Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1 IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ: So, I knew I wanted to do a post-Civil War story and I had a few ideas so I decided to combine a few ideas together and this was the result. To make things work I have had to change some ages, and I have gone with the Phil being recruited to SHIELD once he finished collage as he told Rosalind rather than right out of high school.
These are the birthdates I've changed and their ages as of 2016:
1960: (56 technically. Looks late 20s/early thirties) = Natasha (given drugs to slow her ageing at 13)
1967 (45) = Phil
1971 (45) = Rhodey
1973 (43) =
March 14th: Melinda
May 29th: Tony
July 18th: Hope
AN2 IMPORANT: So I know this chapter is insanely long, but I wanted to get all the past stuff done in one chapter so that I could get to present day. I also know there are a lot of gaps and I will fill them in in future chapters, maybe with flashbacks if not then references and explanations.
September 1981: Empire State Academy, New York.
Early Afternoon.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym, 8 years old.)
Walking through the halls of the place that she will be both living and learning at in the foreseeable future Melinda May can't help but wonder what to expect, and she also can't help but wonder why her mother would choose to send her to boarding school. Though, she suspects that it might have something to do with the work that her mother does that she doesn't talk about.
Looking at the numbers on the door Melinda finally reaches the room with number seven on it and knowing that it is her room Melinda checks the door and finds it open instead of locked like she was expecting and so she lets herself in.
Walking into the room Melinda sees another girl, who looks to be about her age, with dark hair, unpacking a bag on one of the beds.
"Um, hi." Melinda says nervously and the girl, who has green eyes, turns around.
"Hi, you must be my roommate." The girl responds.
"Yeah, I guess so." Melinda answers, "My name's Melinda, Melinda May." Melinda introduces as she walks over.
"Hope, Hope Pym." The girl introduces, Melinda noticing that she pulled a slight face when she said her last name.
"Nice to meet you." Melinda says with a smile.
"You too." Hope responds, forcing a smile, something which she hasn't really felt like doing for a while, "I picked the bed by the window. I hope you don't mind." Hope comments.
"Not at all." Melinda responds as she heads over to the other bed, as she does Hope puts an ant farm on her bedside table, "You have an ant farm?" Melinda asks, sounding a little surprised.
"Yeah, I really love bugs, ants especially." Hope explains, looking excited, "My Dad and my…... and my Mom." Hope says her voice breaking, "Study ants so I've been around them my whole life."
"That's cool." Melinda comments.
"Yeah, it was." Hope says, her voice sounding sad.
"Are you okay?" Melinda asks concerned, not overly sure if she should be asking but having no idea what else to do.
"Not really." Hope admits, "My Mom died last year and my Dad sent me here as soon as he could." Hope explains, there being some anger as well as pain in her voice, "What about you? Why are you here?"
"I'm not really sure. My Mom just sent me." Melinda admits, "She's really busy so I guess she thought this was easier." Melinda admits.
"What about your Dad?" Hope asks curious.
"He died when I was three." Melinda answers.
"Oh, I'm really sorry." Hope tells her.
"Thanks, but I don't really remember him." Melinda admits.
"He was still your Dad, though." Hope points out.
"Yeah, he was." Melinda responds as the two young girls drift into silence as they continue to unpack all their stuff.
After spending a few hours unpacking their stuff and getting to know each other a bit better Hope and Melinda are walking together on their way to dinner, both hoping that they don't get lost.
"Give that back." A voice says from further down the corridor, "It's mine, give it back!" the voice responds.
Exchanging looks Hope and Melinda hurry down the corridor where they find a boy with dark hair and dark eyes who looks to be the same age of them standing between two older boys who are throwing a book between them.
"Give it back!" The younger boy yells as he jumps up and tries to catch it and he gets close but one of the boys knock him to the ground, causing them both to laugh.
"HEY." Melinda yell.
"Leave him alone!" Hope yells and the two of them hurry forward.
"Go away little girls, this has nothing to do with you." The boy who is holding the book says.
"You're being mean, yes it does." Hope says and Melinda kicks the boy in the shins causing him to bend over in pain allowing Hope to grab the book.
"We told you to leave him alone." Melinda says, glaring at the boy which is a quite impressive look on an eight-year old's face.
"Huh, little girls got teeth." The boy that Melinda kicked says, "But I you know what I'm getting bored with this."
"Same." His friend responds and the two of them walk away and as they do Melinda and Hope walk over to the boy who's still on the ground.
"Are you okay?" Hope asks as Melinda helps him up.
"Yes… thank you." The boy responds sounding nervous.
"I'm Melinda, this is Hope, and you are?" Melinda asks.
"Tony, Tony Stark." The boys say, getting an amazed look on his face as most people know who he is without him saying so it's nice to be able to tell people himself without them knowing.
"It's nice to meet you Tony." Hope says with a smile, "Here's your… advance mechanics book." Hope says handing it back over.
"Thanks." Tony responds taking the book and holding it to his chest like it is something precious.
"You know we were just heading to dinner, would you like to join us?" Melinda asks curious.
"Sure, I'd like that." Tony says with a smile, feeling amazed that they want to include him.
"Great, let's go." Hope says, linking her arms with both Melinda and Tony before the three of them start to walk, none of them knowing what's to come for them in the future, or how important and amazing their friendship is going to become.
November 26th 1983: Empire State Academy, Melinda's and Hope's dorm
room.
Evening
(Melinda May, Tony Stark Hope (Van Dyne) Pym, 10 years old)
Ever since that day in the corridor Melinda May, Tony Stark and Hope Pym have been the best of friends, they spend most of their time together and people find it strange when they aren't together.
It's a Sunday and just arriving back at school after spending a few days at home for Thanksgiving Hope is just walking into the dorm she shares with Melinda where she finds her friend already unpacking.
"Hi." Melinda says, having turned at the sound to see Hope walking in, "How was your thanksgiving?" Melinda asks curious.
"I really don't want to talk about it." Hope says, looking annoyed,
"That bad?" Melinda asks concerned.
"Oh yeah." Hope confirms, "But, like I said, I really don't want to talk about it." She admits, "How was yours?" She asks, wanting to change the subject, "it was the first one with your Mom's new husband right?"
"William, yeah." Melinda confirms, "It was really good, I really like William." Melinda admits, honestly she could see herself calling him Dad one day, though she isn't sure when that day will be.
"That's great." Hope says forcing a smile and as she does Melinda walks over and puts her arms around her friend.
"I'm sorry your thanksgiving was so bad." Melinda tells her.
"Thanks Melinda." Hope says, appreciating her friends action but then before either of them can say anymore there is a knock on their door, "Who knows we're back already?" Hope asks and Melinda just shrugs before walking to the door.
When she gets to the door Melinda opens it to reveal Tony standing there, clearly having just gotten back too as he still has his bag over his shoulder.
"Please say Hope's back. I have so much to tell you two." Tony says, looking excited.
"Yeah, she's back." Melinda says, letting Tony into the room.
"What's going on?" Hope asks as Tony walks over, drops his bag on the floor before sitting on Hope's bed.
