Author: @dm1n (Page 10 of 25)

-Bruce, can you meet me at the medical ward?-Tony asked over the comlink, according to Jarvis Fury was still in the Tower, risking Leah´s and Fury’s paths to cross again wasn´t a good idea.

-On my way.-Bruce answered without any further question.

-Hu must be very eager to leave the shooting ring.-Leah told Tony.- He didn´t even asked you what for.-

-Yes, I know. Fury has a way of …-Tony paused as he tried to think of a nicer way to describe it.

-Pissing people of? – Leah ended his sentence for him.

-That too.-Tony agreed.-He´s not that bad one you get to know him, he´s definitely no angel I agree, but he means well, though I don´t always approve his methods.-

-So, you are saying I shouldn´t be worried about SHIELD? – Leah asked puzzled.

-No, to say the truth I think you are right to be wary of them, SHIELD´s history with people with abilities doesn´t always end well. With some exceptions of course, but that´s only because he knows he needs us.-

-So for them is either with them or against them, right?-Leah asked worryingly.

-Yes.-Tony admitted.-If Loki really wants to change and become one of us you won´t need to be concerned about SHIELD anymore.-

-If … you don´t believe him? – Leah asked with a stern look on her face.

-I believe he loves you, beyond that …. I don’t know.-Tony confessed.

Leah´s expression changed to a sad one, he was right; it would be hard for the rest of them to believe in Loki.

-No, no, don´t be sad.-Tony told her with a concern look.

-But … – Leah started to protest when Bruce walked in.

-What´s the problem?-He asked dryly.

-I … – Leah showed him her hands.

-Again? – He asked with a stern look.

-I´m sorry.-Leah apologized, she felt like she was letting him down every time she couldn´t stop it from happening.

-I thought you were happily reuniting with Loki.-Bruce told her.

-I was, but …-Leah started to explain when Tony interrupted her.

-It wasn´t all her fault Bruce, we thought it would be better not to tell her about the real reason behind Venom´s breaking in. Like Loki says, she´s too smart for her own good.-

-Never mind, let´s get those treated, you can explain me what happened later.-Bruce said as he uttered an annoyed sigh.

-Things not going well with Fury? – Tony asked concerned.

-I´d have to say no that until Thor practically menaced him with a full-fledged war with Asgard if both Leah and Loki didn´t remained under our custody.-Bruce told them.

-He didn’t.-Tony said amused by the thought of it.

-Oh! He did.-Bruce smirked. -They’re still arguing about it, Fury demands that Loki remains shackled and caged until he´s satisfied with evidence of his change.-

-What will it take to convince him?-Leah suddenly asked.

-To say the truth I don´t know.-Bruce confessed.-I don´t think none of us do.-

Leah looked heartbroken for his reply; when could she be able to truly reunite with Loki?

-You´re making her worry.-Tony protested.

-It clearly backfired when you tried to do the opposite thing.-Bruce answered while bandaging Leah´s right hand.

-No, it´s all right Tony. I should´ve known it wouldn´t be that easy.-Leah told them with a defeated sigh.

-At least you can see him, talk to him.-Tony reminded her trying to cheer her up.

-But, I can´t … be with him.-Leah told them crestfallen.-Will he be able to be at my side when Eerika is born?-she asked in a pleading tone.

Bruce looked into her eyes mercifully. –I´m sure we can arrange that, don´t worry.-He answered with a soft smile.

-Thank you.-Leah smiled him back.

-Now, tell me what happened, I though you already had this under control.-Bruce told them as he finished the bandage on Leah´s left hand.

Tony explained mostly everything, he left some of the more personal details out Like Loki calling out loud the name of Leah´s deceased child to make her snap out of it.

-So Loki can teach you to control this?-Bruce asked intrigued.

-Yes, he can.-Leah asserted.

-Then I guess we better arrange that he does.-Bruce told her.-I really don´t want to keep bandaging you every time things get out of control, regardless your healing factor I know it hurts even if you don´t tell me.-

Leah looked discomforted by his statement. –I don´t want to be whining.-she answered. –You do more than enough patching me every time.-

-That´s what friends are for.-Bruce replied. – Now, off to bed. Doctor´s orders.-

-But I´m not tired.-Leah complained, she was but she felt restless knowing Loki was near.

-You can see your Romeo tomorrow.-Tony told her shamelessly.

-All right.-Leah gave in; he was right at least for the moment Loki wasn´t going anywhere.

-Are you seriously considering not to tell Leah?-Tony asked worryingly

-Of course not.-Steve answered offended – I just want to know what Loki has to say before we tell her something, I don´t want to raise her hopes only to shatter them later.-

Tony nodded his head negatively –All right, but I don´t want to be the one to tell her we´ve kept her in the dark since we left earlier.-

-Don´t tell me you are scared of her Tony.-Steve mocked him.

-That´s because you know nothing about women.-Tony spat at him.-Eight months pregnant angry woman is enough to be afraid of, and if you add her currently anger management problem …-Tony quoted with his hands in the air while he ended his sentence.

-I thought she had the magic outburst controlled.-Clint interrupted them

-She´s just suppressing her emotions. – Tony acknowledged.-Sooner or later she´s going to snap.-

-Let´s hope not.-Steve told them with a stern look in his face, Bruce had to treat her several times for different levels of burns before she could control them.

It didn´t took long for Loki to wake up after they had moved him into his cell, as he came to he found himself shackled. “-That´s just great”- he complained mentally as he tested the length of the chains.

-So you are up!- Tony stated almost cheerfully.

-No thanks to you.-Loki wryly answered as he rubbed his head.

-Don´t be such a drama queen, it was better than waiting for Thot to finally knock you out.-Tony spat with irony.

Loki left a small laugh, it seemed that at least someone had caught a glimpse of his plan. –You are right, he was taking too long. I know now why Leah likes you.-

-Flattering will take you nowhere Loki.-Steve warned him. –Now tell us, what are you up to?-

-All right! Straight to the point. I´ve considered all my options and have decided to change sides sort of speak.-Loki revealed.

-You mean you want to become one of us?-Tony inquired surprised.

-Yes.-Loki dryly answered.

-Then why not just approach us instead of making such a display back there?-Steve asked.

-Because it was necessary.-Loki explained.-Do you really think that last month incident was just a coincidence?-

-Venom´s breaking in?-Clint asked intrigued.

-Yes, he came here with a mission.-Loki volunteered.

-And failed.-Clint added convinced.

-Sadly no, he was just a diversion. For what I was able to find out someone else broke in your Tower at the same time and extracted some information.-Loki explained grimly.

-Blueprints.-Tony suddenly told them.

-You knew about this?-Steve asked surprised.

-Suspected.-Tony corrected him.-Venom damaged some of the records when he trashed the lab, but I found some unexplained records of myself requesting the blueprints of the Tower, the medical ward specially which I´m pretty sure I didn´t asked for. I dismissed due to the corrupted data until now.-

-Someone is onto her.-Loki said with a frown.

