A/N: This chapter contains spoilers for Thor 2: The Dark World. If you have not yet seen the movie, you may need to skip this chapter.

Time moved quickly on Midgard. Winter soon gave way to the warmer weather of spring. Nari began to have his horse riding lessons, which he loved even more than his karate lessons. Sigyn began to work on her garden in the backyard. She had studied the matter for a long time and had made her choices of what vegetables to plant and when to plant them. Nari liked to help her with the digging and she liked not getting dirty, so the two of them made an excellent gardening team.

They planted carrots, tomatoes, and zucchini and watched and watered the garden faithfully as the weeks passed. Nari ran into Sigyn's sleeping chamber one morning and woke her up. "Mor! Mor! The plants have sprouted!" he cried, hopping up and down in his excitement.

"How wonderful," Sigyn replied sleepily, reaching out to brush the long dark hair out of her son's eyes. "Let me prepare for the day and I shall go look at them."

Nari waited outside the washing room door and took his mother's hand as they walked to the garden. Sigyn enjoyed how affectionate he was towards her, and smiled down on him as they walked. When they got outside, she saw that there was a layer of green covering the entire garden plot. "Oh, how lovely!" she cried while running over to it and kneeling down to look more closely at it. She reached out one hand and brushed her fingers gently through some of the sprouts. "Think of the feasts we shall have when these are harvested."

"They will be delicious," Nari declared.

The garden thrived and grew through the entire spring and they were able to bring in the spring harvest and prepare for the summer planting just as the weather began to grow hot again. It provided many hours of joy for Sigyn.

"It has been nearly a year since we arrived in Midgard," Brynja stated during breakfast one sweltering morning. "It feels as though we have always been here, does it not?"

Everybody agreed that while time passed quickly on Midgard, it also felt timeless. "I do not even remember Asgard very much," Vali stated. "Midgard feels like my true home now."

"But do not forget, we will return to Asgard one day," Sigyn replied. "It is our real home."

"I don't know, mor," Nari replied. "I do not remember the ways of Asgard. I like the way life flows on Midgard. It is fast and exciting."

"It does move quickly here," Sigyn agreed. "There's always something happening."

With the vernal season came the return of late night games for Nari and Vali with their friends. They were out of the house for as long as Sigyn would allow them to be and one day she was shocked to see how tall they were getting. "Your clothes hardly fit you anymore and your hair needs cutting," she declared.

Both boys grumbled as she and Bruce drove into town to fix both problems. "You'll feel much better in clothes that fit and you won't be so hot with shorter hair," Sigyn said.

Several hours later, the boys returned home with bags of new clothes and shorter hair on their heads. They ran off to join their friends before Sigyn could think of anything else for them to do.

The summer past pleasantly, and began turning to autumn slowly. The warm days lingered as long as they could until the change of seasons could no longer be denied.

Sigyn worked quickly to bring in the last of the summer's vegetables before the weather turned too cold. She was kneeling down in the garden, picking carrots and placing them in a bucket and speaking with Loki, as they usually did each day. He cut off from her in mid-thought and Sigyn frowned. "Are you all right, my love?" she asked.

Loki didn't respond, but she was suddenly inundated with a sense of panic, rage, and sadness. It threatened to overwhelm her. She clapped her hands over her ears as though she could block out her husband's screams that now filled her mind, but it didn't help. Suddenly, she felt her energy surging inside her, building up until there was nowhere else for it to go and it exploded out of her in a single burst. She watched as a red wave of energy flew out of her body and spread out across the yard. It dissipated when it hit the fences on each side, but left everything in the yard scorched.

Sigyn was breathless and collapsed to her knees. Brynja came running out of the house. "My lady, what has happened?" she cried. She wrapped an arm around Sigyn's waist and helped her to her feet. "Come into the house."

By the time Sigyn was sitting in the living room with a glass of water, Nari and Vali had run back home from playing at Billy's house. "Mor! Mor!" they cried before throwing their arms around her. "Mor, what has happened?" Vali asked, looking stricken. "Nari and I felt far crying out, but we could not tell why."

