Welcome to the second part of my WAR Trilogy. As always for these fanfics, I own none of the Avengers, I do not own SHIELD, and all that nonsense. I own their kids: Aspen, Essie, Noah, Katie, etc.; I own Tyr, and Teo, and some other basic characters. I think you guys get the point. Anyhow! Here's part two. If you've just stumbled across this and want to read the first part go and visit my page! The first part is called: War of the Stolen. And if you're super interested: the back story for all these characters can be found in my first fanfic: Settling In.

Thanks for reading!

-randomblueboots

December 31st 2020

Paris, France

"Good morning, sunshine." Theodora whispered to her newborn son with a smile. He stared up at her with big blue eyes. She wondered what color they would change to as he grew older. Would they remain blue like hers or turn the chocolate brown of his father's? She was giddy this morning. They had been released from the hospital only yesterday and she had packed all her bags quickly and with excitement. "We're going home today, pumpkin." She whispered to her baby boy. "We're going home, Artie!"

She thought about New York city with such fondness that she wished she could board her plane and leave right that second. The moment they reached New York she'd be reporting in at SHIELD HQ, and then she'd hurry down the streets to New York's finest tower: Avengers Tower.

"As soon as we get to New York, Artie, your going to meet your Daddy." She whispered, pulling the tiny baby into her arms. "We've got to leave for the airport soon, okay, so Mama's gonna get dressed now." She kissed him, lay him down on her bed again, and was about to pull off her shirt when the door burst open and in walked a figure she thought she'd never see again. Oh no. Oh no! Please...

"Good morning, Teo." Tyr grinned. "Did you miss me?"

"What are you doing here?! Odin locked you up!"

"Odin cannot keep the god of war chained away, my dear." Tyr laughed, his voice hurt Artie's ears and the baby began to cry. Tyr's eyes flickered over to Theodora's bed, and his face contorted with rage. "You have a child!" He shouted.

"Please!" Theodora grabbed her son and pressed him against her, backing against the wall, trying to protect herself from the god of war. It had been years since she'd seen him, not too many years, but when she was working with the Avengers he had attacked Asgard. The avengers, and some SHIELD agents had helped bring him down. She had been one of those SHIELD agents. But, Tyr had taken a liking to her... an unhealthy sort of liking.

"Who is the father?!" Tyr boomed. "I demand you tell me! Who is it? I will destroy him!"

"No, please... you can't..." Theodora sobbed, "He doesn't... he doesn't even know about Artie." She was a good agent, but she wasn't strong enough to face down Tyr, especially not in the state she was in. She was still weak from giving birth to Artie only a few days ago, and before that she hadn't practiced any sparring because of being pregnant for a couple months. Tyr was trouble, for sure, but Theodora's main job was to protect her son.

"You're coming with me Teo. I will keep you safe in the realm above the realms."

"No! Tyr, you can't. I belong here-" Theodora groaned. "Artie belongs with me!"

"Your son shall come as well, but he will only live if you swear this: You shall never speak to him about his true father or his true birth place ever. I am his father now. And if you tell Ryker who his true father is then I will kill him." Theodora looked down at her son's innocent face and shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Fine." She whispered. "I won't."

"Good. I am glad we have reached an understanding." Tyr grabbed her arm and they were gone in a burst of burning light.

5,834 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean

The beeping woke Maria and she groaned. What time was it? She looked at her watch. Four. Four PM. She sat up slowly and remembered. She was at work. Dammit. Stupid baby. She rubbed her swollen belly where her and Steve's second child was nearly ready to come and smiled. Didn't mean it, but I've just gotta get some good sleep tonight, honey. You can't keep me awake all night again.

The beeping continued and she looked at her computer screen where an alert was flashing. Huh... a strange energy spike. It appeared to be coming from Paris France. She sighed, and grabbed her phone, dialing a friend.

"Hello?" Clint's voice replied. There was screaming in the background and Maria winced.

"I need you and Bruce to come down here."

"Now?" Clint asked.

"Yes."

"Thank god. NAT! NAT!" There was a pause as the screaming got closer and Nat's muffled voice said something. "Maria wants me down at HQ." Nat's words were very audible now.

"WHAT?! NOW?" She cursed in Russian. "I can't get Irina down for a nap and Alexei's howling. You think I want you to leave now!?"

"Hey, I'm sorry. Duty calls."

"Clinton Francis Barton! I'm going to kill you when you get back."

"I love you too, dear! I'll be there in a couple minutes, M." Then he was gone. Maria sighed, and stared at the strange energy readings. There was a knock on the door.

"Come on in!" She spun around in her chair as the door opened.

"Mama!" A two year old with light brown hair came dashing towards her with a goofy grin on his face. Her husband followed behind.

"Hey, little man!" Maria grinned, pulling her son into a huge hug.

"Hey, dear." Steve kissed her forehead gently, and then addressed her belly, "Hey, baby girl." He turned back to his wife, "What's going on?"

"I'm sending Clint and Bruce off to France. Some strange energy readings."

"Huh." Steve frowned, scratching his head.

"I'm afraid it might have something to do with Theodora. Both energy readings came from near her apartment." Maria whispered.

"Ah, so you're asking me to be discreet."

"Yes, please. I don't want to worry anyone."

"You got it."

"Mama." Noah looked up at his mother, his bright blue eyes were filled with worry. "You're not leaving again, are you?"

"No, no! I can't. Your baby sister is going to be born soon, I have to stay near home so daddy can be with me, and you can meet your sister as soon as she is born."

"Oh."

"But Uncle Clint and Uncle Bruce are just going to go check something out for me."

"Okay."

"I hope Theodora's alright." Steve frowned.

"I hope so too..."