Fondue
In From the Cold
"Everyone needs someone in their corner to help them. Even those in charge," Bucky acknowledged.
Bill nodded. "You haven't been here long, but you're family. If you need any of us...beyond just looking for your son..." he said to Ikaris.
"Helping Master Ikaris look for his son might no longer be necessary..." Friday interrupted. "There are two intruders in the compound. They are currently in the SHIELD portion. The female is looking through the computer systems, but so far hasn't done any damage. The male is somehow turning all the agents and guards against each other. Every time they come to arrest the two... suddenly, they begin fighting themselves. Unless I am misreading the situation, he is controlling them. Maybe it is a coincidence...."
"None of us believe in coincidences, Fri..." Tony muttered.
"We aren't aware of anyone else with the ability to control anyone." Fury stood up and nodded to Ikaris. "If it is Druig, and you think you can talk him down, we don't all need to go. If we get there and find out it isn't him, then we don't want any more people confronting them than necessary, if there's another risk of family members being mind-controlled."
Ikaris nodded and quickly stood up. Maybe it wasn't Druig. Maybe. But he couldn't hide the hopeful look on his face that maybe he'd be reunited with his other son soon.
Jessica moved to Fury's side. "I'll go, Uncle Nick. It's difficult to control me, after..." She winced, remembering Kilgrave.
"I'm fairly immune, too," Clint interjected quietly.
Fury nodded, turning to his niece and nephew. "Keep comms on you. Let us know if we need to take any extreme measures."
"Yes, sir!" Jessica quickly agreed.
"Of course..." Clint added. He glanced toward Ikaris. "We'll be your back-up, sir." It was easy to treat Ikaris as one of his uncles. The man was very old and a parent, as well as someone used to leading. It felt natural to defer to him.
"Thank you," Ikaris replied seriously. He took the comm Fury handed to him, putting it into place, before leading the way into the compound...heading to where Friday had said the two people were.
***
"They'll be here soon," Druig said to Yelena. It had been a long time, but he was able to sense Ikaris coming. It was like a sixth sense that he had never questioned in the past, so didn't question now.
Yelena quickly finished what she was doing in the computer and shut it down. "Are we fighting?" she asked, moving to the left and just behind Druig.
"It depends on if he was being honest with that group or not. We'll know soon enough. If he is still on Arishem's side, he'll be aiming to take me to Arishem. If not...." Druig shrugged.
"If not, we've effectively put ourselves in position to be caught by my sister's new family..." Yelena grumbled slightly. "Unless you have a way to get us out of here that doesn't involve fighting the Avengers."
***
Ikaris wasn't that surprised that it was relatively easy to find Druig...and the woman his son had with him. They hadn't been trying to hide their presence at all, and he figured this had been a deliberate move on their part to get attention.
Still, he wasn't prepared for the rush of emotion that overwhelmed him when he stepped into the area where Druig was. And he couldn't hide that emotion from creeping into his voice as he whispered his son's name. "Druig."
Druig shifted hesitantly, looking at Ikaris distrustfully. There was a longing, needy look on his face, though. It was obvious he missed his father. "I see Arishem left you alone..." he muttered.
Yelena looked past Ikaris to where Jessica and Clint stood. "You are Natasha's brother..." she said softly, her accent heavy.
Clint blinked, glancing at Jessica before looking back at Yelena. "You know Nat?" he asked suspiciously. Was one of the Widows coming after his sister?
"I grew up with her..." Yelena admitted, though she didn't elaborate.
"I don't know why," Ikaris said quietly. "I turned against him, too, in the end." He took a step closer to Druig, the look of longing on his face mirroring Druig's own. He desperately wanted to hold his son...to reconnect with him. "Druig...I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I was so wrong."
Even though he obviously didn't want to pull away, Druig stepped back. "How do I know I can trust you?" he said, his voice catching.
Yelena glanced toward Druig and shifted closer to him protectively.
"Are you here for Natasha?" Clint's voice was stern and suspicious.
