A/N: Ugg, so I FINALLY got this chapter done, 4000 words later. This chapter was meant to be a part of the last one, but that would have made a chapter about 7000 words long, which is just crazy. .

So, anyway, this is the last of the 'hearts and flowers' chapters before we have all the action. Everything that is happening in these scenes is happening concurrently, along with the last chapter if that makes sense.

Okay, I need a cuppa tea and a lie down after this beast, so I'm off. Also, I'm starting another cycle of 2 straight weeks of work, so I'll try hard to get you the next update as fast as I can, but I don't know how I'll go. I guess we'll see.

Later, guys. :D

Chapter Fifty- Seven

Steve walked into the school gymnasium, nervous butterflies in the pit of his stomach making their presence felt. Classes had just let out in the elementary school and the halls were quickly devoid of children, eager to get home but it wasn't the children Steve was in search of right then. He'd asked around and been directed to the gymnasium and now he was here, his nerves were in full play. It was funny to him in a non-humorous way, that he didn't flinch going into battle, but this seemed a lot more nerve wracking to him. Ahead of him Steve could see Olivia with a box of assorted sports balls and she was putting them away in a little room beside the gymnasium bleachers. Olivia's back was to him and she was reaching above her head with the large box, attempting to put it on a top shelf, going up on tip toes. Steve lengthened his stride and quickened his pace. "Here, let me," he offered.

Olivia started at the sound of his voice and the box above her head tipped over on her, raining down balls on her head. The balls bounced past her and Steve went to leap out of their path but there were so many of them, all different sizes that he miscalculated and put his foot down on a baseball and lost his balance. Steve stumbled forward, arms going out in front of himself to save himself from falling. He staggered a couple of paces, standing on a tennis ball this time, a leg shooting out from under him as he now skidded along on his knees. Steve collided with the tiered bench seating props, an arm going through one of the gaps in the metal structure keeping the seating upright as he fought to regain his balance.

"Steve!" gasped Olivia in horror and was instantly by his side, bending over and looking at him with concern. "Steve, are you alright?"

"Of course," said Steve brightly, hoping he wasn't blushing. He must look like an idiot, kneeling on the floor, arm stuck in the bleachers.

"I'm so sorry," said Olivia hastily.

Steve was pulling on his arm, trying to get it out while he continued to smile at Olivia. "No, it was completely my fault, I shouldn't have sneaked up on you like that."

Olivia gave his efforts to free his arm a concerned look. "Are you stuck?"

The smile was still plastered on his face, even as his efforts to free his arm became more forceful. "Nope. My arm went in, simple physics says it has to come out again." Steve moved his arm in several different angles, trying to unwedge the muscled limb from the small break in the metal support beams he'd managed to fall through. After a full minute of him trying his best to get free, Steve was beginning to realise he might have a problem. He gave up. "I'm stuck," he announced unhappily. "Damn it!" He instantly regretted his outburst and sent Olivia an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cuss in front of you, Olivia. That was really rude of me."

Olivia smiled. "It's alright," she reassured him. She looked him over as he knelt there, arm stuck in the bleacher. "I can help. Caden, one of the boys in my class, he's always sticking his head into things and getting stuck. I'm getting good at this. I've removed his head from three staircase railings, two sets of gates and a bucket so far this year."

Great, he was on par with a seven year old, this wasn't going well.

"I'll go and melt some butter," said Olivia, straightening up. "I've got a special store of the stuff now." She patted his arm. "I'll be right back, you wait here." Olivia blushed. "Oh, sorry, I mean, I guess you don't have a choice."

"I guess not," said Steve unhappily. This was not going to plan at all. Now he knew how Tony must feel with his conversations with Pepper.

"I'll only be a minute," she promised him and then hurried off.

Steve continued to struggle to get his arm out and he could have done it by bending the metal supports of the bleachers, but he didn't feel right about compromising the integrity of a structure children routinely sat on. He shook his head. "This is so stupid," he muttered to himself.

