Running Fearless ( Avengers Fanfiction)

Chapter 37

It's funny the moment you realize that all of your preconceived notions about life are totally and completely screwed. Five years ago there weren't secret organizations like SHIELD or HYDRA, there weren't aliens who called themselves gods, and it definitely wasn't possible for her to die and to come back to life. Five years ago Katie was just a woman really good with computers. Now she was someone else. Now she didn't know what or who to believe.

That was the reason she asked Thor if she could have one day before returning home. He didn't quite seem to understand her reluctance. He actually expected her to want nothing more than to return to her family as soon as possible, but he didn't push. She didn't expect that day to move as quickly as it did and soon Katie found herself only mere moments away from doing the one thing she wasn't completely sure she was ready for.

She spent her last remaining moments in one of the castle's beautiful gardens trying to think of how this will all play out. She is aware that they were all sad because of her death, and she knows that she should be sympathetic to that fact, but she can't forget the lies and the secrets and the betrayal from the people she calls family.

"We should've known you'd find your way down here at some point." A voice spoke suddenly, startling her. She turned to see the smiling face of Fandral. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine, I'm the one burying herself in her thoughts." Katie replied turning to a particularly beautiful pink flower.

"That is the Giraluna." Fandral said as he watched the woman marveling at the flower. "It is very special flower, carrying healing abilities in it's pedals." he moved to stand beside her and quickly grabbed her hand as she reached to touch it. "And a deadly poison in it's thorns."

She turned to him with wide eyes. "A flower that has both the power to help and to hurt." he simply nodded as he released her hand. "Sounds familiar." she turned back to the flower, and Fandral watched her closely, still trying to figure out why the woman in front of him was so important.

"Lady Katherine—"

"You left." Katie interrupted turning back to the man. "When Thor went in search of this spring, you helped them fight, but then you left." Fandral dropped his head in shame before shaking his head sputtering apologies.

"Please forgive me, I—"

"Stop," Katie said grabbing his hand with a smile. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset about it, hell I completely understand why you did it. It's Thor and the others who confuse me." she shook her head. "I was dead because sometimes people die. Second chances should be granted to those who deserve them."

"Do you not think you deserved the second chance you received?"

"Do you?" she asked. "Isn't that why you left?"

"Yes," he replied turning from her. His eyes were drawn to the bright clouds that hung above them. "But just because I didn't know if you deserved the second chance you received, doesn't mean you didn't deserve it." he smiled as a flock of birds flew by and Katie followed her gaze. "Though my opinion on the matter has changed greatly."

"I'm not sure mine has." Katie muttered when she spotted Thor walking toward them. He was smiling widely and she knew what was coming."I guess you're finally kicking me out." Thor frowned at her choice of words.

"Do not misunderstand, you're welcome here for as long as you would like, I just thought you'd be in a hurry to return to your home." Thor said and Katie simply nodded. He was right. She should be chomping at the bits to get home, but for the life of her she just wasn't ready. Not yet.