Authors Note:

Hey guys! Thanks for reading on. I must say that before I write this, know that I am an extremely big fan of ThorxJane. However, BrucexJane has caught my interest suddenly and I've been itching to write about it! So here goes! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: Awkward Silences and Reacquainting

Jane was scrambling around here S.H.I.E.L.D office/laboratory jotting down notes and going over pictures she took of outer world occurrences. It was anenormous white room, with wrap around counters and multiple testing areas. She even had a balcony in which she could stargaze on. At this point, this was her life. And her job. Her mission now is to locate other realms and to attempt to create an Einstein-Rosen bridge. However, the bridge was no longer as interesting to her as it had been. Not after all that had happened.

After the battle in Manhattan and Loki's imprisonment in Asgard, Thor had returned to Jane, but not with news either of them liked.

"How long has it been since you've been someplace besides home or here?" A familiar voice said, startling Jane out of her usual daze.

"Oh, hi Pepper." She smiled faintly. She was exhausted from her work, and honestly wasn't in a talking mood, but it was Pepper.

Because of all the working (and arguing) Jane did with Tony, she became good friends with his fiance, and they even ganged up on him when the opportunity arrived, which was almost always.

"Its eight o'clock in the evening Jane, you should probably go home. Even Tony, Erik and Bruce aren't here obsessing over these things. Why don't you come over for dinner? Everyone is going to be there." Pepper insisted, and by 'everyone', Jane knew she meant the Avengers. All of them. And there one was Avenger in particular who she did not care to see, ever.

"I think I'll pass. I might make the world record of how many nights in a row someone can eat Ramen noodles, so I can't stop now." Jane smiled kindheartedly, but Pepper knew why she avoided any fiasco's involving all of the Avengers. Everyone knew.

"Sounds like a good time." Came a more familiar voice to Jane. A little too familiar. Darcy walked into the lab and took a quick look around. "Yay!" She said with joy as she located her headphones that were being suffocated by a stack of paperwork. "I'm surprised I found them."

"Hello Darcy." Pepper greeted the young woman with her usual formality. "You're welcome to dinner too if you'd like, everyone will be thrilled to see you."

Jane sighed. "Okay fine, I'm done anyways for the day." She put away the notes she had been scribbling into a plain red folder, set it down and then began to shut everything down.

"I'll meet you in the car." Pepper then walked out of the room, leaving Darcy and Jane alone.

"Is whats-his-god going to be there?" Darcy asked, one headphone already plopped into her left ear and connected to an unknown source in the pocket of her jacket.

"I don't want to think about that right now." She finished unplugging multiple devices and then finally took off her white coat and hung it on a rack beside the door. "Let's get this over with."

"Hey there star-girl, you look almost normal without your white coat on." said the sarcastic voice of Tony Stark as Pepper, Jane and Darcy entered from the elevator and into the living room of Stark Towers.

"Well she's one step ahead of you, because you never look normal." Darcy served back, resulting in laughter from Jane and Pepper and amused glare from Stark.

Thank god Darcy is here. Jane sighed with relief as she greeted the billionaire.

"Sir, dinner is ready." The robotic voice of Jarvis announced.

"Make yourselves at home, ladies. You know where the kitchen is, Pepper." Stark grinned as the four of them made their ways towards the dining room area where the rest of the Avengers resided.

"And you know where the couch is that you'll be sleeping on tonight, Anthony." Pepper replied through clenched teeth as she took her place at the table.

Jane froze awkwardly, unsure of where she should sit. She didn't want to talk to him. Let alone sit near him. When she entered the dining room, she noticed most everyone was dressed in a manner between casual and formal. Jane then didn't hate the fact that she had a presentation earlier that day and she was in slacks, black heels and a white button up blouse that was tucked in. She settled on a space next to Clint where Darcy could sit right next to her. Unfortunately her planned failed when Darcy became distracted with the fact that a spot next to Steve was vacant. She then plopped her happy butt in that spot and when there was no objection from Captain America, she decided to stay. It may have only been one spot from the one next to Jane, but it was awkward for her to sit alone like that.

Jane gave her a cold look and Darcy mouthed and 'sorry' to her friend and then began to obviously flirt with Steve. She took a quick look around the table to see how close she was. On the other side of Clint was Natasha, of course, and next to her sat Pepper. The vacant seat to the right of Pepper was obviously for Tony and then there he was, in his armor. He must have just gotten back from Asgard. He sat on the other side of Steve as they discussed something that Jane attempted to avoid eavesdropping on.

