Fic: Sparks Fly
[This is the longest fic I have written in a long while and the most ambitious maybe ever. Many details are collaborative so thank you to my cohorts. But blame me for anything makes no sense whatsoever (much of this would make perfect sense in a comic book format so maybe keep that in mind).]
July 4
Carol hosted an Independence Day Cook Out every year. It was Avengers Doctrine at this point : the morning and early afternoon of every July 4th was spent at appearances, parades and ceremonies to commemorate America, in Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston; but the rest of the day, fireworks included, they spent like most of the rest of the country -- as a family. And Carol wasn't going to let Lindy's appearance and all the drama it had set in motion get in the way of her fun.
That said, this was not working out to be fun.
The tension started when the Danvers-Parker-Parker-Danvers plus Lindy arrived at the mansion, about an hour before the rest who didn't live there were expected. Or rather the tension that existed at the mansion since Lindy's arrival in this reality had opened old wounds and stirred up old resentments was exacerbated when a determinedly cheerful Carol and Amelia, a wary Lindy, and a resigned Peter and Ben showed up. Lindy's guard had been up since the morning of parades.
"Is the parade for my birthday, Daddy?"
"Well, it's Memorial Day. We remember all the people who've died to protec--"
Her mother's laughter interrupted him.
"She's five years old, James, let her believe the parade is for her."
He answered with kisses to their foreheads, and there was more laughter. She thinks her own.
Lindy wasn't used to crowds, they always meant fighting where she was from. She was comfortable with Amelia's family because she had no clear memories of Carol or Peter, they'd both died in the same battle that killed her mother. It had taken a couple days to place Ben. He was so different.
She tried to focus on the people here, but she couldn't stop herself from cataloguing.
Jones, Jessica. Avengers. Dead.
Danvers, Carol. Avengers. Dead.
Parker, Peter. Avengers. Dead.
Parker, Ben.
"I don't care about your war."
She was hiding to listen undetected and couldn't see his face but she imagined the scar that split his cheek pulsing.
"I don't care about anything but her."
She wished in that moment only to be that girl. To be... loved...
Lindy blinked. Parker, Ben. Traitor.
Danvers, Amelia. Unknown.
Luke, Dani, Danny, and Lucy were setting up the barbeque while Sharon and Misty set out tables full of food and drink. Carol shooed the others over to help and joined Jessica at the dessert table. She looked tired and frustrated, stuck halfway between being resigned to the silent treatment and dirty looks from everyone she lived with -- except Anthony, and usually Steve -- and angry about it.
"I didn't make any cupcakes," said Jess because she couldn't come up with anything else to say. There was a lot of that going around.
"It's okay," answered Carol. "We brought watermelon."
Rand, Danny. Avengers.
Rand, Lucy. Unknown.
Knight, Misty. Avengers. Dead.
Carter, Sharon. Double Agent.
Cage, Luke. Avengers.
He saved her life.
"You saved my life."
"That's my job." He said it off the cuff. It is what it is. But there was something more, something in the way he looked at her.
"What are you looking at?"
"I had a daughter once."
Cage, Danielle. Dead.
The tension, and the lack of things to say, only grew as each group arrived. No one was willing to not come. Maybe everybody was afraid of Carol, maybe no superhero can avoid a train wreck.
Anthony and Steve returned home just before the party was officially set to begin. Steve accepted a birthday hug from Carol and Anthony changed quickly out of his band uniform to help his mother with chairs.
Rogers, Steve. Avengers. Dead.
Rogers, Anthony. Cute, Mr.
The Starks were perfectly prompt, Pepper immediately set to rearranging everything on the tables to a "more efficient and aesthetically pleasing display" (Carol had given up arguing with her years ago) and Ginny escaped to Ben's side as soon as possible. Tony was on duty, arriving late, if at all. So one person can't be bullied by Ms. Marvel.
Potts, Pepper. Dark Avengers. Director of HAMMER. Enemy Level 1b.
Stark, Ginny. Uranus. Codename: Cordelia.
Vincent and his father arrived separately but at the exact same time and each with ice cream.
"But mine's better." Vincent winked. "It tastes like Captain America."
"Which Captain America?" asked Lucy.
"Original recipe." Vincent cocked his finger toward Steve in a mock pistol salute. Anthony rolled his eyes.
"Does it taste like freedom?" quipped Ben.
"What does freedom taste like?" asked Ginny.
"Cherry," said Amelia. Everyone stared at her. "What? I read the box."
Strange, Stephen. Dark Avengers. Enemy Level 2.
Strange, Vincent. Unknown.
"We brought cake." Anya plopped the carton on the table without ceremony. Pepper's face tightened.
"I already ordered a birthday cake." She moved Anya's box to the far side of the table.
"It's our wedding cake," Anya clarified with a wink at Amelia who'd presented it to Anya and Rikki the night before, an in joke with Jamie that Amelia appreciated was being spread around. Especially to Pepper who now stared at the couple.
"You married?"
"No," Rikki answered simply.
Corazon, Anya. Unknown.
Barnes, Rebecca. Unknown.
Pepper was saved from deciding if she wanted to ask another question by the arrival of Jake and his father, with trays of cupcakes.
"More dessert?" Pepper sighed. "Over there."
"Where's--"
"Happy birthday, Steve." Natasha answered Sharon's question indirectly.
"Thank you." Steve took the proffered gift.
"From all of us."
He nodded. "Thank you," he repeated. "How are you?"
"How do you think she is?" Sharon was frowning disapproval toward James and Jessica speaking quietly across the lawn.
"I thought you probably wouldn't have... time. To make your own."
Jess looked at him with a crooked smile. Sharon's frown deepened.
Natasha touched a hand to Sharon's cheek. "Please do not be angry on my behalf."
"Oh, stop being so Russian."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. Steve decided to change the subject. "Is it true he gave her an engagement ring?" He nodded to Jake and Amelia.
"Yes."
"Wow. We're old."
"They're too young," Pepper corrected with a clipped tone that dripped disapproval.
"You should not judge what you do not understand." Natasha walked away from them all; it was a blanket statement.
Romanov, Natalia. Uranus.
Barnes, James. Avengers.
