stormsinafrica | Entries tagged with alternate universe

One evening, Sam and Alyssa were parked in front of the television. The kids had been in bed for over an hour, and they just wanted to catch up on some of their favorite shows. Of course, marathoning episode after episode put them in a snacking mood. So Sam is the one who got up to go to the kitchen to find them something to snack on.

"What are you in the mood for?" he asked as he headed for the kitchen.

"Surprise me!" Alyssa replied, "Just don't make anything weird!"

"'Don't make anything weird!'" Sam muttered under his breath as he walked into the kitchen.

He looked in the refrigerator, then closed seeing nothing that appealed to him. Next, he opened the cabinets, and looked at what was available there.

"May I suggest you try the new Avengers cereal?" JARVIS suggested quietly.

It is past 8'clock at night, but the moment Sam heard the suggestion, he started looking for the cereal box.

"Top cabinet on the far left."

"Thanks, JARVIS."

"You're very welcome, Mr. Wilson."

Sam rolled his eyes again at the AI's insistence at calling him Mr. Wilson, and got the cereal out of the cabinet. He thought about asking Alyssa if she's like some milk but decided against it. Instead he put two bowls on a tray with spoons, and a small carafe of milk.

"Sam honey, what is... what in the world is that? What did you bring? Is that cereal?" Alyssa asked with a laugh.

"Sure is!" he replied, sitting down beside her, "What?"

"You brought out cereal?" Alyssa said, pointing to the box.

"Well you did say nothing weird, right?" Sam countered.

"Considering it's 8:17 at night..."

With a shrug, Sam opened the box, "Come on, it's the new Avengers cereal we've had in the cabinet for two weeks now without opening it. It's time to try don't you think?"

"I guess."

"Is something wrong, Lees?" He's not looking at her as he pour out a bowl.

"I guess you could say that when the people who made the cereal decide to leave my husband and my brother completely out of the equation!" Alyssa said with a shrug.

"You decided that you don't like it already because they didn't include me and Rhodes in the cereal?" He asked, then poured some milk.

"Yes, I am! You're both as much Avengers as Captain America!"

"Ah, but Cap's a legend!"

"Oh please! Don't bring up your bromance with Steve Rogers again!" she said, rolling her eyes.

"Bromance? All I'm trying to say is, Lees, is that I think the reason we're not include is because I think they were going for the original OG6. You know, the ones who kicked Loki's six from New York all the way back to Asgard!"

"Yeah, I get that but it's still not fair to you or to Jamie. You both deserve to be in the box of cereal too!" Alyssa ranted.

Sam stared at his wife, "Wow our being left off really does bother you, doesn't it?"

"Darn right it does! I'm so proud of you both! You're both heroes too!"

He reached out, squeezed her hand, "Hey, I'm sure they'll add us in time. Just give them time to come around, okay?"

Alyssa sighed, and shook her head, "I'll try, but they need to hurry it up already!"

"And how about we try this before my cereal gets all soggy, huh?" he suggested with a chuckle.

Agreeing to finally try it, Alyssa poured her own bowl of the cereal.

innitmarvelous_og

Laura Barton sat alone on the porch of her farmhouse, unable to bear being inside a moment longer today as she could see all her husband's unfinished projects. It had been three long and excruciating weeks since Clint's execution, a shocking event that still seemed surreal yet there was no denying it had been all too real. When the order had been given for the shots to be fired, her world and her heart had been shattered along with his. The pain of losing Clint in such a way was almost unbearable, and she wondered if she would ever find solace again.

As she stared out into the distance really seeing nothing, and lost in her thoughts, the glare of an approaching car captured her attention. She sighed, and prayed that the media had not at last found her family's home as she was sure they'd been looking since before Clint's execution. She thought about going inside the house and locking the door before whoever it was got too close, but then she realized she didn't care. If it were the media, then she'd finally have a chance to tell the world about the man she knew and loved. However, when the car stopped, and the occupant got out, she was surprised to see the familiar face of Pepper Potts Stark.

Why was she here? Pepper of all people was only a few feet away from her, and Laura couldn't understand why she would come to see her. But then when Pepper was only a few feet away, Laura could see that her eyes were both red and weary, mirroring the pain she also felt inside. The truth was, their lives had been forever changed by the actions and the loss of the two men they had loved.

Pepper's voice was laden with sorrow when she said, "Mrs. Barton, I am so very sorry for your loss."

Laura nodded in response, tears shining in her eyes, "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Stark—"

"Pepper. Please call me Pepper."

"Then I am Laura. As I was saying, thank you for coming. I... I don't know how to cope with this."

Pepper gestured as the chair to her asking permission to sit, and Laura nodded.

Pepper's smile was a sad. sympathetic one as she seated herself, "I understand, Laura. I know losing Tony was the hardest thing I've ever faced. When he died... after he died,,, the sun didn't just stop shining. There was no sun for me anymore. And, with Clint..."

Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words left hanging heavily between them. Both of them knew just how far Clint had gone during those Five Years in his quest for revenge. SHIELD's decision to actually honor the world's request to execute him had been unexpected, but it seemed even Fury thought he needed to be held accountable.

"Tony's funeral was beautiful... peaceful," Laura said softly, adding when Pepper raised an eyebrow, "I came to the funeral with Clint and our kids. I think you were in the same fog then as the one I've been in since they... oh our kids. Lila and Cooper are old enough to understand what happened to their father but they still can't understand it., Neither can I! I know what Clint did to all those people was wrong, but he wasn't a monster, Pepper! He wasn't! He just got lost in all his anger and pain and he just lashed out!"

Pepper nodded, "And I regret that we didn't do anything to try to help him." She did too, because maybe if they'd tried to help him, he wouldn't have gone on such a bloody crusade, and he would still be here with his family.

