Disclaimer: I own nothing from General Hospital, Marvel, DC, NCIS, Harry Potter, Charmed. The fandoms and characters belong to their respective owners. This is for amusement purposes only, and to better my writing skills. :D

Summary: Elizabeth finds that it is hard to move onto the future when the past keeps pulling her back.

Pairings: Liz/Loki, Thor/Jane, Darcy/Patrick mentions of Liason, Lusam, Jasam and more

Alternative History: This is set in December, 2014. Anything that has happened after that point is null and void and has absolutely no bearing on this story. Major facts you will need to know straight off the bat is: Elizabeth told the truth at the Nurses Ball. She also didn't switch Danny's DNA test. Franco did, and he is in an asylum after the stint him and Nina pulled with Ava's baby, and hasn't been let out so he isn't even in the picture. Elizabeth wasn't in Jason's orbit ever since he got back with Sam, because while Jason forgave her, Elizabeth never could. The only time the pair had contact was when he rescued her from Ewen, and that was it. Liz only married Ric once, never considered marrying him again until 2012-14 period. Liz only married Lucky twice, but at their second wedding, she got sick and postponed it. By the time it came around, Liz and Lucky had parted ways. Lucky and Liz reunion did not happen in 2009, and Nicolas never acted upon his feelings for Liz in 2010 no Niz affair. Any other changes will be explained throughout the story. Hope you all enjoy.

Warnings: This is not Lucky, Sam, Monica, Maxie, Carly friendly. There may be more, but those are the few that came immediately to mind. If you are fan of these characters, then you may wish not to read it. Abandon ship now. Don't say you weren't warned later. AMENDED WARNING: I didn't think this was honestly going to be romance heavy, but romance has found its way into the plot lines. However, it is going to drama-focused, with Elizabeth moving forward, but the past and a web of lies keeps trying to pull her down. There will be romance, but it wasn't be the whole of the story. Some outcomes involve character deaths, mentions of torture and suicide, non-explicit sexual implications, and more.

I want to thank Bryantk82, Palindrome062, bookfreak25, kcke2pen, knightmare627, mif456, notenoughlove, trini12180, Alexa6, ScienceGirl972, Wonderwomom, mraymond73, Spiritkit, lrobinson01, retiredlady, McAliceKatePotterGHShield, Robinpikala, pwrmom2, ilovedana53, byland, kikimoo, chemma, asiapikala, maddiemom, aphass, bjq, SoapOperaEmpress, rockrose, allyred123, Jessiness5134, BeachGirl114, Gyngerbear, beachanita, Paula-may, Aproctor18, Patti Jeffries, cotytto, knightmare627, Kimora J, Copswife for the follows!

I want to thank Bryantk82, mif456, notenoughlove, trini12180, ScienceGirl972, Wonderwomom, mraymond73, Meghie03, Spiritkit, retiredlady, Lovelogan1, arcoiris0502, ilovedana53, kikimoo, bookfreak25, maddiemom, rockrose, allyred123, Jessiness5134, knightmare627, BeachGirl114, mgrand11, THEfictionfanatic, Patti Jeffries, nettiegurl, Phasesofthemoom, shorteve for the favs!

I want to thank the "Girl Friday" for adding my story to their community. :D

I want to thank the reviews, kcke2pen, leasmom, arcoiris0502, trini12180, fundays, Guest 1, Guest 2, Guest 3, bjq, CandyHearts22, Mona! :D

Guest reviews:

Leasmom: Glad that you love it even if it is a bit confusing! Lol

Guest 1: Thank you! I hope you enjoy the update!

Guest 2: I know, Jason has gone off the deep a bit, hasn't he? Loki's backstory explains why he went so dark, but it has led him to a place where he can begin to heal with Elizabeth and his brother at his side. Marvel just gave us a scrap of the interaction I think fans have wanted ever since the first Thor movie, and with how they wrote Loki as a tragic figure more than an outright villain. Patrick did deserve way much better than he got on the show, and hopefully Darcy gave give it to him. Elizabeth has gathered quite a few people at her side right now, doesn't she? I am glad that you love so much of this story, and Amaryllis is a good choice for a new fav, lol. I hope you enjoy the rest of it as much as this! :D

Guest 3: (First review) I am glad that you are enjoying the story even though it can be confusing at times. Hope you are feeling better and don't need to take anymore Nyquil, lol. What is wrong with Jason will come out in this chapter, and Sam will get hers in this story so have no fear. (Second review) I enjoy writing for Darcy and Patrick, to be honest. They certainly have written Sam that way, and felt true to how she is acting in this story. Anyways, thanks for the reviews! Hope you enjoy!