Tony sighed with a scowl. –I think so too.-

-So, that´s why you decided to change sides and set all that display earlier? To protect her from this menace?-Steve asked surprised.

-No, I´ve already made my mind about changing sides when I decided to stand by her side.-Loki confessed –If whoever planned that hit knew I changed sides, he or she might risk attacking immediately. We can´t allow that to happen, not with her due date so close.-

-So you had to pretend to pick up a fight with me and loose?-Thor finally spoke, he sounded both surprised and relieved.

-Well, yes.-Loki admitted.-You are very easy to predict, I knew you would challenge me alone if I seemed to return to my old ways. And it kind of worked, though it was much harder than I anticipated, you kept trying to reason with me.-

-And that´s why you attacked me fierce fully every time I did.-Thor recalled.

-I couldn´t let you to leak anything that might hurt us later.-Loki explained, then asked –Now that I told you what happened, are these really necessary?-He raised his shackled wrists.

-Yes they are.-Steve told him.-You can´t just expect us to believe your word. If you are really telling us the truth you´ll need to prove it.-

-Beyond any doubt.-Natasha added.

-I´ll do whatever you ask of me.-Loki offered.-May I see her?-Loki asked in hope.

-I don´t see why not.-Tony told Steve.

-All right, but she´s not getting in there, nor are you getting out.-Steve warned him.-Not until we´re sure we can trust you.-

Loki sighed disappointed, he longed to hold her in his arms again. –Agreed.-He nodded affirmatively.

Leah had stayed with Bruce in the shooting ring, ever since Venom´s attack she was bent on perfecting her aim, and her hard work was beginning to pay off.

-Well done Leah.-Bruce congratulated her after a magnificent display of accuracy and speed.

Suddenly a clapping sound made them turn around, it was Nick Fury; Leah paled at his sight as a frightened deer. Bruce protectively stood between them placing Leah right behind himself.

-I thought I should drop by to talk about your newest guest – He stated before Bruce could ask him.-Watching your skills display is quite a surprise, your reflexes are almost inhuman.-He said to Leah.

-Nick, what are you doing here?-Tony asked while walking on the scene taking place accompanied by Steve and Thor.

-You motherfuckers failed to deliver a wanted criminal, so I had to come to find out why.-Nick dryly told them while eying Leah.- And found an interesting surprise, anything else you failed to report to me?-

-If we reported everything to you we wouldn´t get any work done.-Tony replied as he walked to Leah who looked more nervous by the second, he had to get her out of there fast.

-You´d better make the freaking time.-Fury told him in a menacing tone –I´m not leaving until you tell me everything.-

His last comment was the drop that overfilled the vase, despite her best effort to control it Leah´s hands began to release small blue sparkles.

-Leah, Loki is here.-Tony spat walking right to her hopping it would distract her enough to keep Fury from noticing.

-What?-Leah asked surprised while raising her eyes to meet Tony´s.

-He want to see you, I´ll take you to him.-Tony told her with a small smile; her hands had stopped glowing.

-What the hell? – Fury asked angrily. Despite Tony’s efforts he had noticed it too.

-Steve and Thor can explain you everything.-Tony dismissed him while leading Leah out of the room.-I´m busy.-

-Tony, I don’t understand, is Loki the new guest Fury was taking about? – Leah asked him as soon as they were in the hallway.

-Well, yes, he is. It´s kind of complicated I got good news and bad news.-He began explaining her.

-He is the reason you went on a mission earlier.-Leah interrupted him as she figured it out.

-Yes, he confessed.-We didn´t told you because you were too worried the last time Thor and Loki got into a fight, and it kind of happened again, but this time it was part of Loki’s plan so I guess that´s all right, although Thor wasn´t helping with the plan so I kind of had too, because I was the only one that caught it, you know I´m the smart one, Loki says that´s why you like me.-

-Tony, you are not making any sense.-Leah interrupted him confused by his ramble..

-All right, let me start again.-Tony offered as he slowly explained to her everything that had happened until their conversation with Loki. He´d choose to omit the fact that Venom had helped someone to obtain the Tower´s blueprints, he saw no point on worry her any further.

When they finally arrived at Loki´s cell Leah wasn´t even sure if to be angry or happy, seeing Loki´s beaten condition her heart shrank.

-Loki, are you ok?-Leah asked him with a worried frown on her face as she placed her hands on the cell glass window.

-I am don´t worry. It looks worst that it is.-Loki answered her with a smile as he contemplated her round figure.-What are you wearing?-

-Um… a uniform? – Leah tentatively answered taken by surprise.-But don´t change the subject, fighting Thor, was that really necessary? Look at yourself, you are a mess.-She scolded him.

-It was.-Loki answered thoughtfully as he inquisitively looked at Tony, his face told him all he needed to know, he hadn’t told her about the real reason he had fought Thor; he doubted for a moment, he didn’t wanted her to worry either.

Leah noticed those exchanging looks and angrily asked. What are you not telling me?-

-Nothing love.-Loki lied to her with his best smile.

-I´m not stupid you know, I know there´s something neither of you are telling me. You already lied to me earlier when you left to fight Loki, are you sure you want to do this?-She reproached Tony.

-You know why we didn´t told you.-Tony defended himself.

-It was an accident.-Leah pouted angrily.

-What was an accident?-Loki asked them worryingly

-Nothing you should worry about … love.-Leah answered him defiantly.

-Stark, what happened?-Loki asked Tony anxiously.

-As she said it was an accident.-Tony said uncomfortably, but though it over as he saw Loki´s anguished face – All right, las time Bruce told her you and Thor were fighting she broke a glass on her hands.-

-Well, thank you very much for that.-Leah snapped with an angry glare as she turned her back on them.

-That´s why your hands were bandaged.-Loki remembered.

-You knew?-Tony asked him confused.

-Not really, I scryed for her after the battle, I did noticed she had bandages on her hands but I didn´t knew why. Leah, I´m sorry.-He never thought about her feelings over the battles with his older brother, he should´ve foreseen it.

-No you are not.-Leah told him enraged –And my feelings on the matter clearly doesn´t matter.-She was too angry and embarrassed to face him, damned hormones she thought.

-That´s not true, if I´d knew … I would´ve thought of something. You matter to me, why else do you think I am here?-Loki tried to reason with her.

-I don´t know.-Leah lied to him, she didn’t wanted him to fade her anger just yet.

-Come on Leah, don´t be like that!-Tony interrupted the lover’s quarrel.-Give the man a break! He´s just trying to keep you safe.-

-Safe from what? SHIELD? They already know now.-Leah turned to meet them, she realized by the look on their faces that SHIELD wasn´t their main concern. –Who else then?-she asked anxiously as she unconsciously clenched her fists.

Neither Loki nor Tony answered her question, which really scared her.-Oh God! – She exclaimed frightened while taking a step back.

-No Leah. You have to stop worrying, it´s not good for you or Eerika.-Tony quickly told her; maybe they should tell her, the truth couldn´t be any worse than whatever she was imagining.

