Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Avengers.

Authors note: Thank you to those of you who reviewed and welcome to the new followers and favourites.

Chapter 4

Dahlia went to sleep much easier than she expected she would; the second her head touched the pillow she felt herself instantly drift away into a blissful sleep. However, when she woke up, she woke with the biggest headache she had since she gained control over blocking Voldemort out of her mind. After getting dressed, she decided to skip breakfast and head to the healing rooms, hoping that Saida could give her something to ease the throbbing headache. Walking down to corridor of the healing rooms, she suspected Saida would be in her own study but when she walked past the open double doors of the healing room, she saw the healer in there, treating a shirtless man sat on a bed opposite Tora's room. Tora seemed well, she sat up and seemed much better than the last time Dahlia saw her and was clearly regaining her strength quickly.

Saida was the first to notice her and said, "Princess, what can I do for you?"

"I have a headache, I was wondering if you could give me something for it," Dahlia said as she walked further into the room and was surprised when the shirtless man on the bed turned his head and it was Falcon.

"Of course," Saida said, "I will be with you in a moment".

"Falcon, what happened?" Dahlia asked as she approached and saw that he had a cut from his shoulder to mid chest.

"Nothing," he mumbled and looked to Saida as she was applying healing paste to it which seemed to be healing it almost instantly.

Tora smirked and piped up, "grumpy over there hasn't been sleeping and has just been doing his duties as death. He is exhausted which means he is less agile than usual. He was helping transporting souls to Mareritt when one stuck him and he wasn't quick enough".

"She didn't ask you, Tora," Falcon said then glanced quickly to Dahlia, "I'm fine, the soul has been dealt with".

"Does Hela know you're here?" Dahlia asked.

Falcon seemed reluctant to answer so Tora did for him, "she doesn't know. If she did, I am sure she would be here, even after their break up. Speaking of that, do you know why they broke up because they won't tell me?"

Falcon turned his head to glare at Tora and said, "I am warning you-"

"Or what?" Tora interrupted, "I've only been awake a day and I can see you're both heartbroken. She is my best friend, my oldest friend, for crying out loud I helped you acquire a stone for the ring you were planning on giving her and yet neither one of you will tell me what has happened. If I have to start asking other people, I will, even the council. Lady Saida, what's your opinion on the matter?"

Falcon continued to glare at her but glanced Saida's way for a quick moment as she said, "I believe this has nothing to do with I or anyone else".

Falcon scoffed, "meaning all the council are talking about us…" Saida did not reply, confirming his suspicions.

"My sister loves you," Dahlia said, "no matter what happens between the two of you, your feelings for each other will never change".

"Are we done here?" Falcon almost snapped as he asked Saida noticing she had finished, and the cut was almost completely healed.

Saida gave a brief nod and Falcon picked up his shirt from the bed. He stood and walked out of the room and put his shirt on in the hallway. "So, you're just going to walk away?" he looked back to see that Dahlia had followed him and seemed frustrated. He sighed and went to walk away but she said, "you don't love her then?"

He froze to the spot and for a moment was silent then answered, "I never said that".

"But it seems that way. I know your story, I know you've loved each other since you met, you are the family you both didn't have growing up, you chased away every suitor, probably even chased them away before you even knew yourself that you didn't just love her but that you were in love with her…she showed me. She showed me how the year of sorrow ended". That got his attention and he completely turned to face her surprised. She said, "you watched over her in that year, you didn't listen when the council took over and instead you watched over her and tried to bring her home. She used her magic on you, hurt you, and you fought against it but even in her darkest times she couldn't use her full force of magic because of her love for you. You saved her from herself and put your own soul on the line taking that dark magic from her. She said her love kills people, but you told her that you were already damned then, that you would never leave her alone, but you have".

"She has her family-"

Dahlia interrupted shaking her head. "Yes, she does but she doesn't have you. You have spent more time with her, more than anyone living or dead, you know her better than anyone". Her eyes locked on his for a single moment as he tried not to look at her directly and she hummed and said, "you know her so well, you know why she broke up with you".

He hesitated for a moment before he looked to her and gave a slight nod, "I am not a fool. She told me she didn't love me because she knows that is the only reason I would walk away, her telling the truth or not. I know she is trying to protect me from your father and brothers".

She gave a small smile happy that he knows the truth but then she questioned, "so if you know the truth, why aren't you fighting for her?"

