Helena Stark: A WWII Legacy

chapter two: Hazelnuts

I sighed as I looked at the beautiful Wind River range. Steve left a few days ago, but I stayed here. I didn't want to go back to being around Tony, I was beyond happy for him and Pepper. I was at their wedding a week before I met up with Steve in Wyoming, but it was still hard.

I never told Tony that Steve and I got married, I knew he would have to arrest me. I'm pretty sure he knows, it's hard to keep a secret in the Stark family when Violet knows. But here in this tiny little Wyoming town that is full of strange Catholic students, I don't have to worry. 

Unfortunately, their tiny little clinic is lacking, so I need to head back to the nearest large airport tomorrow. Another unfortunate thing, the nearest international airport is in Denver. I had just finished packing what I needed when a man with a red cape appeared in my room. 

I screamed and immediately threw my bag at him. He, of course, dodged it and it vanished into the glowing circle behind him. I grabbed my gun, which Steve insisted I have on me at all times, and aimed it at the Halloween garbed man. "I don't know how you got in here, but get out," I warned. 

The man held up his hands, "I'm sorry Helena, but we need your help?" 

"We? Who are you?" I demanded. 

"One of your friends suggested I bring the Starks in," the man said. 

"Still no names," I said as I cocked the gun. 

"Right, Dr. Stephen Strange," the man said. 

"And I told him we needed Stark's help," a voice said and Dr. Banner stepped through. I lowered the gun immediately.

"Bruce?" I asked. 

"Helena, you need to come with, I'll explain in after we find Tony," Bruce said.

"He's on his honeymoon," I said flatly as I grabbed my bag before stopping in front of the glowing portal. "Um, where am I going?"

"New York," Dr. Strange said as he pushed me through. 

"Where have you been?" I asked Bruce. 

"Long story," Bruce said as Dr. Strange opened another portal. "What have you been up to?"

"Not much," I shrugged awkwardly. 

"And who's "we"?" I heard from the portal and Bruce took that as his cue to step through. 

"Hey, Tony," Bruce said, so I followed. 

"Bruce," Tony said before his eyes bugged out. "Auntie?" 

"Hi, Pepper," I said as I gave her a tight hug after Bruce did. 

"I thought you were in Wyoming," Pepper said.

"I was about five minutes ago," I sighed. "It was a nice vacation." 

"If you're done with the pleasantries?" Dr. Strange asked.

"Keep him safe," Pepper said.

"I'll do my best," I told her. 

~*~

"At the dawn of the universe, there was nothing," Wong explained to Tony and I. "Then, boom, The Big Bang sent six elemental crystals hurtling across the virgin universe. These Infinity Stones each control an essential aspect of existence."

"Space. Reality. Power. Soul. Mind," Dr. Strange said and then opened an amulet he wore. "And Time."

"I know one of those stones very well," I said sadly. 

"Tell me his name again," Tony said. 

"Thanos," Bruce said. "He's a plague, Tony. He invades planets. He takes what he wants. He wipes out half the population. He sent Loki. The attack on New York, that's him."