CHAPTER 2 - Another parent.

"I don't see the problem. My dad's never signed anything I've brought home, it's always been Pepper?" I ask Fury, who's forced to once again explain it.

"And I assume Pepper must have brought it to your fathers attention after. You're under 18, and without a parents permission, we cannot include you as an avenger. If we cannot do that, we cannot share information with you, train you or have you go on missions. We have no choice but to postpone this until your birthday since your dad refuses."

"...A parents permission?" I ask slowly, making the Director nod.

"But, does it have to be my dad?" I continue. I look at Fury. He smirks ever so slightly.

"No. If you had a mom willing to sign it, you could make do with that," he agrees.

"I do have a mom though. I have her somewhere. All I have to do is find out where," I mention casually.

"You can't. She has no actual address, her phone number is private if she does have one, and you don't even know her name."

"But you do, don't you?" I look Fury in the eyes - I mean, eye - and turn my head gently to the side.

"I'm not allowed to tell you. It would be against the law."

"You don't have to tell me. You could tell me if I already knew though, couldn't you?" I think aloud.

"I suppose?"

"So. If I know in ten minutes, you could confirm. And, if I know in ten minutes, in 15 minutes, you could write her name and address on a piece of paper."

"I could. What would that help, though?"

I look at him.

"I need you to decide to do that. You want me as an Avenger, don't you? I can only become one if I found out who she is, and it's either this way or I need to steal information from the government. Again," I add. He raises a brow at me.

I shake my head. "Don't ask."

"Okay. I'll write it down as soon as you leave," he agrees. I smirk before looking around me, taking a deep breath and letting time consume me.

What had happened, what would happen and what would not all appeared before my eyes, making me dizzy and nauseous. Before letting it overwhelm me, I caught sight of Fury standing in front of me and writing on a piece of paper. I pinpoint at that point and step into it.

I can hear my own steps fade away on the other side of the door while Fury looks around the room.

"I knew you'd find a way, soldier." he looks at the place I'm standing in - right in front of the paper; "Make me proud."

With those words he leaves, letting me in peace to unfold the white paper. I look at the name.

Angela Wilkins.

"Hi mum," I greet quietly, knowing no one can hear me.

Winslow Trailerpark, spot 236 I read. I repeat the name in my head over and over, making sure I remember it.

Winslow Trailerpark, spot 236. Winslow Trailerpark, spot 236.

I take a deep breath, reminding myself that this is nothing but an empty name and an address in a city I've never even heard off, and let my body retract to its usual time.

I find myself yet again sitting in front of Fury's, who looks at me with what I dare call interest.

"Where's Winslow?" I ask him suddenly. He smirks, knowing that my plan had worked.

"I believe it's in Arizona, Stark. I expect the paper's signed by Monday," he states before pushing the thick paper stack towards me.

"Ms Stark, someone is calling you," JARVIS informs me.

"Oh? Who?" I ask curiously and turn away from my desk in my rolling chair.

"I do not recognise the number, but I have looked it up and it belongs to a Liam Thompson." I thought for a second.

"I don't recognise the name," I admitted. But I wouldn't have given it to just anyone.

"Should I pick it up, miss?" JARVIS asked politely. I thought for a second.

"Yeah. And do it over the speakers... I'm not sure where my phone is. Don't tell Steve I lost it, though," I added quickly.

"I am picking up now, miss."

"Veronica speaking," I greeted.

"Veronica, hi! This is Liam," a male voice greeted to me; "Oh, I guess I never got a chance to tell you my name. I'm the guy with the hoodie. From the coatroom at LUX?" he asked nervously.

"Oh! Liam, hi," I greeted, a genuine smile appearing on my face. What a dork.

"I was just... Wondering... If you were cold? I could steal you a jacket?" He offered before commenting on it himself. "Oh god, that's such a lame excuse. Why would you be cold?! You're Veronica Stark!"

"Liam!" I interrupted with a small laugh; "It's fine. Really. And I'm not cold, no, but... Since you called... Would you maybe wanna go on a road trip?" I asked shyly.

"A road trip? Where to?"

"Arizona.

"Wait, you're going to Arizona?" I could practically hear the disbelief through the phone, and couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah. Apparently, my mother lives there," I admit before standing up from my chair and heading to my little make up table, not sure what to do with myself.

"Arizona's pretty far away though, you know that, don't you? I think it's like five hours or something."

"I know, and I know it's a lot to ask, but I don't have my drivers license yet, and I can't ask any of my dads employees or friends to drive me. You can totally say no, though," I quickly added.

"N-no, it's fine, but... I don't have a driver's license either," he admitted.

"Oh. I guess I'll have to take a plane... But, if you want, you could come anyway?" I suggested before turning around and leaning against the table.

"With you? To Arizona?"

"I know it's a kind of a lame first date, but I could really use a friends support when going there," I admitted. A few seconds of silence.

"We'd be back by Monday at the latest," I promised.

"I'd like that, then."

"Great! How about I get someone to pick you up in an hour?" I suggested excitedly.

"An hour?!"

"Well, if you can be ready by then...?" I asked.

"I... Sure. But don't worry, I'll just meet you at the airport. Which airport is it?" I heard rummaging in the background.

"Oh, actually we're just taking a private plane. You don't mind, do you?" I ask nervously.

"Mind?" he laughed through the phone; "Definitely not."

"Then I'll just meet you at Stark Tower. An hour right?"

"An hour," he agreed.

"Liam! Hi," I greeted quickly and jumped up from my seat on my suitcase.

"Hey. Wait, we are back by Monday, right?" he looked at my bags.

"Yes. That's why I packed so lightly," I joked before looking at his gym bag; "That's all you're bringing?" He nodded.

"Fair enough. Well, we're just going this way," I mentioned and pointed to the elevator; "I couldn't get a plane on such a short notice, so we're just taking a helicopter."

"Oh, we're 'just' taking a helicopter," he repeated with a small laugh. I felt my cheeks get warm and mumbled a 'shut up'.

We started walking towards the elevator, still exchanging polite small talk.

"So, you live here, right?" he asked as he looked around in the metal elevator.

"Well, not in the elevator," I mentioned before nodding; "I do. I share a floor with my dad. We're just under the captain and above the Black Widow."

"Wow. Must be pretty wild. I mean, being surrounded by superheroes," Liam exclaimed with both eyebrows raised.

"Just a sec, Liam. Hey JARVIS?" I asked out in the nowhere.

"Yes, miss Stark?" the polite voice replied.

"I'm leaving now. Please don't tell my dad where I am. Or any of the other Avengers, really. Just tell them I'll be back on Monday if anybody asks any questions," I quickly decided.

"Of course, miss. Have a safe trip," he ended the conversation.

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out on the landing pad, where the black helicopter with the STARK logo on the side was already placed.

"Ready?" I asked loudly to be heard over the wind.

Liam nodded. I smiled to him before grabbing his hand and moving toward the helicopter.