AN: You're all too wonderful for words. Each favorite, follow and most especially the reviews makes me giddy. Thank you all for keeping this old mom humble.

Alice1985 - It's funny that you asked about him…

The One and Only…

Hermione had been pacing back and forth in the study ever since she returned from the Burrow. Molly had asked her to stay as originally planned, but Hermione just couldn't bring herself to stay where she knew her mobile phone wouldn't work properly. If Bruce tried to call while she was in a magical home, he'd get voice mail and he hated leaving messages.

Upon arriving home, she charged her mobile phone - again - as a precaution, ignoring that it was still seventy-five percent full. It simply wouldn't do to miss a call from her husband because the battery was dead. Hermione knew she was overreacting, but couldn't seem to stop herself.

After what seemed to be hours of pacing - four to be precise - the witch curled up on the sofa with a book for a distraction and managed to doze off just as the sun was making its appearance over the horizon.

Winky covered her Miss with a throw blanket and set the tea she had asked for on the table for when the witch woke, kept warm with a charm.

The mobile phone rang at last and Hermione scrambled to answer the call. Breathlessly she asked, "Bruce?"

"The one and only…" Bruce's attempt at levity was greatly appreciated and Hermione sighed in relief. The scientist sounded exhausted, "How is the love of my life?"

"I've been worried." She rubbed at her eyes and stifled a yawn, "What time is it?"

"Six thirty, I think." Hermione leaned back against the couch and stretched as she listened to him, "It's what… a four hour difference?"

"Oh bugger."

"Tsk tsk, babe. Sleeping the day away, hmm? What time did you get home?"

"It was going on midnight when I finally got away from the Burrow and I've been pacing all night waiting for you to call! I haven't the foggiest when I finally succumbed to sleep." Hermione promptly steered the question in the direction she wanted, "How did it go with Loki?"

"You were right. He wanted to be caught. We still don't know why." Bruce sighed heavily, "Fury spoke to him last night. It was broadcasted live throughout the base for our entertainment. He's being kept in an odd prison cell made of glass. It's more of a suspended container - a cage - than a cell.

"The cage is being held in place by hydraulics and with a press of a button, the whole thing drops from the ship to the land or sea below… whichever we happen to be over at that moment."

Hermione gasped, "That's horrible! What about whoever happens to be unlucky enough to be underneath that glass cage when it lands? They didn't ask to be splattered. Honestly, what was S.H.I.E.L.D. thinking when they built such a thing?"

"Loki implied - and Fury didn't bother to deny - that the cage was meant to contain the other guy."

"And that makes this whole glass contraption okay? That's worse really. It isn't as if entrapping you will do them any good." Hermione cursed under her breath, "Bloody wankers."

"Hermione!" Her husband laughed heartily at the uncharacteristic language coming from the witch.

"Sorry love, but really, it was justified."

Bruce changed the subject while Hermione struggled to keep hold of her temper, "I met Thor and Tony Stark-"

"Who is this Stark person?" The witch set her phone down and set it on speaker. She gingerly took up her tea and blew on it to cool the beverage before taking a cautious sip.

"Iron man-"

"Ugh, that arrogant git," Hermione curled her lip in distaste.

"He's not that bad, once you get to know him. He's… quirky. He's a scientist and inventor."

In the background Hermione could hear someone shout 'Genius, billionaire, philanthropist!', but she ignored the banter and argued with Bruce, "He's a child and Thor wasn't behaving much better."

The voice in the background tried to argue his virtues, but Bruce cut him off, "Do you have your laptop handy?"

"Naturally," Hermione frowned trying to follow his new train of thought. "Why?"

"Meet me in fifteen minutes on Skype?"

Hermione gasped, reached a hand to her mop of hair and quickly countered with, "Make it twenty and you've got a date."

"Deal."

The witch instantly hung up the phone, set down her tea and dashed to her room with a squeal, muttering to herself, 'What should I wear, what should I wear…'

After a quick shower and her usual morning ablutions, Hermione stared at her reflection. The witch sighed at what she saw: dark circles under her eyes, splotchy skin tone and wild bushy hair. She forced a brush through her curls and manipulated it into a plait that hung heavily behind her. Hermione used a few beauty charms to hide the flaws on her face and she added a light lip gloss.

