Okay, so Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier are switching spots. The review for the last chapter wasn't what decided this change. Loki is endgame, the one, the only. We know this from the characters tagged. However, Steve is nice for her. They both know they love someone else. I didn't want to make Steve into a bad guy, so I feel that this route is the best option.

Differences mentioned in this chapter: Timeline change!

Loki sat in the compound living area. Everyone is scheduled to live there soon, allowing them to visit everyone, but so far, only Natasha, Loki, Steve, Tony, and Ariana have moved in. Besides, everyone agreed that having Loki and Ariana in one place with multiple eyes on them was the best option.

Thor had decided to stay on Asgard after convincing Odin that Loki was where he needed to be. The condition, once Loki is no longer needing supervision, he is to bring his mortal friend to see everyone. Loki worried about it and has read the same two pages several times over because he can't keep his mind from thinking about what his father was playing at.

Ariana sat across from Loki. She was less than a month away from being free from her supervision sentence. Still, she did the missions handed to her with professionalism. Thor had told her about Loki's condition from Odin. She wasn't looking forward to it any more than Loki was. But she was worried about something else.

Steve had gone on a mission and came back upset. He shut her out and she wasn't liking it. Anytime she tried to talk about it, he just said it wasn't the right time. They were drifting apart, but neither wanted to admit it. They were healing from past pains with each other and didn't want to let go of that lifeline. And now, when she had the courage to make him talk to her, he was out of the house.

"Ariana, you're thoughts are overly loud," said Loki.

"I can't help it!" she replied. "Steve won't talk to me! What am I supposed to do while I wait for him to let me back in? Bake cookies?"

Loki smiled. "I believe IOTA said you are more likely to blow up the kitchen than cook something."

Ariana smiled back. "I can cook small things now, Loki."

"Like what?"

"I mean… well… um…"

"I could go inside your mind, Ariana. But then, that always led to…"

"Stay the fuck out of my head, Loki. I'm with Steve."

"So, just tell me."

"Fine. I can cook cereal."

He burst out laughing. "That's not cooking."

"Sure it is! You have to put different things together to make a meal!"

"We could prank everyone in the compound. Just to have something to do."

"No."

"When did you grow up?"

"After I befriended, then began dating, Captain America."

Steve walked through the door. He looked both happy and sad. Ariana went to stand, but Steve sat next to her. Loki left the room but he was just around the corner. She stopped Steve from speaking and sent sparks after the eavesdropping god to get him to leave.

"We need to talk," said Steve, once they were officially alone.

Ariana's smile dropped. She knew what was to come, but it felt like it was too soon. She wasn't ready.

"I found Peggy," Steve said.

She smiled. Ready or not, it wasn't fair to either of them. Ariana could hear it in those three words. She took his hand and said, "This is over. We aren't moving past them, Steve. If we were, we wouldn't be tiptoeing this relationship."

"I know. I don't want to, but you have Loki back."

"And while it's not in the way you want, you have Peggy for a while. Friends?"

"I'm with you until the end of the line, sweetheart."

"You told that to Bucky."

"As friends, brothers. I'm extending that to you."

"I can agree to be friends. I think that's all we really were, but we put a bigger label on it than we should have."

Steve smiled and kissed her forehead. He left her alone for a moment. Loki saw her, surprised that she seemed more relaxed and content. Before Loki could go to her, Tony came out.

"Capsicle told me you broke up," Tony said. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she said. "Honestly, it wasn't bad. We've agreed to stay friends."

"That has to be one of the most peaceful breakups I've ever heard of." Ariana laughed. "Still, are you sure you're okay, Ari?"

"Dad, I'm fine. Better, actually, now that I think about it. I think Steve and I were putting too much into something that was simple. This will help us both. He had to change too much to be with me, and I did too. I'm not really the grown-up type and he's too grown-up."

"Yeah, he is, but Reindeer Games is…"

"A giant kid in a grown man's body." She laughed. "Trust me. He's over a thousand years old, but he's right on my level." She looked at the table. "But I need some time on my own first."

"Alright, kiddo. So, how are you going to make the next few days hell for him."

She counted down from three on her fingers when they heard, "Oh, my god! Ariana!"

"Gotta run!" she said.

Loki walked out, smiling as she ran by. Steve ran after her, glitter covering his head and shoulders. Loki sat next to Tony, laughing.

"That wasn't very mature," Tony said.

"But it was all Ariana. Besides, it wasn't just glitter."

