In any other world where Tony Stark caused the return of Captain America, it might be made public, it might not. What really happened were rumours, rumours in abundance. A lot of people, a lot of – certain – agencies, decided to follow up on those rumours, to either discover if they were true, and/or create contingencies. In reality, Steve Rogers took little under six months to defrost and awaken, in which time the 'Larsen' family took a bit of a beating.

This was mainly due to the fact that their matriarch was missing, and not even Frigga could track her down.

Surprisingly, it was Jormungandr who took the weight of Loki's responsibilities. He corresponded with Professor's McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore, explaining the situation and why it may effect Vali's behaviours and work ethic. Similarly, he talked with James Barnes and between the two, it was decided that Eisa would stay with James permanently, at least until further notice, and later, when summer came around and Steve awoke, it was agreed that Vali would go live with Elizabeth, Sirius and Bran in Braddock Estate, where Bran had begun training to become the next Captain Britain.

Fenrir disappeared off the map. He only contacted Jormungandr, and even then, only through letters that Jormungandr couldn't track even if he tried. Charlie was informed of the situation and reacted like any distanced relative living in a distant land would react – he made no further contact past the once-in-a-blue-moon note asking if she had returned, and if everyone was okay.

Meanwhile, in another universe…Loki was in a little trouble. Apparently, appearing in the middle of your brother's wedding to Jane Foster, without prior warning and with no-one knowing who you were, and then calling the Allmother…well, mother, was cause for some alarm. Not to mention, Loki only woke up after several months of sleep, a new year dawning when she finally opened her eyes.

Eir had informed her that identifying her hadn't taken long. Not long at all after someone took a second look. Apparently this was a universe where she was, in fact, female – and, just to add to that, imprisoned.

Oh yes, Loki was in a little trouble, alright.

Testing the chains around her wrists saw them to be strong, and durable – not the Chains of Odin, but certainly, potentially just as strong, if powered with enough magic. Opposite her, Thor sat in the remodelled golden throne, Lady Jane, Frigga and Odin at his side.

"-cell? You will not explain anything at all?"

Loki realised Thor was speaking to her. "My apologies, I didn't hear any of what you said at all. Why am I here again?"

Thor ground his teeth, "Loki, there are currently two of you in Asgard – one here, and one in a cell. How are you here? How did you duplicate yourself? How did you escape from the Chains of Odin?"

Loki rolled her eyes. "Tis simple, you big, blonde oaf – I am not your Loki. How many times did I tell Eir that I only wish to return home?"

"You are home," Thor frowned. Loki pinched the space between her eyes, wondering if Thor was dim in all the multiverse.

"No, I am not. Asgard is not my home, especially not this Asgard. As it is, I live on Midguard."

"Midguard?" Jane questioned out loud, "Why would you live there?"

Loki eyed her, "That is none of your business, Dr Foster."

Jane looked confused, "You called me by my name. You never do that." Loki gave her an odd look.

"Why would I call you anything less?" Loki tried to remember her original meeting with the mortal woman, but it was escaping her, at present. "In any case, it would be an insult, especially after what I have done."

Thor tensed, "And what have you done, Loki?" Loki snorted.

"Nothing untowards, Thor, you may be assured of that. I simply spent enough time on Earth that I became both bored and annoyed at my lack of understanding – I hold Masters of Science, and a PhD, now. So it would be strange for me to call Dr Foster anything less than what she has achieved, when I myself hold such similar titles."

"Master of Science," Jane corrected, after a beat. Loki shook her head.

"No. Masters of Science. I completed three Masteries – biology, chemistry and physics. You hold a Mastery in…Astrophysics, was it?" Loki's brows knitted together as she tried to remember-

Ah.

It came back to her with a grimace. "Yes, Astrophysics…are you familiar with the concept of the multiverse?"

"Yes." Jane blinked. "Why- oh, oh that's fascinating. This isn't your Asgard."

Loki smiled fleetingly. "Yes. I have never seen a universe where Thor has been crowned though – apparently I interrupted your wedding, with my appearance here. My congratulations." Jane smiled, flushing.

"Thank-you."

Thor looked confused, "Sister?"

