When You're Gone

Disclaimer: Any characters that are not original belong to the gods of Asgard and Marvel Comics. I'm just borrowing them for a bit. Original characters are mine and may be used with permission. Not intended for personal gain, just enjoyment.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

- Rascal Flatts

"Hammer! Hammer!"
"Yeah, we can tell you're hammered. It's pretty obvious."

X Thor Odinson X

Tiny. That was the thought that ran through Thor's mind in the very moment that he saw his children for the first time, and yet he wondered that his delicate looking bride could have born them. A tiny dark haired daughter and light haired son. His heart felt close to bursting. How long had he wished for this day? It seemed to be but a moment now that he stood next to the gilded cradle that his mother had placed within his personal chambers within his private palace. He wanted to shout his joy to every corner of his father's realm, but he dare not, for to do so would wake the sleeping Valkerie who currently occupied his bed, deep within the realm of Niorun* the dreamer. A single strand of her dark hair rested against her pale cheek, her breath calm and deep. Careful to make little noise he removed his cloak and armor, Mjölnir already placed on the floor just inside the door. With a soft sigh he slowly settled his weight onto the bed next to Jane. Barely touching her, he brushed the stray strands away from her face and back behind her ear where they belonged. Leaning down he gently started to kiss his bride awake.

With a contented sigh Jane awoke to the very pleasant feeling of being kissed. Looking into bright blue eyes she smiled and lifted a hand to Thor's cheek. "Hi."

"Good morrow my darling love. Did you sleep well?"

As it did long ago, his old fashioned and very courteous way of speaking brought a tiny giggle from her. "Yeah."

Resting his hand on her cheek, he tilted his head to one side as his smile gentled. "Have you not been sleeping well my Jane? You look to be barely rested."

She nodded as she yawned, "I am tired. They don't sleep more than two hours at a time yet. Another week or two and they'll start sleeping more than that, according to Doctor Evens."

"They are tiny."

She giggled again, "They are. Soon enough they'll be big, and fighting over which one of them will get to train with your hammer."

He nodded, almost laughing at the image she conjured up with her words. They were true enough he knew. Someday one of the two would inherit Mjölnir and take his place as caretaker of Midgard. He only hoped that he would not have to be as harsh with his successor as his father had to have been with him. "Can Darcy not help with them, so that you might sleep longer?"

"She could, but she can't feed them." She nearly laughed as Thor's eyebrows drew together in confusion, before raising nearly to his hairline as he realized what she had implied. Her once small chest was small no longer, and Thor turned a light shade of pink as his eyes came to rest on the milk swollen mounds.

"Oh."

X Steve Rogers X

The Southern California offices of Stark Industries were very neat and tidy. Often very quiet too. It was a bit unnerving for someone used to the hustle and bustle of 1940's New York. Offices weren't that quiet back then, you'd at least be able to hear a constant clicking of typewriters and tickertape machines. But this sort of quiet, Steve Rogers shuddered, was too quiet. Touch screen computers and text messaging machines, were still out of his comfort zone, and he had been awake for nearly a year now. He was glad though that Thor understood his discomfort and shared his distrust of these newfangled gadgets that people had thought up in the 70 years he had been gone. Of course it was not one of those gadgets that tripped him up in the hall way leading to Tony Stark's office. It was a device that was as old as the invention of non-dirt flooring that nearly sent him into a wall, a scrub-brush.

"Are you alright?"

The soft female voice, coupled with the fact that he was braced at a rather odd angle against the wall caused him to flush in embarrassment as he righted himself. Turning he saw a dark haired young woman sitting on the floor with a bucket and dustpan at her side. "I'm fine." He laughed nervously, aware that he was probably keeping her from her job. "Sorry about that. I'm not usually that… umm…"

"Graceful?" She supplied with a small smile. Her blue eyes were dancing with repressed humor as she seemed to size him up. "I wouldn't worry too much if I was you, I'm sure that I was the only one to see your little slip up there."

He laughed. "Thanks. I'm Steve Rogers."

"Freya Asgarda. It's nice to meet you Steve Rogers."

Reaching down he picked up the brush that had tripped him. "Need any help? I'm pretty good with a scrub brush."

She looked skeptically at him before laughing. "Alright. But don't blame me if you get that pretty suit of yours dirty."

He nodded as he settled on the floor next to her. "So how long have you been here?"

"Not long. You?"

He noticed a silver pendant hanging from a cord around her neck. He frowned, it looked very familiar. "Not long. That's an interesting pendant. What is it?"

She looked at him startled, reaching up she touched a finger to it. "This? It's Mjölnir."

"Thor's Hammer." He nodded, "That would be why it seemed familiar then. I work with him. He carries his around with him everywhere." He laughed as he started to scrub at a stain on the tile. "Of course for me I need something a bit newer than that for a weapon."

"Really?" She smiled back at him, "I'd think twice about going up against someone who was ballsy enough to bring a big hammer to a fight, personally."

He shook his head, "Nah, give me a 40's Smith & Wesson .38 caliber any day." He laughed as she mock gasped at him with an overly dramatic pose of her hand on her head and heart. "What can I say times were different when I grew up."

"And when was that if I might ask? The depression?"

He nodded, completely serious. "Yes. Times weren't easy back then. The second Great War didn't help any. Obviously things got better, but still…"

Freya studied Steve's face as he went back to the stain he was scrubbing at. He face was that of a young man, younger than her father certainly, but then who was she to dispute his claim, she wasn't even from this time frame. His name though did ring a few bells though she couldn't think of where she had heard of him before. Sighing she apologized softly.

"It's ok." His blue eyes met her own. "Not many people know. I was out of commission for a long time after all." He brushed a stray hair off of his forehead. "Who wants to admit that America's greatest hero went missing halfway through the War."

It was that statement that made her realize where she had heard of him before. This awkward seeming young man was Captain America, one of her father's best friends and greatest allies. "Oh."

A beep sounded from the speaker set in the wall several feet down the hall. "Captain Rogers to Mister Stark's office please. Captain Rogers to Mister Stark's office please."

"Guess that's my cue to go." He stood and handed her the scrub brush. "It was nice to meet you Freya Asgarda. Hopefully we can talk again sometime."

"That would be nice Steve." Freya's smile faded as she watched him walk away. She didn't know if she could meet him again. Her time in this time was limited. She was here purely to give added security while her father was away in Asgard at her and her brother's presentation. But still, she wouldn't mind bumping into that one again. He was cute after all.

X Freya Thordottir X

Terms:

Niorun: Norse goddess of dreams.

AN: A twist. I hope you enjoyed this week's offering. I'm hoping to get the chapters out every other week now that I'm getting started in fall semester. Love and cookies to all!