"No, it's not," came Olivia's voice from behind him. "Accidents happen."

Steve turned his head to see Olivia almost by his side. "You sneaked up on me," he noted in surprise. "That's usually really hard to do."

"I'm just a quiet walker," she said, kneeling down beside him. "I don't know why, it's just one of those things." Olivia hesitated. "I might get butter on your t-shirt," she warned him.

"It's fine," he reassured her. "I'd rather a butter stain and my arm and then a clean t-shirt and no arm."

Olivia smiled. "Good point." She dipped her fingers into the cup of melted butter she was holding and proceeded to rub it on Steve's arm.

Steve couldn't help himself from enjoying her soft touch on his bicep as Olivia smeared the butter all over the trapped limb. He watched, captivated by the intensity with which she was performing the simple job, the tip of her tongue peeking out from behind her lips as she concentrated on the task in hand. Olivia looked utterly kissable in that moment, her face so close to his as she knelt beside him to help retrieve his arm from the bleachers. "I'm sorry," he said huskily and watched as his breath moved the fine hairs tucked behind Olivia's ears.

"It was an accident," she said, still concentrating on what she was doing.

"I mean for being such a jerk to you," Steve clarified.

Olivia stopped what she was doing and looked at him uncertainly. "You weren't a jerk to me, Steve," she said quietly. "I was obviously interrupting something between you and Maggie." Her eyes slid away from his and she looked down at the ground.

"There is no me and Maggie," said Steve quickly.

Olivia's expressive brown eyes were looking at him in surprise now. "Oh, but I thought, I mean, you seemed like-"

"I was confused," Steve confessed. "I was having trouble letting go of the past and wasn't sure how to move forward with my life. It took spending some time with Maggie to make me really realise you can never go home again and that doesn't have to be a bad thing." Steve was enjoying how close they were. "I know you must think I've been a flake but I hope that isn't going to stop you from saying yes, Olivia."

Olivia blinked. "Yes to what?" she asked hesitantly.

"Oh," said Steve, embarrassed, "sorry, in my head I've already asked you out. I guess I forgot that bit." He smiled at her and tried to make it sound appealing. "We'll do anything you like, go anywhere you want." Steve hesitated. "Only probably not dancing, you know, because I want you to like me." Olivia looked a little overwhelmed and Steve rushed in to try and make his pitch. "Look, I know I'm asking you to take a gamble on me. I'm this guy from another time, and I've got this alter ego which is going to have an impact on a relationship and it's going to mean I can't always be with you, plus there is the danger thing and oh yeah, I've got my arm stuck in a bleacher." Steve grimaced. "I know I'm not much of a catch."

Olivia had a tremulous smile on her face. "You don't ask girls out often, do you?"

"What gave it away?" asked Steve ruefully.

"Pretty much everything," she said honestly.

Steve felt like an idiot. "Right," he said, looking away.

"But I think that was perfect," Olivia finished off.

Steve looked at her in surprise. "You do?" He was confused. "Why?"

"Because it was real and not some kind of line." She gave him a shy look. "And I like that."

"So," said Steve hesitantly, "is that a yes?" His heart was beating ten to the dozen.

Olivia smiled, her whole face lighting up. "Yes, Steve, that's a yes."

Steve grinned, suddenly feeling invincible and it had nothing to do with the super serum affected cells in his body. "That's great, really great, Olivia. Thank you for giving me a second chance." Their faces were so close, it would be the easiest thing in the world to simply lean in and close the distance between them and seal this first date offer with a kiss. Steve's eyelids drooped as they became focused on Olivia's inviting lips. He leaned into her and their lips were just about to touch when his cell phone went off. They both started and ended up knocking heads. "Sorry," said Steve quickly as Olivia winced and rubbed her forehead. "Sorry."

"It's alright," she said hastily. "I'm fine."