"I am not your sister," Loki replied without thinking, before blinking, realising what she'd said…and left it at that. She wasn't his sister, blood or otherwise, and to top it off, this wasn't even her Thor. "I am also not from this universe – I am from another, where things went differently." She would leave out the fact that she had moved to a new universe, and unless it was pertinent, she would not be mentioning any of her children.

"A far-fetched tale." Came his damning voice. Loki looked to Odin, where he stood near Jane. "And how do we know you are not telling falsehoods?"

Loki clenched her jaw. "You do not." She wanted to leave, she wanted to go home. "I think I will take my leave now." She looked at her chains, pulling her magic to do her bidding, cracking the chains and removing them from her wrists. Rubbing at her wrists, she fixed the collar of the infirmary dress, which had been bothering her as it always did whenever she was forced into it. Grimacing, she summoned a set of clothes from her counterparts rooms, warping them to fit as they settled over her skin. Her eyebrow rose in fascination as she saw a gaping hole in the side of the tunic, the leather eaten away by…

"Is that Níðhöggr venom?" Interesting…did my counterpart take part in that dastardly farce of a dare, then? She remembered, from her own universe, when Fandral had drunkenly dared her to try riding one when she tagged along on Thor's hunting expedition, once. She had refused. This must be the outcome of my counterparts failings. Amused, she summoned a different tunic, returning the other to its place in her counterparts rooms. Turning, Loki made for the exit, ignoring Thor as he called after her in anger, waving away Einherjar that tried to apprehend her with small blasts of magic.

Exiting the Throne Room, Loki wondered where to go. She had to get back to her own universe, obviously, but she didn't know the way. So, she needed a focus, something from that universe, as a guide…my dress. For once, she had bought it, rather than transforming her usual ensemble.

Heading towards the Houses of Healing, Loki wondered what to do when faced with Eir. Now, if there was one sorceress in the multiverse she never wanted to face, it was Eir – healers, after all, were the best killers, if they chose that path.

She turned a corner, not expecting the tiny form that ran into her legs. Looking down, Loki blinked at the toddler, wondering who she was. The child was fair-faced, with big blue eyes behind overly-large frames, and dark brown hair that was soaking wet – just like the rest of her. The child was naked as the day she was born.

"Hello?"

The girl looked back down the corridor, before moving to hide behind her legs. Loki looked down at her in bemusement, turning her torso slightly to do so.

"What is your name, child?"

The girl glanced up at her, surprised, "You don't know who I am?" Her speech was clear, and Loki found herself revaluating her age. Not a toddler, no – a young child, a very young child, but no toddler. With Aesir children, it was always hard to tell. "But we've met before!"

"Oh? Have we? Well, I seem to have forgotten your name and face, young one – please forgive me, for I have just spent many a moon in the Houses of Healing. I am returning there now."

The girl went to reply, only for Loki to pick up a frazzled-sounding voice, calling for a 'Princess'. The girl looked to the corridor, skin paling. Loki raised her eyebrow, tracing the child's features.

Thor, how upset was mother, I wonder, when you explained to her that you were having a child out of wedlock?

Glancing down the corridor, hearing a door open, the calls for 'Princess Darcy' becoming louder, the voice all at once much more familiar, Loki found herself grinning. Maybe she should stay a bit longer, for clearly this child was as mischievous as she, and any child of Thor's was her kin, no matter her feelings for the man himself. She looked down at the child behind her legs.

"By any chance, did you escape Huldra's grasp right upon the ending of bathtime?" The girl bit her lip as she tried to stop a grin. It was all Loki needed to conjure a towel, picking the girl up and transporting them outside her counterpart's rooms. The girl gasped.

"Where are we?"

"We are near somewhere we might hide from Lady Huldra, small one," Loki whispered, before putting her hand to the doors. They glowed a dangerous green at her touch, one which she was far from amused at the sight of. My counterpart is dangerous indeed. Even her mother wouldn't dare touch the enchantments locking these rooms.

But she overturned the enchantments, knowing their design well – she created them, after all. The doors clicked upon, the green disappearing, and the girl in her arms reached over, pushing them open. Loki was greeted to the familiar sight of her living room, round firepit in the centre still lit and warming the room, awaiting her – or rather, her counterpart's – return. Entering, Loki shut the doors again before walking over to said firepit and sitting on it's edge, setting the child on her lap.

"So, your name, princess?" Loki teased, using the towel to rub at her damp skin. The girl blushed.

