Author's Note: This chapter is so dramatic lol I blame Thor: The Dark World. Which was amazing by the way. If you haven't seen it you need to get your adorable little butt to the theater RIGHT AWAY! And, of course, stay till the very end.

Review Reviews:

imnotcraZyjustuniQue: I know that email screw up is happening a lot lately :/ My main concern is ending the story organically. I don't want to end it too soon or over stay my welcome so I have to find a point wherein I feel as if all the tales that need to be told have been told and I've left all these characters in a place that feels right for them. When I'll get there who knows *shrugs* haha

Chaos Reigner: Hi! Thank you :) I had to throw something in there. I figure Pepper's age and that extremis (and I'm sure the insurmountable stress automatically put on anyone who spends any significant amount of time with Tony) would cause some problems with her pregnancy. I wish Ryland were real lol

kimbee: we'll officially meet Little Miss in the next chapter! Haha I want mouce waffles now :)

blackangel150: She's terrified, but she has support.

discordchick: She has some legitimate fear but she'll come around. I honestly don't know where Little Miss came from but I like it too :)

Lollypops101: Thanks :)

Epic Elven Warrior Princess: Tony is the best. If he's not throwing out great one-liners, he's actually being incredibly sweet :)

Morgan: It's been more than 20 chapters in the works!

marvelgirl88: Well she's a Stark so there will be flash ;)

Maria C. Weasley: Thank you :)

KMPcool: So close!

crazyninjagirl: I love cliffhangers! Oh that's awesome! Polyvore is pretty great. I found it years ago then rediscovered it a while ago. It's a really great tool for writers and readers, but it's also just fun :)

So to those who have seen Thor: The Dark World, in this story we're gonna pretend that one thing didn't happen (you'll know when you read it). The only effect the movie has on this story is it inspired the fanatical drama lol

Enjoy!

Pepper thought she had a few weeks before Little Miss's nursery needed to be finished so she still had boxes of clothes and decorations piled throughout the pink room despite the fact that Little Miss would actually arrived in a matter of hours. So after Tony called home with an update Clint and Natasha figured it was the least they could do to help out by finishing the little girls bedroom. Of course Pepper and her daughter would still be in the hospital for a few days, and even after that Little Miss would sleep in a bed-side bassinet for a few months, but it would be best for everyone if the room were set up when Pepper got home. Tony already had most of the furniture put together and the whole room was painted light pink but there was still a lot that needed to be done. Curtains needed hung, clothes needed put away, the bed needed maid, the shelves needed decorated and it needed to feel more like home.

"Remember when we set up Ace's nursery?" Clint said nostalgically as he pulled the crib sheets out of a nearby laundry basket. He was working on getting the crib ready for Little Miss when she'd eventually use it while Natasha worked to get the closet and dresser full. "It took us forever to pick colors cause you didn't want the whole place to be pink."

"I don't like pink!" Natasha defended herself with a chuckle. "And I didn't want to force her into being girly if she turned out a little more tomboyish. And it worked cause she's the perfect mix of both, thank you very much." Clint shot her a look for taking all the credit for how great their girl turned out. "If anyone forced something on our girls it was you forcing ballet on Irina when she was barely a year old."

"That ballet outfit was adorable!" Clint demanded, referring back to the little tutu he got his youngest daughter if just because it was cute. "Honestly though I think we did an okay job. They both turned out pretty amazing and so far they don't have serious regrets. I mean, I have plenty! But they don't so that's good."

Natasha paused, her arm halfway in a laundry basket. "What do you regret?" she asked calmly despite the confusion and hint of panic rising in her chest. Rather than sweat it out, she focused on hanging up all the tiny baby outfits. Danni was washing all of the newborn clothes on her level but there were still boxes of other clothes Pepper already had that Little Miss wouldn't even fit into for a good few months. Natasha remembered all the little outfits her and Clint got their girls when they were still little enough to dress up. Irina grew out of that quickly and was barely three when she started demanding to pick out her own clothes.

"Oh you know," Clint mumbled as he thought about all the things he wished he'd done differently. "I regret dropping Irina off the changing table when she was like three months old."

