Hey ya'll! Here it is, the chapter you've been waiting for! I'm not going to write some long memo, I want you to just enjoy the story!
Disclaimer: Minnie's life is mine. Who she shares her life with does not belong to me... Marvel, do you want her? I'd be happy to sell her to you if you'd just put her in the next Avengers movie! ;D
The next day I went with Bruce to the tower and let Dallas take the girls to see Pepper while Bruce took me to lab 12 to take my blood. Betty was there, smiling, though I could see she wasn't enthused about me being there. Bruce slipped the needle into my arm and started to take a vial of blood. "What are you going to do with the girls today?" he asked.
"Well I figured I'd take them to the Central Park Zoo." I told him and he smiled.
"Anything else?"
"Depending on how they're feeling, we may go shopping." I admitted and he smiled. "What are you going to do today?" I asked and he leaned in, kissing me, before he pulled back.
"Same thing I do every day."
"Try to take over the world." Tony muttered and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. "She had this inside her shoulder?"
"Like some sort of fucked up T-1000." I nodded and he made a face before wiping the chip down with an alcohol wipe. He put it into a chip reader and the information came up on the screen.
"Hello missing variables." he said with a smirk. Bruce switched the vials, and looked over at what Tony was doing. He moved the image from the screen into the air in front of him and turned it slightly, looking at the equations and the notes from every angle.
"Where did they come up with this?" Betty asked softly and Bruce looked at it.
"I recognize that equation." he said softly and Betty and Tony looked at him. He removed the needle from my arm and taped a cotton ball down over where he took the blood. "Not the particular equation of course, but a variation of it." he said as he walked over and moved the equation right in front of him. He started to remove things, letters and symbols I couldn't begin to understand before he turned it back to Tony who grinned.
"Of course!" he said and looked at me. "Kiddo you'll be back to normal in no time."
"You can cure it?" I asked and Bruce looked at me.
"We think we can." he said. "It wouldn't be so much of a cure as it would be reversing the effects on what it is Madame Hydra gave you." I explained.
"So this wouldn't work on a born mutant?" I asked and he shook his head.
"No, why were you planning on changing Amanda?" he asked and I scoffed lightly.
"I had someone else in mind." I said and Bruce shook his head.
"Well until scientists can find a cure for them, I'm afraid this one won't work." he said, before he quickly kissed me.
"Yeah, we won't have to worry about you knocking over the building every time you do that huh big guy?" Tony joked and Bruce just smiled.
"Good bye Tony." I said to him and he smiled.
"See ya kiddo. Take Happy, have him drive you, he could use the fresh air."
"Alright." I nodded and he waved as he turned back to the equations. "I'll see you later." I said to Bruce who smiled and nodded.
As the next week went by I saw very little of Tony, Bruce and Betty. Even Erik Selvig had gone into Lab 12 and hardly came out. Twelve days after the Chloe incident- as we were calling it- I was giving Kayla a bath.
"Look up sweetheart," I said as I filled a cup with water. She looked up and closed her eyes as I poured the water over her head, some of it getting in her eyes, but she just wiped it away and smiled at me.
"Mommy, can I cut my hair?" she asked and I looked at her hair. It went down just past her shoulders and was long and pretty and curly.
"Why do you want to cut it pumpkin?" I asked.
"It hurts when you pull it."
"You know I don't mean to pull it, I'm just brushing it." I told her and she sighed. "How short?"
"Like Auntie Natasha's." she said and I thought for a minute before I nodded.
"Alright baby, I'll make an appointment with Juan, okay?" I asked and she grinned widely.
"He made your hair look pretty." she said and I smiled.
"Mommy could use with getting it touched up too." I replied and she giggled.
"Yeah." she agreed and I laughed.
"You're not supposed to agree with me you little munchkin." I said and she laughed before the door opened.
"Hey." Bruce said as he walked in.
"Hey baby." I said looking up at him.
"Daddy, I'm gonna get my hair done!" Kayla announced happily and he looked at me.
"It'll be easier to brush in the mornings." I said and he nodded.
