Protect the Fallen

Chapter 3

"Maria?" Tony stared in shock as I smiled at him sadly. "Hi Dad, how's Pepper?" I asked as I watched as he took one step towards me while I stood where I was. "No you can't be real, you're just a figment of my imagination." He started to rub his eyes as if thinking I would go away, but I walked up to him and grabbed both of his arms and pulled them away. He stared at me with sad but happy eyes while they held their intelligence and happiness. I let go of his arms and wrapped my own around him as I started to weep silently. "I thought I lost you, you were gone and I didn't know what I was going to do. But here you are, alive, and I don't think I'm ever gonna let go now." He says as I kept whimpering while tears started to roll down my cheeks messing up the makeup, but I didn't care, I just want to be here. Hugging the father who raised me, who I missed while I was gone from his life.

"Come on," he pulled me away from him and cupped my cheeks and wiped the tears away as he kissed my forehead. "My daughter is home and alive." He whispered against my forehead and then pulled away as he held his hand out for me to take in which I did take his hand with my own. It was like when I was younger, he was going to lead me to the right path to take. He opened the door to only look at people still talking to one another, but the rest of the Avengers team smiled seeing the smiles that both my dad and I shared.

I let go of his hand and stared at my hands as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I let it out, I looked back at my father and smiled at him. I was home and I wasn't going to leave them. Not yet, but that's another idea that would need to be put to rest. I walked down the steps to walk over to the bar while I grabbed a small shot glass. I heard someone walk over to me and grabbed my glass from my hand. I narrowed my eyes and turned to them, only to see its just Steve. "Oh come on, Steve. It's just a drink, and while I was gone, I have gotten a taste of alcohol. " I pouted as he chuckled at my pouting face. "Nice try kid, but no. Not when I'm here." He smiled and took the shot while I frowned and walked to the couch. I sat down while people stared at me and smiled politely at me. I smiled back and heard Tony sit next to me. "No drinks?" Tony asked as I shook my head. "Someone had to tell me no," I frowned as he laughed. "Well here's a shot glass," He says as I smirked and took a drink from it as I looked at Steve who made eye contact with me and frowned and stuck my tongue out as I tried to feel the bitter and burning taste out of my throat. 

"But, it's a trick!" Clint says as we stare at the hammer as I smirked. "Oh, no. It's much more than that," Thor answers as he chuckles lightly at the archer. "Uh, 'Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!' Whatever man! It's a trick," He repeated as I laughed at them "Well please, be my guest," Thor gestures as Dad urges the man to get up. "Really?" He asked as I smiled and took a swig of my tea. "Yeah!" Thor urges him as Barton gets up and I looked at him as I took another drink of my tea. "Oh this is gonna be beautiful," Rhodes, a man that is friends with my dad chuckles light-heartedly. "Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up," That makes all od us laugh as I got up and crossed my arms over my chest as I stared at the hammer. "You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint then grabbed the Hammer and can't lift it. "I still don't know how you do it," he looks at the god. "Smell the silent judgment?" Tony asked as I walked over to the bar and grabbed a few ice cubes. "Please, Stark, by all means," Tony got up and flicked opened his jacket. "Oh, here we go," I told them as they laughed at my tone as I chuckled and shook my head. "Okay," Agent Hill says as we all watched my dad grab the hammer. "Right, so, if I lift it, I...I then rule Asgard?" Tony asked as I sat back down on the couch. "Yes, of course," Thor nods as Tony started to speak about what he was going to install if he gets the hammer up. "I will be re-instituting Prima Nocta," Dad then tries to lift the Hammer but fails. "I'll be right back," He then got up and walks away. Everyone turned to me as I looked at them as I hummed out. "What?" I asked as they spoke. "So where have you been?" They asked as I shrugged my shoulders. "Pretty much everywhere, had a place I was staying in, in Romania," I told them as the raised an eyebrow. "Been wanting to head out there, how is it?" Clint asked as I shrugged again. "I wasn't really there for too long," I told them the truth. "Maybe a week, then left because I just needed to be away from people," I told them as they nodded at the answer. Suddenly my dad comes back with his armored hand and tries to lift the hammer again as I sighed and shook my head. "Rhodes help me out here," He says as his friend grabbed his own and tries to help his friend as they looked at one another. "Are you even pulling?" Rhodes asked as Tony countered back. "Are you on my team?" He says as Rhodes growled. "Just represent! Pull!" They tried to pull it using all their strength as I smirked and shook my head. Next was Banner's turn who walks right up and tries to mimic himself turning into the Hulk as everyone grows silent as I stared at him. "Alright Cap, your turn," I told Rodgers who walked up to the hammer and was encouraged by Tony. "Let's go, Steve, no pressure," Tony says as Rhodes joins in. "Come on, Cap," Steve then starts to pull on the hammer which it budges a little while I glanced at Thor who seemed alarmed, but then grew to be in relief when Steve failed to lift it. Thor chuckles and shook his head before drinking. "Nothing," We then looked at Romanoff who shook her head and turned down the offer. "All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged," Tony states as Clint agreed, "You bet your ass,"