**For those of you who skipped Chapter 9, welcome back! Marvel is still not mine – sorry. What you missed was Nora realizing that she loves Loki, the admission that Loki loves her in return and Jane Foster knocking on Loki's door, barging in, and slapping Nora in the face. Now that you are up to date, let the fun continue! This is an extra-long chapter. Enjoy!**

Chapter 10

The last person I expected to be fuming at me was Jane Foster. Why was she back on Asgard and what vendetta did she have against me?

I wasn't sure whether to be shocked, hurt, offended, or a bit of all three. I wrapped the sheet tighter around me, tucking it under my arms. Loki, with his fists clenched, moved in Jane's direction, but I shook my head. He saw me and back off, moving until he stood behind me. He was angry, but until I knew why she was here, he was not going to piss off his brother by attacking the woman he loved. It was much better that it be me that did any attacking.

"What do you think you are doing?" she screamed at me, moving to rush at me again. "You are going to ruin everything!"

I grabbed her by the arms and shoved her backwards. She crashed into whoever was standing behind her and both landed with a thud.

"Seriously! These are my new clothes and you better not have cracked my iPod!"

I would have known that voice anywhere. "Darcy?"

My friend scrambled up and launched herself at me, squeezing me into a hug that I thought would burst my lungs. "Where did you go? I went to see you and you were gone! Ian and I looked everywhere at S.H.I.E.L.D. and then I called Tony Stark who called the Black Widow who said you had disappeared off the face of the planet, literally. So then when Jane and Mr. Muscles decided to sneak off to come here, I managed to convince them to take me with them."

"Convinced? You grabbed Thor's cloak at the last second so that we couldn't say no," Jane replied, obviously fuming.

I ignored her and hugged Darcy back, a piece of home. "So why did you hit her, Jane?" my friend asked.

I gently pushed Darcy out of the way so I could face her boss. "Yes, Jane. Why did you slap me? Which hurt like fuck, I should add."

She stood, glaring at me, taking in the sheet and Loki's disheveled hair, not to mention very naked body. "Well, I guess it's too late."

And just like that, the wind was taken out of her sails. She deflated right in front of me. What game was she playing? As if the room wasn't crowded enough, Thor barged in and I could hear the guards in the hallway, moving in to join us.

"Enough!" I yelled. Everyone shut up and looked at me. "Loki, go put some pants on. Thor, ask someone to go get us food and drinks and then close the damn door. Darcy, grab a chair and sit your boss's ass down in it. I need a minute."

I headed for the bathroom. I ran water out of the tap and splashed my face. My body ached and if we had been alone, I knew Loki would have massaged every inch of me. However, we had angry people to deal with first.

A light tap sounded on the door. The door opened and Claudine snuck inside, carrying a gown under her arm. "Thor's lady made quite a commotion looking for you. I assumed that you would want to face her looking your best."

I was never so grateful in my life. I hugged her quickly and put on a clean pair underwear. She must have thought that I would need some help moving around, but surprisingly, I wasn't hurting too bad. I guess the entire castle knew what had transpired, but it didn't really bother me. What bothered me was that I didn't know where my cat was.

"Cat is curled up in Miss Darcy's lap. Here," she said, handing me a glass of water and a couple of pills. "Minor pain relievers to aid your… discomfort."

I refused the pills but took a long drink. "No thanks."

"M'lady?"

I couldn't explain it to her. She knew that I had been a virgin but she couldn't have realized that I wore the aches like a badge of honor. The mirror showed various dark areas on my sides and breasts, and one large hickey on my neck. So be it. Claudine zipped me up the dress, a soft forest green. Loki would like it. It was funny to be concerned if a man would like my clothes or not. I had my fingers mentally crossed that I wouldn't end up like court bimbos, fanning themselves and begging for compliments.

There was no brushing my hair so we clipped it on top of my head. The messy twist looked intentional. A few deep breaths and one hell of a pep talk later, I was ready.

I found our guests eating a feast of breakfast off of trays brought from the kitchen. It occurred to me that I didn't know where in the castle we were, but now wasn't the time to go exploring even though I wanted to be as far away from Jane as possible. Instead, I would show them that I was the better woman.

Loki was standing by the fireplace, one arm resting on the mantle. He had put on black pants and a clean shirt, but his feet were bare and his hair was a mess. He looked incredible. He turned his gaze from glaring at his brother to me. The look on his face was pure approval and his thoughts were appreciative, almost possessive. I realized that I could hear him in my head, complimenting me. I raised an eyebrow at him, but he simply shrugged.

"So. Let's try this again. Jane, why did you hit me?"

I sat down on an empty chair and my lover came to stand behind me, his hand resting on his shoulder. I could feel his rage vibrating throughout the room and I mentally asked him to give it a rest. I had enough to deal with without worrying that he was going to blow up.

"Ah, Lady Nora. Perhaps I can explain." Thor was going to play the mediator? Fine by me as long as he answered my questions. "There is some debate as to the legitimacy of the relationships in this room."

"Excuse me?" He may have been missing in action for the past few weeks, but he was in for a beating if he thought to question his brother's choices.

"My apologies. I did not mean the feelings that are shared by you and my brother, nor by myself and Jane, are any less than real. I am referring to my father. Per royal declaration, each child of the royal house must be signed in marriage to a partner from a different realm. As eldest, it would be my understanding that I would be first wed." He paused and took Jane's hand. "But apparently dear brother mine has made not only a request for your hand, but also consummated his desire. Now Jane and I are to be separated. She is angry, and rightfully so."

