chapter one: Destiny

notes: Just an explanation - this is an expansion of the 'little Jane in Asgard' universe I started in my drabble series Positively, Maybe. Some chapters here will be directly lifted from that series. The whole universe/story will span five (5) arcs, and will cover events of Thor, The Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World, plus a before and after (obviously, this is the before). Everything's already outlined except the last arc, so let's see how all of this turns out. Constructive criticism is welcomed, of course. Hihi.

This whole thing is loosely inspired by Tempest in a Teacup by AKAVertigo of Avatar fame. That story is awesome. That being said, each chapter may have a different format and may come off as "drabble-y" since I don't think I have the time and temperament to do legit and lengthy chapters. I hope this is okay though.

Whoo, that was long. On to the story.

This is the first time she's seen snow. And this is the first time she's felt this cold. Jane doesn't care, though, and her face is plastered against the window of their rented car, fascination evident across her features.

"Oh sweetie," her dad chuckles from the front seat. "We can open the window a bit so you can touch the snow."

Her window's barely down when her hand shoots out to touch the fascinating white stuff falling around them. Their trip has been boring so far, and Jane was close to pouting and whining but the snowfall soon has her occupied.

"I guess the snow came a little too early this year," her dad comments from his position at the wheel. "Guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow night, sweetheart."

Her father's words barely register in her seven year-old mind – she still finds it a bit hard to concentrate on multiple things – when her mother snaps at her. "Jane! Put your seatbelt back on!"

"But mooooooom," she whines. "It's hard to touch the snow!"

Her dad, always the peacemaker, calms both of them down. "Put your seatbelt on, Janey, and I promise you can help set-up the telescope when we get to the cabin."

Jane immediately brings her arm back inside the car and straps her seatbelt.

She falls asleep thinking of walking amongst the stars.

This year's vacation is going to be special. Her dad was finally able to get time off from work and he's taking them somewhere up north. He says they'll be able to see the stars and something much more. She's seen the pictures – "much more" seems like a special kind of light you can only see from certain places – and she is extremely excited. She put on her best behavior until it was time to leave.

At the back of her mind, Jane knows she's a little bit unusual. She reads books instead of playing with dolls, and she'd rather watch National Geographic than Saturday morning cartoons. This never bothered her parents. Whenever she would ask her dad a particularly scientific question – he was a special doctor, she just isn't too sure how to pronounce his title yet (astro-what?) – he'd always beam at her and say, "That's my little Janey. Smart enough to touch the stars one day."

"Early snowfall this year, quite unanticipated – "

" – slippery roads, everyone should be wary –"

" – yes, numerous flights cancelled because of the storm and people are angry – "

"Motorists are advised to stay off the road. If you're already travelling, officials say to drive carefully and stop at the nearest shelter you can get to."

She experiences everything in slow motion. The car is spinning. Her mother is screaming but she hears it as if through water. Jane tries to move but she's frozen and she's getting dizzy –

There's a sickening lurch, a terrifying crunch of metal and then they're falling, falling, falling.

Jane blacks out.

"Thor! Over here."

"Mother, don't come any closer."

"How many are there?"

"Three, but I don't think…"

"The mortal girl is still alive!"

Vague shouting wakes her up. She tries to open her eyes but her lids are so heavy, and she can't feel anything. The voices were getting closer and maybe they belonged to her parents. She doesn't know where she is.

Then someone's touching her, whispering soothing nothings into her ear. Mom? Dad? she tries to say, but her tongue isn't cooperating. Someone's tugging at her seatbelt – it's a man, she thinks – and mutters a curse when he can't remove it. Her eyes are finally open but she can't make anything out. There's a flash of green to her right and her seatbelt's off. Strong arms pick her up.

The last thing she sees before she passes out is a pale face with beautiful green eyes telling her, "Hold on. Hold on."