Chapter 26
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.
AN1: So this is the last chapter, thank you so much for all the support you've given me. Please, please, Leave a review.
Within ten minutes Natasha, Clint, Daisy, Phil, Peggy, Tony, Bobbi, Hunter, Fitz, Simmons, Mack and Lincoln are all in their tactical gear and are at the location where Andrew and Melinda should be. Natasha, Clint, Daisy, Phil, Peggy, Hunter, Tony and Mack moving in on the ground while Bobbi, Fitz, Simmons and Lincoln are in the Quinjet ready to move in when needed.
"Director Carter, your mission." Phil says through the coms as everyone moves into place.
"Right, no one moves in until everyone is in place." Peggy says as she and Tony move into the place, Tony in his Iron Man suit, while she is in her new tactical gear with a rifle, "I repeat this is a rescue and contain, not kill. We want to do our best to help Andrew if we can." Peggy reveals and because he hears that on the coms Lincoln can't help but think that maybe he misjudged S.H.I.E.L.D
"Yes, Ma'am." Several people say.
"Glad we understand each other. Tony and I are in position." Peggy reveals.
"So are Hunter and I." Phil says.
"Ditto." Daisy responds.
"Almost…..Okay, in position." Natasha says, it taking all of hers and Clint's strength not to move in because they know that they best chance they have of getting to Melinda and getting her out is everyone working together.
"Move in the count of five." Peggy instructs, "One, two, three, four, five." Peggy says and in unison four doors are broken in.
As soon as the doors are broken in everyone realises two things, one Melinda is on the ground unconscious and two, Andrew is in his monster form.
Because they want to try and keep Andrew away from Melinda Daisy once more uses her powers on Andrew, and once more then have no affect while Mack, Hunter, Phil and Peggy fire and Natasha hurry to Melinda.
"Hey, Big guy." Tony says in his suit as he heads to Andrew and starts fighting him, thanks to the fact that Tony is in his suit he is able to hold his own pretty well against Andrew in this form, "Come on, Andrew. I know you're in there somewhere. I know you don't want to do this." Tony says as Andrew's hand starts to glow with a blue light, "Guess you do." Tony realises as he tries to hold the hand away from his chest, "I'm really sorry about this." Tony says before putting the chest plate at full power and using it to knock Andrew back so he lands near Phil.
"You okay?" Peggy asks her son, sounding worried about him.
"Yeah, I've had tougher battles." Tony responds, "How is he?" he asks Phil who has bent down and checked Andrew.
"He's just unconscious If we get him in the pod we might just be able to hold him." Phil reveals.
"How's Mom?" Daisy asks as as soon as she could Daisy hurried over to her parents.
"Unconscious. Seems to have some bruising, by the looks of things she might have some internal injuries" Clint explains to his daughter.
"How bad is that?" Daisy asks as she knows what she is thinking, but she doesn't know if she is right.
"We don't know without some tests." Natasha explains, worry in her voice.
"Bobbi, Lincoln and the others are on their way. They'll be here within the next few minutes." Mack reveals.
"Good, that's good." Daisy says, hoping that her mother is okay.
An hour later everyone is on the New Jet on the plane back to The Playground. Melinda is in the medical area, still unconscious, and Natasha, Clint and Daisy are sitting right by her bed, sitting as close to her as possible while Phil, Tony and Peggy are also sitting in the room, though a bit further back than Natasha, Clint and Daisy. The others would have liked to be in the room too but they realised that it should be just family so they are watching from the outside, though Bobbi and Hunter have both decided that if it looks like Daisy needs them then they are going in.
Ever since Bobbi, Simmons and Lincoln left after running the tests they needed to run the room has been silent while they wait for the three to come back with results.
"Come on, Mom. Wake up." Daisy says in a quiet voice though both Natasha and even Clint hear and they both put an arm around their daughter.
"Your Mom's always done things in her own time. She'll wake up when she's ready." Natasha explains.
"I hope you're right." Daisy respond as the door opens and Lincoln and Simmons walk in.
"How's Mel?" Clint asks as soon as they see them.
"She has a concussion, a fractured ankle, three broken ribs, and some pretty serious bruising." Lincoln explains.
"And what exactly does that mean?" Daisy asks concerned.
"We've got to put a cast on her ankle, but everything else should heal on its own." Simmons explains, "But she's going to be in a bit of pain once wakes."
"When will that be?" Natasha asks.
"It's hard to predict but my best guess is a few hours." Lincoln explains and Natasha, Clint and Daisy nod.
"Thank you." Peggy tells Simmons and Lincoln who nod and then the two of the leave.
