This is a very very long one, in honor of it being the last one.

_-x-_

I hopped in the car and set my phone down in the cupholder. I let my voicemail play while I drove.

"You have eight new messages. Message 1, at 11:01 PM:

Hey, it's Phil. Just wanted to let you know that Loki's being watched by fifty agents right now. He's still being kind of weird. Someone else is bringing him meals, hope ya don't mind, call me back.

"Message 2, at 11:03 PM:

Thank you for finding my brother. I'm coming to see you. How do you turn this telephone off?" There were muffled voices in the background. "Oh.

"Message 3, at 11:21 PM:

This is Natasha-," a muffled 'and Clint' was in the background, "Shut the hell up, Clint. We're near your apartment I think, and we want to see you, unsurprisingly, and we've already jacked the quinjet, so we just need your go ahead. So, yeah. Call back before we're caught.

"Message 4, at 11:29 PM:

Coulson, this is Agent Hill," she sounded formal. "I'm calling to inform you that your case is being reviewed, and that your ban on conversing with other SHIELD employees has been lifted. Also," her tone changed, "I'd like to apologize for being kind of rude to you. I guess the thought of having another Coulson to deal with was too much for me. But I uh, am sorry for all of that. See you soon, I guess. Bye.

"Message 5, at 11:39PM:

This is Director Fury calling to inform you that I've already reviewed your case and have made the executive decision that you're off leave. If you're still interested in continuing your internship, I have an assignment that seems perfectly suited to you. It has a lot of civilian work, and you're great with that. Or you could just come back to headquarters. Take your time deciding.

"Message 6, at 11:42 PM:

Coulson, this is Steve Rogers, I need directions to your apartment. Your uncle only said 'turn left at the big sign'. Call me back when you can.

"Message 7, at 11:46 PM:

Hi, this is Ororo Munroe, I'm a friend of your uncle's. I'm investigating the power outage in NYC, and I'd like your help getting some information on how it started. Give me a call when it's convenient, please. Talk to you then.

"Message 8, at 11:47 PM:

Lily, it's your mom. I just saw your name on the news, please tell me if you're okay. Love you.

"Message 9, at 12:04 AM:

Hi Lily, it's me, Bruce," he paused, not knowing what to say. "Call me.

"End of new messages."

I smiled to myself. I'd forgotten their voices.

I opened the door and stomped my boots. There was a sound like singing coming from the kitchen, so I turned the corner to find its source.

"Hi, Thor," I greeted the giant with his head in my fridge.

He turned around, "Coulson!" his smile was stuffed with food. "How are you feeling?"

"Like diamonds," I smirked. "How's your brother?

He rolled his eyes, "They won't let me see him again until tomorrow. I trust he didn't hurt you very badly?"

"Just the lip," I smiled at him, though it was difficult without feeling in my face.

"You certainly injured his nose," he chuckled.

"I meant to apologize for that," I frowned.

"I don't mean to be rude but I've been searching your home for food, and I believe I've eaten most of it. Can you tell me where the nearest market is?"

"Most of i- where are the mangos?"

"Is that what they're called?"

"It's about ten minutes down that road," I pointed vaguely.

"I will be back promptly," he said, grabbing his hammer from my coat hanger and stepping out the door.

I shook off the oddly abrupt encounter and pulled off my boots.

I reviewed the messages and decided that Phil could wait an extra minute for a return phone call. Next was Thor, who I had already spoken to, however briefly.

Natasha's number was saved in my phone, but I figured that she would be the one flying, so I called Clint instead.

"Who's this?" he asked brusquely on the second ring.

"It's Lily... Coulson? Why isn't my number saved on your phone?" I felt the littlest bit offended.

"We're sitting outside of your apartment. Is it open or do we kick the door down?"

I walked to the door and opened it. "Don't kick it down, please."

They both were sitting on my porch making miniature snowmen. "Whose is better?" Natasha asked, her eyes looking triumphant.

"They complement each other pretty well."

Clint made a disappointed tiss noise, and Natasha punched his arm, being the obvious winner.

She looked different, with shorter, straighter hair and a little smirk that looked unfamiliar. "I like your hair," I said quickly.

"Thanks. How's your face?" she returned, looking at my ice pack covered lip.

"Flawless. Do you guys want coffee?"

"Sure," they both replied.

