Disclaimer: i own nothing.

BTW: Sorry

Chapter 4

It was early morning in Asgard and the great Captain America and the infamous Black Widow were duking it out in the training courtyard. Natasha had on some clothes she brought with her from earth, a simple black tank top and black shorts. Steve was in some black Asgardian pants (she was pretty sure they were long shorts because they stopped just below his knees).

She jumped and roundhouse kicked Steve in the jaw, holding back since neither of them wore safety gear. Steve grunted and moved his back foot. It was a habit of his and Natasha didn't miss it. He made that move right before he punched, nearly every time. And true to form, he sent his body forward, keeping his core muscles tight and he sent a right jab at her neck, a go for the throat. The throat, an amazing weakness of the human body, but it was necessary. But damn did it hurt when you got hit there. Despite his speed, Natasha anticipated the punch and she was able to dodge the blow and swipe her foot underneath him. He dropped to the ground and she got on top of him and began punching him in the face, gentler than normal, again because they wore no padding.

Steve was losing – but not for long. This fight had lasted ten minutes already (what you read is only about two minutes of it). Steve took advantage of the fact that Natasha wasn't holding down his arms. He pulled out his left arm and hit her on her right side where her kidneys were located, a painful shot. She collapsed on top of him and he slipped around and pinned her down, holding down her arms. "I win," he announced with a smirk.

She gave him a devilish smile, "Is that so?" and then she kneed him in the groin.

He groaned and toppled over so he wouldn't crush her. Natasha stood up and dusted herself off, while Steve laid on the ground, huddled over, holding his hands over his groin. He groaned in pain. "Aww, what's wrong? A little pain in the balls?" She asked, flashing her own smirk.

Steve slowly stood up, "That was a dirty shot," he complained and waddled over to the stairs and sat down.

"Dirty fighting gets the win."

He rolled his eyes and she sat down next to him, grabbing the two cups of water they brought with them and handing him one, "I'm sorry," she muttered into the cup as she took another sip.

He looked at her surprised, but he smiled and nodded. They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the nice Asgardian weather and each other's company. Finally, Steve spoke up, in need of advice. "Natasha, Odin and Thor, they uhh… They asked me to become Asgardian and join the Odinson family," he stated awkwardly.

"What?" She looked at him wide eyed, her mouth gaping open.

"Yeah… it's crazy."

"It's because you're worthy right?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"That's really kinda awesome," Natasha said with a smile.

"I don't know what to do. Thor gave me time to think, but … I still don't know what to do," Steve said with a heavy sigh.

"What do you think you should do?" She asked.

"I just told you I don't know what to do!" He said with an exasperated sigh. "Thor doesn't want the throne, and Odin's obviously dying, so there's no heir. I'd be backup. But if it came to that, I'd never make a good king."

"Steve, you'd make a great king. You're genuine and kind and perfect. You'd be an amazing king, and one day you'll be an amazing husband and father," Natasha tried to assure him.

"I still don't know what to do…"

"What does your idiot heart tell you?" She asked.

Steve snorted and looked down. Leave it to Natasha to ruin a touching emotional moment with insults. Well, everyone has that friend who insults them in endearing ways. Natasha would never stop being that person in his life. Steve finally answered, "To help my friend and his family."

"Bingo! There's your answer," Natasha stood up and handed him her cup of water.

He flashed a half smile, "I'm still gonna have to think about it."

"I thought that's what we just did?"

"No, we talked about it, and you gave me advice."

"Whatever, same thing. I'm going to get changed for breakfast. I suggest you do the same Rogers," Natasha ordered.

Steve shook his head with a smirk, stood up, and headed to his room.

….

Loki was making his way through the Royal Corridor, where the royal family had their private quarters. He walked up to Thor just as he exited his room to head towards the dining hall. Loki was being guarded by two of the best guards in the palace. That was the deal; he could wander as long as he was guarded. "Thor!" Loki called.

"Yes Loki?" Thor looked at him quietly.

"Can we speak in private?" Loki asked.

Thor sighed, "Guards, wait at the end of the corridor," Thor ordered and the guards marched off and waited where they were told.

"Thank you," Loki said, and then his expression turned serious. "Thor, I think something very bad is going to happen. I believe one of the soldiers is traitorous…"

"I do not have time for this foolishness Loki!" Thor said with an aggravated sigh, tired of Loki's tricks.