Laura laughed sardonically, "Thank you for saying that, but I know you couldn't have helped him if you'd tried. He still had Nat then. And if she couldn't help him, then any attempt you may have made would've been even more hopeless."

"Even so, I am sorry that we didn't at least try to help him."

"Thank you for saying that."

Pepper nodded her eyes were, filled with kinship as she said, "You know you said you don't know how to explain this to your kids in a way they can finally understand what's happened?"

Laura nodded, "Yes?"

"Oh, Laura, there's no easy way to explain or even understand something like this. I wish there were but even after three months, I am still finding myself struggling what to say to Morgan in the moments when all she wants is her Daddy, and that's very often. She and Tony were so close and I'm not sure she still understands that he will never come home again."

"Then what kind of light can there possibly be, Pepper?" Laura asked, wiping away tear, her voice breaking with grief. "Tell me, what's left for us without him? What's left for my kids and me without Clint there with us?"

Pepper took a deep breath, and when she spoke her voice was one of grief and hope, "There is very little, if I am honest. But the sun has started to come out a little for me. I see the sunlight the most when I am looking into my daughter's eyes. I see so much of Tony in her. I see his spirit and his determination. And I am reminded that even in life's darkest times, there's still a flicker of hope. It might be a tiny one, but it is there. You have a daughter and a son right?"

"A daughter and two sons," Laura corrected.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I should have remembered."

"No, don't apologize. There's no way you could have. Not with what you were going through at that time."

Pepper nodded, and continued with what she was going to say, "I have Morgan but you were... blessed to have three children with Clint. They're three chances and places to look for signs of him whenever you're really missing him. Clint lives on through them, just like Tony lives on in Morgan."

She sighed, and went on, "I know this is going to sound like a tired, old cliché but with every day that's passing I am learning it's truth. Time heals all wounds. It may not feel like it right now, but eventually the pain will lessen, and you'll find a way to move on."

"Move on? How can you say that, Pepper? Clint is gone, and my kids will never see their father again!"

"I'm not saying you have to forget him, Laura. But you need to try to focus on the good memories and the life and the love you shared with him. You have to keep going, for both you and your kids. I know I don't know you well yet, but I believe you are a strong woman. You would have to be, to have been married to someone who was an agent a long time before he became an Avenger. So I believe you can do this."

"I'm not feeling particularly strong, Pepper. Instead, I feel like a hollowed out shell of who used to be Laura Barton. Everything, everywhere I look I am reminded of him, and I don't how to make the flood turn off."

"It won't, Laura, or at least not entirely. But with time, and taking it day day, you'll start to feel like yourself again. Or as much as you can with someone you loved so much being gone. And, in the meantime, if I am not too much of a stranger to be saying this... but I want to be here for you, if I can. If you want me too. I know the circumstances of our husbands deaths were not quite the same, but we're in the same boat, and I just want you to know you are not alone in this, okay?"

Tears streamed down her face and Laura wiped them before she reached out to take Pepper's hand, "Thank you, Pepper. I really appreciate you reaching out to me like this. We don't really know each other, but I would like to get to know you. It would be nice to have someone to be able to talk to and cry with when one or both of us need it."

A sad smile graced Pepper's lips, "We'll get through this. Together."

Current Music: 1395 words

innitmarvelous_og

When Clint's eyes fluttered open, his surroundings were a distortion of blurred shapes and colors. He felt as though someone were banging on his head with Thor's hammer, with every beat of his heart sending a jolt of pain through his temples. He struggled to make sense in his disoriented state, to find his way through the fog that had wrapped itself around his thoughts.

Little by little, tiny fragments of memories pierced through the fog. He recalled the cold, rigid touch of the metal pole against his back, the din of the SHIELD STRIKE team readying their weapons, and the deafening shots that still echoed in his ears.

"What the..." His voice came out as a raspy murmur, barely heard above the muted ache that pulsed through his body when he made an attempt to sit up. He clenched his teeth, then he yielded to the protesting of his enervated form, his muscles refusing to comply.

With a renewal of determination, he forced his eyes to open once more, striving to understand his surroundings. The room, saturated in sterile white, enlightened his blurred vision. The unforgiving glare from the lights overhead penetrated through his fogginess, magnifying the pounding in his head. As he took a deep breath, the sharp of disinfectants seized his nostrils, flooding his senses and leaving an almost metallic taste in his mouth.

At that moment, a door swung open on the other end of the room, revealing Nick Fury, the Director of SHIELD, clad in his customary black attire. Clint's heart, which shouldn't have been beating at all, skipped a beat in his chest. As he watched Fury approach, conflicting emotions swelled within him. This was the man who had betrayed him, the one who had carried out the order for Clint's execution. In the moments leading up to his supposed death by firing squad, Clint had told Fury he had understood why he had to be the one to give the order. But that'd had been a lie. The truth was, he couldn't comprehend how Fury, the Director, could have been the one who ordered his own agents to kill one of their brothers.

Fury's face was as stern as it ever was when he approached Clint, but also he got closer, Clint could also see a tiny bit of kindness. He wasted no time with a preamble but told Clint simply in a low, steady voice, "You're alive now because I arranged for your death to be faked at your execution. There was no way I could let the world take you away from your family forever."

Clint's emotions were a tangled web while his mind raced. All he'd wanted to be with his family again through those five long years they were dead. He'd literally had two weeks with them following Tony's funeral, and then he'd been arrested. He doesn't know how the world learned about what he'd done so quickly because even when he'd been consumed by his rage, he concealed his identity. He doesn't know how the world found out... unless one of the Avengers who had known of his Ronin identity had given the media their anonymous tip.

"How long have I been here, sir? How long since my exe.."

"It's been eighteen hours since you stood in front of the firing squad."

"So the world thinks I'm dead?" Clint asked.

