**ADDED NOTE – I've revised this chapter as I realised I'm a generation out of sync! Silly me. I'd like to thank those who have sent me messages and reviews, it's appreciated. If at any time you notice errors, please let me know. Many thanks for your support!**

'Family Ties'

Chapter 1

What do you do when you have acquired information that blows your life apart? After years of painful research and heartache, trying to track down people who may be your family…perhaps being an orphan with no clue as to your roots might be a lot better than what you hold in your hot little hand right now, a piece of paper that confirms that you are a direct descendant of one of the most prolific figures in the world at this point in time. What do you do? Hell only knows….

42 year old Marie savagely threw the piece of paper onto the table after scrunching it up. A retail assistant, she had just gotten off shift and whilst she was absolutely exhausted, she knew this bit of information would keep her awake all night.

So how to deal with this? Walk up to his front door, bang on it loudly and say 'Hey! I'm your grand kid! You had a quick fumble around once with a girl before everyone knew who you were and my mother was the result! Good, eh?'….

Yeah right. She'd be sectioned, or worse…

Marie didn't drink. BUT….she had a bottle of brandy that was about two years old in the kitchen cupboard, that'll do! Got given it a few years ago, but it would hit the spot.

Well, it certainly did! The next morning, she groaned and dragged herself out of her bed, turned on the shower and hoped to hell it would wash away the raging hangover she had about now! But it gave her time to think…about what she was going to do next.

Coffee was next, leaning over her iPad, checking out flight prices and how to well..um…deal with the approach. Didn't think she would get away with marching up to the front door of Avengers HQ and rap hard on the door. Truth was, there was no plan, and she would have to wing it…

The Bank of Marie would groan under the strain of the purchase of flight tickets, she had enough for about 3 weeks of cheap hotel fees, and that was it. If she had no luck by the end of that time? Well, that would be it…and back to her life of an orphan she would go, no complaints.

But she had to TRY for God's sake…

Years of being moved from one foster home to another, Marie had never settled, she had become cynical, often seen as unfeeling, selfish…and basically, a complete bitch. But like many in her situation, she lacked a stable home, had no real aspirations or goals, and just tended to move from one dream to another…drifting. Drifting was a good word. Her relationships never lasted, jobs never longer than a couple of years. In her mind she was always looking for SOMETHING, never knowing what that SOMETHING was.

But finally she had a lead. But why the hell couldn't it be someone normal?