Little earth girls
They were driving to the planetarium. Tonight Jane was going to see the stars. Her father worked there studying the stars- a passion that he had passed on to his eight year old daughter. Jane was strapped into her seat, her parents laughing, the radio was playing a song that Jane was bopping her head to and making her stuffed octopus with a mustache and monocle dance to.
One second they were laughing and singing the next the car is rolling through the air, glass is shattering right along with her world and Jane can't find her stuffed octopus, or her parents.
She is hanging upside down, tears welling in her eyes and a scream dyeing in her throat. Her hands shook as she waited, waited scared for her father to come, he never did and when her patience ran out Jane unbuckled her seat belt and carefully turned herself right-side up to balance herself on the roof of the car. She was crying, she couldn't stop crying and the more she thought on it the more she cried. Glass was everywhere. Her mother had taught her about the dangers of broken glass when Jane had once accidentally dropped a cup on the kitchen floor; broken glass can hurt you.
Jane is thankful for her red rubber boots they protected her feet as she inched her way towards the front of the car. Neither of her parents had offered any kind of words to calm her and when she looked over the seat the child understood immediately why. Her father was gone, and her mother was asleep.
The child adjusted herself to climb up and to her mother's side, "mommy." She whispered through the tears and when her mother did not immediately turn towards her; Jane crawled the rest of the way through and turned her mother's face so she was looking at her. Her mother's face was covered in blood. Her soft brown hair sticking to the blood and Jane in panic swept the hair from her mother's face and tried to remove the blood with the back of her hand. Her mother had taken care of her when she bleed, and the eight year old was sure she could do the same. Her mother's eyes opened just barley and a small smile pulled at her lips.
"Jane, honey, get mom's purse and then out of the car if you can. Get mommy's phone and dial 911, just like we practiced." Her mother was looking at her like she was the bravest girl in the world and Jane nodded.
"Okay." Was all she could manage as she crouched next to her suspended mother and stared into the most beautiful face she had ever known.
"Jane, my purse! The yellow one." Her mother said again it was a command and there was an urgency to her voice. Jane looked around and found it in the back seat, on the ceiling.
"Mommy, I'll be right back, please don't die." Jane made a demand of her own, crawling over the broken glass and out the car. She crouched next to her mother's side where the window was her small little hand pressed against the only remaining enacted glass before she opened the yellow purse to look for her mother's phone.
Jane heard a growl behind her an unearthly warning, a wild dog, but her already frantic heart panicked just as her fingers curled around the phone, then she heard the growl again and as she turned to look towards the sound light engulfed her and she once more screamed in fear, her little hands reaching out once more towards her mother.
The perfect child
It was another glorious feast for a might Thor's triumph. The wine was flowing the women were flirting and Loki was sulking. He hated these parties. Always throw for Thor's heroic deeds.
Never mind Loki's own diplomatic solutions- no the quiet victor never got a mighty feast thrown in his favor. That is why when Thor is going through the retelling of his heroic battle once more for the third time that night Loki could only grin wickedly when all father raised his hand in the middle of Thor's finest moment to demand silence.
The King stood and the room immediately silenced-it was clear he could hear something the rest of them could not. "The feast is over. Frigga call for the horses, we are needed at the gate." All father ordered and the room immediately parted way for their king and queen.
"Father, should I come too?" Thor asked standing to follow his king.
"No." Odin commanded leaving a room full of people to wonder what exactly was happening at the gate.
Loki blended in to the shadows and covered his footsteps as he retired to his rooms. Not even remotely interested in what was happening only happy it ruined Thor's party.
Odin made it to the gate in record time, Frigga at his heels she did not question him, knowing all would be explained soon enough. Heimdall is there at his post to greet them, a wee lass in his arms crying hysterically.
"Mommy! Mommy! She's hurt I have call 911" The child repeated for the hundredth time, but the large dark skinned man in armor simply hugged her and remained silent. Jane heard the horses approach and looked up to find an old man on a black horse and a woman that looked a bit older than her mom on a white one , then she noticed the golden city behind her and the rainbow bridge under her feet, then she cried even louder.
