I feel like I say this every time but wow it has been a long time since I've posted! Here's the second to last chapter of this story. I finally got my fanfiction writing flow back, and I'm so excited to begin posting the next story after this one is through. Enjoy!

Chapter 14

Jane stared at the spot where Thor and Malekith had disappeared, looking lost. Leya approached her and put her hand on Jane's arm. She didn't have anything reassuring to say, but she didn't have to, Jane leaned into her, and the two women stood there until Erik approached Leya.

"We need to gather up the equipment," he said. Jane didn't react, but Leya nodded and left Jane to help Erik and Ian clean up.

Once they had the van loaded and ready, Leya went back to Jane.

"We need to go," she said, "especially before the Feds arrive." That caught Jane's attention, at least well enough to make her turn and get in the van. Looks like she's still holding a bit of a grudge against federal agents, too. . . Leya thought wryly to herself.

The team returned to the lab where Erik, Ian, and Leya unloaded the gear. Jane went straight to the back room and shut the door. Leya watched Jane as she disappeared inside. She sighed, then turned back to the equipment she was cleaning. They could use Jane's help, but Leya let her go. I've been there, that feeling when you're feeling so much you can't stand to feel anything. When you feel so low that all you want to do is go to sleep and never wake up, never get out of bed. Hell, I wish I could do that right now. Leya briefly thought of Loki, of holding him as he died. But for now, we're still in the middle of this mess. . . I don't have time to mourn, not yet. So Leya took a deep breath and forced herself to keep working.

By the time she, Erik, and Ian finished, it was late afternoon. Erik and Ian went to get food, but Leya decided to stay at the lab.
"Someone should be here in case Jane comes out," she told them. Erik nodded, then he left with Ian.

The sun's golden rays streamed in through the lab windows, and Leya could see the dust motes floating in the room with light glinting off the glassware. The room was still and empty, with the kind of serene, peaceful feeling one gets on lazy late afternoons. Leya took the stairs up to the roof again. She stood, leaning against the railing, letting the sun warm her. It was funny how even with all the crazy shit in the world, little simple things like sunshine were still so lovely. Maybe. . . some things in this world are always going to be fine.

Leya sighed. Now. . . now she was sad. Now she let herself feel, and it hit her like a brick wall, flattening and smothering her; Leyva's lungs felt too tight. Here we are again. . . Leya shook her head. Leya remembered standing on a roof, much like this, looking up at the sky years ago. Of course, then her mind had been in a different realm, fixated on a different prince. Leya inhaled sharply, the steep wave of nostalgia washing over her. Loki's gone, just like him. You keep doing this – you open up to someone, you let yourself fall, and then you lose everything. History, she decided, has a cruel way of repeating itself.

Leya stayed on the roof long after the sun had set and the stars and moon came out. When she finally went back inside, Jane was still in the backroom, but Leya had decided it was time to get her out. You can only stay in the past for so long, and the sooner you get out, the better. It doesn't mean you forget, it doesn't even mean you move on. But you keep going. She pounded on the door until Jane opened it, a peeved look on her face.
"What have you been doing in there?" Leya asked her.

Jane looked blank for a moment. "Sleeping?" she suggested.

Leya sighed, "All right. You're coming home with me." Leya grabbed her keys, took Jane by the arm, and lead her to the doors.

"We'll be back tomorrow morning," Leya told Erik and Ian, who had just returned.

Jane stared out the window during the ride to Leya's flat. Leya brought her inside, let Jane shower, then made her lie down in bed. By the time Jane fell asleep, Leya was exhausted. It was all she could manage to lock the door before falling asleep on the couch.

Leya woke Jane early the next morning. She gave her some clothes to borrow and brewed them each a cup of coffee, which she forced them both to finish. By the time they drove back to the lab, Jane still hadn't said a word.

Leya parked the car outside the lab, but she stayed inside the car for another minute. "You've got to keep going," Leya told Jane, "We've both got to keep going. Because life just goes on, and it doesn't distinguish between the ones who can and can't keep up."

"I know," Jane said, not turning to look at Leya. Abruptly, she stood and got out of the car.

Leya exhaled and rested her hands on the wheel. She wasn't trying to be mean, or cliché. She knew how much Jane was hurting. But Jane would have to get back on her feet, soon, and Leya knew from experience that sometimes you don't want the sad smiles, the pity, quietly creeping around you as if you're a delicate piece of china about to break at any second – it gets maddening. Sometimes, all you want is for someone to say "Get. Over. It." Well, maybe it's easier for you. Maybe you've done it enough. . . maybe you've had to do it too much. Leya shook off the dark thoughts that threatened to creep in. She got out of the car, locked it, then went inside the lab.

Leya was glad to see Jane was at least working, bent over the waver and her notebook just like she'd been when Leya had first met her. Those few years somehow felt like decades ago. Perhaps Jane was hoping the waver would spike, hoping for some sign. Erik was seated at a lab bench, drinking coffee and reading the paper. Ian was changing a lightbulb – or attempting to. The ladder he was standing on kept wobbling, and he looked fairly terrified. Leya went to hold the ladder steady, for which Ian flashed her a grateful look.

"Don't mention it," Leya muttered.

They worked all day. It was strange to go back to the research they'd been doing before, but what else were they going to do with their time? Ian picked up sandwiches from a deli down the road for lunch, and they ordered a pizza for dinner. None of them ate or talked much, though. It was late in the evening when they finally ended their day. Leya brought Jane back to her place, and Leya slept on the couch again. It wasn't that Jane didn't have her own place, but Leya felt better knowing what Jane was up to, at least for now.