-Stop worrying? – Leah asked in an almost hysterical laugh – Stop worrying? How can I stop? It´s happening again! – She wasn´t hearing them anymore, the thought of something far worse than SHIELD was too much for her to bear, her worst fears were becoming real, she shrieked between tears.-I´m going to lose everyone again! I can´t do this! I´m not that strong! Not again, I can´t, not alone, not again! I can´t … -She dropped to her knees unable to process a second loss of her loved ones, suddenly her hands flamed up.

-No! Leah!-Tony tried to reach her, but he couldn´t get close enough, the magical flames were preventing him from doing so.

-Do something!- Loki yelled in anguish, he would be able to get to her if only he wasn´t trapped in his cell.

-I can´t. – Tony told him defeated. They´ve tried it more than once, but none of them were capable of reaching her in that state.

Loki growled in frustration then against his promised he yelled one name –Richard!-

Leah looked up instantly horrified, even the flames went out abruptly. –No… don´t say his name.-her tears kept flowing freely –You promised …-

Loki ignored her, he knew how much the memory of his death unborn child hurt her, after she accidently confessed him one night that she had already picked a name for him before the accident, she had made him sworn never to speak of it ever again, she just couldn´t bear it.

-Eerika isn´t Richard Leah, you are not going to lose her like to lost him, it was an accident, an horrible accident, there was nothing you could do, you couldn´t fight it. You have to stop blaming yourself for surviving. You are not going to lose her nor me, I´m not going to let that happen, I swear on my life I won´t allow it. Whatever happens will fight it together, you´ll never be alone again. I´m sorry it took me so long to realize that what I really want is to spend my life with you.-

Leah looked surprised, she managed to still her sniffling for a moment to ask him –Really?-

Loki gave her his warmest smile, he couldn´t believe she didn´t knew it already –Really silly girl, why else would I let Thor defeat me, you know how much I hate losing, especially to him.-

-Yes, you do.-Leah warmly smiled him back then pleaded.-Loki, please tell me, who´s after us?-

-I sincerely don’t know, but there are only a handful of people capable of both recruiting and paying off the Sinister Seven, Dr. Doom and Norman Osborn between them.-Loki confessed her while worryingly looking at her hands, her hands didn´t looked as bad as the first time, but they still looked a little scorched. – Are you all right? – He asked her with a frown.

Leah blushed, now that everything had passed she felt silly –I´m sorry … I can´t control them. I tried to stop feeling scared but I can´t.-She looked worriedly at her hands.

-That´s not what I meant by controlling your emotions.-Loki explained her concerned, he should´ve tried to explain it better when it happened; as he scratched his head trying to think of a better way to explain it to her he told her.-Is more like embracing them and giving your emotions a direction, not denying them.-

Both Tony and Leah looked at him puzzled.

-I´ll teach you.-He finally offered.-If that´s all right with you.-He directed his last comment to Tony.

-As long as you both stay on your side of the glass, I don´t see why not- He stated then asked Loki –Are this powers permanent?-

-I don’t think so, I´ve never heard of them remaining after childbirth.-Loki answered Tony.

-That´s a relief!-Tony exclaimed as he walked over to Leah to help her up.-We´re going to need Bruce to take a look at these.-He said as he examine her hands, her healing factor was already working to fix the damage.

-Can´t you patch them yourself? – Leah asked him

-Oh! I could. But then I would miss on Bruce lecturing you. It´s like watching two monster trucks playing chicken-He teased her.

-You enjoy that a little too much.-Leah pouted, as she recalled where she left Bruce she asked Tony –Do you think Fury is gone by now?

-Fury is here?-Loki asked concerned.

-Yes, he wanted to know why hadn´t we turned you over him.-Tony answered.

-You are not going to do that, right?-Leah asked him worryingly.

-That´s completely up to him.-Tony pointed at Loki.-As soon as he can convince every one of us he´s being truthful about changing side’s you´ll be in each other´s arms.-

Both Leah and Loki blushed slightly at his comment, they yearned for quite a lot more than just being in each other´s arms.

“-This is it.-“ was Loki´s thought, everything was ready, it was time to set his plan in motion, but he wasn´t exactly thrilled about it. He sighed as he readied himself “-Did I miss something?”- He thought nervously, but he knew it wasn´t the case. “-I´d better go through with it, there´s no going back now, and this better be convincing. He bit his lower lip while going over his plan in his head “-Quit stalling!-“he admonished himself.

-All right. – He finally said out loud as he put his helmet on –Let´s do some mischief.-He teleported from the roof he had been to the middle of a field on Central Park, he had chosen the location to maximize the effect but minimize the possibility of collateral damage, if someone got hurt his plan wouldn´t stand a chance.

As soon as he got there he smiled, even if he disliked profoundly the rest of his plan for the day at least this part was going to be fun, without a moment to loose he conjured the illusion of a pack of bigelsnipes which causes terror instantly, he reinforced the illusion by blasting some magic bolts that gave the impression of the bigelsnipes causing actual damage to the now abandoned belonging of the park´s visitors while he spoke up –I am Loki of Asgard people of Midgard , and I challenge your champions for the reign of this realm. Avengers, I dare you to face me! – The scared masses tripped with themselves on their hurry to flee the vicinity.

He couldn´t help to laugh at their hurried efforts over in truth, nothing; if only one of them had been brave enough to face the fake bigelsnipes they would´ve dissolved into thin air.

Loki didn´t had to wait long for the Avengers to arrive. As he had expected the first one to approach him was Thor –Are you out of your mind?-He yelled at him enraged –This is how you fulfill your promises?-

-I´m the God of Lies Thor, did you really expected any different? – he mocked him, in truth he was worried Thor didn´t caught on his true intentions.

-Have you forgot about …? –Thor didn´t even see Loki move until his spear hit his face.

-I´m not here to talk Thor.-He angrily spat at him, how else he was supposed to keep his over righteous brother from spilling everything out. –I don´t care about your childish reproaches, have I not made it clear enough? I´m here to challenge you and your so called Avengers.-As her utter the words he blasted a magic ray against the rest of the team who were disembarking the Quinjet. –And don´t bring Erick into this.-He shouted before being tackled down by Thor who was too angry to pay attention to his last remark, luckily Tony who had flown in by his own did “-Erick?”- He thought to himself –“Why Loki would made such mistake?” He knew fully well he was having a daughter, not a son, he had chosen the name himself, he knew there was no chance he had heard it wrong either, that just left another possibility, Loki was trying to tell them something.

Suddenly he asked Steve over the comlink –Are you guys all right?-

-Yes, thankfully Loki´s aim seems a bit off today, he hit the Quinjet which let out a lot of smoke but not us.-Steve reported

-I don´t think that has nothing to do with luck.-Tony dryly told Steve. –I think Loki is trying to send us a message.-

-A message?-Steve repeated intrigued by Tony´s conjecture.

Their conversation was interrupted by an unexpected thunder, it seemed Loki had pissed Thor enough to make him summon a storm. Seconds later after the first lightning hit Thor´s hammer he redirected it against Loki that summoned a magic barrier to block it.