"Darcy – Princess Darcy Thordottr, Crown Princess of Asgard, Goddess of Stars and Constellations."

Loki hummed, "You must get on very well with Máni."

"He said, when I'm older, he'll take me in his moon chariot, so that I can see them up close."

Máni was a romantic, always had been – even when he didn't want or mean to be. Loki could remember the many times that Sol had to inform Máni's pursuers that he didn't mean to flirt with them, and that he was just being himself, and also, that he was married to Sol herself and they had better step away before she took it as a challenge. He probably saw Darcy as some form of pseudo-child, or at least, disregarding her status as princess, someone important. And if she is the stars, well, Loki thought about how Thor would have reacted to that. He probably thought it suspicious, until he saw him with Hjúki and Bil.

"What's your name today?" Darcy asked her. Loki hummed in a questioning tone. "You always have a different name, and you say that we're playing the Game of Names, and if I ever guess your name right, you'll owe me your eternal loyalty- or something like that. You started speaking in a funny language and I didn't know what you meant. And your hand went a funny colour. What's your name today?"

Loki, who had been slowly becoming more and more still, at that, swallowed silently.

Oh my. Just what have you sworn to this girl, sister-mine?

"Today…my name is Daphne."

"Like Daphne and Apollo?"

"No," Loki shook her head, thinking of Vali's Daphne, of all the stories she'd ever heard of the opinionated young witch. "No. Have I…ever told you a story, about a secret society of witches and wizards on Earth?"

Darcy shook her head. "No. You've told me about father and his wedding to Þjazi though." Loki chuckled.

"I would have. It's still one of my favourite memories to this day. Do I tell you a lot of stories?"

"Uh-huh. Can I hear about the witches and wizards?"

"Of course. I shall tell you of how I discovered this strange society. It began when a young boy got a letter, inviting him to a school of magic…"

The funny thing is that most people know time passes differently on other planets. They'll have read about it, studied it, seen it in a movie. In this case, it's Asgard where time passes faster than it does on Earth. While Loki sleeps a year, elsewhere those pivotal six months till Steve Rogers awakens pass. In some ways, it's good – Loki's children don't miss her as long. In other ways, it is not.

Loki thinks her children have.

She wonders what Eisa looks like, if she's doing okay in school, if she has a new father in the form of Captain America, if James has forgiven her for her idiocy. She feels guilt, and grief, and becomes desperate, even as she stays calm.

Loki and desperate do not mix.

So, a couple of hours after Princess Darcy runs off, and not even Heimdall can find her, and Asgard is in full panic-mode looking for their young princess, Loki is toying over whether continuing to teach her niece how to braid hair correctly according to her station, marital status and what sort of day it is, or using Darcy as an unwilling pawn in getting her way, so she can get home quicker.

Loki doesn't want to use her niece, a child, as a pawn, simply on principle. But, as already stated, Loki and desperate don't mix.

"Do you have a family?"

"Yes," Loki replied automatically, before realising her blunder. "No."

Darcy tilted her head back so she could look at her with a confused expression. "Yes or no?"

"…yes and no."

Darcy watched her for a little longer, before narrowing her eyes, "Do you have a mom and dad?"

"In a way," Loki said carefully.

"Do you have a brother or sister?"

"Two brothers…one sister," Elizabeth is like my sister, is she not? "What about you?"

"Nope. Mommy can't have any more babies. Malekith stabbed her when she and Nana were protecting me when I was littler." Loki refused to show her shock.

Dr Foster didn't have the aether – Darcy did, as an even younger child than she is right now. It reminded her too much of Eisa, and her former troubles with magic, and Vali and his transformations.

"Do you have any babies?"

Loki pressed her lips together tightly before answering, "They are not babies anymore." Darcy swivelled around, and Loki had to drop her half-finished braid before she was tugging on it.

"You have more than one? How many? What are their names?"

"That is none of your business," Loki said in a dark tone, anger accidentally slipping in. Darcy's enthusiasm faded slightly, before bouncing back immediately.

"Can they play with me? Or are they big people? Do they not play games anymore?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?" Loki muttered under her breath bitterly, before taking her waist and dropping her off her knees, standing up and brushing down her tunic. With a wave of her hand, the doors opened. "Go."

