The Avengers: A Change of Fate

Chapter 23

One Year Later

Jake and Stella sat on a bench at Inwood Hill park. Stella wore a shoulderless graphic tee she had gotten from the beach and jean shorts. Her hair was tied back in a messy bun and her sandals were slipped off as Stella sat curled in Jake's arms. The hybrid trees had doubled in size in the past year. A lot had happened in a year.

This park was made in the Avengers quest to take responsibility of the damage they caused, along with a prestigious neighborhood designed by Tony Stark to replace a bad part of town left in ruin. Speaking of Avengers, T'challa's son was two years old, and little James Rogers had just reached a year. Stella had graduated a whole semester early. She had been accepted to an ivy league college majoring in science. She was eighteen, and her past seemed pitiful to her future.

It was a year and a half ago that Stella and her boyfriend had gotten together, and they were inseparable. Stella had no more nightmares, and she wasn't insecure. She didn't have anxiety, she was confident, and hardly ever caught without a smile or a happy gleam in her eye. It had been over a year since she had turned into a dragon. That was all thanks to Jake. He had brought her back from a dark abyss she had never expected to escape from, and now she latched on to him like a life support. He was the shining sun in her life, and she was his.

Jake kissed her forehead, "You always look so sad when you're thinking."

Stella gave him a questioning look, "Sad? I thought I was happy."

"Even when you are happy, you always have that bit of sadness in your eyes. It's so beautiful, but so heartbreaking."

"Well, I've been hurt in the past... I guess I never really healed from that."

"No. It's a look of a soul that's been broken, but you're better now."

Stella kissed his cheek, "I never would've healed without you."

Jake smiled at her, his eyes full of love, "I don't know what I would've done without you," Stella said, staring into Jake's beautiful blue eyes.

"You know I feel the same way," Jake admitted, grasping her hand.

"How? What have I done for you?"

Jake gave her an adoring smile, "You made me believe in love. You made me see a different life, pushed me over the edge to change the one I had. You completely turned my life around, and it was for the better."

He squeezed her hand, "Stella, you are the shining star in my life. You're all that matters. Without you, there wouldn't be a point to anything."

Stella wanted to protest, but she didn't want to ruin the moment. She had learned that sometimes it was better to stay quiet and savor the instant. Instead she smiled.

"I'm so glad I got to see you today, " Stella stated.

Since she had graduated, it had been hard to see him. It was just the beginning of June. Jake was in his last days of school.

"How is school going anyway?" Stella asked.

Jake gave her a smart look. He was still jealous that she got out early, "Straight A, honor roll. Would you expect anything less?"

"You're happy to get it over with," Stella concluded.

"Some of it. I'll miss my friends, but I'm excited to start a new chapter in my life."

Stella nodded, "Harvard. The big leagues. That's impressive, Jake."

Jake smiled, "Says the one who finished high school early and is going to an ivy league college. You'll probably be done with that early too."