Avengers AU Chapter 7:

Author's Note: Hey, managed to write another chapter. One thing I've got to add though, I'm sorry but because in this fic Mia and Tony are hopefully going to be a thing, Pepper won't be in this fic. I've altered their origin stories to not include Pepper. So sorry Pepperony fans. Not much else to add but, thanks for sticking with the story and please review. Enjoy the chapter!

Padfootl0ve: Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you liked the update. Just got to say though, I love your username. Sirius Black A.K.A Padfoot is awesome and I think he may be my favourite Marauder. Thanks for the compliment and hope you keep reviewing.

Azizul Adnan: I know it is a long chapter, sorry. I just didn't know how to actually end the chapter. I knew it was much longer than before. This one is even longer. Sorry again. Yeah, the change was when she was in the toilet instead of Steve talking to the tour group. Yeah, Nina's part is so sorted out. Haven't left anything open with that. Psyche. Totally not. I have a kind of plan for her and wondering whether I should put it into motion. Thank you so much for your compliments on my writing! I loved reading them all. Funnily enough I was actually so scared I hadn't written everyone in enough and devalued them as a character but here you are complimenting me on how much I've included them so thank you so much for that. Yeah, I loved writing that part in because it is a copy now, I have sort of explained it. But I will explain it fully in the next chapter. I know Jenna Coleman portrayed Bucky's date because of other fanfictions I've read and I wasn't sure whether to include it in mine or not, but the whole scene I wrote was completely made up. I don't think it went like that at all in the film so what I wrote was just Steve remembering the whole meet and greet in dream form in my AU.

I loved writing 'breaking their walls' because it sort of just came. I made it up and I typed it down and thought, that actually sounds ok. And I don't think that Steve would've wanted to lie to Clara. He doesn't like lying anyway and to Clara would've been almost impossible if it wasn't for 'her own safety' but Clara is still way too perceptive for that. And the Mia and Tony thing, yeah I was surprised by that as well. I didn't realise I actually did want them to be together but when I typed out their scenes I couldn't help but make it sound like they were on the way to being together so I thought 'why not?' plus, Mia is my own character and I think she can go with anyone she wants. She just didn't expect Tony Stark to be that person. And that is what makes it so fun to write and read.

And yes! The Doctor will make an appearance in some other chapters but it will be flashbacks of adventures they have had, ones I have made up and random conversations they have had that I have also made up. Just because the Doctor is awesome but I'm dragging this out until she finally gets to go back to her dimension because I don't want her to suddenly fall in love with Steve or vice versa. I want it to be slow and cute, with awkward moments and with shocked realisations of their love, facing the troubles that their relationship will bring together, trying to overlook the oncoming fact that Clara will have to go no matter how long they try to put it off. I just realised what I wrote. That sounded ok. And thanks again for your compliments on my writing, it really boosts my confidence to upload another chapter. I know I have to include the Doctor because there is no Doctor Who without the Doctor! And I love your reviews. I don't care how planned they are or not. It just makes me happy that you would spend the time to even write it down. Thanks.

Disclaimer: I don't Marvel or Doctor Who at all. I am just a fan who wants to create an AU. Request from me: Please can everyone review? I love reviews and will totally reply. It might make for an extremely long Author's note but I will always make it in bold so you can skip it and go straight to the chapter if you want. Plus I love it when you do, it makes my life so much better, no matter what you have to say.

"Because I'm here." Agent Coulson smoothly interjected pulling out a real gun. Mia swallowed nervously but held her ground, hands on hips while Clara went stiff and pale. She moved to go tell Mia to not push it because she was going to give herself up but only succeeded in getting the gun moved to her body instead. Steve tensed and stood up along with the rest of the Avengers. They knew Coulson would never shoot them but they knew he'd take orders from Fury to shoot and currently Clara and Mia were in that dangerous category. He wouldn't let them be a part of that. Never. Protectiveness washed over him like a breath of life and he got in his defensive stance. He wouldn't let anything happen to Clara. Or Mia. But he equally wouldn't hurt Fury or Coulson. "I'm not a danger. Please put the gun down." Clara asked her voice strangely calm. All eyes were on her but Fury answered for Coulson.

