The Aftermath

Dr. Doom was dead so the coroner’s report said. Massive bodily trauma. There was extensive damage to several floors of the Stark Tower but Tony’s repair units with the help of Jarvis, Peter, Serena, Natalya and himself, were well into the repairs. Steve knew that Kate was still very much out of sorts. She had an opportunity to pull herself back but out of fear of being controlled again, she gave Victor no quarter and he plummeted to his death. They had all survived and only Malcolm suffered any lasting effects of the battle. Due to his internal injuries he had to be admitted to the Weill/Cornell Medical center. He was in stable condition and last time Natalya was there two nurses had recognized her and took a moment to thank her for everything she had done.

Malcolm was being well taken care of, there always seemed to be several nurses who were beyond eager to see to anything he needed and patients and even nurses and doctors came in and asked for his autograph often.

Serena held up the welding goggles to her face as she held the welder up to repair a copper piping in the kitchen. She felt an odd nudge at her knee and when she stopped and looked down, she saw a small remote control skiff. Atop it was a strawberry milkshake. As she looked back she saw Peter standing near the folding table and he had the table set up for them to eat lunch together. He smiled over at her as he set down the controller and ate a fry as he watched her collect her shake and come to sit with him. Steve stepped through from the elevator and smiled at them as he headed toward his room where he knew Kate was laying there in bed. He opened the door and went inside.

“Kate, I brought you some food,” he said as he set the bag down. The deli nearby made excellent soup and he bought them both sandwiches as well.

Natalya and Tony were one floor up working on the ceiling with several contractors who were installing the ceiling supports. Logan popped his head in. “Foods here, come and get it while it’s hot,” he said.

Thankfully, this was the week of fall break and so both Serena and Peter had some time off to help more with the repairs needed to the Tower. Thankfully, the damage was confined to just several floors and not to the entire building. It was going to take a couple of weeks, but the repairs were well underway. Serena and Peter had not gotten an opportunity to fully talk about their new relationship, but they had shared a rather passionate kiss, initiated by Peter last night, which she couldn't stop thinking about. She had managed to keep her attention on the copper piping she was working on welding in the kitchen when she suddenly felt a nudge at her knee. She looked down at the remote control skiff and smiled when she saw a strawberry milkshake on top. She looked over at Peter, who was standing near the temporary folding table, and smiled at him. She grabbed the shake and stood up and walked over to join him at the table. "I'm assuming some of the others will be joining us...." she said in an attempt to figure out if they were going to be alone or not.

Kate, though fine physically, was still removing mentally from what she had done. She had been extremely close to losing full control of her powers, which would have caused devastating damage and possibly the deaths of the rest of the team. She had pushed her powers to their limit and her anger had caused her to lose focus. Professor Charles Xavier had been called and consulted by Steve, but he told Steve that it would just take some time for her to fully recover, although he was happy to come and check on her if Steve thought she needed it.

Kate was laying in their bed in a quiet room. Of course reporters had wanted to interview her, but Steve wouldn't allow it. The team had issued a group statement about the events of that night that had been read out by Nick Fury to the press in front of the Tower. Reporters had tried to slip into the hospital where Malcolm was being treated, but he was being guarded by several SHIELD agents at all times. Kate heard the bedroom door open and she looked over at Steve and saw the bag of food. She was hungry so she sat up. Neither of them had spoken about Peggy and to be honest Kate wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer to that question. In the end, it didn't really matter since she was still with him. "How are the repairs coming along?"

Natalya and Tony kept their conversation strictly business and neither one of them ever brought up what had happened that night, though it remained firmly on Natalya's mind. If Malcolm wanted children that was something she could not give him. Part of herself was upset about that...but then again another part of her knew that she wasn't right to be a mother...not with the life she lived.

After Logan popped his head in and announced that the food was there she stepped down off the ladder she had been on and looked over at Tony as she put away her tools. "How's Serena doing?"

