Two Lanes of Freedom - Tim McGraw.
"The family you come from isn't as important as the family you're going to have." - Ring Lardner.
It has been confirmed by now, that what we experienced just a few days ago, was in fact an extraterrestrial attack. And while this is big news, the people of New York also have something else to talk about; the extraordinary and heroic group of superheroes, known as The Avengers. Not much is known about the superhero group who laid their lives on the line to save New York.
Not only did we have two incredibly skilled individuals fighting for the people of New York - both of which are nameless to us, known only as Black Widow and Hawkeye - we also had the help of Gods.
Loki - who has been reported to be the reason behind all this chaos - is the brother of Thor, the God of Thunder, who visited Earth a while back in New Mexico. Using his thunder, Thor was able to fight against the aliens and save a number of people. He also gained some fans along the way, and we do believe, he is more than welcome to come back.
The Hulk was one of the most talked about amongst the people of New York. Known for destroying everything in his path, the Hulk seemed to have turned over a new leaf when he fought alongside the other Avengers, taking down the aliens and protecting the people of New York, along with saving Tony Stark's life.
Tony Stark's Iron Man seems to also be the talk of the day. Stark seemingly risked his life to save New York by flying a nuclear bomb into the wormhole, knowing there could be no chance of him returning. Stark has been saving and protecting this country since he created his first Iron Man suit back in 2008, so it would make sense for him to join this heroic group.
The leader of this extraordinary group of superheroes seems to have an uncanny likeliness to none other than the original Captain America. It is rumored, that the man in the Captain American uniform is a relative to the actual Captain America, who fought in World War ll before giving his life to save millions of people. We still have yet to confirm this fact, but however he is, he sure went out of this way to save us. And for that, we are grateful..
And then, the Avenger the public has decided to call the "Golden Girl". Though no one knows who, or what, she is, she too went out of her way to save New York. However, there is some speculation that she may have a relation to the Captain America lookalike. Several sources conform this, their fighting abilities for one seem to match, along with their uniforms being of similar design. However, there were never any reports of the Captain having any siblings, a daughter or any other living relative during World War ll, so it is likely there is no relation.
Though people are seemingly grateful to have Gods and superheroes fighting to protect them, others seem reluctant. We now know Gods and aliens exist, but what else is out there? What else is the government not telling us? And what pushed them to bring together the mightiest heroes on Earth in the first place? These are questions the people want answered. However, today, the people of New York send out a thank-you to The Avengers. A thank-you for saving the island of Manhattan, and more importantly, for saving their lives.
But, there is now one burning people on everyone's minds. Where are The Avengers?
"Third?" Tony flicked the newspaper onto the table. "How am I the third last to be talked about? How is Spangles here and Little Rogers talked about after me?"
Clint snorted, crossing his arms as his also flicked the paper, causing it to fly across the table. "Not like you haven't had magazine spreads about you before, Stark."
It's been a day since the attack on New York, and all the Avengers were now back at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York base, sitting around the table as they looked at the newspapers.
In truth, they were still all exhausted. Their bodies and minds only winding down now after everything that had happened. It felt like forever ago. Once they got back to base, Nick had them all get medical attention. Then he gave them time to shower, clean up, change and get some sleep, telling them they would all meet first thing in the morning.
As for Loki, he was being held in a room just down the hall, gagged and bound as well as heavily guarded. Thor was reluctant about leaving him alone once more, but Nick told him it would be fine, that the cell was heavily guarded. But that didn't stop Thor from lying Mjölnir on top of his brother, something Katie and Tony got a kick out of.
"The reasons they give for Lady Katherine and Captain Rogers being related make no sense." Thor commented.
"That's just how these journalists work." Bruce pointed out. "With so little information to go on, they try to draw conclusions that often don't really make sense. This time, they get eerily close to the truth, even though there isn't really any kind proof at all."
Tony turned to Katie with an raised eyebrow. "Did you not have birth certificates back then?"
"Yes, Tony," Katie rolled her eyes. "We had birth certificates. I'm not from the stone age."
"Then how is there 'no' documentation on Captain America's daughter?" He questioned.
"Mum planted a fake one," Katie told them. "On my actual birth certificate, it says 'Katherine Rogers'. When my mum realized it would suck if people found out about me, she make a fake one."
