Steve and Tony practically attached themselves to me even though I told them many times I just wanted to be alone. Alex had kept his distance, being the understanding guy he usually was. I was about to explode with all the sympathy that was being thrown my way. There was the matter of me not having enough energy to push them away either which wasn't helping. If it hadn't been for the rotating guard duty I wouldn't have been able to get rid of them at all. Tony was first even if he kept trying to put the duty on someone else. He was itching to speak to me alone.

"Come on flat top, can't you give it to someone else? Naiira needs me." Tony whined when Alex came to get him.

"Can't do it Tony and stop calling me flat top. Besides, she's been trying to get rid of you two all night." He muttered. Tony looked at me with sad eyes, but I raised a hand before he could say anything.

"You know it's true Tony, don't deny it." I even glanced at Steve who smiled sheepishly. Tony looked unhappy with the statement but went without anymore argument. Alex gave Steve a meaningful look before giving me a quick kiss on the forehead and leaving.

"Look, I know you want to be alone. I'd just like you to hear me out for a moment." Steve explained before I could ask him to leave.

"I guess it was something you couldn't say in front of Tony?" I asked. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Maybe if I let him get whatever it was off his chest I could be left to my thoughts. To make sure we got privacy I pulled him into one of the empty rooms and closed the door.

"Alright, no one around, shoot." I took a seat on one of the benches attached to the wall and crossed my legs. Since the whole breakdown I had changed clothes. I was wearing a pair of skinny jeans, black boots, and a red lycra short sleeved top that hugged my neck. I'd even taken the time to tie up my hair with a hair clip. It had grown out again, it did that when I transformed.

Steve didn't sit, he took a deep breath before standing right in front of me.

"Naiira, I'm not really sure how to explain this, but I was really worried about you when Loki took you." There was something in his movements that made me nervous. Steve was essentially my best friend. We did a lot together…oh god. That twitching movement, the slight hesitance in gaze, and the fact that he wanted to be alone…he couldn't. Was I really so stupid as to not have noticed? He took the seat next to me, taking my hand in his as he seemed to be composing himself. My voice was completely caught in my throat. What was I supposed to say?

"You're the only person I've ever really talked to about Peggy and I appreciated having someone to listen really. You reminded me a lot of her for a while and just having you around made me feel much more relaxed." Shit, he was going to tell me that he liked me. I felt my cheeks light up, the heat in my head almost dizzying. Wait…why was this so bad? Loki didn't want me, there was no way I'd date Alex again, and wasn't dating your best friend usually the best option in these matters? On the other hand my heart was still in tatters from losing the one man I thought I cared about. What was I supposed to do?

"When we were at the diner before the tesseract was stolen, I told you it hurt less to think of Peggy, that I'd met someone else. When I said she didn't feel the same, I hadn't actually asked her at the time. It hasn't been so long since then, but I want to ask you something. Do you...like me?" I knew I wasn't over Loki yet, no matter how much I wanted to be. What was I supposed to do here? I loved Steve, very much, but I didn't think it was in that way. I'd been wrong before though right? When I thought of Loki I still felt an ache in my heart. Then my mind went in a direction I feel it shouldn't have. Why not? Why couldn't I try to be happy with someone who actually gave a shit about me? I wouldn't have to dance around with Steve. He was the perfect guy for any girl really and here he was so close to me.

Without thinking I turned to him and pressed my lips to his. The grip he had on my hand tightened and then relaxed as he placed his hands on either side of my face, pulling me closer. I couldn't help it, the tears ran down my cheeks. It didn't feel right, this was not how it was supposed to be. There was nothing, I felt nothing and it hurt. He must have noticed the tears as they fell onto his thumbs because he pulled away, looking at me with worry.

"Naiira?" He asked. I looked into his blue eyes and knew I'd made a mistake. I'd given him hope where there was none. I was a horrible person.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered, shaking my head in defeat. He sighed and pulled me against his side. Why the hell was it always ending up like this? I was an emotional mess ever since Loki came back. Was his influence really so debilitating? There was a warmth in Steve's arms that comforted me. When the tears stopped I looked up at him again.

