Things are going to start picking up from this chapter onward. I hope you all enjoy and don't forget to review! I do love reviews.

Disclaimer: I will never own The Avengers.

~L~

October awoke to the bright sunlight streaming into the room. She groaned and pulled the covers up over her head blocking the sun. Steve's side of the bed was empty and she suspected he was downstairs. A shadow blocked the sun which confused October. She threw the covers off to see what stood in the way of the sun. She looked up and screamed as she fell off Steve's side of the bed. Steve ran into the room alarmed by the screaming as Pepper followed behind him.

"October what…" Steve was cut off as October began yelling.

"Dammit Tony! Haven't you heard of this thing called a personal bubble!" she shouted. Tony had a finger in each ear as he tried to drown out her shouting.

"You should know me by now. Invasion of the personal bubble is my job." Tony replied. October roared and jumped across the bed to tackle Tony, but he ran away forcing her to land on the floor again. She yelped in pain as her chin and body collided with the hardwood floor.

"Tony!" Pepper scolded rushing over to October's side. Steve beat Pepper and was helping October to her feet. He steadied her by placing an arm around her waist as she leaned into him. Her hand rested on Steve's chest as she glared daggers at Tony.

"I thought you two weren't coming until later tonight?"

"We had a slight change in plans. I cancelled my meetings last minute and here we are. Don't tell me you're not happy to see us?"

"I'm happy to see you Pepper." October turned to Pepper and smiled. Pepper shook her head with a smile as Tony gaped like a fish out of water. The room was silent as Tony spotted Steve's arm still around October's waist while her hand was on his chest. Pepper walked up to Tony and playfully slapped his shoulder.

"Stop staring, it's rude." Pepper said but Tony didn't listen.

"Sharing the same bed now are you? Aren't they such a cute couple Pep?"

October and Steve furiously blushed and pulled away from each other. Tony snickered and waltzed out of the room. Pepper glared at her boyfriend's back before looking over at October.

"Go put on your bathing suit. We're hitting the beach." Pepper smiled. October merely nodded her head too embarrassed to speak. Pepper left the two to go find Tony. Neither one said a word after Pepper left. October walked over to her suitcase and pulled it up on to the bed opening it. Steve glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as she went through her suitcase. He saw her pull out a purple and white striped bikini. The blush on his cheeks deepened as he excused himself from the room.

~L~

October walked into the kitchen wearing a long white blouse that was tied in the front and light blue shorts. She walked up to Pepper and grabbed her arm dragging her out the back door. Pepper stumbled along as October had a firm grip on her arm.

"I can walk by myself Tober." Pepper laughed. October released Pepper's arm and continued walking down to the shore line. Pepper walked up to her as the water washed over their feet.

"So are we planning on sunbath…" Pepper asked when October dove into to the water. She rolled her eyes and shed the clothes over her bikini and spread out her towel along with October's. Pepper lay on her stomach as she watched October for a little bit as the sun hit her back.

October treaded water as she was a good enough distance from the shore. She floated on her back and closed her eyes letting the sun shine down on her. She kept replaying Tony's words in her head as she floated around. Memories of her past slowly started to surface as she let her mind wander.

October sat in the common room of the dorm typing away on her laptop, music blaring in her ears. The seat across from her scooted out as Jenna plopped down with a heavy sigh. October didn't acknowledge her as she kept typing.

"Hey!" October protested as the top to her laptop was closed.

"You've been on that thing all week! You need to get out more, have some fun! There's a party going on tonight and I want you to come with me." Jenna said smiling. October glared at her roommate and friend as she opened her laptop. Jenna sighed and banged her head against the table with a reverberating thud.

"What has you so captivated that you won't even come to a party?" Jenna walked to October's side of the table. She looked at the screen as Skype was pulled up. October clicked on a name and waited for an answer. Jenna didn't recognize the name and raised an eyebrow when a handsome man their age showed up on screen.

"Well look who it is! It's my little sister Tobie!" he said grinning. His bluish gray eyes glimmered with amusement.

"I see they haven't kicked your sorry ass Jeremy."

"Oh trust me they have, but who is that behind you?"

October looked over her shoulder and pulled Jenna down into a headlock. "This here is my friend Jenna. Jenna, I'd like you to meet my brother Jeremy."

Jenna cursed and waved as she struggled out of October's grip. A deep laugh made the two girls freeze and look at the screen. A group of Jeremy's team circled around him and was watching the two girls. October released Jenna who fell to the floor cursing.

"Hey guys! How is the desert treating ya?"

"It's so damn hot out there!" "What he said!" Were the words tossed around as October laughed at the guy's. Jenna jumped up from the floor and draped her arms over October's shoulders while resting her chin on October's head. October rolled her eyes and tried to shove Jenna off.

"Hey baby girl we have to go. We'll all talk later okay?" one of Jeremy's friends said. Jenna looked at October confused by the nickname. October said goodbye as the video chat ended.

"Baby girl?" Jenna asked.

"It's an old nickname my brother and his friends gave me. I used to always hangout with them since we were only a year or two apart. At first they thought I was just another annoying little sister but when I nearly got kidnapped and fought back they changed. They always made sure one of the guys was around when I went anywhere. I guess you could say they were my own personal body guards." October explained packing the laptop away.

"So about that one who called you that…do you like him?"

October blushed and hurriedly walked out of the common area. Jenna beamed when she saw the blush.

"Oh my god you do! That's so cute and he's a soldier no less!" Jenna squealed clapping her hands. October ran up the stairs and into their dorm room locking it before Jenna could enter. Jenna banged on the door and shouted at her. October smiled and ignored her until she kicked the door open.

"You're paying for that I hope you know." October said turning on the stereo. A pillow slammed into her face as Jenna stood on her bed. October grabbed the pillow and glared at her friend before tossing the pillow, knocking Jenna off the bed.