Barnes, Jacob.
Nothing.
Sharon wanted to follow but was interrupted by the sudden influx of guests as the Barton and Morse contingent arrived. Clint and Bobbi had been switching off appearances at the cook out since the year six year old Bobby had gotten lost at the fireworks because his parents were too busy shouting at each other. And Bobbi and Bobby hadn't shown up since he was eleven. But here were all four, plus Kate Bishop and Jessica Drew.
"Bobbi, how nice to see you."
"It's been too long, Pepper."
"And I see you have your hands full--"
"Key Lime Pie." She shrugged, smiling. "Florida's specialty."
Pepper hid her sigh. This is what happens when no one organizes what to bring. "Of course. Well, let me show you the dessert table." Bobbi shooed her sons toward the other kids and followed Pepper. Lindy peered at the boys, she recognized them from Amelia's pictures. She was expecting them not to be girls, but she had thought they were twins.
Morse, Bobbi. Uranus.
Barton, Clint Jr. Uranus. Codename: Desdemona.
Morse, Bobby. Uranus. Codename: Cressida.
"Hey, Buck, how's things?" Clint was not-so-secretly pleased his family drama was unlikely to be the main family drama this year.
"Hello, Clint," James answered shortly.
"Hi, Kate, I didn't know you were coming." Jessica gave the younger woman a quick hug. It seemed forever ago she'd mentored the first Young Avengers.
"Clint made it sound fun..." Kate's voice faded into uncertainty.
Jess blinked. "You're not with..." Her voice faded into disbelief. With a healthy dose of disapproval. But Clint shot her a look that said very clearly he wasn't going to take any lip about inappropriate liaisons from her this time. Jess stalked off to get the story from Jess Drew.
"Uh, I'm going to go say hi to ... someone." Kate hurried off to find someone less awkward to talk to. If that was even possible.
"You're not with -- are you?" asked James with a look that said very clearly he wasn't going to be bullied away like Jess. And he didn't like that she was, either.
Clint glared. "She's an adult." James looked like he wanted to say something more but Clint pushed past him. "Excuse me, I have to go console an old friend." James didn't have to watch to know who he was heading toward.
Barton, Clint. Avengers.
Bishop, Kate. Unknown.
Drew, Jessica. Avengers.
There was a sudden crack.
"Happy birthday, Dad!" Jamie's grin was ear to ear as she held out a cake nearly half her size. She was surrounded by six Asgardians and Liv's mother Jane, all with equally wide grins. Pepper nearly fainted at the sight of the cake.
"...Thank you, Jamie," said her father. Sharon and Anthony hurried over to help her with the cake while Ben and Peter set up another table.
Rogers, Jamie. Uranus. Codename: Portia.
Thor, Liv. Uranus. Codename: Rosalind.
Thor, Jane. Unknown.
Thor, Sif, Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun. Asgard. Dead.
"Thor --" Carol touched his arm and was pulled into a tight embrace. "--oof, uh, I'm so happy you could come."
"We are honored."
"Right."
"And there is food!" added Volstagg.
"Right. Right, right over here --"
There was a sudden thud. The crowd looked over to see Clint on the ground and Natasha walking away. James hid a grin. Jess and Jess tried to.
"Is there going to be a brawl?" asked Fandral, not hiding or trying to hide his grin at all. No one felt comfortable answering either way.
"...Let's eat," said Carol.
--
"Why are you up here with us?" The younger Avengers and associates were spread out on the balcony. "Haven't you graduated to the adults table?"
Anya laughed. "Are you kidding? I want nothing to do with dramarama central."
Val nodded agreement. "If we didn't know these people it would be almost fun to watch."
Dani shot her a look. "What?"
"I mean … like a soap opera. … Never mind."
Richards, Valeria. Uranus. Codename: Rosalind.
"We should do something."
"What should we do, my sun?"
Amelia's brow furrowed. "I don't know. But something. It's hours til the fireworks."
"We could incite some fireworks," suggested Vincent.
"Huh?"
"The Asgardians wanted a brawl."
"Vincent!"
"I'm just saying Val's soap opera is painful to watch."
"Where are the Asgardians anyway?" asked Ben.
Anthony gestured. "Jamie's showing them the garden."
"I just wish I knew what they were thinking."
"The Asgardians?"
Amelia glared. "The adults." Vincent kissed her forehead in mock contrition. "Stoppit!"
"Stop what?"
"Acting like you know everything. It's so Merlin of you."
Lindy started.
Amelia glanced over. "Did you say something?"
"No." Amelia frowned but Lindy went on. "What did you call him?"
"Huh? Oh... Merlin? Because he lives backwards so he's a know it all who won't talk about anything."
"Merlin," repeated Lindy.
"It's my code name," said Vincent. He was watching her very closely but she was silent. He addressed Amelia. "I don't know it all."
"Just more than me."
He cocked his head. "Maybe. Not about that." He gestured to the adults below. Amelia bit her lip. She wanted to ask. Honestly, she wanted to demand the truth. But it wasn't what Jake wanted. And she didn't know what Dani wanted. She looked over to her sometime leader and sometime rival, questions in her eyes.
Dani stood. "I'm out." Amelia blinked, but before she could say anything Dani had jumped down with Val in tow. The others looked at each other and scrambled to follow. In the thirty seconds it took them to take the stairs, Dani and Val's attempted departure had gotten the attention of the entire party.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. If she's leaving, I don't have to be here."
"Luke..." Jess had been trying to come up with what to say to her daughter. But Luke leaving would be worse. "You live here." He grumbled something in response. "What?"
Jess and Dani were locked on his response. "Nothin'."
Jess swallowed, trying to remain calm because losing it would not help. "What did you say?"
The party had come to a standstill. Luke sighed. Jess was near tears. Val tugged Dani's arm and wished they'd snuck out the back. James frowned, conflicted about speaking up or staying quiet, as he had been this whole time. Peter and Carol exchanged a look. Pepper considered how impolite it would be to leave. Bobbi watched Clint. Clint watched Natasha. Anya downed her fifth beer. Amelia took a deep breath and placed herself right in the middle of it all.
"So! Who wants to play volley ball?"
Everyone stared at her.
