A/N: Alrighty, got a bit more done on Broken so I'm going to keep working on this one now. This is basically a "filler" chapter, showing flashes of the burgeoning relationship between Abby and Loki, now that they both realize that they love each other and that Loki really has changed. Also, shows a bit of Loki's more stubborn traits peeking through...hope you all enjoy!

Dear Diary,

So much has happened that I scarcely know where to begin. I guess Loki and I are "officially" a couple, but since the only person we see on a regular basis is Fulla I'm not sure how I feel about it. Loki is becoming freer with his affections and I like it. We lay in bed last night and he played with my hair as I read to him. I don't even think he realized he was doing it; he even kissed my forehead and then seemed shocked that he'd done it.

The other night, after he told me he loved me, I helped him to the bathroom so he could bathe properly for the first time since his punishment began and before I left him in the shower he kissed me so sweetly that I think I actually cried from it. I'm not sure what to make of this new Loki, but I like him.

He's in the shower again because he's decided to try to keep his strength up. It's only been four days and I think he's pushing himself to hard, but he's insisting he needs to keep in shape so he does push-ups and other exercises, which I think I enjoy watching just a tad too much.

I'm still trying to figure out how and when to tell Loki about my ancestors and of course, about how I'm going to be leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. and asking Odin if I can live the rest of my life on Asgard. My grandmother always said I had a special destiny, if only she knew! I also have to figure out how, if Odin will let me stay, how I'm going to tell my friends. I hate that this will hurt Steve; I know he thinks he loves me but I'm not so sure, either way, having to tell him I'm in love with Loki, that we're a couple and…gods help me, that I want to be more than just his girlfriend, I'm not sure Steve will understand that.

"Abby my love, where are you?"

I heard Loki's voice from the other room and set down my pen and closed the journal I'd created.

"In the living room." I called back and stood, heading towards the bedroom, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes darling, just thought you'd already be in bed at this hour." I heard him walking closer and met him in the door way.

"Just needed to do my journal for tonight." I smiled and slid my arms around his neck as he embraced me.

"Ah, well, I can understand that." He kissed me softly and then led me back to the bed.

He'd already pulled the covers back and I smiled, we hadn't actually both slept under the covers yet and as I watched him slid between them I wondered if this was going to change things again.

"Loki?" I questioned, watching him open his arms.

"Join me, my love?"

He was scared I would say no, I could see it clearly on his face without having to check his emotions which I could read clearly anyway.

"Yes."

I slid into the bed and into the arms of the god I loved and let him hold me close. I drifted off to sleep, warm and secure and truly happy for the first time in a very long time.

~A~A~A~A~A~A~A~A~

Dear Diary,

Loki had a setback yesterday. We woke up together, which was lovely but after his workout he fell. I was still in bed, watching him do his routine and I could tell he was pushing himself too hard, but he wouldn't listen. Looks like men, regardless if Midgardian or Asgardian, are all incredibly stubborn. He was shaking a bit after his push-ups and when he stood up he stumbled a bit and then well…he fainted. He has a nice goose egg now and he's been resting since yesterday morning. I feel horrible, but at the same time I am so frustrated with him. I understand that he is a god, long lived and what not, but he had been through hell the past few weeks and I just wish he'd stop pushing himself so hard.

A knock on the door drew my attention from my diary and I stood to get the door. Frigga was standing there and I was a bit surprised but I smiled at the goddess and let her in.

"Thank you Abby." She smiled, "How is Loki today?"

"He's okay." I smiled, "He's resting in the other room if you'd like to see him."

"That would be nice." She headed toward the bedroom and paused, "You are welcome to join me."

"No my lady, I think perhaps it would be nice if you two had some time together." I smiled and picked up a light leather jacket that Stark had brought for me, "The lady Sif has been offering me some sparing lessons; I believe I will go find her."

Frigga nodded and smiled in thanks.

~A~A~A~A~A~A~A~A~

"Oof!" I landed with a rather hard thud and my breath wooshed out of my lungs again. "Okay, what did I do wrong this time?" I looked up at Sif and she smiled.

"You still lead with your eyes." She laughed and helped me back up.

I groaned as I settled onto my feet again and Sif handed me back my staff. I leaned heavily on it and wondered how long I had been with the warriors this afternoon. I sighed and smiled at Sif who did not even look winded. I shook my head.

"I think I shall never be a match for you my friend." I smiled at her and she laughed.