Noting the time she dashed back into her room, threw on a long sleeved blouse and slacks. Hermione made her way back to her living room, plucking up a notebook and pencil on her way with only moments to spare and logged into Skype. The brunette set her laptop on her coffee table, set the notebook and pencil beside it and once again cradled her tea in her hands, just as the program began to ring.

Hermione answered the call and her smile bloomed as the sight of her husband popped onto her screen. "You look tired, Bruce."

Bruce grinned sheepishly and gave a half-hearted shrug while running a hand through his disheveled hair, "Hard to sleep with so much going on and you're not here to warm the sheets."

"I miss you, too."

That same background voice was muttering, but both Banners ignored it. Bruce focused on his wife's image, "Tony invited me to visit Stark Tower. All these fun toys I get to play with here, he has and then some. His R&D is world renowned."

Hermione giggled, "You sound like a child in a candy store. Has Emric made it to you yet?"

"No sign of him, but it's still early. We're nearing America, he's got a ways to go before he reaches us."

"Bruce, there's something I must tell you. I'm-" The television flickered on, catching Hermione's attention and her words died in her throat. She looked around for her remote, wondering what happened when an image popped onto the screen.

The man grinned triumphantly and exclaimed with an American accent, "That worked!"

The witch blinked at the image, "Bruce, what did that prat do?"

"What's a prat?"

"Tony…"

"British slang, I believe you Americans use the word jerk."

"Heeeey, that's not very nice. I just wanted to introduce myself and…" Tony peered at her image, "You're that healer chick from the forest!"

"Chick?"

"American for bird."

"Derogatory?"

"Usually."

"You're not helping." Tony huffed petulantly.

"Wasn't trying to help."

"Either way it doesn't change the fact that your wife is the healer we met in England."

"Figured that out, have you? Well done then." Hermione smirked.

"That means you lied!"

"Pardon?" The witch sipped her tea, listening to the volley of conversation once she realized Tony hadn't meant her.

"I didn't lie."

"Omission is a form of lie."

"Romanoff was there. She's met my wife before."

"Do I need to be here for this conversation?"

Tony faced the screen once more to address the witch 'across the pond', "Fury asked about the identity of the two civilians we met in England."

"Ah…" Hermione gave a nod of understanding and Bruce simply shrugged it off.

"Bruce kept silent," Tony snapped his fingers and pointed towards Hermione's image, "and that is what you meant when you said 'considering who your husband is'… you meant Bruce." The billionaire grinned triumphantly, "It all fits."

Hermione ignored him and turned her attention back to the smaller screen of her laptop. "The bloke hacked into my computer, love. Reel him in before I need to pop over and handle things personally."

"Now, now, no need for all that… popping. I figured if the only way to get your husband to come work for me is to convince you, then I had better introduce myself, lay the groundwork and make nice."

"I don't particularly like you. Why would I agree?"

Bruce added, "And what makes you think I want her to?"

"Come on now, kids. You're a young…" Tony glanced at Bruce, "Ish… couple. You'll get tired of the wandering around aimlessly and settle down."

Hermione sat back, "We have a house in Stratford. I have family here."

Tony countered, "Bruce is from New York."

"Point, but he has no family ties there."

"Point…" Tony frowned. "Damn."

Hermione grinned triumphantly when there was a crack of apparition that caught her attention. "Someone's here."

Winky popped into the room, barely hidden behind the couch so that Tony couldn't see her and announced, "Miss, the Weasey is arrived."

"Rather vague, which Weasley?" Hermione threw the sliding door open just as Ron made it to the door. "Ron!"

The Gryffindor smiled widely and scooped up his best friend in his arms, swinging her around in a circle as she laughed. A voice interrupted the reunion, "Huh… you weren't that excited when you saw us."

