Chapter 13: The Best-Laid Plans

Timing is everything—and in this case, it's everything it shouldn't be.

The chapter title is a reference to the Robert Burns poem, "To A Mouse".

One of the best things about Friday night was going to bed without setting the alarm for Saturday morning. Given how unusually early we had gone to bed, and even with the interruption of the nightmare and the healing work, I was awake unusually early as well. Loki was still asleep, so I decided I would make breakfast and wake him when it was ready.

I started the coffee, and opened the curtains in the living room. Stepping out onto the terrace into the soft autumn morning, I felt calm and peaceful in a way I hadn't since before the day Stark crashed into my life.

I refilled the bird bath and the feeders. One dove was waiting patiently for me to finish and go back inside. The neighborhood squirrel chittered indignantly, annoyed that I was late with his breakfast.

"When you start kicking in some cash for the seed, you can complain all you want. Until then, breakfast is on my schedule, buddy."

He flicked his tail and scampered across the balcony railing in a huff, then leapt down to his favorite feeder. Unlike the doves, he had no problem starting in while I was still in the garden.

I went back into the house to see what might become breakfast. I decided on crepes, again, because they were easy to cook, and there was some batter left over from making them for dinner earlier in the week.

Looking out the window, I saw the squirrel and birds enjoying their breakfast on the terrace. I grabbed a dish towel and a bottle of cleaner, and headed back outside. I cleaned the patio table, and wiped down the chairs. On such a lovely morning, we would enjoy our breakfast on the terrace as well.

I returned to the kitchen, and prepared everything for the crepes. Since they would cook quickly, I went upstairs to wake Loki so they wouldn't burn.

Coming down the stairs in his black-and-green velvet dressing gown, he looked like he'd walked straight out of a Victorian painting. My heart skipped a beat, part of me still amazed that this gorgeous man was my love, and my lover.

"Good morning, Sia!" He came up behind me and put his arms around me as I poured the batter into the pan.

I tilted my head back for a kiss. "Good morning, my love!"

Loki kept his arms around me as I cooked. Trying to flip the crepes was a bit challenging, but I made it work, and it made him laugh.

He broke free to pour coffee for us. I piled the crepes and berries on plates, and we headed to the terrace.

I watched Loki as he watched the birds and squirrels. I wondered if the residents of the palace in Asgard kept bird feeders. Probably not.

I gestured to the mourning doves at the far end of the terrace. "The doves are usually quite shy, and flutter away when I come out here. There's one who is very brave, and will boldly perch at the far end of the railing, waiting until I've gone back inside to return to the feeder. The squirrel, though—this is his yard, just ask him!"

Loki laughed. "Squirrels are like that!"

"The sparrows appear at the same times every day. It's amazing. Never earlier, never later."

I noticed the lavender was looking a bit heavy. I walked over to the planter, and plucked some of the blooms. Holding them in my hand, I inhaled the fresh scent.

Loki smiled at me, soft and unguarded. "Sia, this is so comfortable. I feel so at home with you. Thank you for having me here."

I set the lavender flowers on the table. "Your being here makes me so happy, Loki! I am glad you like it here."

He picked up one of the flowers, and held it close for the fragrance. "I want to be here with you more. Being with you is good for me, and I want it to be good for you."

"Oh, Loki! Your being here is indescribably good for me!" I leaned across the table, receiving a sweet kiss for my effort.

The rusty croak of a raven echoed across the terrace. I froze. Loki finished the kiss, and pulled back.

A rush of wings stirred the air, and two ravens landed on the table, right next to the coffee pot.

Oh, no. No no no.

Huginn cawed and squawked. Loki clenched his jaw, and shook his head.

Muninn croaked and cawed. Loki shook his head again.

"Loki, what is it? Something is wrong."

"Odin has fallen into the Odinsleep. Mother says I must return to Asgard."

"Are you to be regent again?" I was half-afraid to ask, but knew it was important.

"Odin has appointed Frigga as regent. She is delegating the day-to-day duties to Thor and I, to share, but she will hold the title, and wield Gungnir."

"I'm sorry, Loki. I can't imagine how tedious it must be to sit in hearings all day."