"Yes, they do. We made sure we staged your execution so convincingly that every person who tuned into the broadcast now believes they watched a SHIELD firing squad shoot you through the heart," Fury replied.

"Okay, I'm dead to the world. What now? Am I going to have to spend the rest of my life in some hideout somewhere, where I'll never see my family again? Is that what I've been saved for?" Clint countered, his anger and despair rising with every word.

Fury frowned, as it was his turn to get angry, "You are not listening to me, Barton!"

"I told you he wouldn't be able to listen to you," a new voice contributed.

Clint whipped his head towards the door, "Laura? What the..."

His heart, his perfectly whole not shot through with bullets, heart skipped a beat when he saw his wife standing in the doorway. She looked so weary, her eyes betraying all the anguish and pain she had to endure during this entire ordeal. Her presence was both a comfort and a bewildering mystery.

"Laura, wha... how?" Clint's voice trailed off, as he was unable to form a coherent question.

Laura walked over to his bedside, then instead of answering him with words, she seated herself beside him, and she kissed him like she had in his cell in the SHIELD facility. Fury looked away to allow them a moment of privacy in their reunion, but he finally cleared his throat when Clint's heart rate shot up. Laura pulled away from him but didn't stand up. Instead, she intertwined her fingers with his, and kept her eyes on him as Fury spoke.

"You want to know what is going on, Clint," the older, gruffer man began, "and how it is you're here, not dead, instead of being buried six feet in the ground actually dead?"

Clint nodded, "Yes, sir, I do," Everything had happened so fast that he can't figure out a way the Director had been able to save his life instead of letting the execution actually succeed.

"To begin, I had gotten wind that your identity as Ronin had been exposed a very short time before your arrest. There wasn't enough time to warn you, so I had to settle with ensuring your survival, regardless of whatever happened next or whatever punishment the world deemed to be the right one for your actions.

"Needless to say, convincing the world of your death seemed like the best course of action since they were so thirsty for your blood, and wouldn't settle for anything less. So we orchestrated what the world thought to be your execution to be just that, an execution in which you were shot through the heart by a SHIELD firing squad."

Clint didn't miss he said we, not just him, but he knows it would be pointless to ask who else was involved. Fury would never tell him, and anyway, he could guess that Maria Hill had been one of those involved. In the end it didn't matter, and maybe it was better that he didn't know who else was involved. Instead, he squeezed his wife's hand so she'd look at him.

"You knew?" he asked.

Laura nodded.

"Did you know when you and the kids came to... when you came to see me before the..." Clint couldn't finish the sentence.

Laura nodded once again, "Yes, I knew Nick had arranged to save your life. I knew that you wouldn't actually die when they fired."

He couldn't help but marvel at his wife's acting skills during their goodbye. When he had looked into her eyes during their goodbye, he'd a depth of grief and pain that he'd never seen there before. Laura had looked and acted the part of a woman whose husband was about to be executed and she was helpless to stop it. It'd been over a decade since she'd been an active agent in SHIELD herself, but it seemed it was just like riding a bicycle for her. He marveled until an awful realization dawned on him.

"Lila and Cooper, they... they thought I was going to die."

Tears glistened in Laura's eyes as she nodded, her voice choked with emotion, "Yes, they believed you were going to die, Clint. They're kids and not trained agents. They had to believe you were going to die in order for anyone who might be watching for signs of deception to believe that you were actually executed. Looking my children in the eyes and tell them you were going to die, that they were saying goodbye to you, was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life."

Clint squeezed his eyes shut when he heard this, the weight of the revelation weighing down on him like a ton of bricks. Learning that his oldest two children had suffered such anguish because of the level of deception that had to be used to save his life, hurt him in a way nothing else had before. He hated him too in that moment because Lila and Cooper didn't deserve to know that kind of pain, and now they had, all because of him.

When he felt tears well up in the corner of his closed eyes, Clint squeezed them even more tightly shut. When he spoke, his voice trembled, the words barely finding their way past his lips, "I... I can't... what they've been feeling since... I'm their father, and they were never supposed to know this kind of pain! I was supposed to keep them for it! I will hate myself for putting them through this for the rest of my life!"

Laura reached out and grabbed his chin, turning his face towards hers, "Clint, look at me!"

He opened his eyes, and looked into hers.

"I want you to listen to me, Clint. We can't change what happened or what we had to do to keep you alive. Lila and Cooper, they'll understand all of this, in time. You love them, and they now that. They know how much you love them, and in the end all that will matter is they will have their father with them to still love them."

Fury, who had been silent in the corner, took a step forward to remind them that he was still in the room. "Look, I understand your regrets over the pain you've caused them, but dwelling on the past isn't going to change anything. You've got to find a way to focus on the future because in order for this to work, you've got to have your head completely in the game, Barton."

"In order for what to work, sir?"

"In order for you to have a life with your family."

Clint laughed, without mirth, and when Fury glared at him he said, "A life with my family/ How? I'm supposed to be dead, sir. Dead! The moment I step out of this facility into public, whichever one I'm in, facial recognition will have me made in a split second, and they'll just kill me again. And my kids are not going to live out their lives in SHIELD facilities or safe houses, isolated away from the rest of the world."

"And they're not going to have to do that," Fury in a firm voice, "I will say it again, we have a plan that is going to allow you to be with your family, and you'll all be safe. Unfortunately the plan isn't one that is going to happen over night or even over several nights. It won't be quick because of what we must do to ensure you won't be ID'd the second you step out into public with your family."

"What does that mean exactly?" Clint asked, trying to understand the gravity of the situation.

