"Hello, Gwen," Nick said.  I forced a smile, placing my purse down on the meeting table and sitting down in a chair, which was made of memory foam. 

The foam shocked me, actually.  I didn't realize what it was until I was sitting on it.

I liked it. 

I looked up, swallowing hard as I noticed everyone staring at me.  I cleared my throat.

"So...Peter...Bunlei..."  I fidgeted, sinking deeper into the memory foam.  Okay, this was getting too soft.

"Bruce and I have designed a massive furnace, like a giant kiln.  It can reach thousands of degrees.  We have located the area that we will plant it:  In an empty field with no civilians or hazards," Tony presented.  "Thor explained much more about his space friend, so it should attract him for miles."

"But how will we capture him once we've lured him in?"  I cocked my head, gripping the straps of my purse tightly.  My rear was sinking deeper and deeper into the chair, and I wondered how much farther it could go.  I looked around.  Everyone else was sitting in a metal chair. 

Go figure.

"The furnace has a switch.  One is hot, one is cold, and one is off.  Once he gets close enough, which is also close enough to cause damage and resistance, we will flip the switch," Bruce said.  "Ice-cold fog will come from the once-hot furnace in a thick cloud, enough to cripple Bunlei so we can take him captive.  Then we will keep him in an extremely cold room until Thor is prepared to send him back to Asgard."

"What if he escapes?"  I bit my lip.  Everyone exchanged nervous glances.

"Let's hope that doesn't happen..."  Bruce shivered. 

"He would know to avoid the furnace at all costs.  He could possibly leave the area, planet, or even realm," Thor said.

"We can't keep a guy like that loose in the universe!"  I shuddered.

"Then we'd better do this right.  The first time."  Steve crossed his arms.

I let out a deep breath.  "So, when do we start?"

---

Two black S.H.I.E.L.D. SUVs drove us to our decided location.  A helicopter was transporting the furnace.  I huddled in the backseat of the second van, beside Natasha.

"Hey, it's going to be all right," she said softly.  I looked at her with my eyebrows furrowed.  I wanted to believe her.  I tried. 

I just couldn't. 

I only nodded, searching through my purse.  I removed two interesting objects attached to straps.  I began fitting them around my wrists.  I noticed Natasha watching me.

"You remember the whole Spider-Woman craze, don't you?" I exhaled.

"Of course.  So, you kept them?" 

"Yeah, if I needed them...like now."

Natasha nodded, placing her hand on mine. 

"I promise you, you and Peter will be safe, after all of this is over.  No matter how long it takes.  I'll make sure of it."  I forced another smile and nod.

"Thank you," I croaked.

---

The furnace was placed in the center of the field, so we would have the same amount of space in all directions.  Bruce and Tony were busy calibrating the remote control, while I sat in the grass, thinking. 

I am pregnant.

It was still difficult to process.  How was this possible?  After all that we'd been through...why now? 

I shook my head, ripping blades of grass from the dirt.  I listened to the tearing of the tiny roots, blinking my eyes rapidly to fight back tears. 

Peter, please come home.