Merry Christmas!

Edward here.

So where were me and Ariel during all of this?

We went to go see The Lion King. Yes, I know. World's coming to an end, people dying, robots trying to destroy humanity, and we go to see a musical?

Well, if the world was going to an end, I wanted to see The Lion King first. I'd never seen it before.

It was, of course, wonderful and memorable and incredible. I love how stage musicals released after the movie versions sometimes try to deal with plot holes (like the whole Nala/Scar thing). On one hand, ew. On the other hand, it was a good idea.

We didn't go back to the Tower immediately afterwards, instead staying out in New York and doing a little sight seeing. Granted, we'd seen most of these places already, but you never know when the next chance to sight see will be – or if there even will be one.

We walked through Central Park together. "Your brother doesn't mind you leaving the tower?"

She chuckled. "Clint is my brother and I'm eighteen."

"He didn't want you to leave."

She gave a very unladylike snort. "Of course not."

"He's probably right. Aren't you scared, after what happened?"

"I'm petrified, Edward. I'm so scared I'm going to die. But the fact remains that it is a lovely day, and I will not let Ultron stop me from living my life."

Ariel is easily one of the toughest people I've ever met. Maybe not physically, but in the past few years, she's had multiple upheavals in her life, any one of which would have put anyone in therapy. All things considered, she dealt with them pretty well.

If I'd discovered my brother was a fictional character, been nearly killed several times, and then had my parents shot because of something I couldn't control, I'd probably spend my days curled up in a ball in the corner of my room, angsting and crying.

It just occurred to me how unbelievably pathetic I am as compared to all of Ivy's friends. It's kind of sad, really.

"This is Avengers 2, isn't it?"

I nodded.

"Tell me what happens. You know I won't tell anyone."

I gave her a basic summary.

"Should have known Whedon wouldn't be satisfied just killing Coulson," she remarked when I finished.

I burst out laughing.

It took several minutes for me to stop, and I attracted hundreds of stares.

"So, what should we do?" asked Ariel.

"Get out of New York. If Ultron comes after us, I don't want to be in the middle of a big city. New York's already been destroyed once."

"You're probably right."

"Me? Oh, no. That's Jack and Miranda's plan. We've been preparing for weeks. His mom's coming to New York with a car, and we're going to take it somewhere."

"Wait a second, you told Jack's mom?"

"He was shot in the knee and the shoulder. He's not going to walk properly or use his arm right ever again. It got a little hard to hide it. She deserved to know."

"You have a point."

"Where are we going?"

"We haven't decided that yet. They probably have a set location and four back up locations, just in case."

"Just four?"

"Good point. Probably six."

"When were you planning on leaving?"

"As soon as his mom gets here. We had originally planned to take Jack's car, but it didn't work out that way. Actually..." I checked my cellphone. There was a text. Mom's here. "When's the soonest time you can slip away? We're pretty much ready to go."

"We can just stay here and wait for them."

"What about Hawkeye?"

"He'd try to stop me."

"He should know."

"I'll text him and let him know what's going on. It's not a big deal."

I decided not to argue the point. The phrase "stubborn as a mule" does not even begin to describe her.

Ivy here.

The interior of their quinjet was small. About the size of the one they use in the Avengers, I don't know. I wasn't exactly measuring.

Quicksilver reacted first.

There's something that people don't realize about fighting in superhero movies. Just because you can move really fast doesn't mean you can fight really well.

Quicksilver clearly had very little experience with actual combat.

His fist connected with my face, sending me staggering back a step. That was okay. I'd been punched in the face before. Way too many times.

His attempt to run into me and knock me over, not so much. It might have worked if we were outside, but we weren't. At the last second, I stepped offline.

He missed me and slammed into the wall, knocking himself out.

His sister raised her hands, leaving herself in a vulnerable position. Two strikes and she lay on the floor, unconscious.

Seriously, HYDRA. You didn't teach them proper combat skills? An afternoon with Agent Ward would have taught them better.

Oh, wait. Agent Ward isn't really loyal to you any more. Believe me, you haven't lost anything.

Carmen sat in one of the seats along the side, slumped over.

Ultron stepped into my view of her. "I didn't think you'd show up in person. I'm honored, really I am."

"I do what I have to. I don't suppose you'd let her go if I asked nicely?"

"No."

"It was worth a try. I won't do what you want. But you won't kill Carmen."

He tilted his head slightly. "Explain why."

"She's more useful as leverage, dead than alive. She knows things that I know, if only you could get her to tell you. So even if I don't do what you ask, you'd be better served to let her live. That is why you are not going to kill Carmen."

"Are you willing to bet on that?"

"I don't bet, I always lose." I channeled my inner Miranda. Miranda, the reasonable one who was always right. "It's completely illogical for you to throw away a potential source of information when the only other one is unreliable."

"What about the others?"

"I am a time traveler, Ultron. You know that, surely. I can simply travel back in time and prevent all of this from happening. I can prevent you from ever being created. Leave them alone, I leave you alone. Do we have a deal?"

Could I teleport past him? No, it would be too close. The risk wasn't worth it.

"You don't kill her and you don't touch anyone. In return, I leave you alone. It's the same deal I make for my other clients. They are all satisified."

"I want information too." He clearly enjoyed his position of power.

I turned slightly so I could see the Maximoff twins. Quicksilver was twitching, probably just waking up. His sister was still out.

I gestured to her. "If you lose, it will be because of her. If you win, it will because of her. Treat them well."

"And?"

There was nothing else I dared tell him. "For what you're paying, that's all you're getting. Let her go, and I can do a lot for you in return."

"I have no way to know whether or not you're making all of this up. I'll keep my insurance until I know."

I was completely done with this guy. Robot. Not-person. Thing. I don't know.

I teleported past him in front of Carmen and grabbed her arm.

A body slammed in my, breaking my grip and sending me staggering away.

Quicksilver smirked. "You didn't –"

"See that coming? I should have."

He looked disappointed at having his catch phrase stolen.

"Snap her neck," ordered Ultron.

"Why?"

"It's all part of your revenge on Stark, I'll explain later."

"Why would I do that?"

"You won't. Because you still want information." This wasn't going to work. It was a stupid idea that had been doomed from the start. "Just remember what I said, Ultron." Actually, the Doctor has set my teleporter so that I can't do things like I threatened. But does Ultron know that? I think not.

I hit the teleporter and again stood in Avengers Tower.

"What happened?" asked Natasha.

"I don't think he'll kill her. For now."

"What's your interest in Carmen?"

I spun around.

Miranda leaned against the wall.

"I have an interest in Ivy's former life. We... I knew her."

"Did you?" She raised her eyebrows. "I've met you before, I know it. Do you have the same powers as Ivy did?"

Miranda was going to figure it out. Why was she so smart? "A lot of it comes from this teleporter. It time travels, too. Like a vortex manipulator."

"Wait, you know the Doctor?"

"We've met a few times. Why all the questions?"

"Because I know there's something familiar about you, and I can't figure it out." She stood up and circled me, scanning me.

I tugged at the light scarf around my neck.

Her face went white. "Are you Ivy Williams?"