Chapter 24

ALFHEIM

Last night had been the worst night of Jane's short existence. She'd huddled against some bushes, miserable and cold before deciding there was no way she could wait around for a rescue. Grabbing a tree branch because she'd seen enough movies to know that hikers walked with them…for reasons that eluded her, at dawn she followed around the perimeter of the lake towards the smoke.

It was a lot further away than Jane had thought and she was starving. And as normal as the trees looked, nothing else was even close to identifiable so she was scared of accidentally poisoning herself and miserably did without. A small creek fed off of the lake and she tried to cross it without incident. Frankly she was surprised nothing had happened to her before now. One wrong step and she went sprawling, tumbling over the stick she was walking with and hitting her ankle on the sharp edge of a rock HARD. Jane actually heard the snap and screamed in pain, lying in a dazed heap for what felt like hours.

She heard a series of cracks and peeps and looked to the left as four bird-like creatures pushed themselves out of their shells and looked at her expectantly. They greatly resembled baby chickens, but their fluff was a bright green. She'd managed to pull herself onto one foot, carefully navigating the forest, and realized the peeps weren't getting quieter. Glancing behind her, she saw all four of them were following her with dedication.

Great. She was a mommy.

Now she could see the smoke, coming from a two story cottage. She couldn't even limp, whimpering softly as she hopped and used the evil branch as a prop, "Okay?" She whipped around, then craned her head up to see a small elven boy staring at her from the branch of a tree. He was over her head by several feet, apparently a natural climber and couldn't have been much more than three. Where the hell were his parents? Grinning shyly as if reading her thoughts, pointing to himself, "Hi. Indel."

Swallowing but trying to smile, "Hi, Indel, I'm Jane."

"Pretty lady."

"Thank you."

Pointing at the little fluff balls following at her heels, "Your chicks?"

Biting back a self-depreciating sigh, "I guess so."

Indel frowned thoughtfully, looking from the stick to her leg held off the ground, "Foot hurt, is that why hopping?"

Perceptive for being so young. Her smile wobbled a little, "Yes…"

His voice was a chirp of enthusiastic pride, "Want my dada, he knows magic?" She tried to take a step and landed against the wards, pushed backwards and landing on her ankle awkwardly. She gave a pained shout and crashed to the ground, whimpering. The little chicks scattered before returning to cluster above her head. Indel leapt to the ground and sprinted for the cottage, "Dada! Come quick!"

She couldn't see his 'dada' but she certainly heard him, his boots hitting the ground heavily. For some reason they sounded familiar but she dismissed it, moaning in pain and staring up at the canopy of trees. A blue field of magic shimmered and disappeared and a familiar face appeared in her line of sight, dressed in the green and gold armor she last remembered him in. Well, except for the dreams and she felt her face burn. He looked good.

His skin was lightly sun-kissed and his grey-green eyes almost sparkled. His dark hair was longer, a thick portion pulled back in a leather tie but the rest loosely hanging around his face to give him a subtly wild appearance. Her eyes slowly widened in horrified surprise as Loki sighed with a slow shake of his head, "Hello, Jane."

She blinked slowly and said the first thing that popped into her mouth, "You died."

He raised an eyebrow, "Hmm…I suppose you must be in Valhalla, then." A wicked sparkle in his eyes, "Or Hel." She scowled at him and he smirked, "Now, as fascinating as your current position is, I do wonder why you have chosen to simply lie down and make a meal of yourself for the next available predator."

Why did she never notice how sexy his smirk is? No, Jane! Bad! Stay mad.

Snapping, "What? Like you're not a predator." She shifted her leg, and bit back a whimper, closing her eyes as pain lanced upward.

"I am indeed, little girl." He narrowed his eyes as he looked her over and concluded more than just momentary un-coordination afflicted her, concern hidden in those gray-green depths. Murmuring under his breath, "You are fortunate I am in a generous mood."

"Dada?"

She yelped in surprise when he picked her up fluidly, walking through the magic field and towards the cottage she'd seen. Her right arm shot up automatically, grasping the back of his armor. A series of distressed 'peeps' had Loki pausing to turn, seeing the little chicks trying to get through the shield. They flapped their stubby little featherless wings and scrambled with their feet against the shield. Loki felt his eyebrows slowly hike up towards his hairline, "Really?"

