Seren rocked on her feet so many times that she might end up breaking her own heels. She couldn't help it — she was beyond nervous. She was introducing her new team to the World Security Council and the evening was already in march.

"If you don't quit doing that, you'll be shoeless by midnight." Her director came by to stand beside her. Seren eyed the glass in Rebeca's hand. How Rebeca was so casual was beyond Seren. "And I don't need Cinderella, I need Agent Seren Soul right now, even though you do look like Cinderella right now."

Seren could only minimally laugh before the nerves crept in her stomach again. Several people had already arrived at the event. Waiters were passing by tables, offering drinks. Everything was casual, except for Seren herself. "I have been working my ass for the past 2 years and if the Council says 'no' then it was all a waste."

"They won't say 'no'," Rebeca shook her head. "They would be idiots if they did."

"Never stopped them before."

Rebeca nearly choked on her drink. "Ouch. Keep that one to yourself, alright? That might make them refuse to expand the Initiative."

Seren flushed with embarrassment. She hadn't meant to let that one slip but her thoughts about the Council had never been the best. She was too wary of them. She knew there were secrets under secrets when it came to the Council, even if Fury said it was all for their security. And being who she was, a potential threat as once stated 2 years ago, she felt like she would never be able to fully trust the Council.

"Simply speak about what the Initiative means to you and we'll be fine," Rebeca patted Seren's arm. "Drink?"

Seren shook her head at the offered glass and walked a little bit off. She could see the very team that she'd be talking about later on coming through the entrance doors.

Risha, Jordan, Blake and Alison were the lucky overseas versions of the Avengers' Initiative. More than a team, Seren looked at them as close friends. They'd been working heavily and close for too long to be anything but friends now.

"This looks great." Risha, the team's own leader, looked around with the biggest smile on her face. Seren thought it was better for Risha to be excited than nervous like she was. "Is the Council already here?"

"No," Seren shook her head. "But they'll be here soon."

"So what happens?" Blake was more on the nervous side like Seren. "Are we...are we supposed to speak to anyone?"

"Only if you want to," Seren said clearly. "But I'll be the one handling the questions. Of course I can't promise what'll happen afterwards."

"Can we have drinks first?" asked Jordan, the most calm of the team so far. He seemed completely ready which is what allowed Seren to think that perhaps she'd done a good job preparing them for this.

"Yes, of course," she chuckled but stopped when she spotted some familiar faces coming in. "Actually, before you go, there's a few people I want you to meet. Maybe it'll make things less nerve-wrecking for some of you later on."

"I'll try anything," Alison said with a hand rubbing endlessly over her stomach.

Seren brought them to meet Natasha first. It seemed only right since Natasha had been the first person Seren ever got to work with closely after turning 18.

"So you're the ones who took Seren away," Natasha shook hands with all of them. "I hope you're as good as she said you are."

"Natasha likes being very sarcastic sometimes," Seren chuckled nervously. Natasha almost laughed too when she felt Seren's gripping hand on her shoulder. She was silently being asked to tone it down. "But she's one of the best agents at S.H.I.E.L.D., definitely somebody you don't want to cross."

Natasha winked at the several nervous faces now staring at her. "You'll be fine kids. You had Seren training you. She's one of the best. Oh look, there's Fury right now," she pointed at the man making his way around a few other guests.

"Oh God no!" Alison shook her head with absolute fear. "Do we have to speak directly to him?" She turned to Seren, hopelessly helpless which was more than amusing for the others.

"Calm down Ally," Risha moved over to her side. "We'll be fine. What Agent Romanoff said is true. We had the best Agent training us." She cast a warm smile towards Seren.

"Nicely put," Natasha said. "Can I have a moment with your star trainer?" Seren playfully rolled her eyes at the redhead. Natasha waited for the trainees to leave before she spoke again. "So, I don't see your family around. Not even Agent Atria."

"Yeah I wouldn't waste time searching for them," Seren sighed. "Mom and Dad were never on board with me leaving and they especially don't like this whole scene."

"And grandma?"

"She never trusts the Council."