"Something big." Tony says as Hope and Melinda both sit down too.
"Then tell us." Melinda requests.
"So, a couple nights ago I couldn't' sleep so I got up, and I heard my parents and Aunt Peggy talking." Tony reveals.
"She's your godmother, right?" Hope asks, wanting to make sure she understands.
"Right, and she works with my Dad." Tony explains, "They were talking about us."
"What?" Hope asks surprised.
"Why?" Melinda asks confused.
"I'm getting to that." Tony reveals, "Our parents are spies." He reveals looking excited, "Or mine and Mel's are. Your Dad used to work with my Dad and Aunt Peggy, but doesn't anymore." He says, looking at Hope.
"Tony, are you sure?" Melinda asks, wanting to be sure.
"Positive." Tony answers, "My Dad and Aunt Peggy run something called S.H.I.E.L.D. I looked in Dad's office when he wasn't home and found out that it's like a really advance, secret, spy agency." He explains, "Your Mom walks for the CIA and works with Dad and Aunt Peggy sometimes." Tony explains, looking at Melinda.
"What about my Dad? And William?" Melinda asks curious.
"I'm not sure about your Dad, but William isn't a spy." Tony explains to Melinda.
"What were they saying about us?" Hope asks curious.
"About how you and I became friends even though our Dad's don't get along anymore." Tony explains, "And…" he starts to say.
"Did they say anything about my Mom?" Hope asks, looking interested.
"No, I'm sorry Hope." Tony says, giving her a kind look as he knows how much Hope wants to know more about her mother, "But apparently we're not the only kids here who are children of spies, a lot of us are."
"That explains the security." Melinda realises.
"And the fact that we can choose to do Martial arts classes as part of our courses." Hope comments, that being something both she and Melinda have chosen to do.
"And the fact that the labs are state of the art." Tony adds, "Once I thought about it I realised it makes a lot of sense."
"Yeah, it does." Melinda realises, looking thoughtful, "We're children of spies." Melinda says, looking amazed.
"Spawn of Spies." Tony corrects.
"Tony." Hope scolds while Melinda looks amused.
"It sounds better." Tony says, with a shrug, "You know…. We should have cool code names." He comments.
"You think?" Melinda asks, looking interested.
"Yeah." Tony says with a nod, "Like Hope can be….. Bug." He says, after thinking for a few moments.
"Bug? Really?" Hope asks with a frown.
"I like it." Tony says with a smirk.
"Me too." Melinda confirms.
"Fine." Hope says, rolling her eyes, "In that case Tone, you can be….. Know-It-All." She says with a teasing smile, causing Melinda to laugh.
"Fine with me." Tony says, not minding at all as he knows that when Melinda or Hope call him that they are doing it in an affectionate way, "But now we need a name for Mel." He realises, looking thoughtful.
"Yeah." Hope says, also trying to come up with something.
"Got it!" Tony says after about a minute, "Tiny."
"That's just mean. I'm not that much smaller than you two." Melinda says, pulling a fight.
"Yes you are." Hope and Tony say together.
"Fine." Melinda says, rolling her eyes and the three of them drift into silence as they do Hope looks out the window and notices something.
"It's snowing." Hope comments.
"Really?" Melinda and Tony asks and they both look out the window to have a look.
"We should go out there." Tony says.
"We're not aloud out of the building until morning." Hope says, looking over at the cloak, "We'll get caught if we go out into the hallway."
"Who said we have to go out into the hallway?" Melinda asks as she gets up and walks over to the window, which she opens, causing a cold breeze to come into the room, and has a look out, "We can easily go out here. There's an easy way down." She explains, turning to look at the others.
"Let's go." Tony says, getting up and walking over the window, while Hope doesn't move.
"Come on, Hope. You know you want to." Melinda tells her friend.
"I do; I just don't want detention." Hope responds.
"Boring. Come on, Hopey, have fun for once." Tony tells her, his voice teasing.
"Don't call me Hopey." Hope says, pulling a face, as she gets up, "Fine, I'll come." She says, figuring that she can keep them out of trouble.
"Great." Melinda says with a grin, "I'll see you two on the ground." She says before climbing out the window, seconds later Tony follows and then finally hope and even though the three of them manage to enjoy about half an hour of playing in the snow they do get caught and a week of detention.
December 21st 1987: New York City.
Mid-morning.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym, 14 years old)
As it is a few days before Christmas the students of Empire State Academy who have elected to stay at school during the holidays have been taken to the City to do some Christmas shopping, having been giving stricken instructions.
"Okay, so I've finally got something for Mom. I think she'll really like it." Tony says as he walks out of a store and over to where Melinda and Hope are waiting, looking rather proud of himself, "So, that means that the only person I have left is Dad." Tony says, before frowning, "Though, I don't know why I try, no matter what I get for him it won't be good enough." He explains, "What about you two?" he asks as the three of them begin to walk.
"I've just got my Dad to go too, but I also have the same problem." Hope says, looking far from happy, "What about you Mel?" she asks curious.
"I've got Moms, I've got Dad's, I've got you two, I'm good." Melinda says, having been calling William Dad for a while.
"Great." Tony says, "How about we do lunch before trying to find presents that are just going to disappoint our fathers?" he asks curious.
"Sounds good to me." Hope responds and the three of them continue to walk.
"I think there is a good place around the corner." Melinda reveals and the three of them just continue to walk, none of them really in much of a mood to talk, though it doesn't bother them at all.
As they round a corner, before they can even react, Melinda, Hope and Tony suddenly find themselves being grabbed, causing all three of them to drop the bags that they have been carrying. As they have both been training in martial arts for a while Melinda and Hope fight back, they kick and they punch, and even Tony who hasn't had any training does the same, but all three of them find clothes covering their noses and mouths and within seconds they are unconscious and once they are they are all dragged into a van, leaving their bags on the ground.
December 21st 1987: Unknown Location.
Unknown Time.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym, 14 years old)
Having no idea what happened Tony suddenly opens his eyes and as he does he finds that he is chained to a chair in a dark room that has no outside light, but just a shaking light bulb.
Feeling groggy Tony quickly realises that something is horribly wrong and as he does he looks around the room and the first thing he notices is Hope and Melinda, both unconscious, tied to chairs off their own.
"Hope." Tony hisses, "Melinda." He hisses but neither move, "Melinda, Hope, wake up." He says, trying a little louder, but neither stir. Having no idea what he can do Tony fights to get free of his chains but he realises that they are too tight and he can't even move.
As he fights Tony suddenly hears the heavy door being pushed open and so he immediately stops fighting as he figures that it would be smart if they didn't know he was trying to escape.
Seconds later a person who looks to be average height and weight with a balaclava over their face walks in.
"Good your awake." A male voice says, coming from beneath the balaclava, as he walks towards Hope and Melinda.
"Hey, don't touch them!" Tony says angrily, fighting his chains, "Stay away from them!" Tony yells, fighting harder as the person slaps Melinda followed by Hope across the face, causing them both to wake with a gasp.
"Tony? Hope?" Melinda asks as she comes to.
