And lo, there came a day unlike any other, when the mightiest of the Avengers were laid low, and the days of teaming for humanities greatest champions were no more! Yet those days were short, for soon the call went out once more, and the best, the brightest, the most powerful gathered together once again, gathering ‘round the rallying cry of

Avengers Assemble!

#4

Homecoming!

The Quinjet roars across the Atlantic, heading for New York. Aboard, the newly reunited Avengers talk and laugh. Tensions are eased, and everyone is in a much better general state of mind then they had been for the previous month.

Iron man sits at the controls and smiles within his helmet. Tony Stark feels good. His friends are around him once more, and the Avengers are back. The aircraft is filled with the jovial sounds of people talking, and now the talk is not grim, but instead it is happy, and bright, as the future now seems for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. As he muses, Captain America moves up to the empty co-pilots chair next to Iron Man and seats himself.

"Penny for you thoughts shellhead?" Cap asks, a slight grin on his face.

"Probably the same thoughts you’re having Steve, where do we go from here?" As he speaks, Iron Man unhinges the faceplate of his armor and slides it up, allowing his face to be seen.

"We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it Tony. It couldn’t hurt to have all these people battle ready all the time."

"That’s true Steve, we did handle both Magneto and Chthon with this group."

"Thor handled Magneto, Tony. You should have seen it." Cap gushes like a schoolboy talking about his first visit to Yankee stadium. "I was barely conscious at the time, but it was one of those awe inspiring Thor moments that we get every so often, when he once again proves he’s a God." Cap sits up straight in his seat as he recounts the experience. Tony merely smiles as he listens to his friend speak.

Suddenly a mild beeping sound intrudes on their conversation, Iron Man stabs at a button and Jarvis’ voice fills the cockpit. "Avengers, please respond. Edwin Jarvis to Avengers, please respond."

"We’re here Jarvis," Steve replies, "We’ll be at your location in approximately forty five minutes. Is everything all right?"

"Master Steven, things could not be much better. Something miraculous has happened."

"What is it Jarvis?" Tony asks immediately.

"It is wondrous sirs. Perhaps you should see for yourselves, but I must reiterate, it is wondrous indeed!"

Tony Stark smiles again, and turns towards Cap, "I could order him to tell us."

Cap smiles and leans forward "No, let him have some fun. He sounds excited, and seeing how things have worked out for us so far on this trip, well, lets let him have some fun too. I’m sure he’ll be excited on our arrival as it is, but he’ll also be cooking up a storm for us all if he isn’t already in what’s left of the mansions kitchen."

Behind them, Thor, The Beast, Wonder-Man, Ms. Marvel, Yellowjacket and the Wasp, The Vision and the Scarlet Witch all continue to chat and laugh. Dr. Strange said his good-byes a half-hour earlier and teleported himself back to his Sanctum Sanctorum.

Forty minutes later the Quinjet swoops in towards Manhattan Island and peeking through cloud cover, a wondrous sight appears before their very eyes.

"I-I don’t believe it." Cap stammers quietly."

"Wanda, would you come up here please?" Iron Man asks.

The Scarlet Witch and the Vision appear at the back of either pilot’s chair and both gasp reflexively.

"I-I guess when I used Chthons power to fix things I really did fix things." Wanda barely whispers.

"Indeed my love, it appears you did just that." The Vision hugs her tightly, not wanting to ever let her go again.

Beneath the descending Quinjet Avengers Mansion sparkles! No longer the demolished husk it was mere hours earlier, now it is restored to its former miraculous beauty and splendor!

"Wow!" The Beast exclaims as he bounds out of the Quinjet the instant it touches down, taking thirty foot leaps out of the hanger and across the mansions lawn, until he is at the front door. "Oh my stars and Garters! The place looks great!"

The rest of the Avengers exit the underground Quinjet facility and join Hank McCoy on the lawn staring at the revitalized mansion.

"I guess you can come home again." Yellowjacket states simply.

"Yes, lover you know it." The Wasp replies, shrinking down in size and flying around the mansion’s front happily.

The door opens and Jarvis stands there smiling. "This is wonderful, Masters, simply momentous."

"Indeed it is, old friend." Cap answers.

"Ah you refer to the mansion, no, I meant-, oh simply come in. Suffice to say, there is more."

Now Thor, Iron Man and Cap all exchange puzzled looks, and follow Jarvis in, in turn they are followed by Yellowjacket, The Wasp, The Beast, Ms. Marvel, Wonder Man, the Scarlet Witch and the Vision.

They all walk into the main hall, where pool tables and televisions as large as one section of the wall are in place, along with some video games and other off hours type of entertainment are set up for Avengers use when they simply want to kick back amongst themselves. All of it is back to the way it was before that dreadful day a month ago. All of it indeed.