"That was an accident." Natasha defended, remembering quite clearly how upset her poor husband had been when he turned his back for just a second before hearing that pathetic little thud. His heart didn't slow for the rest of the day and he all but insisted on holding her until it was absolutely necessary to put her down. Hell he didn't go anywhere near that changing table again. He was so scared he hurt her, so scared she'd grow up remembering the time her daddy dropped her- the time she trusted him and he let her down.

"And I regret that time I yelled at Anya for spilling juice on the new couch."

"You were jet-lagged and coming off a mission, she doesn't hold it against you." Natasha replied. Anya was maybe five at the time but even at such a young age she didn't let her dad's outburst get to her. She had a long talk with Natasha about how sorry Clint was for yelling and how he was just tired. That conversation ended with Anya going to give a sleeping Clint a hug but he didn't know that.

"And I regret how I acted the first time Anya brought a boy home." Clint literally cringed. He wasn't horrible but he was inappropriate, making the poor boy feel worse than he already did. Then Clint smiled a little and said, "I'm just kidding. That punk deserved a good scare. I bet you he didn't touch my daughter after that."

Natasha pulled a face, whispering, "You'd be surprised." under her breath but Clint heard, his head snapping up to hers. Before he had the chance to seriously panic Natasha moved the conversation on. "I regret some things too," she quickly said louder. "like that cat Anya brought home that I wouldn't let her keep. Or the time I accidentally lost her at the store. Or that huge fight Irina and I got into when she started high school. But all in all we did pretty great, Clint."

"No I know," Clint agreed, finally getting the damn fitted sheet on the tiny crib mattress. "I would never question what a good mother you are. Sometimes I just get a little jealous that Tony and Pepper get to do it over again. You know what I mean? They already raised one kid, the went through all the ups and downs, and now they get to try again but with all that practice already under their belt."

"Yeah well I'm sure Tony will still wind up dropping her off something." Natasha teased, making Clint chuckle. She finally gave up with the closet in order to help Clint wrangle the duvet cover since he never could figure it out on his own. They almost had the whole thing put together when Anya careened into the room breathing heavily. "Hey, we were just talking about you. Is there any chance you remember a time when I.." Clint started to say, turning towards his eldest daughter but stopping when he noticed the look on her face.

"Tony called," Anya breathed, her voice as shaky as her hands. "Little Miss was born...but something's wrong, we're not sure what...he wants us all at the hospital as soon as possible." She said it all so quickly it actually took a few seconds for Clint and Natasha to understand. And then they were moving so fast it made Anya dizzy. They acted upon instinct, both consumed with a gut-wrenching fear of the worst, and in almost the blink of an eye they were downstairs in the garage with their coats and shoes on, keys in their hands.

"What's happening!?" Robby begged as Ryland carried him out to an SUV. There were fat tears in the six-year-old's eyes but no one could explain. Ryland just kept saying everything was going to be fine, but even Ryland himself with all his absurd optimism wasn't entirely believing himself at the moment. He spoke to his father, Tony called his oldest and with a frantically shaky voice managed to get out the words Avengers Assemble.

There were too many people to take one car so everyone piled into their own vehicles, Robby ridding along with his brother and Anya. The garage lit up as each car engine came to life followed by tires screeching against the pavement. Robby was officially crying in the backseat of Anya's SUV so Ryland sat beside him, fiddling on an electronic tablet to ensure no one in the family would come in contact with a red light on their way to the hospital. "There's nothing to be afraid of." Ryland swore, his hand clenched in Robby's, but no one in the SUV believed him.

When they arrived the hospital staff was prepared. Tony had a level cleared for Pepper so that's where they were lead, everyone jamming into the private elevator together then bursting out like bullets in a machine gun. A team of nurses stopped and suggested they go see Little Miss but before they even got two words out the swinging doors that lead to emergency surgery swung open and Tony stepped through.

"Daddy!" Robby screamed, lurching forward at full speed until Tony bent down to pick up his son. Robby hit like a tone of bricks, not slowing at all until he was safe inside Tony's arms. "What's happening!? Is Mommy alright?" Robby asked with his face buried in the crook of Tony's neck.

The team gathered around, everyone sick with worry as Tony stood up, holding Robby close to his chest. Ryland stepped forward, his legs shaking so badly he almost fell over, then he locked eyes with a man he'd looked up to forever and saw pure unadulterated fear. He tried not thinking of the worst but it was impossible not to feel the urge to throw up when Tony looked so broken.