"I'm dead!" She declared at eight Jane was smart enough to know that rainbow bridges and golden cities could only exist in heaven, and while she wasn't really sure where that was she knew dead people went there.
The woman looked horrified. "No you're not! You are in Asgard." The woman with golden hair corrected kindly, but Jane knew that tone, it was the mother voice.
"Is my mom dead?" She asked point blank and the man holding her made the first sound since she appeared out of light.
"I am sorry little one, but she is, so is your father. But Odin and Frigga they could be your parents." Heimdall boldly declared.
The king looked furious and the little girl was eyeing them was particular dislike.
"I would like to go home now." She said as kindly as she could through her sobs. "Uncle will take care of me." She boldly claimed. Heimdall shook his head and walked over and dumped the girl into Frigga's lap.
"My king I need to have a word with you." Heimdall requested kneeling. The king looked at him with his one eye.
"I need more than that one with you." The king declares coldly sliding from his horse and following Heimdall into the Bi frost.
The little girl is looking up at Frigga with a red face and swollen eyes from her night filled with tears. Frigga looks back down at the girl with love and patience and she knows that once more, something has stolen her heart. The queen of Asgard knows it is unlikely that Odin will allow this human child to stay. His opinion of the mortals is so low, but this girl has strength of will and spirit even if she is just a wisp of a thing.
Frigga tucks a strand of chestnut hair behind the girl's ear as the child stares up at her with defiant eyes. Clearly determined to not need a new mother, but Frigga will win the child over, she always does. The queen sings a lullaby one of lost and sorrow of eternal love, of fallen loved ones that become stars to guide and watch over us. The girl is crying again silent tears this time and Frigga runs her hands through the child's filthy hair. She's covered in blood, dirt and sorrow and the girl needs a little solace right now that is what Frigga gives her and when the child's breaths become even and her body relaxes against her own, Frigga knows the little girl has fallen asleep.
Odin stays in Council with Heimdall for twenty minutes then they both walk out and Odin climbs on top his horse, he looks over to his wife holding the sleeping child, and his hand rest on the girl's head for a second, an action of acknowledgement that shocks Frigga. He just conceded that a human child would be his daughter. He nods to Heimdall, and Heimdall kneels again bowing his head in service to the realm before standing and once more taking up his guard.
It had been a very late night, therefore when Thor and Loki are summoned the following morning by All Father they know that whatever had transpired last night was not good.
Loki waits in the foyer for Thor knowing there is no point to go inside without his brother, Odin would not be persuaded to tell either of them anything until they were both there, or more the king wouldn't tell Loki anything until Thor was there. The oaf joined him with a yawn. "What have your sources been whispering in your ear this morning, brother?" Thor asks.
Loki shakes his head, "I know nothing of why he called us, and must be urgent." Loki replied clearly upset over his own lack of knowledge.
"Well together we can conquer anything." Thor announces throwing his arm around Loki and pulling him into the throne room. Odin is seated where he sets and Frigga is standing where she always stands. Loki offers his mother a fleeting glace noticing her skirt sway and a small round face peeks around with wide curious brown eyes- a child. She was a pretty little thing and Loki watches as her eyes fill will fear with his and Thors approach. Loki simply shook his head and looked at his father, the child must be a new student or worker.
"Thor, Loki..." All father commanded his sons to look at him and then All Father looked over to Frigga and was waving her over, or... No he was waving the child over. Loki looked to Thor whom looked just as confused as he did, then they both watched as the child once more peeked around Frigga and the tiny head shook. Soft chestnut hair fanning out like silk denying the king's silent command. The king again waved her over without a word and Frigga placed a reassuring hand on the child's back urging her toward Odin. The child was small so fragile looking in her blue dress with her brown hair decorated with ribbons. Her eyes again held fear as she looked at the kneeling men, then she seemed to make her brave decision and scampering over to Odin who took her hand in his own then shockingly of all pulled the child up and placed her on his knee. A place neither of his sons had ever been allowed to sit. The king was looking at the child kindly, he swept her hair off her should and then turned once more to his sons.
