May 11th , 2015 - Manhattan, New York – Avengers Tower

Construction on the Avengers Facility in upstate New York was underway and despite the damage that Ultron caused to the Avengers Tower in Manhattan, most of the team still stayed in the tower until construction was complete. Clint had gone back home, Thor was visiting his ex-girlfriend, Jane Foster. Natasha and Jordan had gone on vacation, and Bruce was...well, still MIA. The only people still living in the tower were Tony, AJ, Andrew, Kai, Steve, and their newest members, Vision and Wanda. But once the new facility was ready, they'd all move in.

AJ hadn't left the tower since they had come back to the city. A group of press had been camping out over night just to get a interview or quote from one of the Avengers about Sokovia. WHiH News was covering the damage Ultron had caused, citing the Avengers as responsible for the wreckage. Which was partially true. Tony and Bruce created Ultron — but they hadn't known he would go murder-bot on them. Tony had just wanted peace. He had wanted a way to protect the world, to protect his family. He and Bruce had good intentions, and the damage was reversible.

When Fury had shown up to the Tower asking to speak with only Steve, AJ, and Tony; she had hoped that Fury had a lead on Bucky. But the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D's gaze narrowed in on her as he handed over a few files, and AJ knew the meeting had something to do with her and not Bucky.

Werner Reinhardt.

He had been alive the entire time.

Or, Daniel Whitehall, his new alias, had.

"He was alive this whole time...how is this possible?" AJ asked, looking up at Fury. Had he been put in cryofreeze like she and Bucky had?

"In '89, Werner Reinhardt was freed by undercover members of Hydra within S.H.I.E.L.D." Fury told AJ, looking between her at Steve and Tony, who were both listening carefully.Well, Steve was listening carefully. Tony was going over the files Fury had given them to read. "As I'm sure you remember, you weren't Reinhardt's only prisoner in '45, a woman named Jiaying," Fury began to say only to have Tony interrupt him.

"You gotta be kidding me." Tony muttered under his breath, looking down at the file before passing it over to AJ to read. She took the file from him, wide eyes now scanning what he had just read. "He used this Jiaying person's DNA and organs to... de-age himself?" Tony shook his head in frustration.

AJ ignored Tony as he continued to mutter things under his breath and instead focused on the file about Jiaying. Back in the '45, Reinhardt had seen that the woman had the ability to regenerate. It was the power given to her from the Diviner. AJ remembered watching the woman heal miraculously, but when she too began to heal after a couple of surgeries, she had figured that whatever she had touched, what they had both touched, it had helped them both heal unlike ordinary humans. But now...after learning about Reinhardt taking some of Jiaying's DNA and placing it in himself...maybe he had done the same to her? Maybe that's why she could heal herself after getting injured.

Jiyang had been freed when Peggy and the Howling commandos had found the Hydra base, and after years of regenerating, she had popped back up on SHIELD's radar; which put her on Hydra's radar. In '89, Jiaying had been captured again by Hydra and experimented on yet again. After taking some of her organs and DNA, they had managed to de-age Dr. Reinhardt, and he was free once again to torture and experiment on helpless souls.

"How long have you known that he was alive?" AJ asked. "It says he died in March. " She stressed. "Why are you just telling me this?" She looked at Fury for an explanation. "When I asked about him after I woke up , you gave me his death certificate. You told me he had died -- clearly that was a lie." AJ tried her best to keep her voice steady, to focus on her breathing and not anger and hatred that threatened to turn the room they were in into an icebox. She felt Steve press his hand down on her leg, trying to give her some comfort.

But she didn't want comfort right now. She just wanted some damn answers. But Fury refused to meet her eyes. "We thought he was dead." He finally answered. "But Hydra,"

AJ scoffed, "Hydra," She spat out the word.

"Frost," He said her name in a stern voice but she shook her head, grabbing at the files again, trying to glean any other information he might be keeping from her.

"Jiaying," AJ looked back at Fury, needing answers about the woman she had held prisoner with. "is she still alive?"

He shook his head. "She is not." Fury told her. "And she wasn't exactly innocent, Frost. Being Hydra's prisoner changed her. She saw humanity as a problem and killed many people."

AJ raised her hand, telling him to stop talking.

Fury sighed. "I was trying to keep you safe."

She scoffed at his answer. "He died in March, Nick. Why wait to tell me? Why the secrecy?" AJ asked. "Why are you only telling me now ? Was that job not finished because I'dgladly take him out for you – for good. " She stressed the word.