Darcy looked at her with hurt, "Mommy says its good to ask questions though…"

"Well not to me," Loki sneered. "Now leave my quarters." Her magic lashed out defensively, causing the girl to fly backwards out of the doors, which slammed shut. Loki sucked in gulps of air, squeezing her eyes shut as she pressed her hands against the sides of her head, water leaking out her tear-ducts. "I must get home." She had already been separated from her children once before, she refused to let it happen again.

So: she stepped sideways.

"She did what?" James stared at the principle, who had her lips pursed tight.

From beside him, the red-faced father of the boy currently sitting in the nurse's office, in his expensive blue suit puffed out hot air, glaring at James, gesturing wildly through the window to said son, who was sitting with his distraught mother.

"My son's nose is broken because of your kid! He didn't do anything to deserve that! I'll sue you!"

James glanced at him sceptically, before walking a step forwards and turning to Eisa, crouching down in front of her. "Eisa, did you punch him? If you didn't, you need to tell me what really happened, and if you did, then good shot and your punishment is having to actually take part in more than just your mandatory swimming."

Eisa pulled a face, "But I don't want to do anything else!"

James looked at her tiredly. "So why did you punch him?"

Eisa swallowed, looking at her lap, fiddling with her cannula. "He was being mean."

"How was he being mean?"

"He kept saying that it's my fault I don't have a mom."

Immediately, James clenched his jaw.

"Dollface, your mom going missing is not your fault. Bad people were after her for things she had no control over – and she's coming back. She'll find her way home. She'll find her way back to you and the others if it takes the rest of her life."

The principle interrupted, looking alarmed, "Mr Sawyer, is there something wrong with your daughter's mother?"

James glanced at her, and the other father. Both seemed pretty worried. He didn't answer, looking back to Eisa.

"I was going to tell you after school, but I guess you'll be suspended anyway for this, so might as well tell you now," Eisa glanced up, eyebrows furrowing. "We're moving. Because of Steve coming back soon."

"Is he going to live with us?" Eisa questioned. James nodded. She let out a soft oh. James pressed his lips together at her quiet exclamation, before standing and looking to the other dad there.

"If he was five years older, I would have said he deserved it, but he's barely nine – I'll wire a couple hundred to your account if you want compensation. We're packing up in the next couple weeks anyway."

The dad nodded, "That'd be good." He reached into his pocket, taking out a notepad and pen, jotting down a number. "My name's Ward – Matthew Ward, and that's my son Thomas."

James nodded, taking the paper offered and glancing at it before putting it in his pocket. "Fine. Eisa, let's go," he looked to the principle. "I'm signing her out at reception." The principle smiled tightly, before James took Eisa's hand, pulling her out of the office towards the exit. Signing her out, he waited till they were strapped into his used Toyota pick-up truck to speak.

"You do swimming on a Thursday after school right now. I checked the area around our new place – you'll go to the on the Saturday morning instead, and do any clubs you like during the school week, provided they're actual activities." He glanced at her oxygen tank. "Your doctor told me that you'll be able to get a new kind of tank in New York."

Eisa's head whipped around, eyes wide, "New York? We're going to live in New York?" James grinned.

"Yeah, and just to add to the magic, we'll be in central Brooklyn."

Eisa whistled, "Awesome…so Steve will be coming to live with us there too? Have we got a house?"

"An apartment, right now, but it's pretty big…your 'Uncle Tony' is paying for it."

Eisa grinned, "You're jealous cause I call him uncle, aren't you?"

James pffted, turning to start the pick-up, "Nah, just wary. He's a weapons manufacturer, and a computer geek."

"Like me."

"Like you, except worse, and I don't want you picking up any bad habits."

"I won't pick up any bad h-"

James gave a sarcastic laugh, "Oh really, Miss I-forget-to-eat-my-sandwich-and-banana-because-I'm-too-busy-writing-down-equations-in-my-notebook-during-lunchtime?"

Eisa scowled, hitting his arm as he pulled out of the parking lot, "That's not true! I don't like bananas – or tomato salad sandwiches! You mixed mine up with yours again!"

"No I didn't – I asked if you wanted one while you were at your computer and you said yes. I'd class that as a bad habit you picked up from Uncle Tony."

Eisa didn't have anything to say to that.

