A/N: So here's an update for all of my incredible readers, I am so grateful to you all for your support with this story, which is definitely more than I ever expected. I've not been particularly well recently but since countless other fanfic author's works have been providing me with such great reading material I thought it time to spread the love... although this is a sad chapter... sorry!

Disclaimer: I do not, as you might have guessed, own the Avengers, nor am I Shakespeare so I can't claim the sonnet as my own either. I only own my OCs and their storyline.
Please do read, and review; constructive criticism is always welcome!
Enjoy,
Lucksby x

Some glory in their birth, some in their skill,
Some in their wealth, some in their body's force,
Some in their garments though new-fangled ill;
Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse;
And every humour hath his adjunct pleasure,
Wherein it finds a joy above the rest:
But these particulars are not my measure,
All these I better in one general best.
Thy love is better than high birth to me,
Richer than wealth, prouder than garments' cost,
Of more delight than hawks and horses be;
And having thee, of all men's pride I boast:
Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take
All this away, and me most wretched make.

Shakespeare: Sonnet 91

CHAPTER 8

"So Ren" Cel said. They had been strolling rather aimlessly around London for over an hour now, and were currently walking parallel to the Thames, having just gone past the Globe Theatre. "How do you feel about deciding to stay?"

Ren smiled at the girl next to her; her answer was easy, she felt fine. What she had now wasn't worth throwing away, and apart from everything she had told Agent Coulson the previous night, she just loved the beautiful anonymity of her new life. Seren Ashmore could go anywhere, do anything and not have the world's media and all its loyal followers judging her for it. The possibilities were infinite and their worth incalculable.

"Good." She summed up simply, "I feel happy; I know I made the choice that is best all round."

Celena smiled at her friend, "I'm glad you did say no. After all, what would I do without my Ren, huh?" Both laughed, drinking in the companionship and knowledge that at that moment all was right with their world.

"I think it would be best, sir, if we left her alone, at least of the time being."
"You do?" Fury replied, "I had expected you to be more adamant that Stark was brought into the loop at this stage."
"I made a deal, and I don't intend on going back on it." Coulson smiled. "Besides, it would only hurt him more, she doesn't want to be a part of his life and I respect her reasoning behind it. But I don't think Stark would understand, and so I don't think telling him would do any good whatsoever."

Fury nodded. "I agree. We need Stark and the rest of the Avengers in shape for when they are next needed. I don't intend to upset Stark's already temperamental emotional balance any more than is necessary." Coulson nodded his agreement to his bosses' words as they both stood looking out over the cloud-scape you see when you fly high enough, from the bridge of the helicarrier.

"I do think though that we should monitor her closely though, she most certainly has the potential we thought she would, and it would be a shame for it to go to waste if her old enemies were to realise we had made contact."

In the Avengers Tower in New York, Tony Stark was in his lab working whilst finishing his eight cup of coffee; it was one of those sleepless nights that he had become so used to. Recently, however, he had been getting them worse and he knew why; dredging up memories of Ren at the memorial.

Everyone had noticed that she had been on his mind an abnormal amount, and whilst the distractions they had so aptly provided had been welcome, the team had only been able to find so many, and now they had run out. He had been in his lab for approaching five hours now, and was busy working on a suit that he had decided to equip with fire blasting capabilities just to pass the time. He did realise that it was something of an addiction, but everyone needs their anti-depressant and at least his wasn't substance based. Not this time, a snide voice inside his head reminded him. Not this time maybe, but it had been before.

He lent against the wall of his lab closing his eyes as tiredness surged up within him. And as he did, what he saw was…

Flashback…

"Jessica, oh God baby, stay with me ok!" Tony was frantic as the gurney was pushed through the hospital at top speed, with his fiancé and the mother of his daughter splayed out on it, a gas mask covering her face. He couldn't believe that he had found her this way; he had only been five minutes' drive from their place when he had seen the car accident and recognised the white Jaguar that Jessica loved. He was in shock, and he was beyond terrified for her.

"Mr Stark-" He was being held back.
"No let me through I need to be there with her! Please!" He was a sorry and desperate sight to all onlookers.
"Mr Stark, she's being taken in for surgery, there is nothing more you can do here. All you can do now is wait, please, you need to calm down."

It had been the worst day of his life; for once all his money, fame and influence meant nothing; he had been totally powerless to stop the woman he loved with all his heart from slipping away through his fingers.

The scrubs-clad doctor emerged from behind a set of double doors and Tony jumped to his feet, paling suddenly when he saw the expression the man wore.

"Mr Stark, I'm sorry to have to tell you this but we lost your fiancé during surgery. She lost a lot of blood and unfortunately we couldn't save her. You have our sincerest condolences."

A strangled scream was heard by all in the hospital at that moment; it sounded like a dying animal, a gut wrenching sound that spoke of utter heartbreak and hopelessness, it perfectly described Tony Stark in that moment.

That moment broke something in him. Permanently.

And to this day it wasn't fixed. Quite the opposite in fact, alcoholism and womanising had taken over after Jessica's death; he needed a distraction from his belief that it was his fault, and that he was now a single father. Ren's disappearance had only made it worse, but perhaps he'd had that coming; he didn't deserve to call himself her father.

"And never will." It was spoken so quietly that even JARVIS with is sensitive speakers didn't catch Tony's confession as he slumped against the cold walls of his basement lab.

Billionaire, Philanthropist, Playboy, Failure.

.