Natasha Romanov woke in the arms of her love and smiled, leaning back against him.

James's breath tickled her ear and she tried to turn but his hold tightened, making her wince a bit. As if on cue his concerned voice whispered, "You alright? Did I hurt you?"

She sighed, turning in his arms and shaking her head. "No, lapochka. I'm fine. No need to treat me as if I were made of glass."

James stared her down, frowning. "You're pregnant, 'tasha. I am obligated to worry when we're on Fury Island with god knows who taking care of you."

She laughed, kissing him on the mouth and then down his neck, whispering, "Nicholas would not approve of your naming his island for him."

He laughed against her mouth and said, "Well it is, isn't it? Even every room in this house is Fury. If we're gonna stay here for a while we have to do away with all the black, it's depressing."

Natasha laughed, lifting her head to stare down at him. "I love you, James. So very much."

He took her hand and kissed it, his eyes dancing. "I certainly hope so, after all you've put me through."

She took his hand and bit it playfully, laughing when he rolled them over and began devouring her.

Their protective exile was sometimes hard to take, but on mornings like this she could stay here forever.

Nick Fury woke up alone and was suddenly struck by the memory of mornings were he hadn't been, a smiling face and whispered promises that he shattered with words that were still tearing him up inside to this very day.

He sighed, rolled over and pressed an intercom near his bedside. "Sharon?"

"Yes, Director Fury?"

"How are they?"

There was warmth in her voice when she spoke. "Both of them are doing fine, the boy is very healthy and shows signs of mutation according to the doctors but no word yet on what they believe it to be since most mutation forms during puberty and…"

He sighed. "No need to give me the entire story, Carter, just the highlights."

She laughed. "Apologies, sir. Father and son are doing just fine, though T'Challa has asked for several strange…"

"I approve of anything his asks for and they are for religious purposes let's leave it at that."

She paused. "Yes, sir. If that is all?"

"Any word on our refugees?"

"Both are doing well, Natasha is just entering her third month of pregnancy and the doctors say she is in perfect health."

He nodded to the ceiling. "Good. That's all Carter."

"Yes sir."

The silence that followed made him think all the more and when there was a knock at his door he called out, "Come in!" without thinking.

There was a long pause and then an amused voice said, "Now that is an image I did not imagine I would view again."

Nick shot up quickly, staring at T'Challa in embarrassment. "I didn't…"

The other man smiled and sat in a chair across from Nick's bed. "Obviously. May I sit, Nicholas?"

Nick nodded and tried to pull himself together, knowing if he moved now to get dressed it would make the other man believe he was uncomfortable.

Though he was, tremendously.

"Is there a reason you've broken into my bedroom?"

T'Challa looked him over and said, "Broken into? The guards outside the door treat me like the royalty I am and let me through, I assume I've been given full reign over the facility…with your approval."

Nick looked at him quietly for a minute before saying, "To some extent, yes. To others, no."

T'Challa looked around the room and said, "Hmm."

"Again, is there a reason…?"

The other man nodded. "Oh yes, an important one. I'm just working up to it."

Nick swallowed and when T'Challa's eyes were on him again the other man did not smile. "When I spoke with you over the phone some days ago you called me ashiki."

Nick paled, but didn't look away. "Yes."

"In case you've forgotten, the word means," T'Challa started to say but Nick cut him off.

"I know what it means, T'Challa. I speak fluent Swahili," Nick mumbled, looking away.

T'Challa stared him down and then whispered, "Why did you call me that, Nicholas, if I am not your Love?"

Nick looked around his room, taking in how bare it really was. He saw no signs of his time with T'Challa or anything but a uniform, clean quarters.

A soldier's quarters.

He looked at T'Challa again and said, "It was a momentary lapse, forgive me for upsetting you."

T'Challa reared back as if Nick had slapped him, standing and glaring at him in obvious hurt over Nick's words. "I see. I will take my leave of you, then."

When the other man was gone Nick stared down at himself, dressed in only underwear and shirtless, an obvious sign of his affection for T'Challa tenting the front of his briefs. The other man had simply not noticed because Nick had not wanted him to. He stood, stretching his back before walking to the shower.

He had a facility to run.

Luke Cage walked into the hospital wing with his shoulders hanging and he sat at Thor's bedside, taking the other man's hand and bringing it to his lips.

It was colder than it should be.

He looked over at the doctor that was reading Thor's vital signs and said, "Why is he so cold?"