Steve grimaced. "I have to get this, sorry," he apologised again. Steve answered the call from Fury, listening intently to the other man. "I'm on my way," he promised him. Steve hung up and made an apologetic noise. "I'm sorry, Olivia, I have to go, there is an emergency the Avengers are needed for."

"Of course," said Olivia, "I understand. Try it now."

"What?" asked Steve, still distracted by their almost kiss.

"Your arm, try and get it out now."

"Oh," said Steve, realising his arm was still stuck in the bleachers. He pulled while twisting and his buttered arm slid out smoothly.

Olivia looked pleased. "There you go."

Steve quickly stood up, helping Olivia up as well. "Thanks for the help, Olivia."

"You're welcome."

Steve smiled. "You're always helping me, bullets, butter, I wonder what will be next?"

"I'm a little afraid to think about it," she admitted ruefully.

Steve wanted to kiss her goodbye, but the momentum from a before the call seemed to be lost and they were both hesitant. "I should go," he said reluctantly.

"Good luck," said Olivia encouragingly.

"You too," he returned without thinking. Steve didn't know what that was meant to mean so he just gave an embarrassed smile and went to leave. He'd only taken a few steps when he realised he didn't want to leave Olivia this way. Steve turned around, marched back to Olivia and swept her up in a passionate kiss. Olivia seemed surprised at first, but she quickly returned his kiss with just as much enthusiasm and for a long bliss-filled minute, the kiss continued. They were both so caught up in the kiss, neither one of them noticed Olivia letting the cup of melted butter in her hand tilt forward, causing the butter to make a pool on the floor. Steve finally broke the kiss and they were both flushed and breathless. "I'll see you soon," he promised her.

Olivia was beaming and she just nodded in response.

Steve turned around to leave again, a huge smile on his face. He didn't notice the pool of butter at his feet and stepped right into it as he went to stride off. Steve immediately slipped over in the slippery mess and he hit the ground with a thud, banging his forehead. He winced but ignored the pain as he tried to stand up. Standing up was easier said than done as he quickly became covered in the butter and lost all traction. He flailed around on the floor, conscious of Olivia rushing up to help him. He held out a buttery hand to her. "No," he said quickly, "you'll fall over too. It's alright, I've got this." Steve struggled to find his footing. "But can you do me a favour, Olivia."

"Anything," said Olivia, looking mortified.

"When you remember me making this exit, can you picture it a whole lot cooler than this and just remember up to the kiss?"

Olivia bit her bottom lip, her face lit up in a huge smile. "Yes."

"Thanks," said Steve as he finally managed to get to his feet, "I really appreciate it."

"Be careful," Olivia instructed him.

Steve grinned. "I will, I've got a date with a beautiful girl I don't want to miss, you can count on it." He felt like fate was giving him a second chance at love, and not the kind he thought Maggie would offer. This was a fresh start and Steve was excited about where it could lead. Steve hurried to get to his motor bike, mind focusing on the task at hand now and glad to be getting back into the fight. It felt like everything was back on track in his life and it was a good feeling.

oooOOOOooo

Thor wandered along the park path, enjoying the feeling of Jane's small hand in his, while he carried a picnic hamper in the other. After all of the strangeness at the Avenger's Tower, it was nice to be alone with Jane once more.

"Pepper seems really nice," commented Jane as they strolled along.

"She is indeed a kind and generous soul," agreed Thor readily.

"Her relationship with Tony seems pretty interesting," remarked Jane. "I'm still not sure what I saw was real."

Thor nodded. "There was much confusion, a familiar state around Tony Stark at times."

They walked on for a little bit more, the path taking them to a large pond. Thor inclined his head at the ducks gracefully gliding across the water. "This is local gaming reserve," announced Thor, happy to be able to give Jane a guided tour. "It is populated with many delicious animals." Jane abruptly stopped walking and Thor was forced to stop as well. He looked down at her questioningly.

Jane's expression was one of concern. "Thor," she began hesitantly, "you're not eating the ducks in Central Park, are you?"

