I'm back! I've been having a lot of trouble uploading this chapter but I finally got the uploader to cooperate.

January 20th, 2012

"If my grandfather found the Tesseract so many years ago, why are we only examining it now?" asked Josephine as she made her way down a corridor of the Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility at the heals of Director Fury and Erik Selvig. Agent Barton followed just behind her.

"Because we didn't understand what it was," Fury admitted, "We knew HYDRA used the cube to make weapons, but the World Security Council was apprehensive at best about developing such weapons."

"All of that changed thanks to the arrival of Thor and your father's new element." explained Selvig, who was looking worse for wear, "The Destroyer helped us understand more about how other planets harness energy. And with the new element we were able to control the energy surges from the Tesserat enough to study it."

"So what is it? How does it create energy?"

"It's a doorway," said Selvig.

"A doorway? To where?"

"To other parts of the universe." said Fury, "As far as we can tell, it doesn't get its energy from anywhere. It is energy. Pure and clean and without limits."

"That doesn't sound dangerous." said Josephine sarcastically, "So what's the plan? Space exploration? Contact with aliens? Tesseract powered cars?"

"For now the plan is to further examine and understand it," said Fury as they entered the chamber where the Tesseract was kept, "Once we know how to use it, we'll go from there."

"It's smaller than I thought it would be," said Joei, tilting her head at the cube suspended in the middle of a reactor.

"Don't let her fool you," said Selvig, "She's got more information stored in one atom than all the atoms in this planet."

"Barton, Stark, a word please?" Fury called from the other side of the room. Joei and Barton followed him up some stairs to where they were out of hearing range.

"What are we looking at here, director?" asked Barton, "Is it safe to continue with this project?"

"The Council believes it is, and I do, too," said Fury, keeping his voice low, "But I brought you in, Barton, because I need somebody I can trust to watch over these experiments. Selvig's been acting stranger than usual. I don't want to run the risk of him running tests he shouldn't, or working under the interests of someone other than S.H.I.E.L.D, that includes himself."

"He must know that he won't get anywhere near the cube without us letting him," said Joei.

"He does, but that doesn't mean he can't filter information while he's here. Barton, I need you to keep an eye out. Stark, I called you hear because you're the only one who's seen your father's element at work up close. Is what he sent us the real thing?"

"Yeah, that's Starkonium. And while I do trust you, director, I would like to make one request."

"What would that be?"

"That you never use Starkonium without my express permission and a full report of its intended use ever again, regardless of whether my dad signs the papers or not."

"I will consider your request."

"Thank you." said Joei, knowing that was as close to a yes as she would ever get, "Will that be all, Director?"

"That will be all. I believe Agent Coulson was hoping to catch a word with you before you left."

She found Coulson in his makeshift office.

"You wanted to see me, Agent Coulson?"

"Josephine, come in, come in," said Agent Coulson, "You know you should just call me Phil."

Joei scrunched up her nose, "I'll think about it. What's going on?"

"I wanted to thank you for your assessments. Dr. Garner has been doing a good job with you."

"My assessments on a bunch of dead test subjects?"

"Formerly dead," Coulson clarified.

"Excuse me?"

"You'll want to sit down for this one," said Coulson, and she obliged, "Fury and I both decided to keep you in the dark about our latest project involving the Avengers until we got some results."

"What kind of project?"

"The test subjects whose assessments you did were dead at some point or another," he continued, "We revived them."

"How?"

"With a serum. The idea was to create a process through which a fallen Avenger could be brought back to life even after the allotted few minutes that are customary for reviving someone."

Joei felt a knot in the pit of her stomach, "Did you really think that was...ethical? Those limits exist for a reason. Not to mention the severe brain damage..."

"The project offered a solution to all of that. The test subjects were revived and came back just as fit and physically stable as before they'd died. But...an array of problems, including the question of how ethical the project was, led me to determine that the project had to be shut down."

"It wasn't just an ethics thing, though, was it? Otherwise you would have shut it down after the first test subject. Something happened. What was it?"

Coulson sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"Just say it, Coulson. What happened?"

