Thor sat bolt upright in bed as an unfamiliar sound ripped through the apartment. His frown furrowed his brow in seconds.

"Jane."

His hand gently nudged at her shoulder beside him, the sleeping woman lying flat on her front, tangled in the sheets. She groaned and stirred groggily. Her hair was a mass of wild dark tangles as she turned her head to glare at the god.

"What?" she droned, eyes already fluttering back to the depths of sleep. Not before she'd caught his face though; his his sharp gaze was locked on the bedroom door.

Vaguely, she knew that she should be alarmed - curious, at the very least, to see what had made her god so wary. Then she thought back to the blissful dream she'd been having and suddenly, she didn't care. She rolled over, turning her back to Thor and hugged the covers tighter around her.

"What is that noise?" he persisted, his voice tense.

Jane's brow started to furrow as she actually listened to him, eyes still closed. "Noise?" her ears strained, but all she could hear was silence. "What noise?"

The bed shifted as Thor got up. Jane didn't mind, a sleepy smile tugging her lips: more covers for her. Her head relaxed back into the pillows, forehead smoothing out as she left Thor to his little mystery.

"It has since silenced." his low, distrusting voice explained. She could just imagine him pacing around their room, searching for ... well, whatever he was looking for. Jane half suspected he'd been dreaming. She couldn't hear a thing! "It sounded...like a thousand angry hornets. Though it was not consistent, as if one could close their ears to it and open them again like one of the switches for the lamps."

"Light switch, sweetie." Jane yawned.

Thor sighed, pausing in the corner of the room to sweep his eyes around it. Nothing. Nothing and silence. He was starting to question his sanity - when the sharp, grating buzz rattled through the apartment once more.

"There!" he cried, head darting from side to side as he searched for the source. It was impossible to pinpoint, echoing around without a fault in volume. Then almost as soon as he heard it, it vanished. His questioning eyes rolled back to Jane, surprised that she was still so content in the sheets. Surely she'd heard that!

She hummed and squirmed under the covers, face blissful and untroubled. "That's just the doorbell, Thor." she murmured. "Go back to sleep."

Then she listened to her own words.

Doorbell.

Ringing.

Her eyes snapped open: "Oh shit!"

Thor watched perplexed as Jane suddenly threw the covers back and leapt across the room, tearing her limbs free from the clingy blanket with manic haste. And she'd thought he was strange! He followed her curiously as she fled through the bedroom door and across the apartment, crashing into the door. At least she was alert, Thor thought. Perhaps he might at last discover the source of the disturbance. His tense stance was dropped as he noticed the significant lack of fear in her face. Whatever it was, it was not a threat.

Jane's numb fingers fumbled with the catch on the door and finally latched on, swinging it open as wide as it would go.

A low whistle met her.

"Not your best look hun." Tony Stark peered at her sarcastically over the rim of his sunglasses. "I think bed head and boyfriends clothes were last season."

"Wha-" Jane's hands moved to pat down her hair, eyes shooting down to examine her clothes. Damn, Tony was right - she was even wearing Thor's shorts! Her mouth gaped in mild horror, mortified she'd been caught looking such a state. And by Stark no less! The man who would never let her forget it!

Thor's booming voice from the bedroom doorway ripped her back to focus. "My friend!" he grinned, striding forward. "It is good to see you. I hope you are well."

Stark whipped his sunglasses off as the god approached, eyes lightly frowned and laden with scrutinising sarcasm as Thor claimed his forearm in greeting. "Wow," he droned, taking in Thor's night shirt and trousers. His blonde hair was ruffled slightly, too. "Well, you two won't be winning any best dressed couple awards."

Jane ran a hand through her hair, sighing. "What are you doing here, Stark? And what time is it anyway?"

"A billionaire can't casually drop in on his favourite astrophysicist and thunder god?" his face twitched in a fleeting grin, before going back to business. "Pepper's idea. She's on the way, bringing enough food to feed a whole third world country. She's under the impression that you've not been eating properly. And as for the second," he nudged up the sleeve of his flawless black suit, glancing down at his Rolex. "It's eight in the evening. So either you've given yourselves the bedtime of a five year old or you took the Twlight addiction a step too far and converted into vampires. Which is it?"

"Tony!"

Jane was saved the task of thinking of an equally quippy reply when a familiar face fit into the door frame beside Tony's. Familiar and welcome, this time.

Jane smiled wide. "Pepper."

Pepper Potts nudged her way past her genius of a boyfriend, made easier with the sharp points of the cardboard box she held to arm herself. She set the miniature crate down on the floor before Jane threw her arms around her neck.