Tears streamed down Sigyn's face as she hugged her children. Brynja sat by her side, looking concerned. "It is your farmor," Sigyn said with a gasp. "Asgard has been attacked and Frigga was killed in battle. She died a warrior's death…"

The group was silent for several minutes as they took in the news. Brynja began to cry quietly, but soon it turned into a loud wail. "Our queen is dead!" she exclaimed before reaching down to rent her skirt.

Nari and Vali began to cry as well, throwing themselves into Sigyn's arms. She reached down and tore their shirt collars, and then tore her own skirt. Bruce came upstairs and looked concerned to see them all so upset. "What happened?" he asked.

Brynja stood up and threw herself into his arms. "Frigga, our queen, was killed in an attack on Asgard," she sobbed.

"My farmor has died!" Nari wailed. Sigyn rocked him gently, like she had when he'd been younger.

Vali gasped for breath and rubbed his eyes. "Why was she killed?" he asked. "Who attacked? I wish to know who did this! I shall seek vengeance for her death!"

Nari let go of his mother and moved to stand next to his brother. "I too demand vengeance!" he growled. "I will slay them, whoever they are! I will slay them all with my sax!"

"My sons, you cannot do this," Sigyn replied sadly. "We are still on Midgard and the enemy who slew Frigga is very far away. We must leave this in Thor's hands. He will seek vengeance for our family and for the whole of Asgard. He will bring us justice." She turned to Bruce. "What are the burial customs of Midgard?" she asked.

Bruce kept his arms around Brynja's shoulders as he responded. "There are many different ways of burying our dead. But Frigga is not here…"

"No, but we must honor her death, even if we are far from home," Sigyn replied. "Frigga was our queen and our family and she died a warrior's death. There are certain rituals and honors to be granted to her. We must partake in them."

Bruce nodded his head in understanding. "What sort of rituals?"

That evening, after it grew dark, the group of mourners gathered in the backyard and watched as Bruce lit a bonfire. There would be no way to sail a boat off of a waterfall, as custom also dictated, but this was good enough in Sigyn's eyes. There would also be a proper mourning feast in a week's time to honor Frigga's life with stories and toasting.

Nari and Vali cried for their farmor as the bonfire's flames flickered up into the night sky. "I wonder if Heimdall can see our fire," Vali said. "I wish for him to tell far and farbror and the Allfather that we are honoring Frigga."

"They know, my love, they know," Sigyn reassured him. She frowned and opened her mind to Loki. "My Sjalsfrande, I feel your sorrow and I wish more than anything to be with you, to hold you in my arms and grieve with you."

"I have never been gladder that you and the children are not here," came Loki's swift reply. "Many others were slain, not just Frigga. This enemy was swift, and ruthless. I have no doubt that your lives would have been in danger."

"Do you know who they are? Are they the ones you feared would come after you?"

"No, they are not. These are a far greater, far more terrible threat to Asgard. I will not bring you back until they are destroyed."

"Oh, my love," Sigyn replied. "Stay safe. I fear you are in great danger."

"Do not fear for me, my wife. Fear for our enemies. It is their lives that are in danger. You know my brother and the Allfather will not let this pass without retribution. War is upon us, but woe be to the enemy, for they shall feel our wrath!"

"I wish you were free from your cell. You could seek vengeance, as is your right as a son to do so. You deserve that opportunity."

"The Allfather would never permit it. But I do wish for vengeance as well. There are so many things I would do to those who slew Frigga."

"Your sons are also plotting their revenge, though I have told them there will be no possibility of being able to seek it."

"It is their right to," Loki replied. "If they were here, I believe Thor would permit them to join him. It is another reason I am glad you are safely on Midgard. I have—" he cut himself off from his thought for a moment before returning to her mind. "My wife, I must go. At long last, my brother approaches." Loki disengaged from Sigyn's mind, and her thoughts returned to the scene at hand.