"We're not sure. Something from the serum made the test subjects' mental state become increasingly unstable, many to the point of violence or even self-harm. Director Fury resorted to erasing their memories of their death and their time in the project."

"We can do that?" Joei asked in shock. She felt like the knot in her stomach had spread to the rest of her body and was twisting painfully to get out from underneath her skin.

"It's not something S.H.I.E.L.D often partakes in, but we were able to do it on the test subjects to keep them from doing themselves or others any more harm. The project was shut down and all evidence, research, and materials have been destroyed."

"And there's no chance of this project ever coming back?" asked Josephine.

"No."

The uneasy feeling in her body subsided somewhat, but the contents of her stomach were still hoping to escape, "We're a powerful organization, but we're not gods. I know Avengers aren't exactly easy to come by, but bringing people back from the dead well after they've died just doesn't sit well with me."

"You have nothing to worry about anymore. I just thought we should tell you, even if the experiment did fail."

"Thank you for your honesty, Agent Coulson. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"That will be all, Miss Stark."

February 14, 2012

"Caitlin, have you seen my ruby earrings?"

"In the downstairs bathroom," answered Caitlin.

"What would I do without you?" Joei asked, crossing the living room to the half bathroom.

"Never find anything."

"Ah, there they are," Joei said to herself when she found the earrings on the bathroom counter.

"Are you sure that it's okay for me to go out?" Caitlin asked for the fourth time that afternoon.

"Caitlin, I don't think I'm going to get kidnapped over dinner. It's Valentine's Day. Go on a hot date, go to a party, get drunk off your ass, or do whatever you feel like doing. Besides, if somone does try to kidnap me, I think my fight skills have improved enough to take care of myself."

"You are getting really good," Caitlin nodded, "You almost pinned Natasha down the other day."

"And Jimmy totally ate my dust," Joei snickered.

"About that...Jimmy says he bumped into Alex at the grocery store. Alex asked what happened to him because of the black eye."

"I still feel bad about that. I didn't mean to elbow him. What did he tell Alex?"

"That he fell down the stairs."

Joei and Caitlin both laughed.

"But anyway," said Caitlin, "I was wondering if you're planning on telling Alex anything. I mean one of these days one of us is going to get called in for a mission or something really weird is going to go down and I don't think 'business trip' is going to cut it all the time."

"I know, but what's the normal amount of time you're supposed to see someone before you tell them you're a super spy? I mean I haven't even told my family. And Alex and I aren't really a couple yet. We've only gone on a few dates."

"But he's always here," Caitlin pointed out.

"So is Jimmy."

"Jimmy's our friend, Joei. And we surprisingly have a lot in common. Alex, on the other hand, is not just your friend. He's the guy you're dating, and I can tell that he likes you a lot and you like him, too. I just want you to be happy with someone, and not have to worry about making up an alibi."

"But I'll still have to lie to him," said Joei, "Even if I do tell him I'm a secret agent or part of a secret organization, I will have to lie every time I get sent on a mission."

"Not necessarily, you just won't be able to tell him where you're going. Listen, you don't have to decide right now, but if things get more serious I really think you should tell him."

The doorbell rang then, and Josephine wasn't surprised to find both Alex and Jimmy at the door. They were both extremely punctual. Joei was starting to think that they did it on purpose.

"Hey, Joei, nice dress," said Jimmy, letting himself inside to say hello to Caitlin, "You're going to freeze to death in that."

Caitlin rolled her eyes, "I was going to put on a sweater, but now I might have to stay this way just to make you spend the entire night scowling."

"I don't scowl."

"Yes, you do," Alex and Joei answered at the same time, looking at each other and laughing lightly as Caitlin and Jimmy resumed their usual overprotective bickering.

"You look beautiful," said Alex, lightly touching a curl that ran down her arm, "I hadn't realized how long your hair was."

Joei shrugged, "I've almost always got it pulled up these days. It took me forever to curl it, though, I thought my arms were going to fall off by the time it was done."

"It looks great," he assured. "You look great."

"You know, you don't clean up too bad yourself. Although I'm more of a red and gold girl," she said, indicating his blue and silver tie.