"Did I upset you?" He asked, compassion in his eyes.

"No, forgive me I'm just a mess. This whole ordeal has left me a bit overwhelmed." I muttered, wiping the tears from my cheeks. He nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, I just…didn't want to waste time in case I happened to lose you. I didn't get to tell Peggy and I regret that more than anything." How was he so good at this? Perhaps it was because Steve was a genuine person, someone who didn't like to lie to the people he cared for.

"I'm so sorry Steve, but I can't. You're amazing, a beautiful and genuine person but...I just can't." I hoped I wasn't hurting him too much. My curiosity had gotten the better of me.

"Naiira..."

"I just...I love you Steve, really, but not in the way you want me to. Forgive me." I sobbed. Was I going to lose him now? Would he abandon me for not returning his feelings. Steve's hands brushed gently through my hair.

"It's okay, shhh it's okay." He whispered sweetly into my ear.

"How is it okay? I care about you but I can't give you what you want. Despite all that I don't...I don't want you to abandon me! How can I be so selfish?" I cried out. He shook his head.

"It's okay because I know you care Naiira. That's more than I ever thought I'd get in this lifetime. I won't abandon you, I'm going to be by your side until you tell me to go away." He told me. The sobs came harder as I gripped tightly to his shirt. Steve was always there for me when I needed him. Ever since we met we had an almost cosmic connection. We were alike in so many ways but...it wasn't meant to be more than that.

"Never, never." I muttered over and over again. He cupped my chin, making me look at him. He was crying too and that made it worse. I never wanted to hurt him.

"Can I say it? Just once?" He asked. I felt my heart speed up. I was afraid, so afraid that I ruined things for him that I let him have this one thing. I nodded in agreement. He pulled me close, my face buried in his shoulder.

"I love you Naiira." He whispered, I could hear the tears in his voice. I cared for him so deeply, he was my family. He deserved better.

"I love you too Steve. I just wish we'd met at a different time." Maybe if we'd met each other earlier I'd feel the same. We sat there in silence comforting each other. It was going to take a while to recover from this. I just hoped I could help Steve get through it, even if it meant leaving him alone for as long as it took.

!

!

!

Thor wanted to give Naiira space, but there was not much time left. The group had agreed to relinquish Loki to his custody so Asgard could exact punishment. The now deactivated tesseract was also to go with them…which included Naiira herself. Everyone had argued on this point, reasons she should stay on Earth. Yet in the end it was decided she wouldn't be safe here. Asgard would be able to protect her power, help her understand who and what she was. He had hoped that the man of iron or the red white and blue fellow would have said something by now, but it seemed she still knew nothing.

So it came to him to explain the situation. She wouldn't be happy because it meant going somewhere with Loki. Though when they reached Asgard he was sure she'd love it there and his brother would be in the dungeons.

"Hey Thor!" The god turned to find the Midgardian Alex standing there. He held Naiira in his arms. From the position she was in, it seemed she was sleeping peacefully.

"It seems I was unable to find her before she succumbed to sleep. Might I take her Alex?" Thor saw Alex struggle a bit with her. The grateful look was obvious on his face as he handed her over. Indeed she did feel slightly heavy, but that was most likely because of her awakened state. The magick running through her was able to increase her weight, not her mass. To Thor she felt like Mjolnir, the same shock of energy running through his arms.

"I don't remember her being that heavy." He muttered.

"Do not worry Alex, she has simply gained energy that gives her the feeling of being heavy." Thor explained. Alex nodded, stretching. Had the human really had that much trouble carrying her? Surely he cared deeply for her if he even brought her this far.

"No one has told her by the way. I don't think I can bring myself to. That brother of yours upset her pretty bad so I don't know how she'll take this." He said. Thor nodded.

