New Asgard started to prepare in celebration of Fall Fest, which falls on the Autumn Equinox. Bonfires were placed around the open areas. Second harvest of the season and gathering the livestock to be close to the town. The devastation brought by Thanos' snap, brought Midgard back into worry about having enough food for to get through the winter. This would be the first winter they must survive through. Keeping to traditions and celebrating holidays will be a staple of trying to keep afloat.

Val made the final decisions between the people. It's been years since she had celebrated any Asgardian holidays. The Midsummer celebration that landed on the summer solstice was just the bare minimum as it was a month after the snap. The celebration was somber and mostly silent. Freyr fest was similar. There weren't much of a harvest as this was a new land. The Asgardians and Midgardians seemed friendlier with one another during this celebration. Some Midgardians didn't know about the festival, others did as it was an old tradition that didn't keep much alive due to the Christianity influence. Sweden is the only country who still kept the tradition alive.

Thor saw that Val brought out the rations. He noticed how busy everyone was. "Is it that time of year?" He saw people carrying sticks in their arms to stack against the bonfires.

"It is," she breathed with a hint of a smile. She looked over to Thor whose beard was getting fuller and his hair longer. She wanted to ask him how he was holding up but it made her heart ache as she knew it would hurt him more. She kept things light. "Haven't seen Miek and Korg in a while."

"Korg has been fascinated with the Midgardian games with the toggle and the buttons," Thor explained. "Miek just likes to watch. It takes the edge off."

"I heard about those," Val was interested. "Do you want us to find more?"

It did give a bit of a spark for him. "That would be helpful. A Midgardian helped us get the inter-web going that way we can play with the rest of the Midgardians."

"Speaking with other Midgardians," she nodded her head. "Speaking of, I spoke with one of the Avengers, Natasha, Black Widow."

Thor jerked his head towards her. "Natasha contacted you."

"She tried to contact you," Val explained. "I let her know you were busy at the moment."

Thor nodded looking away. It was a good cover. "Did." He let out a breath. "Did she say anything else?"

"Not much else. Just wondering how all of the Asgardians were doing," Val summed the conversation up. "Oh, I asked if they knew Lady Sigyn and that she was alive." After the last sentence was out, Val knew that line would lead to a touchy subject. She changed the topic. "It was nice to meet another Avenger besides Bruce Banner and Hulk, as well as you." She tapped her fist on his shoulder. She wanted to say not as cool as the Revengers but that was going to make it worse.

"Are the rest doing okay?" Thor was a little curious.

"She didn't say," Val should have asked. "It seemed more like she was checking in on everyone. Making sure everyone was okay for now." Thor nodded again with down cast eyes. "Do you want me to pass something along to her the next time she checks in?"

Thor waved his hand. He didn't know what he would have to pass on if he could.

"Well, I will extend the invite as always," Val prompted. "Always happy to see you there but we can understand if you don't want to attend." There were a few Asgardians who were needing assistance. "Speaking of which, must get back to them." Thor nodded, letting her know she was able to head off.

Thor picked up his rations to head back to his home. He was greeted by Miek and Korg. When he closed that door, it felt as if he closed off the rest the world, closing himself of to the realms around him. There was no judgement, no pity, not guilt trips in this home.

He set the food on the table and placed the beer in the fridge. The ration would be enough for the three of them. Stormbreaker was placed off to the side in the living room. Looking at the axe didn't bring him any sense of guilt. It reassured him that he was still capable of holding power. It only became a reminder of he was capable. Did he still want to? Not at the moment. He just wanted to drift through life, numbing the intrusive thoughts with his new friends.

Thor sat down next to Korg and Miek. Korg had a headset on, playing the game. He glanced at Thor to make sure he was okay. Korg worried about when he would go outside to get the rations. Korg did mention that he could go get them, but Thor said it would be his exercise. Miek just followed the two of them. Miek would help Korg get Thor who was passed out drunk and place him in his bed. The two worried about their friend.

One of the nights, Thor had drunk so much that his emotions got the better of him. Miek and Korg learned what would trigger Thor.

It started with Thor fumbling on taking off the cap from the bottle. It would be easy for him to use his strength to rip it right off. It didn't work. He used the side of his axe to take it off. He moved to sit down between Miek and Korg. The two were used to this routine. He would sit between them, watch Korg play, and Miek would cheer him on. This time, Thor stared at the open bottle instead of putting his lips to it.

Midgardian beer would never come close to Asgardian mead. Plants are different, similar. Similar way of making it but still different. Different. Just like New Asgard, similar but also different. Thor just kept staring at the open bottle with these kinds of thoughts, comparing the past until now.

"If father could see me now," Thor muttered. He chuckled once. Miek turned to him. "I failed him. Him, mother, Heimdall, my friends, Sif. Failed him. I would be king." His eyes crinkled as he started to tear up. "I mocked him with that. 'Would-be king.'" Thor gritted his teeth together. He wanted to stop these feelings, as his lips quivered and tears rolling down his cheeks. "Who-who controls the would be king? I should have realized it sooner. I should have stopped it sooner. If only he could have said who it was. If only we weren't always bickering with one another for the throne." Korg paused the game and took off the headset. He looked over to Thor.