Natasha thought that was fair, very fair. "Mm, Steve and Chloe are coming in. They might be busy though…"

Seren followed her gaze to see the pair trying to make their way inside but whether or not he wanted it, Steve always grabbed attention. Seren learned quickly that she hated the people the attention came from. "I'll be attending to my team," she told Natasha rather quietly.

Natasha watched Seren go off in her put-out way and barely held the edges of her mouth from curving into a smirk. It was too damn obvious sometimes and even that wasn't enough.

~ 0 ~

It was much later when Chloe was able to find Seren without any of her trainees around her. "You're a very needed woman," Chloe laughed as she hugged Seren. "Haven't been able to get a word with you."

"Busy," Seren said and brought her current glass of champagne to her lips. "As are you guys."

"Mm, not so much me. You know that I hate attention. I prefer to stick to the shadows."

"Do you do that with Tony a lot?" Seren's question startled Chloe and even though she tried shaking it off with another laugh, Seren didn't fall for it. "Steve's told me you've been weird lately, and then he got the idea that you might be sneaking around to see Tony. What's that about?"

Chloe visibly gulped. "Well, I…I've just been busy, that's all."

Seren looked at Chloe long and hard. While her haze never wavered, Chloe's stance became shifty. Whether or not Chloe liked it, Seren had the ability to create a faux motherly glare.

"Have you been seeing Stark about your condition?" There was no room in Seren's tone for an argument or an excuse.

Chloe swallowed thickly again. "Is this really what you want to talk about right now?"

"I'm nervous as hell and you're dodging me at every corner, so yeah," Seren nodded. "What have you been up to, Chloe?"

Chloe pressed her tongue against the side of her cheek. "You know Tony, he's just a...very rich man with a lot of curiosity. I don't think it's odd that he'd be interested in what goes on in my head."

"So he is studying your condition?" Seren raised an eyebrow. "S.H.I.E.L.D. does that already. What could Tony tell you that S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't?"

"That's what I'm seeing," said Chloe. "Plus, don't tell anyone, but he's kind of making me a suit."

"A suit?"

"Yeah, and don't worry, he's making one for you too."

"Ah, great," Seren drank from her glass again. "So, again, why isn't this common information? Steve is worried about you and he swears you won't tell him anything."

"I just didn't want to make more problems," Chloe said quickly as an excuse. "You know how they are when they're together."

"Why wouldn't you tell me about it then?" Seren watched as Chloe faltered again. "We're supposed to be best friends and yet in these 2 years I've been away, you never once mentioned to me that you're having problems with your powers."

"I…Seren, c'mon, you've been so busy and I — I just didn't want to add more to your plate!" Chloe said, smiling awkwardly.

"No matter how stressed I am, I always want to know how you're doing," Seren said sternly. "And to tell you the truth, right now I get what Steve was trying to tell me. You're acting strange, Chloe."

"I-I'm not—"

"You might get away with it because Steve doesn't know you like I do. I know you're hiding something and starting tomorrow, you and I are going to sit down and discuss everything." Once again, Seren's voice held no room for arguments. Chloe's fate was sealed.

Chloe let out a long breath. "Honestly, Seren, this is your night and you're making it all about me!"

"I'm multitasking!" Seren finally drowned the remainder of her drink and quickly sought out another waiter.

Chloe had never seen Seren be so willing when it came to alcohol. In less than a minute, Seren had gone halfway with her second drink. "Are you okay?" Chloe asked. This was supposed to be one of the most important nights of Seren's life after all.

Seren couldn't answer without giving implications but Chloe would be damned if Seren left her on hold like that. She took Seren's glass and held it behind her back when Seren tried taking it back. "What is it?"

It probably wouldn't have been that hard to keep in if it wasn't killing Seren to watch it. In the end, she let out a breath. "I forgot how hard it was sometimes to talk to Steve outside of home and S.H.I.E.L.D."

Chloe looked back and chuckled when he saw Steve still being bombarded by several people. "I know, it's so funny." But when she shifted her gaze back to Seren, she realized it wasn't that funny for her. "You're mad—"

"I am not mad," Seren snapped, trying to reach for her drink.

