So this chapter gets a little bit heavy in the drama section, mentions of Sara's past come into play and kinda mess with her. Also someone in the reviews said that they thought they had read this before; yes I took actually dialogue from the movie that's why there are spoilers for it but everything else I MADE UP! If you have a problem, message me but don't complain that it's been stolen from the movie or for that matter another writer on here, thanks for the understanding and here goes the chapter!

Chapter Ten~

Night had fallen over the city, an electric glow of neon lights brightening up the black sky. It had taken a while before I settled into my room, which was twice the size of my old bedroom. Some of the un-needed furniture was sold off though most of it stayed. That should tell you the size of my new bedroom. Tony had wanted to go out to dinner, to celebrate all of us under one roof but we all passed opting to eat in instead which worked out fine. As we all headed to our own rooms afterwards Pepper came up to me asking what I wanted to do with my bedroom. I wondered what she meant but then she asked me about painting or things like that. I shrugged her off saying I was fine with white walls but she all but insisted that I paint the damned walls.

"Fine, then I guess a light blue?" I asked and when she agreed, she headed off I sighed before heading to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me as I went. Out of habit, and the fact I was under the same roof as Tony Stark, I looked almost everywhere for a camera that might be peeping in on me. When I found none, that I could see or find, I changed into my pajamas in my attached bathroom before getting into bed. But sleep wouldn't come to me for I kept seeing flashes of memories I thought long dead and forgotten. I tossed and turned, flipped and flopped before I groaned and got out of bed. Peeking my head out of the bedroom into the hallways I found almost all the lights off, only a few to lit my way as I headed for the kitchen intent on having some tea to soothe me. After stepping into the spacious kitchen and making the tea I headed for my room before stopping to look out the wall of windows at the skyline. With a shaky breath I headed for the sliding door and slowly slid it open to step out into the cool night air. They had fixed the patio, the damage completely gone as if it had never happened. With my warm cup in my hands I start walking to the ledge, flashes of my nightmare danced before my eyes, along with other memories that made my heart clench in sorrow.

"Mama I want to play with Daddies toys!"

"You can't Sweetheart, there not toys but important work equipment."

"What's Daddy working on?"

"Something for our government, something important."

"What is it?"

"I'll tell you when you're older Sweetheart." the flashes of just before I had turned my world upside-down coming before the vision of four year old me opening the basement door, climbing down the stairs into the darkened basement. One tiny hands flicks on the light illuminating the equipment and making them gleam. With a growing horror, I watched younger me grab a stool and climb on it before starting to play. It's a little later that once again my vision is filled with an amazingly bright light, the sound of screams filling my ears. With my eyes fixed in front of me, I slowly let my cup drop to the ground, the sound of breaking china not even registering in my mind. Another vision swam before me, young me a day before the accident in the park on a swing, my mom pushing me from behind. As little me giggles I don't hear the robotic voice calling out my name, I can only hear little me laughing. With shaky breaths I watch as the scene changes to little me waking in a tiny room, a man in all black standing over me.

"Sara Williams, my name is Director Fury. Do you remember what happened?"

"No mister. Where's my Momma?"

"She's not here."

"Where my Daddy then?"

"He's not here either." the colors of this vision blend until it changed to the day I blow up half of the state of Massachusetts. I had just graduated, still in my robes and hat when I start to feel funny. Not sick funny, but a type of strange that's hard to describe, even to this day. My eyes watch as an older me looks down to see black flames begin to engulf my body.

"What the hell?!"

"Sara what's going on!?"

"Someone help her she's on fire!" and then a blast rocks the earth, the black flames exploding off my body and into the crowd of graduates, killing everyone in the flames path instantly. I watch in horror as the bodies' burn before my eyes, the screams echoing in my head. As the screams continue they block the voices from behind me, despite the fact they are very close to me. With tears in my eyes I watch as the teen me collapse and feel all the strength in my body leave me. With one breath I'm falling into a void of utter darkness but just before I fall I feel an arm wrap around my waist, something or someone pulling me back from the void.

