Hey ya'll! This chapter starts off with a small glimpse of what's going on over at HYDRA. We know a little of what's happening with HAMMER, but HYDRA and HAMMER are different groups with the same agenda. So of course they're going to do things a little differently. Things are getting a little interesting, in the next chapter Erik Selvig makes an appearance, and starts working with Bruce and Tony. Wait 'till you see what they're up to, it's going to blow your minds! =)

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Marvel's characters. But I don't. Marvel owns them. I own my OC's though. But I'd happily sell them to Marvel. if they made a movie with Minnie in it who do you think would portray Minnie? I don't know who I'd picture as Minnie... Maybe Bryce Dallas Howard? What do you guys think? Who do you picture as Minnie?


The first thing anyone heard walking into the lab was the screams of agony. Madame Hydra continued to the back of the lab where Dr. Fleischer was working. "What's his problem?" she asked, leaning on the counter next to the annoyed looking German doctor.

"His body is rejecting the serum as well." he shrugged.

"How many is that?"

"Four." He shook his head before he picked up a gun and checked it. "I'll give him another minute, see if he changes." The two stared at the man writhing in agony. "Do you think we made a mistake using an elemental mutant? I'm sure the fire is the problem."

"What do you suggest we do?" she asked looking at him.

"There's a school in New York. Post an ad asking for volunteers to help develop a cure. Get their DNA and test their blood."

"Why aren't we testing his blood? Do you know how hard it was to get it?"

"We're still duplicating it." he said and she scowled. "Hey," he cupped her face. "Don't think I don't appreciate what you sacrificed to get It." he said. "Because I appreciate it, I refuse to waste It." he said and she smiled lightly, touching his hand, and then looked back at the man who was writhing on the table, pleading.

"May I?" she asked and Dr. Fleischer nodded. She took the gun and walked over to the man before she shot him in the head. She looked back at the Doc before she walked over to him. "I have plans for that girl." he nodded. "I have people learning everything they can about her. When they have everything, I want you to look at her file and see if there is anything you can use."

"What do you want me to do?" he asked and she smirked.

"I want to hurt her in the worst way possible. Something that will make her truly suffer." she growled. "Do what you need to do at the school, look over the records, and you get back to Me." she ordered. He smiled and nodded before she walked over to him and pulled him into a kiss. She let go of him and then went upstairs. He sighed, and then looked at the dead body on the table.

"Always between the eyes." he chuckled before he shrugged and turned back to the chemicals strewn about on the table he was working on.


When Bruce woke up to a whimper, he though Kayla had snuck into the room after having a bad dream. That though was pushed away when he felt Minnie jerk to the side. Her breathing was increased; she flailed a little, almost like she was being held down. It was then he realized she was having flashbacks to her kidnapping. He got up quickly and moved the hair from her face.

"Minnie, wake up." he said softly, he cupped her face and lightly shook her shoulder. "Wake up honey." he said, her face twisted up in pain and he felt his heart race. Even if she wasn't in pain he hated seeing her like that. "Come on." he shook her a little harder. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around for a moment before her eyes focused on him. He gave her a small smile and she sat up, wrapping her arms around him. "It's okay." he whispered, running his fingers through her hair. He kept one arm wrapped around her as he lay back down and she continued to clutch his shirt.

"You must think I'm so weak." she said softly and he looked down at her.

"Hey, I still have dreams about the Other Guy." he said softly.

"How did you get over it?" she asked and he shook his head.

"It's not something you get over. They did something terrible to you, and if we hadn't got there in time- If I hadn't-"

"Shh." she put her finger to his lips.

"It's not something you get over, not easily. But it's something you learn to live with."

"Like the Other Guy?"

"Like the Other Guy." he agreed. She sighed and he looked down at her. She settled her shin on his chest and looked up at him.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked and he raised his eyebrows.

"About the high school gym." he said honestly. "How you handled the Other Guy. He could have killed you, you know that don't you?"

