Hello, everyone! Sorry I haven't updated for a while: this chapter was really testing my creative thinking. Ok, as the title says, this is an interlude, or lull between major chapters, and also to help establish certain events or emotions and the like.

Anyway, guys, enjoy and please don't kill me for the ending.

Interlude I

In the aftermath of kidnappings (at least by movie standards), the victim is shown to be doing something constructive, and not appear all that bothered by the fact they were at the mercy of a potential murderer, or worse. The films always focused on how strong-willed someone could be in the face of such trauma.

Unfortunately, my life was far from being part of any movie or TV series or whatever: meaning I cried a lot.

The morning after I came back from the hospital and woke up in Avenger's mansion (and in a super comfy bed, I may add), I was confused as Alice in Wonderland before everything came back, which left me in tears. Voltaire, bless his soul, climbed onto my bed and into my arms, not moving an inch even as I blubbered into his neck and most likely covered him in snot. When I finally cried myself out, Voltaire licked my face of any tears before letting me get up for the day.

My second breakdown happened in the kitchen, when Tony joined Cap, Thor, Voltaire and I for breakfast, which consisted of homemade waffles with fresh cream and strawberries. I don't know what set that breakdown off, but Tony was quick enough to grab in a bear hug and babble nonsensical words till I was laughing through my tears. Cap and Thor seemed to enjoy Tony acting silly to cheer me up, and soon I was almost on the floor laughing till my stomach hurt as the three of them ribbed each other good naturedly.

When Thor left to do his own thing, and Cap went down to use the training room, Tony steered me outside to the greenhouse for a private tour. The giant glass building in the backyard sat innocently enough, but when Tony escorted me and my furry companion inside, my jaw dropped from the sheer magnificence and beauty that lay within.

Immediately at our feet lay a dark brown wooden path heading towards the left of the green house, winding its way between a large patch of daffodils and a row of cherry blossom tree. Following the path, I soon spotted two other patches of flowers: peonies in brilliant various shades of pink, and tulips ranging from yellow, orange, red purple and blue, which delivered us neatly to a large wooden floored area, a white wrought iron table with four matching seats waiting for people to use. Beyond the table and chair, I could see a large pond, with beautiful white lilies spread through the water. When I saw what was behind the pond and against the two corners took my breath away: Fire Lily trees.

Alenka, in some of her many travels to other worlds, would often come home with seeds in her possession, and allow the closest of her friends to grow them. These particular seeds that Tony had growing were amazing; the branches extended along the glass wall to meet with each other in the centre, and along said branches were deep emerald green leaves, with lilies that resembled a burning flame: hence the name 'fire lily' tree. In the flower bed opposite the daffodils were red and orange Peruvian lilies, which elegantly contrasted the light and dark purple colours nemesia, and the Sweet William Dwarf patch next to it.

Between the Sweet William Dwarf and the tulips was another dark brown wooden path, and as Tony led us down that path, we came across a pavilion. The wood used to create it was a dark red colour, artistically matching the two red lounge chairs, and the ring of red cushions seats ringing the edge of the pavilion walls. While one side offered a wonderful view of the pond and wooden floored area, the opposite side and between the glass wall and pavilion wall were a row of Weeping Golden Willows, their golden leaved branches touching the grass below.

When I commented to Tony about how beautiful everything was, he gave me that typical boyish smirk of his; the one that said 'there's more.'

At the foot of the pavilion stairs, between the Weeping Golden Willow and a type of cherry blossom tree, there was a large patch of grass, forming a path onwards, which Tony led us down. I figured this was the greenhouse caretakers, and all their implements were stored back here, but no: behind the golden willow trees was a patch of pansies and violas mixed together, the different colours complimenting the other nicely.

Soon the grass path turned into another wooden path, passing underneath an archway of two other rows and cherry blossom trees, there lay a sight that not only took my breath away but almost knocked my legs out from underneath me.

A large boab tree stood against the corner of the back wall, its green leaved-branches reaching towards the top of the green house roof. Around its base was a long rose bed, with many coloured buds greeting my eyes. Walking past the large tree, I saw another rose bed opposite the tree, and further along the bed closest to the wall turned into white sweet alyssum flowers. On the corner wall was a large hedge of some sort of climbing plant, giving a screen of privacy, while the cherry trees shielded the two hidden paths from sight. As Tony led Voltaire and I down the second hidden path, the blue bells and different coloured lisianthus flowers greeting my eyes, my brother informed me that this area of the greenhouse was for me alone; a place to go when I couldn't find a private place in the mansion.