"Why? What proof can you give me?" He spoke, curious but not enough to give the order to put the gun down.

"I'm not a danger as I said but I have no proof. But I know your name or your title because I don't think 'Fury' is your full name." At this Coulson stiffened and stood straighter. "Only my word and my full co-operation if you put the gun down and leave Mia out of this. She doesn't know anything about this. I don't feel comfortable with a trigger happy soldier in the room. Especially with a gun in his hand." She commanded making herself the one in control rather than Fury. She was precise and chose her words carefully. Coulson seemed to notice and lowered his gun slightly as if to say he wasn't a 'trigger happy soldier' as she'd put it but merely loyal to Fury and his protection. Fury was impressed by her command and calm voice and was sizing her up. Could she be a threat or potential asset? She did promise her full co-operation and he could offer her a position in SHIELD.

"Coulson lower the gun." He commanded flicking his hand in a silent signal. "Full co-operation?" He questioned.

"Full co-operation." She confirmed. "But. Only on my terms and I do have conditions. I will try to speak as freely as I can but somethings must be kept secret. I must be able to go after my interrogation and not be put on record at all. And you will not touch Mia. Got that? Don't talk to her unless she asks you a question and don't say anything about SHIELD or UNIT documents. Confidential." Clara repeated, ending on a strained note. She didn't know how to say anything about not mentioning her interrogation to Fury in front of Mia without being obvious. "Do you agree?" She asked, wanting to get out of the flat as quickly as she could. She'd explain later to Mia but now, she needed to go otherwise she'd collapse. She felt weak on her legs, just standing there. She needed activity and to do something. She was losing precious time and couldn't do a thing until she'd gotten this over and done with.

"I agree to your terms and conditions." Fury replied kinder than before and Clara noticed, putting her hands down. "Agent Coulson here will escort you back to Avengers Tower where we'll conduct your interrogation." He explained gesturing to Agent Coulson who put his gun away and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Hello Miss Oswald." He said in his usual voice which calmed everybody. Phil was that type of person. He was a normal person in the midst of the Avengers. He acted like a civilian but he was a highly trusted SHIELD agent. Most would say that he was pretending if they heard what he was like but it was just Phil being himself. He managed to strike a perfect mesh between himself and his work persona. They ended up being one and the same but no one would change it at all.

"Hello…" Clara trailed clearly still wary of the Agent despite his welcoming change.

"Agent Coulson Miss Oswald. But you can call me Phil like the Avengers do if it would make you feel better." He said calmly, making no motion towards her before she did.

"Thank you, Phil." Clara spoke slowly as if testing the name with her voice. "You can call me Clara as well." She added knowing that if she didn't it would be rude and awkward.

"Thank you Clara." He replied, being careful with his words.

"Ok, we'll split up into groups. I'll make my own way back and leave you all to figure it out yourselves. Say your goodbyes and let's get going." Fury ordered, only letting some time for goodbyes because right now, Cara was a civilian. And she had a friend that obviously she hadn't told about any of this. He walked out of the door shaking his head and wondering what was going to happen now.

Tony, sensing how awkward this was and seeing Mia's confused face slowly turning angry again, he intervened. "Mia, its ok. Phil is a good guy. He would protect the people he cares about with his life. I know he just pointed a gun at you but he was only following orders. They didn't know if you were a threat, like us at first." He reasoned trying to calm things down and get Mia to warm up to Phil a bit so she would trust him enough to let Clara go with him. Consequently Clara would trust him.

"Ok." Clara agreed after she saw Mia's nod, knowing that she would have to place at least some trust in this man because he had the gun and she didn't. No taekwondo kick would deflect that. "I guess I'm going with Phil so you guys still need to make your groups and I just want to say bye to Mia if that's alright Phil?" Clara asked turning back to Agent Coulson for confirmation which quickly came with a nod of the head. Clara smiled genuinely at him and turned back to a shocked Mia. "You alright?" She asked, not knowing what to say.

