Disclaimer: I own nothing, I just use the characters for my own twisted uses! Mwahahahaha!

Jane adjusted the power levels so that they held steady once more, and waited with bated breath. The miniaturised Bifrost fired to life, a perfect metre long replica of the original that she had fixed nearly five months ago. Smiling broadly, Jane gently tossed an apple into one end, then ducked as the energy exploded and rebounded around the room, apple pulp splattering all over the lab. Standing up slowly, she looked around, slightly bewildered as her ears rang.

'Not the result you needed?' Darcy remarked as she opened the dripping door and daintily avoided small piles of goop. Jane sighed.

'Not exactly. I think I need to revisit my calculations. Maybe it's something to do with the density of the object…'

'Whatever.' Darcy shrugged. 'Let's just leave it for the cleaning crew and go home.'

'I can't leave all this, they'll kill me.' Jane said, looking around in mild despair. 'Give me a hand cleaning it up?' Darcy groaned.

'Alright, but you owe me big. If I'm late for my date, I will tase you.' Jane looked up, surprised.

'Date? With who?' Darcy looked shifty.

'No-one special, well, no-one you know. It's none of your business anyway! Let's just get this done and we can go home.'

'Alright, alright!' Jane surrendered, her eyebrows raised, and turned to the exciting task of mopping.

Half an hour later, the lab looked a lot better. Although it wasn't perfect, the cleaning team weren't going to string Jane up by the rafters for it either. Darcy had already disappeared, her dark hair whipping around the door frame as a hurriedly called 'Bye!' followed her out the door. Jane gathered her papers, mercifully untouched by apple pulp, and slung her satchel over her shoulder. She left the lab quietly, locking it behind her, not noticing the grumbling thunder outside. Lightning flashed, and she looked up sharply, nearly tripping down the stairs. Smiling and shaking her head, she finally made her way outside and locked the building doors. A delightful shiver ran down her back as she sensed someone there, and she turned, stepping into the waiting arms of her lover.

'Jane.' Thor breathed, his arms tight around her. Inhaling deeply, he revelled in the unique scent that was her, honeysuckle shampoo with an undercurrent of freesias in her perfume. Jane melted into him, enjoying the warmth of his body and relaxing against him. Tilting her head slightly, she pulled a little on his hair so that he dropped his head and kissed her, a long lingering kiss that warmed her right through to her toes. They pulled apart, breathing raggedly, and Thor pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead.

'I missed you.' Jane murmured, her eyes closed. Thor pressed his forehead to hers.

'I missed you too.' They stood for a moment, enjoying the feeling of being together. Eventually Thor disengaged one hand and pulled Jane closer, the other hand beginning to spin Mjolnir. In a heartbeat, they were airborne, and only the whispering trees held testament to their passing.

Jane woke up frustrated.

'Good morning.' Thor rumbled as she sat up. Jane smiled at him, then swung her legs out of bed and padded to the bathroom. Closing the door, she leant against it and closed her eyes, sighing. This was getting old. After a few minutes, she got washed, did her teeth, and brushed her hair. Going back out into the bedroom, Thor eyed her as she got out her clothes for the day. Purposefully, she grabbed the hem of her pyjama vest top and pulled it off, then sneaked a peek at him. As she suspected, he had rolled over and was studiously examining the carpet on the other side of the bed. Sighing internally, Jane finished getting dressed.

'OK, I gotta go to work. Be safe.' Thor grabbed her hand and pulled her across his lap so that she sat side on to him. Jane's ire melted a little, and she cupped his face with her palm. 'Please be safe.' Thor turned his head and kissed her soft palm.

'Deal.' His eyes held her, and she crushed her lips to his, licking his lips until he allowed her entrance. Her tongue swept through his mouth, tasting and dancing with his, running along his teeth and licking softly at his lips. A pressure on her shoulders made her lean back.

'You must go to work.' Thor stated quietly. Jane stared at him, the flush of passion in her cheeks giving way to the flame red of embarrassment. Looking away, she tried to get her thoughts straight again, then stood up abruptly and left the room. Thor watched her go without a word, then fell back with a groan, his arm across his face.

