"J.A.R.V.I.S, do you know what day it is?" Tony Stark remarked, folding a thin tablet and frowning.

"Sir, it is Tuesday, the 24th of February," replied the system.

"Do I have anything?"

"Not currently, sir, although there is a planned meeting with Director Fury on Thursday and Ms. Potts is arriving late today."

"You know, J.A.R.V.I.S, I've been thinking, we should do a get together or something. Like a party."

"Any particular reason, sir?"

"Nah, just like...I guess like a team meeting, before things get awkward, you know?"

"Which date would you like me to plan for?"

"How about...like Friday. Yeah, this is a Friday night type thing." Tony replied, spinning around on the chair to pick up a screwdriver.

"Who should I inform?" J.A.R.V.I.S asked.

Tony snapped a metal panel into place. "Everyone, I guess. Call S.H.I.E.L.D and tell Nick to get Romanoff and Barton and the other agents of interests, get Rhodey, and Cap but tell him to bring Falcon, male sure to call Banner who may or may not be in Sri Lanka, find Wanda, and whoever else."

"Will that be all, sir?"

"Yes, I think so...Wait, what about Thor?"

"My database does not have contacts for him."

"Figures. Guess well have to party without him."

Tony Stark sighed and experimentally flung a metal bolt at the device he was working on, which appeared to be a projected ray of white light. The metal popped and hissed as it hit the beam, eventually disintegrating.

"The delay time still takes the advantage out of the barrier," he observed. "Re-graduate the internal walls of the cylinder. I'm going upstairs for a pizza break."

"Of course I'll come," said Steve Rogers from the thin screen. "I'll should be back by next Friday."

"Next Friday?" Tony frowned through a mouthful of sausage and bacon pizza. "Cap, it's this Friday."

Rogers sighed. "Stark, come on, I'm busy."

"No you're not," Tony said. "Bye, see you this Friday."

He shut the screen as Jarvis's voice came on over the intercom.

"Sir, Agent Barton on the other line."

"Call back all at once, why don't you," Tony muttered. "My pizza is going to get cold."

He grudgingly answered the phone.

"Hey, Hawkey," he said.

After the fourth or 5th call, J.A.R.V.I.S came on over the intercom again.

"Sir, Ms. Potts has arrived, would you like me to notify her of the plans?"

"Yes, go ahead." Tony said, striding up the stairs to the living room.

"Well, what's this?" Pepper said, smiling, as she walked into the room.

"Hey," Tony said, looking up. "Wha--Wait, where did you get that suit?"

"I bought it in London," she answered. "Do you like it?"

"Yes, you look very professional," he grinned.

"Well, I am very professional," Pepper said softly.

"Don't I know it," Tony agreed, pecking her on the cheek.

"So what's this about a party?" she asked, sitting down next to him.

"It's been sort of...strange, all of us have been through so much but it's all over," he answered, toying with a metal cog that was laying on the coffee table. "So I wanted to have sort of a get together, you know, with everybody. Old avengers and new avengers."

"That's sweet," Pepper said, looking at him.

Tony cleared his throat. "No, not really. You know, it's my job to...do things...like this. Give the press something to talk about. I don't know, maybe it's like a high school reunion."

"Well, do you need me to do anything?"

Tony gestured around the room. "Get some nice party lights or something."

"Will do," she replied, pulling out her phone. "Is it this Friday or next?" she asked, frowning.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Tony said crossly. "It's this Friday!"

"Let me guess, everyone is insisting they're busy?"

"Yes, but they'll be there," he sighed. Then he grinned slyly. "And if not...it'll just be the two of us."

Pepper laughed and stood. "I'm sure everyone will come," she assured him.

"Come they did," Tony muttered, looking around at the crowded room with a smile.

"Hey, Stark!" Natasha Romanoff walked up to him, wearing a very not-secret-agent-like dress.

"Hi," he said. "You never RSVPd," he added accusingly.

"I'm with Nick," she said. "Besides, I don't take calls or email anymore--too easy to track."

"I could always...set up an undetectable server," he said. "For, you know, a small fee."

"Haven't changed, have we?" she remarked. "A small fee? And I thought we were friends."

"That's why I would waive the large fee," he grinned, winking.

"I'll pass," she said rolling her eyes.

"Tony, thank you for the invitation," Wanda Maximoff said, walking up to him.

"Oh, yeah, no problem," he answered. "Hey, how are you doing?"

"I'm alright, it's good to get out," she smiled tiredly.

"It's good to have you on the team," he assured her. "You know, officially. I think I'll make an announcement."

"Thanks, I'd better go," she said, looking back nervously, and walking away. Nick Fury was standing there.

"I hope she is still willing to be part of the team, now that most of you are moving on," he said gravely.

