Hola! So I decided to do another update since I feel like I owe you guys more for waiting for so long, so here is another treat for you guys since the last chapter was a bit sad and kind of depressing, here is another chapter that full of surprises that you guys won't believe.
Review of the last chapter, yes there were more characters POV that I thought were important because I was going for the feel of the sadness, a lot of grief and somewhat of guilt which turned out great I have to say because I kept crying when I was writing the last two chapters. Also I got Director Fury's POV as well which I do have to say was kind of difficult, but at least i got it. And yes Loki is gone and I mean gone, I mean he died in the blast of the Chitauri base or ship. I know I felt bad for killing Loki, but I wanted a twist and have the Avengers mourn him along with Sarah because she's Loki's adopted sister unofficially. I know it's confusing and asking me how is it possible for Sarah to be Loki and Thor's sister and how Jean survived, living in Asgard and adopted sister of Loki and Thor Odinson?
All these question will be answer soon...in the sequel.
I know your going to hate me for waiting for the explanation, but I did already plan on having the it in the sequel so yeah and again the sequel will be up soon as possible and it is the Christmas break and I am leaving for Arizona in two weeks so it might be a little slow. Just letting you readers know. Now back to this chapter.
So basically in this chapter Sarah wakes up, hears yelling from the Avengers and Director Fury and find themselves in a situation that probably can't get out of. No, this doesn't involve another death of a member or anything like that. It's more of the Council demanding an explanation from the Avengers and Sarah herself about what happened about the Battle of the Chitauri. She is also still grieving for Loki's death along with her best friends death as well. (I will get to Allie's story in the sequel as well)
I also used the song that always made me cry because it reminds of my friend who had alcoholic parents so the little snippets of it and I used the song that reminds me so much of her so its dedicated to her.
Song featured:
Whiskey Lullaby, Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss
Also the next chapter is going to be the last chapter its the epilogue to this stotry.
I would like to say thank you to all the readers who have favorite, followed and review this story, I'm so happy that this story got so much buzz and at first I was a little worried, but I'm really happy that you guys love it!
Cara Tala: Thank you so much for supporting me and encouraging me to keep writing and not afraid of showing who I am. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't help me! So I thank you! Major huuuuuuuggggggsssss!
So without further ado here is chapter 12 and the epilogue will be posted either tonight or tomorrow morning.
Thank you so much! The sequel will be up soon! I do not own the Avengers, X-Men or anything from Marvel Entertainment! I own Sarah Anastasia Chandler and Allie!
Hugs and kisses!
Chapter 12: Realizations
Sarah's POV
"There has to be another way!"
"Listen to me! There is no other way! I have to do this!"
"I can't lose you Loki!
"You won't lose me, I'll be back! I promise!"
"NO! LOKI!"
The dream faded away as I started to wake up from being in the illusions and coming back to reality. My eyes slowly opened, my vision was blurry, the sunlight peaked through the windows and I felt warmth around me. I rubbed my tired eyes getting my vision back to normal and I looked around noticing that I'm not on the Helicarrier. I looked around and I was in a room a normal room like it could be my bedroom expect the walls aren't painted light gray and my room isn't this big and I didn't have my own bathroom. There was a dresser next to the window and the bed was against in the middle of the wall. It was kind of empty so that's probably why it has a lot of room. I was about to get out of the bed until I looked down at myself and noticed I'm not in my Huntress outfit. I was wearing my short black shorts and a black tank top. This is weird because I don't remember changing out of my outfit. I surely remember I passed out of exhaustion from using my powers too much when we were battling the Chitauri then it hit me. Loki. He's gone, he wasn't coming back, he sacrificed himself to save us, the civilians and he was protecting me, but he promised. He promised to come back, but he wasn't coming back. I rubbed my forehead and the sound of clinging metal around my neck. I grabbed the chain, ran toward and found two metal dog tags that had Clint's name. Everything came flooding back to me and I wanted to cry, but I'm too tired to shed more tears. I lay back down on the comfy bed and started to fall asleep until I heard loud voices that were close by.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEIR GOING TO INTERROGATE US!?" Well, it was more like yelling in the tower and that was Stark's voice. I sighed and decided to get up. I felt cold and looked around the room to find something to keep me warm. I got up from the bed, walked towards the closet, opened it and found nothing. There has to be something I could wear over my black tank top. I went to the dresser and opened one of the drawers. Interesting enough, I found a red plaid long sleeve shirt. I picked it up and held up against me and noticed that it was big on me. I put it on and button it up, but not all the way to my neck. You could still see the top of my black tank top and it felt like I was wearing a dress. It was long, the length stopped at my mid thighs, I found some shoes that looked like Ugg boots to me. I put them on, they went up to my mid shines and the inside of the boots were soft. Probably to keep my feet warm, anyway after putting on the boots, I walked towards the door and out into the hallway. I rubbed my tired eyes, wishing to go back to sleep, but I couldn't with all the yelling going on. I stopped at the entrance that looked like the living room area and saw Bruce, Clint, Kitty, Kurt, Logan, Natasha, Rogue, Steve, Stark, Thor and Warren were yelling at which seems like Fury and Hill. How long was I out? "They can't interrogate us against our own will! We have rights too you know!" Yeah, that was defiantly Stark's voice, I leaned against the wall watching and listening.
