For a year or so Gem helped with the clean-up. Helped to rebuild what her father had torn down. She was sitting in her apartment one night, when a sense of dread washed over her, something terrible had happened. Not two days later, Odin appeared to her. Frigga had been killed in an attack. Gem sank to the floor at the news her grandfather had brought her.

"There is more." He spoke gravely.

"I don't think I can take more."

"You can. You have always had a strength none us had." There was a small sad smile on his face as he spoke this. Before she could contradict him, he continued on. "Your father was also killed; he died a hero. He was saving your uncle."

The very breath that her lungs held left her. All this time she had held his actions of one moment against him and now he was gone forever. Gem gave a silent scream as yet more tears broke free, she could not stop crying, this was too much. When she looked up at last her grandfather was gone. She now felt truly alone.

Natasha had been watching Gem for weeks. She had been trying to figure out who she was. Where had she come from? The night Odin had visited the girl, Natasha had nearly fainted. This girl was from Asgard. She had watched her break down in tears, watched her grieve alone. Natasha could understand that. What she could not understand, why was this girl hiding who she was? She reported back to Fury.

"Asgardian you say?" Fury spoke, pacing slowly.

"Yes, she's here alone from what I can tell."

"Have you managed to figure out why?"

"Not as of yet, she lives a fairly normal life. She has helped with the clean-up in New York, she has held fundraisers, attended them." Nat wrinkled her nose slightly at this.

"Maybe it's time I paid her a visit."

Gem was at home when a knock at the door brought her out of the silent meditation. It had been something she had seen him do. She couldn't say her father's name. If she did it meant that he and Frigga were truly gone. She opened it, in front of her stood a tall man with a patch over one eye.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"I'm not sure. Can I come in?"

Gem allowed him in, indicating towards the living room. As she followed him through, she ran her hand behind the coat rack pulling out the dagger Heimdall had gifted her on her name day many years ago. Her grandmother had told her to keep if hidden save by her at all times. Heimdall was not known for giving gifts and there though this was clearly meant for her to use one day. She slipped the dagger into her waistband and covered it with her t-shirt. Gem watched as he stood in the centre of the room looking out of the window.

"Who are you?" She asked walking to stand directly in front of him.

"My name is Nick Fury, I'm with S.H.I.E.L.D."

S.H.I.E.L.D, Gem had heard that before, from Thor. What was he doing here?

"We have been keeping an eye on you."

"Me? Why?"

"We like to keep track of people that may be either a danger or an advantage to this world."

"What makes you think I'm either?"

"I've not met many humans that get visits from Odin. So, you are an Asgardian?"

Gem stared at this man. He knew quite a bit.

"I am. I've been here around 5 years now."

"Well I'm here to offer you something."

"I'm listening." Gem did not offer him a seat, yet he perched on the sofa arm behind him anyway.

"I want to offer you a place in S.H.I.E.L.D. You could help protect this world."

Gem stared at him, then out of the window. He was very forward and did not waste time much like her uncle. As for joining S.H.I.E.L.D? This had dwelled on her mind since coming here. This would most likely be her best chance.

"I accept the offer." Gem said softly.

"Great. Let's get you moved to our base in DC." He stood and headed for the door. "Oh, and you can put the knife away now."

The first friend she made in DC was Natasha, turns out she was the agent that had been spying on her. Nat had apologised for that and since then they had become good friends. They were sitting drinking coffee when they were joined by a very tall, very good-looking guy.

"Gem, this is Steve, Steve, Gem."

"Nice to meet you." He nodded in greeting.

"Likewise."

"Is this one looking after you?" He asked, taking a seat opposite the pair and pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"She is." Gem said with amusement in her voice when she noticed how sweet he took his drink.

"You're an Asgardian?"

"That's me. And before you ask, I do not know Thor and we are not all super strong, but I can use magic."

"Like Loki?" He asked from over the rim of his mug.

Gem looked at him. No one had mentioned Loki to her. Thor had been brought up quite a lot, but Steve was the first to utter Loki's name. "A little I suppose."

"Well I'm glad you're on our side."

Natasha noticed the looks between them.

"Maybe you should put her through her paces Steve? Make sure I have her up to standard since she's part of our team."