"Where are we?" Hope asks as she starts to fight her chains, but like Tony she finds that they are too tight, "What's going on?"
"I don't know." Tony admits, "What do you want for us?" Tony asks the balaclava man.
"You'll find out." The man says before walking out.
"Are you both okay?" Melinda asks once the man leaves.
"Yeah." Tony confirms.
"Hope?"
"I'm okay." Hope assures her, "Or as okay as any of us are right now." She says, "We've got to get out of here."
"To do that we've got to get out of these chains, but all the ideas I've come up with we're not going to be able to do." Tony says, continuing to fight the chains, but before they can respond the door opens and a girl, who looks to be around their age, maybe a little older, with long red hair walks in holding a bottle of water.
"Can you help us, please, we shouldn't be here." Hope says, but the girl doesn't even respond, or even look at them, she just walks over to Melinda and pours some of the water in her mouth and then does the same to Hope and then Tony before leaving without making a single sound.
"Plus side, they clearly want us alive." Melinda realises.
"I don't know how long that will be a plus for." Tony comments and through the dim light the three teenagers exchange worried looks as they continue to fight against their chains, but it's no use, they're too tightly bound to get free.
December 23st 1987, Unknown Location.
Night.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym, 14 years old)
For two days Melinda, Tony and Hope have been heled in chairs, their only human contact being the silent red-haired girl who brings them food, water or a way to go to the bathroom.
Even though the three of them have been fighting against their chains they have all had no luck in trying to get free.
"Okay, I think my wrists are bleeding again." Melinda says, sounding uncertain as she doesn't know for sure, though it feels like it.
"Same." Hope admits, "This is getting us nowhere. We need a new plan."
"Yeah, we do. We've been here for two days." Tony says, looking thoughtful, "Do you think you could overpower silent girl next time she helps one of you to the bathroom?" he asks.
"Maybe." Hope says, looking thoughtful.
"It would depend on whether she's had any fight training." Melinda admits, "My bet she would have, which could make things more difficult, but I also don't see another option." Melinda admits.
"So, plan?" Tony asks.
"Might as well be." Melinda says with a sigh and the group of three drift into silence.
Ten minutes after Melinda, Tony and Hope came up with their plan the door opens the silent girl runs in.
"You three need to get out of here." The girl says as she runs towards Melinda, speaking completely perfect English with no accent.
"You speak." Tony asks surprised.
"Yes, I speak." The girl says, rolling her eyes as she unlocks Melinda's chains, "But that doesn't matter right now, what matters right now is you three getting as far away from here as possible."
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Melinda asks as she stands up and the girl moves from Hope to Tony.
"You don't." The girl says, "But unless you want to be turned into nothing other than a monster you should follow me." She says as she frees Tony.
Hearing that Melinda, Hope and Tony exchange looks.
"We've got nothing to lose right now." Hope tells them as the girl hurries towards the door.
"No, we don't." Tony confirms and the three of them follow the girl to the door.
"Stay behind me and do exactly as I say." The girl tells them before she heads out of the room that Melinda, Tony and Hope have been heled in for the last few days, the three of them right behind her.
As they make their way down dark and dirty hallways Melinda, Tony and Hope make sure not to be too far behind the red-haired girl or too far behind them, and they all try to move as quiet as possible.
After a few tense minutes of traveling through corridors like a maze Melinda, Tony, Hope and the girl finally arrive at a steal door that the girl opens with a key, revealing dark woods.
"Here, take this." The girl says, thrusting a compass into Tony's hand, "Travel north through the woods. In about four miles you'll reach a road, go west. About a mile after that you'll reach a town. You'll be safe then." The girl explains, her voice hurried but perfectly understandable.
"Won't the try to follow us?" Hope asks worried.
"I won't let them." The girl assures them and there is something about the look in the girl's eyes that makes Melinda, Tony and Hope believe her.
"Thank you... um…..." Melinda says, not sure what to call her.
"Natal…... Natasha." She corrects, "You can tell call me Natasha."
"Well thank you, Natasha. We'll never forget this." Melinda assures her, sounding grateful.
"Making sure you don't turn out like me is all the thanks I need." Natasha says and as she does the four of them hear voices from corridors away, "Go, you've got to go now." She says, sounding panicked.
"Thank you." Tony tells her before he, Melinda and Hope go running towards the forest, Natasha noticing that they never move too far away from one another, which is a very good thing. As they disappear into the dark woods Natasha turns towards the dark, dirty corridor, knowing that she will do whatever it takes to make sure the three kids get to safety.
January 3rd 1988, Empire State Academy Lounge Area.
Afternoon.
(Melinda May, Tony Sark, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym, 14 years old)
Ten days have passed since Melinda, Tony and Hope escaped their kidnappers thanks to the help of the young girl that they know only as Natasha, and after that they spent a few days at their respective homes before returning to school.
As he arrived back at school only a little while earlier Tony has just finished unpacking and has gone looking for his two best friends. As he walks into the lounge area he looks around and spots one of the two people sitting alone on one of the corner couches and so he walks over and basically throws himself down next to him.
"Hey Tony." Melinda comments as he does.
"Hey." Tony responds, "How's the wrists?"
"Still sore, you?" she asks curious.
"Same." Tony responds, "How was your Christmas?" he asks curious.
"Agg, don't ask." Melinda says, sounding annoyed.
"So I'm guessing you got that we can no longer….." Tony starts to say.
"Be friends talk? Yeah." Melinda finishes, looking angry.
"Of course." Tony responds with a sigh, "Hope back yet?" he asks.
"She wasn't when I went to our room." Melinda admits, but as she does she notices something, "She's here." Melinda says as hope walks over and sits down on Tony's other side.
"Bad break?" Tony asks
"Yep."
"Did you get the we're no longer allowed to be friends lecture too?" Melinda asks curious.
"My version was Starks are bad influence and not being able to be trusted and that you two are constantly getting me in trouble and it would be better if we weren't friends, but yeah." Hope answers, looking like she is going to punch something, "What are we going to do?"
"Nothing." Tony says angrily, "We don't have to listen to them." He says, "The shipped us off to boarding school when we were eight, so they didn't have to deal with us. For the last six years we've only seen them a few months a year. They don't have any right to tell us who we can be friends with when it was probably who they are that that got us kidnapped in the first place." Tony says angrily, "I say screw what they want. They don't control us we should get to be friends with whoever we want. I'm never going to stop being friends with you two." Tony says, sounding both angry and passionate.
"You're right." Hope says as she lays her head on Tony's shoulder, "If he has a problem with me still being friends with you two then he can actually talk to me for once." Hope comments.
"We're going to have to pretend that we listened, otherwise they're going to force us." Melinda comments as she lays her head on Tony's shoulder too as that was the threat that her Mom gave, though her Dad didn't seem so found of that.
"We'll figure it out." Tony says determinedly.
"Good, I don't want to stop being friends with you two either." Melinda says as the three of them drift into silence, Melinda and Hope each resting their heads on each of Tony's shoulders.
June 17th 1988: Empire State Academy, New York.
Evening.
