The Daughter Of Love & Mischief

19.

A/n - I was planning on only two different endings for this, but I am going to do three instead. Sam ending. Steve ending. Both ending. That way I cover all bases. 

- Which would you like me to do first?? As the endings will start after this chapter. 

Ali sighs stood in Steve's bedroom, she takes a deep breath looking down at the divorce papers on the bed. After talking to Sam she wanted to check on them, they've been in her bag for so long she just had to make sure they were still there and in order. Fingers touch her spin before they move upwards. Steve brushes her hair over her shoulder and then lowers his head to kiss her neck, she closes her eyes and sighs softly relaxing back into his chest.

"Are you alright?" he asks her, she shrugs her shoulders slightly.

"I don't know" she admits. "I thought that...maybe if I saw him again I would have some closure"

"Reasonable" he assures her pressing his head to the side of hers.

"But it just feels...unfinished" she turns to face him.

"Do you still have feelings for him?" Steve asks her, she sighs a little and looks up at him, his eyes watching her. She pulls away from him closing her eyes as she does. It's too complicated, how can she answer that question when she is unsure how she feels. She knows she likes Steve, and yes, seeing Sam again brought things back she thought long buried. She sits on the edge of the bed and runs her fingers through her hair with a sigh. He stands watching her a moment. Sees the conflict in her eyes. "If...." Steve crouches and takes her hands in his, he takes a breath and closes his eyes before he nods. "If you want to go back to him" she stares down at him. "If you want to try and make your marriage work I won't stop you"

"Steve" she whispers, he kisses her hands.

"I know it's hard" he stops her. "Him coming back... those old feelings of...." he sighs a little. "Love comes back with him" he rocks forward on his toes, falling onto his knees and drops his head into her lap. She strokes at his hair. "I'm new" he adds, muffled by her thigh. "And I understand" He turns his head a little. "Marriage is important, and it's not like it fell apart because you both fell out of love. It was....bad circumstances" her hand stills in his hair, her heart stuttering in her chest. This can't be happening. He cannot just turn up in her life after all this time and screw it up for her. She stands which sends Steve onto his backside, surprised. "Ali?" he asks her.

"I need to leave" she mumbles grabbing her jacket. "I need to....not be here right now" he stands and follows her as she tries to escape.

"Hey, no" he grabs her wrist. "Talk to me" he steps into her line of sight. "What did I say?" he asks her, she sniffles and keeps her head down.

"If you're using this as an excuse to break up with me can you just admit that that's what you're doing?" she whispers, heartbroken. Steve's shoulders sag and he sighs lifting her chin so he can press his forehead to hers.

"Listen to me" he starts slowly, calmly. Knowing it has to get through to her. "I love you" he assures her. "Oh Ali, I utterly adore you" her lip trembles. "But I'm not going to force you to stay with me because you feel obligated.....and I'm not about to stand in the way of you finding love with someone else if that is what you want" he brushes his thumbs over her cheeks. "We're still new" he whispers. "And if you want to try and make your marriage work then...I can support that"

"But..."

"I can be the better man and step aside" he assures her, she pulls back and sighs.

"I need some time" she whispers. He nods and kisses her softly. She clutches to his shirt before pulling away, she lingers for a moment before she touches his chest.

"Take as much time as you need" he assures her. "I'll be here" he kisses her forehead before he lets her leave.

.....................

Ali looks out her bedroom window as Loki walks in, closing the door behind him before he moves to sit with her. He knows she's been crying. He can see it in her eyes. He hates that this is upsetting her. He brushes her hair back over her shoulder and gives her a reassuring smile.

"What do I do?" she asks him quietly, barely louder than a whisper.

"You need to make up your mind," Loki tells her taking her hand. "I'll be here whoever you pick but you have to pick"

"I know" she whispers "I know I have to choose...." she runs her hands over her face before sighing. Loki rubs her shoulder and pulls her closer to him, he kisses her head. "I don't want to hurt them" She admits. He nods. "I don't" she adds and sighs. "If Sam had just stayed away" she grumbles.

"To be fair, Laura is his sister" Loki reminds her. "It's not like he randomly turned up for no reason"

"No, I know" she looks to him and shrugs. "I remember that week so vividly" she admits. "I had never laughed so much, never smiled so much.....never felt more loved then I did in that week.....but what if it's just memories, warped with time, what if it wasn't actually like that? And I like Steve...I like spending time with him, he makes me feel wanted and he makes me feel beautiful"

"Either way someone is going to get hurt," Loki tells her. "And I don't want it to be you, I don't want you to look back in a year or ten and think...I made a mistake" he brushes his thumb over the back of her hand. "So take some time......think about what you want" she leans into his chest letting him wrap her up in his arms.

...................

Ali walks through the halls of the facility, her hands worrying in front of her, nervous, she's so very nervous. She took a week to think about everything, she also spent some time with both Steve and Sam, a day each just to test the waters. They both understand she explained it as best she could. Spending time with Sam again reminded her of why she fell in love with him in the first place, yes times have changed them both, and yes he is still mourning the loss of his brother. But that boy is still there. Shining through. And he still looks at her the same. Those eyes that seem to sink through her, affecting her very soul. She really, truly loved Sam. She possibly still is. But Steve, Steve is so calm and sweet. He smiles at her and she loses all rational thought. She does love him. Now. This her as she is, grown up and wanting something more. Steve could give it to her. And he's like her. Different. He'll understand her better. She reaches up and runs her fingers through her hair before brushing them over her face, ridding her cheeks of the few tears that have fallen. She takes a steadying breath. She needs to be strong to get through this without breaking.

...........................

Ali bites her lip, pulls it between her teeth as she shifts on her feet. She looks up at the door before her. Hopefully her future. She takes a deep breath before knocking. The door opens and she smiles warmly.

"Hey" she greets with a worried sigh. Fingers reach our and wraps around her wrist before they pull her inside, the door closing behind her.