“Tony’s on top of it,” He said as he removed the plastic lid to the soup and collected a spoon and napkin for her. He brought it to her and when she took it all he leaned down, tilted her head up and kissed her gently on her lips. “How are you doing Kate?” he asked softly after he broke the kiss. His lips were warm and moist and inviting. His eyes too were softer than usual as well. He was concerned about her but still did what he felt needed to be done. He still led them even though part of him, the part of him she possessed, ached for her. Seeing Peggy again...feeling her, smelling her perfume, the kind she knew he liked had nearly undone him. He wasn't certain it was just an illusion either. Pharaoh said it wasn’t and Steve believed him. She was...so real. His eyes held hers for several moments and he could see she wanted more and so he gave her more. His lips touched hers again and he applied more pressure upon her. He leaned back again and smiled at her and she smiled back. “Now there’s my Kate I’ve been looking for,” Steve said.

“She’s young, she’ll bounce back. She’s tough like her mother,” Tony said as he stepped over to the small folding table that Logan had set up. There were several sandwiches and a pitcher of cool water with plastic cups. Tony picked up a pastrami on rye and took a bite out of it. “What about Malcolm...is he doing well?” Logan asked hopefully. He knew Natalya wasn’t one to worry but he also knew when she was out of sorts too.

“Pharaoh told me what happened,” Logan said as he handed Natalya the half sandwich. He knew which she liked the most and out of his pocket he pulled a beer and opened it for her. “What...did it feel like?” Logan asked curiously. Tony seemed to be interested to and waited for her to answer.

Peter shook his head. “Logan set up another table I think and Cap went toward his room...I think Kate is still upset,” Peter said as he chewed. He paused as he recalled the moment he saw her being crushed. He doubted he had ever felt more afraid then that. Everything happened so quickly and he partly blamed himself for not stopping that from happening. He knew he could have and that’s what bothered him the most.

“I think I got enough of Tony’s voice,” he began then looked more seriously at her when she looked up. He saw her excitement and he frowned internally for it. “But I’m not certain I want you to do this,” Peter said. “You know I want you to be happy Serena. As a friend that was all I ever wanted for you but…” he began then stopped. ‘Just say it you fool!’ He thought. “I'm in love with you Serena...and I think I always have been,” he said. ‘There...it was out!’ A wave of relief settled over him now that he had said out loud.

Kate was no longer really interested in the food Steve had brought...at least not for the moment. She let him pull away for a moment to put down the soup container and then when he leaned back in to her she wrapped her arms around him and brought him down onto the bed with her. She could feel his love for her in his lips and any doubt that he was still hers vanished. They kissed for a little while before just settling into one another's arms. "So, what are we going to do with the book and Uru now? Will they remain here in the Tower?"

Natalya liked turkey with cheddar cheese, which is what Logan had gotten for her. She sat down and took the half sandwich and smiled a little when she saw the beer. He certainly knew her well enough. She began to unwrap her sandwich when she heard Logan's question. She knew what he was asking and she saw Tony looking at her, curious as to what her response was going to be. "It...felt...real and yet also not real at the same time. I mean...I could feel the..." She shook her head, not wanting to discuss it any further and looked at Tony. "What would you have done if Doom had actually brought Isabella back?"

Serena was actually glad to know that she and Peter were going to be alone. It meant that they didn't have to hide their feelings. They could just be themselves. Serena picked up one of the fries and ate it as Peter told her that he thought he had gotten enough of her father's voice to open up the wall in the lab that she thought was hiding her mother's suit. However, before she could say anything Peter began to speak again. When he told her he was in love with her she looked at him for a long moment before a smile tugged at the corner of her lips and a few tears came to her eyes. "I'm in love with you too Peter."

“I prefer to make my own fantasies,” Tony said jokingly and Logan chuckled and coughed as he had been drinking some of his beer right then. He did not intend on addressing her question. He had never loved a woman as he did Isabella. Her loss was a brutal one. One that he would not allowed to be repeated if he had anything to say about it.

“Has anyone seen Serena?” he asked and Logan nodded as he took a bite of his salami sandwich. “Last I saw she was working on the kitchen with Peter making moon eyes at her,” he said and Tony shook his head. “Yeah I know...I think it’s funny that they think we don’t know,
“ Tony said. “I don’t want her to get hurt...but If I force her to go one way she’ll just go the other way more determined. She’s alot like her mother there,” he said and Logan chuckled again. Tony was just as stubborn as she was if not more.

Steve thought about her question and he paused in answering. A tiny voice had told him to keep that from her though he didn’t know why. “We’re not certain yet. Tony was not specific on what Strange wanted us to do with it nor the real reason he gave it to Tony,” he said though they all knew that already. He pressed her into him even harder feeling guilty for not trusting her just then.

