The next morning, Rachael woke up to the space next to her empty. That was odd. She was usually the first one up and Stephen would sleep until around eleven in the morning. Rachael threw the covers off of her and left the safety and comfort of her bed for the cold, hardwood floor of her apartment. What she saw when she left didn't please her one bit. 

Evanora and Stephen were sitting at the table, talking and laughing as if they were old friends. What Rachael really didn't like, though, was that Evanora had her hand on Stephen's knee. Rachael cleared her throat, making Stephen look up.

"Oh, darling, you're up," he said. 

"Yep," Rachael said.

"Stephen was telling me a few stories from when you were kids," Evanora explained. "It seems like you've been through a lot together." 

"Yep." Rachael popped the 'p.' 

"You think that with all you've been through, you would have children together already." Evanora looked from Rachael to Stephen. Rachael gritted her teeth. 

"I don't think I'm ready for that yet," she sweetly replied. 

"But from the way Stephen talks about it, he is," Evanora said. 

"Evanora!" Stephen hissed. Rachael gaped. 

"You told her?" Her gaze flicked to Stephen.

"I may have mentioned it." The former doctor was starting to sweat nervously. He shot a glare at Evanora, but she was didn't stop.

"You're denying him a chance at happiness." The blue-haired woman stood up.

"It's my body." Rachael crossed her arms.

"You're being selfish."

"Always have been, always will be." 

"You're acting like a child." 

"Then maybe I shouldn't have any." 

The two women were only a foot apart from each other now. Stephen wondered if they'd actually escalate to physical fighting. Rachael maintained eye contact with her guest for a few more moments before turning to Stephen. 

"Meet me outside, now." 

Stephen knew better than to argue with her when she was this angry and followed her outside the door. Evanora watched them leave. He was a little wary about leaving her in the apartment alone, but if he opened his mouth he knew Rachael would silence him anyway. She led him to the stairwell and stood at the top with him. 

"Why were you telling our private business to a complete stranger?" She asked. 

"I was thinking about how I wanted kids with you and she said she could sense that I wanted something. I didn't want to tell her, but she just kept badgering me so I finally told her to get her off my back." Stephen explained. "I shouldn't have done it, and I know it was wrong. I'm sorry." 

Rachael stared at him for another moment before sighing. "That's not okay, Stephen. That's our private life." 

"I know, I know," Stephen assured her. "I swear, I won't do it again."

"Good." Rachael said. She paused before saying, "I'm not sure that I want you two alone with each other anymore." 

Stephen stood up straighter, any trace of shame gone. "Why? Because I dare to have fun with and talk to another woman who isn't you?"

"You don't know Evanora!" Rachael snapped. 

"Neither do you!" Stephen pointed out.

"Stephen, you didn't even know she existed until two nights ago," Rachael said. "I honestly don't care if you have fun with other women. That's fine with me. But the thing is, we don't know what's going on." 

"And she can help us," Stephen said. 

"Let me finish." Rachael held up a hand. "We don't know what's going on with Asriel and for all we know, she could be on Asriel's side. Maybe we should get S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers involved."

"She'd feel betrayed if we did that," Stephen said. 

"I don't care," Rachael said. "I'd rather have her be angry with me than have you be dead."

"Please, I'm the Sorcerer Supreme," Stephen scoffed. "She wouldn't be able to kill me." 

Rachael gave him a look. "Don't get cocky." She sighed and threw her hands down. "Fine. Let's do it your way. Always your way."

"My way?" Stephen raised his eyebrows. He stepped closer to her. "Was it my way when we decided where to go to eat when we were younger? Or what movies to see? Was it my way when we made all the decisions for our wedding? Was it my way when we decided not to have a family?" 

"You knew that I've never felt any desire to have a family when you married me," Rachael pointed out. "That's not fair, Stephen. You went into marriage fully aware that we might not have a family. And maybe we will! But just not right now."

"That's what you always say!" Stephen threw up his hands.

"Because it's never the right time!" Rachael yelled back. "You're always out saving the world, and I have shows! I want to have kids when I can give them the love and devotion that they need! I could never do that working on Broadway!"

"The Avengers hardly ever call for me!" Stephen said. "We can move to the Sanctum. Wong is there and he could keep an eye on them if I do get called to help with something."