Mona: It was a bit of a cliffhanger, but here is the next chapter so I hope you enjoy it! :D

"Your Arms Feel Like Home" by 3 Doors Down

"More Than Meets the Eye" by Aviators

"Feather In Blood" by NerdOut


Chapter Four

"Of Strange and Rebelling Hearts"

Loki immediately put himself in front of Elizabeth, his green eyes narrowed venomously on the man who stood at the window the gun still raised and finger on the trigger. Thor raised his hammer, the lightning crackling around it madly and Patrick pushed Darcy into the corner to shield her. But before anyone could act, an inhuman scream rippled out of the body lying on the floor. Amaryllis got up off of the ground, the bullet dropping to the floor with a clink and a gaping hole in her head that was impossibly healing and turned to give Jason the most venomous look imaginable, and suddenly Jason went flying, thrown by an invisible force across the room into the nearby by wall. The wall cracked underneath the force, and Jason fell down, out cold.

Elizabeth hands were pressed tightly into Loki's shoulder, her blue eyes flickered to Jason to the woman. "Oh, my God. Did…did you just kill Jason?" She asked, her voice high pitched with panic.

"I didn't kill him," Amaryllis stated, grimacing at the bloody mess on her clothes. With a sharp gesture of her hand, her clothes changed into a blue sweater and black jeans that were clean of any spec of blood. Her face was unblemished and inscrutable as ever, like she had never been shot at all. Even Asgardians and Frost Giants were hardier and quick to heal, but not like this woman before them. She was a powerful force, and Loki hoped that she was truly on their side. If she were an enemy, he shuddered to think about that possibility. "Believe me, it crossed my mind to. It is not often a mortal takes me by surprise, let alone manages to do damage. But given the fact you knew his name, I figured that meant you'd relatively want him in one piece."

Elizabeth's mouth opened and closed, floundering for a proper response.

"Patrick," Darcy shoved past him with a slight glare, "you don't put baby in the corner."

"I was trying to shield you," Patrick defended, a blush on his cheeks.

"As much as I appreciate your hot bod, especially in close proximity to mine, I am not some maiden need saving from a dragon," Darcy told him, with an eye roll.

"I-I wasn't using that as an attempt to—" Patrick said, faltering.

Darcy snorted. "Should have. It is what I would have done."

Elizabeth let out a shuddering breath, her hand unconsciously seeking out Loki's. His heart was warmed by the gesture, and he stepped to her side to give her comfort. . "I-I don't understand. Why would Jason do that? You haven't done anything to him," Elizabeth stuttered out, looking at the man with wide eyes. "Why would he just shoot you like that?"

"He is possessed," Amaryllis replied, with a side-eyed glance at the brunette. "Another reason I did not outright kill him. The man is not responsible for his actions."

Dr. Strange was already at Jason's side, his hands waving in the air and fiery orange symbols and patterns appeared in the air. His eyes were peering down at the unconscious man warily, and upset. "A lower level demon. It has been hosted inside of him for a great number of years for now," the sorcerer explained, quickly. "It will have to be removed, or it will surely kill him. It is amazing that he has survived for this many years with it inside of his mind."

"A demon?" Elizabeth gaped. "Inside his head?"

"Is he dangerous?" Loki demanded, ice forming around his hands. He would not allow any harm come to Elizabeth and the ones she cared for.

"Normally, this demon just drains the memories and life out of a person. They do not normally cause levels of this type of aggression without someone intentionally provoking them," Dr. Strange explained, with a deep frown.

"So someone sent him here on purpose," Thor stated, darkly.

"A demon on a leash," Amaryllis commented, peering down at the man on the ground. "The spell caster who is responsible for this atrocity would have to be close to the man, to keep the demon bound in his head."

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.

"A person can fight off this type of parasite if their will is strong enough. If what Strange said is true, then he should have been able to fend off this demon if it had been an accidental incident. For it to stay with him for years, it implies that someone wanted this man dead, or to suffer painfully," Amaryllis commented, her chest rose and fell with a deep breath.

"Oh, my God," Elizabeth whispered, her voice trembled.

Loki could tell from the way she spoke, and shook against his back that she cared for the man on the couch. The very thought sliced him through the gut, and he swallowed, thickly. He could see the resemblance to Elizabeth's youngest boy, Jake, and knew this man must be his father. He wished the dark feeling of jealous did not swirl white hot in his gut, but it did despite how much he tried to stomp it down. It was a horrible feeling to think that his soul-mate had found love elsewhere, and he hadn't even gotten a chance to prove himself to her.

Suddenly white balls of light shimmered in the center of the room, and when the light dissipated, there were three women suddenly standing there.

"Intruders!" Darcy blurted out.