Thor smiled on as he watched the women hug each other tight. He didn't think he'd seen Jane so happy in all the time they'd been on Earth! Her smile gleamed over Pepper's shoulder like a star to him, his heart glimmering with warmth to see Jane smile like that - really smile. He half wished it never had to end, but the beam stayed in place long after they parted regardless.

"Oh yeah," Stark suddenly cut in, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder. "We brought Wonder Boy along to the party too."

Steve Roger's glared as stepped past Stark into the apartment, arms bearing another large box almost identical to Peppers. He set it down beside hers before nodding politely to Thor.

"Hey." he said, meeting Thor's outstretched arm. "Long time no see."

"Too long, my friend." the god chuckled, before handing Rogers over to one of Jane's bone crushing hugs.

"Flag Boy here's become like our adopted pet." Stark said, leaning his suave shoulder against the doorframe. "Just feed him, take him for walks, fresh water every day..." the genius trailed off after Rogers sent a dark glare his way. "Actually, we're just introducing him to the twenty first century. Isn't that right, Cap?"

The Captain had barely opened his mouth to reply, before Pepper cut him off, fussing over Jane as her eyes roamed up and down her freshly woken form.

"How are you?" she exclaimed, holding Jane at arms length as she scoured over her. "I meant to come to see you after the D&C, but somebody decided to extend our trip in Moscow for another three weeks. Didn't they, Tony?"

"Yeah," the billionaire brushed a speck of imperfection from his suit distractedly. "Blame Jarvis."

The women rolled their eyes simultaneously, exchanging a look.

"Pepper told us what happened." Steve said in a suddenly sombre tone, his eyes gleaming empathetically at Thor. The god's heart dropped when he realised what the captain was talking about. "I'm so sorry about the baby."

Thor's eyes darted instinctively to Jane. If his chest was clenching as painfully as this, he was more than anxious to be sure she was not feeling anything worse. Of course she is, a snide voice cut through his head, eyes scouring over Jane's suddenly bowed head and averted gaze. The god cut through the party of friends and wrapped an arm around his woman, drawing her to his side. Her hand moved to clutch his shirt instantly.

She fixed a less than convincing smile on her face. "Thanks Steve."

"Yeah, thanks Steve." Stark cut in from the doorway. "Way to bring the mood down. I'm sure they were absolutely dying to talk about their dead baby!" Jane flinched. Stark's hard exterior cracked. "Sorry."

Pepper sighed, eyes rolled to the ceiling. "How 'bout you do everyone a favour Tony and just go and wait in the car?"

Thor couldn't help but smirk as Tony threw his palms up defensively, and threw the god a look with eyebrows raised. Thor recognised that look; he'd sent it back at Tony plenty of times in the past. He was careful not to glance down at Jane beside him, knowing full well that she also recognised the look. Thor was always careful never to tell her what it meant though.

Women!, his brain translated for him, before the billionaire slunk out of sight down the corridor.

Then Pepper went into business mode: "I've brought over enough meals to feed you guys for a month 'cos I had a feeling you wouldn't be taking proper care of yourselves food wise. And judging by the pizza and ice cream boxes by the sink, I think I was right."

Jane's hand touched to her forehead - half to hide the flush of shame that coloured her cheeks at the mess in the kitchen being discovered. She knew she should have at least sent Thor out with the trash. Hadn't her inner voice been warning her for days? "Pep, this is totally unnecessary."

Silence washed the apartment. The last of Jane's dignity fell through the floor as all eyes turned to her - even Thor's! - all holding the same disbelieving, 'poor thing, she really things she's coping' sort of look. A small, polite smile graced Pepper's lips as she simply looked at her freind. Jane screwed her eyes shut in embarrassment and leaned into Thor's chest some more.

Only when the sound of Steve slowly resuming his unpacking of the boxes in the kitchen hit her ears again, did she peek her narrowed gaze open. God, they were treating her like a kid.

Mind you, a logical voice said in her head, perhaps you need it.

Jane sighed, forcing herself to admit that the thinned, unkempt woman wearing her boyfriends shabby clothes was actually her. Yeah, okay, she finally conceded. I need help.

Her eyes lifted to Pepper.

The efficient woman leapt straight back into her stride. "I thought so." She smiled. "I've also organised for some more clothes to arrive here for you guys by tomorrow and from what I see now, that was a God-sent idea! Local gym membership is in place for Thor and here's the number of a car for you guys. It'll take you anywhere you want to go, available twenty four hours. Tony doesn't use much of his chauffeur service and it's a shame to let it go to waste."

Jane took the slip of paper with the digits on it wordlessly, her mind working furiously to take in the onslaught of information.