"Oh!" said Vincent. "Oh! ME."
"Okay, V, you captain the other team." He ginned and with a snap of his fingers he was dressed in a day-glo ensemble from the eighties. Everyone stared at him.
"Amelia, maybe it's not the best time..."
Amelia gave her mother a look. "That didn't stop you." She turned back to addressing the crowd. "Come on, it's a nice day." A few people shuffled. "Isn't anybody sick of standing around and -- " Amelia was unable to come up with a word for it "-- doing nothing?" More shuffling. Amelia put her hands on her hips. "Do I have to make up the teams myself?"
"I'll play." James moved to stand beside Amelia.
"Thank you."
"Oh, in that case..." Luke moved to stand next to Vincent and crossed his arms. Dani and then Val were right behind.
"Uh..." Amelia set her jaw. "Okay." Jake and Lindy moved as one to join Amelia's team. Danny went to stand by Luke. And with a smirk, Clint also joined Vincent's team.
Anya stepped up, hands on hips, and ready to play. "Pick a side, Rikki." She shrugged, it seemed pretty clear which side they more resembled. Rikki joined Amelia's team, and Anya promptly headed to the opposing side.
"Hey!" said Amelia, clearly taking her decision personally.
"Sorry araña hija, but if we're on the same side I can't beat her."
Amelia made a face. "Fine. But we're outnumbered and I'm out of Barneses."
"Don't be too sure," said Luke, under his breath but just loud enough to be heard by everyone. James rubbed his temple.
"I'll play your side, Amelia." Anthony stepped up beside Jake prompting Vincent and Anya to high-five.
"What's going on?"
Amelia turned, beaming, at Jamie's voice. "Volley ball! You in?"
Jamie looked them up and down. Vincent, Luke, Dani, Val, Danny, Clint and Anya on one side and Amelia, Anthony and four Barnes on the other.
"These are the teams?" She leaned over to Fandral. "I think you might get that brawl after all."
"Are you playing?" Amelia's patience was wearing thin.
Jamie tut-tuted and joined Vincent's team which led to more high-fiving. Amelia looked at the Asgardians with approaching desperation.
"I do not know 'volley ball', " said Liv. "I will watch." The rest nodded agreement and moved off to find a seat to watch, all save one. Thor looked the teams up and down as Jamie had, determined that Amelia's was at a disadvantage and went to stand by her. Everyone blinked once.
Amelia gulped. "...Okay. We need one more." She looked at the crowd entreatingly. Lucy looked like she wanted to play but Misty was holding her back. Never mind, she'd be on Luke's team anyway. Her father, standing with a supportive arm around Aunt Jess, shook his head once in flat refusal. The Barton boys were mingling with the Asgardians, but they were an x factor. Jess Drew --
"Don't even think it."
Okay, so, no. Steve and Pepper, and Natasha and her mother had positioned themselves on either side to watch and intervene if necessary. Seriously. It should be ridiculous.
"Ben," she called. Her brother looked very resistant. "Please?" He sighed and walked over to complete her team.
It took ten minutes to explain the game to Thor and he popped two balls before he got a handle of the weight -- both Jamie and Vincent dissolved into giggles when he asked why the ball was so light. And those ten minutes proved to be the best part of the game.
Any variety of real gameplay disintegrated quickly. Amelia's side was trying to play the game but their opposition was playing something else entirely. Anya and Vincent would send the ball spinning toward Rikki and Anthony respectively any time they got it -- unless Amelia was scowling, then they knocked it toward her -- and spent the rest of the time high-fiving each other. Jamie seemed to be on some quest to prove she was The Best volley ball player in the existence of the game but who exactly she was showing off for was up in the air (though it was most likely an Asgardian). And everyone else on what was ostensibly Vincent's team but clearly Luke's side was using the game to throw things at James.
"Stop cheating!" Amelia shouted at Luke when the ball hit James square in the chest for the fifth time in a row.
"Tell it to your own side, kid."
Amelia glared; she had had just about enough of the adults acting like preschoolers. "Fine. We'll play it your way." She grabbed the ball and stomped off to the sidelines, calling out to her brother as she passed. "Ben, I'm switching you out."
"What?"
"I'm replacing you." The entire assembly stared as she pulled Jessica Jones on to the field.
"Oh, God," said Carol, watching like a hawk from the balcony. "What is she doing?"
Peter dropped beside her. "Giving them another target?" he suggested not without some measure of disapproval.
"Raising the stakes," murmured Natasha beside them, not without some measure of admiration. Carol frowned.
"Okay, new plan." Amelia gathered her team together. "Jake. Lindy. Cap." She pointed to each as she named them. "They're our best chance to score. If the ball comes your way pass it to one of them. Thor, your main objective is to keep the balls off of these two." She pointed to James and Jessica. "And you," she addressed James, not without some measure of impertinence, "Stop letting them hit you."
He smiled despite himself. "Yes, ma'am."
The game resumed. Thor, either amused or impressed by Amelia, took her quite literally and put himself in the direct path of any ball sent toward James. Soon there were fewer being sent his way, or Jessica's. All it took was the Norse God of Thunder dancing around in their way to show Luke and others just how ridiculous they were acting, though Val still kept trying to get one past him. The game turned quickly after that. Amelia's side was playing to win, and as a team, and once the other side decided to counter it became a real game.
"Game point!" Amelia served, Jamie knocked it back. Rikki passed it to Jake who sent it over. Anya dove to send it up and Val sent it back over. Anthony passed it, again to Jake, who knocked it up and over once more. Clint hit it back forcibly, Thor intervened and hit it over. The Asgardians cheered. Luke scowled and knocked the ball back toward James. He hit it up, but not over. Jess rushed in and hit the ball back toward Lindy who knocked it over the net. Dani ran for it but she wasn't fast enough. Game.
Anya swore. Then burst into laughter and ran over to congratulate Rikki and Amelia. With that the sides disintegrated and the audience joined the athletes, everyone talking at once.
"We won." Amelia sounded surprised.
"You won," corrected Jake. He put his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest and laid his chin on her head. "They won." He indicated his father and Jessica congratulating Lindy.
"Are you okay?"
"It's good for her. And them."