Ron set Hermione down on her feet, keeping a protective arm around her and stared at the man on the screen. The witch huffed, "You were fighting rather violently."

"I was defending the world."

"You were destroying trees and flexing your testosterone."

"Your telly is arguing with you." Ron blinked at the image on the television of a man that crossed his arms over his chest and smirked.

Hermione patted her best friend on the shoulder and moved around the couch, pointing to the laptop on the table. "You remember my husband." Ron stepped forward to look over the back of the couch and gave the image of Bruce a small nod followed with a 'hullo'. "That…" She spat, "is Stark."

Bruce chuckled, "How are things, Ron?"

"Well enough, except Hermione upset more than just Mum when she refused to stay for Sunday dinner. The godson is pouting. I'm here to give fair warning." Ron gave his friend his usual crooked grin, "You're going to be invaded tonight. Harry and I talked Mum into having dinner here. That way you get to be close to your mobile and you get the Weasley Sunday dinner. The whole family agreed. Now I just need you to agree."

"That's wonderful! Of course I want them all over here." Hermione laughed when a squeak of delight was heard from the direction of the kitchen, "and Winky is happy, too. She misses being able to fuss over anyone."

"Brilliant. I'll let the family know." Ron grinned.

"Does four sound alright?"

"You're sure?"

"I can't wait to see everyone again."

"Right, then. See you at four." Ron gave a wave to the laptop before leaving through the back yard, "Cheers, mate!"

"Does your husband know you have a boyfriend?"

Hermione scowled at Stark before opting to ignore him once again and grinned at Bruce, "Well that's exciting. I haven't a clue what to make for supper for the Weasley brood."

"You're not the one cooking, Hermione." Bruce pointed out unnecessarily.

"Ah, right. I should leave that all to Winky. She wouldn't let me in her domain anyhow." Hermione sat back down on the couch and plucked up her tea, carefully taking a sip. "Guarantees the meal will be edible."

"You're boring." Tony groused.

"Then go away." Hermione smirked.

"Say you'll come to New York and at least take a look at Stark Tower." She was non-committal as Bruce tried to hide his amusement and worked on some figures. Tony was not so easily thwarted, "So, Bruce denies he smokes pot or listens to mellow jazz to stay calm. Do you know his secret?"

"I know many secrets." Hermione finished her tea and set her empty cup down on the table in order to free her hands for the notebook and pencil.

"Hey babe," Bruce peered at his wife's image, "Do they have an alley in New York?"

She chuckled softly at his attempt at speaking in non-distinct code. "Yes, although I couldn't tell you where without further research. Why do you ask?"

Bruce gave a small shrug, "Just curious."

Hermione could hear the ill-disguised excitement in her husband's voice and gave a small smile, "I'm not sure I want to raise a family in such a big city as Manhattan."

"We have time to worry about that." Rubbing her belly, Hermione bit her lip, but didn't argue his point, only hummed a noncommittal response. Bruce worked on algorithms and equations for a time while Hermione busied herself with writing in her notebook. He stopped and glanced at what appeared to be a spear with a glowing rock on it that Hermione could just barely see behind him, "Loki is sowing discord between everyone." Bruce scratched the stubble on his chin before continuing, "Oh and it gets better. Thor says Loki has an army of aliens called Chitauri that are going to win him Earth. No one knows where he's going to open the portal."

"He'll need a lot of power for a portal that size. Is that even possible?"

"A warm light for all mankind, Loki's jab at Fury about the cube."

"Meaning?"

Tony interrupted, "Stark Tower is self-sustaining, powered by Stark Reactors. That building will run itself for a year. I'm kind of the only name in clean energy right now."

"Then that's where he's headed."

"My tower? Stark Tower?" Tony looked at Bruce, "That does make sense."

"My wife is brilliant."

Hermione checked the wards around her home one last time. The house was safe from Muggle neighbors viewing any ongoings within the boundaries, just as it should be. The backyard was already decorated with long tables and benches with warming charms carefully placed away from the swimming pool and its Muggle technology while that same machinery heated the water.

