A/N: Shout out to one of my best friends, Lindsay (aka xlittlemoon on tumblr) and flourishmyblotts, as well as awwpicklesss. Three of the biggest fans of this story who continue to give me loads of unreal support! Also, huge thanks to the Guest who suggested Wrecking Ball as a song for this story. If you check my tumblr you'll see I did a little gif set to the song, and you're so right, it fits perfectly. This part moreso than any. Enjoy!
Oh, and if you think for one second that Elena's gonna just a sweet girl who just wants Loki to be good...you're in for a shock in a few chapters. You ain't seen nothing yet. ;)
After she finished revealing Loki's entire plan (in exquisite detail, of course), Elena felt very tired. Thor offered to escort her to the "nurse's quarters"– a quiet room with a bed where she could rest. Being heavily pregnant, this was normal.
It wasn't until she'd sat down, got comfortable and told him to leave that Thor noticed she was crying.
"Miss..." Thor said slowly, "Why are you crying?"
Elena shook her head, refusing to look at him.
"I'm sorry that my brother has hurt you," Thor said, "I wish there were something I could do to take it back."
Elena sniffed, "I've betrayed him..."
"For a good reason," Thor insisted, "We both know Loki has a plan that could destroy an entire realm."
"You've loved before, haven't you?" Elena locked eyes with the demi god, "I know you have. Wouldn't you do anything to protect them? To save them? Even though you know...the odds are against you?"
Thor swallowed, "Yes..."
"I know about Jane Foster," Elena said, "Loki told me." She gave him a look of pure empathy, "You would lay yourself in front of any danger for her, wouldn't you?"
Thor didn't understand how someone he just met could know so much about him, "Of course..."
"I would do the same for Loki," Elena sighed, "That's my curse. I know on the outside, he's a monster, he's thirsty for power, but...inside, his heart is bleeding. And it's been bleeding for years..."
"You've seen into his heart, his mind...that is true?"
"I have," Elena said quietly, "And it's what I saw, Thor...that's what frightens me, because I know he is capable of what he imagines."
"How did you come to meet Loki?" Thor asked, taking a seat on the other small bed next to her. Elena rested her hands on her stomach, feeling the familiar kicks of her little baby, knowing they were talking about the father.
"He fell from Asgard and landed near my apartment building," Elena explained, "I knew who he was the moment I saw him..." She then told him of the years of dreams she'd been having, and the abilities that came with it. It didn't take long for Thor Odinson to figure out who she was.
"You're the heir..." he stood up, backing away, "The Dark Heir."
"Loki thinks so, too," Elena replied, "I know, it's all a bit of a mess, but-" She paused, feeling a pang in her abdomen.
"That means your child is part frost giant, part dark elf..." Thor concluded, "For it to be born anywhere in this realm could result in danger to all-"
Elena keeled over, the pain starting to overwhelm her, "It's too early...THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!"
Thor rushed to her side, "No, it is not. You've 48 hours left."
"I beg your pardon?" Elena gasped, the pain growing worse.
"A hybrid infant like yours will cause the labor to be much longer...which means you have two days before your child will even start to descend."
"So...I have two days until my water breaks."
"Yes," Thor nodded, "The pain will only worsen after that."
"Well..." Elena groaned, "I've felt pain like this before from my little one. I can handle it."
"I can take you to Asgard, where they can take proper care of you," Thor offered, "At least until we can stop Loki."
Elena shook her head, "No. I don't care how long it takes. If I have two days to stop Loki and find out why he won't let me in...so be it."
"Elena, you're endangering yourself here," Thor warned, "And your child as well."
"I'm not," Elena insisted, "The moment my water breaks, take me to Asgard for the birthing. And under the condition that Loki is present."
"I believe that is fair...although Father will wish to take him to trial instantly, you are aware of that."
"Then let Odin do that immediately after," Elena told him, "I will not be able to live with myself if he doesn't get to see his child."
"So we have less than two days to stop Loki." Thor concluded.
"I'll help you however I can," Elena promised, "So long as you don't hurt him."
"I won't kill him" Thor said, "He is still my brother..." A distant look in his eye told Elena they were both on the same side. To stop Loki from succeeding, but also to save him. Neither of them wanting to lose him.