The bonfire was beginning to die down, and her sons were growing tired. She sat down on the porch steps and they sat on either side of her legs, resting against her. She ran her fingers through their hair and began to sing a song of mourning. It filled the night air with sadness and pain.

Frigga, our queen, has gone away from us,

Where she goes, we will one day follow.

She shall wait for us with Hela,

And prepare for us rooms to join her soon.

The women of Asgard owe her our lives,

And we will live to honor her memory.

May her life be remembered with fondness,

And her death be avenged with swiftness.

That night, while Brynja slept in Bruce's embrace, Nari and Vali cried themselves to sleep in Sigyn's bed. "Oh my husband, I wish you were right here with us," she called out to Loki. She waited for him to respond, but he never did. She fell asleep that night feeling uneasy.

(SCENE)

When the week passed, Sigyn and Brynja prepared a feast for everybody. Sigyn had not heard from Loki since he had broken off from her, and her concern was growing stronger each day. What had Thor wanted with him? Was he the reason Loki was not communicating with her? And what was keeping him from being able to speak to her? She didn't tell anybody about her worries, but kept them to herself. There was nothing anybody could do, and they were all still so grief-stricken that she didn't want to burden them any more than was necessary.

When the feast was ready, they ate and toasted to Frigga's memory and shared stories of her life. Sigyn kept an eye out for the "uninvited guest" as Hela called herself. Would she come to so small a feast so far from where Frigga had died? Sigyn poured an extra glass of wine for her just in case, and set aside a plate of food for her in the kitchen.

After the stories had ended and the food had been eaten, Sigyn returned to the kitchen to clean up and noticed that the glass of wine had been drained and the plate of food was empty. She smiled to herself and felt oddly comforted to know Hela had been there.

Nari and Vali slowly began to feel less sorrowful about losing Frigga as time passed. They returned to their studies and played with their friends and returned to life as usual.

"Life must march ever on," Brynja commented one day as she and Sigyn folded laundry together in the living room.

"I suppose it must," Sigyn replied. "It always has before."

That night, Sigyn took a bath and relaxed in the tub. She closed her eyes and tried to call out to Loki, in hopes that this time he would respond. She had nearly fallen asleep when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach and her eyes flew open. A cry of pain flew out of her mouth and she looked down, but saw nothing wrong with her body. "Loki, what is happening?" she called out to him. "Please answer me."

Many minutes passed, but finally, Loki replied. "My Sjalsfrande, do not fret. I am well," he said into her mind. "But I have need to share your mind for a time. It shall be cozy, shall it not?"

"It won't be any different than the other times you've shared my mind," Sigyn responded. "But why do you need to be here, and what is causing my stomach to hurt so badly?"

"Oh, my wife," Loki replied jovially. "It is a wonderful tale, and I shall share it with you at length, but first, I wish to watch you finish bathing."

"Oh Loki, really…"

"Please, my love?"

"Oh, all right…"

Loki didn't speak of what had happened until Sigyn had gone to bed that night. As she lay in her bed, clinging to her teddy bear for comfort, he told her everything that had happened to him since Thor had come to his prison cell after Frigga's death. Sigyn listened and didn't interrupt, until the end of his tale. "So, Thor thinks you dead now? Again?"

"Yes, he does," he crowed.

"And what are you going to do next? You were stabbed, were you not?"

"Yes, but that is why I am in your mind now. After enough time has passed, I shall create a new body and go into that."

"And do what, exactly? Thor thinks you dead."

"Well…I shall have to be somebody else for a while, I suppose," Loki replied. "I am formulating a very good plan, my love. I hope you have faith in me. You don't sound like you do, currently…"

"Oh husband, you know I have faith in you and all of your plans. I just cannot see how you can get yourself out of this bind. I am sure you'll come up with a brilliant plan."

Over the next several days, Loki spent every moment of the day in Sigyn's mind. She loved having her husband close to her, but the stress of sharing minds began to take its toll on her. She began to snap at her children and Brynja when they did something that upset her and once or twice she even yelled at Bruce for not picking up after himself.

