Wow, Its been so long since I put pen to paper, but since seeing The Avengers I just HAD to write something, I fell in love with the movie (and Loki;)), and I cant get it out of my brain. Apologies its not a master piece, I'm definatly rusty, but I'm enjoying writing again, so we will just have see what happens and hope for the best. I'm thinking it will be a slowish build up, as I want to try and keep it as realistic as possible. I hope someone enjoys what follows:)

Disclaimer - I do not own the Avengers ( just give me time), but any other characters are my own.

The end credits began to roll up the screen. Sighing, she hit the standby button and tried to shake off the usual feelings of frustration and longing, Rising from the sofa she shuffled towards the DVD player, removed the disc and threw it on top of the television.

"Mutants...yeah right" she snorted as she turned to head for her bedroom, barely making three steps when the telephone rang. The shrill ringing made her jump, she'd almost forgotten she owned a phone, people called so rarely. She lifted the receiver and made a cautious greeting, but the response sent a chill through her stomach (a feat not easily achieved.)

"Cordelia, darling."

For a second, she couldn't speak, sighing inwardly she managed to force out a responce,

"Hello mother."

Cordelia and her parents had never been very close, she had a tendency to push away anyone who cared for her. It wasn't that they were bad parents, far from it, they had doted on Cordelia, even if it was more in money than hugs. And then there was Melissa. To this day she couldn't speak her name without losing some control. Melissa was Cordelia's older sister by two years and in Cordelia's eyes, her parents favourite. When Cordelia was younger she had idolised Melissa, she was pretty and always surrounded by friends and Cordelia wanted nothing more than be like her. But as time passed and Cordelia grew more awkward and Melissa more popular, jealousy began to creep upon Cordelia and the once idolism turned into resentment.

From an early age Cordelia felt as though she didn't fit in with the rest of her family, her priorities were different, her little mannerisms were shared with neither sibling nor parent and everyone chose to ignore her apparent lack of "runs in the family" bone structure.

But no matter how much she resented Melissa, she still loved her sister and if she had one wish, it would be to go back to Melissa's 15th Birthday and change the past...

The official report of the fire was inconclusive, the fire department could find no apparent cause of the fire that tragically took the life of a 15year old girl and seriously injured her 13year old sister. The fire appeared to start in the centre of the youngest bedroom, but with no obvious sign of arson or accident, the case was closed with no answers.

Cordelia couldn't remember that afternoon no matter how hard she tried, her brain had managed to block it out completely. Post-traumatic amnesia the doctors had called it, they assured her it was normal and her memory would return in time. It never did return and her amnesia turned into a repressed memory that threatened to never re-surface. All Cordelia was left with from that day was severe burn scaring on her back and an overwhelming sense of guilt. Worst of all, she was left without a sister.

"Cordelia, are you listening to me?" Her mothers voice brought her back to the present.

"Yes, sorry, something about a guard, and mum, please its Cody, not Cordelia."

Her mother sighed, "we have been invited to a special musical and art presentation in Stuttguard."

"Oh, thats nice I hope you have a good time" was all Cody could reply, unsure of why her mother was calling to tell her this.

"Cody, we have been invited, your father and I and yourself."

"I don't think so mother," she replied unable to conceal her groan, "I don't think its my thing"

"This is a very prestigious event Cody, you are very honoured to have been invited, it would be a personal insult to the host if you were not to attend." Her mothers voice was getting higher by the second.

"I doubt he'd even notice I'm there, let alone not there."

"Cordelia, your father and I have invested too much into this gallery, we will not jeapodise it with your wild ways."

Cody wanted to protest how this could be considered wild, but decided against it as her mother continued,

"You are booked on the 11am flight to Germany tomorrow, I have sent all the details to your email. You will be on that flight Cordelia." Cody said nothing. "Your father and I look forward to seeing you." And with that, the phone call ended.

It was a second or two before Cody realised her mother had hung up, and it took a further second for the smell of burning plastic to reach her.

"Damn it" she murmered as she quickly put the phone down, desperately trying to ignore the finger marks now permanently imprinted into the receiver.