They followed me in and took off their shoes. "You just missed Thor. He's at the grocery store right now."

"Oh good, he's great at food shopping."

"Was that sarcastic?" I asked, feeling a little nervous as to how Thor could be terrorizing the local supermarket.

"Completely serious."

"Steve and Tony are on their way."

I felt slightly nervous. I didn't quite know what they'd think or do, considering they were likely the two that wanted me in jail. I needed to give them directions as well.

"Do you guys mind if I make some calls?" I asked, pointing to the other room.

"Go ahead," they replied, pulling coffee mugs from my pantry.

I closed the door to my bedroom and redialed Maria first. Nervously, I tapped my fingers and waited for her to pick up.

"Coulson?" she asked slowly and sleepily.

"Oh no, did I wake you up?"

"It was just a power nap."

"Oh," I paused. "I just wanted to say I got your voicemail, thanks for sending it by the way, and I've been just as bad as you. You're gorgeous and intimidating, and I'm a little jealous honestly," I said in a rush.

"That's flattering actually. Thank you for that," she said, sounding grateful.

"I mean it, completely," I immediately felt better getting that off my chest.

"Listen, I have to go, but we should get coffee sometime, once your back at headquarters."

"You think I'm going to headquarters?" I smiled at the assumption.

"Well yeah, I assume. Fury's hell bent on sending you to the middle of nowhere, but I really do have to go, I'm sorry."

"Alright, see you soon."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I sat on the bed wondering whether I could go back or not. They would have killed me in that diner if they needed to. I was useless to them.

The doorbell rang, stirring me from my thoughts.

Clint had already opened the door for Steve and Tony, who were shaking hands with the greeter in as masculine a way as they possibly could.

Steve saw me first, and his face fell promptly.

"How did you get directions?" I asked, "I was about to call you."

"We found the big sign," Tony smirked.

"Look," Steve said quietly, sounding like a sitcom dad. "I need to apologize."

"I accept it," I said quickly, not wanting to hear his big long explanation, I could already tell that he meant it. "You don't have to get into it."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Tony was standing behind him, shifting from foot to foot. "Brought Vodka," he stated simply, not quite meeting my eyes.

"That's good enough for me," I took it from him and set it on the counter.

They all caught up with each other, comparing stories and talking about how awful the roads were. I tried to slip out while I could.

"Let me finish returning calls, and then I'll be right back."

"Go ahead."

I retreated back into my room and flopped down on the bed this time. Punching the numbers in, I stared at the ceiling blankly.

"Lily?" she still sounded panicked.

"Hi, Mom."

"Are you okay?" she asked frantically.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It's not about that."

"What was all that about, then?"

"I got chased by a war criminal and held hostage," I simplified.

"Oh dear," she sounded ready to faint.

"I'm fine. I just need some advice, and I know that's weird coming from me, but I just- I don't know if I can trust Phil with this."

"Go ahead and tell me then."

"Do you remember that one guy I told you about?"

She chuckled.

"Don't laugh at me," I chastised.

"Are you talking about the one that can't have sex?"

"Okay, that was uncalled for, and I don't even know if that's true, but yes. That is the same one I'm referring to," I rubbed my temple and tried not to blush.

"What about him?"

"I wanted to rejoin Phil's 'business', and then I could be around him a lot more, and that would be great probably."

"But?"

"But I haven't seen him in forever, and honestly I don't know who I can trust right now."

"What's the other option?"

"Go to the 'middle of nowhere' on an assignment."

"Will that be safer?"

"Hopefully, but then I'll barely see him anymore."

"That sounds like a quandary."

"I don't know what to do. And don't tell me to 'follow my heart'."

"I wasn't gonna say that," she laughed. "I was going to say 'wait'."

"Wait? What do you mean?"

"You're nervous, you don't know if it's safe, you don't know how he feels- so wait and find out."

"Just stay here and do nothing?"

"I never said that. I just meant that you don't have to decide right away."

I heard the doorbell ring from the room over.

"I'll call you later," I sighed. "Thor's at the door."

"What kind of name is Thor?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow."

"Love you."

"Love you, too," I returned, though hesitantly at first. I hung up the phone and set it on the bed. I should call Bruce, I told myself, though I was entirely too nervous to do it.

When I came out of my room, I found that no one had let Thor in. "Aren't you gonna get the door?" I accused the crowd of them.