Winky popped back to the tables to place another platter - filled with fried chicken - down with all of the other food items, waved her small hand to set the warming charms and then snapped her fingers to finish setting the table with plates, flatware and glasses. She smiled up at her Miss. The house elf was bouncing on her toes in her excitement, "Weaseys is coming soon."

"Thank you, Winky. You did a wonderful job of preparing everything. I couldn't have done this without you." Hermione smiled at the diminutive female that beamed in happiness at her praise.

Numerous pops and cracks sounded and Hermione gripped her wand. It wasn't until she saw a sea of red heads that the witch calmed and stowed her wand. The first to arrive were Molly, Arthur, Percy, Audrey, Ron and little Molly - Percy and Audrey's daughter.

The hugs and welcomes were drowned out by the sound of more arrivals.

"I'm pregnant George, not an invalid. I can walk on my own," Angelina's voice came from the far corner of the backyard. She waddled over to the other guests and smiled at the family. "Hermione!"

"Angelina! You're... wow, you're really..." Hermione searched for the right word as she hugged the woman.

"Abundant. Round. Rotund. Massive. Considerable. Gravid." George prompted with a proud grin, "Ready to drop, ready to pop?"

"I was thinking beautiful and glowing, I couldn't decide which was more fitting."

"Nah, you were probably searching for a nice way to say she's bloody huge." Ron piped in helpfully.

Angelina's smile dropped immediately as the woman rolled her eyes at her uncouth brother-in-law and George laughed. Yet instead of berating Ron, the witch turned to her husband and smacked him on the back of his head.

"Oi! I didn't say it, he did." George pouted playfully as he wrapped an arm around his wife's expanded waist.

"That may be, but you didn't have to laugh quite so handily and besides he's a bit out of reach." Angelina tugged on her husband's shirt collar and kissed his cheek.

"Oh that's wonderful!" Molly cried out and hugged her third eldest son tightly. All heads turned immediately to join in on the good news that Audrey was expecting their second child.

Percy grinned widely as Audrey received her congratulatory hugs from her mother-in-law. Ron clapped his brother on the back and gave a crooked grin of his own. "Wonderful, with all these grandkids popping out, Mum may just forget about my not being married for a while."

Hermione looked around in a stunned silence as she realized there were four women in her backyard in different stages of pregnancy. She smiled warmly and called for her house elf, "Winky! We need sparkling ciders all around. This is a celebration!"

There was laughter and talking, eating and drinking while a few children were near the pool, braving the chilly weather to put their feet in the warmed water. Molly called out to the children, but Hermione quickly quelled her concerns. After all, the water was heated and with warming charms all around, there was no reason not to allow the kids to swim, providing they had adult supervision.

Harry quickly volunteered to watch the little ones - dragging an uncooperative Ron to help - as the women all sat around the tables and relaxed. Hermione couldn't manage to sit still during their visit as she was waiting for word from Bruce about their lead on Stark Tower and was often seen checking her mobile for missed calls.

James came squealing - naked with soaking wet hair, running as fast as his tiny toddler legs could move him across the yard - and crying out 'Save me, Auntie Herm! Save me!' while Ginny waddled as fast as her pregnant form could follow, "James Sirius Potter! You get back here and let me dress you."

Hermione captured the escaping toddler and laughed merrily, twirling the naked offender in a full circle before handing him off to his mother. It was about that time when Hermione gasped, eyes widening as she gripped her chest. Her necklace. Bruce. Her husband was in danger. Her gaze went immediately to her best friends and the two men made their way to her before she had uttered a single word.

Ron got to her side first, "What's wrong?"

"It's Bruce." She gasped out. Harry had to wait for George to take over watching the children in the pool before he could join the two thirds of their trio. Hermione showed them her necklace and explained, "Bruce and I have matching medallions. If it warms, there's trouble. If it warms and vibrates..."

"And naturally with all that is going on with those Yanks and Asgardian blokes..." Harry added.

Hermione nodded at where Harry's thoughts were heading, "Yes. Something's happened. Bruce said they were going to New York to Stark Tower in Manhattan."

