The murmur of the cafeteria slowly increased as more and more people filtered in for a break from their long day. It was called 'kveldsmat,' a small breakfast-style meal late in the day, and it was still one of my favorite things about Norway. Whenever Blake, Clarice, Keiko, Domingo, and I had the chance, we had kveldsmat together. Domingo and Blake were already at the table, arranging the jams and meats and other nibbles. Keiko and Clarice arrived just after me, bringing the tea and coffee. All I managed to bring today, however, was a distracted mind.

"Dame lo," Domingo demanded in Spanish, making a grabbing motion at the tablet I was still tapping away at. "Righ'now, chica."

I sighed and grudgingly traded it for a cup of Keiko's tea she'd had sent from her home in Kyoto.

"Sorry," I muttered into my cup.

"Stuck again?" Blake asked.

"A little, yeah. I think one of the diagrams is corrupted; that or it's a design that makes absolutely no sense."

"You should see what Keiko and I are having to deal with," Clarice said, rolling her eyes empathetically.

Work on The Statesman thus far had been steady, but slow. We all knew that once we found how all the pieces fit together, everything would be obvious, but right now, getting even one of those pieces in place was agonizing.

A klaxon screamed suddenly. Domingo flinched hard as the overhead lights blinked blue. I set a careful hand on his shoulder until he calmed. Keiko and Blake held the table as steady as they could despite the building vibrating.

The Lighthouse had activated.

We'd been told what to expect, but this was our first time experiencing it. Others that had been at the Lighthouse for longer just looked annoyed, waiting impatiently for the vibrations to stop. Once they had, Domingo took a deep breath, and we slowly returned to our snacks.

"Well, that was fun," Blake said.

I couldn't bring myself to agree. We finished our meal and made our way out to the elevator to return to our respective labs. W.I.C.K.I.E. made an announcement over the speakers just as we reached Blake's floor.

"Voyage team, please report to the fifth-level conference room. Repeat, Voyage team, please report to the fifth-level conference room."

Domingo didn't hesitate to smack the 'Level 5' button.

"Ugh," Clarice growled in exasperation. "What now?"

Thor cringed as he tried, and failed, to pronounce the name of the dark man with shorn hair and glasses that had shown him and Loki to the conference room.

"'Moso' will do, sir," the man said graciously. "Travel arrangements for New York are being made on your behalf as we speak, complements of Ms. Williams and Mr. Stark."

"That's very kind, thank you. I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Williams. I look forward to it."

Moso nodded. All three of them glanced over when the door slid open, and a steady stream of people entered. They blinked and gaped and murmured as they took their seats around the large table. And then, Loki's world stopped. There was no mistaking it this time.

'My star…'

He held his composure as she took her seat with a few others he recognized, pulling her long braid forward over her shoulder imperiously. Sophia was just as lovely as he remembered, though, disturbingly, with a new shallow crease forming across her forehead. He knew his guise as Erland was impenetrable, but he wondered if perhaps, somehow, she would recognize him. She certainly recognized Thor. Despite her best effort, Loki didn't miss the darkness that filled her eyes as she saw the golden god. He wanted to laugh.

'She still remembers. Good.'

He watched and listened as Moso described the operation to rebuild the Statesman and the roles each human there served. Moso let those that had also helped build the Lighthouse identify themselves, and Thor nodded to each of them.

"New Asgard sends its deepest gratitude to you all," he said. "I can assure you that nothing of what each of you gave has been wasted."

Sophia fixed her eyes on her knee to hide her expression.

"I suppose it only fair," Thor continued, "as we have asked so much of you, that you might have a chance to ask something of us."

A hand shot up immediately.

"Where is the ship now?"

"New Asgard," Thor said simply, then motioned to another hand.

"And where is that? Can we see it?"

"I am afraid not. At least, not yet."

Excited murmurs rippled down the table. A couple of more questions passed. Then, Sophia slowly straightened and fixed Thor with sharp eyes, raising her hand purposefully.

"Yes?"

"Stark has sent New Asgard much in the way of supplies and information like you said. How are the people doing now?"

The edge in her tone earned her a few stern or confused glances, including from Moso.

"Ms. Jerman-" he began, intent on scolding her.

"It's alright," Thor assured him before smiling at Sophia. "They are doing much better, as of late. Thank you for asking."