"It's complicated, Dahlia. You're too young to understand".

"Love isn't complicated. You love someone or you don't, you're willing to fight for someone or you're not".

Falcon couldn't help but smile at her innocence and remember the small baby he once met was now this teenager with opinions and it wasn't going to be easy to tell her something was complicated and for her to just accept that and move on. He answered, "when Hela and I were children, we made a series of vows to one another. To always be there for one another, to never lie to one another, to make Niflheim the realm we wanted it to be, to help clear her image of this ridiculous prophecy and reunite her with her family. Those were just some. Over the years, they changed, adapted, but they always had similar meanings, and more were added. Almost fourteen years ago when we confessed our feelings, when we began our courtship, we took a vow that we would never lie to one another about our feelings again, we would never let the other one feel unloved again. I know Hela loves me, just as I love her, but she broke the vow we swore never to break to one another, she knows what she was doing when she said it".

"For your protection," Dahlia said defensively. "Hela protects the ones she loves more than anything because she fears losing them, you know how far she is willing to go. Your safety should come before any vow you have said to one another and I know my sister well enough to know she would break any and all vows you've swore to one another a thousand times over if it meant keeping you safe".

Falcon shook his head, "as I said, you are still so young. You have not yet felt the love of another person, but when you do, the promises you make are the very foundation of your relationship. You want me to ignore that and just fight for her".

"Yes". He shook his head slightly and turned away as she said, "perhaps you're not the man I thought you were then. Perhaps I have to find someone who can love my sister with all their being and never stop over a stupid vow" and then he walked away.

She shook her head and sighed as he disappeared down the hall. She put a hand to her head, her headache seemed to be getting worse by the second.

Dahlia went back into the healing room to see that Saida was gone but Tora was still sat in bed. The Asgardian saw her and said, "Lady Saida just left to make you something for your headache, she should be back soon. Come sit".

Dahlia was slightly nervous being alone with the Asgardian as she only met her briefly and only knew what she was like from stories from Hela. She couldn't be sure if the stories were true as Hela was biased in being her best friend and friends tended to speak to best about their friends. Dahlia walked to the bed next to Tora's and sat down and asked, "where's Kaeya? I didn't think she would leave your side".

"She has gone to our ship to get some of our belongings. If I'm being forced to stay bedridden, I at least want to be dressed in my own clothes…should I be flattered?"

"Pardon?"

"You're twiddling your thumbs, it's a sign of nervousness," Dahlia looked down to see that she was unconsciously doing it and stopped as she looked back up. Tora said, "I was told you fought a Basilisk when you were twelve and won. Should I be flattered that you're nervous just speaking to me? Come on, the stories they told can't be that bad".

Dahlia immediately shook her head and responded, "no they're good stories, honestly".

"Is it because I am Asgardian? Trust me, I'd change that if I could".

Dahlia shook her head again, "no it's not that. Just…it's kinda awkward when I meet people who knew me as a baby and you're different to the others, you're Hela's best friend and you mean something to my family".

Tora smirked, "I could tell you stories you wouldn't believe".

Dahlia crossed her legs as she sat on the bed and groaned as she put a hand on her head and replied, "I'd love to hear…but this headache is making me want to die right now".

Tora smiled with sympathy and said, "lie down and close your eyes, it'll help". Dahlia was hesitant. "don't worry, I'll keep watch. You don't have to sleep, just closing your eyes will help stop the lights". Dahlia finally lay down and sighed as she closed her eyes and took slow breaths in and out. Tora then asked quietly, "is there a reason for your headache?"

She answered, "practising magic with dad last night".

"Probably used too much. Don't worry, it gets better with more practise and as you get older. I remember lighting a candle for the first time with magic and feeling sick. So, you seem unhappy with your sister's breakup, I thought you might hate Falcon".

"I do…a bit. He's an idiot, he should be fighting for her".

"So, what happened?" Tora asked, curious and hopeful for answers.

"What do you think? Dad and the boys came back and Hela got scared and thinks they're going to kill Falcon if they find out so she broke up with him".

"I knew it!" Tora said loudly.

Dahlia's eyes shot open as she flinched and said, "hey!"

Tora put a hand to her mouth and spoke quietly again, "sorry. I knew it must have been her, she's always had a problem with love, never believed she could truly be loved, that she was a monster. I thought her being with Falcon finally changed that, that she would finally put love above everything".