Loki rose, and began pacing. "It's not that, Sia. I can't leave you here. Not while you are in danger. I had already written to Odin on Thursday and told him I would be staying here indefinitely. And now this. He falls into the Odinsleep at the most impossible times!"

"Loki, your mother has asked you to be with them as a family, and to return to Asgard to help run things. That's not unreasonable. You are a Crown Prince. It's part of your job."

"That doesn't matter, Sia. My job is to keep you safe. I can't do that from Asgard."

"SHIELD has who knows how many agents here. I'll be okay, Loki."

His laughter was tinged with bitterness. "Because they did such a marvelous job on Thursday. Radish!"

"Loki, what's my option? I have to be here to do my work."

His eyes widened. "Come to Asgard. No one will be able to find you there."

"Loki, did you not hear me? I have to be here to work." Why could he not understand this?

"No, you don't! Come to Asgard. Come to stay. Let me keep you safe. Stay with me. Let me take care of you."

Oh, no. That is not happening. "And when Odin awakes, and sends me back here? And then I have no job, so I can't keep my home. That's not workable, Loki."

His anger and frustration rolled off him in waves. "He will have to let you stay. I will insist. You will sit in council with me and Thor, and he will see how wise you are, and he will want you to stay and to serve Asgard."

"Loki, we don't have time to sort this out right now. We can't depend on Odin's good favor when he wakes." Even if I wasn't completely certain that Odin would toss me back onto the Bifrost the moment he awoke, I did not want to be dependent on Loki. I had worked awfully damn hard to earn my position at the university. I had bought the house myself, I was paying it off myself. I was not going to give up those things at his whim, no matter how much I loved him.

"I'm sorry, Sia. You're right, unfortunately." Loki picked nervously at his hands. "I just don't trust SHIELD to keep you safe. I've set wards around the house and around your office, but if I'm not here to reinforce them, they will start to fade after a week. I can't leave you here, vulnerable."

I remembered my phone call with Stark when I was in Asgard.

I hate New York.

But what other option do I have?

Despite my statement to Loki, I was just as concerned as he was about the security breach on Thursday. SHIELD was powerful, but not invincible. And I wouldn't have Loki to answer the door.

"I can go to New York, Loki. Stark offered security. I can be safe there, and still do my work."

Loki looked down at the floor. "Sia, I am so sorry."

I softened my voice. "Loki, your family needs you, and your people need you. I understand."

He looked up, and his lip curled. "If you only knew. To most of them, I am not their prince."

"Loki, it doesn't matter what they think. The Queen has given instructions, and they must obey her, regardless of their feelings about what she has ordered."

"We'll see. I imagine I will mostly be keeping Thor company while everyone brings their problems to him for hearing."

"You will be there, listening. And you can advise Thor. He may have fought a lot of battles in the field, but I'd put my money on you in the council chamber, any day."

He laughed. "Thor will not listen to me."

"Loki, things are different now. He will listen. And if he doesn't, the Queen will. And Thor will listen to her. After enough times of her telling him your advice is right, he'll learn to listen."

"That day will never come. But, yes, you are correct, I must go."

Huginn cawed impatiently.

Loki sighed. "Yes, tell the Queen I'll be back tomorrow."

Huginn tilted his head, and cawed again.

"I said tomorrow. That means not today."

Muninn squawked in disapproval, and the two birds flapped away at top speed.

"I hope you know this most emphatically does not mean that you are less important to me than Asgard."

"I understand, Loki. My work is important to me, and that's why I can't go to Asgard with you. But it doesn't mean my work is more important than you."

He laughed. "Well, I'm not entirely certain of that! Perhaps we should make sure." He pulled me close, covering me in kisses.

I called Stark, and he pulled Coulson in on the line. I began to think that Coulson was on duty 24/7. No matter what time of day, or what day of the week, he always answered his phone before the end of the first ring.

We arranged that SHIELD would drive us out to the coast on Sunday morning to the Bifrost site, so Loki could return to Asgard. Then they would drive me to one of the regional airports, and I would fly to New York on Stark's jet.

As much as I hated to leave my home, and as much as I hated New York, I knew it was the right thing to do in terms of safety.

I just wished that safety wasn't always the first consideration in my life.

I called the SHIELD number, and Agent Stewart answered cheerfully. "Good morning, Professor!"

