Alex was getting assessed by the neurologist, Dr Schumann, when Sabina texted Edward with her flight details and the warning that Liz was accompanying her. The journalist knew his ex-wife would raise merry hell about Alex, now that everything was out in the open. He had tried to tell her, but Liz had put the phone down as soon as he said hello, rather than have a civilised conversation at his four attempts to call in the first few weeks Alex had been at the clinic. The slow progress, still evident amnesia and his daughter's heartbreak over Alex's condition had prevented him from any more overtures to his ex-wife.

He returned to the examination room and it was evident his momentary lapse in being dad, meant he had missed Alex refusing the doctor's suggestions and the neurologist was not amused with his patient's refusal to go for an CT scan or any hospital diagnosis procedures beyond a basic medical. Edward just smiled at Alex, as it was his decision to make after all. He whispered to his son, "Promise me, you'll see a doctor right away you having any memory problems, seizures or migraines?"

Alex tersely nodded and then got dressed in the clothes his father had brought, "As I'm fit and healthy, I might as well take the bullet for you and meet Sab and Liz at the airport. While you go do your interviews, considering the sooner you file, the more you'll get for the scoop."

"Liz will assume I'm avoiding her."

"No, Dad. She needs to deal with her grief and shock. Its the least I can do, as you've been there for me. I promised I will not play matchmaker as you've both moved on." Alex knew Edward, but he wanted to act as mediator, to get Liz to forgive herself first, then she might start to rebuild some form of detente with her family.

...

It had been a tense flight, as mother and daughter made polite conversation but avoided the real reason both of them were flying to Geneva. Liz Pleasure spent most of the journey going back over her decision to move on all those years ago, while Edward and Sabina had never given up hope. She had hardened after the most miserable Christmas without their difficult, but much loved but never legally adopted son, but everything changed for the worse after Alex's nineteenth birthday. The toll of six months of silence and police's prediction her foster son was dead, she had lost hope and grieved. Liz had known Alex was closer to Edward, confiding in him all the horrifying secrets, which her husband did not pass on until after Alex had disappeared. The fact was her then husband may have been protecting her, but at the time it felt like plain old lying. That had been the start of their break up, not the legal proceedings. She had lost trust in her partner. Life was stranger than fiction, HYDRA had tortured Alex, frozen him like a lab experiment, assured the serum would keep him viable. Even Alex had told Sabina he had technically been a corpse, more Frankenstein's monster crossed with a zombie fish finger. The fact was he'd taken over a year and a half to recover. Liz had not been informed, that was her own fault. In the last two weeks, counselling had given her perspective, as she's been trying and failing to protect herself from emotional fallout from losing her child. The costume designer had left a very sparse message for her fiancée, stating a family emergency. How was she meant to explain this to a sane rational dentist?

The pair were met by airport security and given the VIP transfer through passport control and customs. There in the arrivals hall, stood next to two Swiss Soldiers, was Alex with wild unkempt long hair and several days of stubble. Evil science experiments meant he looked no older, Sabina had warned her the hard fact Alex now was not their Alex.

Seeing Liz, Alex smiled despite feeling conflicted. Liz now had grey hair, which suited her. She was still effortlessly stylish. Sabina and Liz were both hanging back as if waiting for it all to go pear shaped.

Alex knew he needed to reassure and not push for a reconnection as mother and son as she would think him an imposter, "Maman cherie. Sab will have told you that I haven't been myself; but then again I was not the best son to you before. I was afraid, but now I have to face up to the fact I have a big target on my back. So, can you forgive me?"

Liz looked closely at the smile, the lack of the emotionless mask he'd always worn before, with that earnest expression, only holding back as he expecting to be rebuffed. "There is no need for forgiveness, my prodigal son. You were lost and now you've been found." Liz moved forward and hugged her lost boy. Sabina then joined them. This was a new beginning, Liz knew their family would never be what it was, but now it was time to build a new dynamic from the shattered ruins. She then whispered "Now, tell me who bought you these awful clothes?"

Alex laughed as style was not important as long as the clothes were comfortable, "Jamie, I think. He's colour blind and normally has someone shop for him."

"So, I take it you and your security have a car waiting?" Liz looked at the two waiting minders, not letting go of Alex.

"Yeah."