She looked at Clint again, an affronted look on her face. "No. She has made a new life and is happy. I do not have anything against that. I just wanted to see how she was doing. She moved on without me..." She shrugged faintly.
Despite the pain Druig stepping back caused, Ikaris couldn't blame his son. He halted, not trying to step forward...treating Druig like a scared animal who might bolt if Ikaris made one wrong move. He didn't blame Druig for being unwilling to trust him, but what could he say? How could he possibly convince Druig that he was being honest...that he was telling the truth? Unless....
"Control me," he said impulsively. "Compel me to tell you the truth. Then you'll be able to believe me. I just want my son back...."
Druig's eyes widened. Even when they were closest, using his power on family was forbidden for any reason. Ikaris wouldn't have suggested that if he hadn't changed. If he was truly still on Arishem's side, he wouldn't put himself in a position to be controlled by Druig. Swallowing hard, he relaxed slightly and stumbled forward. He was hesitant to bridge the entire distance, but he believed Ikaris was telling the truth now. Offering to let Druig control him was too risky if he hadn't been telling the truth. "...Daddy?" he whispered.
Yelena looked at Druig again, tensing up as he relaxed. If it was a trap, she was ready.
Ikaris immediately moved forward, wrapping his arms around Druig and hugging him tightly. The strength in his embrace...the way his body trembled...probably betrayed just how much his own emotions were affecting him. There were tears in his own eyes that were close to falling. "I love you, son...so much. And I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion.
Druig stiffened for only a few seconds before he was throwing his own arms around his father and holding on tightly. "You're really back..." he whispered brokenly, before beginning to cry. "You're really back...."
Yelena bit her lip and relaxed. If Ikaris was going to attack, he would have done so by now. She glanced toward the SHIELD agents Druig had been controlling. It was obvious Druig had lost focus on anyone or anything beside his father. The agents were back in control of themselves and were moving in to arrest her and Druig, weapons raised. "Druig..." she said, in worry.
Clint turned and held up a hand. "We've got it under control, agents. We're taking them into our custody. Have your technicians come in and make sure nothing is broken or missing and let us know, but you don't need to deal with the intruders."
Jessica was moving to Yelena's side, pulling her arms behind her back, and handcuffing her. "Just until we get you to a more secure area. So, the agents don't shoot you..." she said quietly.
Clint quietly held a pair of cuffs out to Ikaris. He doubted it was necessary, but after what had been done to the SHIELD agents, they needed visual evidence that Druig and Yelena were under control.
Ikaris nodded, taking the cuffs from Clint. He pressed a kiss to the side of Druig's head and whispered, "I need to put these cuffs on you. It won't be for long... just until we're in a safer area and can make sure those here don't believe you're a threat. I won't let go of you," he promised, as he put the cuffs on his son and then, as he'd promised, took a tight hold of Druig again.
Druig allowed himself to be cuffed and then meekly allowed Ikaris to take hold of him to lead. Maybe it was a mistake, but he needed to believe his father was back.
Yelena smiled crookedly. "Guess we are coming in from the cold, no?" she asked Druig. She hadn't planned on getting captured by her sister's family, but it didn't seem like a dangerous or bad situation, so she didn't fight.
Jessica didn't say anything, carefully directing Yelena to walk in front of her as they prepared to go back to the camp. "We'll let those in charge decide the best place to keep you... Taking Uncle Ikaris' opinion into consideration, of course."
Druig shot her a curious look at the 'uncle' comment.
Ikaris gently squeezed Druig's shoulder and murmured, "The Avengers and SHIELD agents here have formed family units. You will be able to meet your new brother and sister...." He was fairly sure they would agree not to imprison Druig, especially knowing that Ikaris had been searching so desperately for his other son. He wasn't as sure about Yelena, but if she was a friend of Druig's, he would speak up in her defense as well. And she'd admitted to knowing Natasha, so if their relationship was good, perhaps she would also be against imprisonment as an option.