She was grossly, laughably unprepared for being here. If he had to guess it had been less than 24 hours since her arrival and she'd managed to injure herself, probably hungry, and attached herself to a group of nestlings. He sent her a mild look, heat burning her cheeks, before loosely gesturing and the chicks fell through before running to follow behind.

Indel grinned brightly, watching the little creatures, "Can we keep them, dada?"

Huffing, only mildly irritated with their presence, "Not much choice in the matter now…unless we want them for dinner."

Two sets of horrified eyes stared at him and he stopped to glare at both of them, "I didn't say I would kill and cook the damn things, stop looking at me like that." Indel giggled.

Grumbling under his breath, Loki started walking again. Looking to her right, she noticed Indel following by hopping with a big grin on his small face, "He's your father?" Indel happily nodded and Jane groaned, "I knew it, I'm in hell." Only she would have the luck to have to rely on Loki's help, yet again. It was official. Her life sucked.

Loki snorted and her head whipped around to stare at him in shock, eyebrows rising. He did not just actually sound normal-dream Loki normal. He noticed her expression and scowled an instant later, hackles raising, "Something to add?"

She felt the urge to tease him about being so sensitive, but that was a dream Loki and the real Loki was dangerous. At least, she thought he was…her brain was a very confusing place right now. Realizing if he dropped her it would probably hurt, she put up both hands slightly in a placating gesture, "Nope, I'm good."

Sighing with another shake of his head as he stepped through the door, careful not to jar her foot, "Of all the women in the nine realms…" Clearing his throat, "Indel, clear the table, please." Indel started to gesture to the right, "Ah ah…think about it, first." The boy glanced up before looking over the items carefully, then grinned and started from the left. Everything vanished and Loki nodded, "Excellent."

Hopping on the balls of his feet, "Will you read me?"

Loki gave his son a small grin, "Yes, I will read to you once I set Jane's ankle." Indel gave a happy yelp, darted around the chicks, and disappeared into a door that Jane presumed led to his room. Loki set her down carefully on the cleared table and helped her stretch out. Her hands moved over the exquisite oak table and if she weren't in so much pain she would worry about scratching the smooth, flawless surface.

Closing her eyes, breathing slowly through her nose and trying to distract herself with conversation, "He likes to read?"

Lip quirking, "Almost as much as I do."

Bookworm. A tease she didn't say, but she was thinking it. Loki's fingers deftly worked to untie the laces to her sneakers, taking them off a bit too quickly. Jane refused to make a sound, biting her lip as her eyes filled with tears. His eyes glanced up just as a pain-filled tear slipped down her cheek. He was still quick, but his touch was gentle and more careful as he coaxed off her socks.

Small fingers pushed the book across the table, Indel's small face filled with worry, "The blue one, dada. She needs blue one."

Loki mentally winced as he rolled up her pants, realizing the bone was broken quite badly and would need to be realigned. At least it wasn't poking through skin was all he could think. He felt a flash of pity for her, as well as grudging respect. He wasn't so sure he'd be able to handle the pain she was no doubt in as stoically. Not to mention she had managed to get to him from however far away she'd been. The questions buzzed around his head like bees but he ignored them for now. She wouldn't be going anywhere for a long while, plenty of time to get his questions answered.

He probed with his magic just enough to see nothing else was causing the swelling, no puncture marks from a bite, and he was dealing with inflammation instead of a wound that required draining. A relief since that level of care he would have pulled G'dath for and he was not looking forward to light elf reactions to a mortal on their soil, "The swelling is quite extensive, Indel, will you retrieve it for me?"

"Kay!" The little boy scampered over to a work table and retrieved one of three differently shaded blue potions on the surface. Loki snatched it before the child could give it to her, took a quick sniff, then nodded and handed it to her.

"Excellent."

He ruffled the elf's white hair in further praise. Indel grinned and chirped at Jane, "I like blue one, makes ya full and warm and fuzzy."

Jane raised an eyebrow at Loki who shrugged to himself, "Indel is very skilled in breaking limbs-…"

"It was only once, dada!"

Correcting him, "It was twice because someone decided they wanted to fly. Twice. And as skilled as I am I cannot watch him every second of every minute." The first time Indel had jumped off a tree and his landing had been too awkward for his ankle to withstand the pressure. The second time he'd snuck around his double and climbed up on the roof. After that incident he'd made his son promise not to do it again or there would be no more doubles watching him and his boy would be spending an inordinate amount of time inside. Indel stuck out his lower lip a little, face scrunched up in thought. Turning his attention to Jane, "It's for the pain…with a nutrient boost."

