Chapter 21

Outside of Castlegar, Canada

Bruce sighed as he cleaned up the remnants of his latest experiment in his lab. He looked at the shards of glass that were now in the bin letting a sigh escape him. Yet another failed experiment. What was this the 20th one in a row? How long ago was it when he managed to complete an experiment without it blowing up in his face, literally? What must it be a couple of years? Was it possible he was getting worse at science? No he probably just needs a break. Ever since the Avengers split he's been chucking himself into his work, never taking a break. It's safe to say that he's never properly got over Natasha's death. There's not a week that goes by that he doesn't think of her or the other Avengers, wondering if they're still alive and ok. He's thought of trying to call them numerous times, especially Tony he's missed his science bro, but has always talked himself out of it. He's even thought about trying to be a hero again but again he knew the world would never accept the Hulk without a team and that would only put himself and Betty on the Hulk Buster Unit's raider again. They'd gone years without an incident with the Hulk Buster Unit and he wasn't prepared to jeopardise that.

Cleaning his glasses he went over to the sink to wash his hands. Humming away quietly to himself he washed his hands before going to clean up the rest of the lab. He hadn't done much when he heard Betty shouting on him from upstairs.

"BRUCE! BRUCE GET UP HERE QUICK! BRUCE!" Betty screamed. Bruce dropped the papers before running but the stairs blood pounding in his ears. Was someone finally here? Had the Hulk Buster Unit finally found them?

When he finally reached the living room he saw Betty standing with an apron around her waist, hand over mouth and staring at the TV. Bruce gave a silent laugh shaking his head here was he thinking the Hulk Buster Unit was finally here when in reality it was the TV. What soap opera character was dying now? Betty was very passionate about soap operas; she always got too attached when it came to the characters.

"What is it Betty?" he asked calmly. If this was about yet another character dying.

"The TV! Bruce look at the TV!" Betty cried. Rolling his eyes Bruce walked over to Betty and looked at the TV before his eyebrows shot up. there on the TV was none other than Rosie Marie Virginia Stark but she looked so grown up.

"So Rosie, what encouraged you to get back into the suit?" the interviewer asked. Rosie smiled at the interviewer a little before leaning back in the chair.

"Well some new information has come to light that has encouraged me to go back to my suit and words cannot describe how good it is to be back in that heap of metal." Rosie smiled.

Bruce narrowed his eyes. New information? What could be big enough to encourage her to break her deal with Tony and go back into the suit? As far as he was concerned Rosie and Tony made a deal with each other to give up the suits unless the world was being attacked or something and both Starks always kept their promises when it came to deals with friends and family. It was clear that the world wasn't being attacked because one he would be getting a call from S.H.I.E.L.D. telling him it was time to come back and secondly she would be with other superheroes planning a strategy so what was she doing back in the suit? What could possibly be big enough for her to break her promise? Does this mean Tony's back as well he's just not confirmed it yet? They carried on chatting until a particular question caught his attention.

"So I know everyone listening to this wants to know the answer to the biggest question in the world at the moment," the interviewer leant closer to Rosie, "Does your return to the suit mean that the Avengers are re-assembling?" Rosie froze before her face fell. Looking away from the interviewer she slowly shook her head. The camera zoomed in on her face so you could clearly see the sadness in her eyes which her hair had failed to hide. Coughing slightly she looked up before looking directly at the interviewer.

"Just because I'm back in the suit doesn't mean the Avengers are. As much as I want it to happen the fact that the Avenger will once again assemble is highly unlikely and we need to accept the fact that it may never happen, end of." Rosie muttered weakly. The interviewer coughed awkwardly before quickly moving onto the next question.

"Oh the poor girl. Surely they can't ask her a question like that! It only brings up bad memories! The whole world knows why you split!" Betty cried. Bruce just shrugged continuing to look at the girl on the screen who had grown up so much since he'd last seen her. The Avengers. His family. Why did they have to split? Why couldn't they have worked past it? Why couldn't they have just stayed together? Why was he here in Canada hiding from the world? He should be out there! He should be in New York! He should be there to support his nice! See his family if there even there! That's it. He's had enough of hiding. That's all they've done for what the past six years? He's had enough. He's done with hiding. He's going to New York. Quickly he turned on his heels and sped towards the lab without a word.

"Bruce? Where are you going?" Betty cried chasing after him.

"I'm booking a flight!" Bruce shouted over his shoulder as he thundered down the stairs.

"To where?" Betty asked as she flew down the stairs after him.

"To New York!" Bruce smiled. Betty's eyes lit up as soon as he said the words. New York? They were going back?! It wasn't that she didn't love their house here she really did but New York was her home, Avengers Tower was her home. Yes they will most likely not get back to the tower but she'd take New York any day! Bruce looked over to his wife and his smiled got bigger at her excitement. At least she was happy with going back.

"Really?" she asked wearily. Bruce nodded to which she squealed in delight and ran over to hug him. Bruce kissed her lips before pulling away and sniffed the air.

"Do I smell burning?" he asked cautiously. As if on cue the smoke alarm went off, the beeps echoed through the house. Betty looked around confused before realisation suddenly hit her.

