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Oh my God I really owe you all an apology. I'm so sorry this took so long to come out. After school go out I went to transfer my files to the home computer (a Mac to a PC) and none of the writing files were compatible. Which meant that all of my work was erased or barely saved on a notepad or sticky note on the computer. The PC also did not have a real writing program (my Mac had Libre Office) and it only had WordPad and Notebook (WHICH SUCK MAJOR LET ME TELL YOU). I have to do all of my editting on the FFN writing screen. Then my internet went out for a bit and I could only post through my iPod (ugh man let me tell you the levels of suck that was). Then life got in the way and summer homework for an AP class (I have a paper due the twenty fourth and I'm freaking out I mean who gives homework in the summer?!). Now I'm stuck writing on a crappy dinasour laptop that glitches every time I write something. I apologize in advance for any mistakes caused by the terrible formatting on WordPad or by this keyboard and mouse.
Also, do you think Bruce should have a love interest? Would you mind if it is an OC or would you like some character from the series I can't think of?
Anyway, I apologize. I hope you can all forgive me because I feel really terrible. I AM NOT QUITTING THIS STORY MMKAY.
ahfasdkfjdskj i missed saying this.
Please Enjoy.
*~PENCHANT~*
Manhattan, New York
Avengers Tower
April 13th
3:00 PM
"I thought it was called 'morning' sickness not '24/7 vomit fest'," Ashlyn moaned. Steve ran a reassuring hand over her back.
"Pepper had a double hitter," Tony remarked from his spot on the floor. He was sprawled out on a blanket that Logan was rolling around and crawling across. He grabbed his son and snuggled him into his face. As he rubbed cheeks with the baby he then continued on and said, "Leo here gave her the worst time sickness wise. Jay was a kicker."
"'A kicker' is an underestimation," Pepper commented as she plucked Logan from her husbands arms. "She played freaking soccer at all hours of the night with my inner organs. My pancreas will never be the same."
"You were only having thirty five percent of that pain," Tony responded as he sat up and reached for Logan. Pepper held him out of his grasp. "You weren't the one who had to feed you obscure food combinations at all hours of the night and power through your awful, over dramatic mood swings and-" he caught the sight of Pepper's dangerously raised eyebrow and quickly added, "forty? Cap! Help me out here."
"I think it's actually kind of exciting," Steve admitted bashfully.
"Oh you would say that you sap!" Tony exclaimed in disgust.
"Steve, s-sorry to barge in o-on your happy hour but you are not the one up chucking your guts," Ashlyn groaned. Steve only leaned down and pecked her nose.
"PDA! Cover Logan's eyes," Tony said. "He can't be exposed to these things until he's at least ten months old."
"What are you going to do then? Take him out clubbing? Meet all the ladies? Establish him as a playboy extraordinaire?"
"Sweetie, you are mistaken," Tony answered as he smiled at Pepper. "That's twelve months."
Pepper rolled her eyes and made to leave the room. "Not happening."
Tony shot up like a bullet and chased after her, banging his foot right on the side of the couch. He let out a stream of profanities and called for his wife.
"Pep! Dammit! Wait, we're not done talking about this!"
"Finished," Pepper called from the hallway.
"You can't just-Jesus-I'm in pain!" Tony hobbled behind the couch and toppled over.
"Sorry," Pepper shouted. "I was only having thirty-five percent of that pain."
The billionaire hopped after her. "Forty! You can take all one hundred!"
"God they are ridiculous," Ashlyn uttered.
"They are defiantly made for each other."
"The banter is just too entertaining," Ashlyn said. "It's like a sitcom."
"Like that show your father likes? Sigh-field?" Steve inquired.
"Seinfeld," Ashlyn corrected as she burst into laughter her nauseous temperament swiftly regretted. "Ugh. Do you want to play Mass Effect or Bioshock or something?"
"How about a two player game if you are feeling up to it?" Steve suggested.
The brunette thought for a moment. "Well, Clint did say you needed work on your Call of Duty."
