I would like to dedicate this chapter in celebration of the end of campaign commercials. Enjoy.

So, freeze frame: Darcy was sitting on a couch squished between two superheroes and roaring at her as a fireball grew behind him was a giant green monster who when not green and giant might be her boyfriend. Darcy was starting to question her life choices.

As the fire licked at his back, the Hulk grabbed Tony and broke through the wall to Darcy's office, carrying him to safety. The sprinklers came on to tame the flames, but Darcy was transfixed the giant green bundle of muscles who used to be Bruce. The Hulk's eyes darted around the room, looking for the threat, and rested on her, the one person he did not recognize.

He roared, baring his teeth. The Avengers all pulled out their weapons, but hesitated to use them in case they angered the Hulk even more. They shouted, trying to reason Bruce back. Clint pushed Darcy behind him, protecting her. This did not go over well with the Hulk. He ran faster than anyone could react, and threw Clint aside. Darcy screamed as Clint hit the wall and the Hulk raised his hand to strike.

Time seemed to slow, and she saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes just before Thor threw his hammer, knocking the beast back through the wall into the smoldering remains of the lab. The Hulk grinned menacingly and pushed off the ground into a flying leap, almost landing a fist on Thor.

Darcy breathed in raggedly as she heard Tasha say, "They're going to destroy this building again, but what can we do? We can't let the Hulk loose on New York. Come on, let's get out of here."

"Wait. Would tasing him do any good?"

"I doubt it…It might just anger him more."

"Might as well give it a shot. If we don't do something, he's going to hurt somebody." Darcy said, glancing at Clint, who was beginning to stir. She grabbed her taser out of her purse, and made her way through the broken wall to the lab. Thor, Steve, and Tony (now in his suit) surrounded the Hulk, who was still holding his own. They all had visible scrapes and bruises. The Hulk pushed past them to pull a lab table off the wall. He was in range, so Darcy took her chance. Breathing in to steady herself, she fired the taser, hitting him square in the back. He turned, wide eyed, to look at her.

Uh, Darcy, now would be a good time to start talking. "Stop! You're going to hurt somebody."

The Hulk huffed and raised his hand.

"Ah-ah-ah, no," she said, waving her taser at him, "These are your friends. You aren't in any danger. See?"

She motioned for Steve, Thor, and Tony to back down. They didn't seem happy about it, but they took her lead. Seeing them put their weapons down, the Hulk lowered his fist.

Darcy sighed in relief as her not-so-jolly green boyfriend sat down on the floor with a thud.

She realized she was shaking. She heard her name, and out of the corner of her eye saw Clint slowly get up, helped by Tasha. Someone tried to put their arm around her, but she shook it off and knelt down by the calming Hulk. His eyes closed with a moan as he lay down on the floor. He was slowly changing back into her Bruce. She reached out to brush dust off his forehead; he looked so vulnerable there in the rubble.

There were shouts as a team of SHIELD agents rushed onto the scene. Darcy just sat there, Bruce's head in her lap, slowly twirling circles in his hair.

Phil crouched down next to her. "Darcy, we're going to need to check Bruce out to make sure he's okay, and I'm going to need to talk to you about what happened, alright?"

She nodded.

He put his arm around her shoulder and guided her out into the hallway, away from Bruce and away from the rubble. A passing medic handed him a blanket, which he wrapped around her, and then guided her into the break room where it was quieter. She leaned against the wall, but that was not enough, so she slid down into a sitting position. He followed, probably wrinkling his suit. For a few minutes, they just sat there.

"Are you okay?"

"Yep, perfectly normal, my boyfriends have always been able to turn into giant green monsters." She sighed. "I just have really good taste in men."

She continued after a short pause, "You know, Bruce is actually an awesome guy. He's the first guy that I've liked who is not crazy, not dangerous(in human form), and not currently in a relationship with someone else. Of course, he has to have something negative, which in his case is the whole Jekyll and Hyde thing. Fact is, since I met Bruce, I've kind of managed to push back the whole Hulk thing. Can't do that anymore."

