Jane Foster was standing on a stone precipice looking out onto a body of water. It lapped on the shore below in melodic rhythm. She breathed a sigh. It was beautiful - the colors reflecting in the pool...the sky pale, the sun orange, the tethered song humming in her ears.

She felt someone approach her, and she turned.

"Asgard is full of wonderment," said Thor.

"It is."

"You should stay."

Jane smiled. "I can't...but I'll stay for these next few days as promised."

Thor nodded, and bent his elbow indicating she should take it.

"It is a funny life, isn't it?" the god observed.

"How?"

"Well...I brought you here with the intent of courting you, perhaps with the eventuality of marriage. That seems unlikely now."

Jane looked at him as they strode along. "I...I'm not sure...probably not."

He smiled. "You like Loki, is that not so?"

She felt like she was in high school, passing notes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you enjoy his company."

"He's interesting."

Thor laughed. "Well. That's one way to put it."

They entered the palace, and Jane felt suddenly uneasy. She didn't want to run into Loki when she was spending time with Thor. "Maybe I could go to the library...there are so many books there..." she paused. Maybe the library wasn't a great idea. But she already had uttered it, and knowing his answer, asked: "Would you like to join me?"

He laughed again. "No, Jane. I need to attend to some things...but you know, you are more like Loki than I realized..." and he kissed her forehead.

Jane smiled and left.

She spent much of the afternoon looking at books, mostly celestial maps and such. It was fascinating. She marveled at the care someone had taken to study and draw the things.

She wasn't aware at just how much time had passed in her reverie. When she finally took note of the hour, it was nearly dark. Jane put the volumes back and wondered why no one had alerted her, told her it was time to eat.

She left the library and walked toward the dining hall.

Empty.

The long shadows of the place bespoke of dark tendrils reaching for her...

She shivered. Her sigh was loud in hollow space.

Jane decided she would look for Thor and Odin. And maybe Loki, she hadn't seen him all day.

She meandered through, taking note of the tapestries that hung...the portraits, though few, were eerie. Some parts the ceiling hung low, and she felt the closeness of it, but then they would jet up in anger, many feet above, and she felt very small and alone.

She was about to give up her search as a bad job.

Strange that the place was so empty; usually a servant, a guard, someone was about.

Jane went to her room, and observed a fire blazing. She curled in the chair and reveled in the heat of it.

Jane awoke to see the fire nearly out...she stretched and yawned...it was full dark now...she rose from her station slowly, cracking her back...she heard a knock at the door...Come in!, she said, without thinking...he entered the room, striding to her with purpose...he took her face in his hands, and pressed his mouth to hers...Jane let out a soft moan in response, which invigorated him...he lifted her and took her to the bed...and without preamble, he divested her of her clothes and ravished her there in hot pursuit...it was glorious, and Jane found herself pulling him to her when he attempted to leave...his corded muscles taut, he got up and left her there alone...

Jane awoke to hear a knock at the door.

She was suddenly filled with gleeful anticipation, and hated herself for it.

"Come in!" she called.

A servant entered. "My Lady, Prince Loki sent me...he said that he believed you hadn't eaten, so he asks if you'd care to join him now..."

"What time is it?" Jane asked, standing.

"Well past midnight, my Lady."

"Oh."

Jane nodded. She smoothed her hair and followed the servant.

Loki was in the library, sitting at a table, drinking wine. His feet were propped on a chair next to him, and on the table were fruits, vegetables, and breads.

The door closed behind Jane as she took in the scene.

"Hi," she said.

"Hello, Jane. Hungry?"

"Yes, actually..." and she went over to sit opposite him. "Where is everyone?"

"Most have gone to an emergency conference concerning Jutenheim."

"Emergency?" she asked between bites.

"Yes...urgent, dire, immediate..." he smirked.

She rolled her eyes. "I know what emergency means. God..." but she laughed. "But what is so dire?"

"They have no current leader...Odin, as All-Father will aid in their eventual crowning. Thor, as heir, is required to be there...attendants and warriors such as Sif and Volstagg go as custom," he swung his legs under the table to gain a better aspect of her. "Many servants have gone to their families for the next few days, for the conference will last at least that long," he paused. "So...you and I, Jane, have the place to ourselves."

"Oh," was her reply.

"Quite."

"Why aren't you there?"

He smiled. "Jutenheim is not a friend of mine...they would feel...disquiet at my presence."

"Unlike me, for I am your friend," Jane sounded confident.

"Tell me. You were here earlier...did you read anything of interest?"

"Spying on me?" and she giggled.

"Were you hiding?"

"No."

"Then I wasn't spying..though you and Thor did look charming arm in arm in the garden," he finished with a ghost of a smile.

"He is my friend too, you know."

"Is that so? Would you be agreeable to such a display of affection from me?"

Jane blushed a bit, recalling that he had shown her much more in the dream she had earlier. She chewed some bread to mask her discomfort.

But Loki read it wrong. "Of course not. You'd recoil just like all the rest."

"I didn't say that. You are infuriating."