She turned into his embrace, worried eyes on his. "But are you okay?"
"I'm okay."
"I love you."
His nod said he knew, and that's why he's okay. His kiss said everything else.
"Get a room!"
Amelia pulled away to give Jamie a saucy look. "Is yours available?"
"......No!" Amelia tried to pout but fell apart laughing. "No, no, no. Ask Anthony."
Jake whispered something to Amelia and extricated himself. Most likely, thought Jamie, to ask Anthony.
"Amelia." She turned and looked up to meet her father-in-law-to-be's gaze. "Good game."
"Thanks for being on my team."
He smiled.
"Yeah..." Jamie looked from one to the other. "Sorry about that." She could be talking to either of them. Or both. Probably both.
"We won," said Amelia.
"I understand, Jamie," said James.
"Okay."
On the other side of the net Dani finally stood, brushing off grass with a scowl.
"You almost had it." Jess held a hand out to her daughter. Dani sighed, nodded, and slapped the hand.
"Next time."
Jess gave her a small smile. Luke watched quietly, and moved away.
--
The game didn't diffuse all the tension but it diffused enough to make the party somewhat more celebratory. Dani and Lucy started volleying the ball back and forth which turned into a lesson in backyard volley ball when the Asgardians noticed. Couples paired off. Jake and Amelia disappeared. The many desserts were welcome. Clint and Bobbi got into a row over the proper recipe for a key lime pie prompting Bobby to ask Jess Drew to adopt him and Anya to drunkenly and loudly invite Kate to come home with her and Rikki. Tony arrived with a birthday cake to prove to Pepper and Ginny he was a good family man and to Steve and Carol he was a good friend. Ten minutes later he flew off again to "handle something in Brazil". Lindy watched them all.
Stark, Tony. Dark Avenger. Disabled.
"So who's Merlin?" Vincent leaned against the tree beside Lindy.
"A toy." She nodded toward Anthony. "Like Mr. Cute."
Vincent grinned. "You have no idea how much that pleases me. Who's toy?"
"Juliet."
"And who is Juliet?"
Lindy blinked. "I don't know."
Vincent followed her gaze to Ben and Ginny. "What do you see?"
"I don't care about anything but her."
"Cordelia," said Lindy. She pointed to Ginny. "Engineered by her mother."
"Pepper?"
Lindy nodded. "Director Potts." Vincent was quiet, Lindy had turned to indicate Val.
"Rosalind. She volunteered." She turned again. Bobby. "Cressida." Trick. "Desdemona." Jamie. "Portia."
"I thought her father was dead."
Lindy nodded again. "She was a clone. As was Bianca." Liv. "The twins were engineered."
Twins? Vincent frowned, then snapped his fingers. "Ah." Interesting, the multiverse. There had to be twins, just not the same pair. "And Ophelia." He pointed to Lindy.
"Yes."
"What was Juliet's power?"
"She absorbs energy. She is the most powerful and the most dangerous." Vincent found it interesting she'd switched to the present tense. "They are always testing. They have not found a limit. She has the potential to absorb a star."
"What does she do with the energy?"
"She is a bomb."
Vincent was quiet a moment. Lindy was watching Ben and Ginny again. "Ben can do that," he said, keeping his tone conversational. "If he wanted to."
Lindy blinked. "I don't care about anything but her." Not Ginny at all. "Where's Amelia?"
"I'll have Anthony find her." He waved to his boyfriend. Lindy took a few steps from the tree, her head was spinning.
Jones, Jessica. Avengers. Dead.
Danvers, Carol. Avengers. Dead.
Parker, Peter. Avengers. Dead.
Rogers, Steve. Avengers. Dead.
Barnes, James. Avengers…
Dead.
Cage, Luke. Dead.
Richards, Valeria. Dead.
Drew, Jessica. Dead.
Rogers, Jamie. Dead.
Rogers, Anthony…
"Lindy?" Amelia was disheveled, and her eyes wide with worry. "What's wrong?"
Danvers, Amelia. Uranus. Codename: Juliet.
Amelia put a hand out tentatively, Lindy grasped her wrist and held. Amelia's eyes filled with tears at the pain.
"Lindy…" Her only response was to press harder. Amelia was lightheaded. A crowd had formed around them.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Lindy shook her head but she couldn't stop the litany, measured to Amelia's heart beating beneath her grasp.
"Don't let.. them… hurt… her…" Amelia fell unconscious into Jake's arms; he lowered her to the ground.
"Turn her off," demanded Carol angrily and unreasonably to Natasha.
"Never."
"Well do something, she attacked my daughter."
Natasha gave a curt nod and moved in to take Lindy by the shoulders. "Stop," she said, shortly, and in her native tongue. "No one will hurt you here."
Here.
Lindy shook her head. "They're all dead. Everyone."
"I know. But you are alive."
"Why?" Lindy blinked but could not stop the tears.
Natasha ignored them. "Someone loved you very much."
"I don't care about your war. I don't care about anything but her."
"I had a daughter once."
"Happy birthday, dear Lindy, happy birthday to--
Lindy shook her head. She couldn't remember. Maybe she didn't want to.
She began to cry in earnest.
"Hush, little one." But Lindy still flinched at Natasha's embrace. She looked up and passed the girl wordlessly to James.
Carol watched as Natasha knelt to look at Amelia. "I'm sorry." Natasha shook her head. She understood; Carol was defending her child.
"Her wrist is broken," Jake explained to the women. Natasha nodded and helped him pick Amelia up into his arms as Carol called Stephen over. The five of them, plus James and Lindy, Jessica, Peter and Ben filed into the mansion; behind them the Rogers addressed the party.
--
"Well. This is one year we'll never forget." Carol stuck her tongue out at Peter. They were all spread out in small groups on the lawn waiting for the fireworks. Even the Asgardians were somewhat subdued after all the day's events.
"I think it was a good day," said Jessica. Carol looked at her like she had two heads. "I mean it. This was the best day I had in a week."
Carol decided not to remind her that her husband had threatened to leave her (he hadn't, so that's something) and settled for, "Okay."
"Sometimes things have to blow up before they can be fixed."
"Okay."
"You think I'm crazy."
