Chapter 35

Monday 24th March 2014, 16:35 – Avengers Tower, New York

It was a week after the rest of the Tower had gone back to their normal size. Things had slowly returned to normal with the Fantastic Four leaving the day after just in case something went wrong and they went small again. With everyone back Rosie was forced back to school coming home with a pile of homework she'd missed over the week. By the time she'd come back with a pile of homework up to her eyes she was greeted with the news that Steve had left to go to Washington. She found this hard to believe at first. She really didn't think he'd leave Josephine when she was hospital but after J.A.R.V.I.S. confirming that he'd left she didn't have a choice to believe it.

Sitting cross legged on her bed she scrolled through her Facebook newsfeed passed yet another photo of Jayden and Olivia. Growling she slammed down the laptop screen. Running her hands over her face she couldn't help but sigh. Why didn't he believe her? Why did he think she was jealous? Why would she even be jealous? What was there to be jealous about? Sure she like him but not in that way. So why was this making her so mad? Was it just because she knew what she did to her family? Grumbling Rosie pinched her forehead. She needed to do something, what that something was however she wasn't sure. Getting off her bed she walked into the empty flat. Pepper and Tony were both out at Stark Industries so there was no one in the apartment to ask. Shoving her hands in her pockets she looked over to a photo of the Avengers. Looking at the photo her eyes landed on Natasha who was standing beside Clint her face emotionless. That's when it clicked. Natasha would know what to do and there was only one place she would be at this time of day.

Walking into the main gym Rosie was greeted by the sight of Natasha beating the crap out of one of the punching bags. Silently she walked over to her Natasha barely looked up to see Rosie before going back to punching. As Rosie got closer Natasha moved away only to grab some sparring mites and chucking them at Rosie. Catching them easily Rosie slipped them on before holding up her hands. Natasha walked over to her and started to punch the pads. Thankfully she wasn't punching as hard as she would have been if she hadn't been attacking the bag for god knows how long before. Despite this Rosie could still only just handle her punches. Natasha continued to punch in silence for a couple more minutes before deciding to speak. Asking what the Stark wanted stressing each syllable with a punch. Hearing the question Rosie decided to just get straight to the point.

"You know when you found out Bobbie was cheating on Clint when they were married?" Rosie asked. This caused Natasha to stop punching. Glaring at Rosie eyebrow raised she nodded slowly.

"You were the one to point it out to Clint right?" Rosie asked lowering her hands.

"What's this all about Rosie?" Natasha asked.

"Well how did you get him to see what was going on and you know get him to end it," Rosie asked.

"Shouldn't you be asking Pepper this stuff? It sounds like you're having guy troubles and I'm really not the person you should be talking to about this." Natasha shook her head.

"She's at work and I really don't think Pepper would have any experience with this," Rosie shrugged, "And it's not guy trouble… Well it technically is but not that kinda guy trouble." Walking over to the bench Natasha grabbed her towel off the bench along with her water. Taking a sip she considered her answer as she started to wipe down. She wasn't sure how much help she'd be. It was safe to say that Natasha had never given relationship, or whatever kind of advice this was, before. There was good reason for it too she just didn't care enough about anyone in the past but this was Rosie. It was almost impossible for her to say no to or to not help Rosie. She would never admit this out loud to anyone but Rosie was almost like a daughter to her. Sure the rest of the Tower's inhabitants knew that she cared for the Stark just like the rest of them but they didn't know how much.

"Well I just caught her in the act and made sure Clint was there with me to see it," Natasha shrugged, "Did that help?"

"Kinda but I'm not sure how it work in this situation though… Thanks anyway. Oh and before I got do you know where Clint is I want to bet his ass at Shield of Honour," Rosie smiled.

"He's away training his apprentice," she explained. This took Rosie by surprise. Since when did he have an apprentice? Asking Natasha this only caused her trainer to laugh. It had obviously been for a while then.

"For months, he won't tell me who it is though. All I know is that because I could do it with you he decided he could take on an apprentice too," Natasha explained, "And go get changed we've got training to do! You've got to catch up with all the training you've missed the past two weeks, no buts!" Rosie groaned in disgust before heading back upstairs to get changed.

Friday 28th March 2014, 16:35 – Avengers Tower, New York

Rosie walked through the Tower at a lose end. She had no idea what to do. She was bored out of her mind. Pacing around the Tower she found herself staring out the window looking over New York. With Natasha gone to DC as well her training had taken yet another dip. For the past couple of days she'd tried to get Clint to tell her who his apprentice was but he didn't give up the identity. After days of trying and getting no answer she just gave up. Staring out the window she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. Taking her phone out her pocket she saw the caller id and couldn't help but laugh.

"Hill what's up!" she smiled. Now why would Hill be calling her?

"Rosie… I-I need you, for once to be serious ok?" Hill's voice cracked up. It was obvious she'd been crying. Rosie's heart tensed up, her smile disappearing.

"Hill has something happened?" Rosie asked warily.

"Rosie… There's no easy way to tell you this…" Maria trailed off.

"Maria what's going on? You're scaring me," Rosie stuttered.

"Rosie, Fury's dead. He was killed by Winter Soldier," Hill stuttered.

"N-no that's impossible he's locked up. Winter Soldier is locked up!" Rosie went on the defensive.

"Hydra led a raid to break him out. In the confusion Mystique escaped as well," Hill explained, "Fury's gone Rosie he's dead…" Rosie froze up. Her whole body had frozen up. All she could do was stare in front of her in complete and utter disbelief. Fury couldn't be gone. He couldn't. Slowly the world around her started to shut down. The sound of Hill repeating her name started to blur out. Soon the only think she could focus on was the single thought running through her head as she dropped her phone.

Fury is dead.

Slowly the tears started to roll down her cheeks. Letting out a strangled scream Rosie dropped to the floor. Screaming the tears streamed down her face. Stuck in her own world she was sat on the floor screaming. That was all she could do. Soon she felt hands on her shoulder shaking her out of her daze. Looking up through blurry eyes she saw Clint looking down at her with the rest of the Tower's inhabitants running into the room.

"Rosie! Rosie! Calm down! What's happened?" Clint asked.

"He's d-dead!" she managed to cry through her sobs.

"Who's dead?" Clint asked suddenly fearing the worst.

"Fury! He's dead! He's dead! He's dead!" Rosie repeated over and over. Clint fell backwards I'm shock. Around them gasps came round the room and tears started to flow. As quickly as she could Pepper dropped down beside her daughter pulling her into a hug. Resting her head against hers she did her best to comfort her as her own tears rolled down her cheeks.