"Jay," Steve squeezed her leg, trying to calm her down.

"I didn't tell you when I found out he was alive because you would have been emotionally compromised and when that happens, everyone in the room turns to ice." Fury said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Screw you." She glared.

Fury shook his head in frustration. "Dammit, Frost – as soon as I found out he was alive, I put out the order to kill the bastard." He confessed.

"Who did it?" AJ said, looking directly at Fury. "Who'd you send to kill him? Hill? Romanoff? Barton? Who killed Reinhardt, Fury?"

"An old friend." Fury said with a sigh. "And that's about all I can tell you."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not the director of SHIELD anymore, Frost. I take orders from someone else now." She blinked in surprise at his words. "And the reason why I'm even telling you any of this is because they felt like you had the right to know that the man that held you captive and tortured you is dead. For good this time."

AJ glared. "Sixty." Fury nodded, already understanding the number. "Sixty days – that's how long he tortured me." She stood up from her seat, Steve's hand sliding off her as she got out of her seat and made her way over to Fury. "You should have told me when you found out he was alive and I should have been the one to end his life. I was owed that much!"

"Adelyn," Tony said her name softly. "Take a breather."

"No, Tony!" She snapped at him.

Steve stood up, moving his hand to her lower back and ushered her out of the room, leaving Tony to argue with Fury on her behalf. "Breathe." Steve instructed. AJ closed her eyes, trying to do as Steve instructed. "In and out, Jay."

She did, taking in a deep breath and holding it before exhaling through her nose. "He was alive the whole time, Steve." AJ whispered once she opened her eyes.

"You're safe." Steve promised her, moving his hands to rest on her shoulders. "He's gone."

She closed her eyes, letting her head fall as she tried to keep in a sob. AJ heard Steve sigh and then felt herself being moved into his arms. "I'm sorry." AJ apologized, embarrassed by her behavior. "I just,"

"I get it, Jay." Steve said, rubbing her back. "You have nothing to apologize for."

"Yes, I do." She disagreed with Steve, slowly pulling out of his embrace. "Fury was right; I'm emotionally compromised when it comes to the past and...if it weren't for you and Tony being in the room with me...Fury wouldn't be so far off with his statement that I'd turn everything into an ice box."

Steve smiled softly at AJ, glad that she was opening up to him. AJ sighed, taking a step back, knowing he needed to know the truth about her powers. "I think Reinhardt put some of Jiayings DNA in me." AJ confessed. "I've been relying on my powers a lot lately and it's taking a toll on my body. I'm getting headaches, bloody noses," Hallucinations. Steve knew about the Loki aspect of it all but saying it out loud, AJ knew it would only cause him to worry more.

Steve's eyebrows pinched together, letting AJ see how concerned he already was. "I'll call Jordan." He said. "And Tony can run some tests. When Dr. Cho is better we can have her look at you too." She could hear it in his voice, the fear. Fear of losing me, she thought.

AJ inhaled deeply and nodded her head. "I should go apologize to Fury."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

AJ smiled, shaking her head. "No." She answered. "Go find my guy." She touched his arm, knowing Steve had been itching to search for Bucky since they got back from Sokovia. Steve's brows furrowed again and AJ smiled softly at him, moving her hand to rest against his cheek, patting it lightly. "Go." She urged him.

"I'll just be downstairs with Sam." Steve told AJ as he hand dropped from his cheek. "If you need anything, just let F.R.I.D.A.Y-"

"Steven," AJ stopped him. "Go."

He playfully rolled his eyes but nodded his head, leaving AJ standing in the hallway on her own. It took her a moment before she could go back into the room and face Fury, but when she did, the man said her apologies weren't necessary.

"You good?" Tony asked once Fury was gone.

She nodded her head, deciding to let Steve fill Tony in on everything. If she told Tony about what was going on, he'd want to start running tests and call Jordan back to New York from her vacation with Natasha -- she didn't want him to fuss. Which, Tony being Tony, he would. "I'm good." She lied, "Just wish I would have been the one to shoot Reinhardt."

Tony smirked, "You and I both." She smiled softly and him. "Do you want to grab some lunch?"

He asked.

AJ shook her head with a smile. "No, I really don't feel like eating right now." She admitted, still feeling sick after finding out Reinhardt had been alive this whole time. He's gone now, she had to remind herself.