"No one's going to blame you if you need to quit your job here and get away."

"You mean get away from Bruce. Problem there is I've never been one for running away from my problems. As dumb as it might be, I'd much rather punch my problems in the face. Show them who's boss."

"I don't think punching Bruce in the face will help."

She giggled slightly too loud, "True. Phil, I know you're worried about me, but right now I just need to go home and think things out on my own for a bit. You can have me shadowed if that makes you feel better, but I kind of just want to be alone. No offence."

"None taken. You've had a busy day. I think you've earned a day off tomorrow, too." He helped her up, and guided her to the elevator, then out the lobby doors into a waiting SUV. He slid in next to her and they were driven to her apartment, which was kind of a long drive because she lived with Jane, who refused to live in the actual city due to light pollution.

Phil got her into her apartment and then left saying he'd be right outside if anything happened.

Darcy climbed up to the rooftop garden, also a requirement of Jane's, and just lay on a lounge chair looking at the stars for a while.

Why am I putting myself through this? Bruce is cute, but the whole heart-attack inducing growth problem kind of outranks that.

She thought back over their short relationship, trying to figure out why with so many obstacles, she was still unwilling to let him go.

He respects me, she decided. He listens to my ideas and makes me feel smart, in spite of the fact that I'm talking to the world expert on gamma radiation. Plus, he's just a good guy: kind, smart, loyal. He's also cuddly. In spite of the whole green thing, I just feel happy when I'm around him. He makes me relax and be myself, and I don't want to give that up.

Plus it looks like I have a bestseller opportunity called "How to train your Hulk" if the taser thing keeps working.

Yeah, I'm not ready to give up on this just yet.

Her cell phone rang from the depths of her purse. She dug it out and answered, in spite of not recognizing the number.

"Hi, who is this?"

"Darcy; it's Bruce."

A shiver ran up her spine at his voice. "How'd you get my number, handsome?"

"I wheedled it out of Phil. I just needed to make sure you were okay and see if you wanted to talk."

"Honestly, I'm still processing, Bruce, but don't even think about hanging up because hearing your voice is just what I needed right now."

"Okay." There was a pause. "Sorry."

"For what?" she asked, even though she knew.

"For putting you through this."

"That's not your fault."

"And yet I appear to be winning the award for worst boyfriend in history."

"Yeah, I disagree. I've definitely had worse."

"Is that why you're such a bad ass? I talked to Phil about what happened. What you did back there, with the taser? That was really stupid. Brave, but stupid."

"Well, what was I supposed to do? Let the others get beaten up? Wait until the building was torn down? I had to try something."

"You could have gotten killed!"

"Yeah, but I didn't. I've had some experience with super human giants before, and the taser worked then, too. Sometimes, when the stronger stuff isn't working, you have to try something else. It's like in physics: there is no force stronger than the strong force, the only thing that can affect it is the weak force. I may not be weak, but I can damn well be gentle."

"Did you just physics me?"

"Yep. I took a class, once."

"You have no idea what a turn-on that is. In spite of your theory, I'd feel better if you'd get some self-defense and possibly weapons training. The other guy isn't the only danger around the Avengers."

"I'm all up for learning kung-fu and how to shoot things."

"I just don't want you to get killed."

"Aw, thanks."

"I don't think you realize just how unique you are, Darcy."

She squirmed with happiness. "And you, sir, have some of the best hair for running fingers through that the world has ever known."

"I'm shocked that you would take advantage of my helpless state like that."

"Get used to it. I'm going to take any chance I can get to play with those glorious curls of yours."

"I'm counting on it. Next time, I hope I'm conscious."

"You could come over right now…"

"I could, but I should let you sleep. It's been a long day."

"Fine," she sighed theatrically. "See you tomorrow?"

"Definitely."

The receiver clicked gently. Darcy, grinning hugely now, ran downstairs to get ready for bed. She didn't notice the shadowy figure stir in the corner, but then he did not mean to be noticed.