Author's note:So I have one more chapter planned, which will involve Thor. But I've been thinking, and I wonder if there needs to be another after that to wrap things up with Odin (and maybe Frigga)? What do people think?

Also, sorry for the delay in getting this up. It's been another difficult chapter to write, with just so many things I wanted to say and no idea at all how to say them all and make it coherent! Hope it makes sense.

Disclaimer: Loki is, sadly, not mine. This incarnation of him sort of is, but also owes a lot to interviews I've seen with Tom Hiddleston talking about his thoughts on the depth of the character.


They were late to breakfast the next morning, partly due to having had little actual sleep and partly because there had been certain... distractions to getting dressed. Loki was in a great mood as they joined Greg and Liz at the table. He knew he still had a lot of things to work through before he was entirely comfortable with himself, but for now he was content in the knowledge that he knew who he was and that he wasn't going to have to deal with them alone. There was, of course, the niggling worry that the other two thirds of his new 'family' wouldn't take the news as well as Grainne had (she'd told him she hadn't shared her suspicions about his true identity), but she seemed to think it would be fine and he desperately wanted to trust her judgement.

"How was your day out?" Grainne asked them. "Did you find that beach you were after?"

Liz nodded enthusiastically. "We did, and we should all swing by on the way through today. You'll love it, it's gorgeous! Shame it's too cold to swim this time of year. But it was nice to walk along for a bit, until the wind came up and it got gritty."

"Caught a good band after dinner, though," Greg added with a grin. "Considered calling you guys, but... well, sorry." He gave Liz's had a squeeze, not looking sorry in the slightest.

Loki waved away the apology with a laugh. "I suspect we'd have declined anyway. Shall we tell you about our day?" He chuckled again as the couple opposite sat up straighter and looked at him expectantly, then glanced sideways to Grainne. "Where should I start?" he asked.

She grinned back at him. "Start with the 'you' bit. That came first."

"True. So. The 'me' bit. I remember. All of it. Who I am, what I am, how I ended up in that field without memory, all of it." Greg and Liz were both beaming at him by this time. He hesitated, trying to figure out the best way to explain everything, then shrugged. "Perhaps a new introduction is the best way to do this. I am Loki... Odinson, of Asgard." He hesitated only slightly over the patronymic, and from the corner of his eye saw Grainne incline her head with a smile in acknowledgement.

Greg and Liz, on the other hand, exchanged startled looks before Greg said hesitantly, "No offence, mate, but are you sure you didn't just... I don't know... hit your head?"

Loki's grin was pure mischief as he glanced around to make sure they were still alone in the room, then created a multitude of images of himself filling every remaining chair. His grin broadened as the surprised couple looked around with mouths agape and Grainne clapped her hands in delight.

"Dear god!" Liz gasped, eyes wide as she looked between them.

Grainne shot Loki an amused glance before replying, "Yep, that pretty much covers it." There was a pause and then all four of them started laughing. It cleared the tension from the air and Liz jumped up to dart around the table and give him a hug.

"So happy for you, Loki!" she exclaimed. "I know how much it's been bothering you not to remember!" Loki returned the hug before banishing the illusions. He really wasn't in the mood to try and explain them to the landlady or any other guests who might happen by.

Greg reached over the table to clasp his hand. "Yes, excellent - if somewhat unexpected - news," he said with a grin. Then it faded. "Also slightly confusing news, though. If I remember correctly, your most recent visit to Earth... uh... didn't end so well..." He trailed off uncertainly, clearly unsure how to voice his thoughts in an inoffensive manner.

With a rueful smile, Loki nodded. "I know. And that's why this happened. The Allfather, in his wisdom," - his lips twisted bitterly at the word - "decreed that I should be sent here with neither memory nor power until I had learned my lesson." His expression darkened. "I'm still not entirely certain how I feel about that."

Grainne leaned over and slipped an arm around his shoulders. "Well, I know how I feel about it. On the one hand, it was cruel and sadistic and smacks more of petty revenge than justice. On the other hand, if he hadn't done it, we wouldn't have met you. So if I ever meet him, I'm not going to know whether to punch him or hug him."

When the laughter this pronouncement incited died down, Loki said, "If you decide to punch him, just make sure I'm around to see it." Grainne chuckled and nodded.

Liz was looking thoughtful. "If your memories have come back, and your magic, then whatever... effect?... he put on you must have recognised that you'd learned something important." Loki looked at her with surprise and respect. In the turmoil of regaining his memories and the events that had followed, he hadn't given thought to what had broken the enchantment. "So what were you doing when your memories came back?"

He propped his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his hand while he thought about it. "I'd been thinking about what progress I'd made in discovering who I'd been. Or hadn't made, as the case might be. I'd decided that maybe it was time to stop trying, and just decide who I wanted to be from here on. To decide what I wanted to with my life without worrying about not knowing what I used to want." He shot Grainne a quick smile, then looked back to Greg and Liz. "I'd decided that a large part of that centred around your sister."

"Now that bit wasn'tentirely unexpected," Greg replied with a grin. "We've been watching you two dance around the topic for ages!" He looked over at Grainne, who was blushing but smiling. "I take it this isn't a surprising revelation to you?" he asked.

Grainne shook her head, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh no. We've already discussed it. At length." She slipped her hand into Loki's, her smile widening as he raised it to plant a soft kiss on the knuckles.

Liz snorted and muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, "So that's why you were late this morning!" They both gave her looks brimming with false innocence before all three started laughing.

Greg, on the other hand, was looking at Loki consideringly. At last he said, "I've come to like you a lot over these past few weeks, Loki, so I think we can speak plainly between ourselves." Loki schooled his expression to blankness. He didn't want to be at odds with Greg over this, knowing how much it would hurt his beloved, but he also wasn't prepared to just walk away. He met Greg's gaze with more calmness than he was feeling as the younger man said seriously, "You make her happy, I'm behind you one hundred per cent of the way. You hurt her, then god or not I'm going to dent your head with an axe."

Loki sat in surprised silence for a moment. Before his recent sojourn, a comment like that from a mortal would have drawn a response that was both swift and impressive. Now, though... He knew how deeply Greg and Grainne cared for each other, and how protective they were of each other's welfare. He could well imagine Greg giving a similar speech to any of his sister's suitors. The 'god or not' part suggested that Greg knew exactly how much chance he would have in such an encounter, but that he was gamely making the point anyway was both amusing and touching.

"I think you and I are going to get along just fine... brother," he replied with a smile. Greg grinned and leaned across to clap him on the shoulder.

Grainne shook her head with an exasperated huff as she watched the two of them. "I don't know whether to be flattered at the excess of chivalry, or offended at the suggestion that I can't wield my own damn axe!" she muttered.

Liz chuckled, then cocked her head at Loki. "So I take it this means you're staying with us?" she asked.

Loki nodded. "I certainly hope to. I've no wish to return to Asgard at present, and I'm enjoying the company." He cast a sidelong glance at Grainne and grinned. "Some of it immensely. Asgard can wait."