"OH MY GOD THE DINNER!" she screamed turning on her heels and running up the stairs. Bruce laughed quietly to himself as she disappeared out the door. Only Betty could forget about the tea because of an interview. Oh what was he on about? He would have to. Shaking the thought out of his head he went over to the computer and started to look for the earliest flight to New York.

Puente Antiguo, New Mexico

Thor stood in the living room of his house glaring at the TV remote. Yet again the magical remote was causing him trouble. All he wanted to do was turn up the sound so he could watch his nature programs, which he always finds amusing, but had ended up changing the channel but he ended up changing the channel onto another one and couldn't change it back. Scowling at the remote he pressed another button this time read writing that read mute showed up in the corner of the screen that was not what he wanted.

He was still staring at the remote five minutes later when Jane walked in from work. A smile crossed her face as she walked over to her husband and put her hand on his shoulder snapping him out of his daze. Thor's head snapped up bewildered causing's Jane's smile to widen.

"Is everything ok here sweetie?" she smiled. This always happened to Thor after a couple of weeks in Asgard he always forgot how to use nearly every electrical devise there is. She'd already spent all of yesterday getting him used to using Midgardian inventions after he'd come back from Asgard over a week ago.

"The magical box works against the prince of Asgard!" Thor grumbled. Jane laughed before taking the remote out of his hands.

"If you wanted to watch your nature programs honey you just needed to tell me," Jane kissed his check. Quickly she took it off mute before her mouth dropped at the woman on the screen.

"Is that?" Jane choked.

"Lady Rosie?" Thor gasped. Jane nodded slowly before taking Thor's hand as they both watched the interview shell shocked. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. Rosie was back in the suit. The interview was only a couple of minutes in when Thor jumped up a huge smile on his face. Jane watched her husband with a smile on her face. Living with Thor never had a dull moment.

"Lady Jane our friends must be assembling again and we will join once again in glorious battles! We must travel back home to Avengers Tower!" Thor cried. Jane smiled up at him but her smile quickly faded when Thor stuck out his hand and realisation hit her. He was calling Mjolnir. In the house. Oh god he was calling Mjolnir in the house! Jane went to stop him but it was too late Mjolnir had already smashed through the wall, through the TV and into his hands. Jane forced herself to supress a groan whilst making her think of the bigger picture she can pay for the damages.

"Of course Thor, of course. You start packing I'll handle the flights now let me warn you know when they ask you to put all items in the trays that doesn't mean you take of your clothes and fight the guards when they tell you to drop Mjolnir," Jane looked at him sternly. Thor smiled down at his wife sheepishly. Last time they went to the airport Thor had taken off his clothes, put them in the tray, refused to give up Mjolnir, smashed up the metal detector when it beeped and long story short got them banded from the airport.

"I promise I will do whatever you tell me to my beloved," he smiled.

"Good, now go get packed," Jane smiled jumping up to peck his lips.

John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York a couple of days later

Thor carried both Jane and his suitcases as they made their way through the busy airport to the exit. Thor had kept to his promise and did whatever Jane had asked him too but only Jane meaning if a member of staff asked him to do something Jane had to tell him to do it. Going through security with Mjolnir had been an experience in itself. Basically security had panicked when they saw it in the scanner and pointed guns at them. After a bit of explaining that Thor was the Asgardian Thor and he would do nothing to hurt anyone they had let the on the plane.

Once they were finally out of the airport and started looking for a cab. There was a free one not too far away so she motioned for Thor to follow her which he did quite happily. The couple raced to the cab just as a brunet did the same thing. Jane looked up to argue when Thor spoke.

"Friend Bruce!" he cried.

"Thor!" Bruce gasped. Thor dumped the bags before walking over to Bruce and locking him in a bone crushing hug. Both Betty and Jane watched their husbands laughing before catching up. after the taxi driver shouted at them asking wither they were going or not they decided that the woman would get the cab and the men would go on a head. Thor quickly took Mjolnir out of his suit case before grabbing onto Bruce, swinging his hammer and flying off much to the delight/shock to the civilians around them.

Avenger Tower, New York

Rosie, Alisa and Mello all sat in the main floor of the tower. Rosie was arguing with Hope on the phone about, as usual, Scott Summers whilst Mello told Alisa about Asgard.

"Asgard is splendid daughter of Clint; I will have to show you sometime. Ro how does another trip to Asgard sound?!" Mello shouted over to her. Rosie gave her a thumb up before holding a hand to the mike on her phone.

"As long as I don't have to see Odin I'm in!" Rosie winked before going back to her phone, "Hope you're an adult sort it out with words not eye blasts!"

"Odin? What happened there?" Alisa asked.

"Oh well Rosie and Odin do not get along at all. On her first trip to Asgard- oh Odin! Thor and Bruce are on the balcony!" Mello screamed. Rosie quickly hung up on Hope before both her and Mello ran over to the door and out onto the balcony to greet the remaining Avengers. The four of them quickly walked into the tower and introduced Alisa to which they acted the same as the others. With all the Avengers back it only left one question would they stay that way?