"Oh, look at you," Pepper says, smiling, looking at Grace in the dress she bought her specifically for the occasion. It's red and gold, which was purposefully done so Tony would be less likely to argue about it.

Grace spins around, the lights overhead causing the gold to sparkle. She smiles at Pepper. "I love it."

"I knew you would," Pepper replies. "Come on; take that off so I can do your hair before I have to leave for the airport." She looks around for Tony, then whispers, "And maybe I'll do your makeup, too."

Meanwhile, Tony is in his lab with Bruce, where they've been for the past few days.

When they got back from the Hydra mission, Maria Hill told them about the enhanced people that they met: twins Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, orphaned when a shell collapsed their apartment building when they were ten in Sokovia.

He's fast, she's weird. Go figure.

Clint was healed, too. He's going to be completely fine. There was nothing to worry about in that respect.

Tony, however, had other things on his mind.

"What's the rumpus?" Bruce asked as Tony lead him into the lab.

"Well, the scepter," Tony replied. "You see, we were wondering how Strucker got so inventive. So, I've been analyzing the gem inside you may recognize." He pulled up a 3D projection of a dark yellow, shifting sphere-like shape.

"Jarvis?" Bruce said.

"Doctor," he replied.

Tony continued. "Started out, Jarvis was just a natural language UI. Now he runs the Iron Legion. He runs more of the business than anyone besides Pepper."

"Oh."

"Top of the line."

"Yes."

"I suspect not for long," Jarvis butt in.

"Meet the competition," Tony said, pulling up another 3D projection, this time, a larger, moving, bright blue sphere.

"It's beautiful," Bruce said, eyes wide.

"If you had to guess, what's it look like it's doing?"

"Like it's thinking. I-I mean this could be a- it's not a human mind, it- I mean, look at this!" He gestured to it excitedly. "They're like neurons firing."

"Down in Strucker's lab I saw some fairly advanced robotics work. They deep-sixed the data, but... I gotta guess he was knocking on a very particular door."

Bruce paused. "Artificial intelligence."

"This could be it, Bruce. This could be the key to creating Ultron."

Bruce knew exactly what he was talking about — Ultron. The ultimate protector of Earth. Tony had talked about it off and on ever since the Battle of New York. But it was always theoretical. "I thought Ultron was a fantasy."

"Yesterday it was," Tony replied. "If we can harness this power, apply it to my Iron Legion protocol-"

"That's a mad-sized if."

"Our job is 'if.' What if you were sipping margaritas on a sun-drenched beach turning brown instead of green? Not looking over your shoulder for Veronica?"

Bruce frowned. "Don't hate, I helped design Veronica."

"As a worst-case measure, right? How about a best-case? What if the world was safe?" What if everyone he cared about, everyone he saw in that bunker, could be safe? The image of that hole in Grace's chest flashed in his mind. "What if next time aliens roll up to the club — and they will — they couldn't get past the bouncer?"

"The only people threatening the planet would be people," Bruce replied.

"I want to apply this to the Ultron program. But JARVIS can't download a data schematic this dense. We can only do it while we have the scepter here — that's three days, give me three days."

"So you're going for artificial intelligence, and you don't want to tell the team."

"Right. That's right — you know why? — because we don't have time for a city hall debate. I don't want to hear the 'man was not meant to meddle' medley." He could almost hear Steve saying it. "I see a suit of armor around the world."

Bruce looked at him cautiously. "Sounds like a cold world, Tony."

"I've seen colder. This one, this very vulnerable blue one? It needs Ultron. Peace in our time. Imagine that."

Bruce did, and here they are. Working tirelessly, trying to make this dream — this wonderful, safe dream — a reality.

But it's not working. Not the way it's supposed to.

"What did we miss?" Tony asks, looking at the scepter.

"I'll continue to run variations on the interface, but you should probably prepare for your guests," Jarvis replies. "I'll notify you if there are any developments."

"Thanks, buddy," Tony says, going to leave.

"Enjoy yourself, sir."