Fortunately, when things were becoming unbearable, Loki got his idea for the next step in his plan. "My love, prepare yourself. If I do this correctly, I will bring you and the boys home to Asgard in a week. The Bifrost has been repaired so you can return easily now. We shall all be together again! I will leave you to yourself now. But wait for me, my love. You are coming home!"

Sigyn's heart soared at the thought of reuniting with Loki after such a long time apart. Only a week's time and she would be in his arms again. Her sons would be able to see their father again after almost two and a half years! Oh, to be a proper family once more! She said nothing to anybody for fear of getting their hopes up only to have it not work out in the end.

Loki contacted her after a week. "My love, it has gone better than I could ever have imagined. I am going to give you one more week to pack and make your farewells. I know the children have made many friends, so they will need time to say their goodbyes as well."

That next morning, at the breakfast table, Sigyn told her news to the rest of the group. "Loki has deemed it safe for us to return to Asgard. We have one week's time to pack and make our farewells to our friends here," she said with a smile.

Everybody remained silent and looked at one another for a minute before responding. "But our friends, we won't get to see them again," Nari said quietly. "I don't want to leave them behind."

Tears filled Brynja's eyes and she jumped up from the table and ran out of the room. Bruce sighed and set his napkin down on the table before following her out of the room.

"Why can't far come live here with us instead?" Vali asked. "We would all be so happy together here."

"Your father isn't welcome on Midgard," Sigyn reminded him. "He has asked us to return and he is the head of our family. We must do as he wishes."

The boys frowned and Nari folded his arms. "I wish to remain here," he said stubbornly.

"You are not yet a man grown; you must do as your far and I say," Sigyn replied. "We are returning home in a week's time, so use this remaining time here wisely. We must pack to leave and we must say farewells to our friends. I will miss the people here very much too, but we must go back to our true home."

"What about Brynja? She's very sad right now," Vali commented.

"I will go speak to her soon," Sigyn replied. She could hear Brynja crying in the living room and Bruce's quiet voice trying to comfort her. With a sigh, Sigyn stood up and left the room to talk with them.

"Brynja, do not cry so much," she said when she sat down next to her friend.

"Oh my lady, this is the worst news I have ever received!" Brynja wailed as she threw herself into her mistress's arms. "How can I be parted from Bruce forever? My heart belongs to him!"

Sigyn hugged Brynja for a minute before pulling her up and reaching out to brush the hair out of her friend's eyes. This was a very sad moment for Sigyn, but she knew it was the right thing to do. "You will not have to be parted from Bruce," she said, her lower lip quivering. "If Bruce will have you, you may stay here with him."

Bruce placed a hand on Brynja's hand and squeezed it lovingly. "What if your husband says otherwise?" he asked.

"Loki gave Brynja to me as my personal servant when I was carrying the children. Her fate is for me to decide, not Loki." She wrapped her arms around Brynja's shoulders and kissed her friend's cheeks. "Brynja, you have been my faithful friend and helper all these long years. You have been with me in the hardest moments of childbirth, and the darkest moments of my husband's madness. You have been there to watch my sons take their first steps and speak their first words. You are the very best friend I have ever known. It is with great sadness and sorrow that I release you from my service, but with great joy that I give you into the arms of a man who loves you and will take care of you." With that, Sigyn began to cry. She never knew it would be so hard to say farewell to the greatest friend she had ever known. But knowing that Brynja would be separated from her lover would be cruel to force to return with them. This was for the best.

Brynja sobbed into Sigyn's shoulder. "Perhaps Bruce could come back with us to Asgard," she suggested after a minute.

Sigyn sighed and wiped her eyes. "I don't think Loki would approve of that," she replied.

"I'm not sure I want to live on Asgard," Bruce replied. "I'm not sure how I would react to all the violence…"

Sigyn nodded her head. "I think it's best if Brynja stays here with you. Will you keep her in your care?" She looked at Bruce hopefully.

Bruce gazed at Brynja and smiled. "We will stay together, as equals. She doesn't need to be cared for by anyone," he replied.

