Wow... This is it. The last chapter. It's been a good, long run... A huge thank you to each and every one of you for reading this far. You're the best kind of people, and I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. It makes me really glad to know you've enjoyed it enough to stick around.

As always, thanks to CrazyCountryGirl12, ForeverAMaiden, and Saint of the Sinners for reviewing! Please leave your overall thoughts and comments for me about the story. Did you like it? Favorite part? Something I could've improved upon? Even if you just want to tell me your favorite flavor of ice cream, that'd be great. Just seeing your comments is wonderful.

That's it, guys. That's all I have for you. Have a MARVELous day, everyone, and thanks for sticking with me till the end of the line. :)

-One Year Later-

"Really, Tony?" sighed Esca, rolling her eyes at the man. Tony was currently sticking a dozen of her homemade French fries in his mouth to make himself look like he had buck teeth. "You are Iron Man, a billionaire extraordinaire. Must you act like a three year old?"

Pepper laughed at Esca's reprimand and put a hand on her arm. "Trust me, I've been asking him the same question for years on end."

Seeing the spectacle, everyone laughed. Tony smirked smugly and only worked on swallowing the many potatoes in his mouth as they did. After another moment, he swallowed and declared, "Hey, you live under my roof, blondie. You can at least show me some respect."

"You own twelve percent of this roof," muttered Pepper; Tony almost choked on a French fry.

Just as everyone started laughing again, however, Esca moaned and stood up before running to the bathroom. She'd been sick the past couple days, throwing up whenever she tried to eat breakfast, which really stunk, because she loved breakfast. She had a small fever and tried to tell the others that she probably wasn't fit to be fixing their food, but they didn't want to hear of it because, as Tony said, "You're the only one in this joint that can cook. Other than Capsicle."

Almost immediately after Esca made it to the restroom, Pietro ran after her, concern on his face. He hated it when she got sick—that happened about once every three months, and for some reason, it never differed.

"You okay?" he asked.

He was answered by Esca regurgitating what little lunch she'd had.

"Apparently not," he answered himself. "Stay here. Be right back."

Then he zoomed out—Esca sighed and muttered drearily, "Not planning on going anywhere anytime soon."

Within another twenty seconds, he was back, sporting a glass of ginger ale in his hand. Esca smiled faintly at the gesture—it was always his go-to whenever he wanted to help but wasn't completely sure how to.

"Thanks," she sighed, taking the glass and taking a hesitant sip of it. She felt her stomach churn at the taste, but she swallowed some more anyway, as Pietro had gone to the trouble of getting it for her.

"Wanda, Vision, and Bruce should be getting back soon. When they do, we can get Bruce to see what you've got this time." Pietro said these last few words teasingly, which made her laugh and punch his arm.

"It's not by my design to get sick, you know," she stated.

He grinned. "Yeah, I know. I'm just giving you crap about it. Because I can."

Esca rolled her eyes, trying to withhold her laugh. "Fine, then. Do what you want."

"As I always do."

With that, he held out a hand to help her up, and they returned to the common area, where everyone was waiting.

"Feeling better?" asked Steve with a smile.

Esca nodded. "Better than I was five minutes ago. Ugh, I hate being sick. I can't wait until Bruce gets back so he can give me some antibiotics or something. How long was their mission supposed to take again?"

"About twelve hours," answered Natasha. "It was somewhere in Minnesota, which isn't too long a ride aboard the Quinjet. They should return pretty soon."

"That's a relief," laughed Esca.

Over the past year, the Avengers had decided to split up the missions into groups of people. They even made the different groups into a cycle—there were four groups that, in the order of the cycle, went thus: Pietro, Esca, and Thor were Group 1, Steve, James, and Zelda were Group 2, Wanda, Vision, and Bruce were Group 3, and Tony, Natasha, and Clint were Group 4. Pepper, meanwhile, oversaw everything through cameras and kept people from doing something stupid like dying.

It was Group 3's turn to completely a mission, most unfortunately for Esca.

Luckily, it was only another two hours until Wanda, Bruce, and Vision returned. They were met by most of the group, as they hadn't left the common area yet, and everyone immediately began congratulating them on their latest success.