Thor glanced uneasily at the new arrivals, unsure if he should attack or wait to see what they were about. Loki caught his brother's eye, and gave him a small shake of his head. The God of Thunder eased, lowering his weapon to his side and watched carefully.

"Well, I see that we arrived right in time to stop things from escalating," the taller of the brunette scoffed, lightly. Her right eyebrow arched, and light hazel almond shaped eyes flickered over the chaos with a slight cringe.

"I am sorry, okay?" The red head stated, petulantly. "I couldn't just white lighter out of my workplace when you called with the vision! Can't expose magic and all that, right?"

"Paige, Phoebe, enough," the woman with the long dark haired stated, firmly. "Now is not the time to be fussing over this. In case, you haven't realized we have a bit of an audience including our not so dead ancestor," she added, her dark brown eyes flickered over to Amaryllis.

Amaryllis peered at them, carefully. "You are of my line?" Her green eyes examined them from head to toe, and the line of her shoulders relaxed after several seconds. "Ah, yes. I see the resemblance now. You are my adopted daughter Melinda Warrens descendants. Piper, Phoebe, Paige," she pointed at each other them, recalling their names. "There was Prue, too, but she has since entered the realm of the dead."

Paige shifted uncomfortably, while Piper and Phoebe seemed to flinch back from the obviously painful reminder.

"Wait. How can she be your ancestor if she only adopted your ancestor?" Darcy asked, raising her hand as if she were in class. "I know on paper you'd be their ancestor, but not by blood."

"It was not a mortal adoption. I adopted Melinda by blood when her own parents forsaken her out in the forest to die as a babe because of her magic," Amaryllis explained, with a flick of her hand and ropes appeared around Jason's body. With a wave of her hand, she levitated him and placed him on the couch. It was a motion not down out of kindness for the man, but for Elizabeth, Loki noted. He was beginning to wonder if this Lady Death did not come out of her for concern for the world, but out of concern for Elizabeth herself. Still he couldn't figure out just why Amaryllis would care so dearly for his beloved.

"And she not just our ancestor," the red head piped up.

"Paige," Piper and Phoebe said, in unison.

"What? Don't Elizabeth and Darcy have a right to know that they are part of Melinda Warren's legacy, too?" Paige demanded, hands on her hips.

"Excuse me?" Elizabeth gasped.

"How did you know their names?" Patrick asked, defensively.

"Wait?" Darcy's eyes bugged out. "Does this mean I have super power?"

Loki's brows rose to his hairline. Well, that answers that why Amaryllis is interested in the matter of Ragnarök. She is here because her descendants are tied to it, and Elizabeth is the center of it. He feared what that would mean if the All-father learned of this. He was powerful, but he was nothing compared to Odin. He could not protect her alone, and he glanced around the room of people that had all been gathered here for one reason or another.

Perhaps, I will not have to.


Elizabeth felt like she was losing her mind.

She felt like Alice that had fallen down the rabbit hole, and things already seem crazy, but she still had yet to hit bottom. She chewed on her lower lip trying to unravel all that happened. Loki had returned to her life with his brother in tow, and her cousin Darcy in tow. Stephen Strange showed up at her door with the Master of Death, proclaiming that the end of the world was here and Elizabeth's visions were the key to stopping it. As if that were not enough, Jason has been possessed by a soul sucking demon for years which made her fill with a bunch of conflicting emotions and was being controlled by someone close to him. A number of people came to mind, and now the Charmed Ones—Piper, Phoebe, Paige who were also distant relatives to her and Darcy—showed up because Phoebe had a vision of Jason hurting Elizabeth badly.

It seems if Amaryllis weren't there, then the bullet would have hit Elizabeth. If Fate did exist, it seemed to be converging around her home like never before. She wasn't sure how to feel about that. She had children to consider, and she didn't want to bring danger in her life. But did she really have a choice? The visions had brought this on her doorstep before even Thor had showed up, so it seemed like this was going to happen whether they had been here or not.

"Your thoughts grow heavy," Loki noted, a worried frown marring his features.

"I am just worried," Elizabeth whispered, sitting at the kitchen table. "I can't pretend that this won't in some way affect my boys, and that danger isn't making a home in my life. I've done and sacrifice so much to keep my babies safe, and now it is for nothing."

"The sacrifices we make for our children," Loki said, grasping her hand gently. "They are never for nothing. Try as we might, we can never protect them forever from the cruelty of the world, but that doesn't mean we never stop trying."

Elizabeth looked at him through the curtain of her hair. Her heart ached for him and all that he went through, and for his children that were out there who had to grow up lost and scared. No matter how terrifying they had appeared in the dream, now that she knew they were children it made her angry at Odin for condemning them and turning them into what they had become. Or would become depending on just when the vision took place. "I'm really glad you are here," she told him, smiling ever so slightly. "Have I told you that?"

