Thor could feel his cheeks burning as he stood in front of the doors to the Avengers headquarters, a larger facility outside of New York.

He was once again eerily aware of his own gut, though the nicer, better fitting clothes were doing well to hide it, his hair was still mostly pulled back in that ponytail, hiding what an awkward length it had. Then Thor pulled out his plastic card, a card with the Avengers symbol on it, and scanned it on the door, allowing the door to open for him.

Thor hesitated as he walked in, he glanced around, seeing Shield agents running back and forth, no one seemed to pay him much mind. Wearing Midgardian clothes, he didn't really stand out much. Which he was thankful for right now.

Purposefully, Thor moved through the corridors until he was in front of an office door. He hesitated…

Thor took in a deep breath, the universe needed him to get over himself. Two universes in fact. He couldn't just leave all the work on Loki's shoulders.

Loki… Thor smiled lightly, every time he remembered that his other self was laying in Loki's bed while Loki was sitting in the room reading a book… It calmed Thor. There was just something really nice about that.

Then finally Thor lifted his hand and knocked on the door. There was no answer, and Thor reached for the door handle and opened it up as he peered inside. "Erhm… Friend Romanoff?" he asked.

"Thor?" The voice sounded deeply surprised and Thor opened the door to see his old friend sitting by her desk.

Natasha Romanoff… Looking as beautiful and elegant as ever in spite of the bags under her eyes. Her hair had started to grow out so the natural red was showing. Honestly, Thor had no idea why she would even have bleached it in the first place. Something about going under cover… The red though, it looked so much better. It was so unique and… Her.

Thor smiled lightly as he stepped inside. "Hello," he spoke quietly, then there was a small smile on his lips as he saw her. "Natasha."

Natasha stood up from the desk, her eyes misty.

Thor hesitated. "I hear you… You've been asking about me. If I have worried you, then I truly apologize."

Natasha swallowed as she walked around the desk, then she ran towards Thor and embraced him tightly, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her head against his chest.

Thor gasped. "Natasha."

Natasha smiled as she hugged him tightly, then finally let go as she stepped back. "It's good to see you." She smiled. "What a surprise."

Thor smiled back at her. "It's good seeing you too," he informed her warmly. "Now I see you, I truly do wish I had come sooner," he admitted. "Instead of..." he halted. "Locking myself away."

Natasha shook her head. "At least you didn't go out there just to kill anyone who looks at you wrong." she sighed.

"Oh… Friend Barton." Thors heart sank.

Natasha sighed deeply. "Sorry, I should not have brought that up," she said. "Everybody is dealing with this in their own way. Clint is taking his anger out on the criminal underworld, Tony has gone to live in the woods away from any big city. I am here… burying myself in work. Trying to.. to move on, I suppose. Bruce has been locked inside of that damn lab for who knows how long."

"And Friend Rogers?" Thor asked.

"I will say he is the only one being an actual inspiration, he is just… trying to help anyone who needs it. No matter who, no matter where, no matter what they need. I suppose that's just who he is though." Natasha smiled.

"Aye." Thor nodded. "He is indeed a true inspiration. Is he here?" he asked. "It would be nice to see him."

"I think he is in Arizona right now, helping out with some cities which have been short on food supplies," Natasha commented. "Half the population suddenly vanishing… It has had more consequences than most would like to think about. Suddenly farms and factories are lacking half their workers, some key personnel, and they can't even function at all… So they had to just shut it all down, then they couldn't produce… Farms have lost their farmers, who then is there to harvest crops? It has really thrown a wrench in so many things and yet... People have really banded together, to make it work. It's… pretty inspirational in some circumstances. Communities whom beforehand wouldn't even speak together, now working as one to make things work out."

Thor nodded. "I am glad people can rise once more and rebuild."

"Steve should be back soon," Natasha then said. "You can of course stay for as long as you like, your help is always appreciated. There is…. plenty to do. And half the staff is gone."