"Surely people would catch on," Tony said. "People have been looking into Captain America's life forever. They would know there was something going on between your mom and Steve."
Katie smiled proudly as a light blush started to form on Steve's cheeks.
"That's why Peggy's daughter Katherine Rogers died years ago in a car accident."
"Then, who are you known as now?" Bruce asked, titling his head to the side slightly.
"Katie Carter," Katie told him with a smile. "Peggy's great-niece."
Clint let out a low whistle. "Man, you have a difficult life, Katie."
Katie let out a laugh just as Nick walked into the room, grabbing everyone's attention as he did so.
"I trust you've all read the paper," He looked around the table. "This won't be long, I have a meeting with the Council I need to get to."
"Why did you call us here, sir?" Steve questioned.
They knew it wasn't for a debriefing, because they had had that the moment they showed up at S.H.I.E.L.D. So they were all a bit confused as to why the Director called them in again. And they were even more confused when Nick let out a sigh, taking something out of his pocket.
Katie's eye's went wide slightly when she saw Phil's red stained Captain America cards in Nick's hand, as the Director stared down at them.
"I have a confession," Nick spoke up after moments of silence. "These cards weren't in Agent Coulson's jacket."
Katie's eyebrows pinched together as she shared a look with Steve, before turning back to Nick, more confused than ever.
"Phil Coulson's last words to me were 'this was never going to work if they didn't have something to… believe in'." Nick said, before looking up and seeing every eye on him. "He was right. You guys needed the push. Sure, if Coulson was still here, you probably still would have fought today, but why? Because I told you to?"
Nick passed for a moment as his eyes trailed along each and every face looking up at him, before he spoke again.
"I trust you all know this by now," Nick said. "The Avengers Initiative was an idea to bring together a group of people to fight the battles no one could. Phil Coulson died, still believing whole-hearty in that idea. And I'm proud to say, I believe we fulfilled it. We brought together a group of remarkable people."
Katie felt her eyes start to water slightly at Nick's words, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips at the look on Nick's face. She wasn't a very emotional person at all, but with everything that happened this past for days - more importantly these past few hours - along with Nick's words, Katie couldn't help getting misty-eyed.
"When did you become all emotional, big guy?" Tony spoke up after a few moments, breaking the silence as Katie couldn't help but roll her eyes, a smile on her lips.
"I'd just like to congratulate my team on a job well done," Nick gave Tony a hard look. "You, on the other hand, are still a pain in my ass."
"Please, no need to speak so highly of me."
Katie couldn't help the laugh that left her lips. Everyone else rolled their eyes, smiling, and a few people chuckled. It was nice to relax with everyone after everything that just happened.
"I'm sorry, Nick Fury," Thor spoke up. "But would you like to say anything else? I'm afraid I must get Loki back to Asgard."
"Yes, actually," Nick nodded before turning to look at Katie. "You said you wanted a nickname, what do you think?"
"Golden Girl." Katie repeated slowly as she glance down at the paper, shrugging slightly. "Could be worse, I guess." She said before looking back up at Nick with slightly pinched eyebrows. "Did you come up with it?"
Nick didn't reply as he watched the blonde for a moment longer, when Tony suddenly spoke up.
"I still think your nickname should be Mini-Cap. Or maybe Lady Liberty. Oh! Miss America!" He told Katie with a smile, causing Natasha to roll her eyes.
"Cause then people wouldn't know she's related to Steve or anything."
"Now," Nick cut in as Tony shot Natasha a look. "I believe there is a God that needs to be brought home."
Thor gave Nick a nod as Steve looked up at the Director.
"What now, Sir?"
"Now, I have a Council meeting." Nick replied.
"No," Steve shook his head. "I mean, what now for us?"
Nick was silent for a moment as he looked between each Avenger, taking them in for a moment, and Katie could of swore she saw a smile start to form on Nick's lips as he spoke.
"Avengers, dismissed."
"You knew him, didn't you?"
Katie turned her head around to find Tony coming up and standing next to her, but not looking at her.
After Nick dismissed them, they all decided on going with Thor and see him and Loki off. They were all on their way to the garage, walking through the main lobby before taking the stairs on the far right, when something caught Katie's eye. She told the others to go on and she meet them in the garage in a moment.