They collectively chuckled.

I swung the door open and instantly realized why they didn't answer it.

It was not Thor, but Bruce, in fact. He was standing there bundled in a coat and scarf, with his cheeks read and breath white. More or less exactly how I pictured him.

The living room went silent. They all turned their heads to look at us.

I stood there, completely frozen, not knowing how to react. "Wait," I said finally, grabbing my coat and stepping onto the porch with him.

Tony made an exaggerated whooping noise, followed by a loud, "Get it, girl!"

"Shut up," I yelled, though my voice cracking made it unconvincing. I shut the door and turned around.

He wrapped both arms around my waist and pressed me back against the door. His lips were on mine instantly.

I felt complete relief come over me. He was here, he still cared, and I had just been dramatic and nonsensical.

I started laughing against his lips.

"What's funny?" he asked with a smirk.

"I can't kiss you back because I can't feel my lips. Don't be offended, I'm trying my best."

He laughed with me, "Wave," he said, nodding towards the window.

I turned my head to see the group of them staring at us between the blinds. They all moved away instantly, excluding Natasha, who gave me a thumbs up. I blushed like a beet.

"How are you?" he asked genuinely.

We brushed off the snow and sat on the top step of my porch.

"I've actually been surprisingly good," I answered, barely believing that I would say that when everything looked so grim the days before.

"Yeah?" he looked surprised as well.

"I'm working at a diner down the road, I'm significantly more Catholic than I was last time I saw you, I'm taking online classes for my master's, finally, and things are cool with my mom now."

"The same crazy, druggy, kleptomaniac Mom?"

"Now she's just crazy," I smiled. "What about you?" I asked, watching his eyes light up slightly.

"I've been alright, more or less. Everyone's been frantic trying new ways to find Loki, but now we're all done with that, thanks to you."

"I thought you'd be gone by now, honestly," I said quietly.

"Gone where?" he looked puzzled.

"I don't know, rural Sri Lanka, urban Cambodia, southern Venezuela, just somewhere you'd be hard to find."

"You'd be surprised how hard it is to find someone who's working for SHIELD. I'm probably safer with them than back in Calcutta," he shrugged. "And I have reasons to stay now."

I grinned, feeling my cheeks go red.

"Your smile is so weird right now," he laughed.

"Oh my God, I know. It feels even weirder, like the bottom half of my head is gone."

"Let me see your lip," he took the ice bag and looked intently.

I pulled the bandaid off and showed him the damage. "How does it look?"

"Really painful," he answered simply.

"Is the sewing as good as yours?" I teased.

"Of course not," he smirked sarcastically. "Has that one healed all the way?"

"Well enough. It still hurts sometimes. So am I scarred for life?"

He smiled, "You're definitely going to look more threatening."

"I think I could use that to my advantage."

"Well, everyone's seen what you did to Loki's foot, so I doubt you'll need it."

"Right. Can he walk?"

"Not without screaming."

"I've gotten a lot more intense these past months," I reflected, still feeling oddly guilty.

We both laughed in spite of it.

"I missed you," he said sincerely,

"I would kiss you right now, but I am honestly completely numb and it would probably feel mega weird for you," I tried my best to smile.

A loud crack of thunder sounded overhead.

"Hi, Thor," we said in unison.

"Nice to see you both together," he smiled broadly. "I come bearing food."

"Fantastic," I got up and took a bag from him. Bruce did the same and we entered the door with bags full of fruit and protein bars.

"Thor got us food," I called into the living room.

"Did you get my power bars?" Clint asked him instantly.

Thor looked so proud, "Chocolate flavored condensed protein for the marksman, regular chocolate for the pretty spider," he smiled and held out a candy bar to Natasha, who took it with a wicked smirk. "Alcohol for the man of iron, apple turnovers and cheddar for our captain, green tea for the doctor," he paused and turned to me, "And replacement 'manglolos' for our lovely host."

"Who needs food when you have even more vodka? Who wants a shot?" Tony boomed, pulling out the shot glasses from my cabinet.

We all cried out, "Yay!" and oddly in Thor's case, "Yolo!"

"Not you, pain meds," Bruce took the bottle from my hand and held up an alternative bottle filled with pills.

"I need something to swallow them with," I teased.

Tony poured, with none for me or Bruce. We sat back and watched the show.