Brynja smiled and grabbed his hand. "I should like that very much," she said.

Sigyn's heart swelled to know that her friend would be left in good hands. It would be terrible to lose Brynja, but perhaps with the Bifrost repaired, they could visit one another occasionally. "I shall miss you terribly, but I will ask Heimdall to check in on you from time to time."

As the week passed, Sigyn packed her life and her children's lives back into the trunks they'd brought with them a year and a half ago. The boys packed all their new books and toys to take with them and Sigyn packed her teddy bear, the photos of her children, and all her books and equipment for gardening and preserving food. She also added some packets of seeds for foods that didn't exist on Asgard with the intention of introducing her world to them. She wanted to continue with her new activities when she returned home. Loki, hopefully, would not object to her having a garden.

Loki spoke to her a few times as the time grew closer for the return trip home. He told her that Thor had, inexplicably, forfeited his right as heir to the throne and returned to life in Midgard to live out his days with his Midgardian woman. It was a sad moment to see his brother leave the realm for good, but there was duty to think about, and it was on Loki's shoulders now to bear that burden.

He wouldn't explain to her how he had escaped his prison sentence, especially when all of Asgard thought him dead, but would only tell her that it would be much more fun to wait and see when she returned. "I'm sure you'll find it quite amusing, my love," he assured her.

Nari and Vali had a very difficult time saying goodbye to their friends. They had grown very close to them over the time they'd lived on Midgard, and did not want to be parted from them. Nari especially was quite sad and angry at the thought of going home again. "Can I not stay here with Bruce and Brynja?" he begged Sigyn one night before bed.

"No, your far wishes for us all to be together again as a family," Sigyn replied. "We must return home. I am sorry you will be leaving your friends here, but remember that you have very dear friends on Asgard that you will be returning to. Look forward to seeing them again."

"I do not remember them," Nari grumbled before turning onto his side away from his mother and covering himself with his bedclothes.

Sigyn sighed and left him alone after that.

On their last night in Midgard, once they had made their final farewells to the neighbors, and eaten a last pizza dinner, they had one more evening together. Bruce told them more mythology stories and they watched one last movie. The boys vowed to stay awake all night to make sure they didn't miss out on anything, but both were asleep by the time the movie ended, and Sigyn and Brynja carried them upstairs to their bunk beds.

Brynja joined Sigyn in her sleeping chamber that night as they spent hours talking about their many memories. They laughed and cried, and vowed to visit whenever they could. Sigyn kissed Brynja's cheeks before falling asleep in her arms. She would miss her friend's comforting warmth. Her arms had rocked her to sleep many nights since she had been assigned to care for Sigyn. It was like losing a sister, or a part of herself, not just a friend.

The next morning, they ate a final Midgardian breakfast before moving all the trunks out to the back yard. The last hugs and kisses were exchanged and Nari and Vali clung to Sigyn's waist and all three sobbed as the light of the Bifrost enveloped them and all around them turned white.

When they reemerged, they were in Heimdall's newly rebuilt station. Their trunks littered the floor, and the boys continued to cling to Sigyn's waist, afraid to let go. Sigyn opened her eyes and saw Odin standing next to Heimdall. The Allfather smiled at her. "My daughter, and my son's sons," he said in greeting as he slowly walked towards them. "How I have missed you all."

Odin wrapped his arms around Sigyn's shoulders and held her for a moment before drawing back to kiss her cheeks. "My lovely daughter, how good to hold you in my arms once again. You have come back to comfort an old man during his greatest loss," Odin said with a frown. "My dear wife, unmatched by any other, save you, has been taken from my life by a heinous act of murder. Thor, my son and heir to the throne has forsaken our people in our greatest hour of need. Never would I imagine that he would abandon us…And my heart breaks to think of Loki, my fallen son. The son who gave his life so that Thor could live and save this realm. The true heroic nature of his sacrifice is not unnoticed by me. If only I had treated him better in life, perhaps none of this would have happened…"

Sigyn listened to Odin speak, but something wasn't right. She caught a gleam in his eye that he wasn't known for, and at that moment, she knew exactly what was happening. Loki had transformed himself into Odin and was impersonating him. This must have been his grand plan that he'd been so excited about.