While Bruce and Vision accepted the congratulations gratefully, however, Wanda looked confused as she glanced around. "Is Clint visiting?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"No," replied Natasha. "If he were, I would've found out by now."

Wanda laughed. "Of course," she said, although she still looked troubled.

After hearing an account from Wanda about how the mission went—it went well, they stopped a few ruffians trying to blow up a building for their crazily religious group—Esca approached Bruce and asked, "Hey, Doc, you think you can do an examination?"

Bruce chuckled and shook his head. "Again, Esca? Germs and bacteria must like you."

Esca sighed theatrically and nodded. "Afraid they do… heaven knows I don't want them to, though."

"Alright," he responded, smiling one of his half-smiles. "You know the way to the lab, I don't have to lead you there anymore."

At this, Esca laughed, if only because it was true. Once they were there, Bruce had her sit down as he took her temperature, blood pressure, all that normal stuff. Afterward, however, Bruce sat back and frowned.

"You don't seem to have a stomach bug," he murmured, almost to himself. "No fever or anything… I mean, a very slight one, but nothing alarming."

Esca frowned too. "Then whatever could it be?"

"It's probably food poisoning," he answered. "Have you eaten anything questionable since yesterday?"

Esca thought back to what she had for dinner the previous night and remembered that she'd had a really greasy pizza—and felt sick afterward. She soon relayed her thoughts to the doctor, who smiled in relief.

"That's almost certainly it," he replied, nodding. Then he stood up and offered Esca a hand. "I'm glad we figured it out. Shall we return to the others?"

"I believe so," declared Esca, smiling somewhat. "I feel better now, anyway."

The doctor smiled at that, and then they returned to the common area, where Wanda approached Esca and asked, "Feeling better? I've heard you've been sick."

"Hardly. Bruce and I think it's food poisoning," she responded, shrugging. "Happens to everyone, I suppose!"

Wanda nodded, although there was a certain look on her face. "That is does…" she answered softly.

Esca noticed the strange demeanor of her friend. "What is it? You look troubled."

"No, I am not," replied Wanda serenely. "It's nothing. Don't worry."

And then she smiled at Esca and walked off, much to Esca's confusion.

Pietro soon approached, and Esca used to the opportunity to ask, "Is your sister feeling alright? I think she's worried about something."

Hearing this, Pietro glanced at his sister, one eyebrow raised. "I haven't noticed anything," he remarked mildly. "Maybe you're imagining things," he then teased.

She huffed somewhat and declared, "I am not. But before I can get into an argument with you about this, I'm going to go take a walk. It's nice out today, and I've been bored in this Tower. See you later, okay?"

Before Pietro could say anything, Esca escaped from the common area and started going down the elevator, relieved that he couldn't see her puzzled expression. Wanda's strangeness was bothering her more than it perhaps ought to… but there was this feeling in the bottom of her stomach that whatever Wanda knew was important.

Naturally, three hours later, when Esca thought she was in the clear, she threw up again. The smell of sautéing onions was making her sick to her stomach—Natasha and Steve had to take over dinner while she recuperated on the couch.

Bruce and Pietro both walked in at the same time, and Esca moaned as they came inside. "Bruce!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled because her face was buried into a pillow. "It's not food poisoning! I'm still sick!"

"What?" he asked, astonished. His eyes widened underneath his glasses. "I was certain it was food poisoning!"

"It's not," moaned Esca as Pietro put a hand on her back in encouragement.

"It'll pass," he said calmly.

"It better," she mumbled, putting her hands atop her head. "I feel less than stellar."

Both Pietro and Bruce chuckled at that and started assuring her that after a good night's sleep, she'd feel perfectly fine. And some food wouldn't hurt, either, so you better eat dinner.

With a groan, Esca got off the couch. She stumbled toward the table, as by this time dinner was ready, and plopped into her seat, much to the amusement of the others. Somewhat exasperated, she groaned, "What?"

"Nothing, nothing," exclaimed Nat, although she was smirking.