"Don't you think I know that Stark! The council can do whatever they want and if they want to investigate us then they will with no exceptions!" Interrogate, investigation? How long was I out for?
"Is there anything we can do to avoid being interrogated by the council?" That was Steve; I rubbed my eyes and kept listening on the conversation.
"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do at this point."
"Are they going interrogate just us?" Natasha's voice so far so good, but still a little confused about what Fury said.
"There going to interrogate Sarah as well." That threw me off as everyone yelled,
"WHAT!?"
"What?" I seriously whispered, but everyone hears me and turned towards me with wide eyes knowing that I'm awake. I was confused so I guess it's time to start asking questions. "I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask how long was I out for?" They kept staring at me and it was starting to get uncomfortable, but Fury broke that silence.
"The council has decided to do an investigation on the events that happened in the city two days ago."
"So that answers my first question, I've been asleep for two days. So here's my second question, what this I hear about an investigation and being interrogated?" They were in silence again that filled the room and now it was getting annoying when no one is answering your questions. Fury broke the silence once again.
"The council has found out about the existence of the Phoenix that resides inside of you and the fact I didn't report you to the council, they didn't like my decision of how I handle things for quite awhile."
"So basically you didn't want anyone to find out about the Phoenix existence."
"However, the first incident you had was at your own house a couple of years ago and we put you and you're parents in our own witness protection program so no one including interesting parties such as the X-Men and HYDRA off your scent and lead them down a different trial."
"You didn't want anyone to find out I had the Phoenix."
"That would be correct."
"That's when Phil Coulson comes in."
"I assigned Agent Coulson to this task because I know he would get the job done and keep the X-Men and HYDRA away from you and your parents. When you moved to Fort Worth TX, Coulson did all the background checks on everyone in the city including the students and the teachers to the school you would be attending too. He would also do weekly check ups with your parents when you were at school, out with your best friend or at your martial arts training. He kept everyone and I mean everyone."
"He was protecting me and my parents."
"Yes."
"So how did he miss Scott?"
"He didn't, he knew Scott Summers were from the X-Men, but wanted to check out for himself with no computers, no agents, nothing. He confronted Scott face to face. It would also explain on how Scott decided to make his move thus creating the incident."
"Phil was protecting me."
"He was protecting for three years."
"That's what he meant when he said 'I'm sorry we couldn't be there to get you out' when HYDRA captured me a two years ago."
"Correct, Coulson felt responsible for the incident that happened and when you ran away, he lost all traces of your existence. For two years, Coulson worked nonstop trying to find you, but every time he had found a trace and the location, he would come up empty."
"Because I kept moving from town to town."
"He would come back and go over everything he found again and analyze everything over and find the key points of the towns you have gone through. There was sometimes he would lock himself in his office so he won't be disturbed."
"And he did all of that just to find me?"
"At times, the agents had thought he gone mad because he was over working himself.I told him to take a break, have some time to himself, but he wouldn't allow it."
"Because he wanted to keep looking for me."
"When a HYRDA agent infiltrated the Helicarrier to find your file, but your file didn't exist. We caught the agent and interrogated him and told us he was looking for a particular kind of file which was yours. Even though, did not exist he was convinced that it did. He said that they have captured a young girl with extreme powers. He even described the young girl by memory."
"And when he described me to you, that's when you finally realized where I was."
"Correct, but by the time Coulson got there,"
"I was already gone."
"We never did find any of your blood samples in the warehouse so we only assumed your destroyed them."
"I wasn't going to let anyone have my powers, they were a gift not a curse or some lab experiment so they can test it on test subjects. I wasn't going to let that happen."
"You did the right thing Sarah; if it wasn't for you we wouldn't have found the base of HYDRA or at least one of them."
"They have more bases somewhere else?"