Thor paused, sensing he'd done something wrong, but he didn't know what. "No," he lied on instinct and then relented, "ah, maybe, why doth thou look at me in such a way, Jane? We always hunted for our dinner in Asgard."

"You're not in Asgard any longer, Thor," Jane reminded him. "We don't hunt the ducks in Central Park, it's illegal."

Thor's eyebrows shot up. "Illegal? Why put some delicious beasts in one area and make it against the law to eat them? Your Midgardian ways defy all logic."

"Maybe to you, but that's just how it is." Jane's face looked even more concern. "There-there isn't a duck in that picnic hamper, is there?"

Thor shook his head. "Nay, t'was prepared by a local vendor. I sent out for it."

Jane looked relieved. "Oh good, that's good to hear."

Thor was still perplexed as to why this appeared to be such a point of concern for Jane. The meats in his hamper had once belonged to various animals, they all had to be hunted and killed. This did not seem any different to him. His confusion was forgotten though, when Jane looked up at him and smiled.

"I'm really happy you brought me back to New York with you, Thor," she said shyly.

Thor cupped her face, a flood of emotion washing through him. "Not as happy as I, Jane. My heart would not lay right in my chest until we were reunited."

Jane shook her head and gave a rueful smile. "You're hard on the competition, do you know that?"

Thor stiffened. "There is another who vies for thy favour?" he asked, his face darkening in displeasure. Jealousy was an unfamiliar emotion for Thor and he hadn't expected it to be such a powerful one.

"No," Jane laughed, "I just meant you seem to know all the right things to say." She looked wistful. "I suppose you've dated a lot of women, what with being a prince and all."

"I do not know this word 'date'," said Thor slowly, "but I have bedded many women, if that was thy question."

Jane wrinkled her nose. "There's that honesty thing again. I'm not sure I'm a fan."

"A few hours pleasure between silken sheets is no match for what I feel when I stand in your company, Jane."

"Hours?" repeated Jane, looking impressed. "Wow, once again, ruining me for guys from this realm forever. This dating a demi-god thing is going to take some getting used to."

"So, this is what a date is?" asked Thor, filling in some blanks.

"If you don't kill any ducks it is," agreed Jane.

"This makes me most joyous," he announced jovially. Just then his cell phone rang and Thor reached into his pants pocket. "These devices are of such a tiny nature," he grumbled, as he tried to find the right button to press.

"Here." Jane reached out and pressed the appropriate button and Thor smiled at her appreciatively.

"T'is Thor, speak," he said commandingly into the device.

"You don't have to shout," Jane advised him.

"But the caller is a great distance away," Thor protested.

Jane graced him with an indulgent look. "That isn't how phones work, Thor."

Fury's voice was in his ear, and as he spoke, Thor's face hardened purposefully. "Aye, Director, I will take my place in the Avengers to fight this new menace." He hung up and made an unhappy face. "I-"

"-have to go," Jane surmised. "I get it." She held out her hand. "Give me the basket and I'll feed the ducks, realign your karma for you."

Thor didn't know what this karma was or why it would be crooked on him, but he handed her the basket. "I am sorry, Jane Foster."

"I'm not," she said simply. "It's who you are and I'm proud of that. Go kick some ass." She hesitated. "Assuming whatever this trouble is has an ass, of course."

Thor smiled and stole a quick kiss from her. "I will return, Jane Foster and we will complete our date."

Jane nodded and gave him a loving look. "I'll be waiting."

oooOOOOooo

Natasha folded her arms in front of herself and looked down at Clint. "Are you sure you're not making this up? This sounds like a work of fiction."

"Every word is true," grunted Clint. They were both in the exercise room, working on getting his damaged leg up to full strength. Currently Clint was lying on his back, feet up in the air, with Natasha balanced on the souls of his feet. He was using her weight to intensify the knee to chest presses. Clint continued the presses as he finished his recap of the events from earlier that day. "Tony leapt on top of one of the MMMBop boys and accused him of knocking up Pepper, but it turns out he'd actually knocked up his gay partner's sister."

