"Did Isabella have any close friends that you know of?" Alice didn't hesitate, she knew, without a shadow of a doubt who was needed, she could feel it, like instinct.

"Angela Webber." Loki nodded, and extended his arm to her.

"To Forks then, shall we?" Alice bit her lip, internally sighing.

"For Bella." She thought firmly to herself. "That's not all, there's a pack of shape shifters, their all close to Bella, they'll come to help her, without hesitating." Loki nodded again, giving her an approving look, like he knew that she had been tempted to not speak of the shifters that were repulsive in every way to her. he offered his arm again, and this time Alice nodded, taking the Asgardian's arm, and the two of them vanished, their disappearance witnessed only by an overly curious pair of squirrels.

Angela was easy to find. And, surprisingly, even easier to convince. Alice had told her the truth, the whole truth, and she had accepted it without batting an eye. At the surprised comment Alice had made, she smiled her soft, kind smile.

"I was told about Vampires months ago Alice." She said quietly. "Seth imprinted on my little sister, shortly after Bella left. He told me about Renee too, and I want to help."

If anything, the wolves were even easier to recruit, all she had to do was say 'danger' and 'Bella' in the same sentence, and their bags were packed and they were ready to go, the Alpha's imprint Emily insisting that she go too, bringing their baby girl with them.

Loki was going to teleport them all straight there, but a vision of the reaction had her stop him short. It was decided that they would drive to New York, while Loki went ahead to smooth the way for them.

"Good luck Loki." Alice thought to herself once he left. "You'll need it, they're not going to be easy to sway, you certainly have your work cut out for you." imagine her shock when Loki spoke back.

"Do not fret, my fair Alice, if I know my brother, then it will be easier than anticipated." He said into her mind. "I owe Isabella Stark much, and my brother will see that."

"Livin' La Vida... Loki!"

Everyone swung around, immediately taking defensive positions, Steve once again placing himself between Bella and the looming threat. Loki stood in the exact center of the room, and had his hands raised in a submissive gesture.

"I mean no harm Avengers." Loki said quietly. Almost everyone in the room was glaring at Loki, everyone but Thor… and Tony? Tony looked sympathetic, when he looked at Loki, like he understood him, that was unexpected.

"Like hell you don't." Clint snarled. "Get out of our house."

"I wish to help."

"Help yourself you mean, what is it this time? The world, or the universe?" Natasha said coldly. Loki turned to Thor, still calm, but with an underlying urgency.

"I owe a debt." Thor, who was already calm himself, sat down, and looked at his brother expectantly.

"I thought as much brother, I have not seen you this agitated in over one hundred years. What must you do?" he suddenly remembered the rest of them, and turned to them, more serious than they had ever seen happy go lucky Thor.

"My friends, Loki means no harm, I give my word on that." Thor said, and something about how serious he was, made the Avengers believe him. They sat down too, but were ridged, all of them keeping a sharp eye out, ready to leap into action at any moment. Steve put a protective arm around Bella, his eyes never leaving Loki, who sat down himself, and looked at Bella, speaking to her.

"You may not know the role I have played in your life, Isabella Maria Stark, but you have suffered much, because of a mistake that I made." Loki said to her. "I have come here because of you Isabella. You are good, one of the few true innocents in this black realm, one of the few that make Midgard a place to consider saving, and I, albeit decades before you were born, have made a mistake that has nearly ruined you, I wish to make amends for that mistake."

"How do you propose you do that brother?" Thor asked. Before, when she had learned of Thor's past, she could never believe her teddy bear of a big brother was going to be a king, but now she understood, there was seriousness to him, their was kingliness, there was greatness in her almost brother.

"I have already done some." Loki said. "The female Vampyre Victoria seeks her death, and will stop at nothing to achieve her goal."

"So you killed her?" Tony asked. Loki shook his head seriously.

"I could not as of yet, for…"

"So, you're going to 'repay your debt' –which I think is bullshit, by the way. – by telling us that there's a problem, oh, great job!" Clint said sharply. Loki's eyes glinted dangerously.