"Something..." Tony started before his voice cracked and he had to clear his throat. "Something went wrong...her blood pressure plummeted all of a sudden...there's internal bleeding but we don't know where..." He couldn't continue after that. His voice cut off and in order to keep his family from seeing him break Tony buried his face in Robby's neck. For a second everyone was too heartbroken to even breathe.

"What does she need?" Bruce was the first to ask, stepping forward as he began rolling up his sleeve. "I don't know how the gamma will effect her but I'll give blood if she needs it."

Steve stepped up beside him, offering, "Who knows what I've got running through my veins but if she needs it, it's hers." as he too rolled up the sleeve of his shirt. Tony felt his knees go weak as he looked upon the family he built, the family that found him. These people were a handful of freaks; laced with gamma radiation and super-serums and with backgrounds too sketchy to even question. But of all the power they possessed, nothing could ever trump the love they shared. Not Thor's hammer, not Cap's shield, not Natasha's thighs.

"What she needs..." Tony choked out, wracking his hand down his face and shifting Robby to his hip. "What she needs is a miracle."

"It wouldn't be the first we've witnessed." Thor offered up, the hand he had protectively placed on the base of Jane's spine trembling slightly. "We can make..." Thor was on the verge of a beautiful battle speech before his own daughter cut him off.

"The stream!" Dahlia shouted, causing everyone to jump a little and turn towards her. She started almost bouncing in place, too keyed up to stand still or even take a second to explain. Beside her, Anya started to ask what the hell she was talking about but Dahlia just grabbed her arm and started running.

"Where are you going!?" Jane shouted, turning to watch Dahlia and Anya run towards the stairs.

"To bring Aunt Pepper a miracle!" Dahlia shouted as she pushed past the stairwell doors dragging Anya behind. Despite how fit Anya was she was honestly having trouble keeping up with Dahlia who had much longer legs and seemed to be on one hell of a mission. It was almost twelve stories up to the roof but Dahlia took each step two at a time and therefore burst through the roof access door in record time. "Heimdall! Heimdall, open the bifrost!" Dahlia yelled as soon as she was outside on the helipad.

"Whoa! Wait, what!?" Anya skidded to a stop a few paces behind Dahlia, her hair whipping into her face at the sheer speed of her stop. "Asgard!? We're going to Asgard!? Now!? You really think now is..."

Before Anya could even finish light was everywhere surrounding them both in colors so blinding Anya cringed away, covering her face in the crook of her elbow. She could feel her hair whipping around her face violently and the ends of her coat flapping in the wind as her feet lifted off the ground. She let out a little yelp but continued to cover her face as she tried not to think about what was actually happening. It seemed both like a lifetime and a second, then her feet touched ground again. She stumbled a little, tripping over her own feet for a second and dropping her arm in the process. What greeted Anya was more than she could've ever imagined.

"Holy...shit!" she managed to gasp, looking about the great golden room she'd been transported to. Everything about it was ornate and beautiful and picturesque and for just one second Anya let herself wounder who got the task of cleaning the damn place.

"Your Highness, you called so suddenly." the man at the center of the room, the one she could only assume was Heimdall, spoke and Anya pivoted fast enough to lose her balance again. Asgard, she quickly realized, was like an acid trip. Too many damn senses to take in. She was going to overload.

"You saw one of my family is in trouble, Heimdall." Dahlia explained quickly as she motioned for Anya to follow her out of the giant globe of a room. "Keep the bifrost open for me, I won't be but a minute."

"As you wish," Heimdall replied, taking up his sword and looking like a statue once again. Anya quickly followed after Dahlia despite her inner desire to stay and closer inspect just the walls of the room, to take in every detail. She stepped out onto the rainbow bridge she grew up hearing stories about and literally gasped. That gasp turned into a scream when Dahlia suddenly pushed her over the edge.

"The hell is wrong with you!?" Anya screamed when she fell into a carriage built sort of like a boat but that was floating above the water. Dahlia jumped in gracefully, making Anya jealous for a second, then took up place at the back of the boat, grabbing what Anya guessed was probably whatever steering mechanism a damn floating boat used.

