All eyes were on the two bodies in the middle of the room. A pin could have dropped and the sound would have been deafening. Frigga's startled expression landed on her son that lay on his back on the ground. She looked over at Odin in disbelief that his punishment could be so emotionally cruel. Jane had jumped backwards, her senses heightened from the exceedingly tense atmosphere. She had backed into Thor and he held his hands upon her shoulders. For a split second, Thor let an element of alarm cross his face, but masked it quickly with a stoic expression. His focus upon Jane, Loki and Darcy.

Odin took one last look at the scene in front of him, and strode out of the room in a confident manner. Any that saw him would see a King with no regrets, but deep inside his soul held uncertainty from his actions.

Darcy didn't know what to do. She looked down into Loki's eyes and could only see shock and pain. Darcy steadily held the hand upon the hand that Loki was inspecting, the blue flesh contrasting with Darcy's pale hands.

Loki quickly pulled his hand away from her grip and assessed the situation. He noticed in the corner of his eye that Frigga had started to move down from her position beside the throne towards Darcy and Loki. Loki pushed Darcy off from her position on top of him and stood quickly.

His quick action left Darcy on the ground, supporting her body. Loki looked down, and felt a tinge of regret. He reached out and pulled her onto her feet. Loki looked at Thor and Frigga's expressions and turned on his heels, exiting the room and leaving a confused Darcy behind. As Loki left, Frigga stopped in her tracks and gave a knowing glance to Darcy and headed to follow Odin's tracks.

"Where is he going?" Darcy asked Thor.

Thor remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"Thor, where did he go?" she emphasized.

Thor brushed his hands up and down along Jane's arms, and replied "Most likely to his chambers. Turn left through the doors, and then a right. It is the second door to the right."

Darcy made no response and turned in haste through the doors that Loki had recently exited through. She followed Thor's directions exactly and ended up outside of a magnificent carved door. Darcy knocked tenderly.

"Loki?"

No response.

"Loki?" Darcy repeated as she knocked on the door harder. She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it.

The room was completely dark, leaving the open balcony as the only source of light. The night sky created an eerie glow within the room, the stars glistening in the sky. Loki was standing on the balcony, his hands gripped tightly on the railing and his head hung low. Darcy crossed the dark room towards Loki and stopped as she reached the threshold.

"Loki?" Darcy whispered.

Loki said nothing, but tightened his grip on the railing. The skin above his knuckles fading to a light blue as his grasp tightened.

"You know..." Darcy treaded lightly upon the topic as she stepped down onto the balcony. "...I've seen it before."

Loki released his vice-like grip on the metal and turned to face Darcy, a mournful look within his eyes.

"Do you truly accept this, Darcy?" he spoke in an incredulous manner.

"I am stripped of the magic that maintained my Asgardian form." Loki started to raise his voice.

"To look like this for an undetermined amount of time...perhaps forever, Darcy, did you think about that?" He took a step towards Darcy, slowly closing in the space between them.

"You would be so willing... with no guarantee that I will ever become normal again" he stated with desperation. Loki took another step towards her, their bodies only an inch apart.

"Darcy, I-"

"Stop" Darcy interrupted.

Loki looked down at the small mortal, a questioning look in his eyes combined with despair.

"I've told you once, and I've told you twice. You're not the hideous monster that you think you are. I didn't fall for you because of your fancy magic, or your 'God' status." She reached a hand to cup Loki's cheek, stroking it gently with her fingers. "I fell for what's inside." Darcy placed her other hand on Loki's chest, above his heart.

"When will you start to believe me?" Darcy pleaded.

The lights came on within the bedroom and Darcy turned her head. Frigga stood in the doorway with a dismal expression. Loki continued to stare at Darcy.

"I don't know if I ever will" Loki confessed.

Frigga walked towards the balcony doors. "Darcy" she greeted. "Perhaps I could have a moment with my son?" she said kindly.

Darcy took her cue. "Frigga" she said gently. "I'll...I'll be back later then..." She glanced at Loki, who had already turned away from the two women to face the open sky.

Frigga nodded and gave her a sweet smile. It was complete silence from the moment Darcy stepped up from the balcony, to the moment she closed the chamber door.

Darcy took a deep breath out. Why doesn't he believe me? Everything was fine until... Darcy thought of Jane. She felt no anger, but disorientation as she tried to connect Jane's motives. How could she... Darcy thought.

Darcy turned the corridor and found a lavish corridor. Well, I don't think this is the right way... she recalled. An Asgardian guard turned the corner at that moment and a flustered Darcy asked for directions. She asked if he knew where Jane had gone. Loki...Jane...Frigga...Thor...Odin she thought. The pattern of names repeating in her head.

Following the guard's directions, Darcy found herself outside of another beautifully carved doorway. She knocked.

Darcy heard footsteps increase in volume as they neared the entrance, and Jane opened the enormous door.

"Darcy!" Jane exclaimed in surprise.

"Yep, I'm still on Asgard too...surprise."

Jane opened the door wider, allowing Darcy to enter. Thor stood in the middle of the room, his large body felt immense, making the room look a lot smaller than it really was. Tension was thick in the air and Darcy could tell they had been arguing. About what, she could probably guess.

"Jane, I thought I could talk to you...alone" Darcy requested.

Thor got the hint. He looked over at Jane, who gave him an approving glance. "Of course, Lady Darcy. Jane, I shall return later" he said as he made his way out the door.

The door closed silently and Darcy and Jane stood, just steps away from each other.

Darcy started, "How did you know?"

"How did I know what?" Jane responded.

"How did you know Loki was with me?" she clarified.

