Author's Note: Many thanks to my new followers and reviewers. You are the reason I do it all. Thank you for following "Avenging Olympus", your support is greatly appreciated. Please continue to review and enjoy!

"When we know love matters more than anything, and we know that nothing else REALLY matters, we move into the state of surrender. Surrender does not diminish our power, it enhances it." -Sara Paddison

Thor had always prided himself on his ability of control. In his youth he very rarely drank to excess and had always been able to restrain himself when it came to pleasures of the flesh. Thor was no stranger to the joys that women could provide, but he never was one for meaningless revelry. So why was it now that he could not stop thinking of her? Amara's form tortured his brain; he felt her lips, savored the feel of her body pressed to his. Electricity tingled through his body as he dreamt of all the things that he wanted to do to her. Then it was Jane. It was always Jane who interrupted these lurid thoughts with the vision of her sweet face and wide, innocent eyes.

"Damn my mortal desires." Thor muttered, ashamed of his unworthiness. Two women could not be more different. Jane, whose love he knew was pure, with her childish innocence and hope. Then Amara, lush and wicked, but a forbidden fruit he felt he could not resist. Thor strode over to his window, hoping that the churning sea would distract his wayward mind. The deep blue water was the same color as Amara's eyes. Thor grabbed his hammer and made for the door.

"You're grounded, Mister." Tony called from his permanent home in front of the television.

"I'll only be gone for an hour, my friend." Thor retorted over his shoulder.

Tony waved his fingers, coated with Cheeto dust, in a nonchalant farewell.

On the shores of the Pacific...

Amara loved the sea and the coasts of California were the perfect place to experience its power and beauty. The fine white sand packed sensuously under her feet; Amara wiggled her toes deeper into it. Amara closed her eyes and breathed in the salty air, allowing it to heavily fill her lungs. The wind picked up her hair and when she opened her eyes her silver dress had given way to the familiar deep blue. Amara smiled, relishing the warm sun kissing her bare shoulders and the way the water lapped her feet and calves as she waded into the surf. Amara leaned down to scoop the water, willing it to rise in a crystal-like fountain.

The stream followed Amara's hand and like an artist she traced patterns with it. With a flick her wrist the line of water fell to rejoin the ocean. She arched her back and held her arms out to the side. The sea reared up beneath her, bearing her across its surface like the prow of a ship with Amara as its living figurehead. Amara slowed to a halt farther offshore, the ocean swirling up to her waist, creating a small vortex about her waist and down her legs, keeping her aloft. Amara raised her arms, twisting her fingers languidly. The water danced up around her, trickling around her body like ribbons, playing at her fingertips. She giggled, humming a soft tune to herself.

A figure on the beach caught her eye. Amara dropped her arms in surprise; the ribbons of water fell to the waves with a soft splash. She recognized the intruder instantly, his fluttering red cape making a painfully obvious statement. Thor, Odin's son. Amara's mouth fell open in shock, suddenly self-conscious of her dancing; she clapped her arms to her sides and disappeared down the vortex. Beneath the waves, Amara composed herself. Stop acting like a child, he's just a man. An impossibly beautiful, strong, powerful… Amara shook her head quickly, her floating hair startling some fish. Amara moved through the water easily, making her way to the shore. Her feet touched down on the wet sand and despite the butterflies that fluttered in her chest, Amara focused on making her stride slow and confident. He was so close now. The water tumbled off her body in rivulets as she slid from the water.

"Greetings, Thor."

Thor nodded his proud head, "Amara."

"What brings you here?"

Thor scuffed his boot against the sand, "I do not know. I just followed my feet."

Amara regarded him warily, eyeing the hammer. "You're not going to throw that thing at me, are you?"

"No, I give you my word." Thor placed the hammer in the sand and held his empty palms out to her, a gesture of peace. He smiled roguishly, "You're not going to summon up the sea to swallow me, are you?"

Amara laughed; it was the most beautiful sound Thor had ever heard.

"I swear it." She mimicked his gesture of peace.

"Then we have reached a truce." Thor dropped his arms back to his sides.

"It appears so."

Thor watched her, taking note of her blue dress, "You look lovely, Amara."

Her blush and the way she gazed up at him through her lashes warmed him.

"Will you walk with me?" He held an arm out to her. Amara raised her chin, her eyes now proclaiming her authority.

"I will walk with you, son of Odin, but I have no need to hold your hand." She marched past him, making her way down the shoreline. "I am no damsel in distress."

