"Who has Thor?"

Night mares are no stranger to the inhabitants of the tower. I can't think of one Avenger who hasn't woken up in a cold sweat from some twisted fantasy in the middle of the night. We all deal with our demons in our own ways. I've caught Natasha many times in the common room early in the morning looking out the large picture windows, with Clint not too far away. Whose nightmare it was, is up for deliberation, but of one thing I'm sure-the partners stave off the night terrors together. Bruce tends to descend into the lower level labs in the middle of the night and come up the next morning looking completely bedraggled. I don't imagine that he runs any experiments-there's not much of anything down there-I think it's just a place for him to run away to and release the Hulk if needed. Tony deals with his nightmares in a more constructive way, often finding solace in his problems through the creation of solutions. Nowadays, you can find little Elijah down in the workshop with him, curled in the crook of his arm, because even we, some of the most well-known heroes, have nightmares about our children. I am no different. My nightmares often involve Evy, sometimes even transporting her back to the 1940s where she is in the line of Axis fire. My mind can be quite cruel. After dreams like these, I'll wake up the next morning with a tiny arm strewn across my chest and a head full of red curls right next to my nose. I don't ever recall consciously doing so, but I always figured that in my panic after the dream, I would go to her room and hold her trying to erase my fears and protect her from whatever imaginary villains were lurking in the night. I didn't realize it was my little girl coming to me.

Someone, I won't mention names, set off a stink bomb in Thor's apartment in retaliation his over-exuberant and random use of electromagnetic storms that may or may not have fried said someone's technologically enhanced self-loading quiver. Thor was room-less for a day and a half, forced to sleep on the patio under a blanket. After learning that Thor sleeps in the nude and a few pictures of the nude Norse god going 'viral' as he waved from the patio, I decided to extend an invitation for him to stay with us, with the prerequisite that he must be clothed in my daughter's presence. And so, the god of Thunder became our impromptu house guest.
"Daddy, Tor sleep in my room. I share," Evy told me innocently.
"No, baby, I don't think your room is big enough for Thor. I thought we'd make up the couch for him."
"Oh," she remarked. "Tor eat dinner with us?"
"Yes, Thor will eat dinner with us, and he'll eat breakfast with us too."
The front door shook with each knock, signaling to me that our houseguest had arrived. I opened the door to the giant himself.
"Good day son of Rogers!" Thor greeted me. He handed me a bundle of fur tied in delicate straps. "A token of my gratitude. May it bring you and your house good fortune!" As I was about to thank him, I noticed that the throw in question was not just fur.
"Hello Tor," Evy shyly spoke and Thor knelt down to speak to her properly. I took this moment to undo the straps and look inside the bundle. I peered inside and just barely saw two horns protruding from the blanket. Immediately, I wrapped it up again, meaning to put it somewhere Evy wouldn't find it. 'Magnificent trophy' or not, I'm sure Evy would be traumatized at seeing a blanket with a head still attached. Stealthily moving to the side, I quickly shoved the throw into the closet adjacent to the front door.
"Tor we make bed for you," Evy took his hand and led him to the living room. I shut the closet door quietly, hearing a small thud. Ignoring the sound, I followed them around the corner. Evy was happily showing Thor everything in his makeshift bedroom.
"And daddy put blankies on couch, but I put pillows for you. Pillows are nice."
"I agree young one. Your effort is beyond admirable. I shall enjoy my stay greatly."
Having settled Thor in our living room, I began making dinner. With soup on the stove and sandwiches on the griddle, I divided my focus between the food and my daughter, who insisted that Thor play with her until dinner time. By the time the meal was finished, Thor had shown Evy how to braid several of her doll's hair and she was now practicing on Thor, giggling happily as she stuck sparkling clips in his hair. Thor seemed completely at ease in the situation as he recited stories to her about the glittering city of Asgard.
"Evy? Thor? Dinner's ready and on the table!" I called to them.
"Come on Tor," Evy grabbed the god's hand with her own two little palms and began dragging him to the dining room. "Daddy made grilled cheese!"