"Norns above, Vali!" Hela stared as he practiced his free-running, his friends completing their homework assignments just off to the size. "What in my name are you doing?"

"Free-running," Jormungandr rolled to a stop beside her, flipping up his skateboard. "It's really freeing. He's stressed out from all these exams he's doing in a few months. What are they called again?" He looked to Luna, who smiled serenely at him.

"Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, Your Highness, or just NEWTS. But they're doing them next year, not this year. Though they are all doing end-of-year exams. I'm doing my OWL's this year – His Highness is just getting worked up because of the pimleybugs."

Jormungandr nodded as if he actually knew what pimleybugs were, running a hand through his hair, revealing a runic tattoo on his wrist that had Hela grabbing his moving limb. "Hey!"

"What did you do to yourself?"

Jormungandr stole his arm back, "They're warming runes. It's fucking cold in this country."

Tracey snorted, "You get cold in Malibu, Jor." Jormungandr sent her a slightly glaring look, before Hela tried and failed to conceal a loud gasp as Vali started free-falling from a tall podium, only to bounce back up as a trampoline appeared. Tracey looked over to her bouncy friend. "Val, your sis is getting freaked out. Either switch to a skateboard, or rejoin our study-group. I'm getting bored over here."

Daphne, in answer to her boredom, flipped her to a new page in her Ancient Runes text. "Translate that, then write it backwards in both Orchon and Yenisei format in a way that gives it the opposite properties."

Tracey looked at the sequence she'd pointed out. "Ooh…"

Vali, over on the parkour course, jumped into the foam shapes pit. "No, I can't – studying will scramble my brain. I need a break."

"So…" Jormungandr lifted up his skateboard in question as Vali climbed out of the pit.

He shook his head, "No. I just- I need something calming."

"Ever danced before?" Hela asked, after a few seconds. He looked at her weirdly.

"Well, yeah, at the Yule Ball-"

"No, I mean, dancing as an art," Hela clarified, pushing a strand of blonde behind her ear. "Like ballet."

Tracey started choking all of a sudden, trying to both laugh and breathe at the same time – even Daphne had a small amused look.

"Vali doing ballet?" The Ice Queen shook her head, going back to her books. "You must be insane."

Hela pursed her lips, before going towards Vali. "Dance with me." She offered a hand, serious. Vali looked at it like it was a poisoned dagger.

"Why?"

"Because I want to teach you to dance," Hela snapped, eyes flashing a dark brown, blonde rippling to brown briefly. Vali took her hand. She breathed deeply. "It's not that bad, actually – it'll take a lot of effort, actually, but it might be just what you need."

Blaise snorted, "Oh, this will be priceless. Prince Vali Sigynson, parkour athlete, muggle enthusiast, the Vanquisher of Voldemort – ballet dancer." Vali glared, grip on Hela's hand tightening.

"I won't give you a reason to laugh if I can help it – Hela," he looked to his sister, "teach me ballet."

Hela smiled a toothy smile, "It'll be my pleasure, brother-mine.

13 February of 1997

Dear mother,

I decided to start a journal, within which I would write my letters to you. When you return, you can read them, and know everything I wished to tell you over the time you were gone. I wrote other letters before, but I threw them away, not having thought of this method before. We miss you. Eisa apparently broke someone's nose because they said it was her fault you were gone. Dad told her it wasn't, and when we found out, Hela took me from Hogwarts with the others to see her, to back him up. She lives in New York now, in Brooklyn, in a tall skyrise. When Steve Rogers wakes up, he'll go live with Dad and her.

Jormungandr's been taking care of us. He's stepped up to the plate, making sure we're okay. He's around a lot – he's teaching me more skateboarding tricks, and Hela's teaching me ballet. Yes, I know, quite odd. Ballet. Eisa's learning too, at a fancy beginners club in Manhattan on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and Hela's helping her. She's really enjoying it, too, and I promised I'd act as her partner when she's older.

I can do that. Be her partner. Sooner than people might think, too. Hela and I collected three of Death incarnate's items, well, I did. Hela didn't want to touch them, because they would react with her powers and send her to Niflheim, and she wouldn't be able to return until they were given out again to Three Magical Beings. Not giving them to Hela made me this kind of 'Master' of Death. In reality, it means that when I sleep, my spirit goes around helping souls reach Niflheim, but unlike Hela, angrier and more vengeful spirits can hurt me, cause me to die. I really hope you come back soon so you don't read that. I've already enchanted this journal to be indestructible and impervious to tampering, even by myself, so I can't erase or cross that out.

