Just a quick note, I wanted to make it clear that Sif and Thor aren't out to hurt anyone, least of all Deara. None of this was done purposely. It was all an accident, and Deara understands that. Pouting and being difficult isn't going to do her much good at this point, and she knows that. She doesn't hold grudges. She sees the good in people. Or maybe that's just the game she plays to get Thor to trust her. So I threw in a little Loki ranker to even things out.

"Deara, please get out of bed," Sif said. "You haven't moved in days."

She sighed. "Sif, I'm unwell."

"I know you must grieve. Children are not lost here. I cannot imagine the pain-"

She stopped as laughter bubbled almost hysterically from Deara's chest. "It is not the child that pains me. Sheerdan children are weak. I know it is rare to lose a child here but in my land it is not. We are prepared for it." Sif winced as she shifted. "I miss my people. I've not been apart from my sisters for more than a night in my whole life. But most of all I grieve my husband."

Sif sighed, studying her. "It's that bad?"

"We're not meant to be apart. It's been nearly two weeks." Her eyes turned down toward the dungeon. "I can feel him. Nearly within reach. But just beyond my touch." She rubbed her eyes. "It's maddening."

Sif strode to the cupboard. "Get up," she ordered.

"Why?"

"I'm going to fix this." She motioned her forward.

With a groan she hefted herself out of bed and pushed her feet into slippers, raising her arms when Sif approached with a cloak. She wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled the hood low over Deara's eyes.

"Sif, I do not wish to see Thor upset with you."

"Let me deal with Thor," she said, Deara's smile bolstering her as she led her through the door.

The flew down the hallways and Deara actually giggled as the descended the stair into the dungeon. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone so eager to get down here."

"I can feel him," Deara said. "I could walk to him with my eyes closed."

Sif shook her head, pulling her to a more sedate pace as they came within sight of the guards. Sif nodded seriously to them. "I wish to speak to him alone."

The guards hesitated, but they nodded and walked away. Loki barely glanced up. "Hello Sif. I don't know what you think I know that is so important the guard can't hear but-"

He stopped when Deara pulled her hood back, actually dropping the book and stepping toward the force field. "Deara." He whispered it like it was a prayer.

She grinned, bouncing on the balls of her feet as Sif lowered the field and let her rush into the cell and her husband's waiting arms. The field came back up as Loki wrapped both arms around her to hold her as closely as possible.

For perhaps the first time in her life Sif saw Loki absolutely speechless. His mouth worked soundlessly, and she realized he was just saying his wife's name over and over.

Deara found her feet and took his face in both hands, pressing her forehead to his. "It's me."

Sif smiled and turned to go but Loki stopped her with her name. She looked back into his stunned eyes. "Thank you," he whispered to her.

She tilted her head in acquiescence. "I'll keep Thor distracted as long as I am able."

She strode into the ring with her sword propped on her shoulder and her familiar swagger in her step.

"Sif!" Thor called. "I expected you to be with Deara."

"She's busy moping and it's been far too long since I've been with my friends."

"Let's see if she's lost her edge," Fandral suggested.

"Sounds like I need to put you back in your place," she grinned.

One sweaty hour later Sif sighed when she caught sight of golden armor as the sound of pounding feet reached them. Thor turned immediately as the guards rushed forward. "Prince Thor, it's the prisoner."

Thor's eyes turned immediately to Sif. "What did you do?" he demanded.

"Nothing, it just, there's no danger." With a growl Thor hurried down the hall, Sif on his tail. "She needed it, Thor. She was wilting. I had to do something."

"You could have spoken with me!"

"You couldn't agree to it. It had to be someone else."

He silently stomped the rest of the way down to find the couple cuddled on the bed. Deara was draped over Loki, her feet tucked under his legs, her cheek on his chest and her arm tight around him. Her head was tilted up and they whispered to one another, a wide smile on her face and the occasional chuckle at his replies.

When Sif and Thor approached she buried her head in his chest and moaned.

"I am sorry," Thor said. "But I simply cannot stand by and allow this."

When Loki opened his mouth Deara reached up and put a finger to his lips. "He said he was sorry." She took her finger back and kissed his lips. When things began to become truly uncomfortable for Thor she pulled back, pressing her forehead to his. "I love you."

When she pulled away his arms tightened around her. "I would fight him."

She shook her head. "I forbid it."

His eyebrows rose. "Oh, YOU forbid it? You who are so good at following orders?"

"But I am very good at giving them. And I do forbid it." She ran a hand down his cheek. "Behave yourself and maybe we can do this again."

She disentangled herself and walked toward the door, turning to point at him when he started to move. "Stay right there."

He sighed, shaking his head at her as she stepped through the portal and took Thor's arm.

"Deara," he called as she turned to go. They both paused to look behind them. "I love you."

Deara nearly glowed, blushing and looking down, but she met his eyes and said, "And I you, husband."

Thor led her away a bit wide eyed. When they were out of Loki's earshot he asked, "This is the first time he's used those words to you?"

"Indeed." Her grin broadened.

"You seem to be in better spirits."

"I feel better," she chirped, nearly skipping.

"I am glad," he said. "How long is that likely to last?"

She tilted her head. "A week? Two? It'd difficult to say. The loss of the child makes things more difficult."

He sighed, patting her hand. "What if I returned you to your people? Could you swear to me you wouldn't come back after Loki?"