Thor blushed deeply as he grabbed his arm. "I… I wish I were here just to see you," he admitted. "Believe me, it truly is good seeing you. And talking to you makes me sincerely wish I had come so much sooner."

Natasha looked at Thor. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

Thor nodded. "Terribly wrong," he admitted. "Natasha, I have recently come across new, horrifying information. This entire thing, it is not yet over."

"What do you mean?" Natasha asked.

"The Infinity Stones..." Thor said. "They are not just magic stones, they are the very corner blocks, the foundation of our universe. When Thanos destroyed them, he destroyed those corner stones… And as a result, the universe has started to collapse. If nothing is done, it is going to vanish all together."

Aghast, Natasha looked at Thor. "What?" she asked.

"Natasha, do you know how to get in contact with the mystics?" Thor asked. "The midgardian Sorcerers? If anyone knows anything, it must be them."

"I'm sorry, not even SHIELD knew they were a thing," Natasha informed. "I don't know where to find them either."

Thor frowned. "Do you then know where any of the Infinity Stones were originally found?" he asked. "I know of Space, Reality and Mind. The other three though, where were they?"

"I don't know." Natasha informed.

"I can tell you where we found Power," a new voice sounded.

Thor turned around, then he had to look down, to see a talking raccoon standing in the still open door.

"Hey fatty." Rocket Racoon grinned as he waved.

Thor pouted.

"What?" Rocket asked. "Put down the beer if you don't like being called that, sheesh." He walked inside, finally closing the door, then he jumped up on Natasha's desk just so he could be at the same eye level as the other two.

"You know where Power was?" Thor asked.

"Sure. Quill dug it out on a planet called Morag. It was inside of this sphere container thing," Rocket informed them. "Why does that matter though? It's not there anymore, Thanos took it and then snapped it away."

"Well," Thor halted. "This is… going to be a bit hard to believe."

"Dude, I've been bunking with a living tree for ten years. And that's not the weirdest part of my life by a long stretch," Rocket informed. "Shoot."

"Well…. With the Infinity Stones gone, different aspects of the universe have started to collapse, one of those collapses is time itself," Thor said. "I find myself existing in two different timelines simultaneously, and I keep shifting between them."

Rocket looked at Thor, his arms crossed and his eyes furrowed.

"I told you it was going to be a bit hard to believe," Thor apologized.

"A bit?" Rocket asked. "You're off your rocker, that's what's happening."

Thor sighed deeply, then turned to Natasha who was frowning.

"I swear it's true!" Thor gasped. "Look, all I need to know is where the Stones were in this timeline. Then in the other timeline, they should still be there and I can try to gather them there and stop this timeline from collapsing."

Rocket's frown only deepened, then he scratched his head. "That makes no sense at all," he stated.

"It won't hurt you to tell me where they were, will it?" Thor asked.

"Thor," Natasha spoke in a soft voice, and Thor turned to her. "Are you sure that you are all right?" she asked.

Thor sighed deeply. "I swear, I am not drunk, I have not gone insane and I am not making anything up. It's true! And if you wait, you will start to see it as other aspects of the universe are going to collapse. But I would rather fix this before it comes to that."

There was silence as both Natasha and Rocket were looking at Thor with those frowning eyes.

"The universe needs the Infinity Stones to exist!" Thor then stated.

"So..." Rocket frowned. "You are just going to take the Infinity Stones from the other timeline and bring them here or something?" he asked. "What is going to happen to the other timeline, then?"

"I am not going to do that, Loki will think of something," Thor stated.

That made them both silent as they, wide-eyed, looked at Thor.

Thor halted, then he swallowed. "He... He's alive in the other timeline," he informed.

"You mean your dead brother?" Rocket asked.

Now Natasha's frown grew deeper. "Thor."

"I am not seeing things!" Thor insisted. "I swear to you! I have made sure not to touch a single drop of alcohol since all the shifting started!"