"Do not mock me Barton, I have not finished."

"Oh, I'll do whatever I want Rudolph, you put your twisted mind control juju on me, you have no right…" Clint began hotly.

"Barton, this is important, if Bella's in danger, we need to let Loki finish." Steve cut him off quickly. Loki nodded thankfully to Steve.

"As I was saying, I could not, for she has started the creation of an army of her kind, I could not take her alone." He said. "I have, however, started to amass a group to counter the army she creates. Victoria created an army, and so I shall giver her a war." Loki's voice was icy cold, like the wind of a winter blizzard, and his eyes blazed like emerald fire.

"Who is in your battalion brother?" Thor asked cautiously. Loki seemed to calm himself down, and looked at his brother.

"No one young Isabella does not know. The Vampyre has chosen her lieutenant, and I have chosen mine accordingly, she brings other Vampyres, I bring shifters to strike them down, all strong, and all unfailingly loyal to Isabella."

"The Quileutes." Bella realized with a gasp. "They're leaving the Rez?" Loki nodded.

"My lieutenant is travelling here with them as we speak now." He told the group.

"Who's you're lieutenant?" Natasha asked warily. Loki seemed to straighten even more then the ridged stance he had already been in.

"The female previously known as Alice Cullen, who is no longer a part of that Coven."

"WHAT?" Everyone yelled.

"You better explain quick, Reindeer Games, or else I'll be forced to kill you." Tony said angrily. Loki nodded, a small, almost unseen smirk flitting through his face. Almost unseen, but clear as day to Bella.

"It would be my pleasure Mr. Stark, the simple version would be: The boy you know as Edward Cullen, has a very unique gift. He has the ability of the Silvertongue, he can manipulate your very thoughts, and he can bend you to his will. More than that, but the words that fall from his mouth entrance you, and can manipulate you almost as efficiently as his thoughts can." Realization fell flashed into being on Thor's face, and Loki nodded at his brother gravely.

"What does Alice have to do with this?" Bella asked. "Don't tell me that she's a Silvertongue too!" Loki shook his head.

"A Disenchanted?" Thor asked, his shock deepening.

"Alice is like you, Isabella, but the one you call Edward stunted her gift early enough that he was just able to access her thoughts. Over time her power grew, and she has now broken free of his control. She regrets her actions whilst under his control, and seeks redemption, and to protect the one she has grown to think of as a sister. She cares for you greatly Isabella, and wishes to… what is the phrase? Make it up to you." Bella screwed her eyes shut, and sighed.

"If she's different… I'll see her." She managed to get out. This was reopening a painful chapter of her life, one that she had previously closed for good. She wasn't exactly happy about that, if she was honest.

"There is more." Loki stated, and Bella groaned.

"I'm probably going to regret this, but what?"

"The new lieutenant of Victoria your mother, Renee."

"I was right, regret city, here I come." Bella moaned, burying her face in her hands. Warm arms wrapped around her, and she felt the world shifting.

"I'll take you to your room." Steve's voice told her. It wasn't an order, it was a suggestion, and that was one of the things she loved best about Steve, he never took her options away from her, she was free to make her own choices. She nodded thankfully, and made the most of the ride. She was so tired, so mentally weak. First her mother comes back, now Victoria's made her return, then she finds out that she has to face Alice again, and now her mother and Victoria are supposedly working together? Not to mention her last run in with her mother left her seriously injured! Honestly, she's lucky she hasn't collapsed yet.

Suddenly she was on her soft bed, and Steve, her stronghold, was making to leave. She grabbed him, desperate.

"Don't leave." She all but begged, her voice sounding broken and pathetic. How pitiful, Bella thought, Steve could never love someone so weak. Steve seemed to hesitate for a moment, before crawling up into the giant sized bed with her, and pulling her back into his arms. He started running his fingers through her hair softly, and she laid her head on his chest, using it as a pillow.

"Don't leave." She said again weakly as she closed her eyes, sleep taking her. just as she was crossing into the land of dreams, she thought she heard Steve whisper.