"What it means is through both surgery and technology we're going to create an entirely new identity for you, that no one on the world is aware of. We are going to give you a completely new face that even the facial recognition scans won't be able to ID you as being Clint Barton. You will have a new name to go with the new face, and a new personal history that you will have memorized frontwards and backwards. Clint Barton is dead in the eyes of the world, and that's exactly how he'll stay. When you are finally ready to step back into the world in general, you'll be someone else completely, and the world will never know you were not, in fact, executed like they wanted you to be."

Laura squeezed his hand in support because she knew what Fury was about to say next would be the most difficult part for her husband to hear.

"Now here is the bad part—"

"You mean besides me being erased from existence, and looking into the mirror to see a stranger staring back?" Clint quipped.

"Clint!" Laura murmured, "This is the only way forward for you to stay alive and be with us at the same time!"

He nodded, and looked at the other man, "Sorry, I know this is going to be a lot of trouble, and already has been. I don't mean to sound ungrateful you did and are doing all of this to keep me alive."

Fury gave a curt nod, then continued, "Fifteen months. Fifteen months is the bare minimum is the estimate as to how long it is going to take to completely change your identity, and get you reintroduced into the world."

"Fifteen months? And I'll have to be away from them the entire time," Clint surmised.

"Correct. I'm sorry that it will take so long after the five years you spent without them but this is a painstaking process, and one we can't afford to make any mistakes on as your life quite literally depends on it. We get one shot to get this right, because if the world learns you didn't die at your execution, then I believe they would simply have you taken out this time. With extreme prejudice."

Extreme prejudice.

Clint knows those two words are just another way of saying that they would come after him without any regard for any innocents that might be around him at the time. His heart sank when in that moment he realized fully the gravity of the situation, and that in order to keep everyone he loves safe, things would have to done this way. They couldn't risk the lives of his wife and children just so he could be with them sooner.

"I understand," Clint finally said aloud, resignation in his voice, "If this is what it takes to keep my family safe, and allow me to be with them, then I will do whatever I have to for it to make it happen." The fifteen months would be a long time, but he could do it because unlike before, he has the hope of knowing they're alive, and well, and that he will be with them again.

"Good," Fury said, nodding in acknowledgement to Clint's commitment to the plan, "We'll start the preparations immediately. I've put together a team of experts who will handle the entire process, from the surgical procedures to the creation of your new identity. When they're done, Clint Barton will truly be dead, and a new man will be in his place."

"How do we know that none of them will tell the world who I really am?" Clint asked, "There's a lot riding on this, sir. and just for me." He looked at his wife, and thought of their children.

"Because I know each of the team members personally, and I know they can be trusted to keep your secret for as long as you live. They will take this with them to their own graves. We need to get started on this ASAP, so I'm afraid you both need to say your farewells now because it is going to be a long time before you're able to see each other again."

"Could we have a—"

Fury walked towards the door, "I'll leave you two alone."

Laura touched his face, her voice steadied as she told him, "We'll be waiting for you, Clint. No matter what name they give you, or the face you are going to have, you are always going to be the man we love."

Clint opened his arms, "Come here, honey. I need to hold you,"

Laura scooted up closer to him, and let him wrap his arms around her as she wrapped her arms around him. They didn't talk, just held onto each other, and finally she laid her head on his chest to listen to the sound of his heart beating.

When the ten minutes were up, Fury returned, but stopped at the door without speaking. There was much they still needed to talk about such as the logistics and the security protocols for the next fifteen months. But looking at them now, he knew what they needed to talk about could wait a little longer, and so he let them have it.

Current Music: 2747

innitmarvelous_og

Tony was just finishing up making breakfast for his family when his daughter Eva walked into the kitchen wearing a pair of brightly colored socks. The socks caught Tony's eye, and when he looked down at his own feet, he was surprised to see his socks matched Eva's perfectly. He grinned and lifted her up and they showed off their socks to each other, happy to have matched each other without meaning to.

Pepper walked into the kitchen next, and caught a peek at their matching socks. She shook her head and said with a smile, "Look at you two! Matching socks and everything!"

Later in the day, while Tony and Eva are watching a movie together, Ethan came walking through. He'd spent the night on his Uncle Jimmy's floor, and had yet to see their socks. He stopped, and looked at their matching socks, then asked, "Are you guys seriously wearing the same socks?"

Tony glanced at his daughter, and they burst out laughing. He wrapped his arms around Eva, and informed his son, "You know what they always say - the family that wears matching socks stays together!" Ethan rolled his eyes as they laughed again.

"Oh you guys are so silly!"

It was from that moment on, Tony and Eva always made it a point to wear matching socks whenever they could. It was a small tradition they'd started by accident on Sunday morning, but it was one they are happy that got started as it brought them closer together. They don their matching socks whether they're getting ready for school or just lounging around the penthouse, they always had on a fun pair of colorful socks. And each and every time they wore them, they were reminded of their special bond they had together as father and daughter.

Current Music: 302 words

innitmarvelous_og

Ethan seated himself at the small table at the window, then placed a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee in front of his father with care. He hated to admit to himself how fragile his father looked these days, what being wheelchair bound. But at least Ethan could smile at how sharp his Dad's mind still was.

Sharp as ever!!!

"Morning, Dad!" Ethan said with cheer.

"Morning, Ethan," Tony replied, carefully taking a sip of his coffee. "What's for breakfast today?"

"Just some oatmeal. It's good for you," Ethan said with a smile.

Tony rolled his eyes. "Since when did oatmeal become gourmet cuisine?"

"Since you became a health nut a few years back!" Ethan teased, remembering when his father's obsession started and how much it'd increased along with his age.

Tony chuckled, "Touché. So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"You've got a doctor's appointment at eleven. Remember?" Ethan said as he flipped through his Dad's caledar

"Oh, that's right! I remember now! My memory's not what it was once upon a time!" Tony sighed.

Speaking of memory... "Hey, Dad, do you remember that Avengers cereal they used to have when Eva and I were kids?"