"Not in those exact terms, but it has been implied," Loki grinned, that charming boyish grin of his that always set her heart pitter patter. "Though I don't think I would get tired of hearing it no matter what the wording."

Elizabeth glanced over the Charmed Ones who conversed with Amaryllis and Dr. Strange about the demon inside of Jason and how to get rid of it. She didn't know what to make of that. What kind of effect could demon have on him? She knew that somewhere after they had broken up at the courthouse that Jason's personality had shifted, but she hadn't been close enough to him to feel right about pointing it out. Even if she had, would have Carly or Sonny or Sam have listened? They had always liked to say that they knew him best, and that Elizabeth never had. She wasn't sure what to make of it, and turned her eyes to focus on the man beside her. "I never imagined my life would ever become this crazy, and I have been through things that were pretty crazy," she chuckled, nervously.

"Tell me about your life," Loki insisted, his eyes softly looking at her. "Did you continue pursuing your passion for art?"

Elizabeth gifted him a sad smile. "Sadly, no. Life just took me in a direction where I could rely on my art to pay the bills, and take of me. I had to do better for Cameron, so I went into nursing much to my family's joy. I still paint and draw on occasion, but I…have lost my drive to really put heart into my works anymore," said the nurse, with a light sigh. It was a big regret that she let her talent go wasted, but her life just didn't house time for her to indulge in it anymore. The passion she once poured onto the canvas had fizzled away entirely.

"That is a shame," Loki said. "You were quite wonderful at it."

"You flatter me."

"I speak only truths, in this matter at least."

Elizabeth let out a breathless chuckle. "Maybe one day after this mess is all said and done, and then I'll be able to pick up a paint brush. Maybe you will actually let me paint your portrait," she added, with a sly gleam in her eye. He had been so set against her drawing or painting him, and it was a constant battle between them to before he had left. She hadn't the heart to draw him after that, feeling his betrayal too keen to put into words.

"Perhaps, I will if only to give rise to your muse. Art is important to life and expressing passion, it shows how we see the world and most importantly how we see ourselves," Loki commented, with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Everyone gathered around the table, putting a halt to the conversation between Elizabeth and Loki for the time being. Amaryllis made a steeple with her fingers, and glanced around the room. "Should we wake up the agents or leave them to slumber?" She asked, with an eyebrow arched.

"It will be best to wake them. Fury will wish to know of the threat on the horizon," Thor commented, with a sharp nod of his head. "And any allies that we can gather on our side, the better."

"I don't think you quite remember, brother, but the Black Widow and Agent Barton are not fond of me for a good number of reasons," Loki stated, cautiously.

Thor glanced at his brother, and sighed. "That may be true, but I trust them enough to set their personal matters aside to help us with this threat," the God of Thunder asserted, sitting down at the very end of the table beside Darcy and Patrick. The Charmed Ones sat adjacent of Loki and Elizabeth and Dr. Strange while Amaryllis sat at the head of the table.

Elizabeth gnawed on her lower lip. "If they are a problem, can you stop them from hurting someone?" She asked, looking around at Amaryllis.

"It would be child's play," Amaryllis snorted.

"Uh, I don't know about this. The last the government got wind of us, it was ended badly," Piper said, worriedly. She glanced around the table, and swallowed thickly. "Also people tend not to like witches, just look at a history book."

Dr. Strange tapped his fingers along his chin. "I may have a way to keep their silence," the sorcerer stated, his blue eyes flickered to Amaryllis. "If you are amendable to this suggestion, that is?"

Amaryllis leaned over, and Dr. Strange whispered in her ear. After a moment, a flash of surprised moved through green eyes before she gave a solid nod. The sorcerer raised his hands, his motions careful and purposeful weaving a spell in the air in a beautiful pattern that hissed and moved in the air. Amaryllis leaned forward, the tips of her fingers glowing greenish blue and she created strings adding to the spells pattern like a weaver added details to a quilt. Elizabeth sucked in a hard gasp, feeling the power shimmer across her skin. It was like a siren's song that called to something deep in her blood, and she watched the magic with wide eyes.

"That is so cool," Darcy whispered out, enviously.

"One day you'll be able to do this, too," Amaryllis said, with a quick smile at the younger woman.

Darcy's eyes grew wide. "I get super powers? Did you hear that?" She asked, looking at Patrick excitedly.

Patrick chuckled. "Somehow, I'm not sure the world can handle you with superpowers."

"That's good, because I don't want to world to handle me," Darcy grinned, salaciously. "I'd rather leave that in your capable hands."

Patrick choked on his drink.