"Just let F.R.I.D.A.Y know if you need anything."

Tony left and AJ headed to her room, locking the door behind her so that she could have some privacy. She undressed and headed to her private bathroom and took a long shower, her eyes catching the small white lines on her body from where Reinhardt had cut into her. When she got out of the shower and walked back into her room, AJ stopped in the middle of the room, feeling as if she weren't alone in that moment.

AJ gripped onto her towel tighter. "Who's there?" She asked, looking around the room. Her eyes landed on her dresser, seeing the necklace that Thor had given her was glowing. "Loki?" She called out, knowing the last time it glowed he had somehow gotten into her head. Or I just imagined it, AJ tried to tell herself. But then she heard a chuckle behind her, causing her to swing around and see Loki laying on her bed. She glared. "How are you here?" AJ asked him, trying to find anything in her room that she could use as a weapon.

"Perhaps I'm not." Loki smirked.

She swallowed hard, irritated by his presence. "Thor told me you died. I take it you didn't?"

He grinned, getting up and walking over to where she stood. "You are a clever one, aren't you?" AJ glared. "It's a compliment, not an insult."

"I'm telling Thor." AJ said, trying to cover herself more with the towel.

Loki grinned again. "Go on," He motioned for her to leave the room. "I'm sure he'd love to know I'm still alive but," He clicked his tongue. "You being the only person who can see me right now," He made a face. "Thor might want proof. I mean, he down right refused to believe you when you first told him you saw me in your hallucination caused by the mind stone; which by the way, I suffered from as well. " AJ scoffed, shaking her head. "It's true. I'm hurt that you'd think I'd lie to you, Adelyn." She rolled her eyes. "Thor will believe that this ," He motioned between them. "Is a lingering hallucination caused by the mind stone because he is still suffering through the images that were put into his head."

"Why did you do it?" She asked. "Why come into my vision and pull me out."

He smiled, shaking his head. "Perhaps I like you."

"I don't like you." She said, backing up to her desk to where the necklace was. If she grabbed it and smashed the object, maybe Loki would disappear.

"Most people say that when they first meet me." He followed after her. AJ took her chance and grabbed at the necklace, letting the jem freeze in her hand and deteriorate. But when she looked back at Loki, he was smiling at her. "Still here."

"It's not the necklace." She mumbled, walking past Loki. "...my nightmares from the Mind Stone are fading...you will too."

"Or, perhaps, you're just going insane." Loki suggested.

AJ laughed, nodding her head. "You might be right." She turned to face Loki. "Headaches, nose bleeds, you ...I'm sick."

Loki rolled his eyes. "You're not sick."

"Then tell me how you're here, Loki?" She walked towards him, a butterfly knife hidden behind her back. "Why am I seeing you ?"

He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, so AJ took that window to strike him with the knife but it went right through him. She narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out how it was possible for that to happen. It was almost as if he were a hologram.

"I was going to answer your question." Loki said, eyes furrowed in irritation. "But now I much rather watch you suffer trying to figure out how you can see me." He pointed to the shattered necklace. "That was a gift ." He stressed the words before disappearing.

AJ threw her head back in frustration, letting out a loud groan. Thor was still in London trying to work things out with Jane; he didn't need this on his plate. But before he left, AJ would warn him about Loki -- after she had a couple of brain scans to rule out there being a tumor on her brain making her hallucinate a man she loathed.

Why couldn't it be Bucky she was seeing?

She'd much rather hallucinate him.

_

May 28th, 2015 - Avengers Compound -- Upper State New York

Andrew Frost had a big decision to make. He could either stay in the now open Avengers compound -- or, he could leave his aunt and join the team Fury had told both he and Kai about. A team working for SHIELD who worked closely with Inhumans. AJ had told Fury she was staying with Steve and the team -- which was really no surprise to Andrew, but she would be the only reason that he'd be staying. Well, and Sara. But he didn't see much of her now that the upper state New York compound was up and running. Sara chose to stay back in Manhattan working with Pepper; so their relationship -- or, flirtatious friendship had come to an end.

Joining the team -- becoming an official Avenger ...he had wanted that for a while now. But Andrew wanted to know more about his Inhuman origins, as did Kai, who had been ready to pack his bags the moment Fury brought up the idea of them joining the team.

"You make a decision yet?" A voice said from behind Andrew as he overlooked people working and getting things together in the compound. He looked over his shoulder to see Steve standing a few feet away.

