Welcome, new readers! Thanks for sticking around for this long.

Life in the apartment had been pleasant enough, but Loki was deeply bothered by the amount of time they'd remained there. Three months had passed since they'd left Asgard, stolen Chelsea away from Jotunheim, and taken refuge on Midgard. What was taking Frigga so long to convince Odin to let them return, he had no guess. The pace at which Chelsea's pregnancy was progressing troubled him. Should she need to deliver on Midgard, they couldn't seek out healers. What would happen if they realized the child was certainly not of Earth? He remained hopeful that Heimdall would open the BiFrost before they had to worry about that. Furthermore, he had a hard time believing the Jotuns would truly let them walk off with Chelsea. Something fishy was going on there, but Chelsea refused to expound upon her time with the frost giants.

While they'd waited for the BiFrost to open, the group had exhausted each other with questions about their varied upbringings. The girls got along swimmingly, but Thor and Loki found themselves struggling to blend in to the humans in the small New Mexico town. They were each a foot taller than the tallest man and much more striking in appearance. Men and women alike stared every time they ventured out.

"What is this film?" Thor asked, finding Loki, Chelsea, and Darcy on the couch one evening. He sat on the love seat and got comfortable. He quite loved movie nights.

"Twister," Darcy replied. "It was on TV and it's a classic."

"I know that phenomenon," Thor chimed. "We used to produce those as children in our boredom. Loki, do you recall? It was quite fun to watch the animals swirl about."

"You used to," the younger brother replied. "I produced meteor showers."

"Good thing Jane isn't here or we'd have another Q and A sesh, huh?" Darcy sighed. "It's nice to not worry about your space magic."

"Where is Jane?" Thor asked.

"Here!" Jane's voice came. "I was doing the laundry, sorry. I know how you like family movie night!" She sat down next to him and beamed. "Here we are!"

"Now it's set to be a perfect night," Thor grinned back.

The trio on the couch rolled their eyes.

***

A soft prodding in Chelsea's side stirred her. She took a deep breath and tried to go back to sleep. The baby in her stomach was an active one, but not usually so rambunctious at night. She sighed. The TV was still on, Chelsea realized. She'd fallen asleep in front of everyone. She didn't care. At this point in the pregnancy, sleep was a precious commodity. Besides, she was comfortable and pleasantly cool curled up next to Loki. (The benefits of dating a Jotun.) Yet the prodding came again, and she realized it wasn't coming from inside her body.

"Shh," Loki's whisper came, barely audible. "Look."

Chelsea opened an eye and peered around the room.

Darcy was sprawled out a few feet away on the gigantic couch, giving a soft snort every few minutes. Jane was in Thor's lap on the love seat and the two were kissing sweetly. Chelsea snapped her eye shut. Staring would be rude. Yet a moment later, she was watching again. She'd never seen Thor act so gently with a woman. He was always proud and boisterous, all full of laughter and boasting. Now his hands were hovering just above her shoulders, as if he were afraid to touch her.

The two finally pulled apart. Jane giggled quietly. "I," she hesitated, "should really get to bed."

"What should we do with the others?" Thor asked.

"Darcy's fine on the floor." Jane shrugged. "She's slept in worse places."

"I don't care to wake Loki. He has quite a temper in the mornings," Thor whispered. "I'm sure he will stir and put Chelsea to bed. Well, good night, Lady Jane."

"Oh," Jane replied, "I had thought maybe you could come look at something in my room. I have a thing that needs fixing and I'm afraid it can't wait until morning."

"Oh, certainly. I'll grab Mjolnir and we'll take a look at this task of yours," Thor replied obliviously.

Chelsea had to press her lips together to keep from laughing. As soon as the bedroom door had closed, she turned her head. "What does this mean for Sif?"
But Loki was already back asleep.

***
Jane and Thor made very obvious eyes at each other the next morning at breakfast, though they clearly thought they were being discrete.

"You know, Brother, I think we need to stretch our legs. These mortal forms are growing weary, are they not? Come. Let us explore this New Mexico." Loki stood and stretched, his hands banging into the ceiling. He lowered his arms and chuckled. "I apologize. I forget we're in a mortal dwelling some days."

Thor stood as well, stuffing the rest of his Pop-Tart into his mouth. "We shall venture out! It is a good idea. Surely the women wish to have us out of their hair."

"I don't mind," Jane said coyly. "But if you think you really must go."

"Whatever. Get out of here. No boys allowed," Darcy mumbled through a mouth full of Fruit Loops. "We're not holding you hostage here. Except maybe Chelsea. Jane's super excited about this alien baby."

Chelsea and Jane blushed, both knowing it was true.

***

Once they'd tramped a few blocks through the heat with no destination in mind, Loki forced himself to speak. "I see how you look at her."

Thor snapped his head to look at Loki. Challenges threatening mortal harm or death did not faze him, but when it came to matters of the heart, he seemed as cowardly as any. "I cannot help it. She is different." After a pause which Loki failed to fill, Thor sighed. "But Sif." He needed say nothing else. The raw emotion in his voice said everything. His usually confident gaze dropped to the sidewalk.

Loki found himself shocked at the display. He walked along quietly, sensing Thor wasn't truly seeking advice. The heat seemed to be roasting him alive, but he played it cool for his brother's sake.

"I'm uncertain if we are wed or not. We said the words."

"You were pretending to be me when you said the words. I'm not sure that counts, if it makes you feel any better." Loki couldn't help but smile. Thor had always been practical.

"If I love Jane, does that mean I never truly loved Sif?' Thor took a long breath and plunged his hands into his pockets. His pace had slowed as he pondered.

"You love them both," Loki suggested. "And that's all right. Jane Foster has stolen your affections unexpectedly and all at once, but Sif has been there in some facet for centuries." He leaned forward, trying to catch Thor's gaze, which was still fixed on the ground before him. "Brother. You cannot choose love. This makes you no less honorable of a man."

Thor smiled. "Always the philosopher, my little brother."