Paige snickered. "And I thought Phoebe was the only one that flirt like that without a lick shame."

"Obviously it's a family trait," Phoebe sniffed, biting back a smirk.

Amaryllis and Dr. Strange finished the spell, and the runes and symbols flew across the floor, before melding just over the floor along the threshold from the kitchen into the living room. The Black Widow and Agent Barton would have no choice, but to step over it to get into the room. "What is that?" Elizabeth whispered to Loki, quietly.

Loki shifted forward, his lips brushing the shell of her ear and caused a pleasant shiver to rush down her spine. "An unbreakable vow of sorts, it has been modified to fit the circumstances. The Black Widow and Hawkeye shall only be able to tell Director Fury the facts and circumstances, but not the names or faces of the people involved here. A necessary precaution because the one called Piper was right," Loki whispered, his breath caressing in her cheek in a way that was wholly distracting. It was in the moment that Elizabeth realized how wonderful he smelt. A crisp, masculine spice with an underscore of sweetness that would curb the flash of heat and she found herself breathing in deeply, savoring the smell unconsciously. "This world's occupants have never looked upon magic users favorably, and it is best to avoid dangerous religious zealots where one can."

"You speak as if you have experience," Elizabeth said, tilting her head towards him. Her nose brushed the side of his cheek, he was sitting so close to her. He just gave her a mischievous smile in reply, and a shrug of his shoulder. "Trouble maker," she accused, lightly.

"Of the highest order," Loki agreed, with a low and raspy laugh.

Elizabeth gave a breathless chuckle.

With a snap of Amaryllis's fingers, there was a curse from the kitchen followed by a clatter. Elizabeth watched the smirk spread across the woman's face, and got a feeling that she enjoyed mischief almost as much as Loki did.

The two avengers immediately entered the room, and the spell flashed brightly. Black Widow immediately pulled out her guns, pointing them at Loki but Elizabeth stepped instinctually in front of him. Hawkeye had an arrow drawn back and pointed at Thor, as if to stop him if he dared interfere.

"There is no need for violence," Piper stated, with a saccharine smile. "We aren't your enemies, and needless to say it wouldn't go well for you if you decide to make us into such."

Black Widow's icy green eyes flickered across the group, a line appeared between her brow.

"We're trying to stop the end of the world," Elizabeth stated, arms folded over her chest. Her blue eyes were hard and sharp, even in the face of an assassin holding a gun pointed at her and Hawkeye pointed an arrow at Loki. "So you can either let us explain the situation, or you could be put back in time out. Choose carefully because while I might not be much of anything, but these people behind me are probably some of the most power people in the world from what I've gathered, and they don't take too kindly to threats."

"Damn straight we don't," Phoebe said, hand on her hip.

"I once boiled someone alive in a bronze bull for threatening and harming a child underneath my care," Amaryllis commented, off-handedly. "I do believe I kept that bull around somewhere. Perhaps, it is time to take it out of storage."

Her tone was idle, but Elizabeth saw the way that those green eyes were pinned on Natasha. It was a strange feeling that came over Elizabeth. She didn't like people being hurt, she would never condone such a thing, but to have people that had her back was something she sorely missed. Patrick, Epiphany, and Felix were the few who still stayed her friends, but she didn't get much time with Epiphany and Felix because of Monica making sure their schedules were conflicting so they could never get time off together. But this wasn't just friendship that Amaryllis and the Charmed Ones presented, but family. When she had been fourteen—abandoned by her family and seemingly by Loki—all she wanted was someone to magically pop in her life, and make her feel like she belonged. Like she mattered and could be loved and be a part of a family. Darcy and her mom helped fill that void, but it still felt like the family dynamic was missing something.

And now it seemed it didn't. It was strange how easily the Charmed Ones had won Darcy over—who was wary of everyone—and she had to admit that she, too, was growing fond of them. They were smart, witty, and like the sisters that Elizabeth had once upon a time wished for. Amaryllis was strange, her mannerisms beyond human comprehension at times, but there was a good heart underneath her distant exterior; a heart that longed for family and a place to belong, even greater than Elizabeth ever had. Elizabeth wasn't used to trusting so easily. After all she had been through, she felt like she should put up more walls and keep these people at a distance.

But something in her soul told her to jump head first. She had always second guessed herself so many times and the price usually was her happiness. Why not put a little on faith? Why not give a little trust? If it were ever a time to start believing in miracles and magic full heartedly then it would be now. She never imagined that Loki would come back in her life, but here he was. She never imagined finding more family, but here they were. Even with the crazy end of the world, Elizabeth was finding that the future didn't seem so scary at all.

