Thanks, JaninaM8!

This is for jeadamized, she requested this. Thanks for always being awesome, lovely! I wish you all the best. Enjoy!


And so it was, Jane Foster continued the rouse for the next week. Christmas was rapidly approaching, and her heart sank a touch at the prospect. She would not be deterred, however, in her resolve. She must remain true to herself, if even but a little. She wasn't without scruples.

She got up one morning, a bit confused, bit melancholy… about a week before the holiday…MIT's labs would be closing that day for the holiday break, so Jane was somewhat lax getting herself ready and such. Just the staff party. No biggie.

She made her coffee and sat at her table.

She hadn't seen Loki that much, not since that night here, at her apartment. She wondered a bit at that.

He had been kinda distant at the hospital when she saw him there…rather curt, short. Jane was naturally rather warm, so this was both confusing and off-putting.

Was he embarrassed at his behavior? Surely not…she played with her cup…he had been tipsy. Understandable that his judgment had gotten the better of him. She shook her head and rose from her table.

She couldn't wait to give the Odinson's their presents. It would be a farewell of sorts, too, which was why she had made certain that they were all doubly special.

And she thought about Darcy's objections and questions concerning Loki's gift.

"It's like, hella expensive Jane. And like, really personal. Art?! No one buys another person artwork, you know."

"Why not? It reminds me of him," and she looked at the enormous photo with a crooked gaze.

"Reminds you…" she paused. "Jane, what is going on."

Jane looked at her. "Nothing. I told you."

But Darcy was unconvinced. She pestered Jane about it until Darcy herself was sick of the subject (and, knowing Darcy, it had been quite a while).

Jane was undaunted by it all, she thought it was the situation itself which was curious, and nothing else would make much sense as a result. By her logic, of course things were odd where Loki was concerned. She was faking an engagement to his comatose brother.

She took out her phone and saw that she had missed two texts and a call from John; his girlfriend, and Jane's coworker and friend, Molly, had just given birth to their daughter. She was a week early.

Jane smiled. Molly had been worried that the baby would come on Christmas.

Well. She would go into the office late, then. And she texted Erik…

…and headed for MGH, as she now termed it in her head. She had become rather intimate with the place.

Jane received another text from John… Molly was resting, and their baby, Maria, was in the nursery.

(Couldn't she buy him some coffee?

No…bit sleepy. Going home…talk later…)

Well, she could peek in at the baby, anyway.


Loki sat next to his brother as he so often did now, He rather fancied that he spoke with him more now than he did pre-accident.

"Well, as you would no doubt advise, I am not going to be taking that deal. The owner is an absolute monster," Loki thought that Thor would take the offer, as he was reckless. But his brother had grown in his estimation during his sojourn into endless slumber, and he thought that he would be more forgiving, seeing how he was, well…in a coma. "Mother is fussing about, concerning herself over the holiday, of course. She is having Sunna and Mary over this year as well…" he fiddled with his phone. "And Jane, of course." Loki looked at the sleeping man. "Jane," he whispered, and swallowed. "I cannot pretend," his voice rising a touch. "That she isn't a most perplexing person. I cannot understand what it is that drew her to you…or indeed, you to her. She is hardly someone who would incite your interest. And yet…" he paused. "Yet you are engaged to her. It's baffling. I suppose I have given more thought than it's worth…" and he uncrossed his legs and sat forward. "No one else believes it to be odd. But then," and he looked at Thor steadily. "No one else knows you as I do. Your infidelity. Your deceit. Your attention-seeking ways…your inability to see past your own desires…" he sat back once more and sighed. "It matters but little," and he stood, running a hand through his hair. "I'll see you later."

Loki decided to grab a coffee before heading into the office. There wasn't a decent place to obtain a coffee en route, and though the hospital coffee was hardly good, it wasn't as bad as what the convenience stores had to offer.

He went to the cafeteria where Seattle's Best was brewing, and got the largest size.

And then he turned, and saw none other than the Jane Foster he was just talking about. She was sitting by herself, by the window. He smiled, then chastised himself for smiling.

Well, what of it? He and she were surely friends…and he winced, though he couldn't decide if he was wincing because he hated the word "friend," or…something else entirely.

"Good morning, Jane," Loki said, looking down at her.

He had caught her unawares, lost as she was in her reverie. "Loki! Hey. Wanna sit?"

"Thank you," and he did. "Here to see Thor?"

"No, actually. A friend had a baby last night. I was here to see them."

"Ah. Babies. Small, delightful creatures," and he sat back to observe her fully.

Jane giggled. "Yeah. They are small. I'd like one or two some day."

"Is that so? One or two? You sound like you're describing cars."

"I haven't given it much thought, really. I've always been so alone…I guess I just assumed it'd never be a conversation I'd ever have with someone."

Loki's gaze dropped. "Well, haven't you and Thor discussed it? No doubt he is concerned about his progeny."

Why did she always seem to forget that she was supposed to be engaged to Thor when she was talking with Loki? "Of course. But you are overlooking the fact that we were engaged for a very short amount of time before the accident."

"I haven't forgotten," he replied softly. "So…" and he perked up a bit. "One or two. That's reasonable, I suppose."