"Baby, you have to stop hating him." she replied. "He's never made a move against me, or your daughter, not even that one time." she said and he looked away. He preferred not to think about that day. "I talked him down then, and I can talk him down now. He's not just rage you know." she said and he looked back at her. "He's fear, he's emotion." she bit her lip and gently kissed his chin. "He's part of you, and you shouldn't always expect the worst from him."

"It's easy for you to say," he said. "You're not the one who doesn't know what you're capable of. You're not the one who destroyed half of Harlem."

"I'm also not the one who saved the world." she said and he chuckled.

"Oh yeah, that."

"Oh yeah that." she repeated and grinned. "He was able to work with the team then. I saw the video of him totally kicking Loki's ass." He grinned and she reached up, running her fingers through his curls.

"He's unstable."

"We're all unstable Bruce." she told him. He sighed and then looked down at her.

"Why aren't you scared of him?" She smiled lightly and thought for a moment.

"Like I said," she said as she moved up slightly, she draped her arm over his chest, and lightly tilted his face toward her. "He's part of you." she smiled and kissed him gently. He smiled softly and she snuggled in to him. "I love you baby." she said, drifting back to sleep.

"I love you too." he said softly. She fell asleep and he smiled gently, looking down at her. He held her close to him, the feeling of her breathing against him served as a comfort.

She had slept with Kayla one night in her bed when she and Kayla were sick with the flu and he had winter finals, and she didn't want to get him sick. That night he had realized how much of an effect she had on him, even when they were sleeping. He had tossed and turned all night, unable to get into a comfortable position. This from the guy who slept on subway platforms and in jungles, and he couldn't get comfortable on a mattress with sheets and pillows. He sighed and ran a hand through his wild hair, knowing he'd be needing a trim soon, Minnie would hate it, she usually did when he cut his hair, and it had almost become a game to the both of them at this point. He let out a long sigh before he rolled over and tried to fall asleep. It was the worst night had in a long time.

Remembering that he rested his cheek against the top of her head, her hair was soft and he loved running his fingers through it, even as she slept, as he fell asleep.


"Minnie." I woke up to Dallas' voice.

"Baby I'm having that dream again." I mumbled.

"Wake up, you've got an appointment at Juan's." I tried to ignore my hallucination of my best friend until a hand collided with my rear end hardly. I yelped and jumped, startling Bruce who shot up quickly, wide eyes, but still mostly asleep.

"What happened?" he asked as I burst out laughing. I rested my forehead against his shoulder and shook my head before pulling back and kissing his cheek.

"It's nothing baby," I said. "Nothing that hasn't happened before and apparently nothing that won't happen again." I grinned. He sighed before lying back on the bed with his eyes closed.

"Dallas, what time is it?"

"Nine o'clock."

"Well, until ten she's mine." Bruce said wrapping his arms around my waist.

"No can do Love Bug, she's got an appointment at ten." Dallas said crossing his arms.

"I'm her husband, she's staying in bed."

"I'm her boyfriend, she's coming with me."

"Are you cheating on me with Dallas?" he asked opening his eyes. I shot him an innocent, yet slightly guilty look and he sighed.

"What can I say? He owns my hair, and gets me great deals on clothes and makeup, and god knows, I need a new wardrobe, especially after the stores they had in Nadine."

"Don't even get me started." Dallas sighed. "Besides, if you think about it, she was mine first." Dallas shrugged before holding his hands out. "Come on, Juan is dying to get his hands on you!"

"Oh, now that you put it that way." Bruce said sarcastically.

"I'll see you later baby." I kissed Bruce and wiggled out of his arms. He sighed, defeated before sitting up as I grabbed some clothes.

"Am I watching Kayla?"

"No, she's coming with us, so is Amanda, so don't worry." Dallas said as he ushered me out of the room. Bruce nodded before lying back on the bed with a sigh.

When we got to Juan's he threw his arms around me, then pulled away, chastising whatever bitch turned my hair into the mess that it was, and then hugging me again. I laughed, and then introduced him to Amanda.

"She's a dream, I bet all the little boys just love you!" he said as he held her at arm's length. She turned red and mumbled something and I looked at her.

"What do you think Piotr would like?" Pepper teased her and Dallas looked at her with surprise in his eyes.

