Notes:

1. I don't own the characters in this, I only borrow them to play.

2. The characters took this story to a place I didn't plan on so there is a change in rating from K to M. Please note and proceed accordingly.

Chapter Three

Tromso, Norway…

The room was dark, a darkness alleviated only by the flickering lights of the Aurora which played softly across the two figures on the bed. The woman stirred and murmured and the man reached up and gently pushed a piece of her heavy hair from her face. A soft smile crossed his face as he gazed at the woman who slept, wrapped in his strong arms.

"What am I to do with you, Jane Foster?" he murmured to himself. As if in answer she shifted again slightly, curling closer into his warmth.

A frown crossed Thor's face as he continued to contemplate the sleeping beauty in his arms. As crown prince and warrior hero of Asgard, he was no stranger to the delights to be found between man and woman. His skills in that arena, while not quite at the level of Fandral's, were widely known and numerous beauties had graced his bed over the years.

But this was different. This woman was different. Her skills at lovemaking were small when compared to those of even the least skilled woman of Asgard. It didn't matter. Thor had found her awkwardness in the manner of the ways between a man and a woman oddly alluring from the first time he had raised her hand to his lips for a kiss. The passion that had erupted when their lips had first met back in New Mexico, had manifested itself full force again tonight, and Thor had found himself swept up and swept away by it. He feared he had forgotten all that he had learned over the years, and instead, had fallen upon her, devouring her as if he was a greedy lad in his first encounter with a woman.

Jane hadn't seemed to mind. Instead she had responded in kind and, though unskilled in many ways, she had eagerly followed his lead and had proven to be an extremely fast learner. A learning that had led them to this room and this bed where things had quickly progressed far beyond what he had intended when he had arrived here to see her.

"A penny for them?" her voice brought him back to the here and now. Blue eyes met brown and once again Thor felt a wave of unfamiliar emotion sweeping through him.

"A what for what?" he asked her, confused.

She laughed, her warm breath tickling his chest and sending a wave of familiar heat speeding through him. "Oh, I forgot, you don't speak modern English. Your thoughts, a penny for your thoughts."

Thor raised his eyebrows, "I speak perfectly good English, milady. But we don't have pennies on Asgard. I assume it is a unit of your money?"

Jane nodded, her eyes twinkling up at him, "The smallest unit."

"In that case, I must inform you that my thoughts are of much greater worth than a mere penny. You must do better than that."

Jane's heart stopped for a moment at the look in his eyes as he gazed into hers. "What then?" she asked quietly.

"I require at the very least a kiss." Thor informed her haughtily.

"A kiss? Of what worth is the kiss of a lowly mortal to the crown prince of Asgard?" Jane shot back teasingly.

Thor smiled slowly, "The kiss of a lowly mortal is beyond price when that mortal is you, Jane."

"Oh," was all Jane could say, taken aback by the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes.

"Well, milady?" Thor demanded, his manner the personification of royal privilege. Jane was stunned by the revelation of him in his full power and glory, a power clearly evident, even as he lay beside her devoid of his royal armor and without his mighty hammer.

Speechless, she simply stared up at him. Tiring of the game Thor slowly lowered his head, never breaking eye contact, and gently touched his lips to hers. Jane sighed and her arms came up to wrap around his neck as she shifted her body even closer to his. She could feel his warmth engulfing her all the way to her toes as his arms tightened around her, pulling her tight against his strong frame. She shivered, feeling herself melt in his arms as desire moved through her in a warm tide, spreading throughout her body.

She felt his answering hunger and pressed her lips against his, opening her mouth to him and drinking in his taste, even as she threaded her hands into his long soft hair. His beard and mustache rasped against her face, adding yet another dimension to the myriad of sensations that meant she was in the arms of her thunder god.

"Slowly, Jane, slowly," Thor pulled back from their kiss. His voice was husky and his breathing heavy. "This time we will not rush. I would take my lady on a slow journey to Valhalla, one where we will enjoy the myriad of delights to be found along the way."

"Oh…" Jane sighed. "Yes, please."

He lowered his head to her once again and proceeded to fulfill his words. Jane followed along, hesitantly at first, but, as he teased and gently tormented her, teaching her more and more of the subtle joys that could be found between a man and a woman, she became more bold.

In the end they met as equals. Jane had lost count of the times that he had brought her to the verge of fulfillment only to pull back and soothe her back down to a slow simmer. Finally, she had had enough. When Thor once again rolled onto his back, she seized her moment. Sitting up she shifted her position and leaned over him.