"Ah." She considered it, then decided to just go with it and downed it in one go. She felt herself gag a bit, tasting used socks, but managed to keep it down, jumping a little to feel Loki's hand on the back of her neck, coaxing her to lie down.

Loki murmured softly but refused to meet her eyes, "You will feel quite…fuzzy, as Indel put it very soon. Best to lie down lest you fall."

Indel hopped with a pout, "The spell didn't work!" As if that were the only reason Indel fell. Twice.

There were spells that could help the boy, but not with what little he knew. He might be able to attempt such a spell if he was interested but he wasn't, finding teleporting much more efficient. Sighing, "There is no spell you can attempt to make you fly if you do not have wings-and no, you are not trying again or I will be taking back the red book for six months." Indel pouted harder since currently he was only allowed to use the three books but didn't look tempted to try, clearly remembering how much fun a broken arm wasn't.

Jane stared up at the ceiling, "Will I fall asleep?"

Loki muttered softly, pulling his grimoire out of storage to review the ingredients for a healing stone, "We all do eventually…" Indel nudged him, "Yes?"

The little boy pointed, "Heal her?"

He wished magic worked that way. A simple gesture, a buildup of power, and all wounds instantly healed. It was even more complicated since he was dealing with a fragile mortal, who never quite reacted correctly to healing spells. Thankfully healing stones were the least invasive, even if it would drag out her healing time by a couple of day, "We have to wait until she is sufficiently fuzzy."

White eyebrows knitting together, frowning, "Why?"

Pointing to a basket on the work table, "So that you can go outside and collect mushrooms from the east side of the house."

Indel instantly grinned, "Oh! I can do that, how many?"

Glancing at the ingredients and doubling them for future use, "Six, as big as you can find. Now Indel, a reminder-…"

A production-worthy sigh escaped the little boy, eyes rolling around loosely, "Not to leave the magic shield, I know. I know."

Jane giggled a little drunkenly but she was ignored, Loki's eyes narrowed. He didn't consider himself a strict father, and more often than not he ignored Indel being sarcastic since he was just as bad. However. That level of disrespect he would not put up with and Indel knew it, "If someone would prefer a nap to be in a more congenial mood…"

Indel jumped and grabbed a basket, voice contrite, "No, sir." He grinned suddenly and squeezed Loki's side, the trickster grinning back and loosely wrapping an arm around him. Most definitely his son. He ran outside, a Loki clone appearing to follow after him.

As soon as Indel was out of earshot with a sharp snap that made both Jane and he jump, Loki realigned the broken leg. He had not wanted Indel to hear that and he was just thankful his potion was as potent as it was or she would have been screaming. With care he sent warm waves of his magic through her skin, wrapping loosely around the bone to form a temporary brace and making sure none of the fragile pieces splintered or fractured, soothing the screaming nerve endings and deadening them. Mortals were so breakable. It was almost distressing.

His brow furrowed, resting a hand on her forehead as her eyes closed. He could feel her life fluttering against his hand like butterfly wings. He was thankful for the training G'dath had given him, but it left him with an uneasy feeling. Her life was so fleeting and short. Closing his eyes, voice turning coaxing, "Rest, Jane. All is well. Safe." She'd spent a hard day in the forest but she would recover. The ankle would be tender for a couple of days, just because of the severity of the break but it would be whole soon enough. He nodded to himself and went about creating a healing rock.

Jane woke up slowly, bringing her hand to her head and frowning to herself. She had definitely been fuzzy and warm. With her finger tips she traced along her forehead, almost feeling the echo of something touching her. It was the oddest sensation, like an echo of a touch that she couldn't see or identify, but it felt…nice.

Peep.

She glanced over to see the four chicks curled in a box with a blanket covering them partially. Next to them was a shallow dish with water in it and a second with some type of grain in it. Maybe it was the little boy's influence, but even if it wasn't that was awfully sweet of him.

How was it even possible? Out of all the slim possibilities where she landed and actually lived, and it just happened to be where Loki lived. She could probably spend the next year working out the statistical probability but it came down to one thing: how she'd gotten here in the first place. An accident, maybe. A fluke, even less likely. Magic, however, left her highly suspicious. A few years ago she didn't believe in magic, but that was then and this was now. And now she was currently being nursed back to health by the expert of magic. To say that she suspected he had dragged her here just to toy with her was high on her list of suspicions.