"No listen please, remember I was a traitor. How could the prisoners have escaped when all of them were guarded and yet no guards saw a thing? Odin is old but not dying from old age old. He still has a few years until he reaches that area of ages. Thor please listen!" Loki pleaded.

"No Loki! Stop with your tricks! Guards we are ready!" Thor called and the guards walked back.

"Thor please listen, you must be careful."

"I will see you at breakfast Loki."

….

After breakfast was complete, Steve was walking through the maze of hallways, heading to his room so he could be along to read a book and think. Unfortunately, Thor found him first, which was precisely what Steve was trying to avoid. He didn't want to talk to Thor; he hadn't made his decision. He was confused and a little frustrated. "Lord Steven!" Thor called and ran to catch up with him.

"Yes Thor?" Steve responded, unable to silence the dread in his voice.

"Have you made your decision yet?" He asked.

"No. I'm still thinking about it. I'm sorry," Steve's eyes casted down. He was so stressed out over this. There was already enough on his plate, and now this.

Thor was about to talk but the sound of raven wings beating against the air interrupted him. A raven flew over and dropped a note. Thor picked it up and read. Steve saw his expression change. "Lord Steven, go get the others and tell them to get ready for a fight. We will meet up at the Bifrost!" Thor demanded and then he ran off, leaving Steve with no time to question.

Steve took off, running to his room to get his shield. Then he rounded up the others.

….

'Bandits,' as the Asgardian warriors called them, had raided Vanaheim and ransacked many villages, including Hogan's.

Steve launched his shield at a Bildshnipe, then he drop-kicked a dwarf right before his shield returned to him. As soon as he caught the shield, he turned just in time to nail an elf in the face. The elf dropped immediately to the ground just in time for Steve to see Thor taking on a separate cluster of bandits. He bolted to help Thor, they stood back to back slamming their weapons against creature after creature.

Clint and Natasha were battling their own group of bandits. Clint was covering both himself and Natasha. She ran at an elf who was about to hit Clint from behind. She leapt onto his back and jammed both her knives between his shoulder blades. She pulled out one knife and used it to slit the elf's throat. She jumped from the elf's back in time to kick a dwarf in the stomach as it ran toward her and Clint. She hurled a throwing knife at its forehead, landing it precisely between the creature's eyes. And with that, the dwarf was dead.

Iron Man was working alone while Bruce worked to get the citizens of Vanaheim to safety. Iron Man saw a rock giant thump in. The bandits began to yell so loudly it made Thor turn to glance at Iron Man. "I'm good," Tony muttered. The other Avengers were staring motionless at the rock giant. Bruce was walking back and he saw it. Then, one of the bandits drew an arrow and shot Natasha. And, just like that, she dropped with a groan of pain. Bruce growled and began turning green. Steve and Clint ran to help Natasha as the Hulk charged at the rock giant and began to tear him apart. Iron Man took out Natasha's handgun while Thor, Lady Sif, and the warriors three began herding the remaining bandits, who had given up at the sight of Hulk. Clint pulled the arrow from Natasha's side and Steve put pressure on the wound, "Heimdal!" Steve yelled, and a beam shot down taking the three away.

….

Natasha was out cold, laying on a bed in the healers den; Steve was next to her, holding her hand. The Asgardian healers held their hands above Natasha's wound and their hands glowed the color of a blue sky. Steve watched intently as Natasha's wounds slowly looked better. Then the glowing stopped and the healers dipped their hands in a bucket of some sort of fluid and repeated the process.

He couldn't believe this was happening. Natasha rarely got hurt. When she did, it was generally only from a gunshot, which was [kind of] the case this time. But this scared Steve. It shook him to his core. She was such a strong woman. However, Steve saw how much blood she lost and he knew she could have died. He couldn't let that happen. He cared too much about her; he couldn't imagine his life without her.

Clint slowly walked into the room and the healers wrapped her wound and exited. It was now up to Natasha to wake up. Clint sat down next to Steve and looked at him, "I see the way she looks at you; she really cares about you."

Steve looked down and shook his head. Clint rolled his eyes, "Man! You both care so much about each other but you both are too damn hard-headed to do anything about it."

"It's not that simple."

"That's bullshit!" Clint said calmly and then continued, "Even super heroes deserve love. It's not that complicated. You're just afraid of rejection," Clint deadpanned.