But in any case, being Master of Death renders me immortal and unable to age. I'm stuck at sixteen and a half. It sucks. I don't even have a beard. But a pro is the fact that I can be Eisa's dance partner because I'm technically not an adult dancer, at least according to Hela, and I'll look like it too, even when she's twelve and I'm twenty…I'll be seventeen in a couple of months. Eisa'll be nine. It's so weird. She's growing up so fast. I can remember when you first placed her in my arms, after you rescued me from the Dursley's and told me I was your son.

I miss you, mother, and I must go now, but I do truly miss you, and wish for your swift return.

All my love,

Vali.

Tracey raised an eyebrow at Jormungandr, raising the giant, heart-shaped bar of chocolate up to head-height.

"I'm taken, as you already know."

Jormungandr shrugged, taking a drag of his cigarette, causing her to clench her jaw.

"Then why-"

"Jormungandr Lokison!" Came a call from down the corridor. Hogwarts students backed out of the way of Daphne as she swept over to them both, bouquet of flowers – white, red, and a tiny hint of blue, wrapped in a fine emerald ribbon – a calm, blazing fire in her eyes. "Why did you deliver these flowers to me – and on Valentines day, no less? You know perfectly well that I and Tracey are…" her eyes zeroed in on Tracey's chocolate. "Oh, you didn't…if I find out you've given her flowers too-"

"Ladies, both of you, ask yourselves this," he interrupted her, motioning to each of their gifts. "Why would I send something to both of you?"

"Because you're being a dick," Tracey said frostily, before the irate blonde went to slap him. He caught her hand, grinning.

"The Ice Queen holds a fiery heart and an understanding of the Flower Language, while her loyal Knave of Crystal Diamonds can be seduced only by what another offers to sate her thirst, or in this case, stomach. Daphne, Tracey," he looked between them, eyes serious, "I would ask you both to consider having me as your Consort."

Tracey looked at him incredulously, "What? You- you want to be our consort? You're the Prince – we'd be the Consorts!"

"No," he shook his head viciously. "I have no want to tie you to the Throne of Asgard. I'm asking to be your companion, in this life you are living – I know better than to tie myself any closer, when longevity and human lifespans set us apart."

Tracey didn't know what to think. She glanced at Daphne, who was staring at her bouquet. She hesitated, before replying, "We didn't know you felt that way, Jor." By this time, there was a crowd, students pointing and whispering. Tracey turned around to face them.

"The bell rang two minutes ago – get to class, and if you don't have class, bugger off." The crowd quickly dispersed. Turning back to Daphne and Jormungandr, she froze upon seeing Daphne pressing up against Jormungandr's body. "Daph?"

"One moment, Tracey…" she muttered, not breaking eye contact- oh, eye contact. Tracey breathed a sigh of relief, stepping up to take her hand as she continued rifling through Jormungandr's head. Daph always did have a problem with legillimancy over long distances.

When she broke away, she looked to Tracey. "He's quite serious about his offer, and I think we should take it, for at least a short time."

Tracey short-circuited. "We- we what?"

"We should take his offer, see how he acts. It's difficult to be a paired couple – a triad is just asking for trouble, if you don't start out right. There're signs."

"Like with any relationship?" Tracey questioned rhetorically, remembering when they first got together. She knew what Daphne meant now. Looking to Jormungandr, she opened the chocolate bar, breaking a bit off and eating it without blinking, or looking away from him. As predicted, it was butterscotch flavoured, her favourite. Jormungandr watched her in a similar manner, before Daphne took his chin and pressed a chaste, close-mouthed kiss to his lips.

That's hot, Tracey couldn't help but think, admiring the contrast between Jormungandr's low-life appearance in comparison to Daphne's perfectly pressed and arranged uniform, milky legs that went on forever leading down to small black heels. Daphne's hotter though. Daphne pulled away, looking to Tracey. She gave a nod, which Tracey returned.

Walking up to the two, Tracey grabbed Jormungandr's shirt, tugging him down for a kiss the exact opposite of calm.

What harm can a trial-period do, anyway?