Steve gives Lilly the great news that Tony has given her a signing bonus. She does a happy dance as she calls her boss to tell him to take her job and shove it, politely of course. She was going to be quitting that job after graduation anyway.

"Oh my god! I have all afternoon to myself and $5000 burning a hole in my account. Let's go shopping!" Lilly squeals. Steve smiles ear to ear as she drags him out the door. Steve is ever the polite gentleman as she goes to shop after shop to buy pants, dresses, purses, and…underthings. She blushes slightly as she looks in the window of a Victoria's Secret. She's hesitant to drag Steve in there with her but she really needs some new stuff, plus she likes Steve. Like really likes Steve, and she hopes that maybe thinking about her in lingerie will prompt him to ask her out. A mischievous grin curls her lips and she pulls him inside the store as paparazzi snaps pictures of them. They've been spotted. She wouldn't be surprised if they landed on page six! Wait until Warren hears about this! She is such a naughty girl. Steve takes a seat on the designated man couch set up in the parlor.

"Your girlfriend is very pretty." The saleslady says to Steve. Steve blushes.

"She's not…we're not…" Steve doesn't know how to finish the sentence.

"But you want to be? Is that it?" She asks. She studies his face then. Her eyes go wide as recognition sets in.

"Are you….?"

"Yes and please…" Steve puts a finger to his lips. The sales lady smiles.

"Of course." She says. There is a momentary pause. "It's obvious she likes you. You should ask her out."

"I want to." He says.

"What's holding you back?" She asks. Steve muses that question for a moment. He doesn't know what Thor would think of him dating Lilly and if Loki comes, well that could be a problem. Aside from that though….

"Nothing." He smiles. The sales lady giggles. She loves making love connections. Lilly comes out of the dressing room having made her selections. Steve can't help but peek at her purchases as they are rung up. He swallows thickly as he imagines what Lilly looks like wearing them. They continue on and stop for dinner. Steve insists on paying, ever the gentleman. They are surrounded by shopping bags as they stop by an Italian bistro. Lilly flirts with him then. Her eyes flutter and her gaze lingers a little too long on his form. Her hand touches his forearm lightly as she speaks to him.

Steve feels warmth and excitement settle into his chest as the meal wears on. They discuss art and music. Lilly insists on taking Steve to a retro dance joint she knows that plays period music on set nights. Tuesdays are swinging 40's night. Steve promises to teach her the steps so they can outshine the couples on the dance floor.

He walks her home and carries her bags upstairs for her. It is only six o'clock and Lilly doesn't want to be alone yet. She invites him into her tiny apartment to watch a movie. She turns her computer monitor towards the bed and pulls up Netflix and streams a movie called Forrest Gump. Since she and Steve both missed out on the 70's it is sort of a history lesson for them both in a way. Lilly plops down on her tiny twin bed with a bounce and pats the spot next to her.

"Come cuddle up with me." She grins. Steve swallows nervously. He doesn't trust himself. He sits back against the headboard and Lilly leans against his chest. He puts his arm around her and the two enjoy the smell and warmth of each other as they watch the movie. There are moments during the movie when Steve and Lilly are acutely aware of one another. They get through the movie, holding their breath, resisting and restraining their desires.

"Well, I guess I should go home now. You probably have a lot of homework to do." Steve says. "I should leave you alone and let you get to it." He says.

"Um, Tuesday, do you want to go to that place I told you about? Teach me your dance moves?" Lilly asks biting her lip.

"I would like that very much." Steve says.

"It's a date! Good night." She says.

"Good night Lilly." Steve smiles warmly. Lilly closes the door. She listens to the sounds of Steve's footprints as he runs down the stairs.

"Homework my ass. Where's my vibrator?"

XxXxXxXxXx

"You dirty slut! He's like a hundred years old!" Warren says playfully.

"Oh he is not and you are just jealous!" She shoots back.

"How big is it?"

"Oh my god, we did not have sex! He's a gentleman."

"Text me a picture. I want to see it!" Warren says.

"I am not sexting you a picture of Captain America's dick!"

"Just from the shoulders down. No one has to know it is him."

"No!"

"Fine then. You can send me a picture of your uncle Thor."

"Eww! No! What is wrong with you!"

"I'm a horny flaming queen, and I think your uncle is too. I get a vibe from him." Warren says suspiciously.

"Oh you are so full of shit! You're just saying that because he's hot and you want him."

"No seriously, I'm telling you. I think your uncle swings for my team."

"He just broke up with his smoking hot GIRLfriend."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh. Gay. Give him my number."

"Oh stop. You are being ridiculous." Lilly laughs.

"He's at least bi. It's the eyes. I'm telling you. I'll bet you real money your uncle Thor has ridden the rainbow stallion at least once."

"He has not! He's the most manly muscular manly man I've ever met. Besides Steve."

"Captain America is more straight up than a vanilla white bread martini. I'm telling you, your uncle Thor likes cock. He's Brokeback Mountain."

"Stop, stop. My ribs hurt. You're making me laugh!" She snort giggles.

"I can't quit you!"