Evy has developed the most adorable habit. When she is particularly happy about something, she'll do a little dance. It's not very coordinated or ostentatious, it's just Evy's 'happy' dance. For example, right now she's sitting in her high chair, one quarter of a sandwich in one hand and the other quarter in the other, waving the sandwiches and moving her head about while humming. It gets me because she seems like the happiest little girl in the one world and all that took was half of a grilled cheese. If it was possible, Thor ate the sandwiches with just as much gusto. I think he was on his fifth sandwich when someone knocked at the door. I stood from the table and walked away from the sound of happy munching. I didn't expect to find Clint at the door.
"Clint, this is an unexpected surprise," I greeted him.
"What? Do I need a reason to visit you and my favorite niece?"
"Evy's your only niece."
"Even more reason for my visit."
"I see, and this wouldn't have anything to do with getting payback..." I asked, but didn't let him continue. "Because, I don't want my daughter to witness any of her uncle's shenanigans."
"Have I ever let Evy see any of my shenanigans?"
"Let me rephrase-I don't want my daughter involved in any of your shenanigans...even if it just as a bystander." The archer sighed.
"Tasha wants me to apologize to Thor," I raised my eyebrows suspiciously and the archer retaliated. "Cap, you know she has specific kind of persuasion that you don't ignore."
"So, you just want to make good with Thor," I repeated. "No other motives?"
"I might've come for dinner too, but mostly to apologize."
"All right, you can come in." I relented and let him pass through.
"Uncle Clint!" Evy exclaimed upon seeing the archer. "We has grilled cheeses." He settled in the chair next to her, but not before swiping a sandwich from my plate. I grabbed another sandwich from the platter and settled down at my spot.
"It is true archer, the captain has made a delicious feast for us."
"Grilled cheese night at the Rogerses," Clint held up his sandwich as though to toast.
"Uncle Clint, you sleep wid us too?" Evy asked, munching on the grilled cheese.
"Honey don't talk while you're eating," I reminded her.
"No chickadee," Clint answered, pushing back her red curls. "I actually wanted to talk with Thor."
"What quarrel do you have with me now?" Thor asked.
"No quarrel-just I'm-about your room. It's-I am very...sorry," he stammered.
Thor smiled and slapped Clint on the back, good-naturedly.
"My friend, let there be no regrets between us," he told the archer. "I understand your reasons for retaliation, although I am unsure of why your venom was directed to me-"
"Wait, wait. Are you telling me that you don't think my quiver randomly combusting had anything to do with you?" Clint asked exasperatedly.
"I am afraid I know not of what you speak."
"So my quiver just happened to die in the middle of a freak electromagnetic storm."
"I understand that storms are a common occurrence on Midgard."
"Not indoors!" Clint argued.
"Clint," I warned.
"Cap, he was responsible," Clint countered. "Who else could've done it? Evy?"
"No, daddy says I can't play with electrissy. He say it bad and hurts," Evy explained uncomfortably looking at her plate, completely aware of the tension between her uncles.
"Yeah, it hurt all right," Clint muttered ruefully.
"Archer if you are truly vexed-"
"Oh I'm vexed-"
"Enough," I halted the argument. "Clint you came to apologize-you promised me that you wouldn't cause any trouble. And Thor, you were ready to forgive Clint. You're both adults and, what's more, you're teammates so it's time you acted like it."
"Daddy?" Evy asked timidly. "They go on time-out?" This got a smile from both the archer and the god. I suppose there is a thin line between team leader and den mother.
"They're very close to it, Evy."
"That really bad," she commented morosely. The toddler's serious countenance broke the tension in the room and the three of us started laughing.
"What funny?" Evy asked clearly irritated.
"Oh," I leaned over and gently kissed her forehead. "Wouldn't it be funny if we had to put both your uncles in the corner?"
"They too big daddy."
"Exactly."

