Author's Note: I have almost no knowledge of schizophrenia, (bad psych buff, bad!) so please be patient with me if I have no idea what I'm talking about. Either way, I'm super proud of the next few chapters, so read and review as always!

Days later I was still in the vault. Every day, dishes came and went, always leaving as full as they came in, if a bit colder. Tammy was still a pain in my ass. Oh yeah; I named the voice Tammy.

"Is there a plan behind this whole "not eating" thing?" She asked.

"It's supposed to take about a month to starve to death, right?"

"Go on; just end it right now. Bang on the walls, you know how this thing is built."

"Too painless." I said simply. Tammy was silent. She did this, sometimes; just shut up for a while. She called it sleeping. Another day passed. And another. People visited, sometimes. Bruce came a lot. So did Pete. Wade came once; it was a disaster. I never said anything to any of them. Couldn't they see I just wanted to be left alone? I didn't even see Natasha once, after that first time. Something in me wished she would visit. I squashed that thought as soon as I could. It was one day, though, about two since I'd been put in there, when Fury came for a visit. He hobbled in on crutches, one leg still in a cast; the one I put him in.

"Trescott, what do you think you're doing?" He said from outside the vault. "This pity party of yours? It's got to stop. You can't throw a tantrum like this every time your shoelace breaks. So you got booted off the mission? Well, boohoo." That's what he thought this was about? I gritted my teeth. "You're causing a lot of problems for a lot of people, Trescott. Stark is back in his state of 'perpetual hangover'. Parker's in tears, Romanov can't focus. I suggest you get your act together, get up, and start doing your share of work again." When I didn't answer, he huffed and pressed a button on the keypad. A projection popped up inside the vault. "Here; a bit of entertainment." He left, and I poked my head out from under my folded arms. It was security footage, from the vault. All it showed was me sleeping. That's when I saw; Natasha appeared from the corner of the screen. She walked over to me, knelt down and stuck a needle in my arm.

"Nutrition shots." I muttered. That's why I wasn't hungry. Well, not as hungry as a girl who'd been starving herself for two weeks should be. I watched as Natasha lingered by my side, pulling my hair behind my ears and stroking my forehead. She cared. She cared whether I lived or died. Enough to… somehow I always thought I was just an asset to Natasha.

"Ooh, someone's got a cru-ush." Tammy piped up from the back of my mind.

"Shut up." I growled. Of course I didn't have a crush on Natasha. Right? I mean, I was with Bruce! Of course, this wasn't going to be some whole heartwarming "wrestling with my sexuality" story. I've known I was bi since I was fourteen. But I didn't have any kind of "crush". I was too old for those. The video, though; I spent a long time mulling that over in my head. Hours – or maybe minutes, I'm not sure – later, Bruce came into the vault. I was curled up in the corner again, and I stayed there as he set down a bowl next to me. By the smell of it, it was curry. Probably spicy. They were trying to lure me out with my favorite foods.

"Please eat, Wendy." Bruce pleaded. "This isn't healthy." He had learned by now that lingering didn't do much, and he turned and started to leave. All of a sudden, I found myself with the bowl in my hands, and a spoon in my mouth, wolfing down the spicy, heavenly food. I heard Bruce stop. I could imagine the smile on his face. I put the bowl down almost as soon as I had picked it up, and Bruce walked back and took it. Before he left, though, he knelt down, wrapped his arms around me and said; "Thank you. Wendy, thank you." He lingered a bit, and I put my hand on his. Damn… now we were both crying. We stayed like that for a good while, neither one of us wanting to move and ruin the moment. Even with Tammy making gagging noises in the back of my head.

In just a few short days, I was deemed healthy and fit enough to resume daily life. Fury made a big fanfare of putting the collar back on; everyone there as he reached around my neck, and I heard the ends connect with a satisfying click. It sounds weird, but I'd missed it, and it was comforting to have it back.

"I'm impressed, Trescott." Fury said when he stepped back. "I would've thought you'd take the opportunity to hightail it outta here." I just smirked, fondling the collar absentmindedly. "I removed the explosive function, by the way." He said. He still thought I'd end up "misusing" it.

"And why not?" I heard Tammy say. I mentally kicked her.

"Shut up." I whispered under my breath. "This isn't your moment to ruin."

"I'm sorry?" Fury said.

"Oh, nothing." Suddenly the wind was knocked out of me, as a certain flaxen-haired god had me caught up in a huge bear-hug.

"Lady Wendy, I am overjoyed that you are feeling well!" He said enthusiastically.

"R-ribs…" I croaked. He pulled away quickly and clapped me on the shoulder, smiling like an idiot.

"In Asgard we would have a feast to celebrate!"

"Oooh!" Wade piped up. "Can we?" Wow… they were really making a big deal about me leaving the vault. Was everyone really so excited to see me?

"Oh, please." Ugh; Tammy. "They just want an excuse to party. Do you think any of them really cares about you?" She was interrupted when I was swept off my feet by an eager Wade, who led a procession to the mess hall with me above his head.

"Party! Party!" He chanted.

