"I can't believe you're forcing me to wear a dress." I scowl at the power blue floor length gown. It's a racerback with a bateau neckline. The top of the dress is thickly embellished with white gems that slowly thin out as it reaches my hips.

"Oh, come on, Iris. You look drop dead gorgeous." Wanda compliments as she adjusts her heels while she sits on the edge of her bed. She's wearing a maroon v-neck dress that has a fitted bodice and a tool skirt of the same color.

"Yeah, but it draws unnecessary attention. And I can't kick Stark's butt in it." I reach down and grab the fabric of the dress and hoist it up so I don't trip on it as I walk away from the mirror.

"Isn't that what your date is for?" The brunette wiggles her brows at me.

"Pietro's gonna end up drunk off his rocker and I'm going to have to drag him back to his room before ten." I scowl and plop down on the other edge of Wanda's bed and flop backwards onto my back.

"My brother doesn't get drunk easily. He burns the alcohol about as fast as Steve does, according to Tony." She smirks sideways at me.

"So, essentially I can't get him drunk and then ditch the party?" I lift a brow at her and she starts to laugh. "I'm going to take that as a yes." I huff before sitting back up. Wanda's practically picked out my entire outfit, considering that if she didn't I'd turn up in sweatpants and a sports bra most likely. I bend over and snatch a black pair of open-toe wedges with floral cutouts in the shoe. I quickly place my feet into them before tying the laces on each shoe. By that time, Natasha has arrived to retrieve us because she insisted we arrive without the guys to show we're 'independent women who don't need no men' or something like that. I sit up and smile at the assassin who is wearing a slim floor length black gown with her red hair pulled back into a ponytail. She's currently sitting on the bed behind Wanda, braiding the telekinetic's hair into a bun behind her head. Thankfully Wanda did my hair already, which is left down and curled in loose waves. "Are you sure we can't skip the party?" I ask as I stand up, brushing out the skirt of my dress. Thankfully now with heels, the hem of the dress no longer drags on the floor. Now I don't have to worry about tripping.

"No, we can't." Natasha says and side-eyes me as she finishes up Wanda's hair. "It's a press party. You, Wanda, and Pietro need to show everybody you're Avengers." The Black Widow calmly states before standing to her feet.

"Can't we flash Avenger I.D.'s at them and call it a night?" I lift a brow. Natasha glares at me and I hold my hands up in surrender. She strides past me, Wanda following closely behind her. I follow the two of them out of Wanda's room. Our heels click against the floor as we walk down the hall, Natasha walking confidently, Wanda walked excitedly, and me more or less dragging my feet. I'm not much for parties, especially parties being thrown by one certain billionaire, but I'll do what I have to to earn the people's trust. I'm wearing a dress that is quite attention-getting, so I decide to make the best of it. I lift my head, square my shoulders, allow my hips to sway naturally, and let my strides lengthen with confidence as I follow my two friends.

The main jet hangar in the New Avengers Headquarters has been cleared, cleaned, and prepared. Strands of fairy lights zig-zag the ceiling, tables of food are set up, light music is playing, and the bars filled with alcohol are open. Paparazzi swarm the floor, along with plenty of important people Tony has invited. I suck up my initial fear of large crowds and stop behind Wanda. Natasha descends the stairs first, after being announced. Eyes are turned upwards toward the balcony and stairs, watching as Natasha integrates herself into the party. Next is Wanda. She's announced and begins to walk down the stairs. Vision, dressed in a nice black tux, waits for her at the end of the stairs. He offers her a hand and she takes it with a smile. The android leads them into the crowd where they begin to mingle. My name is called next. I roll my shoulders to ease the tension built in them before I allow a bright smile to adorn my lips. I begin down the stairs carefully, one step at a time. My eyes scan the room until they land on Pietro, who is standing with Natasha, Steve, and Tony. He and the other two guys are sipping on some sort of alcohol. However, when my name is announced I can see Pietro's eyes turn towards the stairs. His bright blue eyes widened before he chokes on his drink. Steve claps him on the back while Tony swipes the drink from his hand before Nat gives him a shove in the direction of the stairs. As I continue to descend, I watch him weave through the crowd until he reaches the base of the stairs. I reach him just a second after. He offers me a hand, which I graciously take. I smile at him and I can see him swallow tensely. His eyes run up and down the length of my gown before the deer-in-headlights look disappears. A flirtatious smile then takes hold of his face. Now stable on my feet, he drops my hand before snaking his arm around my lower back. Flashes of cameras surround us as we stand for a moment, smiling for the photos sure to be all over the news tomorrow. Once the paparazzi get their fill, Pietro leads me into the fray of people who can't help but stare. I smile and nod to any who greet us as the two of us walk back to Natasha, Steve, and Tony.

"I'm surprised they actually got you in a dress." Tony comments while taking a swig of his ember liquid.

"Wanda made the compelling argument that if you get annoying enough that I can suffocate you with the skirt of it." I smile kindly at him, my eyes twinkling with warning. Steve smirks at me while Natasha looks thoroughly proud from where she stands, holding onto Steve's arm. Tony grimaces and takes another swig before retreating from us. "Thought so." I chuckle. Pietro gently pulls me flush against his side as he presses a kiss to my temple.

"You look lovely, Iris." Steve says with smile.

"Thanks, Cap." I grin.

"Oh, look, there's the Secretary." Natasha whispers before tugging Steve along with her. He offers us an apologetic smile. I wave my hand at him before he willingly walks with Tasha.

