Thor stood on the end of the broken rainbow bridge gazing into the void. This was the last place he'd seen Loki and despite all that Loki had done, Thor could forgive him, if only Loki were here beside him. His contemplations were interrupted by his father's voice.

"You miss her..."

"Her?"

"Jane, the mortal."

"Jane, yes," Thor said slowly, he did miss her, he liked Jane, but it was not Jane that he longed for. It was not Jane that he loved. "It is not Jane that I think of Father."

"Who else could put such pain in your eyes?" Thor turned on his Father then, angry that it was not obvious to the King.

"Did Loki mean so little to you?"

"Loki?"

"Yes Loki. My brother, your son."

"Thor," his father said, his voice laced with something like pity or sorrow. "There's something you should know about Loki. He's no more your brother than he is my son."

"What?" Could his father really hate Loki so?

"His real father is Laufey, King of the Jotun." Across the years his Fathers words came back to him; 'both of you were born to be kings'. Loki was a Jotun...

"And Loki knows this?"

"Yes." And then Loki's actions all made sickening sense. No wonder Loki had lashed out, Thor could feel his own temper rising at being lied to. But for Thor at least he was still Asgardian, this changed everything for Loki. Thor's heart ached for the betrayal and loneliness Loki must have felt.

"How did he come to be in your care?"

"I took him."

"You stole him so Laufey would have no heir?"

"No, Laufey had abandoned him, left him to die. I took him to save him. I'd hoped he'd unite the kingdoms, he could've brought peace to us all..."

"So it was for gain, not kindness." The more Thor heard the more he understood why Loki had acted as he had.

"You twist my words as Loki did. He had a better home here in Asgard, than he ever would have had in Jotunheim. Was it too high a price to ask for giving him this privileged life?"

"No wonder he is bitter, abandoned by one father and used as a tool by the next."

"I loved him Thor, that part wasn't a lie. But there was no way he should ever have been King of Asgard."

"Loved? I love him still."

Their conversation was interrupted by Heimdall's approach.

"All-Father. I have seen Loki, he is a prisoner on Earth." Here was Thor's chance.

"Send me father," Thor pleaded, "let me bring him home."

"No. I would not risk you for Loki's sake. Besides Thor, it is not that simple, the Bifrost is destroyed."

"You can do it, I know you can. I don't care what it takes, send me now! You owe both Loki and I this much..."

"Thor..."

"Do it!" Thor demanded, "or I shall never forgive your lies. Do you wish to lose both your sons?" It was harsh but Thor was desperate, Loki was within his grasp now, he could not let him slip away again.

"Very well," his Father consented, "but I do it for the good of Earth. Not because of your temper tantrum...and not for the good of Loki."

"Thank-you anyway," Thor told his Father, this time the reason for his Father's actions did not matter. All that mattered was that soon he would see Loki again.