"Are you holding out on me?" he swatted her arm.

"Piotr is Amanda's boyfriend." Kayla said jumping up and down, not liking that she wasn't the center of attention.

"Is Thor your boyfriend?" Dallas teased and she shook her head as he picked her up.

"Noooo! He's my pony!" she said and I laughed.

"Okay, Amanda, darling, I'm thinking we just give you some highlights, here," he said as he planted her in front of a mirror and traced his fingers over her hair.

"Give her some of those ones under her hair too." Dallas said and Juan nodded.

"What do you think Minnie?" he asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, they were a life saver with me, I mean Bruce loved 'em." I said and he smiled.

"Perfect, okay, Raymond, take Amanda, give her highlights, her and here and here," he said as he directed the man. "And then I want to give her a bob, but put layers in there, layers are very edgy, and make a sweep, here." he gestured, and then looked at Amanda. "Yes?"

"Sounds good." she grinned. He nodded appreciatively and then sent her off with Raymond.

"Okay, for the little one," he looked at Kayla who was spinning around in circles. "Just a trim, she's a doll, and I don't want to hurt those precious curls." he said as he ran a hand over Kayla's hair. She smiled up at him. "But give her a deep conditioning, it's best to start them when you're young." he said and then handed her off to Oliver. "Pepper, your hair is beautiful, I don't want to touch it right now." he shook his head.

"She just got it done last month." Dallas explained to me and I nodded.

"Now, you." he looked at me pointedly. "Highlights and layers. Lots and lots and lots of long layers, it'll look great, let's get started." he said, pulling me to a chair. I laughed while Pepper went to get us some Starbucks across the street.

"I never asked, but what happened with my dad?" Amanda asked and I sighed gently. She looked at me in the mirror and raised an eyebrow as I sighed.

"Nothing." I said finally and her face fell. I could understand the feeling, she hoped that if her dad was really concerned about her, he would have done something after she took off, but with him doing nothing- it was like he really had cut her off. Which he had. "He did report you running away to the police, but when he told them what you are, he wasn't too pleased." I sighed. "Then Agent Coulson had SHIELD take over, and they were more than happy to let it happen. According to SHIELD you're living at a homeless shelter in Canada and you can't be extradited because you're in a different country and the government doesn't extradite unless you've committed a crime." I explained.

"Well, at least I'm able enough to make it to Canada." she sighed and I smiled. After we finished getting our hair done, Juan gave us some products to use at home, making us swear we would use them, and making appointments for the future. After our appointment Dallas dragged us to a few stores, and I ended up buying tons of things I knew I never would have been able to buy in Nadine.

"Retail therapy?" Bruce asked when we got to the apartment Dallas had commandeered for us.

"Of the best kind." I said and kissed him. "What do you think?" I asked turning around and holding my arms out. I had changed from my jeans and tee shirt to a pair of mint green trousers, a cream coloured shirt with ruffles down the front, and a pair of cream coloured heels making me close to his height.

"You look beautiful." he smiled before he leaned in and kissed me. "Did you clear out Bloomingdales?" he asked and I shrugged with a small grin.

"I'm an addict, you knew that when you married me." I said and he nodded.

"Amanda, you look very grown up." he said and she smiled.

"Thanks Dr. Banner." she said and he laughed.

"I think at this point you can call me Bruce."

"Daddy, Daddy, I got new dresses and new bows for my hair, and new shoes!" Kayla said in excitement.

"Retail therapy." he sighed.

"Oh my gosh, Bruce, wait until you see the evening dress Minnie bought." Pepper said with a grin. "You're going to die."

"Is it anything like that green dress?" he asked and I laughed.

"God I haven't thought about that dress in forever." I said.

"I haven't forgotten that dress." he said and I grinned.

"Well you'll have to thank Dallas and Tony for that one, those two little sneaks bought it for me in hopes that it would make you notice me."

"I don't think there was a man with a pulse who didn't notice you." he said and I smiled.

"Come on Kayla, it's time to see your new house!" Dallas said as he scooped her into his arms.

