Disclaimer: I only own what is mine. My OCs and Ideas.

A/N: Another short one. This isn't going to be a regular thing, but I got in said what I wanted to say and got out. Plus I'm not going to have my computer on me this weekend when I would usually update so I'm just going to update early. Happy Holidays everyone and Happy New Year! Read, Review, Enjoy!

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Death Fury - Thank you and enjoy!

Chapter 25: Sam

"Good to have you back on the Milano, Sam." Star-Lord's helmet retracted as he walked into the ship he watches one of the monitors as Spider-Man makes his way safely off the ship. "Make yourself comfortable. We'll be heading to Knowhere as soon as the engines get fired up. We'll restock and then make plans from there."

"Hey, I need to make a transmission to Earth." I pull off my helmet and let my sweaty hair breath. "Before we get too far."

"You know how to use the transmitter," Quill says waving his hand in the general direction. "I'm going to take us to the upper layer of the Exosphere, let me know when you're done and we'll be on our way. In the meantime, I need to change into something more comfortable."

"Thanks, Quill." I nod my head as I make my way to the transmitter and sit down. I put my helmet on the table next to the computer and put the heavy headphones over my ears for a private transmission.

It takes a while to remember all the steps but eventually I get to the part where I type in Mom's phone number and wait for the line to ring.

"Who is this?" Kaelynn answers the phone.

"Hey Kaelynn, it's me, Sam."

"Sam!" Kaelynn squeals. "Why aren't you calling on your phone?"

"I don't have it on me right now." I sigh as I look up at the computer. "What time is it in Carefree?"

"Almost ten."

"Shouldn't you been in bed?" I question her.

"No, it's Friday night."

Liar…

"How's school going Kaelynn?"

"It's good. I saw you on the news the other week."

"Oh yeah?"

"You went to the moon?"

"I did." I laugh.

"Cool, I want to go to the moon."

"I bet."

"When are you coming home, Sam?"

"I don't know," I let out a deep breath. "Is Mom there?"

"Yeah."

"Can I talk to her?"

"Yeah."

I listen to the shifting around in the background.

"Hey Sam, where are you right now?"

"I'm in the upper layer of the exosphere I think."

"What's going on?"

"Uh, just dealt with some Chitauri stuff. How's back home?"

"It's pretty good." I can almost hear Mom smile. I haven't heard that in a while. "So you haven't called in a few weeks, what's going on?"

"Well… I'm with the Guardians right now." I explain. "And… I-I don't know what I want right now. They invited me to work full time with them now. And-"

Mom's silence says it all.

"I know I have to make decisions for myself, I know. I'm a New York superhero. I shouldn't have to ask my mom to make decisions for me."

"Why not stay with SHIELD?"

"Because I want to be out in space. I want to look for Dad. I don't know what I want. I love Earth… but…"

"You sound just like Jesse," Mom sighs.

"Look, I want to find him and I can't do that on Earth."

"But you wouldn't know where to start in space."

"You're right. I just feel like I could be doing more than what I'm doing in New York."

"It's up to you."

I know she wants me to stay close.

"Ok, I'll keep in touch." I agree. "I'm going to go now."

"Be careful. I love you, Sam."

"I love you, Mom."

And like that the transmission is over.

The helmet sits on the table looking at me, the eyes lifeless.

"Yeah, me too."

I pick up the helmet and hold it in my hands.

I stand up and slowly make my way to where I know Quill is either changing or blasting his 80s music too loud.

"I am Groot." I turn and look at Groot standing behind me.

"No helmet, no comprende, big guy." I remind him.

Groot frowns as his long arms extend towards me and pin my arms to my side.

He pulls me close to him and lays his head on mine, his way of hugging me.

"Thanks, big guy." I wince under the pressure. "Please don't break me."

With that Groot puts me down on the ground and looks at me, waiting for me to talk.

"I'm thinking about going home," I admit.

"I am Groot." Groot pats my head and walks on.

"Thanks, big guy," I mutter to myself as I keep walking to Quill's room.

I was right. I can hear the music from the other side of the door.

I pound on the door twice before the music cuts off and the door opens. "Hey, Sam, ready to go?"

