A/N: No real spoilers. Time frame after Ultron and before Civil War.

As always, many thanks go out to CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur for the Beta and Winter-Soldier-88 for the brainstorming.

Note: If there's someone you would like to see featured in this series, PM me with their name and how you want the story to play out concerning this individual's worthiness.

Namaste,

Sunny

Hammer Time

Chapter 8

The ball fell out of the sky into Lila's hands. She held it out in front of her and dropped it as her foot came up to kick. Cooper ran backward to catch it, easily missing a stray log, earning them both cheers from the adults in the game and watching from the porch. Like their dad, they seldom missed.

Thor got her attention by going into the house and taking the hammer with him. When he was visiting, he only went inside for two reasons: to help bring out the food and to use the bathroom. Dinner was over. That left the other. She knew from past visits that he wouldn't take the hammer, Mee-ol-en-ar, in with him. Seeing her dad pick it up got her thinking. If he was worthy, shouldn't she be worthy too, just because he's her dad?

Lila ran across the yard, up the steps and into the house to the table by the stairs. Yes! The hammer was sitting there looking so cool and everything. She looked at the writing, wondering what it all meant. Probably what Uncle Thor said. "Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor," she recited from memory.

She reached out to touch the strap that looked and felt like leather, and waited for something to happen. When it didn't, she stood in the seat of the chair, wrapped both hands around the handle, and closed her eyes to concentrate. In her head, Lila heard Dad's voice, soft and soothing, yet firm as he instructed her in shooting a bow. His gentle corrections to the position of her feet, arms, shoulders, and fingers.

You see where you're going? Now let's worry about how to get there. Where's your elbow? Should it be sticking up in the air or parallel to the ground? Good. Relax your fingers. Breathe in… exhale… and release.

"On three. One… two… three." Pulling upward, Lila was dismayed when the hammer didn't move, not even an inch. She tried again. Still nothing. Gritting her teeth, she pulled with all of her might, and still it didn't move. Letting go, she sat in the chair, and put her head on her folded arms.

~~O~~

Thor dried his hands, turned out the light, and opened the bathroom door. Before him sat Barton's daughter, crying her heart out. He crouched next to her, touching her upper back. "What is wrong, Lila? Why are you crying?"

The girl threw herself fully into his arms, forcing him to hold her close to keep her from falling. He stood and went to the sofa, sitting with her on his lap. She clung to him, soul-wrenching sobs soaking the t-shirt he wore while on Earth in lieu of his Asgardian armor. He rubbed her back in comfort as he'd seen Clint and his wife do to Nathaniel, and soon, her cries tapered off and stopped.

Urging her to look at him, Thor used the tail of his shirt to wipe away the moisture on her cheeks. "Are you ready to tell Uncle Thor what is troubling you?"

Lila sniffed, not letting her eyes meet his. "I'm not a good person. Mom and Dad are going to hate me. Cooper and Nathaniel too."

"And why would you think that?"

"Be-because I…" she looked guilty, her eyes meeting his and immediately moving away. "I tried to lift your hammer. I thought, if Daddy could…" her head gave a shake. Hairs stuck to her cheek, and Thor used a finger to move them behind her ear out of the way. "But I couldn't. Not at all. That means…"

He smiled gently, his palms framed her small face, forcing her to look at him. "Do not despair, child. It is entirely possible that you areworthy. Mjölnir may simply have determined that one as young as yourself should experience more of life and the world or even the universe before taking on the burden of worthiness." Now that he had her attention, his smile grew wider. "You must not allow this event to dim your spirit. Try again when you are older. If you are agreeable, my dear Lila, I shall return each year on the date of your birth, and together, we will test our theory." Lila's smile returned as she nodded her head. Thor stood, set the girl on her feet, picked up Mjölnir, and took her hand. "Come. We will speak with your parents. If they agree, then you and I shall take a short journey with Mjölnir in preparation for the day it truly deems you worthy, for I have no doubt that it will."

Lila brightened with excitement. "Can we go into town and get ice cream?"

Thor looked down into her sweet face, wishing that he had a child of his own. "You have read my mind, young Lila. Ice cream would hit the spot, as your father would say."

He allowed the excitable child to drag him through the house, out the back door, and over to where Clint was sitting in a swing with Laura. To prevent jealousy between the siblings, Thor spoke quietly, and received permission for a short trip into the nearest town.

Keeping in mind that they might be seen, Thor picked the girl up and carried her around to the woodpile. "Are you ready?"

"Yes! What do I do? Is there um…" she seemed at a loss for words, yet Thor understood.

"There is no special spell or phrase that must by spoken. We simply think of where we would like to be, and Mjölnir takes us there."

Raising Mjölnir to shoulder height, he grinned down at his young charge. "Hold on!"

Thor swung the hammer, and they rose into the air to Lila's scream of delight. "This is so cool!"

Not the End