“-Dammit Loki, don’t do that.-“He mentally admonished himself.-You are supposed to loose, remember? – He reminded himself as he mentally stated “-I hate this plan.-“

Then he mocked Thor again –Is that the best you can do, princess? – He knew fully well that insult would really get him into Thor´s bad side, but he had no choice, the battle had to look real, he couldn´t afford anyone suspecting otherwise.

Thor rammed into Loki´s magic barrier with Mjolnir shattering it, the shockwave sent both Asgardians flying a good hundred meters from each other. Both of them seemed tired, Thor had asked the team to let him alone deal with Loki as soon as Jarvis had alerted them of the disturbances in Central Park.

-Thor, are you sure you don´t want us to ….-Steve began to ask worryingly as the battle seem to be taking his tall on them, as they disembarked they´ve set their task on the bigelsnipes which had dissolved as the illusion’s faded by their touch.

-Stay away!- Was Thor´s furious respond.

-Are your friends getting bored? –Loki snarled with a smile as he snapped his fingers –Maybe I can help them with that.-He magically had turned everyone’s weapons into snakes. The first reaction of all of them was to drop their weapons in a hurry. Loki mocked them –What happen? Afraid of some little snakes?-

Thor seized the opportunity to attack Loki only to fall through an illusion –Are you always going to fall for that Thor?-He taunted his older brother, he really shouldn´t, but he was having so much fun pissing him off.

Even Tony smirked at Loki´s last trick, then it hit him. Loki was making Thor angry on purpose and he really hadn’t done anything near deadly to anyone, he just seemed to be playing tricks, taunting them. What if he wanted to lose? Normally if Loki felt he was losing he would teleport away, he´d never let them capture him, but what if he needed them too?

His thoughts were interrupted again by Thor´s and Loki´s fighting, this time Loki had failed to raise his magic shield against Thor´s lightning’s which had hit him full causing him to scream in pain.

“-Why can´t you just back out?-“Loki irritated complained to himself while he desperately tried to catch his breath while on his knees.

Thor seemed reluctant to finish him, he really didn´t wanted to hurt his younger brother, his anger was beginning to fade. -Why are you doing this Loki? – He asked conflicted. –I thought you wanted too…-

Loki huffed furiously as he gathered all his strength in a single magic blow against Thor –You stupid oaf! I don´t want to talk!- The blow flew Thor a few meters away, but before he could charge against Loki again he heard the sound of Tony´s thrusters being fired, he had attacked Loki by surprise knocking him out.

-You were taking too long.-He said to Thor before he could complain. –Now, let´s get him to the Tower.-

Thor growled as he carried Loki´s unconscious form over his shoulder and into the Quinjet. As soon as they were in he grabbed Tony by the throat –I told you not to interfere.-

-I know that Thor.-Tony quickly responded before things escalated –But you were spoiling your brother´s plan.-

-Loki´s plan? What do you mean?-Thor asked puzzled as he released Tony

-I don´t know why, but I´m quite sure he wanted us to capture him.-Tony explained.-Think about it, he was playing you, making you angry.-

-He´s right.- Natasha agreed.-He was playing with all of us, the snakes were more of a distraction than an actual threat.-

-But why? – Thor inquired confused.

-You´ll have to wait until he wakes up to ask him.-Tony volunteered.

-Why don´t we just deliver him to SHIELD?-Clint asked annoyed.

-We can always do that later.-Steve offered.-But Tony is right, Loki´s up to something and I´ll like to know what it is.- Then he turned to Thor –Do you still have the shackles that bind Loki magic powers?-

-Yes. – Thor dryly answered.

-Then I guess we have ourselves a guest.-Steve acknowledged.- Jarvis, prepare the cell on level 27 and tell Bruce we are on our way back, and Jarvis … don´t Leah know about our guest.-

A few minutes after the mouse and cat game started Tony received a call from Jarvis –Sir, I´m afraid we have a security breach-

-What? Now?! This can´t be happening! Talk to me Jarvis, what´s going on? – He spat angrily as he barely escaped from one of Dr. Octopus arms.

-The criminal known as Venom just broke into the Tower followed by Spiderman.-the A.I. replied

Tony growl as he asked Jarvis to communicate him with Spiderman –What are you doing in my Tower?-

-First of all this wasn´t my idea, seems Venom is after something in your Tower, he kept luring me here until he broke inside. I very much doubt he just came in here for fun, what does he want?-Spiderman answered displeased.

-I don´t know, we have a lot of dangerous weapons in the vault, some vibranium in the lab, not to mention art and jewelry lying around, take your pick.-Tony replied as he kept fighting

-Fuck! Hey! Put that down!-could be heard at the other side of the line along with the familiar sounds of things breaking.

-Put what down? What´s going on?-Tony inquired annoyed

-I´m a bit busy right now, I´ll tell you later.-Spiderman answered as he cut the communication.

-Dammit! Jarvis, where are Clint and Leah?-Tony asked worryingly

-Mr. Barton is on his way to intercept the intruder, Mrs. Leah is in the shooting ring- Jarvis reported.

-Seal the shooting ring level, I don´t want Venom walking into her-Tony ordered –Guys, we have a situation- He wryly said to the rest of the team through the comlink.

-You mean other than this?-Natasha asked intrigued.

-Venom just broke into the Tower.-Tony finally spat.

Everyone´s heart skip a beat when they heard the news, Venom was by far the most vicious of the Sinister Six, even if Spiderman and Clint combined forces he wouldn´t be easy to defeat.

-I´m going back- Steve replied in an instant –Now, if someone could give me a hand with Rino.-

He´d barely finished his sentence when Thor tackled Rino away –Hurry Steve!-He shouted as he threw Rhino a good hundred meters away before resuming his fight with Electro.

Steve quickly got in the Quinjet and flew it into the Tower at full speed, within minutes he was walking into the Tower through the shattered glass of the Penthouse, following Venom wouldn´t be hard, he left a path of destruction on his way.

When Jarvis told Clint about the intruder he restock his quiver and told Leah to stay put, he didn´t wanted her to run into Venom by accident.

-But … -Leah protested, she wasn’t at all keen of being left alone.

-Don´t worry. We´ll be fine, trust me, just stay here.-He reassured her-If you hear someone coming to this level hide, all right?-

-All right. – Leah nervously agreed –Please take care of yourself Clint.-

-I´m harder to kill than you think, I´ll be back in no time.-He smiled at her as he walked away.

-Clint? Where are you?-Steve called him in the comlink.

-Steve? I´m on my way to level 79, my best guess is that Venom is after something in the labs of level 80, any ideas?-Clint answered

-Your guess is as good as mine.-Steve replied –Where´s Leah?-

-I left her on the shooting ring, she´s a bit scared.-Clint confessed

-I can imagine –Steve commented then asked –Where´s Spiderman Jarvis?-

-Currently at level 79, he´s engage in a fight with the intruder.-Jarvis Reported

-I´ll meet you there.-Clint told Steve

Clint was the first to catch up with Venom and Spiderman, by the time Steve arrived the fight had already moved to the labs level, the shooting ring was only three levels below, they had to stop him there.

