When Worlds Collide

The Truth

Anastasia stepped out of the portal alone to see the inside of the Avengers Tower which Pepper had bought back after Tony's death. She looked back sadly at the portal as it closed. She turned back around when she heard someone enter the room.

Wanda stood there looking like she just saw a dead friend come back to life, "Sia?"

"Hey, sis," Anastasia said with a small smile.

Wanda smiled with tears in her eyes and ran up to her, pulling her into a hug, "You've been gone for weeks!" She said, "Where have you been!?"

"It's... a long story." Anastasia replied as they pulled away, "Maybe I should tell it when we're all gathered."

The Avengers had soon been aware of the young hero's return and gathered in the living room to hear her story. Bucky and Clint had been the most worried about her, especially since they felt it was their responsibility to look after her since Natasha and Steve were gone.

Anastasia sat there nervously and looked at the Avengers, "This is gonna be hard to believe but..." She took a deep breath and began telling them about the world she was sent to.

She didn't tell them everything. She left out the finding love part and being sexually assaulted. She didn't want to know how they'd react to the second thing. Especially Bucky, she didn't want him to go full-on Winter Soldier.

After she was finished, the room grew silent. Then, Clint spoke up, "So... you were sent to a different world with other girls who are also from different worlds?"

Anastasia nodded nervously. Oh God... they weren't going to believe her. The story was too bizarre.

"Okay," Clint said with a smile.

Anastasia looked surprised, "You... you believe me?"

"When you're in this business, you have to believe in the impossible." Scott said with a smile, "Like aliens and becoming the size of an ant."

Anastasia smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

After talking with the Avengers, Anastasia went to her room that was in the tower. She had two homes. Her apartment in Queens and the Avengers Tower. She would often switch between them, depending on the time.

She laid down in bed and stared at the ceiling. Her thoughts were of Aang and the girls. She didn't know if she would be able to sleep that night.

A knock came on her door and she sat up as the person came in, "Hey, there's my favorite spider." Shuri said as she sat down on her bed.

"Hey, Shuri," Anastasia said with a smile.

"So, Wanda told me about your adventure in another world. How was it?" Shuri asked with curiosity.

"It was... interesting, and a little fun," Anastasia said with a small laugh. Then she looked at the floor when she thought of Aang again.

Shuri noticed her longing gaze and lightly smirked, "You met a boy didn't you!"

Anastasia blushed, "What... what makes you think that?" She asked, looking back at her friend.

"Come on Ana, the longing gaze isn't exactly subtle. Plus, you don't just go to a whole other world and not meet someone!"

Anastasia smiled, "Y-yeah... I did meet someone."

"I need tea, girl," Shuri said excitedly.

Anastasia laughed and began telling her about Aang. As she did, she started missing him even more and longed to kiss him again.

"Sia... I feel like you're not telling me everything." Shuri said once she was done talking.

Anastasia looked at the floor then looked back at Shuri, "You can't tell anyone this. I'm afraid of how they'll react."