She glanced down with a pained hiss, wishing she was still unconscious. The swelling was down but her leg still felt off. Fiery pain was shooting upwards with each beat of her heart and she hadn't even attempted to move. She clenched her jaw and stared up at the ceiling, biting into her lower lip. She would not call for Loki's help. She wouldn't do it.

She didn't even move, she just took in a breath and felt another painful throb. With a defeated whimper she turned her head to do exactly that and paused. She blinked as Loki came into the small room as if reading her mind, Indel trailing behind him. Wait, she knew he could if he chose to. She blushed hotly, horrified at the thought that if her dreams were true and he could read her mind…

He noticed the blush and it intrigued him but he wouldn't go poking into her thoughts…not yet anyway. Loki looked down at Indel, "See? Now go play."

Pouting up at him, "But you said I gotta go bed soon."

Raising an eyebrow, failing to see the logic to that argument. While Loki normally insisted on complete, proper sentences from Indel, he generally refrained when it was because he was having a shy moment, "Bedtime will not change whether you play or not."

"She read me?"

Jane moved to open her mouth, hesitating because she was having a hard time remembering the little boy's name, "Her next potion is now and she will be in no condition to read to you until tomorrow." He handed her another blue potion, their fingers brushing and she had to fight to keep from flushing. What was wrong with her? Yes, he was attractive but it's not like she hadn't noticed on Asgard.

Because he was just a prisoner and Thor's brother…but now she wasn't with Thor anymore and he'd saved her life and he was healing her. She was in so much trouble.

"You read me?"

A small reading chair popping into existence as Loki sat down and pulled out a small book, "Yes, I will read to both of you until the end of the chapter. Then it will be time for all good little boys to go to bed."

Indel swayed and played with the bottom of his tunic, considering Loki's words, "If I'm bad can I stay up?"

"No."

Nibbling on his lower lip, "I could hide."

Loki raised an eyebrow, "Indel, your argument is only securing you an early bedtime for the next week." Indel pouted but didn't hesitate in climbing into Loki's lap, the prince tilting up an eyebrow at her.

That was his name. Indel. She was going to have to remember that. She smiled just a little, "Thank you."

He nodded slightly and waited until she took the hint and swallowed the vial before opening the book. Indel turned a little, "Dada?"

"Yes?"

Indel touched the moving picture on the inner cover, "Are dragons real?"

"Yes." Jane felt her eyes widen incredulously. Dragons were real? Oh. My. God. For some reason, and she kept in mind he was the Liesmith, she knew he was telling the truth.

The little boy bounced in excitement and grinned, "Can we go see some?"

A small, crooked grin crossed Loki's face as he drank in his child's eagerness. He had a few enemies to kill but then after, it would be a wonderful adventure. He would just have to decide the type of dragon to show the child. Water dragons were hard to find, having adapted invisibility naturally to avoid humans. Fire dragons were beautiful, but as a frost giant it wasn't the best environment for either one of them to investigate. He might just settle for visiting Alfheim proper since there were more than ten different species hiding in various places around the world, "Perhaps, someday."

She was going to have to beg, she was positive, but if he dragged her along to see a dragon she didn't give a damn. Indel chattered in quiet excitement about the dragons in the story that had obviously been read to him repeatedly, reading some of the phrases along with Loki. Jane lay her head back down and watched them. The way he held that boy so close, resting his chin lightly on his head. The way Indel's free hand was wrapped in his tunic to hold onto him. One hand held the book but his free arm was wrapped around that little body. So that was what love looked like. She smiled and quietly watched them until her world went fuzzy and warm once more.

Loki crouched down, studying the small nest Jane had tucked herself in to protect her from the chill of night. It was rather foolish of her, since camping in the trees would have been safer but it didn't even take a stretch of his formidable intelligence to realize she was completely out of her element and her being here hadn't been planned. There were two more hours before the potion wore off on her, enough time for Mischief to look after Indel long enough for him to investigate how Jane Foster had gotten here…and how to send her back. His nose twitched, a strange combination of magic and ozone left behind from her wormhole. Familiar magic. It wasn't his and it wasn't Hela's…he just couldn't place it. If he'd come here earlier he might have caught it but too much time had passed.

