Lucy liked the drives to the Avengers base. It wasn't too long, only about an hour, and upstate New York was idyllic, beautiful and peaceful. She loved the state – until today that was. She never realized how big it was but finding out that the drive to Syracuse was over four hours was like a punch in the gut.
"That can't be happening," Wanda said, sounding just as shocked as Lucy felt.
Peter nodded mutely, tears pricking at the corner of his eyes. He didn't seem to be able to get any words out, so Lucy just shifted closer to him, leaning her shoulder against his and trying to provide as much comfort as she could. The trio was huddled on Lucy's bed, almost in a defensive formation, after Peter told them the worst news they could've possibly expected.
"Next week already?" Lucy couldn't believe it – she didn't want it to be true. It couldn't be real.
Peter nodded without looking up. "She has to start on the first of November."
May was being transferred upstate, to Syracuse, and Peter had to move. The shock this news brought to the girls was indescribable and Lucy had never thought in her life that these people had grown so close to her heart already. May stayed downstairs with the adults, while Peter had run upstairs, vision already clouded and not even gracing Tony with a look.
The kids didn't know what the adults were talking about downstairs – the three were busy picturing the worst. Peter wouldn't be able to come by the tower for lab work or training, he'd live four hours away and at most he'd be able to come to the base a weekend a month. Things kept getting darker and darker, the more Lucy was thinking about it, but none of the teens could think of a solution so they just sat in silence, comforting each other.
Suddenly, J.A.R.V.I.S. startled them.
"Mr. Stark asks the three of you to come downstairs. He'd like to talk to you."
The kids gave each other dejected looks, knowing that the inevitable was upon them and May would help Peter pack the things he'd left at the tower. Nevertheless, they scrambled to their feet and made their way to the elevator.
The picture awaiting them was not what they expected. Not only Tony and May were seated at the dining room table, coffee cups in front of them, but also Pepper, Natasha and Steve. Their expressions weren't as foreboding as the kids had thought and their confusion only grew.
Tony waved at the trio. "Have a seat. We've got something to talk about."
"You don't say," Peter murmured unhappily and let himself plump down onto the chair opposite May. Wanda and Lucy sat next to him, ready to give emotional support when needed.
May sighed heavily. "I know you're not happy with the situation, Peter, and believe me, neither am I."
She looked towards Tony who nodded and continued. "We think we've found a solution but it's completely your call."
Peter's head jerked up and so did Lucy and Wanda. Solution wasn't a word that would've entered Lucy's vocabulary at this point.
May smiled. "I know how important Spiderman is to you and you know that I support you. I'm very proud of what you do. Your education is another problem." She sighed. "Syracuse isn't gonna be as good as New York in terms of school, not in a million years."
Her serious gaze focused on her nephew. "Tony, the others and I weighed every possible solution and what we came up with is the best possible idea. If you agree, it's a done deal."
Tony smiled and took over again. "If you want to, you can move here into the tower, go to school in the city and keep training and working with us."
Peter's mouth fell open and Wanda and Lucy's eyes grew large.
"Are you serious?" The spider's incredulous look wandered from Tony to his aunt and back.
May smiled. "Yes. It's not easy leaving you behind but I know that I'd leave you in the best possible care and I'll be visiting as often as possible."
Peter suddenly got serious and reached over the table to take May's hand. "Are you sure? I really don't want to leave you alone and –"
"Don't be ridiculous," May chided him softly. "You're here at the tower so often, now that I had to work so many night shifts and you cannot stop your lab work and training. I want you to succeed."
Tears welled in Peter's eyes again and Lucy once more couldn't believe how great May was.
"School's another thing actually," Tony continued while May nodded enthusiastically. "We've been talking a lot and, again, this is your call, we think it'd be best for you to transfer to Columbia Prep with the girls. Midtown just isn't giving you the space you need – you're too gifted."
Now Peter's mouth stood open again and Lucy and Wanda held their breaths, waiting for his response. A smile slowly spread on his face.
"Yes! Of course!" he all but yelled and the girls fell over him, not so much emotional support but ecstatic happiness now.
The adults smiled and Pepper stroked May's shoulder as the other woman gave Peter a warm smile.
"I'm glad you agree, Peter," she reached to take his hand again. "This is the most sensible decision you've made so far I think."
Tony nodded. "I can subscribe to that." He cleared his throat. "You might be wondering that the status is gonna be." A sigh was his only reaction to the confused look he got in response.
May grinned. "Tony is going to become your guardian legally, basically like Natasha is to Lucy. You can live with him, he can sign things etc. Just to make this easier."
