Eight months later...

It had been eight months since the mission to Ohio. S.H.I.E.L.D had found Brian, much to Bruce's horror, and he was currently in a high security prison cell on some god forsaken island in the North Pacific. The Gods had been informed as to what happened and they were taking the necessary precautions. Hades himself was most embarrassed, and had upped security everywhere he could.

Tony had held a press conference to tell the media what had happened. No mention of Greek gods and monsters what so ever. It was mainly blamed on some creature from the depths of Norse mythology that we were all sure Loki had made up, but no one questioned it. It was plausible and that's what we needed.

We had gotten back to our normal lives after that, the world having no need for The Avengers at the present moment. Clint and Natasha were off doing things for S.H.I.E.L.D; Steve was getting to grips with the 21st century; Thor had returned to Asgard for princely business but left Loki with us; Loki was causing harmless mischief around the Tower; Tony was back to tinkering with various suits, much to Pepper's annoyance. Tony did get around to building me my own workshop and, as promised, consulted me on every decision. Most decisions were made during my 'recovery period', which was mainly me trying to do stuff and Bruce being smothering and overprotective and not letting me. From anyone else I wouldn't have put up with it, but I knew he was only doing it because he loved me.

Our relationship was building steadily, too. We'd been out in a few dates - most of which had been organised by Pepper - and learnt more and more about each other. Nothing I had learned put me off, it only made me love him more. He opened up to me about his father, and I told him about my mother. We only did it because we knew the other wouldn't change our perspective of the other. He even let me help out a bit at getting more control over the Hulk. He was making remarkable progress.

I was learning to cope without Akisa. The night terrors still haunted me: I could hear her pained screams as she became locked with that horrid creature, Kampê. Every time I did, Bruce was there to hold me. I was slowly getting there: the terrors becoming less frequent, the fear gradually decreasing. Thankfully the inner fire hadn't made a reappearance, perhaps because I hadn't tried to use my powers.

Little Savvina was doing wondrously. She had grown a bit, to the size of swallow. Her feathers had grown even more red, but so many different shades it looked like she was on fire. Which, we discovered at three o'clock in the morning, she could do. Set herself on fire, that is. Savvina's powers were slowly developing too. She could do pretty much all I could do when I was a phoenix vessel.

Currently, Bruce and I are on a 'lovers retreat', as Tony insisted on calling it. We are in one of the mansions he owns, this one in Colorado. We had been here for two days so far, and decided this was the day Savvia learnt to fly. She was still hopping everywhere, and we had both decided it was the right time. Savvia was rather looking forward to it, too.

I had her hoisted above my head, running like a mad woman through a field, Savvia's wings flapping, trying desperately to take off.

"Come on, Savvia!" I encouraged. "Just a little more!"

She flapped her wings even harder, narrowly avoiding hitting me in the face. I resorted to throwing her up a little, trying to give her lift. Eventually, after the third try, she was gaining height on her own. I stopped running and she carried on, flying higher and higher. I cheered, jumping up and down. Her joy filled cry echoed around the valley. I heard Bruce come to a stop next to me, his chest heaving as his lungs clung to what precious oxygen they could find.

I laughed. "Too much for you Bruce?" I asked.

"Never been a huge runner," he admitted.

"No?" I asked, shocked. "And here I thought you ran track."

He let out a shaky laugh and pulled me into his arms. I pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

"Where is she now?" he inquired.

I looked up to the sky, searching for her black form in the clouds. I frowned. The only thing in the sky that could be her was a huge black cloud, but that was far too big. That cloud then lit up like Thor was in town. There was a mighty scree and a burning sensation appeared on my hand, right where Savvina's name was. It was glowing, too.

"Helena?" Bruce asked, obviously concerned.

"I'm fine," I said. And I really was; it was nothing more than a tickling. "It's Savvina you should be worried about."

'Not so, Helena,' a young feminine voice said to my mind.

A huge shadow grew on the grass before us. Looking up, I saw her. Her whole being was on fire, every flame imaginable. She was the size of a three story building, dwarfing the two of us. Here wings were spread wide, her tail feathers barely touching the field.

"Savvina?" I asked.

The huge figure nodded. 'It is I, Helena,' she said. 'I am now fully grown. I thank you for looking after me during my infancy.'

"This sounds like a goodbye," I stated brokenly.

She shook her head. 'Only if you wish it to be,' she explained. 'I do now know what Akisa told you, but a phoenix cannot survive without a host. We need not fully merge until our later life. As I am the first incarnation, I can sustain my own body while being linked to a mortal. I would ask this be you.'

"Yes," I said. "Of course I will. What do you need me to do?"

"Wait, Helena," Bruce said gently. "Think about it for a sec."

"I don't need to," I insisted. "Ever since Akisa has... been gone, there's been void, here," I said, placing my hand over my heart. "You've done wonders to fill it with your love, Bruce, you really have, but there are some gaps you can't fill. Savvina, however, can." I turned back to her and took a step away from Bruce. "Do what you have to," I told her.

Her form began to shrink so she was my height. Slowly, she came forward and rested flush against my body. I held my arms out to match her wings. She began to move forward, pressing her burning body into mine. It stung a little, but I had felt far worse when my soul was being ripped apart. No pain would ever compare to that.

I felt our minds merge, and the feeling of oneness consumed us. I knew it was done. An almighty fire lit inside me, one I hadn't realised I had until it was gone. Heat flooded through my veins, running to the tips of my fingers. I willed them to light, and they did, fire dancing across my outstretched palms. I extinguished it and jumped for joy, an impossibly wide smile on my face. I felt Savvina start to cuddle into my chest and I hugged her tight, her wings folding over my shoulders as if she were embracing me too.

"Thank you," I whispered into her feathery head.

'My pleasure,' she said. 'Now, I believe your lover is feeling a little left out.'

I turned to see Bruce stood there awkwardly. I threw my arms around him, kissing him everywhere I could reach. I was so happy and new this was the only way to show it. Eventually Bruce grasped my head and pulled me in to his face, kissing me fully. My tongue delved behind his lips, earning me a low growl from the back of his throat. He hastily pulled away.

"I think we should take this back to the house, don't you?" he asked breathlessly.

"Perfect," I replied.

And that's it! That's the end of Burning Phoenix. Thank you guys for the support and love through out the story! Would you guys be okay with me re-writing a few chapters, but from Bruce's POV? I have a few ideas, but suggestions would be vastly appreciated. I want to know what you guys would want to read, after all. It may not be posted for a while - I'm going to take a break from wiriting - and it will be as a separate story, so check back on my profile for when that will be!

Thanks again and much love,

Fronk x