Yelena sighed loudly as they walked toward the campfire. "In my back pocket is a thumb-drive. You will want it..." she said to Clint, as an offering to show her good intentions.
Clint raised an eyebrow, nodding at Jessica, who then reached into said pocket and pulled it out, tossing it to her cousin. By this point, they had reached the campfire and were being directed toward Coulson, Fury, and Steve.
Coulson, Fury, and Steve had moved a little way apart from the rest of the family. Fury raised his eyebrow when he saw the two who were being brought over, glancing towards Ikaris. "Can I assume this is your son?" He gestured towards Druig.
Ikaris nodded. "His friend, too," he said quietly, taking responsibility for Yelena as well...an act that didn't go unnoticed by his brothers.
"What were you doing in the compound?" Coulson asked Druig and Yelena. They might be able to guess at their motives, but knowing for sure would help.
Natasha had noticed the woman who'd been captured, and she stood, making her way towards the group.
"Exactly what we meant to..." Yelena sniffed but didn't elaborate.
Druig slanted his head and stood taller to show he wasn't nervous around the others, even if he really was. "What she said..." he answered, in a sarcastic voice. Truthfully, they hadn't thought beyond the objective of getting Ikaris' and the rest of the Avengers’ attention. Now that they had it and were in custody, he had no clue what to do and he was beginning to think they should have done things differently, instead of reacting to high emotion. He looked at Yelena. He was a bit surprised she'd gone along with it. She'd been very stealthy and levelheaded up until he'd come up with his brilliant plan. Had he used his mind power on her without realizing it? Had he influenced her decision to go against her normal behavior?
Ikaris gently squeezed his son's shoulder and said, softly, "I would recommend not giving attitude. They need to know that you aren't a threat. Once that's been established, there's no reason either of you need to be kept prisoner anymore."
Steve, more than used to his own children acting out, asked, "Would I be right in assuming that what you meant to do was get your father's attention?"
Druig's look was sheepish, embarrassed, and slightly defiant. He didn't want to admit it, but as it was exactly what he'd been trying to do.... "Maybe..." he reluctantly said.
Yelena sighed. "I knew it was a bad idea. But... He needed to do it and I could think of no reason not to help him." She said this while looking right at Druig. She'd caught his uncertain looks in her direction and could guess at what he'd been worrying about. She was letting him know she'd chosen to go along, and he had not mentally influenced her in any way.
Fury shook his head and sighed, although he wasn't angry or even really irritated. "It's probably just as well the family, including your father, was here, or things could have been much more difficult," he said. He looked towards Ikaris. "My agents aren't going to be happy about this happening again," he said, thinking about the situation with Lorelei. "If you're willing to accept the responsibility for him, though..."
"Of course," Ikaris said. "You don't need to imprison my son."
"You don't need to imprison Yelena, either." Natasha stepped forward and smiled at the woman who'd been raised as her sister. "It's really good to see you," she said softly.
Yelena smiled faintly at Natasha. "It is good to see you happy. I thought you might come back for me, but... I can understand now why you did not." She shrugged faintly. "I did not take anything dangerous." She looked at Coulson. "I took unimportant information just to prove I could."
Druig nodded in acknowledgement of Fury's words. "I did my best not to harm any of the agents. Even though I made them fight each other, I made certain that they were doing it in a non-lethal manner."
"I'm sorry," Natasha said quietly. "When I was rescued by my brother, I needed to make a clean break from everything before...but I should have come back for you. I'm glad you're here now."
"I'll have to check the information you took," Coulson said to Yelena. "But I believe you. And I believe the reasons you both have for entering the compound and doing what you did."
Ikaris gently rubbed Druig's shoulder, then began to uncuff his son.
Yelena smiled at Natasha. "I have been watching you. I understand why you did not return. I would not have risked people I cared about to return if I was in your position. Especially when we had not seen each other since they separated us for the Red Room...." Her smile turned sad.
Druig rubbed his wrists as soon as Ikaris had released him. "I am selfishly glad she did not return for you. It enabled me to meet you and gain a sister..." he said softly.