"Not really. You?" Mia said, not knowing either.

"Not really." Clara repeated. "Look, I might be gone for some time so just know, I am going to be fine. I set my terms and you know how angry I can get if he doesn't stick to them. No gun will protect him from me then yeah?" She asked, needing Mia's confirmation before she went. She could feel her voice cracking and tears welling up and saw the same in Mia. She replied with a yeah that cracked sending the tears spilling down her face. "Come here." Clara said breaking down as well. The truth was, she had no idea what would happen. She didn't know if she would come back and she didn't know anything. Her whole life had been pulled out from her feet like a tablecloth. She was falling and she had to let go of the platform she'd found and jump again. "I'll be fine. Make sure you keep those soufflé ingredients in the fridge yeah? I'm going to need them." Clara joked before pulling her in for another hug.

"Yeah. Don't worry. I'm going to get them now." She replied confidently both of them knowing that nothing was certain but both would never face it and preferred to ignore it. She wiped her tears and put her bag on, taking a deep breath and walked out of the flat, before stopping at the doorway. "You'll lock up right?" She asked Clara, as a last remark. They needed some closure and this was the best they were going to get.

"Course." Clara replied trying to keep her voice steady knowing it would crack at any moment. Mia nodded and set off down the hallway. Clara turned to Tony and simply asked "Look after her yeah? I want to know that someone can, even if it isn't me." She said, sending Tony running after Mia with the last words of 'course' copying Clara sending her into a burst of laughter while wiping the tears away. What had even happened in that kitchen?

In the Kitchen before (Tony and Mia):

Tony took a deep breath before he went into the kitchen. He opened the handle and steadied himself. Part of him wanted to laugh at himself for being so weak in front a civilian but the other knew that she wasn't just a civilian. She was something else completely. She could control him like no one he'd ever met before and he loved it for some reason. He found it a fun game they were playing and didn't want it to stop. The door opened to see Mia furiously mixing the pancake mixture to get the lumps out and mouthing along to some song she was listening to. She had earphones that Tony wouldn't have noticed at first but they almost fell into the mixture and she caught it at the last moment. The door made a creaking sound alerting Mia to his arrival. She looked up and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and anger. Tony calmed himself and suddenly felt cold under her stare. "I came to return the glass." He gestured to his hand which held the empty glass and Mia's face cooled.

She simply spoke "Just put it in the sink." She would deal with it later, like everything else. Stuff was going way too fast for her so it was nice to slow down and make pancakes. Although she did wish she could make them with Clara so she could catch up and see what had changed with her. Just to have some time together like they used to. She heaved out a sigh. It was getting to be too much. She moved because she couldn't stay where she last heard Clara. The bad memories it held were forever woven into the walls of that flat and they couldn't be unpicked. Now Clara had come back miraculously and then the Avengers turn up at her door and want to talk to Clara.

She just wanted everything to stop and she could familiarise herself with the new situation and figure out how to best address the situation. Things were moving too fast. Tony moved to the sink and carefully placed the glass in the sink already filled with various plates and glasses. He looked at her back where her hair was strung up in a tight ponytail. Her hair was long and wavy. It was crinkled in waves down her back. It covered the back of her neck but exposed her ears where the earphones were plugged back in again. He saw her golden skin and Tony almost didn't notice the beautiful necklace around her neck. Its golden chain led onto the centrepiece that was positioned underneath her top. She'd tucked it away closer to her and not on display. Must be precious to her, Tony thought.

But he'd been staring too long as Mia turned around not having heard the opening and closing of the door indicating his exit. She looked at him expectantly. Why was he still here? "Can I help you?" She asked annoyed. Why couldn't he just go away? She'd rather be alone than with him. He infuriated her and she knew not to let him overstay his welcome otherwise something would get broken. She did teach Zen and yoga but this man infuriated her with his mere presence. She didn't even know how it was possible but apparently it was. She also didn't like the fact that he was just standing there, staring. She felt uncomfortable.

