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Chapter 2: The A-B-C's

Needless to say, the Avengers were summoned.

Calling Make-A-Wish back, confirming their acceptance of the wish, Hill proceeded to contact the necessary parties. It happened to be one of those rare opportunities where everyone was on hand, or at least nearby, and easily reached with a phone call.

Thor had dropped in from Asgard, for a science convention that he and Jane had been planning on attending that was being held in New York for the week. Natasha had come back from hiding after the events at the Triskelion, and was staying in the Tower for the time being. Clint was also at the tower, home between missions. The rest basically lived there full time.

Tony and Pepper, of course, kept residence there, though they had to split their time between New York and Malibu. Bruce had lived there since the Battle of New York, because Tony had convinced him that he'd be able to hide away from the world there. Steve had accepted Tony's offer of hospitality because of Bucky; the safety, and limited contact with the outside world, made it preferable.

As for the small group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that had been named on the list, they too would be arriving soon, guaranteeing a need for introductions between the two teams.

In short, for the immediate moment, the Avengers (plus a few additions) were miraculously all there for the briefing that was being held the next morning.

-§§§-

Gathering on the communal floor, Maria Hill was already waiting by the time the others started arriving.

Copies of the email had been sent to the team members the night before (abbreviated versions that Hill had approved), preparing them for the briefing, along with allowing plenty of time for confusion to set in.

The letter read:

"Dear Avenger members; Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man), Steven Rodgers (a.k.a. Captain America), Bruce Banner (a.k.a. Hulk), Natasha Romanoff (a.k.a. Black Widow), Clint Barton (a.k.a. Hawkeye), Thor Odinson, etc.

Thank you for your generous acceptance of helping to make [Anonymous child's] wish come true. The wish presented, was a request to give. The goal [Anonymous child] expressed was to show how much your efforts in defending/saving the world have meant to [Anonymous child].

To fulfill the terms of the wish, we request that you appear at _ on this upcoming Saturday, with the following people present:

Banner, Bruce (a.k.a. Hulk)

Barnes, James "Bucky"

Barton, Clint (a.k.a. Hawkeye)

Coulson, Phillip

Fitz, Leopold

Fury, Nicolas J.

Hill, Maria

May, Melinda

Odinson, Thor

Potts, Virginia "Pepper"

Rodgers, Steven (a.k.a. Captain America)

Romanoff, Natasha (a.k.a. Black Widow)

Simmons, Jemma

Skye

Stark, Tony (a.k.a. Iron Man)

Upon confirmation that all named persons are present, we will initiate the first directives of the wish. In compliance with fulfilling the wish, we ask that you remain free from any conflicting activities for approximately the span of a month. The wish will be fulfilled during the duration of said (a month's) time. If this is a problem, inform us of your dilemma and we will work to accommodate you.

Sincerely, the Make-A-Wish foundation."

"So let me get this straight," Clint began, flopping down onto a side couch, a 'seriously?' look on his face. "We're supposed to stay inactive while we receive this kid's wish?"

"They certainly went to a lot of effort addressing us," Bruce mused wryly, taking a seat at the other end of the couch that Tony and Pepper had claimed. "They didn't have to include our alter egos."

"Aw, you're only saying that because you're shy about the Other Guy, Brucie," Tony teased, leaning over to shove his recalcitrant friend affectionately on the shoulder. "Lighten up."

While Pepper clamped a hand on Tony's arm and whispered a threatening lecture about what she'd do to him if he didn't behave, Clint brought up another point, ignoring the drama happening on the other couch. "What about our jobs? I mean, really? Are we going to drop everything simply because a kid…" He stopped, faint embarrassment and guilt crossing features, realizing how insensitive his words were. Changing his tone, his argument was made in a quieter voice when he continued. "It's a little fantastical isn't it, the Avengers out of commission because we're receiving gifts?"

"Really? Fantastical?" Hill questioned, giving him a mildly exasperated look. "That was the best you could come up with? And yes, Agent Barton, we are expected to drop everything. I expect you to be gracious about it, and show understanding. If not that, than tolerance. Now," she added, glancing around, "once the rest show up, we'll get started."