Peter had set Serena so they were not across the table from one another. “I saw your face when Doom turned to face your father. Did you want him to bring your mother back?” Peter asked then bit into his burger. It was greasy and also very delicious. They both seemed to like them that way though Serena stared a moment at hers. “I don’t think Kate needed to kill him...he was down already,” Peter said honestly. He had not said that to anyone but felt he could tell Serena.

Isabella had died long before Natalya had ever joined the team and so she had never known her. She had heard things here and there from other people, but Tony never seemed to want to talk about her. From what she understood, before he had met Isabella he had been quite the playboy and was with a different woman almost nightly. However, when he met Isabella he fell for her hard and had dramatically changed his ways in order to win her. Her death had been particularly hard for him and he continued to grieve her loss, though he hid it in his own ways.

Natalya took a sip of her beer as Tony asked about Serena. She was surprised to find Tony so...calm about the fact that Peter clearly had a thing for his daughter. Like Logan, she chuckled when Tony tried to pass off her stubbornness on her mother. "Tony...I would say that she got a fair amount of stubbornness from you as well. She's far more like you than you think. My opinion, which I'm certain you don't want, is to just let them be together if that's what they want."

Kate could sense Steve tense up slightly before answering the question. She knew the reason why. Doom had tricked her into revealing the location of the book and Uru and she still felt horribly guilty about that. "Steve...I think you and Tony should move the book and Uru to a different location...and not tell me where it is."

Serena considered Peter's question for a moment about her mother. "I...I'm not sure to be honest. I can't remember her so it would have been nice to actually meet her...but I think my father was right. The universe would eventually right itself and she would die all over again and I don't think my father would have been able to take that. I...I sometimes hear him...talking to her when he thinks no one is around. He is usually in his lab telling her about the things he's working on...or sometimes its about me."

“Well, you’re his entire life Serena. I don’t think I could blame him for wanting to keep you safe,” Peter said. “I have mixed feelings myself about helping you get this suit. You could have been crushed to death,” he reminded her. “I mean...I’ve barely been able to be your boyfriend,” he added obviously liking that title. And also not liking the fact that she could have died before he could tell her truly how he felt. Now that he had though she was more to him than she was. The entire world was filled with more joy, more color, more vibrance. He grinned just thinking about being ‘with’ Serena and what that might feel like. Daydreaming like a fool when she was looking right at him.

“They’re just kids,” Tony said and shook his head. “They don't know what they want,” He said. “Like the rest of us,” he added. “Serena’s still trying to get her mother’s suit but I think she’s closing in on how to get to it,” He said. “So you’re just gunna let her have it?” Logan asked. “No...Where she thinks it is I’ve removed it already,” Tony said. “Jarvis analized her powers during this last encounter and I’m making modifications to the suit,” Tony said. “I’m still uncertain if I want her to have it though,” He said. “Like I said, They’re just kids.”

“He’s gone now Kate and has no more hold over you,” Steve reminded her as he brushed her hair back with his right hand. He tilted her head back so she could look at him. “We’re in this together. We all have a say in what happens now alright?” he said. Kate was small compared to Steve. Small and lithe, even compared to Natalya. Steve kissed her cheek and he snaked his hand down to her stomach and then in under her shirt. “I will always miss her Kate but Im with you now,” he said as he slipped his fingers down inside of her pants. Their eyes met as he began using his fingers.

Serena smiled when she heard Peter describe himself as her boyfriend. She liked hearing him say that. She took a bite of her cheeseburger and then shook her head a little. "The suit could actually help me Peter. I'm thinking that enhancements could be made to it to increase my abilities while I'm wearing it. I can no longer just sit around and do nothing. I want to help and do some good for this world."

Natalya listened to Tony and then shook her head a little. "Technically, they're both 19 and not kids anymore. And Peter has been on this team for two years now. I was watching Serena the other night. She's brave...she didn't back down and her abilities could be useful to the team. You could let me train her."

Kate looked up into Steve's eyes as she listened to him. What he said made her love him even more. She could not picture her life without him in it. He was her one true love and the man she was supposed to be with. She became away of Steve's hands under her shirt...and then his fingers as they slipped down inside her pants. Her heartbeat was already increasing. She moaned softly as his fingers found the spot inside of her that made her toes curl.

