Steve rests a hand on Clint's arm, battling a grin. "The first thing to do is relax. They're harmless, really."
"What are you gentlemen whispering about back there?" Mary Lou all but falls around Peggy trying to get a better look inside the house. Steve moves forward, neatly getting between the woman and Clint and making it look like he's coming to greet them at the same time.
"Nothing of interest," he says, adjusting Rosalie on his hip. The girl pretends to be asleep, even throwing in a tiny snore. Steve finds it harder and harder to keep from smiling.
Mary Lou and Belinda glance at each other, then back to the house's occupants. "You certainly have a full house this evening. It must be nice having everyone at home."
Gabriel is keeping himself out of sight, less because of the neighbors' reaction than because if he doesn't have to deal with their reaction, so much the better. He rolls his eyes and rests his head against the wall, smirking at Clint. Poor, poor Clint.
"Well, you know how busy Peggy's work keeps her." Steve's tone is megawatt bright, heavy with the poorly-hidden glee of someone initiating a scandal. The two women falter.
"Grant," says Belinda. "You're such a tease. Really, though, you must introduce us to your guest."
Steve looks back at Clint, his amusement finally tempered. "Brother of mine. Work brought him into town."
It's not a lie, in the strictest terms. Just a slight reforging of the truth. "Clive Barton, Mary Lou and Belinda. They live across the street."
"Not together, of course!" Mary Lou says. The two women look at each other and bark out nervous laughs, before homing in on Clint again. It's Belinda who speaks this time.
"Another... brother?"
"I have a very large family," Steve says, all his brightness returned. Rosalie squirms and rolls over in Steve's arms, so she's facing Clint's way - wide awake and trying not to give herself away by giggling.
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"What are you gentlemen whispering about back there?" Mary Lou all but falls around Peggy trying to get a better look inside the house. Steve moves forward, neatly getting between the woman and Clint and making it look like he's coming to greet them at the same time.
"Nothing of interest," he says, adjusting Rosalie on his hip. The girl pretends to be asleep, even throwing in a tiny snore. Steve finds it harder and harder to keep from smiling.
Mary Lou and Belinda glance at each other, then back to the house's occupants. "You certainly have a full house this evening. It must be nice having everyone at home."
Gabriel is keeping himself out of sight, less because of the neighbors' reaction than because if he doesn't have to deal with their reaction, so much the better. He rolls his eyes and rests his head against the wall, smirking at Clint. Poor, poor Clint.
"Well, you know how busy Peggy's work keeps her." Steve's tone is megawatt bright, heavy with the poorly-hidden glee of someone initiating a scandal. The two women falter.
"Grant," says Belinda. "You're such a tease. Really, though, you must introduce us to your guest."
Steve looks back at Clint, his amusement finally tempered. "Brother of mine. Work brought him into town."
It's not a lie, in the strictest terms. Just a slight reforging of the truth. "Clive Barton, Mary Lou and Belinda. They live across the street."
"Not together, of course!" Mary Lou says. The two women look at each other and bark out nervous laughs, before homing in on Clint again. It's Belinda who speaks this time.
"Another... brother?"
"I have a very large family," Steve says, all his brightness returned. Rosalie squirms and rolls over in Steve's arms, so she's facing Clint's way - wide awake and trying not to give herself away by giggling.