Nari and Vali looked at the Allfather warily, as they too could sense that something was amiss. He turned his attention to them after a minute. "And my son's sons…How you have grown since last I saw you…" He reached down and patted their heads and gave them each a brief hug.

"The servants will take your belongings to my chambers," he said a moment later to them. I hope you will not object to staying in my chambers. It would mean so much to a man of my years, bereft of his loved ones, to be parted from his last familial connections. Sigyn, you are my son's widow. My other son leaves behind no wife or children. And Frigga and I were not blessed with daughters. Would you find it in your heart to take care of me in my old age? I do not wish to be alone."

"Yes…Allfather…It would be my pleasure to look after you," Sigyn replied evenly. "It is our duty as the last of this line to cleave to one another and help each other through these dark, sad times."

Odin bowed his head and sighed. "Dark times indeed," he replied. "Never was I so happy that you and the children had been sent away as when we were attacked without warning or provocation. Many were killed that day. I am glad that you were not among them."

"I am very glad to be among the living as well," Sigyn replied with a polite smile. "I assume you have much work to attend to today, so I shall take the children to your chambers and work on unpacking our trunks. Perhaps we shall join you for supper in the dining halls later today." She held her hands out and Nari and Vali each took one. "Thank you, Allfather, for returning us to our true home at long last." With that, she turned and left Heimdall's station and began the long walk across the newly rebuilt Bifrost towards the palace. She spent the time wondering how her life would change, yet again, now that Loki was living as king in disguise. Somehow, she didn't see a happy ending for them.

(SCENE)

Upon entering Odin's chambers, the servants showed Sigyn and the children their sleeping chambers. Nari and Vali each had their own chamber and Sigyn was to stay in Frigga's room which adjoined Odin's. How convenient, Sigyn thought to herself with a roll of her eyes.

Each boy spent an hour unpacking his trunks into his new room, and changing out of Midgardian clothing and back into Asgardian clothing. Sigyn did the same as well, and thought her old clothes felt strange on her after all this time. She affixed her dagger to her waist and left her chamber to find her sons. "My loves, how good it is to see you in those clothes again," she said upon seeing them.

Nari had put his sax on again and placed his hand on the hilt. "I have missed this," he admitted.

"Shall we go to the dining halls for supper?" Sigyn asked. "We are sure to see many people we have wanted to see for a long time."

"I do not remember the way there," Vali said, furrowing his brow.

"I remember; I shall show you," Sigyn replied before walking towards the door.

"Perhaps there will be pizza," Nari said longingly.

"Or hotdogs," Vali added with a sigh.

"I do not think there will be either of those things," Sigyn said gently. "We ate those for the first time in Midgard, do you recall?"

Nari sighed. "I shall miss pizza and hotdogs," he replied.

"So shall I," Vali replied sadly.

"Perhaps I can work with the kitchens to create our own versions," Sigyn offered. "I do intend to continue with pickling and preserving, after all."

Nari and Vali grinned at the thought. "Your creations will be very popular here," Nari predicted.

When they arrived at the dining halls, they saw that half of it was closed off. There were stone masons hard at work repairing the damage to the room during the recent battle. Sigyn's heart pounded and she was instantly grateful that she and her children hadn't been present for the attack.

They walked to the Allfather's table and Lady Sif, Volstagg, and Fandral were there to greet them. Hugs, kisses, and well wishes were exchanged by one and all. "Look how big you two have gotten," Volstagg said to the boys. "I wonder if my children will even recognize you."

The boys ran off to the other end of the table to join Volstagg's sons and daughters, and Sigyn sat down with the adults. "Did you see Thor before you returned?" Sif asked.

"No, he must have been in a different part of Midgard," Sigyn replied. "Though, I would have liked to have wished him farewell before we left. I do not know when I shall see him again." She looked around the table. "And where is Hogun?"