It had definitely been a temporal gateway but unlike the dark passages there was no scarring left behind to reopen. A one-way trip. He sighed softly, standing and crossing his arms in thought. He didn't want her here. She was mortal. She was fragile…she was dangerous. And he didn't want to think of why she was dangerous but he already knew even if he didn't want to admit it.

He would do nothing to endanger Indel for her…but he suspected if she was persistent enough he might grant her requests to his own detriment.

No. She had to go and it had to be as soon as possible. If he took the dark passages Thanos would find him…or Odin would, and neither thought was comforting. The golden branches couldn't be navigated by a mortal. He was going to have to call in for reinforcements since there was one other mage who knew the dark passages as well as he did. Closing his eyes for a moment, he searched out Hela and surprisingly found her on Helheim and sent a shadow sprite to her, "Hela?"

Hela turned her head, primping in front of the mirror in her rooms, "Father?"

Smiling just a little, venturing closer to see her dressed quite elegantly, "That does not look like a dress for court."

Lip quirking as she smoothed down the green material gently hugging her hips, "Since it's not a dress I would wear in court you would be correct." Turning fully and crossing her arms, unconsciously mimicking his pose, "What do you want?"

His head tilted slightly, "What makes you assume I want anything?"

Rolling her eyes and sitting on her vanity, "By Hel…father. As much as I enjoy the chase just tree the prey."

His lip twitched but he conceded far too quickly for Hela's comfort level, "I need you to take someone to another world."

She wasn't going to ask why he couldn't since she was well aware of what he feared. Fear had never stopped him before and as much as he might consciously think he was hiding it wasn't what he was doing. Loki was biding his time for the right opportunity. If he truly feared falling into Thanos' hands, he would have slipped out of the nine realms a long time ago.

Lips turned down in a slight frown, "Who?"

Grimacing to say her name, shoving aside the annoying pang in his heart that he refused to label as longing, "Jane Foster."

Almost squealing, "The mortal you like?" She had been hoping against hope that his interference hadn't killed the little mortal. Not only had he gotten the mortal to Alfheim, he'd done so ahead of schedule.

Scowling instantly at Hela, "I do not like-…"

She held up her hand, "Father, stop. Just stop. There is nothing wrong with being attracted to a human."

He clenched both fists at his sides and leaned towards her. As if she had ever been intimidated by him, "I. Don't. Like. Her." She stared at him with a cold expression, unimpressed, "She's not safe on Alfheim, not around light elves."

She shrugged dismissively, "Then protect her."

He made just as dismissive a gesture, "She's not my responsibility."

Crossing her arms again and shrugging, "Not my problem. You're the one who couldn't resist giving her the tools to create a primitive Bi-frost."

Loki shook his head, "To Asgard, not here."

"Still not my problem."

Snarling at her, not even completely aware of what he was saying, "As soon as she heals I'll shove her out the door-…"

Loki choked, staring at Hela with a stunned expression. Her hand was wrapped around his neck, which shouldn't be possible since this was a shadow sprite, not his astral projection and certainly not his real body. Dragging him to be nose to nose with her, "Code of honor, Loki. You gave her the tools, she is your responsibility and if you do anything that causes her to expire before her due time I will personally kick your ass from Alfheim to Midgard to Asgard and back again. Clear?"

His eyes flaring emerald green and snarling, "I will never forgive you for this."

Shoving him, watching him sprawl on the ground and her own eyes sparking with ire. She hated when he did this to himself. It was just like with Odin. His anger at his father's deceit had been thrown at EVERYONE else in the family. This was no different. Hurt once by a woman and suddenly every woman he had any true interest in was immediately shoved away, "Run back home, coward. Wouldn't want you to actually face your fear for once."

Jumping to his feet and roaring in denial, "I'm not afraid of her!"

"You're afraid of love. So yes, you are." With an inarticulate snarl he vanished and Hela slowly exhaled to cool her temper. Glancing at the mirror, she formed a fist and punched the glass.

Her hackles rose as soon as he entered the room. Dream or not, Jane knew that look on his face. He might think it was schooled to be blank but it was a combination of subtle cues that meant nothing but trouble. The eyes were just slightly narrowed, mind puzzling to find an answer. No smirk to give away his unspoken agenda, except for the tiniest of tilts at the corner of the left side of his mouth. But the hands were the obvious tell. Both were clasped firmly behind his back so that they couldn't betray him, which is what always betrayed him.