"You want a kid so bad? Fine!" It was Rachael's turn to throw up her hands. "Let's have a freaking kid!"

Stephen paused and murmured, "Do you mean it? You want to have a kid?"

Rachael sighed and shook her head. "I...I don't know, okay? I just don't know. Let's just go inside and eat. I'm hungry." 

Before Stephen had the chance to reply, Rachael had pushed past him back into the apartment. She grabbed a few donuts and marched straight back to their room. Stephen came back just in time to see her back retreating into the bedroom. He winced as she slammed the door shut. Evanora simply blinked and looked back at him. 

"Did I say something?" She questioned. Stephen sighed.

"She's sensitive." He shrugged. "But she'll get over it." 

"Do you want me to leave?" Evanora asked. 

Stephen shook his head. "No, not at all. She needs to accept that things sometimes don't go her way." 

"She seems a little selfish," Evanora murmured. 

"Sometimes she is," Stephen admitted. "I usually give into her. But not this time. This is an issue that only pertains to me. She doesn't understand how this could affect me and the very fabric of reality." 

Evanora nodded. "Good for you." 

The two sat in relative silence until Rachael came out of the bedroom. Evanora gave her a sweet smile and Rachael simply glared before her gaze fixated on Stephen with an impassive face. 

"I'm going to work. It's Friday, so I'll pick up pizza on the way home," She said. She went over to him and gave him a kiss on the head. "I love you. Bye."

"Love you too," Stephen said begrudgingly. "Bye." 

Rachael walked out of the apartment, not looking back at her husband once. Once the door was shut, Evanora looked back at Stephen. 

"Why did you say goodbye if you're angry at each other?" She asked. 

"Because I don't want to regret it if she gets in a horrible accident and dies," Stephen said. 

"That's very unlikely," Evanora pointed out.

Stephen shrugged. "It's just something you do in case it does happen." 

"I'll never understand humans." Evanora shook her head. 

"I might not either," Stephen chuckled. "We're actually very strange, for lack of a better word." 

"That you are," Evanora agreed. "I heard her say that she wants to turn me into something called S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Don't worry," Stephen soothed, "she won't. She'll come around."

"Why are you being so welcoming to me?" Evanora asked. "I don't understand it." 

"We're on the same side." He shrugged. "It would be unfair to cast you out after your mother died and you lost your home."

"Well, thank you." Evanora dipped her head in gratitude.

"You're welcome," Stephen said. 

"What is S.H.I.E.L.D. anyway?" Evanora asked.

"It's a group of elite humans who protect my world from threats from other worlds in the multiverse," Stephen explained. "They're slowly making a comeback after they were infiltrated by HYDRA after the Battle of New York, but I'm fairly sure they're all trustworthy now."

"Who are those Avengers you spoke of?" Evanora questioned. 

Why does she have so many questions today? Stephen thought with a huff. 

"They're a group of heroes who also protect this world from threats from other worlds in the multiverse," he said. "There's Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, the Hulk, Hawkeye, and Captain America. Though about fifty percent of them are rogue at the present time...still, they've done a valuable service for the world. There are others, but those are the main six and the ones that everyone knows."

"And you and your wife, are you part of these Avengers?" Evanora asked. 

"God, no," Stephen said. "We can't join without giving away the fact that we have...abilities. If we do, Rachael would never work again and I can't do that to her."

"It seems like you do everything for Rachael, but never for yourself," Evanora murmured thoughtfully. "Like I've said before, marriage is a two-way street. You can't go on giving and giving and giving and getting nothing back in return."

Stephen gritted his teeth. "I can deal with my own marital problems, thank you very much."

"It doesn't seem like it." Evanora said. 

"Well, believe me, I'm sure I can," Stephen snapped. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go check for any threats in the multiverse."

"I'll come with you." Evanora stood up.

"I prefer to be alone, thank you," Stephen said as he walked into Rachael's old room. He shut the door and locked it. Evanora really was pushy. Maybe he should listen to what Rachael had to say about her.

-----------------------

So I just started watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. again and I forgot how adorkable Fitz-Simmons are. 

Also school starts next Wednesday and I want to die. You want to know how I'm spending my last days of vacation? I'm sick. So that's really, really fun.