Steve always worried that he was to heavy for Kate but she always told him that it felt good to feel him on top of her. She liked being on top to but when Steve was on top and he held her arms above her head and took what he needed it made her heart almost beat free of her chest. She had waited a very long time for him and Steve had a deliberate way of making love that sometimes was maddening to them both. Kate was more or less human in all the ways that mattered but Steve was not. The soldier’s serum had enhanced every aspect of him physically. And Kate had missed that part of him. The part that would always belong to her. Evenso her legs were so tired she collapsed and Steve rolled them over until they both orgasmed once more then fell asleep in one another’s arms.

Later that night Kate had left their room in search of something to eat. The food Steve had got them had gone cold and she wanted some hot tea. She put on her long, dark blue night robe with matching slippers and headed out to the kitchen. To her surprise Natalya was there leaning on the counter with a half eaten half gallon of ice cream and a spoon. Logan liked ice cream and he always had an ample supply of it in the freezer and knew which kinds Natalya really liked.

“Oh, i didn’t know anyone else was up,” Kate said as she stepped into the kitchen. Natalya could smell the sex on her as soon as she came near. Kate’s hair was held back messily by a light blue scrunchie and she surreptitiously rubbed her right hip as she moved to get a cup. “Want some tea?” She asked kindly as she opened the jar of tea bags. When Natalya shook her head she put the jar back then went to the sink to fill up her mug. She set the microwave for 2 and a half minutes then turned it on.

“So I hear Malcolm will be back in a day or so, you have to be happy about that right?” She asked awkwardly though she didn’t know why she felt awkward around Natalya right now. They had been good friends and had talked together for hours, sometimes through the night when the mood struck them. She noticed Natalya seemed preoccupied about something and she felt that she knew what it was.

“Why do you think you’ll not make a good mother Natalya? I heard you say that more than once. How are you so certain? I think it's fine if you don't want that out of life but I think no one can take away what comes natural to a woman. Your instincts will serve if your head needs time to catch up,” she said.

“I want children but I don’t think Steve is ready for that. I’m not even certain that he can have children,” Kate said almost sadly.

Natalya often had a difficult time sleeping. She was plagued by nightmares and was lucky to get two good nights of sleep a week. Sometimes she would go to the training room and workout until she was exhausted enough to fall back asleep and other times she would just wander around the Tower. On those nights she often got herself some ice cream and it touched her that even though she and Logan were no longer together that he still continued to ensure that she had the ice cream she liked. She was finding it difficult to sleep without Malcolm next to her and had finally just gotten up and headed down to the kitchen. She got out her half gallon of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and a spoon and was lazily leaning back against the counter when Kate walked in.

She hid her grin behind her spoon as she looked at her. Now, it was clear why she and Steve had not been seen in a few hours. Steve had once been much more straight laced. Then he met Kate and Kate had done something to him. He was now far more passionate. She could still remember a time when Steve never would have dreamed of sleeping with a girl before marriage. Natalya was certain that Steve and Kate would get married, it was only a matter of when at this point, but clearly that was no longer something he believed. Kate was the first and only woman, to Natalya's knowledge, that Steve had been with.

Natalya looked over at Kate when Kate spoke about her not thinking she would make a good mother. She sighed and put the lid back on the container and put it back into the freezer. "It's not a matter of not wanting children Kate...I physically cannot get pregnant. My uterus was removed as apart of a sadistic graduation ceremony. I needed to be able to sleep with men in order to get the information I needed and the SSB has a rule about their female agents getting pregnant. Nevertheless, I honestly doubt I would be a good mother. I'm a trained assassin and spy."

“Natalya that’s...barbaric,” Kate said but she knew better than to pity Natalya. It was one of the prices she had paid for the people she had killed. Kate had not known this but she would not pity Natalya. Never pity. “Well there are other ways to have children, a family but I doubt that’s something we have to really concern ourselves about yet. Malcolm though...he might want children,” She said but when she saw Natalya’s expression she changed the subject.

“This is not why I’ve been wanting to talk to you. I’m...troubled by what I did...I killed Victor and I knew it was wrong. He was down, unconscious...and I killed him,” she said and her lips began to tremble. Her eyes welled up with moisture and she fought not to cry in front of Natalya.