"Does this mean I can't put Play-Doh in Stevie Monroe's lunch anymore?" she asked as he carried her to the elevator. I laughed as did everyone else, before I moved in towards Bruce, who was looking at my top.

"If you like this," I said, leaning in to whisper gently in his ear. "Wait until you see what else I bought." I gave his ear a light nibble and he groaned softly, before locking me into place with his arm around my waist.

"Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

"I have a pretty good idea." I smiled before I took his hand and led him to the elevator.

"I love it." I said instantly. Dallas grinned and Pepper was standing there looking triumphant.

"I helped decorate it, wait until you see your bedroom."

"Nothing in certain." Bruce tried to say, but I was already following Pepper upstairs.

"Oh my god, honey, wait until you see the size of this closet!" I called down to him and he nodded.

"I lost her at the size of the closet, didn't I?" he asked and Kayla looked at him.

"Don't you like it Daddy?"

"Course I do Kayla." he said as he picked her up, and started up the stairs. "Dallas has got good taste. But don't tell him I said that."

"Too late Love Bug." Dallas said from the top of the stairs. "Do you love it, or do you love it?" he asked with a smile.

"It's not bad Dallas." he said and Dallas smiled.

"Wait until you see the view, plus, you're not too far from Stark Tower, so you can get to the labs really quickly, also, there's a bedroom that we set up as the guest room, but, it can very easily be converted to a teenage paradise." he said, nodding to Amanda who was in the master bedroom, listening to Pepper telling a story. "I mean, if you want to keep her."

"You make her sound like some sort of stray dog."

"Let me show you, Kayla, go check out your room baby girl." Dallas said and Bruce put his daughter down. She ran to the room Dallas had pointed to and opened the door.

Bruce followed Dallas down the hall, and to the room he had been talking about. It was a decent sized room with a great view from the large window. There was a full sized bed with two bedside tables, and a closet with a desk, and a large armchair. A bookshelf was against one wall with books stuffed in it. The room was a pretty deep blue color and had white curtains with yellow poka dots on it, and a throw rug on the floor.

"I could paint a few quotes or words or something on the wall, change the color scheme in here, and bam, perfect room for a teenager." Dallas was saying as Bruce looked around.

"How the hell would I bring that kind of a thing up with Minnie?"

"You don't." Dallas said with a smile. "She's bringing it up with you later." he nodded. "You just have to agree. I mean, you knew you were moving in here the moment you walked in, didn't you?"

"You know Dallas," Bruce said. "It's scary how well you read people."

"That's a yes." he said and Bruce nodded.

"So you bought that green dress huh?"

"Oh Honey, not only did I buy it, I saved it." Dallas said and Bruce looked at him with surprise clearly written on his face. "Oh yeah, it's hanging up in your closet right now." he said as he led Bruce to the master room. It had red wine colored walls with a large white wrought iron four poster bed with white curtains surrounding it. There was white doors he assumed went to the closet, there was a large black trunk at the bottom of the bed, and a large chair in the corner. On one side of the bed there was a small bedside table with an artistic looking lamp, and the other had a small table with drawers. Another white door led to the bathroom, he looked at me and I smiled.

"Do you like it?" I asked and he nodded.

"How could I not?" he asked with a smile. I grinned and threw my arms around him, knocking him back onto the bed. He laughed as I covered his face in kisses. He turned his face, catching my lips longly before smiling. "I take it you like it?" he asked and I laughed.

"It's okay." I nodded and he smiled. "I guess." I rolled my eyes and he shook his head.

"Daddy are we really going to live here?" Kayla aske walking into the room. He and I both sat up and he looked down at her for a moment before he nodded.

"Yeah Kayla, we're going to live here." he said and she cheered.

"Yaaaay!" she said before grabbing Amanda's hand. "Come see my room." she insisted. I smiled as Bruce got up and opened the door to the closet. A few things were hanging there; he turned the hanger on one of them before he chuckled.

"Hello old friend." I heard him say and I looked around his shoulder from where I was sitting. It was the green dress with no back.

I laughed as I thought about that dress and Pepper smiled as she sat down on the bed with me.