Steve gave Katie a look, but she just gave him a small smile in return. She then watched in silence, standing in the middle of the lobby as she watched everyone turn and make their way towards the garage.
Katie stood in the empty lobby, the smile falling off her face as a strange feeling started to form in her stomach. She knew her and Steve were trying to get along and get to know each other, but it was still really weird to have someone to watch out for you after all this years of being alone.
Taking a deep breath, Katie slowly turned and walked towards the back wall where there were a number of framed pictures in rows, hanging on the wall.
Everyone had seemed to overlook the wall when they walked past it, thinking nothing of the wall that held a picture of every director S.H.I.E.L.D. had ever had. But Katie never did. She never could walk passed it.
Taking one step at a time, Katie walked towards the wall, her boots clicking off the floor with every step. She stopped just in front of the wall, looking up at the first three pictures.
Colonel Chester Phillips, or as Katie called him when she was growing up, 'Ches'. He always said he hated it, but she knew he didn't.
Howard Stark, Uncle Howard. The picture was supposed to be a serious one, but Katie could still see a hint of a smirk on his face.
Peggy Carter. Katie looked up at her mother's picture, seeing Peggy's beautiful face. Katie remembered the day these pictures were taken. She'd been young, but she could remember how, just before the picture was taken, Peggy had looked over to her and smiled at her daughter, and you could still see traces of that smile on the photograph.
Katie felt her heart swell up as she stared at the frames. It felt like they were only taken yesterday, but at the same time, it felt like a lifetime ago. Now, she was never going to see Ches and Uncle Howard again, and soon - though Katie never thought about it - she knew she was going to lose her mother too.
And it was then that Tony spoke up before walking over and standing next to Katie, he too looking up at the pictures.
Over the years, Katie realized that there were some people in this world that were easy to read while there were others who could hide their emotions well, who were used to putting on a mask and hiding how they felt.
Tony fell into the latter category.
"Sorry?" She raised an eyebrow at the dark-haired man, head titling slightly.
"My dad," Tony said before finally looking away from the pictures and over at Katie. "You knew him, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I did." Katie nodded, trying to play cool though she know what Tony was really getting at. "But I already told you-"
"No," Tony cut her off. "You knew him more than that. You didn't just know him because he and Peggy founded S.H.I.E.L.D. together."
Katie continued to watch Tony as he turned back towards the photos on the wall. Her mind started working on some lie she could tell him to get out of this, but she stopped. Why would she lie? Hadn't they all been through enough to last them a life-time?
Sighing, Katie turned back to the wall, staring up at the photo of Howard as she answered Tony's question.
"Uncle Howard," she stated, now aware of Tony's eyes on her. "That's what I called him. He… He was good friends with mum and Steve during the war. And, after mum found out she was pregnant with me, he helped out a lot."
"You grew up with him around," Tony filled in the blanks, and Katie could tell he was trying to keep the icy tone out of his voice.
"Tony," Katie turned around to face him, their eyes meeting. "I didn't want to tell you because… Yes, I grew up with him, and I didn't, I don't… I…"
"I don't hate you," Tony stated, Katie's eyes pinching together slightly before he continued. "That's why you didn't tell me, right? You didn't want me to hate you for knowing my dad."
"I didn't want you to hate me because Howard was around during my childhood and not…" Katie sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before looking back at Tony. "I know he wasn't the best father to you, okay? And I tried… I tried to get him to be around more, to talk to you more. Because that's what fathers should do. But, he was too busy trying to find Steve." Kate laughed dryly. "Funny. He was so busy trying to get me my father, that he forgot to be one to you."
Silence fell around them both as they turned to the wall again, this time Katie looked up at the photo of her mother before she broke the silence.
"How did you know?"
"I did the math, figured you knew him more then you were letting on." Tony asked and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tony shrug.
Then, Tony suddenly turned toward the blonde again, studying her for a moment.
"I remember you."
Katie's head snapped up towards Tony, eyes widening slightly, confusion and disbelief on her face.
"What?"
"Well, not really. I remember… bits and pieces of you." Tony explained. "When I first saw you, I got this feeling…" Tony then suddenly stopped, clearing his throat before speaking again. "When was the last time-"
"You were five," Katie answered automatically. "I would have been around more, but with all your… fame, people were sure to find out that I didn't age."