That fact, coupled with the rest of the greenhouse gardens, was enough to make me want to cry again. Thankfully, it wasn't as much as my last two outbursts: just a few tears this time. When I had finished wiping them away, Tony led us back to the pond area and sat me down just as Mr. Foxworthy arrived with a tray carrying a plate of sandwiches and a tea set.

As we snacked on the delicious cucumber sandwiches and drank the Earl Grey flavored tea, Tony filled me in about the rest of his schedule for the day, what we'd might do for dinner later on, and what Thor and Cap might like to eat. Speaking I Cap, I gently (or timidly) broached the subject of teaching him with he's missed out on for the last few decades or so. Tony was quite for a few moments, munching on his sandwich, clearly thinking the idea over in his mind. Finally, he agreed that the idea was a god one, but I may want to talk to Cap about personally, and if he agrees, go slowly. Since Cap had been frozen for nearly 70 odd years, it may be a good idea to take it easy on the poor man.

The rest of the conversation was about what Cap would need to catch up on, and eventually we decided that we'd go a year at a time, going over the major events of the world, while also going over music, literature and culture, too. Tony also suggested that I could be the one to teach Cap, seeing as getting a tutor may be a bit much for him, and having a friend teach him would make the lessons go along more smoothly. Privately thinking that Cap was helping me keep Panther a secret, I agreed that this was the least I could do for my new friend.

Of course, having just thought about said mysterious super-hero, our conversation got really awkward when Tony gently brought up my kidnapping ordeal. It wasn't the kidnapping itself he wanted to discuss, and what those creeps did to me in that warehouse, bur more like he wanted to talk about how I got out of it.

"I mean, I know Steve said you couldn't quite remember, but this is me you're talking to, Rose." He said with a gently smile, the glint in his eyes reflecting that he knew I was hiding something, and some part of me resented that I could be read so easily, but the logical part of me knew that it was time to cough up Panther...slightly.

So I gave Tony a glossed over recount of that night, saying how the man in the black cat suit had rescued me and got me back to the apartment. What I left out were the facts that I knew his name (or superhero name, at least), what he looked like under the mask, and that it wasn't the first time we had crossed paths.

:Not to mention this mysterious guy is a total stud muffin with a voice made of the purest honey, and that you get all gooey-legged whenever he brushes that wonderful fingers against your cheek, or that said stud muffin gave you an obviously personal gift.: My subconscious slyly purred. I was just grateful that I wasn't drinking, otherwise Tony would be covered in hot tea by now; instead I hid an intense red blush behind my tea cup, thankful that my brother didn't notice.

In fact, he seemed more interested in this 'man in the cat suit', and how he was involved with not only rescuing me from the kidnappers, but saving Cap and I from Baron Zemo.

Something told me that this was going to end really awkwardly for all involved.

######

Thankfully, Tony didn't linger too long on finding out who Panther was, mostly thanks to the point that he was tied to the kidnapping thing, so instead of making me think about the ordeal (and letting my subconscious tease me about Panther's hotness), he steered the conversation to something a bit more pleasant, but that was when his cell-phone went off. Judging by the look on his face, it was either the office or Fury for some obscure reason. Either way, my family time with Tony just got cut.

Begrudgingly, he left with a promise to be back in time for dinner and with my favourite, which left me and Voltaire with a free afternoon. Technically, I could go back inside and hit the training room, but then Cap would point out that the doctors said to stay off my feet for a while, and do 'light' chores. I could also go play Arkham Asylum, but it was a nice sunny day and it was very pretty here in the greenhouse.

As if sensing the encroaching boredom, Mr. Foxworthy reappeared with a smile and more tea, setting himself into Tony's vacated seat and began making conversation with me.

Mr. Foxworthy may be the family butler, having been one to our mother and father, but for Tony and I, he was the closest thing to living family we have, and proud to have the privilege of having. A perfect gentleman with greying white hair, contrasting his dark skin, Mr. Foxworthy was never one to complain about his job, though some of Tony's odd habits did get him a taste of our butler's infamous biting wit. But for me, he was one of my closest friends and confidant, besides Alenka, Clay and Hawkeye. During my high school years, he helped (vaguely) with my homework, and gave me the confidence when a day had been really hard on me.

And then came my university years.

Now, going to university wasn't all that bad...except that I was the youngest in the campus at the tender age of 13, I was England and attending Oxford: one of the most prestigious universities ever. Yeah, no pressure at all(!)