"Dad," Ron turned towards his father. "We need to get to New York in America; as close to this Manhattan as possible."

Arthur scratched the back of his neck as he frowned, "I'm sure I can find someone."

"Kingsley owes me a favor or two." Harry snorted, "He owes the three of us at least one each. I can call in one of my markers, I'm sure."

The Weasley patriarch grinned at his brunette son-in-law and nodded, "True enough. I'll go see what he can do for you."

"Thank you, Arthur." Hermione started, but the older man just gave her a grin and apparated away.

"Nonsense, Hermione." Molly said, "You've always been one of our children and always will be. Weasleys stick together."

"Thank you, Molly. It is an honor to be considered part of the family." Hermione glanced towards the house once again, "If you'll excuse me. I need to speak with Winky and prepare for this sudden trip to America. You're all welcome to stay as long as you like. Winky is here and can handle the cleanup and locking up the house."

"Don't you worry about us. We'll take care of everything here and get out of your hair. You just get to that husband of yours." Molly shooed the young woman with a loving smile.

"Right." Hermione hesitated momentarily before she lurched forward at Molly giving the woman a brief, yet tight, hug. The young witch turned on her heel and walked with alacrity towards her home. The worried wife called out as she went along, "Winky."

A small pop announced the house elf's appearance, "Yes, Miss Mine?" Only Hermione hadn't stopped walking, causing Winky to let out a small squeak and had to scramble to catch up.

"I'm heading to America, Bruce is in trouble. Please see to our guests and take care of the home as always." Hermione came to an abrupt stop - causing Winky to bump into her calves - and smiled at the diminutive elf, "And thank you for taking such good care of everything. You're truly a wonderful friend."

"Winky is honored to be Miss Mine's friend." The house elf beamed up at her Mine with large, teary eyes before continuing, "Winky put Miss' bead bag on the table by her bed; clean clothes for Master Bruce are in closet."

"Perfect. Thanks, Winky." Hermione continued into her bedroom to change out of her dress to don dragon boots and dueling robe.

The Weasley crew eventually evacuated the house and made their way back to their own abodes or back to the Burrow. Harry had dashed off to his home to grab items he believed he would need as did Ron, leaving Hermione alone, allowing her imagination to run wild.

Hermione turned on the television allowing the CNN news to play idly in the background with a small hope that a news story would give a tad bit of insight to what was happening in New York. The witch paced back and forth, wringing her hands nervously while waiting to hear from Arthur.

A familiar crack had the witch bolting to the glass door. Her shoulders sagged briefly at the sight of her best friend - while pleased to see the Ron, she was still anxious to hear from his father, "Any news?"

Ron gave a single shoulder shrug, "None yet."

The redhead got comfortable on the couch and picked up the remote control to surf through the channels. Hermione continued her pacing while thinking of all the items that could prove useful in an emergency situation, ticking each one off on her fingers when she came to a standstill. "Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Where's Harry?"

"He went to the ministry to see if he could speed things up."

Hermione spun towards her friend, "Then we should go, too."

"Noooo!" Ron winced when the witch gaped at his reaction. He hadn't meant to whinge. The wizard sighed, "Don't tell Harry you wanted to go to the ministry."

"I don't understand." Hermione frowned, "Why can't I say anything to Harry?"

"He bet me you'd want to go and I said you wouldn't. You just cost me a sickle."

"Well that was a foolish bet."

"Not really, I thought you'd be too busy researching something to want to go to the Ministry."

"Oh." Hermione blinked, panicked and ran to a bookcase to skim titles, "What do I need to research?"

"Blimey, Hermione. You don't have to research a thing. We just have to wait until they've got the portkey." Ron changed the channel on the television and nearly dropped the remote as he bolted upright, "What the bloody hell are those?"

The verbal reprimand died on her tongue as she stared horrified at the screen. There in full color, BBC news showed live footage of aliens descending on Manhattan, New York. Hermione's voice was a choked whisper, "That must be the Chitauri, Loki's army. We have to hurry."

Happy Friday!