"You wouldn't have jumped if I asked you to, would you?"Dahlia shot back with a knowing glance. Anya made a face, knowing it were true, then stuck to watching Asgard zip past them. "Kind of mind blowing isn't it? I grew up knowing this place and it still amazes me every time I see it. And there's always something new to see."

Anya stole a peek back at Dahlia as she steered their chariot easily. "Heimdall seems important," she mumbled almost low enough for Dahlia not to hear. "and yet you're still more important. I'd be jealous if I weren't so fascinated by someone calling my idiot Lia Your Highness." Dahlia almost felt like sticking her tongue out for a second then she remembered, here she was a princess. And it'd be more fun to act royal for Anya's sake than to tramps about in her combat boots like she normally would.

Dahlia stopped right before Odin's castle, something akin to parking their conveyance before jumping out. Anya was actually more graceful in that act so she walked with her usual swagger up to the castle doors, her confidence reestablished after having been acting a fool since Dahlia grabbed her arm back at the hospital on earth. She did still feel small though given everyone around her were Asgardian tall and she was barely 5'5. Dahlia was granted immediate access to the kingdom and once again Anya felt tiny. She just tried not to trip over her own feet again as she rushed to follow Dahlia through the incredible castle.

"Now this...is a bedroom. Is this yours?" Anya exclaimed as Dahlia showed her to the most majestic bedroom Anya had ever laid eyes on. If it weren't for the bed Anya wouldn't even classify the space as a bedroom, more a ballroom. One of the pillars alone could absolutely finance Dahlia's wild college plans.

Dahlia was mumbling to herself in the corner as she rooted through cabinets and shelves, whispering, "Too big...too small..." as she picked up different items then replaced them. Anya was just about to ask what the hell they were doing when Dahlia found what she was looking for. She held up a tiny ornate vial no bigger than the palm of her hand attached to a chain. It could be worn as a necklace but Dahlia never used it for such a purpose.

"Whenever a royal baby is born," Dahlia started to explain as she stuffed the vial in her pocket and rushed back out of the room. "there's this massive celebration that can sometimes last for weeks. There's feasts and music and dancing and lots of drunkenness and general merriment as well as gifts. Lots of gifts. Everyone in Asgard gives something to the royal baby no matter how little they have. Be it livestock, weapons, jewelery, whatever."

"And someone gave you that?" Anya clued in as she walked alongside Dahlia through the palace, following both her footsteps and her story.

Dahlia nodded. "I can't remember who, but I kept it cause I liked it."

"So what are you going to do with it?" Anya asked as they stepped up to a pair of double doors. Just before Dahlia pushed them open a voice came from behind them and they stopped.

"Dahlia, is that you?" a woman's voice asked and Dahlia turned with a small smile. "How is it that I knew nothing of a visit from you!" As the woman approached she held her arms out wide and Anya quickly remembered the one time Thor brought his parents to earth. Anya was really young at the time but she remembered a beautiful woman with golden curls and a sweet smile.

"Even Heimdall didn't see me coming." Dahlia replied as she embraced her grandmother. "I'm afraid I haven't come for a visit though. I need something from Asgard to help save my family on earth."

Frigga looked concerned and confused for a minute before realizing Anya was also in company. She smiled and offered her hand to Anya who wasn't quite sure if she should shake it, kiss it or curtsy. "You probably do not remember me; I am Frigga, Odin's wife, Thor's mother and Dahlia's grandmother. You are Anya, yes?"

Anya gaped for a second before smiling and just holding Frigga's hand. "I am, Your Highness...Your Honor...Ma'am..." She blew it. One chance to meet an Asgardian queen and Anya blew it. If she could kick herself in the ass she would.

Frigga chuckled a little before taking back her hand and turning to Dahlia. "What is it that you need?"

Dahlia was still overcoming the urge to bust up laughing at Anya so she cleared her throat and held up the vial. "I need a miracle from Odin's garden." she said and right away Frigga understood. The older woman just stepped aside, allowing Dahlia access to the doors she was trying to open a moment ago.

