Chapter 4 Purpose

Ella walked out onto Stark's balcony, throwing herself into a chair and staring out across the city skyline. She loved this city. It was the first thing she really could remember about her childhood. The smell of the city and the way everything looks at night. That was her favorite time… night. Things were never really quiet, but at night, things seemed right. And all of the destruction that had been caused by the chitauri could not be seen. Up here it was even better. This was the only thing she didn't want to leave behind. This balcony had become her sanctuary while she had to stay with Stark and Pepper.

Ella closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the familiar scents bringing her comfort. She could not really remember much of her childhood. Her first memory was from when she was about 4 or 5. Was that normal? Probably not. Nothing about her was normal. Her mother had died when she was 8. At least she thought she was 8. So much time had passed it was hard to remember. She only remembered her mother's face because of the picture she kept in her bag, hidden away where no one else knew about it. She never knew her father. Her mother would not tell her about him but Ella got the feeling that he had died or gone far away.

"Well that was interesting." Phil said shutting the sliding glass doors behind him as he came out onto the balcony with Ella. He moved a chair closer to Ella's and sat watching her closely. "It seems like you've found out a lot about your abilities in my absence."

He reached over and took Ella's hand, sensing her frustration. He gave the hand a small tug and she turned her head to look at him. A strand of long fiery red hair fell across her eyes as she did.

"What?" she asked, no longer in the mood for conversation.

"Thor might be onto something," Phil replied pushing the strand of hair back out of her face.

"Meaning?" She was purposely being cryptic and Phil knew it.

"Maybe you are Asgardian." Coulson replied simply.

Ella took her hand away from his touch and shook her head.

"Don't dismiss the idea yet," Phil said, taking her hand again almost against her will. "Do they have any idea how old you are? Have any of the tests showed any sign of your true age?"

Ella shivered at the thought even though the air was warm. She hated thinking about her age. Finally she drew in a breath and spoke. "No, all of the tests, blood work and even my girly parts seem to be that of a healthy normal female between the ages of 18 and 21. Not too shabby for a girl approaching her fiftieth birthday huh?" Her voice was bitter and her eyes began to sting with tears.

Phil put an arm around her and pulled her closer to him, allowing her to cry. When he knew she was done, he allowed her to sit back in her own chair and wipe her tears away with the back of her hand.

"I'm so old!" She said with disgust when she was able to speak again. "I know 50 isn't really old, but when you look like I do and get treated the way I do, it makes me feel… gross! I get hit on by teenagers for Christ sake! I can't date because I'd feel like a freakin' pedophile! I'm just… old!"

"Yeah," Phil replied taking her hand again. He was glad their friendship had survived his absence. Her crying in his presence had proven that their friendship was indeed intact. "But you're pretty hot for being almost 50!"

"Bite me, Coulson." She smiled at him and gave his hand a grateful squeeze.

"Oh, hell no!" Ella shrieked at Thor who stood looking down at her disapprovingly. "I have no interest in Bi-frosting my happy ass to a rainbow bridge in Asgard to go in front of the ALL FATHER to inform him that his son, THE GOD OF MISCHIEF, is still alive. He's your dad right? You're his son, he will listen to you!" Ella's voice was on the verge of hysterical as she finished speaking.

Thor put his hands on her shoulders as if he thought she might just take flight in her hysteria. "It is not enough for me to say it, Little One. The All Father must see it, the way you helped me to see. I cannot do what you did. You MUST go with us to Asgard.

Ella tried to back away from Thor, but he had cornered her on the balcony where she had been talking with Coulson. Her retreat was cut short by the wall of glass at her back .

"I don't think this is a good idea," Coulson said getting up from his chair and stepping forward protectively between Ella and Thor.

"She can feel Loki's life force, Son Of Coul. She can help us find him if he is truly on Asgard." Thor pleaded but still took a step back from the much smaller man.

"Even I'm not down with Muffin leaving," Stark replied watching from the glass door. "Especially if it has anything to do with Loki. I've ridden that crazy train, it wasn't a blast."

"Loki isn't the issue," Ella said softly. "He isn't a threat. I just don't want to end up stuck in a place like Asgard with the gods and goddesses, beautiful… TALL people are not going to do much for my self esteem. It's bad enough that everyone here is taller than me. There they are all like him!" She pointed to Thor as if that made her point. "There, Loki's ant-boot analogy will have a whole new meaning for me. I'm pretty sure Thor poops bigger than me."

Stark laughed, unable to control himself.

"I do not think that is even close to accurate." Thor replied seriously.

Ella wasn't sure what part of what she had said Thor was disagreeing with, at that moment she didn't care.

"I agree with Ella, she'll get lost over there," Stark replied when he was able to get his laughter under control.

Coulson put his hand against Ella's back in a protective gesture. I'm not comfortable with her leaving Thor. I really don't think this is the answer."

"I promise she will be safe at all times. She will be under my protection and no one will touch her. All I need is for her to help Odin see, the way she helped me to see, and if Loki remains on Asgard, she can assist by pointing me in the right direction. My men and I will take it from there and Ella will remain in the protective walls of the palace. Once I find my brother, I will return her to Midgard safe and sound, you have my word."

"Yeah… it's the AFTER you find Loki part that bothers me Point Break. I say if Loki wants everyone to think he's dead , let him have fun with that. I'm good with it." Stark stated firmly.

Ella was shocked that he would even care if she went with Thor or if Loki decided to skewer her with his glow stick of destiny that Stark is always talking about. In fact Ella thought, he almost sounded sincere.

"Stark, really, Loki isn't a threat." Ella replied nudging him with her shoulder. He had come closer to the group as the discussion had progressed.

"If my brother still lives, I need to find him. And our father needs to know he mourns unnecessarily. My father and I need to fix the wrong that was done to Loki. Ella can help me with this, she is the only one who can." Thor replied watching her, pleading with his eyes.

At Thor's words Ella moved forward away from the protective stances of both Coulson and Stark. "I've changed my mind. I want to help Thor." She smiled over her shoulder at Phil. "You know I have always wanted to be more than just one of SHIELDs assets Phil. Ok, so I will never be an Avenger, but even a field agent is better than what I am now. This is my chance to prove that I am something more."

"Damn it," Phil sighed defeated. "You had to put it like that didn't you big guy." Phil eyed Thor still not completely comfortable with the situation.

"I will go with you to Asgard Thor. I will help you make Odin see Loki is still alive and I will do what I can to help you find your brother."

"Fury really isn't going to like this," Coulson replied trying one last ditch effort to change her mind.

"Fury can suck it!" Ella shot back. "This is pay back for having my ass with a babysitter instead of in training! I had to beg Romanoff to give me the very basic training in hand to hand combat and hand guns."

"You shoot guns now? Phil asked slightly taken aback by her demeanor.

"Yeah, I do!" Ella turned on him "And Barton taught me how to shoot a bow, and I'm really good."

"She is," Stark agreed. "She tried to use me for target practice more than once while I was in the suit trying to rebuild the tower. She wanted me to teach her to fly, but I figured she already had the broom and knew how to ride it, she didn't need the suit!"

Ella laughed despite her anger at the situation. Some of the things Stark said were off color but really funny, even when they were directed at her. "It's settled Coulson," she said finally, approaching him again. She touched his arm lightly. "I promise to be careful. But I am going to Asgard with Thor."