He turned to Loki. "You knew what this would do to me and yet you chose to hurt me as only you could. Are you truly the evilness I believed you not to be?"

My head was spinning. I whirled around in the chair. "Tell me that this was not all a ploy to get back at him. Loki, tell me that I wasn't just a part of this game you play. Tell me that this wasn't all some sort of horrible joke."

This would be the worst horror I could ever imagine. I felt my heart breaking, the emotion raw on my face. He leaned down and kissed me, his hands gentle on my face.

"This was never a joke nor a game to me, Nora." His eyes were sincere and his shields were down. He wasn't lying. "The words whispered in the dark were the truest words I have ever uttered."

I smiled at the promises we made to each other before the sun rose, about the future. Thor couldn't have known all of what had been shared between us. He didn't know his brother as well as he thought he did.

"No shit! He does love her!"

I sighed. Leave it to Darcy to break the moment. Inwardly, I was glad that she had said it.

"So let me get this straight." I got up and started to pace. "The royal house of Odin is a traditional monarchy. Each child is essentially sold to bondage, a confirmation of peace between two nations. Strategically, you want to spread the peace as far-reaching as possible. So either Jane loses Thor… or I lose Loki. This is seriously fucked up!"

"I've been with Thor longer than you have even known about Loki. I don't see how this is an issue!" Jane's voice was shrill.

My blood was boiling. "So I should give up my happiness for yours? Is that how it works?" I wanted to scream at her. I fought to get myself under control, but my voice was still strained when I continued. "Let's get one thing perfectly straight, Dr. Foster. I don't like you. Darcy is the only reason that I'm not kicking your ass right now for even suggesting that I dump Loki so that you can have lots of Asgardian babies. But I warn you… say it again, and I will happily rearrange your face."

"Nora…" Darcy 's voice was small. "Your eyes."

"What are you talking about?" I asked. Claudine handed me a small mirror. The woman looking back at me was different. My eyes were silver. Like, liquid silver. Well, shit. Loki moved to me and tilted my chin. "Is something wrong with me?"

I sounded like a child, but fuck it, I was scared. He pulled me into his arms and rested his head against my hair. To everyone else, it would look like we were just cuddling, but he was back inside my head. He was searching for something.

"How do you feel?" he asked, voice too low for our company to hear.

I thought about it. I assessed the aches and pains. I thought about this morning. I didn't really hurt anymore. Last night didn't hurt at all. And if I was being completely honest, I felt…

"Powerful. Strong."

He kissed me, quick and hard. "I think you may have just come into your powers."

I smacked his arm. "I am not touching that comment with a ten foot pole."

"I have a pole that you can touch anytime you wish." His voice had that wicked tone to it, but now was not the time.

I knew what I had to do, but neither brother was going to like it. He must have sensed it, but made no move to stop me. Claudine was right. For this meeting, I needed to look my best.

I was out the door before the others realized that I had moved. I was the first one to reach our destination, the Great Hall. Odin sat on his throne, obviously busy, but there was no waiting.

"Odin, I demand an audience with you."

Silence fell around me. Odin looked me over. "This will have to wait, Lady Nora."

I pursed my lips. "I'm sorry, sir, but it cannot." I kept the sneer out of my voice… mostly. "Unless you would rather have another public conversation about how you control your children."

I waited as he realized why I was there. He made his excuses and motioned for me to follow him into a smaller room. He closed the door and locked it. We didn't need an audience, not even that of his sons.

"Who gave you authority to made demands of me, human girl?" he asked, sounding tired.

"I wouldn't have to make demands if you would stop playing high king and see what damage you are doing to your family. I was just informed that because I am sleeping with Loki, that Jane Foster will essentially be ripped from Thor's life as you arrange a marriage for him. Now, it's no secret that I really don't care about her feelings but I do owe some thanks to Thor for bringing me here."

"After he nearly killed you," Odin added, pouring us each a glass of wine.

"I'm not going to argue that. My point is that you will destroy the balance you have fought to create. Loki is not your son. Not in blood so this law is bullshit… and you know it."

"Appearances must be kept, Nora. Otherwise, the other realms will see us as weak."

I growled deep in my throat. "You are mistaken if you think I won't fight you on this."

He rubbed his arms, like the hair on them had been raised. Apparently, I was getting stronger. That or my power was leaking. "Then what do you propose?"

We talked for nearly an hour and when we were done, both of us were as satisfied as we could get. I left the private chamber and found myself facing the same group I had left earlier. Loki grabbed me by my arms and shook me hard.

"What were you thinking?"

I acted by reflexes only. I slapped him. "I warned you never to touch me like that again."

Ignoring them all, I headed to the kitchens. I scrounged up a plate of food for myself and propped my feet up near one of the fires. I took my time eating, knowing that eventually I would have company. Darcy came down first, escorted by a guard, Jane not far behind her. The boys didn't come, but I didn't think they would.

"So what do we do?" Jane asked, pulling a stool as close to me as she could bear. Darcy had no such qualms and sat right next to me, dropping her messenger bag onto the floor and picking food off my place. I swatted her hand jokingly.

"Don't you go getting fat. Ian won't be happy." We laughed, but I sobered quickly. "Jane, I have two months to figure out who my mother was. If I can prove that I have lineage from a different realm than Midgard, you and I can both be with our men, worry free."

"And if you don't?"

I didn't want to feel pity for her, but I couldn't help it. "If I can't, then in political fairness, we will both be sent back to Midgard… alone."