Second Chance

Chapter 22

"Loki, if I'm really going to stay here for a while longer, I have a couple of things I have to go back home and get!" I nudge him out of the way as I head out to the garden.
"But teleporting back home does not seem like the smartest way."
"Yeah, well, I'm not sure heimdall or Odin would be OK with me using the bifrost to go home and come back with a suitcase."
"Sarah, it is too dangerous. Your body might not handle the trip very well." I run over to him and kiss him square on the lips. I pull him close to me and then let go, running around a tree for cover.
"I love it when you care for me so much." And with that, I concentrate. This will be my biggest teleporting trip yet. I can hear him coming closer, and I teleport back to the ship. I land in front of my room. My head is spinning, but I known I have to talk to Nick first. I jog to his office, and open the door.
"Sarah, you made it back. I was starting to get worried. Wait, are you OK? You look exhausted."
"Yeah, I'm good. Listen, Im only gonna be here for a minute. I'm gonna stay in Asgard for a while. Like a vacation of sorts. Uncle Nick, you would love it up there."
"Did I just heard what I think I just heard? Sarah, super heroes don't take vacations."
"Well this one does I guess. Besides, I have many more things I need to learn from Asgard, and I can't do that being here."
"Where's Loki?"
"I didn't bring him with me. I came to grab some clothes, and then I'm going back."
"For how long?"
"Look, Uncle Nick, I don't know, OK? I just need a break... I've been up there for three days here, but there it was merely a day and a half. And while I've been there, I haven't thought about Cassie once. I haven't woken up crying because I remember holding her in my arms as she died... I have to go, don't give my room to someone else, OK?" I smile.
"You always have a place here Sarah. Just promise you will at least try and keep in touch. Maybe every week stop by, or something?" He smiles back, and I run into his arms for a hug. For some reason this hug is different, its almost like I know I'm letting him go. I know that it's going to be a while before I come back. Do I want to come back? I kiss his cheek and run down the hallway. I go to my room, grab a suit case out of my closet, and start throwing all of my clothes in. Tank tops, pants, boots, jackets, and no dresses! I grab my hair brush, my mask just in case, some other little sentimental things, and head for the door.
"So, I guess you're leaving us then?" Steve says from the doorway.
"Oh, its not like that Steve. I just need a vacation, a couple of weeks to unwind. I'm coming back, I am. I'm just taking clothes because all of the women there wear dresses." He scoffs slightly, but smiles.
"Do you really love him, Sarah?"
"Actually, I do."
"Then go. Even if the person I loved was realms away, I'd want to be with them too." He smiles. I drop the suitcase, and run into his arms.
"I promise, I'm not leaving you guys. I will be back. I just need to figure things out." I say into his neck as he holds me close. He puts me down and kisses my forhead.
"I'll see you around, kiddo." He smiles and leaves. I grab my phone off of the charger and call Tasha.
"Sarah, where have you been? I have called you countless times and no one has answered. Fury said you were gone somewhere, and no one is telling me anything."
"Listen, calm down. I had some mission stuff to take care of. I'm leaving, on vacation, and I can't tell you where I'm going and I don't have a clue when I'll be back. Tell them to give the role to someone else, because I can't guarantee that I'll be here when filming starts."
"Hold on Sarah, you were so excited about this role! What's gotten into you?"
"I'm in love. And I can't explain how it happened or why, but just know that I'm OK. I'm safe, and that I'll be back eventually. I swear I'll call you when I return. I love you." I say and hang up. I call Carol and tell her the same thing about the book release. I run to Steve's room and knock on the door. He opens it and looks puzzled. "Here." I hand him a piece of paper and a set of keys. "This is for my house, in Costa Rica. Keep the place warm for me, enjoy the falls." And I run back to my room. I grab my suitcase and start to try to teleport back, but something stops me. An ache, in my heart... I stand there a moment. What's wrong with me? I close my eyes and try to find the source of this heart ache, but I just can't quite figure it out. I open my eyes and I'm in a cemetery. The exactly same cemetery that both my mom and dad are buried.. I walk the familiar walk toward their graves. The rodes leading me to the very center, where I can see the flowers that I put there so long ago. They are dead and all dried up. I bring them back to life, add some water, and sit there. I stare at their names carved into the side by side stones. Tina Jones and Thomas Jones. Gone but never forgotten. I pull at the grass blades in the ground, still not sure why I'm here...
"Hey mom. You were right. You always told me that love is right around the corner, you just have to be willing to risk it all and make the turn. And I think I've finally found it. The love I was always searching for. I have wonderful friends, and a man who loves me, even though I've done nothing to deserve this. I try not to talk about you, or dad very much, but the truth is. I miss you both so much. I miss when we were a happy family. I miss the nights you would both read me a story and tuck me in. I miss seeing the looks you two would exchange that showed a pure love for one another. I miss the good times. I would give anything just to hear you sing in the shower just one more time mom. You had the most beautiful voice. I remember, whenever I was having a bad day, you would sing me that song by Aerosmith. Remember?"

"Don't wanna close my eyes
I Don't wanna fall asleep cause I'd miss you baby and I don't wanna miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do I'd still miss you baby and I don't wanna miss a thing." I sing lowly to myself. The song and the words bring tears to my eyes. "I'm not really sure why I'm here. I guess I just need to let all of this go. Dad, I have been blaming you for all of my problems, my insecurities, and just over all everything. But I now think that it's my fault that I've been so closed off to the world. I blamed you for never showing me love, for never teaching me the signs of if a boy likes you or not, for never being there. And yes, all of these things should have been one of your priorities, but its my fault for not trying to live my life sooner. I figured blaming you would give me a sense of dignity, knowing that I've made it this far. But I haven't been truly living. I've been hiding behind all of my fears, and shutting out reality. And I guess I want to say thank you. Even though I didn't get much time with either if you, you both taught me some very important lessons. Mom, you showed me how to be compassionate. You showed me that caring was never a weakness, but a strength. And dad, you taught me that no one can make you happy but yourself. You choose to be happy or sad, and only you can. You showed me that even though my life is falling apart, I can still pick up the pieces, and move on. You showed me that I'm stronger than I ever thought I was. Now, I have to go start living, so I hope you found grandma, mom. Make sure she doesn't give Janet too much crap about their bunko games in the sky, even though Janet always cheats. I love you, both." I smile. I stand and reach for my suitcase, but someone takes my hand. "Loki, ho-how long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough, my love." He says as he wipes away my tears.
"Jeez, this is embarrassing." I try laughing it off.
"No, do not feel ashamed. I am proud of you."
"Huh?"
"You just did something I could never do. Forgiving is not something that comes easy to me, and hearing all of your words was truly amazing." He says as he pulls me in for a hug. "By the way, you never told me you had the most pure voice?"
"Ha-ha, you're funny. I can't sing. Well, now that I just sat in the middle of a cemetery and cried like a loser, I think I'm ready to go."
"Do you really need this?" He asks pointing to the suitcase.
"Do you want me to come or not?"
"Point taken." I smile and off we go.