Finally, she remembered how to use her jaw again. "Pepper, how-"

"I've seen you in a crisis, Jane." Pepper cut off before she could ask. "When the boy's went to do their thing in New York and we had to practically force feed you, half drown you in the shower... you shut down. And I thought that if Thor was anything like you were, you'd need all the help you can get." she shrugged, a twinkle in her eye. "Call me fairy godmother."

Jane didn't think it was possible for her to blush more, but she was proved wrong as Pepper span it all out to Thor. She hadn't told her god about how she'd gone to pieces during the whole stopping-the-invasion-of-the-world thing. The unmistakable tingle of Thor's sharp gaze on her reminded her why - he'd fip.

She cleared her throat quickly. "Anything else, oh efficient one? Or can I go back to sleep now?"

Pepper smirked. "I brought you tablets for that too. I wasn't sure if you'd be having trouble."

Oh God, there's no escape, Jane thought with rolling eyes. Next they'd have monitors on the bedside tables to listen for when she cried! It was all in good faith - and Jane knew she desperately needed the help! - but her pride simply couldn't take it. It was so patronising! As if she couldn't take care of herself! She wasn't - but it didn't mean she couldn't!

Or, at least, that's what she told herself.

"You missed that phase." Jane sighed reluctantly, pressing a hand back to her forehead. "I'm practically comatose now."

Sleep had hit back with a vengence. For her weeks of insomnia, she never would have anticipated she'd end up sleeping as often and as much as she did now. She guessed that at first she'd been scared of dreams - but then she found out she was so exhausted her brain didn't have any power to spare on dreams! So she'd been forced to let her body crash and get the rest it so desperately craved.

"You're generosity is much appreciated, Lady Pepper." Thor's low, rumbling voice interupted her throughts. "Perhaps you and I should discuss further what occured during my absence."

Jane flew out of his arms. "No!" She insisted quickly. "That won't be necessary."

Thor arched a sceptical eyebrow at her. Okay, she caved in her mind, she deserved that. Her eyes flashed urgently to Pepper, sending her best 'don't tell him anything!' rays. Pepper's mischevious smirk told her she'd got the message.

Her heart sank with dread. "You've been hanging out with Stark too much." Jane accused, folding her arms across her chest. "He's made you mean."

"Ha! Make sure to tell him that. He'll be very proud."

"Pepper." Steve called from the kitchen, boxes near empty. Damn, Jane thought, impressed, breaking through her mild irritation. She should get the Captain to teach Thor how to do that! "We should go or we'll miss the reservation."

Thor frowned, stepping up to lace an arm around Jane's shoulders again. She was too busy matching his frown to shrug him off. "Reservation?"

"For dinner." Pepper explained flawlessly, crossing over to the kitchen to Steve and the boxes, leaving Jane and Thor to frown at her back. "And you're coming."

Thor's heart leapt with instant joy, forgetting his suspicion about Jane's past actions entirely - he was looking forward to being able to eat something other than delivery pizza at last!

Suddenly he noticed that Stark hadn't been the only one dressed in a suit: Steve was also dressed in noticably smart clothing, while Pepper wore an elegant royal blue dress matched with impressive heels. He half wondered how he hadn't noticed it before! He started to feel very self conscious in his own shabby appearence, wishing he'd at least had the foresight to put on some jeans before leaving the bedroom.

A part of him couldn't help but stubbornly point out he was at least in better form than Jane. Though they both looked equally unkempt, at least Thor had used his own clothes to achieve it!

Jane's jaw fell open, noticing the couples attire for the first time as well. "W-we don't have anything to wear."

Pepper's sigh was more than audible as she bent over one of the boxes and straightened up again, hands busy with fresh cargo. "Hence," she turned on her heel, the two pressed outfits danging from hangers off her fingertips. "Why I brought these."

XXX

Jane hated dresses. She hated them. And she hated this one even more than she hated the dresses back in Asgard. She was simply too fond of her jeans and leggings to like dresses.

But sat there in the middle of the most expensive restaurant Jane had ever seen - let alone eaten in! - she was conscious that the outfit could have been worse. It wasn't clingy, at least. It was a nice shade of purple, hugging her bust and flowing out around her hips from the thin belt at her waist. She still didn't like it, but it could be worse.

She kept thinking the words over and over again, as she pushed the food endlessly around her plate: it could be worse.

And then it got worse.

A bleep interupted Tony and Pepper fussing about some twelve per cent business and Jane tore for her phone to silence the reminder. Her fingers jabbed madly at the buttons, ignoring the bemused stares that followed her.

Including Thor's. She hadn't told him she'd really set a countdown.

