The next morning while Rhodey stayed with the children, Pepper headed downstairs to the floor of the tower that belong to Thor and Jane's family. Jane had looked at that surprised to see her when she rang their doorbell.

"Good morning, Jane," she said when the other woman opened the door, "I, uh, need to talk to Thor if he's not busy."

Jane shook her head, and with a smile said, "No, he's not. Your timing is great since we were just finishing up with breakfast. Come on in."

"Oh hi, Mrs. Stark," said a familiar voice as she stepped into the living room, and Jane disappeared into the kitchen to get Thor.

Pepper turned to the source of the greeting, "Hi Darcy."

The younger woman was carrying Jane and Thor's daughter Frejya in her arms, and the little girl lit up when she saw Pepper standing there. The little girl begin squirming in Darcy's arms, "Auntie Peppa! Auntie Peppa!"

"I wouldn't come any closer if you I were you, Mrs. Stark, because this one is super sticky. Her brother decided that slinging their waffles all over the place and at each other was more fun than actually eating them this morning." Closely followed by Thor, Jane emerged from the kitchen a second later with Frederik in her arms, and just like his sister, the little boy started reaching for Pepper upon seeing her.

"No sorry, honey but you and Sissy need a bath before you can say hello to Aunt Pepper," Jane said, kissing the little boy while keeping him firmly in her arms. She looked over towards Pepper, and said, "Sorry, but I can't talk right now."

"It's okay, Jane. I just need to talk to Thor just for a minute."

"Alright, if you'll excuse the four of us then, these two need a bath." With a nod to Darcy, the two women disappeared down the hallway.

Thor waited until they were gone to turn to Pepper, "Are you here because you have reached a decision?"

Pepper took a breath, and nodded, "Yes, I have. Thor, I… I want to say yes to your offer but I need to ask you about something first."

"Very well," Thor replied, gesturing towards the nearby sitting area.

Pepper took his invitation to sit down since the Asgardian towered over her. Once they were seated, she thought about what she wanted to ask him for a moment. "Thor, before I ask what I need to ask, I want you to know that what I ask you is not from a lack of trust for you, Because I do trust you, and I know that if he were here Tony would say that he trusts you too. It's just that we're talking about my children here, and I need to be as sure as I can be that they are going to be completely safe wherever they are. Do you understand what mean?"

It was clear by the look on Thor's face that he was anything but offended by what she had said. But the Asgardian confirmed it with a nod, "Yea, dear Lady, I do understand, more than you know. I consider the trust that you along with Anthony have placed in me, to be a great honor, and an even greater responsibility. Verily on Asgard, maintaining and being worthy of such a trust as watching over your brother's heirs… children is considered a sacred duty."

Although his words washed over and reassured her, Pepper knew that in order to complete her peace of mind she had to ask him her questions. But more to the point she knew she had to hear his answers. She swallowed, took a breath, and began, "Alright first, if I agree to send my children to Asgard, I want to know where exactly will they be living while they're there, and I want to know who will be taking care of them?"

Thor smiled, "My Mother will care for them during their stay on Asgard."

Pepper's eyes widened, "Wait your mother, the Queen of Asgard, is going to be the one to take care of my children?"

"Aye," he said, and noting the look on her face he asked, "Why is there something wrong?"

She shook her head her, "No, of course not! It's just… I uh thought that your mother would have far more… important things to do than to take care of my children!"

Thor smiled at her again, "Alas for my Mother there is nothing important than to care for and nurture those who will come after us."

"But-"

He laid a hand on her arm, "Do not concern yourself over this. My Mother loves young ones, and it has been far too long since Loki or I were children. It will give her great joy and happiness to be able to care for so many little ones again."

"So many little ones?" Pepper repeated in a questioning tone.

"Aye, it has been decided among the Avengers that all of our children will be sent to Asgard for safekeeping until we find those who conspired to end Anthony's life," Thor replied, a disgusted anger tainting his voice.

"Oh."

"My own shall be with among them, and Jane has agreed to stay on Asgard with them for the duration of this ordeal."

Pepper wondered if the all of the Avengers' wives, with the exception of Natasha and herself, would be going to Asgard too.

"As for their protection you may rest easy, dear Lady, for the warriors who guard my Father's house are Asgard's finest warriors. I would trust each and every one of them with my own life, but more than that, I trust them with the lives of Jane and with those of my own children. I give my most solemn pledge to you, Lady Stark, upon my honor as the heir ro my father's throne and a warrior of Asgard, if you entrust your children to the care of my Mother, they will be safe until the day they are able to return home to Earth."