"Sorry, I just wanted to apologise for before. I was rude and I didn't mean it. But I loved what you said about Clara and Capsicle." He spoke, sounding like an almost sincere person before the last comment. He didn't seem too sorry at all. Just wanted to get on her good side for some reason. She didn't trust him at all and was lost in her thoughts of uneasiness, studying him until she realised there was a burning smell. She looked at the pan and almost screamed. Her stove was on fire. Not a controlled fire but large on the pan, burning mixture fire that was getting out of control. She rushed towards it and was held back by Tony. She almost screamed at him. Her stove was on fire!

She needed to get to it. She stomped on his foot and grabbed a wet dishcloth. She dove for it and began to flap it out. The moisture meant it didn't get wet but it was getting too hot for her skin and she had to retreat. Tony grabbed her arms and brought her back to the other side of the kitchen and took something out of his pocket. It was a reformed version of the Iron Man suit but only the hand piece. He used it to analyse the situation and what to do. "JARVIS, what is the best outcome?" He asked, as the fire grew larger and both he and Mia backed away.

"The fire can be put out Sir. Lay the dishcloth on top of the fire, adding more water consistently." JARVIS replied, calming Tony. He grabbed the dishcloth again and laid it over the fire while dousing more water on top of it. Mia had had the right idea but human skin was too fragile, it only worked when Tony used his hand piece. He had made it to withstand heat of much higher than a normal fire. The fire was out in seconds and the pan was fried with charred mixture. Mia grabbed the handle and started to spray water on it trying to scrape the mixture off the bottom. It was useless, the best pan she had and it was burnt. Past the point of no return. She couldn't save it now. She sighed and dumped it in with all of the other plates, knowing she'd have to deal with that later too.

She turned back around to Tony and instead of an angry fire scorching his face, like he'd expected, he felt fatigue drooping over him like a blanket he couldn't shake off. Mia was just tired and he felt it inside him from her stare. "Thanks. I accept your apology from before. Is there anything else, I've got to do the dishes?" Mia spoke, almost mechanically. She was going to challenge his apology but she just didn't have the heart for it anymore. If she could just get him out of her kitchen, she be a happy woman. Tony sighed, knowing that he'd just made everything worse. He racked his genius brain to think of a way to make it up to her, he didn't know why but it felt important to make her feel better.

She moved towards the sink and he spoke, "I'm honestly sorry. Could I help you in anyway? I could do the dishes?" Tony asked and then went towards the sink without waiting for Mia's permission. Her fight instantly came up which was the reason for his hands on her arms, mimicking his earlier gesture as he turned her around, folding into each other. Tony realised their stance and instantly retracted his hands. It was only her boldness that made him do that, he told himself. That was too weird to be any other reason. Mia stood further back than before, she was finding this whole encounter to be more awkward than she'd hoped.

She turned to him, her fight renewed and spoke angrily "Look, if you really want to help can you make the pancakes please?" She raised her voice and barely controlled it to be lower than a shout. She threw her hands at the pancake mixture that was sat there. She turned around and started to wash the dishes. Mia knew he wasn't going to leave her alone so she had to give him something to do. It would make the experience a little bit bearable. She poured soap on the sponge and forgot the gloves. She wanted to do this without the annoying gloves she'd been pushed into buying by her mother. "You won't get a man if your hands are wrinkled and rough like mine Mia." She could hear her mother's voice now, nagging her.

Clara was the only one who'd understood, throughout her life. She had her Aunt Linda who was always giving her 'suggestions' for husbands and who didn't understand how women could stand on their own and maybe she could just wait for the right person to come along? Mia's mother was exactly the same and they could spend hours moaning about it to each other. They'd start chatting about the things they hated the most when they said that and how they couldn't understand that they were capable no matter what they thought. And they most certainly didn't want to marry because they had to. Never, would Mia stoop so low.