Melinda May, Tony Stark, 15 years old, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym 14)
It is the last day of school for the year and because she managed to get some alcohol from an older student, something she, Melinda and Tony all put money towards, Hope is heading to Tony's dorm room to shear the room with her friends.
Walking into the dorm without knocking, something she's done a hundred times, Hope quickly finds herself very much wishing that she did as she finds Melinda and Tony in bed together, both naked and quickly moving to use the blanket to cover themselves.
"Oh god, guys really?" Hope asks, pulling faces, sounding horrified, as she quickly closes her eyes, "Chris came through. I got the drinks and I'll be in our dorm once you two put some clothes on." Hope says before hurrying out, causing Melinda and Tony to exchange amused looks, neither looking at all embarrassed.
A few minutes after Hope walked in on them Melinda and Tony, both now completely dressed, walk into Melinda and Hope's dorm room where they find Hope already drinking out of a beer while she sits on the floor.
"Starting without us are you Hope?" Tony as he and Melinda sit down on the ground too, across from Hope.
"I didn't know how long you two would be." Hope explains, "And after the sight I just saw I needed a drink." She comments.
"You didn't see much. We covered ourselves pretty quickly." Melinda says, rolling her eyes.
"Not quickly enough." Hope assures her friend, "Okay, I'm your best friend, how do I not know that you're together?" she asks, feeling very much out of the loop.
"We're not." Melinda and Tony say together.
"Then how do you explain what I just walked in on?" Hope ask confused, not just feeling that she is out of the loop, but that she is missing something pretty big.
"We just wanted to know what it would be like." Melinda explains.
"You two had sex just because you wanted to know what it would be like?" Hope asks, looking between her two friends in completely shock as she gives them a look that either means 'are you from another planet' or 'I'm very disappointed in you.' Melinda and Tony can't tell.
"Well, yeah." Melinda answers, sounding like it's not a big deal.
"I'm going off to college in a few months. I couldn't do that being a virgin." Tony informs Hope, causing her to almost choke on the mouthful of drink.
"Seriously? What am I going to do with you two?" Hope asks, giving them both a look, once she finishes coughing.
"It's not that bad." Melinda says, rolling her eyes.
"What do you mean what are you going to do with us?" Tony asks, putting on an insulted voice.
"I mean, did you two even think of the consequences of this?" Hope asks, looking between her two friends.
"We used protection if that's what you mean." Tony informs her.
"Really not, but I'm really glad to hear that." Hope admits, "I was talking about your friendship. Did you even think about how having sex would affect that?"
"It won't." Melinda and Tony say together.
"Really?" Hope asks, disbelieving, "You really think that you two can have sex and then just have things go back too normal?" Hope asks, wondering why she is the one asking these questions when they really should have.
"Yep." Melinda and Tony says together.
"Relax, we talked about it before we did it. We both knew what we were getting into." Melinda explains.
"Okay." Hope says, with a slight frown, having a feeling that this probably isn't going to end well, and the three of them drift into silence.
"So, this is it." Tony says, breaking the silence after a few minutes of them being silent as they drink, "Come September I'll be at MIT and you two will be here." He says, looking upset, "It's the end of an era."
"That it is." Hope confirms, "But we'll still see each other, still talk." She says, needing that to happen.
"Yeah, we will." Melinda assures her, "It will just be harder to hide.
"We'll figure it out." Tony says, "We have to." He comments as he reaches out and takes both Melinda and Hope's hand, "I just want to say that you two have made these last seven years absolutely awesome, and incredible, and I'll never forget them." Tony tells them a look of gratitude on his face, "And I don't care what anyone says or wants me to do, we'll be friends forever."
"Yeah, we will." Melinda says with a smile, on that lights up her entire face.
"Definitely." Hope says with a nod and a smile and as the three of them sit together in the small dorm room they know that they will do whatever it takes to keep that promises, their too important to one another to break it.
July 29th 1989: Central Park.
Day
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym 16 years old)
It's a relatively warm summers day and Melinda is walking towards the pound in central park as she walks she looks around to make sure that there is no one following her before she heads around the pond and to the place where she is going to meeting two people.
Once she gets to that point Melinda realises that she isn't the first one as Hope is already waiting.
"Hey." Hope says, walking over to her friend and hugging her, moving her sunglasses to the top of her head.
"Hey." Melinda responds, returning the hug, "How'd you get away?" she asks as they break apart.
"Dad's got a conference, that's why we're in the city." Hope explains, "I'd be surprised if he even noticed I left the hotel. You?"
"Mom's not home. I told Dad that I was going to meet friends, he didn't ask any questions." Melinda explains.
"Good."
"Have you seen Tony yet?" Melinda asks curious.
"Not yet." Hope tells her, "What's this news you have to tell us?" she asks curious.
"I'll tell you when Tony's here." Melinda responds and the two of them drift into silence.
For a few minutes Melinda and Hope stand in silence until a familiar figure walks up to them.
"If it isn't my two favourite woman." Tony says with a grin as he hugs Melinda and Hope at the same time.
"It's good to see you too, Tony." Melinda comments, smiling as she completely means that.
"It's been way to long." Hope informs him.
"Yeah, it has." Tony says as he holds his friend for a little while before they break apart.
"So, how'd you get away?" Melinda asks curious.
"I told Jarvis that I had to pick up some stuff for school, so remind me to actually do that." Tony requests.
"Will do." Melinda and Hope say together.
"Walk?" Melinda suggests.
"Sure." Tony and Hope respond and the three of them begin to walk, walking into the parts of the park where there aren't as many people while they all look around looking for signs that they are being followed, a habit they have all picked up since their kidnapping.
"So, what's your news Mel?" Hope asks a couple of minutes after they've been walking.
"Oh, um, I'm not going back to Empire State." Melinda reveals, looking nervous.
"What?" Tony asks surprised.
"Why?"
"A few months ago I was approached by a man with an eyepatch and I've spent most of my summer completing assessments; I'm joining S.H.I.E.L.D. I start at their operations academy in September." Melinda reveals.
"S.H.I.E.L.D? As in the organisation that my Dad and Aunt Peggy founded?" Tony asks surprised.
"Yeah, that's the one."
"What about getting your high school diploma?" Hope asks, interested.
"I'm going to do the test to get my GED in a few weeks." Melinda explains, leaving out that she's been told that if she doesn't get it then she cannot join S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Huh." Hope comments, looking surprised, "You've really figured this out."
"Yeah, I have." Melinda confirms, "I'm sorry about leaving you alone." Melinda says, looking guilty about that.
"If it's what you really want to do then it's okay." Hope assures her friend with a supportive smile.
"It is." Melinda assures her with a nod.
"You want to be a spy?" Tony asks, sounding a little surprised.
"Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while." Melinda admits.
"That's why you've been training more for the last year." Hope realises and Melinda nods.
"I figured that I was either going to be a spy or a solider, maybe a pilot, so I might as well get better and work harder for when that day comes. I just didn't expect that day to come so soon." Melinda explains, "The man who recruited me said that it was information they got from school and who my family is that made them consider me, but that my assessment results were even better than they were expecting."
"Mel, that's great." Tony says with a proud girl.
