When You're Gone
Disclaimer: Any characters that are not original belong to the gods of Asgard and Marvel Comics. I'm just borrowing them for a bit. Original characters are mine and may be used with permission. Not intended for personal gain, just enjoyment.
Stay with me
Don't let me go
Cause I can't be without you
Just stay with me
And hold me close
Because I built my world around you
And I don't want to know what it's like without you
So stay with me
Just stay with me
-Danity Kane
For the first time in my life, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do...
X Thor Odinson X
An insistent beeping roused Thor from a deep sleep and a dream of a reunion with his bride, his Jane.
"Pardon me sir. You have an incoming call."
He sat up, his dark blue comforter falling into his lap. "Thank you Jarvis." The beeping stopped with a small click. "Hello?"
There was a pause before a familiar voice spoke softly. "Hi."
He smiled as he realized who it was. "Darcy. It is good to hear your voice. Is everything going well?"
"Umm… yeah. I'm sorry if I woke you up. I know it's like midnight in Malibu."
"It's all right Darcy. Why have you called?" As amused as he normally would be by a sleepy sounding research assistant, he really wanted to know why she had decided to wake him from the first good, peaceful sleep he'd had since returning to Midgard a week earlier.
"She gave birth during the thunderstorms yesterday morning."
It was as though his heart had stopped for a moment. He was a father. No wonder Edda had made it storm. He smiled. "Thank you for telling me. Tell Jane, I am proud of her and that I…"
She interrupted him. "I will. I've got to go." The sound of an infant wail came through the speaker. "I'll call again sometime."
A quiet click indicated that she had terminated the connection. His face crumpled as a tear fell from his eye. His heart ached without that connection to his Jane. He missed her and for only the second time in his life he felt something almost close to hate for his brother Loki. Because of him, his Jane was somewhere on Midgard, far from the protection of his arms and now so too was the child they had created together that last morning that they had been together. He felt like screaming and cursing at the unfairness of it all. Odin only knew how it would all work out. But, he felt as though his heart wanted to stop in that moment. He needed her. His only solace now was knowing that she was well and safe, but it was poor enough solace indeed given his distance from her. It was small compared to when he had still been in Asgard, but his role as a guardian of the mortals kept him where he was. He and his allies had not had a peaceful day until yesterday and did not know when the next would be. It was not helped by the fact that the Iron Man, Stark, while most hospitable, was belligerent towards his belief in magic.
Flinging the comforter to the floor he rose and made his way to his balcony on bare feet. He needed air and rain. "Edda please watch over them."
And Edda wept for her troubled grandchild.
X Thor Odinson X
A few doors down Pepper Potts woke from her own light sleep at the sound of rain falling against her and Tony's window. She was sure that there had been none scheduled in the forecast. Extracting herself carefully from the bed sheets she pulled on her robe and moved over to the window. Looking out she caught sight of Thor standing bare-footed and bare-chested in the rain, face raised to the sky.
"He's missing her again isn't he?"
She sighed as she leaned back into Tony as he wrapped his arms around her waist and placed his chin on her shoulder. "Jarvis told me to expect something like this."
"Really?" Tony looked up at the ceiling. "Is that true Jarvis? Do you know something about this?"
The computer barely hesitated before it replied. "Indeed sir. Thor's wife gave birth yesterday."
"She was pregnant?"
Pepper rolled her eyes. "Yes Tony, she was. Thor mentioned it a few days ago."
He shook his head, "News to me. Why isn't he still at home in Asgard then?"
"According to my records she is in hiding from his brother Loki, sir." Jarvis replied.
Pepper pulled away and started to drag Tony back to the warmth and comfort of their bed, her own heart aching for the thunder god's pain. "Come on. I'm tired and don't feel talking anymore. Besides we have to go pick up Clint from the hospital in the morning."
Tony nodded, "Okay, I still think this is early for bed though. Goodnight Jarvis."
"Goodnight sir."
X Jarvis X
Asgard, a shining beacon among the nine realms, a world that had long stood for peace and civilization and the rich rewards that came with having the most magically and technologically advanced creations under Yggdrasil*. Also happened to have one very annoyed queen.
"No you may not give them a puppy."
Odin's small smile didn't falter a bit in the face of his wife's words. "Having a hund* will teach them responsibility."
Frigga rolled her eyes with a sigh. Her ever so wonderful husband and Lord just didn't seem to understand that an Asir* puppy was probably not the best idea for a birth gift. Neither was the sword, mini-Mjolnir, or helm that the Warriors Three had wanted to bestow on her newly born grandchildren. Lady Sif at least had decided on matching woolen blankets the same color as Thor's cloak. "They are too young my husband. Perhaps something more appropriate might be something to the order of new cradles from the dwarves, or perhaps blankets."
Odin huffed. "Pedantic." He was not pleased that his beloved was trying to change his mind on this matter. He knew full well that giving children animals as birth gifts didn't always work out. Thor had decided that it was a good idea to use his pet goats as cart pullers when he was eight after all. He was fairly certain that the people of Midgard would never let his eldest son live down that particular incident. "I wish for them to have a hund. It will be a good companion for their mother and if they wish, one of them may learn to ride it when they are old enough."
"That is part of the problem." She sighed again. "Please do remember my Lord that the hunds of Midgard are not nearly as large as the hunds of Asgard." She pointed to the ten week old puppy sitting by Odin's feet. It was already the size of the largest Midgard dog that she could remember. "It is already the size of our sons when they were ready to start sword lessons. Soon enough it will be larger than Thor's bride can handle. How do you think he would feel if she were injured by your gift?"
Odin laughed, he had already decided on this. "I will have it trained for her." He pulled his pouting wife into his arms. "And I have already decided that Thorwif shall be allowed to partake of the golden apples of Idunn*."
Frigga was stunned by this, rarely had Odin ever allowed a Midgard mortal to partake of the apples. The last had been nearly a thousand Midgard years before. "You would do this?"
Odin nodded, his eye sparkling, as he knew that he had just won his argument with his wife. "She is worthy. She will be a good addition to our family and will bare Thor many strong children."
"I have Seen it my Lord." She relaxed into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder. "As I'm sure you have."
He nodded, his arms tightening briefly before he released her. "Choose whatever gifts you will my wife. I will not stop you." He smirked, "But they are still getting the puppy."
X Odin Alfodr X
Terms:
Asir – Asgardian, the Asgardians are also referred to in mythology as the Assa or Asir
Hund – dog or hound, Hundr in the old Norse
Idunn – Goddess of Fertility, Youth, and Death, keeper of the Golden Apples of Youth
Yggdrasil – The World Tree said to contain the Nine Realms within its branches and roots
Note: Frigga is said to be gifted with Foresight, however she rarely reveals what she's Seen.
AN: Thank you to all my wonderful readers. I have put up the first of my Interludes (rated M) for those of you who want to read them. I will be posting them sporadically as I come up with them. Feel free to share any ideas you'd like to see in there, or in this. Credit will be given as it is due. Please be warned it will be a while before I get Thor and Jane/Astrid back together permanently. I'm planning on making this a long story. There will be time's they are together and many times when they are apart. He is a Nordic warrior god after all and soldiers don't always get to stay home with their loved ones. Thank you all for reading.