"I will tell her when she awakens." Alex smiled gratefully and led Thor to her room where he could set her down on a bed. Alex tucked her in, his fingers lingering on the top of the sheets before he stepped away. There was something about this girl that seemed to make all who came in contact with her care for her. It was good trait to have.

"She'll come back right? I mean, she won't be on Asgard forever right?" Thor faced the man with a reassuring look on his face.

"I am not certain. Yet I will be sure to let her visit Earth as much as possible. No doubt she will miss you and her other friends very much." Thor commented. Alex nodded though that didn't seem to be enough for him. Not knowing what else to say, the god placed a hand on his shoulder, leaving first out into the hallway. Alex followed, saying something into his com and walked off down a separate hall. These agents always seemed to be working. Thor would be glad to get home and get this over with. An aftershock was sure to come and the realms were still in trouble from the Jotunn threat. He'd need to sort out the worlds before he could see Jane again. He sighed, there would be no sleep tonight. Now he needed to stand here and wait, the poor girl deserved at least a few hours of good rest.

!

!

!

I awoke in a bed and when I rolled over I practically jumped out of my skin. Thor was sitting there grinning like an idiot.

"Jesus Christ! You scared the shit out of me." I mumbled. He backed his chair up so I could throw my legs over the side of the bed and fully sit up.

"How did I get in here?" I asked him.

"Alex brought you half way. It seems you are heavier after your awakening." I nodded, not really caring. I looked at the clock on the tiny side table. It was 6:30 am, I'd been asleep for about 4 hours but I felt amazing. How was that possible? Somehow I figured it had something to do with my new powers.

"Was there something you wanted?" I asked, stretching a few of my stiffer joints.

"Yes, it is about the meeting we had." Oh yeah, I totally forgot about that. They were supposed to decide what the hell was supposed to happen to Loki and probably discuss me while they were at it. Thor was about speak again when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I called. Tony opened the door with a rather frustrated look on his face.

"Fury wants us all on deck. It's time for that explanation kiddo." His eyes moved to Thor and narrowed.

"It seems Fury will tell you then Lady Naiira. Shall we go?" Thor helped me up, leading me out of the room with Tony close behind. Tony came up beside me, wrapping an arm around my neck as we walked.

"Whatever they say to you, I want you to know I disagreed." He whispered in my ear. I was confused, but he gave no further explanation. We walked into the room above the cockpit where most everyone was already sitting at the large circular table. Hawkeye was sitting with Natasha their backs to the big window that looked out into the sky. Alex was closest to them, his arms crossed, but there was a smile on his face as I entered the room. Bruce was talking to Maria Hill, but he looked up when we entered. Steve sat opposite them, the seat next to him wide open. I took it, feeling a bit awkward but comfortable at the same time. Tony took the seat on the other side of me, Thor taking the seat beside Bruce. Fury was at the head of the table facing the cockpit below. When we all sat down he looked up.

"Naiira, I would like you to give us a description of what happened under Loki's control." Wow, he didn't waste any time did he? There was no harm in it and I wanted most of the people at the table to know anyway.

"When he first took control I could see things but I couldn't fully grasp what was going on. It was like being in a drug daze. Then…someone talked to me."

"By someone you mean Loki?" Maria asked. I shook my head.

"He said his name was Thanos." Thor visibly tensed in his seat. Fury's eyes shot to him.

"You know this name Thor?" He asked. The god nodded, frowning.

"Thanos, the mad titan, he is an Eternal of the Saturn moon Titan. He is said to possess great power and intelligence. What was he doing in your mind?" Thor asked. It helped to know a little about the crazy looking creature. A huge man with smooth red skin, bright blue eyes, and strange skin tight armor. I described him to the others.

"That is indeed Thanos, what did he say to you?" Thor asked.

"He told me he had found Loki after he fell from the bridge. That he had tortured him to break his will and ultimately take control of his mind. The Chitauri, Loki, the plan to take Earth, he said they were just plans meant to eventually capture me." The others listened in rapped attention.

"No way, that Loki is nuts he had to want some of this madness. There is no way that mad titan guy just took over him and that was that." Tony argued.