His eyebrow arched. "Well...what would you do, then?"

"You know, I have heard that you have enjoyed many romantic...conquests. How can you say all the rest?"

"That's not an answer."

"No. It's a question."

He laughed. "If you think that sexual interaction is equivalent to honest affection, then you are naive, Jane Foster."

"So... You are promiscuous."

"I take what I can when opportunity presents...but no. I'd not say I'm promiscuous. At least, not for many centuries now."

Jane nodded with a smirk.

He leaned into the table. "Now answer my question."

Jane held his gaze. "Yes. I would."

He appeared doubtful, ran his fingers along the stem of his glass, and sat back. "What did you read about? You neglected that question, too...friend," he smiled, a bit more honestly.

And Jane told him about the books, and he listed raptly.

She had consumed much of the food, and realized that Loki hadn't touched a thing.

"Don't you eat?"

"When the mood strikes."

"What...? Like...hunger?" and she giggled.

"No. When I'm in the heat of battle, I usually beg my opponent to cease, and I leave for my meal."

"You are so very funny," she sighed.

"I do try. I am known for my humor, you know."

"Oh, and it shows," replied Jane, laughing.

He returned her laugh. "So...what shall we do in Thor's absence?" and he poured her some wine in the glass that had recently held water.

"Get drunk?"

"How pedestrian."

"It was suggested in your action..."

He shook his head. "You are mistaken, Jane. I merely am attempting to loosen your tongue."

"My tongue is not bound."

"That is intriguing, but I think you hold back..."

"No I don't."

"No...?" He paused, appeared to want to say something, but stopped. "Tell me about your parents."

She swallowed. "My parents?"

Loki nodded.

"Why do you want to know about my parents?"

He laughed. "This is new to me, Jane...I'm merely attempting to fulfill convention as I understand it. Do not friends inquire about such things?"

"Oh...yeah...they do..."

He nodded, his eyes open wide in anticipation.

Jane began her little tale of woe, and to her chagrin, Loki appeared interested.

"They passed when you were of a tender age."

She nodded, and her eyes welled a touch.

"And Erik Selvig was your guardian, as you put it..." his voice trailed.

She looked at him, and nodded once more.

Loki swallowed. " I..."

"It's ok. I understand."

"Understand what, exactly?"

"You were thinking about how you controlled his mind, and you were thinking that maybe that hadn't been the best choice," her voice hinted at a sob.

Loki appeared taken aback. "I...cannot apologize, it seems too...false..."

"Like I said. It's ok."

"How can it be?" and he got up, he walked to the window.

"Loki..." and Jane got up now, but didn't go to him. "I couldn't forgive you if you did apologize. But I'm passed it. And it's fine."

Loki turned toward her. "I do not deserve your friendship," he sounded so sincere...much more so than he had heretofore.

"But I'll give it all the same."

"Why?"

"Because you're interesting. Because you're more than you think you are. Because you've shown me kindness. And I think you're fun."

He laughed. "Very well. It's late, Jane...I think I'll retire to my rooms."

And he left.

Jane stood there, a bit confused, but with a warm feeling in her chest. She smiled.

The next morning Jane went downstairs to find Loki standing at the window in the dining hall.

"Morning, Loki," and she poured herself out some honey colored beverage.

"Good morning, Jane. Have you got any plans for the day?"

"Ah...no. Other than riding some beast, slaying another, pillaging some town...the usual."

He laughed. "Would you care for a tour outside of the palace grounds? I believe Thor has been rather remiss in that area."

"It's true...I haven't really left the place..." she hadn't realized that.

"Excellent. There's a market. And some ruins...perhaps you might be interested in those sights?"

Jane thought he appeared to be happy for the first time since...well. Since ever.

"That sounds lovely."

He nodded. "I'll meet you in an hour in the main garden," and he left in his long stride.

Jane hurried the rest of her food and went to change.

She brushed her hair and looked at herself in the glass.

The sun shown brightly behind her. How very different the place was in the light of day!

She put on some boots Sif had given her that were to small, and went downstairs.

Loki was waiting as he said, in the primary garden.

"Ruins or market first?"

"Ruins," was her reply.

He nodded. He held out his arm, smirking.

Jane took it facilely. She smiled broadly.

"I shall transport us there, but walk the way back...is that agreeable to you?"

"Sure."

And everything closed in around her...a violent press against her abdomen...she couldn't breathe...

And when light found her eyes, she was on the ground, coughing and dizzy.

She felt fingers brush her forehead...a soothing "hush"...a hand helping her up.

"Apologies, Jane...I always forget how that can affect someone who isn't used to it."

"Yeah..." she was unsteady. "It's ok..." and she looked around.

And towering around her were black stones...carved wood...many empty cavernous places which once held windows...branches from aged trees bent in prayer...and black birds hovering around...

There were remnants of a garden...a soft slope downward...grass overgrown...ivy hanging like grotesque fingers...it was incredible.

Jane took it in.

She looked at Loki, smiling.

He was watching her, and returned her smile.