The other man sighed. "We're unsure, sir. His body seems to be freezing now, it's a strange…"

Luke grabbed the doctor's collar and whispered icily, "I don't care how fucking strange, it is. Figure it the FUCK out!"

He pushed the other man and watched the frightened doctor practically run away. Luke pressed his fingers into his temples and rubbed hard, closing his eyes.

Suddenly there was warmth in his head and he sighed. "That's nice."

{Thank you, it is a technique I use quite often.}

Luke nearly fell over, scrambling to stare around the room. The voice he'd just heard had come from inside his head. He looked at the doctors around him and then nearly screamed when he saw a man hovering over Thor's bed, looking at him curiously.

"Hello, Mister Cage," the dark haired man said.

Luke didn't let go of Thor. "Who…how?"

The man smiled, holding out his hand. "My name is Doctor Stephen Strange. Nicholas Fury contacted me to come view the patient. I know your name because I have been inside Thor's mind and you are quite present there," he smiled knowingly.

Luke blushed and looked at Thor. "Oh. Well…he could have told me."

"Nicholas and I are very old friends, we do not speak as often in person as we should it is a lot of astral projection and telepathy I'm afraid," Stephen said, never letting his eyes leave Thor.

His eyes were dark blue and seemed to be scanning the God. Luke swallowed and said, "Is he…?"

Doctor Strange shook his head. "I do not…it is an effect of the meld between the two powers, I think…if you'd please," he held out his hand and Luke stared at it.

Stephen smiled. "Take it, please."

Luke did reluctantly and then suddenly gasped as he what felt like lightning went through him and then just as quickly it was over.

He felt like his body was on fire and nearly left to take a cold shower when he heard a whispered, "Lucas?"

Luke stared down at Thor in shock, squeezing the other man's hand and saying hurriedly, "Yeah, Gol…Thor, it's me."

Thor coughed, trying to sit up and Doctor Strange pushed him back down. "Do not move yet, Thor. Your body is not yet ready."

Thor stared at the man, smiling. "You were in my dream."

Stephen smiled, looking him over and moving his hands. "Yes, I was."

"Stephen," Thor said, his voice rapt with awe that made Luke frown with jealousy.

The doctor laughed a bit. "Yes, that is my name. How are you feeling, Thor?"

Thor let out a breath and winced, holding his chest. "My chest…there is an ache. It," he looked down at his and Luke's intertwined fingers and then to Luke's face, "…is not welcome."

Luke let go of his hand almost instantly and Thor looked at the doctor again while Luke felt like he'd just been kicked.

Stephen smiled and walked over to Thor, looking into his eyes and whispering, "Very good, good. I think you will be okay."

Thor smiled at him. "Thank you for healing me, sir."

The doctor looked at Luke and said, "I couldn't have done it without Mister Cage, I channeled his mutation and stole the lightning out from you. Worked better than I assumed it would."

Luke stared at him in shock. "You didn't know it would work?"

Doctor Strange laughed. "I was very sure it would, but not completely no."

Luke wanted to punch the guy in the face and Stephen seemed to sense it, staying at Thor's side.

Thor stared at Luke, and then said to the doctor, "Thank you still. I am very grateful, sir."

Stephen took Thor's hand and brought it to his lips. "You're quite welcome," he looked at Luke and winked before saying, "Farewell," and suddenly he was gone just as quickly as he'd come.

Leaving Thor and Luke alone.

The other doctors all suddenly were around, checking the god out though Luke still didn't move. He swallowed and said, "I'm glad you're alright."

Thor said quietly, "Thank you."

Luke stared at his hand and then at Thor. "Look, Robin Hood said something earlier that…"

Thor glared at him. "How is Miss Hill?"

Luke blanched and looked down. "It wasn't…she's," he looked up at Thor and saw how angry he really was, "It was just a thing."

Thor's anger only seemed to get worse. "Like we were, I assume," the god said coldly, suddenly turning away and saying to Luke and the doctors, "I am tired. Leave me be."

Luke stared at him feeling horrible but leaving anyway.

He practically ran into Clint on his way out and glared at the man as he passed, but didn't say a word.

Clint came in and the doctors tried to shoo him away. "Thor is very tired, Mister Barton he," one of the doctors began but Thor's voice stopped them.

"Clinton may see me, let him by."

Clint smiled and walked to his friend, sitting at his bedside. "You're okay. Everyone was worried."

Thor didn't smile and Clint frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Lucas was here when I woke," Thor said quietly.

"And that's bad? I thought…" Clint started, but Thor cut him off.