Chloe easily stretched her arm high above her head to where Seren had no hope of getting it. "Sounds like you're mad to meee!" Chloe sing-sung.

Seren huffed and gave up winning her drink back. "It happened the last time we went out too," Seren said, her abrupt change of subjects showing just a bit more of a deep angry feeling. "We were trying to get simple curry and this...this waitress just kept coming to our table. She gave some crappy excuses but I knew she was just there to chat up with Steve. I swear everybody acts like they want him."

"Uh, hello!?" Chloe thumped Seren on the side of her head.

"Ow!"

"Everybody does want him!" Chloe rolled her eyes. "You're the last one to find out! Right now you're talking to one of the few people who don't want to sleep with him."

Seren scrunched her face and shook her head. "Chloe!"

"I'm telling you how it is! I swear Seren that you're incredibly smart but so stupid at the same time!" Some tough love is what Seren needed right now. Chloe put Seren's glass on the nearest table then set her hands on Seren's shoulders. "We all know that you and Steve decided to stay friends but that's not really working out for either of you." Seren scoffed but Chloe kept a firm grip on her shoulders to keep her there. "You really don't see it? You're dying of jealousy and when you're not looking, Steve mopes around because you're not here."

"...I'm not dying of jealousy," muttered Seren.

"No, you're just seething with it."

Seren's eyes snapped to Chloe's. "Please..." she ended up sighing. She had no energy to argue and, if she was being honest with herself, she had nothing to argue with. Chloe, despite her fantastic way of putting it, was absolutely right. "Do you think I made the wrong choice?" she suddenly asked. "Two years ago, I told Steve that we had no time for a relationship. I was on the other side of the world — I probably will be after this too — and I couldn't bind him to a relationship like the one we would have."

Chloe tilted her head at Seren, not really giving Seren an idea of what she was thinking. "I get why you did it but has it really done any good to either of you?"

Seren shrugged. "I've done a lot with my time in London and I know Steve has done some good here."

"Yeah, no one's going to argue that but you guys are miserable because you can't move on from each other." Chloe couldn't imagine herself ever being in a situation like that. She was always very straightforward with what she wanted. She was the one who ended up asking her last boyfriend in high school out on a date. She wasn't much for pinning.

"I didn't know it was going to be like this," Seren admitted. "I thought time and distance would be exactly what we needed to...to forget. I have never been in a situation like this." She hardly dated in her teen years because she was always trying to keep herself under the radar and even when she was older and more situated with S.H.I.E.L.D., she never dated seriously. "I was supposed to move on and-and I don't know, go back to normal, but I haven't! Nothing's gone back to normal and I hate it! I hate feeling like this!" Chloe chuckled lightly, and in her state Seren took it with annoyance. "Am I amusing to you right now?"

"Seren, you don't get why you can't move on?" Chloe tilted her head at Seren. "You really don't know?"

Seren's shoulders slumped at the question. It was clear as day that she knew the answer. "Of all the people…"

"Don't do that," Chloe cut her off. "Don't do the 'of all the people in the world, why did I have to go and choose him?' It's a pointless question with no answer. You don't get to pick. It happens, and it happened because it was supposed to."

"I was supposed to fall in love with some guy from the 40s?" Seren smiled sourly. "I couldn't have just picked someone—"

Chloe didn't even let Seren finish again. "Most of the time, you were afraid to date. You were afraid of how men would see you once they learned about you. I don't think you've really thought about that stuff with Steve, have you?"

"I mean…sometimes…"

"But in the end, it doesn't matter because Steve's not exactly the most normal guy out there either. I think this was fate and you trying to act like it's not is just plain stupid."

"So what am I supposed to do?" Seren nabbed her drink from the table and drank it before Chloe even blinked.

"Well for starters, maybe you shouldn't get drunk before you talk to the Council?" Chloe sarcastically shrugged. "And then maybe just talk to Steve? Trust me, he's willing to listen."

