Chapter 34

A Warning

I saw the beam touch the ground and when it disappeared my father, uncle and grandfather stood there. Pietro squeezed my hand and I smiled at him.

"We thought we'd come for a visit." uncle said.

I smiled a little awkwardly and my father seemed to notice.

"Something wrong?"

"Um, where is mother?"

"She had to stay home this time. Is there something I should know?"

"Heimdall didn't say anything?"

"No, why would he?"

"Oh, I assumed that's why you were here. And grandfather you never come here. It's every surprising."

"Well I couldn't turn down a chance to see my beloved granddaughter now could I?"

I smiled and hugged him tightly.

"I know." he whispered.

I laughed nervously and stepped back. I hugged my uncle and then my father and he kissed my cheek. When we separated he looked at Pietro.

"Pietro, my son. Come."

Pietro walked over with a smile and father embraced him. Uncle pat him on the back.

"You're looking well. My daughter looks happy and more beautiful than ever."

Wanda laughed a bit and father turned to her.

"And lovely to see you again as well. And your friend….err…."

"Vision." uncle said.

"Yes! Vision, sorry."

Something was wrong here. My grandfather wouldn't just come down here without giving notice. Once we were inside the house I pulled my father outside.

"Why are you really here?"

Pietro's POV

After Eve and Loki left, Odin looked at me very seriously.

"I know she's pregnant."

Thor looked at him in shock and my eyes went wide. Wanda and Vision looked at each other.

"How did-"

"I know everything. And I am happy to be a grandfather again."

I smiled and let out a breath of relief. Thor smiled broadly and nodded.

"And the gods forbid you should have any daughters. They are resilient, and they always have their father's wrapped around their fingers."

I chuckled and so did Wanda. Thor just laughed.

"She got away with everything. Not me." I said.

"Not everything, our dad never let me out after eight."

"True enough."

Eve and Loki came back inside and I went to her. I leaned close.

"Odin knows. And Thor does too." I whispered.

She nodded and Loki looked at us.

"Odin and Thor know what?"

We both looked at Loki and Eve looked at me. I nodded and she took a deep breath.

"Father…I…well I um…"

She looked at me and I put my arm around her shoulders.

"She's pregnant."

His eyes went wide and he looked absolutely shocked. Odin was smiling and so were Vision and Wanda. Thor seemed to be trying not to laugh at Loki's face.

Eve's POV

My father slowly sat down.

"Truly?"

I nodded with a small smile.

"Give me a moment to uh…process." he said.

I nodded and grandfather chuckled.

"I was much the same way. Learning you will be a grandfather."

"I get to be a great-uncle." uncle said.

I looked at my father and smiled at him. He still looked shocked. Grandfather laughed and slapped him on the back.

"Look alive son!"

Father shook his head and then smiled. He stood up and hugged me tightly.

"This is…it's….well wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"

I laughed happily and he kissed my forehead.

"I must get your mother down here!"

He ran outside and started to call for Heimdall. My grandfather and uncle were laughing and so were Wanda. Pietro smiled and kissed me passionately before Wanda hugged me.

"SHE'S WHAT!?"

I smiled at my mother's voice and she ran inside. She smiled and took me in her arms.

"My baby is going to be a mother!" she said happily.

I smiled, happy my family was happy. After a while my mother took my father to the glade. It made me smile and I sat down. I looked at my grandfather and uncle seriously.

"I know you didn't just come here to see me. Tell me everything."

"I really don't-"

I raised my brows and he sighed.

"One of our war criminals have escaped. We don't know where they went but I wanted to warn you."

I nodded and looked at Pietro.

"We need to tell Steve. Right away."

"I got it."

He gave me a kiss and then went to call them.

"I'll need you to explain it to them when they get here. If this criminal is here, we won't be able to stop them without the rest of the team. If they are here…we're the only one's who can stop them." I said.

He nodded and Pietro came back into the room.

"They're turning around and coming back. Steve asked what it was about, didn't know how to tell him."

I nodded and went to him.

"I don't want a repeat of Ambrose. Not now." he said softly.

"Oh Pietro…"

He pulled me to him and held me tightly.

"I'm not letting anything happen to you. And you'd better not leave in the middle of the night. Not while you're pregnant." he said.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Nothing is going to happen to me."

"Yes, you said that last time."

I pulled back and put my hand on his cheek.

"Look at me Pietro."

He looked into my eyes.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to me or the baby. I promise." I said.