The darkness lessened slightly, and she crossed her arms, falling silent as others asked their own questions. Eventually, Moso decided there'd been enough fraternizing and dismissed them all. He led Loki and Thor out once there was space, but Thor hesitated, seeing Sophia was one of the last to leave. Moso waited for him as he approached her. She didn't look at him. Loki could only just make out the conversation.

"He is doing well," Thor promised her softly, answering the actual question she'd been asking before.

Sophia blinked and licked her lips, then smiled kindly up at him.

"He must be very busy finally putting things to right as well if he's sending his glorified messenger boy to tell me so."

Loki wanted nothing more than to kiss her then and there. Instead, he hid the grin splitting across his face behind his hand and coughed. Thor blinked after her as she left, confused.

"I'm not quite sure, but I think I've been insulted," he said, crossing his arms.

"Oh, I'm certain," Loki nearly purred.

To Loki's delight, the accommodations on Stark's private jet were far superior to what he could remember of the trips he took with Sophia before they moved to Oslo. He could stretch his legs out, for one, for two, he could barely feel that they were moving, let alone any turbulence they might have encountered. It made reading easy. Loki was pleased nevertheless when they landed, and he and Thor took a moment to stretch before taking in what was supposed to be New York.

"Where are we?" Thor asked the steward as he deboarded.

"One of Stark's compounds. He asked us to divert while we were flying over the Atlantic."

Lush green grass, flourishing trees, a rocky path leading from the lake up to a cabin house; Loki steeled himself against the crashing nostalgia. The memories were like poison. He could almost see Sophia lounging at the water's edge, jeans rolled up to her knees, feet still covered in mud from playing in the water on a hot, summer afternoon. He very nearly could feel her arms cradling his struggling female form as she tossed Loki back into the water as vengeance for some prank Loki had pulled on her earlier in the week. Eyes like sapphires glittered as she grinned; his beloved, his queen, his North Star-.

"Thor!"

Stark's cry from the patio of his cabin tore Loki rudely from his reverie. He followed his brother up the path to the home.

"My friend!" Thor called, arms open to clasp the frail mortal in a gentle embrace. Thor held Stark at arms' length and looked him over, then nodded. "It is good to find you well."

"It's good to see you, too," Stark said. The sentiment was sincere, and it sounded alien on his tongue as he patted Thor's shoulder. "So good…" Stark faltered for a moment, then looked over his glasses at Loki. "And you brought the Duke!"

"I thought it appropriate," Thor chuckled, "that perhaps he might experience this infamous 'New Year's Party' you were so adamant about."

"New Year's?" Starks face scrunched. "It's not even Fall, yet."

Thor frowned.

"Did…" He stepped back. "Perhaps I miscalculated the time. It's nearly Winter on New Asgard, so I thought…" He shook his head. "How foolish of me. Of course, our seasons are not aligned. Forgive me."

"Well, I'll forgive you for party-crashing this once. Come in! Come in!"

It was strange seeing the old Iron Man so magnanimous, but they followed his lead into the quaint home. Introductions to his wife, Pepper, and their daughter, Morgan, were terse.

"Riri called and said she's being held up, but that she'll be here," Pepper said to the aging man.

"Does she need help?"

There was hope in Stark's voice, but a scathing look from Pepper put him on the defensive.

"You wouldn't have given her the suit if you didn't think she could handle it."

"Okay, okay," he said, holding his hands up. "It was just a thought."

Stark gave his wife and daughter a kiss before they left. Morgan had lessons best taken elsewhere. He scratched at his neck once they were gone.

"Something, isn't she?" he quipped.

Thor shrugged.

"I cannot currently relate."

"No?" Stark asked, surprised, and he patted Thor's chest with the back of his hand. "Big, strong guy like you?"

Thor shrugged again. Stark glanced at Loki.

"What about you, Duke? You got someone nipping at your heels, keeping you in line?"

Loki swallowed against the bile in the back of his throat. Had it not been for Thor, then… Loki nodded.

"I find her difficult at times, but often the voice of wisdom," he said simply.

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Stark commiserated. "Here, come on, sit, sit!"

Thor took Stark's invitation, settling comfortably on the couch, but Loki remained standing, examining the home. It reminded him too much of his old one as he slowly wandered. Pictures of Stark's family, of Stark at fancy parties, a collection of trinkets; the shelves and mantle were nearly filled. On a small table, Loki found a glowing, circular item housed in a clear box with a placard: "Proof that Tony Stark Has a Heart." Beside it, also in a clear box, was a medallion with what looked like a stylized spider on it. Loki plucked it up for a better look. It didn't take long for Stark to notice.

