Hey guys. Happy Fourth of July! I wanted to start off by saying that one of the reasons why I love this site to much is that it is international and that you can track where your views are coming from. It brings people together through a common interest. I understand that I have some viewers from countries rocked by horrific attacks, and I wanted you to know that our hearts are with you.

Quick disclaimer: this chapter is separate from the rest of the story. It's just a special thing that I wanted to do to celebrate the holiday and perhaps end my writers block.

Thank you and enjoy!

000

"That's an interesting choice of dress." Loki commented from the couch, eyeing Darcy's outfit. She wore a navy blue tank top and jean shorts which appeared to have bits of the American Flag stitched onto the front. Shiny silver stars hung from her ears like a cascading galaxy and she had tied her hair up with a red hair tie. In her hand she held a pair of red high-heels.

"We got invited to a party." She said, ignoring his sarcasm.

"Oh?" Loki set the book that he was reading down on his chest, attentive.

"Amber said that a friend of hers is having a house party and that everyone can bring a plus-one." She beamed in Loki's direction.

"House party?" Loki cocked an eyebrow.

"Relax, it's just a party at someone's house," Darcy said, busying herself with her earrings, which had become entangled with her hair, "We'll probably play cards against humanity and mess around with sparklers." Loki squirmed under her watchful eye. He was loath to say no, but perhaps being surrounded by unfamiliar mortals wasn't the best of ideas.

"Too extreme for you?" Darcy smirked, clearly hoping to elicit a reaction.

"No." Loki said, peeved that she was actually getting to him, "I'm just tired, and maybe being in a crowd isn't the best-"

"You don't really have a choice." Darcy said calmly, "Jane and Eric specifically said that I was to keep you with me at all times."

Loki frowned. Of course she would listen to Jan and Eric now that it worked in her favor. Darcy's face was triumphant, as though she knew that she had won.

"Come on! It'll be fun!" Darcy grinned, grabbing Loki's wrist and pulling him to his feet, "Besides, how many people could there possibly be?"

000

"Okay, so I misjudged how big the party was going to be." Darcy lamented as the pair observed the area. Music blasted from a stereo on the deck. It seemed that hundreds of people were moving to the beat. One man, who was shirtless and wore an eagle mask over his head, shouted ''MURICA' before jumping into the pool, which cast everyone in a turquoise glow. The crowd cheered in delight as he surfaced with a whoop. The sea of bodies wore all manner of red, white, and blue; some even went so far as to pin a flag to their shoulders like a cape.

"Think you can deal with this much freedom in one place?" Darcy joked, nudging Loki with a particularly sharp elbow.

"Darcy, I have fought entire armies," Loki grimaced, rubbing his arm, "I think I can handle a few drunk college kids."

"Okay then, if you say so." Darcy said, a look of mischief in her eyes, before she disappeared into the crowd.

"Darcy!" Loki called, "DARCY!"

"Hey there." Loki felt a hand on his shoulder. He shrugged the hand off, turning to see a petite blonde standing just beside him.

"Oh." He breathed, "Hi Amber."

"Chill, Britain, I'm not going to tar-and-feather you." She grinned, "Did you just get here, too?"

"Yes." Loki said, beginning to relax, "Are the others here?"

"Nah, just me and Mandy tonight," She said, flipping her hair over her shoulder, "Speaking of which, you haven't seen her, have you?" Loki wracked his brain, trying to picture her kinky hair among the crowd.

"I don't believe I have." He said apologetically.

"Whatever," Amber leaned on the deck railing, "I'll find her eventually." She pulled a cigarette from her back pocket and lit it.

"Well, I'll talk to you later." Loki said, beginning to feel uncomfortable. He gathered up his courage and braved the crowd.

He passed by at least three bonfires, but Darcy's face was not one of those illuminated by their light. There appeared to be a dance-off of sorts next to the food table. He thought that he saw her hair swish in the center of the melee, but it turned out to be a very disgruntled male.

Loki finally stumbled upon an eddy in the crowd. It was there that he found Mandy, tangled with a girl whose blue hair fell down her back like a waterfall.

He knew that he was blushing profusely as he backed back into the crowds, praying that he hadn't been seen. He ended up backing straight into Darcy. She fell back with a groan.

"I've been looking all over for you!" She said through her teeth. Loki extended a hand to her, which she took begrudgingly.

"Ow!" She gasped, wincing as she put weight in her left foot, gesturing at the shoes she was wearing "These damn heels!"

"Are you okay?" Loki asked, steadying her with a concerned hand.

"I... I think so," She said, testing her foot, "The fireworks are about to start."

"Fireworks?" Loki's words were punctuated with a huge boom.

"It's starting!" Darcy grinned, leading him back into the crowd.

It was incredible. Reds, blues, and silvers streaked across the sky like they had been painted there. Loki turned to tell Darcy how amazing it was only to discover that she was frowning.

"What's wrong?" Loki had to shout to be heard above the clamor.

"I'm too short!" Darcy shouted back, "I can't see and I can't stand on my toes to see because of my ankle."

"Here," Loki sighed, bending over. Darcy raised an eyebrow. "Get on."

"Seriously?" She asked, "No I coul-"

"Just do it," Loki rolled his eyes teasingly, "It's better than hearing you whine about it all night."

Darcy looked caught between wanting to see and smacking the smirk off of his face, however the former won out. She slid her heels off before hopping on. Loki swayed a bit, offset by the added weight. Darcy clasped her hands around his neck, resting her chin on his head. They both turned their eyes to the sky, where the show was just beginning.

Somewhere along the line, someone began a rousing chorus of The Star Spangled Banner, and eventually the entire party was singing.

"And the rockets' red glare," Loki heard Darcys raspy voice drifting down from her position on his back. The man with the eagle mask was now running through the crowd, fueling them further. Loki chuckled at the scene.

"You mortals sure seem to like this holiday." Loki shouted to Darcy. The girl in front of them eyed him suspiciously.

"Of course we do!" Darcy shouted back, "It's the birthday of the land of the free!"

The land of the free, Loki thought with a smile. Perhaps he too could find freedom here.