~ Loki's POV

"Why did you bring us back?" Thor shouted at Odin, his face red with rage and the rush of adrenalin still coursing through his veins. Loki dodged Heimdall as he made to pull his sword from the Bifrost.

"Do you realize what you've done? What you've started?" Odin's voice boomed over Thor's.

"I was protecting my home!"

"You couldn't even protect your own friends! How could you hope to protect the kingdom?" Odin pointed to Fandral, who was weak and bleeding from a large wound he had received via a giant icicle. "Get him to the healing room! NOW!" Sif and the others ran away with Fandral draped in between Volstagg and Hogun. Loki took in a deep breath as he listened to Thor scream at Odin. Thor had always been the more favorable son to Odin, so it came as a shock to Loki to see how Odin was treating him. Odin's visible eye was filled with rage at his eldest son.

"There won't be a kingdom to protect if you're afraid to act! The Jotuns must learn to fear me! Just as they once feared you!" Spit flew from Thor's mouth as his fingers curled into fists.

"That's pride and vanity talking, not leadership! You've forgotten everything I've taught you! About a warrior's patience-" Odin broke off as Thor's disgusted voice cut in.

"While you wait and be patient, the nine realms laugh at us! The old ways are done! You'd stand giving speeches while Asgard falls!"

"YOU ARE A VAIN, GREEDY, CRUEL BOY!" Odin was becoming so enraged that Loki was sure he was going to have what Christine had explained to him as a 'conniption'. The veins in his forehead shone with sweat and saliva stuck to his snow-white beard as he yelled at Thor.

"AND YOU ARE AN OLD MAN AND A FOOL!" Thor's words seemed to cut in deep, for silence fell in the room. The two belligerent men fell silent for a moment. Thor was breathing heavily and Loki could see tears welling in his eyes. Then Odin spoke in a lowered voice.

"Yes...I was a fool...to think you were ready." Odin was looking quietly at the ground and Loki couldn't let this go on. This was all beginning to go too far and though he may have hatred for Thor, this was all going to ruin his plans. He never wanted Odin to go as far as to banish Thor. Loki made up his mind and strode forward.

"Father-" Loki said, his voice strained. He moved closer to Odin, raising his arms to his sides.

"HAAAIII!" Loki's father's anger and rage towards him caused Loki to straighten up quickly. He swallowed hard. Loki didn't dare move, in fear of how far Odin's anger would lead him. He could feel his eyes beginning to burn as tears were beginning to force their way out. Odin continued speaking to Thor. "Thor...Odin's son...you have betrayed the express command of your king...through your arrogance and stupidity you've opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!" Odin seized his staff and slammed it into the Bifrost. Lightning like rods shot out, flying across the ceiling. Odin limped towards Thor and ripped off one of his chest plates. "You are, unworthy of these realms!" Thor's cape was next ripped from his person. "You're unworthy of your title! You are unworthy! ...of the loved ones, you have betrayed." Loki could do nothing but stare sadly at the two men that stood before him, glaring into each other's faces with such fury and hurt. Part of him was jumping for joy, what with seeing his brother being cast out and spoken to by Odin like this...but another part of him was frightened for Thor. He continued to look back and forth from between Odin and Thor as their father spoke on. "I now take from you, your power!" Odin held his hand out and summoned Mljinor. The hammer flew from Thor into Odin's outstretched hand. "In the name of my father" Thor's arm armor suddenly began to fade away down his forearm. "and his father before, I Odin, Allfather...cast you out!" Odin shot Mljinor at Thor, pushing him back into the portal. Thor was sucked in and disappeared. Loki's mouth was agape and his eyes wide, staring at his father in disbelief. He ran towards the portal, as if there were to be a way to help Thor. But it was far too late. From behind Loki, Odin brought Mljinor to his lips and whispered into it. Loki turned in time to see Odin throw it past Loki - in after Thor. As it too vanished from site, Loki turned to look blankly at Odin. The man simply stood there for a moment, then turned to fall weakly into the outstretched arm of Hiemdall, who helped him onto his horse. Loki watched as Odin rode away.

Loki waited a few moments, then closed his eyes and in a split second, was in the hallway that lead to his room. He saw the guards standing outside of it as usual. One of which was the same of whom he'd slammed his head into the wall. Gritting his teeth, Loki walked quickly over to the guards.

"Move!" He barked at them, jerking his head to the side.