Seren sighed. "Even if I did talk to him about it, what am I supposed to say? That I'm taking back everything I said 2 years ago? I can't...that's not fair to him, Chloe. I don't even know if I'm going to be here after this. They want me in France."

"Do you want to be in France?"

Seren swallowed hard and took to biting her bottom lip. Time was, she knew exactly what she wanted but lately that wasn't the case anymore. Her eyes drifted over to Steve who was currently having a conversation with a few people. She could say with certainty that the only thing she knew right now was that she wanted him.

Chloe presumed where Seren's thoughts went and because she loved Seren, she decided to help her out a bit. "Stay here," she patted Seren's arm then headed off in Steve's direction.

Seren dreaded what Chloe would do. "N-n-no, Chloe!" she whisper-hissed after the blonde. "Come back!"

Chloe only flashed a smirk then headed off, leaving Seren with a near heart attack. She cleared her throat loudly once she was close enough to the group. "Scuse me, scuse me, Agent Winters here — back off vultures!" She practically shoved two women in her way. They were a bit too close to Steve anyways.

As always, Steve was amused with her. "Hey Chloe," he said and, though he didn't say it, he was relieved that she was able to get him some space.

"You seem popular tonight," Chloe crossed her arms.

"Not my fault," he was quick to say. "But I did slip in as much as I could about Seren."

"I'm sure you did," Chloe laughed. "Have you gotten a chance to talk to her yet?"

"No, it's been cra—"

"You should, she's not doing that great!" Chloe's smirk widened when Steve grew concerned in record time. "Nervous, you know? I think it would do her some good to have some support from the Golden Boy."

Steve rolled his eyes at her. "I already told Natasha not to call me that."

"Just go and make sure she doesn't screw up her night." Chloe made a motion of someone over-drinking and that was definitely enough to make Steve take off. He knew that it took Seren a bit longer to get drunk than the average human but the point still stood that she could get drunk. She would hate herself forever if she did that to herself tonight of all nights.

Seren had just accepted a new glass from a waiter when he finally found her. Just as she was about to drink from it, he swooped in and took the glass from her. Their height difference would prove a challenge for her to get it back.

"We need to talk," he announced.

"Oh God, what did Chloe say?" Seren felt her heart was about to burst from her chest.

"That you're nervous and you're over-drinking."

Okay, so Chloe hadn't completely ruined her...yet. Seren took in a breath to ease her nerves. "It's a big night and I find myself confused about some things." That technically was true — very true, actually.

"I'm sure you'll do fine," Steve said with all the certainty in the world. "You always do. You've been training these guys for two years and the Council knows it needs more Agents like you."

"Thanks," Seren whispered, though she still didn't look more cheered up like Steve would've wanted her to be.

She looked so pretty tonight and she wasn't remotely happy. How on earth was that okay?

She folded her arms over her chest and looked away from him. She was in a soft blue satin dress with a cowl neckline and thin straps. Her new star pendant rested around her neck, shining constantly with each of her movements. While it covered one of her star birthmarks, her second birthmark was on her right shoulder, just where her arm began. It was the smallest of stars, but still very present. Steve knew she was a lot more self conscious about it than she let on, and so she didn't really expose it that much. He thought it suited her well because she was just that: a star.

When Seren accepted yet another glass from a waiter, Steve sprung into action.

"Hey!" Seren was tired of her drinks getting stolen by tall people.

"Let's save that for another day," Steve said in a rush. "Can I ask you to dance?"

"What—?" Seren froze altogether, only her eyes flickered to the side. She wondered if Chloe had told him — or forced him— to do this.

"I promise I'll try my best to not step on your feet…" Steve said, offering her a smile, "But if I do, feel free to step on me."

Seren laughed on the spot. It was a huge win.

She reached for his hand and walked with him. "I'm wearing heels," she remarked.

"I know…"

"So you know that if I step on you, I'm gonna stab you."

"Yeah, that I didn't connect…" Somehow, Steve was sure he'd survive it. The moment was very worth the risk. He held her just like the last time they danced together, only this time he knew he couldn't do what he did last time. Kissing was strictly off the table.

