Steve chuckled. "That's nice of her," he said. "Especially since as I understand she doesn't really drink coffee. Or tea."

"The coffee is more recent," Gemma admitted. "She always stocked tea for me, and coffee on occasion. But Barnes drinks a lot of coffee."

Steve snorted into his coffee and spent a moment wiping up a few spilled drops. Because that? That was priceless.

"They're pining," he said with the kind of delight reserved for ruthlessly teasing best friends.

Gemma raised an eyebrow.

"Pining?" she asked. "How so?"

"She's buying coffee at least partially because Bucky drinks it," Steve pointed out. "And Buck's checking on her as often as he thinks he can get away with, so all the time."

"She buys tea because I drink it," Gemma pointed out in return. "Though I definitely can't claim to know anything about Barnes, it's not like we really talk."

"She also lives with you," Steve pointed out. "And you two have been together a lot longer. I don't know much about Kenzie, but Bucky at least is pining. Or close to it."

"I don't really... know," Gemma said at last. "I mean, she expresses things differently than we do, but she certainly likes him, I know that."

"Well, I don't know about you, but I definitely plan to keep an eye on those two when she gets back," Steve said with a little smirk. "Should be entertaining."

"Oh I plan to as well," Gemma replied, grinning. "I want to see what comes of all of this."

Steve nodded, grinning. At least they were on the same page about this.

Which is why he wasn't surprised when he got a text from Gemma telling him that Kenzie was back.

Kenzie, of course, looked the same as ever, moving back into the shop as if no time had passed and nothing abnormal had happened.

"Welcome back," Gemma said when Kenzie walked into the shop. "How'd it go?"

"As well as can be expected," Kenzie said with a little shrug. "I handed off the egg, he left, all is well and back to normal now."

"And you're feeling alright again?" Gemma asked. She grinned a bit. "Barnes has been missing you, I think. Steve keeps mentioning it."

"I'm fine." Kenzie smiled a little when she heard that Barnes missed her. Aw, how sweet. "Perhaps I'll go pay them all a visit tomorrow or the day after? What do you think?"

"You can," Gemma said, nodding. "I've got to be here, though. I have some appointments in the afternoon for tarot readings, and I guarantee there will be a walk-in or two. I started doing those while you were gone."

Kenzie blinked. "And how are those going?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. It was, after all, a new thing, and she was curious.

"Going alright," Gemma said with a slight shrug. "It's practically passive magic, the customer does most of the work for me. I just interpret the cards for them."

"Interesting." Kenzie smiled a little. "And you are enjoying it?" She leaned on the counter, looking at Gemma.

"I actually kind of am," Gemma admitted. "It's interesting sometimes, and it's a nice break from just minding the store."

"Good." Kenzie smiled. "Would you like me to help spread word about this? Or are you content with your current base?"

"I think I'm good for now," Gemma replied. She grinned a bit. "I'll let you know if I want you to spread the word, though."

"Please do." Kenzie smiled. She was definitely a little more mellow, for the moment. "I feel the need to go shower again. Shall I order dinner for us?"

"Go for it," Gemma said. She grinned. "Should be plenty of hot water for showering, and then go ahead and order whatever you feel like."

Kenzie nodded and made her way upstairs. Settling in with Gemma for the night sounded like a good idea.

And then seeing the rest of her people the next day was also a good idea.