Ikaris noticed the wording Druig used for Yelena, even as he reached over to free her as well from the cuffs. He looked towards his brothers. "Is there anything else you need to know right now? Or can I get some food in them?" If they'd been there for a while, he suspected neither had really eaten.
Steve shook his head. "Take care of them. Anything else we need, we can talk about tomorrow."
"Where have you been staying?" Natasha asked Yelana.
"At a tiny motel in that tiny town a mile from here..." Yelena responded. "Not far from that cafe you met with your brother a few weeks ago."
Druig slanted his head. "I suspect we will not be returning there? Will we be able to retrieve our belongings?"
"There is plenty of fondue left..." Tony said, motioning everyone back to the tables where the food had been set up. "Do we need to go retrieve two more sleeping bags? Or do you plan to return to your quarters with them instead of staying in the treehouse?"
"What would you prefer?" Ikaris addressed Druig and Yelena, even as he placed a hand on each of their shoulders to guide them to the tables. "If you think you might need a bit of time to settle in before officially meeting everyone, we can sleep in the compound. And we can collect your belongings in the morning," he added.
As Ikaris guided them over, Sprite stood and quickly moved over, throwing her arms around Druig and hugging tight. "I'm glad you're back," she whispered.
Druig hugged his little sister tightly. "I am glad to see you here where you can be protected. I fear for you now that you are mortal..." he admitted, in a whisper.
Yelena stayed close to Ikaris' side, as Druig was distracted by his younger sister; she remembered him telling him the girl's name. "I have no problem being surrounded by others, and I don't want to mess up your evening’s plans." She shrugged slightly, smiling sheepishly. "I didn't think much beyond helping Druig, so did not expect to be... Brought in to the family. But I am thankful not to be in a cell. Even if I have confidence in my ability to get out of one." This time, she smirked, giving Natasha an impish grin. Her older 'sister' would remember how she was as a child. Even if many years had passed between when they lived in Ohio together and when they were separated to go to the Red Room.
Dane shifted. "Whatever you decide, dad... We'll do what you want." He meant if Ikaris wanted one on one time with Druig, he and Kate would stay with everyone else. But he couldn't hide his anxiousness. He was very happy his father had found his long-lost son. But how would that change his and Dane's relationship? Maybe Ikaris wouldn't need him as much anymore.
Kate, able to sense Dane's uncertainty, moved closer to her brother's side and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Dane's right, dad... Do what you need, and we'll all adjust."
Sprite smiled slightly. "I'm pretty well protected here, but don't think I can't defend myself," she scolded playfully. "But I'm even going to school now." She very deliberately didn't mention being expelled from all but the classes she was now taking at the compound, thanks to Xavier's school now being held there.
Ikaris hesitated, looking torn...but it was because his instinct was to keep his family (including his new daughter) close, and he wasn't sure if that was the right decision or not. Still, Dane and Kate helped him to decide to go through with what he wanted, and he admitted, "I know we all planned to sleep outside tonight, but what I'd like is to have all of my children close to me this evening." He gently squeezed Yelena's shoulder as he added, "Yelena, Druig...this is Dane and Kate. Your new brother and sister. And the teenager hugging Druig is Sprite. Also, your sister," he added to Yelena.
"I am happy to meet you all..." Yelena said quietly, before smiling brightly. "If we are not staying out here, then I will follow you to where we are to stay. Will I see you in the morning?" She looked toward Natasha. Even if they hadn't truly been siblings and now were close to strangers, she remembered the other woman as an older sister and would like to get to know her again.
Dane relaxed at the signs that Ikaris wanted him nearby. Even if things were going to change again, at least his father still wanted him and Kate.
Kate smiled. "Thank you for the fondue, Tony. It was a wonderful idea. Maybe we can have it for dinner again sometime?"
Tony grinned. "I'm sure we can. Everyone seemed to like it."
Natasha nodded and smiled warmly at Yelena. "Tomorrow, you can meet the rest of my family properly...including my own children," she said softly.
