Asgard was just as amazing as it had been the first (and only) time that Natasha and Stephen had been there. Maybe even more so, because they weren't on an urgent mission, this time. Yes, what they were doing was important, especially since there was an infinity stone on Asgard, but there wasn't a time restraint like there had been when Peter had been with them and the magical energies of the place were weighing down on his health.

Thor offered them refreshments and seated them on one of the fur-covered couches, and then listened to what they had to tell him, a frown marring his handsome face almost immediately.

"And this Titan? Does Stark believe he will truly come looking for Peter?"

Another form of growth, since Peter had simply been 'the boy' the last time.

"We're working on the assumption that he is," Stephen agreed.

"He won't have a chance," Thor stated, confidently. "Between the technology of his Ironman suit, the magic you and your friends possess, and the rest of the Avengers, it would take an army to even make the threat."

"An army that we know he has," Natasha said. "We've seen it in action, from footage recorded on another world."

"A world that he's subsequently destroyed," Strange added. "With his army and with the power stone."

Thor frowned at the mention of the infinity stone,

"You truly think he could destroy half the universe if he were able to gather all of the stones?"

"He could destroy all of it, most likely," the sorcerer said. "His goal is only to destroy half – to leave more resources for those remaining."

"That's mad."

"Yes," Natasha agreed.

"What do you need from me?"

It wasn't a surprise, really, that he was offering up his help. The Avengers were his allies, after all. He'd assisted them in their battle of New York (and yes, mainly because his brother had brought the wrath of the aliens down on the blue world) but also because he admired the Avengers, and what they stood for.

"We don't really know if we need anything," Natasha admitted. "Right now, we're making sure that those who need to know what's building can be advised, so they can be on guard."

"You have an infinity stone here," Strange pointed out. "That makes your world a target, as well."

"Will he come here, then?" Thor asked, looking almost excited at the thought.

"We think he'll try to get Peter, first," Natasha said. "If Peter can control of the stones, and he has control of Peter, he'll be able to take your stone without much trouble."

Thor scowled at that, brushing his hand along his mighty hammer.

"I'd like to see him try."

"We'd rather he didn't get that far," Strange told him.

"True." He frowned. "We do not have a large standing army as I understand yours to be," the god of thunder told him. "However, we will help where we can. Even more, if you can make a portal between our worlds, Asgard can become a sanctuary if your world falls. You Avengers would be welcome here – and safe."

Romanoff smiled her appreciation of the offer, but knew there wasn't a chance in hell that any of the others would abandon the planet to its fate and be able to live with themselves on Asgard of they did. It was definitely the thought that counted in this instance. She looked at Stephen.

"Can you make a portal like that?" she asked, curiously. "Something that can be opened in the event of a need to clear some people out of the way of the battle – if things go bad? Something anyone can open?"

He nodded, wondering if she was thinking of Peter. He was, after all.

"It's a simple spell. We would also have it in place if the Titan surprises us and comes here, first. If you need to contact us, you'd have instant access."

"You aren't worried about Loki?" Thor asked, curiously. "He could use the portal to cause you mischief."

"If he goes through the portal, it'll land him on Earth – and we've already established that that isn't wise," Strange said, clearly not concerned.

"Not to mention I doubt that he'd ever willingly step through one," Natasha added. "It's a good idea, really."

Stephen nodded his agreement.

"Yes, it is. It'll take me a day or so to set it up. It's simple, but we'll want to make sure the location is in an area on earth – and here – where it isn't going to be in the way or anything else, or in a proposed line of fire."

"We'll tuck it out the back door, or something," Natasha agreed.

"Do you want me to go back with you?" Thor asked, realizing that they had given him all the information that they could, and he had made them the only offer that he could – so far.

"You're always welcome," Natasha reminded him.

He smiled at that, and stood up.

"Next time, perhaps. "I will start gathering my warriors, and will look for a place for you to place the portal."

"Expect myself or Wong sometime within the next 24 hours," Stephen said, also standing. "We'll come here. Unless you have a different preference?"

"Here is fine."

The magician looked at Natasha.

"Are we forgetting anything?"

She shook her head, looking at Thor.

"You need anything?"

"No."

"We'll see you later, then."

Strange offered Natasha his arm, and a moment later they were gone. Thor shook his head, looking at the spot that they had vacated for a moment, and then looked at one of his personal guards.

"Find Heimdall. Tell him I require his assistance."

The large man nodded, and left the room.

OOOOOOOOOO

"What took you so long?" Tony asked, when Peter finally walked into the lounge, Nutmeg tucked under his arm.

"Had to clean my room," the boy replied, settling the kitten up onto his cat tree and smiling a greeting to the others, who were all there.

None of them were smiling, though – even Shuri – which made Peter think that Tony had probably told them about the nightmare that had sent Peter to sleep between Pepper and him.

He took the empty place beside Pepper – which put Shuri on the other side of him.

"What's the plan for today?"

"The military guys should be landing in an hour," Steve said, handing a piece of bacon to Jack, who knew exactly where to sit. The small spot between Shuri and Steve put the little lab in the perfect position to beg shamelessly, using his big brown eyes to remind those two gullible souls that he never had enough to eat and was a growing boy. "We'll want to start discussing the possibility of evacuating the area between here and the city."

"Already?" Quill asked, curiously. "That's a lot of people. Where would they go?"

"We wouldn't move them, yet," Nick said, walking up to the table to stand behind Steve and Carol. "But we'd want to have the action plan in place to do it on short notice."

"What are they going to tell them for a cover story?"

"Probably gas leak, or something…"

"That's a lot of gas leaking…"

"Why not put guns in their hands and have them fight?" Drax asked, curiously.

"Half of them probably already have the guns," Nick replied, easily. "But they're civilians. It isn't their job to fight. Only of the military fails to contain these creatures."

"Vision and Wanda are already making their way this direction," Tony said, glancing at Peter to make sure he was aware of the imminent arrival of the mind stone – just in case Alec needed to prepare or something. "They'll be here by mid morning."

"We will need someone to show us where you want to have the connection points for the shield," Shuri said. "I will lock the locations with GPS, but it would help if there were more than one signal in each spot."

"I'll go with you," Tony told them. "We can do that after I walk Pepper to the garage."

"Can I come?" Peter asked.

"Of course."

OOOOOOO

"Don't forget to stop and eat lunch," Pepper said, leaning on the door of the car, while Happy was already behind the wheel.

Tony nodded, kissing her cheek.

"We won't. I'll make sure Peter has more than a slim jim and a cola."

"It was one time," Peter said, rolling his eyes. "And it was only because I was busy."

"You're not going to be that busy, today," Pepper told him.

"No. We'll eat," he assured her.

"Drive safe, Happy," Tony told the driver, rapping his palm on the roof of the car and stealing another kiss before Pepper got into the car.

He closed the door once she was in, and the two watched the car drive off.

"You're not worried about her?" Peter asked, softly – as if he was afraid Pepper could hear him.

"Of course I am," he replied, nudging Peter when another car moved from the side of the building, following the first. "She's not a target, as far as we know, but I'm not going to allow anyone out of here without a backup car."

"Even Steve?"

"It was his idea."

"What about Carol?"

"Nope. Her, either."

They turned to leave the garage, with Peter sliding his hand along his Pontiac.

"Nick?"

Tony rolled his eyes.

"Go see if Shuri's ready, will you? We'll meet you two in the field."

"Yes, sir."