"She told you?" Andrew wasn't really surprised. AJ told Steve everything.

Steve nodded his head and walked over to stand next to Andrew. "She'd understand it," Steve told Andrew. "If you left to join the team Fury has assembled." He chuckled for a moment. "She might give you grief about it," He said in humor. "-but...ultimately your aunt wants you to do what's best for you."

"I hated her for so long." Andrew admitted. "I blamed her for Brian's death every day up until she showed up at my place needing help." He let out a puff of air and shook his head, "I wanted to keep hating her, but she's family and,"

Steve smiled. "Family over everything."

Andrew nodded his head and repeated his father's mantra. "Family over everything."

"I don't know if this helps but," Steve said after a moment. "I won't let anything bad happen to Jay." He promised. "She's my family too."

"I just don't want her to feel like I'm abandoning her." Andrew admitted. "I don't want her to lose control and spiral again if I leave."

Steve sighed, shaking his head. "You choosing to leave to learn more about your Inhuman origins is very different from you being stuck in a block of stone for months with AJ having no way of knowing you'd ever return." He reminded him.

He had a point.

"It kinda seems like you've already made the decision to leave, Andrew." Steve commented, moving to clap his hand against Andrew's shoulder. "You've got an hour until the Quinjet leaves ...if it were me, I'd want to spend it with Jay."

Andrew nodded his head. "I guess it's a good thing that all my things are still boxed up." He tried to joke, but he felt a dull ache in his stomach, worrying about his aunt. "If anything big happens like -- you find Bucky...I know I won't be able to contact with you all but...please let Fury know so he can tell me." Steve nodded his head, promising he would do just that. "Where's Jay?"

"Training room with Sam." Steve told him. "Hand to hand combat." He made a face causing Andrew to chuckle. He'd miss sparring with both Sam; the man always knew how to get Andrew laughing while they were training.

He found them with Sam laid on his back and AJ pressing her foot against his chest to keep him down while twisting his arm.

"I tap!" Sam shouted. "I tap, I tap, I tap!" AJ laughed and let him go, breathing hard as she helped Sam to her feet. "Damn girl, have you been holding out on me?" He asked with a smirk, causing AJ to laugh more.

"I just didn't want to hurt you." AJ told him, placing her hand on his shoulder and patting it lightly.

"Oh - but today you were fine with it?" Sam asked, mock offended. "I see how it is."

AJ wiped sweat from her brow, looking over to the door and spotting Andrew. "Hey." She smiled when she saw him. "Give me a couple of minutes to cool off and I'll go against you next." AJ walked over to her bag and pulled out a water bottle, taking a few small sips of it.

"Actually, uh," Andrew rubbed the back of his neck. "I was wondering if we could talk."

AJ set her water bottle down and walked over to Andrew. "You're going with Kai?" She asked him, but Andrew could see in her eyes that she saw this coming.

"What?! Man, no !" Sam walked up to where they now stood. "You can't leave."

"Sam," AJ looked over at him, motioning for him to give them a moment. He scoffed but walked away, muttering about how he was only leaving because he was taught not to disrespect the elderly. "When did you decide?" AJ asked her nephew.

Andrew chuckled at that. "About five minutes ago." He admitted. She nodded her head, looking down at the ground. "I can stay." He offered. But he knew AJ would never ask that of him.

"No," She looked up at him. "Go find out more about...who we are." AJ smiled. "I know you want more answers."

Andrew looked down at his hands. "I won't be able to stay in touch." He reminded his aunt. "Not unless it's through Fury."

"I know." She said, forcing a smile as her voice broke.

Andrew frowned, moving forward and pulling his aunt into a hug. "I love you." He whispered, feeling her grip onto the back of his shirt.

"I love you too, Andy." She whispered back. When she pulled away, AJ quickly wiped away her tears and smiled up at Andrew. "Your father would be so proud of you."

Andrew smiled, nodding his head. "He'd be proud of you too...Auntie Addie." He teased.

She smiled, closing her eyes as she chuckled. "You're such a shit."

He laughed, pulling her into another hug. They spent the rest of his hour sparring together for old time sakes and afterwards, AJ joked that she'd need Thor to carry her around the compound for the rest of the day she was so sore trying to match Andrews enhanced pace. She walked him to the quinjet with Steve and Tony, both men standing next to her as she said her goodbyes.

