A/n. Thanks to everyone who is reading. And a big thanks to the folks who have taken time to review! To the anonymous reviewer of chapter nine, I actually hadn't planned on sharing Loki and Sif's past in this story. But for reference, I have always thought that at some point Sif pursued Loki, and he spurned her. And with as prideful as they both are, they just avoid addressing it altogether. I know that is still kind of vague, maybe they will get their own story at some point...;)

Chapter Ten

Lucy knew there were many definitions of love. By the time the day was over, she had experienced every single one.

I had been working hard all morning. My training had left me behind in a lot of my duties, and I knew it was going to take most of the day to catch up.

I was surprised to hear Frigga's voice behind me, I hadn't even heard her enter the room. "Lucy, I need to speak with you, can you come with me please?"

I followed her out, a bit confused, when we walked through her throne room and out to the hallway. She put her arm through mine as we walked.

I was starting to get nervous. She stopped outside of a room I had never been in. It was in the same wing as the family's quarters. I was more confused than ever when she opened the door and took me inside. It was a beautiful sitting room. On the right, it entered into a bedroom with a large bed. "Please sit Lucy." She motioned to a large overstuffed chair in the sitting room.

"Odin and I have been speaking with Loki. He has been telling us of all the wonderful things you have been learning. He is very proud of your progress." She smiled as he sat in a chair near me. "You will never know what it means to me." Her eyes shined with tears now. "To see my son happy. I have not seen him smile, like he does with you, since he was young." She paused. "Anyway, there will be time for that talk later."

She motioned around herself, "Do you know where you are Lucy?" I shook my head. "This, is to be your new home."

"I'm sorry your majesty, what are you talking about?" I thought I knew where this was going, but it just seemed too good to be true.

"Once Odin heard of the progress you have made, he decided it was time for you to attend school, and train to work here in the palace. If you choose to, you will be moving here to these quarters, and attending school full time."

"I don't know what to say." Tears were running down my face. She stood and held out her arms. I ran into them without hesitation. "Is this real?" I asked as she held me, and smoothed my hair.

She laughed, took my face in her hands, and replied, "yes Lucy. This is your home now. You will never need another. Why don't you look around."

I slowly walked around, besides the sitting room, there was a bedroom with a large bathroom and closet. It was perfect for me. "Kayla picked out your bedding and drapes. She was excited to be part of the surprise." I smiled as I thought of Kayla, I was grateful for her friendship. And she had done a wonderful job on my new room. But I had not seen anything yet. "There is a reason you are in this specific room. Loki chose it for you. Come and see what he did for you."

She walked to the opposite side of the sitting room to a door. I hadn't really even noticed it, and had assumed it was another closet. "This room was originally meant to be a dressing room. Loki has been working very hard to make it something else entirely." She opened the door and stepped aside.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Immediately there were tears streaming down my face. It was a library. Loki had made me my very own library. There was a large window with a window seat. The walls were lined with shelves that were already filled with books. There was a couch and ottoman, and a small fireplace. And finally a small table with two chairs. Sitting on the table, was the Asgardian children's book that I used to learn to read.

"Where is he?" I managed to say after a moment.

"He is in the training center with Thor. Would you like me to take you?"

"No thank you. I could use the fresh air. I will walk." I paused, "your Majesty.." I started. But she held up her hand to stop me.

"Just continue to make him happy. Can you do that?"

"I will be at his side, as long as he wishes me to be."

She wrapped her arms around me. "I have grown to love you my dear. Like you are my own."

I couldn't speak, so I just held her and whispered, "I love you too."

She walked me out to the main gate. "Be careful, and why don't you join us for dinner tonight."

"I would love to, your Majesty. Please thank Odin for his kindness." She nodded, and I headed towards the training arena.

I walked slowly. I couldn't believe this was all happening. My mind was completely distracted, I was entering the archway to the arena before I knew it. Suddenly something was...wrong. I felt anger, no, RAGE. From somewhere behind me. I could see Loki in the distance, and I moved more quickly in his direction.

I was grabbed from behind. He twisted my arm behind my back and covered my mouth when I tried to scream. I felt something in my wrist give, and gave a muffled cry of pain. He slammed me up against the wall in the archway, when he removed his hand from my mouth I tried to scream again, "Lok..!" was all I got out before he punched me hard in the stomach. I doubled over, he grabbed my neck and lifted me off he ground. I looked up, right into Fuldaar's eyes.

"There will be no escape for you this time. Your hero cannot hear you." He gripped tighter around my neck. "I will be killing you now. If I cannot have you, then Loki will certainly not."

I heard what he said, but the only thing that registered was the beginning, "your hero cannot hear you", I almost smiled. He was SO very wrong about that.

In my mind I called to him. I felt him respond, and I telepathically shouted with all the magic I could muster 'help me Loki'.