"Your sister, Jane." He declared shocking both his sons who simply looked at her like she was the worst enemy either man had ever faced.
"How could she be our sister? Mother, you have not had any...did you cheat on mother!" Thor exclaimed looking shocked and angry over the possibility.
"We adopted her, not in blood, Thor, but she is from this moment on a member of this family and your sister." Frigga explained. The child looked like a frightened rabbit ready to bolt.
"Why? Clearly she's human. You hate Midgard, why would you take one of their children as your own." Loki asked clearly offended his family could be sullied in such a way.
"You are scaring her. She is a babe in comparison to your existence. Do not ever speak of her that way again, do you understand." Odin demands looking at Loki with anger and scorn, nothing new on that end.
Loki simply sulks eyeing the beautiful child with intense dislike. He swore to hate her, perhaps even more than Thor- she, who in less than a day had both mother and father's love.
"She will always be a babe in comparison to my existence." Loki spits out standing in his insolence and turning with a billow of his green cloak to walk out of the room.
"Does He needs a nap?" The child whispered just as his hands reached for the door but Loki could hear her stupid comment before he left this ridiculous sight. That human was not his sister.
"No he's always in a bad mood. I am your brother Thor." The god of Thunder introduces himself holding out his hand. The child slides off Odin's knee and takes the giant man's hand, it engulfs her own, he looks very strong.
"My name is Jane, are you going to hate me too?" She asks with a wobbly voice.
"Loki doesn't hate you, he just doesn't like anyone, including me. Some brothers are like that, other brothers love you no matter what." Thor declares with a smile that reminds Jane of the sun.
The child's face scrunches and she is obviously thinking about that. "Well then since he is the brother that hates me will you be the brother that loves me?" she asks simply and Thor laughs, he sweeps her up in his large arms and touches his forehead to her own, "Of course, my Lady Jane, I swear to always love you." It's the first time the child smiles in her new home, her small hand resting against Thor's unshaven cheek.
Odin has never been more proud of his oldest son then in that moment.
Thor takes her to the practice yard, promising Frigga and Odin she will be safe. He sets her on top of his shoulders and the big man brashly introduces her to everyone they meet. "This is my new sister Jane!" The announcement is made with an authority that no one dares to argue with and later that day the royal announcement is made that Odin and Frigga have in fact adopted a daughter.
Thor is excited when he introduces her to his friends; Lady Sif and the Warriors three. There is Fradral that is the prettiest, Volstagg who is the biggest and Hogun who is the fastest. They all treat her with courtesy and when Thor throws her up on top of one of the ledges out of the way but still with a front row seat, Jane thinks that watching them train is better that television. Sif is her favorite- she is beautiful and strong and so very fast and can hold her own against all the men.
When they are done they go to lunch and Sif lets Jane hold her hand all the way there. Thor thinks this is cute and he asks Jane how old she is, eight she tells them. They all look at her like she is crazy. "Eight hundred." Hogun corrects and Jane looks at him like his insane.
"She is human. Eight and very small, but if you like maybe we could teach you to shoot a bow. Or hold a knife." Thor smiles warmly, the rest of them are looking at her like she is made of glass.
"Thor I don't..." Sif began to protest but Thor looked at her with his blue eyes.
"Every Asgardian need to know how to defend themselves especially weak ones. For now I am her champion." Thor tells this friends and Jane smiles delighted that Thor is her brother. She has never had siblings and other children thought her odd.
"We are her champions." Fradral announces and the warrior threes make a cheer and Jane smiles brightly at her new friends.
I'm not a troublemaker
The first time Jane gets into trouble in her new home is on the night of the light festivals. They tell her it's for adults only, the passing of the lights a remembrance to those lost.