Her eyes crept up to the table, the same questioning look in each gaze she met. Her reaction probably hadn't won her any subtlety awards!

"Er..." God, she panicked. How could she pass off this one?! "Nothing."

She couldn't. She rolled her eyes at her pathetic excuse as soon as everyone else had resumed their conversation. Except Thor, she noticed. He was still frowning at her, gazing dripping with concern.

Good, she thought, an idea forming quickly in her head. Maybe she'd give him a chance to redeem himself.

She cleared her throat, and rose from the table.

Again, the attention flew to her.

She kept her gaze calmly - or as calmly as she could muster - on Thor, knowing her nerve would break as soon as she looked at any of her friends. Her teeth gritted subtly in her attempt to compose herself. "Thor," she forced out, smiling sweetly. Her god of a boyfriend blinked up at her from across the table. "Can I talk to you for a minute please?"

The god's eyes shifted briefly to their company, brow furrowing. "Now?" he asked. "But Jane-"

"Now!"

Her tone slipped with her patience.

She turned and walked briskly to the nearest corner of privacy in the restaurant, breathing a heavy sigh of relief when she heard Thor scramble clumsily behind her. She'd trained him well. Or maybe he was just naturally scared of that tone.

He should be, Jane thought to herself bitterly as she turned the corner and realised with dismay that there were only more diners that way.

Desperately, her eyes scoured around. All they found was the door to the ladies bathroom behind her.

That'll have to do, she sighed in her head.

Thor finally caught up with her and she latched onto his collar, pulling him towards the bathroom. She ignored his protests.

She was glad he didn't force her to stop. He was probably trying to avoid a scene, she thought to herself. That was fine with her; the drama could unfold behind the closed doors of the bathroom.

"Jane!" he finally blurted as she hauled him through the doors, forcing him inside and ramming the door stop in place to seal them in.

Jane didn't care. She knew he was alarmed - and honestly, he had every right to be. Even Jane was surprised at her behaviour! Thor simply watched her with frowning eyes as Jane marched the side of the bathroom. She did a quick sweep under the cubicle doors before she straightened up, satisfied.

"Jane, I cannot be here. This is not proper."

A exasperated sigh left her lips. "Thor." she span round to face him, her gaze dark and demanding as she advanced a step. "Do you remember what you promised me?"

Thor's frown deepened. His gaze was blank with confusion. "What-"

"Three weeks," Jane explained for him, moving closer. "Three weeks and you promised we could try again. That buzz on my phone announced the end of those three weeks." She closed the gap and fisted her hands in his suit, tugging him reluctantly nearer. "Pay up."

Thor's hand closed over hers, his startled eyes oblivious to her hard gaze. "Jane, this is madness-"

"You promised!"

"I did not anticipate you would expect me to fulfill that promise in a restroom!" he hissed back, peeling her clenching fingers from his collar and straightening his clothes.

Jane glared at him.

God, he looked good, she couldn't help but think. Steve had done a good job of smartening him up; the suit looked simply delicious over Thor's muscular body, his blond hair combed back neatly, only making his bold blue eyes stand out sharper. Jane swore he'd done it to tease her, as he denied her now. It should be criminal to look that gorgeous and irresistable in public!

She pouted up at him imploringly, going for the sweet tactic.

It didn't work: "I am not making love to you in a restroom!" Thor spelled out for good measure.

Her Bambi eyes narrowed. So much for sweet, she thought bitterly. Her hand gripped his shirt and tie and pulled him forward. "Look you." she snapped in his face. "We had a deal. I've stopped bleeding and I've been patient for three long weeks. You promised."

"Jane, can you hear yourself?" Thor persisted, though he made no move to her hands this time. She'd only grab him again even if he did. "You want our child to be conceived here?!"

"For God's sake, when did you become such a nun?!"

Her eyes bore into his, watching his own frustration rise to match hers. Frustration, Jane realised with satisfaction. Not reluctance or irritation - frustration.

He was battling with himself.

Jane moved her fingers from his shirt to rake through his hair, disrupting the once perfect locks as she achored him closer. Her mouth brushed against his before he could react, hips rolling forward enticingly. She knew which side of his inner struggle she was rooting for!

His hands shot to grip tightly at her wrists. They didn't pull her away though.

A smile flickered across Jane's face when she looked up into Thor's eyes; his orbs were pleasantly dark and needy. "Jane."

Jane crashed her mouth on his the moment he sighed her name, her desperation getting the best of her once and for all. She wasn't the only one, she noted with smug satisfaction as Thor's hands wound tightly around her waist, drawing her in before he moved to grip her hips.

He hitched her shirt up and they both surendered.