Maybe Seren was thinking something similar to that because she kept looking around. "It's concerning that I've lost sight of Chloe…" she mumbled. She could no longer see where Chloe had gotten off to and that meant she could be doing things in secret. "You know you were right. She's seeing Stark about her powers."

"And neither one mentioned a thing," Steve said, discreetly taking a look around as well. "How very surprising."

"Chloe swears that she didn't want to bother anyone…"

"And what do you think?"

"I think there's something going on that she doesn't want us to know about. I might be visiting Stark in the near future. I'd invite you but I don't want you to kill each other."

Steve smirked. "You say it like it's my fault the guy's insufferable."

"You two could stand to tolerate each other better," Seren said, finally meeting his eye. "If Stark is truly trying to help Chloe, then we'd be on the same team—again."

"Would you be willing to work with him, then?'

"I guess. At the end of the day, he's not a bad guy. Just has some flaws like everyone else."

Steve had to agree, as much as it pained him. "I'm just surprised that Chloe managed to get Tony to help her out."

Seren hummed then chuckled. "Oh, Chloe can charm her way into anything." She happened to look around again and, to her relief, and maybe to prove her point, she found Chloe. She was at the center of the reporters, and to the side was Natasha shaking her head. "Oh brother, she goes," Seren said with another laugh.

Steve followed Seren's gaze and saw what was happening. He had a laugh or two as well. "You know, she makes it look easy. The limelight is terrible."

Seren's eyes flickered to him suddenly. "You looked quite at home to me earlier."

"What? Before?" Steve blinked. Seren nodded. "That's not home to me. I'd much rather be in my actual home or with our friends. Maybe some curry on the side…?" He waited until Seren couldn't hold it back and smiled. "There we go — you should be just like this when you speak to the Council. Nobody can deny you anything when you smile like that."

Seren felt her face warm up. "Thanks for coming." She realized she hadn't shown her gratitude to him until now. "I wouldn't admit this to anyone else but I kind of wished my parents were here. I've worked on this assignment for 2 years and if this goes as planned, I will have created — recreated — one of the most important Initiatives that S.H.I.E.L.D. struggled to take off the first time around."

"Despite your differences I think that they'd be proud of you." Though Steve wouldn't say that he was irritated neither of her parents showed up for this, he wanted to believe that they were indeed proud of Seren's accomplishments. "Even Atria hadn't come tonight, after all.

Seren nodded. "Well...I'm happy that you're here," she said with a tint of pink on her cheeks. "My backup, right?"

"Of course. You know I've been talking you up to those people," Steve nodded towards the group that Chloe had finally disbanded. "Every last good thing about you. They're primed and ready."

"Thank you, that means a lot."

"So you want to tell me why you were so upset earlier now?"

Seren's face felt even hotter when she remembered her alleged jealousy. "Um…" she cleared her throat, "No, I…I was just…so nervous. Very nervous."

"You shouldn't be, because you've done amazing. You'll be great tonight. And after, when everything goes great, maybe we can celebrate with some curry or some sweet cinnamon rolls?"

Seren would have liked to say that just how Steve claimed no one could deny her anything, she couldn't deny him anything either...not when he had those charming eyes of his. "I'd like that," she found herself nodding.

"Good, and the only requisite is that you can't have another drink tonight," Steve laughed as Seren groaned.

"I literally can't get drunk!"

"Not taking any chances tonight, sweetheart." As soon as the last word left his mouth, Steve regretted it out of sheer fear of her reaction. When he looked at Seren, she was smiling softly at him. Her heart had pinged in the best of ways.

~ 0 ~

It was funny how the nerves seemed to fade the more Seren talked about what her last 2 years in London had been about. The trainees had gathered behind her while she addressed the guests. The Council, though menacing, hadn't opposed anything so far. It was a good sign that Seren would take for encouragement.

"Risha Taylor here" — she gestured to the young woman in question — "is an expert in combat and communications. She is no doubt the perfect leader for a special team like this." Risha herself stepped up beside Seren. "She was the first candidate I chose and moved through every challenge I posed for her—"

"Couldn't that have been a rushed decision on your part, Agent Soul?" One Councilwoman suddenly interjected. It caught Risha by surprise but Seren didn't falter.