"Lets go shopping. And pretty please, let me cut your hair?"

…..

The ex-Avengers and their allies were transferred to a Swiss Chalet owned by Dieter Sprintz. The house was as palatial as a five star hotel with twenty bedrooms, a large staff in their own quarters and 24/7 security detail, as well as perimeter guards from the Swiss Army. Steve would have felt entrapped, except Alex had taken Wanda shopping with his family. He cornered Clint by the Italian Sunken Garden. "I know the basics about Alex from Bucky, but what's your assessment?"

Clint knew he was airing past dirty laundry, as all his work for his former employer was tainted, "Alex Rider was famous in the spy community over decade ago. He was an amazing talented operative, working for British, Australian, Indian and CIA black ops in 2001 and 2002. I crossed paths with Alex in 2005, SHIELD were trying to head hunt MI6's wunderkind after he graduated high school and I was on the covert team keeping an eye on the kid. He showed his worth to me when he clocked me the first night I was on duty. I got the impression then he knew who I was and why I was there. A week later he'd got a place at college back in London. I guess he didn't like Pearce's offer. Fury let me read the kid's full, un-redacted operations file when I got back to New York. Ten missions in sixteen months and he was burnt out at fifteen after destroying SCORPIA, then he was left to recover with the Pleasures. After his abduction, the rumour was the British were offering him work as an analyst after grad school. Not that he got to go to any classes." Clint sat and looked at the perfect garden and sighed. "He'll follow you to the ends of the earth, because its that or fall foul of Ross or someone just like Pearce. Did Bucky tell you that Alex had been von Strucker's pet lab subject in Serbia? He and Wanda are practically kin that way."

Hawkeye needed to go home and take stock as he felt guilty by association for both kids. Both he and Steve were overdue a team meeting, to talk things over with Natasha, for her wonderful brutal outlook at life choices. She would tell Steve to take the kid under his wing, as the short and simple truth was they needed a new team up and running yesterday. Her viewpoint, he could predict would be that one more intelligent, resourceful and enhanced spook with a proven track record was too good an opportunity to throw away.

…

Dimitri Viktorovich Ivanov was FSB, but had concentrated his career to work in Border Security based in Moscow. At twenty nine, he was currently working the Immigration and Customs for the International Division at Domodedovo Airport. He was Liaison between Federal Police dealing with Currency, Banned Items or Drug Concealments and Counterfeit Documents. Having read his emails from James, Dieter and Edward Pleasure, he was not surprised by the summons to visit Division One at the Lubiyanka.

He was shown up to the office of the Director for Internal Intelligence, General Andrei Alexandrov, who had been a friend of his father's. "Good Morning, Dima. Its been fourteen years since we spoke. I'm afraid international politics means officially we cannot support you friend, Alexander Rider. Unofficially, we wish for you to offer him our thanks and assurance that he is always welcome here."

Dimitri remained silent, unsure how to respond to this man who had culled HYDRA from within the FSB ranks and was a man both feared and respected for his ruthlessness and tenacity.

"You are a man of few words like your father. You are also loyal to your friends. So like Viktor. Your few friends are rich, powerful and influential. You and they learned at an early age that you have ruthless enemies. Despite your youth, you are a driven workaholic with no social life. Take two weeks leave. Visit Switzerland, maybe Sokovia with Alexander and his new friends. If you cross paths with Miss Romanova send her my regards as well. We have been hunting the same prey after all. I look forward to us having a chat about your career goals when you get back."

…..

After three glorious days, Dieter was arranging a party as Alex friends were all invited. Steve had gone to Zurich, deep in diplomatic talks with the Swiss government, also the Sokovian and Wakandan UN representatives.

Edward had been busy talking to the guys and filing stories, currently he was finishing a piece on the deal for Clint and Scott, hammered out by Paul Roscoe's lawyers. In the back of his mind he pondered Dieter's offer of his home here to the outlawed Avenger's indefinitely, but were still are on Ross's radar. Alex had already mentioned Wanda wanted to go back to Sokovia for a vacation and that he wanted to go with her.

"I'm sure we all could do with a vacation," Edward was avoiding asking what Alex was planning, but could bet a years earnings it would be following Steve, and their quest to be heroes, without a care that Stark and Ross had painted them as villains.