Gem woke and felt the bed for Steve, he wasn't there. She knew where he would be. She pulled on shorts and t-shirt and headed out to see them. Bucky and Sam had been living with them. The compound had been completely destroyed. In the kitchen she found them all sat round drinking coffee.

"Morning."

"Morning, have you all eaten."

Steve pulled a face at her, fighting they were all good at, cooking not so much. They had surprised her one night with a meal, Gem had been polite about but hadn't let them in the kitchen since. She started to make pancakes; Steve grabbed her round the waist. "Are you still planning to leave me to go visit Thor?"

"I'm only going for a few days. Plus, you guys are meant to be helping Bruce build the new time portal."

"I know, but I don't like not having you here."

"We have things to sort out. Thor has to become a king at some point, and he will need my council."

"You make it sound like we should move there?"

Gem turned, she looked at him, then at Bucky and Sam. This wasn't the time for this conversation. She handed Steve the plate of pancakes. "Take these over, I'll bring everything else." Steve kissed her cheek.

Gem looked at them all sitting round the table. Steve was so happy to have them back, so was she, but listening to Steve and Bucky talk about when they were younger, had made her think, alot, again about what her father had said. She wasn't only going to give council to her uncle, she was also going to seek it from him.

as she was packing a few bits.

Bucky came in. "Hey Gem, is everything ok? You seemed quiet at breakfast."

"I'm fine Buck. It's just been a long few weeks."

"Maybe the time away will help you relax, clear your head."

"Hopefully. Look after Steve while I'm not here."

"Always." Gem hugged him; she was happy he was here.

…

Gem arrived at New Asgard. She was making her way to Thor's house when she spotted Valkyrie. "Hey, you made it."

"Of course, I did. Is he home?"

"Yer, he seems in a better mood." She said with a smile.

"I'm glad. there is alot to sort out."

"How's Steve?"

"He's good thank you. Well I better go find him. I promised I'd only be away for a few days." Gem headed to the house. Inside she found Thor. He pulled her in for a hug.

"Niece, it's so good to have you here. Did you bring Steve?"

"No uncle. He's busy helping Bruce. They need to get the stones back to their timelines."

"Well it's good to have you here." Thor showed Gem round, people bowed their heads as they walked by, Gem still wasn't used to this. They reached a quiet spot, they sat on the grass and looked out over the ocean. Gem liked it here, it was so peaceful compared to the city.

"So, uncle, what is it? You said there were things you needed to discuss."

"I don't want to be king. I can't rule these people."

"Of course, you can. Grandfather raised you for this moment." Thor looked at Gem. She was already so much wiser than he was. "I think you should lead our people. you already know this world; you could lead them through it."

Gem stared at him, had he really just spoken those words. "Thor you are the rightful king.

"But I don't have to be. you could rule."

"I don't want to. I have never wanted to rule our people."

"Then we are doing well. If neither of us want this, then who?" He said with a sad smile.

"Valkyrie, she knows the people so well. She has led them. She is the one."

Thor looked at Gem, she was still looking out over the ocean, something was clearly on her mind. "What are you thinking?"

"Father is alive."

Thor stared at her. He'd watched Thanos choke the life out of Loki. but he had had the feeling that his brother was still alive somehow even before Gem had mentioned his appearance in her dreams.

"How do you know for sure?"

"I saw him. When we went through time. He was there waiting for me."

Thor took her hand. He knew Gem wished she had had more time with Loki. "What did he say to you?"

"He explained time travel to me and told me to kick Thanos's ass." Thor laughed, but he could tell there was more. Gem had always had this look. From being a little girl, she could never truly hide what she was thinking. Gem turned her head and looked at Thor, then she pulled the vile from her pocket.

"Is that…"

"The same magic used on you and father. yes. Father gave it to me to use on Steve."

"You can't. that man loves the ground you walk on."

Gem got up and started pacing. "I don't want to use it on him. I love him so much. more than I ever thought possible. but…."

Thor took hold of her, she had tears rolling down her face. "You want to go find Loki."

"So much. I also want to be with Steve. but I'm going to lose him. I can't give him the things I know he wants. He wants a family; how can I give him children. We would outlive him by thousands of years. I don't want to raise them, without a father."

Thor hugged her harder. she was a complete mess; she was so torn so divided. "Just know whatever you decide, I will always be here for you and you will always have a home here."

"Thank you. I'm going to stay up here for a while, maybe the old ones will speak to me and give me some answers."

Thor left her, he looked back at her stood on the cliff edge, she was every inch the Asgardian princess and would have suited ruling, but she knew her own heart and he accepted that.

Gem spent a few hours up there. She was hoping that her father would just appear and give her some answers. She was so torn, she loved Steve so much, more than she had ever thought physically possible. She now understood why her father could not be around after her mother's death.

When she found herself back in Thor's house, she was at last settled in her mind. She had made a choice. Thor looked her in the eyes and hugged her. "Your house will be ready when you come back."

"How did you know?"

Thor just looked at her. He hoped she was making the right choice.

….