SHIELD agents must not sleep.

"Agent Stewart, I have a couple of errands I need to run today, since I'll be leaving town tomorrow."

"If you give me the shopping list, Professor, I can send Agent Liu out."

"This is something I need to do myself, Agent."

"If you insist, Professor."

"I do insist, Agent. I'll be ready in fifteen minutes."

I handed a card with an address on it to Agent Gonzalez, who was today's driver. He nodded, and did a u-turn.

Ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of Tavalli & Company. As was often the case in North Beach, there was no parking anywhere near our destination.

"Sitwell and I will go into the store with you, Professor." Agent Stewart nodded at the younger man. "Agents Gonzalez and Liu will circle while you're shopping."

The two agents got out of the car first. Sitwell moved to the front door of the shop, and Stewart opened the curbside door of the car so we could get out.

I took Loki's hand, and we entered the shop through the door Sitwell held open.

Tavalli was one of the things I loved most about San Francisco. The current proprietor was the great-granddaughter of the founder, and their family had provided fine stationery to the city's residents since 1874. Even though Maddalena was born and raised in San Francisco, she had the charm—and speech patterns—of her foremothers.

"Professoressa! So good to see you!" Maddalena floated up to greet us, giving me a kiss on each cheek.

"And your friend! Such a handsome man. A pleasure to meet you, signore!"

Loki smiled in spite of himself, pleased at the compliment. I gazed adoringly.

"Maddalena, this is Luca. We're here to pick up the pen I ordered."

"Si, si! I know you are going to love it!" Maddalena moved lightly across the store, towards one of the many cases filled with beautiful writing instruments. Reaching under the case, she pulled out a box with my name written on an embossed tag.

"This one! Here." She opened the presentation box, and I held my breath. The pen was as beautiful as I had hoped.

She handed the pen to me. I checked the clip. Exactly as I had ordered—an inscription of his name, in runes.

"That's an unusual design on the clip. So different from the scrolls and flourishes you have ordered before." Maddalena was admiring the pen as well.

"It is important that a gift reflect the taste of the recipient, not the giver."

I handed the pen to Loki, and set a pad of paper in front of him.

Surprised, Loki took it and balanced the pen in his hand. He wrote a few lines, adjusting his grip to the motion.

"Sia, this is perfect. I have never written with something so elegant." Loki looked at the pen, and over at me.

Maddalena turned up the charm. "Ah, signore! I am so pleased you are pleased! The Professoressa has such good taste! Of course you must like it!"

In return, he flashed his most charming smile, and in spite of her natural flirtatiousness, I noticed she blushed a bit—something I had never seen before, and which caused me to laugh quietly.

I handed her my credit card—my real one, not the one from SHIELD. I didn't want to have to explain that. "You are so good at this, Maddalena!"

She laughed, and I noticed her hands were shaking as she ran the card through the machine.

He is devastatingly charming.

Loki turned to me. I'm glad you think so.

I know so, darling. And so do you!

He chuckled to himself, and went back to admiring the pen.

"And, sign here, please." Maddalena handed me the slip, and a sleek Mont Blanc rollerball to sign with.

She carefully seated the pen in its presentation case, and wrapped the case in the boutique's signature purple paper. Nestling the bundle gently into one of their small shopping bags (made of real leather, soft as butter and durable as rock), she handed the package to Loki. He flashed her another smile, and we walked out of the shop, hand in hand. I looked back, and saw Maddalena collapsed into a chair, fanning herself rapidly.

SHIELD had picked up food while we were out, so we stayed home and made the most of our last evening in San Francisco. Despite our hearts' desires, we knew that Sunday morning would dawn, and that meant being apart again, for an unknown amount of time.

Coulson arranged a car and escort back to the Bifrost site where we'd landed almost two weeks ago. The trip went quickly—too quickly—and we were at the beach in no time. Agent Liu and Agent Gonzalez parked the cars facing away from the landing point.

Coulson turned to me and Loki. "We'll wait here in the car, Professor. Just don't take too long—Stark's plane is waiting."

"Thank you, Agent Coulson."

Holding hands, Loki and I walked to the touchdown point. It had been completely erased from the sand by SHIELD, but I could see a faint glow where it had been.