Just then, Wanda entered the room, apparently somewhat peeved. "Alright, you guys, I know someone new has entered this Tower! I don't know how you've hidden this person's mind from me for so long, but I can sense that someone else is here. Enough games. Who arrived?"

Uneasy looks were passed around. It was Vision who spoke first. "Wanda, no one has arrived. Perhaps your powers are simply—"

"They're not," she interrupted, narrowing her eyes. "Something has happened."

"Wanda, do you really think we'd hide something from you?" asked Pietro.

"Well, yes, if you were involved!"

"I hate to break it to you, but I have done no such thing."

"Then who—"

"Wanda, maybe you should come have something to eat," ushered Steve, standing up to escort her to a chair.

"No, Steven, I don't need something to eat," retorted Wanda, crossing her arms defensively. "I need to know what's going on. Something's going on, I can sense it!"

"Oh, please stop shouting," gasped Esca, bolting straight up from her seat. She was about to burst into tears from all the stress running around the room.

Pietro looked aghast by her sudden move. "Esca Rarity?" His voice was questioning.

She swallowed and looked back down at him, the familiar feeling that she might just throw up again consuming her. "Hold on," she groaned. "I need a minute."

With that, she walked toward the sink and put her hands to her head before groaning. "I hate this!" she exclaimed, glancing up at the ceiling. "Ugggghhhhh…"

There was a brief silence before finally, Bruce spoke up. "Ah, Esca, I think I might know what ails you."

"What is it?" she asked, not looking at him. "A stomach bug?"

"No, I don't believe so—"

"Oh my God," gasped Wanda.

Esca glanced at her. "What is it? Is Clint here after all?" She glanced around the room, expectantly searching for the archer. Unfortunately, he was nowhere in the room; she leaned back over the sink, if only to be sure that she would not throw up on the dinner table. "Nope," she answered herself. "Clint isn't here. Drat. I want to see him."

Another silence… and then—

"Will you be returning to us, Esca? We shall wait for you," remarked Thor.

Esca smiled and shook her head. "No, you shall do no such thing. Do not worry about me, Thor. The rest of you go ahead and eat, okay? I just… need another minute. Sorry." She slammed a hand down on the counter and groaned, "I hate nausea!"

"That's quite unfortunate," sympathized Bruce. "Hopefully the next couple months will pass quickly."

"I won't be sick that long," laughed Esca. "Or at least, I hope not…"

"Don't worry, it'll pass," said Wanda, her voice suddenly very calm.

"Indeed, I've heard the first trimester is the worst," input Tony.

Esca wasn't quite listening to them, however—at least, she wasn't until she heard, "Wait… what?!" and the screeching of a chair against the floor, a huge CRASH! and, "OUCH."

She whirled around and saw Pietro launching up from falling on the ground; his face was white.

"What is it?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowing. She glanced at everyone else and saw numerous different expressions—Wanda, Bruce, and Natasha were all beaming while Tony was wearing a shark's grin. Thor's own grin was nearly stretching off his face, and Steve wore a specific smile that was happy, and yet somewhat sad.

Laughing uneasily, she asked, "What's the big idea, here?"

"Esca," said Natasha, rising from her chair and putting a hand on her shoulder. "You're pregnant."

Esca blinked and stared at Natasha for a moment. Finally, she regained her voice. "No, I'm… not," she retorted stupidly, glancing down at the ground. "It… I don't think it's possible. I mean… no. They broke me."

"Did you officially graduate?" murmured Natasha, her eyes filled with understanding.

"Officially? No… it was like… I had graduated… but I hadn't gone through the ceremony…"

"Then you're pregnant," repeated Nat, determined.

Esca simply stared at her. "But—" She stopped and stared at the ground. "I'm… No, I'm not." She started shaking her head in disbelief. "No, Nat, I can't be. That's not right. You all have to be wrong."

Wanda smiled and shrugged. "I sensed another mind, Esca. If the others aren't hiding someone from me, this is the only possible explanation."

Esca blinked again and dared to look at Pietro, who appeared as dumbfounded as she did. His blue-gray eyes were wide, as if wondering if it was truly possible. He reached out to put a hand on her arm, and she let him, but the touch didn't register.