Tony's brow furrowed. "Avengers cereal?"

"Yeah, it had all the little marshmallow shapes in it," he said, and laughed, "Eva and I used to fight over who got the Iron Man one after she started eating that kind of cereal too!"

Tony thought about it a second then his face lit up with the memory, "Oh yeah! I remember it now! Your Mother always fussed when I used to give you and your sister that cereal without any fruit in it!"

"Yeah, that's the one!" Ethan said with a smile, but a wisp of sadness overtook him thinking about his late Mom, "It's funny how thing stay with you, you know?" He raised the spoon of oatmeal to his Dad's mouth.

Tony nodded, lost in the memories of those days long past, his dear Pepper gone for several years now. He couldn't help the sadness he felt now because the past was forever in the past. His life had been filled with so much adventure, and excitement then, but now he was in a wheelchair, dependent on hos son and daughter for his daily needs.

At the same time though, he was grateful to his kids for their devoted love and care of him. He might be quite old now, but he still had so much love to give and experience.

"Don't worry, Dad. We'll make sure you get some Iron Man marshmallows in your cereal tomorrow," Ethan said, sensing his father's somber mood.

Tony's face brightened up, "Sounds like a plan."

Current Music: 451 words

innitmarvelous_og

"Sigyn, sweetheart, are you all packed up?" Pepper asked as she entered her granddaughter's room.

"Almost, Gam Gam!" the little girl answered her.

Pepper paused when she caught sight of Sigyn's fiery red hair, its vibrant hue lighting up the room.

She was so focused on pushing something into one of the knapsacks that had accompanied her from Asgard two weeks ago, and she hadn't noticed her grandmother entered the room. This allowed Pepper to observe silently.

She's so much like Eva when she was that age!, she thinks as she watches her granddaughter. Sigyn stuck out her tongue in concentration, just as her mother used to when faced with a challenging task. Pepper couldn't help but smile, reminded of her daughter's playful spirit. Eva lives on this little wonder she made with Loki....

"Gam Gam?"

Pepper blinked and realized that Sigyn had stopped what she was doing.

"What's wrong, Gam Gam?" Sigyn asked, sliding off the bed, and coming over to her.

She brushed aside a lock of the little girl's hair, and forced a smile, "Nothing, sweetie."

"You sure, Gam Gam? You look sad."

"I do?"

"Yeah."

Pepper's heart sank, a pang of longing washing over her as memories of her daughter flooded her mind. She forced a smile, not wanting to burden Sigyn with her sorrow. She wrapped her arms around the little girl. "I guess I am just a little sad. You look so much like your Mommy when she was your age that I started to think about her, and thinking about her made me miss her."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Grandmother and granddaughter stay that way for a moment or two before Sigyn wiggles out of Pepper's arms, and returned to the bed. The moment has passed, and Pepper shook off the residual feelings before she walked over to the bed where Sigyn has resumed her struggle.

"Here, sweetie, let me help you with that," Pepper said, pulling the knapsack over, "What's all this you're trying to put back in here?"

Sigyn watched as her grandmother pulled out the contents of her bag, "It's all the new things you and Pop Pop have given me while I've been here on Mid... Earth! I want to take it back to Asgard with me!"

"Oh, I see," her grandmother responded with amusement, "Well, let's see if I can't help you get it all packed so it'll fit. Okay?"

"Okay."

Pulling out the contents of the bag, she placed the items on the bed. Despite the difficulty of getting them packed, they'd only gifted the little girl with a few items. They had known she would want to take them back to Asgard with her when her father arrived to take her back home, and they didn't want to over do things. Mostly what they'd given her were some books, three games, and a few toys that Pepper doubted could be found on Asgard. The packing of Sigyn's knapsack went more smoothly with Pepper's experience of packing luggage, and soon there were only two items left on the bed.

"These too, Gam Gam! I want to take these with me too!" the girl proclaimed, holding up the items.

What she was holding up were two long red gloves that had been decorated by a child to resemble Iron Man's gauntlets. They were kinda faded, and the frayed around the edges, and Pepper had been sure Sigyn would even want them before she had presented them to her granddaughter.

She took one from the child, and asked, "Are you sure you want to take them to Asgard, Siggy? I mean they're a bit faded and don't look all that Asgardian."

Sigyn would not be discouraged, "No, they don't, Gam Gam, but that's why I like them. But I want them because they were Mommy's and you said I could have them."

Ah, there was the real reason Pepper didn't want to pack them to be taken away with her granddaughter. The two Iron Man gloves had belonged to her own little girl once upon a time. Eva had spent hours playing with her brother and cousins, insisting that she was Iron Man when they said she couldn't be because she was a girl!

"Gam Gam? Please can I take them with me, Gam Gam? So I can have something with me that was my Mommy's?" Sigyn begged.

Pepper swallowed, took a deep breath, and nodded, "Of course, you can take them. Just promise me that you'll be careful with them and look after them."

"I will, Gam Gam, I promise."

After one last look at them, Pepper folded the gloves and placed them into the knapsack.

Current Music: 776 words

innitmarvelous_og

Dearest Pepper,

As I am writing this letter, I hope you are in good health and the highest of spirits. I wish to confess, my dear, that I've been keeping a secret you. Lately, I have found myself so captivated by your radiant presence that there's no hope of escape for me. Not only this but a certain admiration for you has taken hold of my heart. The best I can describe it is if It's a flame that had nearly been snuffed out has suddenly had log thrown onto it, and it has now a new burning bright life to it.

Every day, you take my breath away as I witness your unwavering strength as a woman. Every day, I behold the infinite reasons why I fell in love with you. I love how dedicated you are to the things we want to accomplish together, the light in your eyes when you do something that before looked impossible, and the sheer brilliance to all that you touch which is always nothing short of extraordinary!