"I always do."

~~~~

"What is that?" Tony asks, looking at Grace as she walks up to him in the hall.

She frowns. "What's what?"

He points at her, gesturing. "That-That glittery stuff, the lipstick. What is that?"

Grace rolls her eyes. "It's makeup, Dad. It's not a big deal. Mom did it for me."

"Not a big deal?" Tony says, incredulous. "You're too young to wear makeup-"

"I'm fourteen!" Grace argues. She sassily continues, "And I'm glad you're so worried about a little eyeshadow that you don't even have the decency to tell me how pretty I look right now — because I look great."

Tony sighs, hugging her into his side. "You do look pretty, sweetheart. I just... you're my little girl, you know-"

She jokingly pushes away from him. "Stop it, you sap."

He laughs. "Oh, quit it; you love me."

She sighs, laughing a little. "Yeah, yeah, I love you, Dad — now, let's go mingle." She takes off ahead of him, pushing into the small crowd that's occupying the main floor of the Avengers Tower.

They spot Rhodey and Thor standing amongst a small group of people, and Grace quickly makes her way over. Rhodey is telling a story.

"So I take the tank, fly it right up to the General's palace, drop it at his feet, and I'm like, 'Boom! You looking for this?'" Everyone — even Grace — just looks at him blankly. He tries again. "'Boom! Are you looking-' Why do I even talk to you guys? Everywhere else that story kills."

"That's the whole story?" Thor asks.

"Yeah, it's a War Machine story."

"Well, it's very good then." Thor laughs. "It's impressive."

Rhodey rolls his eyes. "Quality save." He sighs, looking down at Grace. "Hey, mini Stark. Glad to see your father actually let you join the party."

"Well, I have the Avengers to thank for that," she replies, winking at Thor. He laughs a little, and they high five.

Rhodey chuckles, then turns to Tony. "So, no Pepper? She's not coming?"

"No; she had some business meeting in Europe. She just left a few hours ago."

Maria Hill, who also listened to Rhodey's story, asks Thor, "Hey, what about Jane? Where are the ladies, gentlemen?"

"Well, Miss Potts has a company to run," Tony says.

"Yes, and I'm not even sure what country Jane's in," Thor adds. "Her work on the convergence has made her the world's foremost astronomer."

"And the company that Pepper runs is the largest tech conglomerate on earth. It's pretty exciting."

"There's even talk of Jane getting a, um, uh- Nobel prize."

"Yeah, they must be busy because they'd hate missing you guys get together." Maria fake coughs, muttering, "Testosterone!" Grace laughs.

"Want a lozenge?" Rhodey asks.

"Yes, I think I would, thank you," Maria replies. She winks at Grace as she and Rhodey walk off.

Thor turns to Tony. "But Jane's better."

"Oh, will you both stop," Grace says. "I'm sure they're both equally amazing — though, Pepper is kinda the best mom in the world..."

She trails off, walking away before Thor can say anything more. To her surprise, Tony doesn't stop her. It's probably because he trusts everyone here, and the Avengers are scattered around the whole place.

She spots Steve standing with a man she doesn't know on a balcony overlooking the main room and makes her way up.

"Well, home is home, you know?" she hears the man say to Steve.

"Be it ever so humble," Steve jokes.

At that time, Grace says, "Steve!"

He turns, smiling as she makes her way over to him, "Hey, Grace. Glad to see your father didn't back out of his decision."

"He almost did when he saw that Mom put makeup on me," Grace replies, laughing a little.

Steve laughs, then turns to the man next to him. "Sam, this is Tony's daughter, Grace. Grace, this is my friend, Sam Wilson."

He holds out his hand politely, and she shakes it. "Nice to meet you," he says.

"You, too," Grace replies. She looks at Steve. "Have you seen Nat anywhere? I couldn't find her downstairs."

"Well, up here's the perfect view to look for her," Steve replies.

She searches for a moment, then spots her behind the bar. "Oh, I found her! I'll see you later, Steve!"

"Bye, Grace," he chuckles. He watches her run off, sighing. "I'm simultaneously glad and not glad that I've never had kids. Keeping her safe keeps Tony stressed almost 24/7, but, man, I just... I don't know."

Sam chuckles, patting him on the back. "Slow your roll there, Cap. How about we focus on one thing at a time?"

Steve sighs. "Yeah, I guess so."

When Grace reaches the bar, Nat doesn't see her through all the people, but then Grace sees Bruce walk up. She stops when she hears him talking to Nat. "How did a nice girl like you wind up working in a dump like this?" he asks jokingly.

"Fella done me wrong," Nat replies, playing along.

"You got a lousy taste in men, kid."

"He's not so bad," she replies. Then, she sighs. "Well, he has a temper. Deep down he's all fluff. Fact is, he's not like anybody I've ever known." Bruce looks up at this, and then the act drops a little. "All my friends are fighters. And here comes this guy, spends his life avoiding the fight because he knows he'll win."

"Sounds amazing," Bruce says, almost solemnly.

"He's also a huge dork." Bruce looks down, so she continues. "Chicks dig that." She sighs. "So what do you think — should I fight this, or run with it?"

Bruce almost looks panicked. "Run with it, right? Or, did he-was he-? What did he do that was so... wrong to you?"

"Absolutely nothing. But never say never." And with that, her drink in hand, she walks away.

Grace pushes through a group of people to follow her. "Nat!"

She jumps a little, nearly spilling her drink. "Grace! Oh, you look amazing-"

"I know, I know," Grace says, waving her off, "but we have more pressing issues here: You and Bruce."

Nat blushes. "What? Were you spying-?"

"On accident! But that's not the point. You were flirting with him."

"So? People flirt all the time."

"You don't," Grace replies. "So, what? Do you like him or not?"

"If I tell you, you can't tell anyone, okay? Not even Tony."

"Are you kidding? Why would I tell him?"

Nat sighs, then finally says, "Yes, I like him. But... I don't know if it could ever happen, anyway, so it doesn't really matter."

"Why not?!" Grace exclaims. "You would be so cute together!"

Nat laughs, shushing her. "Keep it down, Grace. And..." She turns serious, sighing. "Look, there's a lot of reasons. It doesn't matter right now..."

Grace knows not to push it, so she changes the subject, mournfully stating, "I don't think I'll ever get a boyfriend."

Nat chuckles. "Sure you will."

Grace scoffs. "Seriously? When I'm shut up in the house all the time? Not likely. I can't meet anybody."

"Oh, hold out hope," Nat replies. "You never know what could happen. Besides, you're too young to date, anyway."

Grace rolls her eyes. "You sound like Dad."

"I thought I felt my ears burning," he says, walking up to them. He looks at Grace. "It's time for you to hit the hay."

Grace groans. "Really? It can't have been that long-"

"It has been. So, come on, let's go. I already fixed you a plate for dinner. You can eat it your room."

Grace protests. "I haven't even talked to Clint or Bruce yet."

"I don't even know where Clint is," Tony replies. "And you see Bruce, like, all the time."

"If Mom were here, she wouldn't be like this," Grace replies, crossing her arms.

"Don't pull the Pepper card with me."

"According to her, you pull the me card with her all the time."

Tony sighs. "Fine. Go talk to Bruce. I'll see if I can find Clint around here somewhere."