Author's Note: 4/27/14 A few weeks ago I had absolutely no intention of ever writing an Avengers fanfiction. Then I saw the second Captain America movie (before even having seen the first) and fell in love. And then watched the first one and fell even more in love. A year ago I hadn't ever seen a Marvel movie, but my best friend finally set me straight and showed me that superhero movies could indeed be really good. I was so excited about my fanfiction that I wrote 100 pages in a week. I don't claim to be a Marvel expert but I've researched this going off of the movies and the comics, so I hope you enjoy!

This story will have a bit of romance and a bit of adventure. Steve is going to play a big part in my story, but he doesn't appear until part three, so you'll have to be patient. I may or may not have already written more in part three than part two... I'm categorizing this as Avengers because that kind of eclipses all of the character's story lines, but it will start before and go after that movie. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Part One: The Archer

Prologue – June 2, 1994

Joseph Danners wasn't a man who liked to get his hands dirty. Or his shoes. He stepped over the ashes of the incinerated lab with distaste as his polished black shoes turned grey with the remains of what could have been his greatest profit. Ava and Gregor Tolvar had been leading scientists in their field. They'd been creating something that could have taken biological warfare to the next level. He already had a buyer lined up before the lab and all the research and scientists had exploded into a million tiny pieces. Fires were still burning in places and everything that could have been worth something was a pile of ash.

"Sir, we found something!" He walked over to where one of his men was crouched. "It's a safe. It wasn't damaged in the fire."

"Well get it open!" Danners spat at him. His agent wired up detonators that would open the door, stepping back at the small explosion. He pulled out a manila folder which Danners snatched from him. It was rudimentary work. Mere scribbles that had nothing whatsoever to do with the serum he was after. "They knew we were coming," he said. "They took everything with them or destroyed it." He turned to his agent. "Have you found their bodies yet?"

"We're looking, sir, but it's impossible to tell. Everyone is…charred to a certain degree. It's impossible to identify anyone."

Danners was quickly losing patience. "Get me everything on the Tolvars! I want answers!"

"Sir," another man came up. "Records show that Ava and Gregor Tolvar took their three year old daughter to live with her aunt just days ago. The aunt disappeared with the little girl. We haven't been able to track her. It's like they knew we were coming."

"And how could they possibly know that?" He already knew the answer, but he didn't want it to be true.

"A spy on the inside?" the man asked.

"Find him or her," Danners said. "When I'm done with them they'll wish they never crossed me."

"Yes, sir. What of the daughter and aunt?"

"Find them. Whatever it takes. The aunt might have some of her sister's research."

"And the little girl?"

"She might have something we need too," Danners said. "If we're patient."