Well sorry about that hiatus. I m back as promised but not quite happy about it. Turns out, in all my frantic moving and organizing and homework I lost my creativity. I think I may have found some of it, but certainly not all of it. SO. This chapter kind of sucks. Hopefully you will forgive my for it, because it is merely a transition chapter and that made it really hard to be good.

Thank you for all of you who said they would stick with me during my break. That was very nice. And the only reason I really returned. You're the best.

O~~~~~~~~~~~~O

The next month was peaceful. Well as close to calm that one can get when they live in a high tech sky scraper with a genius, high tempered doctor, two assassins, a ninety year old captain, a god of thunder and a formerly megalomaniac who was also the god of chaos. It was a month filled with yelling (during fights, during movies, at machines, at couples who were being too loud in bed), full of laughter (at pranks pulled by a conniving assistants, jokester billionaires and angry bird sharpshooters who were just tired of the billionaire and assistant), and eerie silences (which scared the entire group when they occurred).

The group had become much closer over the month. Loki quickly became one of the family. He had bonded with Natasha quickly with long conversations in Russian and epic games of chess. He had gotten closer to Tony, physically and emotionally. Nobody really got to bond with Bruce. With the addition of the new bracelet Bruce was doing all the things he hasn't been able to do. So he was gone most of the time.

Steve and Thor got lessons. Loki took it upon himself to teach them about Midgard and its inventions and culture. Despite being on Earth for less time than the two, Loki had assimilated quicker. So he sat the two down in a room decorated like a elementary school (tiny desks and everything. He shape shifted into a female, donned a pants suit, pulled his hair into a tight bun and created a pair of glasses to sit at the end of his nose. Both the thunder god and Captain America ended their lessons with more knowledge about the world the live in and a few welt marks each where Loki's pointer landed on their hands. If that costume ended up being taken into Tony's beds, well you can't really blame him?

Clint was a little hard to work with. He really didn't want to be around the man who once controlled his mind. Hawkeye knew that it wasn't Loki's fault but that didn't make it any more comfortable. He spent most of his times in the air ducts, on the roof and other high places that people couldn't find him. Lok was not deterred because of this fact. At random moments he would appear next to Clint, occasionally starling him from his roost. After two weeks of the random appearances Loki changed tactics. Soon Clint was being magically transported into a nest made by Loki. It was large pile of towels, blankets, pillows and a layer of fragrant leaves. Clint was quite unhappy with this development. But as it kept happening he soon realized that the nest was quite comfortable and Loki was not so annoying when he was reading quietly next to Clint's nest.

Currently the entire team and Loki were sitting in a limo somewhere in France. Tony, being Tony, demanded that everyone dress in the best thing they had and meet him at his plane. Soon they were on their way to god-knows-where. There was a sigh of relief when the car eventually stopped but it was short lived. Steve looked nervously at the other line of limo's outside the enormous building. Loki, as Luke, stepped out regally and motioned for everyone to follow. Tony was bouncing as they walked through the twenty foot high oak doors. It was the smell that hit them first. The glorious smell of hundreds of perfectly cooked meals. Clint began to drool as his eyes swept over the tables and revealed the most expensive looking meals he has ever seen. Bruce looked distinctly uncomfortable, seeing as his best happened to be a pai of slacks and a nice sweater, not the formal tux's that the rest of the patrons were wearing.

"Hey there Richard!" Tony said, bounding over to the man behind the small desk near the door.

"Mister Stark. It has been a while. Are congratulations in order for your break up?" The man, Richard, stepped around the desk to take Tony's hand and pull him into a quick hug.

"Well technically I shouldn't be happy about it, but it led me to Luke so I cannot complain." Tony shrugged with a small smile. In response Richard pulled Luke into a hug.

"Such a happy day. It has been so long since I have seen my Tony being happy with the person he is with. Thank you so much." He said in his thick French accent.

"It was no problem. He makes me happy as well." Luke replied kindly after he was released.

"Now what can I do for you Tony?" Richard returned to behind his desk.

"I know we don't have reservations, but do you think you could fit us in?" Tony pulled his most winning smile.

"Oh Tony. You know the reservation list goes back two years and you give me no warning?" Richard shook his finger at the billionaire. "But for you I make an exception. Give me two minutes and you will be led to your table." And with that Richard walked off.

"Are you serious? Man it must be nice to be rich!" Clint gushed.

"You flew us to France to go to a restaurant and you didn't even know if there was going to be a table?" Steve asked in wonder. He was peering around, fully engaged in the crystal chandeliers, pure silver plates and elegant people.

"Eh, Richard always says that. I have an open invitation to appear whenever I want. See, I helped the owner of the restaurant with a problem with his daughter. They are technically Earls so she was betrothed at an early age. The man she was to be wed to was a complete ass though. I managed to get the contract broken without having either family shamed and in fact helped his restaurant business flourish. I can go to any of his twenty restaurants around the world at any time. I just happen to like this one because Richard was a friend from way back." They all stared at him. Well, except Natasha, she had actually been here before with Tony when she was working for him.