Andrew knew that between the two men, AJ would always be safe. It made him feel less guilty about leaving. He hugged his aunt and shook both Steve and Tony's hands before he walked over to the quinjet where Kai was waiting for them.

"Andrew, wait," AJ called out as he turned away. He stopped, turning to face his aunt who threw her arms around his shoulders in a hug. "Be safe." She whispered, embracing him tightly. "And know that I'm not far."

He nodded his head, hugging her back as his eyes began to sting from the tears he was refusing to shed. "You stay safe too." Andrew told AJ as he let go of her. "And uh," He cleared his throat. "If you see Sara...tell her I said goodbye."

AJ forced a smile, though tears rolled down her cheeks. "I will."

He looked past her to Steve and Tony, who both nodded, a little way of letting Andrew know that they'd take care of his aunt. "I'll see you around, Jay." He said as he looked back to AJ. She stood on her the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek, a genuine smile emerging when she wiped at his cheek with her thumb to clean the smear of lipstick. "Tell Kai that if anything happens to you, that I'm holding him accountable for it."

Andrew laughed and nodded his head. They hugged one last time before Kai bellowed from the jet that they needed to leave. The large man walked out of the quinjet and picked AJ up in a hug, making her promise not to get in any bar fights to which AJ rolled her eyes, playfully punching his arm. "See ya, Cap." Kai waved to Steve. "Stay cool, Stark."

"Always, Palani." Tony said, and Andrew watched as the light faded in AJ's eyes opening hearing the word. It was something she and Bucky had always said to one another. "You guys better get going to beat traffic." Tony said, walking over to where AJ stood and bumping his shoulder against hers.

"Traffic?" AJ said as she looked at Tony. "They're taking the quinjet."

"It's a saying , Adelyn -- a joke , one might call it." But AJ simply quirked her brow at Tony, causing the man to blow out air from his nose. "You've been hanging out with Grandpa Steve too much."

Andrew watched as Tony ushered AJ away, Steve giving Andrew and Kai one last wave. Andrew smiled, knowing that his aunt would be taken care of.

"You got lipstick on your cheek, brother." Kai said to Andrew before walking into the quinjet. Andrew chuckled, wiping his cheek where AJ had kissed him. He walked into the quinjet, looking over his shoulder once to see if AJ was still there. She was . He chuckled, waving goodbye to her as the quinjet closed.

"Frost, Palani." A voice said from the front of the quinjet. Andrew and Kai walked over to the pilot and Andrews eyes widened when he saw a familiar face on the screen in the cockpit. "Welcome to the team."

"Coulson?" Andrew gaped in shock.

The man smiled. "We got a lot to catch up on, Frost."

_

AJ winced at the pinch of the needle piercing her skin. "Sorry," Jordan apologized, "Though, you'd think you'd be used to be poked and prodded." She teased, her tone dry. AJ mustered up a smile, but this was the last place she wanted to be right now. But when Steve had told Tony about her nose bleeds and the headaches, he had wanted to run every test on her that they possibly could do make sure she was alright. God help her if she had told Steve about the hallucinations of Loki, if he had told Tony -- oh boy, there would be even more CAT scans and MRI's to determine that AJ wasn't losing her mind. But maybe she was? Since she had broken the necklace, Loki hadn't resurfaced orappeared to her. Perhaps it was just the Mind Stones after effects lingering in her head.

Talking with Wanda Maximoff about the effects of the Mind Stone had helped as well. The young woman was sweet, snarky, and so smart. AJ truly enjoyed spending time with Wanda, and though she was weary of Tony and the team, Wanda seemed to trust AJ the most.

"Wanda said that the Mind Stone could be the cause of the headaches and nosebleeds." AJ told Jordan as she drew blood. It was a theory they discussed at length; AJ actually told Wanda about the vision she had seen in her head and even told her about Loki. Wanda was sure it had something to do with the Mind Stone, but promised to keep what AJ told her between the two of them.

The doctor nodded her head and looked to AJ. "And the nightmares?"

AJ narrowed her eyes at Jordan. "Nightmares?"

Jordan set down AJ's blood sample and focused on the woman. "Natasha has been having really bad nightmares." Jordan confessed. "Ever since Sabrina the Teenage Witch messed with her head in Sokovia, she's been having really bad nightmares. Sometimes violent." She sighed. "Natasha says no more 'sleepovers' until the nightmares end because she's afraid she'll hurt me on night if I try to wake her up."

AJ frowned. "I didn't know."

