XAVIER MANSION

As I drove into the garage, I was greeted by a familiar face. "Hey, Logan. How's it goin'?"

"What do you think? You didn't give me an explanation when I last called you."

I sighed. "Let's just get inside. I think this is something all of y'all want to hear."

~:~

"So, they shut down the Tesseract and captured Loki, sending him on his way to sweet Asgardian justice. Plus, I planted a nice punch across that smug face of his."

"That's my girl," Logan chuckled.

"What's the plan now?" A voice asked. Warren.

"Not sure. I'll deal with it along the way." I turned to Hank and the Professor. " Oh, and thanks for the help with the cube. "

"All I did was tell you the machines were going off." Hank replied.

"Y'all did more than that, Hank. You helped me get my brother back. I can't thank you enough for that."

" How is he, my dear? " the professor asked.

"Better than he could be, but he's getting there."

Suddenly the alarms went off. Logan turned and grinned at me. "Wanna join us? It'll be like old times."

"Nah, I've had enough excitement this week." I hugged him. "Have fun. Stay safe. Punch ole Sabretooth for me."

He saluted me, running after the others towards the Blackbird.

I watched as they flew off. I heard steps behind me and thoughts even louder. "What do you want, Warren?"

"Can't I just say hi for once?"

I turned around and have him a pointed look. "No, you can't . Because every time you come around, you always want to talk. Well, you had your chance. You blew it."

" Don't you think I know that, Ange! I regret what I did. I know you were trying to help. "

"Then, why did you push me away?"

He opened his mouth and closed it shut, and finally spoke. "I didn't want to hurt you more than I already did. "

"Did you ever stop to think that pushing me away hurt more than the scars?"

He stood there speechless.

"That's what I thought." I turned and started to walk away. "I'm leaving tonight. Tell the others I'll call them when I get settled." He nodded and I walked off leaving the winged mutant behind me.

~:~

UNSPECIFIED LOCATION

"Okay, Clint. Where are you taking me?"

"You'll have to wait and see." He smiled as he drove through the hills.

A couple hours later, we drove up to a farmhouse.

"Dude, it's a farm. What's so top secret about it? " the door creaked open and revealed a woman and two kids.

"Them." He led me towards them. " Angie, meet Laura. My wife. "

She held out her hand to me. "I've heard a lot about you. Pleasure to finally meet you."

I shook her hand. "Me too. Who are these little guys?" I moved down to the kids' level. "My name's Angie, what's yours? " The boy hid behind his mother's leg, while the little girl ran up and hugged me.

"I Li'a" the girl lisped.

Laura laughed. "This is Cooper. Sorry he's a little shy. But I'm sure he'll warm up to you. He did to Tasha."

"Tasha? Or course she knows."

Clint picked up Lila and threw her in the air. "Come on, sis. Let's show you around."

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STARK/AVENGERS TOWER- AFTER IM3

"Do you have to go?"

" I'm sorry, Pepper. I'm done with all this. " I replied gesturing to the air around me. "I can't stay here and watch him hurt himself anymore. "

"You're just giving up!"

" No, I...Maybe I am. But that doesn't change anything. " I pointed towards the window. "That portal did something to him. It messed with his head. He destroyed the suits. But he's going to..."

"Going to what? " She asked. I shook my head. "What did you see?"

"He's going to do something that will bite him back."

"That's why he needs you. "

"No, Pep. He needs to learn this himself. I can't teach him everything anymore."

She nodded and gave me a hug. "Stay safe."

I hugged her back. "I will. Don't worry, Steve will be there in a few months. He's transferring to D.C. soon. "

"I guess that does make me feel better. Do I need to read you the rules?"

"No drugs, no boys, and basically don't do anything Tony would do." I smirked.

"That's my girl. "

~:~