"You must not underestimate Thanos. He is capable of destroying worlds and has done so before. It would not surprise me that in a weakened state, Loki's mind could have been corrupted to murder." Was Thor really standing up for his brother? I had to admit the whole thing couldn't have been Loki's fault alone but in my frustration I wished I could blame him outright.

"When I saw him I somehow knew who he was as if I had met him before. He called me Naiiat and said there were others like me, other infinity stones as he called them." Everyone turned to Thor again to see if he had answers to this particular point in the story.

"I have heard of the infinity stones but know little about them. My father would know of them." Now I had to tread carefully. There was little I wanted them to know about when I merged with the Tesseract and how someone who looked like Loki saved my life. The whole guardian/anchor thing would need to be kept under wraps as well.

"So these infinity stones, did he say he wanted them?" Fury asked. I shrugged.

"He said he wanted to possess me so I imagine he'd want the others if we are some sort of set. There was also something about the tesseract being a cosmic cube, a sealing device that keeps the infinity stones from active state." Fury looked interested then. I could play this off as coming from Thanos instead of the Loki look alike from the cube.

"Yes, that would make sense. Naiira is a powerful entity whose powers were sealed in the cosmic cube and sent to earth." Thor muttered. I reached for the purple gem now hanging from a silver chain around my neck. I wouldn't tell them about Handele unless I had to. It was impossible to know who I could trust with the knowledge that wouldn't try to stop me.

"The scepter, it had a similar resonance to the cube, any chance there's another being running around like Agent Stark?" Fury was no fool, he knew exactly what to ask. Thor shook his head.

"Heimdall, the gatekeeper of Asgard, has eyes on all the worlds. Unless they are well hidden I'd say not. Naiira is one of a kind." Thor looked at me, as if he knew something.

"That cube however is older than even me. Even if there are no others like her, she may have had many lives before this one." He continued. Everyone looked towards me.

"A life…before this one?" Tony asked.

"If what Thanos said was true, if what I've started remembering is real, then I've had at least one other life. How much time has separated these events is something I do not know." I told them.

"That's why we've decided that Agent Stark should accompany Thor and Loki on the return to Asgard. Odin may know more about this than we could ever understand." Fury explained. My attention turned to Tony who was looking at Fury with anger. Then my gaze moved to Steve who was downright avoiding my gaze. Even Alex couldn't seem to look me in the eye. So they had all eventually agreed to let me go, some more reluctant than others. Bruce looked apologetic, Hawkeye looked indifferent as always, and Natasha looked the same.

"My father would be able to help you. Asgard would help you Naiira, and I need your power to return. Without you the cube will be unable to transport Loki and I through space to the land eternal." I was in shock. I'd have to leave my family, all my friends behind and yet…my hopes to know who I was and why I had come here were overriding most of my reason. I wanted to know things I could not possibly discover here. So in this my heart and mind were torn. I needed no time however, I knew what I wanted.

"I'll go." I looked straight at Thor who seemed utterly confused by my answer.

"You're joking right?! You can't just leave!" Tony yelled. I looked him straight in the face with a stern gaze.

"I love you Tony, but I want to know more about myself." I was frustrated and yet I understood why he was so upset.

"I already know who you are! You are Naiira Stark, my daughter! What else do you need to know?" He yelled at me.

"Dad." I sighed, shaking my head.

"I need this and I'm not going to leave you forever. I'm sure Odin will have a way for me to contact you anyway. Just let me do this." I begged him. Despite having to see Loki, despite what happened with Steve, and despite all those I cared for here I needed to find myself. It was time to do something for me and me alone. No more depending on others, no more emotional turmoil, just me making my own decisions. Tony wouldn't agree fully, but all I needed was a little time. Then I'd be back on Earth once more with my father.

No one said anything else so Fury stood.

"So it's agreed then. Naiira will go to Asgard with Thor until further notice." Tony pushed back his chair back and left the room without a word.