"Jane…what…wait…" Thor began to protest but it was too late. She was in the driver's seat and she wasn't about to give him back control. He dropped back onto the pillows and soon she was rewarded by his soft groans. His golden skin gleamed with a light layer of sweat, and his hands clenched the sheets as he fought for control, fought his impulse to take over from her, to finally bring them to the completion they both needed and desired so desperately.

Somewhere inside of him he knew that this woman, this time, was different, and that, if he was to ultimately claim her as his, he needed to subdue his need to dominate and control. He had to share with her, in this and in all things.

His good intentions lasted for a time as he allowed himself to enjoy the sensations of her soft mouth upon him and her long hair brushing his chest. But good intentions could only go so far.

Lost in what she was doing, lost in the taste and scent and feel of Thor's magnificent body, in the knowledge that this was all hers, at least for the moment, Jane was jolted back to reality when Thor reached down and gently lifted her head, simultaneously bringing her up to lie alongside of him.

"I was busy," she protested, pouting prettily.

Thor stared at her and pulled her tight against him as his lips claimed hers. He could taste himself on her lips, which inflamed him even more, and with a groan he surrendered to the inevitable. Rolling onto his back he pulled her on top of him.

"Now?" Jane asked, her glorious face flushed with passion and something else, something more that Thor was afraid to put a name to, afraid that it was also reflected on his own features.

"Now, Jane."

She lifted slightly and he slid slowly home. "Ohhhhh…" Her soft sighs mixed with his as the two found their rhythm. Sweat glistened on both of their bodies and the sheets slid unnoticed to the floor. Jane felt like she was flying, soaring through one of the star fields she studied through her instruments. She opened her eyes and for a moment she could have sworn that she actually was. She closed her eyes and now she was falling, falling into a black abyss. She opened her eyes once again and they locked with a pair of intense blue eyes, Thor's eyes. She became aware of his body joined to hers, surrounding her, protecting her, and driving her on as once again she soared. She felt heat, growing and expanding around and somehow inside, the two of them. Thor's arms tightened and together they flew into a blinding flash of light, a supernova that tore them into pieces and then dropped them back down to earth, leaving them to reassemble back into some semblance of their previous selves.

Some time later…

With an effort, Jane lifted her head from where it lay on Thor's chest. His arms were still wrapped around her as she lay on her stomach next to him.

"Wow," she managed to get out. 'Was that, I mean have you ever…" she trailed off, suddenly embarrassed about the gap between what she had thought she had known, and what Thor had introduced her to.

Thor gathered his flown wits and focused on her words. He looked into her face and realized what her thoughts were.

"No, Jane," he reassured her softly. "I have never experienced the like before."

She sighed, "You aren't just being nice to me are you?"

He hugged her to him. "Jane, you know that I am no novice in this. But I believe you also know that I have always been honest with you."

She thought back on their times together and realized he spoke the truth. He had never deliberately lied to her. He had been evasive at times and refused to answer some of her questions, but he had always been truthful in what he did say.

"So what was that, exactly?" she asked, her scientific mind coming awake. "Did you see and feel what I did? Did you feel as if you had been torn apart and then put back together, only in a way that was different from what you were before?"

"You mean the stars and the black abyss and the sun exploding around us? Yes Jane I was there with you, through all of it. I felt all of what you said." He thought for a moment. "I don't know what it means any more than you do."

There was silence for a moment as they lay together on the bed. Jane looked around and noticed that it was growing lighter. The night was coming to an end. She sighed.

Thor had noticed as well. He cursed the passing of the hours and the knowledge that soon he must leave.

"Day is coming." His voice was harsher than he intended.

"You have to leave soon." She tried to smile up at him but he could see the sadness in her eyes.

"I must." Thor pulled her closer and kissed her hungrily. "I do not want to go, Jane. I want to stay with you and explore this thing that is between us."

"I know." Her words were soft. "But you must go, Thor. You know you must."

"Jane, I made you a promise once before…"

She placed a finger on his lips, stopping him from continuing. "And you kept it. There was no time limit on that promise, Thor, and you are here with me now."

Thor frowned. There was a faint rumble of thunder in the distance. Jane's eyes widened and she reached up to smooth the crease that had appeared on his brow.

"Jane, I promise I will return for you. Please wait for me." My love. The final unspoken words echoed in his mind as he stared down at her. Once again her heart stopped at what she saw in his eyes.

"You will come back to me." Her words and voice were confident. "I know you will find a way once you have taken care of Loki and the Tesseract. I will be waiting for you." She paused and smiled, "And if you fail, I promise you that I will come and find you." My love. She stared back at him, memorizing his face.