A man stands at the pool table eyeing an impossible shot, and then he lets fly. The cue strikes the white ball, and it careens madly across the table, knocking first one ball, then another and another, finally knocking every ball that was present in all sorts of bad positions into the waiting pockets, clearing the badly laid out table in one shot. Only then does he stand up fully and smile. His cowl is pulled off and resting on his back, and he runs a hand through his blonde hair smirking to himself as he see the Avengers all standing there, their jaws for the most part open in surprise. "Hey gang it was an impossible shot, but you’ve all seen me make worse. They don’t call me Hawkeye for nothing you know?"

They all surge forward, greeting the archer, Hank Pym at the front of the group. "I‘m glad to see you alive again Hawkeye." Yellowjacket states, and then he suddenly punches Hawkeye in the jaw, hard, decking him in one shot.

Everyone stands stunned. "I’ve been waiting to do that for a long time. You deserved it for the way you treated our friendship by sleeping with Janet. Hell, you deserved a lot more then that actually. Just be lucky I’m glad to have you back."

Cap steps between them as the Beast helps Hawkeye up. "Hey easy Doc Pym. Whatever may have happened before, give the bowman a minute to enjoy life before you knock him out." The Beast tries to lighten the mood, but fails.

"Pym, Hank- Look man I’m sorry about that, about what happened with Jan. Hey there’s always been some kinda sexual tension ‘tween me and half the babes on this team. But why that happened, I really don’t know, and I know I deserved that punch man." He rubs his jaw as he speaks. "Good punch you got there by the way."

"How could you do this to us? You were my friend. On the West Coast you led the team, and we were best of friends. How could you just throw away our friendship and entice Jan into bed with you?"

"It wasn’t his fault." A voice from the back of the crowd intones.

All eyes turn towards Wanda as she continues to speak. "It was mine. Chthon was playing with my mind at the time, just ascertaining it’s control over me, making me do things I never would have, making me believe it was my own doing. I made their fascination with each other, however slight turn into something ugly."

"Hey now, I wouldn’t say it was ugly-" Hawkeye interjects as Cap and Thor both shoot him furrowed brows. He immediately shuts his mouth.

"So you’re saying it was your fault Wanda?" Yellowjacket asks "All of it? It would never have happened otherwise?"

"Umm, well I don’t know about never, but it wouldn’t have happened then to be honest. Chthon, through me pushed them. I-I’m so, so sorry Hank, I really, truly am. I would never hurt any of you. You are my friends and family, all of you. I am so, so ashamed." She begins to weep, the Vision wraps his arms around her and comforts her as Yellowjacket stares angrily at Wanda, and then his gaze softens as he looks at the Wasp for the first time since he saw Hawkeye. She is staring at him, sadly, not at Hawkeye at all, but only at him. He looks back at Wanda and touches her on the shoulder. "It’s all right Wanda. You weren’t yourself. It wasn’t your fault it was Chthon. That demon thing was to blame, not you."

The Wasp walks to Yellowjacket’s side and takes his hand.

"Well, now that we got the dramatics out of the way, what do we do next?" Ms. Marvel asks, breaking the moment.

"I actually do have a few questions of my own." Wonder Man answers.

"Such as, Simon?" Iron Man replies.

"Well, where are Ant Man and Jack of hearts? I wasn’t with the team when Jack ‘died’ but he’s mostly like me, a being composed of energy. His energy should still be around. And Ant Man should be here if Hawkeye is, all of that should have been undone, shouldn’t it have?"

"Simon, we’re talking about death here, it’s not always that easily discarded. People die all around us every single day." Cap begins.

"No Captain, he is right." Wanda answers. "Everything SHOULD have been undone. Hawkeye wasn’t brought back to life, he was just returned to a time he was not killed. I returned everything here to the state it was in before Chthon took control of me. Ant Man and Jack of hearts should be here, or at least Ant Man since I had nothing to do with Jacks passing earlier in the year."

"Then the question remains where is Ant Man?" Answers Iron Man. "Where are his remains that were found on the grounds that day?"

"They were interred beneath a monument to him as is regular Avengers procedure, Master Tony." Jarvis replies. "I took care of the matter myself as to not unduly bother you in this most pressing of times."

"Did we ever do a DNA scan on those bones?" Wonder Man asks.

"No master Simon, the remains of the costume was red and blue, as was Ant Mans. We did not wish to trouble his daughter any more by this."

"Poor Cassie, I had forgotten about her in all of this." Cap sadly intones.

"Jack of Hearts costume was also red and blue." The Beast adds.

Everyone looks at each other, with more then a little shock.

"We have to get those bones out of that crypt and do a DNA scan on them. There’s a mystery here. If Scott Lang was killed, he should have been brought back from deaths door like Hawkeye was. If he wasn’t killed, then where has he been for the past month? And where is he now?"

"Verily, there are other matters we must indeed attend to as well my friends." Thor interjects. "For one, I wouldst need the Avengers aid in ascertaining what hast befallen wondrous Asgard, and why I canst remember any of it."