"She is though, she loves him that's why she has done this. I know he makes her feel like no one else will".

"She is putting love first, I know, but I know Hela. Even if Falcon was to fight for her, she would still push him away, do everything in the universe to stop him because she doesn't believe she is worth fighting for when it could end his life…"

Dahlia was silent for a moment before she said, "they have to be together, they're perfect for each other. It has to work out, I know they should be together, I know it".

Tora frowned and asked, "what do you mean you know? You seem passionate about this".

Dahlia shrugged and said, "I just know. Deep inside, I know they belong together and that it has to work out. Look at this world, the world they built together. Maybe I can help them both see that them being together is better than them being apart".

"Maybe," Tora smiled, "I remember Lily telling me she could see the way they looked at each other, that she knew they had feelings for one another and could sense a future of them being together. Mother's intuition she said. Perhaps if you're as stubborn and persistent as Lily you can reunite them once more".

"Perhaps".

"Here we are," a voice said and Tora looked to the door while Dahlia sat up in the bed and saw Saida returning, "a potion for your headache". Dahlia took the small glass vial of blue liquid from Saida and looked at it curiously before Saida said, "come on, down in one".

Tora pulled a face as Dahlia pored it in one and quickly understood why Tora had pulled a face as she pulled a similar one moments later as the potion had a strong iron taste to it that made her slightly nauseous. Dahlia gaged for a moment then said, "thank you".

Saida hummed and said, "the taste will disappear in a few minutes, the headache not long after. If you need anything, I will be in my study". The healer then left.

Dahlia stood from the bed after that and said, "I should get going. Today is the only day I don't have any classes or training; I don't plan on spending it indoors. Besides, that wife of yours should be back soon".

Tora hummed, "my overprotective wife that is not listening to me when I tell her to kidnap me and get me away from Lady Saida's watchful eyes. I swear, I am absolutely fine, yet I am bed-bound".

Dahlia shrugged and said, "she's under orders from Hela. Besides, I doubt Saida would allow a patient of hers to leave if she thought for a second that they would get worse, it looks bad on her being a healer".

"Perhaps".

Dahlia enjoyed the rest of the day. She spent her morning walking through the city and looking at the markets before going to her grandparents and having lunch with them, catching up and going for a walk and meeting some of their friends, those they knew in life and in death. After that, Dahlia spent some time at a mixed-realm orphanage in the city. She enjoyed reading and playing with them as not too long ago Dahlia thought she was one of them, an orphan, and she could relate in many ways to them.

After spending a couple of hours at the orphanage, Dahlia decided to go riding. Eclipse was happy to be flying outside the city limits and not with a trainer, Dahlia was all too happy to be in the air again, reminding her of Hogwarts and the first time she flew on a broom but better. They flew over the city, across the castle of the old kings, the hills, the waterfall, the forest, before they were greeted with a startling sight. As they were flying, a beam of light shot through the sky in the distance, the colours and sound were familiar. The Bifrost. A sense of anger filled Dahlia as no Asgardian was supposed to be present on Niflheim without permission from Hela unless they wished to be exiled to Niflheim and be greeted with what Hela's torturers could offer.

Dahlia thought back to the contract they had all signed, she knew it wasn't perfect, she knew there were loopholes, anyone who believed the god of mischief would sign something without them was foolish. She couldn't think of any but her father had hinted at them when they spoke of the contact and for a moment, Dahlia was worried that maybe someone on Asgard had finally found a loophole and made their way to Niflheim or someone went against Odin's word and sought retribution.

She had Eclipse fly higher into the sky and in the direction where the landing for the Bifrost was, hoping that at such a height no one would see her and if they did, they would mistake Eclipse for a bird. As they flew higher and towards the sight, what greeted her was not what she expected. She saw a group of knights dressed in gold standing in a line. A group of knights stood facing them dressed in silver with two figures standing between them. She knew they were Asgardian and members of Niflheim but couldn't see clearly who the figures stood in between them were.

Dahlia decided to chance it and fly lower and she could see a figure dressed in a gold dress while the other in black with a hint of green. She clearly flew too low though as she saw them all look up and Dahlia figured that it was her father below and knew it would be safe to land. She did so and was surprised when she saw Queen Frigga with five Asgardian knights. Her father seemed far from happy to see her and made his way past the Niflheim guards and walked towards her as she climbed off Eclipse before stroking her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked when he was stood within reach of her.