If there was one thing Clint was good for, it was brutal honesty. The man would tell you exactly what he thought, he'd do exactly what he thought was right, and he didn't give a damn what you thought about it. He was great at giving advice. Clint was blunt, but he could also be very gentle, sometimes. He was a great guy, and Steve appreciated what Clint told him; although, sometimes he didn't like what he said.

"Yeah, you're right. But I've been rejected all my life. So I think that I have a right to be afraid of it since I'm so used to it," Steve responded, looking a bit angry.

"Cap, I have immense respect for you, but you're an idiot. She loves you so much and you obviously love her too. So stop being a pussy about it and just tell her how you feel!" Clint said harshly.

Steve looked at him astonished. "Don't look at me like that Cap. Yes, I called you a pussy. But only because it's true. You're being a baby about this shit."

Steve glanced down, "I know…," he admitted a bit embarrassed.

"Then 'man up'! When she wakes up, tell her how you feel!" Clint said with a grin.

"I just … what if you're wrong. What if she doesn't like me the way I like her?" He sighed, his shoulders slumped.

"The Mighty Captain America – taken down by love. Cap, I'm telling you SHE LIKES YOU BACK. I'm not wrong. I promise," Clint tried to reassure Steve.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just am. I've known Natasha a long time. I just know. Now go get some rest. I'll watch her while you're gone."

"I-I'm not ti…"

Clint smirked; Steve almost sounded like a child, "Go on. I got this."

Steve sighed and nodded. He stood slowly and reluctantly let go of Natasha's hand. He walked slowly out of the room.

….

(Song Suggestion: The Wolf – Mumford and Sons)

Steve sighed as he walked around the Asgardian Lake shore. He had to think; he had to figure out what he would tell Natasha. He had to decide whether or not to become a royal Asgardian. So many things to think about.

He should have saved Natasha. He should have seen that thing that shot her. He should have taken the arrow instead. Then, she wouldn't have to be in a hospital, hurt and in a coma. He hated seeing her like that. It disturbed him every time. She was so strong, independent, and dangerous. Seeing her so vulnerable, and hurt … it scared him. It reminded Steve that she was mortal and that she bled.

Sometimes he forgot you know? When Steve saw Natasha in action, it was easy to forget that she was a mortal and that she could bleed. She fought with a lethal and graceful brutality that could send the best fighters running. Even her mind was far more advanced. Natasha could trick and manipulate any and every one. She had everyone wrapped around her finger. Everything Natasha did, she did with a graceful purpose, and she made everything magnificent. But seeing her so weak and vulnerable … it terrified Steve.

It reminded him that she could bleed, that she could die, that one day something could happen and he might never see her again. He loved her so much (not that he'd ever admit that to anyone) he couldn't imagine his life without her. He didn't want to live without Natasha Romanoff, the woman that pestered him about his dating life, flirted with him in a infuriating way, cared for him when he had breakdowns, and laid in his bed when either of them had nightmares. Life without her … Steve didn't think he could last a day without Natasha.

When he came out of the ice, it was lonely and hard. After the battle against the Chitari, Natasha was assigned as his partner. She was also assigned to help him get back out into the world again.

And boy was that interesting…

The first night they were partnered together she came over with a box of CD's and a CD player. There were CD's from each decade (well some were downloaded on her phone because they weren't available in CD form) and she gave him a lesson in the music of each decade that had passed while he was in the ice. (It's an understatement to say he hates Eminem and rap in general. But he held an exceptional distaste for Eminem and his lyrics.)

A few nights later, Natasha came to his apartment again, this time with the Star Wars and Star Trek movies, and some books he should read. Then they started having weekly movie nights. They would go on missions together and sleep in the same bed (sleep!), and they became great friends.

So now, Natasha had become the woman he loved and he wasn't sure if she loved him back. She was his best friend, and today she almost died.

That terrified him!

Why did life have to be so stressful? All he wanted was to have a semi-normal life. Yeah, he could still be a SHIELD agent, but he could live on earth, maybe have a wife and a kid. No Asgardian royalty, no servants (because he certainly doesn't deserve to be served), no capes, none of this madness. Just him and his partner protecting and saving people – and stopping threats.

This was all just a confusing, jumbled, crazy mess that frustrated him. So much was going on at once; it made his head want to explode. Steve was actually a bit surprised that his head hadn't exploded by now.