The night finished normally enough; Clint stayed to helped with dishes (although I think it had to do with the mint ice cream I promised would be served afterwards) and left on somewhat decent terms with Thor. Trying to get us all to win down, I turned on some Glenn Miller and sat down with the newspaper as Evy lay on the rug coloring up a storm, entranced by Thor's story of the Great Audhild and his hunt for the golden otter. When it was close to her bedtime, I picked Evy up and helped her get ready for bed. With teeth brushed, pajamas on, and prayers said, she ran out to the living room one last time to say goodnight to Thor, who thankfully was wearing sweatpants and a shirt.
"Good night Tor!" she hugged him tightly. "Sweet dweams!"
"And sweetest dreams to you young Evy. May Nótt keep you safely," he told her kindly. She giggled as I gathered her up in my arms and tucked her into the plush blankets of her bed. Once her eyes began drooping and her the grip of her little fingers around the sleeve of my shirt, loosened, I bent down, kissed her head and crept away making sure to turn on the owl nightlight as I left. Making my way to my own bedroom I hazarded a glimpse into the living room where the Norse God slept soundly. With everyone else so peacefully sleeping, I felt my own eyelids beginning to close as I made my way to my room. Quickly changing, I pulled myself into bed, the last thing I recall seeing before sleep took me was her picture on my nightstand-the only glimpse I have seen of her in the last 3 years,

The rain woke me- the drops pelting the roof and windows of the tower. I could hear the low grumble of thunder in the distance with a rapid flash of lightning. The storm came out of nowhere and brought with it a vengeance that could rival any tempest.I sat up in bed. Evy didn't have a solid fear of thunderstorms. Her 'uncle' is the harbinger of thunder and lightning, after all, but I knew that she would be somewhat frightened by the noise-especially if the storm knocked the power and her little night light out. I waited for a few moments, expecting to hear the pitter-patter of little feet run along the carpet and into my bedroom, but after a while, my own need to see her and check her well-being overwhelmed me. I got out of bed and hurried to her bedroom. Peeking through the door I watched her sleeping form curled up under her blankets. My baby was sleeping soundly. I could've sworn I heard something, but it may have just been my sleeping mind. I gently closed the door and backed away. Turning around, I left the little girl to her dreams. As I passed the living room, I caught some movement from the corner of my eye. The lightning flashed again and I caught a glimpse of the god of thunder thrashing about on the couch, muttering. He couldn't be afraid of storms. He must be the one causing this storm! I approached the thunder god meaning to wake him when I heard a crash. I felt a breeze as something swished by me, a metallic tone searing through the air. Thor jumped off the couch, mjolnir in his hand raised above his head. The lightening clashed in an uproar of thunder just as something or someone slammed into the closet by the front door. As the lightening flashed, it illuminated a creature rising in the dark, like a shadow feeding off our fears. It gambled forward, it's horns raised above a head of golden fur. The height was nothing spectacular, but its sheer appearance in the apartment was disturbing enough. On reflex, the bleary-eyed Thor let his hammer fly at the monster.
"Begone ye devil!" It was the split moment before the hammer made contact that I noticed hands reaching up from the fur. Before the hammer had even returned to its master, I was running over to the doubled-over blanket of fur. I tugged the blanket until it revealed its unlucky wearer. Clint looked up to me, clutching his stomach.
"Hi cap," he grunted as he sat up. Upon realizing the identity of the intruding 'devil,' Thor set mjolnir down, the lightning and thunder, lulling to a stop.
"I knew it!" Clint groaned again, trying to point a finger at Thor. "I knew you were making this happen again-"he abruptly fell back.
"Clint, stay down. Jarvis? I need you to do a full body scan."
"Forgive me, my friend, I did not realize it was you," Thor knelt by the archer's side. Clint looked down to the blanket surrounding him.
"Yeah-sure-it wasn't your fault," he turned to me. "Who keeps things like this in their closets?" I refused to respond.
"Captain Rogers, there appears to be no internal damage beyond several bruised ribs. Mr. Barton is very lucky."
"Definitely a miracle," I muttered.
"You were very fortunate that you wore this skin," Thor gestured to the fur throw. "Its hide can not be penetrated by even the most skilled hunters. To best it, you need wit, tact and cunning-" Thor stopped abruptly, his demeanor changing for a split moment.