Clint was out within the first five, and Natasha after the seventh. Tony would not give up, even though Steve was impossible to beat. They all decided to lay down on the couches once we finally cut Tony off.

"Let's watch something," Natasha mumbled, only barely keeping her eyes open.

"What do you want to watch?" I sat down next to the cabinet and looked through my DVDs.

"What Christmas movies do you have?" Clint asked, only barely coherent.

"I have the Nutcracker," I set the box on the table.

Natasha opened her eyes and picked it up to read the back. "No, it's an American dance company. Wouldn't be worth it."

"Excuse me?" Steve looked affronted.

"Whatever, I think Love Actually is the best Christmas movie," Tony said between swigs of beer.

"You are honestly the last person in this room I'd expect to hear that from," Natasha said in disbelief.

"Do you have It's a Wonderful Life?" Steve suggested, looking a little excited, and surprisingly sober.

"Gross, you're so old," Tony mocked him. "You would like that one."

"I'm pretty sure he's older than that one," Bruce corrected Tony.

"White Christmas is classic."

"Oh God no, that movie is utter shit," someone slurred.

Steve looked wounded.

"I just want to watch Thor ruin the kitchen honestly."

"Thor, leave my microwave alone, you pagan freak!" I got up and took the microwave and put away the different cereal boxes he'd gotten out. He only smiled, playing the fool again.

"Move your feet," Clint pushed Natasha's feet away from his legs.

"No," she said half asleep.

"I'm like the Ukraine," he mumbled. "Quit invading my territory."

They both went to sleep shortly after, along with Thor, Steve, and Tony, who'd been asleep for an hour at least.

I sat up and saw that Bruce was still awake, if barely. His eyes opened when I got up.

"What time is it?" he mumbled.

"It's about three," I said while grabbing my coffee cup.

"I thought you were asleep."

"I don't sleep anymore," I smiled between sips.

He obviously thought I was joking, and I didn't have the heart to tell him otherwise. I got up and looked around to find the caffeine pills in my purse and immediately cursed.

"Damn it, I left my purse."

Bruce was barely awake but he could at least register what I said. "Where?"

"At the diner," I sighed, sitting down on a stool.

"What do you need from it?" he asked while standing up.

"Medication," I euphemized

He yawned and stretched his arms. "I'll drive, you're still high."

"You're half asleep," I laughed.

"I can wake up, you can't get unmedicated."

Though I huffed about it, I ultimately agreed and threw him the keys.

We drove slow, as the roads were covered in almost five inches of snow by then. No one else had gone down my road since the storm started, which made driving it all the more difficult.

I laid my head back on the rest behind me. Everything was so calm and perfect. Bruce was humming with the radio and occasionally pointing out a deer in the road or Christmas lights.

Sleep came without me even knowing it.

I sat in a chair, both hands and legs tied. Looking around, I could tell I was sitting in the main workroom of the helicarrier, facing Fury's command center.

A man and a woman walked in, both with dark hair and the name tags that denoted their status as agents. I struggled against my bonds and bit against the gag in my mouth.

"Is this the one that saw you?" the woman asked.

"She knows," he replied grimly.

"Better get it over with then," she replied.

He grabbed the gun from his holster and fired twice.

"Hail Hydra."

I woke up screaming.

Bruce swerved and pulled over on the side of the highway. He reached out to calm me down, but I pulled away from him and flung open the car door.

"Lily, wait!"

I walked away from the car slowly. "Oh God, please stay away from me."

"What's wrong?!" he yelled.

"I'm gonna puke," I bent with my hands on my knees, watching the world spin around me.

"What happened?" he walked towards me quickly.

"Bruce, I love you, but please stay over there," I backed away from him, feeling more nauseous by the minute.

He put his hands up defensively, "I'm staying. Just tell me what's wrong."

"It's the dreams again," I started hyperventilating.

I sat down on the icy guardrail.

"This is still happening?" he asked in disbelief.

I dug my palms into my eyes. "Every damn time I sleep."

I wanted the visions out of my head. I wanted to go to sleep and not wake up crying. I wanted things how they were. I wanted to stab poor, defenseless, evil Loki all over again for giving me these dreams.

"What did you see?" he asked as he sat down next to me.

"Myself dead," I murmured, cradling my head in my hands.

"Again?" he sighed.