"Lucas and I…it is not meant to be, my friend," Thor whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Clint grabbed Thor's hand and squeezed. "No, Thor you…I told him you were in love with him! He knows! It's gonna be okay now!"

Thor yanked his hand back and stared at Clint in shock. "Nay, you did not. Tell me that is not true."

Clint shook his head. "Thor I was just trying to…"

Thor growled at him, "It is NOT your place, Clinton! My feelings are MY OWN. LEAVE!"

Clint shook his head again and Thor's eyes began to crackle, lighting behind them.

"Leave me, Clinton. I…cannot contain myself."

Clint practically ran out of the room, leaving Thor on his own.

He closed his eyes, breathing in and out repeatedly for several minutes before suddenly opening them and feeling nearly right again.

His thoughts were on overdrive, going over what had just happened.

Lucas knew of his feelings.

Yet he seemed to want to speak with him. There was a chance that Lucas may have been trying to tell him of his own feelings?

Thor pushed the thought away. "No, it cannot be."

He would not indulge himself again with the thought only to be humiliated when it was not true.

The thunder god lay back in his hospital bed and closed his eyes.

Unaware that there were other eyes on him and a wicked unseen smile.

Sharon Carter had been working with SHIELD for the past five years. She enjoyed her job, more than most people in her line of work probably did, and was quite good at it according to her superiors.

The first time she saw Steve Rogers she stopped dead in her tracks, mesmerized.

The man was perfect.

She had seen pictures from her grandmother's scrap books, had heard stories practically her entire life, but seeing the man in person was a sight to behold.

It had been nearly two years since that day and she had never spoken a word to him, purposely avoiding him at every turn. The reason, she had no idea, but still she stayed out of his eye range and almost hid when she was required at Avengers briefings.

When he had gotten involved with Tony Stark she started to feel differently. Sharon still hid but not nearly as well and after their explosive breakup she began to watch Steve more and more.

Now she sat and watched him as he kissed his lover, and love in his eyes shone so brightly that she had to swallow the jealousy that rose unbidden in her chest.

Her grandmother had always told her that Steve Rogers was the great love of her life, that she had never even loved her own husband more, and when she'd died Peggy Carter had gazed at the photo by her bedside and whispered, "I'm coming, Captain."

Sharon swallowed, suddenly stopping dead in her tracks and just staring even as Steve and Tony came out from their quarters holding hands and laughing, falling to the floor as Steve ran into her.

He stared at her in shock and whispered, "Peggy?"

Sharon smiled and he gave her his hand. "No, I…my name is Sharon Carter. It's…nice to meet you Mister Rogers."

He smiled warmly and she was so grateful that she looked so much like her grandmother that she blushed when he said, "Steve. Call me Steve."

They stared at each other for what felt like eons when Tony Stark coughed.

Steve shook himself and let go of her hand, grabbing Tony's and saying, "This is Tony Stark, he…"

Tony stared at her, his eyes scanning Sharon up and down taking in every bit of information he could in the seconds before he said, "Is always happy to meet a beautiful woman," and took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

She smiled, more out of habit than attraction.

Tony Stark was a very good looking man in his own right but she preferred the clean, cut type.

"Hello Mister Stark, it's nice to meet you as well."

Steve stared at her, lost in memory when he said, "You look so much like her, it's…"

"Uncanny," she finished, smiling, "I've been told many times."

Steve shook his head. "I was going to say unsettling. I…it's been a long time since I…I've never…I didn't want to upset her when I…is she…?"

Sharon shook her head. "I'm sorry, she passed before you were recovered. She was…her life was happy. She spoke of you often."

He smiled, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Thank you, that's…gratifying."

Tony suddenly said, "Well, why don't you come to dinner with us? I was just gonna take Mister nineteen forty here to a trendy restaurant, show him how they live in the present. You can come with, tell us more about," he looked at her pointedly and finished, "Your grandmother."

Steve looked at Tony in surprise and Sharon almost took him up on his offer, cruelly made as it may be, but instead she just shook her head and said, "Thank you for the offer but I must get to the director, he…there are important things to get done. Never ends, you know?"

Both men smiled at her, Steve's smile quite fond and Tony's fake. Steve said, "Well, it was nice to meet you Sharon. Come, Tony," squeezing his lover's hand and pulling him away.

Tony was pulled past her quickly and he winked at her, mouthing, "Nice try," and with that they were gone.

Sharon Carter stared after them and smiled, shaking her head.

It was worth a shot.

Luke Cage took a deep breath and knocked on the door, closing his eyes before exhaling and quickly said, "I'm leaving," as the door opened.