"Actually, Quill," I begin. "I'm going to stay on earth. Just for a little longer. I… called my Mom and… because I've been working with SHIELD they've been taken care of. They're comfortable. And as much as I want to look for my dad, I'm not really sure how to start. So… for the time being, I'm going to stay."

"We will keep our eyes out for Jesse," Quill promises. "We might find something for you to give you a head start."

"Thanks, Quill," I put my helmet back on.

"Do you want us to take you back down to the surface?" He offers.

"No, I'm going to fly home and see my mom and sister. I haven't seen them in a year, I miss them." I decide. "I can handle the flight."

Standing in front of the house feels weird. I haven't been home in months.

It's been over a year now.

And it's late. They are not going to answer the door.

I should head back to New York and try again tomorrow morning.

I look over to the kitchen. The light is off.

No… I got to at least knock. I didn't fly over six thousand miles to not see Mom and Kaelynn.

My hand grips the plastic bag in my hand tightly.

The ice cream I bought Kaelynn will melt if I don't put it in the fridge soon.

I lean my head on the door and it makes a loud sound.

There I knocked.

That was some knock.

I reach my finger up and hit the doorbell.

That will wake them up.

I pull my head back from the door and watch as the kitchen light in the window flicks on and I listen to the door unlocked.

"Sam!" Mom yells wrapping her arms around my neck. "You didn't say you were coming home."

"Yeah, I know. I think I was pushing Mach 5 to get here in less than two hours, so yeah, it's like midnight local time isn't it?"

Mom lets go of me and frowns. "How long are you planning on staying? Why aren't you in space?"

"I got school, so I'll leave tomorrow night?" I guess. "You know, get home and try to study."

"Sam…" Mom smiles as she looks me over.

"I'll find dad, the Guardians said they would keep looking and let me know when they find something," I promise her. "We'll bring him home. But we still don't know where he is."

"Come in." Mom steps out of the doorway and lets me into the house.

"How's Kaelynn? I didn't wake her up did I?" I ask as I walk into the kitchen and put the bag in the freezes.

"No, she sleeps like you do, like a rock." Mom pulls me into the house and closes the door behind me. "Did you bring her ice cream?"

"No, I brought her eye scream." I correct with a grin.

"You know I saw the news," Mom says seriously. "Go ahead and go to bed; we can talk in the morning."

"Ok, I'm going to check on Kaelynn and I'll go to bed," I promise walking down the hallway.

"It's good to have you home, Sam." Mom calls after me quietly as I stop outside of Kaelynn's door.

"It's good to be home," I reply.

I open the door as quietly as I can and poke my head into Kaelynn's room. Not much has changed. Some of the art and posters on the wall have been interchanged. There's a new desk that I don't remember.

But it's still my little sister's room.

I walk over to the desk and look at the homework spread out on the desk.

All her space posters are grouped in front of her desk, layering each other.

I should take her flying tomorrow, I always say I will.

It would be a fun treat for both of us.

I place my helmet down on the desk and plop into the chair.

I can't believe I used to stand in the hallway as Dad would tell Kaelynn his Nova stories and I thought he was a loser.

Every time the thought pops up in my mind it's like taking a blow to the stomach.

Those stories were the actual thing.

And now I have my own Nova stories to share with Kaelynn.

Which - as much as I like having these stories - it still makes me feel guilty.

"I'll find you," I mutter to the helmet. "I'm not sure how yet, but I will. You'd be happy. I'm taking care of Mom and Kaelynn. You could say I have a job, don't know if I'd call it a real job, but it's something."

I stand up from the chair and leave the helmet where it is as I walk over to Kaelynn's bed.

There's not much space from the mountains of pillows.

I notice, even in the dark, they look like my pillows.

The ones she's not laying on top of I make quick work of and toss onto the ground.

I slowly make my way into the bed, sandwiched between Kaelynn and the wall.

I put my hands behind my head and look at the glowing stars on the ceiling that we had put up together years ago.

Wow, that seems like a lifetime ago.

Carefree Arizona is another world now, after living in New York City. It's insane.

I let out a deep breath and look over at Kaelynn, curled up with my pillow and content.

This is why I do it. She's half the reason I went to New York.

I close my eyes and feel the exhaustion of the 6000-mile flight and the deflection of the dark matter cannon catch up with me.

Time to sleep for twelve straight hours...

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