For now though, my intentions will remain secret within my secret admirer's heart. I hope you will consider this first letter a microscopic sample of the unspoken feelings that are found deep inside my heart. You should know that my love grows for you with every moment that passes by.

Yours faithfully,

A Secret Admirer

Current Music: 230 words

innitmarvelous_og

There is a very special day coming up soon for Natasha and Nadia — it's the annual recital for the eight year old's ballet class. The recital is almost here, so they have spent every moment they can rehearsing their routines. Yes, mother and daughter are going to be dancing together during a very special moment in the recital. Natasha had helped out with Nadia's ballet class over the years, and this year her daughter's teachers insisted that she must perform a dance in the recital. 

The night of the recital finally arrived, and the auditorium quickly filled up with the families of all the school's students. All of them were eager to see the progress their sons and daughters had made over the last year of learning.

Minutes before the recital was scheduled to begin, Natasha and Nadia had spent a few minutes with Clint and Franky, the family talking and laughing together. Then when one of the teachers came through to tell them it was five minutes before the performance started, the family broke up.

Clint took his five year old son's hand, and kissed his wife, "I'd say break a leg, honey, but you're far too graceful for that! So instead, I'll say good luck!"

"Good luck, Mommy, Nadia!" Franky echoed.

"Thank you, boys, " Natasha replied with a smile.

"Thanks, Daddy, Franky!" Nadia said, also smiling.

"Go get 'em, girls! Come on, Franky, we'd better go find our seats!"

As they disappeared, Natasha turned to her daughter, "Ready, Nadyechka?"

"Da," Nadia answered, "Я готов, мама."

With that, they took their places, ready to go on stage and dance together when their moment arrived.

Current Music: 277 words

innitmarvelous_og

Sebastian was sitting on the couch in the living room with his father, Steven. His Dad's arm was wrapped around his shoulders and the atmosphere in the room around them was so solemn. Sebastian's great-grandfather Steve Rogers, widely known as Captain America, had recently passed away and his absence hung heavy in their hearts.

"Dad, I miss him," Sebastian said quietly, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and longing, "I miss Grandpa Steve so much!"

Steven's eyes reflecting his own grief. "I know, son. Your great-grandfather Steve was an incredible man, and we were so very fortunate to have as much time with him that we had."

Sebastian nodded, tears glistening in his eyes. "I'll never forget all  the time I had with him. He taught me a lot, Dad. He was my hero."

Steven gives his son a warm smile, doing this own remembering. "I know, he was mine too. Along with Nonno. Oh, I wish you could have known Nonno too."

"Me too but I am grateful that at least I got to know Grandpa Steve. But I wish I could've had more time with him, Dad."

Steven leaned closer, his eyes filled with understanding. "You know even though he may not be physically here, his spirit lives on in you, Sebastian. I see a lot of him in you."

"You do?"

"Mmmhmm, I do."

Sebastian felt a tear escape, and he swiped it away. But even as sad as he was, his Dad's words stirred up a flicker of hope deep within him. "You really think so, Dad?" he asked one more time.

Steven gave his son an enthusiastic nod. "I really think so Sebastian. I see your determination, your sense of justice, your unwavering belief in doing what's right. I believe all these qualities that you'll carry on Grandpa Steve's legacy in your own way. 

Sebastian's cracked from the mix of gratitude and determination he was feeling. "I'm not going to let fade away, Dad. I'll do everything I can to honor him, along with the legacy of our great-grandparents Tony and Pepper Stark. I want to and I will make a difference, just like they did."

Steven's face lit up with with the pride he could help but feel, "That's my boy. I know you will, Sebastian. You have the intelligence, the heart, and the courage to make a lasting impact on the world."

Current Music: 401 words

innitmarvelous_og

Thanos, the Mighty Titan who thought he had the right to murder half of the universe in order to achieve his perfect vision of it, was now dying. One or two more blows from the two Avengers working together in concert to finish him, would end his threat to the universe forever. 

Together, they moved in on Thanos. His eyes blazed as they came closer to him, and knowing his time was about to be ended, he used his last breath to utter a venomous curse that was heard throughout the entire battlefield.

"Stark, you may have defeated me, but my curse shall follow you till the end of your days," Thanos ranted, spitting his final breaths out before he was ended by them, his voice laced with malice. "You are going to die in unrelenting agony, and your death will not come swiftly. No power in the universe will be able to save you from this fate! Not even its greatest wielders of magic!"

With one final, decisive charge, Iron Man and Captain America lunged at Thanos, their combined might sealing his fate. When he fell where he had uttered his vile curse upon Tony, the battlefield became suddenly quiet except for the heaviness of Steve's breaths.

Tony turned to him, fear gripping him as he saw how Steve was barely staying on his feet. Tony's heart raced as he looked around, desperation evident in his eyes. He grabbed Steve's arm, his grip tight and urgent, "We need to get you to a doctor now!"

 When Steve mustered a weak smile, Tony couldn't help but notice the pallor that had overtaken his features. It was a smile tinged with resignation, "Too late, Tony. It's... it's too late."

"No, it can't be too late! We have a doctor who's become a wizard! Where's Strange? Does anyone know where to find him?"

"Tony, I—" 

With those two words, Steve lost his valiant battle to remain on his feet, his body collapsing to the ground, the weight of the moment heavy upon them all.

Tony knelt down beside Steve, his grip on his friend's arm tightening. The pain etched on Steve's face, tore at his heart. "We're not giving up, Steve. We've been through worse. We'll find a way to fix this."

Steve gave another weak smile, his voice weak. "I appreciate the sentiment, Tony. But you know as well as I do that... this... this is different this time. This fight... it's taken everything out of me."

Tony's eyes searched desperately for a solution, for a way to save the man who had been both his friend, and his antithesis. He looked to Doctor Strange again, pleading for his help. "Strange, you've seen things beyond our understanding. Can't you do something? Anything?"

