Rose's head was pounding, buzzing with ideas as she pored over what she'd written on the motel notepad. She slumped with her elbows on the desk, head in her hands, slowly massaging her temples while trying to figure a way out of this mess. Her eyes darted upwards, as they had been doing periodically for the last few hours, to where Loki sat, still perched on the end of the bed. She studied his face as he seemed to be deep in thought, so concentrated that he seemed to be in a whole different world. His brilliant green eyes seemed to dart around as if seeing people that weren't really there, and a sheen of sweat had broken out across his forehead. Rose bit her lip, considering whether she should interrupt and ask if he was okay. She knew he'd asked to be left alone for a while so he could figure some things out, but that was hours ago. It was beginning to be worrisome, how he seemed to turn into a statue, barely moving. Tearing her eyes away she shook her head and returned to her notes, rough plans to attempt escape routes that would go undetected. Nothing here was going to work.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rose finally saw Loki move. His hands that had moments ago just been laying on his knees tensed into fists, and his whole body seemed to convulse as if possessed. He drew in a sharp intake of breath, his head moving as his eyes sought out the blonde girl who was looking at him with deep concern. In one swift movement, Loki rose and was next to Rose, looking briefly at the notes she made and then tearing out a new piece of paper. He picked up the fading pen and began moving it fervently over the sheet.

Irritated, Rose stretched to see what he was doing. Faster than should be possible he'd written out some familiar formulas with new variables and was drawing a to-scale diagram of what could only be a (seemingly functional) dimension canon. When he'd finished, Loki stepped back to let her take it in, a wide smile on his face as he wiped his sleeve across his forehead. She flipped the notebook from where he'd turned it to write, studying the page carefully. Slowly, as she began to comprehend what she was reading, her lips slipped into a toothy grin.

"I can't believe it!" Rose whipped around to look at Loki, her exclamation coming out in an excited squeak. Before she knew what she was doing, she leapt from her chair and wrapped her arms around the man's skinny frame, squeezing tight. "I can finally go back." This time her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, as she leaned her head against his chest. Loki leaned his head down towards hers as he wrapped his arms around her as well.

"Wait a moment..." Rose pulled away, looking back up at the alien's face. "What was that? You've been quiet for hours and you just suddenly knew what to do?" Her smile was gone, instead an look full of accusing suspicion was twisting her soft features.

Loki cocked his head to the side, his smile gone now as well. His sharper, more angular features put on a defensive stance.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Yes, you do." Rose backed up a couple steps, putting a hand on her hip and furrowing her brows. "I need to be able to trust you. If I want to be able to use this thing," she pointed to the notebook, "I need to know what just happened. Because if something goes wrong, we'll be the ones who are blamed. And nothing, I repeat, nothing, can go wrong here."

"It's difficult to explain..." His eyes were honest, but he winced as Rose's eyes shot daggers at him. She wouldn't let this go. "I suppose...it'd be easier if I just showed you."

Rose dropped her hand, folding her arms against her chest.

"Alright. Let's see it then."

Loki gave her one long look before closing his eyes, taking a deep breath as he did. It seemed almost as if he were meditating standing up. After a moment, he opened his eyes again. Rose stared at him, confused.

"Nothing's changed?" Her eyes looked from side to side, raking across the room for any difference. Still a dingy motel, same dusty curtains and same spiral patterned carpet. Returning her gaze to the man in front of her, she saw that he was staring pointedly at a spot behind her, his eyebrows raised in expectation. Slowly, she turned on the balls of her feet. Before she even came to a rest, a gasp escaped from her lips.

Standing in front of her was Loki. Another Loki. Loki II. Still wearing a suit with a striped scarf. Same slicked back, ink black hair. Same charming smile. Rose was flabbergasted.

Loki II reached out an arm, identical to the arm of the man standing behind her, and touched her cheek, sweeping a lock of hair behind her ear. His eyes kept a steady gaze with hers, searching her face for her reaction. With a soft chuckle, he took the hand from the side of her face and tapped her lightly under the chin. To Rose's embarrassment, her mouth was still open as she studied the clone. She snapped it closed as her cheeks flooded red.

"Rose Tyler..." the voice didn't come from the Loki she was staring at. Twirling around again, she saw the true man looking at her intently. "You sweet, delicate flower..."

The sweet fragrance of roses filled the room rapidly as Loki II walked to stand with the original, a rose in hand.

"Okay..." Rose looked from man to man, trying to find some difference between the two. They were identical in every way she could tell. "But... how? I mean, I've seen crazy things, but this..."

"Back at the place where I'm from, I was a... god of sorts. Of mischief, one might say. I like to think it was just because I was clever. Which I am thought, intelligent. So I have these 'powers'. I'm only ever truly with people I know I can trust, like you." Loki's eyes sparkled as Rose's blush deepened at the words. He reached a hand out, as if to touch Loki II's shoulder, but instead of resting on the fabric it went right through. The twin flickered for a moment, like he would disappear, but regained a solid appearance just a quickly. "If I'm not in the company of others, well, they wouldn't really know it. Just now a... friend of mine, let's say, thought he was giving the real me a solution to get home when really..."

Loki II shimmered again, this time disappearing completely. The rose however, remained. It fell to the floor where the remaining Loki stooped to pick it up. In a few steps he was in front of Rose, conflict flashing in his eyes.

"I now have debts to repay with said friends. But I found help. I think I've found a way to get us home." With his free hand, Loki took Rose's and lifted it palm up. Resting the rose in the middle, he curled her fingers around it with his own slender ones, looking down at her as she studied the flower in her hand.

Rose looked back up into Loki's face, her frustrations and amazements forgotten. Right now, it didn't matter how he got the answer and whether or not it would work. Because they'd be doing it together, and it wasn't just Rose and Loki. It was 'us'.