Hey guys! I think this is going to be the last chapter, but I'm debating doing an epilogue, so let me know in the comments if you would like a little extra epilogue or even a second continuation story with Emma and Steve. I really like how this one turned out so please let me know what you all think! Enjoy!
p.s. check out the bottom of this chapter for more authors notes, thanks!
Steve began to speak, to try and stop Emma but it was too late, Emma was reaching for the Cube. The moment her fingers touched the Cube the light emanating from it increased tenfold, nearly blinding Steve. Emma let out a small scream and jolted her fingers back as though they had been burned.
A beam of pure light shot out of the Cube, enveloping Emma. Steve called out her name and she looked at him, her eyes wide and frightened. There was a moment of stillness as Steve and Emma's eyes locked.
Then the Cube's light filled the room, effectively blinding Steve, and the hum of energy was almost loud enough to drown out Emma's screams.
One week later:
"I can't!" Emma sighed as she wiped the sweat from her brow, her pony tail swinging as she shook her head. They'd been at this for hours now and she was exhausted. She needed food, a shower, and sleep.
"You can!" Steve said, determined "come on, just try one more time and we can be done for the day"
She groaned and rolled her shoulders back, steeling herself. She focused on the light bulb in the unplugged lamp on the floor, willing it to turn on. She focused so hard her hair hurt, sweat rolled down the back of her neck, why was it so hot in here?
No, stop, focus! She said to herself. She took a deep breath, letting it fill her lungs. She started at her toes, sweeping the energy up, up through her legs and torso, through her shoulders and neck, and suddenly the light bulb turned on, burning bright and hot.
She gasped, pleased with herself, and the light bulb burned brighter. Steve laughed and clapped, saying, "There you go Em! I knew you could do it!"
She laughed, the tension gone now from her body. Smiling, Steve drew her to him, and said "see now was that so hard?"
"Yes" she replied, pouting.
He laughed again and bent to kiss her, but she pulled away and said in a frightened whisper, "no! I could hurt you!"
Steve smiled and stroked her cheek, replying "no, you won't. I trust you"
He lightly touched his lips to hers again and after a pause Emma sunk into him wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him, long and deep, a passionate kiss, just the way she liked it.
They broke away when Bruce cleared his throat from the back of the room, a blush creeping up Steve's neck from embarrassment.
"Well Ms. Milton, it looks like your knew found powers are developing nicely. Maybe the Cube didn't have evil intentions like we originally thought" Bruce said with a light smile.
He was referring to the four days Emma had spent in a comatose like state, her life hanging by a thread. Those had been the worst four days of Steve's life. Everyone was puzzled, only Natasha had some insight, "Maybe there's more than one Cube. And this one seems to be a kind of intelligent life form, with an agenda of its own. Maybe it was using Schmidt, instead of Schmidt using it. Since Emma is still alive then it obviously didn't intend to harm her"
Even that hadn't helped much.
The rest of the Avengers had run in shortly after Steve. They had stood, dumbfounded, and when the light from the Cube had suddenly gone out Schmidt was gone and Emma lay in a crumpled heap on the floor next to it.
Steve had scooped her up in his arms as though she were a delicate baby bird and carried her back onto their aircraft, Quinjet. As soon as they had gotten back to base she was rushed to the medical wing for examination. Steve had insisted on staying with her day and night, and he had, sitting beside her bed, his hand in hers, gazing forlorn at her catatonic features.
When Tony had approached Steve, Steve snapped, yelling 'it's all your fault, if it wasn't for your stupid machine Emma would be okay, it's all your fault" and hitting him, even punching Tony so hard he spit up blood. It had taken Thor, Agent Coulsen, and Clint to drag Steve off of Tony, now sporting multiple bruises and a shining black eye (Tony later assured Steve that he understood it was the anger getting the best of him and there was no real harm done). Neither Bruce nor Tony was sure how Schmidt had gotten a hold of their device, but Steve told them that Schmidt no doubt had someone do the dirty work of stealing it for him. And when Steve had asked why they hadn't gone after Schmidt in the first place they had said that they had never gotten a clear reading on Schmidt's location, as he always seemed to be moving around and it was only him and that scientist. 'It was not our fight, Steve Rogers' Thor had said, clamping a huge hand onto his shoulder.
Finally, after four long days Emma had opened her eyes and Steve had looked ready to start bawling out of joy. They had embraced, Steve kissing her, but much to everyone's surprise Emma shocked Steve, sending electric currents through his skin. Not hard, but enough to make him jerk back.
The Cube had done something to her after all. Instead of just controlling energy, Emma could now create it. That was no doubt what Schmidt had counted on when he had done his to her. It made Steve rigid with anger to think of what Schmidt would have forced Emma to do with her newfound powers.
Bruce had offered an explanation for those first four days, saying that it was Emma's body adjusting to 'the astounding molecular upheaval she had endured'. Steve was just glad she was okay.
Bruce had also drawn Steve aside to tell him that the Cube had caused Emma's cells to freeze; she wouldn't age or get sick, but remain the same. Steve hadn't told her yet, he didn't want to freak her out.
And now, standing in the Avengers mansion basement, Steve felt his heart flood with joy, for their future together. But that joy was darkened by Schmidt, by the revenged he craved; he wanted to see Schmidt feel as alone as he had. Steve would never forgive him for doing this. He would hunt Schmidt down and stop him, by whatever means necessary.
But for now Steve reveled in what he did have, Emma safe in his arms and smiling again, that special smile that wrinkled her freckled nose.
Steve slipped a hand into his back pocket and felt for the small black velvet box he had put there. Nestled inside was his mother's engagement ring, a ring he planned to give to Emma, if she said yes.
Steve couldn't imagine giving the ring to any other woman but Emma. Something inside him knew that someone like her only came around every once in awhile, and he didn't plan on testing the theory.
It didn't matter that Schmidt was still out there, as long as they had each other, they'd find a way.
Hey guys! Its me, MB234. I hope you all liked this chapter! Adorable right? Steve's gonna propose! It made me smile while I was writing it. So like I said in the beginning of this chapter, I need your help! I sat down to brainstorm ideas for a second Steve and Emma story and an epilogue just kind of evolved on my screen, and I really liked how that came out. However it is still in the editing stages and I'm not sure if I should put it up, would you all like an epilgoue or a second Steve and Emma story (maybe a wedding somewhere in there!), if so what could a title be? Let me know in the comments or send me a message! Thanks!