She thought comfortably in her rebellion but what she didn't realise was that she was voicing her thought. Murmuring was the right word but Tony could hear everything she was remembering about her mother and couldn't help smiling. It was only when she thought up a particularly rude reply to a saying her mother had, that Tony burst out laughing. He couldn't help it. Mia was a funny, pretty woman. How was she still on her own? Tony smirked, missing the accusatory look Mia threw him until she tapped him on the front of his face. It didn't hurt, it wasn't supposed to, but it was enough to break Tony out of his daze. He snapped back into action and pretended to be hurt by her tap holding a hand to his face and throwing her a look. "What was that for?" He asked, confused. It seemed like this woman was impossible to please. What had he done now? She was always angry with him.

"You went off into a daze." Mia explained quickly. "Why did you laugh?" She asked, annoyed. If she looked ridiculous, it probably wasn't her fault. He wasn't the one who'd just found out his best friend had come back from the dead and had to deal with the Avengers turning up on his doorstep and barely get any sleep from their confusion and tears. So he had no right to laugh at her. It was exactly what she would tell him if he said something about her appearance.

"I heard what you were saying about your mother and it made me laugh. Because you obviously don't need a man." Tony spoke, but he still had that amused look on his face making Mia mistake his amusement for sarcasm. She was going to do it. He said it and although it wasn't about her appearance directly, Mia thought he was still insulting her and she wouldn't stand for it.

"Alright, look here! I was muttering to myself and you shouldn't have been listening. You wanted to apologise and so far you have been doing a pretty rubbish job. I mean, were you the one who just found out your best friend has come back from the dead and then the Avengers show up on the your doorstep? Were you the one who got almost no sleep because you were up all night trying to figure out if you were crazy or not? Were you the one crying your eyes out because you couldn't hold back the nightmares of your best friend dying? I was just trying to muster some courage and strength because I am tired okay? I'm tired of the world moving so fast I can't steady myself. I can't find the time to figure anything out or sort anything out. So you have no right to laugh at me!" Mia lectured.

She let everything go in that moment and found herself standing right in front of Tony her finger shaking in his face and her chest heaving up and down from the tears. She'd controlled the volume because she didn't want to disturb Clara and everyone else but she was still emotional. She just registered what she'd said and regretted some parts as he had been through a lot as well. She must've seemed like a snotty brat, she thought so she added. "I'm aware your hardships have much greater than mine but, I have never had to deal with anything like this and I don't have such a great coping system ok?" She spoke, trying to make amends because of the harsh words she'd just spoken.

Tony knew that she was just hurting but her words made him think. She'd been crying? She'd been through quite a lot as well, just like him and no one really thought about her. Tony related and realised something that scared him. He still hadn't gotten over that experience. He knew his outer shell was disregarded and he seemed completely fine but that whole experience had shook him to the core. He had only gotten out of it because of his brain and skill but it was still terrifying. They were both still hurting and recovering from everything that had happened to them. Close friends hadn't been anything like they'd expected to be.

Clara had so many skeletons in her cupboard and the worst was that she was going to leave again. She was going back to her dimension and leave again. And Tony's whole world had been shaken up. He'd found real friends in Phil and the Avengers but he still hadn't gotten over the experience. Maybe that was why he kept upgrading his suit. He needed the extra protection. And so did she right now, but there was no one to give it to her. She didn't even have a stable living place to sort it out. Tony's heart ached and he swore the reactor throbbed. He felt weak. Like she'd stripped his armour away and left him defenceless. But she was the exact same. She had both of her hands over the now empty sink, holding the corners to keep her upright and steady. Her breathing was evening out and she was visibly wiping her tears away and Tony grabbed hold of the shelf himself.

"Thank you. And I really am sorry. You don't need a man at all and your mother is wrong. He would simply be an extension of your happiness." He spoke sincerely, and this time it was clear to everyone around. He meant it and he was shaken up, just like her. She turned around, her face clear of tears but her eyes threatening to spill more. She nodded at him and that said everything. They acknowledged each other and respected them. They knew they were recovering and related. They needed each other right then. Tony moved slowly towards her while she turned around fully. A hug. Simple and small as that but it was what they needed. Mia laid her head on his chest and felt the blue light of the arc reactor on her face while Tony rested his chin on her head, closing his eyes and not putting his full pressure on her trying to be careful.