“He was helpless...and I was angry and afraid…” She began then wiped her eyes before tears began to fall. “Steve hasn’t said anything to me about it, as if he wants to forget it happened. But I can’t forget. And I feel guilt over it,” She said and a few tears did fall onto her cheeks. “I know that he loves me but I feel as if I’ve crossed a line with him that I’ll never be able to take back. He’s disappointed and it's tearing me apart,” She said and turned away from Natalya and tried to stifle her tears.

Natalya knew that there was a strong chance that Malcolm wanted children. Natalya on the other hand wasn't certain that was the life for her...at least not yet. She had just started doing good in this world and she wanted to continue that work. She knew though that she did need to sit down with Malcolm and discuss all of this with him.

Natalya could tell that this wasn't all that Kate had wanted to talk to her about and she thought she knew what was actually on her mind. She listened to her friend and sighed as she thought about what had happened that night. "I don't blame you for what you did Kate. He was dangerous...extremely dangerous and he was so close to getting his hands on that book and the Uru. If that had happened...well...I don't even want to consider that. If I had been able to, I would have killed him myself. He was trying to manipulate us. The man was evil and the world is better off without him. Besides, I doubt that even SHIELD would have been able to contain him. He would have gotten free and then we would be in the exact same mess we were in. Don't worry about Steve. He'll realize that soon enough."

Meanwhile, Serena was with Peter at the movies. They were sitting in the back row kissing quite heavily as the credits began to roll. They had been going back and forth between watching the movie and heavy make out sessions. As the lights came up Serena pulled back and realized the movie was over. She laughed a little and looked at Peter. "When did you become such a good kisser?"

Kate’s brow furled at Natalya. It was obvious to her she was just trying to sooth her worry. She wasn’t patronizing her but it irritated her for some reason she couldn’t explain.

“I murdered him Natalya, don’t you see that? Steve does but he’ll never say it. Not to my face. Would you really have killed him when he was done like that? Put a bullet in his head? You’ve come a long way since the SSB, a long way. Peter...Pharaoh? Malcolm? None of them would do something like that,” he said and Natalya would see that she was fighting with herself. Her confidence was on shaky ground and it had been since Victor had put her under his control.

“I killed him because I was angry not because he was a threat,” She said.

“Then it is murder,” A voice said from behind them. It was Logan and he stepped up to them. Neither of them heard him step up. He could be as silent as a cat sometimes. He had been working out in the gym if the sweat on his clothes was any judge. And he had that, musky man scent all over him. “Call it what it was or not Kate, Victor had it comin. But consider this. We aint a court here and the jury is out on this one and you’re innocent. Steve’ll have ta deal and you’ll have to find a way to move beyond it,” he said as he moved and opened up the fridge. “The man’s a little straight laced for my taste but I can see that you’re roundin out his edges,” he said as the bottles clinked and he straightened with a beer in his hand. He looked her over and Natalya knew he could smell it all over Kate. Kate must have noticed him looking at her because she pulled her robe tighter and an irritated look came over her.

“Fuck you Logan,” Kate said and stomped away toward her room. Logan only shrugged and popped his beer open and took a long drink. “Ahhh,” he said as he looked at Natalya, trying to size up her mood. He was certainly looking at her as if were in the mood. He had that ‘haughty’ look in his eye and Natalya had seen that before. He was horny and he moved up beside her at the counter.

“No, you’re the awesome kisser, I’m just following your lead,” he said smiling. She made him so happy he wanted to burst. That and she was really turning him on. It was an effort not to put his hands on her where he knows he should not. He had kissed MJ as well and they made out but he Serena had this way of drawing him in so much that all that there was was her. The feel of her lips, her taste, the warmth of her. The seats had arms rests so that they were separated a little but Peter only thought that was a good thing. He was curious about what she looked like without clothes on...and more besides but he was far too shy to bring any of that stuff up. And he liked dating, especially dating Serena. She was smart, funny and beautiful all in one package.

“Well, why wouldn’t I want to kiss you, you’re so beautiful and you’re lucky these seats have armrests between us,” He whispered though he didn’t know why he said that last part. He had thought it and suddenly he was saying it. He wanted to panic but he just kept looking at her. ‘That was smooth Peter, be cool man, just roll with it’ He thought. He smiled at her but his cheeks had more color in them than a moment ago. That and he couldn’t tear his eyes away from hers.

