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The clinking of a glass cut through the music. Tony Stark stood, already holding his drink like a weapon. "Oh no," Pepper muttered fondly. Tony grinned. "Relax. I was asked to speak. Which is legally binding. Probably." He cleared his throat and looked between Athena and Carol. "So. Athena." He pointed. "Came into our lives already competent, terrifyingly calm, and immediately became my kid's godmother. Which means if anything ever happens to me, Pepper, or—" he gestured vaguely "—the universe, Morgan is basically raised by a tactical genius with a moral compass." Polite laughter.

"And Carol," Tony continued, softer now. "You disappear into space for months and still somehow show up exactly when it matters. Which tells me this marriage is very simple. One of you knows how to stay grounded. The other knows how to come back." He raised his glass. "To Athena and Carol. May your life be long, your house be quiet when you want it, and may your arguments never involve alien invasions." Applause. Cheers. Carol laughed, shaking her head.

Natasha stood next. No microphone adjustment. No clearing her throat. Just silence that waited for her. "My daughter," Natasha said calmly, "has always known who she is." Athena swallowed. "She knows what she stands for. What she will fight for. And who she lets stand beside her." Natasha looked at Carol then. Held her gaze. "Carol chose her. And keeps choosing her." Her voice softened, just a fraction.

"There is nothing more I could want for Athena than someone who sees her strength and meets it with their own." Natasha raised her glass. "Welcome to the family." Athena blinked fast. Carol reached for her hand. The applause was slower. Deeper. Yelena was next. No one stopped her. "I have speech!" she announced. "It is short. Mostly." It was not short. She talked about chaos, love, how Athena tolerated her, how Carol punched a guy once and Yelena respected that deeply. She ended by throwing flower petals again "for emphasis."

Nick Fury stood last. "I don't do sentimental," he said flatly. "But I do do facts." He looked at Carol. "You're reliable. Even when you're lightyears away." Then at Athena. "You're steady. Even when everything's on fire." He raised his glass. "That's a good team. I trust teams like that." High praise. Everyone felt it. When the speeches ended, Athena leaned into Carol and whispered, "We survived." Carol smiled. "Just the beginning." And for once, that didn't sound scary at all.