Hi everyone! Let me say sorry, for the long wait with this. I haven't been able to write for months.

##############Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.##################

Loki strode down the halls and stairs to the dungeon. Without his helm and cape, forgoing the trappings of king, he walked without guards or escorts. When he reached the dungeon, he waved away the guards there, leaving him alone in the long hall he was once very familiar with. He walked slowly, silently, though if accused of sneaking he would have denied it.

Standing outside the glowing barrier of Sigyn's cage, he watched her. He was under no illusion that she didn't know someone was there, but he didn't announce himself, allowing her to acknowledge him at her leisure. She sat at her small table, her back to him, writing.

But for all that Loki had grown into him self, his patience was still that of a man raised as prince and now king. Short. He cleared his throat lightly, and arched an eyebrow when she sighed.

"Yes, Loki?"

He was the one outside the cell, the one who had arrived silently, and the one looking at her. Yet she was the one who surprised him. She didn't turn, but rather continued to write. "What have you done? Why do none of your supporters request your freedom?"

Finally, her dark head lifted and her face turned towards him. "Oh? Is that a problem?"

He nodded, trying to ignore the way his eyes traced her face, absorbing the sight of her. "Is there a threat on your life? Is that why you cannot leave?"

She stood, waving a hand so the paper and quill rolled themselves up before vanishing, and took a few steps towards him. "No. I was under the assumption that you are the reason I cannot leave. Am I not still prisoner?" Her expression was expectant, innocent and yet still full of guile.

Loki was struck with the thought that she was a perfect queen. He was born and raised a prince and yet still had fought and lost and tricked and schemed to claim the throne. She was born into court, never expecting or wanting to be queen, and yet she perfectly suited the role she had been thrust into.

"You..." He exhaled slowly, keeping his gaze on her despite tilting his head down. "You are not." He waved a hand, summoning a guard who then released the barrier holding her confined. The guard was then dismissed, and he looked at her for the first time without anything, not the glistening barrier or the filter of dreams and gazing mediums, between them.

Sigyn's hair curled softly around her head, held back from her face by a thin band, her eyes a soft golden color, her skin gently luminous from the lights around her, body back to the curves that were so different from other Asgardian women. She was dressed in a plum colored gown, with silver threads and edgings, with flat plum slippers.

He ached to have the relationship they had before; to be able to take her in his arms and hold her, to kiss her, to speak with her as they once had. Things were so stiff and formal between them, Loki wondered if they could ever be... Happy? Together? More than the strangers they were now...

"Thank you, My Lord."

Loki was jolted from his thoughts, from his observation of her, by her words. She gave him a sad smile and began to slip by him. "Where are you going?"

She hesitated. "I am free. My options are many."

"You are not my prisoner." Loki smirked. "But you are not free. You are my wife and I am your king. You will remain here, in the palace. With me."

Her eyes were flinty when she turned to slowly meet his gaze. "If you think you can keep me here with anything other than this cell, you have become delusional."

Loki's jaw flexed, knowing she was correct. If she wanted to leave, he could do many things, but she would eventually get past any precautions he took to keep her. And trying to do so would only damage their relationship even more. Stretching his neck he gave her a baleful stare. "Very well."

His teeth hurt from clenching them so tightly. "If not here, where will you go?"

Sigyn moved slowly down the hall towards the exit. "I had thought of going to Midgard," She paused, then corrected herself, "Earth. Visit with Thor and tell him of the changes here. I don't think he knows."

The way she watched him, assessing his reaction, was the only thing that kept him from exploding. As it was, he felt his blood rising, the pressure in his chest and head increasing tenfold, the muscles of his arms tensing as if preparing for violence. He knew the air had grown heavy with malevolent energy, but he forced himself to grit out a civil response. "Oh?" Not his most eloquent, but at least he hadn't verbally attacked her.

Her expression made it clear she was at least slightly impressed with his controlled response. "Yes, I have never been to the Home of Man, and would like to see the world that has so engrossed your brother. It would be nice to leave this realm after so long imprisoned."

His stiff movements made it clear that he was staunchly controlling himself as they walked, and all he could muster was a nod. But his heart and mind kept beating at him. Yet another person running to his brother. Yet another person running from him.

Steve Rogers was reading the paper, drinking a cup of coffee, and relaxing in the living area of Avengers tower. After the Chitaru attacked, the team members had decided it was best for them to have a base of operations, and they had mostly decided to live there. They each had other residences, but there was something about all of them being in the tower that was reassuring.

So when a swirling cloud appeared in the middle of the room, Steve was suitably surprised. Coffee down his shirt and pants surprised. He immediately yelled for anyone in earshot, and dove for the alarm trigger.

By the time the cloud cleared a few minutes later, Steve and several guards had guns pointed at the opaque smoke, Clint was ready with his bow, and Thor stood hammer at the ready. Tony was leaning casually against the counter, dismissive of the situation at the moment, while Bruce stood near the door trying to avoid any confrontation. Natasha was out of the country at the moment on Fury business.

The smoke slowly dissipated, revealing Sigyn's dark haired form, draped in light green gauze and silver belting. Thor was the first to respond.

"Sister!" His booming voice made most of them wince, but his word made them relax slightly. Not fully, because his brother had been a raving madman with murder on his mind, but enough that they weren't ready to shoot at a moment's notice.

"Your family really has a problem with phoning ahead." Tony's remark was snidely sarcastic as he pushed off the counter and walked around it to get a drink.

Thor strode to her and wrapped his large arms around her, ignoring the billionaire. Turning, he motioned to them. "These are my Earth friends. This is Sigyn, Loki's wife."

Tony immediately snorted his brandy, rendered speechless by the burning alcohol and a fit of coughing. Steve stared at them wide eyed, while Bruce stepped forward. "She is married to that lunatic?"

Ok, I want to apologize for being gone so long, like I said... stuff happened. Hopefully I will have another chapter soon, longer than this one, because I know this is far too short for how long I've been gone. I feel you guys, I've been there when an Author just poofs. I know it sucks. I'm doing my best!