"Thanks." Melinda says, "I still feel bad about leaving you alone." She tells Hope as she puts her arm around Hope's shoulder.
"Don't be. I'm so happy for you." Hope assures her friend, giving her a smile as she means that, "Anyway I'm graduating early in the spring anyway. So, I'll only be alone a few months."
"Have you given anymore thought to what collages you're going to apply for?" Tony asks curious.
"Yeah, I have a few ideas. Duke's currently top of my list." Hope explains.
"Because of their entomology department?" Melinda asks, looking at Hope.
"Yeah." Hope says with a nod.
"Cool."
"If you any questions about applications I'll be happy to help, I remember how much of a pain they were." Tony comments.
"Thanks, I'll remember that." Hope responds, giving Tony a grateful smile.
"Speaking of college, how's MIT?" Melinda asks Tony.
"Really good. It's actually challenging." Tony says, looking amazed.
"That is amazing." Hope comments, knowing that not much challenges Tony, "How's your friend…. Rhodey right?"
"Rhodey's great." Tony says with a grin, "He's the first person, other than you two, who treats me as me. He doesn't treat me as the son of Howard Stark, or the boy genius, I'm just... Tony." he explains.
"That's great Tony." Melinda says, smiling at him as she knows how much that would mean to him.
"Yeah."
"Why don't you tell us everything, about MIT about Rhodey, about what you've been doing." Hope suggests.
"Sure." Tony says and the three friends walk around Central Park, talking, enjoying spending time with one another.
December 17th 1991: New York.
Evening
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym, 18 years old)
Early in the evening Melinda and Hope are standing in silence, both with looks of pain on their faces, by a car, in a side street. They're just waiting, neither speaking as neither know what to say.
Neither are sure how long they have been waiting, they only knew that they aren't leaving any time soon.
Finally, a long a long stretch of silence, Melinda and Hope hear the sounds of footsteps and through the dark they see a figure walking towards them. At first they tense, and they get ready to fight, but then seconds later they recognize who it is and so they both walk towards him.
Getting to him at the same time Melinda and Hope just wrap their arms around Tony, who is looking so much younger than he is, and has a look on his face full of so much pain that both Melinda and Hope wish that they could take away, but they both know they can't.
As the arms of his two closet friends wrap around him Tony takes comfort in them, feeling incredible grateful to have them, though it does very little to numb the pain.
"I'm so sorry, Tony." Melinda tells him.
"So am I." Hope adds and they both feel Tony nod though he doesn't say a word.
For a while Melinda and Hope just hold Tony until he finally moves out of his friends arms and as they catch a glimpse of his face in the moonlight they see that he has tears rolling down his face, tears that he quickly wipes away.
"When are they expecting you back?" Melinda asks, being pretty sure that if Tony isn't back when he said he would be then whoever is with him right now would start to panic, and also being pretty sure that he wouldn't want her to mention the tears.
"Not for a while." Tony says, his voice hoarse from all the crying he's done in the past twenty-four hours, "I told Jarvis and Aunt Peggy that I needed some space." He explains.
"What do you need?" Hope asks, "What do you want to do right now?" she asks and Tony looks around.
"Drive." Tony says, "Can we drive? I don't want to be here right now." He admits, his voice shaking.
"Sure, we can do that." Melinda says and the three of them head to the car, as they do Melinda and Hope exchange looks, both knowing that they will do whatever they have to do to help their friend.
May 29th 1992, Duke University. Hope's Dorm.
Night.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark 19 years old, Hope (Van Dyne) Pym, 18 years old)
As she is one of the few students who has stayed at school over the summer so that she can do more classes and graduate early Hope has been spending the last few hours in the library.
Arriving back at her dorm, that Hope has to herself for the summer, she turns on the light and she can't help but jump as she finds three people sitting in what should be an empty dorm room.
"Damn it you two!" Hope says once she realises who it is, "Don't you call?" she asks as they stand up.
"Nope." Melinda says with a smirk.
"It's better this way." Tony explains.
"Yeah, better for giving me a heart attack." Hope says, rolling her eyes, "Happy Birthday Tony." She tells her friend and as she does she notices something, "Um, hi. Who are you?" Hope asks the third person in the room.
"Oh, Hope this is my friend James Rhodes. Rhodey this is Hope." Tony introduces, "Like we talked about I filled him in on the secret, thought it was time he met you and Mel." He explains.
"Hi, nice to meet you." Hope says with a smile, "I've heard great things." Hope says as he sticks out his hand for Rhodey to shake.
"So have I." Rhodey responds as he returns the handshake, "Though I'm not entirely sure why I haven't heard all about you sooner." He admits.
"That's simple really." Melinda comments and Rhodey turns to look at her, "After we were kidnapped as teenagers our parents told us that we could no longer be friends, so we pretended not to be, but then as we got older we all realised a few things and we realised that considering who we are, and what we do, it would be safer if no one knew that we were friends, knew how close we are." Melinda explains to Rhodey.
"Makes sense." Rhodey realises.
"Feel privileged you're the only person outside the three of us who knows." Hope reveals.
"Wow." Rhodey says, getting an amazed look on his face as he feels pretty touched that they decided to bring him in on this secret.
"You know, now that Rhodey knows, he needs an SoS name." Tony says causing Melinda to put her head in her hands.
"Tony." Hope says, drawing out the word in a warning kind of way.
"What? He does." Tony says in his defence.
"SoS?" Rhodey asks confused.
"It's something we came up with when we were ten, when we learnt what our parents did." Melinda explains, moving her hand away from her face to reveal an amused smile, "It means Spawn of Spies." She explains.
"Okay then." Rhodey says, still sounding a little confused.
"I got it!" Tony suddenly says, "Cuddly Bear."
"No, no way, that's way to embarrassing." Rhodey objects.
"That's kind of the point." Hope informs him, "I'm bug."
"Tiny."
"Know-it-all."
"Okay, I guess that's pretty fitting then." Rhodey says, still not looking overly keen on the idea.
"Great." Tony says with a grin, "You're officially one of us." He says as he throws his arm around his friend's shoulder.
"Speaking of names. I've officially decided, I'm changing my name once I graduate." Hope reveals.
"To Van Dyne?" Melinda asks, knowing that Hope has been thinking about doing that for a while.
"Yep." Hope says with a nod.
"Good for you." Tony says, giving his best friend a supportive smile, "Now, it's my birthday, and we're all together so we're going to go out and have some fun." He says looking around the room, "And I'm not going to take no for an answer."
"Wasn't planning on saying no." Melinda admits.
"I'm not surprised." Rhodey comments.
"Lead the way Tone." Hope says, knowing a losing battle when she sees it, and the four of them head out of the room, all planning on enjoying Tony's birthday.
August 22nd 1998, Melinda May's Apartment.
Evening.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope Van Dyne, 25 years old)
It is early evening and Melinda is in her apartment, walking putting Pizza boxes that she just collected onto the table while Natasha Romanoff, the woman who helped Melinda, Tony and Hope escape their kidnapping many years earlier, who only looks slightly older than she did then, who has been recruited to S.H.I.E.L.D by an agent Melinda's been working with for a while, Clint Barton, is pulling beer out of the fridge.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Natasha asks, there being a slight nervousness to her voice that is basically impossible to detect.
