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No one saw it coming. The ray shot by the alien life form had hit the Hulk and somehow knocked Bruce Banner out of the giant green body!

Hulk had been stunned when he looked down and saw the collapsed scientist. He recognized him immediately and bent over him to see if he was alright. Worry shown in his bright green eyes as he lifted his human counterpart into his massive arms and held him protectively before growling dangerously at the alien. Fortunately the other Avengers had seen what had happened and attacked allowing the Hulk to look down at the human in his arms.

Hulk knew all too well how delicate human life was and his greatest wish for himself was that he could feel something other than anger. Now he felt fear for the man that had inadvertently given him life.

Once the creature was defeated the other Avengers ran over and stared in shock. Hulk looked at them. "Help Banner."

Tony approached and used his suit to assess the damage. "He's alive just unconscious, Big Guy. Let's get him back to the tower. I don't want SHIELD or anyone to know until we figure out what just happened and this will affect the two of you."

Hulk nodded as he cradled Bruce with a gentleness they had only seen once before during the Chitauri invasion when Tony had fallen from the portal. Only now they could see that Hulk was being even gentler as if afraid of hurting him.

Steve nodded. "Good call Tony. We'll put Bruce in his room and when he wakes up maybe he can explain what happened and what he wants to do about it." He looked at the Hulk. "Are you alright Hulk?"

Hulk looked down at Bruce. "Hulk fine. Bruce puny. Hurt easy."

Clint put a hand on his arm. "Hey Jade Jaws, he's stronger than you think he is."

Hulk shook his head with a frustrated growl. "You no understand!"

They looked at each other as they made their way to the tower.

"What do you mean?" Thor asked.

Hulk just glared ahead. "Banner smart."

"Hey he's my Science Bro! We know he is!" Tony said.

"Banner nice."

"He's very nice. We all care for him," Natasha said. She frowned wondering where this was going.

Hulk looked at Bruce before looking at them. "Banner does good but everyone is afraid."

"Of you?" Steve asked looking concerned.

Hulk winced. "Part of it."

Nothing else was said until they got to the tower and Hulk took him to Bruce's bedroom where he gently laid him on the bed and stepped back. The others helped to maneuver him under the covers. They watched astonished as Hulk settled his massive frame beside the bed and just watched him.

When Bruce stirred Hulk actually got up and left the room but not before shooting a look of sadness at him. He stayed just outside though.

"Hey pal how do you feel?" Tony asked.

Bruce blinked his eyes open and groaned a little. "Ugh…like what I bet Steve's punching bags feel!" Said super soldier grinned and rolled his eyes good-naturedly. Bruce grinned. "But that's not uncommon after a Hulk-out. So what trouble did he get into this time?"

They looked at each other nervously before Natasha explained what happened.

Bruce stared wide eyed at her. "We…we were separated?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah. Hulk carried you all the way here. He's really worried about you?"

"He is?" Bruce asked quietly in shock. "Where is he now?"

"Just outside. Didn't want to scare you," Steve said.

Bruce took a deep breath before sitting up. "Hulk! Hulk its ok! Come in and let me see you!"

He watched as the enormous green figure entered. He stared wide eyed as the Hulk knelt beside the bed. Bruce then reached out and cupped the monster's cheek. "Are you alright?" he asked with care in his voice.

Hulk looked at him for a moment. "Hulk ok. Banner ok?"

Bruce nodded as he pulled his hand away and ran it through his hair. "Damn…what was in that shot?"

"We're not sure but…" Tony started but stopped when Bruce turned panicky. "Bruce?"

"Does anybody know?" Bruce demanded.

"No and nobody will know," Clint said trying to ease the man's worry.

"Oh Fury will know," Bruce said clenching his hands. "And when he does he'll contact General Ross and Hulk will be hunted again! We have to move! I'm not sure how I'm getting him out of the country…"

Steve put a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. No one will get him. Fury knows damn well that we protect each other. Neither of you are going anywhere."

Bruce looked at the Hulk. "I'm so sorry….trapped again…"

Hulk shook his head. "No. Hulk home." He smiled. "Banner home."

Bruce put his face in his hands. "For the longest time this is what I wanted."

"Hey, we WILL figure this out but even if we can't infuse you two back together its ok. We'll work around it," Steve said.

"Hulk's the hero. He can stay as long as you all swear to me that you won't let anything happen to him," Bruce said looking at them. "I'm just a physicist. A mild mannered puny human."

Hulk shook his head. "Banner good."