Ashlyn moved to get up but Steve put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. He gave her a smile and got up instead, grabbing the game and the controllers of the counter. Once he had handed his wife one he kneeled down next to the XBox and inquired, "Uhhm, Ashlyn? How exactly do I work this again?"
"Press the silver button so the center turns green. That turns it on," Ashlyn instructed from the couch. Steve did as he was told and then looked to Ashlyn again.
"Now press the button that opens the tray. Put the disk inside, click that button again, and I'll take it from there."
Steve fumbled, his hands moving to click the synchronizing button at the front.
"Steve, it's the one with the triangle on it," Ashlyn corrected.
"Ah." Steve inserted the disc and closed the tray. He plopped back down next to Ashlyn. "Thanks, darlin'."
"No problem, sweetie." She leaned her head against his frame as she scrolled through the options and turned on the game.
The two of them played co-op, Ashlyn taking the lead as the first player. Steve was much more efficient choosing guns (the game was centered in World War Two) and coming up with strategy tactics for the both of them to follow. Ashlyn was better at the controls and picking off the toughest foes so her husband didn't have to continuously die as he struggled with the controller and the analog. Once they were finished with the co-op, they opted to play Nazi Zombies. It was Steve's favorite even if he stunk at it.
Eventually Clint ventured in.
"Hey you two. What are you-oooh. Ashlyn, you need to revive Steve before that zombie chews out his brains and he rises as one of them," Clint teased.
"I'm getting better," Steve replied.
"Loads better. He took down a machine gunner before I even saw him in the co-op," Ashlyn told the archer. She moved her player over to Steve's and healed him so he was up and slaughtering the undead again.
"You've got one behind you, Ash," Clint pointed out. "Ash, you've got-"
"Instakill!" Steve exclaimed happily when he got the power up.
Ashlyn spun her guy around and beheaded the zombie with her knife. "Clint, do you w-wanna play?"
"I'd love too. I bet I can last levels longer than Cap can." Ashlyn handed over the remote and he swung his legs over the back of the couch and sat down next to Ashlyn.
"Hi," Dr. Banner greeted as he entered the living room.
"Hiya, Bruce," Ashlyn welcomed. The other two men were two involved in their game to look up and gave a grunt in response.
"Playing Nazi Zombies?" Bruce questioned as he studied the screen.
Ashlyn nodded. "Yes. Are you and Tony working down in the lab?"
"Yeah we were but I came up here to get this ingredient for something we're...Clint, Steve's dying."
"C'mon, Cap, get your head in the game. You fought in this war," Clint ranted as he went to help Steve's crawling solider.
Bruce slid in next to Steve, cleaned his glasses, and focused on the TV.
Not long after that, a wild Norse God appeared.
"Hello my fellow companions," Thor announced as he walked into the living room.
Ashlyn smiled. "Hi, Thor."
The other men grunted.
"I was just passing through and I thought-" He paused and stared at the screen, cutting off in mid sentence. "What gruesome form of entertainment is that?"
"Nazi Zombies," the three men on the couch said in unison.
"Steven, I believe you are surrounded by your undead opponents." Thor sat down next to Captain with a bemused look.
"Goddamnit, Steve, don't tell me I have to save your sorry ass again," Clint shouted.
A few more levels passed before a certain snarky billionaire came across the group.
"What the hell, Banner? I thought you were going to get the-" He swallowed as his attention focused on the massacre.
"Tony, do you want to watch or-" Ashlyn was cut off by the playboy of the past.
"Me and Bruce are next I call dibs," Tony demanded as a grin broke out on his face. "Clint, Steve's about to-"
"What else is new?" Clint cut in with exasperation.
"Thor?" Jane asked as she entered the room. She was wearing a baggy sweater. "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Do you mind too terribly if it waits?" Thor inquired. "I was hoping I could come to understand what exactly is going on in this entertainment device."