"This thing softened your hammer's blow?" Clint asked. "Cap, I'm keeping it."
"Nay," Thor interjected. "It saved you from the fall; I did not release the full might of mjolnir for fear of the babe."
"Oh, yeah sure. You only sorta threw it at me," he barked out a laugh, immediately clutching his side afterwards. "It doesn't feel like that."
"Jarvis? Can we move him safely?"
"With Mr. Odinson's help, you both should be able to transfer him safely."
"Thor? Grab his legs and support his back, I'll hold his shoulders and torso-let's move him to the couch." With two careful heaves we carried Clint to the couch, despite his protests.
"I'm fine!" he snapped. "I don't understand why you're treating me like an invalid."
"Considering you can't laugh without severe pain, I think it best you stay here until morning." We set him carefully on the couch, when I heard Evy call for me.
"Daddy!" she called. "Daddy?"
"I'll be right back," I told the two men. I strode quickly into her room where she waited for me, sitting up in her bed, waiting for me, rubbing her eyes.
"Daddy," she called again.
"I'm here honey, what's wrong?"
"Daddy I hear big noise," she told me.
"It was probably the thunder baby," I explained.
"But I hears uncle Clint too," she protested.
"Uncle Clint came to check up on us," I told her hoping to not get too far into the details of Uncle Clint's visit.
"Daddy they really loud," she told me. "It bedtime daddy and they making noisey noises." She rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"I'll go ask them to keep it down, but you have to go back to sleep, all right?"
"Oh-tay daddy," I helped her back into her swaddle of blankets. "Daddy?" She asked me once more before reaching up and giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Give to uncle Clint, pwease," she said and fell back into her bed.
"I'll tell him you said good night, you can save your kiss for him in the morning," I replied. Tucking her back into her comforter, I gave her another kiss on the forehead and left her. I could overhear the two men, faintly, arguing about something. Sighing, I closed the door halfway, hoping to keep one grumbling baby occupied while I dealt with the other two.
"I knew it!" I heard Clint accuse Thor.
"I know not of what you speak of."
"This," Clint raised his hands in the air, gesturing to the area around him. "For the last week, there has been non-stop thunder storms. Coincidence? Not likely." Clint was right, there had been some impromptu and brief thunder storms the last few nights. Living with the god of thunder, these sudden changes in weather had become routine in the daytime. I don't recall having so many episodes in the evening that weren't predicted by the weather channel.
"I may have unleashed the will of the norns, but it was not my meaning to do so."
"You didn't mean to? I thought you were the 'Thunderer!' Not some half-cock rookie with no control over his power."
"Clint," I halted the argument. "It's almost two in the morning and you're both keeping Evy awake. Let's talk about this in the morning."
"But-"
"The later half of the morning in which we have all slept and can discuss this rationally," I continued turning to Thor and lowering my voice. "There has been more storms than I'd like to admit in the last few nights."
"Regrettably, son of Rogers. I will endeavor to keep the elements at bay until dawn." I put my hand on his shoulder, preventing him from turning away.
"Have you really lost control of the storms?"
"Nay," he answered abruptly. "The storms heed my every command…"
"When you're awake," I added. "I noticed you had some trouble sleeping earlier-could it be linked to whatever dream you were having?"
"I do not recall…"he muttered.
"Has something been bothering you?" I pressed further.
"I am light in spirit," he answered.
"Maybe it's all the poptarts!" Clint called from the couch. He held an empty package in his hand.
"How many poptarts have you had? Tonight."
"I've had such misfortune! The man of iron insists that I limit my supply to a meager five a day."
"Five poptarts?"
"Five boxes."
"I'm inclined to agree with Clint on this," I told him. "Lay off the sugar and the sleeping problems will stop." I could feel sleep overwhelm me again.
"Perhaps, I shall heed your advice captain."
"Good. For now, I suggest we all get some rest," I looked to my right where the archer lay on the couch. "No shenanigans. Just rest. Am I clear?"