"Don't like kids, Barton?" Natasha asked silkily, having slipped quietly into the room, nudging him gently as she joined him on his couch and curled up into the corner of it.

"Hey, I like kids fine," he protested.

"Mmm-hmm," Natasha responded with a coy twist to her slight smile.

"Oh, I know how you are with kids-" Clint began to retort, but Thor interrupted, commenting brightly.

"It is a noble cause to give such happiness to these younglings," he remarked amiably, having overheard Clint's concerns from a moment ago. Taking the last available couch, he continued eagerly, "Jane has regaled me with tales of their work, and the joy they bring to those who are ill. I am glad to be partaking in such service!"

"Sorry we're late," Steve said, announcing his and Bucky's presence, the last ones to enter the room. "Did we miss anything?"

"Good, now we're ready to begin," Hill acknowledged, indirectly answering his question.

Shifting uncertainly, gaze flitting around the room but not landing on anyone's face, Bucky muttered, barely audible to anyone except Steve, "I'm going to leave, since I'm not needed." Retreating, he was half way out the door before anyone could stop him.

"Hey, Buck! Wait!" Steve called, chasing after his friend. "Come on, nobody's going to mind if you listen in."

"Yeah, but its your meeting," Bucky replied with a crooked grin, glancing back at Steve, shoving his hands into his pockets, an unconscious habit he'd picked up when feeling especially out-of-place or insecure. "Besides, no kid wants the Soldier coming around," he added lowly.

"Barnes, you're on the list," Hill stated directly.

"I'm on the list?" he echoed dubiously, turning back to face the room again.

"Second from the top," Natasha confirmed.

"Obviously, I'm first," Tony butt in, flashing a broad grin.

"Actually, you're last," Natasha informed with a smirk. "Bruce is first."

"What?!" Tony squawked, snatching up his tablet to the evidence for himself. Slumping in defeat, realizing that they hadn't pulled a fast one on him, words were not immediately forth coming as he tried to think of something to turn the situation around.

"Sorry honey," Pepper murmured, rubbing his back comfortingly, though an amused smile pulled at her lips.

Pulling his spirits together, sitting upright to enhance his point, Tony declared imperiously, "Well, it's clear they're saving the best for last!" At that, his cocky grin came out in full force, insufferably pleased with his logic.

Shooting her boyfriend a look, gently smacking him upside the head, Pepper offered a warm, apologetic, smile in Bucky's direction. "James, we'd love it if you stayed. At first, I thought I wasn't needed here too, the address threw me off," she admitted with a slight laugh. "But my name's on the list too. Why don't you see for yourself?"

Passing over the tablet Tony had been holding, Bucky slowly read through the list, still somewhat reluctant. Offering a tentative, self-deprecating smile, he handed it back, but the team's efforts to make him feel welcome had paid off.

"I guess I'll stay," he conceded. To a questioning glance from Steve, he lifted one shoulder in a half shrug, and crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall, ending the silent conversation that had passed between them.

"Are we good, gentlemen?" Hill asked wryly. Confirming that the two had decided to remain standing, she launched into the briefing. "Make-A-Wish has contacted us with a specific request. I assume all of you read the email I sent last night, so I'll start by addressing the major issue: Missions. At the polite request, and logical reason, of Make-A-Wish, travel outside the city of New York is prohibited. All missions are suspended…"

"You're not allowed to give those!" Tony retorted in a stage whisper, doing his best to kill her tirade, earning a scathing glare in return.

"…And if I hear word of any of you-" she moved the scathing look from Tony to take in the rest, emphatically underlining her point that nothing would save them from her wrath if they crossed this rule. "-Any of you, leaving this city, so help me!" She let them simmer under the heat of her threat, knowing that the idea of it alone would be enough to discourage misdemeanor.

"Second point," she continued. "The named participants. Aside from the six Avengers, plus two exceptions, four S.H.I.E.L.D. agents have also been listed."

