stormsinafrica | Entries tagged with rated pg

Loki's attention was drawn by the snort of a horse, that signaled the arrival of his anticipated guest. Letting go of the fractured twig he held, he managed a smile that failed to reach his eyes, and then he pivoted to greet them, "Greetings, Mother."

Frigga dismounted gracefully from her horse and approached him without hesitation, confident that her steed would remain in place. She accepted both of his outstretched hands, and after exchanging cheek kisses, she gazed at him a moment before she remarked, "Tell me the reason for your fear, Loki."

He tried to keep his voice light as he responded, "What fear, Mother? Perhaps I called you here because I wanted to see you? After all, Eva and I do not—"

Frigga quieted him with a meaningful gaze, one that only a mother could give to her child, "Your message requested secrecy, and I sensed the spells you cast upon this place as I approached," she said. "You wouldn't take such risks without a powerful motivator behind them like fear, my son. So, why have you hidden us from Heimdall's sight and hearing?" The risk she referred to was the fact that when Odin released Loki from prison, Loki had sworn never to shroud himself from Heimdall again. "I'm waiting for an answer, Loki. I want to understand why you're jeopardizing your freedom and the life you have with the woman you love."

Loki turned, and walked away from her, not speaking for some time.

"It is for Eva that I've risked my freedom," he finally said.

"Go on."

He walked around the circle he'd made for them another few steps before he inquired, "Mother, do you remember Rowena of Vanaheim?"

The Queen of Asgard nodded, although he was not looking at her, "Yes, I remember her. She was one of the more powerful wielders of magic the Nine Realms have ever seen. I have not heard her name in almost nine years now. Pray tell me why you are speaking it now, Loki."

Loki continued to pace the boundaries of the protective circle that he had created as he spoke, "The reason you have not heard that name for almost nine now is because soon after I wed Eva, Rowena was becoming a threat to the peace of the Nine Realms, and so the All-Father commanded that the Einherjar put an end to her. Because she was such a sorceress, I was dispatched along with those sent to deal with her."

"The battle did not go well," Frigga stated, not asked.

"No, it did not. Over half of the Einherjar died within minutes of engaging the witch. The only reason I was able to come near her without being slain is because of my own power. I put spells on my daggers and then hurled them at her. Her power was strong, but she was not able to keep my daggers from finding her. She fell to the ground in a heap. I had to be sure she was indeed dead, and when I approached the hag's shell, she grabbed my wrist. She pulled me to her, smeared her blood on me, and told me..." He stopped, closing his eyes.

"She told you what?" Frigga asked, pulling her cloak tightly around her.

"She spoke an incantation, and she told me she had cursed my Eva to die as she had." Loki turned to face his mother at last, "She told me that Eva will bleed to death, in childbirth, when she gives birth to our first child. A daughter, Rowena said."

His words fell into the heavy silence around them as both of them pondered the past.

Frigga walked over to her son, and lifted his head up so he was looking at her, "Hear me, Loki. Her last words were not a prophecy of unavoidable certainty. Yes, they were a curse, but curses are breakable. Eva is not doomed to this fate. I promise you I will make it my personal quest to find a way to shatter Rowena's hateful curse."

Loki's eyes glistened, and he allowed her to pull him into her embrace.

"Thank you, Mother. I can't bear to lose her."

The Queen of Asgard held her youngest son close, "I know this, Loki, and you're not going to lose her." She held him even tighter to her when the dam holding back his emotions begun to break. For several minutes, the only sound in the circle was that of his sobs as he finally released the fear and grief that he had borne alone for so long. When his tears were finally spent, Frigga asked, "Is Rowena's curse the reason you and Eva have not been blessed with a child of your own for these years of your marriage?"

Loki nodded against her, and then he pulled away, wiping his eyes, "Yes, it is. When I returned to Asgard and after I had told Odin everything that had transpired with Rowena, I begun putting spells into place that would prevent Eva from conceiving a child. I've maintained them until only just recently when I could no longer do so. Eva wants a child so much that I believe her heart is breaking at the thought we may never have one. In Midgardian terms, she has less time to conceive a child than she once did. Soon, Mother, I believe she will soon conceive, and I do not know how I will react to the news."

