Tony's Homecoming

 When he boarded the plane to Las Vegas, he had secretly felt relieved to be away from her for a few days. They had argued again for what seemed like the third time in as many days. And lately it always seemed like they were fighting over the dumbest things - whose job was harder, whose responsibility it was to take care of the dog, money, superheroes. No one was right, no one was wrong and the house had turned into a brooding encampment marked by occasional overtures of peace and love only to later disintegrate back into outright war.

It was in Las Vegas, I actually thought about divorce first, he thought. "Bloody hell," Tony swore softly. I was ready to come home and suggest that we separate for a while. It seemed like the only solution. There was now way we could resolve our differences whenever one of us turned the other person was there scowling. We needed space. 

But when I got off the plane and Cassie wasn't there, I nearly went crazy, Tony thought. The cab ride home was excruciating. I alternated between cursing her for just being late to swearing I'd kill anyone who might have harmed her. Tony put down the soda can he had just, inadvertently, crushed in his hands. But it all turned out all right

Oh it could have been horrible. Tony winces as he remembers Cassie's story. It had ripped out his heart to hear how those cultists sacrificed a child to teleport Cassie out of her car and then attacked her. Cassie had sobbed when she told Tony about the sacrifice. She confided in Tony that she had been thinking about having a child, but fear of something similar happening to their kid worried her. But I told her I'd never let anyone harm our child and neither would she. What better mother could a child have than one who could heal her cuts and bruises and keep her laughing. Cassie agreed.

We been talking more about children lately, Tony thought. Cassie even mentioned trying to have a child in the next few months. It had taken those cultists to make Cassie realize that life was passing her by while she tried to solve the world's problems.

Now she was back at work. But even that didn't seem to bother her as much. She doesn't go off about Ponte anymore. She still hates him, but now she concentrates on the exhibits. It's like the old Cassie is back. I remember she used to be so involved in her exhibits. It wasn't until that foolishness with Knightblade and VIPER that made her fear work. It's great to see her happy with her job again.

Getting up from the couch, Tony heads out to the kitchen carrying the crushed aluminum can. Cassie is in the kitchen with her Uncle Alex. Still a terrible cook, but back to her old routine of playing "assistant" while Alex cooks dinner. Cassie blows Tony a kiss when he comes in.

Dropping the can in the trash, Tony walks over to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he kisses her on the mouth. She responds passionately 

"I love you you know," Tony whispers in her ear.

"I know," Cassie replies. "I've always known."

"Have you?" he teased.

"From the moment you stood as still as a statue in your skivies," Cassie whispers. 

"All right lovebirds, out of my kitchen," Alex says, a smile on his face. Alex seemed pleased to see his niece and her husband reconciled. As the two left the kitchen he shuddered slightly as he thought about the cultists who had inadvertently brought the two back together. Evil to the core. How could the city of San Francisco tolerate them in their midst, he wondered.

Later that night Tony watched as Cassie slept. Sleep - they hadn't been doing that very much lately. It had been like a second honeymoon. Dinner at spectacular restaurants, dancing. The theater. Clubs. And then home to their own bedroom. Tony didn't even mind how much all this entertaining was costing him. Who cared. Cassie and he were back together.

Tony traced a fingertip lightly down Cassie's back. Kids. She wants to have kids. My child and hers. We'll have a big family. Three boys and three girls. Cassie had helped him land the Sander's account. Her idea for party at their house was pure genius. And she played the perfect hostess. Sanders was throwing money at me by the end of the night. That contract will go a long ways to establishing financial security for us and our family. Tony savored the word - family. Maybe Cassie would be able to quit her job. Become a benefactor of the museum and truly be able to do her job to the best of her abilities, without Ponte butting in.

Everything was finally going right, Tony thought. And then I almost blew it. The blackbirds in the pie seemed like a good idea. It had been almost impossible to keep their chirping quiet. But then when they escaped the pie as Cassie was holding it. Oh it had been so funny. A corny joke. But Cassie would get it. She'd brought the fairytale back into their life. But Cassie just stood there, holding the empty pie tin, birds twittering around her head and there had been a look in her eyes. For a second, I thought it was all over, Tony thought. She looked so, so final. But then she laughed. A little laugh. She'd just been scared. Cassie had a hard time with surprises since the run-in with those cultists. Tony could understand that.

Next to Tony, Cassie shifted.

"What are you thinking about," she said stretching her hand up to caress his face.

"I was thinking how happy I am to have you back, ecstatic really," Tony replied kissing her.

PBEM Turns