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Pepper cleared her throat. It wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. The room stilled anyway. "Okay," she said calmly, stepping fully into the kitchen now, coffee set aside like this was official business. "Everyone take a breath. No planning. No venues. No opinions. Not tonight." Tony opened his mouth.

Pepper didn't look at him. "Forty-eight hours," she continued. "They just got engaged. Let them enjoy it." Tony's shoulders sagged. "I wasn't even done with the budget tiering—" Pepper turned then, one eyebrow raised. Tony exhaled. "Forty-eight hours," he muttered. "I can do forty-eight hours." "Probation," Pepper added lightly. Tony pointed at her. "That feels personal." Pepper smiled. "It is."

She turned back to Athena and Carol, her voice softening. "Congratulations. Truly. We're all very happy for you." She pressed a cold glass of water into Carol's hand, then nudged a beer toward Athena. "Hydrate. Celebrate. Ignore everyone else." Athena laughed quietly. "Yes, ma'am." Morgan chose that moment to bang her hands together again, delighted by the attention. Pepper smiled down at her. "You did very well," she told the baby solemnly.

Gradually, people drifted away—back to training rooms, lounges, quiet corners of the compound—leaving behind the echo of laughter and the sense that something had shifted. Carol lingered. She stood by the counter, thumb brushing over the sapphire on her finger, watching the light catch in it like she was still convincing herself it was real. Natasha approached without ceremony. "Walk with me," she said.

It wasn't a request. They stepped out onto the balcony, the city spread out below them—lights glittering, distant and constant. The air was cool, grounding. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then Natasha said, "You know she's my whole world." Carol nodded immediately. "I know." Natasha turned to face her fully. There was no threat in her posture. Just truth. "She's strong. But she gives everything she has to the people she loves."

"I see that," Carol said quietly. "Every day." Natasha studied her—really studied her—then nodded once. "Good." Another pause. Carol swallowed. "I won't pretend I know how to do all of this right. But I stay. I fight. And I don't walk away." Natasha's gaze softened, just a fraction. "That's all I needed to hear," she said. She reached out and tapped the ring lightly with one finger. "You chose well."

Carol smiled, small but sure. "So did she." Inside, laughter drifted faintly through the glass. Life going on. Family being family. Natasha turned back toward the door. "Welcome," she said over her shoulder, "to the chaos." Carol followed, hand warm around the ring, heart steadier than it had been in a long time. And for the first time, the future didn't feel like something to outrun. It felt like something to walk into.