(Author's Note: GUYS I AM SO SORRY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. My life has been so crazy. Everything has started to get real with choosing where I'm going to college, and work, and other stuff and uugghhh... So yeah. BUT I promise I'm still here! And to prove it, here's the next chapter! :) And be ready for the one after this, because it is about to get so real... Seriously, my plot is just now getting started, and it's a doozy. So without further ado, enjoy!)

Chapter 10

Thor had waited a couple of days after speaking to Heimdall before he went to Midgard. He spoke to Sif and the Warriors Three about what Heimdall said about Loki and the Black Magic he carried with him.

"Black Magic?" Volstagg had questioned. "What sort?"

"I do not know," Thor replied. "Heimdall cannot see it clearly. I hesitate to go to Midgard because Loki will wonder for my reason. I do not want him to think I am suspicious of him."

"Pretend you are there for your lady friend," suggested Fandral. "That would be enough reason for me."

"Perhaps wait a few moons," Hogun said. "To see if Heimdall can collect any more information." Everyone seemed to agree, and so Thor waited. And as it so happened, two days later, Heimdall was able to see a bit more.

"What is it Heimdall; do you have news?" Thor asked, entering the observatory after being called.

"I do," Heimdall replied. "About your brother."

"Out with it then, my friend," Thor said.

"I have come to believe that Loki is not carrying this dark power by his own will," Heimdall said calmly. Thor was silent for a moment, trying to decipher what Heimdall might mean by that statement.

"Do you mean you think he is being manipulated?" Thor asked. Heimdall nodded slowly.

"By whom?"

"I cannot see it."

"…I need to go now, don't I?" Heimdall turned his head to Thor and nodded once.

"I see fear," he said. Thor sighed, fearing what he would encounter on Midgard.

"Very well," he replied. "Farewell Heimdall. If anything should change in Father, send me back up immediately."

"Of course," Heimdall assured him, as Thor made his way in front of the bifrost. Heimdall pushed his golden sword into its pedestal, and Thor was transported down to Midgard. He had landed only a short distance from Stark tower and had first announced his presence on the planet to Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, and Steve Rogers. Apparently they had been having a banquet before he arrived.

Now, Thor was sitting in the conference room of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters with all four of them; he had asked for a meeting.

"This is pretty much all of us," said Banner. "Romanoff and Fury are…sick."

"And so is Pepper," Stark added.

"I am sorry for your losses," Thor replied. There was a silence, until Thor picked up the conversation again. "I have come here because my brother is up to something."

"Really?" asked Stark. "He seems so normal."

"Normal?" inquired Thor.

"Yeah. You know: rude comments, threats, screwing Emmeline in my hallway last night; nothing out of the ordinary."

"Well, Heimdall has informed me that Loki carries a dark magic with him and he is being manipulated by a higher power."

"Oh," said Stark. "That isn't good."

"Wait; what is he doing though?" Rogers asked.

"I do not exactly know, but Heimdall told me I was needed to investigate further. The reason I am telling you this is because I need you to make certain that Loki does not know I am suspicious of him."

"You got it," Stark said, leaning back in his chair and putting his feet on the table. "And while you're here you might want to check up on your science babe, she's chomping at the bit to get to see you."

Thor smiled as he was reminded of Jane. He had missed her immensely; he couldn't wait to see her smiling face and hold her in his arms. Hopefully she wouldn't be too angry about his long absence.

"Will you tell us if you find anything out?" asked Banner.

"Of course," Thor replied. "I just do not know how I will go about this investigation."

Loki woke up early that morning with Emmeline lying next to him, still asleep. How could a person look so beautiful even in sleep? Loki smiled to himself as he looked at her. Her face was flawless and her hair was in a mess on the pillow. How strange it is, Loki thought, to need someone this much. His very existence depended on her. He looked at her lips; they were thin and red, and Loki knew from much experience that they were soft. He wanted to kiss them, but he did not should he disturb her.

Eventually Loki couldn't stand it any longer and he softly kissed her awake. She smiled when she opened her eyes.

"Loki," she murmured. "Don't, I haven't brushed my teeth. My breath probably smells like shit."

"It does not," Loki replied, positioning himself on top of her. "You look exceptionally lovely this morning." Emmeline giggled, smiling up at him.

"What time is it?" she asked. Loki looked at the Midgardian clock and read the numbers.