"I've seen myself die about twenty some different times now."

"You just said it was every time you slept though," he sounded puzzled.

"I told you I don't sleep anymore. Can you not even tell by looking at me? These under eye bags are not genetic," I almost screamed.

"Okay, I understand," he held his hands up. "You're safe. You're okay,"

"The hell I am okay," I yelled back, though my voice cracked.

"What happened in this one?" he asked, kindly ignoring that I was about to cry.

"They killed me."

"Who?"

"Agents."

"Keep going," he said simply.

"We were in the workroom, at headquarters, and I was tied to a chair, and this guy shot me," I mumbled.

"Have you had this dream before?"

"I never have them twice."

"Did you recognize them?"

"No."

"Would you recognize them?"

"No," I said finally. I could barely remember their faces. "I can't remember what they looked like," I whispered.

At this point I could feel tears coming down my cheeks. I wasn't sobbing, because there wasn't a point in it. The tears were involuntary

"You're freezing," Bruce said as he took my hand. "Let's find your purse and get back."

I pulled my hand from his and walked to the car quickly, realizing just how cold I was. We rode the rest of the way in silence, me partially ashamed of of my behavior, and him most likely afraid of upsetting me.

We arrived at the diner, which had already been abandoned for the night. It was unlocked, with my purse in the booth I left it in.

We didn't stay at all considering how eager we were to be out of the freezing weather. The car was silent for half the ride back.

"Loki, when I saw him, he said I shouldn't go back to SHIELD. And I asked why, so he told me I'd find out soon with his self satisfied, smug, piece of trash grin," I grumbled.

"So he knew this would happen."

"Bruce, he knows everything that ever will happen to me."

He shook his head, "He can't know everything."

"He knows enough."

"Have they come true before?"

"Remember when I had the dream that I drowned, and then he flooded the basement I was in?" I reminded him in lieu of explanation.

He had obviously forgotten. His face fell when he remembered.

"You're not coming back with us, are you?"

"Fury offered that," I mumbled, "But he mentioned some other mission for me, too. He said it had a lot of civilian work."

"Sounds safe."

He looked upset still, and I could barely stand it.

"God, I'm so sorry I yelled at you like that," I rubbed my temple.

"Considering you just watched yourself die, it was excusable."

We both laughed, and I felt deeply sad that we wouldn't be laughing together in the foreseeable future.

"I don't want to leave you," I said suddenly.

He sighed deeply, "I'd rather you stay alive in Alaska than have you die somewhere close by," he looked over at me.

"Good point," I frowned.

Thor and Steve were already awake when we made it back, both ready for the Loki release party.

"Aren't the others going?" I questioned.

"They're too hungover," Steve rolled his eyes.

"Would you like to come?" Thor asked, sounding a little somber.

"Why?" I responded, though I really wasn't opposed.

"He's saying goodbye to this realm, and you are one of the few beings in it he'll care to remember."

I tried to ignore how touching that statement was to me and how creepy it must have seemed to Steve and Bruce.

"Want me to come?" Bruce asked, looking at me.

"No, go to sleep," I suggested. "You've been up all night."

"Oh thank God," he smiled in relief, "Stay safe," he kissed my head quickly and walked back to the open couch.

"Let's go get breakfast then," Steve suggested.

_-x-_

Ten miles down the road, we were flooded with options. "How many diner's does this place have?"

"At least two a person. Let's go to that one. I work there," I pointed to one on the right.

We sat in a back booth and I ignored the looks of approval and suggestive winks my manager gave me.

All three of us had the oversized waffle and ate in relative silence.

"I'll be right back," Steve said, standing up to use the restroom.

I avoided eye contact with Thor when we were alone. He always played an idiot around the others, but he knew I saw him for what he was.

"What was Loki's life like?" Thor asked abruptly, leaning back against the booth.

"You were there for most of it," I said, tapping my fingers rhythmically on the table.

"I meant from his perspective."

"Awful," I sighed. "He hated you a lot there for a while."

"And now?"

"He cares a lot about you. He always has."

"He just has unique ways of displaying it," Thor supplied.

I smiled and swallowed deeply.

"Thor, I wanted to tell you something, because I think I need to."

"By all means," he nodded while drinking his coffee.

"He's not gonna stay in prison forever," I blurted.

"How would you know that?" he set the coffee down and stared at me suspiciously.