When Gem arrived back at the apartment, it was empty. The place looked pretty clean and tidy. Gem went to their bedroom, one of Steve's jackets was laid over the chair, she picked it up and put it on, could she really do it? She crawled onto their bed and fell asleep.

When Steve came home, he found Gem curled up in his jacket. She looked so peaceful. He climbed in next to her and wrapped his arms round her. She moved slightly at his touch. "Hey."

"Hey, you should have messaged to say you were back."

"I didn't want to disturb you. You guys have lots of work to do. How's it going?"

"Ok, I think. Bruce is putting it all together. He says it will be a few more weeks yet."

"That's ok then. The sooner those stones are back where they belong the better."

Gem moved to face him. She kissed his chest lightly and pulled at his shirt. Steve helped her pull it off. They ripped at each other's clothes. Gem wanted to feel every inch of him, to remember everything about him. She wanted to be able to remember this. Remember his touch, the way he would run his tongue under her earlobe. She didn't want to forget the sound of his voice as he whispered how much he loved her. Nor did she want to forget the way he felt inside her. It was the only time she ever truly felt whole. Soon she would lose that forever, so she would relish every last second of this that they had.

…..

Gem was alone in the apartment the next morning when she heard a set of unexpected footsteps in the hall. "Hey, you not with the others?" She asks when she saw Bucky come round the corner. there was a time when she would have been stood dagger in hand ready for a fight upon hearing expected noises. Now she had learned that most people who want to kill you really aren't that subtle.

"They are talking about things I don't understand. I thought I would just come here and chill. But if you want me out of the way, I can go?"

"Actually, there is something I want to talk to you about." Gem sits down and gestures for Bucky to sit next to her. Where to start? She decides that honesty and starting from the beginning would be best and so with a sigh Gem begins to tell Bucky everything, the dreams, the time with her father, the things he had told her, her worries.

"Oh Gem." He wraps an arm around her and takes her hand in the other.

"I'm going to do it tomorrow. My plan is to give him it before he falls asleep. That way I can slip out before he wakes. He won't remember me, I need you to look out for him, I need you to be his friend."

Bucky notices the tears in her eyes as she looks at him. "I really do love him. I love him more than I ever thought possible, but I have to find my father. I have to help my uncle and our people. I may not want to rule, but they are all I have left of my home. I will outlive him by thousands of years. I think this will be a kindness to him. This way he can find someone who he can live his life with without having the shadow of time constantly reminding him of how very different we truly are."

"I get it. You are torn and I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. You do know he would understand all this if you told him."

Gem looked at Bucky, she knew he was right, Steve would most likely understand. She wasn't doing this because she thought he wouldn't. She was doing it because she knew she was going to places Steve couldn't follow. "I know he would. but this is easier. I'm going to places; he cannot follow." she stated sadly.

Bucky hugged her then. He loved Steve as a brother and loved Gem as a sister. He would miss her.

The next day, while they were out, Gem packed some of her things in a bag and hid it. The rest would have to be done while Steve slept. She was so nervous. She had asked Bucky to keep Sam out of the apartment that night, she wanted to say goodbye to Steve in her own way.

When Steve arrived home, Gem was waiting for him. He kissed her, she always melted at his touch which made what she was going to do so much harder.

"Where are Sam and Bucky?"

"They are giving us some space for the night." She smiled.

Steve scooped her up and Gem wrapped herself around him. "So, we have the whole place to ourselves."

"All night."

Steve carries her over to the sofa, Gem pulls his t-shirt over his head, and then he removes hers. Gem kisses him before she slid off him and pulled his trousers off. This was the last time they would ever be this way. Gem slid to her knees slowly, gently bringing Steve's trousers and boxers down with her. She took him in her mouth slowly swirling her tongue around his shaft, she kept her eyes locked on his the whole time. Steve pulls her up off of him and pulls her trousers the rest of the way off. Gem pushes him back onto the sofa and straddles him lowering herself onto him inch by inch savouring the moment. Only to be pulled out of it as he swiftly thrust up into her causing her to moan loudly. This hadn't been part of the plan she wanted to take it slowly, but the man knew every one of her buttons, he could play her like the flute and have her coming undone in seconds. She wasn't going to stop him. Not for one second.

They found themselves in the bedroom, Steve was stroking Gem's back lightly, as she lay on his chest.

"You know I will always love you."

Steve pulls her chin up. "I do, as I will always love you."

Gem moved up his body and kissed him. This time they went slow and gentle. Gem was trying to keep her head. She went to the kitchen after and got them both some water. She poured the liquid into Steve's glass. This was it. No going back now.

Steve smiles at her as she comes back into their room. She was wearing one of his t-shirts. It was one of her favourites. and he loved the way she looked in them. Gem handed him a glass, and Steve drained it.

Gem got into bed next to him, she lay with him while he fell asleep. She climbed out of the bed once she was sure he was out, and pulled her bag out, she put the last few bits in her bag. She took the pictures of her and Steve, she took everything that could remind him of her, leaving no trace that she had ever been there. The last thing was his wedding ring. she couldn't help but cry as she slid it off his finger. she slipped it on a chain and put it round her neck. Outside she used her magic to take her to New Asgard.

…. end of chapter 12