They both took deep breaths and smiled at the same time unknowingly. This was only another indication of their bond. They knew there was a mutual respect now and neither of them would change it. "Should we get back to the pancakes?" Tony asked, after a few minutes. Neither of them wanted to move but they were feeling better and knew anyone could burst in on them. They'd get the wrong idea but Mia had to remind herself what that was again. She didn't know why she had to remind herself but the minutes in his arms was wonderful and she truly felt, home. Like she was at peace.

They pulled apart and they both knew the effect it'd had on both of them, the calm they felt and without her yoga, Mia smiled. "Bet you 7 dollars you can't flip the pancake." Mia whispered, her voice raspy from lack of use and emotional experience. The conversation immediately switched to a lighter tone and they both knew why but also knew it was what was needed.

"Oh, yeah? I take the bet. You are going to wish you hadn't said that." Tony mock whispered back, earning him another tap on the hand this time. He turned back to the stove and started another fire while Mia got out the other pan. She passed him the pan and their finger brushed and somehow that made Mia's heart flutter more than the hug. She felt like she was starting something new and exciting rather than returning to something old and scary. She poured the mixture into the pan and watched it spread into the pan filling into a circle. It seemed fitting and beautiful for the moment. She looked up and saw Tony's smiling face, enchanting.

Mia's flat (Right after Tony left):

Clara took a deep breath and turned back to the rest of the Avengers who were in their pairs and smiled waveringly at them. "Well, off you go. I have to lock up." She said before reaching for the key on the table. They all chorused a 'Bye Clara' and each added their own comment. "Stay safe… see you later…" and Steve's comment sent her bursting into watery laughs again. "You're going to rock this interrogation. Is that what they say?" He mock wondered for Clara's reaction. "Stay safe Clara Oswald." He added in a sad tone, making Clara try to give him another brave smile but only succeeded in making her sniff more. She had to give him a hug. She needed one and no one else was here apart from Phil whom she still didn't fully trust. Steve was shocked but wrapped his strong arms around her and tilting his head into her soft hair. They both could've stayed there forever but knew they had to go.

"Bye Steve." She called after him while Natasha waited for him 'outside', which was really outside the door. She classed it as outside and wanted to see their goodbye. Clara sniffed, wiping her tears and bravely flicked her hair out of her face, looking up with a new determination in her eyes. "Let's go Phil." She said concentrating on Phil's blue eyes which reminded her of Steve's. It somehow gave her strength and she straightened further. This was just another step in the quest to get back to her dimension. When she put it like that, it sounded a lot like one of the books she recommended to her English class.

She smiled brighter and they left the flat. Clara left a note on the table addressed to Mia and Mia only. She turned the key in the lock, sighing, knowing she wouldn't be doing that for a while. She bent down, slipped the key under the door and turned to Phil nodding her consent to move. They left using the back entrance not wanting to risk a bump into Nina. Clara wouldn't be able to talk properly and she might get suspicious of the older agent with a gun in her company. It seemed that Coulson had already familiarised himself with the area and planned a safe route to Avengers as he deftly looked round every corner before moving quickly to the next alleyway. He attempted to make conversation as they ran.

"So Clara, how did you meet the Avengers without us noticing?" He asked in his usual friendly tone. Clara was surprised but tried to hide it as best as she could while quickly commenting in the same amused monotone Fury used sometimes. Phil noted that with a smirk on his face.

"I didn't know that Agents knew how to make friendly conversation?" She asked not able to hide the smirk that raised her eyebrow. Phil answered with a shrug of his shoulders and she continued, "It is a long story but the timestream sent me into Avengers Tower. I guess they were watching and decided to pick me up. They interrogated me and Natasha sent me and Steve to Mia's flat where I spent the night." She explained warming up to Phil, losing the monotone and talking normally. "But the big question is, how did you find me so fast?" She asked wanting to know, if she was on the run and these people had found her so quickly the chances of others getting her were very high and she couldn't let that happen.