"I had a dream a couple weeks ago."

"Of his future? Not his past?"

"It's been the only one," I looked down. "Just be safe," I pleaded.

Steve had came back already and picked up the check "Are we ready?" he asked, still standing up. We followed him to the car and rode the rest of the way in silence.

I wanted to talk to Thor longer and tell him about the funny things I'd seen him and his brother do as kids, and even as adults. I wanted to let him know that I understood why he hesitated to accuse Loki. I wanted to tell him that in many ways, he was right to.

We met in a dead corn field a few miles away, just as the sun was fully rising.

Fury and Loki, with the latter in elaborate hand restraints, stood in the middle of the snow covered expanse.

"There's paperwork in the car, Thor, and we need a witness, Rogers. Coulson, if he gives you trouble, just go for the left foot this time," he said, handing me a knife.

They all chuckled as they walked to the car.

"How's your foot?" I asked Loki bluntly.

"Incredibly painful," he sighed, "Thank you for asking. Your lip looks a little better."

"Thanks," I responded, touching it absently. "Your nose didn't go crooked."

"Did you have the dream?" he questioned to change the subject.

"Yes," I looked away from him.

"I'm very sorry," he said sincerely.

"I know you are."

"Have you decided what to do next?"

"No," I shrugged. "What would you do?"

"Take the Alaska offer. Much safer there."

"What are you talking about?" I laughed.

"The mission in Alaska, that's happened already hasn't it?"

"We need like a spoiler alert for each other's lives. Fury hasn't said Alaska yet."

"Yes well, you get your whole life spoiled every time you sleep."

"Ugh," I groaned.

"The dreams are horrifying, I imagine, but at least they've kept you safe."

"Yes, they're absolutely wonderful," I said sarcastically. "Do you know how to stop them?"

"Perhaps if you stopped avoiding sleep all together they wouldn't be as intense."

"Is that medical knowledge or a general suggestion?"

"The latter. Do you think this will be it for us, really?" he smiled.

"You tell me."

"Yes well, I may know you're future, but I believe you know a bit of mine."

"What am I going to do next then?" I changed the subject.

"Come now, I'm not a fortune teller," he tissed.

I looked at him knowingly. He wanted to tell me more than anything.

"If I were you, I'd give a certain Miss Munroe a call back," he gave in.

"The lady looking into the power outage?"

"She'll need your help. You're the only one who can fix it."

"How?" I scoffed.

"Maybe I wasn't the one that put the lights out in the first place," he smirked simply.

"What do you mean?" I asked him, puzzled at how he didn't accept responsibility.

"You have become so much greater than you know, Lily."

"Wait, what are you implying?"

"Rogers is coming. Act like you hate me," he straightened.

I opened my mouth to question further, but Steve and Fury were already on either side of me.

Thor stepped forward and put his hand on his brother's back. "Director, Captain," he nodded to them both, "If I come to this realm again, I'm at your service."

The two nodded back wordlessly.

"Daughter of Coul, keep yourself safe," he said with a light smirk.

"Same," I nodded to him.

Thor lifted his arm, hammer in tow, and a storm appeared in the sky.

He joined arms with Loki and soared upward into the eye of the storm.

The thunder stopped, the hole closed, and the sky went back to it's original white.

"It's over just like that, huh?" Steve said in disbelief. "Crazy how things work out sometimes."

Fury grunted in agreement. "I have a file for you, Coulson. The mission's about half an hour outside of Anchorage, and it'll start as soon as you're able."

"What'll I be doing?"

"Surveillance on an operation near the base. We're afraid one of Mr. Rogers old enemies is resurfacing."

Steve looked over briefly with a grimace.

"Hydra," I whispered to myself, remembering the dream.

"Precisely."

"I'm in," I blurted.

Fury looked surprised, "Do you not want to read the files?"

"I will later, I just- it sounds right," I explained, thinking of what Loki said.

"When can you start?"

"Sometime tomorrow probably. I have something planned tonight, but I'll be ready after that."

_-x-_

Sitting on my porch, I picked up my phone and scrolled through my caller ID. So many people had called me and it was completely refreshing.

"Who's this?" a deep voice answered the phone once I'd found the right number.

"Hi, this is Lily Coulson. Um, can I speak to Miss Munroe?"

"Yeah," the voice answered gruffly. "Just a minute."

