"Why are we here again?" Clint Barton muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

"Because it's our job." Natasha Romanoff replied with a smirk.

They both stood as they watched Nick Fury walk to the middle of a deserted field. Natasha looked around and wondered if they could possibly get anymore in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention it was hot. Scorching hot. Of course, they were in the middle of New Mexico in the dead of summer.

Clint bounced on his feet as he looked around. There wasn't much to look at. Just dried up grass, dirt and the hot sun blaring down at them. "Think he'd let us wait in the van ?"

"Would you stop? You're worse than a child." Natasha scolded rolling his eyes. Neither one was sure why they were, only that Fury had requested their attendance. They were two of them happened to be on the base when Fury got his secret message.

"I'm just saying. It's hundred degrees cooler in the van." Clint grumbled, rubbing his arm on his sweaty forehead. He was ready to be blasted by Nat again when suddenly the sky opened up. Craning his neck back, he watched as clouds started to swirl. "Thor?"

"Has to be." Natasha mumbled quietly as she wondered why Thor was coming. They hadn't spoken to him in a few months and he only appeared when they needed his help. Natasha closed her eyes at the strong flash of light then opened them to see Thor and a woman in the strange circle that marked the Gods arrival.

Xxxxx

Carman stood close to her cousin, her eyes taking in her surroundings while the rest of her tried not to panic. She jumped at Thor's laugh as he moved to the large man in black leather.

"Fury!" Thor put his arms around Fury in a big hug. "You look good."

"You too." Fury stepped away, smoothing down his jacket he wore despite of the heat, as his eye moved to the woman. "This her?"

"Yes." Thor distracted replied as he spotted two of his team members. "Natasha! Clint!" He swooped them up in a bone crushing embrace. "Still puny."

"Yeah." Clint coughed as he was put on his feet. "What's up big guy?"

"I appreciate your help. I didn't know what else to do." Thor motioned to Carman. "Come. Come. These are my friends."

Carman eyed the strangers, but moved closer. Her hands were shaking so she squeezed them tight to her side. In less than a few hours her world had turned on its side which in turned had her in a whole new world. Literally. Thor had assured her that he had friends that could help them. The two in front of them looked less than friendly and it made Carman slightly nauseous. The woman critically eyed her and Carman felt lacking as the woman's hard eyed cut to hers. The woman was beautiful, if not a little rough around the edges. All the leather was off putting, not to mention the blank but always alert stare she was getting. The man wore dark pants, and a shirt with a vest. Carman noticed the guns on his side. The dark glasses hid his eyes, but Carman could easily tell they missed nothing. His body was tense and ready to spring into action at moment's notice.

"What's this about?" Natasha asked glancing between the Asgardians and Fury.

Thor's face lost his greeting smile, briefly glancing at the woman beside him. "War has come to Asgard. Our people fought, still fight, but I fear we won't be able to withhold much more." Thor let out a weary sigh.

"Is it Loki?" Clint asked, his mind still fresh and full of the memories of Loki and what he had done to him. He still suffered nightmares, years later.

"No. Loki…died." Thor cleared his throat, before continuing. "This threat is from another realm. Enemies of Asgard."

"What do you need us for?" Natasha questioned. Surely he didn't want them to go to Asgard to help fight. Natasha would always help her team, but the thought of going to another world…made her nervous.

Thor turned to the woman beside him, a bittersweet smile on his face. "This is Carman. Next to me she is in line to take the throne. She is my cousin. My father's sister's daughter." The two assassins nodded to the woman, but didn't say a word. "I need her safe in case…."

"In case you are killed." Fury bluntly supplied.

"Yes." Thor nodded, his face grim. "I won't leave my people. I will fight with them. But as long as there is an heir…Asgard is almost impossible to overtake. So please…keep her safe."

"We will." Fury promised with a nod. Clint and Natasha also gave a nod.

Thor turned to Carman, who stood still next to him. "You'll be safe here."

"I don't want to be here." Carman softly spoke, her eyes dancing to the others.

Thor took her arm, moving her away so they could speak. "I need to know you are safe. I can't do what I need to do if you are in the middle of the fight."

"I can fight too." Carman lifted her chin. So many times she was overlooked and patted on her hand like a small child. Others thought her weak, a spoiled princess. All they saw was a petite girl with soft hands and quiet nature.

"No." Thor snapped, rubbing her forehead. "I can't risk it. Asgard can't risk it. Please, Carman. Do this for me."

Carman mentally sighed, knowing what he was doing. Ever since she could walk she had adored Thor. He was like the big brother she never had. He was also one of her only friends. Sure, she was surrounded by people all day, but none of them really knew her. They were around her for what they thought she could do for them. All her girlfriends wanted an in to be near Thor or Loki. They never wanted to be real friends with her. The thought of Loki shot a pang through her heart. No one could ever convince her that he was the evil monster they wanted to portray him as. To her, he was the quiet, soft spoken boy that would stay up late at night and read to her. She grieved desperately for him, as she knew Thor did. "They scare me."

Thor didn't need to ask whom she was talking about. It was easy to see she was frighten as she glanced over at the trio. "I trust them with my life and more importantly…with yours."

Carman's eyes cut back to his blue ones, the same shade as hers. She took a deep breath, and nodded. "Okay."

Thor smiled, moving to hug her. She clung tightly to him. "I will be back for you."

"I'm holding you to that." Carman muttered into his chest. He gave her one more squeeze before stepping back. He tossed a wave to the three coming up behind her. Carman watched with tears in her eyes as he waited for Hemirall to take him back home. Back home without her. With a flash, he was gone and she was alone with total strangers.

"Come. Let's get back." Fury stated before turning and stomping back to the Jeep.