"More like they have dozens upon dozens of bases around the world, the main base is in the outskirts of Germany."
"Let me guess there in the snowy mountains?"
"Correct."
"For some reason that doesn't surprise me." I rubbed my eyes and sighed. I just absorbed a lot of information about Agent Coulson and HYDRA all in like thirty minutes. I was still leaning against the wall, talking to Fury and everyone else still staring at me. "So what do we do about the investigation?"
"I was hoping to avoid it as long as I can and come up with a plan."
"Well, since I'm eighteen, I ran away from home and I don't need my parent's permission to be interrogated."
"I know,"
"What does the Council need to know?"
"They need to know each and every one of your reports on the day of the Chitauri Army hit Earth, they also want to know everyone about you Sarah so they can put in a file and in the record book." I rubbed my forehead and sighed of exhaustion from all this information being thrown at me. All I want to do is go back to sleep.
"How much time do we have?"
"Three days, it doesn't really give any of you enough time to prepare."
"We'll be fine." He nodded at me and turned towards Stark.
"Stark, I would like to talk to you for a moment." He shrugged.
"Whatever you want one eye." Fury turned towards the other room, Stark quickly walk towards me and gives me a hug, more like a bear hug if you ask me and whispered something in my ear. "There's food in the kitchen if you hungry and a pair of spare clothes in one of the drawers that Pepper and Natasha bought for you. There is also a small black velvet box on top of the clothes that Bruce, Clint, Thor and Steve choose for you while they went out not too long ago." I slightly nodded and we both pulled away and he gave me a kiss on my forehead. "Good to see your okay." I gave a small smile at him as the memories still flooded back to the battle where I almost lost my life and where we lost Loki.
"Thank you Tony." He squeezed my shoulder, he's worrying about me again just like Steve and everyone else.
"Stark!"
"Gotta go, one eye patch needs to talk to about something important." With that he left to the other room where Fury was waiting. Agent Hill was with the others who were finally not staring at me and having a conversation with the others. I was still leaning against the wall, watching everyone talking and listening to their conversation. Logan was talking with Kurt and Warren about joining SHIELD, Kurt, Kitty and Bruce were talking about his research if he could do some mutation experiments and said he would think about it, Natasha, Clint, Steve and Agent Hill were talking about the situation with the investigation and worry about my safety as usual. I smiled to myself as I watch everyone, this feels like a family, a dysfunctional family. I felt something nudging against my leg, I looked down and it was Lockheed. I couldn't help, but let out a chuckle at his way of getting attention. He's a like a cat when he wants to be. I sit down on the cold floor, scooped him up in my arms and started to pet him like a cat. He made his adjustments in my lap and lay comfortable in my lap. I kept petting him and he started to fall asleep. I couldn't help, but keep smiling at Lockheed; he's just like a cat or more like a puppy.
"I see Lockheed found someone to sleep on." I looked up and saw Thor who was standing over me and flashed a smile.
"Well, who else was going to give him the attention he needs." I smiled up at him and looked back down at Lockheed. Thor sat down next to me on the hard cold floor and watches me with care in his eyes.
"How are you feeling?" I looked at him and saw that his smile has turned into sadness. I also noticed that he's not in his Asgardian armor or cape, he was wearing blue denim jeans, worn out brown boots, a dark blue fitting t-shirt and wearing a brown leather jacket. I looked back at everyone else and noticed that everyone were in their civilian clothes not in their superheroes outfit. They must've changed after the battle. "I see you found my red shirt," I looked at Thor and down his shirt that I was wearing. "I think it fits you well." I let out a chuckle and so did he. Lockheed woke up from our little laughter and yawned groggily and looked at us with his tired eyes. I couldn't help, but laugh even more at Lockheed and Thor joined in.
"I think Lockheed is upset that we woke him up."
"An accident my dear dragon." Our laughter died down and Lockheed jumped out of my lap and started walking towards the living room area where everyone else was. I leaned my head on Thor's shoulder as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "It's good to see a smile on your face my dear sister."
"It's good to be smiling again brother." It became silent for a brief moment, but instantly broke that silence. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm still mourning for our loss, but I'm still proud of what he did."
"I'm proud too and I understand."
"Understand what?"
"What he had to do. In order to save everyone he sacrificed himself to protect the ones he loves."
"Indeed he did, but I also know he would feel guilt for leaving them behind."
"I know what that feels, sometimes heroes fall despite their strength, but to Loki it didn't matter if he had the strength, what matter to him is protecting the ones he loves from harm's way. He did it because he wanted too." Silence took its toll as we sit and mourn Loki. "Everything is going to change us isn't it?" I felt Thor lightly squeezing my shoulder and leaned his head against mine.
