Prologue

Jane swiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater, her hand shaking and ice-cold. It was a strange feeling. As if she was completely alone in the universe and even her daughter was lost to her. With her other hand, Jane released her grip on a silver chain. It slid down to her dresser's surface silently, wrapping itself around a beautiful wedding band. Her vision clouded, and she had to bat away the tears once more. The woman's glossy blue eyes admired the perfection of her ring. Along its edges were small, flawless emeralds. They glimmered within each shadow, and shined in the light. She ran her thumb across the empty space of her left ring finger as she remembered the comfort it had once brought her. Another tear sliced down her cheek and Jane turned away from the jewelry.

She had wept long enough, yet she still felt so empty. The woman eased down to sit on the edge of her bed, and drew her knees to her chest. Another sob silently racking against her chest. Jane nuzzled her face against the soft cotton of her sweatpants, hoping to find solace in its warmth.

"Mommy," her voice came, it was small and sweet yet slashed its way right through Jane's soul. "Mom, why are you crying?" There, it came again. Jane lifted her big brown eyes to look into those of Lana's when she realized the voice hadn't been imagined. The girl canted her head at her mother's red, puffy gaze and stepped softly towards her. The bed swooped just slightly under Lana's new weight. Jane forced a small smile and caressed the girl's soft brown hair. Lana had taken both her mother and father's looks and merged them together. It was a strange, exotic mixture but it was beautiful nonetheless. It pained Jane just to look at her child, which made her feel even worse.

Jane shook her head softly, and stood up. "Come on, I was hoping you'd help me bake some cookies.." Her voice was dismissive as she ignored the girl's question. Maybe some chocolate-chip cookies would take her mind off of him.

...

"Mom-" Lana shouted and tossed a band t-shirt onto her bed angrily. She could hear her mother's footfalls come to a halt in her doorway. Lana took a breath and straightened. She was tall, taller than Jane but with the same curvy figure. "Where are my jeans?" The girl snapped at her mother, her voice smooth yet strong and sharp. Jane's eyes softened and she sighed softly. Her posture showed just how exhausted she was.

The air in the room thickened with the solemn look her mother held. Lana's heart fell into her stomach. It had been years since she'd seen her mother like this. In fact, the last time Jane had acted in such a way was when Lana's father had left them. Not that the teenager remembered, he had left before Lana was even born.

The girl hesitated, her own doe-like features softening slightly in concern. "What's wrong?"She asked as butterfly wings tickled her stomach.

Sorrow and silence answered her question for a long while.

"You're not going to school today. There was an emergency broad-cast, we can't leave the home." Jane was vague, intentionally, as she finally explained the situation to her daughter. She didn't want to tell Lana what was really going on. If she had to, she would tell her there was an alien invasion and that it was hostile. After Thor's visit it wasn't uncommon for the occasionally Asgardian to pay Earth a visit. What Jane didn't want to say was that it was Lana's father this time, and that he was trying to rule the entire human population.

What was wrong with him? This was not the Loki Jane once knew and loved. Dread filled her slender frame at the thought of the things they had to have done to break the God of Mischief and cause this insanity.

"What? Why not?" Lana inquired. She was cursed with her father's unrelenting curiosity. Her emerald eyes seemed to glare deep into Jane's soul and pin her there. Unintentionally, of course. Lana would never cause Jane such pain.

"One of the other realms is paying us a visit, it will be over soon. Just…"Jane paused and gave the 15 year old an uncertain look. She didn't need to know about any of this. He would be gone soon, and she shouldn't think of her dad this way. One day, if they ever met, Jane wouldn't want Lana to be thinking of this incident. Something was wrong, this wasn't Loki. Something had caused this- it wasn't him just being malicious. "Just stay here until things sort themselves out, and our lives will go back to normal in a couple days."

And with that, Jane leaned away from the door and returned to the shadows of her room.

Chapter 1

Lana slammed on the brakes, swirling the steering wheel so she barely missed the silhouetted man on the road. What was he doing just standing there? He had to be crazy, there must not be a brain in the man's head. The car jolted backwards as it came to a full stop and a shaky breath hissed passed her pink lips. The girl's slender eyebrows proceeded to slide together and her eyes narrowed.

What the hell?

