New Beginnings...

                                    

                                          
"Thank you. For everything." He bent down and hugged her tightly. "I only wish I could make things right for you as easily."
Fury looked at her, sadness flooding his heart - yes. he really did have one. He wasn't given to regret. That was a waste of time and energy that, in the end, changed nothing.  But he was sad, sad that his own agenda, no matter how well intentioned, had led to her upset.  Sad that his naturally suspicious and highly attuned attitude to his job had meant she'd become a pawn in someone else's game. And sad that, although his own wife might have her "quirks," she was, at least, his wife.  Someone to love and go home to when time and tide 
.  Lissy and - now that he saw the truth of the matter - Loki had been denied that chance.
Lissy half smiled, "it's ok, Fury." she was back to calling him by the name the world - if not his mother - recognised. "If he had really wanted to be with me?  He would have been here.  Since when did Loki EVER do what he was told?" The tone may have been confident, the words scathing, but they both knew it was a lie.  Loki may have been a lot of things but deliberately risk something or someone he truly cared about? Never.  
"Well, if you ever fancy a change of career, you know where to find me, Lissy. We - I - could use someone like you. "
"But I'm just a small - time piano player with no particular skills, just a nose for trouble." she smiled, and Fury grinned.
"I could use listening to a different tune for a change." he hugged her again and started to walk away. "Oh, and for the avoidance of doubt?  You'll always be on our watch list - can't have anything bad happening to you now, can we?  Young Parker here would just string us all up by our..."
"Director Fury - there you are.  Come on , we need you in the ops room, stat.   We have an incident in Budapest that needs your immediate attention..." An agent rushed up, interrupting his flow.  He shrugged and swept away, coat flying. "See you around Lissy, duty calls... Parker, on me when you're done being the doorman!" With that, he was gone.
Peter Parker was nothing if not a real person, with real feelings, despite the ability to swing from twenty story buildings  by a thread no thicker than a piece of string. He turned to Lissy and gave a very watery smile.
You were amazing in there." He reached out and took her hand. "Please stay? I... we need someone like you." 
Before she had a chance to answer, there was a noise behind them, and two hands covered her eyes. Peter smiled and let her hand go.  
"Hey, Little Miss Muffet. Are you going back to that piano stool?"
She pulled free and turned to see Iron Man as he morphed back to the Tony Stark they both knew and loved. "You head to Fury." He turned to Peter with a soft smile. "I'll see our favourite   off the premises."
Peter hugged Lissy tightly. She could feel he was crying before she saw it.  "Hey, I'm just going home, not into exile. You can still come and see me." She stroked his cheek and kissed it like the mother he'd never known. "I'm so proud of you, Peter. Even if you still can't even play chopsticks!"
Peter sniffed and walked away, Tony giving him a pat on the shoulder. "It'll be ok, kid.  See you in a moment." 
Tony turned, and Lissy crumpled, the tears that had threatened for hours finally flowing.
"Hey, come here, you...." he held out his arms, and she cuddled in, sobbing.
"Shhh, it's all going to work out..." he stroked her back. "It's going to be ok. Life goes on, whether we like it or not.  It's inevitable. Death, taxes, Fury wearing a leather coat in the sunshine...." 
Now she smiled, despite the tears. "Thanks, Tony. Promise you'll look after Peter? He's just a boy. He's too young, Tony...."
"It's ok, he'll be ok. He may be just a boy, but he's more of a man than half these chinless wonders that pass for SHIELD agents. Amd anyway, Pepper would kill me if anything happened to him." He smiled, his brown eyes glinting as he spoke of the love of his life.  For a moment, Lissy felt a stab. Once upon a time, she'd hoped Loki would look on her in the same way. 
"Thanks, Tony. You and Pepper are welcome any time. All of you are. "
"ALL of us?" Tony gently guided her to the waiting Quinjet.  Now that Fury was back in the saddle, the official horses were at his - and Lissy's disposal.
"Yes." She sighed. "All of you. A moot point though, I think, don't you?" She walked up the ramp, turning as she reached the seating bay. "Goodbye, Tony." 
He kissed her cheek and stepped back. "See you soon, Mozart!" He raises a hand, and the ramp raised.  Lissy turned to sit.
As she did, she realised the pilot wasn't just a regular SHIELD grunt.  "Hey sweetie, you strap in, have you home in no time." The redhead smiled, and Lissy let out a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Natasha. How's Clint these days?"
'He's good, Laura's pregnant again! I'm holding out for a boy! Look, come and sit in the copilot seat. It's just a bus run for me. The computer can handle most of the journey. We got too much to say. I want to know EXACTLY what you said to the council. You are a BADASS!" 

The house was in darkness. It had been for several days. Where was she? He really wanted to speak to her. See if she could accommodate his son. She didn't take adults, only gifted children. He knew that. His son? As gifted as they came. 
As he turned to walk away again, there was the rumble of a car. It drew up and, from his vantage point across the street, he saw her get out and pay the driver. 
Turning to the house, she paused, looking up. Seemingly lost in thought, she didn't see him as he took his chance. 
"Ms Taylor?" 
She jumped, putting a hand to her heart in fright. As she registered who it was, she laughed. 
"Sorry, you just caught me unawares. How can I help you?" She smiled at him. He held out his hand. "Tom Quince. Pleased to meet you. I wondered if we could talk? I have a student you might be interested in."
As she shook his hand, she looked up into his face and smiled. "I only teach gifted children, but that said, I'll hear you out. Please, come in.'
They climbed the steps, and she unlocked the door. "Hiw old is your...."
"Son." He smiled, his face reflecting his joy. "He's young. Very young. But he plays like an old soul.  I think you'll be impressed."
"I certainly hope so..." 
As she closed the door, despite herself, she found she wasn't just talking about the son...