Enjoy!

Memories=bold print

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"Dad thinks you are making a mistake."

"Yea…well anything that dad doesn't plan is a mistake," I said tossing another one of my favorite books into my duffel bag. She sat on my bed with her legs crisscrossed. Her tiny hands were holding the purple frog that I had won at the fair for her seven years ago. She collected frogs at that time, of course, she was nine. I knew the moment she saw the purple frog, crown adorning it's black spotted head, large pink lips puckered up ready for a kiss, that we weren't leaving without it. Dad was furious when I had come home forty bucks completely spent with a happy little sister in tow. If I had taken us a different route I would have shown up with twenty bucks to my name and a two large bags of cotton candy. Instead, I had zero money, no cotton candy, and a twenty five dollar stuffed animal.

"I can't believe you are leaving me here." She said softly, picking at the frog's right eyeball. The other was eaten off a few years ago by our mother's weenie dog, Dodger. I picked up a picture frame that had both of us smiling. It was her sixteenth birthday party. We both wore pirate hats and eye patches. I smiled and then tossed it into the bag.

"Eh, you are going to be taking college classes full time this summer…and then you start your Senior year in August. You will never know I'm gone."

"Trust me…being a nerd…I don't have that many friend Marc'. You know what Kelly is doing this summer?" I shook my head, sort of interested. She continued with a huff, "She's working as a lifeguard…with Nathan. I'm stuck going to college for the summer. And I've skipped two grades Marcy. Guys do not like girls with brains. They like girls with big tits and open legs."

I snorted with a laugh, "Get your degree and just keep your legs closed."

"Seriously Marcy…I need you here. I can't do this by myself." I looked down at her, brown eyes large with tears as she furiously tried to wipe them away. I smacked her leg and plopped down beside her.

"There are guys out there who love chics with brains. I promise. Don't rush to grow up."

"Like you? Deacon is dragging you off. He says go and you go," she said wiping away tears. I sighed heavily and nodded slowly.

"I love him 'Lina. And yea…when you find someone you love…you will follow them to the ends of the Earth. Because that's what love makes you do. Stupid, dumb shit." She watched me closely for a moment and shoved the frog into my hands.

"You should take it. To remind yourself of what you left behind." I tossed the frog away and grabbed her hand.

I gave it a tight squeeze, "You are always with me Marlina. I'm never ever leaving you behind. Ever."

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Faking my death wasn't my finest moment as a human being. In fact, the way I faked it wasn't right either. I had deprived someone out of a proper funeral for their daughter. I had lied to my own parents and friends. Truth was- I was a terrible person. I found the woman's body in the alley beside the house that I was staying in on the outskirts of Paris. She was victim of an overdose, clearly. The needle still sticking out of her arm was clear giveaway, her dull green eyes staring at the night sky as if she were stargazing. I saw my opportunity and I took it. In times of desperation- you do desperate things. SHIELD and a few others were after me and honestly, I was tired of running. At that time, I had been running for two years. I would stash myself away for weeks at a time in old moldy buildings, stealing food, and pick pocketing. The life style wasn't exactly something I was proud of. The girl was just about my size, just a bit taller. Fire made bone brittle and the heat would cause the skeleton to shrink so that wouldn't be an issue. The teeth…that was the problem. I had to have the fire hot enough where the teeth were unidentifiable. I made sure to burn all of her IDs first, so that her personal information wouldn't turn up. Unfortunately, I still had every last detail committed to memory.

-Jenifer DuBuoa

-23

-Madrid, Spain.

-3rd Year Art Student.

-Black hair. Brown eyes.

-Her t-shirt said 'Make Love, Not War'

-Her necklace she was wearing said, 'Sister'

After I burnt her body, to an excessive crisp, I planted my IDs along with a few of my things in a car that I had stolen just two nights before and parked it directly outside. I set the house on fire using gasoline and matches. I couldn't risk using my flame. It seemed like a good enough cover and it worked…for a while. I had regretted that moment ever since. If I could go back and redo it all, not fake my death, not use the druggie's body…would I? Probably not. I'd do it the same way- again. Because that's what desperate people do…make bad decisions. In my case though…it was a horrible decision.

