Retribution ★ Avengers

I'm Not Going Anywhere

Marlena threw her comforter off her body and sat up in bed. Her face was glistening beneath the perspiration on her skin. Her breath was ragged as she tried to regain proper control of her lungs. Her heart was pounding, and her hands trembled as the memory of her nightmare replayed over and over again inside her head. The images left her feeling sick to her stomach, and when the nausea became too much, Marlena hopped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. She fell to her knees in front of the toilet and tried desperately to think of something other than what was about to happen. She longed for the day morning sickness was merely a thing of the past, though she felt much the same about her nightmares.

The recent situation concerning Charlie's growing capacity for power terrified Marlena. She feared for her daughter's future. Charlie was smart, but Marlena wondered if she'd ever become too strong to learn control. What would Charlie do if she couldn't control herself? Who would she hurt? The questions drove Marlena insane. Marlena wanted nothing more than to protect Charlie, but she wasn't sure how to, and she absolutely despised it.

Footsteps could be heard entering the bathroom behind Marlena, though she didn't turn to see who it was. She didn't need to, as Steve and Jay were the only two in the apartment.

"You don't need to watch this," Marlena said quietly. She wiped her mouth clean with the sleeve of her shirt and glanced over at Steve, who knelt down at her side. "It's really gross."

"Maybe, but I'm not gonna let you go through this alone and you know it." His voice was raspier than usual; he'd just woken up, and Marlena could see it in his eyes. "Are you okay? You look like hell, Mar."

"Thanks," Marlena muttered and turned back to the toilet once she felt her stomach lurch again. She was sick and tired of being sick and tired, but Steve's comforting hand on her back made things a little easier.

"When does the morning sickness end?" Steve asked once Marlena finished. There was a frown on his face as he watched her; women were such incredible creatures, and that was something Steve had thought since he was young. They gave life to the world, and Steve was witnessing firsthand just how difficult that could be. He hated knowing the toll pregnancy took on Marlena, and he wanted nothing more than to figure out a way to make it easier on her, but he wasn't aware being there was enough for her.

"Everyone's different," Marlena told him. She flushed the toilet and sat down on the bathroom floor, crossing her legs beneath her; she couldn't find the energy to get up. "I've probably got a month or so left of it. My worst pregnancy symptom is usually my mood."

"I've noticed." Steve teased her in an attempt to lighten the mood and was happy to know it worked.

"I really don't mean to be a grouch," Marlena chuckled. "It's just that for five and a half years it's only been the two of us, and with everybody back everything's a bit overwhelming."

"You know I understand, and that's why it's okay," Steve assured her and sat down beside her, crossing his legs beneath him as well. "Adjusting has been hard on everyone. It's almost not fair."

"It's not," Marlena said, her face contorting slightly as she thought about the amount of stress she'd been under for that last couple of weeks. It made her sick, both literally and figuratively. "But the answer to your first question is no, I'm not okay."

"What's goin' on?"

"I had a nightmare," she told Steve. She fixed her gaze on the floor; she didn't want to think about what she'd just seen inside her head, but she knew she needed to tell Steve. There was a strong possibility he'd help her feel better about the situation. He always did. "It was about Charlie. I don't wanna get into too much detail, but I just...I don't know what to do to help her, Steve."