Jane then joined them on the couch, her worried eyes becoming enthralled by the game. Ashlyn could feel anxiety rolling off of her in waves, her heartbeat flying at a nervous rate.
"Nazi Zombies? Tony, you didn't tell me you guys were playing," Pepper exclaimed. "I just got the twins down for a nap."
She sat on the floor by Tony's feet and watched the game.
Once Clint and Steve had both died, Tony and Bruce started a new round. They were ten levels in when Natasha walked into the room with Alina on her hip.
"Hey, Clint? Were you going to help me with the baby at all or were you just going to sit on your ass and...is that Nazi Zombies?" Natasha's voice had started off dangerously but ended with excitement.
"Yes," all the men on the couch said.
Natasha handed Clint his daughter before pushing in between Ashlyn and Clint. "You're forgiven."
Ashlyn got up off the couch feeling extremely claustrophobic being slammed in like a pack of sardines with the other Avengers.
"Steve, I'm going to get up and stretch my legs," Ashlyn said to her husband. The super solider inclined his head as she exited the living room and went to her own room. She opened up one of the windows and took a breath of fresh air. It quickly soothed her uneasiness and upset stomach so much she pulled up a chair and opened her latest book.
"The super solider is courting you, correct?"
Ashlyn nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Loki's voice beside her. She knew that he saw her flinch violently. Maybe he even took pleasure in it.
Ashlyn stood up and faced him. She felt so terrible for the fading bruise on his nose and under his eyes.
"I-I-I am h-his wife," Ashlyn answered shakily. Loki pursed his lips for a moment, his eyes narrowing when he noticed her eyes linger on his blackened eyes. His posture still remained tall, proud, and erect.
"I frighten you." It wasn't a question. It was a statement that spoke the whole and undeniable truth.
"I'm sorry," she uttered. "About your nose. And the shoes."
"Please. I do not need your pity," Loki snarled, his voice a dangerous hiss. He observed her for a moment before going on.
"Who are you? A new addition to these 'Avengers'?"
"You could say that."
Loki's green eyes met her blue ones. Ashlyn hated being stuck under his gaze. Her skin crawled and eye contact made her squirm. She could tell that with every fiber of his being he loathed their existence, that he believed that he was much better than them, then her, that she deserved to be trapped and himself free...
It was as if any second he would command for her to kneel before him.
Ashlyn swallowed hard, wishing she could melt away under Loki's calculating stare. She wished that she didn't feel so weak and vulnerable.
"Well?" Loki raised his eyebrows. "I have inhabited this tower along with the other mortals and Thor and I still do not know the reason you are a member of their league. Stark's wife is simply that. That Jane girl is Thor's mate. Playthings. But you're much more than that, aren't you? I know there is power lurking there underneath your flesh. Won't you inform me?"
Ashyln continued to stay silent. The lack of response clearly irritated Loki boundlessly for his lip curled.
"Look here you insolent child. I may be stuck with you on Midgard but I am still above you. I am not afraid of taking on a mortal, let alone a female. I demand you speak at once! Say something!"
It took a lot of nerve and sass fueled hormones, but Ashlyn couldn't help but inwardly laugh at her answer.
"Something."
Ashlyn made to move away from him but Loki snapped, "Don't you ignore me! Face me when I am speaking to you!"
His hand clenched down on her forearm, his muscles flaring as if he was attempting to hurt her. She only felt a slight hard pressure, enough to tell her he meant business. Ashlyn quivered. She continued to look Loki in the eye, her orbs flaring like dark blue flames. Loki held onto her for a few heartbeats longer, his own heart thumping erratically as if he was almost nervous of her. Loki released her arm and stalked out of the room. Once he was gone Ashlyn fought to regulate her breathing and steady her pounding pulse.
Ashlyn's hand draped protectively across her abdomen, her heart skipping a beat when she did so. She felt around her stomach which no longer felt flat but instead protruding. Her hands made her shirt fly up over her stomach as she studied herself in the mirror.
How in the name of God Almighty did she have already have a baby bump?
