#Authors note:

Coulson didn't die. I don't care what you say, he didn't die.

Steve Rogers/OC pairing. Hope you enjoy, any constructive criticism would be appreciated. Much love! Xo

I was sat in a very large, very posh, boarding room. The majority of it was taken up by a long glass table, surrounded by black leather chairs, one of which I was perched upon, nervously tapping my feet. I knew nothing of my new job, only that it paid gloriously well, due to certain, undisclosed, "safety aspects".

I had arrived here an hour ago, and had been immediately ushered into the room in which I now sat, and had not had a word said to me since. I sighed, and once again straightened out my pencil skirt, looking around me. The only decoration the room contained was a circular panel on the wall, with a very minimalist image of an eagle.

I jumped slightly as the door suddenly opened, and a small, kind looking man entered the room. He wore an expensive looking suit, had blue grey eyes and a receding hairline. He regarded me with a most sympathetic expression, as if he knew I had some horrible fate in store for me. I stood up, held my head high and held out my hand. "Valerie Keyes." I was relieved to hear that my voice sounded calm and level.

He shook my offered hand. "Agent Coulson. It's a pleasure to meet you at last Miss Keyes, I've heard a lot about you."

"All of it good, I hope." I smiled gently.

"Yes," he moved over to the chairs, gesturing me to sit down. "You have a most impressive CV. Graduated university at the age of eighteen, I gather." After briefly looking down at the file he was carrying, he continued; "Since then, you have worked your way up your chosen carrier ladder, first offering counsel to the average American citizens, then moving to a more, ah, affluent clientele."

I smiled. It was no secret that the larger the pay check, the more likely it was that I was to do the job. I did not however, keep all the proceeds to myself. I was paying my nephew (orphaned at the age of 9) to get through college, and paying my grandmother to be looked after in a senior citizens home.

Jarring me back from my memories, Agent Coulson continued; "Ah, I see you've worked with Miss Potts."

I frowned. "That information is classified." I said, through gritted teeth.

He smiled sadly. "I'm afraid nothing is classified to us Miss Keyes." Resisting the urge to snatch the file out of his hands, I tightened my ponytail.

To my relief, he closed the file and set it on the table. "Well, you'll be pleased to know you'll be working with her partner, Tony Stark."

I raised my eyebrows. "You've brought me here to offer counsel to Tony Stark?" From what I had heard from Pepper, this was certainly going to be... Interesting. How she put up with the man is beyond me, he sounded very much like my nephew when he was younger: an easily distracted toddler.

"Well, not just him i'm afraid." He cleared his throat. "I'm sure you're aware of all that has happened recently."

Ah- the 'Aliens.' I smiled. Whilst in session with Marcia Cross, she had completely broken down, the idea of these 'aliens' returning terrified her beyond belief. Tom Cruise, on the other hand, had ran around the room shouting "I knew it! I knew it! I told you!"

"So i'm to be attending to the other.. Ah.." I didn't want to use the word superhero.

Coulson chuckled. "The rest of the, uh, team, yes. They may not take it very well though."

My eyes widened. "You haven't told them?"

"I believe they are being told at the moment, so don't worry."

As if on cue, I heard a gunshot being fired, followed by furious shouting. I sighed. For one of the first times, I was apprehensive about coming into work the next day.