"Okay, lets all take an hour to stand down then meet in the conference room." Cap orders. "Hawkeye, get some ice on that jaw." Then he adds, "It’s good to see you again Clint, really good." He smiles at his friend who he had thought lost forever.

An hour later... all the Avengers present enter the meeting room, still smiling, and feeling good about everything that has turned their world around in the past 24 hours. Cap is already seated when the others enter.

They sit and he begins to speak; "Avengers, a lot has happened to us all today. Several of our dear friends and teammates have returned from seeming death, but the question I have for you all is who wants to remain an Avenger on duty? Who wants to remain an active part of this team? There are eleven of us here now. This is the largest the team has ever been. Do we want to continue like this or pare down to six or eight active members? Further who doesn’t have the time to remain on the team for other reasons, but is willing to be put on call for emergencies and the like?"

"Well," Begins the Beast, "You all know my situation with the X-Men. But to be honest there are so many X-Men these days that instead of making myself a full time X-Man and part time Avenger, I’ve really been thinking of flip flopping it and becoming a full time Avenger and part time X-Man, if you’ll have me that is."

Cap nods, "Of course we’ll have you Hank, Your run with us was one of the best eras of the Avengers, welcome back to full time status."

"Captain," The Vision begins, "Wanda and I have already discussed this, and have decided we would like to remain as full time, active Avengers. Our happiest times were with the team. We would like to revisit and continue those moments together."

"That’s three." Cap announces. "Who else?"

"At the moment, the God of Thunders place doth be here, Avengers, with thee. At least ‘til Asgards mystery doth be resolved."

Cap nods at Thor, "That’s four, Tony?"

"I’m in." Stark answers simply.

"As are Jan and I" Yellowjacket adds.

"Seven." Cap continues counting.

"I’m going to have to go for part time status, but I’ll be around more then I won’t. Stuff in Hollywood is keeping me busy, but I fly fast, and can be here in minutes if I have to." Wonder Man answers.

"So seven and one part timer. Carol?" Cap asks as he turns towards the vivacious Ms. Marvel.

"Oh I’m in soldier, don’t you even think otherwise. You guys are not getting rid of this Warbird that easily."

"You know I hated that name?" Simon Williams asks Carol Danvers.

"Yes, I know, I kind of lost interest in it after a while too. ‘Ms. Marvel’ just sounded better to me, which is why I recently went back to it."

"Who else?" Cap asks.

Hawkeye raises his hand; "I’m in Cap. Always been an Avenger, always will be, that is if Hank won’t be trying to knock my lights out every time I turn around."

He turns towards Yellowjacket, who nods his head towards Hawkeye in the affirmative, that all is well between them now.

"So the only part timer is Wonder Man."

"And I’m NOT going to be THAT part time. Like I said Cap, you call I’ll come running, or flying actually."

"What about you Steve?" Iron Man asks, "Are you staying on?"

"Damned straight, Iron Man." Cap answers, his jaw set and rigid. "This is a second chance for us all, and as much as others have come and gone and been great Avengers and teammates, to me, this group right here, has always been the Avengers. Against us, NOTHING can prevail!"

"Next order of business is how are we going to run the team this time?" Iron Man asks. "My personal favorite was when we employed civilians, trusted civilians to run the day to day stuff, Peggy Carter and Fabian Stankowicz and everyone else did a great job. I say we contact them all and invite them back. I know where I can contact Michael O’Brien immediately."

"Is M’Daka still in the country? He may have gone back to Wakanda." Cap asks.

"I believe he did, Cap." Iron Man replies.

"Well we can ring up our pal T’Challa and ask him." Clint Barton answers.

"Easy enough to do, I suppose." Cap replies. "I’ll Talk to the Panther, and contact Peggy Carter, Shell head, you get in touch with O’Brien and Fabian. Let’s get Jarvis in here, I want to offer him the lead in that group. Let him order some one around for a change."

"Now what of matters before us Avengers?" Thor asks, "To what do we put our full attentions too first?"

"I know you want to find Asgard Thor, and solve that mystery as soon as possible, but I’m very concerned about the Ant Man situation. Lets find our what we can about Scott Lang’s fate then move on to Asgard, at least that’s my recommendation."

"I have to agree with Steve, Thor, Let’s find out what happened to Scott first, then we’ll all storm Asgard together, and make it all right." Yellowjacket adds.

"Aye, agreed, So be it. But let us do this quickly my friends the realm eternal doth be in dire straights, I can feel it in my bones."

"We will Thor, you have my word." Cap replies.

Jarvis’ voice suddenly interrupts them all, as his face appears in a hologram above the meeting hall table. "Avengers! The Police department is requesting assistance. A Hydra base has been discovered in an abandoned section of the Brooklyn Navy yards, and a battle is ensuing as I speak. Your presence is being requested by the Governor himself!"

"Tell the Governor that we are on our way." Cap answers as the holo image fades out. "What are you waiting for people? You heard the man, AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"

Next: The Search for Ant Man!