Author's Note: I know it's short, I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you.

Loki got up from the table to grab another pot of tea for his mother. "Another biscuit?" He asked looking out the window at the gathering dark.

"No thank you, Darling. Would you like to come back to the palace for a few days? I worry about you out here all alone."

Loki smiled and kissed his mother's cheek, "I am fine, Mother, I promise."

Frigga searched his face and found that was not quite true. She reached out to him and he flinched, she frowned.

"Loki, you know I am not going to hurt you..." The sad inflection in her voice pained Loki to his core.

"I know," Loki said softly, bowing his head, "It's a reflex...from my time with the Chitauri..." He shuddered at the memories that he tried so hard to repress. They still managed to seep into his dreams, most nights Loki was glad he had no neighbors to wake up with his screams.

"Come back with me, we can talk. We can do whatever it is you desire."

Loki was torn, he wanted to spend time with his mother, but if he fell asleep he'd most likely end up having to admit to his nightmares and he'd hoped to keep them to himself.

"Really, Mother, I quite like it out here. I have had more than enough of towers and stone walls."

Frigga nodded, understanding what her son was really saying.

"I could always stay here, with you. I am sure no one would mind."

Loki could see no kind way of saying no, he would just have to work hard to keep his nightmare in check.

***LATER***

Loki walked Frigga to her room and kissed her goodnight. "Good night, Mother. I hope you sleep well."

She smiled, "Good night, Loki." Frigga ran a hand through his hair, "I love you, my Son."

"I love you too."

Loki turned and walked to his room. He quietly undressed, put on his night clothes and, upon getting into bed, fell into a deep sleep.

***EVEN LATER***

Loki moaned and thrashed in his sleep, his bed sheets tangling around his legs. "Nooooo...No...Stop! Please...please stop...I will do whatever you want...please...please do not hurt me again...please..." He whimpered in his sleep, tears formed in the corners of his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. His voice raised in pitch and urgency, "Please...please, No! NO!" He sucked in a deep breath, "No, no plea- AHHHHHHHHHH!" Loki's scream was full of fear and pain and it brought his mother running to his side.

He woke up cradled in her arms, just like when he was a child. Frigga gently brushed his tears away with the hem of her nightgown. Her expression was one of motherly concern, "Darling, calm down. Just breathe, I am here. I will always be here." Loki wrapped his arms around her neck and clung to her, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair, until he calmed down.

"Sorry, Mother, I did not mean to wake you." He stared at the twisted bed sheets.

"Loki," Frigga cupped his face in her soft hands, "You do not need to apologize. You did nothing to deserve this pain...do you wish to talk about it?"

Loki shook his head sadly, "I cannot, not yet..."

Frigga nodded, "I will be there when you are ready." She rubbed his back as she used to when he was ill as a child. "I will always be there for you." She smiled a small, sad smile and kissed his cheek. "Now, try and go back to sleep. I will stay with you until you do."

Loki opened his mouth to protest but Frigga gently pushed him until he was laying down. His mother was the one person he would never struggle against. She stayed, rubbing his back and singing the songs of his childhood, until he fell into a dreamless sleep.