Doctor Strange, his expression grim, shook his head. "Tony, I understand your desperation, but the injuries Steve has sustained... they're too severe. Even my magic can't solve everything, and has its limits. There's no easy fix for this."

Tony's frustration and his determination. "There has to be something we can do. We can't just let him di... fade away like this."

There was acceptance in Steve's voice, "Tony, we've been through battles that we thought we couldn't win, yet we always found a way. But this... this is where the long road ends for me. I'm proud of what we've accomplished together. But it's time for me to rest."

Tears welled up in Tony's eyes, and he started to protest, further urge Steve to hang on and keep fighting but he never got the chance. He never got the chance because before he could say another word, Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson appeared from elsewhere on the battlefield and when they did, Tony knew it was only right that they both get to talk to Steve in his final moments.

Current Music: 641 words

innitmarvelous_og

Once upon a time, in the realm of Asgard, a young and curious Sigyn, one day when she was supposed to be studying. approached her father with wide eyes and an eager smile. She held a picture book of enchanted tales in her small hands, she said excitedly, "Father, I want a magic wand! I want to do magic just like Grandmother and you!"

Loki knelt down to so he was at Sigyn's level, his eyes sparkling with both amusement and love. He gently brushed aside a stray strand of her red hair then said, "Oh, my dear Sigyn, why would you want a silly, old thing like a magic wand?"

"I told you, Father! I want a magic wand so I can do magic like you and Grandmother do! And this book says if you want to do magic, you've gotta have a wand!" Sigyn explained solemnly. 

Loki felt his heart melting all over at his daughter's precious  innocence, and for a moment, he considered just giving in to what she wanted without argument. But he knows there is really no value to the magic wand she's requested, so he shook his head, "No, my little snowflake, there won't be a magic wand for you."

Sigyn's face crumbled, and she huffed, "But why, Father?"

"Because," Loki began, "I know the idea of a magic wand and of everything that it is supposed to allow you to do is enchanting, but such a thing is false. The reason it is alse, my little snowflake, and why it is false is this: Magic is not something found in objects like a wand made of wood or metal. No, my dear, the place where magic comes from is found within you."

"In me?" she said, puzzlement all over her little face.

"Yes, you," Loki confirmed, kissing her cheek.

"But how, Father? How can I have magic inside of me? I can't do anything special like you or Grandmother!"

He gave him a warm smile, and took her hands into his own, "Oh, my little snowflake, magic is not just about conjuring tricks or illusions. Instead, magic is out the energy that is a very part of our being. It's the way we think and feel and create! It's found in the love we give to others, and in our hearts dearest dreams.

Loki smiled warmly and took Sigyn's hands in his own. "Magic is not just about conjuring tricks and illusions, my little one. It is about the energy that flows through our very beings. It's in the way we think, feel, and create. It's in the kindness we show to others, the love we share, and the dreams we hold dear."

Sigyn's brow was furrowed as she tried to understand what her father's words meant, "So, I have magic inside of me because I love you, and Grandmother, and Uncle Thor, Uncle Heimdall, and Auntie Sif and Uncles Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg? Oh, and Grandfather too although he's terribly grumpy most of the time?

Loki chuckled, heart almost bursting with pride, "Yes, precisely, my precious snowflake! Magic is found in your heart and in the joy you bring to all of those who love you. It is the happiness you find in helping others, and the wonder you find in the simple things. With all this, you have the power to create your own magic."

Sigyn thought for a moment, biting her bottom lip as her mother used to do, then she said, "I don't really need a wand to make magic, do I?"

"No, my love, you are magic itself. Be who you are, and you'll find boundless wonders within your heart.

Loki nodded, his eyes filled with pride. "Exactly, my precious Sigyn. Magic is in your heart. It's the joy you bring to those around you, the happiness you feel when you help someone, and the wonder you find in the simplest of things. You have the power to create your own magic, just like your grandmother and I."

Sigyn's eyes sparkled with newfound understanding and excitement. "So, I don't need a wand to do magic?"

Loki chuckled softly. "No, my dear. You are magic itself. Embrace who you are, and you'll discover endless wonders within."

She threw her arms around his neck, and exclaimed, "Thank you, Father! I don't need a wand because I have my own magic within!"

He hugged her back, murmuring, "You do indeed, my little snowflake. You do indeed!"

Sigyn beamed, her small hand reaching out to touch her father's cheek. "Thank you, Father. I understand now. I'll find my own magic within me!"

Current Music: 770 words

innitmarvelous_og

Before he left to return the Infinity Stones to their proper places in the past, Steve had already decided to remain there and have the life he'd longed to have ever since he'd woken up seventy years in the future. 

When he'd see Peggy in 1970 during the Time Heist, she'd looked older of course but she had been as beautiful as he had remembered her. He had wanted to make his presence known in her office so much that it had almost hurt physically.

However, things didn't exactly go as he thought they would when he arrived in the 1950's. For one thing, he found that she was already a high ranking member of SHIELD, having helped Howard and now General Phillips found the agency. But more to the point, Peggy had moved on from him, and she had made a life for herself.

Steve had found where she lived, and since she had some visitors, he'd waited to reveal himself to her when he was certain Peggy would be alone. The day finally came when he was sure no one else was in the house but her, and he decided the best approach would be to simply knock on her front door. So he walked up to the door, and knocked on it.

"Just a moment!" her voice called out from within.

While he waited, he tried not to draw attention to himself by looking around, yet he knew the longer he was on her doorstep, the more of a chance he'd be recognized. Still, all he could do was wait for the door to open, and when it did, there was a gun pointed directly at his face.

"You've got five seconds to explain to me why I shouldn't blow your head off!" She said, a hard look on her face.