"Um, Wade?" Bruce said worriedly as he followed beside us. "Would you mind…?"

"Aw, but it's fun up here!" Suddenly I was lifted up out of Wade's grasp and over the shoulder of the Hulk.

"Hulk's girlfriend!" He growled to Wade.

"O-kay, gotcha." Wade held up his hands in defense. In nothing more than a few minutes, the mess hall was one big party. Thor was drinking the cupboard dry; Stark was trying his hardest, but had been cut off by Pepper, who had decided to join the celebration. Everyone else was dancing like there was no tomorrow, since they had pushed aside the tables and started playing music over the intercom; all Wade's doing. Me? I was sitting at one of the tables, watching and grinning to myself. Normally I'd probably be drinking and dancing at the same time, laughing up a storm. But I just didn't have the energy. It was still fun to watch, though.

"Brother!" I heard Thor shout to Loki.

"Thor?" The god replied, confused. He didn't have much time to react, though, because Thor pulled him away from Rose and buried him in a hug. "Thor, are you drunk?"

"Nonsense, I don't *hic* get drunk." I covered my mouth to keep from giggling. "I love you, you know that?"

"Erm..." Loki looked about as awkward as anyone can be.

"I'm sorry!" Thor started to blubber. "I'm so sorry!"

"Sorry for what?" Loki's voice started to take on a harsh tone. Uh-oh.

"I'm the one who ate the last tart when we were young!" Seriously? Thor held his brother tighter, and I could swear I heard Loki's back cracking in his grasp.

"Um… there there?" Loki said awkwardly as he patted his brother's back.

"Aww!" Stark said. "No wonder there's so much fanfiction about you two."

"Fan what?" Loki said as he struggled to pull himself out of his bawling brother's grasp.

"Fanfiction. You guys're pretty famous, you shouldn't be surprised. I've gotta show you some Thorki stuff one of these days."

"What on Midgard is this "Thorki" you speak of?" Rose walked up to him, pulled him down by the shoulder and whispered something in his ear. "Oh dear gods!" Loki blushed as he snapped up quickly. "By the All Father… direct me to the rank and rotten bilgesnipe who writes this foul literature, and I shall put a stop to it!" I could see Rose trying to hide her giggles from here.

"Dear, it's not just one person. You'd have to deal with a whole fandom to get rid of the stuff completely. And then you'd have to wipe it from the internet… just leave it alone."

"But… but it's wrong!"

"I know, Loki. I know."

"What is that?" Natasha said to Clint as she watched him dance.

"It's called dancing, sweetheart. Watch the master!" I had to admit; Clint was actually pretty good. He looked like his legs weren't attached to the rest of his body as he moved to the music. Natasha laughed as he circled around her, then took her hands and dragged her out onto the floor. Bruce sat down next to me.

"Everyone is so happy now that you're feeling better." He said.

"I don't get it, though." I said. He cocked his head. "I thought… I always thought I was just 'that crazy girl we've gotta look after or she'll go berserk and murder everyone'. I didn't think…" I trailed off.

"But Wendy, that's not what you are!" He said. I looked up at him. "To tell the truth, in the beginning you were a charge; someone to look after. But now? If anything we see you as Fury's rebellious daughter." I couldn't help it; I laughed aloud.

"His daughter? That's one weird family." He chuckled. "Who's everyone else, then?" He put his hand to his chin, thinking.

"Fury and Coulson are the dads." Wow… not an image I needed in my head. "You're the youngest daughter. I think Natasha is the oldest daughter, and Steve is the oldest son. Clint is the boyfriend nobody likes." I snickered. "Stark is the irresponsible uncle who can't get his life together. Loki is the fun uncle, and Thor is the weird one. Rose is then nice aunt who seems way too young for her husband. Pete is the youngest son, and Wade is the boyfriend no-one can quite figure out how he fell for, and me-" I cut him off.

"You're the boyfriend everyone actually likes." I pulled him in close and kissed him. God, had I missed this. The feel of his lips on mine, the taste… it was good to be out. But still… I found my thoughts drifting to Natasha.

"Wendy and Tasha, sittin' in a tree. K.I.S.S.I.N.G!" Tammy sang inside my head. I mentally shouted at her to shut the hell up.

"Are you alright?" Bruce said. He could obviously see the stress in my face. I opened my mouth to answer.

"Alright, everyone!" That was Wade. He was standing on top of one of the tables, with one hand cupped around his mouth, and the other holding a plate. "It has come to my attention that a certain Wendy Trescott has never tried a chimichanga!" He hopped down amidst murmurs from the crowd.

"What exactly is a chimichanga?" Natasha said.

"Oh, you'll see." Wade put the plate down in front of me. "Eat up!" I stared at the dish. It looked… well, like a deep-fried burrito. It was big, gold, and crispy. I picked it up – it was still warm – and put it in my mouth, biting down. My eyes widened.

"Holy frick, this is good!" I exclaimed, mouth still full of spicy, meaty goodness.

"She likes it!" Wade shouted. "Now for all you other nonbelievers!" Chimichangas were passed all around the room. "Don't worry, Pete, it's not spicy this time." Wade said to Pete, who was eyeing his chimichanga suspiciously.