But I was ever grateful: contrast to my high school class mates, my university peers gladly welcomed me to the campus, offered help when I needed it, and the teachers were equally nice. True, there was that incident when I was 15 that occurred in America, the one that rattled my confidence, but thankfully my studies at Oxford kept my mind from going too far negative, and Mr. Foxworthy was an ever bigger blessing. Since he couldn't let me live in England alone for my classes, Tony had sent the family butler along with me.

So after that incident happened, and the one that happened a month before the super-villain breakout that really broke my nerves, Mr. Foxworthy became my rock, something I never forgot and always thanked him for.

######

:I can't feel my stomach.: I thought to myself, smiling when Voltaire whined in content from his spot of the floor. Dinner tonight was, as Tony promised, beef stroganoff, with pasta and a creamy sauce on the side: my favourite. And if that didn't make me full, then the chocolate mousse for dessert most certainly did.

Voltaire didn't get left out; the chef had prepared a meal of a T-bone steak and steamed vegetables with gravy. Of course, Tony made a complaint about letting good meat go to the dog, but Thor came to the defense about Voltaire being a large beast and needing a deal more food than a normal beast. Needless to say, Tony lost that argument fairly quickly, especially when Cap added that since Voltaire was my unofficial guard dog, he'd need a good meal to keep his strength up.

After the meal, we moved to the theatre-lounge for a movie: an old black and white movie close to the 40's, so that Cap wouldn't feel awkward during a modern movie. To be honest, though, it was a pretty good film. When the movie was finished, Cap seemed to be in better spirits than earlier; and asked if there were more movies like this. Tony took the reins on this giving me the chance to sneak out and head to me room.

Once changed into my pyjamas and brushed my teeth, I snuggled into my bed with a good book and soft music playing from my laptop, with Voltaire happy to sleep on the floor beside my bed; if the snoring was anything to go by.

As the night went on, I could feel my eyelids growing heavy, and with the help of the slow jazz playing, I was quickly out like a light.

But had I known what was waiting for me in the dream world, I wouldn't have closed my eyes.

######

I was in pain. Serious pain. What I felt when kidnapped was nothing compared to this; my shoulder felt as if someone had taken a blow torch to the socket, I struggled to breathe properly through a heavily bruised ribcage, my face stung with a hundred needles, and my stomach begged to be shot out of its misery.

All in all, I knew exactly where I was, and I was beyond desperate to get away from what was coming next.

Forcing my eyes open, I gave a pained whimper when I saw my surroundings: a dilapidated room, its wooden floor rough and abrasive on my skin. Holes in the crumbling walls let the harsh cold wind inside the room, not once giving me a sense of warmth or comfort but sheer, utter terror that was almost paralysing.

:Time to move, time to move.: I chanted to myself, desperately trying to move my arms, but all my efforts brought on more pained whimpers as my shoulder screamed, my stomach and ribs not faring any better. If I could make it to the door, I could escape.

CREAK!

...Oh, crap.

I tried to brace myself as much as I could, but nothing could've really prepared me for the titanic force of being forced onto my back and having a foot stomp into my stomach. Crying out in pain, almost choking on my own blood and begging for the man hurting me to stop, the survival instinct in me started fighting back, my good arm shielding myself from further attacks.

My attacker didn't like my attempts to escape his torturous greed, and forced my hands above my head, aggravating my wounds to the point I almost screamed, but a firm hand over my mouth blocked the sound from coming out and a large male body pinned mine down, but strangely being gentle about holding me down.

"Rose! ROSE!" Hearing a male voice, one that I wasn't expecting to hear, my eyes shot open, and the run down room, with its cold wind and my injuries disappeared upon meeting Panther's warm golden brown gaze, looking at me in worry and concern.

For the umpteenth time this day, I broke into tears, not loud enough to draw attention from anyone walking past my room and causing them to barge in.

Seeing that I wasn't trapped in my nightmare any longer, Panther released his hand from pinning mine above my head and mouth, curling his arms around my body and pulled me into a warm embrace. Automatically, I buried my face into his chest as my arms curled around his waist, letting his warmth seep into my chilled body, further pulling from the terrible dream.

Now that I was free from the nightmare, I felt my sobs ease themselves into small sniffles. When Panther began to run his fingers through my hair, gently massaging the skin beneath, it further soothed my sniffles into silence, and making my body limp.

"Why is it that you're always there when I need you most?" I weakly whispered as I turned my head to press my cheek against his chest, his heartbeat echoing in my ear. His chest rumbled pleasantly as he chuckled above my head, pulling me further against his body as he rolled onto his back, his hand moving from behind my head to rubbing down my spine and up to my neck, repeating the action at a leisured pace.

