Steve looked over at Aurora. "Well, that's generally the kind of idea we have around here." He said truthfully. "So, let's hear it."

Gemini fell silent as she was bombarded with the mixed emotions of the people around her. She bit her lip, trying not to cry.

"Well maybe we can get Malekith to draw the Aether into him...then we kill Malekith and lock the Aether away." Aurora swallowed know it could very well fail either before or after Malekith got the Aether.

"It's a possibility..." Steve said slowly. "We would need a solid plan, though. And several backup plans, just in case. We don't want to lose anyone."

Unable to bear all the emotions around her any longer, Gemini stood up. "I need some air." She said, before running outside.

"This will be hard if she keeps doing that." Aurora sighed and followed the girl laving the planning to the others. "You alright?" she asked when she caught up to Gemini.

Gemini looked up when Aurora approached. "I'll be fine, as soon as this thing is out of me." She said bitterly. "It's unbearable. My power is usually a healing one...I can help people sleep and give them good dreams, or make it a dreamless sleep if they want. But now..." She looked down at her hands. "The one who first greeted me, Tony, I saw the way he looked at me. I can't blame him, really, but that kind of thing hurts. I don't want this curse."

"Well Tonys been three a lot the past few years it's understandable that be would be a little weary...he just wants to save face most of the time." Aurora sighed. "He had his guards attacked over sea's, he has to live with shrapenal in his chest that is only stopped by the reactor in his chest, he fought aliens, died, got scared back to life and just lost the only person who's really been able to put up with him...don't tell him I know Pepper left him." She sat down. "He's worried your powers will home in on his screwed up emotions and do something to him but it's not just because of himself despite what other people might say Tony thinks about more than himself so he's worried about what if will do to you and the rest of his friends."

"I sensed that there was more to him than he let on, but I had no idea it ran so deep." Gemini said with a frown. "I don't understand, why did this woman leave him? Was she unfaithful? The way you speak of him, I can't imagine he treated her badly. Was she just...a bitch?" She didn't know why she was so curious. Tony Stark was like a puzzle she just had to solve.

"Pepper? God no the woman was a saint...she just couldn't handle Tony's nightmares and when his new suit accidentally tried to hurt her when it responded to his hieghted emotions from a nightmare. It was the last straw I guess because a week later she just broke up with him. It's the first time he's had someone do that to him I would like to say it was a good lesson but I just feel bad." Aurora sighed. "I'm his closest friend so I can it bothers him more then he's letting on...I just wish I knew how to help."

Gemini's frown deepened. "I don't understand. If she loved him, why would she react so badly? I mean, I can understand why she'd be upset, but isn't that the kind of situation where you're supposed to be supportive?" She asked. "When I was young, my parents went through something similar. My mother had been attacked, and she would have flashbacks to that time. She'd get violent, and a couple times she almost hurt my father. But he never ran away. During those times, my father said she needed even more love. He would comfort her until she calmed down, and help her not feel guilty about it. Isn't that what you're supposed to do?" She looked at Aurora quizzically. She had been raised separately from society, so she wasn't familiar with how other people worked.

"That's how it's suppose to be. Your suppose to support the one you love but she ran away and left Tony high and dry. I'm kind of surprised Tony managing alright." Aurora sighed. "Well Tony is Tony and he can't be changed that's for sure." she chuckled.

"I don't think he is managing." Gemini said suddenly, her voice filled with realization. "Yesterday, when I arrived, he smelled strongly of alcohol and he was talking strangely. Do you think..." She trailed off, not wanting to make assumptions. "You are his friend, right? Couldn't you talk to him?"

I could try Tony's not the type to listen to others but if I made he sit still I might manage it." Aurora glanced into the house. "I'll try now." she headed inside worried about Tony. "You and I need to talk." she pulled Tony away and was gone for hours filling emerging looking confused and tired.

By that time, everyone but Gemini had fallen asleep. She had volunteered to stay up and keep watch, since she would be awake anyway. She saw Aurora and smiled warily. "How did it go?" She asked.