Thor wiped his tears with one hand. "We-we never asked him. Father just delt out a punishment, after punishment. Did he even get a fair judgement? Was I really only about the glory? My friends, Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun. The adventures we went on. The countless memories. I failed them. I failed Asgard." Thor sniffed, trying to draw back his runny nose. "All because beings like me who thought they could be kings." The bottle in his hand broke as he clenched his fist. This made Korg and Miek flinch. "He wanted to rule over this?!" Thor started to get angry. "Thanos wanted to be king over nearly empty realms. That's not a king. Thanos. Thanos-Thanos." He started to slowly shake his head. His temper started to rise. His eyes started to shine. Electrical arcs started to form off of Stormbreaker.

Korg tried to deescalate Thor. "You killed him. You killed him. With the axe. He's dead. He can no longer harm anyone." Korg glanced at the weapon. He hoped there would not be any outburst or any destruction. "You did good. You did good." Korg patted his clenched fist.

This helped him calm down a bit. "I did. I did kill him. He's dead. I killed him." Thor's eyes went back to normal. The static in the air went stagnant. Korg sighed in relief. He set down the console and grabbed the nearest cloth, which was a blanket. He wiped Thor's fist.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Korg patted. Miek picked up the pieces of the broken bottle. Thor finally unclenched his fist. Thankfully there were no cuts on his palm. After Korg cleaned him up. "Hey we should all take naps." Miek nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, how does that sound?"

If Thor started to bring forth his power, in this small home, everything would be destroyed thanks to a drunken outburst that would lead to more emotional instability. Korg didn't want that to happen to them or to his friend.

Korg stood up, grabbing Thor as well. Thor was muttering about he had killed Thanos. Miek grabbed the other arm of Thor. The two mostly carried him to the bedroom. Setting him down on the bed, they tucked him in. Thor did get sleepy and they waited for him to fall asleep. The two headed back to the living room.

Korg kept his voice low. "There are words that can make him loose himself. We must not say those words, let him say those words, or let others say those words. I may be made of rocks but I think he would crumble faster than me." Miek nodded in agreement. "Those words are Thanos, those friends he named off, his ghost brother, and his family. So just about everyone. I know we won't say it, but I think we calmed him down. Repeating that he killed Thanos seemed to help. We just don't need that outburst again. Sometimes he usually eats instead." Miek agreed. "We will watch over him. He took care of us. We will take care of him."

Korg went back to playing his game. Miek went to grab some food. They did feel a bit guilty for encouraging his behavior but he was still mourning. They wanted to him grieve fully before trying to come back to his senses. Even if it meant years before he could finally recover. They would be there for him.

Miek and Korg haven't left his side when he came back. They would see the flickering fires in the distance through the windows but never celebrated with the rest of the Asgardians and Midgardians. They did wish to join but Thor needed them more. Sometimes they would catch Thor staring outside the windows, looking off towards the village. He would start to drink more.

Korg got some opaque window stickers to blur some of the view. He would sneak out at night. Val helped him retrieve some. Everyone was worried about Thor. Some of the clothes and bedding went missing from time to time to get washed and cleaned. Some of the villagers even told Korg that they would be willing to clean inside the house but Korg politely refused. He worried that if Thor knew what happened it would bring more guilt.

They had a calendar in the house, but one night, Thor ripped it down in anger fueled by guilt. He was reminded that his days that blurred together didn't move by that quickly. He wanted it to be years but this early, he couldn't watch it. He told Korg and Miek to not have any calendars. The agreed with him. They always agreed with his decisions. He was glad. He didn't have to try to reason with them.

On the evening before Fall Fest, Sigyn had joined them. She came the night before, staying at the doctor's residence. The healer and the doctor gave her a health checkup. Her body was still healing but it was healing steadily. It would be a few weeks more until her body would be back to normal.

The next morning, Sigyn greeted Val before heading off to help everyone for the feast that evening. Val oversaw the last-minute decorations and bonfires being built. It was coming together. There was enough room for dancing around the biggest bonfire, a place for the band to play, tables placed end to end in lines with chairs and benches.

The tables were decorated with harvest center pieces along with trays of foods. It was drawing near the start of the Fall Feast. Sigyn and Val met up before the large bonfire. All of the people had made sure the stoves and fires in their homes were extinguished, as this was part of the tradition. The flame from the largest bonfire, which would be the common flame, it would be used to light the hearth, bonding the families of the villagers together. Since both Asgardians and Midgardians will be participating, it will help bond them together.

Val started off the Fall Fest with a quick speech. She kept her speeches short but they still made an impact. Val was a leader. She still had it in her to bring people together with her words and her mannerisms. Val gave the nod to Sigyn to lite the bonfires. As Val raised her voice louder, "Let the Fall Fest begin!" Each bonfire lit simultaneously. There were gasps of awe and cheers.

Music started to play, some people started to sing songs, and lots of people started to eat. Val headed off towards Sigyn was sitting at. Sigyn was staring at the house where Thor was at. Val looked with her.

"I always extend the invite but he never shows," Val grabbed a beer.