"He elected to stay behind on Vanaheim in order to help his people rebuild their lives," Fandral replied. He reached out and took her hand in his. "And might I just tell you how sorry I am for your loss," he continued. "To have Loki presumed dead so long ago, only to find out he truly lived, yet unable to reunite with him, and have him actually perish long before his time…It staggers the mind. You are now his widow again. If there is anything you need, anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask. I would be only too happy to help you."

Sigyn nodded her head and smiled politely. "I thank you, Fandral, for your kindness at this sad time in my life," she replied. "At the moment, what I need the most is for my sons to resume their weapons training. They did not get any training in Midgard, save for their karate lessons. They did very well with that, but it didn't involve weaponry of any sorts. And with Thor gone as well, I have nobody to do this for them…"

Fandral nodded his head and squeezed her hand. "Say no more, my lady," he replied. "I should personally see to it that their practice resumes immediately. I know not what 'karate' is, but perhaps it has its own uses. I shall look into it when we begin training again."

"I thank you, Fandral," Sigyn replied while carefully trying to extricate her hand from his. She wondered why he was being so kind and attentive to her, but did her best to ignore it.

Volstagg helped by approaching her to speak about her life on Midgard. Fandral finally let go of her and they all sat down to eat while she regaled them with tales of her life there. They were fascinated with them. Volstagg in particular, loved to hear about all the foods Midgard had to offer and was very excited about her plans to recreate some of it in Asgard.

"It is good of you to move in to the Allfather's chambers,"Sif commented at one point. "He so loves his son's sons that it will be good for them to spend more time together."

"Yes, I am happy to let him have more time with them," Sigyn replied. "He is much changed since I last saw him."

Sif glanced down the table at Odin for a moment before nodding in agreement. "He seems older now, feebler, as if old age has finally come upon him," she replied. "Hopefully you and the children will help restore his vitality once again."

"I can only hope so," Sigyn replied.

When the evening meal ended, Sigyn and her sons walked back with Odin to their new home. Odin clung to her arm for support as they walked. "I do not move as well as I once did," Odin said with a chuckle.

Once they arrived back at their home, Odin banished all the servants for the night, claiming that Sigyn could tend to all his needs from now on after the day had ended. When they had all left, Odin stood before the family and slowly his form changed from that of the older man, to the form of Loki. Loki was young, full of vitality, and laughed heartily at the shocked looks on his sons' faces.

"Far! I knew it!" Vali cried.

Loki knelt down before his children and held his arms out to them. Both Nari and Vali rushed forward and hugged him. "Oh my sons," Loki murmured, his mirth turning to sentimentality. "Oh my sons…" He covered both of their faces with kisses and tears. He never thought that being reunited with his children after such a long absence would affect him so greatly. His heart was overwhelmed with love to see them again, and regret for what he had missed out on and guilt for what he had put them through.

At some point in time, all three of them ended up on the floor and both boys clung desperately to their father, sobbing inconsolably. Sigyn knelt down on the floor and wrapped her arms around her family, adding her tears and kisses to theirs. Loki stroked her hand and spoke into her mind. "We have met minds and souls so often, but I do miss the feeling of your skin. I shall very much enjoy our reunion tonight."

"Far, I missed you so much!" Nari wailed. "Why did you make us leave?"

"My son, it was not safe here," Loki said. "I did not want anything to harm any of you." Nari sniffled and leaned his head in against his father's shoulder. Vali wiped away his tears and settled in next to Loki, and both seemed determined not to let him leave them ever again.

After a while, they got up off the floor and moved over to the benches by the fireplace. The boys attached themselves to Loki as they sat and talked about their experiences since seeing him last. Loki didn't want the moment to end, but also felt a desperate, insatiable need to be with his wife. After watching the boys put on a karate demonstration for him, he applauded and stood up. "My sons are clever and talented, are they not, my wife?" he asked, holding his hand out to her.

