On Asgard Thor was worried, he'd sent a message to Bucky that he wanted to speak with him about Loki. He'd hoped when Loki opted to return to Asgard that it would be for a fresh start with Bucky, a way to heal from the hole you had left in both their hearts.
As Bucky approached him in the palace gardens, Thor couldn't help but notice the bags under his eyes, the stress evident on his face. The beautiful array of trees and colourful flowers did nothing to brighten the wearied look on Bucky's face. The same wearied feeling he felt in his heart too.
"How is he?" Thor asked, already knowing the answer deep down.
Bucky ran his hand through his hair. "He's frustrated and angry." They both were. All they wanted was to be there for you and you hadn't given them a choice. They just wanted you to come back to them, to fight for the love you all shared. "Has Heimdall been able to find her?" Bucky asked for what seemed like the millionth time since they arrived.
Thor shook his head. "Seems she's mastered my mothers magic. She's hidden from his sight." Just like Loki could do if he wished.
"I knew she was in pain, but I never thought she'd leave again." At least when you'd run before he knew you were coming back. This time he had no clue, you hadn't said goodbye or told them why you'd gone. You'd just disappeared one night, leaving them heartbroken.
"Me too." Thor admitted, pulling Bucky from his memories of that night. "The question now, is how do we get her back?"
Bucky sighed, knowing how harsh his words were going to seem to your best friend. The one who out of everyone had never doubted your need to leave. That understood you'd acted out of love, but he couldn't help it, he had to attempt to repair what you broke.
"My focus right now has to be Loki. I can't lose him too."
Thor understood, knowing all too well what his brother could be like when he was upset. "Keep him from doing something stupid. I'll find her." Even if he had to walk across every inch of Midgard he would stop at nothing until you were back where you belonged.
Bucky held out his hand towards Thor. Both of them placing their hands together in a half hug.
"Thanks Thor, for everything."
That night Thor did what he did every night and he headed to Heimdall. He entered the golden dome as Heimdall looked out over the realms, his eyes glowing gold as he searched for any signs of trouble. He was looking for you too, the same as he always did.
"I saw you coming." Heimdall joked slightly as Thor came to stand at the bottom of the golden steps he was stood on top of.
"You always do." Thor smiled.
"From here I can see nine realms and ten trillion souls." He proclaimed, turning his head to face Thor. Placing his sword firmly into the biffrost, he walked down, joining his friend at his side. "Except the one you seek."
"She's still hidden?"
"Her magic grows every day, I can feel that." He could feel how you'd accepted the magic as part of you, claiming it as your own.
By accepting it you had become more powerful, but less dangerous. You could control it now, nothing about the eternal flame was a danger anymore. You had become the person you were always meant to be.
"We need to find her." Thor sighed. It wasn't just Loki and Bucky that needed you. It was him too, he missed his best friend.
"I know I-" Heimdall paused, looking out over Midgard, making sure what his eyes were seeing was right.
"What is it?" Thor asked concerned.
"She's lifted the magic."
"Send me to her old friend."
***
You sat in the kitchen, spinning your wedding ring around your finger. Another late night conversation with Yelena had made you realise how much making up you had to do. You had hurt so many people on the journey to fix yourself. You knew that when you pulled the magical cloak off from around you that Heimdall would once again be able to see you.
What you didn't account for was just how quick that was going to happen. The small courtyard garden outside lit up with blinding rainbow lights streaming through the window.
"What is that?" Yelena asked, pointing to the phenomenon happening outside.
You lit up, both inside and out as you knew who was about to step out of the light.
"That's my best friend." You claimed proudly, almost running out of the door.
You all but jumped into Thor's arms, needing the comfort he always brought you. He wasn't angry, or at least he didn't seem to be. He was happy to hug you back, pulling you just as close to him.
"My spitfire, I do believe you have some explaining to do."
Both of you settled on the steps, ignoring the freezing cold chill in the air.
"I just couldn't breathe, they weren't giving me a second alone." You weren't trying to excuse what you'd done, you knew you'd hurt them. You just wanted him to understand things from your side a bit more. "Then by the time I realised running wasn't the answer, they were gone."
"Why didn't you come to Asgard to find them?"
It was something you'd thought about hundreds of times over the last few months. Every time it came back to the same reasoning.
"I left Thunder, that's not something Loki will just forgive." You sighed, knowing that any chance of rebuilding your relationship with Loki was a slim hope at best. "So I put all my efforts into finding 'Lena. That was something I could fix."
Thor took your hand in his. "When it comes to you or Bucky, there's very little that Loki won't forgive." He knew his brother was hurt and angry, but the love that the three of your shared could weather any storm. Of that he was certain.
"What if I'm too late?" You whimpered out, just the thought was enough to create a pain in your chest.
"You're not." Thor reassured you the best he could. "You're their wife. Princess of Asgard. Your home is by their side." He paused, looking away from you. "Not to mention that I missed you too."
If you didn't feel guilty before, you sure did after hearing that.
"I'm so sorry Thunder. I just needed time. After Nat I lost all sense of who I was."
"And who are you Y/N?"
A sense of confidence washed over you as you looked up at him. "Your spitfire. Y/N Laufeyson-Barnes. Princess of Asgard."
Thor stood, beaming with pride as he held his hand out for you to take. "Then it's time you acted like it. Come home."
You happily took his hand, knowing he was right. You could only run for so long and that time was over. You needed to get back to Loki and Bucky, to repair what you had broke. It didn't matter if it took you a thousand years, you had to make things right.
Nat would've wanted that. She would've wanted you to live your life. You'd never stop trying to find a way to bring her back, but you couldn't keep living in your grief alone.
After a quick goodbye to Yelena, you headed back outside to where Thor was waiting. He pulled you into his arms. "Hold on." The rainbow lights engulfed you not a second later, pulling you at warp speed through the air and up to Asgard.
As you stepped into the bifrost dome, you felt the familiar churn of your stomach. Taking a deep breath, you made sure that hurling wasn't going to happen.
"Yep. Still hate it."
"Well if it isn't Asgard's missing Princess." Heimdall teased, a smile hidden behind his golden eyes. "Welcome home."