"I don't want to look with my powers but it does seem gloomier," Sigyn sighed. "It doesn't help that time is moving by slowly. After this winter, maybe it will pick up. The days will go by faster."

"I hope you're right," Val took a swig as she glanced around. "Looks like the others are not as gloomy. Little moments like these, help."

"Keeping with traditions and holidays," Sigyn agreed. "Takes the mind off the hardships. Keeping busy. That's the safest. Just keeping busy."

"You will be here for the next celebrations, right?" Val raised an eyebrow. "Winternights is next month and then Yule."

Sigyn thought about it. "Winternights I could make it, but Yule." She watched the people around her. "His birthday is a couple days before it." Val placed a hand over hers. Sigyn turned to her with a comforting smile. "Thank you." Her voice had dropped lower. "We haven't celebrated many birthdays together but after everything, I think I want to be alone for that time."

Val patted her hand before standing up and pulling her up too. "Come, that's in a few months, let's dance instead." Sigyn was surprised by the sudden change. "Oh, come on. I bet the All Mother knows all the dances."

Sigyn laughed. "That, I do. Lead the way All Father." Val led her by the hand to follow the others dancing around the bonfire. The two danced along with the rest and sang along to the songs.

They would dance, eat, drink, head back to dancing. It was near the time to now extinguish all the other bonfires and leave the large burning. Sigyn took her time extinguishing the fires one by one until everyone was gathered around the largest one.

Some people started to clean and gather the food up to be saved as leftovers. Another group washed the plates, utensils, and cups. Everyone worked together. The band still played which helped things along.

"You won't be staying after this," Val looked over to Sigyn.

"I have my own hearth to light," Sigyn winked.

"You wield fire as if it was one with you," Val mentioned.

"I have red hair, don't I?" Sigyn mocked.

Val rolled her eyes. She came closer to Sigyn. "I, may take you up on heading back to the training grounds." Sigyn lit up. "But I don't want to go alone. I want you to come with me. However, who is going to watch over them?" She was worried about leaving them alone.

Sigyn patter her on the back. "I have someone in mind. Pick a day and I will bring you to there."

"The next time you come around with the next trade," Val mentioned.

Sigyn nodded. "It is set."

Val headed to the side of the bonfire where a pile of makeshift torches was stacked. Her voice called to gather everyone to finish the ceremony as everything has been cleaned up and packed away. They could move the tables and chairs the next day. Each household grabbed a makeshift torch and lined up together. They lit the torches one by one, leaving back to their homes. It quieted down when the band stopped playing. They were near the last ones to get their torches lit. Val and Sigyn stayed until the very last ones were just them.

Val looked between the fire and where Thor's home. Sigyn looked with her. "Don't worry, I shall light their hearth."

"Until next time," Val said her goodbyes as she headed off to her place.

Sigyn cast a spell around the fire that it wouldn't spark or jump from the bonfire and will fully dimmish once its done burning. She placed a cloak over herself and headed towards the meadows where her horses were. Sigyn passed by Thor's home. She sensed someone was watching her. She used her powers to find the hearth and lit it. She felt that Korg was the one watching. Sigyn climbed upon one of the horses and returned through the portals to her home.

Korg smiled at the fire. He was happy that they were kept in with some of the traditions. He had just brought in plates of food that were left outside the door. He tasted some of the morsels before putting it in the fridge. Miek was on the couch trying to play with the console but it was hard for her still. Thor was passed out on the bed. This time it was not hard to get him to sleep. The distant music became lullabies for him.

Korg sat back down on the couch. "How are you doing, Miek? Any kills?"

Miek shook her head while moving the exoskeletal arms with the console trying to maneuver out of the way.

"You have to keep your arms straight and move your fingers," Korg advised. "You are so great with weapons but a toggle console is your weakness." Miek just shrugged. "Give it here. I will help you." Korg beckoned with his hand, opening and closing it. Miek handed it over and crossed her arms. "Yeah, yeah. Next round, okay?" Miek smiled.

Sigyn arrived back home safe and sound. She slid off the back of the horse. The night sky was breathtaking. She paused, staring at the night sky. Star dust and galaxies spread all around. "It's beautiful. I hope wherever you are, you could see it with me." Sigyn started to tear up. "I hope our sons are with you. I hope you come back to me soon, with them in tow. Teasing about how this was a terrible prank and will never do it again." Sleipnir nuzzled into her. She hugged him. "We all hope you come back. We want everyone to come back."

The two horses nuzzled into her. She brushed them. Kissed them on their foreheads. Sigyn parted while taking in the sky once more. Some days it got easier to be alone here, other days it got harder. She lit the hearth as she opened the door. It was quite besides the cackling of the new lit fire. Sigyn headed straight to bed. She usually slept in her own night dress but she started to wear one of his tunics to bed. It felt as if she was wrapped in him. It had his smell. His feel. It was the closest she could have to him, for now, until he returned to her.

She climbed into bed, reaching her arm out to his side. Sigyn had to keep hope. That would be the only thing that kept her going through the depression. Hope. New Asgard kept her busy but when she was alone with her thoughts, she strived for fantasy, hoping everything would be just fine again.