Steve looked into her eyes, and said, "Peggy, it's me. It's Steve."

"Steve Rogers was lost almost twelve years. Try again, and make it quick," she countered.

"Okay, how about I tell you something that only you and I know?" Steve suggested.

Peggy's eyes narrowed as she considered what he'd said. "Fine, one thing. But make it quick, and know this is your one chance to convince me," she said, lowering her gun slightly.

Steve takes a deep breath, "I still owe you that dance, Peggy," he said softly, his eyes locking with hers.

Peggy's eyes widened then softened a fraction, "Steve?" she whispered.

Steve nodded, "It's really me, Peggy," 

Tears welled up in Peggy's eyes, and she threw herself into Steve's arms. "How? How is this possible? After the plane went down, they told me they couldn't find any trace of it or of you!" she said, her voice muffled against his chest.

Steve held her tight, savoring the feeling of holding her again, his own tears threatening to spill over. "It's a long story, but I'm here now, Peggy. And I'm not going anywhere," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion

After a few seconds, Peggy pulled away and at his surprised look she said, "Let's take this inside, shall we, before everyone in the neighborhood takes notice."

Steve followed Peggy inside, and as they walked through the small but cozy house, Steve couldn't help but notice the pictures on the walls along with the knick-knacks on the shelves. Each and every one of them were a testament that Peggy had made a full life for herself in the years since he'd last seen her.

"Steve," Peggy said, drawing him out of his thoughts over to where she was sitting on a sofa by a fireplace, "I never expected to see you again for as long as I lived and I... I need you to tell me how it's possible you're here now."

With a nod, he crossed the room, and he sat down on the sofa beside her, "This is a long story..."

"Go on. I've got the time," Peggy confirmed.

Steve nodded, and began to tell her a version of what happened to him after the last time they spoke to each other in 1945. Although he told many details about his life in the future, he left out the fact he'd known and lost her as an old woman, He was also vague about the details of how they had pulled off the Time Heist, and how he was able to travel back in time. When he finished, the reaction Peggy gave to his story was not the one Steve had not expected.

Anger filled her eyes, and second later, her palm met forcefully with his cheek, "You never let me go! How dare you!" she shouted.

Steve stared at her in shock, raising one of his own hands to the cheek she'd slapped hard enough to actually leave a sting!

Peggy's voice was filled with disappointment as she went on, "Steve, I can't believe you would do something like this. from what you told me, you clearly knew that I moved on with my life. You knew I found love again with a wonderful man, and that I had a family with him! You knew I had made a new life with Danie," she said, her voice quivering with emotion. 

Steve hung his head, realizing the extent of the pain he had caused, "I'm sorry I never meant to undermine the life you built, Peggy. I guess I blinded by my own desires and being so alone in the future. I didn't stop to think this all the way through."

Peggy's eyes welled up with tears, "Steve, you have no idea how hard it was for me after I lost you.Your death hurt me for a long time but I knew I couldn't wallow in my grief forever. I knew I had to find a way to move forward, to create a life for myself. And I did. I found happiness with Daniel, and we have a family together."

Steve nodded, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears because he knows now for certain he will never have any kind of future with her. The door on the life they might have had is forever closed and locked up tight behind them. He knows there is only one thing he can do now if he truly loves her, and that's to wish her well before he finally lets her go.

"You deserve that happiness, Peggy, and I am glad that you found it. Your husband must be a special man."

"He is. Daniel truly is. From the moment we met, he tried to always treat me with respect, and he wanted to be a friend to me at a time when I was alone."

So, they had started out as friends. That's good. That's very good since that's the way so many of the best relationships, the best marriages began. If that were true, and Steve knows that it is, he also knows there is nothing else for him to do but bow out of this as gracefully as he can, and live her life forever.

But there's just one more thing he needs and wants to do before he does that. Steve looked up at Peggy, "You're right, Peggy. I should have never come back without considering the life you've built for yourself. I apologize from the bottom of my heart."

Peggy nodded, her anger subsiding slightly. "I understand why you did what you did, Steve. But it doesn't change the fact that you hurt me deeply."

"I know, and I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" Steve asked, feeling the weight of his mistake heavy on his shoulders.

Peggy thought for a moment then she smiled, "Actually, there is something you can do."

"What is it?" Steve asked eagerly.

"You promised me a dance, Steve. All those years ago, and I never got it," Peggy said, her eyes softening.

Steve smiled back at her. "I did, didn't I?"

 "Well, Captain, I'm waiting. Are you going to make good on that promise?"

Steve stood up, taking Peggy's hand in his. "I wouldn't dream of breaking a promise to you, Peggy." Peggy turned on the radio, and then took his hand.

They moved to the center of the room, and Steve took Peggy in his arms. The music playing in the background was soft, and they swayed together in perfect harmony, lost in the moment. For those few minutes, both the past and the future didn't exist, and just lived in the present, together.

As the song ended, Steve looked down at Peggy and smiled as much as he could under the circumstances. "Thank you for this dance, Peggy."

Peggy smiled back at him, a hint of sadness in her eyes, "It was lovely, Steve. But I think it's time for you to go now."

Steve nodded, since he knows that he couldn't stay in the past any longer. He gave Peggy one last hug and had turned to leave, but she stopped him.

"Steve, wait," Peggy said, and he turned back to face her.

"I just wanted you to know that I will always love you and I'll always cherish the time we had together, even if it wasn't as much as we wanted. And I hope you find happiness and someone of your own. Stop mourning what you lost, Steve, and move on," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Steve smiled at her, feeling a sense of peace settle over him. "I will. And I will always love you too, Peggy."

With one last look, Steve walked out the door and back to his own time, ready to start a new chapter in his life. But he would always remember the dance he shared with Peggy, and the love they had for each other, even if it could never be again.

Current Music: 1642 words

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