"Yeah, right," Rocket snorted.

"It's true!" Thor stated.

Rocket rolled his eyes. "We don't all get to escape into our own little fantasy worlds, Captain Lard."

Thor huffed.

"Life ain't fair!" Rocket stated. "I mean, why should I be the only one left behind?!" he asked. "The Snap took everyone! Why couldn't I have one? Just one?! I'd even settle for that idiot Drax, okay! HELL! It'd be okay with Quill! But no! All I have is a murderous cyborg whom I didn't even know beforehand! It's not FAIR!" he shouted. "But are you seeing me talking about shifts and seeing them, huh?" he asked, though the pain on his furry face was so obvious. Even if it wasn't for the tears in his eyes. "Grow up, Mr pirate."

Thor was sympathetic. How could he not be? Seeing that small creature being in so much pain, it really hurt. "Look," Thor said. "This is not about me, the universe is collapsing. We failed to save half, but now the rest of it is on the verge of collapse too. As long as there is a possibility to prevent it, I have to explore it."

Rocket eyes remained harsh.

"Admittedly, that sounds more like the Thor I know," Natasha commented, and Thor turned to her.

"Last time I saw you..." Natasha breathed. "I was worried," she admitted. "You seemed to be... slipping," she ended.

Thor closed his eyes, then he nodded. "Everything is so wrong," he breathed. "I had the shot, I could have stopped it. I could have gone for the head before he did the Snap." He looked up, tears in his eyes.

"Oh, Thor," Natasha sighed. "You do know it's not your fault, right?"

And Thor gasped. "Loki... Loki said that too."

"Really?" Natasha asked.

Thor nodded. "Him, of all people, and I... Part of me still believes it's me. My fault! But hearing it, I have to admit. Maybe it wasn't."

"Then listen to what we tell you," Natasha asked as she reached up, and fixed Thor's shirt for him. "It wasn't. No one blames you for what Thanos did! Not a single one!"

"But," Thor tried, then he swallowed.

"The only one blaming you for it... Is you." Natasha looked up, meeting Thor's eyes. "If Loki got that into your head, just a little bit... We owe him thanks." She smiled vaguely. Then she sighed deeply, removing her hands from Thor. "I don't know if what you said is true or not. But you're right, it won't harm anything finding out where the Infinity Stones were five or more years ago."

Thor smiled lightly. "Thank you."

"Although," Natasha looked up. "If what you say is true, and you are working with Loki in another timeline to prevent this collapse. He is going to try and betray you. You know that, right?"

"I know," Thor sighed. "He already figured out a way to save his own reality, but at the cost of this one… I won't let him," he stated. "He is going to try and trick me into doing the easy thing. I won't allow that. He is not going to have his way."

Natasha nodded. "Good. Just so we are clear on that."

"Do not worry." Thor smiled a little sadly. "I know what my brother is capable of. For better and worse."

"Well, if what you are saying is true, it sounds like we are dependent on that piece of crap," Rocket snorted.

"Rocket… You never even met him. How do you know that..." Thor frowned.

"I watched the old news reels," Rocket grinned. "He is a piece of crap, ain't he?"

"Oh yes. Yes, he is." Natasha nodded.

"Hey!" Thor exclaimed. "He's still my brother."

"Your brother, and a piece of crap," Natasha pointed out. "Arrogant, narcissistic and rude." she counted off on her fingers.

Thor halted, then sighed. "Well... Aye… that he is," he admitted. "But he is also one of the most brilliant minds in the universe. We are lucky to have him on our side in this instance."

Natasha smirked. "Hey, he's not the only person in the world with those personality traits. I seem to remember one Tony Stark, for instance. Yet, we all care about him. That idiot is our friend, and we love him. It's complicated, right?" she asked.

Thor smiled, a bit amused.

"Can you take a message for me?" Natasha asked.

"The other Loki doesn't know who you are, he never attacked New York," Thor sighed.