Bruce let out a shuddery sigh. "Maybe I can leave and lead them away…"

"No!" Hulk roared causing all of them to jump and look at him in shock. He glared at Bruce. "No run! No hide!"

Bruce stared at him. "Hulk I…"

"No! Banner stay! Banner safe! Hulk safe! Hulk smash Banner if Banner leaves!"

Bruce looked down. "Alright."

Tony smirked. "Interesting."

Natasha grinned. "Yes. Looks like "The Other Guy" cares for you Bruce."

Bruce only nodded with a shaky sigh. "So what now?"

"We figure out what happened and go from there," Steve said. "Until then both of you will be taken care of and decide what you want to do. It's your decision alone on if you want to be separated or infused back together. We will back you up a hundred percent no matter what."

Bruce nodded. "Thank you."

"We'll let you rest and leave the two of you to talk," Clint said as he and the others left.

Once the door closed Bruce got up and into some clothes well aware of the green eyes watching him. He turned and looked at Hulk.

The Monster…The Other Guy…

He was finally seeing his face fully for the first time. He took a deep breath. "Funny thing is I thought that if this ever happened I'd have a million things to say to you but my minds a blank." He went over and sank on the bed.

Hulk looked at him. "Hulk sorry. Banner free now."

Bruce looked at him and bit his lip. "I'm…not so sure I wanted to anymore. You're a part of me. You're the hero. I am puny."

Hulk shook his head. "Good puny."

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

Hulk let out a rumble as if chuckling. "Not scary like Hulk. Banner good. Banner strong but not as strong as Hulk. Banner smart. Use smart to help."

Bruce was clearly taken aback. "How long have you thought that way about me?"

Hulk grinned. "Since Banner was little boy. Hulk watched Banner grow up. Saw anger get worse." He frowned. "Accident put Hulk in Banner. Hulk got between Banner and beam."

Bruce stared at him for a long moment. His eyes widened in realization. "Tony was right…why? Why me?"

Hulk put his massive hand on Bruce's heart. "Hero."

Banner felt tears in his eyes as he put his hands on Hulk's massive one. "What do you want to do? Separated or together?"

Hulk shook his head. "Banner decide. Hulk only want Banner happy."

He looked at him in the eyes. "Call me Bruce. I'll take care of you. I'll teach you how to read and write. I'll teach you everything about this world."

Bruce watched as the expression on the Hulk's face lit up at the possibilities. The scientist only smiled as he reached over and ruffled the green man's hair with affection. He grinned at the playful scowl he got and laughed as Hulk gently shoved him on the bed. Bruce could already feel a paternal bond forming for his accidental creation.

This separation was going to be the best thing to ever happen to them.

Bruce stood up and stretched smiling at the Hulk. "We'd better get a room made for you. You hungry?"

Hulk nodded. "Hulk hungry."

He nodded before leading him up and out to the kitchen. They found the team sitting at the table with worry on their faces.

Bruce looked at them and noticed how Steve had his elbows on the table and hands folded in front of his face with his forehead leaning on them eyes closed in silent prayer. He saw Tony staring into his scotch but not drinking any. Clint and Natasha were staring out the window. Thor was sitting silently.

Bruce was touched by their concern and smiled softly as he went in. 'Hey guys…"

They looked at him before standing up and going over to the two.

"We're fine. Hungry but fine. We have anything for Hulk to eat?"

Tony smirked a bit. "Course we do! Jarvis! Need a feast for Hulk!"

"Right away sir."

Steve looked at Hulk and watched the green being settle beside Bruce and sit on the floor. He was only slightly surprised when Bruce put his hand on the massive shoulder. "Do you know what you want to do?"

Bruce smiled and nodded. "Yeah…guys you've all been great with accepting both of us when we were emerged together. Tony you were instrumental in making me look at him in a different way." He took a deep breath. "We spoke about it and made a decision." He looked at the other Avengers. "We're staying apart in body but we are still together. If you don't except one then we'll both leave."

"Bruce either of you leaving was never an option. I'd follow you to the third world country, drug you if I had to, and drag you back!" Natasha said with a smile.

Bruce laughed. "And knowing you Nat you'd do it!"

Hulk grinned at the exchange. The man hadn't had much happiness in his life and the fact that he could laugh now meant the world to him. He hadn't messed this up for him anyway!

Clint grinned and walked over to Hulk. "Heh hey there Jade Jaws! Got your own body huh? This mean I can hitch a ride more often?"

Bruce raised an eyebrow and Hulk snorted before reaching over and using a finger to playfully shove the archer away. "Cupid has bad breath!"