Ikaris shifted enough to keep close to all of his children, even if he couldn't hold all of them at once. "If you need to eat anything, help yourselves," he said to Yelena and Druig. "Then we can retrieve pajamas for you both...."
Yelena nodded and immediately found herself a plate and began to fill it with various items. Even with everyone else having eaten their fill, there was still plenty of everything available. "Do you have questions for me about other things?" she asked the area at large, though she meant those in charge. She'd explained her reasons for being here and why she'd done what she did, but given her history as a Widow, she knew she might have information that they'd find useful.
Druig was too keyed up to eat, but he also knew he hadn't eaten much before coming to spy and he needed to keep his energy up. So, he began to fill a plate as well, not moving far from Ikaris' side. If Ikaris needed to keep him close, he was finding he needed to be kept close.
"I'm sure we will have questions for you, but you don't need to worry about them tonight," Coulson said. "Rest tonight and retrieve your belongings in the morning. Then we can go through everything we need to."
Ikaris was staying close to Druig, even though he was keeping a watchful eye on all his children. Some tension had visibly seeped out of him now that he had his other son back with him. He still needed to reunite the rest of the Eternals, of course, but finding Druig again had helped give him hope.
Yelena nodded in acceptance of that and quietly ate. If they wanted to talk to her, she would answer, but experience taught her it was better to observe first and then interject. Even though they had quickly accepted her and Druig into their gathering, she was still an outsider.
Druig quietly ate as well, but it was more due to being overwhelmed than anything else. He hadn't truly expected to get his father back. Had expected a fight. That there hadn't been one and that he did have his father back? It was taking a while to sink in.
Now that the excitement of two newcomers was fading, people were beginning to realize how late it was and starting to get ready for bed.
Once his children had finished eating, Ikaris said softly to Druig and Yelena, "I'll show you where the pajamas are, and you can pick out a pair each." He looked to Dane, Kate, and Sprite. "Why don't you all get changed and come to my room?" he suggested.
Dane nodded. "Okay... Meet you there, then..." he said, as he cleaned up his own mess, gathered his sleeping bag and prepared to go back inside the compound. Since they weren't going to be sleeping at the tree house any longer, he didn't want to leave things behind that anyone else would have to clean up.
Kate followed Dane's example, cleaning up her own mess then grabbing her sleeping bag.
Soon, they were heading into the compound. Meanwhile, Druig and Yelena were following Ikaris inside, presumably to his room where he would provide them with night clothes. They'd get their own belongings in the morning.
Ikaris led the way to the supply room, so that Druig and Yelena would be able to pick out their own pairs of pajamas. "All of the family members wear a particular style of pajamas," he explained.
Yelena held up the onesie and blinked. "They all wear this style?" she asked, in slight confusion. "It doesn't seem fashionable at all. It must be comfortable...."
Druig wrinkled his nose as he noticed the flap. "Is there a reason they all wear these?" he asked suspiciously.
"Part of it is due to their comfort," Ikaris said. "Even the parents wear them. The other reason has to do with the family punishment made use of here, when it's necessary. The whole family uses spanking."
Yelena nodded. "We were listening to the stories. Even though they didn't all mention spanking... It was obviously something that everyone was familiar with, so I suspected it wasn't an unusual occurrence."
Druig smiled faintly. "You always used it when necessary. It doesn't surprise me you've found a family that views things as you do." He took the pajamas he was handed, noticing Yelena was doing the same. "I assume we will change in your quarters?"
"Yes. Tomorrow, you can both have an official tour of the compound." Ikaris wrapped an arm each around their shoulders and began to guide them towards his room.
By this point, both Dane and Kate had been to their rooms and changed. Normally, they would wait for their father in his room, but since their newest family members weren't used to family dynamics yet, they waited outside his room. "We figured we can come in once they are ready..." Kate whispered in explanation.
Ikaris nodded and reached out to stroke both of their cheeks, then gave Sprite a hug before saying softly, "Thank you. I'll let you know when you can come in." He then guided Druig and Yelena into his room.