"Let me go! Let me go!" I scream thrashing about in the arms holding me tightly, my legs trying to kick whoever is holding me. It feels as if I'm being dragged backwards as my breathing is labored and uneven. The arms around my waist doesn't let go though, instead it turns me around so that I'm facing something white. As soon as I see the white I panic, thrashing anew as if fighting for my life, and I am or at least, so I think. Once more the arms hold me, pulling me closer to the white just as a voice breaks through the screams,

"Sara! It's me! It's Bruce!" at the name everything clears; the screams, the smell of burning flesh, the white veil before my eyes. As everything clears I find myself staring up into the face of Bruce, his face filled with an unparalleled horror. Blinking a few times as tears begin to fall, I turn my head behind me to see the ledge only a few paces away from us. Sobbing slightly, I turn back to Bruce and manage to ask,

"What-" but he cuts me off by wrapping me in an embrace, my head going under his chin as he chokes out,

"You almost jumped." at first his words don't register in my brain, instead it's foggy with the scent of sandalwood and aftershave. As I focus on trying to regain my breathing the words begin to sink in. That's why I was so close to the ledge, that's why arms wrapped around me and pulled me back. They were saving my life, Bruce had just saved my life. A new wave of tears comes and I bury my head into his chest choking on my own sorrow and his. He's shaking as I hide my face in his chest, as if his body is fighting with itself over the fact I had nearly died, again. But this time it was different, this time it hadn't been because of some egotistical God, it had almost been my own fault. At this thought I begin to cry even harder, muttering out as I do,

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." over and over again. Bruce's head rests against mine, a kiss going to the top of my head before a cheek is pressed in the same spot.

"Why? Why would you want to jump?" he asks me his voice returning to normal slowly. Swallowing some of my tears, I simply close my eyes and say,

"I'm sorry." at this the cheek removes itself and the arms pull me back slightly, just enough that Bruce's eyes can see mine. His eyes search my own before securely wrapping an arm around my waist turning me to find all the others standing behind us. Each and every face holds the same amount of emotion as Bruce; eyes glazed with tears, a hard frown on their lips. Sheepishly I turn my head to bury it again into Bruce's body, this time his side as he leads me away. My feet blindly follow his lead as never once do I look up, I don't want to see the pain I just caused. I hear a door open and close as the arm around my waist gently pulls me backwards. Before Bruce can look into my eyes I turn my head away to find that were in my bedroom, the bed just before us.

"Sara," Bruce tires but I don't look at him, instead my eyes are fixed on the bed. Silently I beg him not to make me look at him, it will be my undoing I know it. Already I can hear the questions in his mind; why did you try to jump? What made you want to? Since I know I have no answers for him, I beg and beg that he doesn't make me look at him. But my begging wish isn't granted, and his hand comes to cup my chin in order to pull my head around. As soon as I feel his hand touch me I close my eyes, unwilling to look at him.

"Sara, please, look at me." he says, his voice a near whispered plea. I can feel my bottom lip tremble as I squeeze my eyes tighter shut and it's in that moment he lets me go, stepping away from me completely. In that instant I crumble to the ground, my legs giving out from underneath me so that I fall. This time no arms are there to catch me, no warmth, no nothing. Once I'm on the ground I lower my head to touch the floor, my legs underneath me and arms around my head. As I sob I can hear unsteady breathing above me, Bruce must be battling with himself so hard right now. I glance up slightly to his bare feet still in front of me and watch as the feet turn, slowly heading for the door. Just seeing this, knowing that he's leaving me breaks my heart into pieces. Replacing my forehead onto the floor I choke out,

"Please don't leave me." I hear a pause and time seems to stand still as I wait for something to happen. Hours seem to pass before I hear a 'thump' near me and raising my head again find Bruce on his knees with his head in his hands. His shoulders are trembling, soft sobs coming from him and I know he feels as bad if not worse as me. Slowly, on trembling limps I crawl over to him with a hand raised. When I reach him I let the one hand cup his covered cheek, right over his own hand. He sobs before he looks up to see me and that one look is his undoing for his arms shot out and drag me to him. It's indescribable, how I feel in that instant. All I can focus on is the fact he didn't leave me, he didn't leave me alone. I feel tears on my head as he cries, honestly cries and can feel his body trembling under his emotions.

"Don't ever leave me, please don't ever leave me again." I say into his chest and I can feel his whole body move as he nods saying,

"I won't ever leave you Sara. I promise with everything I have I will never leave you." and that's all I need to hear. Clinging onto his shirt, I feel arms pick me up bridal style before setting me on the bed ever so gently. As I'm being laid down Bruce takes the blanket in one hand, the other behind my head as I watch him slowly get into the bed beside me. The comforting scent of sandalwood and aftershave surrounds me as I cuddle into his side, my head resting on his chest as he wraps an arm around my shoulders. I let my left cheek lie against his chest and squeeze my eyes shut as a tear leaks out and falls onto his shirt. The hand around my shoulders buries itself in my hair, his lips pressing against my forehead as he mumbles out,

"I won't leave you. I will never leave you." with the sound of his heartbeat lulling me to sleep, the familiar scent soothing my nerves I at last manage to fall asleep. No nightmares come back to haunt me as I sleep in the secure embrace of Bruce, and my last thought before I completely fade out is a simple one; I love him.