Natalya sighed as she watched Kate storm off. She knew that Kate just needed to decompress and get her confidence back. Though Kate didn't believe it, the truth of the matter was was that she would have killed Doom if she had had the opportunity. But of all of them Kate was the only one strong enough to actually do it. "Well, that went well. You really didn't have to say that stuff about Steve you know. She was upset as it was and you just made it worse."

She put her spoon in the sink and then felt Logan's eyes on her. When she looked over at him she saw 'that' look in is eyes. When they had been dating all it had taken was that look and things would quickly escalate between them. However, they weren't together anymore and she firmly shook her head. "No, Logan."

Serena looked pleasantly surprised at what Peter had said. Her grin widened, especially when she saw the bits of color in his cheeks. She had slept with guys before, but she was certain that Peter had not slept with MJ. She had never heard him say anything like that before and it actually excited her.

"And what exactly would you do if there weren't armrests between us?" she whispered with a grin. Their lips were close, but her eyes remained on his.

There were lots of people around them though most were getting up to leave the theatre. Peter wasn’t used to this kind of talk. MJ never said anything even close to what Serena had just said but he had been thinking about touching her breasts. And once he thought of it his eyes glanced down at her chest. It was a short glance and his cheeks colored even more. “I could go for a bite, how bout you?” Peter asked as he took her hand and led her out of the theatre. He could sense her grinning at him as he pulled her along. He didn’t understand why she made him feel like she did. He never used to sweat just because someone looked at him. Serena was able to though. As if she were thinking something that he ‘should’ know but didn't. All in all, Peter wanted to be a gentleman with Serena but she was sending him obvious signals that it might not be a requirement. That bothered him to a degree but not as much as it might have before he had gotten to know her. ‘Before you felt her hand on your thigh!’ he thought to himself. He just wasn’t raised that way but part of him was curious about sex. More than curious about sex with Serena. After they got out of the theatre and were outside he walked backwards down the sidewalk as they talked.

“Have you...been with...alot a guys?” He asked. He hoped she knew what he meant and his cheeks bloomed in color.

Serena actually rather liked watching Peter squirm uncomfortably. She was very comfortable around Peter since they had known one another for years. Serena liked to flirt and she knew that Peter was still learning in that area. She took his hand and let him lead her out of the theater. They continued to hold hands as they walked down the sidewalk. She glanced over at Peter every so often and could see she had flustered him quite a bit. At this question she looked over at him and knew exactly what he meant.

"I've been with two guys," she told him honestly. It would probably be a lower number than Peter had expected. "I like to flirt and everything, but I'm not just going to jump into bed with any guy. It was Chris and Robert," she told him. He would know that she had had actual relationships with both of them and with each of them they had been together for a while.

Peter wasn’t to put off about her response. She at least, didnt sleep with just any guy but it still bothered him anyway...a little. “I suppose if it bothered you that...that I’m a virgin, you’d not be with me right now,” Peter said thoughtfully. “The guys at school make such a big deal about that and I wonder if...you know, being with so many women is so important. I mean...it hasn't been great for their grade point average,” he said and wondered why she laughed.

She ofcourse knew he wasn’t like most guys. He gave so much of himself, held a job to help out his aunt and was an Avenger. No one took care of Peter besides Peter. Like her he had lost his parents though she only her mother and most people thought he was awkward. Most of that was due to fact that he was far more intelligent then they and most people liked Peter but didn’t really know how to relate to him. He was honest, selfless and was beyond intelligent. His body had this tight, packed musculature that she could feel under his clothes. He was athletic but because he was a mutant, he’d never compete against anyone like that. He had one of the smiles that was completely infectious and he was indeed a good kisser.

As they walked he stopped and let her come up to him. “I’ve finished the voice command recording,” he whispered. “Do you wanna go get that suit?” he said then stepped away from her and pulled from his pocket, a small flash drive. He took a few steps away from her, walking backwards. “What do I get if I give it to you?” he asked and twiddled his eyebrows playfully. It was likely he was thinking of things far more innocent than she was right then.

