Hi everyone! It's been forever but now the wait is over! Another chapter is here! (ANOTHER!)

I must thank you all for your great reviews, and since you did I'll have a surprise for you after the story is over :D

We will probably say goodbye to the Avengers in this chapter, but there will be a few more to go before we're done. I also wrote a poem to go along with this one, but idk if I should post it.

I don't own anything Marvel, in case you were convinced I did.

/ / / /

Jessica Marx had never in fact been inside a vacuum, or a tornado. She had never taken psychedelic drugs. She had never been set aflame, or tossed into a bottomless pit. But if she could, that is how she would describe what she was experiencing right now.

She was only vaguely aware of the others huddled around her as she was propelled through the fibers of space at a terrifying speed. (That didn't seem right, somehow, because she'd hoped they'd gotten away.) Galaxies streaked past like blazing comets before fading into the black beyond.

Only moments ago, the ground had fallen away - and she would have attributed that to the explosion beneath her feet, but then everything else had started to fade away, too. All of the sudden her sky, vast and full of raging thunderclouds, wasn't there anymore. She wasn't surrounded by towering mountain peaks. Now she was suffocating - somehow there was even less air here than where she'd been before.

She'd barely been able to keep her eyes open back there, and she remembered that all she could think was that she'd been shot, and of all the blood and trying to listen to her best friend talk to her and Jane and Thor and wondering if she was going to die...

Loki had bent over her for a moment, too, but he'd looked angry, if anything, and didn't try to say anything to her like the others had. He'd spoken only to Thor, but she couldn't hear it. Just his lips moving silently behind the pounding of her pulse in her ears. She liked him, she decided, and found herself wishing he wasn't so mad. Jess didn't know who his anger was directed at, but she figured it didn't matter because she wouldn't be around long anyways.

Then everything had become covered in a blanket of pristine white, and she knew she must be dead for sure. Awesome. Just great.

Right now, though, she wasn't certain about that anymore. She could just barely see the outlines of the others alongside her, their features blurred before her eyes by their tremendous speed. Bright colors flashed and spun and faded in the void around them. It would have been beautiful, even, except for the awful feeling the vertigo was giving her stomach. (And her stomach wasn't feeling too good right now in the first place.)

This feeling seemed to go on forever and a few moments (though time didn't really make sense here), and after a while she couldn't decide if she was flying or falling - or both. She wasn't certain which possibility terrified her more, either.

Jess panicked, worried she might get separated and lost forever in this endless tunnel, but soon felt more than one vice-grip on her arm and decided she'd be okay.

It'll be okay, somehow. She decided she wouldn't have missed this adventure for the world, though it's a shame she had to go this way... Maybe the others will make it. It'll be okay, somehow. A sudden, erie calm settled over her, which she took as another sign that she was on her way out. Great going, Jess.

She closed her eyes.

Out of nowhere, space itself seemed to close in around her and her whole body ached with the squeezing, dizzying pressure. It intensified and just when she knew she couldn't take it anymore - it all ended abruptly.

In less than an instant she was no longer hurtling through space, and all the spinning colors and voids of black nothingness were gone. With them, though, the sense of calm, and she was jolted back to reality.

Jess landed hard on solid ground; her body gave out almost immediately and she collapsed once more. She opened her eyes reluctantly, fearing the worst, and searched for anything familiar but the world was fuzzy and blurred. She felt so, so tired, and everything hurt. Gently, she placed a hand on her burning abdomen (that seemed to hurt the worst), only to find with a shock the stream of sticky, warm blood seeping out. It was pooling by now, almost dripping through her shirt. Her breath hitched in panic; she'd forgotten about that. oh god oh my god oh my god

She had just enough time to see a clear, starry sky fade in above her, before her consciousness slipped away.

/ / / / /

Green eyes reopened to find they had indeed arrived, thankfully (thankfully?), on the Bifrost, just outside the entrance to the Realm Eternal. Even from a distance, Loki could see the towering gates shining in the starlight and the end of the bridge's stretch before them. Beyond that, a city and gold towers. He released the breath he'd been holding, and, with some effort, got to his feet.

Asgard. I'm in Asgard.

It wasn't relief he felt, but it wasn't quite nerves, either. It was a deep realization that somewhere along the line, something had gone terribly wrong. He was not the man he'd been before - but then again, he held no desire for that. Neither hope of redemption nor nostalgia had driven him back here, he thought, but rather a mix of desperation and the simple fact that he owed a debt.