"With joy, Loki. You will react with the great joy all expectant fathers react with. Then when her time comes to be delivered of your child, you will find out in the moment you hold your child, what unconditional love feels like for the first time in your life."

"Pray let it be so, Mother."

"It will be, Loki. It will be everything that you and Eva dream of."

Two months later, when Eva joyfully shared the news with Loki that he would be a father, they wept in joy together.

Current Music: 1004 words

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

Today, Clint Barton would meet his end under a relentless barrage of bullets fired by SHIELD's specially commissioned firing squad.

After Clint had been convicted for his merciless acts of murder in the aftermath of Thanos's snap, the world demanded justice. A trial was held, and when the overwhelming evidence of his crimes had been presented to the world, a firestorm of outrage had quickly built up which had ultimately sealed his fate. As an Avenger, Clint's position carried a weight of responsibility, demanding the highest price for the blood he had spilled. SHIELD, being the organization he once served, reluctantly agreed to carry out the public execution within their fortified facility. Every detail of his death would be broadcast live, ensuring the eyes of the entire world would bear witness.

As he lived out his final hours of life, Clint tried not to pace his cell or show any fear about what was going to happen to him today. But the closer he got to the hour of his death the more restless he became. He had not been allowed to see his family after his arrest and he was afraid he would die without the chance ro tell them how much he loved them.

The loudness of the security buzzer on his cell block sounding off made Clint look up through the bars and the other end of the hallway. Through several gates he could see the people he loved the most in all of the universe making their way towards him.

Clint stood up and as he waited for them to reach him, he looked at each of them.

Lila was openly crying, Cooper was trying to be stoic he was faltering, while Nate was too young it seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. The little boy was smiling as though he were walking into McDonald's for a Happy Meal and some time on the playground. Although Laura was plainly relying on her past training as an agent to hide her emotions, Clint had known his wife far too long, and he did not miss her grief with every step she took.

Finally they were at the last gate, and the lead agent of the guards escorting them swipe his keycard to raise the final gate, and Clint's family entered the large cell he'd called home as he awaited execution. The guards stepped into the cell with weapons pointed at him just to be sure he did not try to bolt, and they allowed his family to pass. Clint made sure not to move a muscle as he did not want to give them reason to call off the only visit he would have with his family.

Laura and the kids didn't move forward towards him until the agents withdrew and the gate had been lowered once more. Then Laura flew at him, momentarily knocking him back as she kissed him like there was no tomorrow. Well there wasn't any tomorrow for him as he would be executed in four hours time. He kissed her back until they were both breathless, and then he clung to her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear, "I'm sorry!"

Laura said nothing in response, instead she just held onto him as she tried to imprint everything she could also him. The impending loss of him hung over heavily in the air like a funeral shroud, but the brief moment in each others arms, there was solace.

Their solitary embrace last a few more moments, then Clint pulled back, and gestured for their children to joint them. Lila, his first child and only daughter reached him first and she wrapped her arms around him, crying softly into his ear, "Oh, Daddy!"

Clint hugged her back, and did his best comfort her. "Shhh, sweetheart. It's okay, it's okay." He kissed her cheek and combed his fingers through her hair for a few minutes.

Cooper was the next to hug his Dad, and Clint heard his breath hitch as the boy buried his face in Clint's neck. All he could do was hold his holding son tightly as he was at a loss for words to say to Cooper. The moment ended when his youngest squeezed in between his brother and Dad. Cooper reluctantly released his Dad and stepped away to allow his little brother his moment.

Clint knelt and wrapped his arms around the little boy, "What's up, squirt?"

Nate pulled and looked at him, "Mommy said we had to come and see you coz you're going away, Daddy, and we needed to say bye to you. Daddy, where are you going? Can I come with you too?"

Nate's innocent questions hurt him so bad, so the only thing Clint could do was pulled the boy against him again, "I'm going on a little trip, Natty. It's somewhere that you and Mommy and Lila and Coop can't come to yet. But one day you all will and when you do, I have everything ready for you guys and we'll be a family again and never be apart again. How's that sound, bud? Sound good?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Nate said excitedly.