"Whatever else you need, do not hesitate." Frigga told her sincerely, holding onto Dahlia's hand a second longer. "And please come visit again soon. Auden is completely useless without you." Frigga gave a look not from a queen but from a grandmother and Dahlia blushed. She agreed quietly to come back as soon as possible before she pushed through the double doors and stepped outside.

"I like her," Anya said as they traveled down a series of stairs to an embankment. "she probably thinks I'm an idiot, but I like her." Dahlia outright laughed as she awkwardly hopped down the steeper part of the hill. Usually when Dahlia traveled down this area she was further down the path where the hills weren't as steep but she didn't have time to go to her usual spot so she had to make due, sliding ungracefully down the hill with Anya behind her.

"You should come back with me over spring break." Dahlia conversed as she tried not to fall on he face. "You could actually meet Auden and maybe not make a complete ass of yourself in front of my other family."

"I'd like that," Anya agreed breathlessly as they finally made it to the bottom of the hill. The breath she sucked in was more to cover her gasp as she looked down at the stream trickling below them. It was the single most magnificent thing Anya had ever seen- even more transcendent than all the other brilliant things she'd already seen in the short time she spent in Asgard.

"It's healing waters," Dahlia explained as she bent by the edge of the water. "I found out last year when I came for my birthday party. Remember how I told you about Auden and I romping around in the river like idiots? This is that river."

Anya watched with wide eyes as Dahlia uncapped the vial and placed her hand into the stream. Wherever her skin came in contact with the water sparkles erupted and shimmered like diamonds. Anya leaned closer just instinctively, amazed by every aspect of the stream. "It's shiny," was all she could think to say.

Dahlia chuckled a little, filling the vial before capping it again. "I swear to God you're like a damn squirrel. I'm never taking you back here if you can't act at least a little more cultured than this." she teased as she stood up, shaking off the excess water from her hand and consequently flinging glitter everywhere. Anya laughed bitterly before slapping Dahlia upside the head hard enough to almost knock her over. Dahlia's laugh was loud enough to reverberate off the castle walls.

"So what do we do with it?" Anya asked as she once again took up her place behind Dahlia, following her back up the hill to the castle where they started back to the rainbow bridge. As much as Anya wanted to stay and admire all the details of Odin's castle- and maybe make an ass of herself a little more- she knew the urgency of getting home and didn't drag her feet.

"I'm not sure," Dahlia admitted as she looped the chain around her neck, wearing the life saving vial like a necklace. "maybe just pour it on her I guess."

"Oh that's great. I'm so glad you know exactly what you're doing right now." Anya exclaimed sarcastically as they hopped back into their awaiting carriage and took off for the bifrost that could lead them home to earth again. Anya wasn't sure what kind of time loop there was between the worlds but she prayed the whole way back to Heimdall's command-post that they wouldn't be too late.

"Back to where you came, Your Highness?" Heimdall asked as soon as the girls entered his domain. Again Anya had to shake off the craziness of someone calling Dahlia Your Highness. Dahlia, a girl who once got her head stuck in a lawn chair.

"Yes, thank you." Dahlia replied, literally pulling Anya along side her. "I'll be back soon, I promise." Dahlia was able to exchange a smile with Heimdall before she was whisked away in a beam of colorful light. On the way back Anya didn't cover her eyes and was overcome with how surreal the whole event was. Not only was the bifrost a real thing- as was Asgard- but she was actually related (well enough) to a family that regularly traveled in such a way. To some there was nothing more mind-boggling than Yggdrasil and the possibility of other realms outside of earth. To Dahlia this was like a road trip to grandma's.

When Anya's feet hit earth again she didn't stumble, only exclaimed, "I wanna do that again!" with excitement. Dahlia just shook her head slowly, wondering to herself how Anya could be both such a badass and such a dork at the same time. The levity of the situation though quickly wore off when she remembered the reason for their trip. Anya and Dahlia shared a look before they both started back for the hospital door, taking the stairs two at a time if not more in order to make it back to Pepper's level quickly. They burst through the staircase doors sweaty and out of breath, Dahlia clutching the vial around her neck desperately.

The family wasn't in the hall anymore, the whole place was vacant. Anya's shoe squeaked when the two girls barreled to a stop where their family once stood. Dahlia figured there were two options, either everyone was in the waiting room or in Pepper's room. Just as Dahlia looked up to the sign hanging above the nurses desk with arrows pointing to each destination, a door opened behind her and she turned to see Kellen emerge.