"I still can't believe you took Tony's money to call them that," said Natasha in exasperation as she expertly balanced on top of Clint's moving feet.

"Hey, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks," said Clint philosophically.

"Even for Tony, it seems pretty impossible that he'd think Pepper was cheating on him," Natasha noted.

"Yeah," gasped Clint, his face pink from his exertions, but he was pleased with how well his injured leg was holding up, "but that guy isn't all there when it comes to Pepper." He grimaced as his leg began to shake, finally giving in to the strain put on it. "What did you have for lunch, a camel?" he puffed.

"Don't blame your shortcomings on me, Barton," she sassed him.

"Way to rally the team, coach," he grunted, the shaking in his leg getting worse. Clint's leg gave way and suddenly Natasha was tumbling down on top of him. She ended up straddling him, hands planted either side of Clint's head, their faces almost touching. They stared at each other for a long moment, the tension between them mounting. Natasha moved to kiss him but Clint reacted quickly, flipping her over and now he was straddling her. "Oh no you don't," he admonished her.

Natasha looked put out. "I thought you wanted to kiss me."

"I do," said Clint, "but the point is that I'm meant to kiss you."

Natasha gave him a cool look. "What's the difference?"

Clint smiled knowingly. "The difference is you don't get to be in control of this." His smile widened teasingly. "And that's driving you crazy."

Natasha snorted. "Hardly."

Now it was Clint's turn to snort. "Yeah right, Romanoff. You look up the dictionary and there is a picture of you under control freak."

"This kiss isn't going to change anything between us," she cautioned him.

"If you really believed that, you wouldn't be trying to pre-empt things," said Clint smugly.

"I mentioned smug not being a good colour on you, right?"

"Duly noted." Both of their cell phones rang at once. Clint tilted his head. "Saved by the bell, Nat, who's a lucky girl, then?"

"Do you really want the women with the brain tumour to answer that?" she asked wryly.

"You're not dead yet and it I have anything to do with it, you're not going to be anytime soon," he promised her as he went for his phone.

oooOOOOooo

Bruce picked up his phone and stared at the picture of Betty on the screen saver for a long moment. He put the phone down and then looked over at the regenerated apple sitting in the middle of the kitchen table. Bruce couldn't help but look at that apple and think of all the possibilities. He understood Tony's reasons for concern, but he'd been looking for a cure to get this monkey off his back for so long, it was impossible to not entertain the idea of being free of the Hulk, no matter the risk. Bruce looked at the picture of Betty, imagining what it'd be like to walk up to her a free man, a man not tied down by the uncontrollable creature inside. He picked up the phone again and dialled. The phone was answered after three rings.

"Hello?"

Betty's familiar voice caused a wealth of emotions to course through Bruce's body. He opened his mouth, throat closing over as he heard Betty's voice again after such a long time apart.

"Hello?" Betty's voice was concerned. There was a brief pause. "Bruce?" She said his name questioningly. "Bruce, is that you?"

Bruce panicked and hung up, not knowing what he wanted to say to Betty. Hearing her voice had unnerved him. He'd thought he'd learned to let her go just a little bit, but when she'd said his name, Bruce knew he was going to leave this earth loving that woman as much as he always had. "This is a backwards step for you, Banner," he muttered unhappily. His cell phone rang and made him jump. For one blind, hopeful moment he hoped it was Betty, even though he still had no idea what he was going to say to her. As soon as he saw it was Fury he was both disappointed and relieved. He answered the call. "I hope you've got something for us to do," he said, "because we're all going crazy here." Fury spoke and Bruce grimaced. "Careful what you wish for, I guess." He hung up and sighed. Bruce hadn't chosen any of this and he couldn't imagine a time when this wasn't going to feel like an impossible burden to carry. "Jarvis?" he called out.

"I'm reading the jet as we speak, sir," Jarvis pre-empted him. "The others are on their way."

Bruce stood up and sighed. "Let's do this then."