A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

FORTY FIVE

     Astrid sat on the Benatar nervously. Her palms were sweating and her heart was racing. She hadn't seen her friends in five years. She had pushed people away and thought maybe they would hate her for it. She looked over to Thor who had fallen asleep with another bottle of beer in his hand. How could he be so calm? The way she saw it, she abandoned her friends when they needed each other the most. Even though she hadn't known them for very long, they were family.

"We're home!" Bruce exclaimed as the sight of the Avengers headquarters came to view. Astrid raised from her seat to walk closer to Rocket and Banners seat at the front. Her breath hitched as they landed and the door opened. She followed Banner and Rocket out as she gently shook Thor on the arm to wake him up.

They walked through the doors to the base. Astrid looked around but couldn't see anyone, it was definitely quieter. Her and Thor were lead towards the warehouse. As they walked in, they could see the Quantum Realm Tunnel. Astrid's attention went to the tunnel as she watched Rocket fixing something on it. It was amazing to think that this machine could bring everyone back.

"It's quite something isn't it?" Astrid's attention was brought away from it to see Steve standing next to her.

"Captain." Astrid nodded her head at him to great him. "It's still hard to believe that any of this could be possible."

"It does seem unimaginable. But it's worth a shot." Steve gave Astrid a smile before walking off. She didn't speak to him much on the little time she was on Midgard before moving to New Asgard. But he was always such a gentleman.

"Out of the way, Lebowski!" Thor shuffled to the side to let Tony through. "Hey, Ratchet. Got lost in there?"

"It's Rocket and shut up! You're only a genius on Earth, pal."

Tony smiled in amusement as he turned to see Astrid. He hadn't noticed her next to Thor.

"Hey, powerhouse. You made it!" He was surprised to see her back, but he was happy. He had been worried about her all these years.

"Powerhouse?" Astrid questioned her nickname.

"So what you guys been up to all these years?" Tony decided to start a conversation as he was helping Rocket with the Quantum tunnel.

"Ah, you know. Asgardian... stuff." Thor felt embarrassed to tell him they had been hiding away and moping around.

"Right. 'Stuff'. I hear ya." Tony nibbled the tip of his pen while working on something on the screen. There was an awkward silence until Astrid decided to speak up.

"How's Pepper?" She had missed her dearly. In the little time she knew her, Pepper was like a mother.

"Pepper? Yeah she's good. We had a daughter actually. Little troublemaker, she's very-" Tony stopped himself remembering Astrid's loss. "I'm sorry."

"No it's fine." Astrid let out a weak smile. "What's her name? Your daughter?"

"Morgan." Tony smiled slightly. If this plan actually worked, he couldn't wait for Peter to return so he could meet her.

"That's lovely." Astrid smiled as she turned around to walk out. She was happy for Tony, but he had everything she couldn't. He only gained what she had lost.

Astrid left Thor standing there as he sipped his beer admiring the work Tony had done. She decided to go find her old guest room to be alone. As she turned the corner she bumped into someone. She went to apologise as she looked up to see none other than the Black Widow. Nat stood there wide-eyed as she looked at the girl. By her reaction, she wasn't expecting to see her. She was stood with two men she didn't recognise. She would later find out it was Clint and Scott.