Chapter 5: Montage
Now I know it may seemed a little far-fetched Maria simply stepping into your Aunt Robins shoes. That all what happened between that night in December and when I mentioned that we didn't speak for a long time after my final declaration of love was her faking it and your Aunt never experienced this was nuts.
But It was. And yet we now move forward to April 2012. Three days before Robin's fateful helicopter rescue. Robin had just been involved in an accident and the theft of a cube of immense power known as the Tesseract. Just after she had gotten out of the tunnel below the Shield base a lot was going through her mind.
"What the hell am I doing." She thought as she dug herself out of that jeep "I let that weird guy get away with both Barton and the cube, I know Fury's going to have me for this."
The decision was rolling around in her mind and just as she went to work digging for any and all survivors of the base collapse.
"Maria, you'd better not have wrecked things for me worse than I already have for you."
When Robin got a free moment in between pulling bodies from the rubble the phone was out she texted the magic word and within 2 minutes the reply came.
In New York Maria looked over all the stuff that happened in those 4 ½ months, the burning beekeeper, Drunk Train, even Barney and that stripper. As she packed up her belongings and got set to head to the extraction point one thought raced through her head.
"The way things are Robin better not have done worse."
Without saying a word Maria left the city. A Day and a half later the local dinner in Puente Antiguo, New Mexico after the events of the destroyer and Thor's defense. The tension between them was nonexistent as they warmly greeted each other.
45 Minutes after catching each other up to speed the real conversation began on the ramifications of what just happened. Maria was not that into the information.
"Barton's gone rogue?"
"No," Robin sarcastically said "He and Loki just decided to make their own buddy cop movie. Of course he's gone rogue."
"Robin, from what you told me and yes I was aware of the tesseract, as I studied this and know all about the good Capt. Steve Rogers as well. Loki has it, Barton, and Selvig?
"Yes and somehow I know this will get away from me. Maria these last 4 months have been awesome, I've learned more and accomplished more than I ever hoped, but I think I'm ready to go back to New York, and let the Real Lt. Hill take this."
"Okay then, we'll switch here and now I got your stuff here already to go."
Rather than carry on they exchanged bags and went into the bathroom and switched. Within 20 minutes they were switched and went back out onto the street. Maria looked over at Robin and her mind was working overtime.
"So, are we never gonna see each other again." Robin barely got out.
"Robin, you've known Fury for the past 4 months and on the day my life was pulled back from the brink he gave me the best piece of advice I've ever gotten."
"What was it?"
"America loves comebacks, you pull this off right you may just have yourself one. Now I've given you the best start for a second rebirth possible Far Away from Ted and Barney all you have to do is just live for yourself."
"Okay Hill I think I can do that. It's been a pleasure so long for now."
The two saluted each other and turned opposite directions Maria to the awaiting quinjet and Robin in a private car set to take her to Santa Fé. During that long ride Robin looked over Maria's detailed reporting of all that went down and how to reassert herself back into the lives of us. One thought remained on her mind as the day waned.
"I wonder if Maria knows what she's getting herself into."
Little did we know, the answer would come soon enough for her and all of us.