Tony nodded and Katie noted that without his smirk and joking manner, he looked older, older and tried. And it didn't suit him at all. So, not liking the dark feel that suddenly took over the room, Katie let a smirk form on her face.
"Besides, I'm pretty sure you'd have drove me up the wall if I'd been around when you were growing up."
Tony's eyes stated to light up and a smirk formed on his lips. "I'd probably have you looking your age. What, with all the women I bring home and trouble I cause."
"Oh god," Katie rolled her eyes. "Now that I think about it, you're right."
Tony let out a barking laugh before throwing his arm around Katie's shoulders as they started to make their way towards the others, down to the cars.
"Katie," Tony spoke up suddenly, and he started to hesitate, looking for the right words to say.
"I know."
Tony looked down at the blonde with a confused look, cause Katie to let out a light laugh. She knew what he was trying to say, she could see it in his eyes.
I'm sorry.
"You Stark men aren't very good with those kind of words," Katie explained. "It's genetic."
Tony nodded before his normal smirk took over his face and he removed his arm from Katie's shoulders, leading her down to the lower level.
Katie couldn't help the small smile that formed on her lips, a weight lifting off her shoulders at the fact that she didn't have to hide from Tony anymore. They'd have to talk more later on, of course. But right now, it was a start.
And Katie was starting to like starts.
"See you soon?" Katie said to Natasha as she gave the red-head a hug.
The group of heroes just said their goodbyes to Thor as Erik handed him the Tesseract and the two Gods disappeared into the sky. Now, it was time for them to say their goodbyes to each other before they all went off to do their own things.
"You can't get rid of me that easy, Rogers." Natasha replied with a smirk before she walked over to her car, handed Bruce his bag as Katie turned to Clint.
"Good luck with her."
Clint gave Katie a quick hug before pulling back, sending her a confused look.
"We aren't dating, Katie."
"Keep telling yourself that, birdeye." Katie sent him a wink before she turned and made her way over to Tony, Steve and Bruce, Clint chuckling behind her.
"Where you headed now?" Katie nodded to Bruce and Tony.
"Back to the tower," Bruce replied. "Tony convinced me to help him with repairing it for a few days."
"You know it's going to be fun, Bruce." Tony replied as he took Steve's hand, giving it a shake.
Bruce shook his head, a smile on his face as he stuck out his head for Katie to shake, which she did.
"It was nice to meet you, Katie."
"You too, Bruce." Katie sent him a smile "I'll see you soon."
Bruce sent her a smile and nodded before Katie looked over to Tony, who sent her a smile and raised eyebrow.
"Guess this isn't the last I'll see of you?"
Katie couldn't help the smirk that formed on her lips. "Missed all those years, didn't I? Need to make up for it somewhere."
Tony laughed before walking over and giving Katie a pat on the back, looking over his glasses at the father and daughter.
"Well, Rogers family, I'll be seeing you."
With that, Tony and Bruce walked over to Tony's car and climbed inside and Natasha and Clint got into theirs. Both cars honked and waved as they drove away, leaving Katie and Steve standing there.
"So," Katie spoke up, turned to Steve. "What now?"
"Coffee?" Steve questioned, looking at Katie with hopefully eyes.
"Coffee?" Katie repeated, a small smile started to form on her lips at the idea. "Baby steps?"
"Baby steps." Steve nodded, a smile also on his face. "Plus, I want to hear more stories about you causing trouble for your mother growing up."
"Oh, well. I have lots of those." Katie said as her and Steve made their way over to her car. "I was a terrible child. Of course, it wasn't always me." Katie paused at the door and looked at Steve over the top of the car, who raised an eyebrow at her. "The commandos provoked me."
"I don't doubt that." Steve chuckled as he opened the door to the car.
Katie stood there for a moment longer, a smile on her face, before she opened the door and climbed into the car, starting it up.
She liked the direction her life was headed in now. Life seemed to actually be working out for her.
And the movie is done! However, the story is far from over...
Thank you going out to the amazing Tospringe for once again working her magic and fixes all my silly mistakes, as well as keeping me on track.
You know the drill, links in my profile for my tumblr and twitter :)