The next morning, they repeated the cycle. Except today, Jane seemed a bit better. The next day, Jane improved a little more. Every day got a bit better. Jane maybe smiled at a joke, maybe picked out a nice shirt, maybe Leya even heard her singing in the shower at one point. Things started to go back to normal, or close enough to whatever that was.

A few weeks later, Jane, Erik, Ian, and Leya were sitting in the lab eating cereal and chatting. They'd been working since 5 am, and they all needed a break. Erik was telling a joke that made Ian squirt milk through his nose. Jane laughed, and Leya smiled. Suddenly, they heard a loud, unmistakable, mechanical squeal from the other side of the room. Everyone stopped talking, and all heads turned to the cardboard box the noise was coming from. Leya stood and walked over to it.

The waver. . .! She picked it up gingerly. The readings were off the charts. Leya looked back at the others and held up the instrument. Jane stared at it, incredulity plain across her face.

"But this could mean –" she began, but then stopped.

Leya could tell Jane was hardly daring to hope. But she was right. All of a sudden, they heard a crack and a boom, like lightning and thunder, on the roof. Jane was the first one up the stairs, Leya close on her heels, with Erik and Ian not far behind. Leya broke through the roof doors to see Jane locked in Thor's embrace. After her initial shock, Leya's face broke into a smile. He came back for her.

Jane looked up at Thor, and he smiled back at her. The two looked radiant, together at last. When they finally broke apart, Jane smiled around at Leya and the others. Thor approached Leya and hugged her, nearly crushing her bones.

"All right – Thor – please let go," Leya squeaked. Thor laughed and set her down.
"It's good to see you all again," Thor said, his voice deep and familiar. He put his arm around Jane.

"You too. So, what happened to Malekith?" Leya asked.

"He is dead. I took care of him," Thor replied.

"Good," Leya said. Jane nodded in agreement.

"When do you have to leave?" Jane asked quietly.

"Never. I'm staying here, on Earth, with you, Jane," Thor said gently. Jane looked surprised.

"But what about Asgard? Your home? Your father's still alive, isn't he? You're the heir to the throne!" Jane asked.

"I've already discussed it with my father. I do not want the throne, and he has given me permission to stay here on Earth. I'm sure the Avengers could use me, and Jane, I want to stay here with you," Thor told her.

Jane smiled. "Thank you," she whispered.

Erik cleared his throat, and Ian shifted awkwardly. Thor and Jane seemed to realize they were still there.

"Oh, let's go inside," Jane suggested.

Leya didn't think she had ever seen Jane so happy, and Leya was truly glad for her and Thor. But. . . there was one thing missing, one thing that nagged at her. So, while Ian was out getting dinner and Jane was working with Erik on some equations, Leya asked to speak to Thor on the roof alone.

"What's troubling you, Leya?" Thor asked, concerned.

Leya took a deep breath, "I have a favor to ask of you, one last one. I – I want you to take me back Asgard. And I mean take me and leave me there, to stay."

Thor's eyes widened in surprise. He frowned at her, "But what about Jane? And your life here?"

"I know, but Jane has you now. Don't take that the wrong way, it's not that I'm ditching her or feel any resentment or jealousy. But despite the fact that she's one of my best friends, she loves you, Thor, and she needs you more than me. Jane aside, there's not much left here for me. I've spent my whole life away from my home, out-of-place. No matter how 'normal' this life feels, I can't shake the feeling that I still belong in another realm. I can't go back to Nidavellir, but, well, I – I'd like to be. . . as close to. . . home, or at least feel like I am, as possible. The best way for me to do that is by going back to Asgard," Leya replied.

Thor was silent for a while, such a long while that Leya began to actually feel a little nervous. Then he nodded.

"All right."

The next morning, Leya, Thor, Jane, Erik, and Ian gathered on the roof of the lab once again. The day was crisp, clear, and dewy, a perfectly lovely morning for Leya's last day on Earth. Leya first said goodbye to Ian and Erik.

"We'll miss you, Leya," Erik said to her. Leya smiled at him, then playfully whacked Ian in the shoulder, "I'll miss you both, too." Ian winced but smiled good-naturedly and gave her a goodbye hug.

Jane gave her a sad smile.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked, a fragment of hope dangling in her voice.

Leya nodded firmly, "I'm sure."

"All right then," Jane said. The two women embraced.

"I'm going to miss you so much. You take good care of yourself," Jane whispered fiercely.

"I will," Leya replied, "Goodbye, Jane."

Then Leya stepped back and took Thor's arm.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready," Leya took one last look around at London, at the lab, at Jane and Erik and Ian, at Earth. Then she held tight to Thor as they shot up into the vast sky above.

Leya opened her eyes when she could breathe again and found herself on the Rainbow Bridge. Leya glanced behind her and noticed the end of the bridge still looked ragged and splintered without the graceful Bifrost dome. She turned to Thor.

"Thank you, Thor," Leya said with a smile. She hugged him.

Thor looked hard at her, "You be careful, Leya. Please."

"I will. I promise," Leya said, "Take good care of Jane, I'll miss you."

"I will. And we shall all miss you a great deal," Thor said.

Suddenly, tears were threatening in Leya's eyes.

"Goodbye, Thor," she whispered in a tight voice.

"Goodbye, Leya," Thor replied. Then he swung Mjolnir and was gone in a bright flash of light.