"Yeah, I mean, I might drop by sometime...or something," Tony said awkwardly. "Hey, are you enjoying yourself, Director?"

"Not too much," he said. "Someone needs to be sober for the ride back."

Tony laughed. "That's fair," he said. "You seen Rhodey?"

"Not yet," he said. "But I'll let you know."

"Did you bring all these agents?" he asked, looking around.

"Some of them," Nick said, following Tony's gaze. "They are part of the team. Guess you could say that they legalize your illegal actions."

"I thought I already apologized for starting this?" Tony answered irritably.

"Just giving you a hard time," the Director said with a ghost of a smile.

One of the aforementioned agents hurried up to Nick, saying something in a low voice about abnormal levels.

"Excuse me, I have to check on something," he said, hurrying away.

Tony put his hands in his pockets and looked around. Pepper came up behind him.

"How's the party, Mr. Stark?" she asked.

"It's really a wonderful--"

He stopped abruptly as the ceiling shook.

The room grew quiet, and thunder rumbled in the distance.

"If that's who I think it is..." Tony muttered. The glass doors to the deck slid open automatically and Thor walked in, followed by Jane Foster.

"You didn't tell me you were coming," Tony said pointedly. "But now we have the whole team here, Point Break. Nice."

"Hello," Thor said, swinging Mjolnir.

"Don't--" Tony warned, but Thor's hammer had already grazed one of the vases on the shelf.

"What can I say, I have a mean swing," Thor said. Everyone laughed.

"This is Jane Foster, for those of you who do not know," he added.

"Of course you're welcome," Pepper said, striding forward.

"Oh, you're Erik Selvig's colleague, right?" Steve Rogers said, striding forward. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, we've heard a lot about you."

"Really?" she asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yeah...wasn't there something about keeping you safe for Thor?" Tony announced.

Jane looked at Thor with a raised eyebrow.

"It was a necessary precaution," he mumbled.

"Well, now I'm curious," Tony continued. "How did you get an invitation if I never sent one?"

Thor laughed easily. "Heimdall keeps me posted."

"He guards the realm of Asgard," Jane said. "He somehow always knows what's going on."

"Glad you both are here. Thor, you'd better meet the new "official" team." Tony clapped him on the shoulder.

And thus the party continued.

"You'd better check on Thor, I think he found the chocolate fountain." called Bruce a few minutes later.

"Stark! How does this item work?" Thor shouted from the corner.

"Oh Lord, Thor, you just dip the fruit in it, you don't drink it," he said, striding forward.

"But it's like hot chocolate," he pointed out.

"Okay, you have a point," he chuckled. "Go for it."

It was just getting good, too, when another gate-crasher showed up.

"Hello," said Loki brightly, striding forward into the crowd. "Shame you didn't invite me. It's like not having children for Mother's Day. Without them, you're just a regular person. I am, after all, the reason you petty Avengers were assembled to begin with, am I not?"

"Can we not have a party without having to fight evil?" Natasha said irritably.

"Okay, okay. Settle down," Sam Wilson said, striding forward.

"I don't remember you getting an invitation," Tony said, walking forward. He muttered an inaudible command to J.A.R.V.I.S and continued.

"This sort of is my house so would you leave please?" he asked, pointedly.

"Oh, how terribly rude of me," Loki grinned. "But then, I didn't remember my dear brother getting one either."

"He also happens to not be an evil sorcerer or whatever you claim to be," Nick Fury.

Loki flashed everyone a dazzling smile. "Oh, what harsh words...Director. Do you know, I came here to have a good time and honestly I'm feeling so attacked right now."

"Can you not?" Wanda spoke suddenly. "I've heard a lot about you and most of it is bad."

"Well hello, little witch," Loki said. "What a lovely gift you have."

She glared, but said nothing.

Thor set his hammer down as gently as he could.

"Loki." he said warningly.

"What, big brother?" he asked innocently. "I'm only here so the adorable little Avengers can celebrate their existence...due to me."

"Three cheers for Loki," Tony said sarcastically.

"That would be nice," the Asgardian mused.

"Well, what's new," Tony muttered. 

"I just came here to give you lot a small visit, but I'm afraid I can't stay." Loki continued, surveying the room. 

"Pity," Barton grunted from a corner of the room. 

Loki disappeared. 

"Well, that's new," Tony said. "I have a feeling he'll be back." 

"We will always have the Avengers," Nick said solemnly. "Old and new."

"Which brings me to the purpose of this party," Tony said grandly. "Here's to old and new! Welcome to everyone here--to the team and to a legacy of protection." 

The night continued with cheers--and drinks, of course. 

New beginnings indeed, Tony thought to himself. What an interesting concept.