"I think you're Jessica."
Jess laughed an honest laugh and any other response was drowned out by the sound of fireworks lighting up the sky.
July 4
Carol hosted an Independence Day Cook Out every year. It was Avengers Doctrine at this point : the morning and early afternoon of every July 4th was spent at appearances, parades and ceremonies to commemorate America, in Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston; but the rest of the day, fireworks included, they spent like most of the rest of the country -- as a family. And Carol wasn't going to let Lindy's appearance and all the drama it had set in motion get in the way of her fun.
That said, this was not working out to be fun.
The tension started when the Danvers-Parker-Parker-Danvers plus Lindy arrived at the mansion, about an hour before the rest who didn't live there were expected. Or rather the tension that existed at the mansion since Lindy's arrival in this reality had opened old wounds and stirred up old resentments was exacerbated when a determinedly cheerful Carol and Amelia, a wary Lindy, and a resigned Peter and Ben showed up. Lindy's guard had been up since the morning of parades.
"Is the parade for my birthday, Daddy?"
"Well, it's Memorial Day. We remember all the people who've died to protec--"
Her mother's laughter interrupted him.
"She's five years old, James, let her believe the parade is for her."
He answered with kisses to their foreheads, and there was more laughter. She thinks her own.
Lindy wasn't used to crowds, they always meant fighting where she was from. She was comfortable with Amelia's family because she had no clear memories of Carol or Peter, they'd both died in the same battle that killed her mother. It had taken a couple days to place Ben. He was so different.
She tried to focus on the people here, but she couldn't stop herself from cataloguing.
Jones, Jessica. Avengers. Dead.
Danvers, Carol. Avengers. Dead.
Parker, Peter. Avengers. Dead.
Parker, Ben.
"I don't care about your war."
She was hiding to listen undetected and couldn't see his face but she imagined the scar that split his cheek pulsing.
"I don't care about anything but her."
She wished in that moment only to be that girl. To be... loved...
Lindy blinked. Parker, Ben. Traitor.
Danvers, Amelia. Unknown.
Luke, Dani, Danny, and Lucy were setting up the barbeque while Sharon and Misty set out tables full of food and drink. Carol shooed the others over to help and joined Jessica at the dessert table. She looked tired and frustrated, stuck halfway between being resigned to the silent treatment and dirty looks from everyone she lived with -- except Anthony, and usually Steve -- and angry about it.
"I didn't make any cupcakes," said Jess because she couldn't come up with anything else to say. There was a lot of that going around.
"It's okay," answered Carol. "We brought watermelon."
Rand, Danny. Avengers.
Rand, Lucy. Unknown.
Knight, Misty. Avengers. Dead.
Carter, Sharon. Double Agent.
Cage, Luke. Avengers.
He saved her life.
"You saved my life."
"That's my job." He said it off the cuff. It is what it is. But there was something more, something in the way he looked at her.
"What are you looking at?"
"I had a daughter once."
Cage, Danielle. Dead.
The tension, and the lack of things to say, only grew as each group arrived. No one was willing to not come. Maybe everybody was afraid of Carol, maybe no superhero can avoid a train wreck.
Anthony and Steve returned home just before the party was officially set to begin. Steve accepted a birthday hug from Carol and Anthony changed quickly out of his band uniform to help his mother with chairs.
Rogers, Steve. Avengers. Dead.
Rogers, Anthony. Cute, Mr.
The Starks were perfectly prompt, Pepper immediately set to rearranging everything on the tables to a "more efficient and aesthetically pleasing display" (Carol had given up arguing with her years ago) and Ginny escaped to Ben's side as soon as possible. Tony was on duty, arriving late, if at all. So one person can't be bullied by Ms. Marvel.
Potts, Pepper. Dark Avengers. Director of HAMMER. Enemy Level 1b.
Stark, Ginny. Uranus. Codename: Cordelia.
Vincent and his father arrived separately but at the exact same time and each with ice cream.
"But mine's better." Vincent winked. "It tastes like Captain America."
"Which Captain America?" asked Lucy.
"Original recipe." Vincent cocked his finger toward Steve in a mock pistol salute. Anthony rolled his eyes.
"Does it taste like freedom?" quipped Ben.
"What does freedom taste like?" asked Ginny.
"Cherry," said Amelia. Everyone stared at her. "What? I read the box."
Strange, Stephen. Dark Avengers. Enemy Level 2.
Strange, Vincent. Unknown.
"We brought cake." Anya plopped the carton on the table without ceremony. Pepper's face tightened.
"I already ordered a birthday cake." She moved Anya's box to the far side of the table.
"It's our wedding cake," Anya clarified with a wink at Amelia who'd presented it to Anya and Rikki the night before, an in joke with Jamie that Amelia appreciated was being spread around. Especially to Pepper who now stared at the couple.
"You married?"
"No," Rikki answered simply.
Corazon, Anya. Unknown.
Barnes, Rebecca. Unknown.
Pepper was saved from deciding if she wanted to ask another question by the arrival of Jake and his father, with trays of cupcakes.
"More dessert?" Pepper sighed. "Over there."
"Where's--"
"Happy birthday, Steve." Natasha answered Sharon's question indirectly.
"Thank you." Steve took the proffered gift.
"From all of us."
He nodded. "Thank you," he repeated. "How are you?"
"How do you think she is?" Sharon was frowning disapproval toward James and Jessica speaking quietly across the lawn.
"I thought you probably wouldn't have... time. To make your own."
Jess looked at him with a crooked smile. Sharon's frown deepened.
Natasha touched a hand to Sharon's cheek. "Please do not be angry on my behalf."
"Oh, stop being so Russian."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. Steve decided to change the subject. "Is it true he gave her an engagement ring?" He nodded to Jake and Amelia.
"Yes."
"Wow. We're old."
"They're too young," Pepper corrected with a clipped tone that dripped disapproval.
"You should not judge what you do not understand." Natasha walked away from them all; it was a blanket statement.
Romanov, Natalia. Uranus.
Barnes, James. Avengers.
Barnes, Jacob.
Nothing.