"That's classified information, I'm afraid. You're going to have to ask Fury about that." He spoke, with amusement laced in every word. Although what he was saying was true he probably had more fun saying it to people.

"That's nice. I give you answers and you give me none." Clara huffed and got only a shrug in response. "So, how do you know the Avengers?" She asked, hoping at least some of her questions would get an answer.

"I was put in charge of them when they were a new project. The Avengers Initiative." He explained calmly with a hint of amusement remembering first meeting every Avenger and the troubles that came with each. "I was saddled with the task of recruiting them all which came individually." He said, with the tone of a man who was at his wits end but the glint in his eyes saying he had a lot more to do.

"So, how did you meet Steve?" She asked, wondering where this all started. Nothing like this existed on her dimension. If they did then the Doctor wouldn't be needed. But then again neither would she and she wouldn't have had to step into the timestream and maybe she could've lived a life like her copy did. The thought overwhelmed her and the only way to banish those thoughts was to think that she wouldn't have met Merry or gone on any of the adventures she had. And she wouldn't have met Steve either. The last thought entered her mind and Clara didn't shake it away. It was her mind and she could think about him right? It didn't mean anything. Until she remembered thinking about a life with him in the 40's and guilt flooded the thought away.

"Steve Rogers A.K.A Captain America." Phil answered in short but the answer confused her. 'Captain America'? What did that mean? "He had a life in the 40's and became a national icon as Captain America. Then he had to sink a plane into the sea or risk it killing millions on land. He left Agent Peggy Carter and the entire world to think he was dead. But he was really in an ice cube keeping him alive but unconscious. Eventually we found him and thawed him out. He woke up and joined the Avengers and became Captain America again leaving the 40's behind." Coulson concluded leaving the conversation open to questions.

"Who's Agent Carter?" She asked, confused at this new world around her. She hadn't actually realised how little she knew of everyone she trusted in this dimension.

"She was an agent of SHEILD in the 40's who have a romantic relationship with Steve. Leaving her behind was the hardest decision he had to make. When he woke up she was an old woman, dying. He went to visit her in her last moments and found out about her life with grandchildren and a husband. She died shortly after. It was something he had trouble getting over." Phil explained, talking about it himself for the first time. He tried to avoid it because of the pain it brought Steve who had gotten over it but didn't like to talk about it which was completely understandable.

"When was this?" Clara asked, really confused now. Everything she was hearing was completely crazy. It had barely occurred to her that they probably had a lot of baggage. She was too busy dealing with her own. She felt incredibly selfish and sheepish. It almost made her want to take back what she'd said. Having to leave behind his lover? With no proper goodbye? Clara felt tears stinging her eyes and a pain start in the pit of her stomach. She felt like she had to slow down. This wasn't good, she felt incredibly sick. But she knew she wouldn't get proper medical attention. If it was just sickness, she could carry on with the interrogation without medical attention.

"You really don't know a thing about them?" Phil asked completely dumbfounded. How couldn't she? He saw she was British but she thought that she'd have at least some knowledge coming to a different country. Unless, unless she didn't know she was coming here. Phil thought and got lost in his thoughts repeating a few theories knowing they were completely crazy but then again, he did supervise a superhero team. He was broken out of his thoughts by Clara snapping her fingers and saying his name. They'd stopped at a corner where anyone could see if they looked. They needed to move but Clara didn't know where to go and wasn't leaving without Phil. "I can't explain more, but you can read their files when you get to Avengers Tower and if you impress Fury." He conditioned knowing that it was a big stretch but to explain all of their backstories would be and even bigger stretch.

"Alright then. But I don't know how any of this even happened." Clara muttered in consent, understanding she still had to prove she wasn't a threat, which was going to be even harder without the Doctor to help her. Her chest clenched at that and her stomach was in knots. What was he doing right now? Was he working on his earpiece but needed Clara to finish hers as well? Had he forgotten about her and gotten another companion? Clara brushed away the thought knowing it couldn't be true but the doubt settled in her like a rock in the sea.

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