"Perhaps not, but you have still greatly improved since you got here."

I nodded my thanks and accepted a glass of water from Fandral. I drank it quickly and motioned for another, which he got me just as quickly. I took my time with the second glass and smiled at the four Asgardians who were slowly becoming my friends.

"Ah, Abby, there you are!" Thor's voice boomed through the room and I turned to watch my friend walking towards me.

"I told Frigga where I was going," I sighed, "What's wrong?"

"Loki is asking for you." He shook his head, "and you missed lunch."

I turned to Volstagg who just shrugged, normally the rotund warrior would have told us when it was time to eat.

"You were having too much fun." He blushed the same shade as his hair.

I nodded, "That is true." I shook their hands and turned to Thor, "I shall return to your brother then, if he has need of me."

I put my staff back and headed back to Loki's rooms; I wondered, as I headed back, did the fact that we were a couple, and I had been living with him for nearly three weeks make them "our" rooms. I decided I didn't want to know how he felt about that. The trip was pretty silent and I liked it that way. The guard was no longer posted outside of Loki's door and I was very happy that had ended when the punishment had.

The living room was empty when I got back so I headed into the bedroom saw Loki staring at the ceiling. He turned his head at the sound of my footsteps and his face brightened immediately.

"Abby." He held his hand out to me and I took as I neared the bed.

"Yes my love?" I smiled down at him, hating the bruise and lump on his forehead.

"I missed you, where did you go?"

"Your mother didn't tell you?" I smiled, "The Lady Sif offered me some sparing lessons and I thought you and Frigga might like some time alone so I decided to take Sif up on her offer. I didn't think I'd be gone quite so long."

He kissed my knuckles and smiled up at me, "She might have mentioned something about that. We did talk about a lot of things."

I smoothed my fingers down his cheek, "That's good."

"Thank you Abby." He had a shy smile on his face now, "Before I met you, I could not stay calm when speaking of the inequities between myself and Thor; I have been able, in recent days, to talk to both my brother and my mother about how I felt without becoming hostile."

I felt my throat tighten with emotion, "You are most welcome my love; though I do not know that I helped over much."

"Oh but you have." He pulled me closer and I settled into his arms, "Your trust and compassion, your care and your love have meant so much to me Abby, I feel like a better man because of you."

I was so touched I couldn't speak; to know that what I had done had helped him so much was nearly overwhelming. He wiped a tear from my cheek and I could feel his concern.

"My love, are you okay?"

"Yes Loki," I smiled at him, "I am just…so touched by your words."

"These are tears of joy?"

"Oh yes." I chuckled a bit through my tears, "How could they be anything else?"

We lay in each other's arms until dinner time; sometimes talking, others just enjoying being together. I wondered if anyone would have believed Loki so capable of such love and contentment. I felt him slip his hand under my shirt and moved closer to him, some days he was still so incredibly vulnerable that it my heart ache.

~A~A~A~A~A~A~A~

Dear Diary,

Loki has recovered from the fall and is back to exercising, I'm not sure he should be but well, it's so important to him that I can't deny him. It's been ten days since he was released from his punishment and the progress he has made is astonishing. His back is completely healed and except for a few faint white lines that are only visible in the right lighting, you'd never know he was whipped within an inch of his sanity. I can tell by the way his clothes fit that he definitely lost weight during the time he was muted, but that seems to be changing now that we are eating together and he's started working out again. I worry daily about the time when he no longer needs me by his side. I have requested a private audience with Odin to formally request what Midgardians would call "asylum", I'm not sure what it's called here but I want to stay and I want to know that I'll be safe should S.H.I.E.L.D. decide they don't want to let me leave. I've started drafting my resignation letter which I'm not sure how or when I'll give it to Fury, but I know he won't be happy.

I sat up and rubbed my lower back. There was a knock at the door and sighed. I walked over and opened the door and a guard stood there.

"Lady Larsen, the Allfather requests your presence." He was very formal and I nodded.

"Let me inform the prince, I'll be with you shortly." I walked to the bedroom where Loki was stretching as he did halfway through his exercises, "Loki, your father has asked to see me, I'll be back later okay?"

He paused and looked at me, "Why?"

"I'm not sure." I answered, "I had asked to see him, so that's probably why."

"Alright." He smiled, walking over and kissing me, "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too love." I kissed him again quickly and went to have my meeting with Odin.