Nick Fury blinked at him.

"I see."

He held out his hand for Nick to shake and the other man paused before complying and said, "I expected you to stay," Nick said truthfully as their hands parted.

Luke tried to smile; the pain in his chest was getting worse by the minute when he said, "Yeah, I did too. See ya around, Fury."

He turned and left without another word, walking down the long hall and hoping he didn't run into anyone who'd want to stop him though half wishing he did.

The exit was looming in front of him when the person he least expected to run into blocked his path. Luke smiled, amused, and the other man looked quite pleased with himself. "You're leaving," Bruce Banner said, the smile not leaving his face.

Luke smiled. "Yeah Doctor Monster, I'm leavin'. After all shit I put this place through I think I'm done."

Bruce held out his hand and Luke stared, surprised but shook it anyway.

"Thank you," Bruce said sincerely.

Luke laughed. "For what?"

Bruce's face reddened and his smile deepened. "You…you're partially the reason for Clint and I being so happy now. So thank you."

Luke shrugged. "I got you mad enough to fuck 'im, I'm guessing, so you're welcome?"

Bruce looked away, smiling and said, "Goodbye Luke," and he went the opposite way, Luke staring after him before opening the door and stepping outside.

Once he'd slung his bag over his shoulder and closed the door he realized he didn't have a car.

Thor had brought him here.

Luke turned to go back inside when he felt a vibration in his pocket, pulling out a phone he didn't own and bringing it to his ear. "Yeah?"

"There's a bike for you by the street. You're welcome," Nick said, hanging up.

Luke laughed and headed towards the bike when a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Lucas."

He swallowed, closing his eyes.

"You should still be in bed, you're…"

"You're leaving."

Luke faked a smile, turning to look at Thor. "Had to go sometime Goldy, didn't I?"

Thor flinched a bit at the nickname and Luke didn't care. The man didn't want anything to do with him anymore and Luke would call him whatever the fuck he wanted to.

Thor nodded. "It seems to be that way, yes. I…goodbye," he held out his hand and Luke took it quickly shaking the other man's hand before letting go.

Luke grinned. "See ya around," he whispered and then nearly ran to the bike, jumping on and not looking up as he took off.

Thor stood there, pushing his feet down into the pavement till he could feel ache in them to keep from flying off.

He saw lightning across his eyes and wanted to yell but bit his tongue, turning and going back inside.

Tony had quite a few drinks, too many to count, before he ruined their date.

They had been having a good time at the restaurant, Hol, feeding off each other's plates and genuinely enjoying each other's company until Steve brought up their encounter just a half hour before.

"I'm very surprised I just saw Sharon for the first time today. Don't you find it odd?" he asked Tony, sipping on coffee.

Tony took his martini and downed it in one sip, trying not to glare. "Yeah, weird."

He saw a smile cross Steve's mouth that he had never seen before and knew it was one that Peggy Carter had probably seen many times when she was alive. "She…when I saw her…she just looks so much like her I…it's quite…unnerving."

Tony signaled to the waiter for another drink and then said, "It's not her, Steve. No matter what she looks like."

Steve frowned. "Obviously. I'm not an idiot, Tony."

Tony said icily, "Then why are you still talking about her?"

Steve blushed and Tony's drink came, which he again downed quickly and made a gesture to indicate for them to keep coming as the waiter left. "I…I am, aren't I? I apolo…don't you think you're overdoing it?" Steve asked, his frown deepening.

Tony grinned. "I'm going to need gallons of booze for this conversation."

The waiter brought another drink and Tony went to grab the stem but a strong hand grabbed it first, holding Tony's down. "Tony, I'm not…it's not…"

Tony pushed him off and swallowed the drink down before whispering, "Then what is it, then? You were practically fucking her with your eyes, Steve."

Steve reeled back as if Tony had slapped him. "Tony, I didn't…I…it isn't that way. I…there is a lot of past for me and just a glimpse sometimes I…forget myself."

Tony laughed, his voice choked, "Like you wanted to with Bucky?"

Steve stood, his chair crashing to the floor. "Excuse me," he said politely, practically running out of the restaurant.

Tony stood, took out his wallet and threw a couple hundreds down before trying to run after him but falling on his first attempt, pushing people who tried to help him up.

By the time he got outside Steve was gone, and he sat on the curb with his head in his hands.

A/N: Yes, I'm aware that Sharon Carter is not the grand daughter of Peggy Carter but it worked better for me in this story that she was.