"Positive. What I said that night was true. We never forgot you." Melinda tells Natasha, "You saved us Nat. we were so thankful for that." Melinda explains, giving Natasha a supportive smile.
"You know I think that went both ways." Natasha admits, "Saving you three, that was the first time I realised I could be something other than a killer." She reveals, "You gave me that."
"No, you gave yourself that." Melinda comments, and before Natasha can say anything there is a knock on the door.
"Why don't I wait in the other room while you explain." Natasha suggests as she hears the knock.
"If you think that's best." Melinda comments.
"I do." Natasha says and while Melinda heads to the door Natasha heads to the other room.
Without looking though, the peep hole Melinda opens it to find Hope, Tony and Rhodey standing there.
"Really, you came together?" Melinda asks, her voice sounding disapproving.
"No, Mel. That's only something that happens in Pornos." Tony informs her with a smirk.
"Seriously Tony? I'm being serous." Melinda tells him, trying to scold him but the smile on her face lessons the effect, "You know what could happened if the wrong people saw you together."
"Relax. We made sure no one was watching." Tony says, rolling his eyes, as he gives Melinda and hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"I brought cake." Hope says as she gives Melinda a quick hug and walks into the apartment.
"It's good to see you Melinda." Rhodey says, giving her a brief hug.
"You too, congrats on the promotion." Melinda tells him as they break apart and once they do Melinda closes and locks the door.
"So, what did you have to tell us?" Tony asks curious as Melinda turns around to look at them.
"So a few months ago, an agent that I've been working with since 93, brought in a foreign agent who wanted to make up for all the horrible things she was forced to do." Melinda explains, "Now, you can imagine my shock when my friend asked me to talk to the woman so that I could help him get our boss to agree to give her a chance, and I realised I knew her."
"What are you saying?" Hope asks, looking confused as she can't see where Melinda is going with this.
"Natasha, you can come out." Melinda says and Tony, Hope and Rhodey turn to the door to the other room to see a woman, who only looks a little older even though it's been ten years, walk out.
"It's you." Tony says, looking completely shocked.
"I can't believe it." Hope says, also looking shocked.
"And I'm so confused." Rhodey comments, looking between his friends.
"This is the woman who saved us when were kidnapped, we wouldn't be standing here right now if it wasn't for her." Tony explains, looking amazed as he's always wanted a chance to properly thank the woman who saved them all those years ago.
"Wow, it's a pleasure." Rhodey admits, his eyes widening.
"I don't think I've ever heard that before." Natasha says, looking shocked and uncomfortable with the attention.
"How about we eat." Hope suggests, noticing how uncomfortable Natasha is getting.
"Sounds good." Melinda says and the four of them head over to the table, "Hope, Tone, what do you think of Saviour as Nat's SoS name?" Melinda asks curious as she sits down at the table.
"Perfect." Hope says with a grin.
"I like it." Tony says, also grinning.
"What's SoS?" Natasha asks confused, something that really doesn't happen often.
"We'll explain why we eat." Melinda assures her and together the five of them start to get to know each other while they eat and Melinda, Hope and Tony welcome the second person into their secret.
October 14th 2006, Tony Stark's Mansion.
Mid-Day
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope Van Dyne 33 years old)
It's about lunchtime on a Saturday and Tony, Rhodey, Natasha and Hope are in the living area waiting on Melinda, something that isn't at all unusual as the four of them and Melinda spend a lot of time together when they can, what is surprising is that Melinda, who has been away for about a week, said that she has big news to tell them.
"So you really don't know what Mel's news is?" Tony asks Natasha.
"I told you I didn't." Natasha says, rolling her eyes.
"You see her the most, do you have any idea?" Hope asks curiously.
"Nope." Nat says and as she does they hear the sound of the door opening.
"We're about to find out." Rhodey comments as they all turn to entrance to the room and seconds later Melinda walks in.
"So, what's the big news?" Tony asks when he sees his friend.
"Andrew and I got married last week, we eloped." Melinda reveals, deciding not to beat around the bush.
"Mel, that's great!" Hope says, looking thrilled as she runs up and hugs her friend, "I'm so happy for you." She says as she hugs Melinda.
"Thanks Hope." Melinda says as she returns the hug before they break apart.
"Congratulations Mel." Rhodey says before hugging her and placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Thanks Jim." Melinda says feeling grateful for her friends, her family as they break apart.
"Поздравления." Natasha says as she gives Melinda a hug.
"Thanks Nat." Melinda responds and as they break apart Melinda realises that Tony is the only one who hasn't said anything, "Aren't you going to say something?" she asks as she walks towards her oldest friend.
"That depends, what happened to the girl who said she'd never get married?" Tony asks curious.
"She grew up, and fell in love." Melinda says and Tony's face splits into a massive grin,
"Congrats Mel." Tony says, hugging her tightly, "But just because your eloped doesn't mean you're getting out of me buying you an incredible wedding present." He informs Melinda as he places a kiss on Melinda's cheek.
"Yeah? How would I explain that?" Melinda asks, giving Tony a look.
"Why did you elope?" Hope asks curious, not being able to help but feel a little disappointed that she wasn't there to see her best friend get married.
"I told Andrew that considering what we do we would never be able to stick to a plan, but the truth is that I couldn't imagine getting married without you four there." Melinda admits, looking around at the four people who mean so much to her.
"Aww Mel, you're going soft, that's sweet." Tony says with a grin as he throws his arm around Melinda's shoulder.
"Are you ever going to tell Andrew?" Rhodey asks curious.
"I don't know." Melinda admits, "I love him, but it's hard enough for the five of us to keep this secret, I don't know if it's fair to make him keep it too." Melinda reveals, looking conflicted.
"Whatever you decide, we'll support you." Hope assures Melinda.
"Thanks." Melinda says with a grateful smile.
"Either way I'm still going to find you a way to get you an incredible wedding gift." Tony promises.
"We've got to celebrate this." Natasha says, with a warm smile, something she only does around Melinda, Hope, Tony and Rhodey, or Clint and his family.
"That we do." Rhodey says with a nod.
"To the kitchen." Tony says, removing his arm from around Melinda and heading in the director of where the food is kept.
"To the kitchen, I guess." Hope comments.
"Guess so." Melinda says, an amused look on her face as they follow Tony, Melinda feeling that telling Hope, Tony, Natasha and Rhodey makes things officially real.
November 14th 2008, Tony Stark's Mansion.
Evening
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope Van Dyne 35 years old)
Sitting in his personal lab, working on some new designs Tony is a little surprised when a car drives in and stops.
Standing up in confusion Tony watches as Natasha gets out of the driving side.
"What are you doing here?" Tony asks, but then before he can answer the passenger side opens and Melinda gets out, but right away he can tell that something is wrong as Melinda has a look, like she is hurting, defeated, and guilty as well as so many other things at the same time, "What's going on?" he asks concerned.