It was small, but big enough to be noticable when she turned in the mirror. She pulled her shirt taut over her stomach and gasped when it bulged through.
Ashlyn grabbed the glass of water off the dresser and took a long gulp as a familiar chilled tremor shot up her spine. The back of her head tingled as her body grew numb.
As her vision faded to black the last thing she heard was the loud shattering of her glass.
A pair of icy blue eyes stared back at her in the wake of the screaming in her ears, the ebony background bubbling and oozing like boiling tar dripping down a wall. Four numbers flashed in the darkness, rotating through the scene. A four, a twenty-seven, and a thirteen. There was an animal like snarl and growl followed by the flash of fangs and then it was gone.
She could see the ink slithering across the floor. It creeped up her ankles and spread up her shins. There was the loud thump repeating of a heart flinging itself about in a chest at a startling rate. It was hers.
She fought as petrifying terror set in, shaking her to the bone. Steve was approaching her, running at her at full force with every mean written in his wide eyes to help her escape. As he neared the muck that had traveled up to her neck like cold, suffocating fingers, she watched in horror as there was the flash of white fangs like a glistening blade and his throat was slashed open. Blood gurgled out of his throat and he foamed at the mouth. His hand extended toward her, the ghost of his last words on his lips. Just as he dropped the ink consumed her and the real torturous darkness began.
Loki, who had been steaming in his room after his encounter with the girl had heard the shatter of glass and the thump of a body dropping. Intrigued he had ventured out of his room and moved into hers only to find her sprawled across the floor as if she had collapsed, a pool of blood around her as the crimson gushed from her hand. Oddly, he had panicked.
"Thor?" Loki called, his voice strained with shock and worry he couldn't place. "Thor?!"
Thor strode swiftly down the hallway with a smile that was soon wiped off of his face when he spotted what Loki was so frightened of.
"Steven!" Thor bellowed as he pushed past Loki and rushed to Ashlyn's aid.
The other Avengers came pounding down the hallway, Stark's wife and Jane among them.
"What? Is it-Ashlyn!" Steve's worried tone broke off into a frantic holler at the sight of his wife and the blood. "Bruce!"
The doctor that held the green monster inside of him was bending over the girl, fingers fluttering as they checked for a pulse.
"Tony, get my medkit. Now," he commanded. Stark rushed off down the hall.
Thor grabbed Loki and hauled him into the hallway.
"Thor, what's happening?" Loki asked. He was trying to see what was going on between the legs and arms of the surrounding mortals.
"Why is there blood?" Barton's voice demanded. His eyes shot up to Loki and he started toward him.
"I found her in that state!" Loki snapped from his position behind Thor. "So I called!"
"Ashlyn must have been getting a drink and the glass broke in her hand," Banner's voice explained.
"Why can't I see, Thor?" Loki asked. "I want to-"
"This isn't your concern," Thor told him. "Stay in your room, Loki."
"Thor-"
"Stay in your room." Thor's voice was cold and firm. "Please wait there, brother."
At the mention of their past relation, Loki slammed his bedroom door in the god's face.
"Ashlyn? Ashlyn?" The noble Captain muttered as he couched next to his wife. His heart was accelerating faster and faster with each moment his wife didn't stir. He had initially heard the distant shattering of glass and had moved off the couch to check. When Loki called Thor he thought that it was only the new mortal that had caused the glass to break. But when Thor shouted his name he knew that it was Ashlyn and a trance was occurring, one more terrible than before.
"What about the baby?" Steve asked, the words flying off his lips in a panicked murmur.
"It should be fine, just a bit distressed. Not enough for a miscarriage." Bruce felt Ashlyn's forehead and frowned. "She's really clammy. Jane, grab that pen and paper off the dresser."
Jane did as she was told, slipping the pen into her hand. Just as she tried to give her the paper Ashlyn's hand moved on it's own and she wrote down the numbers four, twenty-seven, and thirteen on the side of her hand under her thumb.