Sharon wanted to follow but was interrupted by the sudden influx of guests as the Barton and Morse contingent arrived. Clint and Bobbi had been switching off appearances at the cook out since the year six year old Bobby had gotten lost at the fireworks because his parents were too busy shouting at each other. And Bobbi and Bobby hadn't shown up since he was eleven. But here were all four, plus Kate Bishop and Jessica Drew.
"Bobbi, how nice to see you."
"It's been too long, Pepper."
"And I see you have your hands full--"
"Key Lime Pie." She shrugged, smiling. "Florida's specialty."
Pepper hid her sigh. This is what happens when no one organizes what to bring. "Of course. Well, let me show you the dessert table." Bobbi shooed her sons toward the other kids and followed Pepper. Lindy peered at the boys, she recognized them from Amelia's pictures. She was expecting them not to be girls, but she had thought they were twins.
Morse, Bobbi. Uranus.
Barton, Clint Jr. Uranus. Codename: Desdemona.
Morse, Bobby. Uranus. Codename: Cressida.
"Hey, Buck, how's things?" Clint was not-so-secretly pleased his family drama was unlikely to be the main family drama this year.
"Hello, Clint," James answered shortly.
"Hi, Kate, I didn't know you were coming." Jessica gave the younger woman a quick hug. It seemed forever ago she'd mentored the first Young Avengers.
"Clint made it sound fun..." Kate's voice faded into uncertainty.
Jess blinked. "You're not with..." Her voice faded into disbelief. With a healthy dose of disapproval. But Clint shot her a look that said very clearly he wasn't going to take any lip about inappropriate liaisons from her this time. Jess stalked off to get the story from Jess Drew.
"Uh, I'm going to go say hi to ... someone." Kate hurried off to find someone less awkward to talk to. If that was even possible.
"You're not with -- are you?" asked James with a look that said very clearly he wasn't going to be bullied away like Jess. And he didn't like that she was, either.
Clint glared. "She's an adult." James looked like he wanted to say something more but Clint pushed past him. "Excuse me, I have to go console an old friend." James didn't have to watch to know who he was heading toward.
Barton, Clint. Avengers.
Bishop, Kate. Unknown.
Drew, Jessica. Avengers.
There was a sudden crack.
"Happy birthday, Dad!" Jamie's grin was ear to ear as she held out a cake nearly half her size. She was surrounded by six Asgardians and Liv's mother Jane, all with equally wide grins. Pepper nearly fainted at the sight of the cake.
"...Thank you, Jamie," said her father. Sharon and Anthony hurried over to help her with the cake while Ben and Peter set up another table.
Rogers, Jamie. Uranus. Codename: Portia.
Thor, Liv. Uranus. Codename: Rosalind.
Thor, Jane. Unknown.
Thor, Sif, Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun. Asgard. Dead.
"Thor --" Carol touched his arm and was pulled into a tight embrace. "--oof, uh, I'm so happy you could come."
"We are honored."
"Right."
"And there is food!" added Volstagg.
"Right. Right, right over here --"
There was a sudden thud. The crowd looked over to see Clint on the ground and Natasha walking away. James hid a grin. Jess and Jess tried to.
"Is there going to be a brawl?" asked Fandral, not hiding or trying to hide his grin at all. No one felt comfortable answering either way.
"...Let's eat," said Carol.
--
"Why are you up here with us?" The younger Avengers and associates were spread out on the balcony. "Haven't you graduated to the adults table?"
Anya laughed. "Are you kidding? I want nothing to do with dramarama central."
Val nodded agreement. "If we didn't know these people it would be almost fun to watch."
Dani shot her a look. "What?"
"I mean … like a soap opera. … Never mind."
Richards, Valeria. Uranus. Codename: Rosalind.
"We should do something."
"What should we do, my sun?"
Amelia's brow furrowed. "I don't know. But something. It's hours til the fireworks."
"We could incite some fireworks," suggested Vincent.
"Huh?"
"The Asgardians wanted a brawl."
"Vincent!"
"I'm just saying Val's soap opera is painful to watch."
"Where are the Asgardians anyway?" asked Ben.
Anthony gestured. "Jamie's showing them the garden."
"I just wish I knew what they were thinking."
"The Asgardians?"
Amelia glared. "The adults." Vincent kissed her forehead in mock contrition. "Stoppit!"
"Stop what?"
"Acting like you know everything. It's so Merlin of you."
Lindy started.
Amelia glanced over. "Did you say something?"
"No." Amelia frowned but Lindy went on. "What did you call him?"
"Huh? Oh... Merlin? Because he lives backwards so he's a know it all who won't talk about anything."
"Merlin," repeated Lindy.
"It's my code name," said Vincent. He was watching her very closely but she was silent. He addressed Amelia. "I don't know it all."
"Just more than me."
He cocked his head. "Maybe. Not about that." He gestured to the adults below. Amelia bit her lip. She wanted to ask. Honestly, she wanted to demand the truth. But it wasn't what Jake wanted. And she didn't know what Dani wanted. She looked over to her sometime leader and sometime rival, questions in her eyes.
Dani stood. "I'm out." Amelia blinked, but before she could say anything Dani had jumped down with Val in tow. The others looked at each other and scrambled to follow. In the thirty seconds it took them to take the stairs, Dani and Val's attempted departure had gotten the attention of the entire party.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. If she's leaving, I don't have to be here."
"Luke..." Jess had been trying to come up with what to say to her daughter. But Luke leaving would be worse. "You live here." He grumbled something in response. "What?"
Jess and Dani were locked on his response. "Nothin'."
Jess swallowed, trying to remain calm because losing it would not help. "What did you say?"
The party had come to a standstill. Luke sighed. Jess was near tears. Val tugged Dani's arm and wished they'd snuck out the back. James frowned, conflicted about speaking up or staying quiet, as he had been this whole time. Peter and Carol exchanged a look. Pepper considered how impolite it would be to leave. Bobbi watched Clint. Clint watched Natasha. Anya downed her fifth beer. Amelia took a deep breath and placed herself right in the middle of it all.
"So! Who wants to play volley ball?"
Everyone stared at her.
"Oh!" said Vincent. "Oh! ME."
"Okay, V, you captain the other team." He ginned and with a snap of his fingers he was dressed in a day-glo ensemble from the eighties. Everyone stared at him.