Jane stormed into the lab in a foul mood. Throwing her satchel down, she slammed into her lab coat and plonked down on her stool. Grabbing a pencil, she started roughing out an equation and groaned when the lead snapped because she pressed too hard. Taking a deep breath, she reached for the sharpener and tried again. Darcy entered behind her.

'Morning sunshine.'

'Morning!' Jane replied, a little too brightly. 'Gorgeous day today isn't it? Really sunny and…gorgeous!' Darcy slowly raised her head once.

'Gorgeous.' She agreed, worry lines creasing her forehead. She watched Jane work for a couple of minutes. 'Wanna talk about it?'

'Talk about what, there's nothing to talk about!' Jane's false cheery attitude was grating a little.

'The elephant in the room. Namely, Thor's back and you are acting weird.' Jane looked at her strangely.

'How do you know he's back?' Darcy shifted uncomfortably.

'Well it was all over the news that the Avengers saved the world again, so I assumed they would have a bit of personal time after work.' Jane raised an eyebrow. 'But that's not the issue, the issue is that something is bothering you.' Jane turned back to her equations and hunched over. Darcy waited patiently, knowing Jane wouldn't stand it for long.

'I just don't get it!' Jane exploded, her stool flying backwards suddenly. She paced across the lab, her gentle curls bouncing as she stomped back and forth.

'Don't get what?'

'Am I repulsive? Have I changed or something? Because for some reason, vhe won't come near me. He kisses me, oh god he kisses me, but then he stops. One minute he's hot, the next he's ice cold. But the thing is, I was sat on his lap this morning and I felt his..' Jane trailed off, heat flushing her cheeks.

'Boner?' Darcy prompted. Jane frowned at her.

'Desire. I felt it, he wanted me, but just as things were getting good, he pushed me away. He didn't want anything to do with me. I mean is it me? Am I so repulsive? Or do you think it's cause I'm a mortal and he sees me as a distraction while he's here?'

'Honey if he thought that, he would be screwing you.'

'I know right? But I don't get anything, not a touch, or even a grab. I get incredible kisses, and amazing cuddles, but nothing ever follows. What am I doing wrong?' Jane dropped onto her stool again, her chest heaving. Darcy shrugged.

'Nothing. He's obviously got some sort of issue that he needs to work through. And you, meanwhile, are getting more and more frustrated.' Jane huffed.

'Is it that obvious?'

'Just a bit. And it's interrupting your work.' Darcy walked over and picked up the equations that Jane had punched a hole in with her pencil. 'You could make mincemeat of these normally, but now… you need an outlet. Have you ever done it yourself?'

'Ew, no! I mean, I have, but its not something I enjoy to be honest.' Shock danced across Jane's face, giving way to guilt, and Darcy sighed.

'Fine. But you need to do something.' She wracked her brain for a second, then inspiration dawned. 'Hey, I got this experience from Lucy in accounting for my birthday, and I don't want it because it really isn't my thing, but maybe you can get some use out of it!' Handing Jane a card, Darcy's eyes danced, as Jane's widened.

'Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think that would be good for me.' Jane tried to hand the card back, but Darcy was already leaving.

'Just try it. I think you would be good at it, and it would be a healthy outlet for you!' Jane sighed as she looked at it for a moment longer, then dropped it into her satchel and turned back to her work.

Hours later, she returned home. Dropping her satchel on the sofa, she picked up the crisp ivory notepaper sat next to the single orchid that lay on the table. Her name was scrawled across the front in elegant handwriting.

Jane

I am sorry I was not here when you returned. We have a new mission and it was urgent. I wish I did not have to leave, but I must.

I miss you.

Jane stared at the words for a long moment, then crumpled the note up and threw it in the trash. Breathing heavily, she tried to calm down. Her eye caught the corner of the card that Darcy had given her, and she pulled it out and stared at it again. Her decision made, she threw some comfy clothes into a bag and left the apartment.