"I guess she doesn't need the paper. She must not like being handed things," Tony tried to joke as he set the med kit down next to Bruce.
"She's gonna wake up any second now," Steve told them. "Once she get's the numbers down-"
At that moment Ashlyn's chest heaved with a gasp and her eyes shot open. Her hands flew up to feel her face, her finger tips pressing into the skin as if she was trying to pull something off of her. After a few labored breaths her eye caught Steve and she threw herself upward.
"Whoa." Clint and Bruce held her back and pushed her back to the ground. Bruce then went on. "You need to lay down for a moment."
"Steve," Ashlyn uttered. She winced as what Steve assumed to be pain shooting through her skull.
"I'm right here sweetie," Steve soothed as he brushed the hair back from her face. "Everything is going to be alright."
"Ashlyn, you've got glass in your hand when you shattered your cup," Bruce told her when she saw the blood.
"I...I thought I dropped it..." Ashlyn panted. Her unharmed hand reached up and brushed Steve's throat. "It was slit.."
"What was slit? My throat? It was just a bad trance, Ashlyn. I'm fine." Steve, even though he was assuring her, he was mostly assuring himself. It was a known fact that Ashlyn's visions mostly came true in one way or another. He pressed his lips to her temple.
"Thor, can I speak with you for a minute?" Jane asked Thor once again.
"I'm sorry my beautiful Jane, but the matter will have to remained paused for a moment or so until we know that Lady Ashlyn is fine," Thor responded.
"I'm fine, Thor. Really," Ashlyn tried to tell them as she flinched with pain in her head.
"Ashlyn, you're not," Steve murmured. His heart fell into his stomach. "You're sick."
"I've got all the glass out," Bruce announced. He then wrapped Ashlyn's hand in gauze, Steve and the doctor slowly helping Ashlyn sit up. Steve watched as her eyes focused on the numbers for a moment but then pointed down. Her forehead creased in concern.
"What did you see?" Pepper questioned softly.
Steve rubbed her back, the group staring at her. Ashlyn squirmed.
"I-I'm n-not really sure. It was a-a-almost like...like seeing Paragon. I saw the fangs and the eyes and...and I-I don't know."
But the Captain could tell there was more.
"I just n-need some space."
The others nodded and muttered in agreement, shuffling out the door behind them. Once they were gone Ashlyn locked her door and turned to her husband.
"In the vision...you died."
Steve let this sink in. And kissed her on the neck. "It was only a trance."
"There's something about the baby I need to tell you."
Steve's stomach twisted in a knot from the expression on her face. "What's wrong?"
"I-I'm not sure." Ashlyn hesitated, her quiet voice full of apprehension but she slowly drew her shirt upwards to reveal her stomach and turned sideways.
"Oh my God." Steve almost swore loudly at the sight. Ashlyn's stomach was protruding as if it was bloated, no longer flat but showing. Ashlyn had just found out she was pregnant. She couldn't be that far along...could she?
"How are you already...already showing?" he questioned slowly. "I thought-"
"I thought too!" Ashlyn nodded. "I mean, I was just late. I had been on my period before hand and then I missed it and then we found out I was expecting and..."
"Uhm...c-can I?" Steve gestured to her stomach. Ashlyn faced him again with a timid dip of her head.
Steve gently pressed his hands to her protruding abdomen, cupping his hands around and under the baby bump. An odd paternal emotion he had never experienced flickered through him as he cradled the spot where he knew his future child was resting.
"Wow..." he exhaled. "It's..."
"Surreal," Ashlyn finished as she tugged her shirt back down and Steve pulled her into a hug. He held her tight, lips pressed into her hair and Ashlyn tucked to his chest.
"We'll have to ask Bruce. He's the closest thing we've got to a doctor," Steve said.
"What if something's wrong?" Ashlyn whispered.
Steve's grip tightened around her. "There's nothing wrong. You're probably just...just showing early."
"Maybe."
They were quiet as they stood there embracing until Steve spoke again.
"Was it bad? Your trance?"
