Hi, everyone!

So, this is a really short chapter, and kind of late. I posted the first chapter the day before I left on a two week vacation, and I wasn't planning on updating this soon yet anyway, but a few things changed my mind.

First, two follows and a favorite! You guys are awesome! (shoutout to beverlie4055 and EmiQueenieArrow)

Second, yesterday was my birthday, so this is my birthday present from me to you. Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Two:

Previously:

Natasha took a deep breath. "A closed adoption. Via gets the kid. I want nothing more to do with it than that. I promised I wouldn't endanger it, and Via is taking care of everything. Medical expenses, hospital stay, and apparently she is insisting on giving me some sort of monetary compensation for it."

At this statement there was a volley of voices hurled at both Natasha and Via. The protests were strong and loud. Natasha rolled her eyes and focused her attention on Via.

"This is why I didn't want to tell them."

"We could have helped you, Nat! Why didn't you call for backup?"

"There is no way that you're going to give this baby to a stranger."

"I still want to know why she was talking to Loki."

And the protests continued. Via rolled her eyes and nudged Natasha gently, nodding towards the door.

Natasha suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth and ran to the restroom, feigning a wave of nausea. Silence ensued.

Steve sighed and spoke to Via. "I'm sorry if we've frightened you, Miss, but we are worried about our friend."

Via smiled at him. It was a small smile, but a true one. "That's quite alright, Mr. Rogers. You didn't frighten me, though I am a tad miffed about the sedation dart. It could have killed me, you know."

"Why?"

Via didn't answer him, but looked at the ground, thankful that the dose hadn't been stronger. All she had to do was stall for a few more minutes...

Tony was about to speak, when JARVIS' voice was heard.

"Sir, Miss Romanoff has left the building."

"Now!" Via shouted. A blinding light filled the room and Via was sucked through a portal. This portal left behind a sheen of glittering dust that clung to the Avengers, who were stone still as they realized that they might not be able to catch their friend. A friend who was an amigo with someone they now considered a hostile.

The portal dropped Via next to her house, which was quite large. In fact, some might call it a palace. Via had known this place as home for as long as she could remember. It had come to her through her mother's will. The house was given to her mother by King Laufey of Jotunheim, who her lover and almost husband. He had created this house on Earth for her to be a haven. It was protected magically and was beyond the senses of anyone. Via was safe here and she knew it.

She walked up the front steps and quietly opened the door, knowing- hoping- everyone was asleep. If there was one thing she hated, it was being fussed over. There was a discreet knock at the door. Via opened it again to see Natasha standing on the steps.

"Welcome back, Nat. You make it away clean?"

Nat smirked. "They were more confused than a couple of ice cream cones wandering around a fish market. They didn't get anything else out of you?"

"You know me; I don't leave a trail. You know, they really do seem to care about you, don't they?"

"They…" Natasha hesitated. "...are my family. But, like family, they can be very forward with their opinions. This is my decision. They have no say in what I do with the child. I'll go back after it's been born and the adoption has been finalized. I still don't see why you can't-"

"I told you, Nat. I'm not finalizing anything until you've seen the baby and made up your mind for sure. I don't want you to regret anything." Via had explained this before.

"Good night, Via. And happy birthday."

Via smiled and sang softly, "Happy birthday to me…"

Despite being pursued, hit with a dart, and interrogated, this really had been a pleasant sixteenth birthday. Even better, her brother had made himself scarce. Just as she had told him to do. Well, actually, more like threatened him to stay away from her. She was a little curious about his proposition, but definitely not enough to want to see him again. That first miniscule tidbit of information about her stepfather had been quite enough.

And she had thanked him for it, too. By throwing him out of her home with a couple of graphic descriptions of exactly what his organs would look like if she found him lurking around again.

Too late she realized that, by that point, she was already in too deep.

The next morning began like any other; Via awoke, showered, refused breakfast (offered by the cook, Miss Quellary, who attempted to force feed her), and was attacked by her sink (the plumber was a bit later than he had said previously). All normal you see.

By the time 7:30 rolled around, Via was more than ready to leave for school. She attended a private school by the name of Ia. It was a "specialty" school for "different" and "unique" children.

Ia was created with the intent of putting a creative spin on school. Where most kids had P.E., Ia had a tree-climbing-relay-race. Via loved it; also, her name rhymed with Ia, so that was just a plus right there.

Ia's school grounds stretched for about 100 acres, though where they got that much land in New York City was unknown. The main school building looked like it was straight from "Downton Abbey;" interior and exterior. There was no homework, tests were conducted as one-on-one assessments, and every year on the last of school, the art class organized a school-wide paint war. How's that for heaven?

At the end of the day, Via loved the walk home. She cut across busy streets, and through less busy side streets. It was in the serene light of the lowering sun, that Via was pulled into the shadows by a mysterious arm.