I sat on the metal flooring, back firm against the cool metal wall as I watched the fireball burn a bright hue of blue in the center of the training area. It was my training area, truth be told, created specifically for me. Tony wanted it as fireproof as possible so that I didn't burn down his precious Tower. This was the safest place for me to practice my skills. This place reminded me of a prison where I couldn't hurt anyone and I hated it. Right now was one of those moments were I regretted ever joining the Avengers. I held up my hand and the ball of flame flew back into my hand. I crushed it hearing the high pitched hum as I did so. The hum that reminded me that it was a living thing…without oxygen it couldn't live. Unfortunately, since my body was made out of the same chemicals…I could be extinguished. It was something to consider if the reason ever came up.

"Mind I join you?"

I snapped my head toward the voice and found Natasha standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. She looked like she was ready for bed with the grey sweatpants and black Metallica tank top she had on. I nodded and created another fireball and tossed it about seven feet away. "Clint send you?"

"Steve actually…but I technically volunteered my services." She stood there for a moment and then began to slide herself down the wall beside me. She was already halfway down before she asked, "May I sit?"

"I don't mind. I have to warn you- I'm not the best of company right now." I said bleakly as I let the fire ball fly back into my hand. She shrugged and extended her legs out as she crossed her arms.

"Most days I'm not the best of company either."

I laughed slightly and tossed the fire ball back into the area in front of us. It grew about two inches in diameter. "You sure did a number on Steve. You had to be somewhat of good company."

She smirked at me and gave a slight laugh, "Friendly company I can assure you."

"You sure were friendly with Clint too." I tossed back quickly.

She didn't seem surprised that I knew and she held a calm exterior perfectly as if she didn't care. "Clint and I were…close partners at one time. We are still…in ways."

"He kind of explained it...so I don't need to hear the juicy details. Thanks." I said with a sarcastic smirk. I raised my hand and the fireball flew back, I caught it with both hands and quickly extinguished it. "Why are you down here again?"

"As I said…Steve sent me." I met her eyes at that moment. She sighed almost immediately and continued, "Steve cares for you, but his…issue of time displacement has him left behind…in a manner of speaking. Clint was ushered away by Fury after the meeting. Otherwise I assume he would be here in my place."

I chewed on my lower lip and glanced away, "I refuse to go on this mission Natasha."

"I'm not sure if Fury will give you a say in the matter Marcy."

We locked eyes for a moment before she looked away, "I gave Steve my word that I would check on you and I have. So, I'll go. I have to pack anyways. But I do suggest you do the same before Fury has some agent pack your things for you."

I stared at her retreating form before she turned suddenly, "And just so you know Marcy…I'm not a threat to you. Don't treat me like one and you won't be one."

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Everyone was fairly quiet on the plane ride to the Helicarrier. I wasn't sure if it was because of the mission coming up or the fact that it was two in the morning. Thor was to be arriving around noon. He insisted on seeing Jane back to her home. I had still yet to see Clint, which was slightly disappointing because I really could have used someone to talk to. Truth be said, it reminded me of our previous relationship. SHIELD pulling him away when I needed him the most.

Bruce was busy looking over his IPAD, he and Stark were amazing with this drug, 'Dream'. Stark commented that some of the footage reminded him of Zombie movies. I didn't say anything, but I had to agree. It was as if these people were living in a different universe. They were committed acts of violence, crime, and even murder against their neighbors, friends, and family. It was quite scary to think that such a drug, if released into the rest of the US population, could cause a fall-out. It would make the States a complete wasteland and then after that…it would move from continent to continent. Under any other circumstances, I would have been happy to volunteer my services, but right now, knowing that my sister was on the Helicarrier- I wanted to tuck tail and run.

The plane sat down gently on the docking station. I stood up with the others as the hatch descended. Grabbing my bag I shifted the weight of my duffel from one shoulder and then about ten seconds later I shifted it again. Steve grabbed it suddenly and hoisted it onto his shoulder along with his bag without a word. I tried to protest, but I couldn't wrestle it back from him. Damn him and his super human strength. I poked my finger into his ribs and he smiled down at me. I lost it, I smiled. Damn him. "I can carry it Rogers."

"Never said you couldn't James." I had no choice, but to follow him around people just free standing in the hanger. Some working, some not, some just watching us with this intense gaze as if they were trying to figure us out. We were all still thought to be Freaks…to some. Bruce patted me on the shoulder as he passed by me heading to the laboratories. Stark followed him, nose buried in his phone. Natasha met our stride as we headed down the corridor to our rooms. Steve took Natasha's bag abruptly and she let him. She continued walking as if nothing had ever happened. I cocked an eyebrow at that. We turned the corner and Steve opened the door to my room. He sat my duffel down on my bed and glanced back at Natasha who was standing out in the hallway checking her phone.