Before he could know it Venom trapped Clint in a spider web pod just as Steve arrived.

-Mind if I join in?-He asked as he stroke Venom with his shield making him release his grip on a unconscious Spiderman.

-How you dare interrupt us?-Venom growled fiercely –We´re getting rid of all of you.-Followed by his anger burst Venom teared from the floor a very heavy looking equipment and forcefully threw it against Steve.

Only because of his super-human reflexes was Steve able to get out of the way before it hit him, though the weight from the equipment made the floor to cave in. Suddenly a woman´s scream could be hear at the distance, the equipment must have fallen all the way to the shooting ring level. The scream called Venom´s attention and before Steve could avoid it he jumped into the hole. Steve jumped right after him, they both kept fighting between the debris as they descended. In a second Venom managed to get a hold of Steve´s head and forcefully smashed him down against the floor which made Leah cry out.

As Venom lifted a half-conscious Steve in the air with the intention of ending him a voice interrupted him.

-Let him go.-Leah sounded a lot more confident than she felt, she was trying her best to hide her trembling as she pointed her arrow against Venom.

-Look at that, who do we have here?-Venom teasingly asked without loosening his grip on Steve.

-That´s not of your business. I can’t let you hurt him. Let him go!-Leah ordered again

-Leah, no!-was Steve´s muffled plea

-You´d better stop pointing at us with that thing before you get hurt.-Venom sarcastically told her.

-I´m not afraid of you.-Leah yelled standing her ground.

-Really? We´ll see about that.-Venom said as he let Steve drop to the ground as he charged against Leah.

Leah´s arrow flew just beside him which made Venom release a maniacal laugh –You missed! My turn!-

Leah didn´t had enough time to set another arrow, out of instinct she protectively raised her arms in an attempt to withstand Venom´s lunge against her as her started shout echoed the floor.

Almost at the same time a green shimmer appeared just a few paces from Leah as a blue bright glow flooded the room.

Loki was the first to come around after the shockwave that followed the glow knocked all of them out, his helmet had protected him from the blast.

-What the …? – He started to ask confused about what had just happened when he noticed Leah unconscious on the floor –Please, no! –was his first thought as he rushed to her side and cradled her between his arms; he sighed in relief when he noticed she was still breathing –Leah, Leah, please wake up!- he desperately pleaded trying to reanimate her.

-Mmm.-Leah complained under his efforts until she recognized his voice –Loki?-She weary asked as she struggle to open her eyes.

-Yes, baby, it’s me. I´m so sorry.-He said with a sad smile as he fought the tears on his eyes while holding her tight to his chest.-I didn´t knew, if the news hadn´t been on …-

-Ow!-Leah groaned in pain as he hugged her which made Loki worryingly loosen his grip on her.

-What´s wrong? Are you injured? Did Venom touch you? If he dared to hurt you …-Loki growled

-No, I don´t think he did. My hands, and arms hurt.-Leah said in a half voice –And I feel drained.-

Loki swiftly took a look at her hands, he gasped as he recognized her wounds –It can´t be.- He said mostly to himself, then he raised one of her sleeves to take a look at the rest of her arm –But that´s not possible, you can´t do magic.-

-What are you talking about? – Leah inquisitively asked.

-Those burns, I´ve only seen similar ones on magic apprentices, it happens when they can´t control their powers, their magic … burns them. I don´t know how but it seems you are the one behind the explosion Leah. Unless …-

-Unless what? – Leah asked worryingly

-What was your last thought before the explosion? – Loki asked in earnest

-I was scared.-Leah acknowledged.

-Something else, think Leah! – Loki pleaded

-I was thinking of Eerika, I was so scared for her.-Leah confessed

Suddenly voices could be heard through the hole in the levels ceiling.

-Why can’t we catch a break? – Loki sighed in exasperation

-Please don´t go.-Leah pleaded as she noticed Loki´s change in demeanor.

-I have to my love, please listen we don´t have much time. Sometimes on jotun pregnancies the mother´s powers grow stronger or manifest when their child has a high magic level, fear must have triggered it. You have to control your emotions. I´m sorry, I can´t stay, at least not yet, It´s not ready yet; but I promise next time we meet I won´t leave. Please believe me, if I could stay I would.-Loki nervously told her as he help her sat up.

His eyes reflected all the other things he didn´t had time to tell her, she knew it was useless to argue, she nodded her head in agreement while she fought the tears and the lump on her throat.

-Steve!-Clint´s voice echoed the room.

-I love you-Loki said with a half-smile, then he softly kissed her before teleporting away.

-I love you too.-Leah whispered back as she lost her battle against her tears.

Just as Loki teleported away both Clint and Spiderman dropped down to a strange scene, Steve was still on the floor unconscious just as Eddie Brock who had been separated from the symbiont by the explosion and Leah was sitting on the floor staring back at them while tears rolled down her cheek.

-How are they Doc?-Spiderman asked Bruce.

They had all hurried back after defeating the villains.

-They will be all right, they just need some rest.-Bruce answered

-Who is she? – He suddenly asked.

-A friend.-Bruce answered –We need to keep her safe, no one can know she´s here.-

-My lips are seal Doc, but I can´t make you any promises about Eddie.-He dryly told him.

-Don´t worry about him, he´ll be in solitary confinement until we can relocate her.-Tony said as he walked in.

In prison a guard delivered Eddie´s meal. –The distraction worked like a charm.-the guard told Eddie.-We have the information he asked for.-

-Just as planned Chameleon.-Eddie smirked back. – What of our payment?-

-Doom has already wired the money to your account.-The fake guard answered.

A month an d a half had passes since Loki last letter, everything had gone back to its usual pace, training, learning, check-ups; but this time something was different Leah was more focused. Loki´s promises gave her something to hold on that she didn´t had before, something to look forward, hope.

It had become a habit to either Bruce or Steve being around her training sessions to make sure she wouldn´t overdo it, this time was Bruce´s turn. Clint was teaching Leah how to shoot a moving target, which wasn´t going well at all. Since her change she had to learn again how much strength or speed she needed to do things, she had broken a couple of bows before Tony decided to make her a special bow with a vibranium alloy along with some reinforced arrows, the normal ones kept shattering on impact.

-Did you had to go through all this? – She asked Steve once after accidently breaking her fourth cup during the first week.

He smiled sympathetically at her frustration -Yes, you´ll get used to it. It´s just a matter of practice, soon you won´t remember the difference.-

-I can´t wait for that, maybe I´m overthinking it, I don´t know. If I keep breaking things at this rate Tony eventually is going to freak. – She confessed with a half-smile.

-Just stay away from my Ming vase and we´ll be all right.-Was Tony´s response as he walked in,

-I can do that. – Leah answered back.

-I got a surprise for you, a uniform.-Tony cheerfully told her.