"Noted. I'll be sure to buy more Iron Man themed clothes in the future."

"How about tonight we avoid any and all talk about our families?" said Josephine, walking toward the couch to get her coat.

"Agreed," said Alex, opening the door for her, "It's Valentine's Day, and talking about our parents is probably the least romantic subject we could possibly breach."

Josephine looked back at Caitlin and Jimmy, who were arguing over which of Caitlin's sweaters looked better next to Jimmy's blazer.

"Caitlin, neither of those sweaters look as good with that dress as the blue one you have upstairs. Go put that one on and get out of this apartment before all the parties are over and the bars are closed. You two have fun and take care of each other. I don't want to have to pay anyone's bail in the morning."

"We promise to behave," said Jimmy, "Cait, go get your blue sweater."

"Don't boss me around," said Caitlin, but she floated up the stairs in giddy excitement over the night to come.

"Can we take my car tonight?" asked Joei when they were finally out the door.

"Sure," Alex nodded. They'd taken turns driving for the most part, and he'd already had two turns to drive. Besides, he was not afraid to admit that Josephine's car was infinitely cooler than his "But only if I get to talk to FRIDAY."

"You realize that my AI is not a real person, right? She isn't flattered by your flirting. She's just confused because she wasn't programmed to interact with someone who flirts with her."

"You're jealous of your car's computer."

"She is not a computer," said Joei as they stepped into the car and she started the engine, "And I am not jealous."

"Hey, Fri."

"Her name is FRIDAY," Joei sniffed.

"Good evening, Mr. Quinn."

"It's always a good evening if I get to talk to you."

Joei rolled her eyes. She would program FRIDAY to say snarky things back before their next date.

"I'm glad that my presence improves your mood, Mr. Quinn. Miss Stark, where are we headed?"

"Ask Romeo," Joei muttered.

"I believe that would be you, Mr. Quinn." FRIDAY answered.

"FRIDAY, take us to La Fleur, please."

"Ooo, we haven't gone there since our first date," said Joei, "The lady next to us was eating some creame puffs for dessert and I swear it was like she was having the most amazing moment of her entire life. I have to order it this time."

"I'm trying to be romantic and all she thinks about is dessert," Alex shook his head.

"In my defense, dessert is like an integral part of my survival. It's right up there with drinking water."

"You're supposed to eat healthy." Alex pointed out.

"I eat healthy in every part of every other meal. Let a girl eat some cake. It's not like I don't work out every day. Besides, I could be addicted to something worse, like cocaine."

He stared at her blankly and then began to laugh, "Drive, please."

"Driving now." Joei smiled.

When they arrived at the restaurant, people waiting outside were quick to take their picture. Most locals already knew that a handful of famous kids attended Culver and were often seen around town, but Joei was perhaps the most popular one at the moment, what with her face being on the cover of two magazines in the past three months and her project all over the news, not to mention all the pictures the tabloids were buying off people for their stories on her relationship with Alex.

For the most part, she kept her head down, although she did end up flashing a peace sign at one of the last people who tried to be subtle about taking her picture with their phone. Alex gave his name at the door and they were ushered inside. A quick check in with the host and they were being led to a table in a secluded corner, hidden slightly behind a pillar.

"I saw this table last time and figured it was the best table in the house for us," said Alex, "It doesn't have the best view, but they can't see us, either."

"I don't know," said Joei, resting a hand on her chin and looking at Alex directly, "The view is pretty good from where I'm sitting."

"I thought I was the smooth one, Miss Stark."

"Well maybe I've learned a thing or two, Mr. Quinn."

Joei batted her eyelashes comically at him before taking her menu and positioning it so it covered her face. After a few seconds she peaked over it to find that Alex was doing the same thing, his eyes just visible over the top of the menu.

With a chuckle he put the menu down and she followed suit.

"What do you think? Duck or chicken?"

"I was thinking frog legs."

Alex looked up at her with a curious expression.

"What?"

"You are quite possibly the only girl I have ever seen that doesn't make a face at the prospect of frog legs."

