An entire week had passed and Ava still had not left Loki's side, nor had he woken up. Ava woke in the morning after having slept in the cot. She stretched and then tended to Loki, cleaning and redressing his wounds, and then helping to keep his fever down by keeping a cool wet cloth on his forehead. She also grabbed another cool wet cloth to dab on his neck, chest, and shoulders.

His smaller cuts were already starting to heal. The larger wound that was in his chest, however, was being much slower to heal. With Ava's constant care, no infection had set in at the very least. "I brought your breakfast." Eira said, entering the room.

"Thank you." Ava replied.

"Is there anything else I can get for you?" Eira asked, worried for her friend.

Ava thought for a moment. "Actually, if you could bring me a book. It should be in mine and Loki's chambers on my nightstand."

Eira nodded. "Of course." She then left and returned shortly with the book. "Is this the book, Ava?"

Ava looked up at the book. "Yes, it is." She replied. "Thank you."

"What do you intend to do?" Eira asked.

"It's one of Loki's favorite books." Ava replied. While it was one of Loki's favorites, the main reason Ava had wanted it, is that it was the book she and Loki had been working on before he left.

"Oh…do you need anything else?" Eira asked.

Ava shook her head. "No thank you."

"Make sure you eat at least a little bit of that food." Eira said, before she left.

Ava sighed and picked at the food that her friend had brought in for her. She then sat on the edge of the bed and opened the book to the first page. She read it silently to herself for a few moments, trying to make sure she had the words right, when Frigga entered the room. "I see no change today." She observed as she sat down.

"He will get better." Ava said, looking up at her mother-in-law. "His smaller wounds have started to heal and I think his fever is starting to go down. No infection has come to the larger wound as of yet. I am hoping to keep it that way."

"I am sure he appreciates your efforts." Frigga said. "I was thinking of taking a walk in the garden. I thought I'd see if you wanted to join me?"

Ava shook her head. "I'm staying with Loki."

"Ava, dear, he will still be here…besides you need to get out and get some fresh air." Frigga said.

"I'll be fine." Ava replied. "Besides, what if he wakes up while I'm gone? I have to be here when he wakes up."

"Ava, you have to take care of yourself, too." Frigga tried to tell her. "I am sure Loki doesn't want you neglecting yourself just to care for him."

"If Odin returned from battle hurt like this, would you not stay until you knew he was alright?" Ava countered.

Frigga sighed. "Just make sure to care for yourself too, dear." She said, kissing the top of Ava's head. She then left the room.

Once Ava and Loki were alone again, Ava picked the book back up. She opened it up and began to read aloud. "LO I the man, whose… Muse…whilome did maske…As time her taught… in lowly… Sh…She…Shepheards weeds…Am now enforst a far…v…n…vn… vnfitter?" At this, Ava closed the book with a sigh. "It's hopeless, Loki." She said to him.

"I can't do this." The tears began to form in her eyes. "This is why you have to come back to me, Loki… I…I…I can't do… this… without you." She was then kneeling by the bed. She folded her arms in front of her and buried her face in the bed. "Please Loki? Please wake up? You have to come back. I need you, Loki. I need you… for everything."

Ava sat there like that for a while, just crying at the thought of Loki never waking. "Please Loki…my life…my world…will be so empty…without you."

A while later and her tears had stopped and Ava looked up at Loki, who was still out of it. "Dammit Loki!" She said, feeling angry all of a sudden, something she usually didn't get. "You can't do this! You can't do this to me! You come into my life and make me smile…make me feel loved and now you're going to leave me! You can't take away what you have brought to my life! You have to wake up! You have to." Towards the end her voice had softened and her eyes were once again brimming with tears.

Ava fell back, leaning against a wall. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She then buried her face in her knees. "Please Loki…please don't leave me?" She pleaded quietly before being overtaken by sobs.

That was when she felt two large strong arms wrap around her. "Screaming and crying isn't going to do anything." Said the deep familiar voice.

"It sure as Hel made me feel a little better." Ava replied.

Thor chuckled. "I have told you before, Loki will wake and he will completely recover."

"I know…I just wish he would wake up now." Ava replied, wiping at her tears.

Thor reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her. "Here."

"Thank you." Ava replied, accepting the item and wiping at her tears.

"That's what big brothers are for." Thor replied, smiling at Ava.

Ava sniffed and gave him a small smile in return. She was genuinely grateful for his kindness to her and his acceptance of her into his family. They sat there for a while, Ava leaning her head on Thor's shoulder and him with an arm around her shoulders. Neither of them said anything. Thor just sat there comforting his new little sister.

A/N: The little bit Ava was reading was from the epic poem The Faerie Queene.