Natasha shared a look with Clint as tears rolled down the princess's cheek. She was never good at emotions and looked to Clint for help.

"Come on." Clint took Carman's elbow with a smile. "Back at base it's taco night."

"Wh…what's taco night." Carman stuttered as she fell in step with the two.

"Only the best night ever!" Clint exclaimed with a cheesy grin. "It's food. Ever have a taco?" Black curls bounced around her delicate face as she shook her head. Clint gasped. "How can you never have a taco?"

"We don't have taco's in Asgard." Carman murmured.

"Yeah…always knew that was a weird place." Clint muttered out of the side of his mouth. The surprise laugh from Carman made him grin bigger and he looked at Natasha who was smiling back at him in approval. Clint saw that the tears had stopped rolling down her cheeks. The instant protectiveness surprised him as he held the door open for her to get into the Jeep. He noticed her look wearily at the vehicle and hid a smile. "It's safe. I promise." She seemed to trust his words as she scooted over to let him slide in next to her. She was a small thing. Barely 5'5 he guessed. She had looked like a child next to Thor. But she was older than what he had first thought. There was maturity in her face and in her blue eyes. "How old are you?" He asked as Natasha started to drive them over the bumpy terrain.

Carman's face scrunched up as she struggled to remember what Thor told her. Time was different on Midgard. Slower. "Here I'm…twenty five…maybe."

"How old are you in Asgard?" Clint asked curiously.

"We really don't keep up with age, but I would say over nine hundred."

"Years? Damn woman!" Clint teased, earning another soft chuckle from her. He caught Nat's eye in the rearview mirror and shrugged.

Natasha winked back at Clint, knowing he was putting their guest as ease. He was good at that. Which was why he was her best friend. So many times he had kept her nerves and fears at bay. She was happy he was able to clear the scared look from the other woman's eyes. The rest of the ride back to base was filled with Clint asking Carman questions about Asgard. Instead of making things worse, the questions seemed to break Carman's shell as she answered each one happily.

"We're here." Clint nudged Carman as they pulled behind a large steel fence.

Carman looked out the window, her eyes taking in the stark, gray building. It was as long as it was wide. Men and woman dressed in uniform dotted the area. Carman looked down at her own silk, dress. It was what she always was expected to wear. She was a princess and had to look the part as her mother always told her. The Jeep stopped and Natasha jumped out, instantly opening the door. Carman took hold of her dress and started to get out. She was thankful when Clint appeared beside her, taking her hand and helping her down. She was sure she would fall flat on her face.

"I will leave you with Barton and Romanoff." Fury told her. "We'll stay here tonight and tomorrow we will fly to New York." With that he was gone, his long stride taking him inside quickly.

"New York." Carman whispered, the name extremely familiar with her. "Where Loki…."

"Yes." Natasha snapped before waving her towards a side door. "We stay at Stark Towers."

Carman nodded, a lump suddenly forming in her throat. She was already so far from home, but the thought of going any farther caused her heart to squeeze.

"Come on." Clint took her arm. "Let's find you a taco."

…

Carman walked in behind Natasha, her eyes taking in the stark and plain room. It was small, only big enough for a small bed and a nightstand with a lamp. There was a bathroom off to the right, just as small.

Natasha dropped a stack of clothes she had been carrying. "You can wear those. Slightly different than what…you have on, but more comfortable I'm sure. When we get to New York, we'll see about getting you clothes."

Carman nodded, unable to speak. Now…now that she was close to being alone her anxiety and fear were trying to take hold. She missed Clint, whose banter and humor had kept her from thinking. She had ate a taco. Well…honestly she had ate four. They were amazing and the fun she had as Clint and Natasha showed her how to make them had pushed all thoughts of home from her mind. But those thoughts were back and terrifying.

Natasha paused, watching the display of emotions move over her face. "Look. I know all this is…so different for you. But you are safe here and…while it's not home and you don't know us…Thor is family which make you the same."

Carman's eyes widen as she looked back at the woman in front of her. She had easily picked up that Natasha wasn't an emotional person or even friendly. Clint had compensated for that tonight and Carman knew that. So to hear such kind words from this intimating person, warmed her heart. "Thank you for that. Truly."

"Get some rest. We'll have a long day tomorrow." Natasha told her as she walked out, leaving her alone.

Carman took a shuddering breath before moving to pick up the clothes Natasha had left for her. Carman eyed the shirt, gray and soft. A smile danced on her lips as she picked up the pants made of the same soft material as the shirt. Oh, her mother would roll over if she knew her daughter was getting ready to put on pants. Pants were not acceptable for a lady, much less a princess. Carman took the clothes to the small bathroom, hoping to wash off before she changed. She eyed the shower, wondering if she could get it to work. While Asgard had many luxuries, it was far removed from the modern ways of Earth. But in her studies and…thanks to Loki, Carman had learned many things about this world. Stripping off, she eyed the shower with determination. She gasped in delight as hot, water cascaded out of the overhead faucet. It felt wonderful on her tired muscles. Using the small tube of soap on the side, she cleaned off. Feeling much better, she dried off and put on the clothes that Natasha left for her. She chuckled as she eyed herself. No one at home would recognize her. That thought made her smile as she climbed into the small bed. For a moment she missed her soft, down mattress at home, but a thrill of adventure ran down her spine. In Asgard, she was treated like a delicate dish that could break at any given time. She was fawned over, spoiled and controlled. Here she was on her own and could do what she wanted. She ate a taco tonight! Never would she be allowed to eat something that was not picked from their own garden and cooked by their own chef. She even ate with her fingers! The memory made her giggle in the dark. Still smiling, she closed her eyes.