A moment passed in which neither of them spoke, and then while wiping away tears she said, "I accept your very generous offer of sanctuary for my children. It will help both Tony and me to know that they're safely out of the reach of whoever is trying to hurt us right now, especially if the jury decides to sentence him to… to death."

Thor nodded, keeping what he thought of the peculiarities of the human ways of justice to himself since he knows that speaking such thoughts aloud would not help. Instead he told Pepper, "I shall make the final arrangements to take them to Asgard."

"How soon do you think that will you be able to take them?"

"Today, if that is your wish."

"I, uh…"

When Thor saw her hesitancy, he added, "Or I shall wait any length of time that is your wish."

"When… when will you take the Avengers' kids to Asgard?"

"I shall take them on the morrow as everyone wished to have one more eve with their families still gathered together in one place." He did not see the need to tell her that the reason the Avengers also wanted one more day with their families in tact was because they would be remaining on Asgard until there was a resolution with Tony's situation, for good or for bad and no matter how long it took.

Pepper nodded, thinking she should allow Thor to get back to his family then. But first she needed to decide when she was going to let him take Ethan and Eva to Asgard. With a sigh, and while wiping away more tears, she said, "Since court is in recess until Tuesday, I think I want to wait until Monday night to let them go with you. I want just a few more days with them. Is that okay?"

"Aye, it is," Thor confirmed, his tone understanding.

"Alright, Monday night it is then," she said, standing up. "Thank you so much, Thor. For doing this for us and for everything."

The Asgardian prince stood, and gave her a half bow, "It is my, and Asgard's great honor for us to be able to aid my shield brother in this way."

Since she knew that she only had two and a half days left to enjoy having her children still with her, and she knew that she couldn't do that if she were constantly thinking about Tony. As hard as it was for Pepper to do it, by the time she returned upstairs, she had put his situation out her mind. By the time she had walked into the kitchen from the elevator. She was smiling as brightly as she could manage while she walked over to the counter to pour herself a cup of coffee. She took a sip before she casually inquired over her shoulder, "So is there anyone here who like to see The Lion King today?"

"Really? We're gonna go see The Lion King?" Ethan asked, his eyes wide.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, sweetie," Pepper said mildly, but then nodded, "Yes, we're going to see The Lion King today."

"When?" Eva asked.

"As soon as we can get you and Ethan ready after breakfast."

Ethan hurriedly finished his cereal, and after wiping the milk off his face with the back of his hand he said, "Done!"

Eva followed her brother's example, only she managed to spill more milk down her chin then she got into her mouth. "Done, Mommy!"

Pepper smiled, and wiped her mouth with a paper towel before saying, "Alright, go brush your teeth while Mommy talks to Uncle Jimmy for a moment."

As they darted from the room, the kids began singing two different songs from the movie at the top of their lungs.

"Help your sister, Ethan!" she called out after them.

Pepper waited until she couldn't hear her children anymore before she turned to Rhodey, "I saw the look and I know you think that I am crazy but this isn't what it sounds like."

Rhodey crossed his arms, and leaned against the counter, "Oh really? It's not the complete security nightmare that this sounds like it's going to be for Happy?"

"No, it's not because we're not actually leaving the Tower," she replied.

"But I thought you said you were going to see The Lion King. You were referring to the Broadway show and not the movie right?"

"Yes."

"Then how can you be seeing it without leaving the Tower?" Rhodey asked in a confused tone.

The smile Pepper gave him when she answered was a little sad, "Because the entire cast from The Lion King has come here to perform the show for us on the 35th floor."

Rhodey's eyebrows shot up to the roof, "What?"

She nodded, "It's true, they're actually here now as we speak, putting the finishing touches on getting ready to perform."

"But how… no don't tell me, let me guess. This was something Tony arranged, wasn't it?"

Again Pepper nodded, "Yes, apparently he somehow had the 35th floor converted into a full theater large enough for any Broadway show we might want to see to be able, so that they'd be able to come here to us and comfortably perform their show."

"And he did it without you having a clue of what he was up to?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

"I think wow is an understatement," she said, emptying her cup. "Anyway, the performance we're about to see it going to be the theater floor's christening performance, and I don't think that we should keep them waiting too much longer." She started to leave the kitchen.

"Pepper?"

She looked back at him, "Yes?"

"Look, don't take this the wrong way but… but are you sure given everything this is going on right now that letting an entire company of performers that you don't know in the Tower is really a good idea?"

Pepper sighed, knowing and understanding his point,, "Maybe it's not but this is something Tony arranged and paid for months ago. I hate to see everything he put into it go to waste. Besides, Happy is going to be there with a full team, and JARVIS will monitor everyone on the floor to make sure that none of the performers leave the theater floor while we're distracted during the performance. Everything is okay."