As he continued walking, his mind raced a hundred miles per hour. His feet sunk down into the sand with each step he took. Then he saw Bruce, sitting in the sand, meditating silently and peacefully on the shore of the lake. Steve slowly walked to what looked like a tree stump, and sat down.

"What are you doing?" Bruce asked, his eyes were still closed so Steve had no idea how Bruce knew he was there – probably heard him coming.

"Just thinking…"

"Care to elaborate?" Bruce asked.

Steve sighed, "Odin and Thor have asked me to become Asgardian and join the royal family … It's a tough decision."

"I'm sure."

"What should I do?"

"Don't ask me. You're the worthy one; you'll make the best choice," Bruce said with a hint of a smile.

"But I don't know what to do," Steve whined in a childish tone.

Bruce chuckled, "What does your heart tell you to do?"

Steve groaned, "Why does everyone ask that!?"

"Just answer."

"To help my friend and his family," Steve answered honestly, while he gazed off into the distance, staring at the lake and mountains that lay before him.

Bruce finally looked back at him, "Then do that."

…...….

Steve slowly walked through the Royal Corridor, searching for Thor. However, it was Thor who actually found Steve. Thor grinned at him, "Hello Steven! Have you made your decision? My father is growing impatient," Thor stated with quiet determination.

Steve nodded, "Yeah, I have … I uhh … I'll become Asgardian and I'll join your family," Steve said slowly and awkwardly.

It was a tremendous responsibility. If Thor decided to not take the throne, Steve would have to. Honestly, neither of them wanted the throne. But Steve knew how bad Thor just wanted to live his life with Jane on earth. Steve knew that he no longer had the chance of a normal life anymore. It was already too late for that. His chance plummeted into the ice and sat there with him for 70 years. Besides, he had let his last sliver of a chance at normalcy walk away from him in a cemetery just a few short weeks ago. Now that chance was just a friend. Steve didn't want a throne, he didn't want servants or fancy clothes. He wanted a family, a wife, or a girlfriend at least. But it was too late for that.

However, Thor still had a chance and Steve didn't want to force Thor to ruin that chance, because Steve knew how much it hurt to lose the opportunity to have life and love.

So, if it came down to it, Steve would take the throne, and he would rule. He would make the sacrifice and allow Thor have the life they both so desperately crave. If need be, Steve would live in Asgard and rule as best he could.

Thor grinned at him, "We are brothers in arms, and soon brothers by blood!" he said happily as he slapped Steve on the back.

Steve gave him a bitter-sweet smile and nodded, "Yeah."

….

The icy landscape of Jotunheim was barren and silent, save for the quiet footsteps of a short, petite Asgardian, the slow wind, and shifting and cracking ice. Laufey sat upon his icy throne, watching the Asgardian with calculating, blood-red eyes. Next to him, sat a massive purple man, in gold and blue armor. He was holding his head up with his arm leaning on the arm of throne. Frost giant guards standing behind them.

The Asgardian stopped in front of the dais where the two thrones were raised. The Asgardian slowly knelt down on the icy landscape and bowed its head. "Rise…," the purple man, Thanos, ordered.

The Asgardian stood, she was in a dark black cloak, covering her long silky teal dress with the hood up covering her dark hair, "Is it done?" Laufey asked with a low growl.

"Yes," she answered, her voice was soft but stern, leaving no room for question.

"Odin grows weaker by the day and the Asgardians are far too busy protecting the mortals to notice a thing," Thanos stated with a sinister grin.

Laufey smirked, "It is almost time to strike."

Thanos reached into the slit of his armor and pulled out a small vile filled with a foggy grey liquid and he reached for the Asgardian woman.

She took it from him and put it in her cloak. "Go now, finish your duty with this last dose," Thanos ordered as he flashed a stomach turning grin.

The Asgardian woman nodded and turned around, walking away and disappearing in the distance.

Laufey turned to Thanos, "When will we dispose of her?"

"She is far more useful for more than poisoning our enemies," Thanos said as he watched the horizon where her small figure was still walking away.

"It is foolish to keep her in our plan," Laufey warned.

"Maybe it is. Or maybe she will be a perfect example to show our future subjects of what happens to traitors …"

So much forshadowing! Who do you think the traitor is!? Comment your guesses!

Thank you for the comments faves and follows. I love you guys.