A/N: I am so sorry it has taken this long to update. I have had a pile of homework which I actually weighed the massive stack of papers and everything weighed all up 4.37 kg and that's not including the textbooks, yes I am the master of procrastination. Anyway, I'm sure you don't want to hear my excuses. Here it is, I hope you guys like it. It's actually turned out to be my longest chapter and I didn't even mean for it to be long. Enjoy. :)


Time passed, the clock informed them of this fact but of those present no one cared for something as trivial as time. The sobbing had stopped, the pain in her heart had lessened as she became more and more aware of Steve's presence. The pain would always be there and she never knew whether she would ever not feel it, some days it may be as if a long-sword had been thrust into her and other days as small as a prick of the needle or the sting of a wasp but nonetheless it would always be there.

Loki had been pensive throughout, he imagined the pain Sigyn felt must be a slight dent compared to the chasm of agony he felt. She had not only become so upset about his abhorred brother's abandonment, she still did not know the entire truth of the situation, but she had turned to that vulgar mortal for comfort rather than him. He longed to be able to hold her the way she allowed this Steven to. The want inside him burned his soul; he was on fire and the chasm of pain she had created lit up with this outrage although with light comes shadow and he had been pulled into that shadow once again. He soon became amused at this line of thought, perhaps he should be the God of Shadows rather than the God of Lies or better still the God of Monsters and All Things Terrifying. He had obviously frightened away everyone he loved so why shouldn't he be given this name? He could imagine Odin naming him one of those and the grandeur of the ceremony, perhaps all the light in the palace would be vanquished. As he pictured this Loki began to chuckle disturbing the stillness of the place and unintentionally reminding Sigyn of his presence.

"Loki?" She questioned. She could not remember if him being there was in fact a dream or reality. Her thoughts were clouded over like that of a winter's moon that produces no light from behind it's veil of clouds. Suddenly, the clouds parted and she indeed remembered all that had happened. She sat bolt upright and met the prince's eyes. She saw the bemused twinkle in his eye: the one she had known so well as a child, the one of mischief and merriment.

"Yes, dear?" Loki replied distractedly as though he wasn't paying attention yet he was doting on her every word behind the facade.

"I promised you I would introduce the toaster to you." She had found something to distract her from her misery. Beaming at him and reflecting that mischievous grin displayed on Loki's face, she stepped out of the comfort of Steve's lap and tugged Loki out of the armchair he had folded himself into. The two left Steve wondering whether or not to leave them alone to have a moment together or join them to make sure Loki didn't try anything with Sigyn.

Once in the kitchen, Sigyn pulled out a strange, metal object. Loki was quite taken aback by it, immediately reaching out to touch it, finding it was cold and lifeless. Sigyn whirled around the small room, opening cupboards and drawers, one which seemed to produce cool weather, until she had laid out a range of different things. Loki could identify nearly all of these things, obviously Asgard and Midgard had some things in common. There was: a small butter knife; what appeared to be a loaf of bread yet it was rectangular; a jar containing jam, he assumed it was strawberry as that was Sigyn's favourite growing up; two small serving plates and a a container with a lid on it, upon removing the lid he found what he thought was butter as it had the same consistency but a different colour. His curiosity surpassed him so he traced his index finger along the surface of the thing that was perhaps butter, before it was slapped away by Sigyn. He pulled away to find some of it had remained on his fingertip. He gingerly put the finger in his mouth to gather the taste of it, only to immediately pull it out again. His face contorted in disgust at the taste, it was doubtlessly butter.

"Loki you mustn't eat butter like that," Sigyn scolded, "it's not good for you to do so but I see that you have figured that out for yourself."

Loki scowled at Sigyn in response, then shifting his glower to the criminal butter. "Are we going to be introduced then, Sigyn?"