Jane hesitated. She realized she had to tell Darcy. "An Asgardian guard told me. In the middle of my living room, in fact. I suppose these Gods don't particularly have a sense of privacy" Jane said as she attempted to avoid the question. Darcy raised her eyebrows and sat on the bed. Jane followed Darcy and gave in.

"He told me that Odin and Thor thought they had the right Loki. They locked him up in their prisons and everything. It had been some time, but they figured out that he was really one of his holograms when he suddenly vanished in front of Sif.

"Apparently Sif and the Warriors Three were visiting and Sif... er... tried to punch him but her hand went right through his face! Thor had Heimdall look out for me, but he didn't see Loki. So he had him look out for you, and guess what he found..." Jane tried to hide the hostility in her next statement, but Darcy could read her face like a book.

"They found Loki, laying with you asleep in the middle of the night in your apartment."

Darcy shifted her gaze downwards. They could all see...

"Darcy I can't believe that you would let him get so close to you. This is utter madness" Jane said as she leaned in.

"The Asgardian told me to bring you to Stark Towers and Thor would meet me there to bring Loki back to Asgard -"

"Jane you sold me out" Darcy said as she cut off Jane. Darcy stood, the energy in her legs couldn't sit any longer.

"Darcy, I did not 'sell you out'. Why can't you understand that! Why can't you see the danger? Why can't you see that I am helping you, I'm watching out for you." Jane stood and put her hands on Darcy's shoulders.

"I know you didn't have many people watching out for you when you were younger, but I'm watching for you now."

"Jane, that's not fair. I can take care of myself. You don't understand that there is goodness and...and a certain vulnerability within him. I've fallen for him and I can't deny that, Jane" Darcy admitted.

Jane huffed out a breath of air. "I won't believe it until I see it Darce"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Darcy asked.

There was a knock on the door and the door slowly opened again. Having heard the raised voices, Thor walked past the threshold. He held a crestfallen look upon his face.

"Lady Darcy, I must inform you of the hour this evening. It is very late into the night and Jane must rest. Perhaps I can show you to your own chambers?" Thor offered.

"My own chambers? Just how long are we staying here, Jane?" Darcy asked in surprise.

"I'm sorry, Lady Darcy, but that is undetermined as of yet" Thor said sadly as he looked at Jane. "May I?" he repeated.

Darcy looked over at Jane again. She considered his offer for a second.

"Yes, you may. But take me to Loki's room instead."

Thor didn't expect her request. "I'm sorry, Lady Darcy but-"

"Thor. Take me there. Please?"

Thor considered her desire, and sent a regretful look to Jane. He nodded and the two made their way out the door. Jane sent a disapproving look towards the both of them.

Darcy followed Thor's lead towards Loki's chambers, and once again she ended up outside of his room.

Just as Thor brought his hand to the doorknob, the door opened and Frigga stood before them. She looked discouraged but wore a reassuring smile at the sight of Thor and Darcy.

"Thor. Darcy" she greeted. "Perhaps it would be best to let Loki be for the time being. The weight of his punishment has not taken to him kindly."

"I have to see him. Please, just very quickly" Darcy pleaded.

Frigga looked at Thor and nodded. She moved aside from the doorway to let Darcy pass.

"You certainly are a distinguished character, Miss Lewis" Frigga said as Darcy passed her.

Darcy smiled and closed the door as Thor and Frigga continued down the hallway.

Darcy turned to take in the lit room and stood in awe. Every inch of the room was beautifully decorated with a reoccurring theme of green, gold and silver. Loki sat in the corner of the room on a cushioned chair. His elbows rested upon his legs and chin upon his knuckles.

Darcy crossed the room and stood in front of Loki. She kneeled, directing her gaze into Loki's eyes that were hidden from the angle.

"Turn off the lights" he simply said.

"What?"

"Turn off the lights. I don't want you to see me." Loki stated in a stronger tone.

"Loki, what is going on? What's the matter? You know I've already seen you like this, and you know what I think. You were the one that willingly showed me, in fact" Darcy said as she attempted to reason with him.

Loki swiftly rose from his chair and Darcy's gaze shot upwards. He walked over to a strange fixture on the wall and handled the switch. The lights in the room faded to black. The stars again continued to provide the only light.

Darcy rose from her position and stepped towards Loki, stopping in the moonlight from the balcony. Loki looked at her with his red Frost Giant eyes.

"I had the security of my magic, Darcy. I knew that at any moment, I could have changed back at my own will. To be like this forever, though. You can't possibly think to be with this."

"It doesn't have to be forever though, Loki. Do you remember what Odin said? "Self-penance and approval within your very self-"

"I know what he said, Darcy!" Loki yelled out. "And if your plan is to wait for me to walk into the middle of the city as I am now, to feel as if this is my own skin..." Loki took a breath in a calmed his tone. "...then you will be waiting for an eternity."

Darcy softly shook her head in disbelief. She wouldn't believe that Loki would never find the strength to love himself.

"It is getting late, Darcy. Perhaps you should return to your own chamber now."

It seemed like his words were piling on top of her mind. Remembering their first nights together, Darcy thought, How did we even get to this moment, where he won't let me help him.

"Loki, I thought I could-"

"Perhaps you should return, Darcy" Loki restated.

Darcy gave in, but before she turned to exit, Darcy leaned up towards Loki's lips and gave him a passionate kiss. Darcy pressed herself against him and brought a hand up to the back of his head. Loki resisted at first, but then gently placed his hands upon her waist. Just as Loki started to kiss her with his God-like strength and moved to pull her body in closer, Darcy pulled her lips back and looked into his eyes.

"I won't give up on you, Loki" she whispered.

Darcy turned on her heels and exited the room, praying to herself that she made the right decision.

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! I will be posting another chapter this weekend. Just to let you know that I will be slowing down for a week or two due to exam season, but I will still be updating! Thanks for reading, please review!