"I'll never leave you Bella, I swear, whenever you need me, I'll be there." And later, in what must have been one of her dreams, she felt phantom lips on her forehead, and another, even fainter whisper.

"Sleep well, my love."

Bella woke in a cold sweat, her breath shaky. Her nightmares were coming back, stronger and scarier than ever. Tears were just starting to leak out, when she felt familiar arms wrap around her waist, and start running through her hair.

"Shhhhh." Steve soothed, stroking her head gently. "It was a dream Bella, it'll be ok, go back to sleep, I'll still be here." Bella sighed, snuggling further into Steve's embrace, and closed her eyes again.

No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I'm here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you.

She officially woke up at 7:00, having slept, somewhat fitfully through the night. Steve had been there every time she woke from a nightmare, cradling her in his arms and soothing her back to sleep. She was still in his arms in fact, and couldn't find it in her to move, Steve looked so content, and for a moment, Bella let herself imagine that it was having her in his arms that made him look so happy. The quiet moment was shattered quickly, Steve, having sensed that someone was looking at him, had woken up. He blinked blearily for a moment, before brown met bright blue. Steve smiled up at her, bringing a hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hey." He said. She smiled softly back at him.

"Hey."

"How did you sleep?"

"Better than I would have if you hadn't been there, thank you, Steve."

"Not a problem Bella, I get nightmare's too, I didn't mind. In fact having someone there with me was…comforting."

"PTSD?"

"Yeah, that's what the SHIELD psychologist said, that it's 'perfectly natural' and whatnot." Bella and Steve had been leaning in throughout their conversation, closer and closer, until they were a hair's breadth from their lips meeting, and then…

"Bells!" the door banged open, and Bella was pulled into a bone crushing hug.

"Jake!" Bella gasped. "Choking, not breathing."

"Oh, right, sorry." He gently placed her down on the bed, and she winced, her hurt ribs burning white hot with pain. Jacob Black, one of Bella's best friends in the entire world, stood by her bed, mercifully fully clothed in what must have been the first time in his life. Suddenly Jacob seemed to become aware of Steve presence.

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded. "Get out of my sister's bed!" Bella's eyes widened in horror when the realization of what this must have looked like to Jake.

"No Jake we didn't…. you know!" Bella practically screamed. "Steve's my friend!" No matter how much she wanted otherwise. Jake raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"You're letting your friends sleep in your bed now?" Bella blushed.

"We're close friends."

"Special friends?" Bella blushed deeper.

"No Jake! We're…uh…we're just really good friends." Jacob laughed then, and Bella realized that he had been teasing her.

"Oh, really good friends is it? Have I been replaced? I thought we were BFFs Bells, harsh, very harsh." Bella smiled.

"Well, since my supposed BFF hasn't been answering my calls, he got replaced. It's survival of the fittest Jake, get with the program." She said sweetly, and laughed. "Also, I'd hit you for embarrassing me like that, but my arm still hurts, because, you know, my mother attacked me." Jake's teasing expression quickly turned to one of horror.

"Oh, crap! I forgot about that! I didn't hurt you, did I Bells?"

"Only a little Jake, not much more than usual." Jake smiled and relaxed.

"Good." He said. "And as for the hitting thing…you couldn't even hurt me if you were at your strongest pale face." Bella smiled at him, sickeningly sweet, and Jake squirmed uncomfortably.

"You might be surprised Jake. But I don't even need to do it myself now, I've got Avengers." She turned quickly to Steve. "Care to avenge my embarrassment?" Steve looked at her like she was a whole new person for a moment, before an exited grin crept onto his face.

"Hey Jacob, would you like to spar?"

Jacob scowled to himself as he walked away from the training room. They didn't call the serum they gave Steve Rogers 'super' for nothing. The man was even harder to beat than a leech, and that was saying something. Maybe it was the high intensity combat training he had. But that didn't matter right now, he had a mission. He had met Tony Stark before, years ago, and had liked the guy, he was hilarious. He also knew about Bella and Steve's feelings for each other. I mean, come on, it was obvious! And lastly, he could tell that Tony was playing matchmaker between them, or else he wouldn't have let Steve sleep in Bella's room.