After kissing the side of his head, Clint stood up and looked at Lila, "Come here, sweetheart."

In the meantime, Laura herded Cooper and Nate to the other side of the room where she talked to them quietly, mostly an effort to occupy her youngest.

Clint led his daughter over to the bed, and sat down.

Lila stared at him, her bottom lip trembling, "Why, Dad?" Why did you do what you did to all those people? Why did you hurt them like that?"

Cooper's expression contorted with a mix of anger and sadness. "But Dad, we needed you. We needed our hero."

Tears welled up in Clint's eyes as he caressed Cooper's cheek. "I know, Coop, and I let you down. I'm so sorry, son. I wish I could turn back time and undo everything I've done, but I can't. All I can do now is accept the consequences and hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Clint looked into his daughter's eyes, eyes that were so full of pain and confusion. He took a deep breath before he answered her, "Lila honey, I did what I did, because at the time, I was so very angry that you and your Mom and your brothers got erased like you didn't matter, like you were not worthy of living that I just... got even angrier when I realized that the people who actually didn't deserve to like were still here. I went crazy with my grief and anger. Neither of those excuse what I did though, and it wasn't my place to judge those people unworthy. But I did, and I... and I erased them as a result."

He looked away from her, "I made choices, bad choices that hurt people, and I have to face the consequences of what I did. I wish I could change it, make so those people were still here, but I can't. All I can do now is accept the consequences, even if those consequences mean I pay the highest price for what I did."

Lila was trying to process what her father had said to her, but more tears welled up into her eyes, "But Daddy, you've always been a hero. I still don't understand how you could have done those things? I mean I looked up to you!"

Clint took her hands in his own, and his voice trembled when he told her, "I know, Lila, and that is one reason why this hurts so much. I let everyone down, but especially our family. Even heroes sometimes make horrible mistakes. All you can do is try to learn from them always, and understand the consequences that come with them, and never forget the value of life or compassion."

The teen girl sniffled, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, "I miss the old you, Daddy. The one who saved people, and fought against the bad people. You did what was right."

"Me too. I miss that version of me too, Li," Clint murmured, his voice remorse-laden, "But I lost my way, and I hurt those people. Now I have to face the consequences of what I've done, and maybe when I do, it'll help people get some of their faith in heroes back."

"I don't want to lose you, Daddy!"

Clint tightened his grip on her hands a little bit, "And I don't want to leave you either, but I have to face what I've done. I know it is a hard thing to ask, but promise me that you'll remember the good times we all had together. That you will remember the lessons I taught you, and you'll carry them in your heart. That you'll do your best to be strong and make the world a better place. I believe in you, honey."

"I promise, Dad." Lila whispered solemnly as tears pour down her face, "I'll make you so proud of me. I love you."

He pulled his daughter into a tight embrace, and he held her for a long moment, "I love you, too, baby. Never ever forget that."

When Clint released her, he looked over where Laura was still talking to Cooper and Nate. His heart ached so badly at the thought he would get to see them grow up that he could almost believe he was having a heart attack. They would have to grow up with their father and it was all because of what he had done. He knew one day they'd realize the truth of why he wasn't here anymore, and he hoped that on that day, they would hate him for leaving them like this. He hoped that they'd forgive him.

Time was beginning to run short, and he caught Laura's eye. He looked at Cooper then back at her, and she nodded. She said something to him, and he got up to come over to where his father and sister were. Clint kissed Lila again, and told her, "I'll always be with you, Lila. I love you, baby."

"I love you too, Daddy," she said, hugging him one last time before she went over to her mother and brother.

Cooper arrived, and immediately he went to his father's arms.

Clint held onto Cooper tightly, savoring the weight of his son against him. He could feel Cooper's tremors against him as the teen tried to contain his sobs. Once more, Clint was at a loss for the words to tell Cooper how much he loved him, how far the depths of his love went. He could on;y hold his son with the hopes that somehow Cooper felt in it what he could not say.

