I stepped off the quinjet, onto the busy helicarrier.
Hill was waiting with a medical team by her side.
"You all ok?" She asked.
I nodded. "Where are the civilians from New York being taken?"
"A military base on the west coast. Don't worry about them."
"What about Libby?" Natasha asked, stepping forward.
"She's inside. Follow me. Everyone is."
I walked down to the control room, where everyone stood or sat, all anxious. They all smiled nervously when we entered, all pairs of eyes carefully scanning the bodies of their loved ones to check for injuries.
The reunions were filled with joy. I watched as two identical twin three year old boys ran and jumped into each of Thor's arms, and a six year old girl leaped onto his back. Jane wrapped her arms around him. A curly, dark haired four year old was clinging to Bruce, who had shrunk down and woken up, with the boys mother holding onto Bruce. Two six year old girls were wrapped around each of Clint's legs, with Jennifer clinging to him. A dark haired fourteen year old girl was hugging Tony, a five year old sitting on his shoulder and Pepper wrapping the three of them in a tight hug.
My eyes fell on the only person who hadn't stood. A small blond fifteen year old girl, wearing skinny jeans and a too big hoodie. She was curled up, with her eyes closed.
"Libby?" I said softly, barely recognizing my own little girl.
She looked up and froze. A few seconds of her scanning me up and down ended with a piercing scream.
"Who the hell are you?" She shouted at me. Then her eyes fell on Natasha, who was standing beside me.
"No! That's not possible! You're dead!" She muttered. She kept on muttering for a few moments, eyes rapidly switching between me and Natasha. Then she suddenly walked over and slapped both of us. I barely had time to process the action before she was storming out.
I vaguely noticed Mariah following her, but my eyes were fixed on the spot my little girl had been standing only moments ago. I could feel my cheek turning red and moisture in my eye.
"What the hell is going on?" Fury said slowly, looking at both of us.
"It's a long story."
"We all got plenty of time." Fury replied.
I sighed and looked over the numerous SHIELD agents walking around. "It's not something anyone wants getting out."
Fury nodded. "Into the briefing room."
Hill, Tony, Clint, Thor, Bruce, Pepper and Jane followed us. Hill was just closing the door when Mariah slipped in.
"So how did you survive the explosion in China? The one that killed practically all your team?" Fury asked.
"I trust you all with my life, but you need to swear this won't leave the room." I said, looking around.
"Of course not," "Never!" "I promise," "I swear," they all said.
"Good. The truth is... the CIA took me. The entire explosion was a setup to get me. I was grabbed and taken away. They had nukes aimed at Stark Tower; they threatened to kill you all. I couldn't let that happen, so I agreed to work for them. Years later I ran into Natasha by accident. In her own subtle way, she aimed a gun at me and threatened me into going after the Chinese president; ending the war."
"China surrendering... that was you?"
"Yup. We ended up going to Ireland after that, but the CIA was after us. They still are. We travelled across Europe. Natasha insisted on going to Washington; to visit Coulsons grave."
"It was you! In the graveyard!" Hill exclaimed.
"Yes. We heard about the attack and went to New York."
"What do you mean, the CIA was after you?" Tony asked.
"They still are. They want us dead."
"How do you know?"
"The fact they've gone after us? That Natasha was stabbed?"
"Oh."
There was an awkward moment of silence before Natasha broke the ice. "So what's new with you? And how do you all still look so young?"
"Asgardian water." Tony said with a smirk.
"Wait, what?"
"There's something in the Asgardian water that has been giving Thor and all his buddies unnaturally long lives. Thor brought us all and Libby on a trip there, shortly after you went missing. Something about Asgardian grieving. We had some of their water, which apparently did something to significantly slow the aging process. Fury banned us from having any more until it can be tested."
"About Libby... what power does she have? From each of our serums?"
"That's complicated." Mariah said from a corner. "From what I can tell of the few samples of your DNA left, the serums aren't just a separate entity. They've both fully integrated into your DNA. Each advantage the serum gives you has become an individual gene. Basically, in terms of Libby, the current you - with serum - are the parents. The old you, without the serum, is essentially a second set of grandparents. There's an equal chance of Libby inheriting your asthma as any trait of your grandfather that you didn't get."
"Ok, but what has she gotten?"
"It's hard to say how much is serum and how much is natural ability. She's athletic - and flexible. She has a way of getting whatever she wants, without you even realizing it. She's good at things like chess, strategy."
"Where is she?" Natasha asked.
"Gym."
I took Natasha's hand and we both almost ran there. I was a little nervous, still feeling the burn from her hand on my cheek. But we were her parents, surely by now she would have calmed down.
Libby was curled up in a tiny ball in the corner, but she immediately looked up when we entered.
"What the hell do you want? How the fuck are you both alive?" She said coldly. I looked into her eyes and saw only anger.
"Please, Libby, I'm sorry... It was out of our control."
"What was? What the fuck is going on? You're both supposed to be dead!"
"When I was supposed to have died... it was the CIA. They wanted me to work for them."
"So, what? You decided to leave your four year old daughter without a father?"
"They threatened you and your mother! I had no choice!"
"So you were too much of a coward to kick their asses. What about you, mother? What's your excuse for leaving your daughter an orphan?"
"I didn't want to. If I had any other choices... I wouldn't have. I found your father, in China. I couldn't leave him!"
"But you had no trouble abandoning me? I grew up an orphan! I thought both of my parents were dead! So while you two were busy living it up in Europe, I was crying myself to sleep every night for two whole years after you did a vanishing act!"
"Libby, I'm sorry..."
"No! Nothing you can ever say will make up for what you've done! You know what, my parents might as well be dead, because they sure as hell aren't the disgusting excuses for human beings standing in front of me! Stay the hell away from me, and my life!"
so... Libby... she's not happy. please review!