Frigga sets her up to she can see the sky from a balcony and tells her to stay put.
The thing is Jane rarely stayed put when she was told, it was a quick lesson her parents had learned, because Jane had always been a climber. A climber on top of a counter and to the frig as a baby, a climber to the top of a friends bunk bed to get a toy, a climber of trees to hid from mean kids, and of roof tops to see the stars. So how could she resist climbing up the side of the palace to a waiting roof top to watch the Aurora lights, she had seen them in pictures and while Asgard called them something else, Jane father had loved stars and Jane could name every consolation, comet, and astronomical phenomena from as early as three. She could see the torch lights the whole city as it gathered on the sacred ground to remembered lost loved ones. And while her parents died on Earth Jane watched the dancing lights in awe- convinced her parents where among them reminding her they were still there watching over her.
She feels the wind whip around her and the sky darkens thunder booms off in the distance and she hears yelling. She looks over the side of the building and there standing on the balcony looking up in her in a panic is her new family.
"Jane, stay there I will come get you." Thor demands. Frigga looks scared out of her mind and Odin is urging his oldest son to hurry least the child fall to her death.
"No! " Loki's tone is ice as he places a hand on Thor's chest his lip curls and he looks up and sneers at her. "She climbed up there, she can climb down." He says coldly.
Frigga is looking at him like his a monster and Odin is unusually silent his one eye on the child.
"Unhand me." Thor commands pushing out of Loki's way and swinging his hammer.
But the child is already climbing back down her feet finding the path as she swings her way back onto the balcony landing in a crouch, she is in Frigga's embrace before she can stand.
"Never climb that high again." Frigga scolds ushering the girl out of the room. Thor and Odin look like their hearts are about to give out.
"Wasn't that high the lights were beautiful, the swirling colors; is the solar eclipse going to take place soon?" The child asked as her voice faded down the hall way.
"Eight measly human years and she is already far more graceful than most Asgardian women. That was 30 feet. "Loki whistles, like his impressed before walking out of the room leaving the two men speechless.
Jane was grounded to her rooms for a week, she was only allowed to go to meals with her parents and classes since she could already read and write in English they decided she needed to learn Norwegian. She has other class, ones to learn to stitch and to read the history's. This was a waste of time because every night after dinner Odin would tell her a story and she learned far more of history from his knee than she did any of her teachers. She wasn't allowed to see Thor or any of her new friends she was so bored so she did what she normally did when she was bored, she started to take things apart and put them back together.
Most things in her room, snapped together and with the right leverage snapped apart, nothing required nails or screws and the first thing Jane took apart was the hologram clock sitting on her nightstand, then there was the heating element to her bed, and constellation hologram that lit up her bedroom ceiling. It was the last one that Frigga caught her taking apart.
"What are you doing?" Frigga asked clearly shocked by the parts that were lined up on the floor.
"Seeing how it works." Jane tells the queen looking up at her upset face. Jane doesn't understand why Frigga is so mad.
"You broke it. I gave that to you because of what you told me about your parent and you broke it." Frigga was distraught and Jane looked confused.
"Not broken. I will put it back together and it will be fine." Jane reassured. Frigga didn't look convinced but she watched the child's curiosity and decided that clearly she needed more lessons perhaps ones about stars and numbers.
"Jane put it back together." Frigga demanded, Jane looked upset because it was apparent the queen meant right that moment.
"But I haven't finished taking it apart. Can I please finish?" Jane asked looking up with sad eyes.
"I want it put back together by dinner." Frigga amended. Jane smiles and nodded. Frigga let the girl alone, deciding that if it was still broken at dinner she would cross that bridge then.
Jane brought the Constellation hologram to dinner with her to show Frigga she had put it back together and she wanted to show her the few amendments she had made to the programming.
They all had their own seats and tonight it was apparent that Thor and Loki would be joining them. Jane smiled brightly setting the device on the table before throwing herself in her brother's arms. "Thor!"
