Gwen trotted out of the door as she cutely carries a tray of treats, humming a newly learned song, and made her way to John's house next door.
Placing the treats on the doorstep, Gwen stood on tiptoe and rang the doorbell, cupped the plate on the floor again and waited.
Within moments, the door opened.
It was Luke.
The moment he saw Gwen, Luke immediately moved and hurriedly stepped aside, saying, "Come in."
Gwen giggled as she looked at Luke and said, "Why are you always nervous, you're so silly."
Upon hearing this, Luke's face turned even redder.
"Hehe"
Gwen laughed happily and walked into Luke's house, looking at John who came out of the kitchen and said, "Uncle John"
John came and took the plate from Gwen's hand and said, "Thank you so much, little one"
"He he"
Gwen smiled then said to the two, "It's delicious, you guys try it, I'll go home first."
Luke, in a rush, said, "Wait, the plates...."
John patted Luke on the head and said, "Let's finish eating the food first then just send it over after."
"Uh-huh."
Gwen nodded as she said bye to them before running towards home.
There were guests in the house.
She liked the two aunts who looked like grandmothers because they had slipped her several bills while her dad was cooking.
Watching Gwen's back, John watched his son's gaze, picked up a biscuit, stuffed it into Luke's mouth and said, "She's a good girl, isn't she?".
Luke blushed and said, "I know, me and her are just friends."
"Me and your mother also started out as friends."
John smirked at his son.
Luke smiled and eats the biscuit.
John, however, just looked at the biscuits.
He remembered that biscuits were what her wife did so well.
"Luke, let's go see your mum in a few days."
Luke was stunned and then nodded.
Meanwhile, Gwen had returned home.
It was only a short time before Mike had the ingredients almost ready for the fondue, after Gwen had spent some time chatting with Peggy and the others.
The crowd gathered around the steaming hot pot and smelled the rich aroma with a burst of anticipation.
"It smells so good!"
Pepper Potts praised as she looked at the golden yellow cheese in the pot and all the different types of ingredients placed on the plate surrounding the pot and couldn't help but lick her lips.
"It's been a long time since I've had this!"
Peggy Carter used her fondue forks, putting her favourite ingredients into the delicious lava of cheese, while his mother was already munching on one saying, "This is so good! The meatballs are so soft!"
Tony looked at his mother helplessly, but with a smile on the corner of his mouth.
Since his father had left, as his mother had gotten older, he had become more and more indulgent with his own mother, just as he had as a child, only now it was the other way around.
If it had been ten years ago, he would never have agreed to his mother and spend an afternoon playing cards with her.
"Tony?"
Maria pointed at the glistening sausages, her eyes glowing, and said, "Do you want some of this?"
"No" Tony shook his head.
Maria looked at Tony with disappointment and said, "This is a rare opportunity and you're wasting it, Mike's food is one of the best you can find so don't waste it."
Peggy Carter nodded and said, "You should also take some supplements, I heard from Maria that you've had some back pain recently, does that mean...."
Tony immediately said, "No shit!" turning to Pepper Potts, he said, "Pepper can attest to that for me, I'm fine!"
"Huh?"
Pepper Potts hastily swallowed the potato in her mouth, and seeing the others looking at her, said angrily to Tony, "You're the boss, but you can't just make stuff up, how can I even prove that to them!"
"Oh" Mike picked up his beer, clinked it with both Peggy Carter and said, "For Tony's recovery!"
Maria looked at Tony, shook her head and sighed.
Tony: "..."
"That's enough of you three old fossils!"
He was a little exasperated.
"Hahahaha!"
The four couldn't help but laugh while Gwen on the side was busy stuffing food after food in her mouth like there's no tomorrow.
Every now and then, the three of them would bully Tony because it was really enjoyable to watch the proud and cocky Tony get defeated.
Pepper Potts had never seen Tony like this before and so she couldn't help but laugh too.
"Pepper.. Laugh again and you'll come to regret it when your salary comes."
Pepper Potts: "..."
"By the way."
Peggy Carter suddenly looked over at Maria and said, "Is Obadiah still making advances on you lately?"
Mike jerked his head up, "There's such a thing?"
Tony coughed softly and blushed a little unnaturally.
On the contrary, Maria was very calm and said, "Obadiah's nice, but having met someone like Howard, you think I'd look at that balding old man?"
"Pfft haha"
Pepper Potts couldn't help but laugh aloud but then immediately covered her mouth.
Tony coughed lightly and squared his shoulders, "I'll talk to him and tell him to leave you alone."
"No need!"
Maria waved her hand and said, "I'll sort it out myself."
Tony nodded.
Peggy Carter laughed, "I can't look at that guy either, only a three."
"That bad?"
Maria was shocked, then pulled Tony, saying, "Where's my son?"
Peggy Carter scanned his eyes sharply and said, "Barely a six."
Six?
And barely?
Tony's face darkened, feeling insulted.
He had worked out regularly.
Pepper Potts reassured, "Obadiah's only got a three ."
Tony's mood surprisingly changed for the better at that.
"Where's Mike?"
Maria turned her eyes to Mike.
Peggy Carter swept her gaze up and down twice and gave a professional rating of 7.5 to 8.
"WHAT?" Tony's eyes widened at that and he said, "I lost to him?"
Gwen silently put her fork down, poked Mike's stomach and then Tony's, sighed and shook her head and came back to eating.
Tony: "..."
He took a critical damage.
Peggy Carter winked at an amused Mike and said, "If I had to choose with Maria, Mike you'd definitely be first in line."
Tony's fave just got more annoyed so he just stuffed his mouth some sausage after dipping it and ignored the two.
Mike on the other hand just looked speechless and immediately crossed his arms in front of him and said, "No, you guys will be the definition old cows eating young grass if that happens."
Tony was stunned and then..
"Hahahahaha!"
He couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The next second, two pairs of eyes gazed at him as he felt a chill crawl up his spine and hastily shut his mouth.
---
In a few moments, the group filled their stomachs, and before leaving, Tony snuck off to the kitchen to look for Mike.
Mike casually threw out a rejuvenation spell.
Surrounded by green breath, Tony instantly felt like he was okay again.
After thanking Mike, Tony, who after feeling his rejuvenated body immediately feels the need for some action as he stretches his body immediately took the three to say goodbye and then quickly left, a true man indeed.
...