"Later, I was just heading for a run. But the training room, about 3?"

"I'll be there."

Gem changed; she was heading to the training room to meet Steve, something she was in a way looking forward to. He seemed quite nice and to be fair he was pretty cute too.

Steve watched her as she walked towards him. She was definitely different. He didn't know how to describe what it was that made her different, but there was something. As she pulled her hair into a ponytail. He asked, "You ready?"

"I'm hoping so." She smiled, dropping her hands to her sides.

"So, what kind of skill set are we looking at here other than magic?" Steve asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Well in Asgard women are trained just like men to use swords and shields. Not all women chose it, but most do. I prefer dagger and spare, but my hand to hand could do with a little help according to Nat."

"Right, well let's get started with that shall we?" He walked over to the pads laying by the punch bags. "Show me your best Gem."

When Steve finally thought that she'd be able to block a couple of punches they started sparring, Gem blocked everything Steve threw at her.

"I feel like you're holding back." He said stepping away from her and picking up his water.

"I don't wanna hurt you."

"You won't."

They went harder, Steve went for Gem's legs, she spun him out the way, not with her hands, but with her magic. He hit the floor hard.

"Shit, I'm sorry."

Steve got up.

"No, it's fine. Why haven't you used it till now?"

"I don't want to lose control." She shrugged.

"Have you ever lost control?"

"No, but I've seen what happens when people do."

Steve noticed a look on her face, a sadness behind her eyes. "What else can you do?"

Steve watched as Gem showed off her magic. When she had finished, he handed her a bottle of water.

"So, you said you didn't know Thor, but what about Loki?"

She almost choked on the gulp she took when he asked this. "I mean I know of both of them, but not much, just what most of my people know about them. They are our princes after all. Why do you ask?"

"I've seen Loki's magic up close, yours is very similar. I just wondered if that's what you meant by seeing people lose control."

She didn't like this, didn't want to talk about him. "I suppose. Having these gifts means we all walk a fine line. But you know that, Captain."

Steve smiled at her. "Yes, I suppose I do."

Gem and Steve started training together most days. Steve watched her grow from strength to strength. She grew stronger and faster, her magic helped her greatly. Fury did not want her used in missions yet, the fear was people would fear her.

On Monday Steve managed to catch her off guard, she fell to the floor and he managed to pin her hands above her head. He didn't know what possessed him but the next thing he knew he had kissed her, he could not help it, it felt right.

For Gem she didn't mind and allowed it. She even responded in kind after all it had been an age since she last kissed anyone. It helped that she actually liked Steve, he made her feel normal. Most of the guys and almost everyone in this place looked at her with a slight fear in their eyes, but he did not. Maybe he would if he knew who she truly was. At that thought, Gem placed her hands on his chest and pushed him up slightly.

"I'm sorry…."

"Don't be sorry." She cut him off.

Steve jumped up and held his hand out to her, she took it and he helped her up. Gem placed her hand on his chest, she could feel his heartbeat slightly out of time.

"You're a good man."

"I sense a but."

"No there isn't one. I'm just trying to find my place here."

"Let me help you. Let me take you out. Away from all the training."

"I'd like that." She smiled.

"Good."

Natasha found Gem in her room reading.

"Did I hear you're going on a date with Steve?"

"Date? Who said date?" Gem set her book down.

"Steve may have said taking you out. I may have jumped to date."

Gem laughed. "Big jump."

"Is it? You two spend a lot of time together."

"Training."

"If that's what you wanna call it. But I have never seen Steve spend this much time with anyone, apart from me."

Gem gave a small smile which Natasha noticed though chose not to point out. Natasha's phone beeped and she left. It was a few days before Gem saw her or Steve again. Steve came to her room.

"Hey." He said from the door rubbing the back of his neck.

"Hey. You ok?"

"I am. I missed our training sessions." Steve goes to sit in the chair across from her.

"Have you?"

"I have." He smiled slightly.

"Does that mean you've missed me?"

"Maybe." He admitted looking down.

"Good. I missed you too."

Steve smiled at her. He got up and kissed her forehead. "I'm on my way to meet Fury, but I'd like to see you later."

"I'd like that."

"See you here about 7."

"Ok."

…. Chapter two end….