Jane shrugged. "It's normal. What about you? Do you want kids?"

He curled a smirk. "I do, yes. One or two."

"What?" Jane was perplexed at his look.

"Well…I haven't had a proper example of a father, you know."

"So?"

"So…I guess that the idea gives me pause. I wouldn't want to play favorites the way in which my own father has."

"Oh. Well, I hardly had a mother, so I have no example at all. I wouldn't worry about it," and Jane drank deeply of her coffee. She looked at Loki, who was watching her. She smiled awkwardly. "You like having long hair?" Why did she say the most ridiculous things when she was uncomfortable?

He laughed. "Yes. I suppose I do. Why?"

"I dunno. Thor has long hair, too. I just think it's odd, I guess. Both of you having long hair."

"What's odd about it?" he asked defensively.

"Nothing," and her eyes fell. Shut up, Jane. "It's just not something I'm used to seeing."

Loki smiled and wiped away her worry. "Well, Thor and I may be quite different in some things, but we can both agree that hair cuts are silly things."

Jane then laughed and got up. "I should get going…"

"Alright. I'll walk you to work."

"That's not…" she began.

"Nonsense. We haven't spoken in a while. Let's see to that," and he began to walk toward the door.

Well…it looked like she and Loki would be walking to MIT together.

...

"Are you excited about Christmas?" Jane asked.

"Not especially. I am rather old to be bothered with getting excited about a few wrapped gifts and some turkey," he responded. "Are you?"

"Yes! I loved it when my dad was alive. I mean, I kinda preferred getting him something nice, but I enjoyed cooking and stuff," she recalled the memories with fondness in her voice.

"And you cook still?"

"Not really. I wasn't that good at it, and with it being just me now, well. There really isn't much reason for me to cook," she sighed, and kicked a pebble on the sidewalk. "I guess I must sound pretty pathetic to you," Jane looked at Loki, but he wasn't looking back at her.

"Not at all, Jane. I understand being tied up in one's past well enough."

"Yeah. I guess so," she paused, and looked away at the sidewalk once more. Her breath materializing in front of her, the cold, damp air pressing against her warming cheeks. "But you're a successful man, Loki. And you have a family…I haven't got anything. Not really."

He stopped.

Jane looked where he should be, and not seeing him there, turned toward him. "What?"

"Stop it now, Jane Foster. You are a lovely, bright, warm woman. You aren't alone, you have Thor and you have the Odinson family. These past few weeks have seen us closer than we've been for some time now, and I can only surmise that that's your doing. Your magic," he finished, and went over to her. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You're better than that."

Jane swallowed. "So are you, you know. You should take your own advice."

He grinned at her. "Perhaps I shall," and he bent his head toward her, and kissed her cheek. "I'll see you later," and he turned and left.

Jane couldn't feel anything. She hardly knew what had just occurred…she swallowed, she doubted, she denied…and at last she turned to find herself outside of MIT.

She went through her day in a sort of a haze…Erik saying things to her…vaguely recalling responses to his queries…

…she headed home and made herself a nice dinner, promising herself that she'd begin cooking in earnest once more.

And when at last she curled up on her sofa with a glass of red wine, she heard a knock on her door…and her heart began to beat in her ears…

Jane got up and went to the door. Her hand was shaking.

She finally turned the doorknob and slowly opened it.

"What's up, Jane?" and Darcy waltzed in. "You cooked!" she looked into the kitchen to see the sink overflowing with pots and pans.

"I did, yeah," Jane sheepishly replied. "Want some wine?"

"Sure," and she sat on the sofa. "So…how's your double life?"

"Well, funny you should bring that up," Jane handed her a glass.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, kinda funny, actually," and Jane downed her drink. "You see, I just realized, just today…I think I'm falling for Loki."

Darcy looked at her. "Wait…the brother?"

"Yep."

"You're cheating on a vegetable, Jane! There's got to be a special place in hell for you."

Jane laughed, but quickly diffused it. "I'm not cheating. I'm not even engaged!" she covered her face in her hands. "Oh my god. What a mess! Darcy," she looked at her and sighed. "What am I gonna do?"

"I dunno man. This is seriously fucked up shit."

"Thanks, Darcy. You always have such a great way of putting things."


Loki was standing, as was his custom, looking out onto the street from his apartment, sipping a vodka tonic he had made himself. He was a bit distracted, and had dismissed Sigyn, as it was the week before the holiday, a bit early. He had finished up the work he needed to, and closed the office for the week, telling his loyal PA that he would see her after the New Year. This wasn't the usual way in which he conducted business, but he was feeling a bit generous, so he closed up the office for two weeks.

What was happening to him?

He was feeling nostalgic where his parents were concerned. He was soft with work. He was walking his brother's fiancee to her job.

He emptied the glass and sighed.

Loki went to his bedroom and readied himself; and as he laid down, he looked up at the ceiling, deep in thought.

And what was he thinking about…?

How very much he hated his brother.

Yet again, Thor possessed something he desired…

But he couldn't hate him altogether, for Loki had changed his opinion of him.

Loki had changed himself.

And Jane Foster was the reason for both.