Cooper finally pulled away, his red eyes looking into his father's, "How, Dad? How could this be happening? How could you have done all of what... what they said you did? I mean you always protected people before. You didn't hurt them! What happened?" Cooper's voice went on the rise as he asked his questions and he was almost yelling by the end.

Clint looked over in his wife's direction and saw Laura looking over at him. He shook his head, and she went back to comforting Lila. He turned back to his oldest son.

"Because, Coop, even heroes are not infallible. They make mistakes too, and this one was the worst one I could have ever made. I let my grief and anger consume me, and then I let it lead to do things I can't take back. Horrible things."

Cooper looked puzzled by his words, and angry, "I don't get it, Dad! You let what happened to me and Mom and Lila and Nate make you so made that you went out and and killed all those other people? Dad, you doing something like that goes against everything you and Mom have ever tried to teach us!"

The anger in his eyes aimed at him is almost most than he can bear, so much so that Clint must take a deep breath to steady himself before he tries to respond. Regret, so much regret tainted his voice as he told his son, "You're right, Coop. You are so right. Like I said I let my anger and my grief consume me, I let it burn in my heart like a fire until it was raging, and it clouded my judgment. I didn't want to see what I was doing was wrong, so wrong, and I lost sight of the values I hold dear. I lost sight of all the things I ever tried to teach you and your sister and brother."

Blinking back tears, Clint went on, "I failed, Cooper, both a father and as a hero. I let my anger have control and I let it lead me to make choices that are unforgivable. I hurt people, people who maybe deserved judgment for what they did but it wasn't my place to be their jury, judge, or executioner. I can't ever change what I did but I hope that the three of you will learn from my mistakes, and never let your anger lead you to do something like I did."

Cooper's anger start to soften a little, and was replaced by sadness as he thought about what his Dad's words mean, "How do we move on from this, Dad? From what you did and what they're going to do to you because of it?"

Clint put his hands on his son's shoulders, his gaze as steady and sincere as he could make it, "I'm not going to lie, Coop. Moving on won't be easy for any of you. It's going to take time for all of you to heal from this. But try to remember that we all make mistakes, and how you learn from them and how you strive to become better for what you've learned is what defines you. You're strong, Coop, and have the resilience to overcome what I did and from... from my death. You can be the person you want to be. Don't let my actions or my death define your future, son."

The teen looked down, "I don't think I can ever look at you in the same way again, Dad. And I... and I don't know if I can forgive you."

His broke at his son's words, but he understood why Cooper would feel in such a way because of how his actions had affected their family forever. He swallowed a lump, nodded, then said, "I understand, Cooper, because forgiveness is not that can be demanded or even expected. It's can only be earned by being sorry for what you've done, and actions someone takes moving forward. I can't do anything to earn your forgiveness. All I can do is face the consequences of what I did, and hope one day you might find it in your heart to forgive me."

Cooper looked at him again, his eyes searching his father's face. After a moment of silence, he said, "I don't hate you, Dad. I'm just so... hurt and disappointed."

The tears Clint had been fighting streamed down his face. He pulled Cooper into another tight embrace, "I'm disappointed in myself too, son. I wish I could go back and change everything, but I can't."

After spending a few more minutes talking to Cooper, he spent some with Nate, talking with the little boy about the things of his world that interested him. He knew he should try to impart some words of wisdom to his youngest but in the end he didn't want to shatter his youngest's innocence as that would come soon enough. So they talked, then Clint hugged and kissed him, and then sent him to sit with his siblings.

Then Laura came over to him, and once more they kissed like there was no tomorrow, before they pulled back, and the sitting together wrapped in each other's arms.

They talked in soft tones, allowing themselves to briefly to escape their present by escaping into the past, remembering their life together. They talked about their children, the dreams they'd accomplished, and the challenges they'd faced as a family. 

Clint gently brushed a stray hair away from Laura's face, looking at her with tenderness. He couldn't help but marvel and be grateful for her strength and resilience. He admired how she had always been there for him and for their children. They'd faced so many battles together, on and off the field, and their love have always grown stronger for it.

"Five minutes!" one of the guards yelled out, shattering their quiet time together.