"I was riding and saw the Bifrost, I wanted to see why it was here. What is she doing here?"

Loki sighed and looked between Dahlia and Frigga who looked at them before the guards closed up in their line so they blocked her vision from seeing them. Loki said, "remember the contract, it said about a liaison between the realms, someone that could offer messages if they were needed and for me to go back to Asgard to get my belongings, Frigga has offered to be that liaison".

"Why?"

"She used the reason that any other Asgardian would wish harm on us, she wouldn't".

"How can we be sure? She did keep your identity a secret from you, I know she tried to help Fenrir but still".

"I know," Loki said and reached for her hand to hold her fingertips as he said, "but, I do agree. Any other Asgardian, I wouldn't trust for a moment, at least with Frigga I know how she is, how she acts, that gives us an advantage".

"So, what is she doing here?"

Loki hesitated knowing how she would react but soon answered, "I'm going back to Asgard". Dahlia immediately shook her head and went to speak but he beat her to it, "that's why she is here, so I can go back and get my things, its why an army is not coming here. Hela is in a council meeting, lowering the shield just enough for Bifrost to come through where we want it. This way they don't get anywhere near towns or cities, I can go alone and come back before dinner. An hour or two at most".

"And the boys?" Dahlia asked, "you said Hela knows but what about the boys? I doubt they would like you going back to Asgard alone. Why didn't you tell us? When was this decided?"

Loki answered, "I received word yesterday and agreed. I didn't tell you and the boys because I didn't want you to worry. Dahlia, if I go now, I can be back soon and we never have to speak to any Asgardians again. That can all be put in our past and we can focus on our future".

Dahlia still looked at her father with caution and glanced in the direction of Frigga who was shielded from her view before she looked to her father and said, "I'm coming with you".

Loki shook his head instantly and said, "absolutely not".

"Why not? You have faith that nothing will happen to you, that you will be back in an hour or two, so let me come with you. It will give me peace of mind".

"But it will not give me mine. Dahlia, I want you safe here, where I don't have to look over my shoulder every two seconds worrying if you are beside me".

"I won't leave your side. Please, dad," she pleaded and looked into his eyes hoping he would give in.

He shut his eyes for a moment as he sighed then said, "Dahlia, no. I don't want you in harm's way. Even though we have the contract in place, I don't trust them".

Dahlia moved her hand away from her father's and walked away from him and towards Frigga. The guards parted when she approached and Frigga gave a small smile to her. Dahlia noticed the Asgardian knights' immediate interest in her as they wouldn't take their eyes off her. She knew she couldn't go to Asgard without the permission of Odin, Thor or Frigga so she asked, "can I come to Asgard with my father?"

Frigga didn't show a reaction just gave a slight nod as if she expected that question and said, "of course".

"No," Loki said following Dahlia and standing beside her, "you are staying here".

"But she said-" Dahlia started but was cut off by her father.

"I don't care what she said, I'm your father and I am telling you to stay here," he said sternly and Dahlia finally relented and looked down. He kissed her head and said, "stay here, sweetheart, go flying with Eclipse, I'll be back before you know it".

She gave a slight nod then he stepped back to join Frigga's side, he nodded to the Niflheim guards who gave a slight nod of the head knowing he was requesting them to watch Dahlia but even they weren't enough. When Frigga called for Heimdall to open the Bifrost and allow them to go to Asgard, the light engulfed the Asgardians and Loki but at the last second, Dahlia jumped into the light. She felt a hand graze her own, a Niflheim soldier trying to stop her, but they simply grazed her arm as she was carried away into the light.

Her senses were away with her, she felt her breath tighten in her chest and she closed her eyes as she struggled in the light before she was thrown onto the ground.

"Dahlia!" her father shouted.

She opened her eyes and found herself on the floor of a golden arched room. She saw that her father, Frigga and the Asgardian soldiers were all stood while she remained on the floor. Her father ran to her side and she said, "dad, I-"

"I told you to stay, you could have killed yourself coming through the Bifrost, what were you thinking?"

Dahlia hesitated for a moment before she said, "Asgard has taken too much from us already, I wasn't going to let you come alone".

Loki helped her stand before her placed both hands at the top of her arms and asked quietly, "are you okay? Are you hurt?" She shook her head, "are you sure?"

