"No. There is absolutely no way I can let you do this." Gwen crossed her arms, starring down her older sister.
"Good thing I asked for your permission," Temperance shot back quickly. "Listen, the only reason I even told you about this is because I need you to cover for me, understand? And if you tell anyone, I swear to God I will get you back." Her eyes softened. "This must end once and for all. And I have a plan." Lie.
Gwen rubbed her temples, contemplating her choices. She could tell her father. Or she could go to Tony himself, who would tell Thor.
Or she could keep her mouth shut and let her sister get herself killed.
"This is an awful idea."
"I won't be stalked the rest of my life until I end up dead in my bed!" Temperance sat down and took her sisters hands. "Please, Gwen."
Gwen bit her lip.
Nick sighed, looking out the window in his room. There was a knock.
Andi came in. "Where were you? You didn't come to breakfast this morning."
"Just thinking."
Andi sat beside her brother. "Why do you like her so much?" She asked quietly.
"Who?"
"You know who. Temperance."
Nick just starred out the window.
"I don't like her," Andi whispered.
"Why not?"
"She's so above it all. She's been preparing for this team since before she could walk, but she expects us to get it in a day." She sighed and put her chin in her palm. "And because she's taken you from me."
Nick looked at her sharply. "Don't be ridiculous," he said. "I'm right here."
"No, you're not," Andi croaked. "Your heart isn't. It's with her."
"Andi, I love you."
"I know."
"Do you know how much?"
"I thought I did." She looked down at her hands, and a tear dripped down from under her sunglasses. "I used to be able to talk to you about what I was going through. About my dreams, my powers. But it seems like every time I try and get near you, she drags you away, or you're too preoccupied thinking about her."
"Don't you think that's a bit selfish?"
Andi looked at her brother; if he could see her eyes, he would have seen anger and pure hurt. "Right," she said. "I'm the selfish one." She got up and left the room.
Andi went to the garage, grabbing her brothers truck keys on the way out. She drove to the ocean, where she sat on the beach and starred out at the red ocean, the red sky, the red birds and red sand . . . Furiously wiping away a tear, Andi stood. Squeezing her eyes shut, she took off her glasses. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and, yelling in anger and pain, aimed for the ocean.
"You worried one of them will get the Phoenix Force?"
Logan sat across from Jean at a small cafe in New York. Jean nodded as she buttered a piece of bread.
"I know one will. Rachel did, too, remember?"
"What about Nate?"
Jean shrugged at that. "I never see Nate, so I couldn't tell you."
"Who do you think it will be?"
"If I had to guess," Jean said seriously. "I'd say Nick. He's much more like me than his sister."
"Like Gwen got my claws and charming good looks."
Jean laughed at that, taking a bite of bread.
Logan looked out over the Hudson Bay. "I'm worried about Temperance, Jeannie. I tried to talk to Emma about it, but whenever I mention it she gets so upset."
"I would too, if it were my kid."
"She's been lookin' over her should since forever. It's hard to raise a kid like that."
"I'm so sorry."
"I'm so damn worried I'm just going to walk in and find her dead one of these days."
"She has managed to hold her own this long," Jean reminded her friend.
"Yeah," Logan said. "But the end of that Asgard bullshit said Loki would kill her."
Jean nodded sadly. She had been with them when the prophecy had been made. At first they thought it was about Christian, but it turned out to be Temperance later on.
Not saying anything for a few minutes, Jean broke the silence. "Rachel is pregnant."
Logan raised an eyebrow. "No kiddin'? You think her and Franklin are ready for kids?"
"I think they'll be alright, but . . ." she shook her head. "I'm going to be a grandmother."
"You're still young. Rachel's only in her early thirties. Besides, you didn't technically raise her until she was older."
"True. . ." Jean nodded. She sighed again and frowned. "Scott is going to call Alex"
"Ha. How will that go?"
"I'm not sure. They haven't seen each other in years."
"Anyone ever get a hold of Warren?"
"He refuses to speak to us."
"Damn."
"I know. His daughter would be a great addition to the team."
"He'll give in eventually."
Jean nodded absentmindedly, biting her pinkie nail.
Logan took her hand across the table, smiling at her. "Everything is going to be alright. Promise."