"Amelia, maybe it's not the best time..."
Amelia gave her mother a look. "That didn't stop you." She turned back to addressing the crowd. "Come on, it's a nice day." A few people shuffled. "Isn't anybody sick of standing around and -- " Amelia was unable to come up with a word for it "-- doing nothing?" More shuffling. Amelia put her hands on her hips. "Do I have to make up the teams myself?"
"I'll play." James moved to stand beside Amelia.
"Thank you."
"Oh, in that case..." Luke moved to stand next to Vincent and crossed his arms. Dani and then Val were right behind.
"Uh..." Amelia set her jaw. "Okay." Jake and Lindy moved as one to join Amelia's team. Danny went to stand by Luke. And with a smirk, Clint also joined Vincent's team.
Anya stepped up, hands on hips, and ready to play. "Pick a side, Rikki." She shrugged, it seemed pretty clear which side they more resembled. Rikki joined Amelia's team, and Anya promptly headed to the opposing side.
"Hey!" said Amelia, clearly taking her decision personally.
"Sorry araña hija, but if we're on the same side I can't beat her."
Amelia made a face. "Fine. But we're outnumbered and I'm out of Barneses."
"Don't be too sure," said Luke, under his breath but just loud enough to be heard by everyone. James rubbed his temple.
"I'll play your side, Amelia." Anthony stepped up beside Jake prompting Vincent and Anya to high-five.
"What's going on?"
Amelia turned, beaming, at Jamie's voice. "Volley ball! You in?"
Jamie looked them up and down. Vincent, Luke, Dani, Val, Danny, Clint and Anya on one side and Amelia, Anthony and four Barnes on the other.
"These are the teams?" She leaned over to Fandral. "I think you might get that brawl after all."
"Are you playing?" Amelia's patience was wearing thin.
Jamie tut-tuted and joined Vincent's team which led to more high-fiving. Amelia looked at the Asgardians with approaching desperation.
"I do not know 'volley ball', " said Liv. "I will watch." The rest nodded agreement and moved off to find a seat to watch, all save one. Thor looked the teams up and down as Jamie had, determined that Amelia's was at a disadvantage and went to stand by her. Everyone blinked once.
Amelia gulped. "...Okay. We need one more." She looked at the crowd entreatingly. Lucy looked like she wanted to play but Misty was holding her back. Never mind, she'd be on Luke's team anyway. Her father, standing with a supportive arm around Aunt Jess, shook his head once in flat refusal. The Barton boys were mingling with the Asgardians, but they were an x factor. Jess Drew --
"Don't even think it."
Okay, so, no. Steve and Pepper, and Natasha and her mother had positioned themselves on either side to watch and intervene if necessary. Seriously. It should be ridiculous.
"Ben," she called. Her brother looked very resistant. "Please?" He sighed and walked over to complete her team.
It took ten minutes to explain the game to Thor and he popped two balls before he got a handle of the weight -- both Jamie and Vincent dissolved into giggles when he asked why the ball was so light. And those ten minutes proved to be the best part of the game.
Any variety of real gameplay disintegrated quickly. Amelia's side was trying to play the game but their opposition was playing something else entirely. Anya and Vincent would send the ball spinning toward Rikki and Anthony respectively any time they got it -- unless Amelia was scowling, then they knocked it toward her -- and spent the rest of the time high-fiving each other. Jamie seemed to be on some quest to prove she was The Best volley ball player in the existence of the game but who exactly she was showing off for was up in the air (though it was most likely an Asgardian). And everyone else on what was ostensibly Vincent's team but clearly Luke's side was using the game to throw things at James.
"Stop cheating!" Amelia shouted at Luke when the ball hit James square in the chest for the fifth time in a row.
"Tell it to your own side, kid."
Amelia glared; she had had just about enough of the adults acting like preschoolers. "Fine. We'll play it your way." She grabbed the ball and stomped off to the sidelines, calling out to her brother as she passed. "Ben, I'm switching you out."
"What?"
"I'm replacing you." The entire assembly stared as she pulled Jessica Jones on to the field.
"Oh, God," said Carol, watching like a hawk from the balcony. "What is she doing?"
Peter dropped beside her. "Giving them another target?" he suggested not without some measure of disapproval.
"Raising the stakes," murmured Natasha beside them, not without some measure of admiration. Carol frowned.
"Okay, new plan." Amelia gathered her team together. "Jake. Lindy. Cap." She pointed to each as she named them. "They're our best chance to score. If the ball comes your way pass it to one of them. Thor, your main objective is to keep the balls off of these two." She pointed to James and Jessica. "And you," she addressed James, not without some measure of impertinence, "Stop letting them hit you."
He smiled despite himself. "Yes, ma'am."
The game resumed. Thor, either amused or impressed by Amelia, took her quite literally and put himself in the direct path of any ball sent toward James. Soon there were fewer being sent his way, or Jessica's. All it took was the Norse God of Thunder dancing around in their way to show Luke and others just how ridiculous they were acting, though Val still kept trying to get one past him. The game turned quickly after that. Amelia's side was playing to win, and as a team, and once the other side decided to counter it became a real game.
"Game point!" Amelia served, Jamie knocked it back. Rikki passed it to Jake who sent it over. Anya dove to send it up and Val sent it back over. Anthony passed it, again to Jake, who knocked it up and over once more. Clint hit it back forcibly, Thor intervened and hit it over. The Asgardians cheered. Luke scowled and knocked the ball back toward James. He hit it up, but not over. Jess rushed in and hit the ball back toward Lindy who knocked it over the net. Dani ran for it but she wasn't fast enough. Game.
Anya swore. Then burst into laughter and ran over to congratulate Rikki and Amelia. With that the sides disintegrated and the audience joined the athletes, everyone talking at once.
"We won." Amelia sounded surprised.
"You won," corrected Jake. He put his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest and laid his chin on her head. "They won." He indicated his father and Jessica congratulating Lindy.
"Are you okay?"
"It's good for her. And them."
She turned into his embrace, worried eyes on his. "But are you okay?"
"I'm okay."
"I love you."