"Yeah, the uh, screaming can make someone a little crazy." he agreed and I nodded.
"It's gonna look like Auntie Natasha's!" she said just as happy. "And then I'm gonna learn how to do a cartwheel."
"Why a cartwheel?"
"Because Amanda knows how to do them and she used to do them when we were in Canada." she said as she washed her Barbie dolls hair with a bar of soap.
"You're all done." I said as Bruce handed me her favorite hooded towel that looked like a shark. She stood up and Bruce picked her up out of the bathtub and I put the hood part on her head and wrapped her up, before letting her run down the hall to her room.
"Nom nom nom!" she shouted as she ran down the hall.
"She'll make a good shark someday." I said jokingly and Bruce laughed as he helped me up. "How are you?" I asked, kissing his chin gently.
"We did it." he said and I looked at him blankly. "We're done honey, we found the cure." he told me and I felt my knees give out. He caught me quickly and sat me down on the edge of the bathtub before he sat on the closed lid of the toilet.
"Are you sure?" I asked and he nodded.
"I'm not going to go into the science of it, but yeah, all of the tests we've done on your blood, it reverses the effects of Rogue's power." he said as I stared at the floor of the bathroom. "We can do it." he said and I looked at him.
"What if it doesn't work?" I asked. "I know you're going to have to knock me out, like last time, but what if when I wake up, and I haven't changed, what if I'm the same as I am now."
"Then we keep trying." he said as he took my hand. I looked at his hands nervously, I hadn't worn my gloves to give Kayla a bath, but he held my hand tight between his. "Do you still trust me?" he asked and I smiled lightly.
"I never stopped."
"Then, we'll try tomorrow?" he asked and I nodded. He smiled and let go of my hand, before letting out a sigh and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to love it when I can touch you without the other guy throwing a tantrum." he said and I laughed lightly, before wiping the tear that fell down my face. "Hey," he gently cupped my face. "Everything will be fine." he smiled and I smiled before I leaned forward and kissed him. I pulled away after a quick moment and I nodded.
"Tomorrow it is." I said with a smile.
The next morning I made the girls breakfast, Dallas and Felipe came over for breakfast as well, and as I served the breakfast I noticed Felipe eyeing the bacon before looking at me.
"I forgot the Orange juice." I said as I stood up. "Be right back."
"I'll help." Felipe jumped up and Dallas barely looked up from where he was telling Bruce and the girls a funny story about my interning days. "Bacon darling?" he asked. "You are upset."
"I'm not upset, I'm nervous, there's a difference." I said as I pulled a bottle of orange juice from the fridge. "Will you grab me the pitcher above the microwave?" I asked and he opened the cabinet and pulled down the pitcher
"Dallas and I are going to take the girls for the time you are asleep so your husband can monitor your progress, Kayla will be put into preschool for the days, and Dallas will bring Amanda to work with him. I'd take her with me, but I'm going to Brazil in a few days and I don't think she needs to be around the bitchy women who only speak Portuguese and who will hate her for how young and skinny she is." he explained. I laughed as I poured the orange juice into the pitcher and looked at him.
"God Dallas is lucky to have you." I said with a grin.
"And you are lucky to have your husband." he said before hugging me. "Do not fret." I sighed into the hug before I nodded. He let go of me and I smiled before we both went back to the table. After breakfast and sending the girls upstairs to Felipe and Dallas' Dallas paused before leaving to give me a long hug.
"When you're all better, we're going out like we used to."
"Like we used to?" I asked.
"So we won't pick anyone up, but we're going out, and we're getting drunk and we're having fun." he said and I laughed.
"Whatever you say." I said with a laugh before he kissed my cheek quickly and then went upstairs with his boyfriend and my children.
"Here, let me help." Bruce said as I cleared the table. "Have you called your mother?"
"No." I said after a pause. I had decided the night before that I would call my mother today before going to the SHIELD hospital.
"You should go do that." he reminded me.
"Speaking of mothers, I was thinking-"
"About Amanda, I know." he cut me off and I looked at him curiously. "Jarvis told me." he said. "Go call your mom."