-Are you out of your mind Tony? Haven´t you look at me lately? Do you really think I´m going to fit into a uniform right now? – Leah asked him taken totally off guard.

-It´s made from intelligent fiber just as Bruce´s pants, it will fit no matter what.-Tony explained her.

-Forget it! I´m not wearing it!-Leah totally dismissed his offer.

-Come on, don´t be like that, we work a lot on it. It even works as a bulletproof full-body vest. At least give it a try! – Tony whined as he tried to convince her.

-Please don’t tell me it has bars and stars.-Leah sighed defeated-No offense Steve, but that´s really not my style.-

-None taken.-Steve answered with a smirk. –You should really give it a try, these uniforms are more comfortable than you think.-He didn´t wanted he to worry about the real reason Tony had made her the suit.

Leah pouted as she looked anxiously at Tony.

-I promise you it has no bars or stars on it, could you please give me some credit? But .., what about a shield? – He half joked.

-No, no, no … no shield, absolutely no.-Leah rushed to answer

-All right, no shield, would you try it on?-Tony asked her.

-I´ll think about it.-Tony doubtfully answered.

After nagging her for a couple of weeks Tony had finally manage Leah to wear it on her training sessions, to her relief it wasn´t as revealing as Natasha´s, it had a small skirt over the one piece suit that made it look as a maternity gown, a rather short maternity gown that only reached half her thigh; Tony told her that if it were any longer it would get in the way, fortunately the uniform covered her legs completely. As Tony had promised it didn’t resemble Steve’s suit at all, it was black with small green and golden embroidery on her waist, collar, shoulders, and on the skirt edge, though it was the only resemblance it held with Loki´s armor.

-Golden and green? – She had asked Tony with a big grin when she finally saw it.

-I thought you would like it.-Tony smirked back

-I do, thank you.-Leah said as she gave Tony a small hug, it may seem silly to them, but she really loved the fact it reminded her of Loki.

-It´s useless Clint, I haven´t hit a target all morning.-Leah pouted frustrated by her failure.

-You just …-Clint started to say when he was interrupted by Tony´s voice on speaker.

-Guys, we received a call from our friendly neighbor, he needs our help, it seems to be he is grossly outnumbered.-

-All right, I´ll stay with Leah.-Bruce volunteered.

-I´m afraid we´re going to need the Hulk to make an appearance Bruce.-Tony replied.

-I don´t need a babysitter. – Leah complained.

-Well, you are getting one, end of story.-Tony dryly told her.- Clint, can you?-

-Sure, I´ll stay. That way we can keep practicing.-He said with a grin

Leah made a small pout, but knew better than to argue any more, there was no possible way for her to win that argument.

-I´m on my way then.-Bruce said as he went for the door he shouted back –Don´t let her over exhaust herself.-

-I won´t, don´t worry. Go already.-Clint reassured him.

The rest of the team was already on board the Quinjet when Bruce arrived.

-So, who we are up against?-Bruce asked as he took his seat.

-The Sinister Six; Mysterio, Rhino, Dr. Octopus, Sandman, Electro and Venom.-Natasha informed him.

-I thought they were the Sinister Five.-Tony joked. -Or were they seven? I can never remember.-

-Does that matter? – Steve asked with a smirk

-Of course not.-Tony answered back.

-What did Spiderman told you? – Steve asked again.

-That he had run into what he thought was a common bank heist and found himself with more villains that he had anticipated.-Tony explained.

-There must be a lot of money involved for those six to work together.-Steve pointed out.

-Yes, there is. – Tony acknowledged. –They are stealing the Federal Reserve Bank.

-Is that an important bank? – Thor asked interested.

-Extremely important Thor, they have the biggest accumulation of gold in the world.-Tony explained.

-And Spiderman calls that a common bank heist?-Natasha asked intrigued.

-It seems villains try to steal it a lot.-Tony replied.

-Well, at least we are not going to far.-Bruce suggested.

-Worried already mother chicken? – Tony teased him.

-Like you are not.-Bruce smirked back.

-I´m not, she´ll be all right.-Tony affirm, then added.-Just in case I told Jarvis to report any incident immediately.-

-And you just called me mother chicken?-Bruce asked amused.

-Stop fighting boys, it seems we are late to the party. – Natasha interrupted them as she landed the Quinjet in the middle of the street.

The Federal Reserve Bank had a huge hole in one of its walls which at the time was covered in layers of spider web. Not a soul on sight.

-We´d better find out what´s going on.-Steve said as he got of the Quinjet.

-I´ll tell you what´s going on, you´re late! – An unfamiliar voice answered him back.

As Steve turned his head on the direction of the voice he spotted Spiderman on top of the Quinjet –What do you mean, are they gone?-

-Not yet, but only because they are too busy breaking into the vaults.-Spiderman told him.

-Then we are still on time son.-Steve said with a smile –Are you sure they are still inside?-

-Yes, I´m sure I covered their exit as soon as they went inside.-Spiderman spat back.

-Then what are we waiting for? Let´s draw them out!-Bruce said before transforming into Hulk who jumped right into the hole, the spider web were only nuisance for him, hardly an obstacle.

Within seconds fight broke out as Hulk fighting roars could be heard inside. Thor was the first to follow him, eager to take part in the fight.

-Those two are going to hog all the fun if we let them.-Tony said as he flew in.

-That´s true.-Steve agreed as he invited the rest to join him –Are you coming?-

-You can bet we are.-Natasha said as she draw out her weapons, just before any of them had reached the opening a huge sand wave threw Hulk right off the building. Hulk furiously took swings at it without much effect, fortunately Sandman’s attacks on the Hulk seemed not be effective either. Suddenly an electric ray came out of the opening followed by a lightning coming in.

-We´d better hurry.-Steve said without turning back to see them.

When he finally walked in Thor was fighting Electro and Rino and Tony was trying to stand his ground against Dr. Octopus and Venom. There was no sign of Mysterio on sight, though he was probably still in the vaults.

-Care if I join in?-Spiderman said jumping between Tony and Venom

-Not at all, be my guest.-Tony told him as he shoot another of Dr. Octopus mechanical arms

Steve engaged in combat with Rino while Natasha looked for Mysterio.

Within a couple of minutes most of the battle had been taken outside the Bank, unexpectedly Venom started taunting Spiderman away from the Federal Reserve and into the city.

Once they were well out of range of the medical ward Natasha suddenly asked –All right, what happened?-

-Well, remember the thing that we thought wasn’t going to happen? – Tony asked in return –Well, it did.-

-What?!- Both Natasha and Clint snapped as they stopped walking.

-But I thought you said that wasn´t going to happen, that she was out of danger.- Clint spat

-It seemed that way. – Bruce confessed –The process only took longer than we anticipated.-

-I don´t understand, how did you stabilized the transformation without the vita ray? I thought you said the chances of her surviving without them were slim at best.-Natasha questioned him

-My old man wasn´t the only genius in the family, you know? I made my own portable version of the ray. – Tony answered proudly

-And it worked? – Natasha asked visibly worried.