"I confess I do not have an answer to that riddle." He murmured softly, "but it is a good thing that I am, is it not?" Rather than satisfy him with an answer, I just let his hand rub a soothing pattern along my spine, the typical reaction being my brain (and subconscious) turning into a puddle of relaxed goop.

:Ugh, if this is heaven, don't wake me up.: my subconscious moaned blissfully, making me giggle out loud. Unfortunately, that wasn't a smart move on my part, because that just gave Panther the incentive to run his fingers against my sides: my most ticklish spots. Trying to keep my giggling quiet, I squirmed and twisted my body to get away from his prodding fingers, but he easily rolled us both over so that I was pinned beneath his body and he was able to continue his childish attacks.

Eventually, Panther took pity on my and stopped, curling his arms around my waist and pulling me close against him as he lay on his side. "You have the most intriguing laugh, my Rose." He teased, almost sleepily, his chin resting on top of my head.

"I will get you back, Panther." I threatened weakly, the wide smile on my face belying how serious I was trying to be. He merely chuckled again, his chest rumbling with its echo, before the air around us became comfortably quiet, even with Voltaire snoring so loudly from the floor.

After a while, my hands began moving up and down his back, mimicking the kind gesture he gave to me earlier. Underneath my fingers, I could feel his muscles briefly tense before relaxing, drawing a content purr from Panther. He actually purrs? Weeks ago, I might've found that very strange, as well as him dressing as a big cat, but it doesn't bother me now especially since he was one of my shining lights whenever my little world became too dark, Voltaire and Tony helping when the others weren't around.

I felt Panther's hand curl behind my shoulders and waist, cradling me against his body, before he began to softly sing a tune into my ear, the song unfamiliar, but incredibly soothing. Closing my eyes, images began filling my mind, taking me to a place far away from here, where the land was large under a bright sun, and the mountains reached the sky and turned to snow, the water a brilliant blue, and the jungles a deep emerald green. I could smell the different perfumes from the vast variety of flowers around me, the rain on the leaves from a recent storm. On the wind, I could hear the roar or a mighty creature; the power behind its voice sending a deep shiver down my spine.

That night, Panther gave me the best dream I could have ever asked from anyone.

He gave me the dream of Africa, and the strength not to be afraid of the night.

When the morning came, Panther was gone, but the song he had whispered into my ear made up for the absence. Sighing to myself as I linked my fingers beneath my had, I relaxed into my bed as I stared at the ceiling, losing myself in deep thoughts.

Whether he knew it or not, but Panther showing up when he does always became the highlight of my day (or night), a time where I didn't have to be afraid anymore, or worry about my appearance or how I conduct myself in public. He just let me be myself. Whenever he held me in his arms, he was so gentle and careful, as if I was made of fragile glass, his voice matching his grip when he spoke to me. And his way of making me feel not only safe, but the happiest I had ever been in my life.

:You're also forgetting how hot this guy is underneath the mask.: My subconscious trilled in a sing-song voice, :Which, may I add, speaks of how much he already trusts you. At least enough to see his face.:

Yeah...that, too...

:Uh-oh. What are you thinking, is it good or bad, and what did I say to set it off?:

Actually, it's more like I just had an epiphany.

:And...? Seriously, you're scaring me here, and I'm part of your mind:

Just thinking about what Pepper said a few weeks ago; about me meeting a guy who'd rather cut off his arm than even think about hurting me.

:Yuh-huh...?:

I'm starting to believe that Panther may be the guy Pepper was talking about. How gentle he was, how he never raised his voice in anger at me, and how courageous he was in not only facing the gang of kidnappers, but also facing a gun-man all just to rescue me.

:...Oh, my jeebus. Deep internal thoughts about a mysterious-yet-seriously-hunky super-hero, the glowing smile on your face, and the wistful sigh? Can it mean?!:

I think I have a crush on Panther.

:...YES!:

How easily thrilled, her subconscious is. Though, it may not be like that come Panther's Quest.

Now, I have a question for everyone and it's kind of serious. As you are aware, I decided a while to rewrite my Alenka and Wolverine story. But in order to do that, I need a timeline, so this is where you guys come in.

Would you like that series set in the same universe as my Briar and Panther story, if so, before or after? If not, an alternative timeline. Your choice, but I would like the answer before December, please.

Anyway, thank you for your time, and I shall see you all next chapter. Bye!