Hey, so I don't know about this chapter... It's kind of hard to do intro chapters after you've just finished something up. I wasn't sure where to begin. I know sort of where this is going though, so we'll see what happens. It's also an intro for the new POVs. You probably noticed that the in War of the Stolen the POVs were all the oldest of each family. Now we have different POVs. I think you'll see a connection.

Anyways! Here you go!

-randomblueboots


Niel Steven Odinson

"Check this out. I was thinking that just for the heck of it, one of the floors should be a pool." Aspen held out her sketches for Essie to see. Aspen wasn't a fabulous artist, and everyone knew that except for her. She was just like her father- in her mind she excelled at everything. But the drawings were easy to decipher. Niel leaned forward to see her sketch as Noah grabbed the milk from the fridge.

"You mean a whole floor just for a pool?" He asked.

"Why not?" Aspen shrugged.

"That's ridiculous. Why would you need a pool that big?" Essie asked.

"For fun." Irina said. She was sitting on the counter and watching as Noah made coffee.

"You know, if you really need to fill up floors why not just make more apartment floors, like the last one?" Noah asked.

"He's got a point." Alexei said from where he sat at the table. "After all, some of us are adults now, Penni. We could use our own apartments."

"True." Aspen nodded. "But I'm still making a pool floor. Just think of what we could do with a whole floor dedicated to being a pool!" Aspen grinned.

"Right. Whatever, you're the billionaire."

"That's right, I am."

"Good morning." Eric stepped into the kitchen/dining room and yawned. Niel nodded a greeting, while everyone else replied. He wasn't really in the mood to talk today. "Who's going to go visit Helena today?" Eric asked. Most everyone replied with me. Everyone was eager to know if she had translated anymore of the tablets that held a spell that could allow them to enter the Realm above the Realms. Niel missed his parents, but he did not miss his father's strong opinions. He remembered when he first tried to lift Mjolnir as a young teen, and the so many times after that.

"I'm sorry, dad! I'm sorry I can't lift Mjolnir!" He had screamed angrily one time. "I'm not strong enough, I'm not worthy! I'm sorry... I'm not the son you deserve. I'm broken."

"Son!" Thor had knelt down so that his eyes were level with Niel's. "You are not broken! It takes time. Do not worry. You will be worthy in time."

Maybe he did miss every thing about his dad, even his unwavering belief that Niel would one day take his place as Thor, despite the fact that Niel knew, he just knew, that he would never be worthy to lift Mjolnir. Even Uncle Steve could lift Dad's hammer. He thought sadly. Why can't I?


Irina Yumiko Romanoff-Barton

Everyone finished breakfast and coffee quickly, ready to hurry over next door from the SHIELD HQ to the SHIELD Hospital and visit Nate and Helena. They left the kitchen and dining room to the sparring room, where Naomi and Gray were sparring. The moment Irina saw the young woman she felt a throbbing thorn stab her gut. Naomi bounded over to Noah, almost out of breath.

"Hey! Where are you guys going?" She asked. Irina narrowed her eyes.

"We're going to visit Helena." Aspen answered for Noah.

"Always wanting to be the center of attention?" Essie rolled her eyes.

"Hey!" Aspen said with a frown. "No!"

"I'll come with you." Naomi smiled, crossing her arms.

"Alright." Noah grinned. They continued on with the thorn so angrily clear in Irina's mind.

"Jealousy is poison." Alexei whispered as he passed her by.

"Shut up, Yosha." She hissed. Her mother's once often said "Love is for children." After Alexei was born the mantra changed to "Jealousy is poison." She had pumped into her children's minds like some sort of vitamin. Every chance she could teach them a lesson just with those words she did. Clint would watch and smile from the background. Finley came up behind Irina, throwing her arm around the seventeen year old.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing." Irina would conceal her poisoned thorn for now. It made her broken, and she didn't want anyone to see that but herself.


Daniel Bruce Banner

He could run as fast as a train, but decided to take the train instead of running. He knew that if he used the gamma radiation inside him his friends and family would be able to track him. Plus, people could see him, barely, but they could. As he entered the train station, holding what little possessions he had in a small backpack. He hurried to the ticket counter. He wanted to get out of this situation as fast as possible. He loved his family, but sometimes he couldn't control his powers, and it scared him. Besides, he didn't deserve his family. He'd done some pretty bad things in his life. He didn't deserve a happy ending.

After buying his ticket with money left over from Morten's thieving days (which SHIELD nearly confiscated, somehow he convinced them it was his and he'd earned it through summer jobs), he sat down on a bench, awaiting his train. For a moment he thought he could breathe, and then he heard a familiar voice.

"Sorry about that, Ma'am."

"Oh no problem. Thanks for helping us." A young woman rushed by with her group of three children in tow, and suddenly a tall, muscular, African-American man sat down on the bench right next to Danny.

"Hey, kiddo." He grinned. "Fancy seeing you here." Sam Wilson. AKA Falcon. Fancy seeing him here too. Almost like some sort of fate. I don't believe in fate. That's Helena.

"Hey, Sam." Danny almost smiled in return, trying desperately not to look into the cheerful eyes of his friend.

"What's going on? I heard about the Avengers. Nasty stuff is going on. So I came as soon as I could. It sounds like you all smashed Tyr down... what was that? A week ago?"

"Yeah..." Danny nodded. "A little less..."

"Fury's quite proud of you all. He might not act like it, but trust me... he is." Sam grinned. "He's calling you the 'Next Avengers'. The 'New Avengers' even. He's incredibly excited. He says you all have incredible potential."

"We're not a team!" Danny burst out, "Some of us can't even control our powers yet! How does that make us anywhere near being a team?!"

"You can't control your powers? Is that what you're so worried about? Is that why you're catching a train?" Sam Wilson... always so perceptive. Dad told you that, remember? Sam knew when something was wrong—always.

"I... I... I can't control my powers, Sam. It's too... I can't stop shaking. The gamma radiation, it's all so strong... and..."

"Danny. It took your father some time before he realized that sometimes he just needed to let go. It took even longer for people to grow to trust him. But somewhere beneath the radiation in him he knew what he had to do, he knew who his allies were, and he knew who he had to smash. Everyone mistook Hulk for a raging monster, but the man had more control than what he even originally thought. You can control your powers. Your father could. Eric can. And so can Elsie. It just takes patience."

"But..."

"I know a place we can go. You're just gonna have to trust me." Sam smiled. Danny looked up at the older man and nodded.

"Alright. I trust you."


Yeah, I have no idea where that's going... :) I guess we'll all find out together.