She was too afraid.

"God," she moaned, tears springing to her eyes. "Oh, God."

And she started sobbing, not sure what else to do.

Pietro immediately pulled her close and let her cry into his shoulder. Esca didn't know if she could stop, she was so terrified by the possibility.

"I don't k-know the first thing about being a mother!" she wailed, desperately locking her arms around Pietro. She needed to know someone was there, because in the face of what was happening, she felt so out of place. "I n-never had one! What if I c-can't do it?"

Suddenly, she felt someone else massage her shoulders. Somehow, Esca knew it was Natasha.

"You won't be alone, Esca," she heard Natasha say. "We're here."

Esca wasn't sure if she could be comforted by that. They wouldn't be the child's mother.

After a moment, she inhaled deeply and retreated from Pietro's shirt. She looked up at him and saw a mess of emotions: joy, fear, determination.

"I didn't think it possible," she whispered up at him. He just kissed her forehead as she said, "I never thought it could happen. I really thought I was broken."

"Well, I'm glad you're not," he replied, smiling halfheartedly. "But you're right. It is scary. Despite that, however, I can tell you certainly that you will be an excellent mother, Esca Rarity. You practically mother everyone here already. You might have your doubts, but I do not. You might be afraid, but your fears will not come to life."

Esca swallowed a lump in her throat and blinked. "You think so?" she asked, her voice scratchy.

"No. I know," he answered.

She sighed and buried her face back into his shoulder, not sure if she could keep it together should she retreat. After a moment, however, she murmured, "I guess this means no missions for me for a while, huh?"

"You are absolutely, one-hundred percent correct," answered Pietro as practically everyone else screamed out, "YES."

Startled by the response, Esca blinked and looked at her friends. All of them were grinning back at her—they laughed when she moaned, "Oh, the tabloids will have a field day…"

Wanda laughed, then exclaimed, "I can't believe it! I'll be an aunt!"

Pietro blinked. "I hadn't thought about that. I guess you will be."

"I claim being godmother!" exclaimed Natasha, holding up one of Esca's arms as if it were a trophy. "That title is mine! No one take it. I've known her longer than any of you!"

Pepper, Wanda, and Zelda all raised their hands defensively, knowing that if Natasha wanted the title of godmother, then gosh darn it, she'd have it.

"Then who'll be godfather?" smirked Pietro, glancing around at the others.

"ME!" exclaimed Thor, Tony, Bruce, and James all at the same time.

They glared around at one another for a moment: Thor exclaimed, "The title shall be mine! If necessary, I shall summon my brother Loki to help take you down—"

"NO," exclaimed Steve, laughing but also serious.

"Uh, guys, calm down," ushered Natasha. "Bruce is looking a little green over there…"

"Hulk want godfather," he smirked, pushing his glasses up from the bridge of his nose.

Esca laughed at the enthusiastic reaction and said, "We'll… figure that one out later…"

This comment was met with more laughter—after it died down, however, Pietro looked back at Esca. "Now you'd really better get something to eat, Esca Rarity. I personally believe it's even more important now than it was fifteen minutes ago."

Natasha instantly agreed and started escorting Esca back to her seat. Once seated, she was met with inquiries about if it were a boy, what would his name be, oh I hope it's a girl, Natasha, is there any chance I can share the title of godmother no okay.

Of course, those comments came from the female part of the group—Esca was rather overwhelmed by their support. She knew she'd need it in the upcoming months.

She looked around again and smiled. She was surrounded by her friends and loved ones, all of whom were more than willing to help her through whatever difficulties she might face. As she smiled at them all, she felt Pietro take her hand from underneath the table. She glanced at him to see a warm smile—she quickly returned it.

Even though she was terrified of what would come, she knew, somehow, that it'd all be okay. Her past wouldn't affect her future.

After all, her past hadn't changed what had happened, what she had now. Now she had a life she was proud of, a family she loved, a man she loved, and a child on the way.

Five years ago, such happiness would've been thought impossible.

Now, it was reality… and it was all because of a silly little comment.

You saved my life.