He felt her swallow and hesitate. "Yes. My head is still aching."
"It's gonna get better, okay?" the Captain assured. "We'll find a way to make it better."
They stepped apart and hand in hand they left their bedroom at the tower and entered the living room. The rest of the group was there waiting for them there, Loki apart from them by the window.
"Great! The band's all here," Tony said with a grin. Ashlyn and Steve sat down in open seats, Jane's fingers looping around Ashlyn's hand. The Spangled Avenger watched as the brunette mumbled something in her ear and Jane's eyes widened and she frantically hissed something in return.
"So," Tony exclaimed as he got to his feet and stood up before them. "I'm starting a vlog."
"A what?" Steve was the first to question the odd word.
"It's an online video blog. Like you video tape your day or something you want to talk about and then you put it online on YouTube for all to see," Clint explained.
"I don't think it's appropriate though," Natasha objected. "What if we've got stuff going on we don't necessarily want the whole world to see?"
"Like I'm going to video tape top secret stuff," Tony scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "That's a joke. Everyone know's who we are and what we look like. Heck just the a few months ago in the fall we all were strutting about on the red carpet! Ashlyn's identity is out, Pepper has obviously been known, and people already know Jane is with Point Break, so what's the point in hiding? This is what people have been craving. They want to see what goes on in our every day lives when we're not saving the world. They want to know about our kids or what things we like to do and eat or what's our favorite color. Do you understand even how popular it would be? People from all over the world want to see us. They adore us. We're Earth's mightiest heroes!"
"He does have a point," Bruce insisted.
"Banner! I knew you would come around to it. On every Friday or Wednesday or something we can have a question day where we answer the most asked and funniest questions. Don't you think that would be excellent?"
"It does sound kinda fun," Jane agreed. Ashlyn dipped her head. Thor immediately responded with Jane even though there was bemusement written across his face. Clint and Natasha finally nodded. Loki continued to stare out the window.
"Sir, you have a call from Director Fury on the line," JARVIS announced.
"Do we honestly-" Tony began to object when the TV clicked on and Fury's face appeared there.
"Hello," Fury greeted.
"Ahoy, Captain Fury," Tony snapped.
"We've got an issue."
"Why is it always bad news?" Tony groaned. "For once why can't we get a 'hey good job on saving the world' or a 'we're holding a celebratory feast in your honor' or maybe-"
"If we wanted to boost your ego any further, Stark, we certainly would have done it by now," Fury interrupted. "This is about an issue in Florida. There has been some chemicals spilled in the ocean by an unknown source off the coast there."
"So what? Have some people in special suits clean it up," Tony said, waving him away.
"Stark if you could shut your damn mouth for one goddamn second you would realize we've got a real problem here. It's not that easy. The whole area on the tip of the peninsula is on lock down. No one can get in or out. Some anonymous group has taken hold of the area. There's no power, the people are running out of food and water, and the authorities can't do anything about it. A whole lot of police men have been fuckin' slaughtered. We're trying to get a reading on the area but our attempts haven't been successful," Fury expounded. "People are getting poisoned and starting to drop like flies."
"When are we all heading out?" Steve questioned.
"Not 'we all', Captain. Only the Avengers who aren't on maternity leave."
Loki's head bolted up, his stare shooting to Ashlyn. Steve's heart fell into his stomach.
"Well the cat's out of the bag," Clint sighed.
"What? You thought you could keep it a secret from Loki?" Fury snorted. "Tell me how that would of gone when she was farther along in the pregnancy. Congratulations by the way, Mrs. Rogers."
"T-T-Thanks, Director." Ashlyn stammered.
Thor and Jane exchanged a look but didn't correct Fury.
"Captain Rogers, Stark, Natasha, Clint, Dr. Banner, and Thor are all called in for duty. We're sending a ride over to pick y'all up and take you to our base there in the city. From there you'll be flying in to the barrier and getting into the cities, leading a team of men and women with cargo and aid for the people trapped there in the peninsula."