"Dad, I'm fine".

He pulled her close to hug her and said, "why do you have to be so stubborn?"

She pulled back and smiled, "double dose of your stubbornness and mum's, what did you expect?"

He shook his head then said, "of course. Now, you listen and truly listen this time, you stay by my side and do not leave my sight, do you understand?"

She nodded and even reached to hold his hand and said, "understand".

"We can talk about your grounding later".

"Grounding?" she exclaimed.

Loki hummed, "did you really expect you wouldn't be grounded for this?" She rolled her eyes then they turned to look at the others to see the guards had moved to the bridge while Frigga stayed there.

Frigga smiled and asked, "are you okay? I understand it can be a tough ride the first few times".

Dahlia nodded then noticed the big man dressed in gold stood in the centre of the room holding a large sword. His eyes were gold as he looked at her with caution. Loki whispered, "that would be Heimdall",

Dahlia couldn't help herself as she said, "the creep that watches everyone without their consent?"

Heimdall said, "I observe".

"You watch and people find it creepy," Dahlia responded.

"Enough," Loki said then looked to Frigga and said, "shall we?"

Frigga nodded and said, "of course".

They walked away from Heimdall and out onto the bridge to see several horses. They mounted them, Dahlia being with Loki as they didn't expect her arrival and made their way towards the palace. Loki looked around during their ride, having memories in almost every part of Asgard and while some of them were good, many were unpleasant and tainted the place he once called home.

They approached the palace and Loki would give anything to have Dahlia back on Niflheim in that moment as people were staring, guiding children away from their sight as if they were monsters that parents didn't wish to taint the vision and memories of their beloved children. Thankfully, the courtyard in front of the palace was empty, with the exception of guards. Loki noticed that there were more than usual.

He dismounted the horse before he helped Dahlia down and barely noticed Frigga approaching. It was only when Dahlia was on the ground and they turned to Frigga that Frigga asked, "so, Dahlia, what do you think of Asgard?"

"It's…" Dahlia said as she looked around, "okay".

Frigga frowned, "okay?"

"Beautiful," Dahlia then answered.

Loki stared at his youngest with a smirk and questioned, "but?" knowing there was more.

Dahlia looked between the two and said, "it's all the gold. I'm a Gryffindor, meaning red and gold are our house colours and even I think all this gold is a little overboard. I know this is the realm of gods but the gold is a little bit in your face, it has no personality whatsoever. You should add more colour to the realm, it would make the attitude you all have of all-high-and-mighty less and people might actually like you".

Frigga's mouth opened slightly in shock and Loki struggled to contain his smile as he said, "lets get going before you decide to insult more than Asgard's architecture".

As they climbed the steps, Dahlia replied, "that wasn't an insult. She asked for my opinion and I gave it".

Eyes were on them as they walked around the palace and they knew it. Loki counted the guards in the palace and noticed there were three times as many as there usually would be. Frigga followed them through the castle but walked behind them, leaving a good distance to not make them feel pressured or anything but even though both father and daughter kept their heads held high, they most certainly felt like fish in a bowl, except the fish in this bowl were a god and a hybrid child of two realms while the bowl was the realm of the gods.

Thankfully, I didn't take too long to reach Loki's old quarters and as they entered, Loki only kept the door open ajar as Frigga waited outside in the hallway. It was when they entered the room that Dahlia finally let go of her father's hand and looked around to see the large room fit for a prince, right down to the large bed, the seating area, the balcony overlooking Asgard and the stacks of books around the room. It seemed like the room hadn't been touched since the last time her father was in there. She walked around the room touching the books and little trinkets around the room when she noticed another door in the corner and her father stood by it.

He gestured to the door and she walked towards him and he opened the door and she let out a slight gasp when she realised where it led. She entered the room and looked around at her sibling's bedroom, intact, almost as if children were still living there, right down to the ruffled sheets. Dahlia could only imagine the trouble the three of them got up to. The late nights staying up past bed time playing, trying to sneak out past their father and all the storytelling that happened in the very room she was standing in.

She then saw her father looking around, reminiscing with a hint of sorrow and she said, "its not your stuff you wanted to come get, its theirs, isn't it?"

Loki gave a small smile as he held a knight figure that was Fenrir's and said, "their last memories regarding Asgard may not be pleasant, but they have many good memories from before the prophecy. Even if they don't want anything from their childhood, they should have that choice given to them".