She put on a smile instead. "Not at all. Before choosing her, I screened thousands of candidates for the position. Risha went through extensive one-on-one reviews and training before I gave her the title of Leader. I don't make 'rushed decisions', Councilwoman Hawley." Seren's smile was strained but authoritative — she was not to be challenged. She had dealt with the Council on various occasions in the past. "Being constantly trained since I was a kid for this very Initiative has given me a very apt perspective on this matter. It is why Director Fury—" she made a motion to the very man standing beside the Council, "—proposed that I oversee this assignment."

"Some would say that your young age has made you a little biased instead," Councilman Yen said. "This is what you know so...how do we know that your team is truly ready for the assignments that may come their way?"

"Because I have the exams to prove it," Seren responded nearly sarcastically. Some of these questions felt redundant. "I'm not just talking the talk — I'm walking the walk."

Chloe smirked. She was glad to see that Seren was forgetting those nerves and sticking it to the Council. "I love that woman…" Her eyes then drifted towards the Council who didn't seem so amused with Seren's metaphor. "I always hate these people," she whispered at her lowest to Steve and Natasha on either side of her.

"Can they be trusted?" Steve felt like his question was pretty much answered by the mere appearances of the Council. Not one of them cracked even half of a smile. "I don't understand, why wouldn't they want the Initiative to be a success again?"

"Because the Council has never been on-board having half-alien Agents in S.H.I.E.L.D.," Natasha said just as another member stopped Seren again in the middle of her explanation for Joshua's position. "She and Atria are seen as potential threats should they turn to the, uh, dark side." Chloe giggled at Natasha's tone.

"Seren would never," Steve could almost roll his eyes at the absurd idea.

"Yeah, but think about if she did?" Natasha flashed him a smirk. "She's twice as strong as the rest of us — rivaling you — and she has literal star powers. She's a threat if she wants to be one. She proved it the last time."

"Nonsense," Chloe stuck her tongue out, though she quickly pulled back in when Steve shot her a look to control herself.

Seren, however, answered the series of questions thrown her way without a slight indication that she was uncomfortable anymore. "I assure you that I have chosen my team with the utmost caution and logical reasoning. Each member I chose brings a different specialty to the team. They function as a whole, just as a team should."

"But the original team — your team, I should add — didn't necessarily follow that logic," one of the male Councilmen, Rockwell, remarked. "How can we be sure that this team of yours won't disband like yours did?"

Seren cocked her head to the side, having to bite her tongue before something unprofessional slipped out. She didn't realize how irritated she was until now. "Well, Councilman Rockwell, first of all — unlike the original team, this team wasn't brought into a room and expected to work as a team in the course of one day. They all met once they were each individually trained and ready to combine their training. They have had 2 years to perfect their weaknesses using one another for help. My original team was not so lucky. I was the only member who had extensive training specifically for the task of the Initiative. Agents Romanoff and Barton had their training for different assignments. Mr. Stark was made terribly confused by denying him the position and then proceeding to pull him in anyways as if nothing happened. Captain Rogers was a bit preoccupied learning to live in our world to focus completely on the Initiative. And last, but not least, it was decided to bring Dr. Banner to an enclosed, glorified, ship where he could Hulk out at any moment. So if we didn't stay together, it wasn't because we failed the Initiative. We were never made to be on the same page. This team—" Seren pointed behind her to the trainees, "—has had every opportunity that we didn't. That is why they will not fail. Any more questions?"

Seren was glad to see nobody had a thing to say. She did, however, meet the proud gazes of her friends.

~ 0 ~

"Okay, I know that I'm the leader but...how will I ever be like you?" Risha was finally letting all of the nerves she held in during the questioning go. Seren could only laugh at her. "I'm serious! The Council is scary and you just shut them up!"

"I honestly wasn't intending on things going in that direction," Seren said, raising her hands. "But they asked, and I answered with nothing but the truth."