"You look stunning." Pietro's hushed whisper invades my ear. A smirk appears on my lips before I turn on my heel to face him fully. His arm tightens around my waist as he pulls me closer. I grab the lapels of his tuxedo before I look up at him through my lashes and chuckle. "However..." Mischief grows in the depths of his eyes. "that dress would look even better on my bedroom floor." Pietro offers a cheeky smile. I roll my eyes and gently pat his chest.

"Oh, I don't doubt it." My eyes wander from his face when a waiter carrying a tray of champagne begins to walk our way. I gently pull away from Pietro and snatch a flute from the tray while offering the man a quick smile. The speedster lifts a brow at me, his smile never faltering, when I look back to his face. I shrug my shoulders. "Liquid courage, as they say." I lift the glass to my lips and take a long sip before my gaze wanders to the many gathered people. There's plenty of important military personnel, editors of big newspaper companies, and I'm pretty sure the President's assistant. I give a quick huff and down the rest of my drink before placing the now empty glass on a nearby table. "Ready to convince people we aren't here to take over the world?" I ask Pietro with an uneasy smile.

"As long as you're at my side."

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁

Pietro and I stand near the doors as the crowd of people slowly file out of the party. Many hands are shaken, many kind words are exchanged, and even more tight-lipped smiles are given. I've lost track of the number of people who have wished me well -- who have expressed their change of heart from hatred to welcoming towards me and the twins. However, when the President's assistant approaches us with a flat look I steel my nerves. What surprises me is when he's about a foot away from us his frown turns into a teasing smile as he begins to chuckle. He offers Pietro his hand first and then me.

"You know, I came here ready to build a case against you lot but you've shown me you're decent people who aren't any more hotheaded or rash than Stark." He tells us. For the first time tonight I offer Stark's guest a genuine smile.

"I'm glad we were able to show you just how down to earth we are, sir." I curtly nod my head towards him. He gently pats my shoulder and fires Pietro a wink before he leaves and heads towards his private helicopter on the lawn. Once he's out of earshot I release a heavy sigh and look at my boyfriend with a relieved sigh. "I suddenly don't feel the need to murder anybody now." I chuckle and Pietro barks out a laugh before wrapping an arm around my shoulder as he leads me away from the door. Most of the important guests have left and we aren't exactly needed by the door anymore. Wanda and Vision can handle the rest I'm sure. I wring my hands together nervously before I pluck another flute of champagne off a passing tray. I tilt the glass back and empty it as I walk before handing it off to a different waiter.

"How many of those have you had tonight?" I hear Tony gawk as he approaches us.

"Not nearly enough." I scoff and clasp my shaking hands together to hide them.

"Eight." Pietro answers for me, a smug look on his face.

"Four more than you." I grumble. "And I thought you were the one who would be enjoying all this since you're immune to hangovers." I lift a brow at him.

"Well, all the fun's been taken out of it by that point." Stark tilts his whiskey glass back after he speaks. Pietro simply shakes his head.

"Oh, because hangovers are so much fun." I roll my eyes at the billionaire.

"You'll see what I mean in the morning." He chuckles before drifting off into the dwindling crowd. Pietro and I watch him until we can no longer see him.

"How are you feeling?" The speedster finally asks.

"Uh...tingly." I lift my hands and narrow my eyes at them as they subtly shake.

"Right, let's get you to bed before you lose your filter or do something embarrassing." Pietro murmurs and starts to guide me out of the party towards the dorm area of the building.

"I don't have a filter and I embarrass myself on a regular basis." I respond and allow Pietro to take my hand as we leisure down the hallways. We make small talk as we near the dorms, but that soon turns to giggling at nothing. I turn the knob to my door and walk in, Pietro on my heels, and head to my bed. I turn on my heels and then allow myself to fall onto my back on the plush mattress. The space next to me suddenly depresses as Pietro carefully lies on his stomach. I turn my head to look at him, my lips pulled back into a broad smile as he looks at me lovingly.

"You are...just so beautiful." Pietro whispers.

"And you're hotter than a baked potato." I grin and the dark-rooted blonde heaves a sigh before laughing.

"You're drunk." He deadpans.

"And that still doesn't make you any less attractive." A snort escapes me before I cackle and reach up to cover my mouth. Pietro smirks.

"No more than you, I'm sure." He offers. My eyebrows pull together as all traces of laughter leave me, causing the appearance of being sober.

"Would I still be attractive to you even if I couldn't give you a child?" Pietro seems completely and utterly taken aback by my sudden injury. His mouth opens as he stares at me in shock. His jaw snaps shut as he reaches over and takes one of my hands that are folded over my stomach.

"Of course, Iris. What ever makes you ask me this?" He asks seriously.

"Because I'm afraid." I whisper weakly. "I don't want children. I don't want the responsibility. I don't want to bring purity into such a tainted world where evil would only claw at them in an attempt to snatch them away." I can feel the pressure build behind my eyes as tears begin to well.

"Oh, Iris." Pietro softly murmurs as he leans over and presses a kiss to my forehead. "It's alright. I don't want children either. You needn't fear." He leans away from my face, but doesn't completely remove himself from hovering over me.

"Please don't leave me." I whisper, my voice breaking. Pietro smiles kindly and shifts so he can lie on his side, facing me. He carefully draws me to himself and I grab at his tux coat as if it's a safety line.

"I will never leave you."