Hi everyone, here is chapter eight and I really hope you all enjoy it very much. It was a pleasure to write. This chapter is for Thane (Thor&Jane).

Also a note to a guest calling themselves 'Lokitty': Thanks so, so much for the marvelous review, it means a lot to me that my story is being so deeply enjoyed! Also yes, there will be a bit of a love triangle between Loki, Sigyn and Darcy. And I think the Loki/Darcy ship is commonly called TaserTricks.


Walk down this road

Cross the boundary

Leave fear behind

You are the one I want to love

Chapter VIII: Thor and Jane

There was a light chill in the air, but that was refreshing and Jane breathed it with pleasure. She had an arm hooked through her boyfriend's, their hands interlocked. She leaned her head on the edge of his shoulder, it was just that tiny bit too high for her.

Thor was looking at ease, dressed like a Midgardian, his hair tied back, his step easy and happy. He turned his head to look at her as she rested her head and kissed the top of her hair.

'I've been thinking,' he said.

'Mmm?' murmured Jane inquiringly, looking dreamily at the street ahead of them.

'I have to settle Loki somewhere.'

Jane raised her head,' let him settle himself,' she said briskly.

'I can't, people could get hurt.'

Jane sighed,' I can't believe we are going through all this trouble to protect one of the vilest criminals around.'

'That criminal is my brother.'

'He remains a criminal,' Jane paused, then went on,' but I know he matters to you. Did you have any ideas?'

Thor shook his head,' short of a forgiveness plea there is no way I think of to keep him safe from father and the law of Asgard, excepting with Heimdall's assistance.'

'How long can Heimdall keep it up?'

'As long as needed, but one house is not sufficient for Loki to live in and Heimdall can't hide whole cities without father noticing.'

Jane was thoughtful, then she commented,' Loki is rather a master of illusion is he not? Surely there is some place where it'd be easier to hide and where he could manage it?'

Thor's eyes lit up,' Jane you are truly wise!' he exclaimed,' Jotunheim is the place, there Loki could hide from Heimdall himself if he wished.'

'You sure?' asked Jane, looking up brightly.

'Positive, he has done so in the past.'

'Would they let him live there do you suppose, being a traitor and son of Odin?'

'They won't care for his betraying Asgard or Midgard...' Thor stopped,' but he did betray them too,' he said slowly,' ah no,' he drew a long breath,' it would take something to have them except him.'

'Why so?'

'The blood of their late king is on his hands.'

'But surely in a time or war they would understand, if it were under Odin's orders...'

'No, it was his own choice and it was done with deception and sly planning. Nay, they will not see past that with ease and who can blame them?.'

There was a pause, then Jane spoke,' not with ease, but maybe they could be persuaded?'

Thor nodded,' they might,' he agreed,' they just might.'

They bought an ice-cream each down town later and sat on a park bench together licking them and enjoying the scenery. Jane didn't know when she had been more content than these last few months. After their frightening episode with the Ether and Malekith she had seen Thor so often, when he was not out of town saving the world with the Avengers. It was nice to have him not whisk off in silence to Asgard and to wonder if he had forgotten her.

The fact that Loki was now in the house and that his troubles were Thor's distressed her. That Thor should banish himself from Asgard on account of Loki was so unfair it set all her heart raging. That Loki's villainy should so rub off on others.

She drew in a deep breath. The fact that it mattered to Thor made all the difference. She could not ask him to stand back when the brother he loved was in peril and perhaps, despite everything, Thor felt he owed Loki on her own account. Back on the Dark World Loki had nearly died saving her life, knocking her aside and being sucked into a whirlwind. That at lest seemed to have been an act of kindness on his part. For what other reason could he have to protect her at the possible cost of his own life but love for Thor who loved her?

Certainly she, on her account, owed him a kind of thanks and Thor, on his, would give that thanks weather deserved or scorned.

Darcy, she thought, had been very kind to Loki. It rather surprised her as Darcy was rather one to be uncommonly fond of poking fun at people and her compassion to Loki had shown a maturity Jane had never seen in her before. She might have thought more of it had she seen Loki and Ian cast dark looks toward one another, or had she seen the inclinations of her friend's heart, a thing Darcy herself had taken to no account, not even realising that her compassion for the villain was the herald of something deeper.

Thor's own reflections lent on a different line. He was a spoiled Asgardian prince who was used to taking all things for granted. The love of a mortal could hardly have succeeded in astonishing his mind but the more he grew to know Jane the more he realised that in her he had more than the mortal just falling for the outer space alien with a fancy hammer and the ability to fly.

Indeed she had first taken an interest in him without his hammer and super powers and he knew how now she loved him with or without them. She loved science and the fact that he could tell her of other worlds had been a great part of his charm. But it was not power and greatness that tugged at the heart of Jane Foster. It was beauty and the idea of other worlds full of their own mysteries. She had no wish, he knew, to step in and take those great things, only to watch and study them, delighting in their qualities.