-Of course it did. I did it myself! – Tony spat angrily at her question.

-I don´t have time to nurse your wounded feelings Stark! Bruce, did it really worked?-Natasha just ignored Tony scowl as she asked Bruce.

-It seems so.-Bruce volunteered.

-Seems so? Forgive me if that doesn´t make me feel over confident about this whole business. I´m sure you read the reports about the experiments, shouldn´t we be worried about any possible side effects? Why isn´t she in a containment unit? – Clint asked agitated.

Natasha had probably been thinking the same thing, because she remain quietly waiting for an answer with her arms crossed.

Bruce sighed as he took of his glasses while thinking the best answer to calm their fears. –We have run all the tests we could think of.-

-And even invented some new ones.-Tony interrupted.

-Yes, we did.-Bruce added – And we found no indications of side effects, as far as I can tell she´s both physically and mentally stable, is that reassuring enough?-

-It would seem so.-Clint responded with irony.

-Ha ha, very funny.-Tony scowled back.

-Forget all that, why didn´t you called us? SHIELD could´ve had something to help you manage this situation. – She wasn’t done with her questions yet.

-You were on a mission. – Tony blurted out.

-Really? And since when has that stopped you from calling us? – Natasha was starting to lose her patience.

-We didn´t wanted SHIELD to find out.-Steve suddenly said out loud.

-Why?-Clint asked surprised.

-They already want them bad enough, can you imagine what would happen if Fury found out Leah has the abilities of a super soldier now? The least he would do is add her to the index.-Steve explained.

-It´s just a list.-Clint stated.

-Of people with abilities.-Bruce added-It´s a target list and you know it, either you work with SHIELD or you are against them, there´s no in between.-

-That´s not how it works, there are people with very dangerous abilities on that list, SHIELD just wants to be prepared-Natasha volunteered.

-So you think Leah belongs in that list?-Tony asked her.

-No, of course not. She just wants to live her life, she doesn´t want to be a part of all of this. –Natasha answered while she asked Bruce- She really has Steve´s super abilities?-

-I don´t know.-Bruce answered dryly.

-You mean you haven´t tested her yet? Why are we even arguing about this?-Clint asked annoyed

-Of course not, she´s a five and a half month pregnant woman recuperating from two near death experiences on the same week, forgive me if testing her abilities isn´t on my priority list.-Bruce answered visibly irritated.

Everyone looked back at him slightly worried at the tone of his voice.

-And don´t look at me like that, it would take much more than this to bring out the Hulk.-Bruce buffed at them.

-All right.-Tony spoke up first.- Let´s just say that we´ve all had a rough week, I´m sure we can fill you in the details later.-

-Ok.-Both Clint and Natasha reluctantly agreed.

-Is her baby all right? – Natasha asked.

-Yes, she is. As a matter of fact I think she´s better than all right, I don´t know if it´s because her alien DNA but she went through the transformation fairly easily.-Bruce answered.

-Now it makes sense why you didn´t wanted SHIELD to find out.-Clint said as he ran his hand through his hair.

-Loki’s child and a super soldier, every evil organization in the world would love to get their hands on her.-Natasha added in a stern tone, as if things weren´t complicated enough.

-And every other agency also.-Tony added.

-Exactly.-Steve interrupted before they started fighting again.-And that´s why we can´t let anyone find out, not even SHIELD, the moment someone finds out Leah will have a target painted on her back, we can´t let that happen.-

-She already has a target painted on her back.-Clint pointed out.

– I know.-Steve sighed- Just, let´s not make this worst than it already is.-

-I guess we can do that, but no more secrets, agreed?-Natasha asked to no one in specific.

-I´m afraid that´s not our only problem.-Tony suddenly spat.-Loki wants her back.-

-What? Did he tried to take her? I can´t believe you didn´t called us! Don´t tell me you couldn´t find a way of tracking his intrusions to the Tower.-Natasha yelled at him in frustration.

-No, and no.-Tony simply stated.

-Then, how … – Steve started to ask when Tony interrupted him

-He wrote her a letter.-Tony answered while biting his lower lip, this wasn´t going to be fun to explain.-All right, it´s kind of my fault, she was totally miserable so I suggested her to write him a letter that way she could get all of her feelings out, how was I supposed to know he would write her back.-

-And you kept this from the rest of us.-Steve asked as he place his palm on his forehead.

-Thor knew.-Tony said pointing at Thor who had remained quiet all the time.

-Yes, I did.-Thor confessed – We really weren´t trying to keep this from you, we just didn´t found the time to tell you before.-

-When did you find out he wrote her back?-Steve asked them trying to remain as calm as possible.

-When her transformation triggered we found the letters.-Thor answered back.

-Letters?-Natasha asked with a frown.

-He must have written her the night before, she was writing him back when …-Thor began to explain.

-When we interrupted her.-Bruce said as he remembered.

-Yes.-Thor agreed. – I delivered her last letter for her.-

-You mean you saw Loki?- Clint asked surprised.

-Yes, we talked. – Thor sighed. – He really tried to do the honorable thing and let her go regardless of his feelings but she …-

-I have to guess she refused, and in a very determined fashion if I can add.-Bruce said with a half-smile.

-Yes, she did.-Tony said with a smirk. –You should´ve read her answer, what a feisty girl!- a tinge of proud could be heard on his voice as he said it.

Everyone could very much imagine Leah´s answer and tried very hard not to smile at the thought.

-So, Loki told you he wants her back?-Natasha asked.

-No, he hadn’t decided yet when we talked, though he has been considering every possibility, even throwing himself at Odin´s mercy.-Thor informed them.

-If he loves her so much, why hasn´t him? – Steve asked intrigued.

-The All Father Isn´t very forgiving and Loki knows it. He´s afraid that doing such a thing would only kept them apart forever.-Thor confessed.

-Not even because she´s pregnant?-Bruce asked trying to make sense of Thor´s comment.

-That would not matter to him.-Thor stated.

-And I thought I had daddy issues.-Tony said as he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

-He has to be a King first.-Thor tied to explain.

-Forget about it! Then how do you know he wants her back?-Steve interrupted

-Leah told us, he wrote her again. I don´t know his exact words but based on what she said he decided he wants to be with her though he doesn’t have a clue about how to do that and keep them safe at the same time.-Tony explained

-Any ideas Thor?-Clint asked

-We spoke of another possibility, but he dismissed it too.-Thor dryly stated as he nodded his head in a negative way.

-What possibility?-Steve asked intrigued

-Of joining us.-Thor simply spat

-What? Are you crazy? Why on Earth would we do that?-Tony asked in disbelief

-That´s what he thought you would say.-Thor grimly answered.

-Has he considered joining SHIELD instead? – Steve asked

-He doesn´t trust SHIELD. – Thor admitted.

-I can´t say I blame him.-Bruce agreed.-They keep to many secrets.-

-Because they need to.-Natasha spat angrily.

-Maybe.-Steve agreed doubtfully.

