Zee snickered and headed for his truck to head back home. Tad was home from college for the moment, after all.

Tony went back inside, flopping onto the couch with a sigh.

"They're gone," he said.

"Good," Steve said. He did look over when Chloe emerged, a little surprised. And then even more surprised when she sat in a chair near them. Apparently she wanted to know the outcome too. "So did Zee say anything?"

"Not really," Tony replied. "Just that they needed to discuss some things before coming to a decision." He was a bit surprised when Chloe came out, too, but didn't comment on it.

"I hope they finish their discussions soon," Steve muttered.

"As long as it's a good decision," Chloe muttered, picking at a loose thread in her jeans.

"We've done everything we can," Bruce said as he came into the room with a cup of tea. "All we can do now is wait."

Chloe and Steve both nodded, though Steve got up to do a round of the house and outside. Chloe just settled into her chair.

Athena settled in as well, stretching a little and then curling up in her corner of the couch. After a moment, she turned on the TV, just for some background noise.

Chloe ended up staying in the living room for the rest of the day, half paying attention to Clint cooking.

Bruce went back into the kitchen to help Clint with the cooking. The two of them together could do amazing things in the kitchen, and it was silently agreed that the whole family needed comfort food right then.

Chloe sniffed appreciatively at the food, smiling a bit. Oh yes, the comfort food was definitely doing its job.

Even Tony and Natasha relaxed a bit more when the smell of comfort food made it into the living room, and Thor ventured out as well.

Steve settled back in the living room, content for the moment. Much better. Everyone in his make-shift pride was happier.

The rest of the evening went by a bit more relaxed than the day had been, although the tension wasn't completely gone. It likely wouldn't dissipate until the verdict was in from the investigation.

Two days later, the verdict came back. Nothing illegal had been found, yet, so they were going to keep investigating and check in randomly. Not unlike the foster system, actually. Just to make sure nothing illegal and untowards was happening.

Tony, of course, was having none of that.

"You can't drop in without warning, not going to happen," he said flatly. "Surprise visits are out of the question, you don't just surprise a household like this one."

"And why not? If this house is really what you say, your weres are under control enough that it doesn't matter." The man raised an eyebrow.

"Because you don't drop in unannounced on my property," Tony pointed out. "And you don't drop in unannounced when it comes to the home ground of a were because that, that's a threat, and threats are removed with extreme prejudice and not a jury on this planet would convict someone protecting their home."

The man eyed him. "They shouldn't be defending their territory from someone knocking at the front door," the man pointed out, his voice wry.

"Someone they know is a potential threat to their home?" Tony pointed out in return. "Or did we all just imagine the forceful interference before?" He shook his head. "I'm not allowing this, no, no surprise visits. If you absolutely have to inflict yourselves on us, it'll be scheduled."

The man shrugged. "If you insist," he agreed. "Weekly or biweekly then." He raised an eyebrow at Tony.

"Biweekly," Tony replied. Hey, he could compromise. He was letting them in, after all, so that meant he got to choose when they showed up.

"Alright, biweekly. We'll call you in advance so you have warning."

"Good plan," Tony said. Hey, he didn't even have to negotiate for that detail, great.

The guy nodded. "Good, then we shouldn't have any problems," he said. "We'll see you again in two weeks."