Squeak!!!!!

"I love you. If you're going to carry me downstairs again you'll have to figure out how to include my books."

"Aw," he says, and puts her down.

"I know, it's terrible." She stands on tiptoe to kiss his cheek and then scoops up the book stack.

He can help.

He is very good.

Okay, back downstairs.

Tony is just coming in from the backyard as they arrive.

"There's a lake out there with a sea monster in it," he announces.

"I'm not even surprised at this point."

"Yeah, I've seen weirder things."

"Why is the world so weird?"

"Good question. Think we can find out?"

"I like you."

Squeak!!

"Why are you so incredibly adorable???"

She has no answers, only blushes.

"Great, it's the baby Stark mutual admiration pile."

Blushes gone. No more blushes.

...welp, Tony is at a loss for how to address this situation.

"Dude, you're kind of an asshole."

"What tipped you off?"

Trying very hard to think of some direction to steer this conversation that will bring Tanya out of this state of quiet emotional shutdown... trying... trying...

"...anything interesting in those books?" he ventures.

She blinks, and looks down at them, and up at Tony. She doesn't come all the way back up to 'happy' but at least manages 'alert and interested'.

"I haven't had a chance to look them over much yet; d'you wanna help?"

"Sure do!"

"Yeah, let's go look at those books."

He shoots Toni a "you're not invited" look.

"Cool," says Tony. "Is there space for all of us in your room?"