Date: 9/13/2039
Location: Shelter 095, New York

We have been here for a little over a month. Things have gotten better I suppose. We have adjusted to living with each other, and of course I have a boyfriend now which is very nice. It's also kinda funny because Apollo still gives him the death glare; I hope he gets over that someday.
Right now I'm in my room with my brother; we're organizing some of my files on what we know and what we need to know. The others are in the living room talking with their mothers on the video screen, they never want to see me. I'm the bad guy that separated them from their babies and didn't save their husbands. And since S.H.I.E.L.D only needs me when I'm in trouble, I just don't go in there. I mean, Fury has technically stripped my agent status, but I really don't care because my friends need me now more than ever. So he can suck it.
Besides, we are the world's last hope.
I notice my brother stopped what he was doing, listening to the mothers say how much they love their children, how much they miss them, and how proud they are. If it upset me (which it did) it must have crushed him.
I shoved my feelings down, "You ok?"
"Yeah…"
He always was more of a momma's boy.
"Wanna stop?" He nodded.
I put a hand on his shoulder, "I know they're proud of you."
"Yeah," he smiled, "you too."
I smiled back. Though I don't know what they would have thought about what I did…
I heard the video screen turn off, and Apollo walked out of my room. From my doorway I saw him walk over to Gracie. She hugged him and whispered something in his ear. I went to close my door when Ethan walked up.
"Gonna close the door on your own boyfriend? I'm hurt."
I rolled my eyes, and let him in.
"Want some help with all this?" he gestured to the papers spread all over my room.
"I guess…"
He put down some of the papers he had picked up and walked over to me. He lifted my chin up so I was looking at him. I was close to tears.
"Artemis, what's wrong?"
"I just can't take it anymore!" I yelled, turning away from him.
"What are you talking about?"
"My parents! They're going to miss everything!" I turned back to him, "Like my first boyfriend, our graduation, weddings, meeting their grandchildren…" I sat down on my bed, I was crying now.
He sat down next to me and put his arm around me. "I get it."
I stood up and looked at him, "No you don't!"
"Yes I do!" He yelled, standing up, "My dad is going to miss all those things too!"
"But at least you still have your mom…"
His eyes widened, as if the face that Apollo and I were the only ones who lost both parents just occurred to him.
I dropped to my knees, sobbing.
He dropped to his knees too, fresh tears running down his cheeks. He gathered me into his arms, just like my dad used to do.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I should have…"
I shook my head, "I should have told you."
We just sat there, crying for what was lost.