Hawkeye was the first of the assassins who relented, surprisingly. He lowered his bow carefully, and shoved his arrow back into his quiver. "I don't like him," he pointed at Loki, with a serious expression on his face. "I won't like him now or in a hundred years from now, but I'm willing to hear out what's going on if the world is in danger. I owe Thor that much. We owe him that," he added, shooting his partner a look.

Black Widow drew in a deep breath, before she relaxed her taut posture and slid her guns back into the holster at her hips. She stared stoically at the group, and arched a cold brow. "Start talking," she demanded, her tone void of any and all emotion.

It was decided to let Thor explain things to them, given the fact that he was closest with the pair and they might take what he said with more faith than anyone else. After filling the assassins in, Hawkeye stared blankly at the wall before he whispered, "Well, shit."

"I know this is a lot to take in…" Thor stated.

Hawkeye cut him off. "It's more than a lot. You know before Stark made his suit and you feel out of the sky, my life at SHIELD was relatively normal? I didn't fight aliens or demons, just regular megalomaniac assholes who needed taken down a peg or several," the archer groused, his shoulders slumped heavily.

"And the magic at the doorway?" Black Widow questioned.

"It was a spell to ensure your silence about our identities. Not everyone wants to be put in your SHIELD database, or be known as heroes," Dr. Strange explained, arms folded over his chest.

The female assassin dipped her head in acknowledgment. "Fair enough. So what is the plan?"

"Amaryllis?" Elizabeth glanced at the ancient being. "You are the one who seems to have dealt with stuff like this more than the rest of us, so if you have any idea of where we should start that would be helpful?"

"Hmm." Amaryllis created a steeple with her fingers, and thought about it carefully. "Thor, Dr. Strange and I shall be facing the demon that we remove from this Jason. We will have to force it to manifest in physical form, and the most secure place to do that would be at the Sanctum."

"Wong won't be pleased, but will understand," Dr. Strange replied.

"Black Widow and Hawkeye will shadow Patrick and Darcy when they go to get the kids. Whoever is responsible for the pulling the strings and causing the man to become violent is a concern that cannot be ignored. Elizabeth will be staying here with the Charmed Ones, attempting to use spell and potions to enhance her visions to figure out just how to prevent the End of World. Loki will stay because I do not think he would be willing to part with Elizabeth, am I right?" She sent the Trickster a look, and when he did not oppose such a notion, she looked around at everyone at the table and asked, "Are we all in agreement?"

And so the plan was set.


Darcy felt her scalp prickle uneasily. They picked up the kids without incident, but she swore that she saw Sam loitering around outside of a school which she had no reason for being near. Jake had slung of his backpack, and collapsed onto Patrick's couch, falling asleep almost instantly. They had track and field day at school and he was tuckered. Cameron had curled up in the chair, and was texting on his phone with a speed that Darcy was slightly envious of. Patrick had to take a call from the hospital and was in the other room, leaving Darcy with Emma.

Darcy felt a little awkward. She had never really been good with kids, but she kind of wanted to make a good impression on Emma. She wasn't sure why she felt compelled to do. She literally had only known Patrick for like a day, but there was something about the dark haired and brown eyes charmer that reeled her in like a fish on a hook. "So…ever made a homemade taser?" Darcy asked, fidgeting a little nervously. Stark had told her that kids were like sharks, and that if they smelt blood, they would go in for the kill. She wasn't sure she put that much stock in what Tony said, but the overly calm expression on Emma Drake's face made a cold sweat break out along her skin.

"No," Emma replied, neutrally.

Darcy felt a twinge where her heart was. Elizabeth had told her how Robin had left again, after being miraculously alive and how Sam's abrupt break up with Patrick to run back to Jason had screwed the kid up even more. Darcy could sympathize. She loved her mom, she really did, but her mom's love life was rocky. It gave Darcy a plethora of daddy issues, on top of not knowing who her father actually was. "Do you want to go make one?" She asked, after a moment.

Emma regarded her for a long silence moment. "Sure," the girl shrugged, getting up on her feet. The aloofness on her face eased into something more child-like, and Darcy was mildly impressed. The kid had a heck of a poker face, and Darcy had a feeling she had just passed some sort of test. She wasn't sure how she passed, or why, but the knot in her stomach eased up.

Darcy pulled out her tablet from her backpack, and settled on the floor beside Emma showing her the schematics that she had designed. After a while, the girl had a smile on her face and was asking questions. Even Cameron got off his phone, and joined them. When Patrick entered the room, he saw them sitting there and smiled at the scene. "Hey, Darcy," he said, quietly.

"Yeah?" She looked up at him.

"I have to head to the hospital. There was an accident and a child needs surgery," Patrick explained, with a hint of regret in his voice. "Are you going to be alright with the kids here?"

