It was several days later when Thor came to Earth, looking grim. Usually, he was very happy to visit because it meant spending time with Jane and some of the Avengers. To see the Asgardian looking so serious made Darcy wonder if there was going to be another dark elf attack or something. She had plans with Pepper to hide in a bunker somewhere until things stopped getting destroyed in the event of an attack (per Tony's obnoxious, bossy way of a request).

"Hey big guy, why the sad face?" she asked, closing her textbook and pushing away some notes she had been studying. He hesitated a moment, seeming to steel himself for what he was about to say.

"Your presence is requested on Asgard once again," he finally said hesitantly.

"What? Why?"

"It seems to be another matter concerning Loki. I am sorry, but you appear to be involved in one of his schemes. We are not sure what he is planning, but I am sure it is of something that could cause great harm," Thor said softly.

"Yeah, sure I'll come. Just let me pack up my stuff and leave a note for Jane. She's at the lab today working with Erik. He's doing better by the way. Do you think this will be a quick trip?" she asked, pausing in her flurry of motion to look expectantly at Thor.

"I am not sure how long you will be on Asgard. I think perhaps it would be wise to plan for a day or two at most," he told her.

"Ok, so overnight bag too. Good to know."

It only took a few more moments to gather her things before Darcy was being whisked away to Asgard once more. Traveling by rainbow bridge wasn't nearly as nauseating as the first time, but it was still pretty bad.

"Lady Darcy," Heimdall greeted.

"Hey dude," she returned, waving from her seat on the floor as she waited for the dizziness to pass. Thor gently patted her on the back.

"Tis fine Darcy, you will grow accustomed to traveling the bridge after a few trips. It will not always be so bad," he said comfortingly.

"Well I don't plan on traveling the bridge that much. Anyway, we should get going. I'm fine now," she grumbled, standing from the floor. She waved good-bye to Heimdall as they left, following the same roads as the last time all the way to the entrance of the main hall. Unlike last time, however, it was only Odin in the room awaiting them.

"Lady Darcy," the older man greeted her.

"Odin."

"Father." The three stood in awkward silence, Darcy fidgeting in place, waiting for someone to tell her why she was there.

"So…why am I here?" she finally asked. Odin and Thor exchanged somewhat pained expressions before looking to Darcy.

"It is Loki…he refuses to speak to anyone, refuses to eat most days. He has not touched any of the books I bring him nor the puzzles. Not even the small music device from your world has roused his interest. It is only when he knows I have come from Earth does he speak and he only asks one thing…" Thor explained, trailing off as if hesitant to continue.

"What does he ask?"

"He asks about you."

"I am afraid, Lady Darcy, that my son is wasting away due to his own misery. I have lost my wife, I do not think I can lose my son as well. I believe that you may be able to help him. Please, just speak with him," Odin requested. Darcy believed that, for the first time ever, the Odin that she was seeing right now was the only time the man had ever appeared so truly desperate.

"Um…I can't promise anything but…I'll talk to him," she said, words stilted, "I don't think feeding his obsession is a good thing, and I'm not exactly a shrink so he could end up more screwed up than he is."

"All we ask is that you try Darcy. Thank you for agreeing," Thor told her, a shadow of his usual bright smile appearing on his face. She sighed, but dropped her bag to the floor.

"Ok big guy, lead the way." As her friend led the way Darcy watched as servant swept past them, picked up her bag, and disappeared down another hall. Darcy decided not to worry about it, assuming that she was just going to bring her bag to a room for her anyway. The walk down to the prison cells seemed longer than the last time, her nerves probably making the trip seem to take forever.

"If you could, please try and get him to eat something. He has refused sustenance for a long while now," Thor whispered, pressing an apple into her hand. Darcy nodded before hesitantly stepping over to the cell that he motioned to.

"I tire of your visits Thor…" Loki's voice was raspy and weak sounding. It was nothing like the light, mischievous tone Darcy knew.

"Wrong person. Bet you don't get told you're wrong very often, do you?" she said, attempting to keep her tone light. The brunette watched as Loki startled, just a shadow of movement in the gloom of his prison. It was a long moment before he spoke again.

"Lady Darcy…I was not expecting you," he finally admitted.

"And I wasn't expecting to be here, but that's what happens when you're friends with an alien. So how are things? I hear you haven't been doing so hot," Darcy asks. She watched as his luminescent green eyes rolled in the dark.

"You could say that I suppose," he muttered, standing and making his way over to the wall where Darcy was standing. The young woman couldn't help but gasp when he moved out of the shadows. His face, which was normally pale and sharply defined, was now sallow and drawn, nothing but skin and bone. His bright eyes seemed sunken in to the face of something dead. She watched with something like fascinated horror as he smiled, drawing to his full height and clasping his hands behind his back.

"So darling, what shall we do to pass the time while you are here?"

Hello all my wonder readers! I know it's been forever and I'm so sorry about that! I'm hoping the next few chapters will be quicker since I actually have a plan for them, lol. Anyway, a wonderful, big thanks to my beta reader Yoshinator who always finds the time to proofread.