Date: 9/14/2039
Location: Shelter 095, New York

After the events of last night, Ethan slept in my room (much to my brother's dismay). But, in my defense, it was an accident. When I woke up he was sitting there, next to me. I was sitting up too. Laptop on my legs, I had been trying to contact Spiderman for an update, and I had fallen asleep.
I looked at the screen. 31 missed messages.
"What the heck?" I whispered to myself. I went to open them, careful not to wake my sleeping boyfriend who had his head on my shoulder.
3 messages from Peter Parker (Spiderman)
5 messages from Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic)
4 messages from Fly
3 messages from Sam Wilson (Falcon)
1 message from Susan Storm (Invisible Woman)
2 messages from Director Coulson
2 messages from Skye
1 message from Maria Hill
10 messages from Fury
"What happened?" I whispered.
I opened a message from Peter, since he was the one I had been trying to contact earlier.
"Dear Artemis,
Nothing has happened in the last 48 hours. Sorta eerie if you ask me."
Hm? I wondered, confused.
I opened the next one.
"Artemis, gas cloud over New York City. Evacuating all we can."
"Gas cloud?" I whispered, almost like… no, It couldn't be… I opened the third one.
"Holy S*** he just blew up New York!"
I gasped. and started opening the other messages. They were all similar. The ones from Coulson, Skye, Hill, Ms. Storm, and Fly were all asking if we were ok. Mr. Richards and Fury were all technical at first, then they started to ask about our status.
"Jarvis?" I asked, not caring weather I woke Ethan or not.
"Yes Miss. Barton?"
"How are our Shields?"
"100%"
"Did the explosion affect anything?"
"The Shelter has suffered no repercussions of the explosion."
"Explosion?" Ethan asked groggily, "Artemis?"
"Bastard blew up New York…"
"What?"
"Jarvis, wake everyone up and have them meet me in the living room now."
"Right away Miss. Barton."
I grabbed my cell phone and called Skye and Coulson, telling them to inform SHIELD that we were just fine. Then I called Mr. Richards who was with Spiderman, informing them of our safety and asking about the Winter Soldier, who they still had not seen.
Then I walked into the living room where my team was waiting for me.
"What's going on?" Apollo asked.
"Can't it wait?" Sarah asked with a yawn.
"Yeah, I'm tired" Bucky agreed.
"No it can't." I said, looking at my team. The people, children really, that I had all ready told that they lost their fathers, I who I was about to tell that they lost their home.
"Why not?" Grace whined.
"Yeah!" everyone but Ethan was arguing with me, getting up to leave.
"Because!" I yelled, "Loki blew up New York last night!"
Everyone stopped and stared at me.
"You heard me."
They sat back down.
"Jarvis said that we suffered no damage, but Ethan is running diagnostics right now."
"And what if something did happen." Brian asked.
"I'd get us out of here."
"How?" Jessie asked, "We're locked in remember?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I don't have a cancelation code."
"What!" Jenna yelled, "You've had that the whole time?"
"Yeah…"
"And you never used it?" She screamed.
"Why would I have needed to?"
"Oh I don't know, so we could have prevented a city from exploding!"
"And how was I supposed to know that would happen?"
"Or how about to get my brother an actual doctor?"
"Jenna." Ethan said sternly, "that's enough."
"Look, we're locked in for a reason."
"Please, enlighten me."
"It's my orders Jenna, I have no choice."
"Orders from who? You're not even a SHIELD agent anymore!"
"Jenna!" Ethan yelled.
"From Captain America, that's who!" I yelled.
I went into my room, locking my door behind me. I could hear Ethan yelling at Jenna. Telling her that I was doing what was best for them. I heard Sarah reminding her that Uncle Steve told her to trust me, that he said I knew what I was doing.
I was beginning to doubt my original plan.
Maybe Jenna was right,
Maybe we could have saved the city.
Maybe this wasn't best.
Maybe I was wrong.
I buried my head in my hands. Why was this so hard?
I wish Uncle Steve was here to take charge. I wish Uncle Tony was here to make light of the situation. I wish Uncle Bruce was here to use his brain to come up with a solution. I wish Uncle Thor was here to blow stuff up. I wish my parents were here to calm me down.
I wish someone, anyone, would tell me I was doing something right.
I heard pounding at my door.
"Artemis!" It was Ethan.
"Open the God d***** door!" and Apollo.
"Please!" and Grace.
I got up and walked over to the door, stepping back a little when I opened it, ensuring they wouldn't accidentally hit me.
I was met with a giant group hug.
"Jenna didn't mean it." Ethan said, "she's just upset."
"I know."
"I'm so sorry"
"Don't be." I tried to smile, but I don't think they bought it."
"You're doing the right thing." Apollo whispered.
"I don't know…"
"We do." Grace smiled.
"Besides," Ethan said, "You're doing it better than we ever would have."
"Yeah Artemis." my brother smiled at me too.
And I smiled back at them.
At least someone knew, that I was doing the best I could, to keep the promise I made to my parents.
That I would protect my brother and the team. That I would make sure we got out of this, that I wouldn't let them down.
I looked up, Ethan kissed my forehead, my brother stuck his tongue out, and Gracie laughed.
I knew I was doing the right thing. It doesn't matter what other people thought, not Fury, not my Aunts, not S.H.I.E.L.D or other heroes. My team was safe and happy, and that's all that matters.
I watched Apollo and Grace argue about the difference between me and Ethan kissing, and them kissing.
Ethan had his arm around me, "We're gonna be ok?" I whispered in his ear.
"Of course" he whispered back with a smile, and another kiss, this time on my lips.
"Artemis! Gross!" By brother whined.
Grace slapped him upside the head, "I think it's sweet."
We all laughed.
Ethan was right, we were gonna be just fine.