"The cleverest and most talented," she replied, taking his hand and moving to his side. She wrapped her arm around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder. "The most wonderful sons ever given to anyone. And now, my lovelies, it is time for bed."

"But mor, we aren't tired!" Nari exclaimed. He demonstrated this by doing another karate chop in the air.

Vali smiled slyly and leaned over to whisper into his brother's ear. Both boys giggled a moment later. "We shall go to our chambers and let you retire to yours…We shall see you tomorrow," Vali said to his parents.

The boys hugged and kissed them before retiring to their chambers, leaving Loki and Sigyn alone in the living room. Sigyn looked at her husband, feeling shy all of a sudden. "Loki, I have waited for this day for so long," she whispered.

Loki looked down into Sigyn's beautiful brown eyes and his heart pounded nervously. "I too have waited. I have been through so many perils and so many troubles to get here. Your mind and soul are the only thing that kept me going. The thought of one day reuniting with you in the flesh has consumed me since I returned to Asgard…"

Sigyn stood on her toes and gently pressed her lips to his. The energy that always flowed between them when they kissed was still there. Loki wrapped his arms around her waist and held her closely to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to kiss him. When they finally pulled away from one another to catch their breath, Loki saw a gleam in his wife's eye. She took his hand in hers and began to pull him in the direction of her new sleeping chamber. "Let us not delay in the reunion of our flesh," she whispered huskily. "I only get you as my husband at night after our servants are dismissed. By the morrow, you shall have to return to Odin's form, and I shall have to live as your widow once again."

Loki hurried alongside her to her sleeping chamber, eager to enjoy her pleasures at long last. As soon as he shut and locked the door of her chamber, and turned around to face Sigyn, his clothing dissipated from his body and reappeared in a pile on the floor at his feet. Her clothing had done the same thing. He grinned and walked towards her. "Your powers have grown since we were last together…" he commented.

"I had a good instructor," Sigyn replied with a grin that matched his. Loki stopped when he reached her and ran his hands up and down her arms. He leaned in and kissed her gently. She returned the kiss and ran her hands over his back and buttocks. She pulled away from him and whispered in his ear. "I do not want this gentle, timid coupling, my husband. We have been parted much too long for that. Let our passions control us this night, and every night."

Loki didn't need to be told a second time and guided Sigyn over to her bed. He watched as she lay down and looked expectantly at him. "Well? Do not keep me waiting any longer, for I cannot stand to be this close to you when we could be even closer…"

Loki joined his wife on the bed and gently pressed himself against her. He had never forgotten how wonderful it felt to be this close to her, but the reality of it, after such a long absence from her, was even better than he remembered. He was torn between wanting to partake in a passionate, frenzied coupling or a torturously slow, sensuous love-making with his wife, and in the end, they did both. Sigyn and Loki made love for hours that night. Sometimes it was slow and languid, and at times it was frantic. At one point, Loki was concerned that they might wake the entire realm or perhaps cause the bed to collapse. Neither event occurred though, and when they both could no longer take any more couplings, they fell into a comfortable sleep. Loki's body was still pressed against Sigyn's, and she had her arms wrapped around him.

The next morning, Loki took his wife hurriedly against the door adjoining their rooms, while she clung tightly to him, her legs wrapped around his waist. It would have to be enough satisfaction to last them until the evening when they could unite once again. Sigyn was sad to watch her husband dress for the day and transform himself back into Odin. She sighed and sat down on the bed to relax. "I think that was the best lovemaking we have ever partaken in," she commented.

"How did it compare to your night of passion with Thor?" Loki in Odin's guise asked.

Sigyn stretched out on the bed and shrugged her shoulders. "Thor who?" she replied with a grin. "I do not even remember it, the memory has faded…"

Loki grinned and had to force himself not to join his wife on the bed. "I'm very glad to hear that, and it reminds me that I still must give you your spanking for that. Something to look forward to tonight, I suppose…" He winked as Sigyn laughed, and left the room before he gave into temptation and spent the entire day with her. He had a realm to rule after all…