"When?" Steve asked, his heart racing.
"Immediately. The car will be there in a few minutes," Fury said.
"No." Steve shook his head. Natasha, Clint, and Tony got to their feet along with the Captain. "I'm not leaving Ashlyn here with Loki without us."
Loki crossed his arms and looked back out the window.
"What about Alina?" Clint quizzed angrily.
"And Pepper? And the twins?" Tony blurted out.
"Pepper, Alina, Jane, and the twins are welcome to come aboard the Helicarrier while you're all away," Fury said. "Ashlyn as an Avenger, even if she's on maternity leave, has to stay in the tower with Loki. Someone with her strength and skill is the only one who would be able to detain him him he tried anything funny while y'all are away."
"I trust my brother enough not to try anything while we are not present," Thor stated. "There is also the mighty, absent bodied voice who is also here to assist Lady Ashlyn."
"I can't leave her here by herself." Steve's voice was becoming icy and his eyes wide with panic. "No way."
"I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter," Fury told him, his voice firm. "If it makes you feel better we can send some guards in."
Steve swallowed hard, his throat constricting as he turned away from the TV.
"The car is going to be arriving shortly. I would begin packing." With that, Fury was gone.
"I'm going to stay here with Ashlyn," Jane told Thor. "Pepper can take the twins and Alina to the Helicarrier."
"Are you sure about this?" Thor's eyebrows raised and came together. "This is a engaging task you are preparing to take on."
"I understand," Jane said. "Ashlyn and I need some bonding time anyway."
Steve faced Loki. "If you try anything fishy, any funny business, you are going to wish that you were never born."
"I already long for it constantly," Loki reassured him. "But I do understand the point you are trying to get across."
Steve stormed off to his bedroom, Ashlyn staring bashfully about until she quickly pursued him. In their room Steve was throwing stuff angrily about in a futile attempt to pack. His duffel bag was up on the bed and there were only a few wrinkled articles of clothing that had hastily been tossed in it. He heard the door shut and the lock click.
"Steve?"
He heard the faint voice but didn't look up. He was having trouble breathing, his heart beating unsteadily and his insides twisting about. He turned around after a moment of catching his breath to find Ashlyn with her back to him, his clothes in his hands as she folded them neatly and arranged them perfectly into his duffel bag. An odd feeling over came him as she did the same for his clothes he had chucked onto the floor in his moment of overwhelming vexation. Steve got to his feet, his eyes on her french braided hair that was trailing down her back, her red button up shirt he had gotten her for her last birthday, the sleeves rolled up to reveal her the bottom half of her arms, her skinny jeans, and her white ankle socks. Her shoulders were pushed back and moving about under the fabric as she folded his clothes with extreme care and laid them in his duffel bag.
Steve self consciously rubbed his wedding band as a rush of emotion over came him and strode over to Ashlyn, spinning her around and frantically pressing his lips upon hers.
Ashlyn tensed in surprise but welcomed the kiss nevertheless, her fingers wrapped up in his t-shirt. The kiss deepened as Steve's hand brushed across the revealed skin of her abdomen when she stretched up to kiss him, Ashlyn shivering as hand swept through her hair, and one hand wound around in her locks while the other rested on her waist. He pressed his hips on hers as he quickly found comfort in having his body on Ashlyn's, her hands tucking underneath his shirt and tracing the muscles straining against his skin. Steve's lips trailed down her jaw line and repeatedly fluttered against her skin as he pecked many kisses onto her neck. Ashlyn's knees buckled and her back arched.
"Steve," she said.
Steve's lips traveled down her collar and to her chest as he began to unbutton her shirt.
Ashlyn gasped. "S-Steve," she tried again.
Steve's hands finished unbuttoning her shirt and his mouth traveled down her flesh. His hands moved to her back where he tried to unclasp her bra.
"Steve!" Ashlyn's sharp voice snapped him out of his reverie. For the first time since she had entered their room he actually saw her and not just Ashlyn, a person he trusted and could vent to by using his lips, but his wife he loved, respected, and should not have been taking advantage of.