Rhodey stared at her for another second then shook his head, "Tony really is something else, isn't he?"

Her eyes were bright, "Yeah, he is." Taking a deep breath she asked, "So you want to watch The Lion King with us?"

"Sure."

"Well, I better go check on the kids and see how much more we need to do to get ready."

Rhodey nodded, "In the meantime, I'll wash up the dishes from breakfast."

"Oh, you don't have to do that!"

"But it's not a problem. There aren't that many, and it'll give you one less thing to have to worry about later."

"Well as long as you don't mind."

"I don't."

"Then thank you."

Ten minutes later, the dishes were done and draining when the three Starks reappeared. Rhodey who had been flipping tge pages of a magazine when they returned, put it down, and stood up.

"We are finally ready," Pepper said as she guided her children towards the elevator.

Eva, who was clutching a stuffed Nala in her arms, looked around the living room before looking at mother again, "Where's Daddy?"

Pepper exchanged a look with Rhodey, then gently said, "Daddy is not here right now. He's gone on a trip, remember?"

"Oh yeah… Daddy's in ribbons," the little girl responded.

"Ribbons?" Rhodey mouthed at Pepper.

"Prison," she mouthed back in reply, wondering where she had heard that word, while at the same time she was glad her daughter hadn't quite understood what she had overheard. She ran a hand over her daughter's hair, "That's right, baby. Daddy's in ribbons."

"When's he coming home?" Ethan asked.

"As soon as he can, honey," their mother replied, praying with every fiber of her being that it was true. "In the meantime, let's go watch The Lion King so you can tell Daddy all about it when he gets home. Okay?"

"Okay." the children chanted in unison, their excitement had returned.

Following them into the elevator, the adults couldn't help but smile as the excited kids began singing I Just Can't Wait To Be King.

Before she knew it, the moment Pepper had been dreading since had agreed to allow Thor to take the children to Asgard, had all too quickly arrived. It was just after dark, and she stood out on the penthouse terrace with one arm wrapped around her son, and holding Eva against her with the other.

She had waited until the last possible moment to tell them that Uncle Thor would soon be coming to take them for a visit to Asgard, his world. She had told them that they were going to be staying with their aunts, and cousins who were already there. She had told them to think of this as a new adventure, an experience in something that most people of the Earth wouldn't get a chance to have. When they asked why, she explained it as best she could, and said it was because Thor's father only allowed very special people to come for a visit on their world.

Eva had seemed excited, and had immediately started rattling off questions that Pepper couldn't answer. Ethan seemed to have just the opposite response than that of his sister, almost immediately becoming silent and withdrawn, especially while he had helped her pack a few things he wanted to take when they left for Asgard. Nothing she had said to Ethan had brought him out of it, and as they waited for Thor's arrival on the terrace, Pepper once more couldn't help but wonder for the thousandth time if she was doing the right thing in sending them away.

Her thoughts were interrupted there was a flash of light, and loud noise on the terrace a few in front of them.

Eva screamed, and buried her face in her mother's shoulder.

Pepper released her hold on Ethan, and began rubbing circles on the trembling child's back, "It's okay, baby. It's just Uncle Thor. See?"

The second his mother released him, Ethan ran forward to his uncle, exclaiming, "That was so cool, Uncle Thor!" Strange but it seemed Ethan was suddenly out of his shell.

Thor smiled at him, recalling the human vernacular meaning of the word, "Indeed." It was only when Thor gestured towards his traveling companion did the boy notice that his uncle had not come alone. "Ethan Stark, this is my friend and ally in arms, Lady Sif of Asgard. Lady Sif, this is Ethan, son of Anthony who is also known as the Man of Iron among the people of Midgard."

Ethan extended his hand towards the stranger, knowing it was alright to speak to her because his uncle knew her. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

Sif smiled at him, and having been prepared by Thor regarding the Midgardian custom of handshaking, gently took the boy's hand, "It is my honor to meet the son of one of Midgard's greatest warriors."

Ethan giggled, "You talk funny!"

Until that moment Pepper hadn't been paying much attention to the meeting as she had been trying to console her frightened daughter. But her motherly sharpened ears easily picked up what her son had just said, and she was instantly walking towards them, "Ethan Stark, what you just said was very rude! Please apologize to your Uncle's friend!"

The boy dropped his head, then muttered, "Sorry."

The Asgardian woman smiled at him, "No offense was taken, young one."

"Still, please accept my most sincere apology," Pepper said.

Sif nodded, "It is accepted, my Lady. However, you should I am the lone maiden warrior within my King's armies and as a consequence have been subjected to far more boorish behavior from many who are far ahead of your son's years. Verily therefore t would take more than the mis-speakings of a young one to cause offense."