"Uh, excuse me," Tony broke in with a second interruption, raising his hand as if in class. "I have a valid point to make here."

Hill shot him a look of weary, disbelieving, acceptance, folding her arms to listen, as she, incredibly, let him have the floor.

"Has anyone even met these people? I mean, seriously? 'Skye' doesn't indicate whether that's a first or last name, and what do they put on documents they have to sign? Not applicable in which ever name 'Skye' isn't?"

"It's her first name," Hill stated. "And yes, I've met her," she added irritably, no longer in the mood to hear Tony out, but he was only warming up.

"And second!" He pressed, raising his voice to retain audience. "Am I the only one noticing this? Two of these guys are dead, yet 'Fury, Nicolas J.' and 'Coulson, Phillip' are mentioned on this list."

Bucky hunched his shoulders uncomfortably, arms tightening across his chest, listening warily. His actions would've gone unnoticed, except for the fact that Steve put a hand on his friend's shoulder in a gesture of reassurance.

Catching the movement, Tony immediately pounced on it. Aiming an accusing finger at them, he called out, "And the Grandpas are hiding something! What aren't they telling?!"

"The Winter Soldier shot Fury," Natasha replied, straight faced.

"Oh!" Shocked understanding dawned in Tony's face. "Whoa, damn, Capsicle's best friend killed Fury! Why wasn't I informed?!"

"It was confidential. None of the details went public," Hill informed.

"Not many people even believed he existed at the time," Steve broke in, defending his friend.

"Right, you know what?" Tony demanded, griping, no longer having fun. Especially since Hill, Natasha, and Steve had joined forces to shield Bucky. "This just keeps getting better and better. Point break's brother spears Coulson through the heart. Cap's buddy, our new resident assassin, murders Fury. In light of that news, who knows what condition the others, the ones we haven't met, are in! Do you know how messed up this is?" he exclaimed, facial expression a sight to behold, his dramatics in full swing.

Giving a tight smile, Hill commented, almost casually, "Actually, that's the third point I had to make. Fury and Coulson aren't dead."

"WHAT!?" is the general translation of the noise that followed. The following questions were what followed in the immediate chaos: "Coulson was dead!"; "Why weren't we told?"; "How did they survive?"; "We should've been told!"; "What other secrets are you keeping?"; "Shielding the truth from one's friends is dishonorable!"; "If they're alive, then where have they been?"…

After the initial outburst passed, a stunned silence fell as everyone tried to process the news. The news about Coulson had received unanimous shock, felt by all, though Bucky maintained his blank expression. He hadn't known the guy after all. But the revelation of Fury's status, while equally startling, wasn't shared by the entire group. There had been a few in on the know.

It only lasted a moment though, as Steve soon shattered it.

Protesting weakly against the glare Bucky was giving him, trying to explain himself, and doing a poor job of it, there wasn't much he could say to improve his situation.

Coming to his aid, Natasha offered nonchalantly. "If it helps, we thought he was dead too, at first."

"Honestly, Buck," Steve pleaded; attempting to soothe the hurt he'd caused his friend. "I would've told you, but it was confidential. Nick didn't want us to tell anyone."

"You let me believe I'd killed him," Bucky seethed, tone rich with rightfully deserved, but suppressed, anger. "Do you know how guilty I've felt about that?"

"You still attacked him and shot him," Hill point out blandly.

"Thanks," Bucky replied drily with a bitter half smile.

A heavy silence killed further conversation, leaving everyone feeling awkward in the light of what had been shared.

Finally, Tony spoke up, cracking a badly timed joke. "Hey, I guess Capsicle's best friend only shot the Director. That's so much better than killing him."

Unamused glares from all were directed at him.

/\\/\\

A/N: For clarification, I don't have experience, or knowledge, of how Make-A-Wish works. I just tried to make it seem plausible enough from what I found through research.

Well, I tried my best to give each character a decent amount of attention, but I'm not used to writing with so many. Again, sorry if any are OOC. Anyway, thanks for the attention shown so far! Next chapter begins the gist of the story. Until then.