His tone was casual, which meant he was paying very close attention to her answer, "I am curious…how did a human come to be so far away from home?"

Sighing, knowing that question was inevitable, "My research…I was trying to create a bridge to Asgard."

A smirk curled his lip and she could just imagine him picking up that proverbial stick to poke at her with, just to see what would happen, "Ah, a Midgard bound Bi-frost to see your sweet, sweet Thor again."

She scowled at him mocking tone, wishing she could grab that stick and smack him upside the head with it, "He's not my-…" She pulled in a deep breath to keep her temper under control. Stupid God of Mischief jerk. Loki's eyebrow quirked, hearing that one loud and clear, "I was working with Stark Enterprises to create a stable wormhole and…I missed."

His lips pursed slightly and suddenly a wave of longing tore through Jane. She missed William. God, she hoped he didn't think she'd run off on him or something. Silently she promised every deity she'd ever even heard of that she would gather up the courage and ask him out if they would just get her back home. Although she couldn't really put it into words why Loki reminded her of William.

Loki's voice interrupted her inner musings, "Hmm…I might accept that reasoning except as the technology's creator who is not trained to fight, I find it hard to believe they would just send you through so trustingly without testing the destination."

Face burning. Damn him. The one demi-god who was as smart if not smarter than she was, "I was too close to the first test and got pulled in."

A shark-like grin that was nothing more than bared teeth spread across his face, "You cannot lie to me, please refrain from insulting my intelligence. I take from that pathetic attempt at an excuse that no one knows where you are and you may have inadvertently damaged the device since there have been no further 'tests'."

Whispering, "Yes."

"Pity."

Jane glanced away. Her leg felt better but she didn't want to take the chance of breaking it again by using it before she was supposed to…although she could see Loki being a jerk about it and lying just to keep her off her feet longer for kicks, "How long before my leg is healed?"

He adapted to the change in topic without batting an eyelash, "It was a rather severe break but your footing should be sound by tomorrow."

She nodded in acceptance. Considering how long the natural way took to heal, she was very thankful Loki had been feeling generous. But he didn't want her here, it was painfully obvious, "Will it take you long to get me back to earth?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, "I can't help you return, I'm afraid."

She blinked dumbly for several seconds before feeling her blood pressure spiking, "What?"

He tilted his head slightly, "I believe I was rather clear."

Sputtering in denial, shaking her head, "But-…I don't belong here! I have to get back!"

"And I reiterate since you seem to be unusually slow today, I can't help you return."

Her eyes narrowed and her fists clenched, "Can't or won't?"

Shrugging lightly, not intimidated at all by her ire. In fact, that spark of anger in her eyes turned ordinary brown into molten amber and he found it beautiful, "In the end it is the same reality. You remain here."

She was grasping for straws but she was desperate, "What about Thor?"

Growling softly at hearing his brother's name from her lips, "What about him?"

Nibbling on her lower lip, hoping she was guessing correctly. Even though she and Thor were over, he would still take her back to Midgard, even to be with another guy because that's the kind of guy Thor was, "Well, he visits you, right? He can take me."

Sighing loudly, refusing to label one of many emotions rushing through him 'relief' that she still wasn't fixated on his brother, "Try to wrap this concept around your feeble little mind…everyone believes that I am dead, I went to a great deal of effort to convince them of such and I intend to stay that way. I receive no visits from your…I think you mortals call it boyfriend, as I am sure he would do nothing more than hit me with something large and heavy and drag me back to the dungeons. I have no intention of returning to Asgard, Midgard, or any other destination with the word 'gard' in it." Slapping her own head, she screamed at the ceiling and his eyes sparkled with amusement, "It is not often I see humans hitting themselves. Quite amusing."

Snapping at him because the alternative was crying and she wasn't going to do it, "It's called frustration, look it up."

Sounding forlorn even though his expression said otherwise, "I suppose you wish me to leave you alone since you are obviously not hungry." Her stomach answered for her and she glared at him. He smirked, "I might even feed you anyway, just understand it's in your best interest not to make me angry." Crossing her arms, she stuck out her tongue and his smirk grew, "And after the meal you can take a nap for you are in the same mood-…" He caught the pillow she'd thrown at his face and then let it drop to the floor, well out of her reach, "…as Indel when he is over tired."