Pepper smiles, nodding as Thor resumed the introductions.

"Lady Stark, although you have already met my friend, allow me to introduce Lady Sif of Asgard. And this, my friend, is the Lady Pepper Stark, consort to the Man of Iron." Because of Eva in her arms, Pepper gave a nod to the other woman, "Hello, it's good to meet you, Lady Sif."

In return, Sif offered her a salute and said, "The honor is mine, Lady Stark."

"And last but certainly not least," Thor said, indicating the turned back of the small girl in her mother's arms, "I wish for you to meet Eva Stark, daughter of Anthony." He addressed Sif since the child's face was still buried in her mother's shoulder.

Pepper rubbed her daughter's back, and said gently, "Eva baby, would you like to look up now, and meet your Uncle's friend? She's very nice."

Eva shook her head.

"Please, dear little one, my friend is most eager to make your acquaintance," Thor said in an encouraging tone.

To their surprise, Eva began to lift her head, and then turned to look at the Asgardian woman. "Wow, you're so pretty!"

Sif actually blushed as she replied, "Thank you, little Iron Maiden."

Pepper hoped Eva wouldn't follow her brother's example by commenting on how Lady Sif spoke. She smiled just a second later when her daughter asked in an awestruck voice, "Are you a princess?"

"No, I am not, little one, but I am only a Lady among my people."

"Well you a pretty Lady."

"Thank you."

Pepper smiled, so proud of her daughter, and then she grew serious again, "Well, I guess it is about that time, isn't it?"

Thor nodded, "Indeed."

Pepper began rubbing her back again as Eva immediately reburied her face, and started crying again. With tears in her own eyes, she asked, "May we have a moment please? There are a few things I still need to say to them."

"Of course, dear Lady," Thor replied before he and Sif moved to the far side of the terrace.

Pepper moved them over to a lounge chair so she could sit down and look both of her children in the eye at the same time. "Come sit down beside Mama, sweetheart. I have something important I need to say to you and Evie." She waited until he was seated beside her on the lounger before she wrapped an arm around him, and took a deep breath.

"I need you to both listen to Mommy very carefully, okay?" she asks, receiving nods from both. But she needs to be sure so she asks again, "Can you both be good listeners to what Mommy has to tell you?"

"I need you to both listen to Mommy very carefully, okay?" she asks, receiving nods from both. But she needs to be sure so she asks again, "Can you both be good listeners to what Mommy has to tell you?"

"Uh huh," Eva answers.

"Ethan?" Pepper said when she notices is looking in at his Uncle and Lady Sif's direction, "Honey, are you listening to me?"

"Are we really going to go live on Asgard with Uncle Thor, Mom?"

"You are for just a little while, yes. That's what I want to talk to you about so, honey, I need you to listen to what Mommy is saying now. Okay?"

"Okay," Ethan affirms but keeps his eyes on the Asgardians.

"I also like you to look at Mommy while she's talking," Pepper said, and waits for him to turn his head back towards her. On the other side of the terrace, Thor has taken notice of her predicament, and with a nod leads Lady Sif out of sight inside of the penthouse.

"Ethan?"

"I'm listening," he responded, his tone a bit sullen.

Pepper hoped that this was one of those times her son would absorb what she was saying because to her it still looked like he wasn't listening. Taking a deep breath, she began, "Ethan, Eva, while you're both on Asgard, I want you both to listen and do what your Aunts tell you to do, just like you would Mommy or Daddy, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy."

"Ethan?"

"Okay."

"I pretty sure you're both going to get to meet your Uncle Thor's Mommy and Daddy," Pepper paused, mentally laughing at how she had referred to the King and Queen of Asgard, then continued, "I want you to especially use your manners with them. You should be nice to everyone new you're going to meet on Asgard be extra nice and respectful to them. Okay?"

"Okay," her daughter answered immediately."

"Ethan, sweetie, did your me?"

He responded by nodding his head, and gave a mumbled, "Okay."

She didn't press the issue, knowing that her son would take in things that she had thought he had missed. He was a lot like Tony when it came to that, so instead she said to them both, "Come here. Mommy needs some hugs and kisses before you go off to have lots of adventures with your Aunts and cousins on Asgard!"

She spent a few minutes more giving them both hugs and kisses, muttering how much she loved them both while trying to ignore the two Asgardians standing off to the side nearby, waiting to literally take her children off to a whole new world. Finally though she looked off towards them, and using every bit of resolve she had, she smiled then said, "Come on! Let's not keep your Uncle Thor or Lady Sif waiting any longer."

Pepper stood up, took hold of both of their hands, and the three of them walked over to the Asgardians.