The Midgardian women began to blink away the effects of the trip, staring in awe at the Tesseract's portal swirling behind them and the wonders of Asgard that lay ahead. Rachel's mouth dropped open, and Jane was rendered absolutely speechless. It was unbelievable - nothing like in the books, or even Thor's attempts at describing it. It was even grander, truly a world fit for the gods. There wasn't much time to marvel at the golden city, or the dark ocean, or the countless stars, though. They had to find help, and quickly.

Thor rose, first asserting (with relief) that they had in fact returned to the intended destination, then looked down in dismay at the Tesseract's casing. The glass cylinder had re-fractured during their trip, and didn't look as if it would be teleporting them again anytime soon. Regardless, he was grateful it had served its purpose - they were closer to safety than they had been in Midgard, and than they ever could have been without it. And most importantly, the cube was only a rainbow bridge away from the clutches of Thanos, the humans, and anyone else who may covet it. Well, almost anyone...

Loki stepped forward, now sporting his full armor - and cradling Jessica's body in his arms. Her pretty face was pale in stark contrast to her brown curls, her head lying still in the crook of his elbow, and she seemed so frail now... With a hardened glare, he looked to Thor for direction. He didn't like doing that one bit, but knew better than to go storming into the palace himself, especially now. But it was looking as if that was what would have to happen, if Jessica was to reach the healers of the sacred palace temple in time.

Thor seemed to be thinking along the same lines for once. Thinking in general is a vast improvement for the likes of him, Loki mused as Thor surveyed the area for anyone they could seek entry through the gates from. He could just make out a small legion of guards patrolling the gate area - but not the gatekeeper Heimdall, strangely. Odd. Some officers - the captains, most likely - rode horses, while the others followed in formation on foot. Thor called out to them in his booming voice and waved Mjolnir in the air to get their attention (as if the giant fiery portal from their arrival hadn't already done that). Oaf.

/ / / /

The guards, which had been moving curiously towards the activity on the Bifrost, spotted Loki first and immediately rushed out onto the bridge.

Recognition dawned, and they charged.

Loki had't gotten five steps in front of the others before they surrounded him. Before he could so much as get a word out, two snatched his scepter and Jessica's limp body from his arms, while another pair grabbed his shoulders roughly and yanked him backward with a chorus of angry shouts.

He fought back instinctively, elbowing one in the face and twisting out of their grip. He snapped his fingers and zapped his attackers with a few green sparks, momentarily stunning them. They recovered quickly and tried to get control of him again. One managed to grasp his wrists from behind and the other punched him hard in the jaw. His helmet toppled off and clattered across the Bifrost, before slipping over the edge into the ocean far below.

Thor pulled Jane and Rachel away from the Tesseract's portal just as it closed dangerously near behind them, at the same time screaming something unintelligible to the swarm of guards attacking Loki. (They didn't seem to hear him).

A third guard encircled him and helped the others pin his hands behind his back. When Loki continued to fight, trying in vain to explain their predicament as he did so, one drove an armor-plated boot into a tender spot on his side that hadn't yet healed from their last meeting. Loki felt the force drive the wind from his lungs and replace it with fiery pain.

He collapsed onto his knees on the Bifrost, gasping, retching scarlet blood as well as a fair amount of profanity.

"How dare you return to our realm like this! You deserve to die, traitor!" one of the guards snarled, drawing his blade. He pressed the tip to Loki's throat.

That did it.

"FOOLS!" Thor shouted, forcefully shoving his way through the crowd of guards that had gathered. Jane and Rachel stuck close behind him, drawing curious stares from the soldiers.

"UNHAND MY BROTHER!" he thundered, yanking the unfortunate one with the sword away by his collar and tossing him backwards like a doll. He flew several feet and was left teetering precariously close to the edge of the Bifrost. The others obediently but reluctantly released their grip on Loki.

"Your Majesty - you've returned!" one of the captains exclaimed, before lowering his voice cautiously, "Pardon me, sire, but -"

"There is no reason for this! Loki means well, and he is coming with me! We haven't much time." The guards glanced at each other doubtfully, wondering what could have driven the crown prince mad, but stepped aside to allow him through.

Thor first reached a hand down and hoisted Loki to his feet on the Bifrost, much to the soldiers' surprise. They shared a long, deep look, but this time there was no bitter laughter, no venomous glare, and no conjured knives.

One of the guards walked up and handed Jessica's body to Thor, looking at him a bit guiltily. Thor nodded gruffly and the guard backed away. Another approached Loki even more reluctantly and returned his scepter, before hastily retreating under his murderous glare.