A couple of hours later everyone is back at the Playground, due to the fact that they know how much Melinda doesn't like hospital's or doctors Natasha, Clint, Peggy, Phil and Tony made it clear that Melinda would be resting in her own room and not the lab and just like when they were on the plane Clint, Natasha, Daisy, Peggy, Phil and Tony are sitting in Melinda's room, waking for her to wake up while the others are showing Lincoln around the Playground.
As Natasha, Clint and Daisy are right next to Melinda the three of them are able to tell just as Melinda's eyes start to flicker.
"Mel?" Clint and Natasha ask at the same time Daisy asks, "Mom?"
"Millie?" Phil, Tony and Peggy ask a few seconds later as the three of them stand up.
"Hi." Melinda says as she smiles up at Natasha, Clint and Daisy.
"Mom." Daisy says throwing her arms around her mother.
"I'm okay, Daisy." Melinda assures her daughter, as she returns the hug, trying not to wince in pain.
"I was so worried that you weren't going to be." Daisy admits, "I love you Mom, and I love Dad and Мама, and I'm sorry that I've been afraid to admit that." Daisy tells her mom as Peggy, Tony and Phil smile, all being glad for the family.
"It's okay, Daisy. You have nothing to apologise for." Melinda assures her daughter.
"I'm glad you're awake, Melinda." Peggy tells her God Daughter.
"Same." Phil and Tony say.
"Thanks Aunt Peggy Phil, Tony." Melinda tells the three as Daisy doesn't move from the way she is hugging Melinda.
"Why don't we give you four sometime." Phil suggests.
"Might be good." Peggy says, agreeing and she, Tony and Phil leave.
"We're glad you're okay too, Mel." Clint says as he and Natasha move so that they are sitting on the bed too.
"Really glad." Natasha adds.
"I am so happy to see you three again." Melinda says, looking between Daisy, Clint and Natasha.
"So are we." Clint says and Natasha nods.
"Yes." Melinda says, looking at Clint who just looks confused, as does Natasha as neither want to allow themselves to hope that she means what they really want it to mean, "To giving it another shot my answer is yes, if you two want to." Melinda says, looking between Clint and Natasha.
"Yes." Natasha says.
"Definitely." Clint adds.
"Wait, are you three getting back together?" Daisy asks, looking between her parents with a look of hope on her face.
"We've giving it another shot." Clint explains.
"We can't guarantee that it will end well." Natasha adds.
"But we're going to try." Melinda explains.
"That's so incredible." Daisy says grinning, "This is so great." Daisy says, grinning from ear to ear, "Family hug." Daisy tells her parents and the three of them embrace.
As they do Melinda, Natasha and Clint exchange a look, all three of them thinking that this is exactly what they have wanted for the past twenty-six years, they have their daughter back, and she is calling them Mom, Мама, and Dad, and the three of them have finally admitted what they have been ignoring, the fact that they still love each other, and they are finally giving their relationship another chance.
"It's good Millie's awake. Maybe those three are going to finally going to give it another shot." Phil says once he, Tony and Peggy have left Melinda's bunk.
"Hopefully." Tony says.
"I think this might just be the push that they needed." Peggy admits.
"Hopefully you're right." Tony tells his mom.
"I believe I am." Peggy responds.
"I think I'm going to go check on Andrew, see If he's human looking again." Phil says before kissing Tony, "I'll see you later." He says once they break apart.
"For round two?" Tony asks curious.
"Yeah, I definitely think so." Phil says with a grin before he walks down the corridor, Tony watching him go with a smile on his face.
"I'm glad that thinks between you and Phil went well." Peggy tells her son as she, with a small amount of difficult because of their height difference, puts an arm around her son, "You're happy, and I love that." Peggy says as that's what she's always wanted for her son.
"Thanks Mom." Tony says with a smile, "It's still early so I'm likely to screw things up, but I'm going to try not to, I want this to work. I want Phil and I to be together for a really long time."
"Then that's what you have to focus on." Peggy tells her son, "It won't always be easy but I truly believe that you and Phil could be great, that you could be together for a very long time if that's what you both want."
"I love you Mom." Tony says before kissing his mother on the cheek.
"I love you too, My Little Miracle." Peggy responds and the two of them continue to walk down the corridor in silence, "There's something I need to go do. I'll be back in a couple of hours." Peggy informs her son after about a minute of silence.
"Oh, I see." Tony says with a grin, "I'm guessing that you're going to have a long overdue conversation with a certain captain." He says, smirking at his mom.
"No." Peggy answers, "Well yes, I am going to talk to Steve, but not about what you think." Peggy tells her son.
"If you say so." Tony says with an amused look on his face, "For the record if you were going to talk to Rogers about what I think you're going to talk to him about, then I would be okay with that, not that you need permission of course." Tony tells his mother.