All of a sudden, the cabin jerked. Elena fell back, catching herself, Thor grasping her shoulders just in case. They looked at each other.
Natasha Romanov ran past the door. People started screaming. Tony Stark and Captain Rogers rushed by. It was apparent that they were under attack.
"Stay here," Thor commanded her, "Don't move."
"But-" Thor rushed after the others, and the ship jerked to the side yet again. Elena sunk to the floor, legs out, hands on her belly. She hoped and prayed that whoever Loki was fighting alongside that they weren't stronger than the Avengers.
An earth-shattering roar echoed throughout the hall. People could be heard running and screaming, and Elena struggled to stand up. The sound of smashing, glass breaking and heavy footsteps that belonged to no human started to get louder and louder. Elena swallowed and gathered every inch of her courage and prepared herself for whatever was coming.
The Hulk appeared in the doorway, snarling at her. Elena held up her hand, "Don't you dare come near me."
The Hulk screamed and tore the doorway open so that he might enter. He stormed over to her as Elena scrambled to get up, pain swelling inside her. She raised her hand and readied herself to produce the strongest wave of energy she could produce.
"Back away from her."
It was Loki.
The Hulk turned and went to lunge at him, only to be brought down by Thor. The two chased each other to another deck.
"Loki!"
"Elena..." Loki rushed to her side, helping her up, "We must go, there isn't much time-"
"I can't," Elena said quickly, "Loki, the baby...it's coming. Soon."
Loki's eyes widened just as the entire ship shifted and everything fell on an angle. He threw himself down so Elena landed on him, protecting her the best he could.
"Come with me," Loki told her, lifting her to her feet, "It'll take mere minutes. We'll have the humans conquered before you are even ready to give birth."
"Loki, no!" Elena pulled back, screaming, "This isn't right!"
"What would you know of right?" Loki screamed back at her, "You pledged your love, and I've sworn mine. Come with me, be my queen."
Elena shook her head, tears streaming down her face, "This isn't how it's supposed to be!"
"Step away from Elena, Loki." Natasha Romanov approached them, gun in hand, "Or else."
Loki was taken aback, "So you're on their side, then. You've shifted."
Elena shook her head, "Loki, please-"
"I pray you'll take ever such good care of her," Loki said snarkily to Romanov, walking up to her, "If any of you harm her, I will personally see to it that everything and everyone you could ever love or care for, will be obliterated, starting with you– I'll split your skull as painfully as possible, until my name is forever etched into your very disgusting soul."
Natasha was about to respond but was instead pushed aside as Loki made a swift exit. He turned and looked back once, at Elena, and she saw pure hurt in his eyes. She'd turned her back to him now.
"We're going to transport you to a hospital," Natasha explained, quickly helping Elena out of the room, "As soon as we land."
"No..." Elena panted, "I can't do that."
"Please understand that for your own safety, we must," Natasha said, "If you stay here, you could risk an early birth-"
"I can't just leave him!"
"Yes you can!" Tony Stark's voice boomed, his face revealed through his Iron Man suit, "Elena Rose Ward, I am taking you to the best hospital in New York, and that's final."
Elena glared at him, "You're not my father..."
"Thank god for that," Tony sighed, "The engine's repaired. They got away with the scepter, and Loki's gone."
Elena's heart sank.
"Good," Natasha responded, "Are we headed to New York?"
"Right now, yes," Tony replied, "I'll bring Hawkeye in, he's just coming around. Heard you kicked him in the head or something."
Natasha shrugged, "More or less." She gently handed Elena over to Tony, "Godspeed. You'll be safer in a hospital than here."
"I don't care..." Elena thought miserably, "There is no chance my baby will have a father now..."
As if the chance was really there to begin with. We all read fairy tales and wish for happy endings. But Elena Ward knew she wouldn't be the princess awaiting her prince. Not anymore.
No. Someone once told her, that even if she had a destiny, she could still make one. So as soon as Tony signed her in to the hospital, Elena requested a room with a view. A perfect view, of Stark Tower.
She wasn't looking to watch the world end, or see the battle from the comfort of a bed. Rather, she was waiting. Garnering all the power she'd been holding in for almost the past year. For when Loki opened the portal, and the Chitauri burst in, she would join the fight, and hopefully, save him in the process.
It wasn't a very good plan. If anything, it was a stupid one. But it was all she had.