-If he dares come our way the only thing waiting for him will be a cell.-Clint angrily stated.

The other´s nodded affirmatively or manifested their approval out loud.

-So you wouldn´t give him an opportunity to right his wrongs?-Thor sadly asked.

-I know he is your brother, but do you really think he deserves an opportunity? After all he’s done, after all the destruction and death, you really think so?-Steve asked more intrigued than upset.

-Yes, I do.-Thor asseverate.- I refuse to believe people are either good or bad, that they are just born or made that way and that they can´t do anything to change it. If that were true, what is the point of our struggle? Why not just separate the bad from the good and just get rid of them all once and for all. If there´s no room for second or third chances then we are all hypocrites, most of us were given a second chance to do what is right, why should we deny Loki that?-

Everyone just went quiet, Thor had stoke a nerve, they all had done things they weren´t proud of even if they wouldn´t admit it.

The first one to speak again was Steve –If he comes our way we´ll hear him Thor, beyond that I can´t make you any promises.-

-What! But Steve… both Tony and Clint protested.

-I only said we would listen, the rest is up to him. If he really wants a chance he´ll have to earn it. – Steve reassured them.

-Thank you.-Thor said gratefully as he made a small bow.

-And what if the love birds decide to run away? – Tony suddenly asked.

-If she decides that´s what she wants. – Steve said somberly.

-Are we really just going to let her go with him?-Tony asked incredulously.

-What do you want us to do? To lock her up? – Steve asked in return.

-No, but … we can´t just leave her alone. – Tony stated worryingly

-I thought that was the plan.-Clint interrupted- That´s why we were training her-

-Yes, but … – Tony´s mind just went blank.

-You became very tight with her over this past months Tony, either way It will be hard for you to let her go, we can just make sure she has all the help she needs before she does.-Natasha sympathetically comforted him.

-I know.-Tony acknowledge. –But that doesn´t mean I like it.-

-None of us do Tony, none of us do.-Bruce said as everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

When Leah awoke the next morning she opened her eyes to see a new rose and a letter, there were already three unopened rose buttons on the vase, she hadn´t had time for them in the last couple of days, and finally the night before decided to not touch them until she knew Loki´s answer, she sighed as she sat up and reach for the letter.

“- This is It.-“She thought to herself “-The proverbial moment of truth, sort of speak.-# there was no point on stalling it only made her more nervous so she opened his letter and start reading “-… my love… well, that´s much better already.-“ she thought with a smile, it couldn´t have been easy for him. As she kept reading just as with the letter before her emotions reflected on her face, first concern, then growing happiness that just exploded into pure joy, then again a touch of sadness along with understanding but then something caught her unprepared, she hadn´t expected him to be so forth forward in his longing for her, she knew exactly what he felt because her feeling mirrored his, she ached for his touch, for his warmth. As she kept reading her eyes stung, her heart beat faster and her face betrayed her with a blush, by the time she ended reading it her flustered face spoke of the memories far too explicit to retold, suddenly a voice pulled her out of her day dreaming.

-If he wrote you a dirty letter I don´t even want to know.-It was Tony´s voice, he was just standing in the door frame where he had been for a minute or two wondering when to interrupt her.

-What …? No…! What makes you say that?-Leah blushed even darker

-Oh God! He did!- Tony just laughed out loud.

-No, it´s not like that… well, maybe a little bit… why on earth do I tell you these things?- Leah asked as she hide her face between her hands, she never thought someone could be watching.

-Because it´s better than telling them to anyone else.-Tony smirked still laughing at Leah´s embarrassment.

-Telling anyone what?-Thor asked as he walked in.

-Nothing!- was both Leah´s and Tony´s response which made Thor look at them suspiciously, they were hiding something, whatever it was none of them seem willing to share it with him.

-As you like.-He answered quite annoyed. –I see Loki kept his word.-He said as he pointed to the letter in Leah´s hand.

-Yes, he did.-Leah acknowledged uncertain of what to tell them, if Loki was weaving a plan she shouldn´t spoil it.

-He suggested a name for our daughter. – She said trying to take the conversation elsewhere.

-Really? – Thor asked surprised –Which name did he suggested?-

-Eerika. – Leah answered with a smile, she liked the ring of it.

-That doesn´t surprise me. – Thor said with a big grin.

-Why? – Leah asked puzzled.

-It means ruling forever.-Thor volunteered.

-No pressure there.-Tony added with a smirk

-Don´t be like that guys.-Leah scolded them while pouting

-Don´t get mad, it´s a beautiful name.-Tony apologized –More important, do you like it?-

-Yes, I do.-Leah answered still rather annoyed and defensively.

-It´s a fitting name for a princess.-Thor agreed.

“-A princes.-“ Leah thought as she raised her eyebrows, Loki didn´t had any idea yet of what his plan was going to be, neither did she; she just would have to trust him, somehow it never seemed like a hard thing to do.

-What else did he said?-Thor asked as he had read her mind.

-Nothing much really, he doesn´t have a plan yet, but whatever it turns out to be he wants us to be together.-Leah said with a smile, she wasn´t lying to them.

-Then I guess we´ll just have to wait to see what your Romeo comes up with ….-Tony said. –besides from wooing you.-he ended while winking an eye at her.

Leah blushed immediately, why did he always had to say that sort of things?

-Romeo?-Thor asked intrigued.

-Oh! That´s a long story, a book as a matter of fact, I can show you the movie if you want.-Tony answered hoping he wouldn´t have to explain it to Thor.

-Maybe later.-Thor replied as he considered it.

After a while Bruce walked in with her breakfast tray followed by Steve, somehow it seemed that none of them had anything better to do than hovering around her. When she started getting morning sickness, cravings and other pregnancy symptoms she had dived in the internet searching everything she could learn on the matter, among the information she had read that pregnant female´s pheromones could affect men by making them feel overprotective; she found that very cute at times, and other times she just couldn´t stop thinking of how to get rid of them. Today was one of those days.

-You´re still hugging all the attention?-Natasha’s voice jokingly asked.

-Natasha! You are back!- Leah exclaimed in relief, being the only woman in the Tower was so exhausting , it make her wonder how Natasha managed to handle them before she arrived.

-Hi, are you feeling better?-Natasha asked walking in as she sat by her side.

-Yes, I am.-Leah answered with a smile.-Specially now that …-

Bruce suddenly interrupted her. – Why don´t you let me explain everything to them later? – He didn´t wanted them overreacting about it in front of her.

-Ok. – Leah agreed, he could explain it better anyway.

Both Clint and Natasha looked at Bruce intrigued but decided to wait until he could explain it, after a while Steve excused all of them, they had some debriefing to do.

Leah was grateful they finally left, she had been eyeing the tree closed rose buttons on her night table, with a big smile both in her face and in her heart she leaned to touch all of them with the tip of her fingers causing all of them to flourish at the same time, their sweet fragrances saturated her room.

-Until we meet again my love.-Leah whispered as she hold his letter close to her heart as she closed her eyes –Until we meet again.-