Druig wasn't completely caught by surprise that there was only one bed in the room. But he was a bit surprised that Ikaris planned to have all five of them staying in the room when there was only one bed. Even before, when all the family was happily together, they had their own rooms and beds and only shared when one was injured or needed care of some sort. It was a very big bed, though. "Does the family share beds often enough to require such large beds?" he asked hesitantly. Maybe he was misunderstanding and there were cots hidden somewhere.
Yelena glanced around uncertainly, having noticed the same thing.
Ikaris nodded. "Closeness in the family is very important. I know it was unusual for any of us to share in the past, but since moving here, I've found that I agree with a lot of the ways the family handles things," he said honestly. "Staying in the parent's room doesn't happen all the time, but it happens enough times that larger beds are the norm." He paused, briefly, but figured that now was as good a time as any. "It also happens often if one of the children is feeling more...young. Needy."
Druig blinked at that. "Does that happen often?" he asked quietly, certain there was a reason for his father mentioning it, and realizing if he knew then he would be less likely to say or do something to hurt the one in question. He knew he tended to act immature when he was being punished or feeling thwarted, but it didn't generally last much past the punishment.
Yelena slanted her head. While spying on Natasha, she had noticed some behavior she found baffling, but in the context of some family being younger in emotions, it suddenly made sense. "When the family member is feeling young, is treating them young encouraged? Or will that embarrass them and make things more difficult? Or are they only young with their parent?"
"Generally, it's only with their parent, but there are sometimes exceptions," Ikaris said, thinking of Kara. "I'm letting you know because sometimes, Dane falls into that category. It normally happens when we're alone, but this situation is different enough that I want you both to be forewarned in case it does happen tonight."
Druig nodded. "If it doesn't worry you, I see no reason why I should respond negatively."
"Are we free to react to him being young by treating him young?" Yelena asked.
Ikaris hesitated. "That might be better to discuss with him when your siblings come into the room, before the chances of it happening." He knew that Dane didn't normally fall into the younger mindset when Kate or Sprite were there, but as he'd said. This situation was different.
"I do not want to draw attention and embarrass him. If you are not certain, then he obviously has not been young with Kate and Sprite. I will not do anything unless he seems to need me to." Yelena shrugged.
"Well, they are waiting..." Druig began to strip so he could put on the pajamas.
Yelena didn't hesitate to begin doing the same. It was obvious neither of them felt reluctance to be naked in front of each other or anyone else. Druig was too old to care, and Yelena had been conditioned not to.
Ikaris didn't waste any time in collecting his own pajamas and changing into them. Once the three of them were changed, he opened the door to invite his other three children into the room.
Kate was first in. "This is so weird. I was an only child for, forever and now, I have four brothers and sisters..." She began to ramble.
Dane gave her a fond look but was quieter than normal. He wanted to get a feel for the new situation before talking.
Ikaris smiled at Kate. "I don't think you're alone in that," he said gently, knowing that Dane hadn't grown up with any siblings either. He moved over to Dane and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "You doing all right, son?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah... Doing great..." Dane smiled at Ikaris. It was a genuine smile, even if it seemed uncertain. "Told you we'd find him..." he said quietly and nudging Ikaris gently, almost teasing.
"So... Who is going where?" Kate asked curiously. Would Druig and Yelena be closest to Ikaris, since they needed to settle in? Or would they feel uncomfortable with that?
Ikaris smiled and kissed the side of Dane's head, murmuring softly, "I know. It helped, a lot, to keep my hopes up." He looked at each of his children in turn. "Do any of you have preferences?"
Druig smiled, taking in the others with a grin. "Almost feels like we've never been apart. Everything is just falling in place so smoothly. If it won't be a problem, though... I'd like the outside edge. I know it is safe here, but... I want to be ready in case he makes a move..." he said seriously, thinking of Arishem.
Yelena nodded. "I am not fond of being hemmed in. I need at least one open side, so I would need an edge as well..." she said calmly.