"I left Andrew, left field work." Melinda reveals, her voice quiet.
"Mel needed to get out of DC. I thought brining her here was a good idea." Natasha explains as she walks over, "is it okay if she stays a little while?"
"Of course." Tony says, without hesitation, "That's why I set up the apartment area." Tony explains that being an area on the top floor that is set up basically like a little apartment and is more restricted.
"I'm going to head up there." Melinda says before heading upstairs without another word, Natasha and Tony watching her go.
"Okay, what is going on?" Tony asks Natasha, the second he is sure that Melinda is upstairs.
"Mel went on a mission a few months ago, I don't know all the details, but I know it went badly." Natasha explains, "Ever since Mel got back from that mission she's been like this." Natasha says, tony being able to hear pain in her voice, "She left Andrew and came to me, and I realised that what she needs right now is to be around people who she can be her real self around, so I brought her here."
"I'm glad you did." Tony says, looking worried.
"It's not going to be a problem right? I know Pepper's here a lot and I wouldn't want to make things harder for you." Natasha tells Tony.
"It will be fine." Tony assures her, "I created that apartment for a reason, and there is a reason that the five of us are the only ones who have access to that area."
"Good, that's good." Natasha says, sounding relieved.
"Do you think we can help her?" Tony asks, looking at Natasha in concern.
"I don't know." Natasha admits, looking worried and as she does she notices the look on Tony's face, "But Tony, she matters to me too. I'm not going to give up." Natasha says reassuringly as she reaches out and takes Tony's hand.
"I know." Tony responds, gently squeezing Natasha's hand, "Should I call Hope?"
"Not yet, in a couple of days." Natasha says, suspecting that for now it might be best if they don't crowed Melinda.
"Okay." Tony says and the two of them drift into silence, not letting go of one another's hand, as they worry for their friend.
October 26th 2010, Tony Stark's Mansion.
Night
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope Van Dyne 37 years old)
As he has spent all day explaining himself, and what he has done Tony is feeling very glad to be able to walk into his personal lab.
"Wake up everyone, Daddy's home." Tony says as he walks into his workshop.
"Really? That's how you walk into a room?" An amused voice says and Tony looks around to see Hope sitting on his chair and Melinda sitting on top of his toolbox.
"Yep." Tony says with a nod.
"I am Iron Man?" Melinda asks, her voice being hard to read.
"if you want to give me that talk you're a little bit late. Your boss already bet you to it." Tony reveals.
"Fury was here?" Melinda asks surprised, as she jumps down from her sitting place.
"Yep." Tony confirms, "I also met your friend Coulson. And seriously, considering I am the son and godson of S.H.I.E.L.D's founders it a little insulting that they think I know nothing about S.H.I.E.L.D." Tony says, looking annoyed.
"In all fairness, even your Dad believed that he managed to hide S.H.I.E.L.D. from you." Hope reminds him.
"Good point." Tony admits nodding his head, "But of course it's too late to admit that I know, so I'm playing clueless."
"Something new for you to try then." Melinda comments.
"Yep." Tony says with a grin as he sits down on his table.
"Why'd you do it Tone?" Hope asks curious, giving Tony a look that makes him feel that she is trying to look inside him.
Hearing the question Tony takes a deep breath, forcing himself to be okay enough to explain what he has to say,
"When…. When I was over there I saw my weapons, thing I created, and I saw what they were doing without me knowing." Tony explains, both Melinda and Hope being able to hear the pain in his voice, "And I knew that I couldn't just do nothing, I had to do something to help, I had to make up for what my creations have done." Tony explains to Hope and Melinda.
"You're doing better, doing the right thing." Melinda realises and Tony nods.
"Just…. Don't die, okay." Hope tells him, "Do what you have to do, but just… don't die." She tells him, there being pain in her voice as she recently went through thinking Tony was dead and she doesn't want to go through that again any time soon.
"I'll do my best." Tony assures her, "So, can you stay for pizza?" he asks, looking between Melinda and Hope.
"Yeah." Melinda confirms.
"I can make it work." Hope says.
"Great." Tony says with a grin and he moves to order it, being glad to be able to spend time with Hope and Melinda again.
January 16th 2011, Hope Van Dyne's Apartment.
Night.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope Van Dyne 37 years old)
As she has had a few really long days Hope is very much looking forward to taking a long relaxing bath, but as she sees someone sitting on her couch Hope is pretty sure that that isn't going to happen.
"You know; I gave you a key for emergencies." Hope says as she hangs up her bag and jacket.
"I didn't know how long you'd be." Tony defends, "I figured that it was better to use the key than to wait in your hall where anyone can see." He says.
"Good point." Hope admits as she walks over and sits down next to him, having a pretty good idea what he is going to talk to her about.
"So, you forced your Dad out of the company." Tony says after a few seconds.
"Yeah." Hope confirms.
"I kind of want to congratulate you, but at the same time I've been on the other side of that so I'm not entirely sure that I can." Tony admits.
"It was the right move for the company Tony, it wasn't personal." Hope explains to her friend, not overly surprised that he can't completely support her on this.
"We both know that isn't true, Hope." Tony tells her, "I'm betting you got some satisfaction from it."
"Maybe a little." Hope admits, looking sheepish, "He still saying that Mom died in a plane crash." She says, causing Tony to frown.
"Have you thought about asking Mel to see if she can find something with her clearance?" Tony asks curious.
"Yeah, but if she got caught she would be in a lot of trouble. I don't want to put her in that situation." Hope admits and she and Tony drift into silence.
"So did you read Christine Everhart's latest article by any chance?" Tony asks, breaking the silence after a little while.
"The one where she accuses us of having a secret love affair? Yeah." Hope says, there being both annoyance and amusement in her voice.
"You mad?"
"Not at you." Hope comments, "I mean you kiss everyone on the cheek, and I'm pretty sure that you only did it at that party to annoy Hank…."
"I did." Tony confirms.
"So hopefully no one will look into it further." Hope says, knowing that things could get complicated if someone were to do that, "Are you going to the tech conference and gala Friday?"
"I might, I'm not sure." Tony says, looking uncertain, "You?"
"Yeah, Cross thinks it would be a good idea." Hope admits.
"I've got an idea." Tony says, getting a look on his face that Hope recognizes.
"Oh no, that look never means anything good." Hope says, concerned.
"I was just thinking that if we try to deny it too hard then people are bound to get suspicious, so why don't we do the complete opposite." Tony suggests.
"You mean play it up for the camera, even go over the top to make it a joke." Hope realises.
"Exactly." Tony says with a nod.
"I don't know if that's a good idea." Hope says, sounding hesitant.
"Come on Hope, you know you want to." Tony says, giving her a charming grin.
"Thirty years and you're still able to convince me to do things against my better judgement." Hope says, shaking her head.
"Great." Tony says with a grin, "I've got to get back to Malibu, love you." Tony says placing a kiss on Hope's cheek before standing up, as he does Hope finds something odd about that.
"Tony." Hope says when he gets to the door, causing him to turn around, "You okay?" she asks concerned.