I could still see the fear in his eyes. I could hear the jet outside and I took his hand. My grandfather walked out behind us.

"Everyone, this is Odin Allfather, King of Asgard and my grandfather."

Steve bowed his head respectfully and so did most of the others.

"My granddaughter and son have told me much about you. And about you as well."

He pointed at Stark and I smirked.

"Believe me grandfather, he has his good points. Even if they are few."

"Gee thanks Mrs. Maximoff." Stark growled.

"Anytime Stark. Now, grandfather has some….rather bad news and you all need to hear it."

They nodded and grandfather stepped forward.

"A war criminal somehow escaped from the prisons of Asgard. I don't know how."

"Well why were they in there in the first place?" Steve asked.

"She was in there for nearly destroying an entire city."

"Wait, she?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Yes, she. She killed over a dozen of our guards on her way out. She almost killed your brother, but his skin is too….strong. We all tried to stop her but she got away. We don't know if she's here, we just wanted to warn you in case she is."

"Please tell me it's not-"

"Ambrose's sister."

I felt light headed and when I stood up I almost fell. Steve caught me and gently set me back down.

"Arina." I said.

Wanda took my arm and tried to take deep breaths.

"How bad can she be?" Banner asked.

I looked him straight in the eye.

"If you thought Ambrose, Ultron, and Malekith were bad….she's ten times worse. She was locked away when we were children because of the way she used her powers. She killed her whole family except her brother. He was the only person she ever loved. He visited her at the same time every week. She must know he's dead now because she'd have to be angry enough to be able to break out of Asgard."

Everyone was completely silent.

"If he knows who killed her brother, that's who she's coming for." Barton said.

Wanda squeezed my arm and I closed my eyes.

"All this is because of me. It's Ambrose all over again. I am so sorry everyone." I said.

Steve knelt down in front of me.

"We don't blame you. This isn't your fault and you didn't ask for this. Ambrose wasn't your fault either and you almost gave your life trying to save everyone else's. We're not gonna let her hurt you."

I nodded but I was still scared. I didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of me.

"Eve my darling no one is going to get hurt." Father said.

"You can't promise that! No one can." I said.

"I'm sending Alec, Dawn and James down here to help. My advice would be not to go looking for Arina. She will find you. You need to be somewhere safe when she does. Somewhere hard to get into."

I saw Pietro and Wanda look at each other.

"We know a place."

My eyes went wide.

"No. I won't make you two go through the pain of going back there. And I destroyed it."

"Not all of it. It goes deeper. And since you destroyed most of it, it's harder to get into. And if she did get in we'd hear her coming." Wanda said.

"I agree with her." Romanoff said.

"We hide Eve and then we look for Arina and prevent her from killing more people." Barton said.

"No! If you're going to fight her then I'm fighting too."

"NO!" came six voices.

I looked at Wanda, Pietro, Vision, my grandfather and my parents.

"Not in your condition."

I stood up.

"I will not hide and let my friends and family fight battles for me. I cannot." I said.

They all looked at me. Expressions ranging from sadness to fear.

"And I'll be damned if Arina hurts me or the baby. She killed my people, and she will pay." I hissed.

Pietro tried to take me in his arms but I just went upstairs.

Pietro's POV

I sighed and shook my head.

"She won't stop. Her family, friends and people mean everything to her. She wants to be part of this. We can't stop her….no matter how much we want to." I said.

They looked down and I looked towards the stairs.

"Can't anyone just talk to her?" Banner asked.

I shook my head.

"Talk to her yes, get her to stay put….absolutely not." I said.

Aurora stood up.

"I'll go back for Alec, Dawn and James." she said.

She went outside and Odin went with her, but he looked at me first.

"Protect her. Family is everything. Protect your family boy."

I nodded and he left. Barton walked over to me.

"You want me to talk to her? Or at least try?"

"I don't know it will do good, but you can try."

He nodded and went upstairs. I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall.

"I don't think you should try and stop her."

I looked at Loki in disbelief.

"She's my wife! You're daughter!"

"And we both know that when she makes up her mind there's no stopping her. You and I know it's useless to fight with her. It's better to agree and help her, then have her do it herself on an impulse."

I sighed in frustration and hit the wall.

"He's right. She'll do everything in her power to save people from Arina." said Romanoff.

"Then she needs to be protected." Vision said.

I looked at him.

"Especially since she's pregnant." he added.

I slowly nodded and he took Wanda's hand.