"Yeah, we'll be fine," she reassured him, brightly.

Patrick smiled. "Alright. Don't get into too much trouble."

"No promises."

After Patrick left, Darcy sat with the kids for another half an hour before she found them some science shows on Netflix. The kids had been enthralled with mechanics, and it never hurt to encourage a child young to see the beauties of the scientific world. That's when a vicious knock came at the door, and annoyance burst across her skin like fire ants. Her eyes narrowed, glancing at the kids, but they were too focused on her tablet and the show they were watching to notice anything amiss. She subtly grabbed her taser from her coat, and made her way to the door. She pulled it open, and felt her irritation kick up another notch when she saw Sam standing there. "What do you want?" She asked, her tone not even in the littlest bit nice.

Sam glowered. "Look, I don't know what you are trying to pull with Patrick, but—"

Darcy raised her taser without batting an eye, and fired. In the next second, Sam was on the ground twitching and flailing. "Nope," Darcy said, with a blunt tone. "I don't deal with stupid."

She hit the other button, retracting the cords and then shut the door leaving Sam on the doorstep without another word.


Loki stood out on the porch, a great wealth of feeling rested upon his breast. He leaned forward, bracing his palms against the wooden railing. He felt so out of place here in this quite little home, like he did not truly belong even if his soul told him that he did. He startled slightly when Amaryllis appeared out of the corner of his eye, and he hadn't even sense her approach.

"Penny for your thoughts? I fear I do not know any Asgardian currency."

"My thoughts are my own," Loki replied, shortly.

"So they are," Amaryllis stated, with a minimal nod.

Loki peered at her youthful face, noting the similarities to Elizabeth. "Why did you bother coming to help us? One with your power would surely see humankind beneath them," he said, with a deep frown imprinted on his face. "Your attitude even seems to imply that you don't hold them in high regard, but your actions imply that you aren't as apathetic to the world and its people as you want to appear. Maybe if bold enough venture to claim that you even care."

"That would be too bold," Amaryllis told him, though no real heat to her words.

The God of Mischief smiled. "You keep yourself at a distance to the world and its people. You've loved and lost before, and you tell yourself that you don't need that kind of pain. But loneliness is a strange motivator. It compels us regardless of the oncoming pain to seek out others, to stem the tide of agony just for one brief moment of happiness."

Amaryllis did not deny his accusation, but gave him a searching look. Whatever she found seemed to sadden and displease her in equal measure. "You believe what you will have with Elizabeth is fleeting," she stated, her eyebrow rose upward. "Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes, silver tongue," she added, sharply when Loki's mouth opened. "I see more into this universe than you can comprehend, and I have sensed the bond between you and her since the moment I appeared in front of this house. It is a like a beacon, a lighthouse in the midst of a stormy ocean calling ships to shore and safety."

Loki's jaw clacked shut. For a moment, he stared stupefied at the woman in front of him and then his green eyes looked away. "She is mortal. Her life will pass far quickly than mine will. It is…a cruel fate to tie her to me," he whispered out, the wind swirling his hair around his face.

"Is that what you believe?" Amaryllis questioned, with an eyebrow arched. It was moments like this where her facial expression were eerily similar to Elizabeth's, and there was no questioning that they were indeed related by blood. "Or do you fear she will reject you because of your Frost Giant lineage?"

Loki flinched. "Of course not."

Amaryllis gave him a knowing look that made him uncomfortable. It was the one his mother often got when he would attempt to lie to her. "If you believe Elizabeth would reject you because of that perhaps you are unworthy of her since you think so lowly of her character," she stated, a sly underscore to her words.

"There is no one I think more highly of than Elizabeth," Loki glared.

"Then you know that she has a compassionate heart, and that she would never turn a soul away for circumstances beyond their own control," Amaryllis stated, smiling sharply.

Loki felt his eyes narrow. "How do you even know so much about Elizabeth? One would think that you have been keeping an eye on her for a very long time," the God of Mischief commented, his tone scathingly. Her words made him feel anxious, and nervous. It was like she could see through any façade that he attempted to put up, and he did not like that one bit.

"I started watching Elizabeth when her parents failed in their duties to protect her," Amaryllis admitted, easily. "You see the magic in my line is not always powerful in each branch. The Charmed Ones direct ancestors married into more magic, preserving their powers while Elizabeth's direct ancestors did not. The magic was fleeting, came and went in the Webber line. If Elizabeth had an open minded family that would love her, her powers could have been nourished and strengthened. The same with young Darcy and her mother. Instead, they suffered hardships in their lives and their powers were forced to turn inward to preserve their sanity and their lives many times over through the dangers that found them. It has stunted them, and harmed them."