Serena had always known that Peter was special. But only now was she starting to realize just how truly special he was. No matter what happened to him he always picked himself up and dusted himself off and carried on with that infectious smile on his face. He had supported her no matter what and he had been there for her when no one else had. She was truly lucky to have him in her life and she hadn't realized just how much she had needed him until that very moment. She loved him and she wanted him to always know that.

Suddenly, he stopped walking and she stepped up to him when she saw he wanted to tell her something. What he said caused her to grin at him. She was going to be able to get her mother's suit! She saw the flash drive and she grinned and playfully chewed at her bottom lip as he stepped backwards away from her with that goofy grin on his face. She practically attacked him. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him as people just walked around them. She then pulled back and looked at him with a more serious look on her face. "Peter, I don't want you to get in trouble with my dad."

Peter ofcourse let her kiss him and he had kissed her back. They had been such good friends for years now and he could not imagine being with anyone else right then. When she mentioned her father though he frowned.

“He might get angry but I think you should have this,” he said and pressed the drive into her palm. “I know if I had a chance to have a piece, small or not of the memory of my parents, I’d take it. We’ve come so far, we have to open it now,” he said then leaned in and kissed her softly and let his kiss linger on her lips. “C’mon, lets go get that suit,” he whispered softly into her ear.

Back at the tower it was mid evening but they both knew Tony had taken the helicopter for a meeting and then dinner. The lab was wide open for them though other Avengers were in the tower. Peter gave her the audio device to plug the flash drive into and knew she knew how to work it. He had made several verbal commands complete with tonys voice and he was certain one of them would work.

“I’ll watch for anyone coming and stand clear, we don't know what will happen,” he said. Peter was near the hallway just inside the lab. He nodded to her that the coast was clear. As she began they heard Tony’s voice on the audio device. The first command was basic and though it didn't seem to work as she went through the various commands.she knew they were becoming more complex. Peter must have spent hours and hours puting all this together, which he had but he never even flinched because it was for her. As she hit yet another button and played the command the machine in front of the wall shifted and the wall began to open. A large, armored container pulled forward out of the wall and once it came out fully it opened and revealed...absolutely nothing.

Serena knew that when her father found out what she had done that he was going to get angry, but she had to take this chance. That suit was more than just a suit. It had been her mother's. She had actually worn it and Serena wanted to carry on the work that her mother had started. She wanted a piece of her and she hoped her father would eventually understand that.

Tonight the Tower seemed quiet. She knew that her father had left for a meeting and then dinner and so now was the optimum time to do this. She clutched the flash drive tightly in her fist and before she stepped into the lab she stopped and looked at Peter.

"I never would have been able to pull this off without you. Thank you for helping me."

She stepped inside and with Peter keeping an eye out she plugged in the flash drive and began to pull up the commands. She was astounded by how many Peter had created. It made her love him even more because she knew how much time this must have taken him. As she went through the commands one after another she hoped that one of them would work. Finally, she heard a clicking sound in the wall and the wall sifted and began to open. A large, armored container came towards her as she walked over. She drew in a deep breath as the lid opened and with her heart pounding in her chest she looked inside and saw...

"Peter...it's empty. He moved it..."

Peter rushed into the lab and stopped next to her as they both looked at an empty container. “Uh...I don’t understand Serena,” he said and Jarvis chimed up. “Password accepted’ He said and the container began to revolve. When it turned around completely it opened and a suit of powered armor in a color that looked initially blue but when Peter shifted it looked more violet. It seemed to change constantly depending on the light. It looked slightly smaller than Tony’s suits, obviously feminine and state of the art. Peter smiled and hugged Serena when he saw tears come to her eyes. “Its beautiful, like you,” Peter said as he stepped up and touched it. He had never seen anything like it.

Serena felt some tears come to her eyes as she stared into the empty container. She had felt that she was so close to having a piece of her mother that this was...devastating. She heard Peter come up to stand beside her. When he spoke she suddenly heard Jarvis' voice proclaiming that the password had been accepted. She looked at Peter in surprise and then back at the container as it began to revolve. As it turned around completely her jaw dropped in shock at what was before them. It was her mother's suit...and yet it wasn't. She had seen pictures of her mother in her suit and this had been altered. Tears came to her eyes as she looked at it and realized what her father had done. It was...incredible. She slowly walked up closer and like Peter she reached out and touched it. "He altered it for me. I...I can't believe he did this..."