"Of course, Loki." Sigyn giggled, turning to the toaster she continued, "Toaster, I present to you Loki Laufeyson of Asgard, God of Mischief and Lies," at this she threw a questioning glance at Loki, she was unsure whether he would resent the term "Laufeyson" but he nodded for her to continue, "Loki, I present to you Toaster, Invention of Midgard and Terror of the Kitchen." She curtsied to the toaster and then to Loki, implying Loki do the same. He bowed low and caught Sigyn's eyes making her giggle. He couldn't help but smile broadly at hearing this, it filled him with such delight he thought he would split at the seams.

Neither had heard Steve enter the kitchen prior to this, entering only to retreat to the doorway. He could see how Sigyn glowed in the company of her old friend and he suspected Loki would never hurt her intentionally. He decided in watching form afar, letting them have their fun together yet he was still able to intervene if needed. He hoped they wouldn't discover his watching them but soon realised they were too caught up in their own secluded world, as they had been when he first found them, to notice anything but what was directly happening before them. He did question though why Loki, a prince, would not know how to use a toaster and why Sigyn had referred to him as a god.

Sigyn was instructing Loki on how the toaster worked. He did not seem to fully understand so they both concluded it would be easier to simply go through the process. First, Sigyn connected it to the power source and then unconnected it so as to let Loki do it for himself. She explained that the toaster cooks at different temperatures and that you need it to be set on the third setting in the dial to cook bread. Loki learnt how to change the temperature and place the bread in the grill. They waited for a few minutes until the toast flew back to to the surface causing Loki to jump backward in alarm. Steve nearly gave away his game at this; it was unbearably hilarious to watch. Sigyn began to laugh uncontrollably at the panic-stricken Loki who had began to sulk in embarrassment. She reassured him that it was what she had first done on the surprise attack and that there was nothing to be embarrassed about - it was only natural instinct.

Loki regained his composure and forgave Sigyn for not warning him. He was ever so curious to discover how the bread would taste after being through this convoluted process. Sigyn placed the bread on two plates and spread both the butter and jam, which was indeed strawberry, on the toast. Loki carefully took a small bite out of his Midgardian experience, raising his eyebrows at the eagerly waiting Sigyn. He was not sure what to think of the Midgardian delicacy; it was crunchy yet soft in texture and had a strange taste to it beneath the thick layer of jam. He carefully consumed another mouthful finding this time it was more enjoyable. He smiled at Sigyn as he chewed and she delicately nibbled her own watching him the whole time. Once she understood he liked it she raced over to hug him. He nearly choked on the toast at the sudden force of the embrace but protectively laid down his food to return the gesture. The two stood there leaning into the other's body trying to forget the time they had been separated.

Steve looked on at this enviously, waiting for them to separate but neither pulled away. After what seemed to be longer than the required length of time it took to sufficiently hug someone Steve entered the kitchen. This did not have the desired effect as neither showed any sign of recognition that someone else was present or that they had become a tangled mess of limbs without proper cause. Steve shifted his weight from foot to foot desperately trying to be let into their world but failed to do so. He cleared his throat again vying for attention, causing Loki to quickly glance over at him realising they had a spectator. Loki glared at Steve but did not pull away form the girl but rather tightened his embrace. She looked up into the mesmerising, green eyes across form her and quickly became lost in their depths. Loki stared into her perfect blue ones, trying to discover why she could not find it in her heart to love him. Sigyn felt a sudden, overwhelming desire to kiss Loki and as she leant in to meet him, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

She was quickly pulled out of Loki's eyes and out of their private world at this outside contact. She turned to see Steve looking at her. Pain flickered across his face, his eyes questioning her. She had hurt him, more than she could ever know she was capable of. She went to step towards him, to comfort him but two strong hands were placed firmly on her hips, refusing to let her go. She leaned back against the solid wall of his chest in defeat. She knew she had made a mistake but couldn't find the courage to correct it. As she felt the expanse of Loki's chest rising and falling, she could feel the smirk on his face, radiating through his body.