Suddenly, she realized someone was missing.

"Where's Dr. Banner?" Jane asked no one in particular. Resulting in a short, but very awkward, silence as everyone looked in her direction. Her cheeks flushed crimson and the first thing she wanted to do was run, but suddenly someone broke the silence.

"I guess I got here just in time then." Said the Hulk as he entered the dining room. He looked dashing in black slacks, a white button up and a matching black blazer. His hair was in it's usually tussled state, but Jane couldn't help but realize that he still looked really good. "Sorry I'm late." He took a quick look and then began to make his way towards the vacant seat next to Jane. His slacksThe Avengers then began to greet him with waves and handshakes until he finally sat down next to his coworker.

"You sure did, Bruce." Tony said as he and a few other robots began to bring out entree's on platter's and sat them on the large, round table. "I'm glad you came as Bruce Banner and not as a big, green, roided-up monster or I don't think any of us would get to have a bite." Stark joked, receiving laughs from everyone at the table.

"I decided against it because then I don't think Dr. Foster over here would have any elbow room." Bruce Banner retorted, turning to Jane and giving her a quick nod and smile. The room laughed once more and then began to feast and enter into a larger conversation. And when Tony popped open a few bottles of champagne, everyone applauded and began to dive into the bubbly drink.

As Jane began to drink her first glass, she began to already feel loosened up. Before, she was only making polite conversation with most everyone when the opportunity arose, but now that everyone began to have alcohol in them, especially herself, conversations went from casual to personal and more relaxed.

It didn't take her long to notice that Dr. Banner seemed to feel awkward because he got stuck sitting in between Darcy and Jane.

Good going Darcy. Jane thought, making sure to make Darcy pay for her stupid decision later.

"I'm sorry you aren't sitting next to your friends, Dr. Banner." Began Jane as she took a sip of her champagne.

The hulk turned to her, almost surprised that his laboratory companion began to make conversation with him. "Oh..." He stammered, thinking of a reply. "Well, we're all friends here. Aren't we?"

Jane laughed, a little too much, at his reply and shook her head slightly. "I think it's safe to say that Darcy and I are just your coworkers." She looked over at her friend who was still busy trying to win the affections of the first avenger. It almost seemed to be working.

"I suppose there's not a lot of room for normal conversation in the lab." Replied Bruce with a small smile. He sipped the rest of his first glass of champagne and began to pour some more.

Jane noticed this and then quickly downed the rest of her drink. If she was going to be making friends with Bruce Banner tonight, then she sure as hell had to do it while she was on par with him. Bruce didn't notice her down her drink, but he did notice her glass and then held up the bottle as if to ask if she'd like some too. She smiled, still swallowing the rest of the bubbly and nodded and the Doctor obliged.

Jane looked across the table to notice that God of Thunder had already been looking her way already. Her face paled and she had to remind herself to breath as she basically stared back at the man. She then noticed Bruce was already in the middle of another sentence and snapped back into reality to listen to what he was saying.

"...but enough about work and science sh-stuff." He continued. "Is there anything you do in your spare time?"

Jane couldn't help, but be fond of Dr. Banner. He was smart and charming and powerful. Her affection for him grew as she realized he was actually trying to make normal conversation. It was...sweet. She smiled, took another big sip of champagne and began to tell Bruce Banner all about herself that he asked to know, and he did the same for her.

At the end of the night, all of the plates and platters were licked clean and everyone thanked Tony for his hospitality, although it boosted his ego to know he was a good host.

There were plenty of rooms in the Stark tower for everyone to crash in, especially because at this moment, they realized that nine people managed to drink fifteen bottles of champagne.

Darcy and Jane agreed to share a room. 'Share' as in, until everyone went to bed and Darcy could sneak into Steve's room, or so she claims that was what was going to happen.

As Jane finished showering in the bathroom, she heard a light knock on the door. Entering the bed room, she noticed Darcy was already gone. She wasn't kidding. Thought Jane as she threw on a robe and answered the door.

"Lady Jane." a voice said that made Jane gasp and caused her heart to race. "I believe we need to talk."

Please let me know what you think, I will post the next Chapter soon. What's going to happen? Anything you want to see? R&R :)