A/N: There are people who are asking about Coulson and Hill's relationship. No one at SHIELD knows they're together. Fury had assigned them as partners, and that's how the relationship started. There we go. I hope that cleared everything up! Yay for Q&A! On with the story.

Phil looked around their destination. They had been ambushed. He should have known something like this would happen but he wasn't thinking right and he was paying for it.

Maria had managed to get behind a few large boxes, breathing heavy. By her count there were only three or four goons left, it was looking up for them. She rolled out from the boxes, shooting as she did. One of the bullets hit its mark, killing one of the men. That left two...well one now that Phil had managed to get the other.

Phil looked at Maria and mouthed, "You alright?" He was concerned about her hoping that his counting was right and there was only one left. But there might have been more lying in wait. He couldn't let anything happen to her.

"Yeah, I'm fine" she replied, looking over at him with a nod. She was about to say something when she saw movement from behind Phil. "Phil, look out!" she quickly pushed him out of the way before shooting a few times, though it was too late...the goon had managed to get a few shots out just as she did.

He saw everything happen like it were happening at half the time. His world was upside-down. He saw the goon fall and made his way to Maria. "Maria. Maria... why!?" He asked looking into her blue eyes.

Maria was confused for a split second. Why what? She didn't understand...That's when she felt pain pulse through her. She let out a quiet whimper, stumbling slightly and falling into Phil's arms. He caught her and held her in his arms as he lowered himself to the ground. Maria took a shaky breath, her wound screaming at her as she did so. "I guess I'm still reckless," she joked weakly, wincing from the pain.

Phil frowned and looked at her, applying pressure to the wound in her abdomen. "Yes you are!" He chided trying to ease the tension inside him.

She chuckled weakly, though the chuckle was short lived as it turned into a cough, blood coming up to the corner of her mouth "...a person can only change s-so much Phil."

"I know," He said frowning. He held her close, tears burning behind his eyes.

"Hey… don't...don't cry...I'm fine, I'll be fine," she said calmly. That was Maria for you, no matter what she was always trying to cheer Phil up when he was down. "It's not...th-that bad"

"You say that..." he said looking at her. "And I hope that you're right. Because I can't lose you."

Maria's eyes were beginning to droop and her skin was paling. "I'm...a-always right," she muttered. "You should know that by now..."

"I know you are. I learned that a while ago," He said resting his hand on her cheek. She nuzzled his warm hand, struggling to keep herself awake. "I th-think I may be retiring e-early."

"Stay with me," he said quietly, the unshed tears choking his words. "You're not allowed to retire. I haven't given you permission."

Her blue eyes were shining with tears. "I want t-to..." she muttered, placing her hand over his. It seemed that she had just gotten him back, and now...now she was the one leaving. "I'm just so ti-tired..."

Tears fell from his eyes and he knew he had to let her go. He placed a kiss to her lips and nodded. "Be careful. And keep your eyes open." He said, saying the things he would always remind her of before their missions when she was starting out.

Maria gave a weak, sad smile. "Don't you w-worry...I will, boss," she muttered back, just as she had always said to him in reply. Her breathing was becoming shallower "Phil..."

He held her close whispering in her ear, "I love you, Maria. You'll be better off."

"I...I love you t-too," she murmured. "E-Even though joining Shield l-lead up to t-this...I would do it again in a h-heartbeat." She looked up at him as a tear managed to escape. "It...le-lead me to the b-best thing in my l-life."

"Just like it did for me," He replied quietly. He kissed her forehead with tears running down his cheek. "T-Take care of yourself," she whispered. "I l-love you...remember th-tha..."she trailed off, eyes slowly closing as one last breath passed her lips.

He nodded and held her limp frame to him, crying as he just sat on the floor, holding his wife in his arms. He had left her... only to be given this second chance... and now she was gone.

oOo

It didn't take long for news to get around SHIELD that Agent Maria Hill had been killed. Within the hour, Loki was there along with Natasha and the two kids. Quickly he rushed to the medical wing, seeing Coulson next to Maria's body.

Natasha frowned and held onto Matthew seeing Coulson and their friend... the first one to keep their secret... dead. Phil held Maria's lifeless hand in his. He couldn't cry here... and he was sure there were no more tears he could shed at the moment.

Loki frowned softly, handing Rowena over to Natasha before walking to the mourning agent. "Phil..." he said quietly.

Natasha held Rowena on one hip and Matthew on the other, know she shouldn't stay with the kids around this. She walked down the hall with them not wanting them to get upset. This must have been what they saw because the instant they were brought to the building they started to tear up. As Natasha walked away she cradled them close to try to keep them from crying.

Phil sighed not looking away from Maria's face. "Is this how you felt... when you thought you lost Natasha?" He asked quietly. "Cold... alone... hollow?"

Loki nodded softly, looking down at the broken man. He knew of a way to help bring her back...he had found it once Natasha had died. "I...may be able to help," he stated softly, offering some bit of solace for the man. He wasn't sure if it would work, but he might as well give it a chance.