"Yes, your lordship!" The guards leaped away from the doors, allowing Loki to push past into his room. He slammed the doors shut and turned, his back sliding against them as he sat down hard on the ground. Tilting his head back, Loki sighed heavily. So much had happened that day. It had all started out like such a marvelous day as well... Loki's mouth twitched, remembering the morning he'd shared with Christine. Then suddenly it dawned on him. Christine. Although his thoughts were only inklings, something deep down told Loki that he was right. Raising his hand, Loki stared at it like he had back there in Jotunhiem when that Frost Giant had grabbed a hole of his wrist. Loki shuddered at the memory that seemed to dance before his eyes. The blue slowly creeping up his hand, that strangely familiar sensation as the markings were carved into his flesh. It hadn't hurt. It was as if he had once been accustomed to the feeling. He had felt as if a missing piece of him had finally returned. But... it couldn't be. He wouldn't let it be!

"That's a piece I can live without!" He thought angrily. "How could she love me, if I am truly what I'm proposing to be?" Loki cursed under his breath, running his fingers aggressively through his hair, holding onto it tightly and causing pain to shoot through his skull. "Christine...I'm so sorry. If it's true...h-how could you ever want to be with me?" To Loki's upmost surprise, he felt a hot tear slide down his cheek. His eyes flashed open and he slapped his hand to his face in time to catch it. Loki held his hand up to the light and glared at the tear clinging to his skin. He flicked it away did he feel so strongly for this mortal? It was true, he had had only a few lovers in his life... (for it seemed that every woman who stood before him preferred his brother and every other man in Asgard. He had always been looked upon as immature for his mischief) then out of nowhere, came this damned human! She with her bright blue eyes, that infectiously charming laugh of hers, those long legs, and...well...her. She, Christine. Loki had always felt that he hadn't a heart large enough for even himself. But now...

...

~ Christine's POV

Running her fingers through her hair, Christine cursed quietly as she tried to think about how she could tell Loki. Should she tell him?

"Of course you tell him you idiot! But how?" She cursed again, grinding her teeth together in frustration as she walked back and forth from her bedroom door and her bed. On one hand, she didn't think that Loki would really be as cruel as Lucille had said, but on the other... Christine's eyes shut as she remembered every person who had warned her about Loki. Sif's voice echoed in her head. "He is a sneaky and un-trustworthy man...he can lie his way out of almost any situation" Then Lucille's, "It's just that I don't trust him! I don't believe that he has your best interest at heart...if he even has one!"

"Fuck!" Christine fell to her knee's, frustrated tears running down her face. What had she expected? To stay here in Asgard with Loki, forever? To live happily ever after? How could she be so naive. "Oh, Loki..." She sighed heavily. "that's it! I'm done crying! I'll just-just go and tell him!" Christine wiped away her tears and rose to her feet. Taking in a deep breath and exhaling, she walked out of her room and made her way to Loki's.

A few minutes later, Christine stood in front of the doors to Loki's room. The guards stood before her, staring warily down their noses at her. Christine cleared her throat and spoke.

"Is his Lordship here?"

"Yes M'Lady...as far as we know. You know how he likes to pop in and out without our knowing."

"Hmm, yes...well, may I come in?"

"See for yourself." The guard who spoke was the one Loki had attacked. He glared down at Christine with pure loathing.

"You better be careful..." Christine growled. "Loki could be listening. And we wouldn't want your pretty little head to be bashed in again, now would we?" The guard's eyes grew wide and he jumped out of Christine's way. She walked forward and knocked on Loki's door. "Loki? Are you in here?" Silence followed.

"He is most likely speaking with Frigga, M'Lady." The other guard said this very quietly. He hesitated then continued. "Thor has been banished and Odin has fallen into the Odinsleep."

"What? Thor has been-banished? What on Earth are you talking about?"

"Loki may not be in his chambers, because...he may have been crowned king." Christine's eyes widened.

"Loki? King?" The guard nodded his head gravely. "I have to find him."

"IT MAY NOT BE A GOOD TIME M'LADY!" The guard shouted out after Christine as she ran down the hall, trying to find her way to the throne room.

After about half an hour, Christine had almost given up. She'd searched the throne room, the library, the great hall, the grounds and she had even gone back to both her and Loki's rooms, but with no such luck.

Collapsing down on the steps in front of the large statue of Odin and Frigga in the gardens, Christine moaned in pain, clutching her lower back. She had to find him! She just had to! And what was this business about Thor being banished, Odin falling into the Odinsleep and Loki becoming - king? It was true that Loki had always expressed the desire to being king, but Christine could never have imagine it happening like this! "What's going on around here? What's happening to Asgard?" She wondered aloud. Then it came to her. The one place she hadn't looked.