This was why she was so dear to him. Tired of the powerful and grandness of Asgard he had been taken in with the simple pleasure, the wide eyes and amazed face. The love of nature and the beauty of worlds untainted with death caused by the love of power and greatness.

How strong, Thor realised, she stood in contrast to that other person whom he loved next best in the world. Loki was eaten with love of power, giddy with the desire of being revered. But along with these Loki was like Jane in one small way. How many times when they were young had that strange brother of his not caught a butterfly between his figures and watched it sail into the air or brushed a hand through the petals of flowers, while Thor and his other friends fenced and tried to learn the art of battle.

Loki's first brutishness was born of that greatest fault which slipped into his heart and which he allowed to swallow him. Jealousy. The killer of all the beauty in the world. Turning the colours of blue, green, yellow and red to black cinder, turning the taste of all that was good to ash in his mouth. So had the jealous nature of Loki been born and had focused itself onto two people. His brother and his father.

With what blackness had that nature not caught him up and run, leaving so little one could hardly yet see the old boy who had run in the fields of reeds, swung his throwing knifes with skill and raced Thor down the rainbow bridge, laughing and casting illusions ahead of him to keep his brother at a constant loss for where he really was.

LokiOdinson of Asgard had died long before Thor saw it. The colour of his world drifting and taking the fresh, happy colour of his cheeks with it, leaving the toneless man who now wandered without purpose, only wanting power and gain. His desire to have Odin's love had turned to hate of the man, who, had he tried to offer that love now, would have got it spat back into his face. Loki defied his need of love, of any creature.

Had Thor known the words his mother had last spoken to Loki he might have seen how much she summed her son up in a short sentence.

'Always so perceptive, about everyone but yourself.'

But Thor had never heard these words and could not sum his brother's madness so easily, except to see the crying gap of difference between the two he loved. Jane who made him happy and Loki who burnt him with pain.

Jane's voice now broke in on his reflections with a comment of,' I think it might rain.'

Thor looked up toward the sky and saw the dark clouds which loomed down on the park.' Perhaps we should take shelter in a diner,' he said,' and take some lunch.'

Jane nodded her agreement and they set off together. The rain came pouring down moments later and set them both running for shelter, hands interlinked.

They hurried into a diner and both looked with relief as the door shut and closed out the rain. Jane pulled a clean handkerchief from her bag and dried her face with it, then turned to Thor.

'Shall we find a seat?' she asked.

He nodded and they moved over to a private booth in the corner which circled like the letter C and had a small table in front. They slipped behind the table and both sat down on the rather cushy red bench.

A waiter came over with two menus and setting them down departed with an order from Jane for two coffees. Thor poured over the menu, his eye scanning for the much loved shramer. Not finding any he turned his attention on the meats and settled for a steak with potatoes. Jane decided in favor of the same and the waiter, returning with the coffee, was dispatched with the order for lunch.

Both then took up their coffee and sipped in silence awhile. It was Thor who at last broke the pause.

'Jane,' he began seriously, leaning across and taking up one of her hands.

'Thor?' she smiled at him, inquiry on her bright face.

'We have known one another for some time now and I'm ready and I only hope you are likewise.'

Jane's face flushed with excitement and a warm colour filled her cheeks. She only gave her head the slightest nod but her face said it all.

'Jane Foster,' Thor drew a box from his pocket and snapping it open displayed a ring, filigree worked in fine silver,' I know in your world people gives rings with diamonds, in mine we offer bracelets with filigree. At first I thought to offer both but then it came to me; we are crossing the greatest boundary of culture and nationality there is and we should not try be both our worlds, but rather mix them. So I bought a Midgardian ring, styled the Asgardian way and I beg you except it, my hand, my heart, all I have and become my wife Jane.'

Jane eagerly closed her fingers over his,' you really thought deeply about this didn't you?' she said.

'With great care.'

She caught a laugh of joy in her throat and leaning over she got in a small,' yes, with all my heart,' and they kissed. He slipped the ring on her finger and she, looking down at it leaned her head on his shoulder.

'A hundred and more wonderful Asgardian woman would have had you,' she said,' why me?'

'Because you already had me,' he closed his hand over her's again,' because my heart belonged to you and I knew it was where I too should be.'

'And your father?'

'This is not his choice to make, it's mine and yours and I challenge him to dare to interfere.'

'Oh,' Jane gave a light laugh,' considering his life span he won't have to put up with me for so long.'

A stab of pain shot through Thor's heart and he held her closer,' surrender is not in my nature,' he murmured very softly,' I will not let you go so easily my darling Jane.'

More to Come! (Next up how Loki and Darcy spent their day.)

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