"I have not the time to explain in detail," Thor addressed the guards, barely containing his temper, "But my brother and myself must reach the palace with these Midagrdians. We have returned from conflict in another realm, our narrow escape from which I credit to my brother." All eyes landed on the trickster, disbelieving. "This woman has been gravely injured," Thor continued, "and requires the attention of the Allfather's healers at once."

The guards exchanged skeptical glances. "How may we assist you?" the captain finally replied with a slight bow.

Thor thought for a moment. "We shall need these horses," he gestured to the officers' direction, "And an escort to the palace, to deter any further interruptions." The guard bowed his head again. Loki frowned. No backing out now. Before the night was over, he realized, he would have to face the Allfather, and let come of it what may, if he intended to save Jessica.

"Yes, sire." Three officers dismounted, and offered out their reigns. Loki took the first, a strong white horse with a pale mane. He swung his leg over the saddle with a grimace, and fit his boots into the stirrups. Thor handed Jessica's body up to him as if she weighed nothing, while awkwardly gripping the Tesseract and holding Mjolnir strapped to his other wrist.

He helped Jane and Rachel onto the second horse, before mounting a reddish chestnut steed himself.

"To the palace, brother," Thor spurred his horse in the direction of the gates. Loki didn't bother to correct him this time, and followed, flanked by four guards on horseback. The rest of the legion looked on as they trotted away. Jane and Rachel's shared horse lurched forward after the others, causing Rachel to let out a startled shriek and nearly topple off its rear.

The gates swung open in front of them, and Thor and Loki charged through. In their haste, they soon left the inexperienced Midgardian riders far behind. Loki rode as hard as his wounds and the extra weight would allow him, hoping they would not be too late. If we are, I've given myself up for naught.

They rode down cobblestone streets with rows and rows of commoner houses, and through a village square (nearly plowing down a merchant and toppling his cart of squealing livestock). They thundered past a few community buildings and grand nobles' estates, before twisting through the city center and finally reaching the golden towers of the palace in the middle of it all.

Night was falling in Asgard; the fading light was reflected atop the peaks of the palace spires, along with twinkling stars. The entire structure was built of stone and bright golden metals. Outside, a protective wall encircled it as far out as the river that cascaded past.

They reached the outer doors of the palace, at which they dismounted and Thor grumbled a hasty explanation to a few startled watchmen. The watchmen of course recognized their crown prince, and allowed his party passage through with respectful bows. They watched suspiciously as Loki followed the older prince inside - he could tell the only thing keeping their feet securely planted was the armed escort's presence.

Once through the outer gates, Thor and Loki hurried down a marble path through a few royal courtyards to the main castle. Gardens overflowing with exotic plants and trickling fountains greeted them from either side. It was an impressive display, designed to welcome the foreign ambassadors who might enter through these gates, but this group hardly took notice. (Except for perhaps Loki, who recalled with a tinge of regret how challenging slipping out through these gardens had been as a child. That had been before teleportation was within his abilities, when he wondered at nighttime adventures outside these walls.)

Thor thanked the guards, and he and Loki continued on alone. The gates swung closed behind them, sealing them inside.

/ /./ / /

Jane carefully steered her horse (with the assistance of a few escort guards) through the breathtaking city and to the palace. The captain (and several others) seemed all too eager to help - he granted her entrance through the outer gates, where she tied up her horse alongside the ones she recognized as Thor's and Loki's. After a quick thank-you, she and Rachel ran, panting, down a path to the palace doors.

/ / / / /

Inside, the vast hall was empty and silent. Chandeliers hung from an arched ceiling carved of stone and accented with gold. Shining lanterns adorned the pillars supporting its staggering mass. They illuminated a grand entryway room filled with seating and pedestals, with intricate tapestries hanging from the walls.

Home sweet home. Just grand.

"Come, Loki," Thor looked to see that no one was around, and opened a plain wooden door nestled away in the corner of the lavish welcome hall. It looked almost out of place amongst the priceless statues and furniture that decorated the place.

Remembering what it was (and more importantly, what he'd used it for), Loki followed, still holding Jessica. He ducked after Thor through a hidden archway and down a servants' corridor. It was narrow and bare and drab, but much quicker for traveling (or sneaking) about the palace than the maze of hallways and chambers, he knew.