"Ms. Coulson, Nice to hear from you," the same kind voice greeted a minute later.

"You too, sorry I took awhile."

"It's not a problem."

"I wanted to call to say that I think I'll take you up on your offer."

"Excellent," she said with a little laugh. "I expected you would ignore me. When can you come?"

"Tonight at the earliest."

"That would be perfect. I'm looking forward to it."

"I will see you then," I said before disconnecting.

The crew had come outside while I was on the phone and were handing each other bags to load up in the quinjet. Their cars had disappeared overnight, which Tony took credit for.

"Are you coming with us?" Natasha asked me, though she looked like she already knew the answer.

I shook my head and frowned.

"Why? I thought you loved it there with us?" Tony laughed sarcastically.

"I've had enough excitement for a while."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Actually, for now, I'm going to New York to help solve a problem I created, and then I figure I'll head to Alaska on Fury's mission."

"Boring," Tony yawned.

"You'll tell us when you're in town?" Natasha asked, slapping Tony's shoulder.

"Of course," I told her honestly.

She patted my shoulder and walked off toward the cockpit.

"Be good," Steve added, shaking my hand.

"Eat your drugs and don't do vegetables," Tony said with a serious expression.

"Also stay in school," Clint smirked.

Bruce stayed behind for a second as they walked off and waited for them all to get in the jet.

"Bye?" he asked simply, looking like he already knew what I'd say.

"Just for now," I replied. "I'll call you."

"You better," he smirked.

I kissed him quick and let him go.

"Bye."

"Bye," he said, though I could barely hear him over the jet's engine.

"Be safe!" I yelled.

"No more caffeine pills!" he yelled back.

I waved at the quinjet as it faded over the horizon, taking a good bit of my happiness with it. I tried not to think about how long it would be before I saw them again, and instead of how much safer I was.

The most important thing now was finding my passport and getting to the airport.

_-x-_

I met her in the terminal at the coffee shop like she'd said. She was gorgeous and tall, with dark skin and light hair.

"I tried the power companies twice," she frowned as we drank our coffees.

"Have you been to Stark Tower?" I asked quietly.

"No, why?" her eyebrows raised.

"That's where it started."

"We're half an hour away then," she looked at her watch. "It'll only barely be daylight."

"It's okay," I said confidently. "This will work."

We drove through the empty streets past families sitting out on their steps. Everyone looked so cold in the snow, but I silently wondered if it were any warmer indoors.

We walked through the swivel doors of Stark Tower, which was lit by an insane number of candles. "We have a meeting," Ororo lied to the kid at the front desk.

"Very well, the stairs are over there."

"Why the stairs?" I asked, not wanting to climb a hundred flights.

"The elevator doesn't work," the clerk at the front desk called after us.

"Of course," Ororo sighed.

I filled her in as we climbed the first few flights, but past ten stories I was breathing too hard to talk. We traveled the rest of the way in silence.

Finally, we reached Tony's apartment and walked through the dark room to the overlook. The city was still completely dark and the stars completely beautiful.

I stood on the balcony with my thighs still on fire from the stairs and the snowflakes rapidly collecting in my hair.

That night months before, as Loki and I sat together, I remember wanting to look at the stars again. The light pollution was too much in the city, so I wanted them all to disappear.

Loki snapped, and I believed he'd already turned the lights out, but I was sober this time. I saw now who had really caused the blackout.

"You have become so much greater than you know," I whispered Loki's words to myself.

I closed my eyes and wanted the lights back. I wanted to see Stark Tower glow beneath me. I wanted the city to be safe again.

My eyes opened.

And the city lights shined brighter below than all the suns in all the realms combined.

_-x-_

Wow. Two and a half years later, this story is finished, which seems slightly surreal.

Did you dig the Hydra bit? Also Storm's name drop, because who else could help you fix a power outage? I hope the ending was a nice twist as well.

I've had a few questions pertaining to the future of this character and I want to have a definitive answer but I honestly can't confirm or deny a sequel until Ultron comes out. Hopefully soon after that I'll know if I want to continue it. And tbh I probably will to some capacity, I know I at least will proofread the previous chapters and make them all grammatically perfect.

Thank you all again, and again for brightening so many of my days. May you all enjoy beautiful broccoli weddings and prolonged games of velociraptor.

Lots of love,

Maddie