A big thank you to those who are following this story! I'll do my best to not let you down.

Special thanks to those who reviewed chapter one. Your comments really encouraged me to keep working on this one.

Couldn't help putting a touch of Clintasha in this one, but expect a good amount of Romanogers in chapter three, as per request. :)

Anniston Park was a privately-owned property about twenty minutes from New York City. Even though it was only a few miles away, you'd never know it when you were there. A few sections of the park were scrupulously well-tended by gardeners, but beyond these areas were about seventy acres of thick forest that was allowed to run wild. There was even a good-sized lake on the property.

Tony's limousine pulled up in front of the park; and the Avengers hopped out and unloaded their stuff.

Tony leaned against the open passenger-side window. "Happy, you're picking us up on Friday morning. We'll meet here at the entrance at ten a.m. Don't be late."

"You got it, boss," Happy said before driving away.

"Okay, guys, let's get this party started!" Tony shouldered his packs and led the charge into the woods.

Natasha flicked open her compass. "We're headed west right now, guys. So as long as we head east when we're ready to leave, we should be good."

"It's pretty obvious that we're going west when we're walking straight towards the sunset," Steve pointed out, grinning at her.

She smiled sweetly back at him. "Shut up, Steve."

"It's very quiet," Thor remarked. "Are there no other humans camping here tonight?"

"Well, it's a privately-owned park," Tony explained. "It's not really meant for camping at all, but I pulled some strings."

"When are we setting up camp?" Bruce asked, coming up beside Tony.

"Well, I want to be really deep in the woods, like way far back from the road; so I thought we could set up when it gets dark. So we'll probably keep walking for…" Tony glanced at his watch. "About forty-five minutes."

From behind him, Natasha said, "Tony, that watch uses batteries. I think it counts as an electronic."

"Yeah, you're right." He took it off and threw it over his shoulder without bothering to look where it landed. It sailed through the air, narrowly missing Clint's head.

"So once it gets dark, everyone be on the lookout for a space big enough for six small tents," said Steve.

"Five," Clint corrected. "Nat and I are sharing."

She shoved against him with her shoulder. "Nice try, pretty boy."

As they walked on, chatting and laughing, the sun continued to move closer and closer to the horizon. At last, it disappeared completely, and the sky grew darker.

"Hey, Stark, maybe we should set up now," Bruce said at last. "Otherwise it'll be too dark to see to put our tents up."

"Yeah, you're right," Tony agreed. "See any good places?"

"How about right here?" said Steve, coming to a halt. The others stopped and looked around them. They were standing in the middle of a small clearing that had been created in part by a falling tree.

"It's tiny," Thor said after a moment's pause.

"Well, maybe… once we move this out of the way…" Steve lifted the fallen tree by the trunk and moved it to the edge of the clearing. Suddenly the space seemed much larger.

Tony looked around, a smile spreading across his face. "It's just right," he said. Then he dropped his belongings on the ground. "Everybody claim a spot and let's get these tents up!" The others followed his example and got to work.

Bruce and Tony got their tents up first, partly because they were the most mechanically-minded, but mainly because they had both done it before (even though it had been awhile). They high-fived each other, then looked to see how the others were getting along.

Steve was very carefully putting each piece in place, well on his way to having a sleep-ready tent. Clint and Natasha had not gotten started, but were sitting on the ground holding tent stakes and staring at the instruction manuals in bewilderment. Meanwhile, it looked like Thor was using his tent to make some high-tech origami.

Tony walked towards Natasha, grinning. "Need a hand there, Nat?"

She blinked. "No, that's okay, I'm… yes, yes I do."

Tony laughed and sat down next to her. "Here," he said, taking the tent stake from her.

Bruce looked back at Thor and gasped. "Thor, no!" he said, running over. He was just in time to stop Thor from pounding a tent stake into the earth with Mjolnir.

"Those hammers that you mortals use take too long," Thor sniffed, pointing to a normal hammer that he'd thrown a short distance away.

"They're safer, though. I'm not sure bringing your hammer was the best idea."

Thor bristled with fury. "You dare suggest-"

"Never mind, never mind, I take it back," Bruce said quickly. He went and picked up the hammer Thor had thrown away. "Here, let me do that part."

Steve finished his tent shortly afterwards and went to help Clint. Before long, all six tents were up.

"Good work, guys! We made good time," said Tony as the last hint of daylight slipped from the sky. "Now if we could just get a fire going…"

Steve gestured towards the fallen tree. "That would make great firewood. Did anyone bring-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Thor brought Mjolnir smashing down on the tree. There was an earsplitting crack, and it appeared to explode. A second later, what had previously been a tree was reduced to short logs and slightly smoking chunks of timber.

There was a stunned silence. Then Steve grinned. "Well that's convenient," he said. "Clint, give me a hand with these."

Thor smiled triumphantly as Steve and Clint started collecting logs. "Now perhaps you see, Dr. Banner, why I never leave Mjolnir behind."

"Yeah, I see. That's great," Bruce said humbly.

Tony said, "Hey, Thor. If you're ever feeling generous, I have some jobs that your overgrown drumstick would be perfect for."

Thor laughed rather superiorly. "No common mortal can lift my hammer, Stark. Only he who is worthy to rule Asgard may wield it."

By that time, Steve and Clint had a good-sized pile of firewood in the middle of the clearing. "Now we just have to start the fire," said Clint, dusting off his hands.

Steve said, "We could use flint. That's where you use flat stones and strike them against each other to make sparks. Or there's another method where you take two sticks-" he broke off suddenly as Tony pulled a matchbox out of his pack, lit a match, and dropped it on the wood. Smoke began to rise from the fire as the flame grew bigger.

"What?" Tony made his eyes as wide and innocent as possible. "Matches aren't electronic." He smiled mischievously at Natasha.

She rolled her eyes, but failed to hide a smile as she sat down next to the growing fire.