A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed or messaged me comments! I appreciate it.

Quite a few people commented on my characterization of Odin, so I thought I'd share my viewpoint. What little we see of Odin in the first Thor movie was rather different than what he became in the third movie. He has a certain degree of arrogance, and he's definitely stern and even authoritarian at times. But I don't see how his sons would love him so much if he were the kind of jerk that many people write him out to be. I see him as a firm parent, strict and demanding. If you're not doing your best, then what you've done isn't good enough. If you've put everything you can into achieving something, then he's proud of you and what you accomplished.

Loki's view of himself always being in Thor's shadow is in some ways younger child syndrome. It can't be that their parents always gave Thor preference, simply that Loki felt he could never measure up to Thor. They are two very different people, after all. It's like being the younger brother of the high school football star when you'd rather be in the science lab... ;)

Anyway, enjoy the new chapter! It is a little shorter than the past couple, but not by too much. Mostly because I don't feel the need to keep repeating the first few chapters. And please keep reviewing!


Chapter 8

Jane spent over an hour telling Odin, Frigga and their advisors about the things she had experienced over the last several weeks. The meeting had gotten off to a rocky start, with several of the advisors objecting to the presence of a mere mortal and a female one at that. Loki smirked at their prejudice and rather enjoyed listening to Jane tell them off. She'd beaten Odin with the speed of her reply.

"Surely she cannot have more to tell us than Thor would," one had objected as Odin led her to a seat at the table.

"Well, since Thor wasn't the one speaking with the Tesseract, I don't know who else is going to tell you about that," Jane snapped. She hadn't ever thought she had an inner feminist, but she was well used to derision. "Maybe you should wait to hear what I have to say before you dismiss me as 'merely' mortal, you know? I'd have thought you Asgardians with your long lives would've learned a little patience and tolerance by now." A shocked silence was her only answer for several long moments; she'd even startled herself with the vehemence of her words. Then Jane saw Loki's lips quirk into a small smile and relaxed marginally.

"You will have to forgive them, Lady Jane," Frigga spoke up finally with a small smile. "We have no record of anyone ever speaking with the Tesseract, neither Asgardian nor mortal. But please be patient with us and we will listen to what you have to say." Frigga's voice was gentle but firm, and none of the advisors dared naysay the Queen.

So Jane told them about what she experienced. It was a long tale, and several of her listeners seemed skeptical at points. She tried very hard to focus on her story, but as she spoke she couldn't help but hear some unspoken thoughts from others in the room. Few of them complimentary, some of them rather snide. But they weren't spoken aloud, and Jane felt she could hardly take offense at something not said. It was difficult to keep her composure, though. Thor vouched for her honesty and told his parts of the tale as well, and that helped to quell some of what she "heard".

Loki remained silent through most of the tale-telling. He had heard it all the night prior, of course, and he did not feel that Odin's counselors would respond well to his input. They never had before, so why think they would begin now.

As his thoughts drifted, Loki realized that he had not managed to lose the attention of the entire room. Though everyone listened to Jane, and occasionally Thor, tell the tale, Frigga's eyes remained on Loki much of the time. When he met her gaze she smiled at him; a warm, brilliant smile that said everything she had not yet been able to. She was happy he had returned, and she had missed him. He could tell just from her eyes.

Loki managed to return her smile with a small one of his own. Though the future was full of uncertainty, this was the only home he had ever known. He had never wanted to lose his family, he simply wanted to be accepted for himself. To make his parents as proud of him as they had always been proud of Thor.

Jane slanted a look at Loki while Thor was speaking. For whatever reason, his silent musings were somewhat more apparent to her than the others. She didn't hear everything, of course; he actually seemed to be better than most at keeping his thoughts to himself. But when he wasn't paying attention, rather a lot got through to her.

She wished for a way to block it all out. Perhaps with its long history and obvious use of magic, someone on Asgard had once had an ability like her. Perhaps it wasn't all that rare - though Thor had seemed rather taken aback by it - and there would be someone who could actually teach her. Jane decided she would have to do some investigating.

"Thank you, Lady Foster," Odin spoke into the silence after Jane and Thor stopped speaking. "We will have to carefully consider these events before we determine a course of action." With that, the meeting broke up. The men broke up into smaller groups and left the room a few at a time, discussing what they had heard.

Jane gave a sigh of relief and leaned back into her chair with her eyes closed. She was glad that was over, though she suspected it was only the beginning. She just had to find a way to block out other people's thoughts. It would make her more comfortable. She felt the weight of someone's eyes on her and slowly opened her eyes to find the All-Father regarding her steadily.

"Forgive me, Lady Foster, but I have one more question I must ask you," Odin began. Jane nodded and waited for whatever he wanted to ask. She suspected she knew what it would be, but amazingly enough she could not hear his thoughts before he spoke. "Where is the Tesseract now?"

"I have her here with me," Jane replied readily enough. "We all felt it would be safer here in Asgard than on Earth - I mean Midgard," she went on. "She - the Tesseract - has told me that there have been some few in the past with the ability to hear her speak; she hopes there will be one among whatever guardians you feel she needs."

"I have never before heard of such a thing," Odin said thoughtfully. "But if it is at all possible, I will consider it."

Jane smiled and nodded. She picked up her bag from the floor beside her chair and brought the Tesseract out, again without touching it. She let the cube housing it settle onto the table in front of her.

"You have not touched it again since the first time, have you?" Frigga asked softly as she stepped over to Odin's left.

"No, Your Majesty, I have not," Jane replied.

"There is no need for such formality when it's just family, Lady Jane," Frigga admonished gently, but with a small smile.

"Yes, ma'am," Jane replied, a hint of color in her cheeks. "But, no, I generally try not to touch her directly. I know she didn't hurt me the first time but I don't know what will happen the second time. Perhaps nothing, but I'd rather be cautious."

"A wise choice," Odin agreed; he, too, had little desire to see what might happen to a mortal in repeated contact with such a device. He carefully transferred it to an empty platter on the table and picked it up himself. "I will take this to the Vault for safe keeping."

Do you have to be nearby to talk to me? Jane asked the Teseract silently.

No. I can reach across vast distances; if you call, I will hear. That was strangely reassuring to know.

If you need me, call, Jane replied. She knew it was unlikely, but it made her feel better to say it.

"Perhaps we should go freshen up before supper; after all this time speaking you must be weary." Frigga held out her hand to Jane who took it hesitantly and got to her feet. Frigga tucked Jane's hand into the curve of her arm and together the two women left the meeting hall.

Left alone together, Odin and his sons regarded each other in silence for a long moment. "You are both free to come and go as you please," Odin began, "but you may not leave Asgard until this situation is resolved," he said firmly. "And I expect to see you at dinner; we still have much to discuss as a family."


TBC...