Thor reached out to pull her close, despite the fact that he knew it was past time he took his leave of her.

Just as their lips touched, the harsh shrilling of a telephone broke the silence. Jane pulled back and looked around for her clothing, as the phone continued to shrill in the other room. Giving up on finding clothes, she grabbed a sheet from the floor and pulled it around her as she hurried to answer the phone.

"Jane Foster." Her voice was low and husky.

"Dr. Foster we haven't met but I need to talk to your boyfriend now."

"What? Who…" she began, confused.

"You know, the one with the long blonde hair who carries a big ass silver hammer. He comes complete with thunder and lightning. Ring any bells?"

Jane was still trying to gather her wits as a large hand claimed the phone from her.

"I am here."

"About time you got to the phone, Point Break."

"Stark. What do you want of me?"

"Not to put a point on it but you're kind of needed back here. All hell is about to break loose and we need you to put a stop to it."

Thor tensed, "Loki has gotten free." He dropped the phone and looked around for Mjölnir.

Jane grabbed the phone, "Who is this and what is happening?" She listened intently.

Behind her Thor held up his hammer and was enveloped in light. After a moment it faded and he stood there clad in his full battle armor complete with flowing cape.

"Jane, I have to leave. I must stop Loki."

"Hold on a sec," she said into the phone. She turned back to Thor. "Thor, it's okay. Loki is still a prisoner."

Thor frowned, "Then what is happening that I am needed so urgently?"

Jane shook her head, "Let me get Tony Stark off the line, and I'll explain." A moment later she set down the phone.

Thor stared at her impatiently.

"Loki is still in custody and the Tesseract is safe but there's a slight glitch. Nick Fury got word that the Council, whoever they are, doesn't intend to release Loki or the Tesseract to you. He's managed to delay them and the Avengers have moved Loki and the device to a safe place temporarily, but you need to get back to New York and take both Loki and the Tesseract out of the Council's reach for good."

Thor nodded and they stared at each other silently.

"Thor…I…" Jane stopped, not sure what to say.

He was at her side in two steps and she was once again enveloped in his arms. His lips brushed the top of her head. They stood there in silence for a moment.

"Take care of yourself, Jane Foster. I will return for you as soon as may be."

She looked up into his eyes and nodded. "Take care of yourself, Thor."

They stood that way for a moment and then he crushed her to him as their lips met hungrily. Finally, he broke the kiss and stepped back from her. He raised Mjölnir above his head and was once again cloaked in a brilliant white light. This time when it faded, Jane was alone in the room.

She sighed and wrapped the sheet around her more tightly as she turned to the bedroom. When she reached the room she noticed a glint of light amongst the rumpled bedclothes. She reached out and picked up a small crystal. As she gazed into it lights flashed deep within it, and she found herself flying through the stars once again. She blinked and it was only a simple piece of crystal lying quiescently on her palm. Huh, she thought to herself. She set the small gem down on the bedside table, I'll have to look at this more closely later.

Just then there was a knock on her apartment door. When she ignored it, it was repeated more loudly, and she heard Darcy's voice calling out to her, "Jane. Jane are you in there? Are you alright?"

Jane went back into the main room and quickly pulled on the clothing she had been wearing the night before. "I'm coming, Darcy. Hold on a sec," she called out.

When she opened the door Darcy tumbled into the room. Her eyes swept over it quickly.

"So are you alone?"

Jane frowned at her, "Why wouldn't I be alone?"

"Because I heard a rumor that a certain god mysteriously vanished last night and all of SHIELD is in an uproar trying to find him."

Jane felt a blush heating her cheeks, "I'm sure he'll turn up very shortly. He's kind of big to misplace for very long."

Darcy looked at her knowingly. Her eyes swept the room again and she smiled. Jane turned and groaned to herself as she saw what Darcy was seeing. The tumbled bed and the sheets on the floor were clearly visible through the open bedroom door.

"Right." Darcy said. "Restless night, much?"

"It's not what you think," Jane fumbled.

"Oh, I believe that it's exactly what I think." Darcy smiled at her, "So now do you believe what I told you?"

Jane stared at her in puzzlement.

"You can't tell me he didn't claim you now."

Jane smiled slowly, "No, but there's something you missed."

Darcy frowned at her.

"Claiming goes two ways, you know." Ignoring Darcy's stunned look she turned to the kitchen. "I'm making coffee – want some?"

Looking earthward from his post on the broken Bifrost, Heimdall smiled.