She was so happy to see him. He gave the best hugs and he kissed her head, "Mother told me you were breaking things in your room." Thor tell her with a small smile clearly he found it funny.
"I didn't break anything." Jane argued wiggling out of Thor's arms and grabbing the Constellation hologram before taking her seat to Odin's right, next to Thor. Frigga sat across from her and Loki sat to Frigga's right with an amused smirk.
"Seem I'm not the naughty one anymore." He declares. Looking at the child with apparent delight that she would cause trouble. Jane placed the device in the middle of the table and glared at Loki and Frigga.
"I didn't break it." She repeated flipping the switch on and the hologram lit up Asgardian sky filling the room in breath taking accuracy that made Frigga look up in awe and Thor smile his sunshine smile.
Odin was looking at their ward with confusion and Loki was glaring at the little girl with open hostility. Then the dancing lights of the Auras spiraled out fanning across the sky a feature that had not been there before.
"I might have made a few adjustments. Does Halley's Comet pass through these skies it does on Earth every 75 years and was supposed to shoot by the night my parents died, I would like to see it." Jane says. As the Aura lights fade and the beauty of the Asgaurdian sky remains. "I don't know any of these stars either, I would like to know their names." Jane asks switching the machine off and staring at her new family expectantly.
Everyone is looking at her like she is strange- This she is used to.
"How did you know how to…?" Frigga didn't seem able to finish her question.
"My father. We would take things apart see how they work and put those back together or fix things. Dad could build things, he was going to build me a telescope for my birthday." Jane sounded sad but in awe over her father's skills.
"We will encourage this and Loki, you will teach your sister about the stars." Odin declares. Loki looks like he would rather be gutted by a boar. But it was the king's rule and no one was to argue. Jane smiled at him clearly excited. He made sure to glare darkly at her. She stood and threw her arms around All Father giving him a hug. The corner of Odin's lip twitched up before he patted the girls back.
"Thank you!" The child at least had manners. They ate dinner to Jane and Thor's prattling and Loki could only sulk, at how she won over everyone so easily and how he was determined to not fall for her innocent charms. Jane would never be his sister.
She was, however, an advent student.
Jane is cleaver and she soaks up everything like a sponge hungry for more. He tries to be remain rigged and cold and he makes impossible lesson plans that Asgardian children would struggle with, but she simply does the work memorizes what he tells her and reads all the books he assigns as homework.
Therefore, he is shocked to find her at the campfire with Thor and his friends sitting on Thor's lap as the oaf tunes his Lute and the child is chatting with Sif. They had class early the next morning and he had assigned her four books to read before tomorrow, he had done so on purpose so she wouldn't be able to crash the warrior's camp fire.
"Loki! You made it."
"The child should be in bed." Is Loki's reply to Thor's joyful welcoming. Loki is glaring at said child who is trying to melt into the god of Thunder's embrace.
Thor looks taken back.
"We are celebrating and since she is too young to go to the banquets I am bringing the life of the party to her. Tonight is a special night after all tomorrow, our sister is nine!" Thor declares hugging her tightly.
This is something Loki has no real argument for. "I'm sure mother has something planned for tomorrow then, nine is still a child." Loki argues.
"Sit, brother, be merry tonight Jane is not your responsibility." Thor declares turning his attention from Loki and to the cherub in his arms. Everyone else, however, is staring at Loki like he is heartless.
"Did you finish your reading?" Loki tries a different angle. Speaking to the child herself. Jane look up at him with her wide brown eyes.
"Of course." She tells him and he the god of mischief can't tell if she is lying or not. He gives her a threatening look that she misses because she has already turned her attention back to Thor and his lute.
"Loki, Jane is as serious in her studies as you, if she said she has completed her work, then she has." Thor again stands up for the child and Loki realizes he has been beat. Thor will have his way.