"And you killed it!" Chloe called. She, Steve and Natasha were coming over to congratulate Seren and the team now that they were mostly freed up from the other guests. "

"No I don't," Seren rolled her eyes then, for her team's benefit — since they were quite new to the business — she added, "There are no dirty secrets."

"I don't know," Alison said with a face to match her doubt. "People like them always have dirty secrets."

"Oh, you're going to be a good one," Natasha pointed. "Keep your eyes open, kid." Alison fervently nodded her head.

"Please don't scare off my team," Seren sighed.

"They won't," Steve assured her and, for good measure, warned Natasha to stay quiet from now on. "You were great, Seren." The ginger beamed with his praise. "They were going hard on you but you knew exactly what you were doing."

"I was nervous up until they started asking me stupid questions," Seren admitted with a light chuckle to follow. "I stopped mostly because I was irritated with them. I guess that was better in the end."

"I'm sure that they'll approve of the team and the Initiative's expand."

"I hope so," Seren looked at the trainees with a soft smile. "I think they've earned it."

"What exactly happens if they do?" Joshua curiously asked her. They had briefly touched on the next steps if they were to gain the Council's approval but now that it was so close, he wanted to know exactly what would be changing. "Do we...do we actually take assignments now? Official ones?"

"Well, for starters, I wouldn't be coming anymore," Seren chuckled at his horrified expression. "Risha would be leading you guys."

"Why are you making that face?" Risha frowned at the man who had yet to clear said face up. "Are you trying to say that I'm not a good leader?"

"I just...it would be very different going from Seren's leadership to yours," Joshua said quickly when he felt his life was on the line.

"Mhm," Risha rolled her eyes.

Seren gestured for the two to calm down. "Anyways, if we do get the approval you would be officially based in London and should anything...special happen...you would be the first ones called."

"You mean like anything alien-wise?" Alison raised an eyebrow.

"Not all the time. Any mission that's important, you'd be on the first jet there."

"What if...what if we don't get the approval?" Blake seemed afraid to pose the question but Seren wasn't at all upset by it. It was a fair thing to think about.

"Then you would go back to your current positions," she answered quietly. The answer wasn't very well received.

"Noo, I don't like it," Risha shook her head. "Not after everything we've done these 2 years."

"You shouldn't focus on that," Seren said quickly. "Your training, whether or not we get the approval, will be enough to get you through the levels and ranks. Plus, you've made friends with each other. You'll be good with either possibility. But you know what? You've all done such an incredible job — go out. Please, just go out and have some fun."

"How about you come with us?" Alison beamed.

"No, I'm...I'm tired," Seren chuckled at her admission. "I think I need a nice calm night for me. I foresee some nice cinnamon rolls in my future." She didn't necessarily look over to see what Steve had to say about it but he was all smiles about it.

Chloe and Natasha may have seen it, though.

There was at least another 15 minutes of saying goodbyes and promises to let them know what the Council decided on. Seren even had a moment with Fury and Rebeca to talk about the chances of getting that approval. It was where she delayed her departure.

"I did what I could," she said to the pair. "But maybe I overdid it with my attitude towards the end."

"No, you did exactly what you should've," Rebeca wagged a finger at the woman. "You need to show that you are strong and you're not the type to back down, not even for the Council. Isn't that right, Fury?"

The man himself shook his head. "No, some of them appreciate that."

"But others don't," Seren picked up on the unsaid words.

"Agent Soul, you have done your job," Fury said. "Do not forget that. I have confidence that they will give you the approval you need. And after that, my guess is that you'll be packing for France." Seren's face slowly fell with the reminder, even more so with Fury's certainty. "They've been keeping an extremely close eye on the matter."

"So...so if that were to happen...how long would I be in France?" Seren couldn't help her fingers from fiddling together. She was back to being nervous.

"I would think the same amount you spent in London, of course," Rebeca answered cheerily, none the wiser of Seren's grim thoughts. "I think you established the period of 2 years being roughly the amount you need to develop a team. But imagine it, Seren, if this happens then France is just going to be the next stop of many."