...

~ Loki's POV - Two hours prior -

"What? Because I-I-I-I-I-I'm the monster who parents tell their children about at night?" Loki spat at Odin, his heart beating against his chest so hard now that Loki felt as if it would burst from his chest. Odin began to move back. "You know it all makes sense now-"

"No-no" Odin began to say feebly, collapsing down onto the steps behind him as Loki rose above him, his tortured voice filling more and more with rage and venom.

"- why you favored Thor " Loki moved closer to Odin, gesturing behind him, as if indicating Thor. "all these years! Because no matter how much, you claim to love me," Loki threw his hands against his chest, tears pouring down his face. Odin reached forward to Loki.

"No-no..." The effect of the Odinsleep was now consuming Odin completely.

"you could never have a frost giant sitting on the throne of Asgard!" Spit flew from Loki's bared teeth and his voice cracked due to an oncoming sob. Odin's hand had been trying to reach for Loki's hand, but now fell, hitting Loki's knee and then the floor. Loki's eye shone in the light of the fire, his tears skimming the corners of his eyes. He slowly knelt down to Odin. What had he done? Loki reached out to Odin, his hands moving above his still body, unsure of what to do. He went to touch Odin's hand -which rested upon his chest - but hesitated slightly, then placed his long fingers delicately around the back of his hand. His mind was racing. Odin had fallen into the Odinsleep. He was now as vulnerable as any mortal. Loki's breathing was quickening as his eyes scanned Odin's face in horror. The tears were beginning to force their way up again and the lump in his throat was becoming unbearable. "GUARDS! GUARDS! PLEASE! HELP!" Loki shouted over his shoulder to the guards standing outside. A few seconds later they came running in and Loki stumbled awkwardly back, moving away from Odin so that the guards could lift him and take him away. Loki followed after them as they carried Odin through the doors and to his chambers. His thoughts were so incoherent that he could barely bring them to light. The words he wanted to say to his mother couldn't even escape his lips. All he could do was watch and shrink back into himself as he saw the look of pain and shock on her face, seeing her husband being carried and placed onto his bed, his eyes shut tight as he lay there, defenseless and weak. The only words that seemed to form crystal clear in Loki's mind were, "frost giant".

...

~ Christine's POV - Present -

Walking down the darkened hallway, Christine was shocked not to see any guards standing outside of the armory. Striding forward, she opened the doors very slowly, just in case the Destroyer had been positioned behind the doors.

"Loki?" Christine called out timidly, peering around the door into the dimly lighted room. "Are you in here?"

"Christine?" A strained voice called back to her. Christine opened the door further and stepped inside of the room.

"Loki? Is that you?"

"No, it's the Destroyer." His voice was broken but he had managed to add an impressive amount of sarcasm to his tone.

"You don't have to be such an ass about it." Christine breathed in a sigh of relief. A small smile spreading over her face, seeing the tall figure of Loki standing up from a corner of the room. "I've been looking for you everywhere! What's been going on? I heard that Thor was banished, Odin has fallen into the Odinsleep and you -" She stopped as she neared Loki. "Oh, Loki..." She stared up at him and the relieved smile fell from her face. His eyes were bloodshot and his face stained with tears. "What in the world..." Christine raised her hand to his face, gently stroking away the moisture upon his skin. "what has happened to you?"

"Nothing!" Loki said angrily, pushing her hand away and sniffing quietly. "Nothing! I'm fine." He turned away from her and looked down. Christine pursed her lips, glaring at him.

"Loki, you know as well as I do that you're a better liar then that." Loki shot her a foul look. "Don't look at me like that! I've been searching this castle top to bottom trying to find you! And I'm in no state to be doing so!"

"And why is that?" Loki tried to sound indifferent, but a touch of concern had shown through his voice.

"I-" Christine hesitated. This was definitely not the time to tell him - exactly why. He was already obviously upset...she couldn't tell him at this moment. "I was...I was sick today."

"Oh?" Loki looked down again at his feet, apparently not wanting to look her in the eye.

"Yes..." Christine continued, annoyed by his apparent uninterested air. "I was vomiting all morning and didn't know what was wrong." Now it was her turn to lie. She hated doing so to Loki.

"Oh." Loki said again, this time he sounded ashamed. "I'm so terribly sorry. I wish you had not gone through that." He still stood with his back to her, his eyes cast down. Christine waited a moment, then burst.