"But it just makes it too real." I said and he nodded.
"I understand. Now go call her." he told me and I sighed darkly before putting down the plates and taking the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey mom," I said into the phone, biting my lip.
"Tabby?"
"Uh, other irresponsible daughter." I said with a laugh.
"Sammy, honey, how are you?" she asked and I smiled.
"Oh so Abby isn't irresponsible at all?" I asked and she laughed.
"Oh please honey, Abby's so uptight Irresponsible is a dirty word in her house." she informed me.
"And yet her and Rik get along so well, and if he were a mutant he would be Captain Irresponsible."
"Well with his perpetual mohawk, we're not too sure he isn't a mutant." she joked and I laughed. "So what's up sweetie?"
"Nothing, nothing, I just thought I'd call and say hi." I replied.
"Well you're lucky, your dad is running late today." she said.
"I don't want to make him even more late." I said even though I totally did.
"Hey Sparky!" he said into the phone and I smiled.
"Hey Dad. What's got the impeccable inner clock of Nate Strong running late?" I asked.
"I was up late with the horses last night." he replied and I bit my lip.
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, everything is fine, Sonny's horse Isis gave birth last night." he said and I laughed lightly.
"Wow, that's amazing." I said with a grin. "What is it?"
"It's a boy." he replied.
"What'd you name him?"
"Not sure yet. Got any ideas?" he asked and I thought for a moment.
"How about Apollo?" I asked.
"The Greek god of Healing?" he asked and I stayed silent. "Is there something you want to tell us?" he asked.
"Why don't you ask me in a few days?" I replied.
"Whatever you say Sparky," he said and I smiled. "Just remember, we love you, no matter what. And if SHIELD has something to do with this-"
"Dad, don't worry, okay? I'll call you in a few days, I promise."
"Okay." he said and I smiled. "I'm not gonna question you. Just remember, we're here." he replied. "Now I gotta go, Apollo's got a date with the vet." he explained and I smiled.
"Okay Daddy." I said. "I love you."
"I love you too Sparky." he replied before handing the phone to my mom. We talked for a few more minutes and then hung up.
"You ready?" Bruce asked as I thought about the conversation.
"Yeah." I nodded. I stood up and he held my jacket out for me. I slipped my arms into it and turned to kiss his cheek gently. He smiled as he took my glove clad hand for what was hopefully the last time, and gave it a light squeeze.
"Director Banner?" one of the nurses at the medical wing of the SHIELD headquarters asked and I looked at her. "Are you ready ma'am?" she asked and I nodded. I had changed into a hospital gown that rather than tying in the back wrapped all the way around, and died on the side, almost like a wrap dress, but it was still pretty ugly. "Um, come with me then please." she said and gestured to the wheelchair she had brought.
"Is the wheelchair necessary?" I asked.
"Its policy." she shrugged and I sighed before nodding.
"Alright, fine." I said as I sat in the wheelchair. She started to push me down the hall and paused momentarily when I held up my hand seeing Natasha, Clint, Thor, Tony, Peter and Steve there. "Give us a sec Holly." I said to the nurse who nodded and I stood up. "Nothing about what I'm wearing or I swear to god any one of you could have their next mission in the most uncomfortable place I can think of."
"You mean aside from inside that dress?" Tony asked and I punched him on the arm, making him wince. "Nice swing kiddo." he said with a smile. "But is there really no love for the guy who helped make this stress fest you're going through possible?" he asked and I thought for a moment before punching him again. "Fair enough." he said and I smiled before hugging him. "Ah, there it is." he said and I laughed. I let go of him and he smiled before he ruffled my hair.
"God I hate it when you do that." I muttered and he smiled before ruffling my hair hardly with both hands. I shot him a look before trying to flatten my hair, and looking at Thor who instantly pulled me into a bone crushing hug. "Oh god Thor." I groaned before he let go of me. I stumbled back slightly and smiled at him.
"There are no doubts in my mind this will be a successful endeavor." he said to me and I nodded.
"Thanks Thor." I smiled.