"It will, but we will always have each other." I smiled at Thor's comment; I remember a song that reminded me of Allie and of her parents. They were both drunks and that hurt Allie, I was there for her, but I wasn't there for her enough. Allie started drinking herself.
The rumors flew but nobody knew how much she blamed herself
For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath
I got up from Thor's warmth and started walking towards the balcony, I noticed everyone watching me and their conversation ending when they hear me sing.
She finally drank her pain away a little at a time
But she never could get drunk enough to get them of her mind
Until the night
I opened the doors to the balcony wide and let the sun rays hit my skin with its warmth as I look out into the distances of the city and sing with my heart.
She put the bottle to her head and pulled the trigger
And finally drank away their memories
Life is short, but this time it was bigger
Then the strength she had to get up off her knees
We found her with her face down in the pillow
Clinging to their picture for dear life
We laid her next to them beneath the willow
While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby
I kept thinking of Allie on her life would be like if she didn't have drunk parents, she would have loved this. The thought of Allie having a better life made me smile; she would have loved it here. With the grieving of Loki I also grieved for Allie as well. After Allie's death, I never showed my emotions anymore, not to mom and dad, not even Scott when he was still my best friend at the time, I started to drift away. Everything changed after her death and I didn't whether it was for a good reason or a bad one. However, I know Allie wouldn't want me to grieve anymore, I know Loki wouldn't want me either. I leaned on the railing of the balcony or what's left of it and looked to my right. I could see white figures that looked like Allie and Loki. They were laughing and smiling at each other like they were a couple. I kind of figured they would get along somehow. I smiled at their white ghosts as they started walking back towards the tower and disappeared from thin air. I know they would be watching over us especially me, but I always knew Allie would be watching me. I looked to my right as saw Phil Coulson's white ghost and smiled at me. I smiled back, he tried to put his ghost hand on my shoulder, but it phased through me. He was saddened not being able to touch someone again; I used my telepathy to talk to him.
"It's alright Agent Coulson, don't be sad."
"I'm sad because I wasn't able to help you."
"It wasn't your fault none of this was. You didn't know"
"But I should've."
"No one has the power to stop the events that follow, you did everything you could."
"But it wasn't enough, I knew Loki was on some spell and I didn't, I didn't help him."
"We didn't know he was under the spell until the portal started to open."
"I just wish there was something I could've done to help him and you."
"I know Agent Coulson."
"I'm going to guess Fury told you everything."
"He did. Agent Coulson, why didn't you try to contact me?"
"Because I knew HYDRA would be listening and I had to be discreet. When you disappeared, I blamed myself. I looked everywhere and I couldn't find you."
"That's when a HYDRA agent infiltrated the Helicarrier."
"Yeah, he described you like he was watching you along. When he gave us the location of the warehouse they kept you in, it was practically burned to the ground. I thought you were dead."
"But you didn't give up."
"I never did."
"I'm glad you didn't Agent Coulson because of you finding me, I wouldn't be here right now."
"Well, when you go to a bar and see at eighteen year old teenager working as a bartender tends to be out in the open."
"You know I wasn't good being undercover."
"But you were good at hiding so I guess I can give you that one."I rolled my eyes and looked out the city.
"Thanks for the guitar and the suit."
"No problem kiddo, you deserved it. You'll be a great agent and,
"A great Avenger."
"Exactly." I smiled at him and he smiled too. Phil was a great man.
"It's time for me to go."
"Wait," He turned back at me. "Do you have any family members? I want to give them my condolence."
"Rachel."
"She she your mother or sister?"
"She's my fiancée." With that he was gone, I had no idea he had a fiancée. I still looked out the city as I watch the workers rebuild buildings and cleanup crew cleaning the debris. New York City was being rebuild, a memorial was being built near the 9/11 memorial. Lives were lost two days ago and the city was grieving, but with everyone's help we can rebuild a new hope. I heard Lockheed walk over to me and jumped on the railing of the balcony. He watched with me and enjoyed the peace that was being rebuilt.
"Though the city grieves with its loss of lives, it gives a new hope and for what we are fighting for." I knew it was Steve who was watching me from behind.
"It does give us a reason to fight."
"But times like this give us time to think."
"That is true indeed." I heard the birds singing its song and fly across the sky like they were giving us hope.
"What will happen when this is all over?"
"Some of us might go our separate ways and some of us might stay here in Stark Tower or continue to work with SHIELD."