Phil looked at Loki and blinked. "I know you're a god. But... I don't think just any god can give life to someone."

"I was looking for immortality when Natasha died," Loki stated. "Even though I lost her...I was still looking, and I found it." He paused for a moment before continuing, "I'm not sure if it will bring her back...but it's worth a shot."

"If there's hope it will work... It would be worth a shot," he replied looking back at Maria. "But I'm not sure what she would want."

"That's why you must choose for her..." Loki said softly. "This path I have to immortality...I am offering it to more than just Natasha, who no longer has need of it." There was a pause in his speech as he stood beside his decision. "I am planning on offering it to those I see as friends. The Avengers and a few agents of SHIELD." The god looked to the mortal then and stated simply, "If this does work...and she comes back, I can offer it to you as well."

Phil blinked and turned to look at Loki. "You..." he was at a loss for words. "Don't take this decision as 'If this works I want this.' I wouldn't ask that of you." He looked at the god before him and nodded. "I want her back. It's selfish of me, but I love her."

"I understand how you feel," Loki commented with a nod. "And if I know Maria like I think I do, if she is immortal she is going to want you to be as well," he said, looking over at the lifeless body before back at Phil. "You are not selfish for wanting her back."

"It feels like it." he said quietly. "What can I do?"

"Just stand back" he said calmly, summoning a piece of the Tesseract that he had managed to get his hands on. "Before you ask...yes, I borrowed some of the Tesseract," he remarked as he wrapped his hand around the piece, drawing the magic from it. "Here goes nothing..." he placed her hand over her chest, though making sure not to touch her.

He then began muttering under his breath, reciting the spell he had found. Phil said nothing but stood back as ordered. He was nervous. He had hopes and he didn't want them dashed. He watched as Loki continued his spell, wondering what language it was exactly, and wrung his hands anxiously.

The skin under Loki's hand glowed gold as he focused on healing Maria's mind and body, as he focused on bringing her back. Phil watched as a golden glow radiated from Loki's hands and Maria. He was confused and working on believing this was actually happening.

Loki opened his eyes; their color a soft gold as he let his magic and the magic of the Tesseract flow through him and to Maria. After a moment he stumbled back, completing the spell. "We-We should know in a moment," he said weakly, wiping the blood that trickled from his nose. Even with the Tesseract's power, the spell had taken a lot out of him.

Phil stepped over to Loki and put a hand on his shoulder, steadying him. "If it takes so much from you... perhaps it's not wise to do this often," he advised.

"No...no, I'm fine," Loki said, waving the agent off. "I just can't do it right away. I'll have to rest," he said quietly, looking over to see Maria beginning to stir. "Looks as though it worked."

Phil looked from Loki to Maria and smiled stepping up beside her. Natasha chose that moment to peek in the door, holding the sleeping twins. Loki was still breathing heavy, glancing towards the door. He looked over at Phil and Maria before walking out of the room, having to use the wall to keep him up right. Phil held Maria's hand and smiled down at her, waiting for her to open her eyes. Maria muttered quietly, slowly opening her eyes. For a moment her vision was blurred and she was confused, but then she saw Phil "Wa...What happened..." she asked quietly.

Phil smiled brightly and kissed her hand. "A lot. And we need to think of some way to thank Loki." He brushed his knuckles down her cheek and looked at her. "Welcome back." Maria smiled tiredly saying, "It's...good to be back." She tried to push herself up, wincing as she did. "I...didn't think Loki could bring people back from the dead." Phil gently pushed her back down. "Lay down and relax. And... he found a secret to immortality."

"Immortality?" Maria frowned slightly. "So does that mean...I'm?" she was confused "He brought me back and made me immortal?" Phil nodded simply answering, "From what I understand yes."

"But what about you?" she asked quietly, not wanting to be without him. She squeezed his hand softly "Do you think Loki could do it for you?"

Phil smiled and kissed her hand. "He already offered. And I said I would be here with you."

Natasha raised an eyebrow seeing Loki using the wall to support him walking. "Don't lie to me." She prefaced looking at him. "Are you alright?" she asked in a hushed and concerned tone trying not to wake the twins. Loki closed the door behind him, shaking his head slightly. "I'm just a bit weak...I'll be fine," he said with a soft smile. "At least Maria is back."

Natasha sighed and then smiled, placing a soft kiss on his lips. "You are wonderful. I love you so much. You give everything you can, and expect nothing in return. I love you." Loki smiled softly, taking Matt in his arms. "Well, why would I want anything else when I have everything I want and need right here?"

She blushed at his words, smiling brightly. "You can still make me do that. I'm surprised. And are you sure we're everything? Nothing more you want?" He smiled in reply before saying, "No, I have everything I would ever want or need." Natasha smiled softly and kissed him. "And I have everything I could ever ask for in you and these two." Loki smiled as well before kissing the top of her head and saying, "Let's head home..."

Natasha smiled and nodded. "That would be good, before too many people see us with the twins. We might want to hire a babysitter now."