"You too. I know you have some good memories here, there has to be something you want to take back to Niflheim with you".

Loki didn't say anything for a moment but then replied, "perhaps a few things".

Dahlia smiled then said, "then get packing. I can do in here, you can do your room".

Loki's brows rose slightly at her orders and said, "here I thought I was the parent".

She smirked and giggled then said, "sometimes even fathers have to take orders from their daughters. Go. We can get this done twice as fast and you won't be looking at things and reminiscing which will only slow us down. Besides, we have to get back before the boys find out we are here and try to do something stupid".

Dahlia removed her wand from her waist and saw a toy chest in the room and waved her wand to it and said, "capacious extremis". They saw no difference to the outside but the lid then opened to see the toys had disappeared and Dahlia said to her father, "extension charm. Now we don't have to worry about carrying everything".

Loki left the room smiling as she levitated items to the chest while he collected a few of his own things.

It was almost half an hour later when Dahlia was finished and came into her father's old room. She had shrunk the chest and made it lightweight so she could hold it in one hand. Dahlia had also tidied what little remained of the room, the sheets on the bed were folded and left at the end of the bed, like she would do at the end of a Hogwarts year and as she looked around at her work, there was no sign that any child lived there; she had packed everything right down to the last drawing. In her opinion, the people of Asgard didn't deserve the memories of her father and siblings so she would try her hardest to make sure there was nothing left on Asgard for them to be remembered.

When Dahlia saw her father, she saw that a bag was packed and thought he used a similar charm she had used to extend the interior as she had noticed a large number of books and trinkets had gone missing around the room. He had cleaned up too, making the room almost ghost-like as if no one had been there, the opposite of what Dahlia walked into. She saw her father sat on the bottom of the bed, his back to her as he was looking down at something.

Dahlia was cautious as she walked towards him, filled with curiosity as she peered around his shoulder to see what he was holding. It was a gold circular box which held a ring. It had a golden band with an emerald in the middle with diamonds on either side as the band of the ring twisted to make it seem like the diamonds were leaves and the emerald was a flower. She gasped slightly and Loki didn't turn but said, "your mother's".

"I…you…she…you were going to propose?" she stuttered in disbelief.

Loki shook his head as she took a few steps closer and sat beside him then he said, "I already did. When we found out your mother was pregnant, before she married that buffoon, I proposed. The short time I spent with your mother, the affect she had on me, I knew I could never truly be without her. I remember her smile that day but she said no". Dahlia frowned confused so he said, "she said that I should ask her again when our family was whole, you, Hela, the boys and us. She said that when we vowed to be with each other forever, a true marriage, she didn't want anyone to doubt or question our love, she didn't want to hide, she wanted us to be a proper family…I also think she wanted to see how the boys would react to her. I know their opinion of her matter to her".

"You were her husband, dad," Dahlia said, "a ring on her finger and wedding vows didn't happen but you were husband and wife. You made vows everyday that you would protect one another, love one another, you accepted each other's flaws and families. You were the husband of her heart and I don't think that will ever change, dad".

Loki smiled at that and looked at her and said "you are so much like your mother. You don't look at the universe and its trivial laws and beliefs and let them change your own. You do what you think is right and believe to be right. Many would look at what your mother and I did as wrong".

Dahlia replied, "love can never be wrong. You and mum did everything to protect this family and bring us back together when everyone around us wanted to hurt us and keep us apart. If anyone has a problem or believes it to be wrong, they should question what they would have done if they were in our place". Dahlia then reached for the box and held it and smiled, "it's beautiful. I can't doubt your style when it comes to jewellery".

Loki let off a small laugh then a knock at the door interrupted them. Dahlia shut the ring box and gave it to her father quickly before the door opened. He only just put it into his jacket when the door opened and he saw his mot-Frigga walk in. She held a box in her hand that was familiar to Loki but Loki then stood as he saw that she wasn't the only one to come into the room.

Dahlia was curious about who the young brunette woman was but since she dressed in fine royal clothing it didn't take much guessing to guess that this was Jane, Thor's wife. Dahlia was confused about why she was here, stood by Frigga's side and looking between her and her father but Jane's eyes mostly stayed on her.

Frigga was the first to speak, "I thought you might like this. I took it, I know I shouldn't have but I know you wouldn't want to leave without it".