XxXxXxXxXxXx

Phil Coulson checks in with the night team watching over Lilly. Lilly graduates in just a couple days and then she'll be moving in to the tower. This watch detail has been very surprising. Phil doesn't know if Thor is aware that Steve has been dating his niece. He doesn't know if anyone on the Avenger's team knows what is going on between them. He is pretty sure that Lilly and the Captain have both forgotten that her apartment is bugged. His agents have heard everything that has been going on in that apartment. He thanks god they haven't had sex. He would have felt guilty spying on such an innocent and tender moment. Phil can tell he's smitten. She is too. They are a very cute couple. He worries. What will happen if and when Loki shows up?

XxXxXxXxXx

Thor stands on the balcony and calls out, "Heimdall at your leisure." The bright light envelopes him and within seconds he is standing in the new gatehouse at the end of the Bifrost.

"Welcome home my prince." Heimdall greets warmly.

"Does my father know I'm coming?" Thor asks.

"No, nor does he know the reason for your return. I have used my discretion to allow for your privacy." He says.

"I thank you my friend."

"You risk much in this endeavor. I pray your trust is not misplaced." Heimdall says.

"As do I." Thor says. Thor walks the long way back to the palace. Much of Asgard is still damaged from the Dark Elf invasion. His people cheer at the sight of him. They have missed their golden prince greatly. He is spotted by Sif and the others as he passes by the training grounds and they swarm to him.

"Thor! You're back!" Fandral shouts.

"Only briefly my friends. I am here on business." He says. Fandral and the others look dejected but follow him like puppies as he searches out his father.

"I am sorry my friends, but I must speak with my father alone." He says. Thor enters the smaller audience chamber that Odin usually frequents at this time of day. Odin is there, sitting on his throne, reading a parchment about some sort of official business. He looks very old and worn.

"Father." Thor greets.

"My son. You have returned far more precipitously than I anticipated. Is your courtship with the mortal over?" Odin queries.

"Aye it is, but that is not why I have come." Thor says.

"Oh? Speak then. What new bold request would you make of me now?" Odin says bitterly.

"I have come for Loki." Thor says.

"Have you now? And what will you say to persuade me to free him?" Odin asks.

"I am not asking for his outright freedom, but leniency. I have evidence that what he did on Midgard was under duress and coercion. I believe he is not lost to us." Thor says.

"You have your mother's heart my son, but I do not have the faith in Loki that you do. He would betray you in a heartbeat. Of that I am certain. Even if what you say about the Midgard attack is true, he is still the man that sabotaged your coronation and tried to eradicate the entire Jotunn species. His species. He is still a villain." Odin says.

"I know he betrayed me and that his attempted genocide is a serious offence. But I also know that he still loves me and that he did what he did to Jotunnheim to please you, if however a misguided attempt at proving himself worthy. As far as betrayal goes, I have leverage against him to prevent that." Thor says.

"What leverage? In all the years I spent raising that boy I have yet to find a way to truly control him." Odin says.

"Loki has a mortal child that he has kept hidden from you. Her name is Lilly and she is a woman grown. She lives on Midgard. Permit me father to take Loki to Midgard, under restrained circumstances that he might repay his debt and connect with his child. I know he loves her. He wouldn't do anything to put her in harm's way. He would behave himself if he feared the consequences of his actions were to be suffered by her." Thor says.

"You would offer up his mortal daughter as collateral for his misdeeds?" Odin asks.

"Aye." Thor says.

"So be it. You have a year to show me that Loki can become a changed man. My ravens will be watching. He will be your responsibility Thor. If you fail, the girl will suffer." Odin says.

Thor turns and makes his way down to the dungeons to retrieve Loki. He is making a dangerous gamble doing this. Everything could end in tragedy if Loki does not do as he is told. After several stairs and hallways Thor is finally standing before Loki's cell.

Loki is lying on the bed throwing his paperweight in the air over and over again, bored out of his skull. Upon sight of Thor he perks up.

"Back from Midgard so soon? Let me guess, Odin forbid you to go as I suspected." Loki snickers.

"I have come to release you." Thor says. Loki stands at this statement as excitement thrums through his body. Is this a cruel joke? A trick for the sake of revenge?

"What's the catch?" Loki asks.

"I've told father about Lilly." Thor says.

"You WHAT! Damn you Thor! That was the one thing I asked you not to do! You have placed her in danger!" Loki shouts.

"And it is you that is now charged with her safety. Lilly is the leverage Odin will use against you should you choose to misbehave. Your release from this cell is contingent upon you returning to Midgard with me to help repair the damage you caused there. While there you will have time to spend with your daughter. You'll be able to get to know one another." Thor says.

"You told her about me! About…all of this? How much does she know?"

"Everything Loki. I told her everything. She wants to meet you. She wants a relationship with you, and you can have that but you cannot disappear, cause trouble, start a war, or engage in any trickery of any kind. The ravens will be circling Loki. Any harm that comes to Lilly will be on your head." Thor warns.

Loki trembles with rage at Thor. He didn't honestly think the oaf had the intelligence or follow through to manipulate and take advantage of his one vulnerability. For Lilly he'd suffer anything. For Lilly he'd be the dancing puppet and well trained dog Odin has desired all these years. For Lilly he'd endure every indignation and humiliation.

"Damn you."