She looked into the air before her. "I'm sure to you it seems a very kind offer. And I acknowledge it is. But the fact is I cannot go without my husband. I would be useless as a leader to my people. At least being this close to him offers me some comfort. I am afraid I can offer you no choice but to keep me here as long as he is being held." She fingered her gown. "I only hope my being honest about it is some comfort to you."

"It is," he said. "I have no doubt Loki would say he could do it and descend upon us."

"You've been more than kind to me. It's the least I could do."

"As you have been to me," Thor said. "If you are feeling better perhaps you would join us for dinner then?"

She tilted her head, considering, then nodded. "I would be delighted, Prince Thor."

"And he fell with a might crash!" Volstagg declared, throwing his cup down with a crash.

Those around him cheered, including Deara who clapped and laughed with the others.

"You like Volstagg's stories?" Thor asked.

"They are delightful!" she cried. "If we were among my people there would be not a chair within listening distance. Story tellers are highly valued by our people." She grinned at those around her, then glanced at the fire. "But the hour grows late. I should withdraw."

She stood, wrapping her robes around herself. "No, stay!" Volstagg called. "I have many many more tales to share."

"Perhaps Thor will invite me to come another night," she said. "Weakness still plagues me."

Sif stood but Thor motioned for her to sit. "I will escort her," he said, standing. "If it please the lady?"

She nodded and turned toward the door. He hurried to catch up.

"Do you truly feel weak?"

She shook her head. "You see through me, my Lord Prince," she said.

"Then why withdraw? You seemed to truly be enjoying Volstagg's tales."

"I was. But it was growing late and the men were growing drunk and-" she shrugged.

"You still fear us," Thor said.

"I do not fear you, obviously," she pointed out with a grin. "This fear runs deep. I doubt I shall ever outgrow it. It is my failing, Thor, not your people's. I know that."

"It sounds very uncomfortable."

She shrugged. "Gone or not it will grow more comfortable."

He paused to consider her. "I have a proposal I would like you consider seriously."

"Very well," she agreed. "Although you may assume I do consider all proposals quite seriously."

"What if I asked you to rule with me? Coregent of Asgard."

Her lips thinned. "Why do you ask?"

He paused to consider. "Because I believe you would be quite good at it. You seem to be with your own people."

She shook her head. "This isn't a ploy to pull me away from my husband?"

"How so?"

She looked up at him. "By offering me the thing he wants most? You don't believe he would be bitter if I accepted?"

"He shouldn't be," Thor said.

"But he would." She sighed. "I'm sorry but the truth is I don't believe I'm what you need in a coregent."

"You are very attached to the people. You are very devoted to them," he objected.

"My own people, yes," she said. "But I lack cunning. I'm too trusting, as evidenced by my place here. I don't know how many times Loki told me not to trust Sif. And yet, here I am. Any foreign diplomat could lead me wrong with a look. What you need is someone like my husband to help you rule." She paused to consider. "The three of us would make quite a team. You to lead the army. No one could stand against an Asgardian army with you at the head. Myself to rule the people, and Loki to deal with foreign matters."

Thor took a moment to consider. "Do you imagine he would ever agree to it?"

She bit her lip. "Not at this juncture I'm afraid. Anything less than unquestioned King would strike him as an insult. But in time, perhaps."

She turned at her door, pressing up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Thank you brother." With that she disappeared into her rooms.

Thor attempted to find solace in his room, but found himself pacing on the balcony. There had to be an answer he wasn't seeing. He couldn't just hold Deara hostage indefinitely. If nothing else her people would come for her, and she would return for Loki, and he'd either be conquered again or constantly waging battle against a people that his ancestors had already wronged once. People that, if she was to be believed, were his people at the heart of it.

He wished he had his brother's talent for looking at things from different perspectives, or his father's wisdom, or his mother's kind words.

He'd never felt so alone.

So he went to the one person he could speak to. He went reluctantly, knowing that he couldn't truly trust him, but at the very least he could talk.

"What an honor," Loki snapped when he saw him. "Deara is well, so what is the purpose of your visit?"

"She will not remain well," Thor said. "She has need of you."

"And you'll bring her to me when the time comes, as if she were a leashed puppy you're feeding. Does it ingratiate you to have such power over her?"

"No, it does not," Thor said. "I do not wish to see her in pain." He paced. "I seek a solution."

"Do not hurt yourself," he suggested with a grin. "You expect me to find an answer for you?"

"An answer that could benefit us both. Our people. Your wife, who you claim to love."

"I wondered how long it would take you to use that against me."

'I want what's best for her, just as you do. I had hoped you would want it more deeply than I." He stopped to look at the man. "She said to me once, that if I could find a way for you to trust me, then I could trust you. I would like very much to trust you. Is there no way I could?"

Loki shook his head. "There is one thing."

Thor perked up immediately. "Name it."

"Return what has been lost to us. Make my wife whole again. Heal our family."

"How?"

"Give me back my daughter."

Thor sighed heavily. "No one can bring back the dead. It is impossible."

"Then you have your answer."

"There must be something-"

"There is nothing else!" Loki roared. "You took my first born from me. Until that debt is repaid-" He paused to grin. "Or perhaps that is the way." He rounded on Thor, stepping close even as he retreated. "Fetch your Jane. Declare your love, have a child with her and hand to us knowing you will never again see it again. Watch her heart break, better feel it yourself-"

"I would never do such a thing to a woman I love!" Thor declared.

"No, only the women I love," Loki said. "Get out of my sight."

He paused for a moment, but reading his brother's face he knew it would do no good for him to stay. Still the wheels in his head turned.