Phoenix <Book 1>

Part 2 Chapter 9

Ashlyn stood in an area, it was a white room. She glanced around and a woman approached her, "After all the fight when you were younger. This is going to kill you?", Ashlyn glanced up, "My heart stopped, I'm dead. End of story." The woman glared, "No, not the end of the story." Ashlyn scoffed, "Why not? My husband has no trust in me, my baby is now dead, and guess what. So am I!", her voice rose and her energy swirled around her much brighter than usual, "I have nothing left to live for. My marriage is broken and my baby is dead. The team doesn't need me, they have Wanda now. I was expendable.", the woman scoffed, "Do you really believe that?", Ashlyn looked at her, "Why wouldn't I? If this is heaven it sucks, if this is hell it's not what I thought it was.", the woman sighed, "You get to choose, do you want to die or do you want to live?" Ashlyn looked at her, with tears in her eyes, "Did you not hear me? My husband didn't trust me and my baby is dead, the team has Wanda to replace me." She shook her head, "Who are you anyways?", the woman softly smiled, "You're birth mother, you were kidnapped at the age of 2. I got really depressed and your father left. I killed myself six years later, on your 8th birthday." Ashlyn nodded, "Tragic." The woman shook her head, "I've been watching you since then, you've had a rough life. But then Tony Stark entered your life and became your friend at the age of 13, taught you to control it behind the Walsh Family's back. At the age of 17 you killed a man who threatened your life and then turned into the Red Bird, at the age of 19 you joined S.H.I.E.L.D, at the age of 26 your were a level 7 and you fell in love." Ashlyn smirked, "Cool, everyone knows that story. The last fact was in my wedding vowels." The woman sighed, "You're actually English, but your dad was stationed in Sokovia, we had to move to California before you're second birthday. Me and your dad were ambushed and knocked out, that's when you were kidnapped." Ashlyn nodded, "What was my actual last name then?", the woman smiled, "Coulson." Her eyes widened, "Has in Phil Coulson?", she nodded, "Yeah, he kept it from the files. He didn't think it was you until he aged down your face on the Helicarrier during the New Mexico incident." She glanced down, "Right, and it was kept from me why?", the woman glanced down, "Fury figured it was for the best.", she nodded, "Of course it was." She glanced down, "They could really use your help done there, they're asses are getting handed to them." She sighed, "What's it going to do to me?", the woman shrugged, "I guess you'll have to go find out.", Ashlyn nodded, "Fine. I'll go back, but if my life is a living hell and I'm left alone. I'm leaving, dropping off the radar." The woman nodded, "Alright." Ashlyn sighed and closed her eyes.

Ashlyn's monitors began beeping wildly and she jolted upright, she tore the sheet off of her and took off the medical needles and mask, she grabbed her items and pulled them on before looking at her S.H.I.E.L.D wristlet and her wedding ring, "He made a mistake.", she stopped, "I'll let him say it." She spun and grabbed the wristlet and her SHIELD watch, "I need to go help." Nick looked at her, "Ashlyn, you just came back to life." She nodded, "Because I still have purpose, save my friends and the world from Ultron, after that well I guess it's a guess.", she walked out and Nick handed her another custom ear comm, "Don't take this one out." She nodded, "No promises." She stepped off the boat and sighed, looking over Sokovia and at the church where a swarm of Ultrons was gathered, "Oh Nick, I know about Coulson. He was my father.", with that she jumped and landed on the ground of Sokovia and took of sprinting toward the church.

"You had to ask." The group began to recover their breath when a dozen Ultrons explode with bright red energy with orange mixed into it, "Damn Wanda." She looked at them, "It wasn't me." Ashlyn landed on the ground from levitating and her eyes were vibrant, "You were dead." She nodded, "And I rose from my death to help end you." Clint's eyes widened, and Nick's voice filled the avengers ears, "Oh and Ashlyn, you're baby is okay." She nodded, "It's a miracle." Then the fighting continued, "They're fleeing. Rhodey, coming your way. Sam, you too." She looked at Vision and gave him a nod and he returned it, "The air is getting thin. Get on a boat, I'll stay with the core." Wanda butted in, "I will, it's my job." Ashlyn gave her a smile and nod, "Stay safe." Wanda nodded, "The Captain and I will sweep for strugglers." She walked away, "Ash." She didn't stop, "It's Ashlyn." Clint looked down and noticed that her ring was gone. Sam flew over, "Fury told me to deliver this and a message, "She's says its up to you.", he dropped her ring in Clint's hand and flew off again, and Clint's fingers played with the ring.

Ashlyn was walking around when Steve joined her, "We're clear." Steve looked at her, "I'm glad you're alive." She nodded, "Let's see if it last the day.", he sighed, "Asher-", she glared, "Ashlyn, Barton is really torn up, he realizes he made a mistake." She nodded, "Only after my death." A QuinJet flew over and shot at them, and Ashlyn shot up a forcefield above the two, then it passed. "Come on." She took off and Steve followed, they entered the market place and Ashlyn shot a force field over Clint, a little boy, and Pietro, the bullets bouncing off and sweating growing on her face then Ultron passed and a roar filled the air. Ashlyn let the field fall and she staggered, Steve catching her, "It's going to be okay Ashlyn." She nodded slowly, "I know.", and her eyes closed.

Clint held his left side that had been injured, again. Natasha was on the Helicarrier, and she sighed going over to one of the computers. "Hey big guy, I'm going need to listen up. I need you to turn this bird around okay? You-", Bruce stopped the transmission and Natasha's face fell. "How is she?", Nick looked at Natasha, "She's very hurt, not just physically. Emotionally. Barton really hurt her." Natasha nodded, "He knows that." Nick nodded, "Then he needs to fix it. She talking to an adoption service about having a baby." Natasha's glance shot over to him and then to Clint who had heard the news, "Where?", Nick looked at Clint, "Where do you think?" Clint took off with her ring in his hand.

Ashlyn sat on the floor in the general location where Coulson had taken his last breath, "Yes ma'am. I'm 7 almost 8 weeks along.", she sighed, "My name? Can you just put down Ashlyn, my first name? Why, because I'd like to keep this quiet." The door opened and Clint rushed in, "What are you doing?", she sighed, "Yes you can put me on hold." She stared at Clint and stood up, music playing in her phone speaker. "I'm giving my unborn child up for adoption." He looked at her, "Our unborn child." She shook her head, "No, mine. You gave up the right to call it your's the moment you doubted my loyalty.", tears were present in her eyes. "I know, I messed up very badly." She shook her head, "No, you fucked up. That's why you're holding my wedding ring in your hand." He stepped toward her and she stepped back, "Why?", he looked at her, "Why what?", she scoffed, "Why'd you question my loyalty? I've never done anything to ever recommend that I deserved that." He sighed, "I don't know.", she nodded, then pulled a file from the walk way behind her, "I do" she tossed the file down and Clint sighed, "Where'd you get this?", she shook her head, "I can't say." She looked down and a sob left her mouth, "I also found this.", she tossed down another file and it showed her threat level, "Is that why?", he shook his head, "Ashlyn." She shook her head, "Ma'am, are you still there?", she picked up her phone, "Yes, I am. I'm ready to give you more information." She walked away and Clint looked down at the mission file.