Thor grinned, swooped down to grab his hammer, and chased after her. "I have to ask," he muttered once catching up to her, "where are you from, really?"

"I don't look human to you?" Amara raised an eyebrow.

Thor drank in the sight of her. Her damp hair clinging to her neck and shoulders, the blue gown soaked to her beautiful body. The salt of the sea crystallizing on her lovely skin.

"I've never seen a mortal who could compare." He uttered sincerely.

Amara glowed under his praise. "You are correct, Thor. I was not born of Earth, but it is my home for it is all I have left."

Her face became vacant, a new garment of palest silver replacing the soaked dress. Thor looked on in wonder but did not question her. All good things to those who wait. The pair walked on in silence, comfortable in each other's company but also wary.

Amara chuckled, "Do you remember when our bolts met?"

Thor cut his eyes to her, but did not break his stride. "I do."

"Wasn't that exhilarating?" she marveled.

Thor laughed heartily, "I suppose it was. If you disregard the being thrown into a wall, it was quite exhilarating."

Amara stopped abruptly, a wild grin on her face. "Let's try something."

Thor turned to question her, but she was already gone. He turned about, scanning the beach for her.

"Up here!" she called.

Thor looked up and grinned. Amara hovered aloft in a massive chariot, drawn by two mighty stallions. Their grey coats and dark manes the color of the storm clouds that now swirled above them. Amara clapped the reins on their wide backs and the horses bolted forward, racing upwards into the churning storm. Thunder rumbled deeply. Thor smiled brightly, spinning his hammer, lifting off to follow her into the fray. The driving rain slapped his face, blurring his vision. Amara pulled up alongside him, the thundering of her coursers hooves drowned out by the clap of thunder.

"You first" she called over the clamor.

Thor pushed his hammer forward, sending a bolt of lightning into the crashing waves below. Amara laughed and dove straight for the sea. Thor watched in awe of her daring; she was moving too fast, she would be unable to pull up in time. Amara yanked on the reins, the wheels of her chariot shuddering on the waves as she leveled out. She grinned over her shoulder at a smirking Thor as a brilliant shock of lightning materialized in her hand. She hurled it up into the clouds, watching the sky light up.

For hours they played this game. Diving and racing through the storm, throwing brilliant light against the clouds. Thor alighted behind Amara in the chariot.

"May I?" He gestured to the silver reins.

With a smile Amara passed the reins to her passenger. Thor grinned and looped an arm around her waist.

"Hold steady," he whispered gruffly.

Amara settled back against his armored chest, a smile curling her lips. At long last, Thor drove the chariot back down to the shore. Amara waved the apparition away, allowing herself to be held for awhile. Thor tightened his arms around her, holding her close. He feared he held her too firmly but he was more afraid that if he loosened his grip, she would disappear as the chariot had.

"I do not understand," he whispered against her hair.

"Understand what?" she murmured into his chest.

"I feel you. You're burned into my mind." He held her by the shoulders, invading her ocean eyes with his ice blue stare. "I cannot love you, it is not pure. But I will not stay away from you."

His words hurt, but Amara dared not betray it. "I am not asking for your love, son of Odin."

Thor's hands fell away from her in surprise as a course travel cloak replaced the smooth frailty of her skin. The wind howled around them. She took a step away from him and without a glance back, allowed herself to be carried away by a gale of wind.

Seattle, Washington...

Papers littered the floor, books stacked on nearly every available surface and the computer monitor humming lazily. Lauren perched on the windowsill with her favorite meal (a Coke Zero) and stared out at the bustling streets below. Pike Place Market was so busy this time of year. Lauren eyed an Asian gentleman slowly biking down the street with his precious bread and cheese cargo.

"Well, aren't you classy," she muttered through a long swig. Swinging off of her perch, she skated across the room in her stocking feet to Dr. Foster's notebook. Or what was left of it. Currently all of the pages were ripped out and taped to the fridge. Lauren eyed the equations thoughtfully as she grabbed for her paints. She tapped the horsehair brush to her lips, unaware of the green paint that now marred her face.

"So I need a nuclear reactor… and about a million dollars." Lauren yanked a breakdown of the cosmic process off the fridge, scanning it. "Scratch that, I need a Sun, and a Mars, and one Orion to go."

She plopped down in front of her ancient computer.

"Fuck you, Facebook," she muttered, clicking the "Log Off" option. One Google search later, Lauren had her date and time. Time to get ready.