Chapter Twenty-one

The usual disclaimers apply.

I truly appreciate the reviews and messages to me regarding this story. Rest assured I will be continuing and completing it. I know where it is going and it is just a matter of writing it. Life has a way of interfering in things and right now mine is hectic, and when I get home from work at night I am brain dead, and want nothing more than to zone out. But I will try harder to post more frequently; please bear with me. This is a short chapter but I wanted to get it up for you given the recent posting delays.

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Puente Antigua…

"…so based on Jane's notes, inter-dimensional travel leaves a residue at the portal site which has a distinct signature. The site located near here, call it Point Zero, has a strong signature due to its fairly frequent use over the last year or so, and I now have that signature recorded in my database along with…"

"Tony."

"…the interesting thing is that…"

"Tony. Does this have anything to do with finding Jane?" Darcy demanded. She, Natasha, and Clint were seated on the sofa in Jane's apartment as Tony roamed the room in front of them.

"I was trying to tell you." Tony snapped, irritated at being interrupted.

"You were giving some long drawn out explanation of stuff I really don't understand. Is it too much to ask for a simple yes or no?" Darcy persisted. Natasha and Clint exchanged glances as Tony rolled his eyes.

"Yes." He turned and walked away from the trio, annoyance clear in the set of his shoulders.

"TONY." Darcy was on her feet. "Yes to what?"

"Yes, I can find her. You have your yes or no answer,Miss Lewis, so, if you would leave me alone, I might be able to proceed with finding Dr. Foster sometime this century." With that he left the apartment and closed the door behind him with a decided snap.

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Asgard…

Jane opened her eyes to see bright light streaming into the room. She felt well rested for the first time in days, and she stretched lazily, luxuriating in the satin sheets and plush pillows that surrounded her. She looked around and realized that Thor must have returned her to her own room sometime after their last session of lovemaking, which had taken place shortly after dawn, She had a vague memory of him saying something about 'called to a meeting' and 'Odin' and 'be back for breakfast'.

"Milady, dost thou wish to bathe now?" Keera's voice intruded on her thoughts.

Jane started and sat up, hastily pulling the sheets up over her shoulders to cover the fact that her nightgown was nowhere to be found. She was afraid she was blushing at the memory of how and why it had gone missing, but Keera at least appeared to notice nothing amiss.

"I would love to bathe. Perhaps you could fix the water for me?" she asked hesitantly. "I'm afraid I don't know how the plumbing works here."

Keera smiled, "Of course, milady." She moved to the bed and placed Jane's robe on its foot. With another smile she was gone.

Jane looked at the robe and sighed. Keera had known exactly where she had spent her night, and she just bet that the Asgardian was well aware that Jane was as naked as a newborn under the sheets. She shook her head at herself, 'That's what comes of getting mixed up with a drop dead gorgeous crown prince/god, my girl. You're way out of your league and you better be very careful. Thor may say he loves you and he probably even means it, but his father definitely has bigger plans for him than a mortal from a backward planet like Earth. When it comes down to it, Thor has obligations and responsibilities to his world that go beyond what he might want personally. And you have obligations and responsibilities to your own little world in your own way…"

With another sigh, Jane pushed back the sheets and climbed from the bed. She pulled on the robe and headed for the bathing room and the beckoning promise of a long, hot soak, before facing whatever the day would bring.

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Thor stared at his father in disbelief mixed with anger. The two were in Odin's private audience chamber and the King sat calmly on his throne as his son paced before him like a great golden lion.

"You are telling me that you have betrothed me to some Vanaheim princess without giving me so much as the courtesy of discussing it with me beforehand? Why would you do such a thing and how would you ever think that I would agree to it?" the blonde prince demanded, his anger evident in his flashing eyes and rigid posture.

"You were not here to discuss it and time was of the essence." Odin stated coolly, essentially ignoring the 'why' question. "You are my son and heir, but you are also my subject, sworn to obey me as your sovereign. I do not owe you explanations for my actions and you owe me the duties of loyalty and fealty."

Thor considered Odin narrowly. "I am not simply your subject, as you well know. As the Crown Prince of Asgard, surely I have the right to be made privy to whatever events have transpired to cause you to act so precipitously. What is the imminent threat to Asgard that could have necessitated such a hasty act, and what could be the possible benefit of an alliance with this minor princess?"

Odin glared at his son and did not answer. He sat back and waited for the explosion that would give him the justification to end the discussion and dismiss Thor summarily.

Thor paced across the room and stared out over the golden city below. For a few moments he struggled to contain his anger. He turned to his father and his eyes were like blue shards of ice as he calmly stated, "It's because of Jane. You would do anything to break me apart from her and this so called betrothal is your means to do so." He paused and then said with deceptive calm, "Hear me well, Father. I am no longer the careless boy who stormed Jotunheim and who you banished to Midgard. I have grown and learned, and the woman you so clearly despise is the reason I have done so. She is also the reason I am here now safe in Asgard, rather than in thrall to the Enchantress and her foul spells. You owe Jane Foster a debt greater than you imagine. I will honor no betrothal you may have engineered, if indeed it is actually more than a ruse, and, unless you provide me with good and strong reasons, I will not even consider such a thing. I love Asgard, but I have learned that I can make my own way elsewhere if needs be, and I will not be treated as a mindless boy, a pretty tool to be used in one of your convoluted machinations."

For a moment the two were silent, eyes locked in a struggle for supremacy. Finally, Thor shrugged. "If you have no more to say to me, I beg your leave, Father. It grows late, and I would break my fast with Jane, ere she believes me to have abandoned her in a strange place where she knows no one."

Odin glared at his son for a moment more and then he nodded his head in dismissal.

Thor turned and strode from the room leaving his father to stew over his son's words and actions.