Sighing, "You're not going to give it back, are you?"

He gave her a considering look, "Perhaps if you remember your manners."

Huffing, "Please may I have my pillow?"

Surprisingly he didn't torment her, simply picked it back up and propped it under her head again. Indel's voice drifted in through the door, "Dada, it's ready!"

A thin table appeared next to the bed, Jane looking around in surprise as the bedroom seemed to expand even if such a thing was impossible. She glanced back at Loki in silent question who winked and wiggled his fingers before going back into the main room. Of course he did. Father and son returned promptly with simple but substantial foods and Jane found her mouth-watering in anticipation. Loki hesitated in giving her a plate, making sure she was looking at him, "I wouldn't recommend eating as quickly as your expression suggests, I have no intention in cleaning after you." He jerked a thumb in his son's direction, "He is messy enough."

Indel stuck out his tongue, "I was sick, dada!"

Sitting down as he gave her a plate and glancing at his boy, "Ah, is that what it is called? I call it projectile vomiting."

The boy sat up primly, "Yes, and G'dath said you can't be mean to me because all is forgiven when one is sick."

Jane stared in shock at the boy. How was a child so small able to talk so well? Loki smirked and ruffled Indel's hair proudly, reading her expression, "Indel is exceptionally bright but very shy, he must be fond of you."

Of course Indel was verbally exceptional, his dad talked like that to him all the time, not to mention she had a feeling the only time Loki was quiet was when he was unconscious. Indel pouted, "M'not shy!"

After moving food to his own plate he did the same for his son. Indel attempted to block a few peas from rolling in amongst the chicken until Loki shot him a look. They were both carnivorous but a few vegetables wouldn't kill either of them, "Do you know what the word means?"

Shrugging and stabbing a tenderloin with his fork, "No."

"Then how do you know?"

Indel pondered this as he chewed before frowning and swallowing, "What's it mean?"

Loki grinned a little, both of them ignoring Jane's eyes ping ponging back and forth between father and son, "It means you do not like to talk a lot to people you do not know."

Indel absorbed this before nodding with a shrug, "Oh…okay, m'shy."

Loki sighed the sigh of the persecuted, "Whoever is teaching you to speak like that I will soundly thrash."

Indel stuck his tongue out at Loki again. Loki stuck his tongue out at Indel.

Indel giggled, "I like it!"

"And it is not appropriate for-…never mind." He thought about all the years he'd spent as a young boy being told how young princes should and should not talk. But that didn't matter anymore so there was no reason to repeat the tired phrases his own father had instilled in him. He had to keep reminding himself that he wasn't a prince anymore. He was Loki of Alfheim now. Indel wouldn't have to worry about growing up to be a proper prince of Asgard. He could just be Indel. Still, it didn't mean he had to put up with improper English, "Please refrain from speaking that horrifying way in my presence."

Sighing at his father, "Okay."

The little, green chicks 'peeped' expectantly from the floor and Jane glanced down at them. It was official, her life was strange.

VANAHEIM

Fandral strode for the bar, ordering their tallest mead, "Buy me a drink?"

Looking to his right, he smiled to see a lusciously curved form leaning on the bar. Her dark hair cascaded down her back and though he was partial to blonds, it didn't exclude anyone else from his appreciative gaze. Not to mention this was Vanaheim, not Asgard, and variety was in aplenty here, "Hello, beautiful."

Turning slowly, dark green eyes sparkling of mirth, "Fandral."

His eyes widened an instant later in recognition, "Queen Hela?"

He'd come to Vanaheim for a little relaxation, perhaps find a willing playmate while he was here. He wasn't afraid of Hela, necessarily, although she was quite intimidating. And intoxicating. He was more concerned with how painful his death would be if Loki were to find out. It was easily arguable that Hela could take care of herself but both Loki and Thor were very protective of her.

She wrinkled her nose playfully, reading his body language easily. She slipped away from Helheim every so often to dress up like the other immortals and mingle amongst the living. They never held her attention for very long…so predictable, "Running away so soon?"

Mustache twitching, "Loki would skin me, bury me, and then kill me."

Interesting. Not squeamish about who she was but rather her overprotective father, "I'm pissed off with him right now."

He blinked twice, "Revenge sex?"

"The first time would be." Winking, "We just won't tell him."