His nod said he knew, and that's why he's okay. His kiss said everything else.
"Get a room!"
Amelia pulled away to give Jamie a saucy look. "Is yours available?"
"......No!" Amelia tried to pout but fell apart laughing. "No, no, no. Ask Anthony."
Jake whispered something to Amelia and extricated himself. Most likely, thought Jamie, to ask Anthony.
"Amelia." She turned and looked up to meet her father-in-law-to-be's gaze. "Good game."
"Thanks for being on my team."
He smiled.
"Yeah..." Jamie looked from one to the other. "Sorry about that." She could be talking to either of them. Or both. Probably both.
"We won," said Amelia.
"I understand, Jamie," said James.
"Okay."
On the other side of the net Dani finally stood, brushing off grass with a scowl.
"You almost had it." Jess held a hand out to her daughter. Dani sighed, nodded, and slapped the hand.
"Next time."
Jess gave her a small smile. Luke watched quietly, and moved away.
--
The game didn't diffuse all the tension but it diffused enough to make the party somewhat more celebratory. Dani and Lucy started volleying the ball back and forth which turned into a lesson in backyard volley ball when the Asgardians noticed. Couples paired off. Jake and Amelia disappeared. The many desserts were welcome. Clint and Bobbi got into a row over the proper recipe for a key lime pie prompting Bobby to ask Jess Drew to adopt him and Anya to drunkenly and loudly invite Kate to come home with her and Rikki. Tony arrived with a birthday cake to prove to Pepper and Ginny he was a good family man and to Steve and Carol he was a good friend. Ten minutes later he flew off again to "handle something in Brazil". Lindy watched them all.
Stark, Tony. Dark Avenger. Disabled.
"So who's Merlin?" Vincent leaned against the tree beside Lindy.
"A toy." She nodded toward Anthony. "Like Mr. Cute."
Vincent grinned. "You have no idea how much that pleases me. Who's toy?"
"Juliet."
"And who is Juliet?"
Lindy blinked. "I don't know."
Vincent followed her gaze to Ben and Ginny. "What do you see?"
"I don't care about anything but her."
"Cordelia," said Lindy. She pointed to Ginny. "Engineered by her mother."
"Pepper?"
Lindy nodded. "Director Potts." Vincent was quiet, Lindy had turned to indicate Val.
"Rosalind. She volunteered." She turned again. Bobby. "Cressida." Trick. "Desdemona." Jamie. "Portia."
"I thought her father was dead."
Lindy nodded again. "She was a clone. As was Bianca." Liv. "The twins were engineered."
Twins? Vincent frowned, then snapped his fingers. "Ah." Interesting, the multiverse. There had to be twins, just not the same pair. "And Ophelia." He pointed to Lindy.
"Yes."
"What was Juliet's power?"
"She absorbs energy. She is the most powerful and the most dangerous." Vincent found it interesting she'd switched to the present tense. "They are always testing. They have not found a limit. She has the potential to absorb a star."
"What does she do with the energy?"
"She is a bomb."
Vincent was quiet a moment. Lindy was watching Ben and Ginny again. "Ben can do that," he said, keeping his tone conversational. "If he wanted to."
Lindy blinked. "I don't care about anything but her." Not Ginny at all. "Where's Amelia?"
"I'll have Anthony find her." He waved to his boyfriend. Lindy took a few steps from the tree, her head was spinning.
Jones, Jessica. Avengers. Dead.
Danvers, Carol. Avengers. Dead.
Parker, Peter. Avengers. Dead.
Rogers, Steve. Avengers. Dead.
Barnes, James. Avengers…
Dead.
Cage, Luke. Dead.
Richards, Valeria. Dead.
Drew, Jessica. Dead.
Rogers, Jamie. Dead.
Rogers, Anthony…
"Lindy?" Amelia was disheveled, and her eyes wide with worry. "What's wrong?"
Danvers, Amelia. Uranus. Codename: Juliet.
Amelia put a hand out tentatively, Lindy grasped her wrist and held. Amelia's eyes filled with tears at the pain.
"Lindy…" Her only response was to press harder. Amelia was lightheaded. A crowd had formed around them.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
Lindy shook her head but she couldn't stop the litany, measured to Amelia's heart beating beneath her grasp.
"Don't let.. them… hurt… her…" Amelia fell unconscious into Jake's arms; he lowered her to the ground.
"Turn her off," demanded Carol angrily and unreasonably to Natasha.
"Never."
"Well do something, she attacked my daughter."
Natasha gave a curt nod and moved in to take Lindy by the shoulders. "Stop," she said, shortly, and in her native tongue. "No one will hurt you here."
Here.
Lindy shook her head. "They're all dead. Everyone."
"I know. But you are alive."
"Why?" Lindy blinked but could not stop the tears.
Natasha ignored them. "Someone loved you very much."
"I don't care about your war. I don't care about anything but her."
"I had a daughter once."
"Happy birthday, dear Lindy, happy birthday to--
Lindy shook her head. She couldn't remember. Maybe she didn't want to.
She began to cry in earnest.
"Hush, little one." But Lindy still flinched at Natasha's embrace. She looked up and passed the girl wordlessly to James.
Carol watched as Natasha knelt to look at Amelia. "I'm sorry." Natasha shook her head. She understood; Carol was defending her child.
"Her wrist is broken," Jake explained to the women. Natasha nodded and helped him pick Amelia up into his arms as Carol called Stephen over. The five of them, plus James and Lindy, Jessica, Peter and Ben filed into the mansion; behind them the Rogers addressed the party.
--
"Well. This is one year we'll never forget." Carol stuck her tongue out at Peter. They were all spread out in small groups on the lawn waiting for the fireworks. Even the Asgardians were somewhat subdued after all the day's events.
"I think it was a good day," said Jessica. Carol looked at her like she had two heads. "I mean it. This was the best day I had in a week."
Carol decided not to remind her that her husband had threatened to leave her (he hadn't, so that's something) and settled for, "Okay."
"Sometimes things have to blow up before they can be fixed."
"Okay."
"You think I'm crazy."
"I think you're Jessica."
Jess laughed an honest laugh and any other response was drowned out by the sound of fireworks lighting up the sky.