Jordan rubbed at her temples. "Natasha doesn't want people to know."

AJ quirked her brow up in amusement. "So...you tell me?" She said with a chuckle. "You know she's going to be pissed if she ever finds out."

Jordan smirked. "So don't tell her."

AJ laughed. "I won't."

Jordan smiled and pushed off her seat, walking over to grab a thermometer. "I heard Andrew left today." She said once she was standing back in front of AJ. "How you holding up?"

AJ shrugged. "Well, it's been three hours since he's left and I've already thought of six things that I want to tell him." She admitted with a sad sigh. "I know how much he wants to learn about being Inhuman and learning more about our... kind ." She said the word hesitantly. "And I'm happy he has that opportunity I just,"

"Miss him?"

"Yeah." She whispered, biting down on her lower lip. Jordan checked AJ's temperature, seeing it was normal -- well, normal for AJ. She ran much colder than most other people.

"Miss Frost," F.R.I.D.A.Y's voice echoed in the room. "Thor is leaving soon and requests you see him off."

Both AJ and Jordan chuckled at that. "Tell him I'm on my way."

"Right away."

"I should go." AJ said, pulling her jacket back on. "I am being summoned by a god."

Jordan chuckled and nodded her head. "Cho and her team will go over your bloodwork and get the results back soon." She assured AJ. "But I think it's going to read like all your others; there's no strain of DNA that matches Jiaying and no toxins are in your blood that might hinder your powers. Everything has checked out so far."

Except for me hallucinating Loki, AJ thought bitterly.

She thanked Jordan for her help and left the labs, heading to where Steve, Thor, and Tony were. AJ found them walking down the hallway, the men waiting for her once they saw she was near.

"The rules have changed." Steve said in a serious tone causing AJ to quirk her brow up as she walked up to them. Thor smiled when she moved to stand in between him and Steve, letting his arm nudge hers briefly causing her to smile as well. Thor was a giant teddy bear; she'd miss having him around.

"We're dealing with something new." Tony added.

"The Vision is artificial intelligence."

"A machine." Tony agreed.

"So it doesn't count?" He looked at Thor for confirmation.

"No, it's not like a person lifting the hammer." Tony answered instead.

"Oh my god." AJ groaned, tired of hearing about this debate. Vision being able to pick up Thor's hammer really put a dent in Tony's ego -- and Steve's too, it seemed.

"Right!" Steve said as he motioned between him and Tony. "Different rules for us."

"Nice guy," Tony shrugged. "Artificial."

"Thank you." Steve smiled as he watched AJ roll her eyes.

"He can wield the hammer, he can keep the Mind Stone." Thor said, looking at both Tony and Steve. "It's safe with the Vision. And these days, safe is in short supply."

There was a small moment of silence before Steve spoke up again. "But if you put the hammer in an elevator..."

"It'd still go up." Tony argued.

Steve shook his head. "Elevator's not worthy."

Thor chuckled, clapping his hand around Tony's shoulder. "I'm going to miss these little talks of ours." He smiled.

"Not if you don't leave." AJ suggested causing Thor to look down at her. "You can stay...we have a room set up for you already."

Thor smiled sadly at AJ. "I have no choice, Adelyn." He told her as they all began to walk again. "The Mind Stone is the fourth of Infinity Stones to show up in the last few years. It's not a coincidence." He said as they walked outside, a team of agents running above them on the deck of the Avengers Compound. "Someone has been playing an intricate game and has made pawns of us. And once all these pieces are in position."

"Triple Yahtzee?" Tony suggested.

"You think you can find out what's coming?" Steve asked as they walked into the field outside of the compound.

"I do." He nodded his head before slapping Tony lightly against the chest with his hand. "Besides this one," He teased. "There's nothing that can't be explained." He walked forward, a few feet away from them. AJ followed him, smiling as he opened his arms up to hug her. "Stay safe, Adelyn." He whispered as he hugged her.

She smiled, nodding her head as she hugged him back. "Same goes for you, buddy." She rubbed his back. When he let go of her, AJ pulled back. "And...by chance, if Loki is somehow still alive," Thor frowned at her words. "Just be careful." AJ told him. "And don't be a stranger." She said, causing Thor to now smile.

She stepped back, walking back over to Steve and Tony. They watched as Thor lifted his hammer in the air and shimmering rays of rainbow surrounded him before he swallowed him up into the sky. AJ frowned as when he was finally gone, looking down at the ground to see the marking left in the grass.