I tried to diffuse Fuldaar's anger, but I was weakening. But within seconds he was there. My rescuer. He grabbed Fuldaar around the neck and lifted him a foot off the ground. He dropped me immediately, and I fought to stay on my feet. Loki threw Fuldaar against the wall with enough force to kill a human man. I had never seen such rage in him.

He bent over Fuldaar grabbed his neck again and said, "I said I would take your tongue, your eyes, and your life. And STILL, here we are. Well you can keep your tongue, and eyes. But your life is mine." He lifted Fuldaar to his feet, and wrapped both hands around his neck. I tried to speak, to stop him, to ease his anger, but I was too weak.

My body sagged with relief as Thor and his friends came running over. Sif ran to me, to help me stand. Thor shouted at Loki, "brother, do not do this! I know you are angry. But better for this man to be punished, than for you to be imprisoned for murder."

I was so grateful, Thor managed to say what I could not. I reached for Loki, but he wasn't looking at me. He just stared straight into Fuldaar's terrified face.

Thor grabbed his brother holding him back as Gunnar, and another guard I didn't recognize approached us. "How can we help, your Majesty?" Gunnar asked.

"I don't exactly know what happened, but for some reason this man attacked Lady Lucy. Take him to the dungeons please."

"She is no Lady." I heard Fuldaar mutter. Loki roared, like a vicious animal and launched himself back at Fuldaar, Thor doing everything he could to hold him back.

"Take him now!" Thor shouted. He turned Loki around, put his hands on the back of his brother's neck, and put his forehead on Loki's. "Brother, you need to worry about Lucy right now. I will take care of this! Trust me, and take Lucy home! She needs medical attention."

It was this that seemed to snap Loki out of it. He turned to me, his face crumpling when he saw my condition. I was fading, but I reached for him. Sif let me go, and I stumbled into his arms.

He lifted me, and held me tightly against him. Finally feeling safe, I let the darkness claim me.

I could hear Frigga's voice. She was talking to Loki, about me. "There is nothing you can do here my love. She needs to rest. And your father is waiting to talk to you."

"I don't want to leave her. What if she wakes while I am gone?". He was sitting right next to me. I tried to send him a message. Telling him that I was okay. But I was too weak.

"If she wakes, I will call for you. But the doctor gave her some pretty strong pain medication, she shouldn't wake until the morning. Loki, go to your father. Explain what has happened. And then clean up, and get a good night's rest. If anything changes, I promise I will let you know."

"Can I have a minute alone with her, before I go please?".

"Of course. I will wait in here."

I felt him lean in close and lay his forehead on my shoulder. He took my hand in his. I was frustrated. I wanted to open my eyes, to hold him, to tell him I was going to be okay.

"I am so sorry Lucy. This is all my fault. I never should have trusted his word to leave you alone.". His voice cracked as he continued, and it broke my heart to hear him cry. I was struggling to stay conscious. I wanted to hear his voice. "The doctor says you will be alright in a few days. I have to leave for a while. But I promise I will be back as soon as I can." I was losing the battle to sleep, I could feel it overtaking me again. "I wish I could just stay here with you." He kissed me on the forehead and brushed my hair off my face. "I love...I love you little one." Did I hear that? Or was I dreaming? He was gone. I couldn't feel his presence anymore.

I slept. And I dreamed. We were in the garden. Laying under the tree. I was laying on his chest listening to him talk. Listening to his heartbeat. His arms around me. I smiled, feeling so content.

When suddenly he was gone. I was alone, and it wasn't the garden anymore. It was a dark place, with rock spires everywhere I looked. I saw him fighting. The creature was huge. Dark blue, with bright red eyes. I tried to call out his name, when the creature grabbed him by the arm. But no sound came from me. I watched the confusion on his face when his arm turned blue under the creatures touch.

Then I was in a long hallway. It looked like the palace, but it was not a room I recognized. I watched him walk towards a blue glowing box. With hesitation he picked it up, and I watched in amazement as he changed before my eyes. He was blue, with red eyes. Like the creature from before. No, not like that at all. He was just as beautiful as always, different, but beautiful. It took my breath away.

He was fighting again. Fully armored, his helm gleaming in the light. He looked so angry. I turned as he ran at someone with his staff in his hand. I was shocked to see Thor. I watched them fight, yelling at them both to stop. But they couldn't hear me.

Standing on bi-frost, behind Odin. I walked to the edge, and there was my Loki. Hanging on by a thread. Looking to Odin for reassurance. Finding none, and letting go. I was sobbing as I watched him fall.

I screamed "Loki no!" at the top of my lungs. And realized I was awake, sitting in a bed, in a strange room. No, MY room. It was still dark. I was alone. And I was crying my eyes out.

A/n. well there it is, my first attempt at some angst. We might be getting to some longer breaks between chapters, as I need to think about the details on a few things. But next will be Loki's pov of this chapter. And maybe even some kissing... Just sayin, stick around. ;)