Chapter 1

James wasn't sure if it was safe to come out from under the bed. After all, less than a minute ago Thor had told him to run while he and Loki had the latest round in their Asgardian grudge match. Then there was the fact that he had exactly what Loki was after, and while James didn't know that much about Thor's brother, he knew that giving Loki what he wanted was never good. So James ran and while his family did what they did best and saved the day. But how long was he supposed to wait under the bed like wimp? He knew he was only ten years old, but his parents had been training him since was six and he knew how to fight since was eight. He knew that the Avengers could handle Loki, but he's feel a lot better if he hadn't accidentally set off the strange alien object that Loki was after. Since then, the Avengers Tower had gone from being filled with the sounds of battle to eerie silence.

What if the device had done something to them when it went off? What if they'd been frozen and couldn't move? What if it had sent them to another planet? What if they'd been vaporized? What if?

"Tony?" James gasped as a familiar voice broke through the fearful silence. It was Peeper. What was she doing here? Didn't she know better than to walk straight into a super hero fight? A spark of hope lit inside James. Maybe the device had sent Loki back to prison, and the others were just looking for him.

"Tony? Hey, Tony?" Pepper repeated. Why didn't uncle Tony answer? He was there just a second ago. "JARVIS, is Tony home?" she asked.

"Not at the moment Miss Potts," the tower's housekeeping computer replied. "I do believe he and Colonel Rhodes are out for lunch." James frowned. Why was Tony eating burgers while the Avengers were being attacked? "However, there is the matter of our young… guest," said JARVIS.

"What guest?" asked Pepper.

"The young boy hiding under Captain Rogers' bed." James winced. Guess there was no reason to hide now. He crawled out from under the bed and walked out into the living room.

Pepper couldn't believe her eyes. Avengers Tower had the most advanced security system on the planet. Yet somehow a little boy had managed to sneak in without anyone noticing. The boy gave a small smile. "Hey." Pepper eyed the boy carefully. He didn't look like much, a young boy with bright red hair and blue green eyes wearing a dark blue denim jacket, a white polo shirt, khakis and sneakers with a backpack slung over his shoulder. "How did you get in here?" Pepper asked.

James laughed. "I live here."

Pepper's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

James tossed his backpack on the couch. "Where'd everybody go? Did Thor go to take Loki back to Asgard?"

Pepper watched the boy curiously. How did he know Thor?

James whistled. "Wow, JARVIS. You cleaned up fast. I think this is a new record."

Pepper sighed. "Alright, why don't you tell me where you live and I'll have a car take you home."

James laughed. "A: you know where I live and B: Mom's out of town so me and Dad decided to crash here for the week," James plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV. He frowned. "Hey, where'd all my shows go?"

Pepper shrugged. "Maybe on the DVR at your place?" she asked obviously.

"But Uncle Tony always records my shows when I come over."

Pepper's eyes almost fell out of her head. "Uncle Tony?"

"I get it," James said as he hopped off of the couch. "This is a prank. Nice try Tony," James shouted "You almost had me." James laughed. "This was a good one. I'm surprised he got you in on this Aunt Pepper, usually you just tell Tony to grow up."

Pepper's head started spinning. Aunt Pepper? Uncle Tony? Who was this kid?

James walked around with a smug grin on his face. "You guys really pulled out all the stops. Clearing everybody out, fixing all the damage. Messing with the clocks."

"The clocks?" Pepper repeated.

James jerked a thumb toward the digital clock on the side table, displaying the time, day, month and year. "Nice commitment to detail," James commented "but my mom taught to pay attention to details. So about how about you come on out Tony," James shouted again "and we get the Tower back to good old 2027?"

Pepper's eyes widened. "20-," she gasped. "Look I don't know who you are, but Tony and I aren't your aunt and uncle; I've never seen you before in my life," Pepper's voice was steely serious "and it is 2015. Not 2027."

James' smile faded. He may have been only ten years old but he knew his Aunt Pepper's CEO voice "This isn't a prank, is it?"

"No," said Pepper "It's not."

"Wait so," James stammered "so you really don't know me?" Pepper shook her head. "And, and it really is 2015?"

"Are you alright?" Pepper asked.

James didn't feel alright. His hands were shaking; the room felt like it was spinning and could hardly breathe. How could it be 2015? He wasn't even born yet. It didn't make any sense. Unless… "The device."

"What device?" Pepper asked.

"Tony. I gotta find Tony," James said in a stammering voice "JARVIS, JARVIS where's Tony?"

"As I said before, Mr. Stark in not here," JARVIS repeated. "However if there is anything I could-,"

"Bruce!" James interrupted "What about Bruce? Is Bruce here?" he asked nervously.

"Doctor Banner is currently in the R&D lab working on his latest theorems. The lab is located-"

"Third door on left at the end of the hall," James finished "I know! I know!" he screamed as he took off running.

"Wait!" Pepper called. She followed James as best as she could, but she was in heels and the kid was fast.

Bruce was alone in the lab, studying the results of his latest experiment, when a little boy burst through the doors. "Bruce!"

Bruce looked up from his computer screen. "I'm sorry, have we met before?" he asked offering an apologetic smile.

"Yes! I mean, no, I mean, it's complicated," James groaned in frustration "doesn't matter. Look, I need your help!"

"Okay, slow down," said Pepper "What is going on?" she demanded.

"Pepper do you know this young man?" Bruce asked.

"Yes!"

"No!"

James and Pepper said at once.

James groaned. "Whatever. Just, just look at this!" James reached into his pocket and slammed a strange object on the table.

It was round, about the size of a baseball, made of a strange metal the color of gold; strange carvings wrapped around it several rings, carvings that were not of this Earth.

Bruce picked it up carefully, studying every detail with scientific curiosity. "What is it?" He asked, slightly marveled.

"It's how I got here. Look I know this is going to sound crazy," James admitted "but considering all that you guys have been through, maybe not so much. My name is James. And I'm from the future."