Lucy gave Nat a look and raised her eyebrows. Her mentor just smiled and nodded slightly. Lucy huffed – so this was how her status was. She had no idea of all the legal stuff behind the scenes but she was sure Tony was pulling the strings with his influence.
A call from the kitchen disturbed the happy scene and Clint walked out, a slightly sheepish look on his face. Nat immediately gave him a disbelieving look and cocked her head.
"Please tell me you didn't mess this up."
Clint just grinned apologetically, keeping a safe distance from the spy. "What would you guys like to order? I vote pizza."
Lucy tried to overplay her laughter but couldn't keep it in anymore and burst out laughing at the same time as Wanda and Peter and not even the adults could keep it in anymore. The whole table erupted while Nat just shook her head.
"You had one job, Clint! It was a simple lasagna, you only had to take it out the oven in time." The exasperation was clear in her voice and Lucy looked at Clint, gloating, who caught her expression.
"Oh, yeah, keep laughing! You're just happy, you're not the one her anger is directed at this time," he complained, only resulting in Lucy raising her hands and bursting into more laughter.
By the time the pizzas arrived, everyone had calmed down and Lucy, Wanda and Peter started planning their amazing time living together. Their mentors interrupted them occasionally, reminding them that the handbook would now without reservations also apply to Peter, but generally letting the kids have their fun. May talked over the logistics with Tony and they agreed that Peter would move in the coming weekend, so that he was all settled when May moved upstate. Tony also insisted on helping her with the move to Syracuse against her stark objections.
When May and Peter left, she thanked Tony and the others profusely, but all of them waved her thanks away. Peter and May had both already become part of the family – they'd do anything for them. Lucy smiled softly. She experienced this safety net herself enough times by now but she still had a hard time believing it was all real.
###
Lucy was bored. In the morning, Wanda had gone upstate with Peter, May, Tony and Steve to help May settle in her new place in Syracuse. She'd been determined to support them as well but her conversation with Nat earlier in the morning hadn't exactly gone over well.
"You are not going upstate, Lucy. You are still grounded," Nat said with finality.
Lucy groaned. "But my grounding is over the day after tomorrow! Can't I just help today and we'll add another day after tomorrow?"
Nat shook her head. "No. Simple as that. Grounding is a punishment and there's no discussion about it. Otherwise it wouldn't be discipline."
The girl almost let out a whine. "Please, Natasha! Just this once!"
She was about to continue when she caught Nat's glance. She had her eyebrows raised and looked at her with the look Lucy dreaded. It basically said, 'one more word and you will regret it'. Lucy swallowed under the stern glance and bit her lip.
"Sorry, I get it," she sighed.
Nat's expression softened and she took her arm. "I know it sucks but that's a part of it. There's gonna be more opportunities to help someone move."
"Provided I'm not grounded then," Lucy murmured but Nat still heard her.
"Well, you know what to do to avoid that." She smiled softly. "Let's go downstairs and say goodbye to May. We're not gonna see her for a few weeks now."
After a tearful goodbye with promises from May that she'd come and visit New York for Thanksgiving, the five of them left, driven by Happy and Lucy was left home alone. Well, not completely, but most of the others wouldn't be home until the evening.
Peter had moved his stuff the previous weekend and was pretty much settled. Not much had changed, he'd spent usually at least two nights a week at the tower before anyway so until now it just seemed like a regular week. Things would become different, Lucy was sure, but it was pretty cool having all three of them together all the time. Peter had also started Columbia pretty much immediately after they had the talk about a week ago which had Lucy convinced that they were planning his school transition for some time but moved ahead now that it was convenient. Lucy wouldn't complain. It was great having another friend go to school with her and Peter seemed to get along with the Upper East Side crowd about as well as Wanda – meaning not at all. It wasn't surprising to Lucy though. The way things were done was very 'Gossip Girl' and it was hard for outsiders to get used to it. Lucy had gotten to the resigned stage where she'd cultivate these acquaintances the way she was taught – not friends but civil, they'd all be business partner and socialites in the near future. Peter and Wanda didn't grow up in this world and both Sokovia and Queens were probably about the same level of removed from it. She had friends now and even lived with them – in all honesty, her life had gotten to a stage of general satisfaction and happiness that she wasn't used to.