~L~

October stood in front of a casket while Jenna stood next to her holding her hand. The tears no longer slid down her cheeks as the casket was lowered into the ground. Jenna squeezed October's hand and pulled away. A rough calloused hand replaced Jenna's. October looked up at the person to see it was Darren. He gave her a sad smile as he was in his dress blues.

"I'm sorry October. I know you two were close after your mother died. I'm sorry." He whispered as a lone tear fell from his eyes.

"It's not your fault Darren. I don't blame you for what happened. I just wish I could have seen him one last time." October's voice was low as she stared into the ground. She tossed the rose in her left hand onto the casket before turning to Darren. She checked the surrounding area only to find it empty. She flung herself into Darren's arms and cried as he held onto her. He rubbed a hand up and down her back while resting his chin on her forehead.

The rest of Jeremy's team emerged from behind the trees and approached the two. They gathered around in a circle with their arms around each other's shoulders. They bowed their heads in silence as the storm clouds disappeared. October looked around at the rest of them and gave them a weak smile before hugging each one of them.

"You all be careful. I don't want to lose you guys too. We will meet again someday. I promise." She said as tears welled up in her eyes.

October jolted up as she felt tears running down her cheeks. She ran a shaky hand through her hair when she heard Pepper calling her name. She looked over at Pepper and found her pointing at something behind her. October froze as she looked over her shoulder, nothing was there. She turned back to Pepper who had stopped pointing and was equally confused. Before October could swim to the shore something grabbed her legs and pulled her under. She took a deep breath as she waved her arms around frantically. Pepper shouted as October resurfaced.

"No get out of here! Get Steve and Tony!" October shouted before she was pulled back under. Pepper ran into beach house startling the men from an intense staring contest.

"October…she's in trouble. Something…in the water." Pepper said between breaths.

Steve jumped up from the table and was out the door before Tony could stand. He ran to the shore line searching the water for any sign of October.

"October!" he shouted with his hands cupped around his mouth. He looked around the water until he saw something. He dove into the water when he saw a black mass recede into the ocean. Steve saw October fighting something off her as the air escaped her lungs. She tried to swim to the surface when she was pulled further down. She looked over and saw Steve swimming quickly. She reached out her hands when Steve was a few feet in front of her. He grabbed her forearms and pulled her to his body before swimming to the surface.

October sputtered as they broke the surface. She held on to Steve as she coughed the water from her lungs. Steve effortlessly swam to the shoreline while holding October. He gently placed her on the unused towel as he grabbed Pepper's and draped it around her. Steve cupped her face causing her to jump.

"It's alright. It's just me, Steve." He said. October looked up at him as tears rolled down her cheeks. She whimpered and flung herself into Steve's chest wrapping her arms around him. He reciprocated the embrace and held her close as she trembled. Tony and Pepper stood off to the side both wore worried expressions for their friend. Tony wrapped his arms around Pepper and pulled her close as his brow furrowed in anger.

~L~

October was curled up on the couch leaning against Steve. He had an arm wrapped over her shoulders in a protective embrace. She took a sip of the steaming tea in her hand. Tony and Pepper sat at the table whispering quietly as they kept glancing over at the two.

"Tony we can't stay here, especially after what just happened!" Pepper whispered harshly.

"I think I know who did this to her. We will the whole week. I want you and Steve to take her into town tomorrow. This is what her father looks like and if you see anyone who looks like that get your asses back here." Tony whispered just as harshly.

Pepper glared at Tony for a few minutes before sighing and nodding. They both looked over at the two curled up on the couch and smiled sadly.

"She shouldn't have to go through this." Pepper said. Tony reached across the table and took her hand. He gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"We'll find him and take him down. I don't want anything else to happen to her."

October set the cup on the clear coffee table and rested her head on Steve's shoulder. He rested his head on hers and ran his hand through her hair. She closed her eyes and relished in the feel of Steve's hand running through her slightly wet hair.

"Do you know what pulled you under?" Steve asked quietly. October shook her head against his shoulder.

"I couldn't see what it was, but it didn't feel human. It did feel familiar though…almost like" She said trailing off. Steve's hand froze in her hair as he took in her words.

"Loki."

"Yeah like Loki." October confirmed. She lifted her head from Steve's shoulder and sat up straight. She wrung her hands together until Steve placed his hands over hers. She looked up into his blue eyes.

"There's no way it could really be Loki. He's back on Asgard doing time. I think Thor would have told us if he escaped."

"You're right but I just can't help feeling like it's him. The presence I felt was definitely his and it wasn't nice."

They heard a ringing coming from the kitchen followed by Tony's voice. They couldn't make out what was being said but the look on Tony's face was all they needed. Their fear was confirmed; Loki had escaped. October placed her head on Steve's chest as he pulled her into a hug. Tony slammed the phone onto the table and cursed.

"Why couldn't he just stay in Asgard?" Tony muttered. "We don't even know where to begin searching for him."

"Actually Tony…"October said gaining his attention. "He was the one who pulled me under the water. I couldn't see him, but I could feel him. I'd know that cold presence anywhere."

"It's settled then we're staying the whole week. If Loki makes another appearance then we will leave for Stark Tower. For the mean time Pepper stays close to me while October is glued to you. Don't let her out of your sight." Tony said. Steve nodded and held October tighter. She sighed into Steve's shirt and balled it in her fist. No matter where she went someone was after her and she didn't know why Loki wanted her. In the mean time she would enjoy what was left of her first vacation in a long time. If Loki so much as crosses her path she will not hesitate to give him a piece of her mind.

~L~

I was going to post this last night but the Nyquil I took knocked me out. Ha-ha Anyways I hope you all enjoyed! Peace!