"Hey, HEY!" he snapped, rushing from his seat. He snatched the box. "Didn't your mother ever teach you it's rude to touch things that aren't yours?"

Loki put his hands up and backed away.

"My apologies."

"Please forgive him, my friend," Thor attempted to placate, sending Loki a stern glance. "Erland is perhaps more curious about humans than is prudent."

Stark grumbled, replacing the box as Loki joined Thor on the couch.

It didn't take long for Riri Williams to arrive, clad in her own version of Stark's armor. She'd taken his place on the Avengers team as Iron Heart, he explained as the nanobots that made up the suit returned to their glowing container on her chest.

"And profits have been up since she took over the company."

"I see," said Thor. "Then, it is you we should thank for the building in Oslo."

Riri smirked as she shrugged, a hand on her hip.

"I just designed it."

Her tone made it clear she considered it a great accomplishment.

The four of them settled in with food and drink, and Loki did his best to pay attention to the conversation. He recognized some of the terms Stark and Riri used, but there was very little said that was of any importance. He rolled an apple between his palms as Thor spoke about New Asgard, and a thought suddenly struck Loki. He examined the fruit closer.

Why was it suddenly significant to him? What was it he was forgetting?

The moon had risen when the two Avengers finally walked their guests back out to the private jet that had been waiting for them. Loki still didn't know what it was he was trying to remember, even by the time they'd returned to the Lighthouse hours later. One of the security officers led them down toward the Bifrost site, not seeming to notice as Loki lagged a little behind, glancing through the glass walls of the offices they passed and down each corridor. He paused at the stairwell to scrutinize a large group of people crowded around a table.

Nothing. Of course, she wasn't there. He scolded himself mightily.

Smack!

Loki stumbled as someone walked into him from behind.

"OW!"

Loki turned to scold them instead, and his heart stopped. Sophia rubbed her forehead before looking at him.

"Oh. Oh, shit. I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

Loki swallowed hard.

"I would ask you the same."

"Um. Yeah, I-I'll be fine." She frowned up at him. "You're the guy that was here with Thor the other day, aren't you?"

"I am, indeed," he said, setting a hand at the small of his back. "I'm terribly sorry to ask, but I seem to lost myself in the halls. Would you mind showing me the way to the Bifrost site?"

"The what-. Oh. Right. I suppose it's the least I could do."

Sophia laughed nervously, directing him down the staircase. Loki remembered the way, of course, but let her lead. He wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

"Could…I ask you a question?"

"You may," Loki said. Anything he could do to keep her talking…

"What it like using the Bifrost? The others that have used it won't say. It looks like it would be unbearably hot and uncomfortable."

"Hm… I suppose it could be likened to a mighty wind. It is neither cold, nor hot, but very bright."

"Do you not get motion sick from it?"

He chuckled.

"One quickly acclimates to the sensation."

Sophia hummed her interest, taking him down another corridor.

"May I ask you something in return?"

"Sure."

"Do you live here while you are working? It is so far from the city."

She groaned.

"Yeah, we have to stay here for a while. Last time, when we were building this place, it was only for two weeks. This time, I'm here for three months. I think I might go crazy."

"I see. How much longer must you stay?"

"Twenty-one days," she said confidently, then laughed again. "I've been counting if you couldn't tell."

Twenty-one days.

Loki memorized that number. They conversed a bit more until they finally reached the double doors that led into the Bifrost site. Inside, Thor was waiting for him.

"Where were you?" he asked.

"Forgive me, sire, I got quite lost."

"I see." Thor eyed Sophia. "Let us be off."

Loki turned to Sophia once Thor was out of earshot.

"Thank you, again, for your assistance."

Sophia's stern expression aimed at Thor turned kind as she looked up at Loki.

"Not a problem at all."

"You will take care of yourself, will you not?"

"Uh…I-."

"Erland!" Thor called.

Sophia frowned suspiciously at Loki as he bowed and rejoined Thor. They crossed the bridge and made ready on the platform. Loki glanced up one more time. Sophia had stepped up to the glass, her expression twisting from puzzled, to irritated. He held her gaze, smirking slightly. A sudden realization made her gape. She pressed her hands to the glass, trying to lean closer.

Just before the light of the Bifrost took him away, Loki winked at her.