Today, those feelings weren't as prevalent though. With a sigh, she wandered down to the common floor to hopefully find Bruce or one of the others to get into the lab or do some training. She was completely unsuccessful. Nat had told her that she'd go to the base with Sam because Fury had scheduled a meeting and according to his office door, Bruce had gone with them. Clint was nowhere to be found and Rhodey was at a meeting at the USAF Department at Federal Plaza. For the first time, Lucy experienced the tower completely empty. She decided some exercise was always helpful so she changed into her workout clothes and went to the gym. The advantages of being completely on her own was that she could play her music as loud as she wanted and time flew by.
After about three hours, Lucy went upstairs again to grab some late lunch. She had just taken her mashed potatoes out the microwave and sat at the table when a flash of light on the balcony distracted her. She left the food behind and went outside. The late October air was quite chilly, especially in only her workout clothes. She was startled by a tall, blond man cocking his head at her as she stepped on the patio. Lucy grinned. Maybe today wouldn't be as boring as originally thought.
"Tell me, young lady, where is Tony Stark?"
Lucy couldn't hide her glee. "He's not in, I'm afraid – neither is anyone else. I'm the only one home."
The man's features took on surprise. "This is your home too? What is your name then?"
"I'm Lucy Rutherford. Pleased to meet you." Lucy extended her hand.
The man gripped it enthusiastically and shook it, maybe slightly too hard. "Very happy to make your acquaintance. I'm Thor."
Lucy grinned. "Yeah, I figured. The hammer was kind of a dead giveaway."
Thor looked down to the metal in his hand. "Oh right, Mjolnir is well-known in all nine realms." He directed his curious face to her again. "So, you live here now? I guess much has happened since I last visited."
Lucy nodded. "Why don't you come in? I'll get you some pop tarts and update you on everything."
Thor's eyes started to glimmer. "I would appreciate the pop tarts, Lucy. And the news too," he added quickly as she looked at him bemusedly.
The two of them sat down on the couches, Lucy deciding that she might as well use the opportunity to have pop tarts as her lunch. They beat mashed potatoes any day.
"So, you promised me news," Thor started, eager to get in the know again.
Lucy nodded and started. "So, a few months, almost a year ago, Tony and Steve had a little civil war and the Avengers broke up for a bit over the so-called Accords. The government wanted to control the Avengers because of what happened with Ultron in Sokovia." Thor nodded understandingly and Lucy continued. "Steve didn't wanna sign because of some issues so he left, together with Wanda, Sam and Clint. Bruce kept out of it. Tony managed to work it all out though through the reformed Shield and they came back early in the summer and ever since then they've lived here." Thor nodded once more and Lucy was happy that he seemed to take everything in. "You don't know him yet, but there's a Spiderman now, his name is Peter. He got bitten by a radioactive spider and he's really smart, so he made himself this little suit and started fighting crime in Queens. Tony recruited him onto his team and improved his suit etc. He's now training with us and he actually moved in the other day cause his aunt moved away but he wants to keep being a part of the Avengers." Lucy watched Thor's expression and after a minute he nodded in understanding. "Then that leaves me." She smiled wryly. "I've known Tony for some time, my parents also own a technology company. My grandma is Peggy Carter, one of the founders of Shield, so I've known Nat, Clint and Coulson ever since I could walk." At Thor's expression she quickly added, "oh yeah, Coulson is alive by the way." She grinned as Thor's eyes grew large. "I'm pretty smart myself and I built a suit as well before Steve visited me in July and they asked me to become a part of the Avengers. I moved in here a few weeks later with Nat as my mentor and I've been training and working here as well ever since." She paused to think. "That's pretty much it."
Thor nodded mutely. That was probably a lot of information to take in. An entire box of pop tarts was empty already.
He considered her carefully. "Thank you very much for the information. It seems a lot has transpired since I left the last time but I'm glad everyone is settled here now. Do tell me, where is everyone today?"
"Well, Peter's aunt moved to Syracuse today and Wanda, Steve, Tony and Peter went there to help and they won't be back until tomorrow," she started. "Nat, Bruce and Sam are meeting with Fury at the base upstate." At Thor's confused look she explained further. "We mostly just live at the tower and the official Shield and Avengers business is done upstate, about an hour from here. Rhodey is doing some air force stuff and I have no idea where Clint is."
Thor smiled. "Everything like usual then. He's probably hiding in the vents."
Lucy giggled. "Do you want anything to drink? I don't think we got any Asgardian mead but maybe a beer or some chocolate milk?"
"That milk sounds tempting," Thor agreed and Lucy went to the kitchen to get it.
She considered Thor with curious eyes. "How come you're back now? You've been gone over a year."
Thor looked at her. "Is that a long or short time? I keep forgetting."
"It's a long time to be away from the people who like – or your family. Not that I know anything about that," Lucy added, slightly bitter.