"6:04 a.m.," he replied.

"Wow, it's so early. I'll bet Sigyn's still asleep, so we better be quiet." Loki kissed her again, longer this time.

"I'd say that's quiet enough," he said, grinning. Emmeline put her arms around the back of his neck and kissed him tenderly.

"You know I read somewhere that kissing makes you live longer," said Emmeline softly. Loki touched his forehead to hers.

"Well then I'll kiss you to live ten thousand years," he replied, pressing his lips to hers once more.

Loki hardly took a breath in between kisses; he kissed her all over. He kissed her forehead, her eyes, her nose, her lips and her neck. She sighed sweetly as he kissed down to her chest. He caressed her hips and slipped his hand into her panties. She sat up and pulled him to her face and kissed his mouth, her hair falling over her bare shoulders. Loki pressed his hands into her back; he couldn't be close enough to her it seemed. Emmeline kissed him more ferociously and he grabbed at her, breathing fast as he kissed her with all his energy.

Then the doorbell rang.

"Ah…fuck," Loki said.

"Maybe if we don't answer they'll go away," suggested Emmeline. Loki began to kiss her again but then there was a banging on the door.

"BROTHER! Brother are you in there? It is I!"

Loki sighed in irritation. Thor always showed up at the most inconvenient times.

"You have to answer the door because I still look like a bag of smashed assholes," Emmeline said.

"For one thing, no you do not. And for another thing, I really don't want to," Loki replied. He was anxious about Thor's purpose for coming down to Midgard. With Odin in the condition he was, Loki knew Thor must have a good reason. He couldn't possibly know anything, could he? Of course not, Loki reassured himself.

"Please?" Emmeline whined. "I look really gross. I need to get ready. You look fine because you always look beautiful no matter what, but I have to work very hard. Show some respect." Loki smirked at her.

"Fine," he grumbled. He stood up and put his pants on.

Loki opened the door and Thor stood there with an obnoxious blonde smile on his face.

"Loki!" he exclaimed, patting his brother on the back. Loki gave Thor a fake smile.

"Thor, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I came to see Jane and I also wished to see your child," Thor replied. Loki stepped back to let Thor in and ran a hand through his hair. He honestly did not believe that that was Thor's only reason for coming all the way down to Midgard, but he went along with it.

"Well, I believe she is still asleep at this time," Loki said. "But no doubt Emmeline will be pleased to see you. …How is Odin?"

"Stable. Nothing really has changed."

"Oh, well," Loki remarked awkwardly.

After a moment, Emmeline entered the room with a smile on her face and her arms outstretched to embrace Thor. Loki looked away; he knew Thor was not interested in her but it still bothered him for her to be so close to another man.

"Thor, how are you and what are you doing here?!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.

"He came for Jane and Sigyn," Loki answered for him.

"Well Sigyn should be waking up soon," Emmeline replied, speaking to Thor. He changed the subject.

"I hear that the plague spreads here," he said.

"Yeah," Emmeline replied. "But we're hangin' in there."

"It is good fortune that you are not affected by it."

"Well Jane said it wasn't contagious, so I don't know how it's spreading."

"That is funny," Thor said. "The plague no longer spread in Asgard. Shortly after you left it died out."

"Huh, weird. Do we offend?" Emmeline joked. Thor laughed.

"Father is still in the odinsleep," he said.

"Perhaps it is for the best," Loki said bitterly. "Otherwise he would be sticking his nose in our lives and bothering us." That bothered Thor.

"You do not wish for his recovery?"

"I do not wish him to die; I just think it is most convenient that he is asleep. Don't you prefer it Thor? He isn't preaching to you about what a good king does?" Thor tightened his fists and huffed.

"No I do not! How could you say that?" Emmeline spoke up.

"Guys come on, please don't fight. Can't you get through ten minutes without arguing?" Loki crossed his arms.

"I believe I reserve the right to aggravate anyone I wish in my own home," he protested. Emmeline looked at him, not amused. Loki smirked.

Just then, the three of them heard Sigyn crying from her room.

"Mama mama mama!" she said.

"I'll get her," Emmeline said to Loki as she left the room. Loki looked intently at Thor.

"What is the real reason you're here, Thor? I know well that visitation is not a good enough reason for you, especially with Odin in his condition." If Thor was suspicious of him, Loki wanted to know. Then he could determine what to do, and how Thor found out something was going on.

