Little Star // a Steve Rogers, Captain America, Avengers story

It Might Be Really Good

Ellie's homecoming was met with mixed emotions. It was the longest she'd ever been away from JB, and he was loath to let her go for a day or two. Luke thought her scar was going to be cool. Anna and Charlie were angry with her for putting herself in such danger; after giving her hugs that wrapped her in love, they sulked off to the dock together to complain about her and cry a little with happiness because she was ok. All was right in her world.

The next week, on the day before the anniversary of Steve's disappearance, Ellie got a call from Bruce.

"Can you come over to the compound? Now?" He sounded as if he were agitated, verging on green.

"Sure. I'll be there in ten." Making sure Anna was on JB duty, Ellie took a four-wheeler from the garage and sped along the waterfront path that connected Aprillia to the compound. They had been able to buy three contiguous farms, providing a buffer between the compound and the rest of the world, and protected by alien security that far surpassed anything on the planet. Because her genetic signature was recognized, she could pass in and out of the property at will.

As she approached the lab it sounded like most of the team was already there. A hush fell on the room as she entered. Her heart skipped a beat and her skin went clammy. It was obviously about Steve, but was it good news, or bad?

Scott, reading her face, finally broke the silence, "It's good Ellie. It might be really good."

Bruce came to stand by her, saying, "There's been an increase in activity, a blip that's growing, coming closer to here and now. We think it's going to cross our path tomorrow sometime, probably at the exact same time he went last year. We need to get to New York, to the old compound, we need to be exactly where he was when we lost him. How soon can you be ready to go?"

The team saw her falter, all moving towards her at once, but Bruce had her before her legs gave way. Sitting her gently on a chair nearby, he asked for someone to bring her cold water.

"No," she said, voice wavering but strong. "Vodka. Someone get me a shot or two of vodka."

The room erupted in laughter.

"I can be ready in an hour. I'm bringing my family. All of them. Home floor's still up and running there, we can all fit somehow. I think someone should drive me home, though. I'm a little shaky." She was back in control of herself, her emotions stored tidily away until later. He was coming home. She felt it.

It was closer to two hours before they were ready to go. Ellie had requested the Ryder, piloted by Quill himself, since none of the family had ever been on it. Now Luke (and Anna and Charlie, although they would never admit it to her) could tell their friends that they'd been on a spaceship. She loved making them happy. Ellie's mother wasn't impressed with the seating in back, so Gamora offered her the co-pilot's seat and Quill charmed her for the whole thirty minutes they were in the air.

The original compound was, even a year later, mostly in ruins. When the team had decided to move their base to Maryland, the property on the Hudson had become less of a priority. There was still some R&D happening in outlying buildings, and excavations were underway 24/7 to salvage even more equipment from beneath the rubble. Home floor had, by some miracle, been untouched, and was still used by team members from time to time.

Ellie put her parents in Nat's room, hoping they wouldn't find anything too shocking hidden away in the closet or drawers. Luke would bunk with Pepper and Morgan, who were due to arrive later that evening with Happy, Peter, and his Aunt May. Stephen was staying back at the Maryland compound, able to portal to them at any moment. Anna and Charlie, as close now as twins, would share his vacant room. Ellie knew that they would be a comfort to one another if the worst happened. Because if it was the worst, she certainly wouldn't be able to comfort them herself.