(A/N: Let's see….where to start. As usual, thanks to everyone who reviewed my last chapter. I don't believe there are any questions to answer this time around, so I'll go right into my usual spiel. I own nothing. However, a new character, Cooper, introduced in this chapter is one of my own creations much like the children. This week's chapter is from the most bad-ass character in the franchise, Director Nick Fury.)

"Director Fury! Director Fury! Director Fury!"

Director Fury looked at his watch. Who the hell could need him at this time of night? It didn't sound like either of the boys. They should be asleep by now, anyway. They both still had nightmares, but they had subsided a bit since they both started getting regular visits from the Doc. Despite that, it had been a rough year for them all. Bryan had had several fits, some of which required sedation to stop him from destroying everything. He still carried around that ridiculous, ragged toy dinosaur. Stevie had become very sullen and spent a lot of his time in the weight room with the punching dummies. Fury figured he'd mention it to the Doc the next time he came around. It worried him. If this behavior continued, Stevie might not be able to fight.

"Director Fury!"

A boy, around twenty years old with a mop a dirty-blond hair dangling into his eyes rushed into the room, a camera dangling from his hand. Fury pinched the bridge of his nose. Cooper. He should have known. The kid never seemed to sleep.

"What is it, Cooper?"

The kid held out his camera, "I found 'em! Loki's adopting them. There was this whole big ceremony, and a press conference and a party. I got pictures of it and I took a few newspapers too. I figured they could be a little more informative. Check 'em out!"

Fury stared at him for a moment trying to follow what the kid was talking about, "Cooper, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Phoebe and Gunnar, sir. They're alive. They're alive and Loki's adopting them. It's the biggest news!"

"They're alive?"

Cooper nodded, smiling, "Yeah, I knew Loki was having some sort of huge ceremony so I decided to check it out. Luckily there was a huge crowd so I wasn't noticed."

"Good job, Agent."

Fury practically snatched the camera out of Cooper's hands. He seemed surprised but didn't say anything. Could it be true? Could they really be alive after all this time? Cooper stood behind him peering over his shoulder. He sat down at the table and started flipping through the photos. Most of them weren't any good; blurry, unfocused or the lens was covered by fingers. Idiot. How did he not know how to use a camera?

"Sorry about the photos…."

He ignored Cooper and continued shuffling though the photos. Was there even a decent one in the…finally, a good one. Loki was standing on a balcony, the children on either side of him. They looked healthy. Gunnar was dressed in what looked like traditional Asgardian clothing, a leather vest and a thick fur cape. Phoebe had been put in a matching dress and cape. Tony had been right, Loki was one for showing off. In another photo, Loki held Phoebe in one arm and was tousling Gunnar's hair with the other. In yet another, Phoebe and Gunnar were having crowns placed on their heads. In all the pictures, they had huge smiles on their faces. They had to have been brainwashed, only their eyes didn't have dull, blue, marbled look, the one that came from Loki's scepter. They had bright, happy, sparkling eyes. What had Loki done, that they still had the same eyes as before? He had gotten them to trust him. That was much worse. That bastard…that fucking bastard.

"Thanks, Cooper. You can head to the bunks."

Fury stared at the table. What now? How the hell were they supposed to get them back now with their faces plastered all over every newspaper and magazine in the country? At least, now he and Hill could have some idea what was going on with them and could plan on taking them back.

"Director? Is it true? Are they alive?"

He turned. He hadn't noticed Maria coming in but he turned around and nodded, "Yeah. They're alive."

"Thank God. Thank God…We should tell the boys…"

"In the morning. We shouldn't wake them up."

Waking them up would be a bad idea. It was one of the things he had learned in the past year. Besides, they were young. They needed sleep. That was the one thing he could guarantee they could get enough of. They were able to get food and supplies through the black market. They didn't ask questions and as long as they were paid enough, they wouldn't talk. It was too dangerous to go out to the legal markets. Loki had his armies everywhere and the second he walked into public, Fury knew he'd be arrested.

"Sir, did you read any of the newspapers?"

"No, why?"

"Read this. It's a copy of the speech Loki gave. Skip to the fifth paragraph in the third column."

Fury snatched the newspaper away and scanned the article until he found the part Maria had mentioned.

"Just about a year ago, when my rule was just beginning to spread, terrible news was delivered to me. My only brother and his wife had been murdered. I was devastated but their son, my nephew and only remaining blood relative had survived. He has been in my care ever since. Not too long after, I was told that two of my most loyal followers, a married couple, had been murdered by the same people, the rebel group known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Not only had they murdered the poor couple while they slept in their bed, defenseless, but the wife had been raped and rebels had attempted to take away their only child, a young girl, to indoctrinate her in to their group. I cannot imagine what could have happened to her if they had succeeded. Out of sympathy, I took her in as well and decided to raise her alongside my nephew as my own child. For the past year, they have lived in my palace being educated and well-taken care of out of harm's way. So, I would like to introduce your new prince and princess; Gunnar and Phoebe."

Fury stopped reading and started to crumple the paper up. Damn Loki. Damn him to hell. He was turning the kids into martyrs. He was making himself hero, taking in orphaned children. And now they were the enemies. Fury had to admit that Loki knew how to play the political game. If he hadn't known the whole story he might have fallen for it.

"You alright, sir?"

He threw the crumpled-up newspaper against the wall, "Fine."

They had failed. He had failed. He failed Howard Stark. He couldn't keep the Avengers Initiative together. He failed Tony. He wasn't able to keep Phoebe safe. Over the years he had begun to think of Tony more and more as friend especially once he realized how much Tony was like his father. He couldn't help but feel he had let both men down by losing Phoebe.

He failed Thor. He knew he probably couldn't have done anything to save Gunnar but he couldn't help but think he could have helped the kid. Gunnar was as much a part of the Avengers 2.0 as the others. He should have tried!

"Sir?"

He sighed, "I'm fine. Just thinking."

"Sir, you should go to bed."

"What are you, my mother?"

"It's past midnight, sir. We both need to sleep. We can come with a plan in the morning."

Fury nodded figuring he wasn't going to win the argument. Hill was right anyway. He should go to bed. It was late. He got up leaving the camera on the table and headed towards his room. He stopped and turned around to face her.

"Good night, Maria," he said.

"Good night sir," she said.

He gave her a small nod and watched as she went to her room. In the morning, they'd tell Bryan and Stevie the good news and then while the boys were in their lessons, they'd figure out a plan, to get Gunnar and Phoebe back. But first he should listen to his 'mother'. After all, mothers know best.

(A/N: Thanks for reading. What did you guys think of Cooper? Maria? Fury? Tell me. I really appreciate every little comment, question and review. Seriously. They make my day. So, again thanks for reading and I hope the rest of your week is awesome.)