"Hah, see Leah? I'm not an observant idiot!" He muttered under his breath. He finally found Tony then, who was talking in low voices to… who was that again? Something about a bird? Eagleman?

"…Spent the entire night in her room and nothing! We've got to step up our game Clint, we have to compensate for Mr. I'm so polite and well mannered I won't kiss the girl I love even though she's almost begging for it."

"Not to mention Bella's self doubt." Jacob said, making his presence known. "Just the guy I wanted to see. I figured you would be trying to get those two together. I'm surprised that you've got someone else with you though." They both jumped, and relaxed slightly when they saw him.

"Please." Eagleman scoffed. "Everyone who sees them together is rooting for them to get together, it's just that there are too few of us willing to work toward that goal. We've thankfully recently added the Fantastic Four to Team Stella, so we're not as alone as before." Jacob took a deep breath.

"That's what I came to find you for." He said. "I want in."

"Splendid!" Tony said, leaping up to shake Jake's hand. "I knew I liked you. We have official meetings every Wednesday, in varying places so Nat and Pepper don't find us, and we call emergency meetings sometimes when something big has happened. We have specialized radios for that, and T-shirts are on the way." He eyed Jake's chest, like he was mentally measuring it.

"We might have to get you a specialized size."

Bella and Steve walked out of the training room, where Jacob had just left, after getting thoroughly beaten.

"Did you see the look on his face?" Bella giggled, the feeling of Steve's hand on hers making her a little bit giddy. He chuckled.

"Yeah, I haven't had this much fun since…well, since before Captain America." He admitted.

"You need to have more fun." Bella told him seriously. "I was like that before; all work, no play, and things didn't end well." Steve sighed, bringing an arm around her in a sideways hug. She leaned heavily into him, enjoying his solid warmth. It may have been that, giving her courage, or the fact that she now had the perfect excuse, but the next words tumbled out of her.

"Wannagodosomething?" Nice work Bella. She thought to herself sarcastically, mentally face palming. Steve however, looked untroubled.

"You do know we should be working to get the Wolves and Alice settled, right?" he asked with a small, indulgent smile, and Bella nodded, one of her shy smiles creeping onto her face.

"Yeah, it's just, there's so much going on, it's giving me cabin fever." That was true, Bella did feel the overwhelming need to get out, everything just seemed to be crowding over her, suffocating her, making her skin crawl. Steve nodded understandingly.

"Alright, we can play hooky, what do you want to do?" Bella's face lit up, and she threw her arms around him in a hug.

"Thank you!" she said excitedly, and, on impulse, kissed him on the cheek. They both froze, staring at each other in shock.

"I…uh, I better go shower before we go." Steve said, stuttering. Bella nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, you should." Then she realized what she just said. "Not that you smell or anything! Well, actually you kinda do, and you're a bit sweaty, but I don't mind, it's fine! And… well. I'm just gonna…go now…get ready…bye." She ran then, all the way back to her room, and collapsed on her bed.

"Idiot." She admonished herself, and got up to get ready.

One hour, and tons of makeup, clothing choosing, and bugging Nat and Pepper later, she was ready. The two older women were still glancing at each other knowingly, despite Bella very clearly telling them that this was not a date. Yeah, so, they might have figured out that Bella was in love with Steve, but they were the ones that spent the most time with her, even more so than Steve. At least they were supportive, and were helping her, which was more than she expected really. She was wearing jean shorts, and a loose dark blue tank top with an American flag on it, and sandals. Her hair hung in beachy waves, and her skin looked flawless after the foundation that Pepper had put on her, and she put simple white eyeshadow on, and a super thin line of eyeliner, add a light coat of mascara and peach colored lipgloss, and her makeup was done. She slipped on a stack of bracelets, and grabbed yet another pair of sunglasses, Aviators this time, and ran out the door, running to meet Steve.