Avenging Angel.
Arc 1: Growing Up.
Chapter 1: Auntie Care-Bear.
Middleton, Kansas.
15th May 1989.
Four years after the Middleton Meteor Shower, a red pick-up truck pulled up to the Carter Farm and a beautiful blonde woman in her mid-20's stepped out of the drivers side. She was wearing shades and a brown leather jacket over a red t-shirt with a blue circle and gold wings on it, and her hair was in a ponytail.
Captain Carol Danvers of the United States Air Force turned to look at the town a good distance away. If one didn't know any better, you would never guess that a Meteor Shower had struck them just a few years before.
"Still amazes me that the town recovered so quickly." said her passenger, her secret girlfriend and fellow Air Force Captain, Maria Rambeau as she got out of the truck.
Carol smiled at her. She hated that they had to hide their relationship, but neither of them wanted to risk their careers in the Air Force. So they were just good friends who lived together and were raising a child together, while occasionally going out for drinks and dinners.
By some miracle they bought it.
"That's why I love places like this." Carol responded with a smile. "Whenever something tragic happens, the whole town comes together to help each other. There's just this strong sense of community." she said in no small amount of joy. Then a voice from behind her spoke.
"Well why do you think we moved here?" said her elder sister, Alex Carter nee Danvers who walked over from the porch to hug her sister.
When Carol had first come out, Alex had been the only member of her family to stick with her. The rest - like their father, mother and elder brother - all disowned her.
"I thought it was to get away from idiots in the city." The younger Danvers sister said as they hugged happily.
Alex chuckled. "Just an added bonus." she joked before releasing her sister. She then turned to her sister-in-law-in-all-but-name and opened her arms in welcome. "Hey, Maria." she said happily.
"Hey, Lexie." she said with equal joy as they hugged.
Then Alex asked them "Now where's my favorite niece." She was of course speaking of their 5 year old daughter, Monica Rambeau.
Carol chuckled. "Lieutenant Trouble fell asleep during the trip." she said, using Monica's nickname. She then walked to the car and opened the doors to the backseat. Sure enough the little girl was fast asleep, only held sitting up by her seat belt.
"Wakey-wakey, Lieutenant Trouble. We're here." The Blonde Captain said shaking her daughter to wake her up.
Monica stirred, rubbing her eyes as she awoke. "Hmm?" she groaned adorably. "Wha'?" she asked still half-asleep.
The three mothers all chuckled at the girl. "C'mon kiddo. Don't you want to see Auntie Alex?" Maria asked her daughter. This was a typical occurrence when they were waking their daughter in the morning.
Still rubbing her eyes, Monica was slowly but surely waking. "'m up, Mama." she said, before her Mama's words penetrated through her sleepy daze. She blinked at her Mama and Mom adorably. "Auntie Alex?" Before her eyes widened in joy as she realized where they were. "Auntie Alex!" she squealed with joy. Fortunately Carol had undone her seatbelt as Monica Rambeau practically lunged out of the truck and towards her auntie.
Alex quickly caught her niece, laughing as she hugged the girl. She smiled and nodded as her Monica happily babbled at her at what seemed like a thousand words a second, trying to tell her auntie about seemingly EVERYTHING that had happened in her life since they had last seen each other.
"Nice to see Lieutenant Trouble is living up to her name." A male voice said from the porch. The Danvers-Rambeau parents turned to see Colonel James Carter. They gave him a salute which he returned. "Colonel." "Captains." he returned before ignoring rank and file before pulling his sisters-in law into his arms with a laugh, which they returned as the man lifted the two Captains in the air as though they both weighed as much as a feather.
Laughing as her brother-in-law put her down, her sister walking up to them carrying Monica who wasted no time in jumping into the arms of her "Uncle Jim!", Carol asked "So where's Commander Cuddles? How's she feeling today?"
'Commander Cuddles' was better known as Karen Alexandra Carter or K.C for short (or simply Kacey), the Carters adopted daughter. Other than James' mother and her second-in-command (who Carol had yet to meet. She liked what she heard about this Nicholas as Peggy called him.), the Danvers-Rambeau family were the only ones who knew of Karen's true origin.
The little girl had been quite sickly growing up, struggling at times as though trying to catch her breath, but had been steadily improving. Despite her sickness, Karen was a bright and happy child who you just couldn't help but love. Her bright blue eyes immediately drew you in and her nickname came from her love of hugging anyone she saw. It had the effect of bringing a smile to even the grumpiest person (the aforementioned Nicholas was one such 'victim' of Commander Cuddles).