"Will you just look at me?" She said in frustration, placing her hands upon Loki's face and forcing him to look her in the eye. "What has happened to you Loki? Are you upset because of Thor? Odin? ...something else?" Loki said nothing. He simply stared back at her. His lips were parted slightly and his eyes never left Christine's.

"I...I can't..." Loki seemed to be in pain as he spoke. Christine had never seen Loki like this. Seeming as if he couldn't get the words out. He placed his hands upon hers and frowned. "we...we can no longer be t-together." Loki removed Christine's hands from his cheeks and shut his eyes, as if he would turn to stone if he looked into Christine's eyes any longer.

Christine felt as if the world was crashing down upon her. Her eyes widened and he heart skipped a beat. How had he found out?

"W-what?" She choked out. Her eyes searching Loki's face, as if he would suddenly start laughing and say, "April Fools!"

"I'm sorry, my love. But...you don't want to be with me...you deserve a man who can give you so much more than I." Christine sucked in a breath.

"It- it's not your fault Loki! We can still be together! It doesn't change anything!"

"I'm not human, Christine! And- wait...how did you know?" Loki looked up at her, fear forming in his eyes.

"Know what?" Christine asked, frowning. "I'm talking about this morning!"

"What?" He asked, an extremely confused expression forming across his face.

"Hold on..." Christine shut her eyes, pinching her temple in between her thumb and index finger. "what are you talking about?" They both stood there for a moment. Loki's mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but the fear in his eyes had suddenly spread over his entire face. Christine could see the shudder that took over his body for a split second as he closed his eyes again. She waited for him to answer her. Then he spoke.

"I'm afraid." He said quietly. Christine raised her eyebrows.

"What could you possibly be afraid of, Loki?" Christine watched him worriedly as he gulped.

"I'm afraid of-of losing you, Christine." Christine's eyes widened.

"Loki! You could never lose me! I will always be here for you!" Rushing forward she embraced Loki. But he didn't hug her back. He stood there as still as a statue. "Loki?" Christine drew back. "What did you mean when you said you aren't human? You said it like you weren't...well...like you weren't even an Asgardian." Loki looked sadly down at her. He didn't say anything, but simply took her hand and lead her over to the large casket that Thor had shown her months ago. He had said that it contained the power of the frost giants. Christine's stomach somersaulted. The frost giants. Was this what they had tried to take this morning? Not Christine? Or were they trying to do both and had failed at the first quest?

"I need to show you something..." Loki said, his voice so quiet that Christine had to strain to hear him. Loki let go of her hand and strode forward. To Christine, he looked as if he were a man making his way to the gallows.

"Loki, you're beginning to really worry me..." Christine said, reaching for Loki as he went to take a hold of the handles of the casket.

"Don't touch me!" Loki snapped. He looked around at Christine, a pained look on his face. "I don't want to harm you."

"But Loki, I don't understa-" Christine broke off. Loki had taken a hold of the handles to the casket and something...strange was happening to Loki. Christine's eyes widened as she watched the dark blue seeping up his neck and coloring his face. Strange markings then began to etch into it.

"There..." He said in a broken voice. "you can run away now." Loki turned to Christine and she gazed up at him, his eyes had turned to crimson, and his pale skin was now completely overthrown by that dark blue. In an instant, a flood of memories came crashing down on Christine. She remembered being attacked by that man back at her house, fighting to stay conscious as he held her against the wall and beat her. She remembered every detail of the icy cold planet, the frost giants, and the kinder frost giant who had told her to run, to get away. She even remembered that small mouse like creature who had kept her company those many cold and lonely nights. And she remembered those red eyes glaring down at her, that nightmarish voice and that chillingly cruel grin. So now here she was, standing directly in front of a frost giant. Every fiber in her body told her to run, to get away - but she didn't. She closed her eyes quickly to shut out the pictures. She wasn't in danger. She was safe. This was Loki. He would never hurt her. He wasn't like the frost giants that Christine had encountered. He was the man that she loved. And now with him standing before her, showing her something that he was obviously terrified of, made Christine wonder if perhaps he loved her as well.

"Why would I?" She breathed.

"Because..." Loki clenched his fists and looked away from her. "I am not a man...I am not even of Asgard...I'm a monster."