"Then why not come to their aid before now?" Loki demanded, angrily. "If you could have prevented such harm, why not do so?"

"Fate is not idle, Loki Laufeyson, and it does not take well to meddling. The repercussions of me interfering before now would have caused untold amount of devastation, so do no mistake my inactions for apathy," she hissed, her green eyes flashed with power. An unnatural wind swirled around the being far older than him, stirring her black hair making it look like snakes swirling about. "I had a limited window of opportunity to approach my descendants. Just be grateful that it has coincided with this prophecy, and that your future is not doomed."

Loki paled, his eyes widened at the sheer amount of power that rippled off Amaryllis. He had only felt such power from Odin and Thanos, and a shaft of fear ran down his spine. Whatever was on his expression made the woman soften, and the power receded back into its deceiving mortal looking vessel. She turned away from him, and walked down to the end of the porch. Silence yawned between them, and Loki knew a dismissal when he saw one. He hesitated for a split second to move, and then rushed back into the house.

When the door clattered shut, Amaryllis heaved a sigh. "Take heart, Trickster," she stated, underneath her breath. Her emerald eyes looked out across the peaceful and calm yard with a wistful sort of expression on her face as the clouds started to roll in. "Your love may not be as doomed as you think. If I have my way, Elizabeth Webber and all those who of my line will be living for a very, very long time."


Elizabeth watched with wide-eyed fascination as the Charmed Ones set about making the potion with the caldron and ingredients that they had teleported home to grab quickly. "You all seem to take this whole chaos in stride," she commented, as Piper ground up verbena with the ivory mortar and pestle. Phoebe had set the small cauldron on a portable burner, and Paige was going over the spell that she scribbled out on a piece of paper.

"We've been doing this for a long time," Piper admitted.

"Really?" Elizabeth asked.

"For about seven years now," Phoebe replied, with a light laugh.

"You weren't born with it?" Elizabeth cocked her head to the side.

"We were, but our mother locked away our powers in order to protect us. The sooner our powers manifested, the sooner the dark forces in the world would come after us to smother them out. It wasn't until we were in our early twenties that we learned the truth about everything, and we've been balancing everyday life with battling the forces of evil ever since," Piper answered, taking a pinch of dried eucalyptus adding it into the mixture.

"I came in a bit later," Paige said, with a shrug. She scribbled out a line, glaring petulantly at the paper. "It was a whole big mess, but I got a family out of it so that was something."

Elizabeth fell silent, wondering if she was getting a family out of this mess herself. "So you can just make up spells on the fly?" She gestured towards the paper, a bit confused.

"Words have power. Wiccans like us just have the added responsibility of choosing what we say carefully because our powers are tied to the intent of everything we do. If put bad things out in the universe, we get bad brought on us. If we put good out there, then we get good in return," Paige explained, her eyes lighting up with an epiphany. She wrote down something hurriedly on the pad of paper, and Elizabeth decided to leave the women to it. She walked into the living just to see Loki sitting on the couch with a contemplating look on his face.

"The others have left. If all goes well, then you friend will be returned to himself soon enough," Loki informed her, when she sat down beside him.

"It's going to be bad, isn't it?" Elizabeth whispered out.

"With the demon leeching off him for years, he will have a long recovery ahead of him," the Trickster nodded, turning to face her slightly. "But I am more concerned about you."

"Concerned about me?" She asked, her tone mild.

Loki reached out, almost hesitantly before he rested a hand upon her knee. His touch was gentle and comforting, his green eyes looked at her with glow that always made her heart ricochet inside of her chest wildly. "Your life was simple before all of this. Perhaps, it could have stayed that way if I had not come here," he spoke, his tone filled with sorrow and an apologetic smile curved his lips.

"None of this is your fault," Elizabeth reassured him. "I have a feeling this would have happened regardless if you were involved or not. In fact, things probably would have gone worse if your brother and you hadn't shown up."

"If you say so."

"I do say so," she told him, with a sassy tone. Her expression softened, and she covered his hand with hers. "Have I told you that I am glad that you here?" She repeated her question from earlier, knowing that it would lighten the shadows on his face.

"You have, but it is something I will never get tired of hearing," he replied, with a wide boyish grin.

Elizabeth felt her heart squeeze tight in her chest, and she had a sudden realization overwhelm her when she staring into his eyes. She could feel herself falling in love with this man, so quickly and so fast—

And she didn't think she could fight it if she tried.


END OF CHAPTER!

Elizabeth and Loki get time to bond more, the Charmed Ones prepare a potion, Jason has to face his demon with the help of others, and Sam's plan unfolds just as Odin sends warrior to retrieve his runaway children.

RRs are appreciated.