"I know not what you mean," Thor replied.

"Do you think me an idiot?" Loki snapped. He stood closer to Thor and looked at him with malice in his eyes. "I ask you because Emmeline is back there and I do not want to worry her. She is not in good mental health, and if you are here on some sort of trouble then I need to know."

"Why do you act like this?" Thor asked. "Loki who is commanding your actions?" He knew. Thor definitely knew part of what was going on. Loki was enraged.

"I am!" he yelled. "Who gave you the right to come down here and make accusations at me?!"

"I am not accusing you of anything," Thor replied. "But if you do not understand, then tell me why you think I am here on some other business than I have said." Loki said nothing; he just looked at his brother threateningly.

Then Emmeline returned with baby Sigyn in her arms. Thor smiled at her and they both tried to act as if nothing was wrong.

"How she has grown!" Thor exclaimed. Sigyn hid her face in Emmeline's hair.

"Are you shy?" Emmeline asked her. "You wanna say hi to Uncle Thor?"

"No," Sigyn said. Thor chuckled.

"No? Come on, he's nice." Sigyn peeked at Thor and he smiled at her. She smiled back and Emmeline set her on the floor. Thor sat on the floor as well and Sigyn crawled over to him.

"That's Thor," Emmeline told her.

"Tor?" Sigyn pat Thor's leg.

"Hello small one," Thor said. "Your hair is getting so long and beautiful." Loki watched his daughter, an adorable smile on her face. Her red curls were now almost to her shoulders. He sat on the floor too.

"Dad-dee!" Sigyn exclaimed, crawling to Loki. He smiled at her and picked her up.

"You look pretty this morning," he told her, kissing her forehead.

"She is wonderful," Thor said to Emmeline. "Has she inherited any of your powers?"

"She is a Frost Giant," Loki said. He shifted into his Jotun form and Sigyn turned a light shade of blue with him. She laughed.

"Fascinating," Thor said.

Emmeline watched in anticipation the laboratory where Jane was working veraciously. Jane didn't know Thor was here, and he was about to surprise her. Emmeline was very happy for her; she knew how she would feel if Loki had to be gone for long periods of time. She grasped his hand; he was sitting right beside her.

"Hey Jane, have you been working on the origin of the plague this whole time?" Emmeline asked her.

"Yeah," she replied. "I just can't understand it; and that drives me crazy. I have to understand."

"There are some things no one can understand," Loki said.

"Maybe so, but this…this can't be one of those things," Jane replied. She was so focused, Emmeline wondered if she'd even notice when Thor came into the room. Right now he was with Barton and Coulson, and they were to show him where Jane was working.

"So Spaceman, do you like your planet or our planet better?" Darcy asked Loki. He turned his head to look at her.

"I don't have a preference," he replied. "Wherever Emmeline is, I guess."

"Aw," Emmeline said, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Hey guys, I think she needs a diaper change," said Dr. Selvig, coming toward Emmeline with Sigyn. She took the baby girl and stood up.

"I'll be right back," she told Loki.

"Mommy," Sigyn said.

"That's right," Emmeline cooed to her, kissing her on her forehead. As much as she loved it when her friends wanted to hold Sigyn, she was happiest when her daughter was in her arms.

She took Sigyn to the table in the back of the room and laid a blanket down before setting her on it. Loki came up from behind her and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I can take this one," he said.

"Oh, really?" Emmeline replied. "Okay." She moved aside and let Loki tend to Sigyn. Emmeline smiled to herself; how sweet he was. Seeing him smile and talk to the baby girl was priceless.

"Oh my God," said Jane suddenly. Emmeline looked up to see Thor standing in the doorway. Jane looked at him incredulously for one second, and she was in his arms the next. She burst into tears and put her hands on Thor's face.

"Where have you been?" she said, grasping him and kissing him. Thor chuckled. "How dare you…" Thor wrapped his arms around her.

"I missed you Jane," he said.

"Oh God you have no idea," Jane replied. Darcy trotted up to Thor as well and he gave her a hug.

"You've been gone a long time, Ken," she said. "Barbie has been waiting forever." Thor smiled and Jane laughed.

Emmeline looked to Loki, who was now holding Sigyn upright. He met her gaze.

"I don't know what I would do if you had to leave me all the time," she said. Loki put his arm around her waist.

"I couldn't live, my love," he said, planting a kiss on her cheek.