A large banquet hall server was hurrying in the other direction, and nearly collided with them as he rounded a corner. His load, a platter covered in wine chalices, toppled backwards as he stopped and attempted to swerve out of the way. They fell and scattered on the ground with a noisy clatter. The servant was already blubbering an apology when Thor cut him off.

"Where is Allfather Odin?!"

"Pa-pardon, sire?" The servant's eyes widened when he saw who he had almost run into, and who that was following him.

"The King! My Father!" Thor grabbed the man's shoulder, causing him to shrink away in fear, "WHERE IS HE?!"

"In-in the conference h-hall, your Highness," the poor man stuttered, both confused and afraid. He had never seen the crown prince in a servants' corridor before, and his last encounter with the other one had ended in poisonous serpents slithering out of his wine.

"Lead us there," Thor ordered, wasting no time.

"Y-yes, sire," the servant replied, abandoning his attempt to retrieve the goblets, "Is he-?"

"Yes, Loki shall be coming as well," Thor replied, exasperated, "Is he not?" He arched an eyebrow and pointedly looked over his shoulder. His brother stood only a few paces behind, looking conflicted and almost... afraid. He still cradled the wounded and unconscious Midgardian that Thor was (also) desperate to save, and he could see Loki's own blood beginning to again drip in a visible patch through his armor. Steely green eyes met his own, and whatever emotion had crossed his face vanished as he locked it away from under Thor's gaze. He nodded. Once. Curtly.

Loki felt his pulse quicken, knowing full well what he was putting himself into.

"Now make haste!"

"Yes, sire." They stepped over the shattered goblets and hurried down an adjoining corridor, eventually climbing a winding flight of stairs. They were old and rickety, nothing like the royals' parts of the palace, and creaked under the trio's weight.

Another plain wooden door awaited them at the top. The servant pushed it open and motioned for Thor to pass with a bow. He backed away warily as Loki followed carrying a strangely dressed woman, and kept his head down. Who is that? Loki had never been exactly favored by the maidens, he recalled, though in comparison to his brother he had rarely taken an interest in them anyways. He couldn't even discern if this one was alive, let alone why the traitor would return with her in tow.

/ / / /

Inside the chamber, a group of a dozen Asgardian royals, nobles, warriors, and ambassadors were gathered around a long mahogany table. They spoke of political matters as the king's servants catered their dinner feast. In addition to food, the tabletop was coated with maps and parchments, and the gatherers were deep in a heated discussion over their contents.

The Allfather Odin sat at the head of the table with his queen, and appeared momentously frustrated with the whole situation. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. His face was worn and tired. This conference had been in session for hours and it felt like days, and still there were disputes between the representatives to be settled. He might have slumped onto the table for a respite, would such a gesture not be considered so rude in the presence of those he wanted for allies. And had his mind been able to do so, as much as his body wanted to.

Inside he was not tired at all - every nerve in him was alive and strung with worry. Heimdall himself had been by only minutes ago to deliver some startling news. News he had not even thought fit to share with a messenger.

His keen sight had spotted his sons on Midgard a few moons ago. What he'd glimpsed had been stressful for all of them, with his sons' troubles and the uncertainty of the Tesseract's casing. Odin hadn't even had it in his heart to tell his wife of Loki's wounds, for he feared it might break her. She was already beside herself as it was. And there was nothing he could do, save for trust that Thor would pull through again. It was cruel, for a king to feel so powerless to intervene.

But today the gatekeeper had informed the king that they seemed to be returning. Both of them. The man spoke in few words, and had divulged little more than that. He had been standing silently in the corner of their chamber, awaiting any further visions to alert the king of. Surely that held priority over any commerce meeting.

Now he stepped from his recess slowly, respectfully, and approached the head of the table. The Warriors Three stopped arguing with a couple of elves to watch with interest. He dropped to one knee to relay another bit into the Allfather's ear.

"They are here."

He rose again, his face silent and blank as a statue's.

Here? In Asgard? Odin had not anticipated they would arrive so quickly, but the relief he felt that Thor was home quickly overrode any nerves. His wife smiled at him, tears brimming in her eyes.

He stood, meaning to formally call off the meeting (and summon his guard) - when suddenly, someone brought it all to a screeching halt for him:

A velvety curtain ruffled aside in the back of the room. The servers' entryway door creaked open, but the wine-bearer was not alone.

All conversation stopped - the duchess' fork clattered back onto its plate; a Vanir royal nearly choked on his ale; Volstagg was sinking his teeth into a leg of foul, but paused and dropped it on his lap in shock. The entire congregation froze and stared and the pair that strode into the room.