He looked at her but she just stared right back. She'd never been shy a day in her life. Before the spell didn't count, since that was Loki's life. Her life began on the library floor and never once had she been shy or afraid to look someone in the eye, "What do you drink?"

Smirking, displaying perfect white teeth, "Whatever's in front of me." He smiled charmingly and turned to order for her, stopped when her hand grabbed his jacket and jerked him around, "Even think about anyone else in my bed and you'll never have need of another partner."

She never hesitated in taking what she wanted, but she also wasn't cruel enough not to give fair warning. He would have accepted her company and conversation, this was taking a delightful turn. Usually he was the one to pursue so her forward confidence was a refreshing change. Taking the hand gripping his jacket and kissing the knuckle lightly, "Milady, I do not doubt your skills in keeping me focused and inspired."

She gave him another glance. Average intelligence. A skilled warrior. Overconfident. Daring and bold. So typical for an AEsir and yet there was something else there. A restrained sense of humor. In her mind Loki's childhood was firmly his but that didn't mean she didn't remember that childhood. A friend who had outgrown his need for a trickster in his life. The AEsir were so boringly predictable.

But her eyes did catch the necklace around his neck. Interesting. So he knew Loki was alive, but since Asgard still mourned he'd kept that information to himself. Perhaps a friend once more, which is not what she would have expected. He was different and she liked that. A very interesting playmate indeed. She smiled with an animal's cunning and let him order her a drink.

ALFHEIM

"Wait, dada!"

Jane blinked her eyes open, yawning and stretching just a little before sitting up. So far so good, no painful twinges. Scooting to the edge of the bed, she eased down her feet and then grimaced. Cold floors. Always hate those in the morning.

"Indel, if you fall I will not feel sorry for you."

Jane snickered to herself. Yeah, right was all she could think. Loki may be prepared to die before admitting it but that little boy had him hopelessly twirled around his fingers. She could see it in his eyes. Hear it in his voice. He was deeply in love with that child. Just like the night before he'd come into the bedroom she was occupying to read to Indel and she found herself getting all warm and fuzzy just watching them, no potion needed.

She shook her head to banish such thoughts of the trickster prince and testing out her feet. Good so far.

"Dada? When can Jane train with us?"

She cocked her head slightly to listen to Loki's response as she carefully swayed to a stand.

"Jane may not like to learn these exercises."

"Then why do I have'ta?"

Jane grinned, easily imagining Loki wincing with Indel's last word. He spoke differently than Thor and the others in Asgard, his phrases more relaxed and not so…old fashioned, she guessed she could stay. Still, he seemed to draw a distinct line between a more modern twist to speaking and slang.

"Have to…and you do because you are going to learn to be a warrior whether you like it or not."

Carefully she took a few steps, growing more confident when not even a twinge of pain stopped her. She made it to the door and peered out to see a Loki shape just off the porch.

Peep. Peep. Peep.

She grinned in spite of herself and looked back to see all four chicks following her in a single file line. She could hear the pout in Indel's voice, "But you don't wanna be-…"

"Indel, tuck in your elbow a bit more and speak properly."

Indel sighed quite loudly and Jane muffled her giggles with a hand over her mouth, "But I don't want to be a warrior. I want to be a mage like you."

Jane just continued to shake her head to herself, taking small steps to the outer door. How was a boy so small able to talk so well? She had a feeling Indel was a miny replica of Loki in that respect since he certainly didn't seem to have any hesitation in talking to the boy like an adult.

She stopped at the door jam, watching as father and son stood side by side, completing different moves that seemed simple enough but the way that Loki was forming his hands and holding his balance left her thinking of fighting maneuvers. She blinked and felt her mind flash back to Svartalfheim. He'd moved so fast, fighting the dark elves, it had been rather remarkable to watch, "I am a mage, Indel, but I know how to fight no matter what my idiotic brother may think to the contrary. If your magic is drained, you must know how to defend yourself."

They both turned at the same time in her direction, Indel waving, "Hi Jane! Come play with us."

Loki rolled his eyes up to the heavens and sighed. Jane giggled.

NOTES:

Whew. Long chapter but these things end up writing themselves. As promised, lots and lots of Loki and Jane goodness. And naturally you can't have that without Indel cuteness. Of course I threw in a bit of Hela because somebody has to keep Loki in line ;)

NEXT:

Tony works out a few things, Odin chats with Amora, and Indel finds out lizards are gross