"Jane...I am sorry," Thor's voice was soft and almost pleading as he spoke. "Please…please forgive me for all I never did for thee."
He'd grown so tired over the past few short years after her death. Every day since her passing, Thor hoped for death; he prayed for it religiously to the Norns. Loki often commented on how old Thor was beginning to look. In his dreams though, he was youthful and happy. Jane was happy and full of love as she once had been before the illness took her, and every night Thor wept over her. Jane seemed unaware that in the real world she was no more. She didn't know anything had changed, and every night he would weep as he woke in a world without his precious Jane Foster. Sometimes he would skip the usual speech to plead with her in the night. Sometimes he would just embrace her and love her, but that did nothing except cause him physical agony.
This would be the final time they would be together in such a manner, Thor soon realized. Either she would accept her fate and release him from her illustrious hold, or she would turn from him once again and he would be forced to relive the agony every time he slept. The Norns seemed to favor the Golden King in only appearance. In fact, he seemed to be their favorite torture victim. Various healers commented that his health was in rapid decline; he needed to rest before he ran himself into the ground. But he couldn't rest without seeing Jane. His Jane. And she was gone…forever.
"Thor."
Thor nearly pulled back from her warm embrace. What was she doing? This certainly was not part of the usual plan. She should have forgotten about her death and run into the forest. Every thought vanished from his mind as her cold fingertips brushed against his cheek. He pressed into Jane's hand and closed his eyes, the memories returning again.
"Jane?" he murmured.
"I have been watching you, Thor. You've been so unhappy," she said softly, almost sadly. "I never wanted you to grieve so much...not over me. I'm not worth your tears, Thor."
A sob rumbled through his chest as he pulled her to him. He could hardly believe it. The moment he had his arms around her, everything blurred and spun in dizzying circles, appearing to throw them both through time and space.
"My Jane," he murmured, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. "Jane, my love, thou art worth the tears of the Norns themselves."
"I guess I always have been, haven't I? Your Jane," she smiled. "Everything has its time. Even death and new love. You should find love again for yourself."
"W-What?"
"My friend Othel. She's pretty isn't she?"
Thor blushed and looked away. He was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Tears filled his eyes. How could he betray his own consort? His own wife? He had begun to love another, and now she was chastising him. "Forgive me, my beloved."
Then she kissed him, catching his lips with her own. It was absolute bliss. He barely thought as he wrapped his arms tightly around Jane. "Don't be sorry for moving on, Thor. I want you to be happy. You deserve it."
"I have betrayed thee, my beloved. I have tried to love another, and for that, I should die a thousand painful deaths."
"No," she kissed him. "No. I'm always going to be in your heart, Thor. You just have extra room. That's why you fell in love again. You need to be loved, Thor. Othel can love you the way you deserve. You haven't betrayed me. I'm not hurt."
"Thou...art not upset?"
Jane scoffed and smirked. "Go get her, Thunder boy."
"Thou shalt always have my love, Jane…my Jane," Thor said smiling as he stroked her cheek.
"Why don't you prove it?"