"Aye aye cap," Clint saluted me.
"Good," I began to walk away. "Oh and Evy says good night. She sends you a kiss, but I don't think you wanted me to pass that on."
"I'm good," Clint agreed. "No offense, but her kiss coming from you isn't the same." I bid both my teammates a good night and with one last check on the sleeping baby, I went back to my room. Turning off the light and pulling the covers over me, I let myself drift to sleep.

About an hour later, the storm started again-the rain pounding against the pains of the tower's large picture windows, its drops solidifying into ice pellets. The lightning flashed creating a scar in the deep black sky as the thunder rumbled. I opened my eyes reluctantly to the sound of the winds howling as it failed to enter the tower. Rubbing my eyes, I prepared myself for the dangers of waking a sleeping thunder god when it all stopped. The raining petered down until all that remained was a faint mist upon the glass windows. The thunder died away to a gentle humming. The ugly scar in the sky closed and as the menacing clouds began to dissipate, a clear fall evening was revealed. I kept awake for a few moments; I suspected that Clint had already woken him, but I did not hear movement, muttering or complaining coming from the living room. Deciding that I had better confirm my suspicions, I got out of bed for the second time that night and found my way quickly to the dark living room. The two men were asleep: the archer lay on the couch, propped by a few pillows; the Asgardian reclined on the blanket and pillow strewn floor. Confused, I squinted my eyes surveying the room for the cause of the sudden calm. Thor could have woken himself, but I am sure I would have heard it. Just as I turned to the right, wiping the sleep away from my eyes, I noticed something furry next to Clint's arms. I thought it was the blanket with the head, but Thor had taken the liberty of using that blanket for the night. Instead, in the crook of Clint's arm, I could barely make out the fuzzy head of a teddy bear. That was strange. We did not leave any stuffed animals in the living room-Evy would not have left one of her 'animables' in the living room when it was bedtime. Every single toy or stuffed animal had to be tucked-in and kissed goodnight before Evy would even think about getting to bed herself. And, if I'm not mistaken that's Barney with the blue ribbon. He is one of Evy's oldest stuffed animals and has earned the privilege of a comfy spot on her pillows. So unless Clint snuck in and grabbed Barney, which I highly doubt, I have no idea how he possibly made his inanimate way into Clint's arms. Trying to think of a way to sneak Barney back to Evy before morning, I glanced over to Thor. He was cradling something as well. Peering closer, I had all my questions immediately answered. Curled up on Thor's chest, little hands gripping his T-shirt, Evy slept soundly in her uncle's arms. I had every intention of moving her, but the way she was snuggled so deeply, made me think otherwise. Leaning the armchair back, I sat down, pulling a blanket around me. The next time I woke, it was dawn. Clint and Thor were still asleep, but I noticed my little redhead stirring. She sat up and yawned as I reached down to pick her up.
"Daddy," she said softly. "You sleeped with us."
"I did," I answered quietly taking her in my arms, and carrying her to the kitchen. "But why were you out here, honey?"
"Daddy, I heard big noise," she explained.
"The thunder?"
"No," She replied. "Uncle Tor. Daddy uncle Tor had a nightmare. He talked when he sleeped, like daddy."
"I talk in my sleep?" I asked her.
"Sometimes, when you really scared and has a nightmare, you talk and you say 'Evy' lots."
"I do?"
"Yeah and I go to daddy and I try to talk but you just want to sleep, so I sleep by you."
"Was Thor calling for you?"
"No, he talked lots."
"He was scared."
"He was sad, daddy. Tor really sad." This surprised me. The exuberant god of thunder was sad? It didn't seem possible. What could make the god of thunder, one of the mightiest Asgardians-sad?
"So you stayed with him?"
"Yes daddy. Tor feel better," she explained.
"That was very kind of you."
"Nightmares-daddy-nightmares are scary but when I have them, you have me and they go away," she explained. "Daddy, who does Thor has?"
"I guess, he has you," I told her.
"Yeah," she confirmed yawning slightly. "I have him."