"I was not built to be a psychiatrist." Aurora chuckled and sat next to her. "He's doing better. We have another session planned for after we get threw this." She joked smiling as Tony wondered upstairs to get some sleep.

Gemini nodded, feeling a little relieved. "I'm glad. He seems like a good person, all things considered." She said. "You know, I was thinking...I think Steve has a crush on you." She smiled as she said so.

"WHAT!?" Aurora turned a bright pink color. "I don't think...I mean we just meet." She was searching for the sentence she wanted. "I rather doubt it." She finally managed still blushing.

Gemini chuckled. It was fun, she discovered, teasing this girl. In fact, she found that she rather enjoyed interacting with other people- an experience she had been denied until that point. "You're blushing. I think maybe you like him, too. He blushed the first time he saw you, you know." She pretended to ponder something. "I think you'd make a striking couple." She concluded.

Aurora turned pinker and smacked her arm. "Don't say that! Besides I was just the lighting I have a very interesting aura that's all. He seems like someone I would enjoy talking to."

Gemini giggled, batting the other girl's hand away. "Alright alright, if you say so. You should get some sleep, it's late." She said, a smile still lingering on her face. "There's a lot to do tomorrow."

"Yeah." Aurora yawned then headed to her bed. "Goodnight Gemini see you in the morning." she smiled then vanished upstairs. She was the second one up after Gemini "Good morning."

Tony came down behind Aurora looking like he hadn't slept much either. "morning you two." he rummaged threw the cabinets. "Nothing good." he sighed eventually settling for cranberry juice. "We need to get alcohol." he mumbled ignoring the look Aurora gave him.

Gemini nodded. "Good night." She said, and went back to staring out the window. The next morning, she was up and making breakfast by the time anyone came down. "Morning." She said brightly. "I could have told you there was nothing. I spent the night organizing the cabinets. You like waffles?" She asked, setting a large stack on the table.

Steve was the next one up, bright and early as usual. He came down the stairs just in time to hear Gemini ask about waffles. "I like waffles." He said, walking in. "Good morning. Gemini...how long have you been up?" He asked, getting a look from the redhead. "Oh, right, you...don't sleep. Sorry." He blushed at his mistake, gazing down at his feet.

Tony frowned a little then grinned at Aurora. "I love chocolate covered waffles." he gave her his signature wink making her blush to the tips of her hair. "Oh have I embarrassed you with past memories?" "Leave her alone Tony." Bruce sighed as he came to the stairs Nat and Clint close behind him. "Oh come on Bruce. It's so mush fun teasing Aurora especially when I dated her once." he winked again.

"Shut up Anthony Stark!" Aurora snapped turning pinker glaring as Tony laughed and dodged her kick. "Oh the whole first name I'm in trouble." Tony teased then grunted as she managed to kick him in the stomach. "Ow." he grimaced pouting. "Alright I'll stop." he sighed leaning against the counter casually.

"You're such a child sometimes." Steve said, shaking her head as he sat down. "Don't worry, Lori, no one holds it against you that you dated him. Everyone makes mistakes."

Scowling, Gemini slapped the back of Steve's head. "That was unnecessary, Steve. I would have expected more politeness from you." She said, setting the waffles down on the table. "Everyone please enjoy."

"It was just a fling we dated for a month and the waffle house was not a special thing but you made it weird." Aurora grumbled blushing a little more. "Leave Steve alone he's right it was a mistake." she didn't look at Tony when she said it but she could feel his glare.

"I didn't think it was a mistake." Tony grumbled then popping a waffle in his mouth. "I'm going to get something to drink." he turned to go then looked to Bruce. "Want to come with?" "Someone has to keep you out of trouble." the scientist smirked and followed after his friend.

Gemini frowned, inclined to go after the two men, but stayed where she was. "You people are the most dysfunctional group I've ever seen." She said.

"Should we really be letting him go, this early in the morning? We do have some planning to do." Steve pointed out. Tony would be no use to them drunk.