"It's good to be the king." Tony said with a shrug. Soon the group was being led towards their table and seated in front of a very expensive looking set of silverware. Richard returned looking exasperated and handing out menus.

"Really Tony, you must learn French. Then I could give you the proper menus. You come here enough."

"Sorry Richard, it won't happen. You know that languages aren't my thing." Tony smirked.

"I know a great teacher. You could be fluent in a month." Richard beseeched with a smile.

"I'll consider it."

"Very well, enjoy your meal." Richard left with a flourish.

"Um Tony?" Steve spoke up, looking confused. Tony "hmm-ed" in acknowledgment, not looking up from his menu. "There are no prices on anything."

"Steve, trust me. You do not want to see the prices in this place." Natasha answered instead of Tony. "Just the first course would give you a heart attack. Just enjoy the food and try not to imagine how many zeros will be on the bill."

"It's good to be the king." Tony piped up again, only to yelp when Luke pinched him on the back of the arm.

Soon food was ordered and then consumed. In the proper fifteen course meal there was a lot of chatter from their table. Loki and Thor ended up telling stories of Asgard as they ate. Tony caused an uproar when he told them all the silly things he had done in the French high society. Steve constantly marveled at what was the most expensive meal he had ever eaten. Tony silently vowed to take him out more and show him the wonders of fine dining. Thor similarly was rejoicing in the food, but doing it loud enough that people outside could hear how good the food was.

It took three hours for them to finish eating. Tony was handed the bill in its little folder the same time a small bowls of ice cream were delivered as a palate cleanser. He didn't blink as he looked at the total. Bruce, who saw it from his seat next to him, choked on his wine at the total. While he was coughing he regretted wasting the wine. After all, the bottle cost more than what he paid in rent before.

"Tony!' He yelped. Tony just raised an eyebrow as he signed the receipt and took his black credit card back.

"If that makes you choke I shouldn't show you the cost of the wine I buy you regularly." Tony smirked. Bruce immediately turned red.

"I thought that was just a supermarket wine!"

"Like I would let any of my friends drink the cheap stuff when I can lavish them with specialty wine that is personally made to suit their tastes."

"Personally made?" Natasha asked.

"Oh yeah. Special grapes made in barrels that have my name inscribed on them. Bottled and labeled and only sold to me." Tony said as he folded his napkin on the table.

"I can't believe you!" Bruce yelped.

"Oh please. You were perfectly fine drinking it without knowing. Anyway, you cant refuse it now. I have barrels on back order for the next twenty years. Already paid for, so no point in saying no on principle." Tony patted the stunned doctor on the back.

"You are enjoying this aren't you?" Loki whispered in his ear as the exited the building.

"I love to spoil him. I can't help it." Soon they all clambered into the limo and were off to another place that Tony refused to tell them where. IN the end they ended up on a beach. Tony informed them that they were going on a moonlit walk along the beach because he thought it would be fun. Shoes were removed and left with the driver as they all dug their toes in the soft white sand.

Loki breathed deep and smiled. Ahead of him the Avengers were chatting and walking. Steve and Clint had opted to roll up their suit pants and walk in the water. The others were pointing at the sky, gesturing to the different formations and telling tales and myths.

"Are you happy?" Tony asked, grasping his hand and pulling him close.

"The happiest I have been in hundreds of years. Thank you." Loki answered immediately, kissing Tony on the cheek in a rare sweet moment.

"My pleasure." Tony squeezed Loki's hand. They walked in silence, happy to watch their friends enjoy the beach.

Suddenly there was a loud boom that shook the sky. A bright flash blinded them all, knocking them to the ground. When it faded Tony was staring at the empty space next to him where Loki had just been.

"What the fuck just happened?!" Tony asked in a panic. Frantically searching for his lover around him but finding nothing.

"Stark!" Thor boomed, startling the billionaire. The Avengers turned to look at the god of thunder. Thor was staring at the sky looking frightened, angry and most importantly, sad.

"Man of Iron." Thor started again, this time quietly. "It seems my brother has been found. He is now back on Asgard."

O~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~O

Well now that's done. What a horrible cliff hanger. Any way. We have reached the end. Two more chapters to go. Three if the next one needs to be split up. Hope you have enjoyed it up till now. It is time for the rather cliché meeting of Odin. God Tony is going to be a pistol. A warning, there might be a small deviation in time table for the last two chapters. I have classes, which is my main excuse,. The other is that the next chapter is probably going to be ridiculously long. Probably. So hang in there if I am not there on Sunday. Also forgive any spelling mistakes. Couldn't be buggered to re-read this chapter. y fingers are sore from cleaning the oven so I refuse to do any more typing.

Ciao!