Frigga handed the box over and Loki immediately opened it, making sure his children's favourite toys were still inside. The green ball, the snake made out of wood, two small knight figures, Hela's rag doll and finally the stuffed white rabbit of Dahlia's. Loki was thankful they had been returned to him but just as he was about to close it, he heard, "bon bon".

He looked to his side to see Dahlia now stood and was looking at the rabbit with wonder. He took the rabbit and held it and asked, "you remember?"

Dahlia gave a slight shrug and reached out as he handed her the rabbit. She held it for a moment then said, "Bonnie, mum gave her the name Bonnie but I used to say bon bon".

Loki gave a tilt of the head to confirm and then Dahlia noticed how the women in the room were looking at her, so she gestured to the box and her father handed it over before she put the rabbit inside then placed the box and the chest, shrunken inside, into the bag that her father had packed. Dahlia then stood to his side, not wanting to show emotion in front of the two women.

Frigga gestured to Jane and said, "this is Jane, Thor's wife, she wanted to meet the two of you".

Jane gave a smile but Dahlia asked, "why? Come to see the monsters you were told about?"

Jane then spoke for the first time, "you're not monsters. I do want to punch you for what you did to New York," she gestured to Loki, then said to Dahlia, "but you're just a kid".

"Your husband didn't seem to think that when he was spying on my school, when he told my classmates my family were monsters and murderers, when he brought a poultice so I couldn't contact my sister, when he started the drag me from Hogwarts even after the other Avengers and I made a deal that I would go to SHIELD. I suppose I have you to thank for that".

"I didn't know about his mission at the time, I wouldn't have let him do it. I-" Jane was then cut off.

"No, I know you didn't know. What mother would allow another child to be hurt? I meant; I should thank you for providing Thor with a bit of humanity. I am sure if I was to meet the Thor before he met you, I would have had my head crushed with his hammer in seconds of him knowing the truth about me".

"We should be leaving," Loki said and reached for the bag on the bed then put an arm around Dahlia and led her to the door.

It was just as they were in the hallway that Dahlia stopped and turned to Jane and said, "I just have one question for you. Why did you do it? I don't mean marrying Thor, if he's who you love then love is never bad, I don't mean having a child, I mean why did you change who you are? There are many ways to extend your lifespan without having to go through a process that my sister describes is almost as bad as her touch, but you threw away who you truly are, a Midgardian and a scientist. A scientist is someone who wants to discover the truth and advance the knowledge of everyone but you seem to have changed from that person, why?"

Jane just stood frozen and opened and closed her mouth before she said, "I became a mother and I…"

"I'm sure you know many scientists who became mothers and still continued on with the research to help advance understandings on earth. Take it from someone who tried to fit in then accepted I couldn't truly, I think you've been trying so hard to fit in here, you have forgot about who you truly are. Midgard is a past life for you now, but you were once a scientist who could have won Nobel prizes and helped expand earth, maybe you should embrace it, teach your son about where his mother truly came from. Maybe then he will be more accepting and won't turn out like his father". Dahlia then turned and walked away with her father and Frigga back to the Bifrost.

It was later that night when Odin was making his way to bed that he walked past the Loki's room when he was greeted with the sound of crying. At first, he looked around the corridors hoping to see someone as he didn't understand who would be in the room but it was as he entered that he understood. Sat in the room in the corner, in the doorway of the door to the children's room was his beloved wife. She was crumpled on the floor leaning her back against the doorway as her shoulders shook and tears filled her eyes, streaming down her cheeks.

She didn't see him at first, it was only when he approached and was a few feet away did he see just how much pain she was in. He kneeled beside her and said, "Frigga, my love".

She continued to shake but this time also shook her head and cried, "they're gone, they're gone forever".

He looked around the room to find it empty except the beds with the sheets neatly folded at the bottom. There wasn't even a picture hung on the walls that remained. He held her as she cried into his chest, as his wife not only needed comfort but he knew it was he who caused this heartache. He was well aware that both Loki and his wife had never touched this room and he too commanded no one to touch it as Loki and Frigga both used it as a reminder of the children and helped ease their pain after he had banished them. Now it was gone. Even he felt a weight on his chest at seeing the room so bare. His wife had nothing of the children she loved and it was his fault. If only all those years ago, he accepted Loki more as a son and ignored the foolish prophecy. What had he done?

Authors note: Please review