This is my first time publishing on this site. If all goes well, this will be a long-ish story. It's going to have a bit more emphasis on Bucky Barnes, Thor, and Hawkeye – though not necessarily in that order, or all together.

Please let me know if you actually read this and like it, because it will definitely influence how much I write. There will be more action soon too, I promise.

Prologue

Somewhere underground

Baron von Strucker was a simple man. He was a man of science, facts, and cold hard truth. Ideas came and went like seasons. Hydra, S.H.I.E.L.D., both two sides of a coin that was no longer currency, as he told his assistant. Ideas came and went. Power was forever, and nothing gave you more power than a miracle.

"The age of miracles has begun."

Von Strucker turned to his assistants.

"How long until the drone is complete?"

"Our engineers need at least three more weeks."

"Make sure that's all it takes. We must coordinate each attack precisely."

"The outposts in Norway are reporting everything is proceeding on schedule."

"Good. And the arm?"

"That's the best news; we've unlocked the tracker."

"Then we must move now. We must get to him first."

DC – Sam Wilson residence

Steve heard Sam scrambling eggs in the kitchen when he walked in. Sam's apartment was still a nice place to lay low and eat breakfast. It wasn't in any former SHIELD files and it had a nice TV.

Sam dropped a plate in front of Steve as he sat down.

"We got a plan for the day?"

"Nope."

"So, I was thinking. Maybe its time to hand this one over to Fury's people for now. Wait until some solid leads pop up."

Sam and Steve had been following every lead they could find in the winter soldier folder. All the threads Natasha said not to pull on, Steve pulled on. He'd visited a high security base in Russia, broken into several hydra safe houses, harassed anyone he thought had information. Nothing had turned up.

"I'm just thinking, you know, we've been to every city Bucky set foot in since hydra took him. We've tracked his steps through every mission. We're out of leads."

Steve knew he was right. They'd even called Fury in Europe and asked for some assistance. He had what Sam called 'Fury's people', a group of former SHIELD agents that were trustworthy and resourceful. They managed to get as much done with their new limited resources now as they did as part of SHIELD. Fury assured Steve his team was running facial recognition software through every camera in the world they could access.

"I'm not sure I want Fury finding him first."

"I'm not sure we have a choice. Fury's people got a lot more eyes than we do, and a lot more resources."

"I know it probably seems pointless now, but he's out there somewhere, and I'm afraid what will happen if I don't get to him first."

"Afraid what he'll do if you don't?"
"Yes. And what someone might do to him."

Sam chewed his bacon and let that thought sit for a while. "He's not attacking anyone. So we've got that going for us. Hey man," Sam said, cutting off Steve's sad look, "he's going to be ok. He's highly trained, and he's resourceful."

Sam didn't say what he was thinking. Winter Soldier – no, Bucky – didn't want to be found. Especially by Steve. He wasn't the same man. He was a stranger and he might not want the answers Steve had for him.

"Whether I like it or not, we've got to wait for Fury's people now. There isn't much else I can do. I appreciate you sticking with this Sam. You don't have to."

"And you don't have to keep saying that. Dude, helping Captain America is still the best reason to be back in."

New York City – apartment building

Jane Foster had been invited by Stark's R&D department to continue her research in New York. With double the funding and a new swanky place to stay, that was an offer she couldn't pass up.

Thor was carrying a box up the stairs into the new apartment in Manhattan. He suspected it carried even more of Jane's clothing. After he returned to her in London, he'd been staying with her and Darcy and Selvig, learning about Earth and spending a lot of time with Jane.

Jane was directing people around. Darcy was downstairs in her own place, and Selvig was up one floor. Maria Hill of Stark Industries was overseeing the move. She was the unofficial liaison between the world and the avengers. She arranged everything for them: plane tickets, meals, security, housing, all of it.

Jane pecked Thor on the cheek and pointed him towards the bedroom. He dropped the box on the floor and returned to the living room. They were nearly done, and now he had an evening of unpacking to look forward too. He was actually pleased to be participating; moving wasn't a custom for royalty in Asgard. Plus, something about the process made Jane giddy, and giddy Jane was always good in his book.

Maria Hill had been waiting to talk business with him for a while.

"Thor, if we could talk about some of these appearances?"

"What is the purpose of me appear at these gatherings? You've yet to explain their significance."

"You're an Asgardian, and for some people a God. There's a lot of talk – not necessarily good talk – and we think it would be really helpful for everyone to see you make an appearance. Reassure Earth that you're here to help."

"And meeting with these..." he searched for the word, "Politicians will help the public feel safer?"
"Make a speech, shake some hands, mingle a bit with the general audience, yes. It will help. Especially if you can make it to some regions where you aren't considered a deity. It'll diminish the claim of superiority coming from the North."

Thor had been briefed already on that situation. A few groups of Midgardians, claiming to be superior because they worshipped Thor, and he stood now in the flesh among them. He hoped to avoid doing any more damage to the realm, and if a few appearances would lessen the chance of violence, it was a small price to pay.

"When would I leave? I've only just settled Jane here."

"Oh, you'll have plenty of time to get her settled and to prepare. Two, maybe three weeks. These are the various events we've marked as potential appearance options. Look them over and next week we'll talk about which ones you like. We want you to have as much say in this as possible."

"I appreciate your help, Agent Hill. I am eager to put any worries to rest."

"Enjoy New York," and Agent Hill was gone, along with the rest of the moving crew.

Thor sat at the kitchen table and flipped open the file. He skimmed the pages briefly.

"Inauguration, unveiling, boat race, peacemaking games…"

Jane leaned on his shoulder from behind him and placed a small box in his lap.

"What's this?"
"I told you, I want your family to be represented too. It's our place."

Thor opened the box. Inside was a green gemstone set in gold. Loki's colors.

"Jane, are you certain you want-"

"Shhh, there's more."

He pulled out a silver crest, the sigil of Frigga, placed among a circle of beautiful glittering stones.

"Jane, these are beautiful."

"I wanted you to remember your family while you're here. I miss them too,"
"I wouldn't fault you for excluding Loki in that,"

"No, you loved him. I understand why. And he saved my life too, you know."

They placed both items on the shelf next to their small fireplace. There were pictures of Jane's parents, some friends, the avengers crammed into a press conference photo looking scowly. Darcy and Selvig in New Mexico before Thor arrived. It was feeling like a home already. It made Thor's chest feel tight.

DC – midnight

Steve was getting off his bike in front of his new apartment. He'd gone to the movies late with Sam and some of his VA friends, then hit up a diner for fries. He locked his garage door and went around to the front to unlock his door. He was putting the key in the lock when he saw it – a glint of metal. He turned and saw him, or someone, standing on a roof two stories up. Steve couldn't make out the build of the person, it was too dark and their clothes were too baggy. But there, metal glinted where a left hand should be.

Bucky

Steve was moving before he could think about it. Over the fence, across the yard, up the stairs, over the fence again. Listening, looking, praying.

It was thirty minutes before he gave up. He wasn't sure exactly when he lost them, but they were gone. Too stealthy for him.

He called Sam when he got home. He offered to come over. Steve turned him down. Said they'd regroup in the morning.

"It could have been someone else," Steve suggested.
"Which might be an even worse scenario. What if hydra's scoping out your place right now?"

"Then I'll call you back."

Steve didn't sleep well. He was thinking of Bucky in baggy clothes on a street corner eating out of a dumpster. No memory of who he was. Nowhere to go. Killing anyone that asked him any questions. He's the kind of guy you stop.