Clint looked into her eyes, nodded, and after one last kiss, they got up. Together, holding onto one another's hands, they walked back over to their children as it was now at last time for their last goodbyes. 

Clint had no final words for his children beyond telling them how much he loved them. Instead, he just held onto them as tight as he could, and let himself believe time had frozen. Then the sound of the guards coming to take his family back out shattered the peace. His heart shattered as he made himself let go before tany orders were issued to him.

He stood against the wall, and watched as they left clinging to each other. He called out, "I love you all so much! Never forget that! I love you!"

Laura looked into his eyes one last time, and told him, "You were a good husband and loving father, Clint Barton, and we will always remember that! We love you!"

With those words, his family was gone.

Just over an hour later, the same guards returned to take him to the execution chamber, They bound his hands behind him, and led him down a hallway his family thankfully hadn't seen. He was led into a room that on one end a screen had been set up to conceal the firing squad's identities, and on the other a metal pole had been placed into the floor. They led him to the pole where the cuff were briefly unlocked so they could secure his hands behind the pole. Finally the fastened his body to the pole with leather straps before a target was pinned to his shirt over his heart. 

"Oh you're not inspiring a lot of confidence from me if these guys need a visual aid to find their target," he quipped.

The guard said nothing but instead stood to the side, coming to attention as a lone figure entered the room. When Clint turned his head to meet the gaze of the man who had entered, one lone eye gazed back. One eye full of all sorts of emotions with the most prominent being sadness.

"Hello, sir," Clint said quietly. "I'd heard rumors you'd be the one to give the order but I didn't really believe it until just now."

Nick Fury nodded, "I'm sorry it came to this, Clint, that it's me. But since we're the ones who agreed to carry out this... entire thing, I have to be the one who gives the order."

"Of course, sir. I wouldn't expect otherwise."

"Three minutes, Director."

Clint swallowed, and dropped his gaze.

"I will look after them you know... from a distance as I don't imagine she'll want anything to do with me after this," Fury murmured.

Clint knew Laura might eventually forgive Fury for his role in this but he didn't think it was wise to say so. Instead, Clint just nodded, and said, "Thank you, sir. That means more to me than you know."

"One minute until we're broadcasting!"

Fury looked at the guard, who took out a black hood, and approached Clint.

"I don't need that. I'm not afraid of dying," Clint said, moving his head away.

"I'm sorry but you have no choice. It's one of the things that's been insisted on," Nick told him.

"I guess they don't want people to see the life leaving my eyes."

"I  guess not."

Clint sighed, and allowed the guard to slip the hood on.

"Twenty seconds."

"Godspeed, Barton," Fury said before he walked over to the side.

"You too, sir," Clint said.

Clint assumed they were live on the airwaves when he heard the sound of the firing squad enter the room. He listened as they positioned themselves opposite of his position without any verbal commands.

"Do you have any final words?" Fury asked him.

"The only thing I want to say is, I am sorry for how I was like Thanos and I thought I had the right to bring balance to the universe. I didn't and I hurt innocents because of it. I hope those who love me can forgive me one day."

Fury waited a moment to see if he would speak again, and when he didn't he yelled out, "Ready your weapons!"

Clint heard the sound of the guns being readied.

"Aim!"

He swallowed, his heart and breathing quickening.

This was it.

"Fire!"

Deafening shots rang out, and Clint felt the bullets pierce his heart.

Then his head rolled forward, and his body went limp.

A medic on standby went forward, and listened for a heartbeat, then looked at Fury.

"The prisoner is dead."

"Time of death, 10:07PM, December 7th."

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It's a typical Friday evening at Stark Industries, and Tony was very restless. He'd just finished a big deal and he was looking for a way to loosen up and wind down. Naturally not knowing what else to do, he turned to alcohol.

Tony headed back to his lab, and he pulled out a bottle of his favorite whiskey. He took a long swig from the burning drink, and then he made his way to the office of Pepper Potts. He really doesn't know **why**. Perhaps he just wanted some company. Or perhaps he just wanted to confess to something that had been on his mind from the first moment he has met Miss Potts.