/ / / / /

Queen Frigga was the first to recover.

"Thor!" Ignoring all proper diplomatic etiquette, she jumped from the table and ran to wrap her arms around her son.

"Mother," Thor breathed, setting Mjolnir on the floor to embrace her, "I am so glad to be home. We have much to talk about, but first there is something very urgent." He released her and took a step back.

"Yes, my son - what is it?"

It was Loki who replied. The entire room - with the exception of Heimdall and Odin - gasped when he stepped from the shadows. His tunic was torn and ragged beneath the armor, his hair longer than the others remembered it, his face sharper - and he held another in his arms.

He took in his surroundings with a look that reminded the queen of a bird of prey.

"This mortal woman is gravely wounded. If you would summon the temple healers, madam, promptly if you will." His voice was tight and clipped, and he didn't even look at her. Tears started to leak from her eyes - she had not missed the lack of familial title. But thank the Norns - he was home.

His eyes darted between Odin and Heimdall. All others settled on him.

"YOU!" The growl tore through the silence like a gunshot. A turkey drumstick suddenly hurtled through the air, hitting the wall next to Loki's head with a splat. Evidently someone else's shock had dissolved.

"Yes, me," he sighed. So it begins.

"Volstagg, calm yourself," Thor said, "Father, Loki speaks the truth," - another collective gasp - "and before you inquire further, we must request the healers be brought to the girl."

"Of course, my boy," Frigga said, "Your friend shall be cared for; worry not for her." Odin nodded. Two pages immediately darted from the room in the direction of the temple. Another warily approached Loki, and he handed Jessica to him without another word. The page carried her as fast as he could to the healers.

Something in Loki's shoulders relaxed slightly, something unwound, only to tense up again at the Allfather's voice.

"LEAVE US!" Odin shouted. He waited as the gathered nobility filed out the door. Quietly he added, "My sons and I have much to discuss."

Indeed.

/ / / /

Smoke flooded in and threatened to choke the life out of them. Sparks flared from the control panel, and the wings creaked in the freezing cold. It was a suffocating black, like a curtain had fallen. Agent Romanoff temporarily lost all sense of where she was - until she felt a hand reach down suddenly and unbuckle her seatbelt.

"Come on, 'Tasha!" Clint pulled her from the Quinjet's cockpit and they ran into the back. The smoke wasn't quite so bad there, and she could see Bruce struggling with his harness. She ducked low and unclasped it for him, and together the trio escaped from the wreckage.

They emerged in a snowy forest, only to be greeted by a distressed-looking Shield team, and Iron Man hovering nearby. Captain Rogers walked up, waving shyly to them with one hand and rubbing his aching head with the other. Other than that (and a small case of frostbite), everyone seemed to be okay.

Natasha made her way away from the fallen jet, with Clint at her side. Tony joined them with Steve in tow, but Bruce was...stressed, to say the least, from the plane crash and decided to keep his distance for a few minutes.

They stared at each other. Shield agents wandered silently by, trekking painstakingly slowly through the three feet of snow on the ground. More choppers arrived. They searched the avalanche of crumbled rock and the forest and the cliffs, but as expected, all were empty (save for some startling alien remains). No words came; they couldn't believe it. He got away. Distantly, they could hear Fury's enraged tirade through some unfortunate agent's radio. He seemed convinced the world was going to end with the cube and Loki gone.

The Avengers ignored it; they were sure they would each get their earful when they went back to base. For now they just waited, thinking, as the last stray snowflakes drifted lazily to the ground.

"Why did he do it?" Tony asked suddenly, breaking the silence. They all knew what he meant. Loki could have killed all of them with that kind of power in his hands, but instead he made sure he made a clean escape with Thor and took the injured civilian along to boot. It didn't make sense.

Standing in the tranquil calm amongst the swaying aspens, Natasha Romanoff was the only one who thought she knew. She understood. She hoped. (But she knew better than to say it aloud in front of Clint, so she kept it to herself with a small smile.)

He got red on his ledger, and he wanted to wipe it out.

/ / / / / /

Please keep reviewing! Thank you to all those who have! I know somewhere there's this rule about "If you haven't got something nice to say, don't say anything at all." Yeah. That doesn't apply here. Not on my story. If you see something that should be done better, say it.

I hope you liked this chapter - as far as the teleport scene I've never seen an insiders view of what happens with the Tesseract, so I basically went along with what I'd seen from the Bifrost teleport. And we'll see more about Loki and Jess and everyone else coming up next!