"Many…" Seren repeated, eyes drifting to the side. "Yeah…"

"What's the matter, Agent Soul?" asked Fury. "It would be the opportunity of a lifetime for you to oversee the Worldwide Initiative."

"It's just…" Seren didn't know how to put her thoughts into coherent words. How would she speak of her concerns of her life and not make it sound selfish? Yes, it would be a good opportunity for her but at the same time she had to consider what she would be giving up this time. If she was always traveling then it meant less time to see her family, her friends...and anything else she might have been considering.

"Seren?" Rebeca reached to touch Seren's arm, startling the woman out of her thoughts. "Are you alright?"

Seren pulled her arm from Rebeca's hand and put on her best smile. "Of course, yeah. Um, you'll let me know what happens, right?"

"Of course," Rebeca nodded. "Are you sure you're—"

Seren bid her and Fury a goodnight and headed off. She had a lot to think about and with so little time too. She was almost to the entrance doors for some well needed air when she heard her name called. As soon as she heard him, her nerves found the will to ease up.

"We lost you there for a bit," Steve was smiling as usual, something Seren felt like she really needed at the moment. Nastasha and Chloe were following behind. "We saw you talking to Fury and Rebeca. Is everything—"

"I don't know," Seren cut him off without intending to. She swallowed hard. "I-I really don't know what I'm doing or what I'm going to do—"

"Woah, hey!" Steve held her by the arms. "What's happened? I thought you were good?"

"I am but at the same time I'm no-ot." The fact her voice cracked in the end was a red alarm.

"Seren, ease up," Steve started rubbing his hands down her arms. "Whatever is going on, we can help. Natasha, Chloe and I — we're here for whatever you need."

"Yeah, what do you need from us?" Chloe soon asked.

"I just want to go," Seren bit on her bottom lip. "I've had my fill for tonight."

"Not home, is it?" Natasha's question was odd and certainly earned her some looks. "You know there's going to be people there waiting for you to ask questions." Seren felt 10 times more tired than a minute ago.

"Why don't you come with us instead?" suggested Chloe who then looked to Steve for his reaction. "She can stay with us for a bit, right?"

"Of course," he nodded. His hands dropped from Seren's arms to her hands. As he wrapped them around hers, Seren fought the urge to just take him in an entire hug. "You want to come home with us?"

"If...if it's not too much of a bother." No sooner had Seren said those words than Chloe snorted in the background. Natasha promptly jabbed her elbow in her ribs.

"I heard cinnamon rolls were going to be served," Natasha then said. "How about Chloe and I get them and meet you at your place?"

"Sounds good," Steve said, thanking them for the initiative. "Seren?"

"Thanks," she whispered.

"Here," Chloe said suddenly and pulled out a nice small box from her purse. Seren took it, although puzzled with its contents. "It's chocolates," Chloe explained. "Somebody left them for me at my table. A little sweetness might do you some good."

Seren smiled lightly. "Leave it to you to have secret admirers at my dinner."

"Hey, there were a lot of cute guys in the room," Chloe flipped her hair behind her shoulders. "I can't help what I can't control."

Seren chuckled. "Thanks, Chloe." She held the box close to her chest then glanced at Steve. Without saying anything, he knew she wanted to leave now.

So, they left together.

Natasha waited until the pair were gone to ask Chloe what she already presumed was going to happen. "We're not actually going to meet up with them later, right?"

"Noo," Chloe said with a smirk on her face. "But Seren's suite is going to be empty, so…" She held up Seren's hotel room card.

Natasha laughed. "Sometimes, you're good, Winters. I got the wine."

A/N:

Crazy thing vacation. More free time means more time to think of nonsense and then one-shots happens. Long story short, I've posted a one shot collection based off these fics where I'll just be uploading random one-shots/AUs of Seren & Steve. I'll make a Chloe & Bucky one later. This one's titled 'Love, Ours' and I'll be posting any ideas about these two idiots. Check it out ;)

P.S. As always, I have an AO3/Wattpad account under "noblecrescent" and a tumblr account under "saiilorstars" if you'd like to follow :)