nodding to Tony as they separated. “Mister Stark. Glad to finally meet you when your team isn’t stalking me.”
Tony had the to look sheepish. “About that-”
Sage rolled her eyes at him, giving Addy a little wink. Then she spotted the figure standing behind Tony and Loki and grinned. “Addy, this is Judge Lingren. He’s been the one overseeing this whole thing.”
“Hello.” Adeline smiled at him. “I feel like I should thank you for helping my girlfriend find her family.”
“Well,” he returned her smile, pulling Sage into a side hug. “This girl has been through a lot. I’ve seen her file, even if I haven’t been a part of all of it. I’m glad that I could help her. And I’m glad that she found you.”
Sage grinned at the two of them and Tony walked over.
“Well, Judge, everyone’s here. What say we get this show on the road?”
The older man chuckled. “Of course, Anthony.”
They walked over to a table where the documents were sitting on the table, a pen sitting beside them, just waiting to be signed.
Sage didn’t notice that she was holding her breath until she released it as soon as Tony’s pen hit the page, and suddenly it hit her. She was adopted.