Steve's face flushed a deep red as his fingers moved off of her back and began buttoning her shirt back up, uttering countless apologies as he did so.
"Steve," Ashlyn spoke again. His eyes finally met hers.
"I'm sorry-" he started once again but she silenced him by a gentle kiss.
"It's okay," she promised him when she pulled away, Steve lowering his head as her forehead rested against his. His hands sat protectively on her stomach. "It's okay."
"I shouldn't have," he said. "It was wrong of me."
"We haven't had much alone time since we've been here." Ashlyn's breath was heaven on his skin. "When you get back we'll spend some time at our house. Just the two of us. No Avengers, no Loki, no JARVIS, just us."
"I don't want to leave you," Steve muttered, his voice small and meek with worry.
Ashlyn gave him a sad smile. "I know. But you've got a job to do and I've got a job to do. Everything is going to be fine."
Steve took her hand and lightly kissed her. "I love you so so so much."
"I love you too, Steve."
The clothes were packed and his gear was loaded up without any other distractions. The two of them met back out with the others, Alina and the twins in their carriers.
"You honestly don't mind looking after Alina too?" Natasha asked Pepper.
"It'll be fine. I won't eat or sleep, but they'll have fun," Pepper teased.
"Our ride is here," Bruce said as he spotted their car out the window.
The Avengers, Pepper, and the babies entered the elevator, Ashlyn and Jane waving to them as they disappeared. Steve's heart hurt when the doors closed and Ashlyn's beautiful, radiant, smiling face disappeared.
"Joy," Loki sighed once they were gone and the car had driven away way down below. "They're finally gone. Even better, Thor's gone."
"You really don't like him, do you?" Jane questioned. Loki ignored her.
"Here's the deal. You two do not bother me and I will not bother you. That sounds pleasant enough, don't you agree?" Loki tucked his hands together behind his back and stared at them both.
"Sounds fine," Ashlyn insisted, trying not to get herself worked up over the dark haired man. "I'm going to get something to eat, do you want anything Jane?"
"I'm good," Jane said as she plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV.
"How a-about you, Loki?" Ashlyn inquired.
"I do believe I require sustenance." Loki nodded. "I'll escort you to the kitchen, shall I?"
Ashlyn shuttered when his hand rested on the small of her back as she walked into the kitchen, the doors flopping about as they entered. Once alone in the separate room, Loki turned to Ashlyn.
"So that was the secret you were keeping from me," he uttered. "You're having the Captain's child."
Ashlyn didn't respond right away as she pulled out the peanut butter, the bread, and the jelly. As she reached for two plates and a knife, she finally replied, "Yes."
"I do not understand why you wouldn't want me to know. You shouldn't fear that I am going to hurt you or your offspring. Not only do I have no urge to, but I'm not even in the proper condition to do so. My question is, what skills do you possess to be the only one left here that can detain me?"
Ashlyn continued making the sandwiches, setting hers down on a plate and then moving onto Loki's.
Loki let out an annoyed hiss. "I would really enjoy it if you let me in on the little secret. I would stop bothering you if you did so."
"You have a sound enough mind," Ashlyn let out through gritted teeth, her enhanced muscles flaring as she put the bread away. She could feel Loki's calculating gaze on her as she moved. Once she returned to the island, Loki spoke.
"You're a super solider, aren't you? Like your mate."
Ashlyn let out a tiny laugh. "Bingo."
"Well remind me not to anger you so my face does not always remained blackened," Loki chuckled as he took a bite of his sandwich. "I have also decided to forgive you for throwing up on me, seeing as you couldn't help it in your state. I would still like the new pair of shoes I requested, though."
"Y-You certainly have your p-priorities in order." Ashlyn chomped down into her pbj, raised her eyebrows, and left Loki to join Jane on the couch.
"We're going to have much fun in their absence, you and I," Loki called. "Much fun."
~Illumini