She threw her thumb down against the buckle and let the seat belt retract. Lana stepped out of the car and around its hood. There were several vicious insults on her tongue, but they cringed back when she saw him. He had stepped around the hood as well and its headlights successfully illuminated his many unique features. Judging by his angular face and black- almost blue hair, he was not from around here. Lana stopped abruptly, and her jaw slacked.

The man was a giant. He stood above Lana but a good foot or so. She was tall, but he made her look like a runt. The girl couldn't remember the last man who stood so high that she only reached his shoulders. Lana dismissed that fact quickly, though, as she noticed his clothing. What was this, the renaissance fair?

He had on pounds of leather and metal, and a very bizarre looking helmet rested in his right palm. It looked like horns or something decorated the top, but they were tucked behind his arm. It was unusually shiny. As if he had just bought the thing, and spent his entire walk shining it. The metal of his breast plate was just as spotless, though. The man's black leather boots weren't so clean, though. The New Mexico dirt succeeded in soiling those.

The thing that surprised her the most, though, was his eyes. They were an unnatural shade of green, and glimmered like gems. They were wise and knowing, familiar yet alien. Lana could've sworn she saw clouds of different shades of green dancing about within them. She caught herself gawking at them and her mouth clicked shut. They were exactly like hers.

"Lana,"

His voice was elegant and strong, but breathy. The relief that came with saying her name was unruly. Loki clasped his fingers around his helmet tighter and the hint of a smirk pulled at the right side of his mouth.

She was beautiful like her mother. The girl had Jane's fawn colored hair that was wavy and long. Her face was round with soft features as well. Even with the sharp light her angles cast only small shadows around her cheeks and eyes.

Her eyes… They were something she had not inherited from her mom. Something like pain turned within Loki's chest and he looked away from her captive stare. The God did not want anyone to share his features. To see that he had passed his image to his daughter stung him like a wasp. Loki had seen his daughter before, watched the most precious moments of her life from another realm, but nothing could have prepared him for the bombardment of emotions he felt as he stood before her.

"Who are you?" The girl snapped, clearly frustrated that he knew her name and she didn't know him. Her eyes narrowed unrelentingly as he forced himself to meet them once more. The grin he had spawned earlier dashed away at the fear presented in her stance. Lana's back was ramrod straight, and her hands had found themselves into her pockets to stifle their trembling.

Surely she would recognize his name if he told her, she would know it was he who wrought havoc on the world just two years ago.

The memory made him want to shiver, but he stood still and strong. He was a prince, after all. He knew not which realm he was prince of, but Loki was a prince all the same. And a god. He would stand as one.

Lana lifted her eyebrows in anticipation, clearly annoyed by his hesitation.

"Connor" Loki lied, the name sliding off his tongue with dangerous ease. He had used that title when Jane found him so many years ago. Jane… His frown deepened before he erased all the emotion from his angular features. She seemed to accept the name.

"Your mother should recognize me… I have come to see her." His voice came again. It made Lana's heart leap and flutter as if setting it free. It was curious thing, and a frightening one as well. Why did she find herself awaiting his next words?

"Well it's a walk... I guess I could give you a lift," Lana managed, her words shaky and unsure. Her hand swept out as she gestured towards the car. Loki nodded and moved towards the passenger seat.

...

Okay, take your time, even breaths. What are you doing? Lana shook her head slightly and let a chuckle slip from her mouth. Quickly realizing what she had done, the 17 year old snapped her mouth shut and focused on driving as carefully as possible. So you picked up some guy on the road, dressed like he stepped out of a comic book, because he said he knew your mom? Well, Jane does have some weird friends, but still. You're crazy, you've lost it.

"What?" His voice clipped the air, and Lana glanced over to meet the full intensity of his beautiful emerald eyes. She wasted no time in looking back at the road. It was dark, and her headlights weren't the best. Lana readjusted her grip on the steering wheel and watched the worn road.

"Nothing…" The girl said slowly, and let a small sigh escape her lips. "I'm glad my mom finally has a visitor, she tends to meet people in town." Lana attempted to change the subject.

"She does not know I am coming."

Lana hesitated. "Then let's hope she likes surprises,"

From then on, silence occupied the stuffy air of the car.

...