"Always." Tony says with a reassuring smile before he leaves, but as she watches him go Hope can't help but frown, having a bad feeling that there is something she doesn't know going on.
May 5th 2012. Melinda May's Apartment.
Night
(Melinda May 39 years old, Tony Stark, Hope Van Dye 38 years old)
Having gotten to DC as quick as she can, something that wasn't easy considering everything, Hope doesn't even bother to knock on Melinda's door and instead she just lets herself in and as she does she sees Melinda sitting on the couch, with silent tears rolling down her face.
"The news didn't say anything about Iron Man or Black Window being hurt." Hope says worried as she closes the door behind her.
"As far as I know they're okay." Melinda says, wiping her tears, "It's my friend Phil…. He was killed."
"Oh god, Mel. I'm so sorry." Hope says, walking over to her friend and sitting down next to her.
"So am I." Melinda admits, trying to force down tears.
"How about I make some tea." Hope suggests, wanting to do something to help her friend.
"Sure." Melinda responds and Hope gets up and heads to the kitchen, as she does Melinda picks up a picture from shortly after she and Phil first met, "I'll miss you." She says to the picture.
It has been a few hours since Hope arrived at Melinda's apartment and Melinda and Hope are sitting on the couch eating burgers that Hope went and got.
As they eat Hope and Melinda hear the door open and so Melinda quickly pulls a gun and points it at the door, but it's Rhodey who walks in.
"Seriously Jim? Warn people you're coming." Hope says, sounding annoyed.
"Sorry." Rhodey responds as Melinda puts the gun down, "Tony and Nat are coming too, they are just making sure that they weren't followed." He explains.
"Okay." Melinda says with a nod.
Over the next ten minutes Tony and Natasha arrive and the five friends make themselves comfortable in Melinda's small apartment.
"Mel, where do you keep the good stuff?" Rhodey asks curious, "I'm thinking we're going to need it."
"Cupboard underneath the normal stuff." Melinda explains and Rhodey gets up and heads over to where Melinda says, pulls out a bottle and grabs five glasses before walking back over to the others.
"Make it doubles." Natasha tells Rhodey.
"Wasn't planning on doing anything else." Rhodey admits as he pours five, very generous, glasses of scotch. Once he pours the five of them each pick up a glass.
"To the last few days that are going to fuck us up a hell of a lot." Tony comments, raising his glass.
"Eloquent as ever Tone." Hope tells her friend, but despite that all four of them also raise their glasses and toast, all thinking to some degree that Tony is right and that will never be the same again.
January 12th 2013, Stark Property, New York.
Night
(Melinda May, Tony Stark, Hope Van Dye, 39 years old)
Having all received a message from Tony asking them to come to one of his New York family properties Melinda, Natasha, Hope and Rhodey have all made the trip, some of whom had to travel quiet far even though they have no idea why.
As she was the last to arrive Natasha looks around the entry way and sees Hope, Melinda, and Rhodey but no sign of Tony.
"Any idea what this about?" Natasha asks the others curious.
"None." Rhodey answers.
"TONY YOU HERE?" Hope yells, doing so even though she knows that there is a good chance that he won't here.
"DOWNSTAIRS, COME DOWN HERE." Tony yells and exchanging looks Melinda, Natasha, Rhodey and Hope follow the sound of Tony's voice and find themselves in a lab that was clearly Howard.
"Good. You're here." Tony says before picking up something off the workbench and handing Melinda, Natasha, Rhodey and Hope each a black object that is the size of a tic tac box, but thinner and with a small screen on the front.
"What's this?" Natasha asks.
"The Spawn of Spies protocol." Tony reveals.
"Since when is there a Spawn of Spies protocol?" Hope asks confused.
"Since about two days ago." Tony says, "The five of us each have one of them. Inside there is a battery and a transmitter that is impossible to detect but will latch on to any satellite, mobile or communication that is in range, which mean there is never the possibility of being out of range and because the battery will last a really long time as it only uses battery power if it's activated. You with me so far?" Tony asks and once he sees five nods he picks up another one of the tic tac size box, "Keep them with you at all time and if you are even in a bad situation or need backup or help you just put your left pinkie to on the front, below the screen, like this." Tony says, demonstrating on his and then as he does the objects that Melinda, Rhodey, Natasha and Hope are holding vibrate and give off a loud beep. Looking down they see that all four screens are saying the same thing,
SoS Alert; Know it all;
Followed by coordinates.
"Once you get the message, if you're responding to help then press your own pinkie to the back." Tony says, "Do it now." He says and the other four do, causing Tony's object to beep and vibrate, "and then the person who send the alert will get this." He says, showing his screen to the others which says,
SoS Responding; Tiny, Bug, Saviour, Cuddly Bear
"Nice." Natasha says with a grin.
"This is really good, Tony." Rhodey says, clearly meaning that.
"I figured that with things getting so much more complicated it could be a good thing for us to have." Tony explains.
"It is, it really is." Hope assures him, "Thanks Tony."
"You're welcome. I've made them as strong as possible so they shouldn't be easily destroyed." Tony reveals and he once more gets four nods in responds, "Any questions?" he asks and no one says anything.
"I have a comment." Melinda says, causing the others to look at her, "I'm going back into the field later this year. So, this is really good. Nice job Tony."
"You're going back into the field?" Rhodey asks surprised
"Yes." Melinda says with a nod.
"Why?" Natasha asks, being pretty sure that she is missing something.
"It's just time." Melinda says, avoiding looking at the others in the room which makes them all sure that there is something she's not saying, "But I'm going to feel better having this with me."
"Glad to hear." Tony responds, "I got food upstairs, hungry?" he asks the others.
"Oh yeah."
"Definitely."
"I could eat."
"Sure."
They say in responds and then the group of five head upstairs, all feeling thankful of Tony's newest invention while wondering what Melinda isn't saying.
June 10th 2016. The Playground.
Early Morning.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark 43 years old, Hope Van Dyne 42 years old)
It's early morning and even though most people would still be in bed the residences of The Playground aren't. Melinda is just standing in the hallway of The Playground, looking into the lab where Mack is fighting the doctors who are trying to get him to rest with a look of complete defeat on his face.
As she watches him Melinda suddenly hears a beep and feels a vibration coming from her pocket something she knows isn't coming from her phone and so she reaches in and pulls out a black object the size of a tic tac box that she has had with her every day since she was given it but which has never made a sound.
Looking at screen Melinda sees
SoS Alert; Know it all;
Followed by numbers that Melinda recognizes as coordinates.
Staring at the numbers, after pressing her pinkie finger to the back of the object, Melinda hears a sound that she knows belongs to her phone and so she quickly pulls that out to see a new message from Natasha which says;
I got the alert, but don't have transport.
And so Melinda quickly sends back,
I do. I'll pick you up.
Before looking away from the lab and heading upstairs knowing that she has to ask Coulson for a really big favour and she doesn't have the time to answer all the questions he's bound to have, or more specifically, Tony doesn't have the time.
AN3 IMPORANT: Next chapter will explain where Hope was during Civil War, and even though it may not seem like it from this chapter for this story Tony is the MOST focused character.