Pepper was surprised when she looked up and saw Tony standing in the doorway with a whiskey bottle in his hand.

"Uh why are you here, Tony?" she asked.

"I just wanted someone to talk to is all," he slurred.

Resisting the urge to sigh, Pepper motioned for him to have a seat, since she knew better than to try to argue with him when he's drunk. Tony sat down in the chair across her desk, and he took another swig from his bottle.

"You know what I've been thinking bout a lot lately, Pepper?" Tony asked, his words slurring a bit.

"What have you been thinking about?" she asked, actually curious

"Bout us," Tony answered, actually looking a little embarrassed.

"What about us?" Pepper asked, confused.

"Well, I... I think that I'm in love with you. That's what!"

His words were even more slurred than before, so it took her a moment to figure out what he'd said. Pepper couldn't help her gasp, as her eyes widened in shock. The last thing she'd expect was for Tony Stark, the self-proclaimed notorious playboy as well as commitment-phobe, to confess his love for her. She honestly didn't know what to say, but she had to say something.

"Tony, I don't-" Pepper started to say, but Tony cut her off.

"I know, it's likely just the whiskey doing the talking but I really **do** care about you, Pep. You're they only one who has ever been able to put up with my crap for so long!"

In spite of his drunken state, there was a sincerity in his voice that was rear for her to head from him, and Pepper couldn't help her smile that arose from what he'd said.

"You know, I care about you too, Tony," she admitted, reaching over her desk to touch his hand, "But you have to realize your judgement is being clouded by the alcohol. Why don't we talk about this again after you've slept it off and sober? Hmm?"

Tony nodded, his eyes closing as if he was already drifting off into a drunken slumber. Pepper helped him up from the chair and led him out of her office, making sure he got safely into his car, and that Happy would take him home before she returned to her own work.

When she returned to her desk, Pepper could not help but wonder if it was the alcohol doing all the talking, or had Tony meant what he'd said to her? Maybe the alcohol was to blame but something in her told her Tony's words hadn't been just the ramblings of a drunken man. As she went back to work, she supposed that only time would tell the truth.

As she sat at her desk, Pepper couldn't help but wonder if Tony truly meant what he had said. Maybe the alcohol really was to blame, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that maybe there was some truth to Tony's words. Only time would tell.

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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.

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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.

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Almost from the moment they met, Fitz and Simmons were always a dynamic duo, whether they were working on new tech or fighting off the latest Hydra threat. Each and every ordeal or trial they had came through since joining Coulson's team made them all the more stronger when it was over.

Then one day, during an assignment that was supposed to be simple, they found themselves in a dire situation. They were trapped in a Hydra base, surrounded by enemies, and they had no way out. Fitz came to quickly realize the gravity of the situation, and he was beginning to doubt their chance of surviving this.

When Simmons could see the worry as well as the fear he was trying to hide etched on Fitz's face, she knew she had to do something to boost his spirits. "Fitz," she said, and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Remember what May is always telling us. Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use."

Fitz gave her a skeptical look. "That's easy for May to say. She's bloody trained agent after all. Me... you... the two of us are just bloody scientists!"

Simmons shook her head. "That's not true, Fitz. We've been through this before. We're always facing impossible odds, and in the past we've come out on top. This is no different! We can do it again."

When Fitz gave her a look, and he could see the determination in Jemma's eyes. He knew she was right. They had to and they would find a way out of this, no matter what it took.

So they put their two heads together to come up with a distraction. The move would be risky of course, but no more so than remaining in a base full of SHIELD hating HYDRA agents!

As they put their plan into action, Fitz felt his confidence and courage growing. With every moment that went by and they were not captured, he no longer doubted their chances of survival. He kept his focus sharp on the task at hand, and he was determined to see it through.

Their plan worked, and thankfully a few hours later they walked back into their own base where they knew they were safe. As they entered the base and made their way to Coulson's office, Fitz told Simmons, "You're right, Jemma. Courage truly is like a muscle. We need to be sure to use it more in the future."

"Yes, we do because every time we use it, it'll only grow all the more stronger!" Simmons concluded with a smile.