Tony sighed dramatically, "That man has no regard for lawn maintenance." He said before they walked away from the symbol. "I'm going to miss him though." He admitted. "And you're going to miss me. There's going to be a lot of manful tears."

"I will miss you, Tony." Steve admitted.

Tony smiled. "Yeah, well...it's time for me to tap out." One of Tony's self driving cars pulled up to where they now stood.

Like Clint, Tony was retiring. Unlike Clint, Tony would likely be visiting the compound every weekend to make sure things were running smoothly.

"Maybe I should take a page out of Barton's book. Build Pepper a farm. Hope nobody blows it up."

"A simple life." Steve smiled.

"You'll get there one day." Tony told Steve.

"I don't know," He shrugged. "I don't know...family, stability...the guy who wanted all of that went into the ice seventy-five years ago." Steve admitted. "I think someone else came out."

Tony frowned, and though he was wearing glasses, AJ knew that behind the dark lenses, a worried expression was in Tony's eyes. "You alright?" Tony asked Steve.

Steve inhaled deeply, listening to the sound of soldiers taking orders and running drills. He then looked down at Adelyn and smiled. "I'm home." He told Tony.

Tony smiled and nodded his head before looking to AJ. "Scarecrow;, I think I'll miss you the most."

"Oh please," AJ chuckled. "As if you won't be here every weekend checking in." She teased her friend. "Not to mention harassing all the doctors here to give you information about how my tests turn out."

"I can stay," Tony said as he moved closer to AJ. "We can run more tests; I know how much you love the fact that you have to listen to me talk while in the MRI machine." He smirked.

AJ grinned, moving forward and pressing a kiss to Tony's cheek. "Go home to Pepper and send her my love." She said, hugging him now.

Tony hugged her back tightly. "I'm a phone call away." He told her.

Tony drove off soon after, leaving AJ and Steve to themselves. "Does it bring back memories?" He asked AJ as they listened to the sound of the soldiers training.

"All that's missing is Bucky." She smiled, watching as the soldiers did drills. "He was put on kitchen duty pretty much my entire stay at Camp McCoy," She chuckled as she and Steve headed towards the building.

Steve laughed. "Because of his big mouth?"

She smiled. "Because he was late to all his drills because he wanted to flirt with the only female at the camp."

Steve shook his head. "There could of been hundreds of women at that camp and Bucky would only have eyes for you." He told her. "It's how its always been."

She chuckled and together, they walked into the building. "I promised him to not tell you this but," AJ smiled. "Bucky actually saved my life at Camp McCoy. Or, helped me out of a really bad situation."

Steve frowned, having never heard the story before. The fact that Bucky had kept it a secret even after they were together made AJ love him even more.

"The lead scientist at Camp McCoy was a nasty drunk. He was abusive and rotten and I went to Colonel Phillips and reported him with the help of Bucky and a few of the other scientists on the team and...Sharkbait got so mad. He came after me when I was walking back to the labs and attacked me. Bucky was the one to jump the guy and beat him bloody until more people showed up to stop the fight. I was so scared in that moment; I felt so weak and defenseless...and Bucky was there. He saved me."

Steve shook his head, jaw squared as he tried to keep his cool. "If I had known,"

"You and all your ninety pound glory would have found him and got your ass kicked." AJ smiled, patting his chest as she moved to stand in front of Steve. "That's why Bucky and I kept that from you."

He sighed, smiling a little. "There's Natasha," He looked up from AJ and over to where the red head stood. "You gather everyone. We'll meet in five minutes." He told her before walking away from her and over to Natasha.

AJ went in the opposite direction, pulling her phone out to see if she had any new notifications. There was one from Clint, a video of Nathaniel cooing and drooling at the camera. She chuckled, sending him a quick reply before gathering Sam, Wanda, Rhodey, and Vision. Andrew and Kai -- she wished that both of them were here to becoming initiated into the Avengers. But she looked forward to the recruits that they did have.

The team was geared up and when AJ saw Steve and Natasha walk into the room, she joined them up on the stairs. She looked out at the ground, Sam donning his wings as he landed on his feet, Rhodey in his Iron Patriot suit, Vision being...vision, and slowly, Wanda lowered herself using her powers to stand with the rest of the team on the floor.

AJ smiled at the people below her and listened as Steve inhale deeply before saying; "Avengers,"

Assemble.