A/N Yeah, I'm not even going to dive into the science part because I am clueless about astrophysics and science in general. I only watch Big Bang Theory to laugh at the boys.
Jane and Thor arrive at the lab where Tony literally geeks out in front of them complete with hands flailing, animated facial expressions, high pitched squeals and a grand total of 30 minutes without cracking one single joke. He is as excited as Jane has ever seen him. He explains the power source issues (which she knows all to well), what he and Bruce have constructed to stabilize it and how in the tests they've ran so far, it has worked. It will work. There is no reason why it shouldn't.
Jane laughs and breathes a hesitant yet anxious sigh. "So this is it?"
"All we need is a test subject." He wiggles his eyebrows, focuses on the Asgardian listening intently and taking it all in albeit not really understanding much of the technical terms. "Thor, care to be our guinea pig?"
He furrows his brows obviously not getting the reference but understanding the intent behind it. "I will do all that I can to help."
Jane smiles brightly and kisses Tony on the cheek. "Thank you! This wouldn't be possible without you."
"None needed and to be honest, this wouldn't be possible without you or your boyfriend over here. I can occasionally give credit where it's due."
Thor tries to hide his smile but it is so big he hardly succeeds at it.
"I have some last minute supplies I'm waiting for but we're scheduled to do this tomorrow. If you'd like to get back to your date Jane, you can bring me the coordinates and I can plug them in."
"Not on your life. I've been waiting my whole life for this."
Tony practically beams at her. Scientist to scientist, he knows exactly what this moment feels like and knew she would deny him. "Yeah, I didn't think so."
"Give me five minutes." She smiles at Thor, squeezing his hand and heads to her office for her laptop.
With each step there, realization dawns on her and the excitement begins mixing with fear and then sadness. Thor said he was back to help construct a portal similar to the bifrost. If that is done, does that mean he has to leave? How much time does she have left with him if it works? When it works? Can he come back?
She grabs her computer and heads back to the lab. As she gets closer she hears what sounds like an intense conversation and her name a few times.
"…none of my business but you knew we were close, didn't you? Is that why dear old dad let you come back? Does Jane know?"
"My father never mentioned a timeline to me and I feared to ask. Does she know what?"
"That you're leaving again with no idea when you'll be back." The men just stare at each other in silence. "She's in love with you, you know and I'd bet my tower you're in love with her too."
"I have kept nothing from Jane. I suspected she was close, yes but I hoped for as much time as possible. She knows this."
Thor evading the question is not lost on Jane. She walks passed the lab, dropping her laptop off in Tony's office before she continues towards the elevator and ultimately the door. She is not about to let either Thor or Tony see her this undone. She is stronger than that. Just a few minutes is all she needs to collect herself. Air would be nice right about now. She has to focus. She is a scientist. This is a dream come true. She can do this.
The tears escape her eyes as soon as she exits the building and of course, it's raining now and she didn't bring an umbrella.
Before she has time to realize it, Jane makes it back to her apartment where she tries to calm herself down and regain her composure. She needs air and space so she retreats outside to her balcony where she can see as much as her building's roofline will allow and breathe. Space. Up. For miles and miles. It soothes her but only a bit.
The rain gets harder outside with the added boom of thunder but she doesn't care. Her dress is already soaked and tears already staining her cheeks. She laughs at the irony: Thunder God, Thunder storm. Dream your entire life of discovering and traveling to other worlds and finally be so close you can taste it just to have the dream you never knew you wanted be the price you have to pay.
She isn't mad at Thor. It isn't like he was given a date he kept hidden from her. He hadn't lied to her. He just didn't tell her he suspected their time was on the shorter side. Why wouldn't he tell her? Would she have told him? Would it have changed anything?
No. The truth is had he told her he was there for a day, a week or a month, it wouldn't have changed anything. Him coming back into her life only confirmed what she had suspected after he came and went the first time. She could love him if given the chance. Then she was. Then she did. Now she does.
She feels his presence and hears the thud of setting his hammer to the ground before his body approaches hers. Of course he would know where to find her and of course he would come to her. He comes up behind her, pulling her into him, his breath hot on the side of her neck and cheek. She tilts her head back and rolls it into his squeezing her eyes shut. His grip tightens and they stand there, together. Warmth and fear and love.
Finally she turns into his embrace, tears streaming down her face. She stares directly into his eyes, hiding nothing. There is no need for bravado here, with him, between them.
"I'm going to miss you. So much."
He smiles sadly and they hold their embrace and shared look a few moments. Neither seems to want to break the gaze or the contact. Both seem to be making an admission with their eyes that their hearts have known. Suddenly he opens his mouth and the words they have both kept to themselves, seemingly for a time such as this, leave his lips.
"I love you Jane."
Her knees go weak. Smiling through the tears that had never ceased flowing, she moves her mouth to his. So close but not touching. She releases her own set of words.
"Hold that thought." She grabs her cell phone, punches in a set of numbers and a recorded message picks up the other end.
"Tony, don't you dare do a thing while I'm gone! This is my baby. I will see you first thing in the morning."
Thor laughs deep and bellowing at her before taking a chaste kiss from her lips. Knowing that is not good enough, she deepens the kiss, getting back to where they were.
She breaks the kiss again. "Thor?"
He groans, obviously unhappy with the space between their mouths.
"Yes my Jane?"
"Make love to me."
She feels his need reaching out to and about her. He claims her lips, her hands, her body, her everything on him, touching him. He picks her up as she wraps her legs around his waist. There is only one way to get any closer and her request is all the permission she needs to give him to accomplish that. Opening the door, her arms tighten around his neck as her lips move over his and her chest brushes against his - Burning him with a calming and deep heat and hunger. He slips off her flip flops, kicks off his own shoes barely missing a beat and walks them into her bedroom, shutting the door behind them.