Thor looked at her empathetically and his eyes invited her to explain. Lucy sighed but from the hour she'd spent with the god, she knew she could trust him.
She took a deep breath. "My parents aren't great people. They don't talk to me at all, they aren't interested in my life, they don't care at all, only that I take over Rutherford Industries. My grandma was the only person that cared, apart from my nanny Zora, but she died in the beginning of this year and it's pretty hard." She sighed and Thor placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
"I know the pain of having a family member die, Lucy. I'm very sorry for your loss."
Lucy gave him a small smile. "Thank you. It's getting better, ever since I moved in here. Nat cares about me and she's the best mentor I could wish for."
Thor smiled. "I can imagine she is training you very well. She's one of the fiercest and bravest warriors I know and I don't doubt that you will become just as accomplished as she is."
Lucy nodded before looking Mjolnir from the corner of her eyes. Thor noticed her interest and moved the hammer in front of the girl.
"You are interested in Mjolnir?"
She took a breath and looked up at the god. "Could I try to lift it? Just for fun?"
Thor smiled. "Of course, you have shown me such great hospitality. Anything you want."
Lucy stood up and eyed the metal. She knew physics wouldn't kick in, this was some Asgardian magic working here so she really had nothing to lose. No one except Thor was worthy so far.
"I bet my grandma could've lifted Mjolnir," Lucy sighed.
Suddenly recognition dawned in Thor's eyes. "Wait - is this the same Peggy that the Captain always refers to?"
Lucy jerked her head around and nodded.
Thor smiled. "I have no doubt that she indeed would've been able to."
Her hand extended and Lucy clasp the leather handle of the hammer. It was old and new at the same time and she had the feeling it knew everything of the past and future. It felt good, in a weird way. She pulled on the handle, expecting to meet resistance and not being able to move the metal at all. Lucy almost let go in shock when the hammer suddenly lifted from the table and she held it in her hand.
Thor was amazingly unfazed on the outside, though his eyes widened somewhat.
"You're worthy," he boomed as Lucy turned to look at him, disbelief in her eyes.
"What is going on here?" Natasha's voice suddenly filled the room and both Thor and Lucy turned to face her, Sam, Bruce and Clint who had just entered.
"Is that…" Clint trailed off, his gaze fixed on the hammer in Lucy's hand.
The girl's mouth fell open and quickly put the hammer down as if it burned her skin.
Natasha looked more shocked that Lucy had ever seen her but her and the others greeted Thor enthusiastically, before turning to the girl again.
"Did she just lift your hammer?" Natasha asked incredulously and Thor nodded in response.
Nat's eyes turned to Lucy in disbelief who responded in mock indignation. "Are you implying you didn't think I was worthy?"
Her mentor grinned and pulled her into a hug.
Clint just shook his head. "I can't believe she's worthy but I'm not."
Bruce huffed. "That's exactly the reason why you're not worthy."
"How long are you staying?" Natasha asked the god who'd just been smiling during the banter.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know yet, I just had the urge to see some familiar faces. Also, apparently over a year is too long a time to not visit your family." He smiled at Lucy who returned it.
Bruce grinned happily. "Well, your floor is untouched, just waiting for you to return." With a glance to the coffee table he continued. "Apparently asking if you need dinner is unnecessary."
"That's never unnecessary," Thor boomed. "I'm quite hungry, I could use a good meal."
Lucy pressed her lips together in order to not burst out laughing.
Nat looked highly amused as well. "Let's disappear into the kitchen and start on dinner then," she addressed Lucy while the others disappeared to Thor's floor.
Dinner was great and Lucy was greatly amused by Thor, his stories and his banter with the others. While he said he wouldn't stay permanently, he agreed to be at the tower until the others returned.
###
Peter was mesmerized by the god, Wanda welcomed him back happily, and Steve and Tony were amazed at Lucy lifting the hammer. She didn't think it was that big a deal, she wouldn't use it and she was sure the only reason she was able to lift it was because of her grandma's blood in her veins. Steve must've realized it too – he'd given her a strange, long look.
Thor left after having spent a few days with them, with the solemn promise to return soon. Tony had also tweaked a communications device that would allow Thor to contact them from most places in the nine realms and vice versa. The short visit had been a fun little interlude and even helped Peter settle in the tower completely. Thor trained with the kids and was impressed by their skills, leaving the trainers in turn very satisfied and proud. Lucy was simply happy. Everything had come together perfectly, Peter now lived at the tower and went to school with her and Wanda – a real family.