"Min," Clint said and I looked at him. "The girls are with Dallas and Felipe right?" he asked and I nodded. "I'll keep an eye on the building." he promised and I hugged him.
"See you in a few days huh?" I asked Natasha who nodded.
"Sounds like a plan." she said.
"Good, because I have an idea for our first mission when I wake up." I told her and she smiled.
"It's been fun hanging out with you." Peter said with a grin and I groaned.
"That was so bad." I said and he smiled innocently.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'll uh, swing by when you wake up."
"Oh god, please stop." I laughed and he grinned before holding out his fist. I shook my head with a laugh and bumped my fist against his.
"Minnie, I'm sorry about what I said." Steve said to me and I smiled up at him.
"It's okay, we were all emotional." I replied. "I probably shouldn't have yelled at you the way I did either. So I'm sorry as well." I said before I gave him a quick hug. "Well," I said clapping my hands together, even though they were still gloved. "I'll see you on the other side." I smiled and Holly walked back over to me. I sat down in the wheelchair and she wheeled me to the room I'd be in for the next few days.
"Minnie," Dr. Payne was saying to me. "We're putting you in a medically induced coma so while the drug reverses the effects of what changed you, you won't be in pain. Do you have any questions?"
"Is it weird all I can concentrate on is the fact that your name is Payne, and you're a doctor?"
"Frankly, I'd be more concerned if you weren't concentrating on that." he replied and I smiled.
"Then we're good." I said with a grin. He smiled and looked at Bruce who held the needle.
"This is what's going to reverse the effects." Bruce informed me. "We have to do it like last time, you'll be in pain for a moment, but then we'll introduce the drugs to your system, okay?" Bruce asked and I nodded.
"Bring it on." I said and he smiled as Dr. Payne hooked an IV into my left arm.
Bruce stood on my right side, and carefully slipped the needle into my arm and injected me with the serum. He pulled the needle from my arm and sat down on the side of the bed. I looked at him and smiled lightly before the pain started creeping through my arm, down my arm and into my fingers, and then through my entire body.
I felt my grip on Bruce's hand tighten and he looked at Dr. Payne who injected my IV with whatever drug they were using to put me under. I bit my lip and Bruce smiled softly. I cupped his face and he leaned down to kiss me gently.
He pulled back and I felt an overwhelming feeling of darkness take me over.
I shut my eyes, and concentrated on his hand holding mine.
I don't remember dreaming. I don't remember falling asleep, I remember holding Bruce's hand, then the next thing I remembered was being in the hospital room, the steady beep of the heart monitor to my left, and the sounds outside of the room. I opened my eyes, and slowly sat up.
Bruce was sitting in a chair, leaning against the side of the bed with a book it his lap. It was obvious he had fallen asleep while reading, his glasses were slightly askew and I smiled as I reached down and took them off. Someone had taken my gloves off while I was unconscious; I folded his glasses, not noticing him sitting up as I stared at my hands, unsure if it had worked or not.
I jumped when Bruce took my hand in his and looked at him as he moved from the chair and sat on the edge of the bed, facing me. He smiled lightly as he pulled a small light from his pocket and checked my eyes, then checked my pulse and a few other things, before he brushed the hair from my eyes.
"How are you feeling?" he asked and I smiled lightly.
"How should I feel?" I asked.
"Hopefully not tired." He said and I smiled, before biting my lip. He looked down at my hands before he took mine in his again, lacing our fingers together. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as he lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it, smiling.
"How's the other guy doing?" I asked and he chuckled lightly.
"He's surprisingly calm." He replied.
"He isn't throwing a fit?" I asked and he shook his head. "No headaches?" he shook his head again. "Does that mean it- It worked?" I asked and he just smiled.
"It would seem so." He replied and I smiled as I sat up and went to throw my arms around him, but stopped when I remembered the IV in my arm. He laughed lightly and leaned in, catching my lips with his, for the first time in a long time, neither of us were worried.
I know you guys have been waiting for that, so there you go. I hope it's everything you've wanted it to be!
Please don't forget to review!