"What about you?"
"To be honest, I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm still all new to this and the ways of well everything." I nodded, he walked over and stood next to me and leaning against the railing as well.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure yet, still trying to figure that out."
"Are you going to go back home in Texas?"
"I don't think so even though I have my memories back, there would be nothing for me to go back too. Plus I don't even know if they still live there."
"You could find out from Director Fury."
"Even if I did go back, I would still be putting my parents in danger. I can't do that to them."
"Then tell them you're okay, tell them you're alive and healthy, but don't tell them the part where you were stabbed in the chest and almost died in the midst of battle."
"Yeah I was already going to leave that part out." He chuckled and so did I, it last for about a moment until the silence has taken hold of the air. There was one thought that still bothered me and I knew I had to ask him. "What's going to happen to us?" It took him off guard as he snapped his head towards me and I gazed into his blue eyes that were still gorgeous as ever. A pink blush spread across his cheeks as he leaned closer to me and our lips met. The kiss was soft, warm and gentle with care. The memories of our first encounter was the elevator, as his lips move against mine with passion and his hands touching my skin made me shiver, but in a good way. We pulled away from each other and gazed in each other eyes. Our feelings were strong for each other and I couldn't, but smile. He smiled at me and leaned in again for another kiss. We kissed slowly, but passionately. We've both been through so much that we know what we feel in the end. I didn't need a bond with him do know what he was thinking or feeling, he's just a lot like me only he doesn't have powers or a Phoenix inside of him. He knows what it feels like to lose someone you love because he lost everyone he knew back in the 1940s and wake up in a whole other time. Sometimes I feel like I don't belong here, like I belong to another timeline in history, but if I wasn't here none of this would have happened. I wouldn't be falling in love with Steve Rogers.
Tony's POV
"May I ask why you asked me that Fury?"
"It is the only way the Council can't interrogate her. There are not any other options."
"Fury you're asking me to be her guardian, Sarah's legal guardian! Why would ask such a thing when I don't know anything about her!" He raised an eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes. "Okay, I may be over reacting, but Fury you can't be serious!"
"I am full of seriousness Stark, the fact is that I don't want Sarah to be interrogate and," He paused for a moment and sighed. I thought I was a dramatic bastard. "Jean trusts you." Now that isn't what prepared to here.
"Why?"
"Because she saw you give Sarah a reason to fight and you told her it wasn't her fault,"
"It wasn't her fault, it was NEVER HER FAULT!"
"And that's why she trusts you. By telling her it wasn't her fault for everything that has happened to her, you were the first one to tell her it was never her fault. It wasn't her fault for the incidents, it's not her fault for letting the Phoenix out and it's defiantly not her fault for her best friend's death. None of it is her fault." For once, I agree with Fury, it was never Sarah's fault. It was the people around her that caused her to be in situations that she couldn't get out were their fault. Her best friend's death I don't know about because she never talked about her best friend so I guess I will gently ask her about it. I rubbed the back of my neck since it was sore from all the beatings I got during the battle two days ago, but the fact is that I'm being asked to be Sarah's legal guardian, that's like asking her to be my daughter.
"Fury's right." I turned around at the door and saw Pepper standing there. Did she listen to every word me and Fury were talking about. "Tony, Sarah is much safer here then being in Texas. If she went back to Texas with her folks, SHIELD wouldn't be able to protect her because of the distances and she's happy here." She walked up to me and rested her hand on my cheek. "Her parents agree for you to be here legal guardian."
"How do you know?"
"Because I went over to Texas and met them. I told them about the situation and they agree that Sarah would be safer here then going back home. They signed the papers and everything; they are sending some of Sarah's stuff from her room like clothes, scarves, books, music, and guitar anything she needs. Tony, they know you can keep her safe and they trust just like Jean, you treat Sarah like she's your own daughter. I know you care about her as much as everyone else does, but you have made a father and daughter relationship with her. She trusts you." I hate to say it, but Pepper is right. So I sighed in defeat and turned towards Fury.
"I'll be Sarah's legal guardian." Fury nodded and I think I saw him smile.
"Excellent, Ms. Potts have the papers, all you need to do is sign it and you will be her official legal guardian."
"There's just one condition I have." I turned towards Pepper and smiled at her. I take her hand; sneakily put something in her hand. She looks down her hand and opens it and reveals a silver ring with a purple diamond laced around the purple gem. She looks at me with her mouth open and wide green and blue eyes. I smiled; kneel down on one knee and holding her hand. "Pepper Pots, will you do me the honors of being my wife?"