"I thought you and I could catch a few minutes of training in the storage room. Help clear your head." His blue eyed gaze bore down on me. I glanced away not being able to hold it any longer. I nodded slightly in agreement. "Good. See you there in thirty?"

"Sure."

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I was only about an hour late. I decided taking a shower and changing clothes prevailed. That and I had to track down a bottle of booze. After the day I've had. I needed something to take the edge off. I stepped through the cargo area and smiled seeing Steve laying on the floor in the middle of the room, pillow under his head, eyes closed. One hand was under his head and the other casually resting on his chest. I tapped my finger against the bottle of whiskey I was carrying. His head shifted as he looked in my direction. His eyes shifted from me to the bottle and then back up, "Started to think you weren't coming."

I laughed, "Stand Captain America up? Right."

He didn't laugh. I chewed on my lip and pressed through my hesitation as I kneeled down beside him, "This doesn't look like training."

"I thought that this would be the last place your sister would be."

I nodded slowly, "So she is here."

"Clint escorted her here about two hours before we arrived. He's in the lab with her, Bruce, and Tony."

"That's why Fury ushered him away." I said with a roll of my eyes. He sighed heavily and sat up. His jaw flexed faintly as he tensed. "What? You're acting all weird."

"How are you and Clint doing?"

My eyes flew up to his startled by the question, "What?"

"Tony has a very large mouth," he said as he looked down. I rubbed my achy eyes. I was going to kill Tony for being a perverted stalker. Why in the hell was he watching security footage? Was the man that bored? "And Clint didn't deny it either…"

"Steve…Clint and I…"

"I get it…okay? I'm old fashioned….I…I guess I'm just naive when it comes to things like this."

"You were gone for a month Steve. Clint was there. We are friends, have been for a while- we have history…"

"Nat explained it all- it's fine." He stood up and grabbed his pillow. I pushed off my knees and proceeded to follow him.

"Nat huh? What else did Nat explain? I'm pretty sure she's a damn great teacher." He stopped and swung around causing me to almost collide with him. His height was daunting, blue eyes fierce. He was a fighter and it shown through and through.

"I felt guilty for what happened to you. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat. I didn't train. I barely was a person." He shook his head and started to walk away, but turned again, "And I asked her to help me…I know nothing about this time period Marcy. I wanted her to help me become someone that you could…"

I stared into his eyes, I searched them waiting for him to continue, but he didn't. He just shook his head and turned away. I grabbed him arm, "Steve…please. There's too much going on…I can't handle this too. I know that I'm going to just burn up one day. I'm just waiting for it."

He turned his body half way and met my eyes. He held them strong and solid on mine. He was mad, hurt, confused…lost. And that was my fault. I let him go and ran my fingers through my hair, "I'm so…screwed up. Clint…he's…"

Steve shifted his weight and looked away. I crossed my arms and looked down at our feet. "He's just as screwed up as I am. You are practically near perfect. You really think that I wouldn't ruin you? I'm a horrible person…Clint knows everything about me. You won't like what you find out. I don't want you to find out."

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice. He looked angry, "I may be from the 40's and yes…inexperienced in some things. But the world hasn't changed Marcy. People still have baggage and shitty handouts. But hearts and minds…still feel and think the same. I'm not a damn child. I can handle whatever the hell it is you have to shell out."

With that he turned and left. I stood there for a moment staring at the empty space. I sucked in a breath and turned sharply hurrying back toward the bottle of whiskey. I shook my head wondering how I could be so stupid, so selfish, and so childish. I scampered up the ladder and climbed to the top of the walkway. I looked down over the cargo area and the homemade arena. I took a long pull off the whiskey and grimaced. Maybe one day I would just catch on fire and disappear. I let out a long sigh before I took another long drink.

"No one would even notice," I said softly into the silence before taking another drink.

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Okay…I can't say that I was all that happy with this chapter. But…it had to be written. I wasn't happy with how short it was either. -sigh-

Reviews are love!

:o)

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Disclaimer: I do not own anything

Marcy James is my own creation.