The mirror was fogged over from her excessively warm shower. She swiftly ran a hand over the small droplets, clearing it only slightly. Her image was blurry through the mirror, but there was little to hide. Jane's once warm and amiable features were washed clear of an emotion. She was a blank slate, a piece of paper that was stripped and torn of it's surface from too much erasing. She lifted a small hand and pulled her fawn colored hair to her right shoulder. The water droplets darkened it's surface, making it look more like dark chocolate. She sighed. The sound was as hollow as she felt. She wasn't happy, nor was she sad. Just... Empty. Jane felt like she was just living to live, without any hopes or desires.

A few minutes later and Jane had dressed in a pair of warm pajama pants that hung low on her waist. She wore a navy blue tank top that barely reached the top of her sweatpants. She tugged at the ends as she heard a key enter the door lock. Lana was back.

Jane ran her brush through her damp hair one last time before she stood. Her ears trained on the entryway of her home. Something was different, Lana didn't immediately come inside.

"Come on" Lana's voice broke the stillness of her home as she stepped past the threshold. He was behind her, hesitating. It was as if he was afraid to enter.

Loki took a breath and he let his slender eyebrows dip close to his pools of liquid mystery. Lana was eying him curiously, so he stepped forward. The warm scent of Carolina Jasmines filled the air, and he stiffened slightly. Something similar to guilt wound itself around his throat and slowly tightened with each breath he took. Loki's eyes drifted around the room, admiring how Jane still kept her home beautifully fresh. Several vases stocked with flowers sat on almost every surface. There were Lilacs, Marigolds, and he noticed a Lotus flower painting positioned above the unused fireplace. As he admired the beauty of such plants he felt even more trapped.

A shaky breath drew itself past his lips and he bit his bottom lip once.

Lana noticed his discomfort and frowned slightly. "Mom!"

Jane winced at her daughter's loud voice. It echoed in the silent halls.

"Mom, there's someone here for you!"

Jane tossed her hair once in an attempt to get it to lay as she wanted it to. She failed, of course. Her hair never cooperated. The woman forced a smile on her lips and stepped out into the hallway. A few more steps brought her to the entryway, and she froze.

Jane felt her jaw fall slightly as she gaped at him. He stood there just as majestically as he had when he left so long ago. His familiar angles soothed her mind until she couldn't think at all. She felt, but she didn't know what she felt. Was it anger? Sorrow? Or was it joy? No, it couldn't be joy. The first two were probably more important. Tears formed in her eyes and they stung harshly. Jane willed them not to fall and forced a shield over her face. Her jaw tensed, and his mirrored hers.

Loki knew it would be hard. He had tried to prepare himself for the look she would get when she saw him, but failed. The man nearly crashed to the floor as she stepped around and he could drown in her image. She was just as she had been when he'd left 17 years prior to this day. They were married, therefor she possessed a similar sense of immortality that he did. Her eyes glazed over but her features remained firm and guarded. Loki thought that her hiding her emotions from him was even more painful than if she'd screamed at him and tore his heart out with her words.

Lana's curiosity spiked as she observed the two adults. Both sets of eyes were made of glass, something Lana thought impossible for the man. He had seem so cold, so devoid of emotion. Yet here he was, looking as though he was on the verge of either tears or a rampage. Her mother as well. Jane had wiped her face clear, but her eyes remained shimmery. The woman was dwarfed as she stood before both Lana and Loki.

Desperate to break the tension, Lana looked over at Jane. "I found him walking around in the street like a maniac, says he wanted to see you." She said slowly, and both Loki and Jane turned towards her.

Suddenly, like the snap of a breaking rubber band, Jane blinked hard and flashed a beaming smile. It was a little too big and a little too bright.

"Yes! What was it..." She said as though searching for a name.

"Connor"

Jane looked up into those all-knowing eyes and she forced her smile to remain plastered to her features. It never reached her eyes.

Lana nodded and took a thick breath. This was weird. "Soo... It's been quite the day... I'm going to bed now"

Jane glanced at her daughter and that guarded appearance faded ever so slightly. "Okay, hun, holler if you need anything,"

Loki tensed and shifted away from the two, his eyes gliding about as he admired the artwork on the walls. Something told Lana that he wasn't really

paying them attention, though, and that he was just using them as an excuse to turn away from the two women.

"Weird." Lana muttered as she faded into the shadows of the hallway.

...

AN:

Okay, so this is my first attempt at a story ever so please don't be too harsh in the comments.

This is an experiment of sorts, so I won't guarantee anything. Tell me what you think =)