He didn't need to say it. He couldn't say it.

Dahlia knew her brother and yet she never saw such a look on his face, such sadness in his eyes. He slowly shook his head, the tear on the edge of his eye falling down his cheek. For a minute Anya thought she might throw up, thought she might actually just throw up right then and there. It wouldn't matter if she did, no one would blame her. Even though she couldn't see the rest of the family she knew they were in a similar state. Then she thought about Tony and Robby and Ryland and what they must be going through and bile rose in the back of her throat. She honestly almost did throw up but instead made her feet move forward. That family needed her to be strong. Ryland needed her to be strong. She'd be as strong as Pepper would've wanted.

"No." was all Dahlia said, the word so soft and broken it barely came out. Anya turned halfway, looking at Dahlia as if to say you did the best you could. You tried, it's just too late. But Dahlia wasn't ready to give up. She grabbed the vial around her neck a little tighter, running a hand against her cheek to get rid of the tears, then she turned and forced herself through the emergency surgery access doors.

Who the hell even knows where she was going but Dahlia ran down the halls anyway. She followed the tugging in her heart that refused to believe she'd actually lost a family member today. The mere thought made her knees wobbly and she had to place a hand against the wall just to steady herself. She'd never lost anyone before. Everyone she knew, everyone she cared about, was still kicking. She never lost a family member or a friend in her life and she just wasn't prepared to lose Pepper. Not Pepper. Not when the woman was finally getting everything she wanted. Not before she got the chance to meet her little daughter.

Dahlia stopped outside a door, feeling something tug inside of her. Superstitious Dahlia was not, but clinging to hope she was. So with a shaky hand she pushed against the metal handle to open the door. Honestly she didn't know what she expected to find on the other side but what she saw left a sour taste in her mouth. She fought against the tumbling of her stomach and the tears in her eyes as she took a tentative step forward.

Blood. Everywhere. Never in her life had Dahlia seen so much blood. And Pepper...

Dahlia couldn't look. She didn't want to remember her aunt so pasty and white she was almost translucent. She didn't want to see the bloodstains on her skin and clothes, didn't want to remember a vibrant woman completely void of her usual ebullience. Nothing could rob Dahlia of the sweet memories she had of Pepper through the years, taking care of her family and doing what's best no matter what. Nothing could strip away the part of Dahlia that admired Pepper most of all- more so than anyone else if just because the woman was so damn strong. Nothing could break the reverence Dahlia felt for the woman on the table before her, not even the sight before her.

Instead of looking Dahlia acted. She uncapped the little vial of water and, with a quivering hand, held it out over Pepper. There weren't exactly instructions for use so Dahlia was playing it off the cuff, just taking a shot. She actually sort of shrugged a little before tipping over the vial to pour the glistening liquid across Pepper's abdomen.

The water trickled over her protruding stomach- still not having healed from giving birth- leaving a trail of glitter in it's wake. At first that's all that happened, then something magical occurred. Dahlia took a cautionary step backwards as the glitter started to spread like wildfire across the entire span of Pepper's stomach then body. It spread past her skin to the veins underneath, dancing under the surface of her skin like fire, setting her whole body aglow. She was wrapped in light and color so bright Dahlia instinctively covered her eyes. The room grew brighter and brighter then just like that the light was gone.

Author's Note: It shames me to admit that I'm horrible at writing SciFi type scenes (such as Asgard or that last scene) cause I just don't have a surreal imagination. I can think up a million scenarios for characters so long as they don't include magic lol however I saw Thor 2 and the wheels in my head were spinning a million miles a second. This is what happened I hope you liked it and it wasn't too over the top or poorly done haha

Because of the nature of this episode there is no Polyvore set. I didn't feel the need to break up the angsty to describe outfits (and the chapter didn't really follow anyone in particular for very long aside from Dahlia) and the only identifying characteristics for Little Miss's room is that it's pink lol

However, you can still check out my Polyvore (samitballi. polyvore. com) and follow me. You can also follow me on Twitter ( samitballi) and on Tumblr (samitballi. tumblr. com) cause I love getting followers and talkin' to ya'll :)

Thanks!