"Oh." Natasha blinked. "Really?"

"He is the Loki of the past. Yet to commit any great crimes," Thor informed. "Capable of them, yes, actually done them? No."

"But he's still a piece of shit?" Rocket asked.

"Yes." Thor sighed deeply. "Kind of... " he rubbed his head. "Look, it's not what you think it is! Yes, Loki has issues. But he also has morals! Well, his own brand of morals. But he is not! He..." he was lost for words.

"Don't take it too hard." Rocket chuckled. "Quill is a piece of shit too," he informed. "And so is Drax… And Gamora. And especially Nebula. Also me… But they are my brothers and sisters. I..." he swallowed. "If I could just see them again, just once."

Thor looked at Rocket, sympathy filling him. "Maybe, if I find the other Infinity Stones."

"You… think so?" Rocket asked.

"I have to ask Loki," Thor informed. "He… won't be happy. He is already unhappy I put such a burden on him. But I'll make sure he'll explore all options."

"Heh," Rocket smirked. "Thank you for the sentiment. Even if you are full of shit."

Thor shook his head, just giving up, it wasn't worth pursuing it anymore.

Loki… was not happy.

"You want me to what?!" Loki exclaimed.

"I mean, if we have a set of Infinity Stones, we should be able to bring them back, right?" Thor asked.

"No… NO!" Loki shouted. "First off, you would have to transport the Infinity Stones to a different timeline! Then this already unstable timeline would be sure to collapse! NO!" he exclaimed.

"It may be possible, though," Thor pointed out.

"NO!" Loki shouted.

"From the way you are reacting, you already know it's a possibility, you just don't want to waste time exploring it," Thor pointed out.

Loki seethed, his cheeks burning red in anger.

"By the way, the Power Stone is on a planet called Morag," Thor told him.

Loki's eyes narrowed. "You shifted."

Thor nodded.

"How long did you spend in the other reality?"

Thor frowned. "I am not sure," he admitted. "Ten or twelve hours, maybe."

Loki groaned as he opened a drawer and dug through the contents, then pulled up what looked like a notebook and threw it at Thor, who grabbed it.

"Whenever you shift, make a note! Write down the time and place!" Loki demanded. "In the other reality, get another notebook and do the same! I believe that the frequency of your shifts is a pretty good indicator of how far along the collapsing is. Basically, the closer we are to complete collapse the more you are going to shift."

Thor swallowed, then opened the notebook and found all the pages blank, ready for him to use, then he neatly wrote down the time and place he was at before closing the book. "By the way, I have a message from Natasha."

"Who?" Loki asked.

"She says you better pull your ass together and stop being such a piece of crap," Thor informed.

Loki frowned. "I am unfamiliar with that kind of language…. Pull my ass?" he asked.

"Your butt, Loki," Thor informed.

Now Loki looked deeply confused. "Crap?" he asked.

"Feces," Thor translated.

"Why is that woman so fascinated with the body's excrement functions?" Loki asked.

"It's slang." Thor chuckled. "It means you need to pull yourself together and not be such a Narliwore."

"Why didn't she just say so then?" Loki asked as he rolled his eyes.

"Valkyrie also wanted me to give a slap to her good old friend Lackey," Thor smirked.

"I do not know who this Valkyrie is, but I can already tell I don't like her," Loki replied evenly.

Thor smirked. "Aye, that never changed, you never liked my old friends. And you definitely didn't like my new friends."

"Sounds to me like you need better friends," Loki stated.

"Or maybe you should just stop pissing so many people off," Thor replied.

"What?" Loki blinked.

"Stop making everybody mad at you," Thor corrected himself to a more familiar language.

Loki shrugged. "People can think what they will. It is no business of mine," he said. "And clean up your language, Thor! The way you speak is so gaudy right now."

Thor shook his head. "Well, retrieving the stone on Morag should be rather simple," he commented.

Loki sighed deeply. "At least there's that, I suppose."