"Well they taste pretty good. And clearly the other girls you've dated aren't as strange as I am."

"Clearly."

"So, duck or frog?"

"What about snails?"

"Ew."

"Ah, so there is at least one food on this planet that you won't eat."

"Snails are gross and slimy and gross. I think I'll have the beef bourguinon."

After dinner they decided to take a walk. On nights like tonight, when the string lights above the streets of Downtown were lit and soft music played through speakers on the roofs of the small shops and cafes and restaurants, Joei was reminded of small towns she had only ever seen on TV. Life was like an episode of Gilmore Girls, where everybody talked really fast but Friday nights seemed to last forever.

"Hey, look," said Alex as they approached the town square. A group of elderly people were playing jazz music on the grass, their instruments set in front of microphones that led to the speakers all around the Downtown District. The large gazebo in the middle had a few couples of different ages dancing slowly and looking all different levels of in love.

The music stopped for a moment, and then a familiar song began to play.

"La Vie en Rose," said Alex as Joei started to hum to the music.

"It's my favorite," Joei nodded, "I know it in English and the original French."

"May I have this dance?" asked, Alex, extending a hand.

Josephine nodded and walked to the gazebo with him hand in hand.

She hadn't listened to this song in a long time. Maybe that was why it remained her favorite. She usually only ever head it when Pepper was around, or as a pleasant surprise like this one. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't listened to La Vie en Rose since last year, inside a cabin in the woods with a guy who was considerably less light on his feet. Where Steve had been uncertain and stiff, Alex was confident and led her across the gazebo with such soft steps she felt like she was floating in his arms, her toes barely touching the ground before she was swaying again.

Halfway through the song, he had pulled her closer and she found that in her heels she could rest her chin on his shoulder. Her eyes fluttered closed as the words of the song washed over her.

"Joei?"

"Hmm?"

"I was going to wait until we were sitting down somewhere, but I don't think I'll ever be able to recreate a moment like this one my own so...I want to ask you something."

She was tempted to make a joke to hide how nervous she was, but apparently Alex was basing his question on the mood of the moment and she decided she wouldn't let her nerves ruin that.

"Yes?" she nearly whispered.

"Well, reporters keep asking me if we're a couple. My friends keep asking me if we're a couple. Hell, even my family keeps asking."

"Do they?"

"Yes. And I was wondering...next time someone asks me if we're a couple..."

"Say yes." she smiled, "The next time anyone asks, say yes."

"What about you?"

"I'll say yes, too." she said simply, and his smile was so bright that Joei couldn't help but to lean in and kiss him in the middle of that crowded gazebo.

May 1, 2012

Movie night had become a recurring event for Joei, Alex, Jimmy, and Caitlin. They had an ever growing list of movies that they insisted on watching, and every week someone would take turns picking a slip of paper with a movie title on it out of a jar. Tonight Alex had drawn the original 1968 Planet of the Apes movie, a result which he was none too happy with.

"They're fucking terrifying!" he argued as Joei and Caitlin began taking snacks out of grocery bags and he held his cell phone against his ear, "Jim still isn't answering. Maybe he got caught up at work."

Joei and Caitlin exchanged worried glances, quickly turning them to confused shrugs when Alex stepped into the kitchen.

"I feel bad starting without him," said Alex.

"Me too," said Joei, "I'll try to text him one last time, and if he doesn't answer then we can lounge around and watch TV or something. We can leave the movie for next week."

"Or never," Alex pitched in.

"You can't be saved from the sentient apes, Al," said Caitlin, "Sooner or later, they will find you."

"You are a terrible friend."

Josephine walked back to the living room with her phone, typing out a quick text to Jimmy.

Everything okay?

The reply only took a few seconds. ETA 20 secs. Level 7.

Level 7. What the hell was a Level 7? Joei wished she'd taken the time to learn all the emergency codes. Nuclear war was definitely a Level 8...or was it a six? The "Mandarin Bombings" had been classified as a Sub-Level Four, meaning that they were something to pay attention to, but not something S.H.I.E.L.D. was getting involved in just yet.