"Really?" Peggy asks, being surprised by that.
"Yeah, I know what Rogers meant to you, and Dad, and I know how long you spent looking for him, and I know that he would make you happy." Tony tells his mother, sighing before he forces himself to speak, "So if you want to give it a try, then that's okay with me, I just want you to be happy Mom." Tony tells his mother, "As long as I don't have to hear about it that is." He adds.
"That means a lot to me, Tony, really." Peggy tells her son, "But I don't see that happening anytime soon." She admits, and Tony gives her a look as that honestly surprises him, "I need some time, I may have been given a second chance, but that doesn't change what I've been through. It has been twenty-four years since your Dad was killed, but to me it feels a lot more recent, and I need time before even thinking about being with someone else, even Steve, especially after what you told me." Peggy reveals, "Right now I am using my second chance to spend as much time with you as possible, that's what matters most to me." Peggy reveals and Tony just smiles back; honestly he is amazed by that but not overly surprised.
About forty minutes after her conversation with her son Peggy arrives at the New Avengers facility in New York. Thanks to what Tony told her and the access that he gave her Peggy is able to navigate the facility with ease and finds Steve, who is in one of the gym area's punching a punching bag, though as she makes her way through the facility she has to admit that it has changed a lot since the last time she was there.
"Hello Steve." Peggy says as she walks over.
"Peggy?" Steve asks surprised as he turns to look at her, "What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you." Peggy reveals, "I also need to yell at Nick, but that can wait." Peggy says and honesty Steve is very glad that he's not Fury right about now as from Peggy's tone of voice he guesses that she is going to do a lot more than yell.
"What do you need to talk about?" Steve asks.
"I went on a mission today, a rescue mission, and my son was right by my side." Peggy reveals, "I never thought that would ever happen, though a part of me always hoped it would once he was old enough to understand." She tells Steve, sounding amazed.
"Rescue mission? Who were you rescuing?" Steve asks curious.
"Melinda, she had been taken by an inhuman." Peggy explains.
"Is she okay? What happened?" Steve asks worried.
"She's got some bruises, broken ribs and a fractured ankle, but she'll be okay." Peggy reveals.
"Good, that's good." Steve says, sounding glad about that though he plans to call Natasha later.
"Yeah, it is." Peggy confirms, "I'm director of S.H.I.E.L.D now, though Phil's staying on to be my co-director." She reveals.
"Really?" Steve ask surprised.
"Yes, no one can run S.H.I.E.L.D alone, and when someone tries it ends badly." Peggy reveals, "And that's why I'm here." He reveals and Steve just looks confused, "A dear friend of mine once told me that there is not a man or woman, no matter how fit he or she may be that is capable of carrying the entire wold on their shoulders and he was right." Peggy tells Steve, practically being able to hear Jarvis's voice as she speaks his words, "It took me a long time to see that, and I made a lot of mistakes because of that. So, I want to do better this time." Peggy tells Steve, "When Howard and I started S.H.I.E.L.D we did it for you, in your honour and sprit, and we failed. We failed you." Peggy reveals.
"You couldn't have known about Hydra." Steve tells her, "You didn't fail me." He assures Peggy, hating that he just heard her say that.
"I appreciate you saying that Steve, but we did." Peggy informs him, "We gave into political presser and we recruited Zola even though we both knew that it was bad idea." Peggy reveals, "We, I, have another chance now and I want things to be done right." Peggy tells Steve, "I've spent a lot of time reading up on what I have missed so I know what you're trying to do here and what Phil and Melinda have been doing with S.H.I.E.L.D and I've realised that you all want the same thing." Peggy tells Steve, "Whether Avenger, S.H.I.E.L.D or EVEN Secret Warrior, we all want the same thing. We all want to protect the world and that desire binds us all together and we should let it." Peggy tells Steve.
"You want us to work together." Steve realises.
"I would understand if you say no considering your history with S.H.I.E.L.D, but I think it might be for the best. I think it will give us the best chance of doing things right this time, that it will give us the best chance of protecting the world." Peggy explains.
"You're right, I am hesitant about S.H.I.E.L.D, but I trust you." Steve reveals, "If you say that it's for the best then I'm on board. Let's just do things the right way this time." Steve requests.
"We will, I will make sure of it." Peggy promises, completely meaning that.
"Then let's get to work, Director Carter."
"It would be my pleasure, Captain Rogers." Peggy responds with a smile, both hoping that this time, by working together, things can be better than before. They both hope that this will give them a chance to make both S.H.I.E.L.D and The Avengers better than either group could be alone.
The End
AN2: So this is the end. There could be a sequel in the future. I'm not sure. I did intended to try and write some more of the stories I haven't updated but instead I ended up writing another story.