The sent everyone off!

Clint blinked and grumbled about smart aleck jolly green giants.

Tony grinned. "Heh I think the big guy needs his own reinforced floor…"

Hulk got behind Bruce. "No cage!"

Bruce looked at him. "It wouldn't be a cage. It'd just be a room for you to sleep and relax in. Like my bedroom."

Hulk looked at him uncertainly.

"Hulk…as long as we're all alive no one will put you in a cage ever again," Steve said gently. "You're an Avenger. A member of our little family as much as Bruce is. We want you to be comfortable."

Hulk still stuck close to Bruce and it didn't take long for the scientist to figure it out. "Hey Tony just give him a bedroom on my floor. This is going to take some adjusting."

Tony nodded. "Right. Ya know he does seem more…calm now. Never seen him this way before."

Bruce nodded and took a deep breath. "It's because he's not feeding off of my anger any longer. He's not…taking it off my shoulders anymore. I've learned that he's more like a child than mindless and I intend to teach him as much as I can."

Thor smiled. "You intend to be his parent?"

Bruce chuckled. "Heh guess I kinda am."

Steve chuckled before wincing. "Fury's going to find out eventually. We can't hide this forever."

Bruce sighed and nodded. "I know but…I have some concerns. I know what Fury will want to do with him and it's the last thing I want him to go through."

Hulk looked at him and blinked at the now protective stance Bruce had taken in front of him. He had a feeling the human didn't even realize he was doing it.

Steve did though. "It won't happen. Director Fury has no legal right to Hulk. I'll talk to him and forbid him from going near the Hulk or you."

Thor nodded. "Aye. He may be a mighty warrior but Director Fury will meet Mjolnir before he can even think of imprisoning either of you!"

Tony nodded with a smirk. "Trust me Bruce I get where you're coming from. Anybody tries to hack JARVIS or steal any of my bots get a VERY nasty wakeup call!"

Bruce smirked. "I almost pity the idiot that tries!"

That night Bruce sat in Hulk's new bedroom. The bed was large and the room was painted a light green and it was a little warm inside because heat had always soothed the green goliath.

"You comfortable?" Bruce asked patting Hulk's chest. At his nod Bruce continued. "If you need anything I'm right down the hall ok?"

Hulk nodded again. "Help Hulk sleep?"

Bruce chuckled. "Sure. Guess we do need a routine don't we?" He thought for a minute. "How about a story?"

Hulk nodded interested. Throughout the years he had listened to Bruce tell stories to the sick children he tended to and he had a favorite. "Ugly Duckling?"

Bruce stared at him! "You know that story?"

"Hulk like story of Ugly Duckling."

Bruce frowned softly. "I think I know why. Alright." He reached over and stroked his hair as he told the story. "Tomorrow I'm going to find a storybook just for you." He grinned. "Among other things."

Hulk grinned before he looked up meeting the eyes of his "father". To his surprise Bruce smiled gently and began to sing a lullaby.

"Hush little baby don't say a word

Banner's gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird don't sing

Banner's gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring turns brass

Banner's gonna buy you a looking glass…"

Bruce let his soft tenor fill the room and watched as Hulk relaxed.

"And if that looking glass gets broke

Banner's gonna buy you a billy goat

Hush little baby don't you cry

Banner's gonna sing you a lullaby"

Hulk's eyes slid closed as Bruce finished the song.

"Hush little baby

Hush little baby

Hush…"

Bruce continued to run his hand through the familiar black hair. His eyes were soft. He just hoped he could be a parent at all much less to the Hulk. He had grown fond of green being since the Avenger's started but could he actually love this creature that had changed his life so drastically? Could he love this misunderstood monster that had inadvertently ruined his life and caused chaos pretty much wherever he went?

Bruce looked at the terrifying face he had grown to know so well. So far the separation had been…interesting to say the least. Hulk had done nothing to cause harm. He had played around with Clint and sparred a bit with Thor. Other times he had kept close to Bruce. He got anxious when he didn't see the doctor for some time and Bruce had been bewildered by his own anxiety when Hulk wasn't near him.

It was the strangest thing but it did make sense in a way. All Hulk had known was Bruce and Bruce had been used to having the Hulk constantly around.

If anything Hulk did seem to be a bit like him. He had his own brand of humor and seemed a lot calmer now. Maybe this was the real Hulk? Not the rage monster…but the Hulk that never got shown before.

It might take some time but he knew he could learn to love his beast.

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