She didn't have time to wonder much longer because the doorbell rang four times in quick succession.

"There he is!" Alex whizzed past her to open the door for a very pale looking James.

"Joei, Cait, we're leaving." Jimmy said as soon as the door slammed shut behind him.

"What?" Caitlin asked, still unaware that anything was wrong.

"There's been a Level 7..."

"Which I would understand the severity of if I could actually remember what a Level 7 is."

"Hostile extraterrestrial activity."

"Like...how many extraterrestrials?" Joei asked, almost saddened that a question like that could actually be normal.

"Just one. But he stole something from the Dark Energy Facility."

"What?" Joei blanched, "What did he steal?"

"I don't know, Josephine, you're the only here who actually knows what they do at that facility. It was something important. The main attraction."

"The cube. Holy shit. Holy Holy Holy shit."

"Excuse me, could someone explain what the hell is happening and why I'm being so thoroughly ignored?" asked Alex, looking annoyed.

Joei groaned and turned to look at him, momentarily pushing her panic aside, "Honey...you know how we said we wanted to be honest with each other?"

"Yes. I recall that quite clearly, Josephine."

She almost flinched at his tone, "Well, there's something that I've wanted to tell you and I didn't really know how to tell you or even if I was allowed to...Not to mention that I haven't even told my parents about this or anyone who isn't a part of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"S.H.I.E.L.D?" asked Alex.

"It's an organization that-"

"I know what it does," he said cooly, "Whenever someone gets too close to discovering something that could change the world, you guys step in and make sure that doesn't happen."

"That is not what S.H.I.E.L.D does," Jimmy said defensively, "We're a spy organization that focuses on making the world safer for everyone. And yes, that includes shutting down tech that is too dangerously volatile. Including, every now and then, alternative drilling methods that are bad for the planet and could cause catastrophic explosions, like the one your uncle was working on in Texas three years ago before we shut it down. We saved nearly three thousand lives when we did that, but I bet Uncle Ian didn't mention that part."

Alex's mouth snapped shut, but he still gave Jimmy a dirty look.

"Alex, I know you're angry. And you have every reason to be because I've been lying to you about what I really do when I go on 'business trips' and why I train so hard every day. There have been so many times that I thought I could tell you but then I thought the timing wasn't right and now this is probably the worst timing ever because I have to leave to who knows where."

"You're going to the Hellicarrier. They sent me to come get you and deliver you to the take off point. Cait, you're headed to base in New York. They've got you on standby in case anything goes south. In the mean time, you might want to help Joei draw up some statements for the press."

"The press? Why?" asked Joei.

"They're bringing in your team." said Jimmy, "And whatever this Loki of Asgard has in mind, he looks like a pretty flashy guy. I don't think he's going to keep a low profile."

"Fury's Assembling the Avengers?" Caitlin asked in awe, before her eyes widened and she turned to Joei, "You're going to have to tell your dad."

"Well, if the cat's coming out of the bag, I might as well let it scratch my eyes out."

"Girls, we need to move now," said Jimmy, looking down at his watch, "Grab your emergency bags and lets move. Cait, I'm sorry but you're going to have to drive yourself."

"Take my car, it's a hole lot safer and we can keep a direct line through FRIDAY." Joei said as Caitlin started making her way upstairs. Finally, she turned to Alex, taking a step towards him and putting a hand on each of his wrists, "Alex, I really am sorry that I didn't tell you anything before. I'm a S.H.I.E.L.D agent...well, a Junior Agent for now. I'm still in training. S.H.I.E.L.D is not a bad organization. We help people and we keep them safe and I want you to know that we would never just steal someone's research and hard work without good reason. When we get back, we can sit down and talk about this, okay? Right now this is a global emergency and I need to go."

"I'll think about it," Alex finally answered, then he turned on his heel, grabbed his keys and walked out.

Joei hardly had time to pinch the bridge or her nose before Caitlin was thrusting her emergency bag into her arms. Joei slung it behind her shoulder and stuffed her phone in her pocket. The flight to the hellicarrier was going to be too long.

It's the moment we've been building up to folks! The Avengers!