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Before her Daddy died, Morgan had worn pajamas that were her favorite colors, or favorite cartoon characters, or had designs with her favorite things on them. She was a little girl who loved unicorns, fairies, and other things her mother had called whimsical. Morgan didn't know what the word whimsical meant, but she knew it was a good thing.

But after her Daddy died, Morgan still wore the same pajamas to bed each night. This did not change for the first few months after her Daddy's death, and it wouldn't change until one day when she went shopping with Mommy and Aunt Tina. As they were walking through a store, Morgan spotted something in the sleepwear department.

"Mommy, look!" Morgan said with excitement, interrupting her aunt.

Pepper gave her sister an apologetic look, then turned to her daughter and spoke in a gentle tone. "Morgan, sweetie, you interrupted Aunt Tina. It's important to be polite by waiting for your turn to speak."

Morgan looked at her aunt. "I'm sorry, Aunt Tina."

"It's okay, sweetheart," Tina said, smiling kindly at Morgan. "So what did you want to show us?"

"I just saw the neatest pajamas!" Morgan exclaimed, her face lighting up.

"Where are they?" Pepper asked.

Morgan took her hand, and led her back to the sleepwear department. They only had to backtrack a little way, and when they arrived at what she wanted to show her mother, she pointed to the pajamas. "Look at them! Can I get them, Mommy?" Displayed before the three of them was a pair of pajamas that looked like Iron Man's suit.

Tina looked at her older sister, and when she saw the tears in her eyes, she wrapped an arm around her shoulders. In the meantime, Pepper took a quick deep breath and nodded, "Of course you can have them, sweetie."

Morgan squealed with excitement.

Pepper smiled through her tears, happy to see her daughter excited again. "Okay, you need to try them on before we buy them." She took Morgan's hand and guided her towards the changing room.

While Morgan tried on the Iron Man pajamas, Pepper and Tina sat outside the changing room and talked quietly as they waited. Pepper opened up about how difficult it had been to help Morgan cope with her father's death while at the same time she was trying to deal with her own grief. "I just want to make sure she's happy," she concluded.

Tina gave her sister a sympathetic smile. "I know it's tough, Ginny, but you're doing a great job. Morgan is such a wonderful little girl." she said. "And those pajamas are sure to bring a smile to her face."

Pepper nodded, so grateful for her sister's support again. A few moments later, Morgan came out from the changing room, a great big grin.

"Look, Mommy, I'm a superhero!" Morgan said, striking a pose, "Just like my Daddy!"

Pepper laughed despite how much her heart was aching and hugged her daughter tightly. "Yes, you are, my little superhero," she said, feeling a sense of hope and joy in her heart for the first time since Tony's death.

Current Music: 524 words

innitmarvelous_og

T'Challa had just returned from his journey to the ancestral planes, where he had met his father, T'Chaka. He was sitting in his private chambers, staring at art images that represented both Bast and Sekhmet.

"Baba, you know I am not like Shuri, who scoffs at many of our traditional ways. I must admit that for the longest time, I did not truly believe that we are embraced by Bast after we die and we live on on the ancestral plane after we live life here. But now that I have seen you, I know it is, and we do live on. You live on!" T'Challa said out loud, speaking to the empty room.

A voice answered him, but not that of his father. Instead, the voice was that of his mother, Ramonda. "But of course he does, my son," she said, stepping out from the shadows. "Do you think that the bond between parent and child ever truly ends when death claims one of them?"

"Mother, I did not hear you come in," he said, standing up to greet her.

Ramonda gave him a warm smile, "I came to see how you were doing, after your journey to the ancestral planes," she said. "It makes me happy to see that you are in good spirits."

T'Challa returned her smile, "I am more than just in good spirits, Mother. I am overjoyed. I cannot express the relief I feel now that I know that Baba has not passed into nothing and that he lives on."

Ramonda nodded, understanding the depth of her son's emotions. "Your father was a great man, T'Challa. And he is not only to be found on the ancestral plane now but..." She laid her hand over his heart, "He is also here in your heart. For always. He is always with you, my son. You have only to look there if you are in need of him."

Current Music: 322 words

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