Loki sits in the shadow, away from the campfire and Sif and the warrior's three's attentions move back to Thor as he starts to play, Hogun pulls out his flute, and Volstagg his drum and Loki know Fradral will sing- it's a scene he has witnessed to many times, only Thor leans over and whispers in Jane's ear she smiles. The Loki is left breathless watching as she takes the vocals and sings a Norse lullaby it is one that stuns him into stillness as he watches the shadows of the fire and how his focus shifts from the shadows to the light and the little human girl always dressed in blue sitting in Thor's lap with soft brown hair decorated with ribbons sings like a little song bird.
She reminds him of a glass doll. So pretty dressed up like a princess with her chestnut hair that he wishes to run his fingers through and has no right to touch. She will be dead in a blink of an eye and he hates her in a way that out shines even his perfect brother. Thor plays two songs that Jane sings the second a more liver tune and she smiles as the music picks up the tempo laughing while she sings and Loki can only glare when Fandral stands and offers his arm to the glass doll who takes it as she is swept up and under the handsome warrior's arm. She is twirled and she laughs and the music continues as her vocals are lost to her laughter of delight as she is lead through a simple dance and twirled about. Her hair fanning out along with silk blue skirts Loki watches her hair and he sees the ribbons fan out too, silver and gold ribbons and Loki closes his eyes against the painful scene one that will burn in his head for all eternity. Long after her light has been extinguished.
Jane's ninth birthday is a small family affair a simple dinner and gift exchange. Odin gives her a book of his bed time stories ones his already told and ones he has yet to get to. Frigga gives her a little knife with an elegant holster to loop in her belt and words of caution. Loki gives her a leather pouch with tools inside organized and fitted snugly in their case. "So you can break more things." He tells her with a smirk. Her excitement is evident as she smiles happily at him her small hands touching the pearl handles of the tools with care. Then Thor gives his present and she squeals with delight, her book and tools forgot as the warrior places the red pup in her arms. Thor got her a dog. A wild creature with sharp teeth it's thin body muscular and spoke of strength. Jane immediately loved it and when the beast licked her face she again laughed.
"He is a big responsibility but he will make a good guard. I have trained him myself and he will be your champion when I cannot." Thor tells her the pup in her arms as she looks up at Thor with loving eyes, the god of thunders' big hand caressing her small cheek practically engulfing her head. Loki grinds his teeth and he feels the hate again as he watches them.
Jane names her pup Orion and the next day Jane takes apart a main power grid to the infirmary using Loki's birthday gift and Thor's as a look out. She is still caught and Frigga grounds her for a week. Loki spends that week teaching her whatever she wants to learn.
A month later Thor calls war and preparations are made for the brothers to leave along with all of the friends Jane has made.
She tries not to cry but her silent tears fail her as they all tell her goodbye and leave her for glorious battle.
Thor gives her a kiss on the head and tells her to be good. Fandral demands she save him a dance, Hogun tells her to practice her bow he expects her to be a fair shot when he returns. Volstagg gives her a warm smile and tells her he will miss her songs. Sif hugs her, it is shocking to everyone because Sif is not emotional the warrior woman says nothing she simply hugs the child and turns and walks out the room.
All that is left is Loki and he is standing there looking at his student wondering how long they will be gone, if he will ever see her again, will she die before they get back. "Keep to you studies." He commands then turns to leave. A small hand to his cloak stops him and when he turns to tell her of her insolence she hugs him. Her arms around his waist and her head on his stomach and she is so warm and fragile as she holds him. He doesn't know what to do, his arms hesitate out at his sides and he is caught between shrugging her off and wrapping his arms around her, to run his long fingers through her hair. They are alone and he looks around, his arms relax as the door bangs open.
"Come Loki!" Thor demands from the door way and Jane lets him go steps back and looks up at him with sad eyes.
"Thank you for showing me the stars, brother." She tells him. He glares at her the corner of his mouth twitches into a sneer.
"I am not your brother." He tells her his voice silk coated in venom. She has the gull to smile at him.
"Be safe!" she calls before turning and running from the room, neither Thor nor Loki know to whom she is speaking both assuming she was addressing the other.
But Jane had been commanding both of them.