"Oh... I thought you'd want..." Kate blinked, then shrugged. "I can sleep next to Druig. Dane can go next to Yelena. Then Dad and Sprite can decide how they want to set up the very middle...." she suggested.
Ikaris wasn't surprised. Aside from when he was being punished and therefore more needy and childlike, Druig tended to act more adult. It didn't surprise him that Yelena was the same way. All he said, though, was, "Whatever makes you the most comfortable. If you're not already aware, there are two AIs here who keep watch over the compound...so you can sleep safely knowing that we'll be informed of any attempt to break into the compound."
"Yeah. It's a real shame that Phastos hasn't been able to meet Tony. They'd get on so well," Sprite said sadly. Yes, she was thousands of years old...but she was also human. And as a human, she was only a teenager. And she missed the rest of them, even if she was happy that Ikaris and Druig were both there.
"AIs? I was meeting resistance when I was trying to get into the computer system... Would that have been the AIs?" Yelena asked in interest.
"You would be correct, Miss Yelena. I was not certain what you were doing, although I did recognize both you and Master Druig from Miss Natasha and Master Ikaris' description. I am FRIDAY, and I am able to assist you with any questions you might have, as well as other items," Friday immediately answered.
Yelena jumped, eyes widening. "Do I need to apologize to you for trying to get that information? I didn't... hurt you, did I?" She was suddenly worried. She'd been trying to get the attention of the Avengers, not actually cause harm to anyone.
"No, Miss Yelena. You did not hurt me," Friday reassured her.
"Both Friday and Veronica, the other AI, are more than willing to tell on anyone to their parents, or other authority figures, if they see them doing something they shouldn't be," Sprite offered helpfully. "It's very hard to hide anything from them."
"Have you been trying to hide anything from them?" Ikaris asked.
Sprite blinked innocently. "Not recently."
Dane chuckled. "Don't sound so certain..." he teased.
Yelena went to the side of the bed she wanted, noticing Druig went to the other. Kate had already got into the bed, leaving room on the outside for Druig. Dane was apparently waiting for Sprite and Ikaris to decide who was going to be next to Kate before he got in.
Sprite settled in next to Kate, leaving room for Ikaris to settle in. Once they were both in place, Ikaris held his arm out to Dane.
Dane crawled into the bed, pressing into Ikaris's arms, making certain Yelena had room to get in. He relaxed at being held, the action easing a bit of the nervousness he'd been feeling from the moment he realized Druig had been found.
Yelena crawled into the bed, pressing comfortably against Dane, but not crowding. She was tired and nearly immediately fell asleep, despite her intentions to stay awake and keep watch.
"Good night, family..." Druig whispered, wrapping an arm around both Kate and Sprite and pulling them closer to him. He was soon asleep as well.
Kate snuggled into her new brother and pulled Sprite closer. "Good night," she said in response, before closing her eyes and falling asleep as well.
"I love you all," Ikaris whispered, hoping his words would carry even to those who fell asleep. He held Dane close, stretching his arms out so that he could be in close contact with all of his children. It calmed and soothed something inside him, and he sighed, closing his eyes.
****
Back at the campfire, everyone had begun to clean up, putting anything that needed to be refrigerated into a portable refrigerator that Tony had arranged. "That was really amazing... That Ikaris found his lost son the same night he told a story about him..." Jessica said softly.
Steve smiled at his daughter. "It seems clear that Druig wanted to reunite with Ikaris as well. He was only staying back because of what happened before."
"It's really good to see..." Karen said, as she put the last of the cheese into the fridge. With the food all put away and the tables cleaned all that was left was for everyone to settle into their sleeping bags.
Parents and children all grouped together, sibling groups that didn't have a parent figure also grouped together. It didn't take long.
Tony had settled next to Pepper, Steve, and Peggy on his other side. Quiet had settled over the tree house area as everyone started to fall asleep. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and his voice exclaimed through the entire encampment. "Fondue meant sex??!!!"
The End