Jim smiled as he held his niece. "She's been doing a lot better lately. Stronger too, she lifted the couch with one hand to get one of her toys yesterday. Kind of reminds me of what Mom said about my-" but he was interrupted as Carol let out an 'Oof!' as she was suddenly attacked by an E.M.C. (Excitable Missile of Cuteness) who wrapped her tiny arms around her legs.
"AUNTIE CARE! Mommy and Daddy didn't say you were coming!" Karen said cheerfully. Her eyes were sparkling happily, and was clearly much healthier than she had been the last time Carol had seen her. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail.
"Sorry, Kiddo." Carol apologized as she knelt to her nieces height. "It was kind of last minute. Auntie has been very busy at work lately, but was able to get a couple of days with my favorite people." she said, booping the adorable little girl on the nose, getting an adorable giggle from the girl. She then lifted Karen up into her arms. "Oof, you are getting very heavy. What's your Mommy and Daddy feeding you, Commander Cuddles?" she asked at how the 4 year old was so much heavier than she looked, despite her tiny size.
Giggling, Karen turned to the left to see "AUNTIE MARIA!" With that, she jumped from one auntie to the other. Catching the girl with a similar "Oof!" as her wife. "Hey kiddo. How are you feeling today?" she asked the once sickly girl.
"Much better, Auntie!" she said cheerfully. She then noticed her cousin in her Daddy's arms. "Hi Monica!" she said as she reached over to hug said cousin.
Similarly Monica reciprocated the hug. "Hiya, Kacey!" she said as the parents put them on the floor to play and reunite.
With their kids occupied, Carol looked at her family. "We can't stay for long. Dr. Lawson wants us both back at base to help with her project." she said thinking of her mentor Dr. Wendy Lawson who had recruited both her and Maria for Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. She had volunteered to help test the prototype, but Lawson had given them a couple of days with her family before they did so.
Alex looked worried but proud. "Well just be careful, Captain Stubborn." she said, using her sisters childhood nickname.
Carol gave a mock salute. "Aye-Aye, Major Disaster." she returned, but the look in her eyes said that she would be.
"Auntie Care?" a small voice spoke up from downward. Carol looked down to see her nieces bright blue eyes looking at her with awe. "Are you really gonna go up into space?" she asked.
Once more, Carol crouched down to the girls height. "Possibly." she responded in a diplomatic tone.
Karen looked to the blue skies above in wonderment. "Do you think I'll get to fly up there one day?" she asked hopefully.
Carol, as well as Maria and the Carters all smiled at the little girl. "Ooh, Higher, Further, Faster, babygirl." she said proudly.
Then, picking her up once more, Carol carried her niece into the farm house with her daughter walking beside her holding her hand. "Now, why don't you tell me what you've been up to since I last saw you." she requested.
And Karen began to do just that, as her parents and Auntie followed them.
None of them knew that in just a week, they would be gathered together once more, but not in a happy time as now. No, now it is to grieve after they are told Lawson's prototype plane crashing, taking both her with it. Captain Carol Danvers would be declared Missing and presumed Dead.
So there is my next chapter. The first part of this fic is going to involve Karen growing up before she becomes Superwoman.
I know absolutely nothing about any Armed Forces, or their opinions on same-sex relations or women in the military during the late 80's. But this is an AU so I'm making it up as I go.
I will say now, I have no issues against same-sex relations. Love who you love, as long as both parties are happy than I'm happy.
However, I do have a habit of putting my foot in my mouth, so if i say/write anything that offends please let me know. I do not mean to offend.
But, if anyone is in anyway sexist, racist or any other kind of ist then I WILL ignore you! or maybe I'll outright name you in an Author's Note. Don't know yet.
Now that is done, this does not follow the MCU timeline in terms of dates. It will follow the events of the MCU but some things will be different.
A major one will be shown in the next chapter.
Also in regards to Karen being sickly, I have seen two variants of Superman (namely Man of Steel and Superman & Lois) where it is stated that Kal was sick for the first few years on Earth as his body adapted to the different atmosphere and then his powers came in at around 4 or 5.
S&L even said that his powers came in when he was 4.
So, Karen is still stronger than a normal human but by no means the level she would be. To give an idea of her level, between infant and 5 years, Karen is as strong as Captain America.
hope that makes sense.