"Here goes." He took a bite. "Hey… this is actually pretty good!" Stark loved them. So did Pepper, Clint and Bruce. Natasha was less than impressed. Wade couldn't get Loki to try one, though not for lack of trying. Phil looked dubious until he took a bite.

"I love this!" He said. Wade clapped him on the back, almost making him choke.

"Everyone does, Agent; everyone does."

"Um," Phil said, swallowing. "You can call me Phil, if you want." Wade looked at him, confused.

"Really? I thought your first name was Agent?" The whole day was really fun. Really, really fun. After the party was over, and most of the Avengers had gone home, I found myself alone in the halls with Natasha.

"Hey." She said awkwardly as she walked beside me.

"Hey. Where you headed?"

"My room. You?"

"Same." I flushed. "No, I didn't mean- I'm headed to my room. Not yours." I looked away. Great… now that Tammy had put the idea in my head I couldn't stop thinking about… no, I couldn't let myself think that.

"You don't sleep with Bruce, then?" Interesting question.

"We actually haven't…"

"Ah." An awkward silence.

"I know what you did." I said. She looked at me. "In the vault. You helped me, right? Stopped me from starving myself." I paused. "Why did you do it?" She sighed.

"Because I know how you feel." Oh great. Here it came; the whole 'everyone has problems, you're not alone' speech. "Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you remembered?"

"What?" I was confused.

"If you remembered everything you did during your blackouts. What do you think would happen?" I thought.

"I probably wouldn't be able to handle it."

"That's how I feel. All the time." Right… I was such an idiot. I really was a class A moron. Forget my problems; Natasha had a past so filled with blood I could practically smell it the moment I met her.

"So, I don't know. I guess I just… sympathize."

"You didn't have to." I said suddenly. She stopped walking, and I with her.

"What did you just say?" I twitched. Then opened my mouth and said the stupidest thing I ever could have.

"You didn't have to 'save' me, alright? You could have just left me alone. Did you ever think maybe I didn't want to be saved?" Tammy was egging me on the whole way. I really shouldn't have listened to her, but…

"Don't be stupid."

"What?" I said.

"I said, don't be stupid." She grabbed my collar and pushed me up against the wall. "You wanted to die, huh? You were a horrible excuse for a human being, there was no end in sight, and you just wanted it all to stop. Yeah; I've been there." She used her free hand to pull her collar down. There, on her chest, was a gunshot wound. An old one. "I missed my heart." She said, covering it back up. "I spent months in recovery wishing I hadn't. But today? I'm glad I messed it up. Because if I'd succeeded, I wouldn't have joined S.H.I.E.L.D. I wouldn't have gotten the chance to right my wrongs, be the best person I can be. I wouldn't have met Fury, or Coulson, or Clint, or you, Wendy." I gulped. Thoughts raced through my head at lightning pace, trying to make sense of just what was happening to me in this moment. I licked my lips as I watched hers. I wanted to. I really wanted to. But how- I didn't have to think about it any longer. Natasha grasped the back of my head with her free hand and pulled my lips toward hers. We interlocked, moving against each other, arms around each other's waists as we fell to the ground. We were still in the middle of the hallway; we didn't care. So this is what it felt like… to kiss the Black Widow. She was good. Amazingly good. And she was gone. All at once, she was just gone, and I was sitting on the ground with my back against the wall.

"Wendy?" It was Bruce. I see; she must have heard him coming. "Wendy, what are you doing down there?" He said, chuckling as he reached a hand down to pull me up. I took his hand, and tingled as I felt his touch. I smiled at him.

"Nothing important." I said. Because it wasn't. It had been great, for those few, fleeting moments. But when Bruce and I kissed… I saw fireworks. Heard wedding bells. With Natasha, it just wasn't there.

"He doesn't love you." Tammy again. "He never will. Who could love you? You're Wendy, the psychotic, homicidal, berserker, schizophrenic mess. Just give up." I shoved her to the back of my mind.

"Hey, Bruce?" I asked. He looked at me. "Could we go to your room?"

"Um, sure." He took my hand and led me through the halls until we got to a little room off in the corner of the helicarrier. I'd never actually been in here before, which says something about our relationship.

"What are you doing?" Tammy reprimanded me. "Just give up!" I gritted my teeth as Bruce opened the door. The room was big, at least compared to mine. There was a wide bed with purple sheets in the middle of the room, and the walls were plastered with equations and diagrams.

"Here it is, home sweet home." Bruce said. "Why did you want to-" He was interrupted by my lips against his. He stumbled as I pushed him onto the bed. I needed to confirm something. "Wendy?" He said, looking up into my eyes. He must have seen the ideas lurking behind them, because he gulped.

"Do you really want to…? Wendy, I'm not sure If I'll be able to control myself." I could see a little flash of green in his eyes already.

"Please." I said. "I've had a time of it. I just need to feel good. Just for now." He smiled, nervously, and began to let his hands wander.

And there they were; the wedding bells.

Author's Note: Yeah, I know... Wendy gets around, huh? That is all. :P