The next morning, Londyn got up at 6:30. She showered, ate a light breakfast (she almost didn't even do that because she felt like she might hurl from nervousness), triple-checked how she looked in the mirror, then played a more-or-less relaxing game of Sudoku until it was time to go.

The whole drive over, she was sure she was making the wrong decision. She almost turned around too many times to count. This is crazy. It's not going to fix anything. It'll be terrible. I might be sick. But over and over again, she saw Fury's pleading face and heard the words "people always get hurt. But that's all a part of life..." "I can't tell you how many friends I've lost, how many people I've seen in pain..." "But I get through it because I know there are always more who need help."

I don't want anyone to feel this hurt that I feel, she resolved, gripping her hands tightly on the steering wheel.

The large S.H.I.E.L.D. base loomed ahead in the windshield, just as it had all those years ago. The widow took a deep breath as she showed her ID to the gate guard. "I'm meeting with Director Fury."

"I'm sorry, but are you the Londyn Justice? From the mysteries department and the Tenth Bomb?" He asked, eyes lighting up a bit.

She gave a short laugh. "I see there have been rumors. Yes, that's me."

"Wow! Then I would like to shake your hand and say thank you for your service." He extended his hand, and they shook across the window.

"Thank you." Londyn gave him a smile, that, for once after receiving a compliment about that day, didn't feel forced,. "I appreciate it." He cleared her through the gate, and she found a parking space. Fury must have been watching, because when she got out of the car, she saw him striding towards her. "Good morning, Fury—I mean, Director."

She joined him and they walked towards the building as he greeted her. "Londyn. Thanks for coming. How was the drive?"

"Long. I almost chickened out." Londyn stared up at the building as it grew nearer. She remembered her first day here, it had been so huge and terrifying. She hadn't been sure if she was ready, but she walked inside and found her place. It had been where she belonged for a very long time. Especially after she met Will. They were friends for a while, then she realized she liked him but fought it because it was a distraction, and there were some rules about dating. But they had finally mutually agreed to date after a few months, with the consent of Fury, of course.

The director chuckled a little, then they stopped to gain more clearance from the guard at the door. "Hey." He noticed her silence. "It's going to be fine. It's only for the day." They locked eyes, she nodded, and went inside.

It was bustling and busy, just like always, with computer's flashing, people running, papers printing. A wave of nostalgia washed over the widow, both happy to see it all again and sad to remember she and Will had been a part of all this.

Off to one side was the door that led to the mystery division, she could remember all those times Will had held it open for her, genteelly allowing her to go first. There was the coffee bar where they had gotten so many drinks for each other. This was the floor she had walked so many times on her way to work. Her team had relaxed on those couches. Natasha had shown her how to shoot at the gun range. She and Clint had made faces at the I.T. guys while the two of them were on break. They, Clint, Nat, Will and she, had walk outside those doors together after a long day of work, ready for some fun and relaxation.

There were so many good memories here. Mostly ones she had tried to forget. But now that they flooded back, she realized that it had been dumb to attempt that. These were good, cherished memories that never lost their savor, she wanted to keep them all in a box for a rainy day. No more trying to forget, she vowed to herself. It's not about forgetting the past. It's about embracing it.

Londyn suddenly realized they were strolling right past the mysteries division. "Where are we going?"

"While you're here, I've got a little surprise for you," said Fury, not stopping.

"I don't know if I can handle any surprises," she laughed, trying to keep up with him. "Everything is just how I left it. Are we sure it's been two years?"

Now he laughed. "Two very long ones." They strode into a private break room, then she stopped short. Two people were waiting for her, two very familiar ones.

"Clint? Natasha?!" the woman gasped, putting a hand over her heart.

"Londyn?" the other two also sounded surprised. Then the girls threw themselves at each other, wrapping themselves in hugs.

"Oh my word! I didn't think I would be seeing you guys! I can't believe it!" The copper-haired woman cried over Nat's shoulder, then turned to give a hug to Clint as well.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, returning the embrace.

"I thought I would never see you again!" added Natasha.

"Fury said he needed help with a case and begged me back for a day, but he didn't say you guys would be here!"

"He told us that we were to wait here for someone, and never said it was you!"

Everyone laughed and looked at the director, who smiled. "Surprise."

The following fifteen minutes were made up of the three of them catching up on news and lives. They happily chatted away the minutes, and Londyn wondered how she could have ever left this friendship.

"It's been too long," said Natasha at last.

Londyn smiled a little. "Yeah, it has. I guess that's my fault. I pushed everyone away after Will died. I needed time, and I wanted to start over. Thank you for respecting that."

Clint leaned forward. "You're our friend, we will always respect your decisions, even if we don't entire agree with them."

"I wish Will was here," she said softly. "He would have been happy to see us all together. Then again, he never would have let us split in the first place. And neither would I. If someone had told me three years ago that I was going to completely cut you guys off, I would called them crazy. But life has a way of bringing the crazy about. Now Will's gone and I'm working at a computer company. Who would have thought?"

"Certainly not me," Nat scratched her wrist. "But now you're back, and we're going to figure things out together, right?"

Londyn thought about the past two years. The longing for Will, the wishing for the return of the past. She never made friends as good as Clint and Natasha, not even David. Not in all those two years.

"Yeah." She smiled at all of them. Clint, Natasha, Fury; they were all here for her. "There's a lot to figure out, but I think we can manage to do it together. Where do we start?"

Thank you so much for reading to the end! Let me know what you thought of the story now that it's finished and keep an eye out for my other stories! 

Stay happy!

~AJ.