"Don't say that!" Christine said. She reached up and pulled Loki closer to her by holding onto his collar. "You are not a monster! You're not anything like those cruel beings! You are more of a man than anyone that I have ever met! I am lucky to know you! ...and this?" She rolled her sleeve up to her fingers to protect her hand and made to stroke his darkened face, but he moved back warningly. Christine nodded and continued. "This is a part of you...and I will not run and hide from it. I...I love you, Loki. I'm in love with you!" Loki's eyes shot up to Christine's face in shock. They resembled a child's eyes. Full of longing and hope.

"You're in-in...love with me?" Loki asked in a soft voice. He looked down at Christine in disbelief. "But...how could you possibly 'love' me?" Christine smiled shyly. Then standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around Loki's neck, and ignoring his pleas for her to be careful, gently kissed him. She curled her fingers into his hair and moved her lips slowly against his. Christine was trying to enforce the unspoken words that she was too apprehensive to say - into the kiss. She wanted Loki to know that she loved him no matter what. That nothing he said or did made a difference to her.

~ Loki's POV

Loki gasped as Christine's lips met his and made to jump back, away from her, but she held on tightly. He was shocked to find that his skin seemed not to be harming her. He guessed that it was because he was no longer touching the casket. So he relaxed; and breathing in quickly, tightened his arms around Christine's waist. His hand crept up her back and his fingers dug into her shoulder blades, pulling her closer to him.

She had said that she loves him. Loves. Not 'hate' or even a feeble 'like'! He, Loki, the God of Mischief, a monster...who makes play that he is still a man, was being pulled in by this small mortal. Loki briefly opened his eyes and looked at Christine as they kissed. Her delicate eyelids closed and her chest slowly moving against his. Was it simply contentment that was written across her face? Or was it truly what she had said? Loki pulled back in his mind from the thought of telling her how he truly felt for her. What if she was unsure? What if she was only saying this because it was what she thought he wanted to hear? His frozen heart pounded against his chest as Christine's fingers tightened their grip on his shoulders and her lips parted to take in a deep breath before she kissed him again.

~ Christine's POV

Christine sighed into Loki's mouth. After everything she had been through, Loki was the only person who could make her feel genuinely happy again. The feel of his body pressed so tightly against hers, the feel of his hands cool at her back, and his unsure breathing as he kissed her again and again, made Christine want to melt.

Her heart pounded away as Loki held her in his arms. He had stopped kissing Christine and was just holding her. His face resting in the crook of her neck as he breathed in deeply.

Christine entwined her fingers into Loki's hair, then ran them smoothly down his neck, until the top of his collar stopped her. She repeated this action a few times, then stroked his cheek and kissed it.

"Loki?" Christine said after some time.

"Yes?" Loki drew back and looked at Christine. She stared up into Loki's eyes. She could feel the butterflies fluttering around her stomach as she looked into that dark green that she loved so much. She gulped and smiled slightly.

"Would...would you believe me if I said that, I...umm..." Christine broke off. Unsure whether or not she should finish.

"What?" Loki asked, squeezing her shoulder gently.

"Would you believe me if I said that I like how you look...you know...blue?" Loki's mouth twitched. He seemed to be torn between embarrassment and amusement.

"Well..." Loki said, blinking and swallowing. "it's about time for bed, I do believe."

"Oh, well...goodnight then." Christine said, biting her lip and looking down. Loki chuckled.

"You may sleep with me, in my chambers. It is not as if you're unwelcome." Christine looked up at Loki and laughed.

"Thanks." She said, smiling as Loki leaned forward and kissed her again.

...

Loki and Christine did not make love that night. However, they did curl up in the bed together. Loki had stripped down to his pants again and Christine just used her undergarments as nightwear.

She had been trying to cheer Loki up as much as she could. He seemed to be somewhere else most of the time. That was, until Christine kissed him again.

Sometime later, the sandman seemed to be hurling as much sand as he could at Christine. Who's eyes were becoming heavy with sleep.

Holding Loki's arm close to her, Christine snuggled her cheek up against his hand and sighed.

"Are you falling asleep?" Loki asked, stroking her face.

"No...!" Christine protested quietly, trying not to give in to the unvarying pull of sleep.

"Are you sure?" Loki chuckled.

"Mmm-hmm..." Christine's eyelids were becoming heavier and heavier. And as she stared into the deep green of Loki's eyes, they seemed to drift away, as the green disappeared and everything around her faded into black.

Christine did not know this, but as she slept, Loki continued to stroke her face until he gave her one last kiss on her cheek and he too drifted off to sleep. But not before whispering something into her ear that Christine never heard.

"Thank you Christine...for loving me."