"I'm scared to go look."

"She certainly takes simple pranks and outdoes herself with them. I have a feeling the captain will be finding glitter in his room for the next five years."

Ariana ran back through, jumping over the coffee table, giggling as she said, "If he doesn't, I'll plant some everywhere to make sure it happens!"

Both men smiled. Ariana was back to being herself in a matter of seconds after the breakup and it was a joy to hear her genuine laugh.

"Well, it's official," said Steve. "Ariana is a free woman again."

"I say we have a party," said Tony. "I don't think I could take one more prank."

"I had to make up for lost time!" she said. "My boys will be happy to have me back."

"Your kids still annoy me," said Steve.

"Kids?" asked Loki.

"The men I go on recovery missions with," Ariana explained. "Steve calls them my kids. I do tend to be the boss."

"Well, I'm handing Loki duty over to you, Sparky," said Natasha.

"Okay, Nat," she said. "So, good luck today. Both of you." Steve and Nat left and Ariana looked at Loki. "So, Loki, you'll be joining my team today, but only as an observer. So, we need to get ready and go." She looked at Tony. "Party when we get back?"

"Sure thing, kiddo," Tony said. "Kick ass out there."

"I'm a Stark. Of course, I'm going to kick ass."

It wasn't long before they were ready and set in D.C. Loki stayed with Harris, though he wanted to back up Ariana with Rodrigez and Jackson. Harris allowed him to watch the monitors with him. Loki was impressed with Ariana's professionalism.

She walked down the street, her illusion flawless. He couldn't fault her for anything. The target was an easy one, to help her get back in the groove of things. She took the package without a hitch and they were on their way in a matter of minutes. They drove along the bridge.

"You were extraordinary," said Loki.

"Careful," said Jackson. "She has a sharp tongue."

"Jackson, last time we had a new member, you were the one that ran them off, not my sharp tongue," she pointed out.

"And I helped develop that tongue," said Loki.

"So, you're the idiot god that broke our girl," said Rodrigez.

"Okay, enough from the peanut gallery," said Ariana. "You boys worry too much. I'm a single woman right now. Quite giving Lo and hard time."

"Lo?" Loki asked.

"She gives us all nicknames," said Harris. "I'm Ris, Jackson is Sonny, and Rodrigez is Rig."

"Just be glad she didn't call you Kiki," said Jackson.

"He's still my ex, guys," she said. "I'm not going to be too mean."

"For the one you claim as the love of your life, he's not all that impressive," said Rodrigez.

Loki was about to speak when Harris said, "He was the one that killed eighty people in two days. I'd sleep with one eye open."

"I was the one that brought the army to New York," Ariana growled. "You accept me just fine."

"We're just giving him a hard time," said Jackson, trying to defuse the situation quickly. "We trust him because you do. And we know you. You'd never do that. So, naturally, we don't believe he would have done all of that stuff either."

She looked back at Loki. Both wore the same expression of guilt, but a soft smile was shared. Yeah, these boys were like her kids.

"Well, let's not joke about that," she said. "Or I'll be the one kicking your asses. Last time, you three were held up in the hospital for a month and I had to fight my way out of a terrorist camp for a week."

"Wait," said Rodrigez, "I thought it was a week in the hospital and it was a wearhouse for two hours."

"You know how she likes to make the time away from us grow," said Harris.

Loki laughed with everyone. Ariana looked out the van window. Steve noticed her and they smiled at each other. Then, a man with a metal arm attacked Steve's car.

"Stop!" Ariana ordered. "Our friends need our help!"

"Friends?" asked Jackson as everyone got into business mode.

"Captain America and his team," she said. "We'll back them up. Be on your guard."

When all hell broke loose, everyone went to lend a hand. Loki and Ariana seemed to be always be fighting back to back. They worked their way over to Steve.

"Who the hell is that?" Ariana asked.

"The Winter Soldier," said Steve. "He attacked Fury."

During the fight, Ariana got separated. Though Loki and Steve knew she could handle herself, it didn't stop them from worrying. When the soldier's mask was removed, Steve was in shock to see it was Bucky.

When the fighting stopped, everyone reassembled… apart from Ariana. Loki looked around, but she was gone. Panic sat in. He couldn't get a strong read through their shared magic like he normally would, which meant she was unconscious.

"Ariana is missing," he said. "We have to find her."

Steve looked at Loki and said, "She must have been taken. We'll get her and Bucky back. We have no other choice."