Chapter Twenty-four: After Shock

Emma woke up screaming, her heart pounding in her chest, and covered in sweat. Moonlight peaked out from in between her blinds, indicating that it was night time. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, there was no light on in her room except for the light coming from her alarm clock. It was well past midnight. She hoped she didn't wake anyone up. Her door burst open and all of her hopes were dashed. Steve and Natasha entered the room, panicked looks on their faces.

"Krolik?" Natasha asked, gently as she turned on her light.

"It was just a nightmare, Natasha," Emma replied.

"It sounded like more than a nightmare, sweetheart," Steve said softly as he sat on the edge of her bed. "It sounded more like a night terror."

Emma wasn't sure how to start or how to explain. She hadn't even told them what happened with the Aether or with Frigga and the truth she discovered. Her stomach churned as her mouth grew dry and she was aware of the sweat clinging to her skin. She was going to be sick. Emma got up off the bed and rushed to the adjoined bathroom. She made it just in time to empty her stomach into the toilet. She felt a gentle hand pulling her hair away and another one on her back, rubbing it soothingly.

Once she was done they helped clean her up as best they could. Natasha suggested that she would probably feel a little better if Emma took a shovel and she agreed so Steve left them to it. Though she was showing signs of healing everything still quite a lot so Emma needed help getting in and out of the shower. Emma couldn't help but feel even smaller at needing so much help, something that Natasha noticed.

"There's no shame in needing help, Emma, or to ask for it," Natasha said.

"So, if the great Natasha Romanoff needed help, she would ask for it?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Before the Avengers I didn't think that I would ever trust anyone like I trust Clint Barton and then I got this family. I never thought that I would ask anyone for help and then you guys came along. Before if you had asked me that I would probably say no but now I would ask anyone of you for help," Natasha said. "Whenever you're ready to talk about it, we're here for you."

"I love you, Natasha," Emma replied.

After they left the shower, Emma was touched to see that Steve had changed her sweaty sheets for her. Though she was an adult she didn't object when Steve and Natasha decided to help her get back to sleep. Emma leaned against Steve's shoulder as Natasha sang her a Russian lullaby. She fell asleep in her grandfather's arms, feeling completely safe. She didn't have another nightmare for the rest of the night.

Emma had woken up before Steve and Natasha , squished between the both of them. Grinning, she managed to slip from the bed without waking them up and snapped a photo of them sleeping soundly together. They had yet to tell each other how they felt and Emma had no clue why they didn't.

Shaking her head, she left the room and went to scour for food in the main kitchen. Emma hadn't been surprised to find Tony sitting at the table. He was usually up early or up late, she wasn't going to bother to ask which it was.

"Hey, baby cap," Tony greeted. "How are you doing?"

"I feel much better, not 100 percent but better. I can move around more without wincing as much, at least," Emma replied.

"That's not what I meant, you woke up screaming in the night. Scared Pepper half to death," Tony said. "Would have went into check on you but it seems as though your parents had it handled."

"I will be fine," she replied.

"OH, I know. You're the strongest Avenger of the group, I think, but don't tell Thor that I told you that," Tony said and Emma snickered. "This thing that's happening with you is only going to get worse before it gets better so I think you should talk to someone about it."

"Are you going to suggest that I talk to you, Tony?" Emma asked him.

"Oh, no, I'd be terrible to talk to," he replied. "When I went through something similar it helped to have the people closest to me to be there in case I fell."

"Thanks, Tony, I'll try to remember that," Emma said.

"Okay, don't tell anyone that I let you do this," Tony said with a roll of his eyes and held out his arms to her.

Emma was confused at first but then he indicated that she should bring it in and she hugged him tightly. She grinned, as it turns out Tony Stark gave the best hugs. She couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing about, kid? Do I stink? Sometimes I do forget to shower," Tony said as he broke the hug.

"The first time we met I wasn't sure what to think about you except that you were obnoxious," Emma said smiling. "I'm glad I changed my mind about you. You're not so bad, Stark."

"Back at ya, Rogers. I should probably go and shower. Ooh, maybe I could get Pepper to join me, reach those hard to reach places. Yippee," Tony said and wondered out of the kitchen leaving Emma to giggle to herself.

She was glad that she had so many people to be there for her. The Avengers were so much more than a team, they were a family, and one she was proud to be a part of. You've got the eccentric billionaire uncle, the mad scientist friend, and of course, the overprotective parents. You also have the grandfather who tells long stories and who gets confused by technology. Last, but not least, there was the inquisitive child who wants nothing more than for everyone to be happy. Emma was the luckiest girl in the world.