"You are becoming stronger in your magic, Sia." Loki smiled, pleased. "I am sorry I can't be here to teach you more. You must practice what you have learned. Have the courage to experiment, and see what you can discover on your own."

I knelt down without letting go of his hand, so he knelt on the sand next to me. I ran my free hand over the sand, focusing my energy. The Bifrost marks glowed a bit more brightly.

"See! Just like that. Try one new thing each week, and really work with it."

I stood, and leaned in close. "I will, Loki."

He tucked a finger under my chin, bestowing a gentle kiss like honey, a kiss like fire.

"I will be thinking of you until I am again in your arms, Sia."

"As I will be thinking of you, Loki."

A sweet, lingering kiss, and another.

"I will return to Midgard soon, Sia, my love."

"Loki, my heart, I will be here for you."

A kiss like honey, a kiss like fire.

"Be brave, Sia. I will be here for you soon."

"I will, Loki."

"Remember every day how much I love you." Loki's eyes were bright.

"I will, Loki. Remember every day how much I love you." A few tears escaped my eyes. Unlike our last parting, when I had no idea if I would ever see him again, this time I knew we would be together again. But that knowledge made it no easier to part at this moment.

"I will, Sia. I love you."

"I love you, Loki."

Loki pulled me into his arms, and we kissed with all the passion of our souls.

"Soon, Sia!"

I stepped back, out of the beam's reach.

"Soon, Loki!"

Loki looked up. "Heimdall, when you're ready!"

The familiar rumble and flash of lights shook the beach, and then silence.

I took a long look at the horizon, and dried the last of my tears.

This time was different. This time, I knew there would be a next time.

"We'll head to Santa Rosa. There's a small airport there, no commercial traffic, strictly general aviation." Coulson acted as though escorting gods to distant beaches so they could travel the realms via advanced physics was a daily occurrence for him.

Perhaps it was.

I had driven past the exit to the airport countless times. Mostly I knew it by its abbreviation SNPY, a nod to Santa Rosa being the home of Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schultz.

We pulled into the airport parking lot, and drove straight onto the tarmac.

Stark's jet was waiting, with two pilots at the bottom of the jet stairs.

Coulson opened the door and helped me out of the car. We walked towards the plane, and the pilots snapped to something like attention.

"Professor, please meet Captain Clint Bartlett and Captain Natalie Rushman. They'll be conveying you safely to New York."

We shook hands all around. Bartlett seemed to be the older of the two, but I would have put my money on Rushman as the more experienced pilot.

"We'll have you there in no time, ma'am, with no trouble!" Bartlett flashed a rather lopsided grin. "You'll hardly even know you're in the air."

Rushman poked him in the ribs, with no particular subtlety. "We're pleased to be flying you to New York for Mr. Stark, Professor. The plane is equipped with a full galley and bar, so whatever you might want to enjoy on the flight, we can take care of for you."

I turned to Coulson. "I suppose you're off to your next adventure, then?"

He nodded. "There's always something, Professor. We're leaving a couple of agents in the downstairs flat to keep an eye on your place until you're back. They'll water the plants."

"And refill the bird feeders, too! The local squirrels take it personally when they're neglected."

Coulson laughed. "I'll make sure to add that to the assignment notes."

I shook his hand. "Thank you for your work in protecting me, Agent Coulson. And to all of your team." I turned and shook hands with Liu, Sitwell, Miller, and Gonzalez. "And you as well, Agent Stewart. I appreciate all of you, very much."

"Just our job, Professor." Stewart smiled at me. "And it's not often we get to go dancing, so thank you."

I noticed Sitwell shift awkwardly as Stewart and Liu chuckled.

I nodded. "Perhaps sometime we can go dancing, just to go dancing."

"Anything is possible, Professor!" Stewart grinned. "I'm sure Agent Liu would be up for that."

Liu gave a big smile, and two thumbs up, as we all laughed.

Except Sitwell.

I turned back to Coulson. "Good luck with your next assignment, Agent Coulson."

"Thank you, Professor. I know Mr. Stark will take good care of you, and you're going to be amazed by Stark Tower."

I turned to the pilots. "Shall we, then?"

End note: Tavalli is a fictional shop. It's a mash-up of a number of places I used to love, and are no longer in business. Sigh.